Excellent Restaurant Business

Lake District restaurant for sale

A rare chance to buy a restaurant in the Lake District tourist honeypot region has come to the market.

Mr Dodds has a prime road-front position in the heart of the village of Ambleside, Cumbria, occupying a busy corner between the Market Cross shopping area and the famous Bridge House (a small house built on a bridge over the river in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid paying ground tax).

The restaurant has been in situ for more than 40 years, originally trading as Dodds. It was acquired by the Gorton family some 27 years ago and the current owners, Nick and Adrian Gorton, bought the business from their father around 17 years ago.

It turns over around £370,000 a year from its provision of home-cooked British and Italian food.

The business comprises a ground floor restaurant with an open-plan dining area to seat 60 customers, a large commercial kitchen (where procedures are visible to guests through two archways) and extensive food preparation areas. There are two flats above that have been sold off.

Due to its long existence, the restaurant enjoys unrestricted A3 use. It holds a full drinks licence and also operates a pizza takeaway service.

There is scope to increase the seating in the restaurant, which once accommodated 140 seats before the kitchen was extended.

Property agent Hackney & Leigh is seeking offers in the region of £630,000 for the restaurant freehold, including all fixtures and fittings.

The buyer will also have the first option on renting a three-bedroom adjoining cottage to the rear for around £550 a month.

For more details, contact Hackney & Leigh on 015394 32800 or visit their website here>>

By Angela Frewin