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Original poster

Opening a restaurant in the UK......but where?

81 replies

collision · 19/02/2005 16:35

After spending 2 years in Tuscany and opening a restaurant we have decided that we think we want to move back to the UK. I say that we think we have decided as it is a big move back to the UK. We bought everything new for the restaurant here and so would need an empty place to start again. Does anyone know of an empty property that would be suitable for a small fine dining, child friendly restaurant?

DH is the chef and I would be front of house. We also have 2 ds's of 3 and 3 months so would need somewhere to live too. We would prefer to rent to start with so if anyone has any ideas we would be very grateful.

OP posts:
Cod · 20/02/2005 15:11

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Cod · 20/02/2005 15:13

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SecondhandRose · 20/02/2005 15:22

How about one of the Cheshire towns? More millionaires than anywhere else in the UK. So hopefully they'll all want to eat out.

cometostoke · 20/02/2005 15:57

South Cheshire and North Staffs are, in my opinion, crying out for decent child-friendly restaurants. There's a big blob in between Manchester and Birmingham with very little provision but, it seems, quite a lot of wealth and potential demand for a place like yours. Could also be q. cheap depending on where you went.

jenkel · 20/02/2005 16:53

Doesnt sound like you are looking at Herfordshire which is where I am from, but just want to wish you the best. Sounds like a wonderfull idea, I really wish they were more decent restaurants in the UK which are child friendly and serve decent food instead of anything with chips. There is nothing in the area that I live in and my cirlce of friends are always looking for places to go. So I'm sure as long as you pick the right place it will work wonderfully.

Tinker · 20/02/2005 18:24

Yes, yes, yes to Cheshire and Manchester area

SueW · 20/02/2005 18:27

Derbyshire?

phatcat · 20/02/2005 18:48

sounds fantastic collision - all the best. I was intending to write to Olive mag bemoaning the lack of child friendly gourmet 'destination' restaurants. Can I please request a restaurant with rooms, serving kiddies teas at about 5pm, and baby monitors allowed in the dining room. I'd travel for that. Have you considered Ludlow in Shropshire? (nowhere near me unfortunately but a great foodie destination).

Tinker · 20/02/2005 18:50

Where in Lancs do you want to avoid - biggish county? I would imagine this kind of place would go down well in Hebden Bridge/Todmorden. But I would much prefer it if it were in South Manchester

dramaqueen72 · 20/02/2005 19:05

omg tommy, i second the southampton lack of great restaurants. !!!
dh and i go miles trying out new ones, theres nothing 'amazing' so far. sigh.. please come to southampton or new forest and make us happy

froot · 20/02/2005 19:20

Oh bugger hampshire wrong end of the country then!!

froot · 20/02/2005 19:24

Dramaqueen 72... am racking my brains for you... what about the Thai cafe opposite the Mayflower??

Dock gate 4 and Oxfords and Oxford brasserie all excellent but very pricey. White Star supposed to be good but not tried it myself. My personal fave is the Plough at Sparsholt near Winchester, definately worth the drive and pretty child friendly too.

Chandlers Ford has no restaurants apart from 1 indian and 1 thai...few pubs I suppose but nothing to shout about and a huge population.

Beetroot · 20/02/2005 19:24

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LGJ · 20/02/2005 19:34

osmerset

Really ??

I thought I was quite good at geography but for the life of me, I don't know where that is

dramaqueen72 · 20/02/2005 21:11

ooooh froot! hello, from around here! wwooohooo!I dont know the plough will have to find it. casa thingy at romsey v nice. and prezzos either romsey or southampton. done the brasserie alot. drank in white star but not ate.
and -have lived here three years!- theres a thai opposite the mayflower? really?
my applogies for hijacking thread. but do come here. or franchise it to me!

miranda2 · 20/02/2005 21:15

Newcastle? I live here and while there are lots of restaurants, the fine dining ones are definitely NOT the kind fo place you'd take children. also theres a definite lack of even good pubs you could take kids too. Market towns round about could be good too - Alnwick or Morpeth? Alnwick has the new Alnwick Gardens which is an incredibly child friendly yet very adult destination, so would be attracting the right kind of clientele I should think.

popsycal · 20/02/2005 21:16

I agre with miranda

Original poster
collision · 21/02/2005 10:38

Does anyone know of any letting agencies that would deal with restaurants? I have tried to google it but am not sure what to google!! It was DH's idea to put this on MN and I am very glad he suggested it! Thanks for all the input.

OP posts:
stickynote · 21/02/2005 10:47

If you could scrape the money together, you could make a complete packet in my area - South Bucks. Caffe Uno and Pizza Express, which are the nearest thing we have to what you're suggesting, is always packed at 5pm. Schools are great, housing is very expensive so might have to wait until you've made your first million.

BTW, we couldn't actually afford to eat in your restaurant, so we'd come and press our noses against the window if that's OK .

stickynote · 21/02/2005 10:47

are always packed, tsk.

lisalisa · 21/02/2005 11:48

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MancMum · 21/02/2005 12:09

collision - just seen this an think this is such a great idea... I think this idea would work just about any where really well ... I live in south manchester around Didsbury/ Chorlton which has a very vibrant restaurant scene - however none of them cater for kids at all - it is quite an affluent area that is known for good eating and people do travel quite far to eat round here so there is a strong client base here...

It is of course on the other side of Manchester to your parents and property is a lot cheaper than down south....

if you come to south mancheser I promise to be there all the time if you cook the food you just listed!!

Original poster
collision · 21/02/2005 18:31

Lisalisa...what does that mean exactly? tho I am very excited about what you said!!

What we need is an empty premises that would be suitable for a restaurant? Is that something you could help with?

I love Mumsnet!

We will definitely go north, I think.

I was talking to DH about the child friendly aspect of it all. Do you really think there is a market for meals for children at 5pm ish. Would you just bring children in or would you want to eat yourself at that time? Do you like the fact that some restaurants are childfree in the evenings as you prefer peace and quiet when you eat? Do you think that we could child's meals a couple of times per week or all the time?

Feedback please

OP posts:
tamum · 21/02/2005 18:45

collision, I wouldn't want to take my children out to tea at 5 and not eat myself to be honest, but our local Pizza Express is always full of parents and children eating together by about 6. I would have thought that kind of scenario would appeal to lots of people- maybe you could make it families at 6 and then grown-ups from 7.30 or something?

Beetroot · 21/02/2005 18:47

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