Our doors are closed, but our story isn’t over.

We honestly never thought we would be writing something like this. Escobar has been such a big part of our lives, and it has taken years of work, sacrifice, long days, late nights and a lot of heart to build it into the place people know today. Like any hospitality business, there have been difficult moments along the way, but we always kept going because we believed in what we were creating somewhere people could come together, enjoy themselves and make memories.

Then, in the space of one night, everything changed. Following the recent fire at the building housing Escobar, we have been forced to close because of the damage caused and the structural concerns that followed. Suddenly, a place that had been full of people, music, food, drinks and celebrations was brought to a complete standstill.

It is difficult to explain what it feels like to see something you have worked so hard for suddenly stop. But once the initial shock settled, our biggest concern was not the building itself. It was our staff. These are the people who have stood beside us and helped make Escobar what it is our bartenders, kitchen team, floor staff and everyone working behind the scenes. For many of them, Escobar is not simply somewhere they work. It is their income and their livelihood.

One day they were coming into work expecting a normal shift, and the next they were left wondering when they would be able to work again. They still have rent, bills, families and responsibilities to take care of, and seeing the uncertainty this has created for them has been one of the hardest parts of all of this for us. Our team has helped us build Escobar into what it is today. They have worked the busy weekends, the late nights, the bottomless brunches, the Christmas parties and the countless celebrations. They have welcomed thousands of people through our doors and helped create the atmosphere people know Escobar for.

Without them, Escobar would not be Escobar.

And when we think about Escobar, we do not just think about the business. We think about the memories that have been created here. Over the years, we have been lucky enough to watch people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, work parties, first dates, brunches, reunions and so many other special moments with us. We have seen friends come together, families celebrate milestones and people create memories that mean far more than just a night out.

That is what made Escobar more than just a business to us. It became somewhere people came together. It became part of people’s lives. It became somewhere people chose to celebrate the moments that mattered to them, and over time it became part of Nottingham’s hospitality community too.

That is why we want to do everything we can to give it a future.

At the moment, we genuinely do not know how long the road ahead will be. There are things outside of our control, and we do not want to make promises about when we will be able to reopen. We would rather be completely honest with everyone from the beginning. What we do know is that we want Escobar to have a future. We want our staff to have somewhere to come back to, we want to rebuild what has been affected, and when the time eventually comes, we want to welcome all of you back through our doors again.

When we first spoke about setting up this fundraiser, one thing did not sit right with us. We did not want to simply ask people for money and give nothing back. Escobar has always been about hospitality, food, drinks, celebrations and bringing people together, so we wanted the fundraiser to feel the same way like people are standing with us and helping us get through a period we never expected to face.

If you choose to support us, we want that support to mean something. Every contribution will help us through a period where we are unable to trade and will go towards the recovery and future of Escobar. We are incredibly grateful, but there is no amount that is too small.

If all you can give is a few pounds, it is genuinely appreciated. If you are not in a position to contribute financially at all, please do not feel any pressure. Sharing this page with a friend, family member or colleague, sending us a message or simply showing your support means more to us than you might realise.

At a time when so much feels uncertain, every contribution, every share and every message reminds us that people care about Escobar and the people behind it.

If Escobar has ever been part of one of your birthdays, celebrations, date nights, brunches, work parties or nights out, then you have already been part of our story. Maybe you celebrated something special with us, maybe Escobar was part of one of your favourite nights out, or maybe you simply sat at the bar, had a drink and enjoyed the atmosphere. Whatever your connection to us, your support now would mean more than we can put into words.

To our staff, thank you. We know this situation has created uncertainty for you and your families, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you have done for Escobar. To every customer who has supported us, celebrated with us, recommended us or simply walked through our doors for a drink, thank you. And to everyone who has called, messaged, checked in or offered help since the fire, we genuinely cannot thank you enough.

We never imagined we would find ourselves in this position, but sometimes everything changes overnight. A fire may have closed our doors, but it has not taken away the people, the memories or everything Escobar has become.

We do not know exactly what the journey ahead will look like, but we know we want to take it. We want to give our team something to come back to. We want to give Escobar the opportunity to have another chapter. And one day, if we are fortunate enough to open those doors again, we hope the people who helped us through this period will be there with us.

No sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.

Our doors are closed, but our story isn’t over.

Thank you for standing with us.

Love,

The Escobar Family ❤️