The Parish is SAVED after public donate £44,000
THE future of a much-loved Huddersfield town centre pub has been saved after a crowdfunding campaign saw it raise nearly £45,000.
Director of Parish Bars Ltd, Thomas Simpson, feared the worst when the lockdown started.
Unable to get any financial support from the massive nationwide pub chain that owns them, Ei Group, (formerly Enterprise Inns) its future looked dire as its rateable value was too high to qualify for the government-funded support via Kirklees Council.
The Parish is one of the town centre’s best-known independent live music venues and over the past 14 years has seen more than 2,000 bands come through its doors.
But it was decided to launch an appeal, Save The Parish & Live Music in Huddersfield – though hopes were not high that it would do much good.
A target of £25,000 was put out there, which if achieved would see them through the barren months to come.
Mr Simpson said: “I’d like to start as expected by thanking everyone who has helped us smash our target. When we closed over six weeks ago we were all terrified of what was going to happen to our business, we knew we had a difficult landlord at The Parish, we knew we had over 50 staff who we wanted to do the best for, we weren’t sure if we’d be able to keep them on. We were blasted into panic mode.
“We decided we’d start a crowdfunder, thinking it might get a bit of traction and give us something to work on while we were closed. We didn’t expect to receive such fantastic, heartwarming support.
“Over 1,000 people donated and we raised over £44,000, (that’s getting on for £1,000 a day over 49 days), so we thank you with every little piece of our beings.
“I also want to mention all the other fantastic independent businesses keeping Huddersfield going through this difficult and unprecedented time, the independent food outlets who have smashed out takeaway food to everyone, the beer shops, wine shops, breweries still supplying Huddersfield with the best booze.
“The teams of chefs providing NHS staff with delicious food through the food4heroes charity.
“If I could have one thing spliced into the “new normal” we might see after this is over – it’s for Huddersfield’s people to cherish and make the most of its independent local businesses.
“The best coffee shops are independent, the best coffee is roasted locally, the best breweries are independent, the best pubs are independent, the best artists and designers are local, the best restaurants are independent, the best retailers are independent. We are very lucky in Huddersfield and I hope they all can come through this and thrive in the “new normal” world.
“It wasn’t the McDonald’s, Burger Kings, KFCs, Kingsgates and Costas who put the effort into keeping Huddersfield going throughout this lockdown, it was the independents.
“I hope the support we received on our crowdfunder rolls over into all these wonderful local independent businesses. Thanks again, Huddersfield, we love you!”