Bombay Express, an Asian restaurant located on Belgrave Road in Torquay, offers a unique variety of Asian delicacies & contemporary British-Asian dishes.
As is the case for all businesses in Torbay, the pandemic has thrown up significant challenges for everyone over the past year. Rehan Uddin, owner of Bombay Express has had to adapt his business model to survive. This together with accessing the grants and government support on offer has meant that the business has more than just survived. Rehan told us that the one benefit to come out of COVID-19 was having the opportunity to step back from the day to day running of the restaurant and spend the time investing, planning and setting a new strategy for the future.
Bombay Express re-opened having undergone a total refurbishment. The refurbishment of the restaurant has been centred around COVID-19 guidelines, reducing the seating capacity from 60 to 42, in the main restaurant area, allowing tables to socially distance. Rehan explains: “COVID-19 isn’t going to disappear anytime soon, we all have to learn to live in this new world. We have spent the past year tweaking and improving our service offering, re-planning our dining area and carefully re-evaluating our practices to ensure that we meet all the safety guidelines, allowing us to confidently reopen safely for our customers”.
Rehan explains that a short video accompanies every booking confirmation. This video prepares customers for the ways in which the dining experience still looks a little different for a while. The video explains what is expected from customers, the importance of why such rules are in place and how essential it is to adhere to the guidelines, to ensure a safe eating out experience for everyone.
Such measures, include having your temperature taken on arrival, checking in via Track & Trace and guidance on accessing the restrooms. The video also offers customers a reminder of the correct way to wear a face covering, which needs to be worn at all times, other than sitting down at the table. For those customers who prefer to, there is the option to order and pay for a meal via a mobile phone sat at the table to avoid any unnecessary contact.
“We take staff and customer safety extremely seriously and have spent a lot of time ensuring we are fully compliant with all the latest guidelines. Torbay Council and TDA have been exceptional in keeping us informed and up to date with the latest guidance and in supporting us to access government grants and funding”.
We work with Government, TDA and local businesses like Bombay Express, to ensure that grants, loans and other support available are accessed quickly and effectively to help businesses operating in Torbay.
Rehan feels extremely positive for the summer and year ahead and expects to run his restaurant at maximum capacity for much of the extended summer season.
“With foreign travel still looking unlikely and with TripAdvisor recently announcing Torquay as the top trending staycation destination, the Bay is going to be quite busy! It is down to all local businesses to ensure all the relevant measures are in place, to maximise the opportunity and to welcome visitors safely. Perhaps this is the time to embrace the opportunity and make Torbay a year-round visitor destination”.
When asked if he had any advice for other local businesses who were feeling a little nervous about re-opening, Rehan replied:
“We will be living in this new world for a while, so don’t wait for anything to change, get ready, fully prepare and get the doors open. Don’t be afraid to set the tone and tell customers what to do in terms of explaining the rules and the importance of why they are in place. Customers will appreciate knowing exactly what they are expected to do, whether it be the systems in place to dine-in or to collect a takeaway.
The rules are there for each and every one of us; allowing all of us to get back to a new normal.
We are very much looking forward to welcoming our customers back to a very COVID-19 compliant Bombay Express.”
