TV star buys Lincoln pie restaurant

A well-known Lincoln restaurant has been bought by Great British Menu finalist, Danny Gill, after he landed a loan from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Browns Pie Shop, based on Steep Hill, opened its doors in 1968 and specialises in serving a range of pies alongside an a la carte menu to customers dining in and most recently, taking-away.

Gill’s parents bought the restaurant from its previous owners in 2005, and it’s since become famous on a local and national level for its gourmet food.

This year, Gill, who worked at the restaurant as a kitchen port at age 12, is set to abring his Michelin star talent to the restaurant after reaching the finals in the Great British Menu competition. He turned to Lloyds Bank for a £50,000 loan to buy the business from his parents.

He said: “Browns Pie Shop is not only a successful business but has a lot of heritage, both locally and to my family. After spending years travelling around the country to develop my culinary skills, I wanted to return to the place that inspired me to follow a career as a professional chef in the first place.

“Lloyds Bank fully understood my decision to invest in the business and take ownership from my parents, and has made the process manageable alongside a busy working schedule.”

Thomas Gawne, relationship manager for SME banking in the East Midlands at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Danny has brought a new dimension to the restaurant and stirred a lot of excitement after being a finalist in the national competition. The bank is fully supportive of his decision to take a lead on ownership from his family.”