Chef Gary Usher has raised nearly £130,000 in a new crowdfunding campaign, which will re-open a village pub which was shuttered by the pandemic. The White Horse pub, in Churton near Chester, has been closed since 2020.
But after launching a crowdfund to reopen the pub, it’s been flooded with support, particularly from the local community. In the crowdfund blurb, Usher said: “The White Horse is beautiful [and] so is Churton. My mum and dad live a few minutes away so I’m very familiar with the area, taking my dog Billy walking round there with my mum and dad’s dog Rossa.
“I’ve always loved it there and just can’t wait to get it back open! It took a while but we've got the keys now and I've been there almost every day... moving concrete, clearing mud and moss and ripping up carpets.
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“You can tell how much it means to the community in Churton to have it back open too because they've been stopping by offering a pair of hands, some tools or food. Or just saying hello.”
The fund launched last night, and hit £123,000 in 12 hours - £27,000 in the first five minutes - with five days left to hit its £200,000 target. For that, funders can get perks like dinner for two at Usher’s other bistros, or lunches for four at the White Horse once it opens.
The plan is to open the pub next year, with five rooms upstairs too, and staff from his other restaurants Burnt Truffle and Sticky Walnut steering the ship. Usher has had huge success in crowdfunding his restaurants, having raised nearly £750,000 over the years to open the likes of Hispi in Didsbury and Kala on King Street.
It follows his decision to curtail his plan to offer equity in his company, which he launched earlier this year. Despite seeding £500,000 - and raising a massive £126,000 in just two hours - it fell short of the £750,000 target.
He wrote in a message on Twitter: “I wanted to offer shares in the business, but it hasn't worked. I've failed at that. Why has it failed? I've just got it wrong. Everything from the valuation at the start to the way that I got involved in the project.
“My naivety towards it all just hasn't helped. I haven't understood it properly and I've just failed. I feel a bit embarrassed. I do feel embarrassed that it hasn't worked… but I would have always wanted to do it and if I hadn't done it I would have felt regret, so I'll probably take embarrassed over regret. We gave it a go, it hasn't worked."
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