Royston eatery Number 41 takes business on the road

The eatery, which served tea, coffee, breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner, closed on Saturday, November 9 after five years in business.

Number 41 was opened by couple Stacey Scarborough-Taylor and Kadir Akgul in December 2019, who have 30 years of hospitality experience between them.

Stacey and Kadir, owners of Number 41 in Royston (Image: Courtesy of Stacey Scarborough-Taylor) The lockdown forced them to adapt soon after opening to offer deliveries and takeaways, and since then Stacey said the business has gone "from strength to strength".

She said: "I am English and my partner is Turkish. We wanted to create a place that we’d like to go out to eat. There wasn’t anything like it in Royston."

Kadir specialises in Turkish puff bread and pida - which is a Turkish version of pizza - and the restaurant also offered a wide selection of handmade cakes.

Pida - or Turkish pizza (Image: Stacey Scarborough-Taylor) Ingredients were sourced locally where possible, with alcoholic beverages supplied by a Royston wine merchant and cheese and meat coming from suppliers within a 10-mile radius.

Stacey said: "The business has just grown. The residents of Royston have been really supportive and we’ve made friends with lots of customers."

With the lease coming to an end, Stacey has decided to retire while Kadir runs a mobile version of the business.

Food served at No 41 in Royston (Image: Stacey Scarborough-Taylor) "Our five-year plan has come to an end," Stacey explained. "It’s come to a natural end and we can walk away.

"We’ve had a great time so on to the next thing."

Kadir will now be serving pida, puff breads, chicken and lamb skewers and more from a van, and is renaming the business 'The Greatest Doughman'.

Breakfast at Number 41 (Image: Stacey Scarborough-Taylor) The exact locations where the van will be set up are not yet decided, but there are pitches planned in Royston, Bassingbourn, Clavering and Aston.

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Meanwhile on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Kadir will cater private parties and events.

Stacey said: "I'm sad to be leaving the residents of Royston and our customers. They have really supported us.

"We’ve had an amazing time. Sometimes you know a decision is right and it’s time to move on."

Homemade cakes at Number 41 (Image: Stacey Scarborough-Taylor)