Fine dining secret in Waipu Cove on the market

The only licensed eat-in restaurant business in the Waipu Cove area 90 minutes drive north of Auckland and 20 minutes south of Whangarei, is for sale as a going-concern with a long-term lease in place with the neighbouring Waipu Cove Resort.

The Beach House Restaurant has grown in acclaim since couple Trent and Theresa Warren took over the business just over two years ago and all recipes on the much-applauded menu will be transferred to a new owner. With over 20 years experience as a chef under his knife, Trent Warren – who has cooked internationally and once headed up the kitchen at Auckland’s Toto Restaurant – has become known for his ambitious food that offers a modern twist using seasonal produce.

“The business is now ready for a new owner to reap the rewards of the hard work that has gone into building up the clientele and establishing a notable presence in the wider Waipu area,” says Leeanne O’Dell of Bayleys Mangawhai, who is marketing the business which has been a finalist in the Cuisine Magazine Restaurant of the Year awards.

“A reputation for fine food, excellent surroundings and impeccable service has been established while also broadening the range of food offerings to cater for the influx of visitors to the area over the busy summer period.

“A takeout menu including gourmet pizzas has proven popular with campers at the adjacent camping ground while not compromising the more upmarket restaurant dining option in any way.”

Patronage is received year-round from Waipu, Langs Beach, Mangawhai, Mangawhai Heads, Ruakaka and Whangarei and passing through-traffic on the Twin Coast Discovery route. The Waipu Cove Resort and the campground on either side of the restaurant means a captive market is assured at key times of the year.
Increasingly, event catering is providing a good income stream for the business with a highly successful wedding for 150 guests held on-site recently.

The couple work full-time in the business five days a week and employ a full-time chef and three part-time staff to assist them. They have a pool of other staff to call on when needed in the busier times.

The business currently trades six days a week over the busiest summer months of December to February, while the opening hours are trimmed back for the remainder of the year. The restaurant is usually closed on a Monday and Tuesday from March through to the end of November and the current owners close the business in July each year for a four week holiday.

The business has an on-licence from 7am – midnight, seven days a week.

The restaurant is accessed by way of an impressive boardwalk in-keeping with the beachside theme and seats 40 inside with seating for a further 28 patrons in the open air courtyard. Special celebrations for up to 20 people can be celebrated upstairs in a private area. This space is also used often for smaller conferences, product launches and other events.

“The kitchen features superior equipment with a fit-out that would rival many big city operations, while the dining area itself has a relaxed yet classy feel,” says O’Dell.

“Many diners – especially tourists – are intrigued to find a restaurant in this beach side hamlet serving up a menu that would be right at home in the bigger centres. It’s an unexpected find and many locals in the wider area make a regular trip to dine out at The Beach House knowing that the location, the atmosphere and the food experience cannot be matched anywhere within easy reach.”

The Beach House Restaurant is for sale for $230,000 plus stock at valuation with seven, three-year rights of renewal to be exercised on the existing lease from September this year. Rent is $3458.33 per month inclusive of gst. A full set of financial accounts is available to qualified prospective purchasers.

“In looking to the future, it is expected that bar sales will figure more prominently with support now from a brewery-aligned supplier,” says O’Dell.

“This, partnered with a demand for outside catering, a rise in the takeaway side of the operation and the option of increasing the opening hours on certain days means there is room for the business to grow some more.”

Also included in the sale is the website and domain name www.thebeachhouserestaurant.co.nz. The current owners – who are moving to Taupo to become involved with a family-run venture - will provide a period of training and handover by negotiation with a successful purchaser.

“This business would be perfect for a chef who wants a business that can be combined with a beach lifestyle in arguably one of the nicest parts of Northland,” says O’Dell.

“Certainly the kitchen is up there with the best around and with some strands of the business yet to be target marketed – such as the conference and wedding market – there is the opportunity to spread the word and boost the already healthy income.”

Waipu Cove is a popular surfing spot and holiday destination with over 2000 campers in the camp ground over the summer.