Ram Sapkota

Founder, Base Camp Indian Kitchen

Born in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley, Ram Sapkota has dedicated nearly two decades to the hospitality industry. He built his career from the ground up before becoming one of the driving forces behind Cardiff’s thriving restaurant scene.

After moving to the United Kingdom, Ram spent more than eleven years helping grow one of Wales’s most respected Indian restaurant groups. During that time, he developed a reputation for exceptional hospitality, strong leadership and an unwavering commitment to customer experience. Yet throughout those years, one ambition never left him—to create a restaurant that celebrated the incredible culinary journey from the Himalayas to India’s coastline.

That vision became Base Camp Indian Kitchen.

Opened in Cardiff in late 2024, Base Camp is much more than a restaurant. Inspired by the concept of “Peaks to Coastal Cooking”, it takes guests on a journey through the diverse regions of India while honouring the Himalayan heritage that shaped Ram’s early life. Every detail—from the menu and interiors to the warm hospitality—is designed to tell a story.

One of Ram’s proudest achievements has been reuniting with his longtime friend, Executive Chef Soban Singh Pokhriyal. The two first worked together in England in 2009 and often spoke about opening a restaurant of their own one day. More than fifteen years later, that dream became reality. They were later joined by Head Chef Rahul Chauhan, whose luxury hotel training and extensive experience have added further strength and consistency to the kitchen.

Although Ram is not a chef, he works closely with his culinary team to shape the restaurant’s direction, refine the guest experience and ensure every dish reflects the vision behind Base Camp. He believes the best restaurants are built not around one individual, but through teamwork, mutual respect and a shared passion for hospitality.

In less than two years, Base Camp Indian Kitchen has become one of Wales’s most recognised Indian restaurants, earning multiple regional and national awards, outstanding guest reviews and widespread industry recognition. For Ram, however, the greatest achievement is seeing guests return time and again, bringing friends and family to share in the experience.

Looking ahead, his ambition is to establish Base Camp as one of the UK’s leading destinations for Indian and Himalayan cuisine while continuing to champion authentic hospitality, nurture future talent and showcase the richness of Indian food culture to an even wider audience.

https://www.basecampkitchen.uk