FORMER city centre hotel manager Simon Grybas is carving out a new and successful career as a restaurant owner.

Simon, 33, who left the Great Victoria hotel around three years ago after seven years as general manager, now co-owns a growing chain of My Thai eateries across the North which he runs with business partner Apiyada “Bee” Laltham.

Simon first became involved through being a regular diner at Bee’s My Thai restaurant on Keighley Road,Frizinghall.

Their latest venture is an informal city centre diner at the bottom of Sunbridge Road in Bradford.

The My Thai chain ranges from formal venues to totally informal outlets serving street food.

The nine-strong chain includes venues in Manchester, Bury, two in Leeds, including the former Old Steps bar site, and a York restaurant in addition to Bradford.

More expansion is planned, including a second Manchester site.

Simon said the emphasis is on a friendly, informal atmosphere and affordable authentic Thai cuisine

He said: “All the menus are different at each site but customers can expect all the Thai classics at every branch. Our formula is proving very popular and since 2014 we have been able to expand quickly.”

The restaurants serve fresh produce bought every day with herbs imported weekly from Thailand.

Simon said Bee used her Buddhist background to ensure that each restaurant is “free from bad karma” and won’t open a new site if there is a similar offering nearby so as not to harm another business.

Simon, who worked at Bradford’s Dubrovnic hotel for a spell after leaving the Great Victoria, said he was particularly pleased to have opened a My Thai branch in Bradford which he hopes will help attract more people into the city centre.

“The business has gone extremely well since we launched and I am very excited about the prospects. We have managed to successfully tap into people’s changing tastes, “ he said.