News that Table 13 is leaving Oxford to start afresh in London has plunged its endless loyal foodie followers into despair. READ OUR REVIEW HERE But for founder Georgia Gallacher it’s an exciting new adventure.
The inspirational and pioneering plant-based restaurant which operated from chef Georgia Gallacher‘s home in Wheatley until the end of March, has now shut up shop for good as the innovative chef sets her sights on recruiting Londoners to her awe-inspiring vegan supper clubs.
“It wasn’t an easy decision because we started in Oxford on such a high, and we can’t believe what we achieved over the past two-and-a-half-years, really making our mark,” Georgia says. (Table 13 won numerous awards including BEST VEGGIE/VEGAN and BEST CHEF in last year’s OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS)
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“But we need to keep pushing ourselves so it’s really exciting, and we’ve done it before so can do it again. And although we are going from a big fish in a small pond to a small fish in a big pond, we are really confident in our offering.
Already sourcing venues in London to launch Table 13, Georgia says: “Table 13 will have the same plant-based ethos but in bigger community spaces.”
So no regrets? “Ironically, March was very busy because when we announced we were moving everyone who hadn’t been rushed in before we closed. And Oxford has always been my home, but it felt time to move on and take Table 13 on to the next level.
“So while there have been a lot of tears, and sometimes I think ‘what have I done’, we’ve had so many messages of support from our customers who have already promised to book in and come and see us in London, and it just felt like now or never.”
“Besides, we need to do something different because complacency can be a killer. So I’m not walking into this with my eyes closed, because Table 13 now has to create a new customer base and find out feet in London.”
But don’t worry you might still find Table 13 popping-up in Oxfordshire in the future: “We are still open to collaborations and pop-ups here like the ones we did at The Three Horseshoes in Witney, Summertown Wine Bar and Five little Pigs in Wallingford, and who knows, it goes well in London, maybe we’ll be back with an Oxford Table 13 franchise,” she laughs.
