Renowned Reading restaurant Clay’s Hyderabadi Kitchen launches crowdfunder to convert former Wetherspoons

Clay’s Hyderabadi Kitchen has launched a crowdfunding campaign in a bid to create a new 120 seat restaurant in a former Wetherspoons.

The husband-and-wife owned restaurant has taken on the lease of former pub, The Baron Cadogan, in Caversham and plans to completely revamp the site and expand its national delivery offering.

Plans for the new site include adding two kitchens with one traditional and one open plan for street food style bar snacks along with a larger bar area with eight lines of local ale, wine and cocktails.

The new restaurant will also introduce afternoon tea and Hyderabadi-style Sunday brunch for the first time, as well as a dedicated daily lunch menu.

READ MORE: Best restaurants for a business dinner in the Thames Valley

Renovations and the restaurant expansion is estimated to cost £500,000. The pair have
raised £250,000 towards the project so far and are now seeking £250,000 in crowdfunding
to support the venture.

Nandana Syamala, cofounder, Clay’s Hyderabadi Kitchen, said: “We want to build a restaurant that Berkshire can be proud of.

“We launched Clay’s to bring our favourite home cooking to a wider audience and the new
venue means we can now welcome double the number of diners, enhance our at home
delivery service and keep serving Hyderabadi food across the UK.

"We’ve been overwhelmed by the support of our community since we launched, now we’re asking for your support to help us make those changes a reality.”

Those who support the crowdfunding will gain rewards including meals for up to four people,
dine at home subscriptions, discount vouchers and cooking classes, led by founder
Nandana Syamala.

Clay’s originally launched in a former kebab shop on London Street, Reading in 2018. Its
menu of innovative, home-style regional cooking quickly grew legions of fans in Reading’s
community.

READ MORE: Full list of Michelin Star restaurants in the South East of England 2022

In 2020, the pair pivoted quickly, introducing UK-wide delivery to bring the taste of
Hyderabad to homes all over the country and support their business during the pandemic.

That led to national attention, and acclaim from some of the UK’s leading restaurant critics,
including Jay Rayner at The Observer described Clay’s as “punchy cooking, cult success”.

The crowdfunder launches on 8th June , with pledge packages starting at £25, rising to £8000.

For more information visit www.clayskitchen.co.uk/collections/crowd-funding-rewards .