Syrian refugee - who reached the UK after three month journey - opens falafel restaurant in Soho

A Syrian refugee - who journeyed for three months to the UK after fleeing war - has set up his own restaurant in Soho.

Imad Alarnad used to run three eateries in Damascus, before the conflict started.

However he had to flee, and leave his belongings, his house and his restaurants behind as he “rushed out of Syria”.

“I was scared that it was difficult to make it, but I had no other choice,” he said.

It took him three months to reach the UK, and he had to travel on foot, by boat and by bike, while sleeping in a tent on the street.

During his journey, the chef shared his falafel skills with other refugees, sometimes cooking for up to 400 people at a time.

Imad said he “feels surrounded by angels in the UK”, and that Londoners have been very friendly and welcoming to him.

He said that London is “a great city, you can find someone or something from everywhere”.

Imad’s Syrian Kitchen is his first restaurant in London, located in Carnaby Street’s Kingly Court, in Soho.

He started cooking at the age of eight, and says his mother taught him his cooking skills and taught him English.

“I used to be a mumma’s boy, she’s the one who taught me how to cook,” Imad said.

His specialist dish is freshly-made falafel.

The chef explained that he still missed Syria from before the war.

“During the war, it is not the same city anymore,” Imad said, sadly.

“I miss my own Damascus, the one before 2012.”