Edinburgh restaurant Wings saved within 48 hours thanks to crowdfunding efforts

Edinburgh restaurant Wings are just one hospitality institution who have been faced with the threat of closing due to a lack of support and income throughout the pandemic.

Wings will remain open in 2021 thanks to generous crowdfunding efforts

However, after starting a crowdfunder to raise £25,000 last week, the restaurant have been inundated with support from loyal fans across the Capital who have banded together to save it.

The simple and unpretentious restaurant, which operates by the concept of ‘we sell chicken wings and beer’, has been a staple on Old Fishmarket Close for the past seven years, but the business has been under threat in recent months.

After generous donations flooded in, Wings met their £25,000 target in a matter of days.

Now, the fundraiser has stretched its target to £30,000.

On the Crowdfunding page, owner Adam Hepburn wrote: "What can we say, eh? We thought this would take all month, you saved us in just over 48 hours. We have been deeply humbled and overjoyed by the response, and we’ll send out a proper thank you at some point this week, but for now, please know, you are the best. You saved us. You saved Wings.

“The donations keep coming in, which is amazing, so aye, keep sharing the crowdfunder. Your pal might want a hoodie or some bottles of sauce. All the rewards will be available until the end of the campaign on the 1st of January.

“Do come visit, and if you donated, let us know so we can give you a socially distanced high five on yer way in.”

The crowdfunding update states: “With our initial target, we will be able to stay open and make sure all of our staff stay safe, are well looked after and keep their jobs for the foreseeable future.

“With any extra funds, we will be able to expand our menu permanently (something we were testing out right before lockdown hit the nation).

“Furthermore, we will ensure we remain a staple of Edinburgh's historic and vibrant Old Town hospitality scene, as well as be able to lab test loads of our sauces, so that we may bottle up even more of your favourite Wings Edinburgh flavours.”

In exchange for donations to the crowdfunder, the restaurant are offering a range of exclusive rewards.

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.

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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