Bistro wins Best New Business award just a year after opening

And property agents Barker Storey Matthews are toasting the success of the Deeping St James restaurant whose proprietor only received the keys from them this time last year.

BSM was marketing the property in Manor Way to let, on behalf of the landlord, last summer (2017) at a time when Rob - who had been head chef at the town’s Waterton Arms for seven years - was looking to realise every head chef’s dream in establishing and running his own restaurant.

Barker Storey Matthews had acted for the landlord on the previous two lettings of the Manor Way property - which is on a local parade of shops serving a residential neighbourhood. The immediate past use had been as a traditional, small café/diner before Rob registered interest.

According to Julian Welch, who is Barker Storey Matthews’ leisure and retail specialist in its Peterborough office: “Driftwood Bistro is a good example of landlords willing to take on independent traders who are self-motivated, self-financed and, thereby, tend to run lean and responsive businesses - so crucial in the boutique restaurant scene where modern palates are forever seeking new flavours, tastes and experiences.”

He adds: “While there is a risk for a landlord in running with a start-up business, I was able to convince our client of the viability and value of the proprietor’s motivation and business vision for Driftwood Bistro.

“From the professional property point of view, what drove the successful conclusion of this instruction was demonstrating to the landlord that covenant strength is as much about protecting the long term value of the property investment as it is about proving the tenant can pay the monthly bills.

”Rob Johnson’s award achievement and Driftwood Bistro’s reputation among discerning palates in The Deepings, and further afield, in the first year of trading is a testament to this.”

For information about leisure and retail properties to let in the South Lincolnshire and Peterborough areas, contact Julian Welch at the Peterborough office of Barker Storey Matthews, tel 01733 897722, [email protected] or through bsm.uk.com.