Already £70K in and Usher’s £200K, month-long, Kickstarter campaign is only just under way, with followers snapping up an amazing array of pledges, from the ultimate wedding breakfast for £8000 to Christmas dinner for 20, for just 500 quid!
Chef and restauranteur, Gary Usher, launched a £200k crowdfunding campaign, in a bid to open a fourth restaurant, Wreckfish on 2nd May. If successful, this will be the largest ever amount raised in the UK by Kickstarter for a restaurant.
Having only opened the doors to the much anticipated, Hispi, Manchester, in September, plans were announced on Twitter for a fourth restaurant, opening in a derelict 19th Century watchmakers in Liverpool, in November 2016. Six months on and thousands already having been raised one week into the Kickstarter campaign, Wreckfish is looking to be a permanent fixture on the Liverpool restaurant scene.
Gary Usher comments: “Opening in a city centre is something new for us, but with the community spirit and neighbourhood feel that Liverpool has, as well as the rise in demand for new restaurants in the area, we know Wreckfish will fit right in. The support we’ve received just a week into the campaign has been incredible. We’ve been so humbled, not just by how much money we’ve raised so far, but the amazing messages of support we’ve received.”
A massive £25,000 was raised just two hours into the campaign, with the total reaching £35,0000 in a mere 19 hours. Seven days into the campaign, the total is now topping £65,000.
Support from noteable figures include two Michelin-starred Chef, Nathan Outlaw, celebrity chefs, Simon Rimmer, Tom Kerridge and Gizzi Erskine and ‘First Dates’ TV personality, Fred Siriex.
Permanent pledges include meal vouchers for lunch or dinner in all four restaurants, an invitation to the Wreckfish launch party, private dining, restaurant hire and even an exclusive wedding breakfast. The team has also unveiled exclusive guest chef nights throughout the campaign, including a tasting menu at Hispi with Michael O’Hare and a ‘Curry Night’ at Burnt Truffle with Head Chef of London’s St. John Bread and Wine, Farokh Talati.
Set to launch in September 2017, the Wreckfish menu will include signature dishes from the other three restaurants including, braised featherblade, truffle and parmesan chips, the famed chicken liver pâté and a house bread. New for the restaurant group will be brunch, which will be served from 10am during weekends.