onepoint2

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS You make your own luck, they say. We are firm believers in that. And one of our most consistent practices is the detective work which underpins a slogan of ‘opportunities unlocked’. A story from last week, a familiar chain of events to us, illustrates that. 1. News broke of a restaurant group shuttering some sites 2. We did some digging and located the landlord of one of them (don’t ask how, it’s our secret sauce…) 3. Made an approach to ask about their plans for the space Then…nothing. So we followed up. The response was instant: ‘Please give me a call - number below’. We called. ‘I’m so glad you followed up as I had meant to reply to your first message. I really liked that you found us and asked the question. I can’t discuss the site that you have enquired about, but we own substantial amounts of property, and there are always opportunities. Let’s meet for a coffee and discuss’ The conclusion was to reinforce what we already believed: - Follow up, it might be the 1st, 4th or 11th message which finally yields the response you were seeking. - Be curious, ask the question, knock on the doors. You never know how big the opportunity could be behind them. To grow your hospitality or leisure business into new locations might require some creative site-finding, so let us know which are your ‘opportunities un-knocked’. Let’s see if we can turn them into opportunities unlocked. #property #deals #london #leisure #onepoint2 #opportunitiesunlocked

ONE OF A KIND We’re pretty lucky to operate in London, a city where there is really something for everyone. But it’s truly rare to have the opportunity to try the ONLY spot in the city serving food from a particular country. Yet that was the pleasure that the onepoint2 team had when checking out Kaneda Pen’s concept Mamapen in Soho for our monthly team lunch. London’s only Cambodian restaurant - currently resident in legendary pub, The Sun & 13 Cantons, was a a triumph of delicious and unique food, and the meal really got us thinking about their journey and what other operators looking to break into the F&B scene in London can learn. Here are our takeaways: - Being a niche brand in as large a market as London can still be a winning strategy. Such a diverse, multicultural and foodie city means that even a Cambodian restaurant has a market: Jessie McAllister chose it because of her great memories of travelling through Cambodia, and the similarities with elements of other South East Asian cuisines makes the menu approachable. At the price point and style of service, we could see how Mamapen could compete in a category with Rosa’s Thai - Try before you buy: The value of ‘popping up’ with a residency to prove a concept before jumping into a permanent site can be key to refining the offering. The Sun & 13 Cantons is an iconic spot, with a strong track record of pop-ups going on to open their own restaurants. Past residents include Darjeeling Express (Asma Khan), Tendril (Rishim Sachdeva) and Sambal Shiok (Mandy Yin), all of whom made the leap to permanent sites. If you’re thinking about bringing a concept to life, but think it might be a bit too niche, our advice is: go for it, quality always shines through, but perhaps the low-risk pop-up model is a great place to start. When you’re ready to talk strategy, you know where to find us…nestled in the corner of Mamapen…

Even snowmen know when to take a break… They just stand there, chilling out, staying cool and, somehow, it works. So we wish you a restful break, take some time to recharge and chill out. Let’s all be more snowman… See you in January. Happy Holidays. #property #leisure #hospitality #opportunitiesunlocked #onepoint2

NEXT ON STAGE: ARTUSI As the weather turns, so did our taste buds and a warming bit of Italian food was the latest spot to try out for our monthly team lunch. The two South London devotees of Artusi’s Peckham outlet (Leo Marmion and Jessie McAllister) thought it would be wise to check out their new Soho spot, housed upstairs as part of the Underbelly Boulevard Theatre. Talking of bellies (come on, the segway works), the menu had ours rumbling.   Jessie McAllister speaks for us all in describing the burrata as “a bit of me!”. Leo Marmion was wowed by the arancini, his standout dish. Adam Bowers doesn’t miss a chance to order ragu, so the duck tagliatelle ragu was his winner. Obviously, none of those things were photographed, so here is a portrait of a squash, which was also lovely.   Whilst the food hit the mark, we did find the environment totally different aesthetically, and in atmosphere, to the beloved Peckham location. The ambience of a restaurant within the theatre bar / holding area had us all a little bit stumped. And because we wouldn’t want this post to simply be about us bragging about eating another lovely meal – there is an actual message. The message here, for operators thinking of partnering with a theatre, or hotel, or housing their restaurant within ‘someone else’s space’, is to make sure the partnership works. That the fit between the brand, décor and vibe of the space matches the identity of the restaurant. Often, opportunities will arise for operators to take space as part of a more extensive operation, in exchange for a concessionary deal on a fitted space. But it’s important to make sure that there is alignment between all parties. In terms of the onepoint2 party, we were all aligned: excellent food finds a way to shine through. But if you want to talk further about the opportunities to position your hospitality concept within a multi-purpose destination, you can meet us for some burrata and arancini above the Underbelly. #property #leisure #hospitality #opportunitiesunlocked #onepoint2

