Help Lizzy's On The Green Survive Covid-19

Dear Friends,

Just as we were gearing up for our favourite summer season, with exciting plans for late night specials and other community events, COVID has sadly struck and we were forced to close our shutters for the foreseeable; feeling no longer responsible offering a take away only service that was attracting lots of loyal people to leave their homes and come to us.

The good news is that all our wonderful staff  have been furloughed and we will all be reunited when the restrictions are lifted.... 

The bad news is that despite our best efforts to access grants, loans and insurance, as it stands we have fallen through every loophole imaginable and have been unable to access any significant Government support so far. We have had no income since we closed and now things have reached a critical stage.

WE NEED YOUR HELP to reopen.

In desperate times, we are reaching out to you, to help us raise £10k to cover our overheads, tax and supplier debts. 

We've done the sums and if we raise that, we will survive the shutdown (if we can reopen before the summer ends).

We have created some fun packages and a range of rewards for each pledge value. We appreciate times are hard for everyone, so we hope that these pledges will give us all something to look forward to in the future as well as showing our thanks to the NHS for all their incredible work for us in these difficult circumstances.

We all know Lizzy loves to name drop... so look out for a few familiar faces who are great friends of the cafe, offering some "different rewards" which should be something fun for the future!

We miss you. A lot. Our customers are our friends and friends should be seen often!

We are arranging (for when it is all safe to gather again!) a smashing Survival Celebration Party, where we can spend an evening together toasting and ?!hugging?! and enjoying the relief that the cafe is back open and here to stay.

We love our little kiosk. It has been 7 years of pure love, sweat, tears, gossip and LOTS of laughter! We have loved getting to know you and your families, your new borns, your 'doggos' and witnessing just how important and wonderful real COMMUNITY is!                                                                                                                                                     Our time can't be over yet.     Please know, every little helps and is appreciated more than words can say. THANK YOU for all the love and care we have been shown in the last few weeks.  

In the meantime, stay indoors, protect the NHS and save lives.

All our love, Lizzy and the Team On The Green xxx

About Lizzy's...  

Lizzy's on the Green is a small kiosk cafe in the heart of Newington Green, founded by Lizzy Bassham in July 2013. We had a tiny budget but huge ambitions. Seven years later we have won the hearts of locals and Time Out's 'Best Cafe' in Dalston and Stoke Newington for two years running.

We aim to provide a delicious home cooked menu from our tiny site which appeals to everyone in the neighbourhood and with accessible prices, that are kept as low as possible (Pensioners teas and coffees for £1) without compromising quality or service standards. We serve up breakfast offerings, healthy and wholesome lunch options and of course our famously fantastic cakes, brownies and flapjacks!

FAQs

Why don't you get a grant from the government? 

We pay our rent directly to the council and as a building in a public space have never paid business rates. Therefore, we have had no access to the small business rates relief scheme, which is the gateway to receiving the government grants.

What about your business insurance or a loan?

Our insurance did not cover a pandemic. As a sole trader we already have loans out to help us through the year (we are a seasonal business) and therefore cannot access any extra loans from the bank.

What will you do if you reach the target and grant money is released to you?

We are a seasonal business. Whilst the £10k will help us get through Covid-19, if we are unable to open during the peak months of the summer we shall be stuck for cash flow, which means the risk of having to shut later in the year or early 2021. To avoid this, any extra money will be used to cover the cash flow lost from being closed over our busiest months (April- June).

What are the terms & conditions of the pledges?

• No refunds for pledges, but we are happy for them to be transferable.
• We hope the dates of events suit, but if not we'd love you to a send a friend instead.
• All items are pick up only.
• Late Night at Lizzy's  pledges will need to book a table in advance.
• Dates pledges are available is based on the Covid 19 situation. 
• Pledges than can be, will be released after the closing date of the campaign

Friends of the cafe (above left to right) Jayde Adams, Zawe Ashton, Laura Marling, Gizzi Erskine, Alexa Chung and Ed Petrie and  are all super excited to support the cafe and offer something fun for your pledge!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Here are some of our Wedding Cake offerings from the past... when is your future big day?! Wedding cake pledges are valid until July 2023!