130 Primrose recently opened its doors, with a mission to support, employ, and advance the lives of people affected by homelessness. Credit: 130 Primrose How’s this for a truly heartwarming new opening in London? A new ‘social impact’ restaurant recently opened in the capital, which is employing and supporting people affected by homelessness. 130 Primrose has opened in Primrose Hill, with celebrated chef and broadcaster Monica Galetti stepping into the role of Executive Chef. The restaurant is open 7 days a week, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a menu that draws on Mediterranean influences, with nods to Monica’s native Samoa. Credit: 130 Primrose/Monica Galetti There are even plans for a speakeasy-style cocktail bar to open on the restaurant’s lower ground floor in the near future. Named after the Latin phrase ‘prima rosa’ (symbolising spring and new beginnings), 130 Primrose offers employees paid work, accredited training and clear progression within hospitality. This allows the people involved to gain confidence and lasting opportunity, turning their lives around. Naturally, we had to go along and check it out. And there’s more reason to visit than just supporting a good cause: Helping those affected by homelessness 130 Primrose takes over the site from Home Kitchen Diner, a previous incarnation of the social enterprise that operated for a year until August 2025. The restaurant will “recruit, train and employ people with experience of homelessness.” The new identity and name come in the wake of the organisation recently gaining registered charity status. As Home Kitchen Diner, the organisation “employed 16 individuals affected by homelessness.” The team included “prison leavers, refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq and Ukraine, and those in addiction recovery.” Of the original team, 5 have since moved into permanent roles in hospitality. Credit: 130 Primrose Who have they helped? Under its previous guise, the restaurant-cum-charity helped out people like: “Ade, A father of three and business graduate who experienced street homelessness and hostel living. After joining [the] kitchen team in August 2024, Ade gained full-time employment and now works with Soup Kitchen London, maintaining 18 months of continuous work. He was featured on BBC News as part of a story about the charity’s work. “Seb, a prison leaver released into homelessness who uncovered a talent for cooking. After joining the first cohort, Seb was then profiled in the Big Issue (Dec 24) as a success story and went on to the Megaro Hotel under Michelin-starred chef Adam Simmonds (and the organisation’s first Executive Chef).” Credit: 130 Primrose In the long term, the team behind the restaurant wants to expand to cities across the UK. They hope to become “a recognised pipeline of skilled, diverse talent for the hospitality industry, while helping to reshape perceptions of homelessness.” 📍 130 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 8XL.🚇 The nearest station is Chalk Farm. Find out more here.
