In 2016, fueled by a passion for hospitality and love for our local community, we poured our life savings into transforming a derelict space into a high-class restaurant. It wasn’t just a business—it was a dream come to life. Serving niche regional cuisine, we worked tirelessly to create a space where people could share good food, warm service, and most importantly, a sense of belonging.
The journey wasn’t easy, but we persevered. They say the first two years in hospitality are the hardest; we made it through and were thriving. Slowly but surely, we built a loyal clientele who became more than customers—they became friends and family. Then, COVID hit.
Hospitality was one of the hardest-hit industries. But what carried us through wasn’t the support of our landlord—it was the unwavering loyalty of our community. Customers rallied around us. Some who dined once a week began dining three times. Takeout orders multiplied. People went out of their way to stop by, share a kind word, and remind us that we mattered to this neighbourhood, just to keep us afloat.
Despite these incredible acts of support, our landlord showed no mercy.All our efforts to have a dialogue were ignored and fell on deaf ears. The COVID arrears debt looms large, and now we face a legal battle that threatens our business and the livelihoods of nine devoted staff members who have become like family.
After surviving the devastating impact of COVID-19, we faced yet another storm—rising costs fueled by the Ukraine war and inflation. Everyone has felt the pinch, and like so many others, we’ve found ourselves in an uphill battle. Costs have spiraled, but revenues have crawled at a snail’s pace, barely enough to keep us afloat. Still, we’ve held on, clinging to hope that brighter days will return.
Now, we’re confronted with a new challenge—fighting a legal battle with our landlord over debts incurred during the lockdown. We worked hard to weather that storm, but our bank balance simply isn’t strong enough to take on this fight alone. It’s a daunting future, but giving up is not an option. We owe it to our loyal team—our work family—who’ve stood by us through thick and thin, and to the community that believed in us when times were toughest.
In today’s climate, the value of promises and trust often seems diminished, but I am a woman of my word. My employees are my greatest asset, and I refuse to let them down. They’ve entrusted me with their livelihoods, and I’m determined to fight for them, for our restaurant, and for the future we’ve worked so hard to build.
We’re fighting not just for our restaurant, but for the nine lives connected to it—and for the heart of our community that has given us so much. We humbly ask for your support. Every contribution will help us stand up for justice and protect the nine lives intertwined with our business. Our staff are unaware of this battle, to keep them stress-free while they work. Together, we can ensure that this isn’t the end of our story but the beginning of a new chapter of resilience, hope, and community.
Please, if our story touches you, consider contributing to help us keep this dream alive. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to saving our restaurant and the people who depend on it.