Liz Cottam Smashes Crowdfunding Target

Liz Cottam has crowdfunded more than £65,000 to support the opening of a new 'gastrobar' concept, which has taken over the site that previously housed her Leeds, U.K. restaurant The Owl.

Cottam has raised a total of £65,385 from 314 supporters over 21 days to fund the opening of Emba, smashing her original crowdfund target of £45,500.

The initial target money has been put towards an overhaul of the riverside site at Leeds' Mustard Wharf development, which Cottam launched as The Owl in 2022, including the installation of a central bar and a separate open kitchen space complete with a charcoal grill.

Thanks to additional funds raised, Cottam will now also be able to put in a 'proper sound and speaker system', as well as an upgraded outdoor setup with 'comfy seating, fire pits, and freestanding lighting'.

Writing on the crowdfund page after hitting her original target, Cottam said she felt 'totally overwhelmed in the best possible way'.