Help us start again with a home & hopefully Phat Smokehouse outside caterers.

( Plans now changed as our landlord has told us to vacate the house that was part of the pub by Fri 23rd Jan. Devastated to be possibly being made homeless).

I know there are people worse of but we appreciate even just £1 or a share.

Hi, our names are Russ & Gemma, and this is one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to write.

Over the past few years, we poured everything we had — our savings, our time, and our hearts — into running our restaurant and pub. It was more than a business to us; it was our livelihood, our community, and our dream. Sadly, due to crippling rising costs and bills, we’ve been forced to close our doors.

To every customer who walked through our doors, shared a meal, spread the word, or supported us in any way over the last 15 months — thank you. Your support, kindness, and love have meant everything to us, and we will always be grateful.

To make matters even more devastating, our home was tied to the rental of the business. When the restaurant closed, we didn’t just lose our income — we lost our home as well.

We’re not asking for help lightly. Like so many small business owners, we tried everything we could to keep going, but eventually the numbers just didn’t add up. The emotional and financial toll has been overwhelming.

Despite everything, we’re determined not to give up on what we love most: feeding people great food.

Our hope now is to rebuild in a more sustainable way by launching a Phat Smokehouse catering truck. This would allow us to share our food with a wider audience, keep overheads manageable, and slowly rebuild our lives.

The funds raised will help us to:

Purchase and fit out a mobile catering setup

Cover essential equipment, licences, and setup costs

Buy initial stock and ingredients

Help us secure a new home and regain stability while we rebuild

If you’ve ever eaten our food, supported our pub, or believe in second chances, we would be incredibly grateful for any donation — no matter how small. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page would mean just as much.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to read our story and for helping us turn an incredibly difficult chapter into a new beginning.

With gratitude,

Russell & Gemma