Fulham Chain Best Mangal Celebrates 20th Anniversary

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By adding a takeaway in Hammersmith to three around North End Road

One of Fulham and West Kensington's most successful family-owned restaurants is celebrating its 20th anniversary by expanding into Hammersmith.

It was back in 1996 that the Gurgur family launched the first Best Mangal at 104 North End Road, with kebabs at the top of the menu, along with a range of Turkish and Mediterranean dishes.

Over the last 20 year, the family’s empire of Turkish restaurants has swelled to three Best Mangals in Fulham, including its very busy branch on Fulham Broadway, as well as the home delivery service, Mangal Express.

Gursel Gurgur, who has come up through the family’s ranks to run the local restaurant chain, says: " My father came from quite a poor background in Turkey and immigrated here. our main business is textiles, but he decided to set up a restaurant in West Kensington as he loved food and it was his hobby.

"He saw an opening for a Turkish restaurant in west London, there are plenty in north London but not here. It took a very long time to get the business going but we’ve got much more to come. We’ve shown that Turkish food is truly popular when it’s made with love and super fresh. It’s also healthy."

And to celebrate their anniversary in style, they are opening their first Mangal Express shopfront in Shepherd's Bush Road this month, specialising takeaway meals and home delivery.

"It’s exciting," says Gursel."We’ve seen our home delivery service explode. We know there is the demand locally – and the new shopfront is just about trying to keep pace with that demand."

Family members are also dotted throughout his local network of restaurants, but Gursel says that his long-serving staff are also regarded as being ‘part of the family’.

Gursel is also a big supporter of the Barons Court Project, which offers support to people on low incomes who are vulnerable to mental illness and/or homeless.

He frequently provides food and drink to those needing support at the charity’s Talgarth Road base – and he hopes to work with them every fortnight next year.

"It’s important to give back, " he says. " I can’t bear to think there are people going hungry around me – especially as we love our food!"

For more details on Best Mangal or Mangal Express, visit Best Mangal or Mangal Express.