When Olympic football came to Newcastle during the London 2012 Games, Raval found itself welcoming international athletes taking part in one of the world's biggest sporting events.
Following Gabon's Olympic football match against Switzerland at St James' Park, players Allen Nono and Axel Meye visited Raval for dinner.
Their visit became another memorable chapter in Raval's longstanding connection with football and Newcastle.
Olympic Football Comes to Newcastle
Newcastle played an important part in the London 2012 Olympic Games, with St James' Park selected as one of the venues for the Olympic football tournament.
On 26 July 2012, Gabon faced Switzerland at St James' Park, with the match ending in a 1–1 draw.
After the game, Gabon players Allen Nono and Axel Meye made the short journey across the Tyne to Raval.
The Gabon team was staying nearby at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, placing the restaurant conveniently close to the team's accommodation and Newcastle city centre.
Indian Dining for the Gabon Players
During their visit, the players enjoyed char-grilled chicken and tandoori-roasted king prawns with salad.
The dishes reflected an approach that has remained important to Raval: cooking with fire and the tandoor while allowing the ingredients and spices to take centre stage.
The players' visit was captured in a photograph with members of Raval's kitchen team, preserving a small piece of Newcastle's Olympic history.
Raval's Connection with Newcastle Football
The Olympic visit also added to Raval's growing football connections.
Earlier in 2012, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer had stepped into Raval's kitchen for a memorable cooking experience, while another story from the restaurant's archives involved a goat curry inspired by Newcastle United striker Papiss Cissé.
Together, these moments form part of Raval's long relationship with Newcastle's footballing life.
From London 2012 to Raval Today
More than a decade later, Raval continues to welcome diners beside the Tyne Bridge, just minutes from Newcastle city centre.
The restaurant's food has continued to evolve, with today's menus taking guests on a journey through India's regional and coastal cuisine, centred around fire, charcoal and the tandoor.
In 2025, Raval was named National Champion by the British Indian Good Food Guide, followed in 2026 by the Fine Dining Indian Restaurant of the Year honour at the Indian Restaurant Summit & Honours.
The visit of Gabon's Olympic footballers remains part of Raval's archive — and a reminder of the summer when Olympic sport came to Newcastle and international footballers found their way across the Tyne to Raval.
Raval Indian Brasserie & Bar — award-winning Indian dining beside the Tyne Bridge, minutes from Newcastle city centre.
