Emsworth fine dining restaurant Woosters is up for sale for £1.5million – and residents say its revival ??could be great news for foodies
That's the view of residents in Emsworth who are hoping a revival of South Street venue Woosters could be a shot in the arm for the town’s independent scene.
The upmarket eatery failed to reopen after what its owner Nicholas Ralls said would be a ‘short’ closure in January 2018 to ‘enhance customers’ experience’.
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Hide AdBut it is now listed for sale at £1,500,000 via Emsworth estate agents Hazle & Co – blowing the opportunity to develop it into a thriving Hampshire hospitality venue wide open.
Alistair Gibson, organiser of Emsworth’s nationally-renowned British Food Fortnight, said: ‘I firmly believe, as a restaurant, it would only add to the foodie reputation Emsworth has.
‘Having organised food festivals and food fortnights myself it was always my view that it was a positive thing when it opened.
‘There are still other places to eat, but Woosters gave people another reason to come to Emsworth.’
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Hide AdDiners were left shocked when Woosters’ doors were permanently battened shut last year in a move one designer has branded a ‘missed opportunity’.
But Hazle & Co office manager Marcus Foot said the chance to snap up the Grade II-listed venue now is ‘unique’ – with its sale also including an adjacent Georgian freehold property which has planning permission to become an eight-bedroom boutique hotel, Jeeves.
‘It was a father-and-son venture and they decided they want to release the capital and use it for other things – it was a diversion from their norm,’ said Mr Foot.
‘The idea now is to create a venue as well as a hotel, particularly for things like the Goodwood Members’ Meetings, so we can have a really great one-stop shop.
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Hide Ad‘A high-end venue like that could really resonate in Emsworth.’
After a whopping £1,000,000 renovation in 2014, Emsworth councillor Lulu Bowerman said Woosters’ became an ‘amazing place’ to dine, sup cocktails and soak up the atmosphere.
She is among those rooting for a fruitful future for the venue.
‘I know lots of people enjoyed it and we would be very pleased to see a similar establishment there in the near future,’ she said.
The Woosters site and its adjacent freehold is the highest-value property currently being marketed by Hazle & Co.
The venue is capable of catering for about 90 covers.