27/06/2025
Our last summer 🧡
After a wild and wonderful five-year ride, we've made the decision to close Ladle during the last week of August. It's been a journey full of joy, challenges, lessons, and unforgettable memories, both in our business and personal lives. Last year was our best yet, and we’ve decided to finish on a high.
When our lease renewal came up, it made us stop and really think about the next 3–5 years. Around the same time, George was offered a job as a catering teacher at Bexhill College. Something completely unexpected but perfectly timed. That offer, along with a lot of reflection, helped us realise that life was shifting in a new direction.
We’ve also felt the pressure that many small independent businesses are facing right now. The rising costs of keeping a place running, have become increasingly difficult to sustain. Pre-Covid, our EDF bill was £150/month, it’s now £968/month. That kind of increase, alongside everything else, was another nudge pushing us toward change.
We’ve been on a path of slowing down, prioritising well-being, and finding more balance. As many of you know, the hospitality lifestyle can be all-consuming, and we’ve realised it's no longer the right fit for the life we want to live.
We’re hoping to continue with our cookery courses once George has settled into his new role, hopefully from the end of September. Sharing our love of food and connection in a more sustainable and creative way is something we’re really excited to explore, and we hope you’ll join us for this next chapter.
Would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us, ate with us, drank with us, and cheered us on through it all. You made Ladle what it was, and we’ll never forget it!
Here’s to new beginnings!
With love,
Alex & George
