Building teams for successful restaurant projects can be difficult, let me share some of my experiences with you.
(If watching over reading is more your thing you can catch the podcast episode here https://youtu.be/fW9CT0J2Kug )
People Can’t Do This Alone, Can They?
The success of any restaurant project depends on the team you build around it. Working with the right consultants and contractors is crucial, and it’s something we take seriously. Over the years, we’ve developed relationships with a wide range of professionals who’ve become our regular colleagues due to our shared layers of experience and knowledge
We can also work with any preferred client stipulated consultants after confirming that they are appropriate to the project content and sector – plus also checking that they share our joint beliefs and approach to your project.
The Sam’s Riverside Project: A Million-Pound Endeavor
As an example of our project formation of the team, let me take you back to a project we undertook in 2019: Sam’s Riverside.
This restaurant in Hammersmith was a million-pound venture and we were responsible for overseeing it as quantity surveyors and project managers.
Our familiarity with the client, from previous historic collaborations was developed further and enabled us the trust to build the team for this project. We built a team of consultants and contractors, all of whom we had worked with before, however they might not have individually of worked together before.
Through design coordination meetings and interchange of information we were able to identify any other services required and address the project structure to allow project implementation.
Under our guide and coordination, we overcame as a team, the various challenges that you face in a fit out project. These included such issues as a demanding landlord shell development with under prescribed electrical loading issues, to noise restrictions from nearby residents, to budgetary alignment, to water and drainage design within the landlord provided drainage, to planning restrictions- we faced them all together as a team.
See what Sam & Fanny thought about the project. https://jca-ltd.co.uk/services/
Impact of Teams on Sam’s Riverside
Our experienced teams played a significant role in making Sam’s Riverside successful. We reviewed and supplimented the shell development provisions with creative problem-solving and managed the electrical supply and noise control complexities. We did this through regular site progress and project team meetings where we would review progress both achieved and projected, identified risks, reviewed any informational matters outstanding and dealt with any changes required to the project design to align to the challenges we faced.
General Advice for Aspiring Restaurant Owners
If you’re thinking of opening your own restaurant or bar, can I suggest some advice: get to know your local area. I would suggest that you walk the local area, visit at different times of the day and occasions. Review with site finders and/ or local commercial agents what the local demographic is like and review your target audience within that demographic. Understand the available units and define the brand you want to create. Once you’ve spotted a suitable location, consider employing professionals like us early in the process. We can help you identify and manage risks, providing recommendations for and forming appropriate project teams, making your project smoother and more efficient. We’re here to manage, not to be heroes in crisis management.
Reach Out to Us
For those of you planning a restaurant project and in need of assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
You can contact me at julian@jca-ltd.co.uk, and I’d be more than happy to discuss your needs and requirements.
Building successful restaurant teams is a process, and I hope my insights have been valuable. Until next time, take care, and best of luck with your restaurant ventures.
