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The Restaurant Man

Russell Norman

Francis Baker

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The Restaurant Man: Episode 3: Salt Bar

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Factual: Food & Drink

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Episode 3

Episode 3: Salt Bar

Salt Bar

BBC Two - The Restaurant Man, Salt Bar

Debbie in Macclesfield sinks her retirement nest egg into a Swedish restaurant.

Restaurateur Russell Norman helps newcomers to the trade. Debbie in Macclesfield sinks her nest egg into a Swedish restaurant, but she does not have a head for figures.

Is basing a restaurant on your favourite holiday destination a sound business decision? Fifty-year-old Debbie thinks so. She loves Sweden and its food and thinks everyone else in Macclesfield will as well. So, she has sunk her retirement nest egg into a property and hired a chef off the internet. But will the locals prefer chips and curry to meatballs and rollmops?

Soho's new star restaurateur Russell Norman is forced to give Debbie a reality check. He is adamant that she needs to stop treating her restaurant like a hobby and start thinking like a professional - and that means facing some harsh financial facts. Russell is shocked to find out that Debbie has no head for figures at all and would rather run a mile than tackle a spreadsheet. 

After seriously underestimating how many staff she will need, Debbie ends up hiring eight people instead of just the one. Russell is afraid she will lose money hand over fist from the beginning. As launch night looms, Debbie is running out of money and has not even thought about her service. On top of which, Russell realises she has done no marketing - if she opens, will anyone actually turn up?

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Restaurateur Russell Norman helps struggling newcomers to the business.

Following people who pack in their day jobs to follow their dreams of starting a restaurant. Advice is on hand from successful restaurateur Russell Norman

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