Starting up a new business during the pandemic was always going to be risky - even if it was selling one of Nottingham's greatest institutions. But for one family the gamble has paid off and the Crusty Cob Shop is celebrating a successful first year's trading.
Andy Hutchings, 49, of Stapleford, took over the shop with his wife Danni., 42, after he was made redundant from his job as a restaurant manager. After being furloughed by ASK Italian in Ashby de la Zouch, the father-of-three found out he was losing his job on a video call with 1,500 other employees in July 2020 when the company went into administration
Even though the restaurant has since reopened, Andy said taking over the long-established cob shop was the best decision he could have made. "I wish I'd done it 20 years ago. My wife had been on at me for years and years saying we need to do it ourselves," he said.
