Share the Love At Beverley’s Newest Bar, Kubana

 

When you order your first meal or your first cocktail at Beverley’s newest bar and restaurant – Kubana, on Saturday Market – take a bit of time out to savour the moment and think about the most important thing in life.

Not money, nor cars; not jewellery, nor a swanky house. Think about love. And think about the story of the husband and wife couple behind Kubana, Ali and Nicola Tekce.

Each gave up friends and family to move across Europe to be with the other. Ali also put aside a successful business to be a devoted father to his children, working nights and putting his ambitions on the backburner as he put his family first.

But he never lost sight of his dreams, and Kubana, with its Mediterranean food and vibe, is all the evidence you need that love does indeed conquer all.

Ali told HU17.net his heart-warming story.

“I was working in a bar called Kubana in Marmaris when I met Nicola. She came over with her mother from Market Weighton, and before long we got married in the same bar where we met.

“At first, Nicola moved over here, after much going back and forward, and we lived in a little flat. She left her family behind for me.

“Then Nicola got pregnant and she wanted to move back over here. I was so happy being with her that I decided to sell up everything to be with her and we moved back over here.”

That was in 2006. The couple’s daughter, Ella, was born soon after and Ali took a job as a chef at the Lairgate Hotel, where he worked for three years before Nicola became pregnant again in 2009, this time with their son Adam.

Again Ali put his family first. He quit his job at the Lairgate and started to work nights at Pizza Pan on Windmill Walk so he could be there during the day to help Nicola with the children, especially as the couple had now moved to Cherry Tree Lane from Market Weighton and, as a consequence, had no relatives nearby to help out.

Now Ali and Nicola are reaping the rewards for their patience and devotion to their family. Ella, now four, will be starting primary school in September and Adam, two, is now old enough to go to nursery. They have taken over the lease of what used to be Sambuca and are ready to put all their energy into make Kubana a unique and exciting addition to Beverley’s nightlife.

Ali continued: “Coming from Turkey as I do, I really want to create a proper feeling of being on holiday without having to leave the country.

“Kubana is very important to me, especially as it is the name of the place I used to work and because it’s where Nicola and I met and married.

“The whole place has changed from what it used to be. The kitchen is open and it is now in two very separate sections. The restaurant is upstairs and you can go and eat there and not even know there is a bar downstairs. The music is slower and relaxed and very much like being on holiday.

“The food theme is a little bit of everything – we have a grill with food such as fish and skewers and lamb chops. That’s the Turkish side of things.

“The rest of the food is very Mediterranean in feel, with lots of Italian and Greek flavours. It’s all served from 10am to 10pm.

“Downstairs we serve cocktails at night but it is also very much a café bar, where you can come to relax while doing your shopping. We have a licence until 2am and you can enjoy yourself here until the early hours.”

There’s no doubt that if a hard work ethic alone can bring success, then Kubana will thrive and become another welcome addition to Beverley town centre.

Especially as Nicola is as committed to the business as Ali.

“Nicola likes to come in and she does a bit of everything to help out and to make the business a success. She’ll work behind the bar or wait on the tables – anything that it takes.

“It’s wonderful for me. I gave up everything, my business, my country and my friends to be with my wife. I’m so happy we are working together to bring something different to Beverley.

“I will put everything I have into this – I am so passionate about the business and will put so much effort into making it a success.”

Reported by Scott McHugh

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