Our Heritage

Loullas father was the first person to sell Kebabs in Manchester at the much loved and fondly remembered Prego on Oxford Street

About the Kosmos and Loulla Astin

Loulla Astin was born in Avgorou a small traditional village in Cyprus. Her grandmother was Loulla’s earliest and most important inspiration. From her, Loulla learned all about generations-old Cypriot and Greek cuisine.

At fifteen Loulla came with her family to Britain, where her father was a major player in bringing Greek food to Manchester and was the first person to bring Kebabs to the city! By 1981 Loulla, with husband Stewart, joined the family business and opened Manchester’s now famous Kosmos Taverna.

Kosmos went from strength to strength, featuring Greek and Greek Island dishes. A year after opening they were in Consumers’ Association’s Good Food Guide, the Egon Ronay Guide, followed by AA Top 500 Restaurants and in 1990 won the Perrier Restaurant of the Year award.

Success brought media attention. Loulla appears regularly on BBC2, Carlton and Sky. In 1996 she was nominated Woman of the Year and recorded her own television series, Simply Greek, followed by two more: Restaurant Dishes and World on a Plate. Even Richard and Judy on Channel 4 declare Kosmos a favourite eating place.

In 2009 she was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen at a reception for services to the hospitality industry of Great Britain.

Recently Loulla has provided recipes to the Cyprus Trade Centre, promoting tourism, Cypriot products, including, of course, food.