LONDON: British Pakistani businessman Asif Khaliq has opened the fourth UK branch of popular Café Arshad Khan Chaiwala in Leyton, East London, as part of an ambitious expansion of the Pakistani tea brand made famous by viral sensation Arshad Khan.
The new outlet marks another milestone in Asif Khaliq’s efforts to establish the brand across Britain, bringing traditional Pakistani chai, food and café culture to British Pakistani communities and a wider British audience.
The Leyton opening follows the establishment of three branches in Tooting, Sutton and New Malden, including two recent openings, as the business continues to expand its presence across London.
Speaking about the opening of the fourth branch, Khaliq said the expansion reflected the growing demand for authentic Pakistani food, traditional chai and a welcoming café experience among British customers from different communities.
Asif Khaliq said: “Our aim is to make Café Arshad Khan Chaiwala a household name across Britain. We are delighted to open our fourth branch in Leyton, bringing the authentic taste of Pakistani chai and traditional food to East London. The response from customers has been extremely encouraging, and we are committed to taking this Pakistani brand to new heights by opening more branches across the UK.”
He said: “Café Arshad Khan Chaiwala is known for its traditional Pakistani kadak chai, freshly prepared parathas, Pakistani-style breakfast dishes, snacks and other desi favourites. Its food offering includes traditional chai served in Pakistani style, breakfast combinations, savoury snacks and a selection of café dishes designed to appeal to families, young customers and lovers of South Asian cuisine.
“We aim to recreate the atmosphere and flavours of Pakistani tea culture while offering customers a modern café experience.”
Arshad Khan, whose photograph as a tea seller in Islamabad made him an international sensation, has welcomed the expansion of his café brand under Khaliq’s leadership.
Arshad Khan said: “I am extremely thankful to Asif Khaliq for his dedication, hard work and commitment to expanding Café Arshad Khan Chaiwala across Britain. He has played an important role in taking our brand to new heights and introducing authentic Pakistani chai and food to British Pakistani families and the wider British public. It makes me very proud to see our Pakistani brand growing internationally, and I look forward to seeing many more branches opening across the UK.”
Arshad Khan became an international sensation in 2016 after a photograph of him serving tea at a roadside stall in Islamabad went viral. His popularity led to modelling opportunities and television appearances before he established his café business in Pakistan in 2020.
The latest expansion follows a period of legal and commercial difficulties for the brand in Britain. Its original UK franchise arrangement involved businessmen Nadir Durrani and Yawar Akbar Durrani, who opened an outlet in Ilford in 2023.
The relationship subsequently deteriorated amid disagreements over royalties, contractual obligations and intellectual-property rights. Khan and his business partner alleged breaches of their franchise agreement and challenged the use of Khan’s name and image. The Durranis disputed those allegations and maintained that they had developed substantial parts of the UK business independently.
Following the breakdown of the original arrangement, Khaliq became the brand’s UK master franchise holder and has spearheaded its renewed expansion, opening branches in Sutton, New Malden and now Leyton alongside the existing Tooting café.
