Sanjay Anand, founder of Madhu's which was voted 2005 restaurant of the year at the Best In Britain awards, has revealed how 20 banks turned him down when he first tried to borrow £30,000 for the goodwill on the lease.
Finally the State Bank of India agreed to lend him the money at 23% and he borrowed another £12,000 from family friends to open the tiny 36-seat restaurant in Southall, west London, in 1980.
His mother was head chef, while his father and brother helped out in the kitchen and Anand looked after the customers.
The first week the restaurant took £500, then £700 the following week and delighted Anand gradually expanded to 104 seats.
The Sunday Times 06/11/05 (Business) page 3.12
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