City wine bar and independent café launch £10,000 crowdfunder to renovate new home

In August, French food and wine spot Les Garrigues announced it would be leaving its Saint John Maddermarket Street home to move into Louis Deli in Upper St Giles Street.

It will see Les Garrigues owner Damien Cabanis take on the running of the café, with Louis Deli owner Graham Charlesworth due to retire, and Clement Sigaut, from Smashing Wines in Woodbridge, stepping in to help.

Earlier this week, the team said renovations to make the most of the space at their new joint home - part of which is medieval - had started, but with unexpected costs arising, they had launched a £10,000 crowdfunder to push them over the finish line.

On the crowndfunder, Mr Cabanis, who opened Les Garrigues three years ago, said: 'The renovation project has presented challenges, which is inevitable with a very old building.

Delis in Norfolk: Some of the treats available at Louis' Deli on Upper St Giles, Norwich. Photo: Tristan Conor Holden. (Image: Tristan Conor Holden)

'Our costs have risen as a consequence and we are hoping you will help us complete the project so we can open our doors to welcome you in as soon as possible.'

MORE: City wine bar set to relocate to independent deli

Delis in Norfolk: Louis' Deli on Upper St Giles, Norwich. Photo: supplied by Louis' Deli (Image: Archant)

At the new site, the page says, the opening hours will be extended until 10pm from Wednesday to Sunday, and a bigger range of wines will be on offer, with roughly 80 to 100 available to buy and 20 to enjoy by the glass.

The bigger space will also mean they can create a dedicated wine tasting room.

It says: 'In addition to the breakfasts, sausage rolls, homemade ready meals and mouth-watering cakes that Louis is so famous for, we will now be serving a range of light French delicacies.

'These will include tartines and other lunchtime dishes, as well as the delicious cheese and charcuterie boards that Les Garrigues has become known for.'

Les Garrigues French restaurant, in St John Maddermarket, will soon be closing and merging with Louis Deli, in Upper St Giles, to become Louis.Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2018)

By Thursday afternoon they had raised just over £1,300 of the target, thanks to 31 supporters.

There are rewards on offer for donations - £5 is thanked with a small glass of house wine, and £600 or more will see donors given a champagne and cheese evening for 10 guests.

• To get involved with the crowdfunder, click here.