A popular kebab business that started as a Bristol market stall is to open its first permanent site in the city centre.
Hope Bainbridge and Annie Faulkner launched Hoba in 2017 with a stall at the Harbourside and traded at a number of food markets across the city before taking over the kitchens at various pubs.
For the past two years, it has been trading at Kongs of King Street but now owners Hope and Annie have taken on their first permanent premises.
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The new site is the old Pizza Hut restaurant on St Augustine’s Parade, a few doors down from the Hippodrome.
Pizza Hut closed its doors suddenly in October 2021 and the site has been empty and boarded up ever since.
Hope says it feels ‘incredible’ to be opening their very first permanent Hoba restaurant after five years of markets and pop-ups.
“It’s always been our goal to have our own bricks and mortar site and we can’t believe it’s finally happened,” she said.
“This is a location that’s very special to us, as it is directly opposite our very first market stall at the Harbourside back in 2017.”
Hope founded Hoba after working as a private chef in London and the business was inspired by fresh chargrilled kebab places she visited in Berlin.
“We want to bring the Berlin cool, minimalistic vibe to our first Hoba site whilst also using local Bristol artists to give it our unique Hoba edge.
“We’ll be having-in house seating which means we can serve delicious local beers alongside our kebabs and pump out great tunes.
“Expect a bright space with a relaxed feel for you to hang out with pals, or grab your quick lunchtime favourite.”
Hope says their two years at Kongs of King Street helped Hoba reach a wider audience and build the brand.
“The love and support for Hoba has just grown and grown over the past couple of years and. The team at Kongs of King Street been so supportive and it’s been an amazing venue for us to show what we’re about, grow and expand.
“We’ve loved our years at Kongs and we’re now ready to take Hoba to the next level!”
Hoba’s kebabs feature locally sourced meat and best-sellers include Spicy Beef (grass-fed beef mixed with house spices and fresh herbs with tzatziki and crispy onions) and Flamin’ Chicken (chargrilled chicken with harissa mayo, jalapeños and crispy onions).
Vegetarian options include chargrilled cauliflower with Middle Eastern spices, sweet potato hummus and crushed peanuts.
The kebabs are served with tahini, pickled cabbage, cucumber and pickled onions in Turkish flatbreads.
Hoba will open its new site by mid-March and it will be open seven days a week.
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