Bradford Growth Zone boost for new city centre bistro (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bradford Growth Zone boost for new city centre bistro
7:00am Tuesday 27th November 2012 in News
Manager Tony Riley and Alistair Griffin with chefs Ben Davy, Joe Pratt and Rebecca Topps
Bradford’s new city centre Growth Zone has scored an early success by enabling the opening of a new bistro and bar which will mean the ‘banana’ building in Centenary Square is again fully occupied.
Forsters Bistro & Deli, a 100-seat restaurant and bar, will open for business on Friday, December 7.
It is being opened by bosses at Forster Community College in Captain Street, near Bradford Cathedral, on the back of the success of a college-based bistro which opened in January as part of moves to reduce the college’s reliance on public funding.
The new bistro will use the premises previously occupied by Tulsi restaurant, which closed last year. It will create 16 full-time equivalent jobs and provide work experience and training opportunities for catering students at the college’s chefs’ academy.
General manager of the restaurant will be Marc Philpott, who trained at Harvey Nichols and has worked at the Create restaurant in Leeds. The head chef has been recruited from the four star Devere Oulton Hall hotel, near Leeds.
Alistair Griffin, business services manager at Forster Community College, said it had signed a 15-year lease with Leeds-based property development and investment company Rushbond plc.
He said: “We are delighted that we are expanding in Bradford city centre. We could have gone to Leeds, but wanted to develop the business in our home city. Help from the new Growth Zone has made this move possible and affordable.”
The £35 million Growth Zone, started this month by Bradford Council and half- funded by the Government, aims to boost skills and stimulate investment by providing rate rebates for job-creating new and existing businesses in a defined city centre area.
Mr Griffin said: “As well as being a commercial operation, the new Forsters Bistro will also enable us to provide work experience opportunities for our trainees at the college academy. There will also be nine apprenticeships at the bistro to which suitable students can aspire “As well as providing a new dining experience for the city, it will also provide hands-on experience for our students, training to boost the career path for some as well as new jobs.”
Bradford Council leader David Green said: “It will enhance the facilities around the City Park and also benefit from our support to boost training and employment.
“It demonstrates that the zone can help people with ideas who want to invest in Bradford and provide support to help bring their vision to fruition.”
Comments(33)
Avro
says...
8:38am Tue 27 Nov 12
I would hazard a guess that both get heavily subsisidised rates!
A 15yr lease means nothing if they go out of business within 12 months!
By the way Mr Green, your £35m Growth Zone has not started whilst ever we have a huge hole in the ground!
johnhem
says...
8:50am Tue 27 Nov 12
angry bradfordian
says...
8:54am Tue 27 Nov 12
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:Also getting over-excited by the £35m million figure again.
This demonstrates nothing.
1 new company and once again the T&A is getting all excited and jumping the gun.
Something around £10m of it is for demolition/rebuildin
g of the cells and highways improvement works to the Westfield area and £17m is dependant on Westfield starting. It's hardly like they're giving local businesses £35m.
Despite my usual cynicism I'll be giving the bistro a go and good luck to all involved. Shame they had to get implicated in the council's propaganda machine.
bradfordhope
says...
8:57am Tue 27 Nov 12
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
9:21am Tue 27 Nov 12
RollandSmoke
says...
9:46am Tue 27 Nov 12
ompanies to account when they fail members of that populous.
angry bradfordian
says...
10:07am Tue 27 Nov 12
RollandSmoke wrote:It's a bistro staffed by catering students and trainees- it's not like they've opened The Ivy!
Come off it TVOR they've got to report something and it's far easier to report on another bistro opening and reducing the need for the poorer members of the Bradford populous to visit the city park than it is to hold the police/politicians/c
ompanies to account when they fail members of that populous.
If anything City Park needs more businesses to attract people with money into it.
bhuna156
says...
10:12am Tue 27 Nov 12
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:Visitors are up 10k on last year actually. The BBC tried to cover up a peadophile, which is exactly what you'd be saying if it were announced that the BBC were expanding in Bradford.....
The T&A propaganda machine is in full flow. Comments allowed here on a small business yet you can't comment on the BBC's decision to leave the City and smash another nail into the Media museum's coffin it seems. Visitors down, staff cuts and now the BBC jumping ship.
If they want to leave Bradford that is fine by me and many others i'm sure.
RollandSmoke
says...
10:14am Tue 27 Nov 12
angry bradfordian wrote:Would they have a viable business model without relying on the reduced labour cost of using catering students and trainees?. Just because they're using cheap labour it doesn't mean the service they provide will be cheap.
RollandSmoke wrote:It's a bistro staffed by catering students and trainees- it's not like they've opened The Ivy!
