Franchising details
Why Ready-to-Trade Changes the Economics
Most hospitality franchises take 9 to 18 months from signing to opening day. Site search, lease negotiation, planning, fit-out, licensing, recruitment and each stage carries cost, risk and delay.
The Chester opportunity removes all of it.
The site at 40 Watergate Street is already secured, operational, ready to trade to Champagne+Fromage specification and licensed.
The kitchen, bar, furniture, glassware, signage and POS are in place. Supplier accounts are open. The opening playbook is built.
A new franchisee signs the agreement and begins trading within 6 to 8 weeks. Capital that would normally fund 12 months of pre-opening expense instead funds working capital, launch marketing and the franchisee’s own income from month one.
This is the only ready-to-trade Champagne+Fromage opportunity in the UK.
Champagne+Fromage is a premium French wine bar concept built around a simple but powerful idea: pairing grower Champagne with artisan cheese, charcuterie and regional French dishes to create a relaxed, everyday experience.
The concept repositions Champagne away from special occasions and into accessible, repeatable moments, after work, weekend lunches, informal gatherings and celebrations. This approach significantly broadens the customer base compared to traditional Champagne venues and creates a strong foundation for consistent trading.
Each venue combines a curated Champagne list sourced directly from independent grower-producers with a high-quality food offering that includes cheese boards, charcuterie, tartines and regional French classics such as raclette, fondue, baked Camembert and tartiflette. Our distinctive Champagne Afternoon Tea — a French twist on a British classic, pairing grower Champagne with artisan cheese, charcuterie and patisserie — opens up an additional daypart and attracts a broader customer base. The overall experience is designed to be both premium and approachable, supported by knowledgeable service and a strong emphasis on storytelling.
Why Chester, why now
Chester is one of the UK’s most affluent heritage cities, with a year-round mix of local trade, business clientele and tourism. The 40 Watergate Street site sits in the historic centre, fully fitted to Champagne+Fromage specification and immediately operational. A new franchisee inherits a working venue, not a building project: the lease, fit-out and licensing are already in place.
The business model is deliberately simple and efficient. Operations do not require a full commercial kitchen or a chef-led structure, which reduces staffing requirements, lowers fit-out costs and improves operational consistency. This allows franchisees to focus on customer experience, revenue generation and local engagement rather than complex kitchen operations.
Revenue is generated across multiple streams, including dine-in service, retail sales, takeaway, private events, tastings and masterclasses. Events and private hire play an important role in driving additional revenue and increasing profitability.
A key advantage of the opportunity is the immediate availability of an operational, ready to trade, site in Chester. This allows a new franchisee to open within a short timeframe, avoiding the typical delays and risks associated with property search, lease negotiation and build-out. The location sits in an affluent heritage and tourism market with a strong combination of local trade and visitor footfall, the type of mix that gives a venue resilience across the week and across the seasons.
Champagne+Fromage is a founder-led business. Franchise partners work directly with the founders throughout the process, from initial setup through to ongoing operations. The focus is on building strong, sustainable businesses with long-term growth potential.
What’s already in place at 40 Watergate Street:
- Lease secured and operational
- Full fit-out completed to brand specification
- Bar, kitchen and dining area furnished and equipped
- Premises and alcohol licensing in place
- Supplier accounts ready to activate
- Operating playbook and SOPs delivered
- Founder-led training scheduled
- Launch marketing plan ready to execute
What you bring:
- Working capital and franchise fee
- Floor presence and local knowledge
- Energy
Franchise costs and details
Training and support
Champagne+Fromage provides a structured and hands-on onboarding programme designed to ensure that each franchise partner is fully prepared to operate the business from day one.
Training begins prior to opening and includes immersive experience within our Covent Garden flagship venue. Franchisees learn all aspects of the operation, including service standards, product knowledge, customer experience, and daily business management. Particular emphasis is placed on Champagne knowledge, food pairing, upselling techniques and creating a consistent guest experience.
Support is provided directly by the founders, ensuring that training is practical, relevant and aligned with real operational experience. This includes guidance on pricing, supplier management, staffing structure and cost control.
Franchisees are supported throughout the pre-opening phase, including assistance with site preparation, supplier onboarding, stock ordering, recruitment and launch planning. A structured opening plan ensures that all key elements are in place before trading begins. A member of the founder and senior operations team is on site through the opening period, we do not hand over the keys and walk away.
Marketing support is provided to help generate awareness and build momentum before and after launch. This includes guidance on social media, local partnerships and event programming. Events and private hire are a core part of the model, and franchisees receive practical support in developing and executing an events strategy, including pricing, marketing templates and operational playbooks.
Ongoing support continues after opening, with regular performance reviews and financial monitoring. Key metrics such as gross margin, labour costs and sales performance are tracked to ensure the business remains on target. Adjustments and improvements are made proactively based on real data.
Franchisees also benefit from access to established supplier relationships built over more than a decade, ensuring consistent product quality and pricing.
The support model is designed to be collaborative and responsive, with direct communication between franchisees and the founders at all stages of the business.
Case studies
“What stands out about Champagne+Fromage is the level of direct support from the founders. The concept is clearly defined, and there is a strong focus on helping partners understand how to operate it properly. That hands-on guidance and clarity make a real difference when building a hospitality business.”
“The model combines a premium customer experience with a straightforward operational structure. The mix of Champagne, food and events creates multiple revenue streams, and the emphasis on consistency and margin discipline gives confidence in the long-term sustainability of the business.”
