Caterer brings street food to Chapel Ash

Legal support for the launch of Street Food Smokehouse WV3 was provided by the commercial property team at FBC Manby Bowdler in Wolverhampton.

Dave Whitehurst founded ‘Call the Caterers’ in 2002 and has delivered more than 400 large marquee weddings, corporate events and private parties since then, but he had always toyed with the thought of launching a restaurant to build on the success of his hospitality business.

He said: “Over the years I’ve considered various locations from which to build a restaurant business but nothing ever felt quite right so I ploughed my focus in to growing the catering and events business in to the success that it is today.

“However, when the pub (formerly the Tap & Ale House) came on to the market it ticked many vital boxes. The timing worked for me professionally, the price was good and above all else, its location, with regular passing trade, was something that I just couldn’t let get away.”

Having secured the lease on the pub building, Dave and his team set about a complete renovation of the building which involved decoration throughout, new furniture and bar equipment and an application to the local council to convert an old outbuilding into a new kitchen. “Street Food Smokehouse, WV3” opened at the end of July.

Faye Yee Van Heeren from FBC Manby Bowdler’s commercial property team worked with Dave throughout the lease negotiations and comments:

“Dave has built a well-regarded catering and events business but had always had his sights set on a restaurant too. I am delighted to have worked with him to make his vision a reality. Every transaction has its own unique set of challenges which is why it is very important for us as solicitors to identify them at an early stage and present the best solutions for our client moving forward.

“It is great to see this new addition to the local restaurant scene and is a shining example of new businesses innovating and investing in the city of Wolverhampton.

“Dave and his team have now launched to rave reviews and I am certain that there’s a bright future ahead for his street food and smokehouse concept.”

Dave has designed his brand for the new restaurant with a view to future expansion and he concludes:

“We’ve created four new jobs in the first few weeks of having the Street Food Smokehouse open and anticipate that this will grow to at least six as the business grows and takes off.

“The visual identity that we’ve created for the new restaurant, based around a London-style street sign, is one that we can easily replicate as we grow and expand in to new locations. Whilst I engaged with Faye Yee and the team at FBC Manby Bowdler largely because of their proximity to the pub on Chapel Ash, the reassurance and guidance that they’ve provided to us throughout the project is such that I’d have no hesitation in engaging their services as we expand.”