Mahinda and Menaka Jayaratne took over The Exchange Pub & Restaurant in late 2023, keen to offer a fresh take on dining, socialising and live music.

The restaurant is based in the Trinity Chapel of Ease, which has been home to various businesses over the years, including as an art gallery and various restaurants, including Musa and Hop & Anchor.

The restaurant’s menu boasts some well-loved pub classics like burgers and pies, but also includes a range of rich Sri Lankan curries, including chicken, pork, slow-cooked beef, yellow fish and dhal. Its signature seafood and meat sharing shovels are also a popular hit with locals and visitors alike.

Mahinda Jayaratne, co-owner, said: “We were really keen to bring the flavours of Sri Lanka to the people of Aberdeen, and taking over The Exchange gave us an excellent opportunity to celebrate our home island’s cuisine.

“Sri Lankan food includes a vibrant showcase of spices, with each dish richly infused with local flavours like cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. The cuisine reflects Sri Lanka’s deep heritage, offering unique and tantalising flavours.”

Mahinda and Menaka worked with Business Gateway in Aberdeen to develop their business plan, and for advice on how to turn their ideas into a reality.

Through Business Gateway, the couple accessed a suite of start-up services, including one-to-one support from a dedicated business adviser, as well as advice on marketing, branding and HR.

Business Gateway also helped the pair brainstorm ideas on how to attract more customers to the premises and improve their online reviews on Tripadvisor and Google.

Mahinda continued: “The support we’ve received from Business Gateway has been so valuable. I’d like to thank our adviser for all the support and advice, which has helped us get The Exchange off to the strongest start possible.”

The Exchange will also participate in this year’s Taste of Grampian, where they will be serving a selection of popular Sri Lankan dishes.

Sean Cowie, Business Gateway adviser, said: “It’s always rewarding to support a business that’s doing something new in the local area.

“I know that The Exchange has proved extremely popular with locals and visitors since it first opened, and I’ll continue to work with Mahinda and Menaka as their success continues.”