Target reached!
If you generous lot hit our target and we head into Stretch Target territory, we'll ...
Building a Cold Store for Corto
Clitheroe, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Aim
Corto wants to build a secure and accessible cold store unit to enable all staff to manage our super cellar safely!
The Story of Corto
Corto is a neighbourhood bar in Clitheroe, in the Ribble Valley in the North West of England. We sell and serve great beer, natural wine and natural cider, and also have a menu of tasty lil snacks made by indie producers.
We've worked really hard behind the scenes to become part of a thriving community. We began by embedding a robust equality, equity, diversity and inclusivity policy within our business for both employees and customers, and from there have opened a bar that welcomes all, supports its local economy and provides a platform for fellow independent hospitality businesses, local artists, independent breweries, wineries, cidermakers and food producers.
We got off to a tough start, opening during the Pandemic when all hospitality businesses were closed due to several lockdowns. Instead of the bar we always wanted, we had an online shop and a delivery service for a time, but already our awesome locals were supporting us. And that felt ace.
We are thrilled that since our proper opening weekend in June 2021, we have a vibrant community of regulars, who bring their children, friends and families to enjoy Corto in the way it was always intended.
Who is behind Corto?
We're currently a team of three people - Tom and Katie, the married couple who came up with the idea and made it happen, and Leanne, Corto's first team member.
Bringing Corto to life was challenging from the very start. It involved total career changes, navigating the 2020 pandemic as a brand new hospitality business, and continuing to operate during the ongoing setbacks and challenges life threw at us all during 2021. This dream of creating a neighbourhood bar with brilliant drinks and tasty snacks available and welcoming to all wasn't going to fail, though! And we pushed on, self funding the whole project! And we're here and doing it!
The Project Vision
So get on with it, what do you want?
In short: We want to build a cold store on ground level.
One of our main goals for the whole team was to be able to train everyone in cellarmanship. It's an absolutely vital skill in any barperson's pocket in our humble opinions, and it turns good beer into absolutely bang-fantastic beer.
Corto's cellar is a great space, and was a hugely exciting find when we signed the lease on the building at 36 King Street in late 2020. However, it is older than the building itself, being from the original terraces that stood on King Street around 300 or so years ago, and hasn't got much in the way of amenities or safety features. It's also at risk of flooding, something it's threatened to do several times during the multiple storms of 2022.
While Tom is able and willing to cruise up and down a fixed ladder to tend to his precious barrels and kegs, we can't ask staff to do the same. And to make Corto's future plans happen (ooh! Exiting secrets!) we need to expand our team and get on with the vital task of teaching cellarmanship to each and every member.
Our Target
We are aiming to raise £5500 before 01/04/22.
This money will be used to erect a cold store to the rear of 36 King Street, Clitheroe, which will include:
- Building work to link the bar to the cold store
- Buying refrigeration unit, insulation and other necessary equipment
- Payment of builders/decorators/installers
No deductions will be made for other expenses.
What happens if we do not reach our target?
If we don't reach our target within the four weeks we've set for our Crowdfunder, your money will be returned to you.
This is an all-in situation, an all-or-nothing sort-of thing. We're not keeping hold of any money if the target isn't met. If the target is hit, or if it moves into Stretch Target territory, your money will be used to build our cold store. Thank you very, very much!
TL;DR: If we don't hit the target, you get your money back.
Stretch Target
If we hit our target, we would like to continue to fundraise into a stretch target to create an outdoor seating area and expand our kitchen.
To the back of Corto, there is currently a car parking space and stairway access to a separately-owned shop. We would like to utilise this cute little space as a tiny partially-covered beer garden, giving drinkers and snackers the opportunity to sit out and enjoy the big conker trees that line the alley out back.
This type of space has been requested by SO MANY drinkers at the bar, and we know it will be utilised well!
It will also keep smokers away from the street at the front of the bar, which is something we are aware of potentially being a little bit of an inconvenience. While nobody has said anything at all about it, we would like to be conscientious to our neighbours and do our bit to keep King Street a quiet residential place, especially after dark.
We will also use stretch target money to improve and expand our kitchen space, enabling us to create even more delicious snacks to enjoy with your drinks!
Cheers for Reading
We know that these are rough times we're living in, and if you've read this far down the page and are even considering donating to our Crowdfunder, thanks so much. Corto would be nothing without its community and supporters.
Jonny Lindsey limited edition print
One of our most popular rewards is a special edition Corto print by local artist Jonny Lindsey.
Look at it! It's awesome!
Find this and more ace rewards down the right hand side of our Crowdfunding page.
This project successfully funded on 4th April 2022