A POPULAR restaurant in Hoole is set to have its kitchen refurbished thanks to a new crowdfunding campaign which due to launch next month.

Sticky Walnut, in Hoole, was the first of Elite Bistros seven successful North West restaurants which also include the likes of the recently reopened White Horse Pub in Churton. The bistro is now looking to raise £95,000 in order to remodel the kitchen.

The award-winning restaurant was first opened by chef Gary Usher in 2011 but after 13 years it is now set to “rip out” its gas-powered equipment in favour of electric.

The work is likely to see the restaurant close for “a few weeks” whilst the changes are made.

Sticky Walnut said via social media: “Good Morning!

“Please save the date Monday, March 4 at 8pm we are launching a crowdfund to completely rip out the kitchen here. After 13 years and thousands of meals cooked it’s finally time… It is time!

“We will bring the kitchen up to date with a new fully electric set up.”

In the accompanying video, Elite Bistros founder Gary Usher added that the kitchen was “long overdue a refurb” and that the incoming electric equipment would be “cleaner, safer” and “more economical”.

The crowdfunding campaign will allow members of the public to purchase meal vouchers for any Elite Bistro restaurant with their money going towards the improvements at Sticky Walnut.

Other incentives include: a private dinner at the donor’s home for up to 10 people, tickets to the relaunch of Sticky Walnut, exclusive hire of any of the Elite Bistro sites and a private dining room at the White Horse Pub.

Elite Bistros are one of the pioneers of the crowdfunding model within the hospitality industry, with each of their restaurants after Sticky Walnut using contributions from the public in order to refurbish their units. The White Horse Pub, their most recent new location, opened in March last year following a £200,000 crowdfunding campaign.

However, Mr Usher added that if the project did not raise the required amount within the 95 hour time limit that the group would find "another way to finance the new kitchen."