Leasehold of Michelin-starred the Checkers offered with added consultancy advice
Stéphane Borie and Sarah Francis have placed the leasehold of Michelin-starred the Checkers on the market and offered consultancy advice to the successful bidder.
The leasehold of the Grade-II listed former coaching inn, in the Welsh border town of Montgomery, is being offered for a £100,000 premium and rent of £40,000 a year, including fixtures and fittings.
The freehold of the 32-cover restaurant with rooms, which has held one Michelin star since 2011, has been offered since the end of last year with an asking price of £575,000 by real estate agent Colliers International.
Borie told The Caterer: "We saw that the [freehold] asking price may be a bit steep for someone just launching themselves; we have had a very, very successful seven years here, so we're inviting anyone who wants to come to have a look at the place and we would be very willing to give them advice on how we've been doing things for so long.
"When we got the place, it was completely derelict. We've converted it into a five-bedroom hotel with a flat for a member of staff and the possibility of adding another bedroom. What we did was take an empty space in a very pretty town and applied what we thought was right.
"We have never never struggled to fill Friday, Saturday and Sunday since day one and it's now year seven."
Asked what he felt would be successful in the picturesque town, Borie added: "If you want to do burgers and chips, there is so much competition you drown yourself out. It's probably not the fine dining you find in London, but by going the extra mile with a country feel, I believe a young person with the right mindset and motivation can be very successful around here."
Boire and Francis both trained with Michel Roux at the three-Michelin-starred Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire, and were joined at the Checkers by Francis' sister Kathryn who runs front of house.
The couple are leaving the property, which Colliers said achieves net annual sales of £498,000, to return to Borie's native France with their children.
Ed Jefferson of Colliers' hotels team said: "This will hopefully attract a number of top-level chefs who might not have been in a position to buy outright.
"Overlooking the marketplace in the popular visitor destination of Montgomery, the Checkers is an eye-catching building which underwent a complete refurbishment in 2011.
"The main restaurant area at the Checkers is split into two rooms, providing up to 32 covers in a sumptuous dining environment, featuring exposed beams and a large log burner.
"The five individually designed double suites, presented to an extremely high standard, are on the first floor, and there is a large attic space which has full planning permission for conversion to an additional room if required.
"The current owner/chef Stéphane Borie will also offer some consultancy advice for the successful applicant so taking up the lease option at the Checkers could be seen as a career opportunity."
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