Cafe

A superb opportunity to acquire a well-established, fully equipped café on Billet Lane, Hornchurch. Trading successfully for 15 years, with vendor-advised turnover of approx. £8,200–£8,500 per week. Open 7 days, 8am–4pm, and run by a husband and wife team with 1 full-time and part-time staff. Air-conditioned dining room, external seating to the front, commercial kitchen and approx. 1,004 sq ft. Leasehold with 2.5 years remaining and a new lease available.

Location

The property occupies a prominent position on Billet Lane in the heart of Hornchurch town centre, within the London Borough of Havering, Essex. The parade benefits from a pedestrian-friendly, paved frontage, which allows the café to trade with its own external seating area at the front. Neighbouring occupiers include a Mediterranean restaurant, dry cleaners and medical and aesthetic practices, all of which contribute to regular daytime footfall. Hornchurch is a popular and well-established town centre with a mix of independent traders, restaurants and shops, supported by a densely populated residential catchment. The town is served by Hornchurch Underground station (District line) and local bus routes, with good road links to the A12, A13 and M25.

The Property

The premises are arranged over the ground floor and are set within a two-storey mid-terrace parade. The property offers a well-proportioned, open-plan dining area to the front, with a separate kitchen, customer WCs and storage to the rear – a practical, easy-to-operate layout. The dining area is bright and welcoming, with a large glazed shopfront and central entrance door. It is finished with tiled flooring, part-panelled walls, and a suspended ceiling with inset lighting and feature sky-effect ceiling panels. Comfort cooling is provided by a ceiling-mounted air conditioning cassette, and there are overhead heaters at the entrance. Furniture is included in the sale, comprising black speckled-top tables with chrome and black upholstered chairs, giving a total of 64 covers. CCTV is installed.

Cafe Area

The dining area is bright and welcoming, with a large glazed shopfront and central entrance door. It is finished with tiled flooring, part-panelled walls, and a suspended ceiling with inset lighting and feature sky-effect ceiling panels. Comfort cooling is provided by a ceiling-mounted air conditioning cassette, and there are overhead heaters at the entrance. Furniture is included in the sale, comprising black speckled-top tables with chrome and black upholstered chairs, giving a total of 64 covers. CCTV is installed. Customer facilities are accessed from the rear hall and comprise two separate WCs and a further store room.

Kitchen

The kitchen is a good size and fitted to a commercial standard. It is fully tiled, with an extraction canopy and includes: Gas griddle/hotplate and twin-basket fryers Electric cooker Salamander grill and contact grill Commercial microwaves Commercial dishwasher Stainless steel preparation counters with under-counter refrigeration Stainless steel shelving and wall-mounted racking Colour-coded chopping boards and hygiene signage in place Beyond the kitchen there is a large rear store with its own external rear access door and window, providing excellent storage and delivery access.

External

Externally, the café benefits from a raised decked seating area at the front with parasols, branded windbreak screens and level access ramp, providing attractive al fresco dining in the warmer months. One designated parking space to the rear of the property via a service road

The Business

has been established by the current vendors for 15 years and has developed a loyal customer base of regulars alongside passing trade from the town centre. The café trades as a traditional, family-run daytime venue offering a broad and popular menu, including: All-day breakfasts Lunches and dinners Traditional pie and mash Sunday roast Sandwiches, paninis and wraps Omelettes and jacket potatoes Burgers Hot and cold drinks and ice cream The café is signed as fully licensed, offering scope for an alcohol offering (subject to the licence being verified by the purchaser). Turnover

Turnover

The vendor advises that turnover is approximately £8,500 – £9,000 per week, equating to approximately £442,000 – £468,000 per annum. Accounts will be made available to seriously interested parties.

Staff

The business is run by a husband and wife team, supported by one full-time member of staff and part-time staff as required. Staffing levels can be flexed to suit trading demands.

Opening Hours

8:00am – 4:00pm, 7 days per week. Opportunity The business is currently operated as a daytime-only venture, and a new owner may wish to consider extending the trading hours, introducing evening trade, developing the licensed offering or expanding the take-away and delivery services (subject to the necessary consents). The signage already promotes dinner and the premises are licensed, so there is scope to grow the business further. A ready-made, well-equipped business such as this would suit an owner-operator or a couple seeking an established café with a strong track record.

Tenure

The property is held leasehold, with approximately 2.5 years remaining on the current FRI renewable lease at £26,000 per annum. A new lease can be made available to an incoming purchaser, offering security of tenure but may involve an increase in rent

Business Rates

The vendor currently pays business rates of £416 per calendar month. Interested parties are advised to make their own enquiries with the Local Authority (London Borough of Havering) and the Valuation Office Agency to confirm the current rateable value, and to check eligibility for any reliefs.

Legal Costs

Each party is to be responsible for their own legal costs. The Landlord's costs are to be split 50/50 between the vendor and the purchaser, unless the purchaser acquires a new lease, in which case the purchaser shall be responsible for the Landlord's fees.

ADMINISTRATION FEE

Following the agreement of terms, the prospective tenant or buyer is required to pay an administration fee of £200 + VAT to Gilbert & Rose Commercial Limited. This covers the full cost of referencing, identity checks, and suitability assessments.

Disclaimer

Whilst every care is taken to ensure that these particulars are correct, accuracy is no way guaranteed and none of the information supplied forms part of any contract. Acceptance of these particulars constitutes a contract to the effect that all negotiations for the business or property will be made through Gilbert & Rose otherwise the purchaser will be equally responsible with the vendor for damages equal to the amount of our commission.