Summary
The Coconut Tree, the award-winning restaurant group with a branch in Cheltenham, is celebrating a decade of bringing vibrant and authentic Sri Lankan flavours to the UK with a special one-day event.
Details
To thank customers for their support over the last 10 years, the public are invited to join the party for a free lunchtime Big Birthday Plate and unlimited eats or drinks for just £10 in the evening on Thursday, November 19, the restaurant group’s official anniversary.
Founded in 2016 by five friends, the Sri Lankan restaurant has grown from just one restaurant to a nationally renowned chain with seven UK locations. In 2025, founding team members Praveen Thangiah and Shamil Fernando took control of the business, and vowed to renew its focus on delivering a delicious, flavourful and affordable Sri Lankan food and drink menu as the core business offering.
In the last decade, The Coconut Tree has built a reputation that goes beyond its restaurants. In July 2022, the group won Channel 4’s Come Dine with Me: The Professionals with an impressive score of 38 out of 40. Alongside its culinary success, The Coconut Tree has organised charitable initiatives, such as Power Out Nights in 2023.
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These events not only raised awareness of Sri Lanka’s electricity crisis, but also raised funds for the Meth Mihira Special Education Centre, which supports children with special educational needs. To celebrate the 10-year anniversary, The Coconut Tree is offering a limited edition ‘Big Birthday Plate’, which will be completely free for guests and available as part of lunch service.
This delicious, varied plate will feature 10 items, all of which capture a little piece of The Coconut Tree – whether that’s signature flavours, chef favourites or longstanding menu items. Veggie/Vegan and Gluten Free options are available. The Coconut Tree will also offer ‘The £10 Takeover’ – where guests can enjoy unlimited food or unlimited drinks for 90 minutes for just £10.
This fantastic offering will allow guests the opportunity to enjoy the award-winning flavours of The Coconut Tree at an affordable price point. Co-owner Shamil Fernando said: “I speak for everyone at The Coconut Tree when I say that we are extremely proud to be celebrating our 10th anniversary. When we opened our first restaurant in Cheltenham, we never expected the brand to grow as rapidly as it did.
With seven successful restaurants across the UK, it’s incredibly rewarding to think about how far we’ve come in that time.” He added: “We’d like to thank our many loyal customers for supporting us over the past decade.
Report source: Punchline Gloucester
