Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co has brought to the market Quince & Medlar, a highly successful vegetarian restaurant featuring an entirely organic wine list in the Cumbrian market town of Cockermouth.
Everything from nibbles and breads, to puddings and chocolates are made on-site using fresh produce and where possible, locally sourced ingredients from within the county.
Trading from two Georgian townhouses on Castlegate, adjacent to Cockermouth Castle and close to the River Cocker, Quince & Medlar has a warm and relaxing environment with original Cumbrian artwork adorning the walls, providing a characterful dining experience for up to 28 diners. Prior to dining there is a separate sitting area in which guests can enjoy a drink.
The business is offered with the added advantage of spacious four-bedroom owner’s accommodation situated across the ground, first, and second floors of the properties. Furthermore, the two townhouses retain separate access making it easier for a new owner to sub-divide the properties in order to generate an additional rental income, should they wish to do so.
Quince & Medlar has been owned and operated by Colin and Louisa Le Voi since 1989. In 2019 they reduced the opening hours, trading from 6:30pm onwards – Wednesday to Saturday.
Since reopening on July 4th following the COVID-19 lockdown, business has been booming, with the venue reaching full capacity each night. The sitting room is being used as additional dining space and the restaurant has also opened on Tuesdays during the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, to cater for the high demand amongst their strong local following and the increased number of people visiting the Lake District, rather than going abroad for their holidays.
Colin and Louisa are seeking a sale in order to enjoy a well-deserved retirement. Speaking fondly of their time as owners Colin comments, “We have been very happy at Quince and Medlar over the past 31 years. In addition to the restaurant being a wonderful business to run thanks to the support of the local community, it has also been our family home where we have brought up three children and we will treasure the memories we have made during this time.”
Tom O’Malley, Senior Business Agent at Christie & Co, who is handling the sale comments, “This is a unique opportunity to acquire a popular and well-established restaurant with a loyal regular clientele – the lifeblood of any successful hospitality business. There is plenty of scope for a hands-on buyer to drive revenue through increasing the currently limited opening hours, or by reconfiguring the ground floor space to increase the number of covers. The accommodation included would be ideal for an owner-operator’s residence, letting accommodation, or a combination of the two, following subdivision.”
Quince & Medlar is offered for sale on a freehold basis, with an asking price of £480,000.
