Gary Usher launches crowdfund to support bakery's growth 

Gary Usher is to launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise £50,000 to support the growth of bakery Usher’s Bakehouse.

The chef, whose Elite Bistros group comprises five restaurants as well as a pub and events business, launched the bakery in 2022.

Three years on Usher has said the business needs to invest in ovens and equipment to be successful.

Introducing the Kickstarter, which will go live at 8pm this evening (Thursday), Usher said: “This bakery (despite a rubbish economy around us) has a beautiful bright future but we just need a bit of ’dough’ to get there.”

Usher has crowdfunded several of his previous openings including Kala in Manchester and Pinion in Prescot.

He has confirmed that he will once again sell vouchers for meals at venues across the portfolio as well as private dinners to raise the cash.

The chef has given himself 13 days to raise the £50,000.

His crowdfunds have had huge success in the past and just last year the chef raised £50,000 in 12 hours as he sought to upgrade the kitchen at Sticky Walnut restaurant in Chester.

Usher has been open about the challenges facing the industry and earlier this year closed restaurant Burnt Truffle in the Wirral after ten years of trading.

Find out more about the crowdfund here.