Beyoncé's BeyGOOD charity awards Tottenham restaurant Chuku's $10,000 grant
Chuku’s, which is owned by siblings Ifeyinwa and Emeka Frederick, is one of 10 small businesses in the capital awarded a grant by BeyGOOD, from a group of 500 applicants.
As part of her Renaissance World Tour, Knowles-Carter pledged $1m to support small businesses in cities on her route including London, Chicago, Atlanta, and New Orleans. Earlier this month the singer played five sold-out shows at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“I still can’t quite believe that Beyoncé has backed our restaurant - it feels a bit surreal,” says Ifeyinwa.
“We’d already felt her impact when she was in town and concertgoers chose Chuku’s for their pre-gig meal, but this is a whole other level.”
Winners of the grant were announced at the Black Parade Route Luncheon at the Four Seasons hotel in London.
“This grant couldn’t be more welcome, says Emeka.
“Chuku’s, like other restaurants that don’t have a financial reserve, has been battered by lockdowns and the cost of living crisis. Every day, we’re fighting to stay open to make it to our fourth birthday.
“This money will make that fight a little easier and allow us to continue celebrating Nigerian culture on Tottenham’s High Road for the time being.”
Chuku’s first opened its doors in February 2020, five weeks before the first Covid-19 lockdown.
Late last year, Ifeyinwa and Emeka ran a successful campaign to take 100 bookings a week for six weeks, in a bid to avoid closure.
Billed as London’s ‘first and only’ Nigerian tapas restaurant, Chuku's is defined by its mantra of ‘chop (Nigerian pidgin for eat), chat, chill’ and serves a menu of small plates inspired by Ifeyinwa and Emeka's upbringing and their subsequent travels in Nigeria.
