It’s been the toughest of years with survival being the name of the game.

But Joshua Simons, Co-Founder of Chicken & Blues (C&B), says the popular restaurant group is facing the future with confidence.

That’s despite the most challenging 12 months he can recall.

And while, inevitably, profitability will have taken a knock, the way C&B has reacted to the pandemic, specifically its community actions, has reinforced the brand as a true neighbourhood business, according to Joshua.

He said: “I’m proud of the way we have coped with, and managed, the pandemic.

“We have remained open every day throughout, serving Bournemouth and Poole.

Staff at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital receive the first delivery of ‘Pay It Forward’ meals from Chicken & Blues.

“From March to September, we donated more than £50,000 worth of hot meals to NHS front line workers.

“It was topped up with £10,000 in generous donations from our community with our ‘Pay It Forward’ and Buy One, Give One campaigns.

“C&B became a platform for good during the crisis – our team stepped up and have worked tirelessly to keep the wheels in motion. I can’t thank them enough for their commitment and courage.

“This experience has inspired us to ensure that supporting the community, whenever we can, is part of the brand DNA for our businesses going forward.”

Joshua, 38, and Stephen Crawford, 37, co-founded C&B in 2013.

Together with Ashley Brown, 39, they’re now directors of Aviary Hospitality Limited, the parent group of C&B as well as other upcoming concepts under development.

C&B’s first outlet opened in Boscombe, quickly developing a large and loyal customer base, with a second restaurant in Ashley Cross two years later followed by Winton.

The Boscombe branch was sold during the middle of the pandemic.

Joshua said: “It was the plan to offload our Boscombe location prior to the pandemic, as the kitchen was too small for the volume of orders we were trying to manage.

“There was also seating for just eight people.

“We moved the team to Winton and, thankfully, we were able to retain the vast majority of our Boscombe customers through an extended delivery radius with our partners at Deliveroo.”

A further planned site for C&B in Bournemouth, covering 2,000 sq ft, was an early victim of Covid-19.

“The plan for C&B town centre was about to be signed when the pandemic hit,” said Joshua.

“We have since re-structured C&B’s long-term growth strategy.

Chicken & Blues Winton.

“As it stands, Bournemouth town centre isn’t part of it.”

However, a third restaurant – but this time in Southampton – is.

Joshua said: “We’re actively looking for sites in Southampton.

“It’s a smallish city, very vibrant and with a large student community.

“We aren’t looking in the city centre, but one of the peripheral residential areas. We have our eye on Portswood.

“We now know where C&B needs to be in the marketplace. Portswood would be the perfect match for us.”

The big launch for 2021, though – and subject, of course, to the pandemic – is Flamingo.

The all-day dining concept was due to open last May but the launch has now been delayed until at least March 2021.

Aviary Hospitality is making a £500,000 investment in the project.

The 3,500 sq ft indoor-outdoor concept in Winton will have multiple food brands available from a central kitchen.

A computer generated image of Flamingo.

The interior design has been carried out by KTM Design, headed by Katie Thomas, in partnership with Aston Villa and England football international, Tyrone Mings.

The company carried out the design, project management and fit-out of C&B’s Winton restaurant.

Other hospitality projects by KTM Design in the area include night-time venues Halo, The Lost Paradise and Canvas.

Danielle Sheridan, formerly with pubs, bars and restaurant group Mitchells & Butlers, has been recruited as Flamingo’s General Manager.

Joshua said: “It’s so hard to put a date on the actual opening.

“Flamingo is now scheduled to open in Spring 2021, but only when Boris can give us a proper trading runway.

“Closing and reopening is very costly.”

Once Flamingo is open about 80 staff will be employed across the new venue and also C&B.

Despite operating during the pandemic, the group is headed for upwards of £2.5m in revenue.

However, the group’s events business, Tribeca Events, which produces and promotes upwards of 30 small to medium sized events a year – including 6,000 guests across Sandpolo weekend on Sandbanks Beach – has been put on ice.

Joshua said: “We have sold events out and then refunded guests multiple times this year.

“Most customers have been understanding, but there’s no denying it’s been a total disaster.

“We’re lucky that we’ve had the restaurant businesses to focus our attentions and energy on.

“Friends of ours haven’t been so lucky.

“The pandemic has forced us to re-strategise.

“We’ve had to think about short-term performance in order to ensure our survival.

“We’ve also taken some time to plan effectively for the future.

“We’re looking forward to getting back on the road next year and initiating our plans when normality resumes.

“Whatever normality looks like, we’re ready for it.

“In the meantime, we can’t thank our thousands of customers enough for their support for Chicken & Blues during this most difficult of years.

“For our part, we’ll continue to do what we can to support local causes.

“We’ve recently joined campaigns to save Poole Swimming Club and, for the sixth year running, we have been planning to hold our Christmas Eve Gift Bank, where we send gift boxes to local families in need.

“Because of the restrictions this year, we’ll be making direct donations to the children’s centres instead, as well as a donation to Dorset Mind’s Step Up Challenge.

“One positive this year has been a real feeling of community across Bournemouth and Poole, with sector operators coming together to help each other at a time of need.

“Competitors have become friends, as many are in the same boat.

“I can’t pretend that there haven’t been days when things get to you, but we have some talented people in our leadership team, the kinds of people who pick you up and make you realise that there are brighter days ahead.

“We remain optimistic about the future.”

• chickenandblues.com