Cosy Club boss celebrates successful first month at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth

THE woman in charge of one of Portsmouth’s newest restaurants says she has high hopes for its future.
Amber Wood at Cosy ClubAmber Wood at Cosy Club
Amber Wood at Cosy Club

Amber Wood is the managing director of Cosy Club, which recently opened its first restaurant in Portsmouth at Gunwharf Quays.

The venue, famed for its laid-back atmosphere and eccentric decor, has taken on 50 staff and is already proving a great success, after just four weeks.

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The company, which started in Bristol in 2002 set up by three friends, Dave Reid, Alex Reilley and Jake Bishop, has seen a rapid expansion across the UK with 24 venues, with more openings coming up including Mermaid Quay in Cardiff in the summer.

Cosy Club Portsmouth Cosy Club Portsmouth
Cosy Club Portsmouth

Amber said she believes the business has proved so popular due to its friendly environment.

She said: ‘Cosy Club is fabulous, eccentric and playful. It offers informal dining, drinking and lounging in a friendly environment that’s open to everyone. Cosy Club is set apart by the character of our team, elegance of our design and quality of our food and drink.’

The restaurant serves a range of food and drink from breakfast to evening cocktails, including light lunched, as well as an award-winning vegan menu.

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It hosts regular events such such as giving free pots of tea to guests over 60 every Wednesday between 10 and 11am in a bid to help fight loneliness.

Amber said: ‘The Portsmouth team are Cosy Clubbers through and through!

‘They are warm individuals who genuinely love hospitality. They are experienced and enthusiastic, and when done up in their Cosy Club vintage attire really show what we are all about.

‘Our team are our biggest asset and we are super proud of all of them.

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‘Gunwharf Quays has a lot to offer foodwise and Cosy Club are really happy to be bringing its eccentric dining experience to the centre.

‘The reaction so far has been wonderful. For the first month, funds from every burger and coffee sold are going to local charity Home-Start, so we are delighted to be able to donate to such an important cause.'

The team has raised more than £1,000 for charity Home-Start, an independent family support service, so far.

Louise Boyle, from Home-Start Portsmouth, said: ‘We’d like to say a massive thank you to Cosy Club and those who visited the restaurant during its opening month.

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‘Each contribution helps to support us in our mission to enable parents in Portsmouth to be the best parents they can be for their children. It costs us, including all staff costs and overheads, approximately £1,000 to provide six months of valuable support to a family in the city so we know that the money donated through this scheme will make a real difference to at least one family.’

Colin Wilding, general manager at Gunwharf Quays, said that Cosy Club has proved to be a great draw for the outlet centre.

He said: ‘Cosy Club has proved extremely popular with guests in its first month of opening and we are thrilled the team have been able to support such an important local charity.’

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