Come off it TVOR they've got to report something and it's far easier to report on another bistro opening and reducing the need for the poorer members of the Bradford populous to visit the city park than it is to hold the police/politicians/c
ompanies to account when they fail members of that populous.
If anything City Park needs more businesses to attract people with money into it.
Joedavid
says...
10:32am Tue 27 Nov 12
angry bradfordian wrote:"If anything City Park needs more businesses to attract people with money into it."
RollandSmoke wrote:It's a bistro staffed by catering students and trainees- it's not like they've opened The Ivy!
Come off it TVOR they've got to report something and it's far easier to report on another bistro opening and reducing the need for the poorer members of the Bradford populous to visit the city park than it is to hold the police/politicians/c
ompanies to account when they fail members of that populous.
If anything City Park needs more businesses to attract people with money into it.
That made me smile as I thought I was told over and over again the City Park and its Fountains would bring people in to help businesses and shops.
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
10:38am Tue 27 Nov 12
bhuna156 wrote:Thats nice but those figures are over 150k down on a couple of years ago.
Thee Voice of Reason wrote: The T&A propaganda machine is in full flow. Comments allowed here on a small business yet you can't comment on the BBC's decision to leave the City and smash another nail into the Media museum's coffin it seems. Visitors down, staff cuts and now the BBC jumping ship.Visitors are up 10k on last year actually. The BBC tried to cover up a peadophile, which is exactly what you'd be saying if it were announced that the BBC were expanding in Bradford..... If they want to leave Bradford that is fine by me and many others i'm sure.
RollandSmoke
says...
10:40am Tue 27 Nov 12
bhuna156 wrote:The government (both Labour and Conservative) have conspired to do exactly what you accuse the BBC of. Can we get their politicians out of Bradford?.
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:Visitors are up 10k on last year actually. The BBC tried to cover up a peadophile, which is exactly what you'd be saying if it were announced that the BBC were expanding in Bradford.....
The T&A propaganda machine is in full flow. Comments allowed here on a small business yet you can't comment on the BBC's decision to leave the City and smash another nail into the Media museum's coffin it seems. Visitors down, staff cuts and now the BBC jumping ship.
If they want to leave Bradford that is fine by me and many others i'm sure.
Andy2010
says...
10:51am Tue 27 Nov 12
I give it a year max.
Avro
says...
11:09am Tue 27 Nov 12
angry bradfordian wrote:Spot on, though £17.6m Westfield money is very dependent on the shopping centre being up and running by the end of 2015 rather than just starting the build to receive the money.
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:Also getting over-excited by the £35m million figure again.
This demonstrates nothing.
1 new company and once again the T&A is getting all excited and jumping the gun.
Something around £10m of it is for demolition/rebuildin
g of the cells and highways improvement works to the Westfield area and £17m is dependant on Westfield starting. It's hardly like they're giving local businesses £35m.
Despite my usual cynicism I'll be giving the bistro a go and good luck to all involved. Shame they had to get implicated in the council's propaganda machine.
Cooperlane2
says...
11:15am Tue 27 Nov 12
Albion.
says...
11:19am Tue 27 Nov 12
Parz
says...
11:25am Tue 27 Nov 12
Andy2010 wrote:God you're cheerful aren't you. You want to have a wander past Smorgersbord (I've no idea if that's spelled correctly) which opened in the old Food Weighouse. I can't remember the last time I walked past and it wasn't doing good trade. Businesses like this are doing well at the moment, and we should be happy to see a new business set up. Fair enough it's run by a local college, but would you rather see that or an empty unit? Cheer up.
So the BBC effectively deserts Bradford and yet the T&A choose to lead with some cr4ppy little coffee shop opening and try to put a positive spin on this using the marketing jargon "growth zone" which in real english means "area no-one wants to open a business in" I give it a year max.
Good luck to them, I'll pop in on my lunch one day and see what it's like.
Clowny
says...
11:34am Tue 27 Nov 12
There’s a clear strategy taking place to make the area around the mirror pool appear economically successful, in one form or another the college and publicly funded bodies are taking up much of the space. So what we really have is an engineered “success” as I’m sure the college has closed down a unit on Sunbridge Road literally seconds away.
If the strategy is being undertaken as a sincere effort to encourage economic growth along with the Growth Zone funds then it should be welcomed, I just hope these moves aren’t merely a cynical attempt to cover up the fact the City Park and the costs put into that haven’t come close to creating the economic returns that were promised before it was built.
markjoe
says...
11:38am Tue 27 Nov 12
Social enterprises like the bistro are doing well at the moment and should be encouraged were possible, I think its in these businesses that the future lies.
