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Riverlights rethink is needed in the wake of restaurant's departure ; BUSINESS: 'Isolated location' blamed for failure of Jimmy's World Grill and Bar [Derby Evening Telegraph (England)]
[October 22, 2014]

Riverlights rethink is needed in the wake of restaurant's departure ; BUSINESS: 'Isolated location' blamed for failure of Jimmy's World Grill and Bar [Derby Evening Telegraph (England)]


(Derby Evening Telegraph (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) A BUSINESS leader has said that competition from other eateries and an "isolated" location in Derby city centre could have been contributing factors to the demise of a Pounds 1.5 million restaurant. As reported in the Derby Telegraph last week, Jimmy's World Grill and Bar, at the city's Riverlights development, has closed down. The 400-seater eaterie had only been open since February 2012.



John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, a public/ private sector organisation set up to promote Derby as a place to invest, said that more needed to be done to attract footfall to Riverlights. He said: "It was always going to be difficult for an isolated unit to survive at Riverlights, as the quality of competition in Derby's food and drink sector is getting better each year. "To work, the scheme needs the adjacent site developing and a cluster of good quality food and drink operators that can take full advantage of its riverside location." Jimmy's had spent around Pounds 1.5 million fitting out two ground-floor units to create the restaurant, which offered an all- you-can-eat, multicuisine concept, selling a range of international dishes, including Italian, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese and Indian food.

It served more than 100 dishes including pizza, pasta, stir fry, sushi and grilled chicken - with customers given the option of choosing dishes on display or having ingredients cooked fresh by its team of 15 chefs in front of them.


At the time, the business said that the outlet had created 70 jobs.

Last year, Riverlights was put up for sale with a price tag of Pounds 23 million.

It came after the scheme's owner, Derby Riverlights Developments, was placed into administration, forcing a sale of the building to realise some value for creditors.

The closure of Jimmy's has come at a time when Derby's restaurant scene appears to be thriving.

Over the past few years, a number of new restaurants have opened in the city centre - with Friar Gate in particular establishing itself as Derby's unofficial "restaurant quarter".

The latest major name to arrive in Derby is Las Iguanas, in Friar Gate, which has created 40 jobs.

The 200-cover eatery, which specialises in Latin American cuisine, chose Derby as the location for its 37th restaurant.

The quality of eateries in the city also appears to be on the rise.

Last month, Iberico World Tapas, in Bold Lane, earned itself a mention in the prestigious Michelin Guide - despite being open for less than a year.

The independent restaurant was awarded a Bib Gourmand by the guide, which lists the best places to eat in the UK and Ireland.

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