Three essentials when opening a restaurant in the "Up and Comer" in the UK tourism scene – Plymouth

Sarah Parker
Authored by Sarah Parker
Posted: Friday, September 6, 2019 - 09:26

If you’re looking for an exciting place to set up shop and open a restaurant, you may want to consider the city of Plymouth, which is being billed by many as an “up and comer” in the UK tourism scene. This port city in Devon is typically thought of in terms of its rich maritime history. Today, its cobbled streets, stunning waterfront, a lively fish market and marinas, and lovely architecture are really catching the eye of travellers.

But before you forge ahead with your culinary plans, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Take Advantage of the Growing Tourism Scene

When you think of cities, towns, and villages that are rising in popularity where tourism is concerned, typically they tend to have something new and exciting about them. For Plymouth, that's not exactly the case.

Sure, there are new elements to the city, but it’s the history and prime location that seem to be the real driving factors, attracting many visitors. Combine that with the fact that next year will mark the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower to North America, and again there is bound to be another injection of tourists.

In other words, budding restauranteurs would be wise to take advantage of this growing tourism scene and really cater to the visitors. And what do tourists look for in restaurants? They want local ingredients, flavours, recipes, and authenticity.

Ensure You Think Long and Hard About the Layout

Another essential when opening up a restaurant in Plymouth, or any location for that matter, is to make sure you think long and hard about the layout. It’s more than just allowing for comfortable seating for your customers, you also need to think about ample kitchen space, storage space for dry goods, and of course your cold storage. You may even want to look into a customised cold room, such as the ones offered by fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk/. Cold rooms are useful for storing fresh food, such as vegetables, cooked meats, and pre-prepared dishes. They offer more storage space than a regular fridge, which is handy in larger restaurants.

Bespoke cold rooms can be built to your specific design specifications in any dimension needed. You can seamlessly incorporate it into the restaurant design, ensuring that it's exactly what the restaurant needs.

The Menu Can Make or Break Your Restaurant

Then there is the menu itself, which is so pivotal that it can make or break your restaurant. There is a lot to keep in mind as you put it together, such as making sure it is simple and cohesive and not overwhelming your guests with too many choices, including local dishes and recipes to give it that unique factor, making sure that you are competitive without copying other restaurants nearby, fair pricing, and descriptions that are clear and concise yet create interest in the dish.

Striking While the Iron is Hot

While there will never be that “perfect” time to open a new business, for those with dreams of opening a restaurant in Plymouth, now could be the time to capitalise on the growing interest and tourism market.