A CATERING business is expanding with a new restaurant thanks to a funding boost.
Westwoods Bespoke Dining has received the money from Lichfield District Council via the Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund.
The company will use the money – which is designed to support micro or small businesses – to fit out and equip a new restaurant at The Plant Plot on the A51 Western Bypass.
Expected to open later this year, The Potting Shed Restaurant will accommodate 20 customers and offer a fine dining experience, including an eight-course tasting menu.
Richard Cummins, managing director of Westwoods Bespoke Dining, said:
“Like many small businesses we managed to survive the Covid-19 lockdown through fast adaptation and sheer hard work, but since emerging the other side we found it incredibly hard to access finances from any of the usual avenues to expand the business in the way we wanted.
“Decisions were still based on a period where we, like every other hospitality business, were closed.
“After nine years of delivering bespoke events around the UK, the natural next step was to have somewhere to do that on a more regular basis. We managed to secure most of the funding ourselves but access to the Rural England Prosperity Fund grant has enabled us to begin at a much higher level than we had originally hoped.
“We have been able to use bespoke products and services from other local businesses like Arthur Price and Lichfield Furniture Co which supports them as well as us.
“This is what The Potting Shed project is all about, supporting and promoting the amazing farmers, suppliers and producers in Lichfield, Staffordshire and our surrounding counties.”
Mr Cummins said the grant has also enabled his business make use of more cost-effective, greener technology.
Cllr Janice Silvester-Hall, Lichfield District Council’s cabinet member for visitor economy, ecology and climate change, said:
“I’m delighted that we have been able to deliver a Rural England Prosperity Fund grant to Westwoods Bespoke Dining.
“The money has helped the business establish a great restaurant space and I wish them every success.
“The full allocation of £200,000 has been granted to a total of eight projects to support the growth of farming businesses and the creation of new or improvement of existing rural hospitality venues.
“It’s great to be able to support brilliant local small businesses.”
