One of Bristol’s most "iconic" venues has closed suddenly and been put on the market. Cumberland Basin cafe Lockside, which featured in the sitcom Only Fools and Horses, shut its doors last week and is already for sale.
The venue on Brunel Lock Road started life as a transport cafe in 1963. In recent years, it was modernised and became a popular breakfast spot with a decked terrace and stunning views of the Avon Gorge and start of the floating harbour.
Lockside was run by the same family for nearly 20 years. Estate agents say that the sale is due to retirement.
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Previously known as The Venturers Rest and Popeye's Diner, the building beneath the road was used as the location for Sid's Cafe in Only Fools & Horses in the 1980s. According to the Lockside website, it tried to play down its Del Boy ‘greasy spoon’ reputation when it had a refurbishment, jokingly calling itself a ‘polished spoon’ instead.
The cafe is for sale via Christie property agents with a price of offers in excess of £50,000 for the leasehold. The brochure says that turnover was ‘historically’ circa £500,000.
Christie's listing continues: "Known throughout Bristol since the 1960s, the venue famously featured in the BBC sitcom, Only Fools and Horses, before being successful transformed by the current owner into a sophisticated daytime restaurant/café approximately 20 years ago. The owner is now reluctantly moving into retirement and there is now a wonderful opportunity to take on an iconic Bristol venue.
"The current owner has created a very well established and well loved venue in Bristol. As they enter retirement there is huge scope to continue the legacy of Lockside and build on that further with longer opening times or a different offering."
For more details, call Christie on 0117 9468500.
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