Masterchef star Monica Galetti joins restaurant staffed by homeless people

MasterChef’s Monica Galetti has joined Big Issue in supporting an “incredible” fine-dining restaurant which employs people affected by homelessness.

Home Kitchen Diner has relaunched as 130 Primrose and has officially become a UK-registered charity.

The Primrose Hill restaurant offers a vibrant and modern culinary experience, serving classic British food alongside Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes.

Read more:

• Last Christmas I was in prison. This year I’m working in a London fine-dining restaurant
• World’s first fine-dining restaurant staffed by homeless people to open in London
• Home Kitchen: Inside the world’s first fine-dining restaurant staffed by homeless chefs

At the same time, it delivers on a powerful social mission: recruiting, training and employing people with experience of homelessness.

Staff members are given accredited training and career progression within hospitality.

It has attracted one of the most recognisable chefs in Britain to step into the cause. Galetti, chef, broadcaster and MasterChef: The Professionals judge, has joined 130 Primrose as an executive chef and trustee.

A regular volunteer at Soup Kitchen London, Galetti said: “I’ve seen first‑hand how, with the right support, people can rediscover hope, dignity and purpose through opportunities like this. That’s why I didn’t hesitate when I was asked to help shape the culinary future of this incredible project. 

“My first task is to create an exciting new menu that attracts customers to support our mission – celebrating the best British seasonal ingredients with a little twist of fun. Later, I’ll weave in touches of my Samoan heritage, giving our trainees a unique development opportunity and helping them to stand out when they move on in their career in hospitality.”

Backed by organisations including Big Issue Invest, the restaurant was launched in 2024 and has employed 16 people with experience of homelessness.

This includes young care leavers, refugees, prison leavers, neurodiverse people, people with frequent experience of rough sleeping, people in addiction recovery.

Candidates were recruited through referrals from organisations including Big Issue, Crisis, Beam, Soup Kitchen and Only a Pavement Away.

Each recruit earned a London living wage, kept 100% of tips and completed qualifications. Five of the first cohort moved into permanent roles elsewhere in hospitality.

Michael Brown, trustee and co-founder, said: “Too often, people facing homelessness are excluded from work and written off by society.

“At the same time, the hospitality industry, among many other challenges,  faces a shortage of committed, qualified staff. We’ve started to close both gaps, to prove that talent can flourish anywhere and change perceptions.”

Big Issue previously spoke to Sebastian, a prison leaver released into homelessness who uncovered a talent for cooking.

“I’m just going to keep on going until it takes me somewhere good,” he told the Big Issue at the end of 2024. “Right now I need to learn everything, and I’ll be good to go.”

Sebastian has since been offered work at the Megaro Hotel under Michelin‑starred chef Adam Simmonds, who was the first executive chef at Home Kitchen (now 130 Primrose).

130 Primrose will be open to the public from May 8.

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