AN Innovative York food delivery service has ‘paused’ its operations in the city while it focusses on its thriving London operations and prepares for a relaunch in York next summer.

School Kitchen launched last April, operating from Carr Junior School in Acomb, with a series of ‘restaurants.’

It used professional chefs initially offering Sri Lankan, Thai, Mexican and Spanish foods, earning five-stars reviews on TripAdvisor.

The chefs would take over the school kitchen after the junior school’s staff had finished with them, paying a return to the school for this.

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The business model also focussed on eco-friendly initiatives such as using electric transport and ethical measures such as paying the staff well and growing some of the ingredients at the school.

The business increased its offerings to include Italian amid others and it recently received planning approval to open at second site at Millthorpe School, whose restaurants would include Lebanese, Vietnamese and Korean.

More recently, School Kitchen launched a ranged of ‘school classics’ such as toad in the hole, corned beef hash and rice pudding but created by top chefs including Yorkshire’s own Tommy Banks, Great British Bake-Off star Nadya Hussain and Saturday Kitchen chef Matt Tebbutt.

David NicholsonDavid Nicholson (Image: NQ)

In addition, it opened a restaurant in Chiswick, West London, also offering deliveries as well as a sit-in service. It also said it was looking to expand into Harrogate and Leeds.

However, company has now announced it is to ‘pause’ operations at Carr Junior School, while it reviews its ways of working and its York expansion strategy.

CEO and founder David Nicholson told the Press: “Very sadly, we decided a few weeks ago to pause things until later next year.

“There were challenges. Sales were not at the level they needed to be. Having reviewed matters, it’s the location. It’s not the ideal location for take-aways. We got a lot of deliveries for further out but not nearby.”

In addition, the recent budget did not help, with it announcing higher national insurance payments for businesses and a higher minimum wage, especially for younger people.

The Spanish lamb stewThe Spanish lamb stew (Image: NQ)

“It’s tight. It’s been a very difficult month. When the [higher] National Insurance comes in, it makes it look even more challenging.”

Having received planning approval to use Millthorpe School from City of York Council, School Kitchen plans a relaunch towards the end of the summer from the new venue.

David continued: “It has been a really hard decision. We have had to lay people off but some have come down south to our site in London. We launched its restaurant part two weeks ago.”

The west London operation, which will be hosting New Year’s Eve and Christmas parties, is going on ‘from strength-to-strength.’

He added: “The bar itself is making more money than York did. This [London] location will get us a better financial basis that will allow us to go back to York.”