Edinburgh restaurateurs buy landmark seafood venues
Two Edinburgh restaurateurs have snapped up two renowned seafood restaurants - Skippers Seafood Bistro and the Waterfront Wine Bar and Grill - on Leith's Waterfront in the city.
Although the freeholds were sold in an off-market, confidential sale, it is understood they were marketed for a seven-figure sum. In fact the Watefront alone was sold off a guide price running into seven digits that last time it was up for sale..
New owners Peter Knight and John Tindal already own A Room in the Town in Howe Street and A Room in the West End in William Street.
The 60-seat Skippers restaurant has been serving fresh local seafood for more than 25 years and its menus are written twice daily to reflect the catch of the local fishing fleet.
The 85-seat Waterfront restaurant was originally a waiting room for steamship passengers on the Leith to Aberdeen route.
The restaurants have changed hands just three times in their 25-year trading history.
The Edinburgh office of Christie + Co marketed the restaurants in Dock Street on behalf of Gavin and Karen Ferguson, who have owned the Skippers restaurant for 10 years and the Waterfront for four years.
By Angela Frewin