Norwich restaurant put up for sale

The Library Restaurant, based at Guildhall Hill, Norwich, has been put up for sale as founders Jayne and Nigel Raffles look to leave the industry to pursue other opportunities.

It will remain fully operational until a buyer has been found to replace the Raffles.

The couple are leaving the restaurant business after 27 years of running a number of venues across the city, including St Benedict’s Grill which opened in 1991, Pinocchio’s on St Benedict’s Street, and Pulse vegetarian café bar.

Mrs Raffles said: “While the restaurants have given us many opportunities and cherished customers, it’s now time we explored the next chapters in our careers.”

Located in Norwich’s former subscription library dating back to 1886, the restaurant space still stars wooden floors, marble tables and walls lined with tall bookcases. It seats 85 customers in its main dining area and a total of 150 diners throughout, and features a bar in the original reading room, two cellars and function rooms each, a courtyard, and a balcony in its mezzanine level.

Mr Raffles, who is also The Library’s current head chef, has trained his current staff personally, and has worked alongside City College Norwich’s catering school to recruit new members.

“We hope the [restaurant] will remain a focal point of the city and continue to be somewhere the public can enjoy as part of its rich history, which is so important to preserve for future generations,” said Mrs Raffles, who is sad to leave the business until a new owner is found.

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