The owner of a Wiltshire brasserie is looking to be backed to the tune of £50,000 after launching an online appeal to expand his business.
Dean Toon, the owner of the Hidden Chef Brasserie in Trowbridge, wants to set up a new ‘chef development and production kitchen’ for trainee chefs and waiting staff.
His plans also include a delicatessen, tapas and wine/cocktail bar on the side but so far he has raised only £390 from just nine supporters.
Mr Toon wants to create the new business in the former Henley’s Cake Company premises opposite The Hidden Chef Brasserie at St Georges Works off Silver Street in Trowbridge.
The landlord is ‘holding’ the lease on the vacant property for Mr Toon but has only given him until March 16 to raise the funds to enable him to refit and redecorate the premises.
He said: “I absolutely love what I do. I have been in hospitality since the age of 16 - I am now 46 - and have as much drive and passion to succeed now, as I did back then.
“I so want this opportunity to move the business forward, and to help train others – but just cannot make it happen, through no fault of my own – without a bit of a leg up from people like yourselves.
“I have just three weeks to try and raise the required funds. I have found the perfect site, and the landlord has agreed to hold it for me for the above length of time, but no longer. I have everything crossed that you will all support me in this new venture.”
Mr Toon launched The Hidden Chef after being made redundant by the four-star Blunsdon House Hotel in Swindon in May 2021 during the first Coronavirus Pandemic lockdown.
Unbelievably, a group of residents in Holt, the village where he lives, clubbed together to raise more than £27,000 to enable him to open The Hidden Chef Brasserie.
“Since completing the brasserie, which I took on as a derelict shell, we have gone from strength to strength,” he said.
“I have not only achieved two AA Rosettes, but also, have won Trip Advisor's Travelers Choice Award for Excellence 2022, following repeated five-star reviews, and the Travel & Hospitality Awards Farm to Table Restaurant of the Year in England 2022 – all within just 18 months of opening!
“However, in this 18 months we have faced, like many others - ever increasing energy/food and drink/petrol/wage price rises. These increases have consumed all monies previously made, in turn taking away any possibility of progressing the business and further expanding.
“My vision was always to have five individual restaurants, all serving great tasting, fresh food alongside great service, across the South West just like we offer and successfully execute here at The Hidden Chef.
“But thanks to the current economic climate and rising costs eating up all of my profit and savings, I now need help in order to be able to move the business forward.
“I and my brilliant front of house manager Ty will train not only chefs but front of house staff to give them the opportunity to learn and develop their skills.
“The chefs will not only learn classic cooking skills through me and the development kitchen they will have the chance to experience ‘service’ whilst preparing and working for the restaurant/tapas side of the business.
“As well as being able to simply donate, and/or buy “rewards”, we also have shares for sale. If we don’t raise the full amount your donation, in whatever form, will automatically be returned to you.”
To donate, click here.
