I am thinking of opening up a Fondue restaurant in London and would
like to know the following:
1) Information on the legal requirements to operate a thermostatically
controlled Fondue set on each table in the restaurant?
2) A list of my competitors here in the UK, I know of the big brand in
the US, The Melting Pot.
3) Business that could help designing and/or fitting the fondue set's
in. (I?m after a fondue set in each table in the restaurant)
4) Commercial property estate agents in the Essex, Kent or London area.
5) A list of wine/champagne distributors in the UK
6) Any more information on Fondues that you think could come in use.

We are not really into Fondues in the UK.

And there are already more restaurants in London per capita than
anywhere else in the UK.

Very good ones, too.

I disagree as I know that Fondue sets are becoming ever more popular
on wedding lists these days. They were big in the 70's and now like
most trends in the 70's...are coming back in. Plus there so much fun,
a romantic one for two or great for a group of friends or families.

A Wedding List is not a reliable guide to what or where people eat.

Yeah, I've done fondues maybe two or three times and then all the kit
was thrown or given away.

Why, even Charity Shops turn up their collective noses at them.

The Tyrolla Hut on Westbourne Grove, London seems to do a roaring
trade in fondues... it might also have something to do with steins
(sp?) and snapps though...

I understand that they get used a few times then get chucked out...
why? I think it's because of being lazy. It's the same for a toasty
maker. But toasties get sold in most coffee shops or cafes??

If a company such as The Melting Pot (In the US) has over 60
restaurants and has been successful for nearly 30 years, I think it
could work here in the UK

I recall that mine (and those of my friends) didn't get used much
because the cooking was SO tedious.

Me? I prefer to sit and relax when I am in a restaurant and I do like
a choice of things not fondue or fondue or fondue.

Things that work in one country are not necessarily exportable.

Like the French Guillotine.

Hi, rai130

'Stein' is good but 'Snapps' needs more work.

Clue: Try 'Schnapps'.

Ozmandos,

Perhaps some market research would be in order.  Create a
questionnaire and ask 100 of your closest freinds or pub attendees. 
Go outside on the sidewalk, and ask another 500 (say within a 5 pub
radius) this is assuming of course, that most pubs would have 100
patrons. (Don't know, never been to the UK but I do watch some UK
shows on PBS).  Then you will at least have an inkling of and idea
that this will fly or not. Seems as if Probonopublico is/would not be
a customer.

I have eaten at the Melting Pot in the US, once.  It was about $120
bucks or so for my wife and I for a romantic two hour or so dinner. 
It was our anniversary.  We havent been back since (I am a cheap
bastard), and yes we are still married.     Just wanted to point out,
I would be a returning customer if the price were say, $50 bucks for
two.  Point is, I love great food and great atmosphere.  However I
also like a great price...(again, I am considered a cheap bastard).

Good luck.

Clint

Clint ...

I wouldn't be a customer?

Sure I would ...

I would expect to be Guest of Honour at the Official Opening.

That's why I am being so helpful.

Bryan

Thanks very much for the ideas Clint.

We are currently caring out a survey, this consist of a card with 8
styles of food/restaurant. (Sushi, Chinese, Posh, Indian, Thai,
Fondue, Mexican, Steak House)

We ask them to choose 3 restaurants/food, they would most likely go
for. Then we ask the least favoured.

If they didn't mention Fondue, we ask why. (Either - Don't know what
it is, Know what it is but never tried, Don't like)

From the results we've had back so far (we plan to ask 1000 people in
different age groups) most people either don't know what it is or they
have never tried it) And yes, we do ask if they would try it if a
Fondue restaurant opened up and 95% said yes!

I'm working hard on it but still need the q's answering!!! Is it the
price or the question?

Oz, 

You've asked 6 questions here, and I suggest you'll post them into
seperate posts - thus, if there is an answer only to parts of them,
you could still get an answer.

Also, quiet frankly, and given the pricing of a professional market
research, I'd think that $10 per question (Researchers make 75% of the
sum) is a little limited, for the scope of each question.

For example, the first question, regarding legal requirements,
requires research into business and health regulations, interpretation
thereof, and analysis of other considerations, as well as some
knowledge of torts in England/Wales. I am not sure (though I might be
wrong) that this is a mere $10 job.

Utter rubbish. We are very into fondues in this country. We just don't
know it yet. I just came back from france with exactly the same idea
of opening a restaurant in London. We went to one there which was
packed with English people all having a great time. I'm just starting
to look into the legal issues myself. Hot oil and drunk customers
aren't amazing companions, so I think the chances are slim bu tif
there's a safe answer then great. You need to avoid bringing boiling
oil/cheese through a busy resaurant but theere are fundamental
problems keeping and heating oil/cheese at the table.

True there are many restaurants in London, some very good ones, but
mostly utter crap. If you have an interesting angle then why not. Look
at Tartuf in Islington. Very successful, there's now two of them at
least.

I also am looking at the Melting Pot in the US, and think its a great
new venture, everyones bored with the same type of food and we need
something a bit different here.  I agree though that the English are a
bit more staid and the Americans love to try new things but I for one
know loads of people that would go fondue!  I don't think it would be
a regular repeat business like chinese, italian etc... it would be
more irregular visits, but a great talking point.

I live in Lyon, and we have a restaurant that brings lit BBQ's to each
table! whats amazing is that they have a spiral staircase they must
bring the BBQ's up from, this is right next to the door of the
toilets... I have no idea why there hasn't been accident ( I can
almost see an Inspector Clouseau scene being made about this one).

Hello again ozmandos,

There is a chain of Swiss restaurants in the South (of England) called
Helvetica. I say a chain but I think it's around 2 or 3...  They
specialised in Fondues, but more importantly not just fondues, perhaps
you could contact them to find how popular the fondue is in England,
is it their top seller?

Hope this is of help

BB