Former restaurant The Outsider ready to go in Captains Flat

No one is more surprised than Christine Simpson that a restaurant she set up in her house would become such a commercial success.

The odds were stacked against the eatery becoming a favourite with Canberra foodies: it was 50km from the city, open only on weekends and without a chef at the stoves.

But Simpson’s restaurant Outsider, which she ran for 16 years with partner Guthner Deix, was booked out almost every weekend by Canberra diners happy to make the trek to Captains Flat to enjoy live jazz and blues and the couple’s rustic home cooking.

“We must have been doing something right for diners to want to leave all the restaurant options they have in Canberra and make the 100km round trip to Captains Flat,” Simpson says.

“It really caught us by surprise and we weren’t prepared for how busy the restaurant would become.”

Last year, Simpson and Deix hung up their aprons and pots to enjoy retirement, putting the renovated mixed-use site on the market.

The 55-seat dining area and commercial kitchen remains intact so a new owner could reopen the restaurant, run it as a gallery, or live in the comfortable four-bedroom home.

The 100-year-old property is a former pool hall and Christine says an astute buyer could turn it back into a successful restaurant or a cafe.

“It’s about having the right mix of skills. They would benefit from having business experience, being able to cater for large groups and run it themselves to keep down labour costs.”

Selling agent Ben Stevenson of Estate Realty, Palerang says the property has attracted interest from potential buyers in Canberra.

“I think the appeal is that it can be open again as a lifestyle option,” Stevenson says.

“Christine and Guthner ran it as a very profitable business and only opened it two days a week for 16 years so it gave them the earnings and lifestyle they wanted.

“That makes it an attractive option for a buyer who wants the best of both worlds: a home, a business and a lifestyle.”

The renovated building is in the main street of Captains Flat and has established gardens and grounds. It is set up for all types of functions and has full amenities and street frontage.

The property is on the market for $670,000 with infrastructure included in the price.