Your Shout: Martin Blacoe, Christie & Co

With Christmas approaching, it is a good time to look back over the year and reflect on the trends in the restaurant sector.

2004 started as 2003 left off, with strong sales and rising prices. The majority of purchasers are coming from across the country looking for a varied range of business.

A classic example was the Sally Edwards restaurant, a bespoke leasehold property set in the heart of Taunton, Somerset, which was sold for an undisclosed figure from an asking price of £79,950 to a man from the Home Counties who was looking for a quality outlet in the West Country.

Waterfront businesses are also in high demand. Christie & Co recently sold a pizza-style restaurant, Pizzazz, in Dartmouth, south Devon. The restaurant is set on the edge of Dartmouth Embankment overlooking the beautiful River Dart. The leasehold interest of this business was priced at £225,000 and was sold for an undisclosed sum.

The desire for lifestyle businesses is still extremely strong, a prime example being Bridge Cottage Tea Rooms at Winsford in the beautiful Exmoor National Park in west Somerset. This detached property, with generous owner's accommodation, has traditional tearooms and attractive gardens. Bridge Cottage Tea Rooms attracted interest from across the country and was sold to a couple from the Midlands who were looking for a complete lifestyle change, wanted the challenge of running their own business and also wanted to acquire a family home in this beautiful west Somerset village.

The market looks set for a buoyant new year and continued high demand for restaurant businesses across the West Country.

Martin Blacoe 01392 285600