Dudley Council’s ill-fated restaurant business enters property market – here’s what you can rent

Brookes Bar and Bistro, located in the former Dudley Crown Court, has been put on the market by Hexagon Commercial Property.

The restaurant, part of the Dudley Town Hall complex, opened in September 2022 following a £1.5 million refurbishment as part of a program to revitalize the city’s civic quarter. city.

It received positive reviews from diners but racked up losses of £387,700 in its first 18 months of trading.

The council spent £50,000 bringing in a private consultant to try to keep the venue open, but the decision was made to close the restaurant in August 2024 to stem losses.

The agent says the 3,730 sq ft building represents “an exceptional opportunity to lease a prestigious Grade II* listed restaurant and bar, steeped in rich history and located in the vibrant heart of Dudley town centre”.

He added: “This remarkable property was once home to the borough’s Sessions Court, making it a true landmark with deep historical significance. “The space has been meticulously transformed into a turnkey restaurant and bar, fully equipped and ready to operate straight away.

“It features a fully equipped commercial kitchen and a stylish, well-appointed bar area, providing the ideal setting for a new operator to make their mark and continue the legacy of the property.” Whether you are an established restaurateur or an ambitious entrepreneur, this unique venue presents an unmissable opportunity to create an extraordinary dining experience in a premier location with character.

Advertising does not disclose rental cost.

The building was opened by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin in 1928 and was used as the city’s crown court until 1990.

In September 2017, senior councilors published a draft plan to transform the venue into a bar and restaurant for visitors to the town hall.

In March 2019, a final business plan was distributed and a multi-stakeholder review committee recommended approval of the plan, and work began in 2021.

The restaurant was opened by the Mayor of Dudley, Councilor Sue Greenaway, in September 2022.

Cutting the ceremonial ribbon, she said: “It’s wonderful to see a building with a rich past come back to life.

“Today, in what was an open courtroom years ago, I am delighted to see a thriving bar and restaurant.

“It will be a great addition for City Hall patrons, but also a great addition to the downtown area, which I hope our residents enjoy.” »

It is named after Brooke Robinson, MP and coroner for Dudley who died in 1911. Mr Robinson was a keen collector of paintings and objects from around the world, and his collection made up the Brooke Robinson Museum, also based in the Dudley Hotel. city ​​until 1979.

At the launch of a separate, independent entertainment precinct across the road in Stone Square, Councilor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, explained how Brookes Bar and Bistro had “kick-started Dudley’s night-time resurgence “.

But in its first seven months the venue made a loss of £182,400. Losses continued throughout the 2023/24 financial year, costing the taxpayer a further £205,500.

A consultant has been hired to assess the venue, along with the borough’s other town hall bars, leisure center cafes and Himley Hall.

Management of these sites was transferred in April 2024 to the municipality’s commercial department and the consultant took over operational management of Brookes Bar and Bistro after the departure of three managers.

The restaurant’s closure was announced on August 1 this year and closed at the end of the month with total losses amounting to £1,519,789.

Councilor Shaun Keasey, a nightclub owner in Wolverhampton, said: “It’s absolutely sickening, it’s an obscene amount of money when the council is in its current financial situation.

“It is completely unacceptable to ask the people of Dudley to swallow this. There was a complete lack of foresight from management and a level of arrogance and incompetence, political leaders allowed £1.5 million of our money to be wasted.

Councilor Harley pointed out that he was in opposition when the project began under the previous administration. He said the project could not have happened under his leadership due to the costs of renovating the building.

He added that the external consultant had reduced the bar’s losses “significantly” and that there was a business plan in place which would have seen the bar turning a profit in 18 months.

Councilor Harley said: “All local authorities have lessons to learn, they should not engage in commercial activity of this type. » He added that commercial operators had expressed an interest in taking over Brookes Bar.