Burger Bear boss flips at Old Street crowdfunders still waiting for rewards

The burger bear coins will be sent out to all of the 200 sponsors yet to receive the reward Archant

An under-fire burger joint boss who still owes crowdfunders thousands of pounds in free food has called the people complaining about it “f*****g jokers”.

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Head chef Joseph Carvell in the kitchen at Stokey Bears burger restaurant in Stoke Newington Head chef Joseph Carvell in the kitchen at Stokey Bears burger restaurant in Stoke Newington

Tom Reaney was able to open a third branch of Burger Bear at Old Street’s Magic Roundabout thanks to 650 people who raised £36,000 through a Kickstarter campaign.

But the Gazette revealed in June that 226 of them had still not received their rewards, two years after donating between £150 and £1,000.

The same week the article was published, Tom sent an email apology to the backers, mostly strangers, saying he would be sending out “burger for life” coins in days.

The email said: “Pretty sure there are some angry and confused people out there but I’ve come out of the dark place that this project got me in to and your rewards are coming.”

But two months on, the coins have still not been sent out. And Tom had a message for those complaining.

He said: “F*****g jokers. I picked them [the coins] up finally last week. I’m currently on holiday. They’ll be in the post Tuesday [August 16].

“I couldn’t give a damn about those jokers. They ain’t getting no coins, just a refund.”

Tom did not explain how he knew which of the 226 people not to send coins to, but the Gazette spoke to a number of crowdfunders.

Tech City boss Chris Mair, who pledged £150 in return for a team lunch for his staff, said: “It’s hardly surprising. I’m not expecting to hear anything. Shame really, I won’t be supporting anyone else via Kickstarter again either.”

Alex Southern, who donated £45, said: “I didn’t get my coin, and when I raised this on Kickstarter Tom said ‘you are never getting a thing from me dear. Except your money back.’”