Property description
This excellent cafe/restaurant business is offered for sale as a going concern and is located in a prime location in Cheddar Gorge. The business currently occupies Units 3-5, The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Co., The Cliffs, and forms an integral part of the Cheddar Cheese Co complex in the the very heart of the main trading area of the Gorge. The superbly presented, spacious premises offers three distinct trading areas was acquired by the present owners in early 2008, it has been fully refurbished to a high standard with 57 internal covers between two areas and 30 outside covers in a delightful courtyard. There is also unexploited potential for an ice cream takeaway. EPC rating Commercial C55
The Business
This stunning café restaurant forms an integral part of the Cheddar Cheese Co complex in the very heart of the main trading area of the gorge, which continues to be one of the most visited tourist attractions anywhere in the UK. The very spacious premises, which are superbly presented throughout, offer three distinct trading areas as well as unexploited potential for ice cream takeaway via a recently installed stable door to the front elevation facing the principal thoroughfare.There are 17 covers in the front of the premises, 40 covers in the conservatory/principal dining area overlooking the Cheddar Cheese Co courtyard to the rear, and 30 external covers in the courtyard itself which is a delightful setting for alfresco dining away from the traffic, yet benefits from the heavy footfall of coach passengers undertaking the Cheddar Cheese Co tours. The current menu, which has been designed deliberately to be simple to deliver, includes hearty breakfasts, including a vegetarian option, conventional café-diner hot food options, filled sandwiches, wraps and baguettes, a selection of salads, jacket potatoes, sides, cream teas, toasted tea cakes, a selection of biscuits, cookies and muffins, ice cream desserts, traditional hot and cold beverages and milk shakes. Takeaway options are also available. The business is currently unlicensed but we see no obvious reason why an alcohol license would not be granted if desired. Offered for sale due to the incapacity of one of the partners, this is an exceptional opportunity not to be missed.
Years Established
We understand that the café previously traded as a café and delicatessen. It was acquired by the present owners in early 2008 and it has been substantially refitted and refurbished to a high standard since then.
Trade
Sales of £97,526 were reported for the financial year ended 30 April 2014. However, an analysis of daily takings during the whole of 2013 and 2014 reveals that the business was closed on 76 days and 83 days respectively during these years, including 38 days and 42 days respectively during the period April to September.With undoubted potential in this location from the available breakfast trade, later evening opening during the summer months and also take away ice cream sales via the stable door overlooking the main thoroughfare, we feel this business could deliver income at a much higher level. (Please note that if a business is VAT registered, all figures exclude VAT)
Staff
The business has been operated by a husband (6 days pw) and wife (5days pw) team, together with the part time assistance of a relative (4 days pw) and additional casual/seasonal staff as required.
Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 10.30 am to 5.00 pm. As indicated under 'Trade' above there is considerable potential to increase income through an extension to opening hours.
Business Premises
(all sizes are approximate & should be considered 'nominal') The premises occupy the ground floor of an attractive end of terrace property of modern construction, arranged over two floors under a pitched and tiled roof, which forms an integral part of the Cheddar Cheese Co development in the very heart of the Gorge's main trading area. There are a number of other units alongside in identical style and under the control of a single landlord with appropriate non-compete clauses included within the individual lease agreements. Occupying a prominent corner position with access available to the front, side and rear elevations the premises are ideally placed to benefit from considerable passing trade. To the side of the property a broad passageway of attractive brick paviours leads to the delightful open courtyard to the rear, which is shared with neighbouring tenants as well as the Cheddar Cheese Co itself. Here there is permission for 30 external covers alongside an attractive water feature, and from the courtyard the rear of the café restaurant is truly stunning. To the left hand side a single story extension under a pitched roof accommodates half glazed double wooden entrance doors allowing disabled access, and to the right hand side a wonderful conservatory of virtually identical proportions with pitched roof of matching height looks particularly attractive. The owners invested heavily following their purchase of the business and have continued to reinvest wisely each year, the latest improvement being a replacement door to the front elevation in the style of a stable door to provide the opportunity to sell ice-creams via the open doorway to passers by. The premises can only be properly appreciated from a full internal inspection which is strongly recommended. Accordingly, the following is intended to provide a brief summary only of the layout and facilities: The principle entrance from the main thoroughfare is via two thirds glazed wooden double doors to the side elevation which open into:
