Airdate: Restaurant Man

Next month SBS premieres UK series, Restaurant Man.

The 6 part series sees restaurateur Russell Norman help new businesses in the crucial early months.

Episode One: The Bell Inn
Who wouldn’t dream of owning a Cotswold pub? Dave and Debbie, who have been in a relationship for barely a year, are sinking all of their savings into a rundown boozer in Gloucestershire. It’s either the admirable pursuit of a dream or a roller-coaster ride of blind faith over sanity. With pubs closing at the rate of 26 per week, the latter seems more likely. Russell Norman comes to the rescue with some badly needed no-nonsense advice about this most perilous of restaurant incarnations, the gastro pub. Alarm bells ring when Dave, who is trying to run several businesses in addition to his farm, and Debbie, who has a high-powered management job, think they can run the pub in their “spare” time. The couple’s ambitious “farm to plate” concept and expensive venison steaks could price the locals off the menu – and that’s if they can turn out any food whatsoever with a major building schedule to manage. As the all-important opening night fast approaches, the menu, service and staffing seem to be an afterthought, and the temperature in the kitchen is at boiling point.

Thursday, 3 December at 8.30pm on SBS.