NEWS JUNE 2010
We were delighted to receive a call from the organisers of Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2010/2011 letting us know that we had been nominated again in the Best Eating Experience Category.
Please vote for us by registering on their website and voting for Simply Delicious in the Best Eating Experience section. http://www.sussexfoodawards.biz
NEWS MARCH 2010
The New Year started very well for us leaving the snow behind and celebrating in much warmer climes. We were back to attend the Sussex Food and Drink Awards at a fabulous Black Tie Dinner where we enjoyed fine Sussex produce and some ecxellent Sussex wines. We spent the following days visiting some other Sussex Delis and some suppliers.
NEWS DECEMBER 2009
We have never been so happy or invigorated and enjoy every moment of our working day. Great customers, good friends in the village who ensure we have a diverse social life, loads of bookings and fun!!! Life has never been better.
Hard work and hard play really is working for us and we wish everyone the Happiest Christmas and New Year. We will re-open after Christmas on Thursday 7 January 2010.
The Story So Far
Damon always said that he wanted to retire by the age of 40, after his 25 year career in the catering and hospitality industry. So, during his 40th year, whilst on holiday in the Red Sea in early 2008, we decided to make this dream a reality. We agreed that by January 2009 we would be living on the south coast and running our own business. Not quite retirement but the start of an exciting lifestyle choice that would allow us to work together again and hopefully, earn a decent living.
Once that decision was made, we started looking at available businesses around Sussex and were surprised by the number available that offered different opportunities. We looked at restaurants in particular as well as existing retail businesses and after a weekend in France, celebrating Damon's Birthday, we visited Lennox Street for the first time, before heading back to London. A second visit, in the evening two days later and we thought we had found the perfect location to start a new business and we decided to make an offer on the property. Our dream was to create a modern delicatessen.
By the end of the first week of March, our offer was accepted and all of a sudden our plan for 2009 needed to be rapidly accelerated. We organised builder’s quotes as we wanted to completely refurbish the building and start with a blank canvas. Our house in Surrey was on the market and we went on a road trip around the Lakes, Scotland and back through Yorkshire looking at suppliers and Artisan producers and visiting other Delicatessens along the way. While stood on the ramparts of Stirling Castle in Scotland, we received the news that our house was sold and so it seemed as though all the pieces of our dream were falling neatly into place. We easily agreed on the name of Simply Delicious as it describes exactly what we plan to deliver.
The negotiations for the purchase of the business took much longer than we anticipated and so when we both finished work at the end of June, we knew it would still be a few weeks before the builders could get started on the transformation. We were busy using our time sorting out suppliers, equipment and marketing as well as setting up the company, dealing with the local authorities and the numerous other things that are required when starting up a brand new business.
Things still dragged with the lease at Lennox Street due to legal issues, as well as the credit crunch effecting a very slow completion on the sale of our home in London. The sale of our London house was finally completed in September and a few days later, we were the proud owners of a very dilapidated business at 2 Lennox Street, Bognor Regis. We immediately commenced the refurbishment work and the transformation of our vision into reality finally started at the beginning of October. Our fantastic shop was taking shape and every day we saw huge changes which was exciting and left us jumping around with glee.
On 6th November 2008, we opened Simply Delicious to the townsfolk of Bognor Regis and the surrounding villages. Our dream of providing a huge variety and range of delicious quality food, at prices that are affordable to all and not just an elitist outlet is now very much a reality.
From the start we have received huge local support and accolades for the quality of our delicatessen and have been repeatedly asked if we are part of a franchise! Maybe next year if we have time.....
Simply Delicious – Love Food!