Front Dining Area
Curved bay window centrally set to the front elevation alongside smaller front window and stable door. Wood panel flooring. Overhead spotlights. Arranged to offer 12 covers (3 x 4 tables) plus 5 further covers in the form of two leather effect settees with adjacent coffee table. Large serve over chilled display unit with freestanding stainless steel surfaces to the rear with ceramic tiled wall surface, wall mounted ceramic wash basin with soap and paper towel dispenser over. Coffee machine (on lease agreement at £100 per month). Coffee percolator. Electric till. Upright refrigerator. To the opposite end wooden doors give access to a store cupboard and meter cupboard. A wide archway in the rear wall leads to:
Inner Hall
Matching floor covering. Accommodating ice cream freezer and open door way to:
Kitchen/Utility Room
Matching floor covering. Part tiled wall. Twin stainless steel sink unit with drainer on each side and open storage under. Roll stainless steel table. Freestanding stainless steel shelving unit. Freezer. Maidaid dishwasher. Insect Killer.From the Inner Hall a step up gives access to:
Principal Dining Area
A substantial open plan area including the delightful conservatory. Accessible directly from the Cheddar Cheese Co courtyard to the rear via half glazed wooden double doors. Wood panel flooring throughout. Arranged to accommodate 36 covers (9 x tables of 4) plus 4 further covers at a coffee bar to one wall with bar stools. Child's high chair. Within the conservatory and divided from the dining area by a two thirds height wooden panel there is the:
Commercial Kitchen
- A spacious and well organised commercial kitchen facility with 6 burner range oven, together with twin deep fat fryer, Buffalo Grill and Cougar grill on freestanding stainless steel table, all under a stainless steel extraction hood.Further stainless steel prep table with open storage under, microwave oven and commercial toaster. Large Williams double stainless steel refrigerator. Upright freezer. Chest freezer. Stainless steel wash basin. Further stainless steel prep tables. Parry salad bar. Adjacent to the coffee bar a wooden door of disabled width gives access to:
WC Facility
two cubicles; one of disabled width with baby change facility, each with wall mounted ceramic wash basin, electric hand dryer and low flush WC.
A further wooden door gives access to a store cupboard accommodating an Alpha gas boiler supplying hot water and central heating to the premises via wall mounted radiators throughout the trading areas - this was a new installation by the vendors following their acquisition of the business. We understand from the vendors that the original lease included the function suite at first floor level (rent originally £18,000 pa) but that by agreement with the landlord was given up by the tenants to reduce fixed costs including business rates. The space is currently used by the landlord for storage purposes only. Note: Where items of equipment and appliances are mentioned, no warranty is given or implied at to their operational condition.
Private Accommodation
NONE
Outside
The rear courtyard is a superb amenity, very popular with customers. The lease includes the right to accommodate upto 30 covers (plastic tables and chairs with parasols) in this area immediately to the rear of the premises.
Tenure
Leasehold
Lease Terms
We understand that a new lease is to be made available to the purchaser of the business in line with the terms of the current lease under which rent of £11,000 pa is payable.
Legal Fees
Vendors and Buyers each to meet their own legal costs, but if a lease is to be assigned from the vendor to the buyer they will also be expected to share the landlord's legal costs on a 50/50 basis. If a buyer wishes to negotiate a 'new' lease, they will be responsible for all the landlord's legal costs.
Rates
The premises have a rateable value of £12,000. Business Rates of £5,544 were payable over 10 months in 2013/14. Note: This information has been obtained either from the current rate demand for the property, or by telephone from the local authority. The amount payable is standard rate for the rateable value shown. In some circumstances this may vary, and therefore it is recommended that potential buyers make their own enquiries through local authority to check whether the rateable value remains correct and whether the rates payable will be the figure quoted above.
Services
We understand from the vendor that all main services are connected to the property.
Stock
The vendors advise that stock generally has a value in the region of £1,500.
Guide Price
The vendors are asking for £69,950 for the leasehold interest, business goodwill, equipment, fixtures and fittings, subject to inventory, plus stock valuation.
PLEASE DO NOT MAKE CONTACT DIRECTLY WITH THE BUSINESS
Property Features :
- This excellent cafe/restaurant business is offered for sale as a going concern and is located in a
- The business currently occupies Units 3-5, The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Co., The Cliffs and forms an in
- The superbly presented, spacious premises offers three distinct trading areas
- Acquired by the present owners in early 2008, it has been fully refurbished to a high standard
- 57 internal covers between two areas and 30 outside covers in a delightful courtyard