The hospitality sector in Birmingham is facing rising costs and shifting consumer habits, making it difficult for new venues to succeed. Despite this, Willow, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, is set to open in Mere Green, following successful locations in Trentham and Telford.
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00:00Willow Mere Green will be opening in late February after successes in Trentham and Telford.
00:05We're excited to open our new venture here.
00:09The team behind Willow say their aim is to bring a relaxed yet vibrant Mediterranean
00:13feel to Sutton Coldfield with an all-day menu and regular live music events.
00:18But in a climate where many independent restaurants are struggling, the question remains, what
00:23does it take to not only survive but thrive?
00:27So we are offering an all-day dining experience starting at 8.30 in the morning with our piccolo
00:33menu and our brunch and breakfast menu, moving into our lunch menu and our la carte menu
00:37from 12 o'clock.
00:39Really kind of diverse menu, kind of hicking it via the Mediterranean kind of style.
00:47We're also a dog-friendly venue and we will be kind of perfect for kind of date nights,
00:53anniversaries, birthday celebrations, kind of anything you can think of will cater forth.
00:58Birmingham's hospitality industry is at a crossroads.
01:01The sector generates billions for the local economy, but rising costs, staffing shortages
01:06and shifting consumer habits are putting pressure on venues, with even well-established restaurants
01:12struggling to stay afloat.
01:14Despite this, suburban dining spots are on the rise as operators look beyond to the city
01:19centre for new opportunities.
01:21So in an increasingly challenging market, what does it take for new venues to succeed?
01:28I think more than anything it's the offer.
01:32We've got a fantastic offer that the people in Trentham and the people in Telford have
01:35really loved and that's why, as well as that, we've got really kind of high service standards
01:42and we hold ourselves and the rest of our team really kind of accountable for delivering
01:49those standards, which hopefully the guests that arrive, the guests that come and see
01:54us will experience themselves.