Our Story

Founded in 2019, Fête began life as a 43 year old Renault Estafette coffee van. Having spent many years honing their skills in the hospitality trade, Chef Tobias Godfrey and his partner Laura Day wanted their own little piece of the industry. Shortly after purchasing and renovating their little Estafette coffee van, the Covid pandemic hit, and furloughed from their regular restaurant jobs, the pair took to the streets to serve socially distanced coffee throughout lockdown 1 and 2 in and around their home town of Chelmsford, Essex.

The autumn of 2021 followed, with a covid-crippled events industry and therefore no work for their little coffee van, the pair decided to set up a temporary, pop-up shop in a disused restaurant in Grays Brewery Yard, directly opposite their now permanent home in the ex-Laura Ashley building. Six months of takeaway brunch, Saturday night Supper Clubs and plenty of takeout coffee followed and Tobias’ innovative and creative menus took the restaurant deprived people of Chelmsford by storm.

In March 2022, Fête Grays Yard opened its doors to the public from the opposite corner of Grays Brewery Yard. The ex-Laura Ashley site has been transformed into a 70 seater restaurant, an upstairs events space and is fuelled by 35 strong work force. 

Fête Grays Yard is now one of Chelmsford’s most popular independently run restaurants and reached number 1 on Trip Advisor within the Chelmsford area after just 6 months of trading. Tobias’ unique and creative flare for flavour is the driving force behind menus that are constantly evolving and the young, yet polished front of house team aim to provide a service that puts the excitement and ease back into dining out.