Timed to coincide with Café Spice Namaste’s 25th anniversary on Saturday 14 November, three of the iconic Indian restaurant’s staunchest patrons have launched a heartfelt Friends of Café Spice Namaste appeal to help Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala and their team as they prepare to move to new premises in the New Year. Guild member Cyrus and his Café Spice Namaste team are to leave their Prescot Street premises at the end of January 2021. The restaurant has held a Michelin BIB Gourmand since the award was created in 1998.

Nick Gooding, John Minton and Howard Townson have released a message and accompanying video to support their appeal. They stress how much Café Spice Namaste – which remains 100% family-owned by the Todiwalas – has helped to enrich their lives over the years, and highlight the difficulties borne by restaurateurs like the Todiwalas due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Gooding, Minton and Townson have each made a personal donation to kickstart the appeal.

Cyrus Todiwala said, ‘After 25 years, the time has come to bid goodbye to our beloved Grade II-listed former magistrates court in Prescot Street. It has been and will be a very difficult time for us, but there is hope too. Our anniversary falls on the Festival of Diwali where light overcomes darkness and brings hope over gloom. Early in the New Year, Café Spice Namaste will be moving to different premises, not too far away.

‘We are extremely grateful to Nick, John and Howard who came up with the idea to launch a Friends of Café Spice fund. Theirs is an incredible gesture, which has bowled us over. We can only say at this point a humble “thank you” if you choose to become a Friend of Café Spice Namaste in this way too. The funds will be tightly ring-fenced for the costs of moving and setting up a new home for Café Spice Namaste. Your generosity will forever be etched in our hearts, and as we navigate the current situation, we will be looking at several ways, linked to our food and service, that we can thank you for believing in us.’

Donations to the Friends of Café Spice Namaste Appeal can be made at paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=UYGKE6TMRQURA or please contact info@mrtodiwalas.com privately for bank account details.