Bistro 29

29/01/2026

Not long now, my darlings.
The wait is nearly over and our lovely bistro will be back up and running just as we should be……we can’t wait to see you! Xx

04/01/2026

To the special little boys who broke into Jays, stole our stuff and threw it at peoples windows, there is a special place in hell for you.
I hope you get monkey aids!

04/01/2026

How utterly amazing are you all?
Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about doing a crowdfunder until some gorgeous people asked us to do that they could help in some way, and now look!

Work can get started right away, our lovely staff will still get paid, and our hearts are completely full.

We can’t thank you enough. Genuinely xx

03/01/2026

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/732559

Please, if you have a minute or two to spare, please sign this petition.

Since the fire, we’ve been inundated with messages of support from people who all feel the way that we do; let’s leave fireworks to the experts and stop the sale of them to the public.

If you feel like we do, please sign and share

Much love x

Ban the sale of fireworks to the general public to minimise the harm caused to vulnerable people and animals. Defenceless animals can die from the distress caused by fireworks. I believe that permitting unregulated use of fireworks is an act of wide-scale cruelty to animals.

03/01/2026

✨ We’ve found the cause of the fire ✨

Thanks to the incredible work of our Fire Investigation officer, Connor, the culprit has officially been identified. A rocket firework was found in the ashes, confirming the cause of the blaze.

To the small number of people who accused us of deliberately burning down our beautiful bistro just 7 weeks after opening — that claim has now been fully disproved.

We’ve also reviewed CCTV footage, which shows the fire started near our back gate. Unfortunately, our garden furniture acted as kindling, and with the wind blowing toward the rear of the building, the flames spread frighteningly fast and quickly made their way inside.

Most importantly, we are beyond grateful that no one was hurt. Buildings and belongings can be replaced — people can’t.

We want to say a huge thank you to our friends, supporters, and fellow local small businesses. Your generosity has been overwhelming and has already allowed work to begin so we can reopen as soon as possible, while helping ensure our staff don’t lose too much income.

And when those doors open again… you’ll be first on our list for free tea and coffee ☕️ (and yes — there may even be cake 🍰).

Thank you. Truly. Thank you ❤️

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/OnvrbV7n?utm_campaign=sharemodal&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=shortlink

fans

To help Jay’s Bistro recover, support our people, and reopen as soon as possible.

02/01/2026

It could have been so much worse ❤️

Firstly, we are incredibly grateful that our lovely upstairs neighbour got out safely. The thought of her being caught upstairs was our first concern.

If you look through the downstairs window (which exploded inward), you can see just how fiercely the fire took hold at the back of the bistro, near the kitchen and bathroom. The heat melted the water and heating pipes too, causing extensive water damage on top of everything else.

Thank goodness for the fire brigade.
Thank goodness that everyone is safe and unharmed.
Thank goodness for insurance.
And thank goodness for the overwhelming kindness — from our loyal customers and complete strangers alike.

Your generosity through the crowdfunder has been truly life-affirming. Because of you, our wonderful staff can continue to be paid during the closure, and we don’t have to wait months before starting to reopen our doors.

We’re even considering renaming the bistro Phoenix Coffee House — because we will rise from these flames. We can’t wait to welcome you back and thank you all in person for your incredible support ☕🔥

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/OnvrbV7n?utm_campaign=sharemodal&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=shortlink

02/01/2026

The love and support we have been shown in the past 24 hours has honestly brought us to tears.

It’s exactly 2 months since we got the keys and our time at the helm of Jays began. 2 months. And 2 weeks of that was when the refurbishment took place.
We’ve been open such a short length of time so to lose our hard work now is just heartbreaking.

But we will regroup, reimagine and we will never take our little coffee shop for granted again.

Thank you for the love. And please keep resharing this article so that people can see the repercussions of a “rogue firework”. Leave fireworks to the professionals and less incidents like this will happen.

Sending everyone so much love x

fans

The independent bistro shared the devastating news

01/01/2026

'Rogue firework' sparks blaze at 'friendly' Merseyside bistro

01/01/2026

Well what a start to 2026 it has been!

Last night, just after midnight, a fire forced us to close Jay’s Bistro. Whilst the front of the building is in tact, the rear of the bistro and the garden have been really badly damaged, the full scope of which is only now evident in the cold light of day.

For seven years this has been a place full of familiar faces, conversations, and community. We were so excited to continue that story under new ownership — and while we will rebuild, the sudden closure has hit our small team hard.

We’ve set up a crowdfunder to help support our staff during this period and cover essential costs while we rebuild and wait for equipment to be replaced. Insurance helps with the building, but it doesn’t cover everything or everyone affected.

If you’re able to donate, share, or simply send a message of support, it truly means the world to us. Every bit helps us get back on our feet and reopen sooner.

Thank you for standing with us ❤️

To help Jay’s Bistro recover, support our people, and reopen as soon as possible.

01/01/2026

Due to a fire at Jays, we will unfortunately be closed until further notice.

We are all heartbroken. Not a great start to 2026.

fans

31/12/2025

🥩 Steak Night has arrived! 🍷🍻

Join us for our brand-new Weekly Steak Night Offer, starting January 16th! Enjoy a delicious dinner for 2 people featuring:

 Your choice of Sirloin or Ribeye Steak
 Home-cooked Chips
 Flavorful Mushrooms
 A delectable Sauce
 Plus, choose either a Bottle of Wine or 4 Bottles of Beer

All for just £50!

✨ Booking is essential, so reserve your table today!

Tag your steak-loving friends and get ready for a delightful evening at Salt and Sage! 🥂



fans Jay’s Bistro Kerry Walker Shelby Ferns Andy Heaton Victoria Dodd