Alex Bond launches crowdfund for Nottingham fried chicken restaurant

Alex Bond, chef-patron of Michelin-starred Alchemilla in Nottingham, has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the opening of his fried chicken restaurant concept, Mollis.

Bond secured the site, which is next to Alchemilla, 18 months ago, but said the team were “tied up in red tape for a long time with the purchase” and are now facing some structural issues with the building, which have hit their budget.

The chef has promised that those who support the campaign will receive tickets to “collab dinners” with himself and other Michelin-starred chefs, as well as preview access to the soft opening, limited edition Mollis t-shirts, and cocktail masterclasses.

The restaurant's menu will cater for both meat-eaters and vegetarians and feature five different flavours of fried chicken, fries, coleslaw, foraged ingredients and soft serve ice cream.

The drinks offering will be led by head bartender Daniel Warren, who was named Diageo Reserve World Class GB Bartender of the Year in 2018, and will include classic cocktails.

Upon completion, Mollis will include a gallery space to showcase works by local artists.

The space will pay homage to Bond’s own love of hip hop and graffiti growing up, with Nottingham artists such as Dilk, Kid 30 and Boaster creating graffiti for the venue.

Bond said: “We are on the final stretch now and have all our ducks in a row. We just need your help to get us over the line.”

Speaking to The Caterer in June he revealed that he hoped to launch the restaurant in November and that he is particularly excited to be “doing something we love”.

Alchemilla, Bond's first restaurant, opened in 2017 and was awarded a star in the 2020 Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland.

Earlier in his career Bond worked in kitchens including Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham; Auberge du Lac in Welwyn, Hertfordshire; Turners at 69 in Birmingham; and the Wild Rabbit in Kingham, Oxfordshire.

To view the crowdfund, click here.