Community Voices

Local Chef Shares Story of Resilience Amid Rising Costs

In a heartfelt account, a Southwark chef explains how community support helped his eatery survive London’s cost of living crisis.

24 May 2025 at 16:32

By By Aisha Khan

In a modest Southwark kitchen tucked behind a row of council flats, chef Antonio Morales is preparing for another lunch service at his restaurant, Cielo Verde. The 38-year-old Spaniard has become something of a local figure — not for celebrity dishes, but for surviving London’s brutal hospitality landscape against the odds.

When the pandemic hit, Antonio lost most of his staff and nearly shut down for good. ‘I had to take over deliveries, manage accounts, do the cooking — everything. But the community really came through,’ he says. Neighbours donated fresh produce and helped repaint the exterior during lockdown.

Today, Cielo Verde serves up an affordable Mediterranean menu with ingredients sourced from local markets. It has earned loyal customers and glowing reviews in small foodie blogs, despite lacking the Instagram sheen of trendier Southbank eateries.

Antonio’s story reflects a larger reality: small restaurants in London are under pressure from skyrocketing rents, rising supplier costs, and energy bills. Many independent chefs are forced to sacrifice creativity for financial survival, often closing within two years of opening.

What sets Antonio apart is his collaboration with nearby schools and charities. Every Thursday, he runs a 'pay what you can' lunch for families receiving food support. 'It’s not charity — it’s food as community. Everyone deserves to eat well,' he explains.

He’s also an outspoken advocate for sustainable sourcing and reducing food waste. Leftovers from Cielo Verde are turned into soups and donated to a local night shelter. His efforts have earned him a community leadership award from Lambeth Council.

‘We talk a lot about resilience, but I think it’s really about relationships,’ he says. ‘You can’t run a restaurant like this unless people want you here.’ Antonio credits his regulars — NHS workers, students, single parents — for keeping him afloat.

With Southbank’s skyline changing rapidly, many fear that stories like Antonio’s will become rarer. Luxury flats and chain restaurants dominate new developments, leaving little space for grassroots operations with soul and history.

But for now, Cielo Verde remains open, and Antonio remains behind the stove — proving that resilience isn’t just about staying open, but staying rooted.