Pals’ burger bar dream a reality
TO OPEN HOME-TOWN GOURMET EATERIE
A PAIR of childhood friends have fulfilled their dream and opened a gourmet burger bar in their home town of Holmfirth.
Joe Wood and Louie Cooper, both 25, met when they were just three and have been best friends ever since.
They have more than 19 years’ experience in the service industry between them, after starting out as part-time pot-washers and working their way up in various Huddersfield bars and restaurants.
Louie, from Honley, was manager of Five Bar in Huddersfield town centre for a stretch, and Joe, from Holmfirth, has managed Pax Burger in Lindley.
So their combined experience has prepared them perfectly to follow their dream of opening Lou and Joe’s – a gourmet burger bar serving locally-sourced food and a range of soft and alcoholic drinks in a friendly and chilled bar setting.
“Our ethos is everybody that walks in through the door should leave happier,” said Louie. “We’ve been talking about it for four or five years. It’s amazing how the universe just does things for you.
“I was having a conversation two years ago while on holiday in Spain about our idea and I said if we could get Aldea, a place in Holmfirth, it would be perfect.
“Then last year I asked Joe to cover a shift for me at Bertie’s in Elland, which my dad had a share in. He was on the phone to me saying it was a shambles and how badly it was managed. My dad said OK you two come in and train up the staff.”
Unfortunately, Bertie’s went into liquidation in December 2018. It was later saved, however, and is now thriving under new management.
Louie added: “The liquidator guy came in and we were chatting to him and we asked are there any good places gone up recently. He said there was this great one in Holmfirth called Aldea.
“I think there’s no such thing as coincidence so we went for it. We took a huge punt and signed a 10-year lease.”
The boys will both work as front of house and they have hired 18 staff – including six fulltime team members – to help them along the way.
Lou and Joe’s opens today.