Award-winning Bristol caterer, delicatessen and cookery school Papadeli has re-opened its doors with the support of a government-backed Bounce Back Loan secured from Barclays.
The £50,000 loan will support the firm’s 14 staff, who have been furloughed during the lockdown and cover day-to-day costs as well as enable the firm to invest in stock. 
Papadeli was launched in 2002 by husband-and-wife team Simon and Catrin MacDonnell as a takeaway selling local and European produce from its base in Clifton before expanding into a deli and cheesemonger, cafe and a successful cookery school.
The business has grown further in recent years with a catering arm providing services for events, working lunches, weddings, canapés, buffets and feasts.
Owner-manager Simon MacDonnell said: “We were enjoying a successful start to the year. However, the lockdown meant the shop fully closed and all catering and cookery classes stopped.
“As soon as we began experiencing problems, our Barclays business manager was straight on the phone to see how she could support us. The Bounce Back Loan means we could continue to support our hard-working staff as well as keeping the catering part of the business alive while we wait for events to be re-established.”
Papadeli, which was judged UK Best small shop 2019 by the Independent Retailers Confederation and Shop of the year 2020 by the Fine Food Guild, is now open again and operating within the government social distance guidelines.
Barclays Bristol business manager Joy Simmonds added: “I was keen to step in and help when the Papadeli ran into difficulty caused by the pandemic.
“I’m so pleased that the Bounce Back Loan will provide the financial cushion and reassurance they need to be able to get through these tough times, and I look forward to continue helping them now and in the future.”
Bounce Back Loans of between £2,000 and £50,000 – up to the value of 25% of a business’s turnover – are available from all major lenders.
They are interest-free for the first year and 100% backed by the government.
