Adejoké Bakare to open Chishuru 2.0 near Oxford Circus
Bakare says she has found a new site for her originally Brixton-based restaurant just five minutes’ walk from Oxford Circus tube. Dubbed Chishuru 2.0, the new two-floor site will have more than 50 covers over ground floor and basement and will feature an open kitchen.
The chef and restaurateur has started a crowdfund on the Indiegogo platform with the aim of raising £75,000. The funds will go towards the design and build, new furniture and kitchen appliances as well as pre-opening expenses, upfront landlord costs, and PR and marketing.
“The site is in good condition in terms of electrics, plumbing and heating, but it needs a design overhaul, new furniture and some back-of-house appliances before we can open,” she says. “Plus there’s the inevitable pre-opening cashflow requirements.”
The restaurant is offering a number of different perks to investors, including lunch or dinner for two, paying to put a name on our ‘founders’ wall’ in the restaurant, meal kits for home delivery, and cooking classes in the restaurant. Investors you can even book Bakare to come and cook a dinner party at their home.
“We’re incredibly excited to open Chishuru 2.0 in central London. Joké’s food is one-of-a-kind and we can’t wait to present it on a bigger stage,” the restaurant says on its funding page.
From Brixton to central London
Bakare opened Chishuru in Brighton Village’s Market Row in 2020 after winning a competition run by Brixton Village owner Hondo Enterprises the previous year. Despite its challenging birth, with the restaurant only opening for six weeks before the UK went into its second lockdown and trading for only one day between December and April, it has won plaudits from many people, including receiving a glowing review from Jay Rayner in the Observer.
It was ranked the 93rd best restaurant in the UK at the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards and has been named Restaurant of the Year Time Out and Eater London.
In September last year, BigHospitality broke the story that she would be locating the restaurant to larger premises, with Bakare saying: “Brixton has shown proof of concept so I know we can take it somewhere else.”
