A fine dining restaurant has relaunched with a pan-Asian menu after being hit by the ‘economic crisis’ in the hospitality industry.
Sakana, owned by Ed and Nikki Warren, launched on Tuesday night following the transformation of their previous venue, Warren’s Restaurant & Bar.
Ed said the move was prompted by what he described as an ‘economic crisis’ for the hospitality industry, including the rise in National Insurance contributions which saw their wages bill increase by almost £1,000 a week ‘overnight’.
The couple, who also own The Acorn in Gnosall, decided to pivot to a pan-Asian menu to increase affordability and offers diners a range of options and price points.
After just a week’s closure the Great Wyrley restaurant has now re-opened as Sakana, which means ‘fish’ in Japanese, with a menu inspired by Ed’s love of South-East Asian food and seafood.
He said: “We are changing our dining concept in the hope that diners will enjoy something new, exciting and different for the area. The change was forced by what we can only call an economic crisis for the hospitality industry.
“We were hit by higher energy prices and then by the introduction of higher National Insurance costs which saw our wages bill go up by almost £1,000 a week overnight. We stuck it out for five months to give the customers what they wanted but it just wasn’t commercially viable.
“Warrens was relatively high end with fabulous produce and everything made fresh – but this comes at a cost and a price point. Sakana is going to be more affordable and people will be able to pick from the menu within their means.
“There is nothing like it in the surrounding area. There is something on the menu for everybody. I think our Thai curries are fabulous – the flavours are phenomenal. I’m very proud of it.”
Phase two of the launch will see Sakana start offering takeaway options from its menu within the next few weeks to make the business ‘even more versatile and increase income’.
