Chuku’s, the world’s first and only Nigerian tapas restaurant, has announced that it has successfully surpassed its goal of securing 600 bookings in 6 weeks to save it from closure.
Ifeyinwa and Emeka Frederick, the sibling duo behind Chuku’s in Tottenham, launched the Chuku’s Six Week Charge on 31st October. The campaign aimed to get 600 bookings over the six week charge, or 100 bookings a week, in order to see Chuku’s stay open in 2023 and beyond.
Taking to Instagram last Sunday, the last day of the Chuku’s Six Week Charge, Ifeyinwa and Emeka announced that they received 801 bookings over the six week period, surpassing their goal by a third.
The siblings are now planning a celebration of the Six Week Charge in the new year for people who supported the campaign. More details about the celebration will be revealed in the coming weeks, with subscribers to the Chuku’s newsletter the first to know. Readers can subscribe to the newsletter here.
Ifeyinwa Frederick, co-founder of Chuku’s, commented: “When we launched the Six Week Charge, we thought that six hundred bookings might be too ambitious. To have surpassed that by over 200 is incredible and a testament to the power and importance of community. Thank you to everybody for giving us a very special Christmas present. We’re excited about 2023 and sharing our plans with you all.”
Emeka Frederick commented: “From day one of the campaign, support came in thick and fast. We are so grateful that we can keep on celebrating the best of Nigerian cuisine and culture for now. But don’t forget that we’re here 52 weeks of the year – let’s keep this energy going. So please, keep coming down and telling your friends about us. Independent businesses need your support now more than ever!”
The campaign sparked an immediate reaction from foodies, lovers of Nigerian culture, and supporters of independent businesses across the world. The siblings received messages of support from people as far as Nigeria, the USA, Australia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Bermuda.
Those closer to Tottenham came down to the restaurant in force to show their support, with notable diners during the six-week charge including Nigeria’s football captain and Watford centre back William Troost-Ekong, Labour politician Diane Abbott, Olympic athlete Christine Ohuruogu, TV and radio presenter Yinka Bokinni, Top Boy star Jolade Obasola, and Great British Bake Off quarter-finalist and cookbook author Benjamina Ebuehi.
The campaign launch video amassed almost 700,000 views across Twitter and Instagram, with retweets from high-profile names including supermodel Jourdan Dunn and the Nigerian England rugby star Maro Itoje.
About the Chuku’s Six Week Charge
Launched on Monday 31st October, the Chuku’s Six Week Charge encouraged all foodies, lovers of Nigerian culture, and supporters of independent businesses to book a table at Chuku’s between 31st October and 11th December. Despite rave reviews and a loyal customer following, Chuku’s has been no stranger to the adverse effects of the last few years, leading to potential closure of the restaurant. Ifeyinwa and Emeka aimed to get 600 bookings over the six week charge, or 100 bookings a week, in order to get Chuku’s back on track and see them stay open to 2023 and beyond.
About Chuku’s
Described by Grace Dent in The Guardian as ‘a tiny slice of sleek, contemporary Lagos’, and by Jimi Famurewa in the Evening Standard as ‘a rousing experience of cultural pride’, Chuku’s allows customers to get a ‘life-changing crash course in Nigerian tapas’.
Founded by brother and sister duo Emeka and Ifeyinwa Frederick in 2016, Chuku’s mantra is ‘chop, chat, chill’. Its first bricks-and-mortar site opened in Tottenham in February 2020 after a successful crowdfunding campaign.
The siblings are on a mission to celebrate the beauty of Nigeria, giving people in the UK an opportunity to experience the richness of its culture and promoting the traditional Nigerian value of community spirit.
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