The business and assets of Fjara Café Bar Ltd

Business Details

Anderson Strathern LLP is delighted to present the business and assets of Fjara Café Bar Ltd (Fjara) to the open market for sale. This business presents a rare and exciting opportunity to acquire a long established and highly successful licensed restaurant in a picturesque location in Lerwick, Shetland’s capital.

Opened in 2014, Fjara has established itself as Shetland’s restaurant of choice, gaining significant popularity with locals and tourists alike. With its purpose-built premises set on the edge of Lerwick’s Breiwick Bay, Fjara offers its customers stunning views.

The business maintains its strong customer base by showcasing the best of Shetland’s local produce with seasonal menus to ensure the best quality ingredients and dishes. Together with its breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee/cake and alcoholic drink offerings, the business continues to experience high popularity and profitability. This is demonstrated by its 4.6/5 rating and ranking as one of the Top Restaurants, in Lerwick, on Tripadvisor (correct as at time of publishing).

Description

Currently owned and operated by a single owner and presently trading as a café bar / restaurant, Fjara ensures that it meets all of its customers’ needs by changing its menu and offering throughout the trading day. Fjara maintains a large and strong local customer base, and the business enjoys an increase in its usual trade at various times throughout the year, however the main tourist season is from June to September.

The restaurant is a bright and open space, with large windows designed to take advantage of the fantastic views on offer. The premises in its present layout provides for 80 customers, an increase from 60 in 2021, when the owner extended the premises to accommodate for an ever-increasing demand. The external beer garden caters for an additional 44 customers.

Viewing of the purpose-built premises and external beer garden area is highly recommended.

Reason for Sale

The present owner established the business alongside his former business partner. After years of successfully growing the business, the present owner took full control of the company in 2023. Today, the business continues to be profitable, with the owner now seeking to retire from the industry and present the business to the open market. The owner believes that passionate and committed new owners could propel the business towards continued success and growth.

Trade

Throughout its life, the business has maintained good profits. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the business has experienced a steady increase in profits and turnover. The owner currently operates the business 6 days a week. Genuinely interested parties will be afforded access to the accounts of the business.

Location

Lerwick, the capital town and principal port of the Shetland Islands, is a thriving centre with a residential population of approximately 7,000, serving a wider island community of around 23,000. As the commercial, cultural, and administrative heart of Shetland, Lerwick is supported by a strong local economy and a steady influx of visitors throughout the year.

Daily ferry services connect the town to the Scottish mainland (Aberdeen). Sumburgh Airport offers flights to Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Kirkwall, Manchester and London.

Lerwick’s harbour is one of the United Kingdom’s busiest commercial ports in the North Sea, welcoming cargo vessels, fishing boats, and cruise liners. This dynamic waterfront underpins a broad economic base, supporting industries such as fishing, energy, tourism, and retail, and offering a diverse and resilient commercial landscape.

The area is renowned for its exceptional local produce. Fresh seafood — including Shetland salmon, mussels, and scallops — enjoys a global reputation for quality, while traditional crofting yields premium lamb, beef, and dairy products. A growing number of artisan bakeries, breweries, and distilleries further enhance the offering, with local goods showcased at local producers’ markets, food fairs and an array of independent retailers.

Lerwick offers the advantages of a close-knit community alongside the dynamism of a busy commercial centre. Its rich cultural calendar is highlighted by internationally recognised events such as Up Helly Aa, Shetland Wool Week and the Shetland Folk Festival. Together with excellent public services, including education, healthcare, and leisure facilities, the islands make for an attractive location for both business owners and their families.

Services

The property benefits from mains electricity, water and drainage. Electrical heating is provided by an air-to-water Air Source Heat Pump serving underfloor heating throughout the building. Private gas supply.

Accounts

Full accounting information will be made available to interested parties.

Price

Offers are invited for the business as a going concern. Alternatively, the owner will field offers for the business only, with a commercial lease for the premises being granted to the buyer by the current owner on mutually agreed terms.

Offers

All offers should be submitted in writing to Anderson Strathern LLP, Shetland office. lerwick@andersonstrathern.co.uk

The information presented in this advertisement has been provided by Fjara Café Bar Ltd. No warranties or representations, express or implied, are made in this advertisement.

Financial Highlights

• Turnover for YE24 – £1.4 Million+
• Net Assets for YE24 – £670,000+
• EBITDA for YE24 – £280,520

Company Valuation Report and Accounts

Before we can provide you with the Commercial Valuation Report and Accounts for this business, we need to capture a few details to enable us to record that you have viewed this information.

Fill in the form at the side of this page or contact us at lerwick@andersonstrathern.co.uk or 01595 695262 and a member of our team will provide the relevant information.