Dusty Knuckle launches crowdfund for second Cardiff site

Dusty Knuckle has launched a crowdfunding campaign towards a new sustainable restaurant in the Welsh capital.

The pizza brand, which has two sites in Cardiff and St Davids and won the People's Favourite award at the Sustainable Restaurant Association's Food Made Good Awards last year, is hoping to raise £40,000 towards its transformation of an old park warden's bungalow.

Dusty Knuckle co-founder Phill Lewis said on the Kickstarter page: "From the very start of the work on the Warden's House, we want to ensure that sustainability is systemic to the building, and our food. But doing things in a way that is sympathetic to the environment, often costs more. And that's why we've decided to ask for some help."

The money is hoped to fund sustainable initiatives such as a composting machine, a rainwater recycling system, an employment scheme for disadvantaged groups and beehives. The site will feature an open kitchen, a small kitchen garden and a large outside seating space.

Rewards range from a founders' wall and free pizza for life to tickets to the restaurant's opening night or a wedding reception at the site. The crowdfund has so far raised more than £15,000 with 24 days to go.

Lewis added: "Whatever happens, the Warden's House will become a reality. We have signed the lease and committed to the project, in the same way we have done with every other project we've embarked on. But we would really, really like to make what will be our first ever bricks and mortar site a true reflection of us as a company and what we stand for."

Phill and Deb Lewis started Dusty Knuckle selling pizzas at markets in 2014.

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