The lease for award winning Roost restaurant in Cliftonville is up for sale.
The venue, in Cliff Terrace, is owned by Mel Mountfield and Sally Geldard. The pair have run the restaurant since May 2016, taking over from chef Rachel Seed and journalist Lisa Richards, who run GB Pizza restaurant in Marine Drive
Chef Mel had previously worked with Fergus Henderson at St John in London and with Jamie Oliver at Fifteen in London as well as being the former head chef at Ramsgate’s The Falstaff in Addington Street.
Partner Sally used her business and hospitality experience to head up Roost’s front of house team.
The business is currently rated third place on ‘Trip Advisor’, has been awarded a Kent Life Award for Best Family Dining and has been listed in Waitrose Good Food Guide 2018 as ‘a local gem’.
But now the pair have decided it is time to sell.
In a social media post they say: “We have a very difficult announcement to make, we have put Roost on the market.
“This is not an indication of its success (or failure), but more an attempt to find a better work/life balance for our family. We hope that it can be sold as a going concern and will continue in its current format as much as possible, and it will be business as usual for us until a buyer has been found.
“We have had an incredible couple of years and met some wonderful people along the way and we will of course, be sad to say goodbye, but this is more of an à bientôt as we will be staying in the area and looking for jobs that better suit our children’s needs.
“Thank you to everyone who has shown us love and support since we opened; it is this community that has made the decision so hard to make, but we also know it’s the right one for us right now.”
The property leasehold is being marketed for £70,000
The business provides over 40 covers at ground floor level and has a games room in the basement. There is also a small courtyard at the rear providing outdoor seating. The kitchen, bar area and cloakroom facilities are also all located on the ground floor.
The business is currently open from Wednesday to Sunday. Wednesday to Saturday 1pm to 9pm. Sunday 1pm to 4pm.
The premises currently has a monthly rent of £650. The Landlords would be prepared to grant a new lease with terms to be agreed.
Roost is being marketed through Terence Painter estate agents. Find out more here