I wasn't a devotee of Maeve's Kitchen but I'm still sad that it's closed down. What happened? Until someone out there tells me, I can only speculate. The restaurant's website and Facebook page say only that it has "decided to take a prolonged pause from trading." The freehold of the entire property, which includes two flats above the restaurant space, is for sale for £795,000. This could mean that Maeve's was doing OK as a business but that the owner, Maeve's erstwhile landlord, reckoned to make more money from the sale if the premises were sold empty. Or maybe Maeve's was closing anyway and the landlord has decided to cash out. Or it could mean something else.
The agent's sales blurb says as follows: "The income for the restaurant/shop is £16,800 p.a. let on a long lease and the flats are rented at £13,800 pa. and £11.400 p.a." And, of course, the neighbourhood is described as "up and coming" and close to the City. I dropped the agents a line to ask for a viewing, describing myself as a local resident. I never heard back. No, I don't have 800 grand to spare but it did cross my mind that some sort of consortium of residents and local businesses who care about the area would make a good buyer. Probably a fantasy. What will fill the gap Maeve's has left behind?
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