Caithness, KW14 8AG

Attractive cafe situated on the NC500 route in a busy trading location.

• Well-presented cafe situated in the heart of Thurso within a busy pedestrian area, located on the North Coast 500 route.

• Prominent trading location providing an easy-to-operate business model with customer and service areas extending to circa 98.2m2.

• Set to 32 covers, with capacity for increasing seating, plus attractive display counters, kitchen area, store and customer W.C.

• Trading successfully, under management, with sound turnover but with potential for new owners to develop the business further.

• Lease to purchase option available.

DESCRIPTION

Reid's Cafe is a popular business set with a strong trading history in a most prominent trading location set within the heart of the thriving town of Thurso. The cafe is situated within a pedestrian area benefitting from excellent footfall and consistent levels of trade. Offering a true lifestyle business operation, Reid's Cafe is set within a ground floor unit extending to about 98.2m2 with well-appointed service and support areas. The business is currently owned by a local baker who supplies baked goods and who would be pleased to continue this trading relationship.

REASON FOR SALE

The vendors wish to focus on developing their bakery business further which brings this desirable property and attractive business opportunity to the market.

TRADE

Operating on a year-round basis, the business trades to a good level but there is scope to extend the opening hours / days. Current opening times are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday. The business sells in addition to hot and cold beverages, traditional hot snacks including homemade soup with fresh sandwiches made to order and a selection of fresh cream cakes. There is a strong demand from local residents and the influx of tourists during the main season which means that there is scope to trade to a higher level should new owners so desire. The present configuration of the cafe allows for the serving of over 32 customers at 8 fixed tables. The business operates under-management with all functions covered off by staff, trading with a mix of full-time and part-time employees.

LOCATION

The busy town of Thurso sits on the far north-east coast in the county of Caithness on the Thurso River estuary. The population is around 8,000 and as expected, the town has a full range of amenities required both for family and professional requirements. Primary, secondary and further education establishments are available within the town. The region is popular with tourists, who are taking full advantage of the well-advertised North Coast 500 route and as such, there is a wide selection of retail units plus leisure facilities such as swimming pool, gym and squash clubs as well as a selection of hotels, restaurants and bars. The town enjoys stunning views over the dramatic Pentland Firth and the nearby Orkney Islands can easily be explored by a short ferry ride from Scrabster Harbour, a few miles away.

Tourism is a major business driver to the area. For salmon and brown trout anglers, the area is a prime Scottish destination. Sea fishing offers an alternative to game angling, all these opportunities combine to offer year-round sport. Golfers are also well provided for with 18-hole courses at Thurso itself, nearby Wick and Reay. Other visitor options include; a day-trip to Orkney with its numerous sites of archaeological interest, the Castle of Mey, Dunrobin Castle to the south, or a trip to the famous John O'Groats. The thriving Caithness economy is boosted by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority facility at Dounreay and adjacent site of HMS Vulcan which bring a large number of business travellers to the area. The nearby thriving harbour at Scrabster is another asset to the area bringing revenue from fish landings, commercial / cargo vessels and passenger liners. With an increased focus upon renewable energy, the County has attracted various wind farms and is set to lead the field in tidal energy amidst the Pentland Firth.

THE PROPERTY

The cafe is a ground floor unit with accommodation above; the latter is not included in the sale. From a prominent location, the business has a well-signed frontage with ease of access at street level. Benefitting from a full glass frontage affording excellent natural lighting into the customer areas, access from the pedestrian area is through double doors leading into an open plan cafe. Set to 8 fixed tables with free-standing chairs, the floors are tiled and the suspended ceiling has modern lighting.

The cafe comfortably seats around 32 customers but there is scope to expand seating capacity at the larger tables and introduce additional seats should new owners wish to do so. There is a modern servery and display counters which are set to an 'L' shape to the left and rear of the customer areas, situated adjacent to the kitchen. The customer counter has a dual coffee machine, till and the necessary service equipment. Internally the walls have mirrors which make the cafe a bright environment.

From the servery area is the kitchen and storage area, via a corridor is a unisex bathroom. There is a secondary access to the rear of the property.

SERVICES

Mains electricity, water and drainage. All catering aspects are electrical. The business is fully fire compliant and meets all environmental health requirements.