Historic Birmingham site welcomes new bar and restaurant
A new bar and restaurant has opened in Birmingham’s historic Lightwoods Park, made possible by £140,000 in funding.
The project, named 1000 Trades On The Park, received £140,000 in funding from the Community Investment Enterprise Fund (CIEF), split between BCRS Business Loans and ART Business Loans.
The venue builds on the success of the original 1000 Trades bar in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.
Owners Jonathan Todd and John Stapleton, along with executive head chef Dan Lee, who won MasterChef Professionals in 2021, have created 15 jobs with the new Bearwood location.
1000 Trades On The Park is one of the first businesses in the West Midlands to benefit from the latest CIEF, launched in March with backing from Lloyds Bank.
The £62m fund supports businesses that struggle to secure finance from traditional sources, with BCRS Business Loans providing loans between £25,000 and £150,000 for growth and recovery.
1000 Trades co-owner John Stapleton said: “We were not able to access finance from traditional bank routes so we were advised to engage with BCRS Business Loans and ART Business Loans to support our plans to turn premises which were previously a café and tearoom into a bar restaurant.
“We have benefited from the support of BCRS Business Loans and ART Business Loans to use the funds for fitting out the interior and kitting out the kitchens. 1000 Trades On The Park has a very different feel to the Jewellery Quarter as it is a hub for everyone, with people of all ages visiting the park and a true community feel.
“The experience of building 1000 Trades in the centre of Birmingham has given us confidence as, with the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, we have learned a great deal. Our mantra continues to be quality and variety, which is the approach we have now brought to Bearwood.”
BCRS Business Loans senior business development manager Lynn Wyke said: “Congratulations to the team behind 1000 Trades who have navigated a challenging period for hospitality businesses to grow. With a high calibre team including a MasterChef winner on board, BCRS Business Loans is pleased to support them through the new CIEF.
“Backed by funders including Lloyds Bank, the latest CIEF allows us to continue to support growing companies in some of the most economically challenged areas in the country to create jobs and bring further positive social impact.”
