P. Franco to reopen after crowdfunding almost £20,000

East London wine bar P. Franco, which closed in March, has announced it will be “back open as soon as possible” after a successful crowdfund raised just under £20,000 in 35 days.

The wine bar in London’s Clapton revealed it is due to reopen in mid-June once the license application is approved.

William Gee, who had managed the bar for nearly two years, launched the crowdfund on 30 March because it was “important to [him] that the ideals and values of P. Franco are continued”.

It received support from over 300 contributors.

Gee reached out to founders William Gleave and Phil Bracey to set up the crowdfund, which has raised funds for new equipment, rent, maintenance work and set up fees.

Announcing the news on Instagram, he posted: “Can’t emphasise enough how much the financial support through the crowdfunder has made this possible. Without it there is no way I would have been able to risk reopening, so I hope that over the years to come I’m able to repay my gratitude with more memorable evenings, conversations and events.”

The team behind P. Franco first opened the site in 2014. They also launched the Bright restaurant in London Fields in 2018, which closed in March.

Image: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/re-open-p-franco