What a year it’s been at Memsahib’s Lounge! From hosting supper clubs and masterclasses throughout the year to being on stage at the Cheltenham Food & Drinks Festival in the summer cooking our hearty dish – khichri. A particular highlight was embarking on a heartwarming journey back to my roots in Khulna, Bangladesh, and India as well as a week-long summer school at the University of Oxford, studying Food and Feasting through the Ages. 

It’s been a whirlwind of flavours and cultural celebrations. As I reflect on the past year and look to plan for 2024, I’m continually reminded of the mission we embarked on – bridging and celebrating the diverse cultures of the Indian Subcontinent and the UK. Thank you for continuing to allow us to do just that.

At the core of our efforts is a commitment to making a positive impact, not just through delicious food but also by nurturing a confident and skilled hospitality team for tomorrow. We’re incredibly proud of our wonderful team – a diverse group of passionate folk – whose experience ranges from banking to spending time in monasteries. They have roots tied to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand and so bring a punchy palette of flavours and cooking techniques to our kitchen. 

We have embraced mindful practices, from using seasonal, low-carbon footprint produce to more energy-efficient cooking methods too. Our Climate Commitment, in collaboration with Go Climate Positive, has allowed us to calculate, reduce, offset, and set targets to decrease our carbon footprint. Our footprint in 2022 was 61.2 tCO2e which is equivalent to 50.7 flights from London to New York, and we’re determined to reduce it by at least 5% each year. We’ll be working to publish our footprint for 2023 in the next few months.

We have also proudly supported charities like the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support, UK Bangladesh Education Trust, and Cheltenham Open Door. One unforgettable experience was volunteering at Cheltenham Open Door in the spring, where the usually rather mundane act of chopping onions became so much more meaningful. Later in the year we hosted a special seasonal and zero-waste supper club with my good friend Ahsan Akbar, poet and founder of the Dhaka Lit Fest and fundraised £720 for Cheltenham Open Door. As a local hospitality business, I urge others in our industry to support causes close to their hearts too.

And we can’t forget to mention how we bookended the year with mentions from both the Michelin Guide in March and Good Food Awards 2023/4 in November – celebrated with complimentary gin in the bar for our guests! The joy was shared with everyone who supported us, from loyal patrons to our dedicated team and suppliers who made the Memsahib magic happen.