Brimble's Bistro pledges to buy local
THE owners of a new bistro who defied the odds by opening during the recession pledge to help nearby businesses by buying produce locally.
Brimble's Bistro has opened in Princes Avenue in west Hull, breathing new life into a building that had been empty for 20 years.
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Brimble's Bistro manager Nathan Greenfield, owners Alison Tansey and Dean Webster, with local suppliers butcher Trevor Norman, florist Rob Knowles and Lesley Longworth of the Off License Picture.
Entrepreneurs Dean Webster and his business partner Alison Tansey invested £500,000 into renovating the property and launching the business, which, after just five weeks of trading has now been hailed a success.
To do their bit for their neighbours, the pair have decided to only buy their supplies from businesses in the same street.
Three of their main suppliers are located within 20 yards of the bistro.
The meat is purchased from Butcher Trevor Norman, fresh flowers are from Hollyhocks, alcohol is from The Off License and photographs are by local photographer Kevin Greene.
Dean said: "I live in the Avenues and by investing in local businesses Brimble's can help retain the diversity of shops for which Princes Avenue has built an excellent and well-deserved reputation.
"Attracting customers while buying produce based on price alone was never part of our business strategy, quality had to come first and exceptional quality can be found right on our doorstep. Every business and every local resident benefits from the sheer variety of shops on Princes Avenue and we want to help keep it that way.
"It is not just a good idea for the environment that we can walk to collect key supplies, but it really helps to develop a community spirit among the traders.
"That community spirit benefits every customer in Princes Avenue."
Dean said he was not worried about launching a new venture during the recession and was determined to make it a success.
He said: "If you do something right people will support it, whatever the climate.
"I believe there are five key ingredients to making this a success, these are the quality of ingredients, excellent service, surroundings, value for money and variety.
"We are investing our hard-earned cash and we would not do that if we did not believe we could make it work."
"One of the thrilling things is that people are coming to Brimble's at different times of the day and are already coming to us from further afield.
"We benefit from having a bus stop almost directly outside and are seeing people in the morning for coffee and breakfast and again in the evening for a three-course meal."
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by Gooders, West Hull
Monday, January 25 2010, 8:41PM
“Goodness me - so many cynics. Of course the wine hasn't been produced locally but its a local shop and (still) exists in an area close to where people live. They could use Tescos and save a few bob but if we all do this the local shop will close down and then we'll all have to shop at bl**din' Tescos. Similarly with the butcher although I'll bet a fair proportion of the meat he supplies is from Yorkshire farms (no-ones bothered to check though before they start sounding off about New Zealand and Danish Bacon have they?).
Good luck with the venture. There's a severe shortage of quality eating places in Hull so anything that tries to improve matters is to be applauded. You'll probably need luck with this amount of mealy-mouthed whining going on. Shame its so typical of Hull. (that Adam Pearson - what a fool - what's he want to come back to hull for? .... and so on....... yawn)”
by simon bailey, hull
Saturday, January 23 2010, 11:11PM
“In response to the idiot commenting on the butchers TL NORMAN we have been eating meat from there for nearly 20 years and it is absolutely fantastic, whilst not as cheap as the water filled rubbish from the supermarket the quality is second to none. As anyone knows lamb is not a cheap meat and the chop from a lamb is small because a lamb is small. Bigger animal i.e pig = bigger chop = more meat ! its not rocket science. The fact that this local butcher is still going strong in a time when nearly all butchers have fallen victim to the supermarkets is testament to the quality and value that this hub of the community provides.”
by me, hull
Wednesday, January 20 2010, 10:35PM
“spent half a million quid on WHAT some lights from ikea for £9.99 oh there is a lot i thing the deep cost that think your calculator is knackered don't think i'll use the place thinking of the bill unless your just putting recepts in for next years tax bill.....”
by Andy, Beyond the Humber Bridge
Wednesday, January 20 2010, 4:42AM
“Man in Ghana, why on earth would you have a holiday in Hull!
The only reason to come back to Hull is to remind yourself of why you left in the first place.”
by Oz Clarke, In the cellar
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 7:39PM
“wine direct form the vineyard's off Duesberry Street ?”
by Glenroy, Hull
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 4:22PM
“I think it could be called "Community Shopping" and think it could catch on,and will stop our money going out of town .Well done and good luck.”
by Man in Ghana, Ghana
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 3:33PM
“Oh, so many cynics. Of course the wine's not from Princes Ave, and so what if the lamb is New Zealand, at least they're supporting the local traders. Why is Hull so full of whinging people? Good luck and I'll be there in September when I'm back in Hull for a holiday.”
by Phil, Hull
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 3:07PM
“Good luck to this restaurant, we sure need decent places in Hull. But, as a previous letter has a;ready stated, the wines may be bought from next door, but probably produced from all round the world, and the eat from the butchers, is it English lamb, or from New Zealand. Minor points, but if your going to publicise your restaurant on the pledge of buying local, it would be better if the prdoce was not only bought locally, but british too.”
by local, to the area
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 11:23AM
“Good luck to these peopel ans its great to see an empty shop brought back into life in this way.
They say the alchol is bought from the off license next door? Are they selling it at three bottle of wine for ten pounds in the bistro? If so book me a table for tonight. I dont mind paying a fiver a bottle for house red so they is still a profit to be made. But good luck to them.”
by Jane, Princes Avenue
Tuesday, January 19 2010, 11:12AM
“This all sounds very jolly but you don't always get the best if you shop 'lercal'. I went to Trevor Norman's once, bought some lamb chops which were ridiculously overpriced, and when I got them home they were virtually bones, no meat on em. I obviously wasn't one of their 'lercal' customers. The place has a definite feel of League of Gentlemen about it. I wonder if they do the 'special stuff'...anyway suffice to say I never went back.”