Nearly 70 years after his grandfather opened the family’s first dry-cleaning shop in East London, Rizwan Irshad is continuing the trade with his own shop in the Southall neighbourhood where he lives.
Mr Irshad, 36, opened Clean Slate Dry Cleaning at Parkside Yards in The Green Quarter in November 2025. He has lived at the development since 2022 and owns the shop with a business partner.
The business has created two jobs, in customer service and driving, and offers dry cleaning, laundry, tailoring, alterations and shoe repairs.
The family’s story began with Mr Irshad’s grandfather, who was born in Pakistan and served as a pilot in the British air force in the late 1940s.
After moving to London, he started offered dry cleaning services at home. In 1957, he opened his first shop in East London.
Dry cleaning went on to become a family trade. Mr Irshad has ten aunts and uncles, and relatives now run 48 shops between them across London and Essex. Each shop is separately owned, but the family still swaps advice and helps one another when needed.
Away from the business, Mr Irshad is a Muay Thai fighter and coach. He gained his professional licence at 17 and has competed in 34 fights without defeat.
EALING.NEWS put seven questions to him about continuing the family business, opening a shop where he lives and what he has learnt from Muay Thai.
The Essential Seven
1. What made you decide to bring your family’s dry-cleaning business to the neighbourhood where you live?
I moved to The Green Quarter in 2022 and genuinely fell in love with the development and the community growing around it. With more than 2,500 residents already here, I saw an opportunity to provide a useful local service. Parkside Yards was the perfect location – convenient for customers and, luckily for me, no commute.
2. How did you first become involved in the family business, and what did you learn from previous generations of your family?
The business has been part of my family since my grandfather established it in 1957 after moving to the UK. He and his children grew it across London, so I grew up around that entrepreneurial mindset. They taught me that reputation, hard work and looking after your customers are ultimately what keep a family business going.
3. What does it mean to you personally to continue a business started by your grandfather nearly 70 years ago?
It means a great deal. My grandfather came to this country from a military background and built something from the ground up that provided opportunities for the generations after him. Nearly 70 years later, being able to continue what he started while putting my own stamp on it gives me a huge sense of pride.
4. What have you learned about Southall and its community since living and now running a business here?
Southall has a real sense of community, and I’ve watched that develop within The Green Quarter too. Residents and local businesses genuinely support one another. The area is incredibly diverse, but there’s a strong sense of togetherness, which I love. Running a business here has made me feel even more connected to the community.
5. How has your experience as a Muay Thai fighter influenced the way you approach business?
Muay Thai has shaped a huge part of who I am. After 34 undefeated fights, including competing in Thailand recently, it has taught me discipline, resilience and composure under pressure. Those lessons translate directly into business – setbacks happen, but you adapt, stay disciplined and keep moving forward.
6. What are your ambitions for the new shop?
I want Clean Slate to become part of the community rather than simply another shop. I want to build a loyal customer base across The Green Quarter and the wider borough, provide an excellent and convenient service, and grow alongside the development as more people make this area their home.
7. What advice would you give to other Ealing residents thinking about starting or expanding their own business?
Know the community you want to serve and make sure there’s a genuine need for what you’re offering. Don’t expect everything to go perfectly – it won’t. Listen to your customers, adapt quickly and protect your reputation. Most importantly, work hard and give people a reason to keep coming back.
