An Exeter restaurant which has been in limbo for months has now gone up for sale. It was refurbished into an Italian restaurant but this is still yet to open.
In October 2023, it was announced that a new Italian restaurant called La Riva would open at a vacant restaurant on Exeter Quay, just a few months after Wabi-Sabi Bay Asion fusion restaurant left the site after its assets were seized. Jonathan Bailey, the owner of Wabi-Sabi Bay initially said he was fighting to reopen but both his Exeter and Paignton restaurants eventually closed.
A notice in the window said La Riva was hiring "chefs/cooks with Italian food experience" and asked potential applicants to get in touch with Karen Russell. In November 2023, a company called The Italian Café Ltd applied for a new premises licence at the site on Commercial Road, which would enable them to open late, serve alcohol and late night refreshments and play live and recorded music.
In February this year - four months after La Riva was first announced - an opening date was still yet to be set. Karen Russell informed DevonLive at the time that she was no longer involved with the restaurant. The site has stood empty ever since and, despite an internal and external makeover, is showing no signs of opening soon.
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The restaurant has now been put on the market, advertised by Rossiter Property Consultants, who describe it as a "retail opportunity". The leasehold is for sale for £500,000, which will include both the restaurant and the outside seating area. Its rental value has been estimated as £46,000 per year.
In the brochure, it says: "The property comprises a stone constructed substantial waterside premises and restaurant with outside seating terrace area to the river frontage.
"The property has been extensively fitted out with a bar and internal restaurant area, kitchen area and male and female /disabled WCs. To the rear of the kitchen area is a store with ventilation extract and delivery access along with a right of way for the apartments above to the refuse bins."
