Bill's

Starting as a fruit and veg shop owned by Bill Collison, the first restaurant was opened in 2001 in Lewes. Passionate about working with other independent businesses, Bill’s use only the best ingredients in their restaurants and their own label products.

The Challenge

When Bill’s approached us in 2009, the brand was already well-liked and developed. The key to expansion was finding properties that enhanced the wholesome fun of their personality – in the right places, at the right price. Specifically we wanted buildings with a bit of old-fashioned character, in fashionable southern UK towns. But so did many other businesses.

Our Insight

Using our location analysis tools, we can see the potential in locations that others may not so easily come across. By using this alongside our local connections, market knowledge and understanding of the Bill’s brand, we uncovered sites that had been overlooked by other retail businesses, but which we sensed were ripe for re-invention. In challenging, competitive conditions, we unlocked three high-profile properties in Cambridge, Exeter and Bristol.

The Outcome

Cambridge, Bristol and Exeter have gone on to become leading performers in the Bill’s portfolio. Finding properties that tick all the boxes helped Bill’s at a time when they needed to really step up their property acquisitions and secure sites in their top priority locations. Bill’s were so happy with the outcome, we were then invited to work with Bill’s sister company, Côte Restaurants, unearthing very different properties to suit this very different dining proposition.

“It’s been enlightening working with Insight. They’re easy to work with and you sense their expertise from the outset, which is a source of real confidence. This partnership has been just the springboard we needed to take our growth to the next level.”

Andy Bassadone, Director