Tampopo sells Leeds site
Asian-influenced casual-dining chain Tampopo has sold its Leeds restaurant, which is due to cease trading this weekend (on 3 June).
The company said that it had received a generous offer for the leasehold site, which it has operated since 2000, from a local operator.
Tampopo co-founder Nick Jeffrey said: "It was the last remaining unit in our Tampopo stable still in the original brand format and was overdue for a major refurb, so we had to weigh up on one hand the provisional capital expenditure outlay and projected return on investment from that and on the other hand the premium offer. In the end we felt it was it was in our best interests to take the offer."
Co-founder David Fox added: "It was a tough decision as we've been here for 12 years, but the location had become increasingly off-piste over time which didn't help the investment case. The location should work for the incoming operator as it is more of a destinational higher-end offer. While our current focus is to open more units in London and the South-east, at some point in the future we would certainly be keen to seek out other opportunities in the city, given that we have a very loyal fan base here and we know that our product offer fits well with the local tastes."
Last year, it emerged that Jeffrey and Fox had come close to selling Tampopo to pub firm Mitchells & Butlers, which has since launched its own pan-Asian dining brand, Tuk Cho.
Jeffrey and Fox have recently shifted their focus to London and the South-east, and opened their first London restaurant, under the East Street brand, last year.
The company will have six restaurants, including East Street, following the closure of its Leeds site.
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By Neil Gerrard
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