MasterChef Judge Joins London Restaurant Fighting Homelessness

A charity restaurant in London is giving people who've experienced homelessness something powerful: a chance to build careers in one of the city's most competitive industries.

130 Primrose reopens May 8th in Primrose Hill with a new name, charity status, and MasterChef judge Monica Galetti as executive chef and trustee. The 50-seat restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, with a menu blending Mediterranean flavors and touches of Galetti's Samoan heritage.

But the real story isn't the food. It's the people making it.

Every staff member is someone who has experienced homelessness, whether through prison release, displacement, addiction recovery, or life on the streets. Each gets a six-month paid contract, hands-on training from Galetti and head chef Eric Zhang, and certifications in food hygiene and allergen awareness.

"I've seen firsthand how, with the right support, people can rediscover hope, dignity and purpose through opportunities like this," Galetti said. She volunteers regularly at Soup Kitchen London and jumped at the chance to shape this project's future.

The model already works. During its first year as Home Kitchen, the restaurant employed 16 people affected by homelessness. Five moved into permanent hospitality jobs elsewhere.

Take Ade, a business graduate and father of three who experienced street homelessness. He joined the kitchen in August 2024 and now works full-time at Soup Kitchen London, with 18 months of continuous employment. Or Seb, released from prison into homelessness, who discovered a cooking talent and went on to work under Michelin-starred chef Adam Simmonds.

The restaurant partners with Crisis, The Big Issue, and other organizations to find people ready for this opportunity. Its first cohort included refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq and Ukraine alongside people in recovery and those rebuilding after incarceration.

Why This Inspires

This isn't charity disguised as employment. It's real work in a real restaurant where diners pay for quality food and the skills being taught translate directly into career advancement.

Co-founder Michael Brown sees it as closing two gaps at once. "Too often, people facing homelessness are excluded from work and written off by society," he said. "At the same time, the hospitality industry faces a shortage of committed, qualified staff."

The new name references both the restaurant's address and the Latin "prima rosa," meaning first rose, a symbol of spring and new beginnings. A speakeasy-style cocktail bar will open on the lower level next month, creating even more training positions.

With Galetti's expertise and connections, 130 Primrose aims to scale up and prove that talent can flourish anywhere when given the right support.