If you’re planning to take a lease in 2025, there are many ways to structure it. For our thoughts on how you might do it, check out the latest blog post on covenant strength 👇 https://lnkd.in/ecde3CxZ #property #leisure #hospitality #opportunitiesunlocked #onepoint2

I USED AI TO ORIGINATE THIS POST Sorta. I wanted to talk about onepoint2, in the context of how people perceive Estate Agents. But when I went to write about what I thought people’s perception of agents were, none of it was LinkedIn appropriate. Thankfully, the AI-generated search response below assisted me. Not much of what our trusty AI amigo says will be a surprise, but it is central to our approach at onepoint2. We basically go out of our way to be at the other end of the spectrum. Doing (or not doing) those things can sometimes come at the expense of a deal: there have certainly been occasions where our advice to clients was not to increase their offer because we didn’t think the site was worth it. Even though we knew that they would if we advised them to. Because it’s more important to us that we stand behind the advice that we deliver, that we have integrity, and that we prioritise building a sustainable estate for our clients over the long term. Dishonesty, or aggressive sales tactics might seal one deal, but its unlikely that we’ll do more - either because the impact of overpaying could be commercially ruinous, or because, let’s be honest, the hospitality sector is a small & collaborative world - and word of a bad deal can spread. And as for being Unnecessary middlemen in a market being dominated by tech. Maybe. But when was the last time ChatGPT delivered an off-market deal on a discreet Central London restaurant site? Exactly... #property #leisure #hospitality #opportunitiesunlocked #onepoint2

Our role? Simple. We’re the matchmakers of the real estate world. We find the site, introduce it, suggest terms to make it irresistible, and then seal the deal. Like speed dating, but with fewer awkward pauses and a bit more paperwork. #property #leisure #hospitality #opportunitiesunlocked #onepoint2

An incredible Team Lunch - Santiago Lastra’s Fonda on Heddon Street. The experience was fresh, exciting, and full of flavor 🌮

A PLACE WE’RE PRETTY FONDA You know the drill, first Weds of the month means reflecting on last week’s end of month team lunch. And while we get around, eating our fair share of fancy food, even we haven’t yet braved the Michelin-level intricacies of KOL, by Santiago Lastra. So, when we heard of his slightly more accessible operation, FONDA, opening on Heddon Street, we weren’t hanging around before trying it. But what did we think? Let’s start with the décor and feel – Jessie McAllister loved the authenticity of the fit-out, the ‘almost immersive aspect of the restaurant’, handmade salsa pots in a custom display stand, the in-depth descriptions from the waiting staff, and the traditional open comal pan used to cook the tortillas! Leo Marmion risked insulting the staff by describing one of his favourite dishes, an Oaxaca cheese and black truffle quesadilla, as ‘a crunchy carbonara’. She didn’t really take it as a compliment, but it was pretty much the highest level of praise that Leo could think to bestow... Adam Bowers is still raving about the Costra comal: basically a steak & cheese taco to his uncultured palate, but all of this as a façade, as he pretends that his favourite thing was something other than subtle people-watching, spotting some of FONDA’s competitors in the London scene, dining in the restaurant and slyly snapping photos of the operation. All-in-all, a pretty strong late entry to London’s New Restaurant of the Year. #property #leisure #hospitality #opportunitiesunlocked #onepoint2

Broken Duck No, that isn’t the name of an item on the menu of our delectable lunch yesterday. But if anyone could make it into a droolworthy dish, it’s probably the legend that is Claude Bosi, owner of Josephine Bouchon on Fulham Road, where we revelled in their classic French hospitality. I know what you’re all thinking. ‘You lot, having another fancy meal. And wine at a casual weekday lunch?!’ This was slightly different. It was our very own Leo Marmion's birthday. It was also an opportunity to toast his first 6 months with onepoint2, which culminated in the completion of his first acquisition at the company yesterday. The Title makes more sense now, eh? Quite a week for Leo! You’ll hear more about the deal in good time, but suffice to say it’s a belter, an awesome brand taking their first bricks & mortar location, a corner site on Soho’s premier street. Not a bad way to start... As agents, it can be hard to truly enjoy the process of doing a property deal. They often take so long, and are so precarious, that a constant state of paranoia prepares you for them to fall apart at any moment. By the time they’re actually done, we’re often looking into the distance at the next one. So it’s important to grasp that fleeting moment in between, to celebrate a job well done. And we know no better way to celebrate than with food - in all of its buttery, potato-strewn, pastry-laden beauty. #property #leisure #hospitality #opportunitiesunlocked #onepoint2