Cumbrian restaurant entrepreneurs plan expansion following continued success

Two entrepreneurs behind a new Italian-themed restaurant in the Lake District are already planning to open up at two more locations following its successful launch.

Cumbria-based hotelier Colin Monk and Cheshire-based restaurateur Alex Mauro opened Caffe Riva, creating 18 jobs, a transformation of the former Rumours Pizzeria in Bowness

The restaurant, set over four floors to provide four individual dining experiences, opened in June and has already proved so successful that Colin and Alex are now hoping to launch two further restaurants in Windermere and Ambleside, potentially opening up a new franchise concept.

Colin Monk, owner and managing director at Caffe Riva, said: “After searching for a property for two years we were fortunate enough to be approached by the previous owners before the property was put on the market.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response we’ve had from locals and tourists alike. We see this as a pilot for further Caffe Riva restaurants and are looking at other locations that could be just as successful.”

The property team at Harrison Drury solicitors advised the pair on all legal aspects of the new business and negotiated a fifteen-year lease of the property.

Naomi Fell, director at Harrison Drury, said: “The restaurant sector was one of the hardest hit by the recession, but as the economy strengthens the sector is once again thriving for those with the right business model. Colin is a seasoned entrepreneur and with Alex’s skills I’m sure the business will be a huge success with great potential to expand in the region.”

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