A 24-year-old man from Gloucester has transformed his passion for Middle Eastern flavors into a thriving business venture with the opening of Pappa Chai Gloucester. Inspired by a visit to a coffee shop following his university graduation, Muhammed Motala saw an opportunity to introduce authentic Middle Eastern tastes to the city and went on to turn this vision into reality in 2022.
Despite his background in marketing and managerial experience at Asda, Muhammed felt a strong pull towards the hospitality industry and the idea of launching his own café. It was a trip to Pappa Chai in Batley, West Yorkshire that fueled his inspiration, leading him to approach the owner and express his interest in opening a branch in Gloucester.
Pappa Chai Gloucester offers a menu influenced by the Middle East and Arabia, featuring a variety of freshly brewed Karak chai blends and trending desserts from around the world. With a focus on the recent Dubai pistachio craze, Indian street food coffees, and a selection of delectable donuts, the café aims to cater to diverse tastes and preferences.
In addition to its daily operations, Pappa Chai Gloucester provides catering services for events such as weddings, trade shows, and charity events, offering hot chai and mocktails tailored to the needs of the guests. The café currently employs 10 staff members from the local area and operates from 6pm to 11pm on Monday to Thursday, and from 2pm to late on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Muhammed’s personal favorite from the menu is the pistachio kunafa cake, a reflection of his fondness for pistachios. The café’s aspirations for the future include maintaining a high standard of dessert offerings, becoming a popular destination for chai lovers, and expanding to new and exciting locations.
Muhammed expressed his excitement for welcoming customers to the café and looks forward to the opportunity of continued growth and success.