Lack of interest could sink Laybourne's sale

NEWCASTLE restaurateur Terry Laybourne is considering abandoning his plans to sell his Michelin-starred restaurant, 21 Queen Street, because of a lack of interest.

He put the restaurant on the market last July for £350,000 - an asking price which he now admits is too high.

When he put the property up for sale he said he felt he had outgrown the area and he needed a change. He has been at the restaurant more than 10 years.

His plans were to open another restaurant in Newcastle, or on the outskirts of the city, and transfer his 18 staff from 21 Queen Street to the new venture (Caterer, 15 July 1999, page 12). But since putting the restaurant on the market he has had very few offers and none he has been able to consider seriously.

He said: "I had some plans for the move and this, that and the other, but as yet I just don't know what to do. I think I need to make a decision in the next few weeks and I may well pull out and stay where I am."

He added: "To be fair, it is a lot of money."

Laybourne also learned last week that the highways committee of Durham City Council has objected to his application to add 20 extra seats to his Bistro 21 in Durham. It has a 55-seat dining room, two 12-seat private rooms and another 20-seat room.

"I don't know how things will pan out now," said Laybourne.

by Louise Bozec