Alex Bond launches crowdfund for fried chicken restaurant Mollis

The chef-patron at Michelin starred Alchemilla in Nottingham is looking to raise £100,000 via the Kickstarter platform to complete the launch of his fried chicken restaurant Mollis after discovering ‘some pretty significant structural stuff’ with the build.

Launching on 1 October, the crowdfund​​ will raise money to realise Bond’s ambitions of opening a second restaurant following a number of setbacks with the build. The chef, who purchased the Chinese restaurant next door to his fine dining restaurant to open Mollis, says that increased costs, including having to fully repair the roof, mean that the project will not be finished without additional funds.

“The build has been going really well and we are on target for a November opening but due to some unforeseeable set backs, mostly structural issues with the building we have had to mend, our budget has taken a hit,” he says.

“We have had to fully repair the whole roof due to what we discovered upon removing the ceiling and other damaged areas. However, we are very close to getting over the line but without your help we won't be able to realise our goal. Can you help??”

Mollis will serve fried chicken, soft serve ice cream using foraged ingredients and cocktails accompanied by a soundtrack of hip hop, rap and garage. The restaurant will feature graffiti from local artists such as Dilk, Kid 30 and Boaster.

Rewards available for the crowdfund will include collaboration dinners with Bond and ‘some of Britain’s most talented Michelin starred chefs’, as well as access to the restaurant’s soft opening, and cocktail masterclasses.