A POPULAR restaurant looks set to come under new ownership.

The owners of the Warehouse Brasserie in Chapel Street North, Colchester, have put the business up for sale for £50,000.

Talks are ongoing with a potential buyer, who intends to continue to run the 80-seat restaurant along the same lines as it has been run under the current owners.

Owner Rob Brown, of Acumen Development Consultants, said: “It has been on the market a few weeks.

“We have had quite a lot of interest.

The Warehouse is a bit of an iconic place in Colchester, it has been about a long time.

“We picked it up from quite a low ebb and now we are at a high point which seems like a strange time to sell. I am just cutting down my workload.”

Acumen Development Consultants also owns Colchester’s North Hill Hotel and Green Room bistro, as well as a management training business.

It took over the Warehouse five years ago, investing at least £60,000 in improvements to the two-storey premises.

Its aim was to specialise in English cuisine.

Mr Brown added: “I want to concentrate on the North Hill Hotel and Green Room.

“The Warehouse has been an incredible experience for us.

“We liked being part of it and we have got it back to what it was.

“The people looking to buy are not looking to dramatically change it.”

Mr Brown said ten staff work at the Warehouse and their jobs would be unaffected by the new ownership.

He was unable to put a timescale on when the changeover would take place.

The Warehouse was a cult restaurant in the Nineties, attracting a loyal following with simple, valuefor- money food.

Mr Brown started his catering career, aged 18, in the Mill Hotel, in Colchester.