From Thailand Travel Dreams to Ramsbottom Reality: How Start Up Loans Fueled Authentic Thai Dining Success
- Tuesday, August 5, 2025
- Posted By The Growth Company
When Mylo Sedgley-Phillips and Ketsara Lumb spent three months travelling across Thailand, they discovered something extraordinary – vibrant, authentic dishes that were virtually impossible to find back home in the UK. That culinary revelation would eventually transform into Sawadee Thai Dining, a thriving restaurant in Ramsbottom that has exceeded all expectations since opening.
The couple's restaurant dream was born from their shared passion for Thailand's rich culinary heritage. Ketsara, originally from Thailand, brought invaluable traditional cooking techniques and cultural authenticity to their vision, while Mylo's extensive background in hospitality and sales provided the commercial expertise needed to turn their concept into reality.
Their mission was clear: create a restaurant offering genuinely traditional Thai cuisine using authentic methods something they felt was missing from the UK dining landscape.
To transform their vision into a tangible business, Mylo and Ketsara applied for Start Up Loans through GC Business Finance (GCBF), each securing the maximum £25,000 available. This £50,000 total investment enabled them to refurbish their chosen Ramsbottom premises and purchase the essential equipment needed for authentic Thai cooking.
The funding proved crucial in providing the financial stability required to establish their restaurant to the highest standards from day one.
Before opening their doors, the entrepreneurial couple demonstrated impressive market research skills, engaging directly with the Ramsbottom community to understand local dining preferences and demands. Their investigation revealed a significant opportunity: while the town boasted a thriving bar scene, diverse dining options remained limited.
Sawadee Thai Dining was strategically positioned to fill this gap, offering residents a welcoming space centred around high-quality, authentic Thai cuisine.
The restaurant's performance since opening has been nothing short of remarkable. Within just one month of operation, Sawadee Thai Dining achieved five times its projected revenue, a testament to both the quality of their offering and the strength of local demand they had identified.
This extraordinary success has been primarily driven by organic word-of-mouth recommendations, with the local community enthusiastically embracing their new dining destination.
Building on this strong foundation, Mylo and Ketsara remain committed to sustainable growth. Their focus continues to centre on assembling a talented team, maintaining exceptional customer service standards, and ensuring every dish consistently meets their exacting quality requirements.
Mylo Sedgley-Phillips, Co-Founder of Sawadee Thai Dining, reflected: "Ketsara and I had dreamed of opening our own Thai restaurant for years, and discovering the perfect site in Ramsbottom felt like destiny. The Start Up Loan was instrumental in making our business launch possible – John and the entire GCBF team provided incredible support throughout the process.
"The funding gave us the essential breathing room to execute our vision efficiently and professionally. The response from our local community has been overwhelming, and we're excited to continue building on this foundation."
Alex Mearns, Head of Start Up Lending at GC Business Finance, commented: "Supporting Mylo and Ketsara as they transformed their dream into reality has been incredibly rewarding. Their dedication to bringing genuinely authentic Thai cuisine to Ramsbottom has been key to Sawadee Thai Dining's rapid success.
"They exemplify exactly how the Start Up Loans programme empowers entrepreneurs – providing not just funding, but the comprehensive support and guidance needed to achieve ambitious business goals."
About Start Up Loans: The Start Up Loans Scheme provides government-backed funding up to £25,000 per applicant, along with mentoring support to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses across the UK.