Fraser Bond, London’s trusted property advisory and real estate consultancy, presents this specialist guide for buyers, landlords, restaurateurs, and investors considering leasing or letting restaurant premises in Covent Garden, West End, London. This area remains highly desirable for food & beverage operators due to footfall, heritage, and premium positioning.
Covent Garden is a cultural and tourist hub, anchored by theatres, historic market buildings, shopping, and high pedestrian traffic. This drives high demand for restaurant leases.
The area benefits from strong transport links (Covent Garden tube, Leicester Square, Charing Cross), making accessibility for staff and customers easier.
Properties here often feature character facades, external amenity potential (e.g. pavement seating) and visibility, all of which contribute to premium brand positioning.
Here are some recent listings and market data for restaurant / Class E units in Covent Garden:
| Location / Unit | Size Approx. | Indicative Rent / Terms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covent Garden prime ground & basement restaurant spaces | ~600‑900 sq ft | POA ‑ high rents per sq ft due to footfall and prestige | Fully fitted units desirable; units marketed by PropList, CDG Leisure etc. |
| Bedford Street, WC2 | ~669 sq ft ground + basement | £60,000 pa | Fully fitted restaurant already available in heart of Covent Garden. |
| High frontage retail / restaurant space | From ~1,000 sq ft | Rent on application | Many units listed by Savills and CBRE as retail / restaurant capable. |
Rents in Covent Garden for restaurant/retail‑restaurant units tend to be at the premium end of the market, often significantly above average West End rents. Service charges, business rates, and operational costs are also elevated.
Availability is limited; many spaces are already under offer or "POA" (Price on Application), reflecting demand and landlord control.
Operating a restaurant in Covent Garden has many benefits—but there are important practical and legal considerations:
Planning and Use Class Permissions
Ensure use‑class permits allow for food and beverage operations, late licenses, and external seating if needed. Covent Garden is tightly regulated.
Fit‑Out & Infrastructure Costs
Basements and ground floors may require extraction systems, grease traps, ventilation, soundproofing—all costly but essential to regulatory compliance. Fraser Bond can assist in estimating fit‑out costs.
Lease Terms & Rent Reviews
Long leases are preferred. Landlords often include break clauses, rolling rent reviews (upwards), and high service charges. Negotiation on terms is vital.
Business Rates & Operating Costs
Rates in Covent Garden are among the highest in London’s West End. Include energy, staffing, insurance, catering of waste, health & safety compliance, and marketing costs.
Brand Fit & Market Positioning
Covent Garden leases premium real estate. The concept needs to align with customer expectations around quality, atmosphere, menu price point, and service style.
At FraserBond.com, our services for prospective tenants and landlords in the Covent Garden restaurant market include:
Identifying available restaurant‑capable units that match size, frontage, and configuration requirements
Assessing lease proposals, negotiating favourable terms, and reviewing rent, break options, and service charges
Advising on operational compliance, planning permissions, and fit‑out estimation
Providing comparable rental rate data, location insight (streets, footfall, competitor mix), and investment returns projections
