Who knew barely a year after we launched our smokehouse and as we were really starting to lift off, we'd get slammed by a global pandemic.
Funnily enough it wasn't one of the risks identified on my business plan 🤣😱.
We had full order books for parties, some big catering events in the calendar, masterclass demand was high and our core business of dine-in, delivery and takeaway was generating a real buzz.
One year in to the project in earnest we were getting to the end of our family's subsistence budget and needing the business to start picking up some of the tab.
Truth is it was. Then we saw the pandemic and the national lockdowns accompanying it, sweeping across the European Continent, heading our way. At the beginning of March we were engulfed too.
I remember sitting in front of the PC in our smokehouse office a couple of days after nationwide UK lockdown was announced and in the space of 30mins (3 or 4 emails) we saw nearly £5,000 of events and bookings for the weeks ahead disappear.
It's tough to start a restaurant business, it's extra tough to start a BBQ business (due to high produce costs) and as I sat there looking at the screen I thought it was now basically going to be impossible with this unprecedented event.
Then something strange happened.
The government said we could continue to offer covid compliant collection and delivery. We were well set up for that, with our own ordering app, in house delivery capability and out of town location with plenty of room for parking and spacious smokehouse.
Then with the majority of folks essentially housebound and increasingly wanting to treat themselves and have something to enjoy while locked indoors, our takeaway and delivery volumes started to shoot up.
Not enough to make up the shortfall, but enough that we could just about keep our heads above water.
The desire to support local business was palpable in the community. It translated to direct, deliberate support for us with our chilled sales (smoked and packed brisket, pork, sauces etc) really picking up too.
If ever there was a time the words "everyday is a bonus" were more apt then I can't remember it. I'd come in every morning at 4:30am to fire up the smokers to the sound of our order printer beeping and a roll of orders spilled off the table and onto the floor.
We were hanging on, and in response to the communities support we started giving back, offering discounted food / fundraising for our National Health Service heroes and the volunteer groups helping support elderly or incapacitated folks with food supplies and transport.
Charles Dickens said it best... "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times".
I won't bore you with the details of the intervening months. Restrictions tightened and relaxed in cycles, money worries and stress ebbed and flowed like spring tides. We kept responding to the changes and putting everything into survival. Government financial assistance arrived and we were able to breath easier, if not completely in peace.
Now almost on the eve of the original lockdown we are starting to see hope. Vaccinations are rolling out at pace, we've managed to sustain our livelihood and the livelihoods of those that depend on us.
We have a big hill to climb, as does the community around us. The aftershocks of recession and unemployment are now on the horizon. BUT at least we can do something to manage those, they are more of a known quantity.
As of today, 2nd March 2021, I can say this though...
We haven't thrived, but so far we've survived and I'm God darned thankful and humbled for that.
I'll leave you with some pictures from the year past and keep working hard to have plenty to share in the year ahead.
Much love brothers and sisters of the smoke.
Alistair
Monster in Chief & Pit Boss
Meat Monsters
Funnily enough it wasn't one of the risks identified on my business plan 🤣😱.
We had full order books for parties, some big catering events in the calendar, masterclass demand was high and our core business of dine-in, delivery and takeaway was generating a real buzz.
One year in to the project in earnest we were getting to the end of our family's subsistence budget and needing the business to start picking up some of the tab.
Truth is it was. Then we saw the pandemic and the national lockdowns accompanying it, sweeping across the European Continent, heading our way. At the beginning of March we were engulfed too.
I remember sitting in front of the PC in our smokehouse office a couple of days after nationwide UK lockdown was announced and in the space of 30mins (3 or 4 emails) we saw nearly £5,000 of events and bookings for the weeks ahead disappear.
It's tough to start a restaurant business, it's extra tough to start a BBQ business (due to high produce costs) and as I sat there looking at the screen I thought it was now basically going to be impossible with this unprecedented event.
Then something strange happened.
The government said we could continue to offer covid compliant collection and delivery. We were well set up for that, with our own ordering app, in house delivery capability and out of town location with plenty of room for parking and spacious smokehouse.
Then with the majority of folks essentially housebound and increasingly wanting to treat themselves and have something to enjoy while locked indoors, our takeaway and delivery volumes started to shoot up.
Not enough to make up the shortfall, but enough that we could just about keep our heads above water.
The desire to support local business was palpable in the community. It translated to direct, deliberate support for us with our chilled sales (smoked and packed brisket, pork, sauces etc) really picking up too.
If ever there was a time the words "everyday is a bonus" were more apt then I can't remember it. I'd come in every morning at 4:30am to fire up the smokers to the sound of our order printer beeping and a roll of orders spilled off the table and onto the floor.
We were hanging on, and in response to the communities support we started giving back, offering discounted food / fundraising for our National Health Service heroes and the volunteer groups helping support elderly or incapacitated folks with food supplies and transport.
Charles Dickens said it best... "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times".
I won't bore you with the details of the intervening months. Restrictions tightened and relaxed in cycles, money worries and stress ebbed and flowed like spring tides. We kept responding to the changes and putting everything into survival. Government financial assistance arrived and we were able to breath easier, if not completely in peace.
Now almost on the eve of the original lockdown we are starting to see hope. Vaccinations are rolling out at pace, we've managed to sustain our livelihood and the livelihoods of those that depend on us.
We have a big hill to climb, as does the community around us. The aftershocks of recession and unemployment are now on the horizon. BUT at least we can do something to manage those, they are more of a known quantity.
As of today, 2nd March 2021, I can say this though...
We haven't thrived, but so far we've survived and I'm God darned thankful and humbled for that.
I'll leave you with some pictures from the year past and keep working hard to have plenty to share in the year ahead.
Much love brothers and sisters of the smoke.
Alistair
Monster in Chief & Pit Boss
Meat Monsters
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