Activities of Ukrainian Restaurants in Great Britain in the Context of «Cultural Diplomacy»

Author

Avtomonov Oleh

the second-year postgraduate student of M. Rylskyi Institute of Art Studies, Folkloristics and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine).

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1064-3232

Activities of Ukrainian Restaurants in Great Britain in the Context of «Cultural Diplomacy»

Abstract

Social and cultural aspects of the activities of Ukrainian cuisine restaurants abroad are analyzed exemplified by the London restaurant «Albina». On the one hand, this is the creation of an opportunity for Ukrainian migrants to feel a connection with the Motherland through the national dishes, communication in their native language, elements of folk decorative and applied art in the interior, thus contributing to the preservation of national identity. On the other hand, this is popularizing Ukrainian cuisine among foreigners («gastro-diplomacy»), promoting Ukrainian cultural narratives abroad. The other aspects of the activities of the restaurant, in particular, active volunteer work, which is carried out in the conditions of war, are also considered. The source base of the article consists in the author’s own field materials: an interview with the founder of the institution, Ms. Alla.

Keywords

Ukrainian cuisine, national cuisine, socio-cultural aspects, Great Britain, ethnoidentification practices, Ukrainian emigrants.

References

1. ARTIUKH, Lidiia. Ukrainian Folk Cuisine. Kyiv, 1997, 153 pp. [in Ukrainian].
2. BEKH, Kateryna. Wedding Cookies: Traditional Gifting and New Practices of Treating. Folk Art and Ethnology, 2016, no. 5, pp. 90–95 [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://nte.etnolog.org.ua/arkhiv-zhurnalu/2016-rik/5/966-trybuna-molodoho-doslidnyka/774-vesilne-pechyvo-tradytsiine-obdaruvannia-ta-novi-praktyky-chastuvannia [in Ukrainian].
3. BONDARENKO, Halyna. Ukrainian Cuisine as a Modern Identification Marker. Materials to Ukrainian Ethnology, 2024, no. 23 (26), pp. 60–64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/mue2024.23.060 [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://mue.etnolog.org.ua/2024-rik/23-26/2482-rozvidky-ta-materialy/5602-ukrainska-kukhnia-iak-suchasnyi-identyfikatsiinyi-marker [in Ukrainian].
4. BONDARENKO, Halyna, Mykola BEKH, Olena TARAN. National Cuisine in the Context of Modern Market Demands. Folk Art and Ethnology, 2015, no. 6, pp. 96–103 [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://nte.etnolog.org.ua/arkhiv-zhurnalu/2015-rik/5/1067-z-ekspedytsiinykh-doslidzhen/1050-natsionalna-kukhnia-v-konteksti-zapytiv-suchasnoho-rynku [in Ukrainian].
5. BORYSENKO, Valentyna. Transformation Processes in the National Cuisine of Ukrainians at the Turn of the 20th–21st Centuries. Folk Art and Ethnology, 2021, no. 3 (391), pp. 72–81 [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://nte.etnolog.org.ua/arkhiv-zhurnalu/2021-rik/3/2244-rozvidky-ta-materialy/4414-protsesy-transformatsii-v-natsionalnii-kukhni-ukraintsiv-na-zlami-khkh-khkhi-stolit [in Ukrainian].
6. VELYCHKO, Tetiana. Traditions of Folk Nutrition of the Hutsuls in the Verkhovyna District of Ivano-Frankivsk Region. Folk Art and Ethnology, 2013, no. 6. pp. 49–56 [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://nte.etnolog.org.ua/arkhiv-zhurnalu/2013-rik/6/1135-lokalni-osoblyvosti-tradytsiinoi-materialnoi-kultury/1360-tradytsii-narodnoho-kharchuvannia-hutsuliv-verkhovynskoho-raionu-ivano-frankivskoi-oblasti [in Ukrainian].
7. ANON. Varenyky Conquer America: Five Restaurants those Popularize Ukrainian Cuisine in the USA. holosameryky.com. 27December, 2018 [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/varenyky-pidkoriuiut-ameryku-restorany-shcho-populiaryzuiut-ukrainsku-kukhniu-v-ssha-ta-kanadi/29741368.html [in Ukrainian].
