00:00At a time when many hospitality businesses across the West Midlands are struggling,
00:06one restaurant in Moseley is choosing to invest. Ola, thank you for joining us.
00:10With so many restaurants under pressure, why have you decided to invest now?
00:15So, yeah, we have been challenging a lot of difficulties, especially in this economy.
00:23But I think customers now want more than food. They want experience, atmosphere.
00:30We want to bring everyone inside the Greek culture that is like sharing food, dancing, smashing plates.
00:39Everything that we have done here is just to make them feel like they are back in Greece.
00:44Latest data from the Hospitality Market Monitor shows Britain lost more than 300 licensed venues
00:51in the first three months of the year, with industry leaders warning of further closures without business rates support.
00:58The investment is a new outside dining area designed to feel like a small piece of Greece in Birmingham,
01:04with mural, Greek-style flooring, flags, garlands and extra tables which the owners hope will increase revenue.
01:12We have tried to give them the experience, how they will be going in Greece and having the exact same
01:20food
01:21to feel comfortable and familiar.
01:26This is a family-run and truly independent business.
01:30Owners Ola and Miri say success is built on three things – food rooted in traditional Greek family recipes,
01:38prices they aim to keep fair and a warm, friendly atmosphere.
01:42They say the aim is to make customers feel less like visitors and more like guests of the family.
01:48I think this was the real key to success for us still now.
01:52So yeah, this is our goal mainly like bringing the real culture, Greek culture.
01:57We are known for that in all Balkans.
01:59So what would your message be to other restauranters thinking about making an investment?
02:06We have been every life, everything, every profit that we have been making, we've been investing here.
02:12And I think this wasn't really an option for us because we wanted this business to go on.
02:20And if you don't put a little bit of effort or a little bit more cost on it, it won't
02:25blow up.
02:26So I encourage all the business owners to invest, to invest.
02:33Even I know this economy is hard, but if you invest, I'll assure you that the customers will value it
02:42and they will come.
02:43At a difficult time for hospitality, this is one example of an independent business finding room to grow.
02:50For the owners, the challenge now is to build on that success while keeping the family feel,
02:56they say, has helped bring people through the door.
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