Gary Usher crowdfunds to launch Elite Bistro Events

Announcing the crowdfund on Twitter​​, Usher said the business would cater for events including weddings, and operate alongside the group's Elite Bistros at Home operation from the group's newly-acquired headquarters in Hoole, Chester.

Speaking in a video message, Usher said: "[Elite Bistros at Home] has been such an amazing business for us.

"It's been so good that we are opening our next business, which is Elite Bistro Events."

The month-long crowdfund will launch on 1 June and involve selling Elite Bistros meal vouchers, with the money put towards helping to launch Elite Bistro Events.

Further details will be released in due course. 

"We've got some cash, but we need a little bit more," continued Usher, who has often used crowdfunds to help fund the launch of his restaurants.

"So crowdfunding is kind of our thing, and we're going to do another one. There's going to be some other bits as well like some private dinners that we'll and some bits and pieces like that. So please check it out; please join in in our crowdfunding; and please help us open Elite Bistro HQ."

Elite Bistros at Home launched nationwide in June last year following some reluctance from Usher to follow many of his restaurant peers and enter the make-at-home market.

Speaking to BigHospitality​ last year in a Community Heroes video​​ as part of the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards, Usher said he initially pushed back against plans for Elite Bistros at Home.

“I was pretty negative because of everything that was happening and finding it hard to be optimistic about anything to do with the business” he admitted at the time.

However, he was eventually convinced to do so by others in the company and the business has since become very successful.

The Elite Bistros group operates six restaurants in total across the north-west of England including Burnt Truffle, Sticky Walnut, Hispi, and Kala.