Newcastle restaurant Bocados folds amid coronavirus pressure, Supercars and light rail
It’s not good news for Hunter foodies with a popular restaurant set to shut its doors, as liquidators have moved in to shut it down. The owner and head chef is devastated.
Newcastle
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The owner of a popular Newcastle restaurant is devastated, with the eatery he has nurtured for more than 10 years, set to close its doors for good.
Bocados, which brings contemporary spanish cuisine to Newcastle, has had a liquidator appointed following a general meeting of the members of the company held on Monday, with the business set to be “wound up”.
The COVID-19 pandemic — which saw restaurants ordered to shut up shop — was the last straw in a long line of difficult times for owner and head chef Raul Cabrera.
“COVID definitely pushed the boundaries but it’s been a long and hard struggle from the days of the Supercars, they just knocked out the street in front of us,” Mr Cabrera said.
“It shocked us a bit and also the building of the tram line which closed the city for a year and a half.
“It’s a series of things and it was getting hard to keep up with GST and the cost of running a big ship and maintaining numbers to ensure all the margins were met.”
Despite a “fantastic” half year of trade and loyal customers continuing to come back, it just wasn’t enough to keep the doors open.
“It was hit after hit,” Mr Cabrera said.
“From November last year it was great and I could see a light at the end of the tunnel.
“COVID just deepened the situation and I’ve got mounting bills to pay now and after paying of all staff and suppliers.
“Business is a tough game and I have got a thick skin out of this.
“It’s a real shock, it’s sad, it’s an end of an era.”
It brings an end to a Newcastle institution, which was set to celebrate 11 years in the business this July, and has served up some of the finest peruvian inspired foods.
The menu - which used organically grown produce - had an array of tasty tapas including patatas bravas and churrasco, the well-known spanish delight paella and of course a house-made sangria.
It also housed a banquet room that could seat up to 70 people for weddings, parties or corporate events.
Although it’s set to be a big hit to Newcastle’s restaurant industry, Mr Cabrera is optimistic about the future.
“I’m healthy,” he said.
“Everyone is going through the same thing, the whole world is going through a shocking change.
“I can get through this, I love this city.”