SPOTLIGHT ON:
Pad Thai Live
What’s the story behind the business name and how long has it been around?
The name Pad Thai Live refers to the fact that we cook everything fresh, right in front of you – in a similar way to that of a live cooking show – where you watch the dishes being made. We cook everything fresh for the customer, in front of the customer.
The food and our awesome Thai chefs are the stars and in an age where we like to know more and more about the food we’re eating, we don’t believe in keeping the preparation tucked away out the back where nobody can see. We want customers to come and watch, enjoy and taste an authentic Thai experience.
What makes Pad Thai Live different from other Thai restaurants?
We never wanted to be another typical Thai restaurant, where the decor, the food and the experience is much the same from one to the next, firmly sticking to the traditional image of a Thai restaurant in the UK.
At Pad Thai Live we wanted to better represent the true face of Thailand and its foods. The hustle and bustle of the street markets, where you watch your food being cooked, enjoy the fantastic aromas and take in the vibrancy of the restaurant. The drama is as much a part of the experience as the food itself.
How have COVID-19 lockdowns impacted your business?
The latest lockdowns, between November and December were absolutely devastating to our business. There were weeks when we were operating below 10% of October figures. On many occasions I considered closing, as we were losing money every day which couldn’t continue for long. However, I believe in our food, and I didn’t want to let our loyal customers and awesome staff down.
We had to perform a major pivot and invest in pushing and growing our delivery business. Through a lot of determination by our team, week by week, we kept grinding forward, overcoming a number of issues along the way, until we finally began to tip back into profit. We were able to slowly bring back other members of the team until the delivery business smashed all expectations and is now a major part of our offering. You can find us on JustEat, Deliveroo and our own website, padthailive.com
How has the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions impacted your business?
The return of the tables! This is the core of our business and is such a welcome relief to finally have them back. There were moments when I questioned whether we’d be able to hang on. To be able to enjoy the atmosphere and drama again in the arcade made me a little emotional!
What services do you provide?
We are in an open kitchen, we couldn’t cut corners if we wanted to (which we very much don’t!) – all of our food is authentic Thai. We cook everything fresh to order, as you’d expect from a Thai Street Food Market.
You can come and enjoy the experience with us in the Royal Star Arcade, or takeaway or order for delivery at JustEat, Deliveroo or padthailive.com
What’s your signature product/what are you particularly proud of?
Pad Thai! Our recipe is a very closely guarded secret and was weeks in the making. It’s a succulent tamarind based sauce cooked with veg and an egg and tossed together with the iconic Thai rice noodles. It’s naturally gluten free and (except for the egg – which can be removed) vegan. We also offer prawn and chicken options!
That said, Pad KaPow is my personal favourite!
Anything else you’d like to add?
I’d like to say thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to our incredible customers who’ve supported us throughout these troubled times. And to those who have yet to come in and check out our authentic Thai Street Food experience. What are you waiting for?!