Sessa

Sessa, ‘the little yellow bar’, as it has become affectionately known by its loyal customers; is an all-day café bar, leaning on that inimitable French style. However, being chef-led, it didn’t take long before everyone assumed it was petite restaurant with a formidable wine list to match the extraordinary, seasonal small plates. Always approachable, unpretentious, and effortlessly charming, Sessa is the creation of Molly, Liv and Edd, a sister business to Planted, their long term and applauded catering and events company that has been feeding the fashion, TV and film worlds for 10 years.

Sessa, has become a much-loved neighbourhood destination, for locals who want to keep it their secret, and epicurious London foodies. Our brief was simple to take, but difficult to deliver, given the hugely competitive marketplace for this type, use and size of premises.

Finding the right property for a client can often be dictated by timing, and luck, both bad and good. The locations that Sessa identified were very targeted, and limited to their local neighbourhoods across southeast London, the issue being that there was no supply of prime pitch property and very high demand from a raft of new business operators in the F&B sector.

After months of searching via the industry private agency platforms, and relentlessly walking and cycling the target locations, we realised we had to become very proactive; approaching several local businesses, we found an existing operator who wanted to assign their lease. What followed was months are commercial negotiations, some complex tripartite legal negotiations on behalf of our client, between the existing tenant and the landlord, transferring the premises licence, undertaking a photographic schedule of condition to limit our clients’ risk, agreeing a licence for alterations and compliance through design, with building regulations, and onto completion of the lease and that truly wonderful moment when we personally collected, and handed over the keys to client.

The little yellow bar has garnered a big reputation in a very short space of time, affirmed by an interview and review published by the achingly hip ‘Broadsheet London’ guide. Embraced by Herne Hill locals, it has become the leading light in a neighbourhood that boasts some of the best food and beverage experiences to found in London. We are beyond proud to have played our small part in Sessa’s inception and ongoing journey, cheers!

Restaurant Specialism, Licenced Premises, Agency, Mapping, Search & Acquire, Location Knowledge, Rent and other commercial Terms negotiation, Tripartite Legal transaction negotiation and client risk limitation, multi-disciplinary team collaboration (legal, licencing, planning, architecture, design & fitout), transaction project management from start to completion, Building Survey and Condition Schedule.