Lee Skeet announces opening of his second venture and a new home for his Cora restaurant
Chef Owner Lee Skeet has announced he will be moving his restaurant Cora and opening Jackson, a second venture, in a new location in Cardiff city centre.
Opening on Saturday 25 February, both venues will be situated above each other after the Lee decided to relocate his Cora restaurant following an incredibly successful crowdfunder.
Jackson, located on the ground floor, marks Cardiff’s first bar and oyster bar; offering guests oysters, mussels and simple seafood dishes, paired with a selection of wines from across the world.
Upstairs above Jackson, marks the new home of Lee’s existing restaurant Cora that will continue to showcase seasonal produce, with guests served a six-course set tasting menu.
Speaking to The Staff Canteen, Lee explained how the crowdfunder had taken off and developed into something bigger than he and his partner had initially planned for.
"We opened our first restaurant a year ago, which was just one floor of an existing restaurant, which wasn't ours. We just had a year lease and then we did a crowdfunder to just buy equipment for that restaurant, which we got about £26,000 from," Lee said.
Talking about the success of Cora, Lee added: "We bought all of the equipment for that restaurant and then we realised we were fully booked for the whole year that we were open, so we managed to not just invest that Crowdfunder, but we realised that if we stayed busy for the whole year and worked hard that we could buy our own place, and we managed to take that initial crowdfund and buy everything for the restaurant but then invest and buy two new places now just from the crowdfund."
Just need to put together a few tables and tidy a bit, but
WE DID IT!
Apart from electric & plumbing Helen and I managed to do the whole refurb ourselves, & we will be open next Saturday 25th with rugby on the big screen!
Book a table for food or just drinks TEXT 07840244060 pic.twitter.com/OsDc87l3FA
— 𝕃𝕖𝕖 𝕊𝕜𝕖𝕖𝕥 (@leeskeet) February 17, 2023
Talking about the build process, Lee explained: "We've done all of the renovation work ourselves, just us two, so we spent six weeks doing everything, literally everything; building, decorating, putting in bathrooms, everything. It's taken us six weeks but it's pretty good just to do it ourselves."
He added: "We haven't had any loans or anything. We've just used that crowdfunder and reinvested it, and just made more and now we've reinvested that."
The opening of Cora and Jackson in their new location on Duke Street Arcade, just outside Cardiff Castle in the city’s centre, is planned for 25 February the same day as when England is set to play Wales in the Six Nations.
"We open on Saturday for in England Vs Wales in Cardiff, which is like the biggest day of the year basically in Cardiff, so we're not having any warm up or soft opening we're just opening for the first time on that day and see how we get on," Lee said.
Thanking diners in Cardiff and those who have backed both venues via the crowdfunder, Lee said: "Thank you to everyone who backed us and supported us. We're so grateful to the people that invested right at the very start before we actually had anything to show."
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