Cats Pyjamas, Ecclesall Rd.

Looks like they have made an error in their expansion plans and grown too quickly. Impacted as other high street chains have been by rising costs.

All sounds a bit suspect when you then "sell" to your fiance. Happy they saved jobs, but how many (if any) suppliers and landlords have they left hanging?

https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/yorkshire/pre-pack-deal-secures-more-than-100-jobs-at-restaurant-operator

An Indian street food and craft beer business which operates five restaurants across Yorkshire has been acquired in a pre-pack deal securing more than 100 jobs.

On 5 October 2018, Lee Lockwood and Bob Maxwell of Begbies Traynor in Leeds were appointed as joint administrators of The Cat's Pyjamas Ltd. The company was immediately acquired by Meow Hospitality Ltd.

Based in Headingley, Leeds, The Cat's Pyjamas was founded in 2015, offering Indian street food and craft beer.

It has five restaurants in Leeds, Headingley, York, Harrogate and Sheffield as well as a central kitchen in Kirkstall that also operated as a head office.

Administrators said the business had traded successfully but suffered from cash flow problems due to its rapid growth.

A buyer was sought and, after a period of marketing, its business and assets, with the exception of the central kitchen, were acquired in a pre-pack sale, saving the jobs of the company's 102 employees and ensuring the continuity of the chain.

https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/business/harrogate-restaurant-owner-puts-record-straight-on-saving-her-business-1-9388801

The owner of one of Harrogate's most popular recent additions to the town's restaurant has set the record straight about why the business has gone into administration and how she has saved it - and 130 jobs - with the help of her family.

Talking to the Harrogate Advertiser, ambitious entrepreneur Alison White, who has seen independent Indian street food chain the Cat's Pyjamas on Albert Street become one of Harrogate's best-loved restaurants in a few short months since it opened in August, said: "I can confirm that The Cat’s Pyjamas Ltd has officially gone into administration.

"However I can also confirm the business is still fully up and running with no interruption to customer service and we have saved all 130 jobs.

"I want to set the record straight about what this really means, why this was a necessary business decision and what the future holds for the brand.

"There came a point over the last three months where we found ourselves in a difficult situation due to our recent high level investment into business growth and expansions, and our reliance on short term high interest crippling loans.

"We had a planned new site opening in Wakefield which would support our cash flow and bottom line.

"However, unforeseen circumstances with power problems meant the site couldn’t open fast enough.

"That coupled with building a strong head office team to support me to run the business whilst I had my first child some 12 weeks ago has resulted in a loss for the business of over £50,000 a month.

"I can hold my hands up to say that my ambitious plans were possibly a bit naive, not having the proper support around me and I got drawn into a financial situation that was not sustainable.

"As a new growing business it’s very difficult to get long term sustained borrowing from any source - so short term high interest loans are the route many go down.

"This is what we did and I felt confident I could maintain the pressure of the repayments however when things go wrong circumstances change.

"We have been working with accountants for the last four weeks, seeing if there was anyone out there who could help us, to first and foremost secure the 130 jobs of the amazing team members we have.

"Due to the current climate in the restaurant sector no support was forthcoming.

"We have managed to save the business, and it comes down to family. I am so grateful to have such an amazing personal network around me, and I appreciate that not all entrepreneurs are in this situation.

"My fiancé, Paul, who is already successful in the trade with his own businesses is heading it up, thanks to financial contributions from many family members. We have saved all jobs and all sites are fully operational.

"In hindsight I can see that as an ambitious entrepreneur bringing something new to the restaurant market I had big dreams and ambitious plans but perhaps without the right support or advice.

"These have been the worst few months of my life when I should have been off on maternity spending time with my daughter, Elsie. The Cat’s Pyjamas is a strong brand that I have put my heart and soul into for the last three years.

"The business is fully functioning and continuing to provide the service people know and love.

"I’m just sorry that we’ve had to go through this and hugely disappointed in the financial systems that have led to this, but I know the new company with my support will continue stronger.”

Ah that authentic street food..cooked up in a central kitchen.

I was looking forward to trying this place but this administration puts me off... I've been on the receiving end of non-payment from an expanding, ill managed business.

Walked past it last night - did not seem busy for a new restaurant on a Friday night!

Wow, so many new things opening all the time, some survive, some don't. I guess I should go and take a look

Ah that authentic street food..cooked up in a central kitchen.

How does having a centralised kitchen make it in any way less authentic? Is it not about the ingredients and cooking methods rather than where it is cooked? Or would you prefer it be cooked on the street to be truly authentic? Or even in India.

I was looking forward to trying this place but this administration puts me off... I've been on the receiving end of non-payment from an expanding, ill managed business.

If people put money into it it is more likely to survive.

Looks like this place has closed...

6 minutes ago, bungleboy69 said:

Looks like this place has closed...

Yeah, only been open four months...

https://www.rmcmedia.co.uk/vibe/food-and-drink/article/Ecclesall-Road-Indian-street-food-restaurant-closes

Closed after shifitng assets to their spouse.....hmmmmm

On 22/10/2018 at 11:03, philyyy said:

 

How does having a centralised kitchen make it in any way less authentic? Is it not about the ingredients and cooking methods rather than where it is cooked? Or would you prefer it be cooked on the street to be truly authentic? Or even in India.

 

 

 

If people put money into it it is more likely to survive.

Yes Its all about the ingredients and cooking methods. Street food is generally freshly cooked, quickly, and served immediately. Unfortunately many self styled 'street food' operators that have sprung up since the fad took off prefer to cut corners to maximise profit (mainly because they don't rely on repeat custom because they do the festival/markets circuits). 

I had 'chicken satay' from one, the skewers of pre-cooked (boiled?) chicken came out of a cool box, were shown a hot plate, then served looking anaemic, still cold in the middle. It was chicken, with satay sauce, but it wasnt Chicken Satay

Looks like this place will be opening as a branch of Mowgli, the indian street food chain. The menu looks interesting, hope they can stay open longer than the Cats PJ's. 

https://www.mowglistreetfood.com/