Edinburgh restaurant Wings offers free chicken wings for life a crowdfunder reward

Edinburgh restaurant, Wings, is offering hungry fans the chance to get free chicken wings for life as a reward which is part of their crowdfunding efforts.

Wings are crowdfunding to keep their doors open into 2021 with some unique rewards

The popular venue, much like other independent businesses, has fallen on hard times due to lockdown restrictions and the ever-shifting rules and regulations due to Covid-19.

After exhausting every other avenue, the business has turned to the community they serve to help save them from closing their doors forever.

For seven years, Wings has been serving up good food and good times on Old Fishmarket Close, a tiny street right in the heart of the city’s iconic Old Town, near Edinburgh Castle.

Wings' owner, Adam Hepburn, birthed the idea out of his love for chicken wings and a need to prove to everyone who said ‘it’ll never work, that it would.

The delicious, straight-forward concept of ‘we sell chicken wings and beer’ and unpretentious setting made Wings an instant hit. And the Star Wars collectibles, movie memorabilia and inflatable animals tied to the ceiling ensured a loyal following - before the pandemic hit.

Post lockdown - and understandably so - a lot of customers haven’t been venturing outside as often which has unfortunately not been good for business.

Now, with a lack of substantial help from the UK government, Wings may have to close its doors for good, however their crowdfunding efforts could save them.

Great rewards are being offered in return for support, including free food, t-shirts, hoodies, the chance to be immortalised forever on one of Wings' famous wall murals.

The staff hope their lights are still on into next year, so that when this pandemic is eventually over, they can get together with everyone who's helped and catch up over some hot wings and cold beers.

Adam Hepburn, owner of Wings said: "There's no secret millionaire owner here to save us. It's just us. Just the lads. Wings is what we do. If you'd like to save us, save us, we'll keep cooking for you.”

Donations can be made from as little as £5 which will earn fans a shoutout on their Facebook. £10 donations will also include a bowl of nuggets when the venue reopens. Those donating £25 will receive three bowls of wings.

For £40 donations, Wings fans will receive three bowls of wings, a bottle of their sauce from Sauce Edinburgh, plus a featured story on Instagram.

Those wishing to donate £50 will receive five sauces from Sauce Edinburgh.

£100 will get fundraisers an exclusive ‘I Saved Wings’ t-shirt from Pieute, based on the much sought-after staff only t-shirt.

Anyone who wants immortalised in the restaurant for £250 will be painted on the walls inside the restaurant and £500 donations will receive a sauce named after them and the ‘I Saved Wings’ hoodie from Pieute as well as 10 bottles of sauce from Sauce Edinburgh.

Big spenders can see their basement section named after the generous person who donates £5000 as well as an expertly painted portrait which will hang in the room.

£10,000 donations will have Wings’ eternal gratitude as they will receive free wings for life.

To donate, you can do so on their Crowdfunder website.

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