Take a journey to Gujarat with our new art exhibit

Written by bobby@prashad.co.uk on 21st June 2021. Posted in Blog.

If you’ve been able to visit us since we’ve reopened, we hope you’ve noticed some lovely differences in the Prashad decor. We’ve taken the time to focus on ourselves a little bit, shuffling things around in our quest to make the perfect space.

There were two things at the forefront of our minds when we were planning out how we could improve our restaurant. We wanted to create an environment that feels not just relaxing but also safe, considering everything we’ve dealt with over the past year.

We also wanted to make sure Prashad’s roots really shone through, with every aspect of the restaurant celebrating our Gujarati heritage.

Restaurant ambiance in a post-Covid world

Anyone who’s visited us through our brief periods of lockdown openings or ordered takeaway over the past year and a bit will know just how seriously we’ve been taking the health and safety of both our staff and our customers.

We know that coming back to the restaurant is still going to be a bit different for the time being, with one-way systems and facemasks stopping us from feeling quite like we’re back to normal yet.

We also know that, when those things go away, people may still feel a bit anxious about being in public spaces.

One thing we’ve been keenly aware of is how the risks of Covid infections are higher indoors when people are talking loudly. Prashad is a peaceful spot, but regulars will know that the hustle and bustle of a busy Friday or Saturday night can cause the volume to rise.

We had the idea to install acoustic panels on our walls – these control noise and reduce echos, making it a lot easier to be heard by the people at your table, so you can have a nice, relaxed chat over dinner without having to raise your voice to be heard. It’s just a little thing, but it makes a difference!

Our panels are made from recycled waste and were installed by the fabulous Agile Acoustics.

Still, we didn’t want our restaurant to look like a recording studio, so we came up with a rather creative solution…

Take a journey with us…

A few years ago, a dear friend of Prashad and the Patel family, Tim Smith, published a photo book called India’s Gateway.

The book traces the history of Gujarat as a centre of trade and migration, and it was accompanied by a gallery exhibition of Tim’s beautiful work.

Prashad were proud to sponsor the book and the exhibition, and we were so excited by the idea of using our new acoustic panels to display prints of some of our favourite pieces from the project.

Although we’ve all settled happily in the UK, Gujarat will always be home. Our roots are there – both Kaushy and Minal’s families are from the region and both of their styles, inspirations and flavours in the kitchen are heavily influenced by their early lives learning traditional Gujarati family recipes.

We brought these recipes with us to our new home of Bradford, where they’ve become beloved by a whole new group of people – something that we couldn’t be prouder of.

And, of course, we still visit home as much as we can – when travel restrictions allow, of course! Kaushy in particular has been making the most of stepping back from the kitchen to visit family and old friends in Gujarat.

Tim’s photos instantly struck a chord with us, reminding us of home. The colours, the traditions, the bustling cities, the familiar landscapes. The pull to go back, balanced with the desire to keep spreading Gujarati food and culture here. It was an emotional connection.

We’ve always had them in the back of our mind when considering decor for the restaurant, and we’re absolutely delighted that a number of the pieces are now up for all to see. Not only can you experience the smells and tastes of our home, but peer through some of Tim’s windows to see the sights too.