Sponsored refugee opens his own restaurant in Manchester

Samir Hamyeh’s story should serve as an inspiration to refugees welcomed to Britain through Community Sponsorship. Samir, a Syrian, arrived with his family in Flixton, East Manchester in November 2016. The Hamyehs were only the second family to be sponsored and they were warmly welcomed by volunteers from St Monica’s Roman Catholic church.

Both in Syria and later in Lebanon, Samir had worked in the catering industry, including running and owning his own restaurants. Within a few months of arriving in the UK, he was volunteering in a kitchen that served food to homeless people and destitute asylum seekers, and he went on to find paid jobs in local restaurants across Manchester. But Samir’s dream was to open his own restaurant so that he could build a more secure future for his growing family.

In March that dream became a reality when Samir’s Middle Eastern Cuisine opened on the Chester Road in Manchester, not far from Manchester United’s ground at Old Trafford.

Samir’s journey is celebrated in this little video:

And remember, if you are ever in Manchester and need somewhere to eat go to

Samir’s Restaurant

1116 Chester Road

Manchester M32 OHA

UPDATE - 11th May 2019

The Manchester Evening News have published a lovely article about Samir's journey, read it here .