Aiming for a ‘home away from home’ concept, Gunam changed the cocktail list to include ‘weird and wonderful cocktails’ and introduced sourdough pizzas made with fresh ingredients in the venue, redecorated with vintage furniture and sofas.
The site, which can hold up to 240 people, also has a beer garden and a basement hosting nightly events including comedy, jazz, indie bands, swing dancing, DJs and open mic.
Home away from home
“The Hideaway is my customers’ home away from home. It's our local neighbourhood bar and kitchen. And it will be one of many in the future.
“I have hired a great team of people who go that extra mile for each one of my customers. We love our customers. We know their names. We know what they like to drink. We know their favourite sourdough pizzas and to top it all off, we love what we do,” Gunam said.
A dream come true
After starting her hospitality career at McDonald’s, she worked as a general manager at Nando’s, supporting several openings before becoming the brand’s skills training manager. She then took on various other responsibilities at Capricorn Ventures, including development manager for Wahaca and operations manager for Baker & Spice.
She was recruited by Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh as Draft House's operations manager in February 2011.
“My new year resolution last year was to finally be my own boss and start running a few successful businesses with the values and ethics that are close to my heart. I wanted to be different from other recruitment and HR consultants. And now I am, by practising what I preach.
“I was bought up in North London and Camden was my hangout place as a teenager. So to be back there running my second home is a dream come true,” she added.