Family behind Taste Africana restaurant threatened with deportation

After spending almost everything they owned to launch 'Taste Africana' on Leigh Road, Bryte and Cynthia Chinule were devastated as the building that housed their African restaurant collapsed just weeks after its launch.

With the couple prevented from entering their own restaurant, and no set timescale for a return, they made the bold decision to relocate the business to Market Street in Leigh town centre, with Bryte later explaining how he was blown away by the support from the community.

However, as the family has struggled to pay off the debt accumulated from the collapse and relocation, the Chinule family has been dealt another devastating blow as they have been informed they may be deported if they cannot raise enough funds to renew their visas.

Bryte and Cynthia were prevented from accessing their restaurant following the building's collapse (Image: Leigh Journal)
Originally from Nigeria, Bryte has completed two master's degrees and worked in the NHS while living in the UK, and his wife and three young children have been living in Leigh on his postgraduate visa.

With these visas set to end on Friday, August 23, Bryte says that he needs to raise more than £26,000 to pay for his family's visa fees, legal costs, and health insurance charges, a cost far higher than what they can afford.

Inside the Market Street restaurant (Image: Leigh Journal)
"It has been a massive financial stress at the moment and to be honest, we are just trying to keep our heads above water", Bryte said.

"I had a plan in advance to address our visa situation, but we did not anticipate that the building our restaurant was in would collapse.

"We are still paying off the loans for this because, at the time, we were paying rent but could not make any income. Eventually, we gave the keys back to the landlord and relocated because we could not sell the business either."

An example of the food offering at Taste Africana (Image: Leigh Journal)
After "ticking every box" he can to try and raise enough credit or take out a loan to pay for the visa costs, Bryte said he is at his "wit's end" as he keeps hitting stumbling blocks in the application process.

As the dad-of-three has reached the limit of his financial capabilities, he has reluctantly set up a GoFundMe page in the hope of raising enough money to pay for the visa, health insurance, and legal costs.

Bryte and Cynthia celebrating the launch of Taste Africana with local councillors (Image: Leigh Journal)
At present, the fundraiser has raised almost £5,000, but the desperate dad is unsure of what the future holds for him and his young family.

"The feedback to the business and fundraising has been encouraging, but I feel that I should have started this earlier as it may not be enough", Bryte added.

"I have had the support from lots of people, including councillors and the MP, but the pressure is getting intense.

"I have been here for around seven years now and I can't even think about what may happen."

The GoFundMe page to support Bryte's family visa applications can be found here.