An iconic town building is set to become a “simple but elevated” restaurant run by a father-daughter duo.
Rebecca Loughlin and her father Mick Loughlin moved one step closer to opening the venue, called Zest, after being granted a restaurant licence and an off-licence by the Licensing Assembly yesterday.
Rebecca described Zest as “elevated in terms of seating, but as relaxed as a café”, with daytime opening hours and the ability to host events in the evenings.
Mick compared Zest to “a high-end London bistro” and, with a large building available, the duo are hoping they might expand across more floors in the future.
Speaking to Express, Rebecca explained that she aspired to own her own business “from a really young age”, and that after nine years working in hospitality – at both Vinifera and managing Locke’s – the time was right.
Her father had been looking for a building for some time. In October, a contact at Broadlands suggested that the former Anna’s building on Halkett Place was available, which he found “very fortuitous”.
Mick decided on the spot to buy the site for Zest.
“It was that quick,” he told Express.
Anna’s – the former members’ club – closed in 2024, leaving the granite building at 28 Halkett Place empty.
“It’s stunning,” said Rebecca. “People passing by have commented that it’s so much brighter.”
However, Rebecca explained that she was recently diagnosed with endometriosis, which she described as “a struggle” that led her to wonder if she would achieve her dream of having her own business.
She underwent three surgeries in seven months, but said she “would rather get back to work”.
“I thought: I’ve got my two arms, my two legs, I can do it,” added Rebecca.
Mick explained that hospitality has been in the Loughlin family for generations, with his grandfather managing the United Club after the war.
He added that this was his first time working with his daughter.
“It’s just come at the right time, I think,” said Mick, adding that at the age of 28, Rebecca had developed “really good business acumen”.
The Loughlins are hoping to open Zest on 16 June, with some work still to be completed.
Zest is recruiting for staff – with sous chef, barista, front-of-house, and kitchen porter roles currently advertised on the restaurant’s website.