Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Salt Bar

Episode 3 of 6

Restaurateur Russell Norman helps newcomers to the trade. Debbie in Macclesfield sinks her nest egg into a Swedish restaurant, but she does not have a head for figures.

Is basing a restaurant on your favourite holiday destination a sound business decision? Fifty-year-old Debbie thinks so. She loves Sweden and its food and thinks everyone else in Macclesfield will as well. So, she has sunk her retirement nest egg into a property and hired a chef off the internet. But will the locals prefer chips and curry to meatballs and rollmops?

Soho's new star restaurateur Russell Norman is forced to give Debbie a reality check. He is adamant that she needs to stop treating her restaurant like a hobby and start thinking like a professional - and that means facing some harsh financial facts. Russell is shocked to find out that Debbie has no head for figures at all and would rather run a mile than tackle a spreadsheet.

After seriously underestimating how many staff she will need, Debbie ends up hiring eight people instead of just the one. Russell is afraid she will lose money hand over fist from the beginning. As launch night looms, Debbie is running out of money and has not even thought about her service. On top of which, Russell realises she has done no marketing - if she opens, will anyone actually turn up?

1 hour

Clip

Credits

Role Contributor
Participant Russell Norman
Series Producer Francis Baker
Producer Harry Beney
Director Harry Beney

Broadcasts

Recipes from The Restaurant Man

Try some of the recipes featured in the programme