Andy2010
says...
11:39am Tue 27 Nov 12
Parz wrote:Nothing about being cheerful...my fears for this business come from dealing with other numerous enterprises like this one that I have had to sort the aftermath of them closing in droves.
Andy2010 wrote: So the BBC effectively deserts Bradford and yet the T&A choose to lead with some cr4ppy little coffee shop opening and try to put a positive spin on this using the marketing jargon "growth zone" which in real english means "area no-one wants to open a business in" I give it a year max.God you're cheerful aren't you. You want to have a wander past Smorgersbord (I've no idea if that's spelled correctly) which opened in the old Food Weighouse. I can't remember the last time I walked past and it wasn't doing good trade. Businesses like this are doing well at the moment, and we should be happy to see a new business set up. Fair enough it's run by a local college, but would you rather see that or an empty unit? Cheer up. Good luck to them, I'll pop in on my lunch one day and see what it's like.
Like you say I applaud any new business and creation of jobs but my point here is that this little enterprise doesnt even put the slightest dent in the problems Bradford has and the "Growth Zone" is a just a marketing term for above as stated.
Stanglienne
says...
11:41am Tue 27 Nov 12
Parz
says...
11:50am Tue 27 Nov 12
Andy2010 wrote:True, one coffee shop is not going to solve Bradford's problems. But from many strokes of a small axe, do mighty oaks fall (or something like that). This one business is not going to make a dent, but if more small businesses like this start to move in, it get's the ball rolling. It has to start somewhere.
Parz wrote:Nothing about being cheerful...my fears for this business come from dealing with other numerous enterprises like this one that I have had to sort the aftermath of them closing in droves. Like you say I applaud any new business and creation of jobs but my point here is that this little enterprise doesnt even put the slightest dent in the problems Bradford has and the "Growth Zone" is a just a marketing term for above as stated.Andy2010 wrote: So the BBC effectively deserts Bradford and yet the T&A choose to lead with some cr4ppy little coffee shop opening and try to put a positive spin on this using the marketing jargon "growth zone" which in real english means "area no-one wants to open a business in" I give it a year max.God you're cheerful aren't you. You want to have a wander past Smorgersbord (I've no idea if that's spelled correctly) which opened in the old Food Weighouse. I can't remember the last time I walked past and it wasn't doing good trade. Businesses like this are doing well at the moment, and we should be happy to see a new business set up. Fair enough it's run by a local college, but would you rather see that or an empty unit? Cheer up. Good luck to them, I'll pop in on my lunch one day and see what it's like.
My annoyance isn't neccesarily at you, just the general negativity on here. Good news is never met with any optimism.
MontyLeMar
says...
12:00pm Tue 27 Nov 12
bradfordhope wrote:You speak for yourself! It is my human right to be a miserable old sod if I feel like it. This is Bradford you know, not Beverly Hills. It's grim up here.
The telegraph does get too excited about the slightest little thing, however this can only be good news for the city. Those who can't see the positives and wish to moan shouldn't bother posting. Your negative drivel isn't welcome here.
Andy2010
says...
12:02pm Tue 27 Nov 12
Parz wrote:Well I try to have optimism but when 3 businesses in the BD area close for every one that opens (and this is getting worse as in September stood at 3.9 businesses) then you must understand the spin that has been put onto this one little shop.
Andy2010 wrote:True, one coffee shop is not going to solve Bradford's problems. But from many strokes of a small axe, do mighty oaks fall (or something like that). This one business is not going to make a dent, but if more small businesses like this start to move in, it get's the ball rolling. It has to start somewhere. My annoyance isn't neccesarily at you, just the general negativity on here. Good news is never met with any optimism.Parz wrote:Nothing about being cheerful...my fears for this business come from dealing with other numerous enterprises like this one that I have had to sort the aftermath of them closing in droves. Like you say I applaud any new business and creation of jobs but my point here is that this little enterprise doesnt even put the slightest dent in the problems Bradford has and the "Growth Zone" is a just a marketing term for above as stated.Andy2010 wrote: So the BBC effectively deserts Bradford and yet the T&A choose to lead with some cr4ppy little coffee shop opening and try to put a positive spin on this using the marketing jargon "growth zone" which in real english means "area no-one wants to open a business in" I give it a year max.God you're cheerful aren't you. You want to have a wander past Smorgersbord (I've no idea if that's spelled correctly) which opened in the old Food Weighouse. I can't remember the last time I walked past and it wasn't doing good trade. Businesses like this are doing well at the moment, and we should be happy to see a new business set up. Fair enough it's run by a local college, but would you rather see that or an empty unit? Cheer up. Good luck to them, I'll pop in on my lunch one day and see what it's like.
