Episodes
My Million Pound Menu: Dynasty and Bubble& (BBC Two Thursday 11 May 2023)
My Million Pound Menu: Dynasty and Bubble& airs Thursday 11 May 2023 on BBC Two.
Manchester’s new bubble and squeak stall, Bubble&, and the luxury Korean concept, Dynasty, are both warmly welcomed by Fred Sirieix. The London flagship of Dynasty is seeking £600,000 in seed capital. To launch nationwide, Bubble& is looking to raise £40,000.
The 42-year-old Jay Morjaria, whose parents owned Indian vegetarian restaurants, came up with the idea for Dynasty. Jay quit his job as a supermarket buyer seven years ago to follow his dream of opening a vegetarian cookery school in London. Later, he opened Dynasty, a sell-out supper club that occasionally served vegan-friendly dishes alongside a few meat sides, after deciding to explore East Asian cuisine and working in restaurants in Korea. Jay wants to open a chain of restaurants with an East Asian theme and needs £600,000 to do so, starting with Dynasty. In terms of funding, Dynasty has two potential backers. One such person is Lydia Forte, who is on the lookout for new ideas to implement in the five-star Rocco Forte Hotels she owns in London, Edinburgh, and elsewhere in Europe. She has openings in London, Edinburgh, and Berlin, and frequently collaborates with Michelin-starred chefs. The other investor is Darrel Connell, a partner at IMBIBA Partnership. This firm specialises in funding and expanding upscale dining and drinking establishments. To date, IMBIBA has supported 16 unique restaurant and pub chains, totaling over 100 individual establishments.
Bubble& was founded in 2013 by Rupert and Marita, a married couple. Rupert, the head chef of a gastropub, saw that bubble and squeak was popular despite being advertised as a “leftover” dish. The light bulb went off in his head, and he decided to quit his job and open a food stand selling bubble and squeak. His bubble & classic, topped with a poached egg, hollandaise sauce, and bacon, and his bubble & halloumi curry, topped with halloumi curry, both attracted long lines of hungry customers, and he won two Great Taste Awards for his culinary creations. Now he and Marita have plans to expand Bubble& across the country. In Manchester, Bubble& has drawn the interest of two financiers. The first is David Page, one of the UK’s most successful investors and the chairman of restaurant investment vehicle Fulham Shore; he is responsible for national brands like Pizza Express, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, the Real Greek, and Franco Manca. David is always on the lookout for straightforward concepts that have the potential to become ubiquitous. Atul Kochar, an entrepreneur and chef, is the second backer. Atul owns Benares, an Indian restaurant in Mayfair that was recently awarded a Michelin star, making him the first Indian chef to receive such a distinction in the United Kingdom. He also owns six more eateries on P&O cruise ships and seven altogether. His organisation is worth between £13 and £15 million.
Will investors think these two restaurant concepts have what it takes to succeed? Or will they go home empty-handed if their creators are in Manchester? The deadline is in three days.
Season 1 Episode 5
My Million Pound Menu: Dynasty and Bubble& airs Thursday 11 May 2023 at 2.15pm on BBC Two
Featured Image Credit: BBC Two