Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co is marketing The Copper Horse, an award-winning restaurant, located in the thriving and developing town of Seamer, Scarborough. Owners are seeking to lease the premises to an Indian or Pan-Asian restaurant operator.
The Copper Horse is an established and popular village restaurant renowned for English comfort food and special occasions. Originally a collection of farm buildings dating back 300 years, it was first ‘The White Horse’ pub, then became ‘The Copper Horse’ restaurant in the early 1970’s when it was purchased by the Price Stephens family. The present owner, entertainment entrepreneur Nick Thomas MBE, bought the business in 2005.
The restaurant has won numerous awards including Les Routiers Restaurant of the Year 2012 and 2017. In 2016, Nick commissioned renowned interior designer Rachel McLane to redesign and modernise the interior decor at cost of over £400,000.
The Copper Horse is situated on the Main Street in Seamer, circa four miles southwest of Scarborough town centre. Seamer itself is a thriving and developing village with a community who support the local hospitality businesses. Within the immediate catchment area, there are five new-build housing developments amounting to 1,700 new homes that will create a demand for casual dining and takeaways.
The Copper Horse is part of the Thomas family company, Five Star Collection. The company owns and operates several successful hospitality venues in the local area including The Mayfield in Seamer and The Plough in Scalby. The owners believe the time is right for The Copper Horse to be reimagined as an Indian or Pan-Asian casual dining experience by an aspirational experienced operator. This is a great opportunity for a new local trade as there are currently no competitors offering similar cuisines in the surrounding area. It is a turn-key operation which could re-open without any need for repair and minimum changes to the décor.
The ground floor trading area comprises a decadent bar and opulent restaurant which is currently set up to seat 92 customers in a range of seating styles. Ancillary areas include customer toilets, a huge commercial grade catering kitchen with walk in fridge-freezer. There is also a basement cellar. To the rear is an external seating area for c.30 customers as well as parking for c.40 cars.
The current owner, Nick Thomas comments, “This is a unique opportunity for an experienced operator of an Indian or Pan Asian restaurant business. We have maintained the property to a first-class standard for many years. It is ready for an operator to re-open with minimum expense required to adapt the food offer.”
David Cash, Regional Director – Pubs and Restaurants North at Christie & Co is overseeing the transaction and comments, “The Copper Horse is a superb example of a high-end hospitality outlet which has been fitted out to a phenomenal standard. With the benefit of an affluent village setting in a busy tourist area, the restaurant is in turnkey condition and ready for an accomplished operator to take over.”
The Copper Horse is available to let for a term of 10 years (possibly more by negotiation), on a free of tie basis. The property will be let on a full repairing and insuring basis.
