Coffee shop sale stirs up some interest

AN Edinburgh coffee shop has been sold in an off-market deal.

The Metropole Coffee House on Newington Road, which was on the market for offers over 135,000, has been sold to the Circle Cafe, which already has an outlet at Brandon Terrace in Canonmills, for an undisclosed fee.

Barry McNeil, associate director at Christie & Co, which handled the sale, said: "Our ability to organise an off-market deal in today's tough market and trading environment shows the market for all types of good-quality businesses, especially in Edinburgh city centre, is still very strong.

"The trading outlook for Edinburgh-based businesses, whether they are coffee shops, restaurants, public houses, hotels or even retail units, looks very positive as we head into 2011 and we are sure there are many more similar deals to be done."