PRIME CORNER CAFÉ FOOD PREMISES

THE BUSINESS

High foot fall location .

Mercer & Co currently concentrates on a relatively straightforward daytime café and takeaway operation.

The existing menu includes bagels, sandwiches, toasties, tuna melts, smoothies and coffee, with the salt beef bagels and smoked salmon & cream cheese bagels being particularly popular.

However, the current operation uses only part of the potential of the premises.

The business currently closes at approximately 4:00pm, does not trade during the evening and, despite having an alcohol licence, does not currently sell alcohol.

This provides an incoming operator with considerable scope to develop both daytime and evening trade.

SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR HOT FOOD

Prior to COVID, Mercer & Co operated a much broader food offering, including macaroni cheese, beef chilli, vegetarian dishes, salads and other freshly prepared hot food.

During this period, annual turnover reached approximately £400,000.

The current turnover of approximately £175,000 reflects the present reduced menu and shorter trading hours.

There is therefore considerable scope for an energetic new operator to reintroduce a comprehensive hot-food menu and develop the lunchtime, takeaway, delivery and evening business.

The surrounding area benefits from local residents, offices, businesses, commuters, market visitors and substantial pedestrian traffic, providing a strong potential customer base throughout the day.

The premises could suit a wide variety of concepts including a café, deli, bakery, sandwich bar, hot-food takeaway, healthy food concept, Mediterranean or Asian food operation, street-food concept, licensed café or other hospitality business, subject to any necessary consents.

Within a five minute walk. Waitrose, Marks & Spencer's, Sainsbury's, McDonald's, greggs, ANGEL station, Asian restaurants and take aways.Turkish restaurants, Italian restaurants, opticians, Iceland, Market stalls, there are many offices close by and the whole area is heavily residential with a very affluent clientele, 

THE PREMISES

The premises occupy an excellent and highly visible corner position on Chapel Market.

The shop benefits from an attractive frontage with large opening doors, which create an open café atmosphere during the warmer months and provide excellent visibility from the market and surrounding streets.

The ground floor comprises the main café, service and customer area with approximately 18–20 covers.

The majority of the existing business is takeaway, although there is considerable potential to develop the eat-in trade.

A staircase leads to the basement, which provides additional preparation, kitchen and storage space together with the WC facilities. Refrigerators and freezers are also currently located within the basement.

OUTSIDE SEATING

There is an opportunity to rent a market pitch immediately outside/adjacent to the premises for tables and chairs, currently costing approximately £300 per month.

This is particularly attractive during the spring and summer months and complements the shop’s large opening frontage.

ALCOHOL LICENCE & EVENING POTENTIAL

The premises benefit from an alcohol licence permitting alcohol sales from 12 noon until 11:00pm.

The existing business does not currently sell alcohol and closes at approximately 4:00pm.

An incoming operator therefore has the opportunity to introduce alcohol sales and develop an evening operation, potentially incorporating wine, beer, cocktails and an evening food offering, subject to the premises licence and other applicable requirements.

EXTRACTION

The landlord has confirmed that extraction may be installed if required, subject to the necessary planning, licensing and other statutory consents.

This significantly increases the range of food concepts that could potentially operate from the premises.

FIXTURES, FITTINGS & EQUIPMENT

The premises can be sold fully fitted and equipped, including an extensive range of existing café and catering equipment such as:

Ovens, refrigerators, freezers, grills, blenders, coffee equipment, food preparation, ice machine, coffee machine, ovens, equipment, counters, café furniture and other fixtures and fittings.

A full inventory can be provided to interested purchasers.

The sale is flexible, and purchasers who do not require all of the existing equipment can discuss this separately.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is not simply an opportunity to acquire the existing Mercer & Co operation.

The real attraction is the combination of a prime Islington corner location, new 15-year lease, existing fitted premises, alcohol licence, potential extraction, outside seating and significant scope to extend the current trading hours and food offering.

The present owners have deliberately maintained a relatively simple daytime operation, leaving considerable potential for a new owner to develop the business further.

With hot food previously contributing to substantially higher turnover, together with the opportunity for evening trading, alcohol sales, takeaway, delivery and a wider menu, there are numerous avenues through which an incoming operator could develop the site.

Sale due to owners vacating the area.