8. ANON. Bread in Ukrainian Rituals. Etnohata.com.ua. 07June 2016. [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://etnoxata.com.ua/statti/traditsiji/hlib-v-ukrajinskij-obrjadovosti/ [in Ukrainian].
9. ANON. Ukrainian Cuisine Restaurant Sino in London has been Included in the Michelin Gastronomic Guide. interfax.com.ua. November 12, 2025. [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://interfax.com.ua/news/general/1119802.html [in Ukrainian].
10. ANON.National Bank of Ukraine. Macroeconomic and Monetary Review. October 2025, pp. 22. [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://bank.gov.ua/admin_uploads/article/MMR_2025-10.pdf?v=14 [in Ukrainian].
11. ANON. Winter Holidays of Ukrainians: Gastronomic Traditions and Recipes. The Last Barricade [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://obarykada.com/chasopys/zymovi-svyata-ukrayintsiv-autentychni-gastronomichni-tradytsiyi-ta-retsepty [in Ukrainian].
12. Official Website of the Restaurant «Albina» [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://www.albinaltd.com/ [in English].
13. Official Website of the Restaurant «Ole Kyiv» [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://olekyiv.uk/ [in English].
14. Official Page of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom on the Social Network «Facebook». April 03, 2025 [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://www.facebook.com/ukraine.in.uk/posts/pfbid0zxv8Zx3zo4maPmpSQax73KsrakJ64z8MzX4kUh1jBe9PehXqmhjv5dhEDKocLoyzl [in Ukrainian/English].
15. SOBOLEVA, Olena. Crimean Tatar Cuisine. Kyiv: Publishing House of the sole tradership Braichenko «їzhak», 2019, 126 pp. [in Ukrainian].
16. ANON. “Drunk Cherry”, «Chornomorka» and Lviv Croissants. More Than 50 Ukrainian Restaurants and Cafes have been Opened in the World during the Great War, Most of Them in Europe. What are the Prospects for This Business. Ukrainian Sociological Portal, 14September 2023 [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://usp-ltd.org/p-iana-vyshnia-chornomorka-ta-lviv-croissants-za-chas-velykoi-vijny-u-sviti-vidkrylosia-ponad-50-ukrainskykh-restoraniv-ta-kafe-bilshist-u-ievropi-iaki-perspektyvy-u-tsoho-biznesu/ [in Ukrainian].
17. ANON.Center for Economic Strategy. What Motivates Ukrainians to Stay in Ukraine. [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT4WZBRpF88&t=7954s [in Ukrainian].
18. «Borshch is Ours». UNESCO has Recognized Borshch as Ukrainian. BBC News Ukraine. July 01, 2022 [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://tinyurl.com/569pwx56 [in Ukrainian].
19. HANLY, Gavin. Ukrainian Restaurant Tatar Bunar is Coming to Shoreditch. hot-dinners.com [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://www.hot-dinners.com/2025010313829/Gastroblog/Latest-news/tatar-bunar-ukrainian-restaurant-london-shoreditch [in English].
20. ANON. Ukrainian Mriya Neo Bistro has been Opened in London. HoReCa-Ukraine [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: http://surl.li/ygjolo [in Ukrainian].
21. FIELDER,Jez. Gastro-Diplomacy: Ukraine’s Soft Power Gambit for Stomachs, Hearts, and Minds. Euro News. February 02, 2025 [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/03/02/gastro-diplomacy-ukraines-soft-power-gambit-for-stomachs-hearts-and-minds [in English].
22. BARRIE,Josh. How London has Become a Haven to Ukrainian Restaurants. The Standard. April 16, 2025 [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/restaurants/ukrainian-restaurants-in-london-b1221844.html [in English].
23. ANON. Ukrainian Restaurants Abroad: Where You Can Taste Ukrainian Cuisine in Different Countries of the World. Visit Ukraine.  April 07, 2024. [online] [viewed 25 November 2025]. Available from: https://visitukraine.today/uk/blog/1270/restaurants-of-ukrainian-cuisine-abroad-14-establishments-in-different-countries-of-the-world#yoy-dubai-oae [in Ukrainian].