Hill Street Hatch to close shutter for last time
Award-winning pop-up food space, Hill Street Hatch, which opened in response to the Covid-19 lockdown, is to close.
Ryan Crown and Ema O’Kane, who set up the food incubator after moving back to Northern Ireland from New York, made the announcement on Instagram, writing: “When we moved back to Belfast from New York, we had a notion to do something a little different. Throughout the five years, we lived and worked in New York, we had always taken great pleasure in seeking out the city’s most fun, innovative and exciting culinary experiences.
“From Slice Stores and Cocktail Bars to Michelin Star eateries, we reveled in making the most of New York’s inimitable and ever-changing hospitality scene.
“Often as we reflected on each experience, we would brainstorm about what something similar would look like at home, or how each could work when paired with the amazing talent pool of chefs and bartenders in Belfast.
“So in 2020, when we returned to Belfast with the pandemic in full flow, we saw an opportunity through a Hatch on Hill Street to bring our project to life, and begin giving culinary entrepreneurs a launchpad to try out and scale their big ideas.
‘Served its purpose’
“Looking back on that decision a year later, we’re so happy with what we managed to achieve – hosting 8 unique concepts, 20,000 social followers, and 30,000+ guests all in one little Hatch, bringing a sense of excitement and energy into the area of Belfast arguably worst affected by the pandemic.
“Now that restrictions are beginning to cease and people can visit restaurants again, we feel like Hill Street Hatch has served its purpose in keeping people excited about, and proud of the culinary scene in Northern Ireland throughout the pandemic. The aims of our project have been successfully completed, and it’s simply time to move on to new projects.
“A real highlight of the year has been the people we’ve met and worked with, so we simply want to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported us.
“From our fellow business owners in the Cathedral Quarter providing us with invaluable knowledge and know-how, our colleagues and mentors on Ignite NI’s Propel programme, or the eight chefs that trusted us to help them launch their big idea in Hill Street Hatch – we’re so thankful for your trust, support and talent. We’ve loved keeping up with their continued success and are excited to develop these relationships further in years to come.
“Thank you, and here’s to what’s next!”
During its 17 months on Hill Street, the Hatch has fed around 30,000 people as well as giving food entrepreneurs the chance test ideas without committing to a long-term lease.
The pop-up incubator scooped a £2k cash prize as the winner of LEVELUP 2021.
Judge Naomi Timperley said: “Love love love this concept – great pitch and passion. So many restaurant concept ideas crash and burn and this is a way of trialling the concepts first and building an audience.”
It sold over 15,000 toasties in its first three months and racked up a turnover of over £200,000.
Ryan Crown is also the founder of Crown Creative, an agency that has worked with companies in both Northern Ireland and New York including Marriott Hotels, while Ema established a career working with Brooklyn Gin as its marketing director.
