‘Hospitality is in the bin right now’
The owner of a popular Pan-Asian restaurant has issued a plea to customers ahead of a quiet few months(Image: Codi’s Kitchen)
The owner of a popular Greater Manchester restaurant has issued a heartfelt plea to customers ahead of the Christmas season after saying that they are ‘genuinely scared’ they will have to close due to the issues facing the hospitality industry right now.
Codi Sheldon first opened the Codi’s Kitchen restaurant on Heywood Road in Prestwich, three years ago. Last year, the sushi and Asian-fusion venue relocated to a bigger premises on Bury New Road selling its popular creations, including Firecracker Kaarage Fried Chicken, bao buns and salmon terikayi rice.
Last month, Codi was forced to defend the restaurant’s Christmas display – featuring 30 presents outside the windows and premises – after one resident asked ‘how is this acceptable’. Locals rallied behind the restaurant owner in support, calling the original poster a ‘Grinch’ and a ‘humbug’. Following the initial post, Codi said she had been inundated with positive messages praising her for ‘brightening up the village’. She said she had also had a surge in bookings, and has even received comments from people as far away as Dubai.
Codi, who started the business in her parents home during lockdown six years ago, has now taken to social media to speak about the realities of owning a business in the wake of the cost of living crisis. She told her followers on social media that ‘hospitality is in the bin right now’, and she feared for the difficult few months ahead due to it being quieter than usual.
Codi Sheldon runs Codi’s Kitchen in Prestwich and said she is fearful for what the future holds for the hospitality industry(Image: Codi’s Kitchen)
She also spoke about how she has had to cut down on staff hours due to a lower number of customers, and urged people to book in advance when possible so they can prepare accordingly. She explained: “So because we’ve been quieter (November lull), I had no choice to cut staff hours and only do the rota according to bookings.
“We then had an influx of walk-ins (which is amazing and we love) however if possible we need people to book in so we can staff accordingly. We then became really busy so switched off Deliveroo and doing so meant sales were down by 1k, which is a lot of money which we really need atm so it’s a vicious cycle of what we do.”
In the post, Codi admitted that the situation had ‘got a bit much for me’, saying she had broken down in tears as she was becoming overwhelmed by trying to ensure the business, staff and customers all remained satisfied. She also spoke about the impact of the recently-announced budget, which many Greater Manchester businesses have also spoken about.
Codi’s new home will be opened in October (Image: Codi Sheldon)
It’s estimated that, In the first half of 2025, the hospitality sector experienced a net loss of 374 venues – equating to around two closures a day. In the nine months following the 2024 Budget, 89,000 jobs were lost according to the sector’s biggest trading body UKHospitality. Venues managing to stay open are finding themselves reducing staff hours and headcount to deal with the rise in National Insurance Contributions (NICs), Living Wage and Minimum Wage bills of the last budget.
UKHospitality also warned that the hospitality sector could lose an additional 100,000 workers due to changes mentioned in the Autumn Budget last week, including a new tourist tax, an overhaul of business rates and a minimum wage increase. In its defence, the Government said its £4.3bn support package would ‘protect pubs, restaurants and cafes’ by capping bill rises, cutting licensing costs, capping corporation tax and maintaining an alcohol duty cut on draught pints.
Codi said on Instagram today (December 5): “Hospitality is in the bin right now and the budget isn’t doing anything to help. We’re going to find more and more small businesses having to close and I’m genuinely scared that we will too.”
Restaurant owner Codi urged customers to ‘show up’ and support local businesses so they can ‘keep doors open'(Image: Codi’s Kitchen)
Urging people to show up for their local favourite spots before they are lost, Codi added: “Small businesses aren’t just shops and cafes – they’re people holding everything together behind the scenes. Right now, they’re fighting to survive unpredictable football, rising costs, and zero budget support. Your support genuinely makes a difference. Book ahead when you can. Choose local over big chains. Leave reviews, share posts and spread the word. Show up; it keeps doors open and staff employed.”
People rallied to Codi’s defence after she shared the honest and upfront post about the situation for her business. One person commented: “Keep being amazing…Ur doing the most incredible job…UV got this.” One wrote: “ Times are tough but so are you”. Another said: “My favourite restaurant in Prestwich!”
Codi’s Kitchen is on 391 Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1AW.