Brighton restaurant donates its entire contents to charity ahead of closure

The Colasurdo family have owned the restaurant since 1996, and have agreed to donate everything from its tables and chairs to its extensive supply of kitchen goods to charities ahead of its closure this week.

The long-standing restaurant will help charities including Sussex Homeless Support, The Martlets Hospice and the YMCA, as well as the mayor of Brighton’s non-profit community cafe Java.

Kitchen equipment including three industrial fridges will be taken by Sussex Homeless Support.

The donation will help provide larger quantities of food to the homeless from the newly-developed kitchen at the charity’s headquarters on Old Shoreham Road, Hove.

Jim Deans, Sussex Homeless Support founder, said: “The work being done to grow awareness and support of the homeless crisis has come on dramatically and whilst there is still far to go all donations and any help offered is massively appreciated.”

The donation will also contribute to providing starter packs for the homeless once they have moved into accommodation.

Each pack will aim to provide people with the bare essentials for life away from the street and in their new homes.

The Java cafe will receive a large quantity of pots and pans, plates and various other kitchen appliances to help support the running of its Woodingdean cafe.

Furniture within the restaurant, worth an estimated £2,500, is to be divided between the Martlets Hospice and the YMCA.

A spokesperson from Alfresco said: “In today’s society it is so easy as individuals not to think about items that we throw out. It is so important for people and businesses to consider the good that our unwanted items can do for charities such as the ones we aim to help here.”

Alfresco is due to close on Sunday. The building will then undergo a seven-week refurbishment by the City Pub Co, which already owns The Lion and Lobster and The Walrus in the city, as well as dozens of local pubs across the south.