BROCCOLI Pizza and Pasta, new to the UK, is already getting lots of positive feedback from customers as it serves up tasty meals at The Crossing, the Brunel shopping centre’s new food hub.

The new food outlet serves pizza, pasta, lasagne and salad, all freshly made to order – and the Swindon location is the very first in the South West for the food franchise.

Broccoli Pizza and Pasta serves Italian-style food via the United Arab Emirates – the outlet was set up in Dubai in 2011, has branches across the UAE, and now has stores in the UK too.

You can choose from eight types of pasta, five sauces, a range of vegetables and meat combinations. Soups and breakfasts are also on the menu.

This is a first step into the restaurant business, for franchise owner Prakash Guna, 35, following a career in research.

“I did a Master’s in biotechnology at the University of East London,” he said. “I started working at Oxford University as a research assistant into Alzheimer’s, then I moved to working for a private company doing cancer research.”

Prakash, who still lives in Oxford, spent six years working at Oxford University and another two for the company - but what he really wanted to do was set up his own business.

“I always wanted to have my own business, and I had always loved cooking and food,” he said. “For the last year and a half I’ve been looking into opening my own restaurant – then I decided to open a franchise restaurant. I think the concept is unique, and everything we serve is fresh, not frozen.

"I like the food, though it is a lot of work because with everything fresh there is a lot of preparation.”

The eaterie will employ about seven people when fully staffed, and as the business gets going, Prakash is planning a delivery option, as well as the take-away and dining-in options.

“We use top quality, fresh ingredients and we don’t compromise on the taste. With each dish taking approximately three to four minutes to prepare, Broccoli Pizza and Pasta offers a quick and easy choice for those looking for something healthier. We can also tailor according to the customer’s preference too, so if you don’t like lots of oil used in your cooking, then we can only use a little.”

Broccoli Pizza and Pasta opened just a few weeks ago with all new staff, and as the food outlet is open seven days a week, Prakash has plenty of work to do.

He says his friends, many of whom work in the field of science he has left behind, admire his decision to strike out alone with a new venture.

“Some of them are thinking they might like to set up a business,” he said. “Once it’s all set up I would like to do more.”

A life-long vegetarian, Prakash says his personal favourite meal on the menu is the vegetable lasagne.

“We have had people asking if we do vegan options, and we don’t at the moment,” he said. “But I’ve been asking at head office if we can do so.”

Many customers were eating in, he said, enjoying the new open plan dining area at The Crossing.

For more information, visit the Broccoli Pizza and Pasta Swindon page on Facebook.