The 18th century Cottage In Town in Ryley Street and Hill Street, has been a
restaurant and café bar for more than 20 years before the last occupiers closed their
business.
But now a Coventry businessman Simon Close is ready to breath new life into the two and
three storey building and hopes to be open before the end of the summer.
He is keeping his plans close to his chest but has already recruited a "top
chef" and is hoping the restaurant will once again become a popular Coventry haunt.
Mr Close has taken a 15-year lease on the property, paying £20,000 a year after a
short rent-free period, and had to beat off two rivals.
Coventry estate agents and surveyors Shortland Horne have handled the letting of the
2,181 sq ft property.
Commercial surveyor David Penn said there had been keen competition for the property.
He said:
"While the property has been vacant for around 18 months and was in need of a
certain amount of refurbishment, we were always confident we would secure a suitable
tenant because of the unique nature of the property.
"The Spon Street area is popular with visitors and we are sure a quality
restaurant will be well received – we look forward to taking clients there."
The deal marks a notable double for Shortland Horne who have also handled the
transformation of Intershop in Warwick Road into the Litten Tree restaurant and bistro.
The company handled the surrender of the lease by the former tenants for a premium
allowing the SFI Group to negotiate a new lease with Coventry City Council, which is keen
to see the Bull Yard area transformed into a restaurant quarter.
The SFI Group so far owns 20 Litten Tree restaurants throughout the UK, most of which
are based in the South and South East of the country. The Coventry Litten Tree marks a
major move into the Midlands by the SFI Group who are also opening restaurants in
Hinckley, Dudley and Leicester this summer.
Litten Tree restaurants are "chameleon bars" in that they vary in type and
target market throughout the day.
