Reparo Finance has helped an Oxford-based Indian restaurant acquire its own premises after its bank turned it down.
The company is family-run and has been operating since 2013. Since lockdown it has been takeaway-only and is registered with Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo.
The business had been operating out of rented premises when an opportunity came up to buy a nearby pub.
The company was paying £19,200 per year in rent, so buying the pub and moving the business there would save a significant amount of money.
They went to a high street bank to finance the deal.
Unfortunately, the restaurant had one year of trading accounts and so they were turned down.
Supporting Healthy Businesses
The restaurant’s owners turned to Reparo for help. The company turned over an average of £27,000 per month and had experienced owners and healthy accounts, so we were happy to help them.
Furthermore, the pub is a well-known building near a busy shopping outlet, so the move could boost the business.
We provided them with a £260k loan over 12 months, with two personal guarantees and a first charge over the property as security.
However, the process did not end there.
At the last minute, another opportunity came up to buy a unit on the same street. The restaurant owner was keen to acquire this property as well and rent it out to other businesses.
This led to a protracted legal process, which meant that we were unable to release the funds.
During this time, we stayed in touch with the client, their solicitor and the broker, keeping all parties informed of progress and helping to move the process forward wherever we could.
When the solicitors completed the legal process, we immediately released the funds.
The client now has the keys to their premises, as well as the additional unit, which they will rent as a takeaway.
Supporting Hospitality Businesses
This story will sound familiar if you read our case study about an Italian restaurant we financed.
That’s because many businesses in the hospitality industry are facing similar challenges due to lockdown.
At Reparo, we know that not every business can meet the rigid criteria set out by the banks. That’s why we take a flexible, common-sense approach to lending.
We take the time to meet the owners and understand their business; then, we find a way to make a deal that works for everyone.
If your business needs a fast, accessible loan between £25,000 and £1 million, get in touch with one of our team today.
Daniel Jones
07824 873 358
Gurinder Mandir
07805 737 324
Craig Ashton
07917 907 931
Photo by Lai YuChing on Unsplash