The couple behind Barletta restaurant have announced they are to cease trading at Turner Contemporary after December 9 due to ‘the financial impact’ of a bank scam.
Jackson Berg and Natalia Ribbe say the loss of £50,000 from their business accounts has left them unable to continue the Barletta business and they are withdrawing from the gallery.
A statement from the couple says: “We are deeply saddened to share the news that Barletta will be closing its doors. The impact of fraudulent activity on our bank account, compounded by the increase in energy bills and cost of living crisis, has made it impossible for us to carry on. This was not the outcome we were hoping for, but it is the one we must make.
“Our last day of trading will be Friday 9th December. In the lead up to our final day we will cook off all the hits (yes, those carrots) and end with one last dinner to say farewell. Barletta has given us such an adventure, from Dreamland to Urchin Wines, Barletta on the roof to the Rose in June.
“We hope you will come and celebrate these last few years of Barletta. We cannot thank enough our loyal guests, the team at Turner Contemporary and as always, the town of Margate for making us feel so loved.
“Lastly, to everyone who donated to help keep us afloat, a refund can be requested at any time. Any remaining funds will be donated to Hospitality Action, who supports hospitality businesses facing challenging times.”
The couple say initially small amounts were taken from an account but then scammers used a sophisticated ruse to trick them into believing Natalia was talking to a bank official on the phone. She was persuaded to move the money to a new ‘uncompromised’ account but this was a fraud leading to the loss of the money.
Natalia says the online banks are in the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) but the couple are not covered due to it being an authorised push payment scam.
The Isle of Thanet News contacted online bank Tide which says it has done all it can and managed to retrieve a portion of the money – understood to be around £2000.
A spokesperson for Tide said: “We are very sorry for the loss the owners of Barletta have suffered. We appreciate this type of scam is incredibly hard on small businesses. We continuously encourage all of our members to be vigilant and visit our website where we offer advice on fraud prevention.
“In this case, once we were informed of the fraud, we contacted the bank where the money had been transferred on the same day and were able to recover some of the money that remained in the account. Unfortunately, the rest of the money had been moved on.
“We have investigated the matter thoroughly and believe we did all we could to recover as much of the money as we could as quickly as possible.”
A fundraiser was launched to recoup the losses but the couple now say it is impossible to continue with Barletta – which has 17 staff – as they are unable to meet financial obligations.
Staff have been informed of the decision this morning (November 30).
Barletta opened at Turner Contemporary last year following residencies at Dreamland, Urchin Wines, the former Ziggy’s rooftop bar and the Rose in June. The pair have also just opened Sète wine bar and restaurant in Northdown Road, which Natalia says they will ‘continue to build.’.
A Turner Contemporary spokesperson said: “Barletta took on the café and catering at Turner Contemporary in February 2021.
“However, the impact of a fraudulent act on their bank account, compounded by the increase in energy bills and the cost-of-living crisis, has made it impossible for them to continue in this role. They have therefore taken the decision to leave the gallery and cease trading.
“Turner Contemporary will explore opportunities for a new food offer in the new year.”
