Prosecco afternoon tea delivery service planned for Sunderland as catering firm bids for licence as company turns itself around after 'pretty grim' time during crisis

A catering firm which turned to delivering afternoon teas and other treats during lockdown is seeking an alcohol licence to help grow its new business.
Aldesko Catering, based in Washington, went four weeks without an order when restrictions were first introduced in an effort to halt the spread of coronavirus.Aldesko Catering, based in Washington, went four weeks without an order when restrictions were first introduced in an effort to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Aldesko Catering, based in Washington, went four weeks without an order when restrictions were first introduced in an effort to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Aldesko Catering, based in Washington, went four weeks without an order when restrictions were first introduced in an effort to halt the spread of coronavirus.

But since then boss Carli Horsburgh has found a new customer base with a revamped menu and is seeking permission from Sunderland City Council to add wine and prosecco to the choices on offer.

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“When coronavirus hit a lot of my business was catering for corporate meetings, so I had to think of a new thing quickly,” said Horsburgh, who started the company in 2016.

“After about four weeks of nothing to do I decided to do a bit of a ‘graze box’ type of thing, which took off quite well.

“I spoke to the council and the police about the possibility of getting a licence because I do an afternoon tea box, so people can get a bottle of prosecco with that, or I’m looking at a cheese and wine box too.

“It will probably just be a couple a week – I wanted to do it properly and not get fined.”

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According to an application lodged with the city council’s licensing department, the firm is seeking permission to sell alcohol between 12 – 6pm from its base in Washington’s Swan Industrial Estate.

It adds ‘no one from the public visits’ the unit, which is only used for ‘production of the catering before delivery’.

Horsburgh admitted it was ‘pretty grim’ early in the outbreak, when the meetings and parties she had expected to supply were cancelled.

“I decided I had to come up with something else,” she added.

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“I was worried, I’ve got bills and a house to pay for, it was a pretty anxious time.

“But there’s also been a lot of people in a far worse boat than myself.

“This has ended up working for me, but I also don’t know how long it will work for me when people start going out again.”

Members of the public have until Thursday, June 18, to submit any comments on the application to the city council.

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