I just want to say how much of an horrendous time this is right now not just for me and my husband but for the entire hospitality community at large. We are losing our livelihoods left & right. 1/2
Literally sat in front of my laptop crying because our business is on the brink. We’ve worked so hard to build this & because of all the bullshit restrictions imposed on hospitality (a HUGE employer and one of the most COVID secure industries) we could lose it.
2/2 Thank you to those who are sharing our plight and supporting us & shame on those who think we’ve done anything underhand. We are not scumbags, we are human beings who have always tried to do the right thing. Read the room and have some respect. Peace out
Here's the thing. There's no magic wand to save hospitality. It needs to be many things.
VAT needs to drop.
Without service charge, your total bill is roughly:
20% VAT
30% food and drink cost
40% staff costs
That leaves 10% for rent, energy, business rates, contracts and
Becky (
@pinuppantrygf
) and I doing a lot of radio and TV interviews at the moment about the plight of the industry. If I haven't mentioned your business of have forgotten anything, please accept my apologies. Our brains are scrambled and there is so much to mention. Also, some
Wishing my fantastic husband
@TonyRoddUK
the happiest of happy birthdays today. (He doesn’t care about birthdays but I love them like Buddy loves Santa)
When did people stop saying please and thank you? Honestly, I genuinely don’t know where manners have gone. Did they suddenly get outlawed and I didn’t get the memo?
What are we doing? We're opening a cocktail bar! Well, we're converting our ground floor into one anyway! Really exciting project coming up in the new year. Watch this space for more updates!
So shops can stay open in tier 3 (including close contact services) but restaurants (incredibly safe, clean and responsible for a minimal amount of cases) have to close except for takeaway? How does this make any sense????
3 years ago, these two beauties opened a restaurant with me. We all look older and more tired, but it has been an amazing journey. Thanks to all of you who have been a part of it
@CopperInk
Chefs, restaurateurs, lovely people. Please can I start a thread of recommendations of our favourite independent suppliers who need the public's help to stay afloat. Those people who make the best cheese, salami, wine & butter. Those people who can send their bread to the nation!
I probably don’t need to say any more than
@TonyRoddUK
&
@RobertDAParks
have said, but Tony & I had with a dream; we ran with it &
@CopperInk
is testament to what can happen if you follow your heart. Thank you to everyone who has supported us this past year. Here’s to many more
Yesterday we got to try some fantastic English sparkling wine, today I’ve written a little review of them on my new booze-related blog. Head on over the the link below to check it out. Huge thanks again to
@BoutinotWines
for organising the tasting.
What a joy and an incredibly special moment hearing everyone on our street and in the area clapping for our amazing
@NHSuk
- people who are on the front line, putting themselves in harms way to take care of the rest of us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Why do people have to be c**ts? Seriously, just be nice. It doesn’t cost anything to be a nice person and not say nasty shit about other people, places or things.
Long ago, before I met
@tonyrodduk
& became a restauranteur, I had a very small kitchen in Surrey & made cooking videos. I've dug them out a) in case you want to make some stuff & b) to give you a laugh during these scary times. Up first...How To Make An Omelette...
Not only are the restrictions hugely affecting our business, they are also massively impacting on our health (mental, emotional & physical). Tony & I work insane hours to try to keep afloat and keep our team employed. The stress & anxiety of this is crushing.
Essentially punishing other industries just boggles my mind. These new measures are not working to lower the R rate, but they are decimating lives and businesses. You cannot protect the economy by picking off what you deem to be ‘low hanging fruit’.
Really proud to announce
@CopperInk
have been awarded 2 AA rosettes for culinary excellence.
A huge congratulations to the whole team for their hard work.
Please book your table at
@greensveggie
We are heartbroken for you and your team. This is a landscape none of us wished to find ourselves in, but I have to hope that is talking so openly starts saving the industry at large. If we can do anything to support you, just know we are a message away. X
Please read this.
Please understand how hard it is for the hospitality industry right now. Please support your favourite places to ensure they can continue to operate. Please respect your servers. Please remember that working in this industry is credible & respectable.
"I am insanely passionate about wine and I am so impressed by what winemakers are doing right now."
Becky Cummings (
@pinuppantrygf
) enthuses about her 'bonkers' wine list at
@CopperInk
in this week's Minute on the Clock
Today has been a day of eating and watching Somebody Feed Phil. A well needed day of relative relaxation after a really REALLY tough week.
Ps, I really want to be friends with
@PhilRosenthal
So excited to finally be able to share this - this has been a long journey for
@TonyRoddUK
and I, but we are very close to being able to open the doors to our first restaurant
@CopperInk
It’s official! After months of waiting, hoping, negotiating, planned and stressing, we are thrilled to confirm that Copper & Ink will be opening. Thank you all for you support and patience and we look forward to feeding you soon.
Definitely on the struggle bus today. Can't concentrate on anything and feeling pretty low - just one of those days I'm sure, but hope everyone else is coping OK. Sending everyone a hug.
Quick plea; if you’re looking to book a table, please book on our website - it’s really tough to get back to every single email (although we LOVE hearing from you!) and if you can book your own table it really helps us! (Well me anyway). Thank you 😘
Anyone else feel like when they put lipstick on now they are doing ‘dress up’? I used to wear it every day, but as I wear a mask all day I’ve skipped it. I’ve put some on today and I feel like a kid who has raided their mum’s make up bag!
I find it very strange that folk ask me what era I am inspired by then proceed to tell me I’m wrong. I’m not a reenactor, I just love the fashion, movies & music of time gone by. My style in entirely my own, so either like it or don’t, but don’t tell me I’m wrong.
#rantover
🌟 MEET THE JUDGES 🌟
To celebrate the opening of the restaurant world again today we'd like to introduce you to
@TonyRoddUK
&
@pinuppantrygf
.
Tony, a MasterChef finalist, is now chef patron of
@CopperInk
with partner Becky. Becky is a baker, writer & has her WSET Level 2.
A lot of businesses and industries are struggling right now and they need support. I also appreciate the importance of education and the desire to keep some normality for those in schools etc, but the blind stubbornness of the government to continue to keep these open whilst
I’ve been relatively silent over the last few months on this with Tony speaking on both our behalf regarding covid because I don’t deal well with Twitter, but I’m so angry and frustrated right now that I feel I must speak out
Happiest of happy birthdays to my favourite human, best friend and whole world. Thank you for being my partner in everything, for making me laugh and always being a silly sod! I love you to the moon and back…
What are we doing? We're opening a cocktail bar! Well, we're converting our ground floor into one anyway! Really exciting project coming up in the new year. Watch this space for more updates!
Another service & another lovely guest telling me I look just like the fab Angel Strawbridge (
@vint_patisserie
/
@ChateauHusson
)! It’s a compliment I love to hear!
@TonyRoddUK
& I are often called the Dick & Angel of Blackheath. Reckon there’s a collab in there with
@CopperInk
???
Admin day which means a pub lunch with my loves
@TonyRoddUK
and butch_and_sundance_
Outfit deets... less rings as my fingers are too fat due to the heat, layered necklaces and massive door-knocker earrings.
#rings
…
Not long now until I'll be back at
@foodiesfestival
demonstrating my new crackle cookie recipe using delicious
@FoodThoughtsUK
products. Here is me at Brighton a few weeks ago...