Punjab Restaurant signs Armed Forces Covenant

The iconic Punjab restaurant in Covent Garden’s Neal Street signed the Armed Forces Covenant on Wednesday 13 June 2018. The event was hosted at the Punjab - the oldest North Indian restaurant in the UK, established by the Maan family in 1946.

Amrit Maan, Managing Director, described the signing as a proud moment and hoped it would cement the restaurant’s relationship with and continued support for the Armed Forces, saying “We are privileged and honoured to be publically signing the Armed Forces Covenant.”

Mr Maan and his family are well known within the Armed Forces community for their ongoing charitable support to diversity and engagement events. Most recently the Punjab restaurant donated the catering for the Chattri Memorial Service, which honours Indian Service personnel who lost their lives during the First World War, on Sunday 10 June in Brighton feeding over 500 attendees.

Mr Maan’s Great-uncles served in the British Indian Army during WW2 and witnessed the fall of Singapore in 1942, fought at the battle of El Alamein 1942 and in the Burma campaign of 1942 - 1945.

The Punjab’s commitment to charitable giving is underpinned by the belief in ‘Nishkam Sewa’, an important aspect of the Sikh religion which refers to ‘selfless giving’. In addition to supporting Armed Forces engagement activities, the Punjab restaurant is well known for feeding the homeless and providing complementary food for many mainstream events promoting Vaisakhi and Sikhism.

Commodore Duncan Lamb, who co-signed the Covenant on behalf of the Armed Forces, thanked the Punjab for making the pledge and for the work they are already doing saying, “I see a great synergy and acceptance of the Armed Forces.”

WO1 Ashok Chauhan, of the Army’s Diversity Engagement Team, describes Punjab’s support of the Armed Forces as ‘second to none’, saying, “I can’t thank them enough for the immense work they do to support the community and Armed Forces charities.”

The Punjab restaurant offers a discount to service personnel, though the Defence Discount Card. “We are so proud of all Service personnel from all faiths.”