25/12/2025
💔These days was not the first time when I had to make calls to cancel bookings at The Townhouse.
I made calls in 2020 as well, when the restaurant never had the chance to open officially, because of the pandemic.
Those have been easy calls to make. Maybe some of you even remember me calling.
But, on this occasion it has been difficult, and not like almost 6 years ago.
Whereas at that point we only had some Facebook followers, this time, the people that have been booked for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day lunch, had been at least a million times to The Townhouse before.
This time they were names, they were faces, they were longstanding supporting families.
But, with a sinking heart, I've started making those calls.
Some were hit hard, but understood the situation.
Some quickly refused seeing this as a problem, but took this opportunity to revert to any plans they would have had if the booking was not initially made.
Some smiled and asked me to enjoy a day off.
But everyone has understood and had words of encouragement.
For this alone i can't wait to resolve the situation!
Thank you everyone for being there for me and for the team in such a difficult moment!
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Because i said "team", i would like to mention the names of the ones that have worked hard this December, as well as during the year.
I will not tag them, but just mention.
Kitchen team:
Paul Monkhouse, Michael Jameson, Connor Scurr, Michael Saint John, Sofia Pelmi, Chaney (her last name escapes me now), 1901's Dan Robertson, Daniel Weatheritt, Michał Majcrowicz, Ping Manalang.
They have worked absolutely tirelessly to make this happen. From starters, to pastry, to KP, to the pass, everyone worked hard.
Front of house team:
Claudiu, Laszlo, Jack, Ellen, Joana, Luca, Nihad, Lacie, Lucas, Noah, Zach, Alex, Hristina, Louise, Abbi, Liv.
I would like to mention here tradesmen that have kept The Townhouse going:
Tony Pringle, John Routledge, Paddy Spears, Coolcheck Refrigeration, CDM Solutions, Gecor, Derwent Scaffolding....No one here ever disappointed, and have always done their best and more to help me.
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We are going to be closed for two weeks in the beginning of January for staff holidays, so we'll be back after these two weeks.
We'll take this time to regroup, make some necessary changes and hopefully be wiser this coming year.
I would like to take this opportunity to apologise again to everyone affected these days by the cancellations, and reassure you that there was nothing i could have done, but haven't, to get the restaurant up and running for Christmas.
I would also like to thank the same people for the words of ecouragement and for the amazingly supportive messages they wrote to our WhatsApp!
Thank you everyone that has ever stepped foot in our restaurant, we learn from you everyday.
I will personally make calls in the new year to the people that haven't had the best experience, and i will personally make sure we will work harder to never disappoint the ones that always left happy after their visit.
This was a message i wish never had apologies in it, but rather only thank yous.
However, life is not perfect.
But, i would like to reiterate that everything I'm doing, and everything my team is doing, we are doing it with all our hearts and passion, for you.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Florin and The Team.
