Chuku’s looks to secure 600 bookings in six weeks as restaurant at risk of closure

Nigerian tapas restaurant Chuku’s is hoping to secure 600 bookings over the next six weeks to help it stay open into next year.

Posting on social media, the owners of the restaurant, siblings Emeka and Ifeyinwa Frederick, said the London Tottenham restaurant was “at risk of closure” and that they had been struggling to keep the doors open “despite our excellent press and rave reviews”.

“We have been battered by the series of lockdowns, the subsequent staff shortages and a whole host of other challenges facing restaurants right now,” the post said.

“We're proud of what we've achieved so far and we want to keep the good food & great vibes going forever. We have so much more #chopchatchill-ing to do.”

From 31 October to 11 December, the restaurant has asked guests to book a table and support the venue.

The restaurant opened in February 2020 after four years of pop-ups and supper clubs and a crowdfund that raised £36,000 of a target of £30,000. The pair aim to bring the Nigerian food they cooked at home to a wider audience.

Emeka left his job as a strategy consultant at Accenture to gain hospitality experience at brands including Honest Burgers, while Ifeyinwa started her own performing arts school, has worked in PR and marketing, and spent time as an English language teacher in Martinique and France.