Ayr Café owner to showcase business skills on latest Gordon Ramsay series
Owner of Thyme Café on Alloway Street, Rachel Munro, is hoping to show her daughter and other businesses that anything is possible with hard work.
Last updated 28th Mar 2023
An Ayrshire entrepreneur is hoping to be a role model for her daughter and other business owners in the region as she gets ready for her appearance on the new season of Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars.
Owner of Café Thyme on Alloway Street Ayr, Rachel Munro will be flying the flag for her country as the shows only Scottish contestant.
The 36-year-old started her business in the centre of her hometown Ayr in 2020 and is now hoping the experience of competing in front of the world’s most famous chef can give her the tools to build and expand her venture.
Starting this Thursday, the programme offers 12 food entrepreneurs the chance to fight for a life-changing investment of £150,000 of Gordon's own money for their food business.
What started off as an idea for Rachel became a reality when she opened her business only a few years ago, and by going on the show it has helped her gain even more recognition for the café.
"I want to show my daughter that anything is possible"
Rachel has been telling West FM that alongside gaining invaluable guidance from Gordon Ramsay, her main ambition was to set an example for her daughter and other business owners with big dreams.
She said: “Obviously the financial benefit was an incentive to do this, but it was a shot in the dark just applying.
“Everyone in hospitality is struggling right now so the financial cash injection was amazing, and the idea of being mentored by Gordon Ramsay was the main incentive to go.
“But in reality, I just want to set an example for single parents. I’m a single parent and have raised my daughter myself since she was born. So, I wanted to go on an prove to her that anything is possible if you work hard enough and put your mind to it.”
Episode 1 in Ayrshire
The first episode of the programme is Thursday at 9pm on BBC One, and to Rachel’s surprise it was set in Ayrshire at Glenapp Castle for the first challenge.
Meeting the Scottish chef was not something that daunted her, but the fact she is the only Scot competing in front him in her own back yard had her feeling the pressure from day one.
However, as someone who admittedly ‘speaks her mind’ even to the legendary Gordon Ramsay, Rachel took it in her stride.
She’s hoping experience of competing will he help her continue to grow her business.
She told West FM: “With the first challenge in Scotland, we must use locally sourced produce and I did feel the pressure will be on me to stand out. But at the end of the day, you are just meeting these other contestants who are all very head strong as entrepreneurs and you have to work together.
“So, I felt I had a bit of pressure being Scottish, but I didn’t let that overrule the entire experience, and I’ve made friends for life doing this.
“I think Gordon was actually quite fond of me, we’ve chatted on and off camera and he’s a really sound down to earth grounded guy.
“Nothing he said to me was ever hyper critical, it was always constructive criticism, and I’ll value that experience for the rest of my life.”
Gordon Ramsay Future Food Stars starts on Thursday 30th March at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.