Maasi's, an award-winning Pakistani café in Cardiff, will close at the end of August after St Luke's Church, where it has been based since 2021, asked the business to vacate the premises. Owner Sabrina Khan announced the decision on social media, stating, "It is with great sadness that we admit defeat and announce that we will be closing at the end of August."
Background and Success
Maasi's opened at St Luke's Hall in Canton in 2021, offering traditional family-recipe Pakistani dishes. The café quickly became a beloved part of Cardiff's food scene, winning 'Best in Cardiff' at the Food Awards Wales two years in a row. Khan, a former teacher, founded the business with an all-female team to empower women from the local Pakistani community.
The café's origins were accidental; Khan's food became popular during lockdown, leading to the establishment of Maasi's, which means 'auntie' in Punjabi. The restaurant provided a space for women to work and gain experience in a professional kitchen.
Church's Perspective
A representative for the West Cardiff Ministry on behalf of the Church in Wales explained that the original agreement in 2021 was intended to support a small community initiative aimed at empowering women. The rent was set at a charitable level to reflect this social purpose. However, as Maasi's grew into a successful commercial restaurant, the nature and scale of operations changed significantly.
"The business now operates as a commercial restaurant and regularly serves a large number of customers," the church representative said. "Despite this change the rent has remained at the original, charitable level. This could see us fall foul of charity commission rules were we not to take action to address this situation."
The church also noted that St Luke's Church has had limited access to its hall and kitchen, hindering parish activities, community groups, and events. Over the past year, Canon Andrew Sully, the ministry area leader, has been in regular contact with Khan to explain these concerns. Khan was given notice that her use of the hall must end by August 31, as she held a licence to operate, not a lease.
Community Response
A petition urging the church to reconsider the eviction gathered over 650 signatures. Despite this, the church maintained its decision, stating it had agreed to keep the reduced rental level unchanged until the end of the agreement to support a smooth transition.
Future Plans
Maasi's has indicated this is not the end for the brand. In a social media post, the restaurant said, "This is not the end for us. Maasi's will reinvent and you will find us popping up in your favourite places." The café is seeking new venues and invites interested parties to get in touch. Until August 31, Maasi's will continue operating, with Curry Club dates filling up quickly.
Khan expressed gratitude to supporters: "We would like to thank everyone who has supported us, we couldn't have done it without you."
