From a creator in India to restaurant owner in Cardiff, how a mother turned her passion for cooking into a thriving business, breaking barriers and turning digital success into something bigger?
During the isolated days of Covid 19 lockdown, Neethu Johns, was just another exhausted mother on maternity leave who filmed a lime juice recipe to fight boredom. That viral video wasn’t just a lucky break in a pandemic-stricken world, it was the first domino in a chain that would lead this IT consultant to trade her computer for a kitchen, transforming her YouTube hobby into a restaurant where locals now wait hours for a taste of her authentic Indian cooking.
“I woke up and checked my phone, my subscribers had jumped from 120 to over 10,000 overnight,” she says. A simple lime juice video had gone viral.”
From being a mother of four and an IT consultant to becoming a YouTube sensation and a restaurant owner, Neethu’s journey started as a simple hobby during her maternity break transforming into a million-subscriber YouTube channel opening doors to her successful restaurant in Cardiff.
“I was just a mother at home, looking after my fourth baby and feeling bored,” she says. “I loved cooking, I loved editing videos, so I thought, why not combine both?”
Her first YouTube video was far from perfect. She struggled with camera angles, lighting, and editing. But instead of letting that discourage her, she saw it as a learning experience. She experimented daily, refining her content, and consistently uploading videos.
“When I started YouTube, I was a bit confused about whether to start it or not,” she says. “But all of a sudden, somewhere, you get that energy. That feeling that you are the boss of your channel, that’s the first entrepreneurial feeling.”
This persistence paid off. In just a year, she hit 100,000 subscribers, earning her the coveted silver play button from YouTube. A year later, she crossed the one-million mark.
For Neethu, this success wasn’t about seeking shortcuts. “Today’s generation wants instant money and fame,” she says. “They are always looking for shortcuts. But success doesn’t work like that. Patience, passion, and perseverance, that’s what builds a lasting business.”
In an era where digital entrepreneurship is reshaping industries, Neethu shows how one can turn resilience, ambition, and passion into success.
“I was a person who always doubted myself. I wasn’t sure if I could do it. But my husband kept pushing me as I thought I’d take a break because I couldn’t upload videos daily. I had to manage the restaurant, my job, and my family all at once,” she says.
Despite these challenges, Neethu remained focused. Her approach to success is built on discipline and honesty. “If you focus on one thing at a time, you will definitely grow. But if you become greedy and poke your nose everywhere, you won’t reach anywhere.”
This focused approach allowed her to successfully transition from digital content creation to physical business ownership. “I made a lot of money through YouTube sponsorships and collaborations,” she says. “But more than that, it built my confidence.”
Neethu grew up in Kerala, India, in a family that valued both education and tradition. Like many young women in conservative households, she faced pressure to settle down early.
Her mother believed marriage was the next step for her after completing school, a common expectation for young women in India at the time.
“My mother wanted me to get married after I turned 18,” she says. “If a woman is achieving something big, there’s usually a strong man backing her. For me, that’s my husband, my backbone, my pillar of strength,” she says.
Amidst the highs of YouTube’s success, Neethu and her husband, John, often talked about opening a small café. They wanted a space where they could serve authentic Indian tea and snacks, creating a cozy corner for people in Cardiff.
For years, the dream of opening a restaurant remained just a dream. With both Neethu and her husband, John, committed to their full-time jobs, the thought of leaving behind the security of stable incomes seemed far too risky.
They often talked about the idea, imagining what it would be like to run their own place, but the fear of the unknown always held them back.
Then, an unexpected opportunity changed everything. A friend mentioned a nearby restaurant that had gone up for sale.
“The location was ideal, promising steady foot traffic, and the layout offered a practical advantage of having two kitchens for preparing authentic Indian dishes,” she says.
Years of saving and planning had led to this moment, and they were finally ready to take the leap. Determined to transform the neglected space into a thriving eatery, Neethu and John poured their hearts into making the restaurant a reality.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But when we walked in, we saw the potential. It was almost like the restaurant was waiting for us,” she says.
Running a restaurant in the UK came with its own set of hurdles which required a different skill set, from navigating licenses and regulations to handling the complexities of staffing and customer service.
Unlike in digital entrepreneurship, where mistakes could be edited out, every decision in the restaurant had immediate consequences.
“It’s not just about cooking and serving food,” Neethu says. “The paperwork, licenses, food hygiene checks, pest control, staff management, everything was a steep learning curve. Before, I was only used to getting a salary from someone, but now I have to give salary to someone.”
Despite concerns about how the restaurant would be received, Neethu was surprised by the overwhelming support.
“We are getting a lot more support from British people than Indians,” she says. “Even at my workplace and my husband’s workplace, we’ve had so much encouragement. Once people try our food, they spread the word.”
Eventually, a viral Instagram video posted by a friend of her husband unexpectedly changed everything for Neethu’s restaurant. Almost overnight, the small eatery saw an overwhelming number of customers, far beyond what she had anticipated.
The sudden popularity took her by surprise, transforming what had been a steadily growing business into a hotspot for food lovers.
“People were queuing outside,” she says. “Some were even swearing because they didn’t want to wait for long. It was crazy.”
Despite already having a strong following on YouTube, Neethu was determined to let her restaurant grow naturally, without relying on her online presence to boost its success. She deliberately chose not to, wanting to ensure that the restaurant’s reputation was built on its own merits.
“I never informed my YouTube family that I opened a restaurant in the UK. I didn’t want people to think that a YouTube shoutout was the reason behind my restaurant’s success. I wanted to build it from scratch. I want people to talk about my food and not how I publicise it.”
Now that the restaurant has established itself and gained loyal customers, Neethu and her husband, John, are setting their sights on expansion.
They envision turning “Mum’s Daily” into a well-known brand, with multiple locations bringing their authentic flavors to even more people. Their journey has been one of perseverance, and as they look to the future, they are excited about the possibilities ahead.
Beyond business success, Neethu’s greatest source of fulfilment comes from knowing she has made her family proud. For her, that personal achievement outweighs any financial gains or recognition, reinforcing the deeper purpose behind her hard work and dedication.
“When my dad was alive, he used to tell everyone about my YouTube channel,” she says. “Even if I wasn’t there, he would be bragging about me. My mom was proud too, but my dad was over-proud. If he had one thing to say about me, he’d say five.”
As someone who has been through it all, Neethu has some straightforward advice for those who feel overwhelmed by the demands of work and life, she has a clear philosophy.
“People say they don’t have enough time, but I think it’s about how we split our time. If you’re passionate about something, you’ll make time for it.”
From a viral YouTube video to a bustling restaurant, Neethu’s journey proves that, no matter how unconventional, dreams can become a reality. Her path from digital content creator to successful restaurant owner offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to turn their passion into a thriving business.