Lux Turkish Restaurant officially welcomed guests on Thursday 10th June with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, networking event and open buffet at its premises in Godwin Court. The venue occupies the former Kenzo72 site at 72 – 74 Godwin Court.
The restaurant aims to challenge the perception that Turkish food is limited to takeaway options. It offers a sit-down dining experience focused on traditional recipes and presentation.
General Manager Halil Pashaoglulari said:
“We could see that there was a massive gap in the market. You can have fast-food Turkish dishes, but nowhere you can actually sit down and have a luxury, premium Turkish dining experience. We wanted to bring Turkish hospitality to Swindon and create somewhere people can enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine in a relaxed setting.”
The menu includes dishes such as kleftiko, Turkish lamb shank, stone-baked casseroles, grilled meats and sharing platters. Cocktails inspired by Turkish flavours are also available.
Halil Pashaoglulari said:
“What we do here is actual Turkish authenticity. Our proper Turkish kebab is completely different to what people might expect. We focus on traditional recipes, presentation and the full dining experience, with good food, drinks and atmosphere.”
One of the restaurant’s directors said the decision to open in Swindon was driven by the town’s diverse food scene. He said:
“We decided to create this restaurant because Swindon has many different cultural restaurants, but not a dedicated Turkish restaurant like this. We saw the opportunity to bring our special Turkish cuisine to the town and share it with the community.”
He added:
“The response has been really good, better than we expected. We didn’t expect so many people to come in, so we’re very pleased.”
Among the recommended dishes are the slow-cooked lamb shank kleftiko and Kuzu Sarma Beyti, a traditional lamb dish served with yoghurt. A family platter featuring lamb ribs, chicken shish, Adana shish and lamb shish is also proving popular with customers.
The opening marks the latest addition to Old Town’s expanding independent hospitality sector, as the area continues to strengthen its reputation as one of Swindon’s key food and drink destinations.
