'We're open and we're staying' says restaurant amid reports of closure

Yahoo

16-06-2025

The owners of a Kemptown restaurant are encouraging people to visit as they confirm that they will be remaining open amid fears of closure.
Busby and Wilds is a family-run restaurant on Rock Street in Kemptown, Brighton.
Earlier this year, The Argus reported that plans had been approved to convert the restaurant into houses.
The restaurant posted on social media confirming the closure stating that they would be closing later this year.
However, owners Emily and Simon Ashley have since confirmed that the restaurant will in fact be staying.
Emily told The Argus how the situation unfolded.
She said: 'The landlord got permission to turn the building into houses, but because the market is so horribly slow we had a chat and he said if we wanted to stay on for two more years we could.
'That would give him more time for the housing market to get back up and it was nice for us, as we didn't have to commit to another big amount of time and financially meet that requirement.'
The restaurant on Rock Street in Kemptown, Brighton (Image: Argus) The couple opened Busby and Wilds thirteen years ago, having both come from restaurant and pub backgrounds in London.
Busby and Wilds offers a range of dishes, priding themselves on their locally sourced ingredients and environmentally conscious ethos.
Emily said: 'Having worked in restaurants for a very long time, I really hated that there was a lot of waste. There was a lot of resources that weren't used properly and food that's floated from halfway across the country for no specific reason.
"It just sat really uncomfortably with me.
'So, what we do is get all of our produce from local areas, local producers, and local suppliers. Everything's recycled and we're as carbon neutral as we can be.'
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All the dishes served are also freshly made from scratch in their kitchen on site.
Emily explained how the restaurant even considers the environmental factor when offering takeaway meals for locals.
She said: 'We don't do a takeaway service as I don't believe in the packaging, even the recycled stuff is not very good.
'But we've got lots of locals who will phone up and ask to grab something to takeaway. So, what we do is we put on the plates, they take the plates and then return them.'
Emily praised the local community and their support throughout the couple's journey at the restaurant.
"We're sort of off the beaten track, we're out of the way, and some people will say 'oh I didn't know you even existed', but the community and the neighbourhood, it's so tight. It's so lovely.
"I know my customers, I know what quirk they like and what they don't like, and I can even tell what they're going to order before they've even ordered it."
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The restaurant features both indoor and outdoor seating, with seating both out the front and in the garden area.
Emily encouraged people to visit and to share the message that they remain open.
She said: 'We're a family owned and run business, we aren't looking to break any records or outsell. We just want you to come and have some food.
'We're open. We're still here. We're staying. I'm still cooking. And we are not going anywhere.'
Busby and Wilds is currently open Friday to Sunday and bookings can be made online or over the phone.