A group of sixteen people, diverse in age and appearance, are gathered closely together indoors, smiling and laughing in a warmly lit room. They all appear to be enjoying each other's company.

Becoming Kricket

Inspired by India, firmly rooted in our communities

Let us tell you

Our Story

Two people stand in front of a dark blue restaurant exterior with large windows and an awning that reads “KRICKET.” Warm interior lighting and bar stools are visible inside. The street sign shows the number 12.
Two men in safety vests and hard hats stand smiling inside a partially constructed shipping container, with construction materials and equipment visible around them on a sunny day.

Kricket started in 2015 when we transformed a twenty-seat shipping container in Brixton into our first pop-up site.

Founded by university friends Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell, the concept came from a shared drive to open a restaurant with a completely distinct approach to Indian food.

A group of people sit closely together at a long table in a cosy, warmly lit restaurant, eating, drinking, and talking. Bottles and plates cover the table, and hanging lights create a relaxed, lively atmosphere.

Will trained under chef Rowley Leigh in London, before moving to Mumbai where he worked with the Keiba Group. Here he immersed himself in Indian cuisine, culture and society. Back in London, he worked with Vivek Singh at The Cinnamon Collection deepening his knowledge of regional Indian cooking.

Will later reunited with Rik, who left a career in corporate finance at Deloitte, and together they set out to blend classical techniques with the diversity of Indian cuisine using seasonal British produce.

What started as a pop-up quickly built a cult following. In 2017, we opened our first permanent restaurant in Soho, earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand within its first year – an honour we’ve proudly retained ever since. We later opened restaurants in Brixton, Canary Wharf and Shoreditch.

A modern restaurant interior with red bar stools lined up along a counter, globe lights, exposed concrete ceiling, and wooden tables with benches. The space has industrial elements and a warm, minimalist design.
Five bowls of colourful, vibrant Asian-inspired dishes are arranged on a pink tablecloth, featuring fresh herbs, vegetables, and sauces, showcasing a variety of textures and ingredients.

As we grew, our love for a great drink to match the food evolved too. To complement the restaurants, we launched SOMA—a late-night speakeasy cocktail bar that reimagines classic drinks with a focus on flavours from the Indian subcontinent and beyond. Located next door to Kricket in both Soho and Canary Wharf.

A modern bar with a square counter, black stools, and bottles lined up. Warm yellow and orange lighting creates a cosy, intimate atmosphere with dark walls and ceiling.
A cricket player swings a bat on a dusty pitch while others play and watch in the background; trees and tents line the side, with a large building visible far off.

Beyond the plate, Kricket is a celebration of contemporary Indian culture, art, and design. We collaborate with independent Indian artists to bring soulful, unique imagery into our spaces, and we use our platform to mark both traditional cultural moments and the hyper-local events that define our London neighbourhoods.

Today, Kricket remains a celebrated collection of independent restaurants. We have come a long way since that first shipping container, but our focus remains the same: people first, uncompromising quality, and an unapologetic love for authentic, modern India.