New Primrose Hill restaurant to offer jobs and training to people affected by homelessness, with Monica Galetti as executive chef

A new restaurant aimed at recruiting, training and employing people who have experienced homelessness will open in Primrose Hill this May, with Monica Galetti heading it up as executive chef. Named 130 Primrose, the 50-cover venue will occupy the Regent’s Park Road site formerly home to Home Kitchen Diner, an earlier iteration of the same social enterprise that operated for a year until last August.

The restaurant will be open seven days a week from 9am, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in a brasserie-style setting, with additional street-side seating. Its à la carte menu will draw on Mediterranean influences, with elements reflecting Galetti’s Samoan heritage to be introduced later. Additional sandwiches and salads will be available at lunchtime, while evenings will add on charcuterie and cheese offering. A cocktail bar is scheduled to open on the lower ground floor next month.

The restaurant’s name is derived from the Latin phrase prima rosa, a symbol of spring and new beginnings. Employees will be offered paid work, accredited training and progression routes within hospitality, working under Galetti and head chef Eric Zhang, who will steer the kitchen on a full-time basis.

The venture builds on the work of Home Kitchen Diner, where Adam Simmonds previously led the team. That operation employed 16 people affected by homelessness, including prison leavers, refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq and Ukraine, and individuals in addiction recovery. Five members of the original cohort went on to secure permanent roles in hospitality.

Candidates for 130 Primrose are being recruited via referrals from partner charities including The Big Issue, Crisis, Beam, Soup Kitchen London and Only A Pavement Away. Each employee is offered a six-month contract in either the front of house or kitchen team, with the opportunity to complete qualifications such as Food Hygiene and Allergen Awareness certificates. After completing their contract, employees are supported in moving into further roles in the industry.

Longer term, the charity intends to expand the model to other UK cities, with the aim of becoming what it describes as a recognised pipeline of skilled, diverse talent for the hospitality sector while challenging perceptions of homelessness.

Galetti, who joins a board of six trustees, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how, with the right support, people can rediscover hope, dignity and purpose through opportunities like this. That’s why I didn’t hesitate when I was asked to help shape the culinary future of this incredible project. My first task is to create an exciting new menu that attracts customers to support our mission – celebrating the best British seasonal ingredients with a little twist of fun. Later, I’ll weave in touches of my Samoan heritage, giving our trainees a unique development opportunity and helping them to stand out when they move on in their career in hospitality.”

Among those previously supported by the project is Ade, a father of three and business graduate, who found himself homeless, living in hostels and on the street. After joining the kitchen team in August 2024, he secured full-time employment and now works with Soup Kitchen London, where he has maintained 18 months of continuous work. His colleague, Seb, was released from prison into homelessness before discovering a talent for cooking, going on to work at the Megaro Hotel under Simmonds.

Michael Brown, a charity trustee and part of the founding team, said: “Too often, people facing homelessness are excluded from work and written off by society – seen only for their circumstances, not their potential. At the same time, the hospitality industry, among many other challenges, faces a shortage of committed, qualified staff. We’ve started to close both gaps, to prove that talent can flourish anywhere and change perceptions. But we must do more. We must build on what we’ve learned and scale up to provide more opportunities for more people who need them. These are people with an extraordinary life experience doing extraordinary things with the right support. Employment brings dignity, belonging and a future.”

Food Desk

130 Primrose opens on 8^th May 2026 at 130 Regent’s Park Road, London NW1 8XL. For further information or to book a table, visit the restaurant’s website here.