My point is that these sort of enterprise really dont contribute hardly anything to regeneration. The council needs to concentrate on "business" and not retail...once business is in place then retail naturally follows. This is the simplest of rules of any high street.
RollandSmoke
says...
12:29pm Tue 27 Nov 12
angry bradfordian
says...
12:45pm Tue 27 Nov 12
"Tellingly, the funding available was a major factor in the decision of the bistro, which is being opened by Bradford’s Forster Community College, not to set up in Leeds."
It's hardly a glowing recommendation on the regeneration of the City Centre that a Bradford College had to be subsidised not to set up in Leeds. From the editorial you'd think that Gordon Ramsay had set up shop in town!
Andy2010
says...
1:12pm Tue 27 Nov 12
RollandSmoke wrote:Just open a normal coffee shop...in Bradford it will no doubt turn into an "Amsterdam" cafe anyway
Can't I have my Amsterdam style coffee shop in the Pavillion? I'll employ students on the cheap if that's what it takes.
Parz
says...
1:58pm Tue 27 Nov 12
Andy2010 wrote:Again, a fair point. And I won't argue with you on figures, would seem you have more info than I do. I know it's a bit of a trickle in and a flood out at the moment, but then that's precisely my point. You can't blame the T&A for wanting to show a little enthusiasm at what little good news we have at the moment. It’s not all doom and gloom!
Parz wrote:Well I try to have optimism but when 3 businesses in the BD area close for every one that opens (and this is getting worse as in September stood at 3.9 businesses) then you must understand the spin that has been put onto this one little shop. My point is that these sort of enterprise really dont contribute hardly anything to regeneration. The council needs to concentrate on "business" and not retail...once business is in place then retail naturally follows. This is the simplest of rules of any high street.Andy2010 wrote:True, one coffee shop is not going to solve Bradford's problems. But from many strokes of a small axe, do mighty oaks fall (or something like that). This one business is not going to make a dent, but if more small businesses like this start to move in, it get's the ball rolling. It has to start somewhere. My annoyance isn't neccesarily at you, just the general negativity on here. Good news is never met with any optimism.Parz wrote:Nothing about being cheerful...my fears for this business come from dealing with other numerous enterprises like this one that I have had to sort the aftermath of them closing in droves. Like you say I applaud any new business and creation of jobs but my point here is that this little enterprise doesnt even put the slightest dent in the problems Bradford has and the "Growth Zone" is a just a marketing term for above as stated.Andy2010 wrote: So the BBC effectively deserts Bradford and yet the T&A choose to lead with some cr4ppy little coffee shop opening and try to put a positive spin on this using the marketing jargon "growth zone" which in real english means "area no-one wants to open a business in" I give it a year max.God you're cheerful aren't you. You want to have a wander past Smorgersbord (I've no idea if that's spelled correctly) which opened in the old Food Weighouse. I can't remember the last time I walked past and it wasn't doing good trade. Businesses like this are doing well at the moment, and we should be happy to see a new business set up. Fair enough it's run by a local college, but would you rather see that or an empty unit? Cheer up. Good luck to them, I'll pop in on my lunch one day and see what it's like.
On a side note, it’s nice to have a proper conversation with someone on here for once, instead of the usual arguing that comes from the forums many trolls!
ANY WHERE BUT HERE
says...
2:09pm Tue 27 Nov 12
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:Very true, the bbc want to save 1.4million,yet they pay one man 500,000 to leave even though they weren't contracted to do so. It's quite clear people shouldn't be paying for the licence anymore.
The T&A propaganda machine is in full flow. Comments allowed here on a small business yet you can't comment on the BBC's decision to leave the City and smash another nail into the Media museum's coffin it seems. Visitors down, staff cuts and now the BBC jumping ship.
Fbdbfd
says...
2:14pm Tue 27 Nov 12
webess
says...
3:17pm Tue 27 Nov 12
johnhem wrote:I think what you meant to say was that you can't wait for such a headline so you can come on here and gloat over the event ;-)
won't have long to wait for the majoe headline in the T&A, BANANA SPLITS. another cafe/bistro closes.
communitydifference
says...
2:43am Tue 18 Dec 12
Why would big business move to the city, why would families and local businesses set up in a city where there is such a careless attitude.
Bradford has so much potential but trashing projects like these means there will never be any growth which is so sad, especially for the people who put their heart and soul into making something good in a community that desperately needs a heart.
Thee Voice of Reason says...
8:24am Tue 27 Nov 12
1 new company and once again the T&A is getting all excited and jumping the gun.