Adios: Spanish eateries fold amid higher costs and taxes
Owner’s ‘heartbreak’ after she struggled to keep business afloat
THE owner of two renowned Spanish restaurants in Birmingham has revealed her heartbreak after announcing they have closed following cashflow problems.
Emma-Louise Yufera said the decision to shut El Borracho de Oro in Edgbaston and Migas in Sutton Coldfield was the hardest personal loss she had endured.
“I feel my heart has broken into tiny pieces and I feel so, so sad I have not been able to save my businesses, which I love so very much,” she said.
Mrs Yufera previously ran Don Diego with her husband. The eatery occupied the same premises of the later Migas venture.
Last year, she made headlines when she condemned diners who booked tables at the restaurants but then failed to show up, saying they were “killing” her business .
But in a post on El Borracho’s Facebook page this week, Mrs Yufera said a combination of the ‘political uncertainty’ and increased costs of produce from Spain meant savings were being drained by VAT bills.
Mrs Yufera opened El Borracho de Oro in Harborne Road in 2015 with husband Alfonso Yufera-Ruiz. The restaurant specialised in authentic Spanish tapas and had a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor.
The couple met while working at the Michelin-star Simpsons restaurant in Edgbaston.
They initially made their name in Sutton, becoming the only restaurant in the town to be recommended by the prized Michelin guide.
The large open-plan Edgbaston restaurant, near Five Ways, sat 70 diners alongside a smaller bar area devoted to tapas and drinks.
In an online statement, Mrs Yufera’s said: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I announce the closure today of both Migas and El B.
“It hardly seems real or believable that after this many years running restaurants, after all the many trials and tribulations we have been through, the personal sacrifices, that it could end up at this point.
“It has always been difficult in this industry, always, as a fresh food business, it has been harder still as our personnel costs are higher than thos of prepared food places.
“As an independent we don’t have the purchasing power of big chains and then this year in particular has seen the rope around our necks squeeze tighter.
“A combination of political uncertainty, a very poor summer weather wise, increased costs of products from Spain has all meant we have struggled each month, never quite doing what we need to cover all operating costs.
“In order to then maintain supplies and staff we have prioritised their payments over VAT.
“This has meant we have struggled to pay our VAT for six months.
“Six months of VAT may not seem like a huge amount, and really it isn’t – there will be companies and even individuals who owe HMRC much more than we do.
“However it is enough to suffocate us as any savings, back-ups, buffers are used up and business does not look set to pick up by the amount that we need every week.”
She added: “I realise that El B and Migas have been popular and important restaurants for many people. We have helped to celebrate weddings,
We don’t have the purchasing power of big chains and then this year has seen the rope around our necks squeeze tighter.
Emma Yufera-Ruiz
birthdays, engagements, retirements, first dates and family gatherings. I’m going to miss my customers so much.
“Of all the personal losses I have ever had to endure this is the hardest so far, I feel my heart has broken into tiny pieces and I feel so so sad that I have not been able to save my businesses which I love so very much.
“I have made and built them from scratch, they have my literal blood, sweat and tears in them and life will never be the same without them
“Thank you everyone, this journey has been incredible.”