Pakistan’s viral tea seller-turned-entrepreneur Arshad Khan’s Café Chaiwala brand has opened a new branch in Sutton, South London, with several more outlets planned as the brand increases its footprint across the UK, putting behind it recent legal issues both in the UK and Pakistan.
The expansion is being led by British-Pakistani businessman Asif Khalique, the UK master franchise holder, who previously launched the brand’s Tooting branch with his brother Yousuf Khalique around 16 months ago.
The opening marks another chapter in the extraordinary journey of Arshad Khan, who became an international internet sensation in 2016 after photographer Javeria Ali photographed the then teenage tea seller working at a roadside tea stall in Islamabad.
Asif Khalique said the next phase of expansion would see several outlets opening across London.
“We are planning a rapid expansion, with further Café Chaiwala outlets expected as part of efforts to establish the Pakistani café brand across more locations in Britain. We will be opening soon in Norbury, Leyton and New Malden within weeks. There is huge demand for the brand from across the UK and Europe,” he said.
Khalique said the brand was seeking to introduce Pakistani chai culture and street food to a mainstream British audience.
“Our menu is about bringing the real taste and atmosphere of Pakistani chai culture to Britain. Chai is obviously at the heart of Café Chaiwala Arshad Khan, and we have something for every taste, from our signature Karak Chai and traditional Doodh Patti to Gurr Chai, Kashmiri Chai, Masala Chai, Badami Chai, Honey Malai Chai and Peshawari Kahwa.”
Arshad Khan welcomed the expansion, saying he was proud to see Khalique taking the brand into new locations.
“I am extremely happy and proud to see Asif Khalique opening another Café Chaiwala Arshad Khan branch in Sutton and taking our brand forward across the UK. Asif has shown great commitment, hard work and belief in our vision of taking an authentic Pakistani brand to an international audience.”
Café Chaiwala made its first move into the British market amid much media hype when its first international franchise outlet was launched at in June 2023. The Ilford café was originally operated under a franchise arrangement involving Nader Durrani and Yawar Akbar Durrani. The brand expanded further when Asif Khalique and his brother Yousuf opened the Tooting, South London, outlet in January 2025.
The expansion comes against the backdrop of a legal dispute involving the original Ilford operation. Khan and his business partner Syed Kazim Hasan launched proceedings at the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) seeking the invalidation of a figurative trademark registered by former UK business partner Nader Durrani and Yawar Akbar Durrani. The proceedings at the UK High Court form part of a wider dispute concerning the use of Khan’s name, image and Café Chaiwala branding.
According to the claim filed on behalf of Khan and Hasan, the original UK Master Franchise Agreement was signed with Nader and Yawar Akbar Durrani in 2021. The relationship subsequently deteriorated amid disputes over royalties, contractual obligations, branding and intellectual-property rights. The applicants say the franchise relationship was formally terminated on April 8, 2025.
Their legal representatives allege that Durrani subsequently applied on August 19, 2025, to register a figurative trademark incorporating Khan’s likeness, more than four months after the franchise relationship had allegedly ended. Khan and Hasan contend that the application was made without continuing permission to use Khan’s intellectual property and have challenged it under the UK’s Trade Marks Act.
The filing also alleges continued unauthorised use of Khan’s likeness in connection with café businesses in Ilford and Slough.
2026-09-28 09:54:00
