Emsworth fine dining restaurant Woosters is up for sale for £1.5million – and residents say its revival ​​could be great news for foodies

WITH the right leadership a dormant fine-dining restaurant could be resurrected to carry the baton for its town’s ‘foodie’ reputation.
An interior view of Woosters, in South Street, Emsworth, which is up for sale for £1,500,000 - alongside an adjacent Georgian property. Picture: Critchley Architecture and DesignAn interior view of Woosters, in South Street, Emsworth, which is up for sale for £1,500,000 - alongside an adjacent Georgian property. Picture: Critchley Architecture and Design
An interior view of Woosters, in South Street, Emsworth, which is up for sale for £1,500,000 - alongside an adjacent Georgian property. Picture: Critchley Architecture and Design

That's the view of residents in Emsworth who are hoping a revival of South Street venue Woosters could be a shot in the arm for the town’s independent scene.

The upmarket eatery failed to reopen after what its owner Nicholas Ralls said would be a ‘short’ closure in January 2018 to ‘enhance customers’ experience’.

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But it is now listed for sale at £1,500,000 via Emsworth estate agents Hazle & Co – blowing the opportunity to develop it into a thriving Hampshire hospitality venue wide open.

An exterior view of the detached properties adjacent to Woosters, in Emsworth, which has  planning permission to become a boutique hotel. Picture: Hazle & CoAn exterior view of the detached properties adjacent to Woosters, in Emsworth, which has  planning permission to become a boutique hotel. Picture: Hazle & Co
An exterior view of the detached properties adjacent to Woosters, in Emsworth, which has planning permission to become a boutique hotel. Picture: Hazle & Co

Alistair Gibson, organiser of Emsworth’s nationally-renowned British Food Fortnight, said: ‘I firmly believe, as a restaurant, it would only add to the foodie reputation Emsworth has.

‘Having organised food festivals and food fortnights myself it was always my view that it was a positive thing when it opened.

‘There are still other places to eat, but Woosters gave people another reason to come to Emsworth.’

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Diners were left shocked when Woosters’ doors were permanently battened shut last year in a move one designer has branded a ‘missed opportunity’.

An exterior view of Woosters, in South Street, Emsworth, which is up for sale for £1,500,000 - alongside an adjacent Georgian property. Picture: Critchley Architecture and DesignAn exterior view of Woosters, in South Street, Emsworth, which is up for sale for £1,500,000 - alongside an adjacent Georgian property. Picture: Critchley Architecture and Design
An exterior view of Woosters, in South Street, Emsworth, which is up for sale for £1,500,000 - alongside an adjacent Georgian property. Picture: Critchley Architecture and Design

But Hazle & Co office manager Marcus Foot said the chance to snap up the Grade II-listed venue now is ‘unique’ – with its sale also including an adjacent Georgian freehold property which has planning permission to become an eight-bedroom boutique hotel, Jeeves.

‘It was a father-and-son venture and they decided they want to release the capital and use it for other things – it was a diversion from their norm,’ said Mr Foot.

‘The idea now is to create a venue as well as a hotel, particularly for things like the Goodwood Members’ Meetings, so we can have a really great one-stop shop.

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‘A high-end venue like that could really resonate in Emsworth.’

An interior view of Woosters, in South Street, Emsworth, which is up for sale for £1,500,000 - alongside an adjacent Georgian property. Picture: Critchley Architecture and DesignAn interior view of Woosters, in South Street, Emsworth, which is up for sale for £1,500,000 - alongside an adjacent Georgian property. Picture: Critchley Architecture and Design
An interior view of Woosters, in South Street, Emsworth, which is up for sale for £1,500,000 - alongside an adjacent Georgian property. Picture: Critchley Architecture and Design

After a whopping £1,000,000 renovation in 2014, Emsworth councillor Lulu Bowerman said Woosters’ became an ‘amazing place’ to dine, sup cocktails and soak up the atmosphere.

She is among those rooting for a fruitful future for the venue.

‘I know lots of people enjoyed it and we would be very pleased to see a similar establishment there in the near future,’ she said.

The Woosters site and its adjacent freehold is the highest-value property currently being marketed by Hazle & Co.

The venue is capable of catering for about 90 covers.

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