10/01/2024
Good evening the wonderful town of Rayleigh. Firstly, everyone at the Yard would like to wish you all a happy new year and hope you enjoyed the festive period.
Your lovely comments and feedback help make it all worthwhile, we cannot thank you enough, not only did we climb the ranks in TripAdvisor, with your reviews helping us achieve #1 restaurant in Rayleigh, but also receiving nominations, and getting to the finals for the Ess*x Small Business awards.
However, with the heaviest of hearts, we have decided to close our doors. Behind our closed doors, unknown to most people including us for eighteen months, our electricity was being diverted and stolen by the previous tenant of the Yard to run his motorbike business, adjacent to our premises. The stress of continuous fused, overloaded electrics, having to close a full dining area, loss of revenue, damage to our reputation and continuous threatening bailiff action has taken its toll on our family.
We wish it could be different not only for our customers, regulars and new, but most sadly for our amazing team we have had. Everyone there until our last day were simply amazing, putting their heart and soul (and smiles) into serving you all as much as we have. We have seen the team grow into young adults everyday willing to learn new skills and we are so proud of them all.
For us, it has been a rollercoaster two years, many downs, and way more highs, and we have made many new friends and have had lovely chats and good times with lots of you over the time we have been here. We are desperately sad we will no longer be in the position to support local schools, the community and charities, our parting gift was all our appliances, equipment, stock, and furnishings were greatly received by Havens/Age Concern Westcliffe.
Here’s to new chapters and adventures in 2024
Much love and a million thank you’s
David, Serena and family
