Elite Bistros ends Sticky Walnut crowdfund after raising over £100,000

Elite Bistros has ended its Kickstarter campaign after raising more than £100,000.

The restaurant group, led by chef Gary Usher, crowdfunded £103,500 in 95 hours from 1,006 backers.

Proceeds of the campaign will be used to upgrade the kitchen at the group’s original Sticky Walnut restaurant in Chester, which opened in 2011.

It will allow the restaurant to move to a seven-day operation serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A post on Sticky Walnut’s X account read: “We did it! Thanks to over 1,000 of you backing us.

“We can't thank you enough for sharing and pledging to help us rip out the kitchen and get one that is more energy efficient, more space efficient and just a nicer place to work in. Very happy chefs here at the moment.

“We'll keep you posted on the plans and when we'll close for all the works. But right now the next job on the agenda will be getting the vouchers and other rewards processed and out to you all.

“Sticky Walnut crowdfund – completed it mate.”

Elite Bistros has built its business with the support of crowdfunding and over the past decade has raised more than £900,000 from 8,000 backers to expand to seven restaurants, a pub and an event catering arm across the north-west of England.