The owner of a Romford restaurant has urged people to "come out of your houses and support local businesses so they can survive".
Delhi Live, in Victoria Road, was taken over by Sameer Suri and his business partner Pankaj Sadheura in June 2024.
After making several improvements to the restaurant over the last two years, ranging from the delivery service to internal decor, Sameer has told the Recorder that business has been "good" but he's not quite where he "wants to be" yet.
Sameer said: “Business has been picking up but we’re still not where we should be or where we would love to be.
“We need to appeal to the public to support local businesses and give us a chance - it’s been two years now and still we see a lack of customers.
“On Victoria Road, where we are based, there are a lot of eateries so if people don’t come out, they won’t know.
“Businesses suffer in silence."
Sameer has urged people to stop staying inside and ordering takeaways and instead visit local restaurants like Delhi Live.
“I think people need to start coming out of their houses rather than using delivery services and I think that's what needs to change," he said.
“After Covid, the culture changed and a lot more people are sitting indoors and ordering takeaway food which is not helping.
“You need to come out of your houses and support local businesses so they can survive and do something good for you.
“I won’t blame customers but I think it’s a general thing - after Covid, people aren’t going out that much.
“But also, some people go out into London and spend hundreds of pounds.
“If they spend half of that amount in their local restaurants and local places I think they will make their money go far."
Sameer said that a lack of customers as well as taxes and other costs appear "too much to cope with sometimes".
Speaking to the Recorder in September 2025, Sameer claimed his ambition was to become "the best restaurant in Romford" within two years.
He said he believes this is "100 per cent" still achievable and has introduced changes across 2026 to act on this, including becoming fully non-halal.
Sameer said this has made "a lot of difference".
He added: “There are people leaving the other restaurants and coming to us and once they’ve eaten with us, they won’t go anywhere else.
“We are actually an authentic Indian restaurant – our taste is an authentic north Indian taste."
Delhi Live is also launching a DJ night on the last Friday of each month - starting on September 25.
This will run from 6-11pm and is not a ticketed event.
“You can come, have an a la carte meal, the DJ is playing so if you want to dance, you can dance – there is no restriction on anybody," Sameer said.
“We’re doing what we can but I think it’ll take time and more effort to get to where we want to."
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