Yesterday (28 October), Restaurant reported that the future of the New York-style pizza specialist was uncertain after Voodoo Ray’s Limited entered creditors’ voluntary liquidation.
Rebecca Lines, who has worked at Voodoo Ray’s for several years, has now confirmed she has taken ownership of the business, with plans to preserve its independent character while expanding its catering and events offering.
Opened on Kingsland High Street in Dalston in 2012, Voodoo Ray’s is known for its giant 22-inch pizzas served whole or by the slice, frozen margaritas and late-night opening.
Lines plans to build on its corporate catering, large orders and private events business, alongside collaborations with other independent hospitality operators.
“Voodoo Ray’s is a huge part of what made me fall in love with East London. Having worked here for years, when the business faced an uncertain future, I couldn’t bear the thought of losing another institution that makes this part of London so special,” she says.
“It’s an incredibly tough time for independent hospitality, and we’re seeing far too many brilliant businesses disappear. Taking on Voodoo Ray’s is a huge responsibility, but it’s something I feel incredibly passionate about. This isn’t about reinventing the business or changing what people love about it. It’s about protecting its personality, keeping it independent and making sure it’s still part of Dalston for years to come.
“But keeping an independent business alive today also means being realistic about how hospitality has changed. We need to evolve to survive. The restaurant will always be the heart of Voodoo Ray’s, but there’s so much opportunity beyond that, from catering for offices and events to creating new experiences and collaborations. It’s about finding ways to make the business sustainable without losing the things that make it special.”
The first collaboration will see East London cocktail bar Doña launch a weekend pop-up in the basement beneath the Dalston restaurant.
The space previously housed underground nightclub Dance Tunnel and, later, Karaoke Hole, also known as K-Hole.
Following the closure of its Stoke Newington venue, Doña will bring its agave-led cocktails and distinctive red-and-pink interiors to the basement, with Voodoo Ray’s continuing to serve pizzas upstairs.