Matt O’Brien had a passion for cooking meat outdoors, and his hobby has now turned into a side hustle. Matt’s barbecuing skills have turned his home into a pop-up takeaway on weekends in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan. Matt is one of many foodies opting to take the cheaper and less risky method of setting up a food business from home with the increasing number of restaurant closures in the UK.
The restaurant industry has been deeply affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, facing high energy bills, increased food and drink prices, and a reduction in business rate relief. As a result, many restaurants in Cardiff alone, including Kindle, Brass Beetle and the Conway pub, have announced that they are shutting down due to rising costs. Papa John’s pizza chain also recently announced that it would close nearly a tenth of its UK restaurants, stating that the sites were “no longer financially viable”.
Matt, who works full-time at Cardiff University, decided to set up Matty’s BBQ Chop Shop following encouragement from his close ones. He said that all of this seemed low risk, and that he decided to set up shop from home because it was less expensive, and he already had the equipment he needed. Matt added that his wife and three-year-old daughter helped him develop the BBQ menu, which is influenced by dishes from around the world. Despite the success of his side hustle, Matt reported that he’s still investing back into the business, planning to buy better equipment, signage, and pots and pans in the coming months, as part of a six-month business plan.
Another entrepreneur, Sranya Khaengkhan, also known as May, runs Thai takeaway Hug Paeng from the home she shares with her husband and cat. May had spent her early days in Cardiff working long and anti-social hours in a Vietnamese restaurant for 18 months before quitting and starting her business from home. Initially, she thought of running her business from a van, but the start-up costs and parking were issues. May is happy with what she’s able to create from home, providing customers with the option to book and pay for takeaways through her website, and also offering delivery via Deliveroo or Uber Eats.
Running a takeaway food business from home requires entrepreneurs to register with their local authorities at least 28 days before trading and receiving a home visit for a food hygiene inspection. Entrepreneurs may also need permission from their mortgage providers or landlords and local councils and inform HMRC that they’re self-employed, among other requirements. The Food Standards Agency and Business Wales websites have more information on requirements for starting a food business from home
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