Success possible if your product is good and well-priced

Aug 6 2008 by Haydon Wood, Liverpool Daily Post

LAST summer, the economy was in good shape and it seemed an ideal time for Suhail Rahman to open a new up-market Indian restaurant in Liverpool.

One year on, despite the economic downturn, Mr Rahman, who is the joint owner of Mayur, in Duke Street, has no regrets and insists business is good.

He said: “It's a year since we opened Mayur. We were sensitive to news around the r-word, and the credit crunch, especially in the light of planning a five-star restaurant, but we were unperturbed.

“Our research into the habits of people eating out in Liverpool showed that there was an increasing propensity to eat out, almost like it was no longer a treat and more of a convenience.

“This has been proved correct and, if your product is good and well-priced, you will reap the benefits as we have.

“Despite focusing on an audience that is distinctly corporate, our guests are drawn from a wide range of target markets including families and discerning guests who eat out regularly. Our week trade continues to grow, and our weekend business is outperforming our expectations.”