Over 309,000 people in England are considered homeless right now, including 140,000 children, according to Shelter – that’s a 14 per cent jump in a single year. With the cost of living soaring and support avenues stretched, many of those affected feel they have nowhere to turn, whether they’re newly released from prison , sofa surfing, living in hostels or estranged from family and friends. Having no fixed address or even a criminal record makes it difficult to become a functioning part of society again, but now a new London enterprise is breaking down barriers to help marginalised groups get a second chance at rebuilding their lives.
Home Kitchen, a new-fine dining restaurant located in Primrose Hill (on the old site of Odette’s), and the first of its kind in the UK, is staffed entirely by socially vulnerable people. Headed up by Michelin-starred chef Adam Simmonds, the restaurant opened its doors in September 2024, and employs 15 people currently considered homeless. Not only does the not-for-profit offer them above London Living Wage and a travel card to get to and from work, but also a catering qualification to help kickstart their new futures.
Despite working in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the world throughout his career (Simmonds is still the chef patron at The Megaro when he’s not at Home Kitchen), he admits this venture has been his most fulfilling – and not just because of the impact on the employees it helps. “I’m an addict – I haven�.