Gold Creek's iconic The Green Herring up for sale

An iconic local restaurant business is for sale that offers new owners the opportunity to be part of an ongoing story that began nearly 160 years ago

The Green Herring Restaurant is located in the historic Ginninderra Village in Gungahlin near the popular Cockington Green and the George Harcourt Inn.

It’s housed in one of Canberra’s oldest buildings; a 150-year old slab hut that was raised in 1860 in the small NSW town of Bookham (in the Yass valley shire).

The building was transported to Canberra in 1970 and has been The Green Herring Restaurant for some 30 years.

Slab huts were built by the first European settlers in Australia with timber that provided the barest of comfort or protection from the elements.

The Green Herring Restaurant still maintains its original construction materials, but has been refurbished internally to hospitality venue standards.

Gordon Scott of Scott Property Consultants says the business-only is being offered for sale for $245,000 on a WIWO basis. New owners could take over an existing lease or terms could be negotiated with the property owner, according to the agent.

“This is a great opportunity for an experienced hospitality operator to transition into a business with an established clientele in an unbeatable location with high visitor traffic,” he says.

“The Green Herring is somewhat of an institution in the Canberra restaurant scene and has always enjoyed solid patronage.”

Scott says trading figures would be discussed with potential buyers along with existing 2018 dining and function bookings.

“There’s a further upside for new operators – whether that be a young chef, a business couple or an investor – in that trading hours could be extended beyond the current operating structure,” he said.

“The restaurant is currently open five nights per week and two lunches. That could easily be increased to, say, six and four – or whatever.”

The restaurant is currently certified to hold 64 and comprises a dining area, kitchen, restrooms, storeroom and an al fresco option.

“People love the Australiana feel of the building. It’s the heritage that draws them in as much as the highly awarded cuisine,” Scott says.

The Green Herring offers a fresh take on traditional menu dishes that includes pork belly with sage gnocchi, barramundi with smoked salmon wontons and classic beef eye with pickled walnut salsa verde.

“If the new owners love creating fine food experiences and enjoy people, they will find a welcoming new home at The Green Herring,” Scott says.

NICHOLLS

O’HANLON PLACE (THE GREEN HERRING)

PRICE GUIDE: $245,000 WIWO

AGENT: Gordon Scott, Scott Property Consultants, 0413 994 505

INSPECT: Contact agent