Food and drink in Nailsea
By Carol_Deacon | Tuesday, October 06, 2009, 12:17
FOOD and drink news is top of the menu in Nailsea this week.
With a new takeaway called Asha opening in Station Road a total of seven fast food premises are now operating within a half mile radius of the town centre.
But the pub trade in Nailsea could be heading for a drought with the Queen’s Head closed and two other pubs looking for new landlords.
The town now has seven fast food outlets serving traditional fish ‘n’ chips, Indian, Italian and Chinese cuisine.
These are:
* Asha
* Great Wall
* Indian Cottage
* Kebab Kitchen
* Nailsea Fish Bar
* Pizza Choice
Add to this the seven restaurants in the High Street and shopping precinct, the town has a 14-strong take out service.
These are:
* Café 119
* Café Savvas
* Costa Coffee
* Golden Horse
And many of the remaining six pubs, the wine bar and local supermarkets are also selling food to eat out.
If you include Noggins Old Fish Bar in Silver Street, there are more than 25 places in Nailsea you can buy food to ‘takeaway’.
But if Nailsea is first choice for food on the drink front there are a few hiccups.
Currently the Queen’s Head, which had a temporary name change in 2007-2008, is closed - for the third time in two years - although it is due to re-open later this month under new ownership.
The Friendship Inn, opened in 1792 as the original Glasshouse Inn by the Thatcher family is under temporary management while the Punch Tavern tries to find a permanent landlord.
It is rumoured the rent is only £10 a week as the listed property needs extensive building repairs.
But the biggest blow is a new landlord is sought for the Sawyers Arms which has been run by Ron Peters and his wife Joyce for the past 22 years.
Mr Peters who is a former chairman of the now disbanded Bristol Licensed Victuallers Association and a member of the British Institute of Innkeepers has decided to call time and take retirement.
Disappointed at the challenging conditions for landlords he said: “If I had my way I would go tomorrow. I have given notice to the brewery.”
* The sale of Nailsea Town Centre Ltd on the London Stock Exchange still hasn’t been completed.
Letting agent Ian Thompson, of Thompson Commercial, is still waiting to hear if the legal procedure has been concluded.
Mr Thompson said: “I have several premises ‘under offer’ but we are just waiting for the town centre deal to go through.
“In the meantime my clients are stuck in no man’s land but I believe the future for Nailsea town centre is very positive and the new owners are very keen to get to grips with improving the centre and the range of shops it has to offer.”
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