Christie + Co brokers high profile restaurant sale in Glasgow

27th August 2008, 10:16am

Prominent Indian restaurateur, Balbir Singh Sumal, has acquired his fourth restaurant with the purchase of Urban Grill in Shawlands, Glasgow, from local multiple operator, Alan Tomkins, in a deal brokered by Jonathan Clough of the Glasgow office of restaurant agents, Christie + Co.

Balbir opened his first restaurant, the Ashoka, in Argyle Street in 1973, which he later sold to one of his waiters, a certain Charan Gill who went on to establish the Harlequin Restaurant Group and credits Balbir as being his mentor.

Balbir currently owns Balbir's @ Route 77 in Ayrshire, Balbir's on Church Street in Glasgow's West End as well as the former Karisma Restaurant on Sauchiehall Street, which he purchased earlier this year and will shortly open as the Tiffin Rooms by Balbir, following refurbishment.

The Urban Grill, which is prominently positioned on Kilmarnock Road, was established in 2005 by Alan Tomkins, the former chairman of the Glasgow Restaurateurs' Association, who owns a number of restaurants and bars in Glasgow including Gamba, Urban Bar & Brasserie, Manna and Vroni's.

Urban Grill had been designed and fitted to an extremely high standard and provided a comfortable 120 covers in the restaurant and 60 in the bar. Due to the high quality fit-out, Balbir is hoping for a quick turnaround and to be up and running within the next week or two.

Jonathan Clough of Christie + Co comments: "I am delighted to have handled this high profile sale between two of Glasgow's most prominent restaurateurs. This is actually the third restaurant we have sold to Balbir, having also handled the sale of his Ayrshire restaurant and Karisma Restaurant.

I am pleased to have brokered the sale of this fantastic site on behalf of Alan Tomkins to Balbir Singh Sumal, who I believe will be a huge success in Shawlands."

The Urban Grill was sold for an undisclosed figure after Christie + Co sought offers in excess of £275,000 for the leasehold interest.