Tonight Josephine operator launches crowdfunder as Government ‘offers no respite’

The bar group said there has not been enough support for venues from the Government and it needs to raise enough money in the next few days to save its two Tonight Josephine bars.

Its other brands have also launched campaigns, including Adventure Bars in Clapham Junction, Clapham High Street and Covent Garden; the Escapologist in Seven Dials, and Bar Elba in Waterloo.

The two Tonight Josephine bars, based in Waterloo and Shoreditch, have made a name for themselves through their focus on younger drinkers and Instagrammable interior design, particularly a ‘Well behaved women rarely make history’ neon sign.

A spokesperson for Tonight Josephine said: “The global Covid-19 pandemic has created a very uncertain landscape for millions of British small businesses, which is going to make it very challenging for companies like ours to survive.”

The company would have to make “some very tough decisions” in order to safeguard its future, the spokesperson said.

Grave danger

They added: “While the statement made by Rishi Sunak [on Wednesday 17 March 2020] may seem positive, it does not offer any form of respite in the immediate term, and without cash flow into the business, the future of our beloved Adventure Bar Group is in grave danger.

“If you, a loved one or a friend has ever had an amazing experience at Tonight Josephine, we need you now more than ever. Any support you’re able to offer is extremely invaluable and will help secure the future of not only the company, but the employment of 135 employees that we care deeply about.

“Any donation, big or small will go a long way.”

The bar brand is offering customers experiences such as distillery tours, trips to vineyards in Italy, and even its notable neon sign, in exchange for donations​.

It comes as the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) joined forces with Crowdfunder to encourage customers to ‘pay it forward’ at their local​, by purchasing pints and meals to be claimed in future months.