Celebrated chef offloads restaurant for £250,000
HIGH profile chef Paul Heathcote has sold his remaining restaurant in Preston city centre to Manchester burger and steak chain Solita for £250,000.
The Olive Press and Heathcote’s Brasserie in Winckley Square occupies the ground and lower ground floor of a four-storey mid-terrace Victorian building overlooking Winckley Square, and provides seating for 200 customers.
Forbes’s Corporate & Restructuring team, part of the largest legal practice in the North West outside the major cities, acted for Heathcote. The firm’s property team also assisted in the transaction.
The Olive Press was opened in Preston in 1995 by Heathcote. Renowned for its high-end cuisine, The Italian restaurant won various awards including two rosettes, Independent Restaurant of the Year and BIB Gourmand Star.
Jenny Burke, a solicitor in the Corporate & Restructuring team at Forbes’ central Lancashire office, said: “The name Paul Heathcote is synonymous with fine dining and great food and both The Olive Press and Heathcote’s Brasserie have been a major part of the Preston restaurant scene.
“We are delighted to have been chosen to act for Paul on such an important and high-profile sale.”
Paul Heathcote said: “Forbes and their team have advised me on a number of property transactions and acted on the Winckley Square property more than 20 years ago.
“I always found them very professional and thorough then as they have been now on this deal in 2016.”
