Right independent restaurants and cafés across Greater Manchester have been awarded grants of £11,000 each through the Backing International Small Restaurants (BISR) programme, supported by American Express.
Now in its fourth year in the UK, the initiative is managed by the International Downtown Association (IDA) Foundation in partnership with the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM).
The programme provides financial support to small, independently owned restaurants, empowering them to invest in essential improvements – from upgrading kitchen equipment and enhancing community initiatives, to improving marketing and customer experience.
This year’s UK recipients each receive £11,000 to invest in their business. They reflect the vibrancy of the UK’s independent restaurant sector, spanning everything from community cafés and family-run takeaways to destination dining spots. Globally, the initiative will award over $1.4 million to 97 small and independently owned restaurants across 14 cities in the UK, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Spain, and France.
Among the recipients is Grounded MCR, a community café based in Cringle Park, Manchester. What began as a coffee trike run by co-owner Natalie Lobel and her partner has grown into a business that now offers training and employment to vulnerable adults.
Natalie Lobel said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been awarded this grant. It allows us to build a permanent outdoor seating area made using recycled materials – something we simply wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. This will help future-proof our café and create a welcoming space for our community.”
The Manchester-based grant recipients are:
- The Original Third Eye
- Pure Coffee, Vernon Park
- Grounded MCR
- Bad Manners
- Memories Café Bar
- Mellors Café Bar
- Billingtons Oldham
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Pagoda Chinese Cuisine Grill & Sushi Bar
Dan Edelman, General Manager, UK Merchant Services at American Express, said: “Independent restaurants play such an important role in our local economies, and are so often more than simply places to eat. Through the Backing International Small Restaurants programme, we’re
proud to back these critical venues by providing grants for important business improvements, allowing them to thrive and continue serving their communities for years to come.” David Downey, Executive Director, IDA Foundation, added: “As we celebrate the Backing International Small Restaurants program, we are continually inspired by the resilience and positive impact of the small, independent restaurants selected as this year’s grantees. These restaurants are the heart and soul of their neighbourhoods, and through the generous, sustained support of American Express, we are proud to help strengthen the fabric of local communities across the UK and the world.”
