A Liverpool mum and daughter launched their restaurant after being made redundant during the coronavirus pandemic.
Gemma Quine and her mum Gillian Quine, both from Croxteth, had worked at Santander for many years when, during the height of the pandemic, they were suddenly made redundant. Instead of looking for new jobs in the same line of work, the two decided to take a leap of faith and open the restaurant they’d always talked about.
The two, along with Gemma's cousin Joseph, opened Q’s Kitchen in Stonedale Retail Park in November 2021, at the tail end of lockdown when there were still a number of government rules in place. Gemma and Gillian had been driving past the retail park and spotted an empty unit - and got talking about all the possibilities for the site.
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Gemma told the ECHO : “My mum had worked for Santander for 20 years, I’d been there for 14 years. The thing is we’d been working all through the pandemic and my mum was working with businesses on the bounce bank loans, doing overtime and extra hours, sometimes 12 hour days.
“Then we were made redundant and to not have that job security anymore was scary. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. When we were thinking about opening the business I just thought we should just go for it, otherwise we’d wonder what could have been. I always say ‘fortune favours the brave’ and here we are a year in.”
Gemma, Gillian and Joseph, who lives in Jersey, took on a unit at Stonedale Retail Park in July last year, before opening the doors as Q’s Kitchen in November 2021. Gemma said: “The unit we’re in was actually empty for about 11 years, we thought it was surprising considering what’s around that area. There’s so many good businesses right there. We’d always drive past, wondering what could go there.
“We’d talked for ages about one day opening a noodle bar or something, somewhere people could get something fresh and on-the-go. It’s been a real labour of love but we had the opportunity to design it how we wanted because it was just bare bones when we got it. Other places come fully done and you’ve just got to take it as it is. But this was something we did from the ground up, plumbing and electrical work; I designed the interior myself.
“We always get people asking if we’re a chain which is flattering, we’ve built a brand and I just hope this is the first of many Qs Kitchens.”
Gemma added: “It’s great working with my mum, we get on dead well. I’ve got a little boy as well so we arrange our shifts around him and we’ve got a few members of staff now as well, it’s a lovely little team.
“We always get good reviews about the staff. I think with big chains its not very personal but with something like this you can get to know your customers, loads of the girls even know people by name now.”
She said: “We’ve got lots of returning customers, you know they could be going to McDonald’s or Subway down the road but they’re choosing to come to us. It’s still as busy as it was a year ago when we opened.
“To still be surviving a year in, I’m dead proud. We opened at the back end of the pandemic so it was so uncertain, always wondering ‘are we gonna make this’, to be surrounded by big chains - we’re the only independent on the retail park.
"But we’ve got people coming in to meet with their mates, to sit and chat or bring the kids in. During the six weeks holidays we had £1 kids meals because some of the big chains were doing it but some people can’t afford chains even with the offer. We’re trying to help the community, we want to support the area around us.”
Q’s Kitchen has received a number of five star reviews online, with many people praising the “gorgeous” food and “friendly” staff. One person said: “Food is absolutely gorgeous, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Staff are lovely, always greeted with a friendly face. Can 100% recommend The works breakfast and the salt and pepper chicken pasta. Looking forward to my next visit already”.
Another wrote: “Just thought I'd call in after work for some dinner to take away as everyone has been going on about this place. I settled on a sweet chilli pasta, it was lovely, really tasty and I couldn't believe the amount, I couldn't get through it so I've saved some for tea.
“I need to try the salt and pepper one next I think so I might make this a regular thing. The staff are lovely, really friendly and can't do enough for you, everyone definitely needs to try this place.”
November 26 marks Q’s Kitchen’s first birthday and Gemma and Gillian are hosting an event to celebrate. There will be DJs, giveaways and more to thank customers for visiting and “getting us to this one year mark”.
Q’s Kitchen serves everything from full English breakfasts and pasta boxes to wraps, toasted sandwiches and salt and pepper chips. The restaurant is open Monday - Saturday and is also available for delivery via JustEat and UberEats.
It is based at Unit 2, Stonedale Retail Park, Liverpool, L11 9DH. For more information, click here .
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