Key Features
Established, highly regarded and successful, licenced restaurant business
Prime, picturesque riverside location in Inverness city centre
Highly profitable and exceptionally well-established operation
Stylish 30-cover restaurant with 12 attractive al fresco covers
Renowned for premium seafood and quality locally sourced produce
Outstanding online reputation with a strong and loyal customer following
Impressive, fully equipped commercial kitchen
Excellent potential to increase trading hours, turnover and profitability
Highlight
An exceptional opportunity to acquire a highly profitable, well-established licensed restaurant in a prime riverside location in Inverness city centre, renowned for premium seafood, quality local produce and an outstanding reputation. Offering 30 stylish internal covers, 12 al fresco covers and a fully equipped commercial kitchen, the business presents excellent potential for further growth and profitability.
Description
River House Restaurant is an established high-end dining business occupying an enviable position on the banks of the River Ness, at the foot of the historic Greig Street Suspension Bridge. The distinctive white-painted frontage, red awning and riverside seating for approximately 12 covers offers excellent kerb appeal.
Extending to approximately 57 m², the restaurant features a stylish and characterful European brasserie-style interior, combining rich colours, dark timber finishes, statement lighting and contemporary furnishings to create an intimate and memorable dining environment.
Renowned for its premium seafood and shellfish, River House showcases quality, locally sourced produce including oysters, crab, mussels, langoustines and fresh fish.
A well-equipped open-plan commercial kitchen, supported by a separate wash-up area, provides efficient operational facilities.
With an exceptional EBITDA, an established reputation and outstanding riverside setting, River House represents an attractive opportunity to acquire a distinctive and profitable Inverness restaurant business.
Trade
River House is an exceptionally popular and busy restaurant, trading five days per week from 3.00pm to 11.30pm, with Sundays and Mondays closed.
The restaurant provides approximately 30 internal covers with a further 12 alfresco covers overlooking the River Ness. Trade is particularly strong, with reservations reportedly secured up to three months in advance.
The popular daily ‘Oyster Hour’, from 4.00pm to 6.00pm, complements a predominantly seafood-focused menu offering choices to suit a broad range of tastes.
An extensive drinks selection includes malt whisky, cocktails and wines. The restaurant also enjoys an excellent online reputation, with ratings of 4.7 on Tripadvisor and 4.8 on Google, reflecting its established standing and strong customer following.
River House has also achieved a Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) Pass, having been inspected by the local authority and found to meet the required legal standards for food hygiene in Scotland.
The business has a dedicated website at https://riverhouseinverness.co.uk/
Location
The River House Restaurant occupies an attractive riverside position in the heart of Inverness city centre, overlooking the River Ness and within easy walking distance of the city’s principal shopping, leisure and transport amenities.
Inverness is the commercial and tourism hub of the Scottish Highlands, attracting a substantial mix of local, business and visitor trade throughout the year.
As a key gateway to Loch Ness, the North Coast 500 and the wider Highlands, the city benefits from a significant domestic and international tourism market. The River House is ideally positioned to capitalise on this visitor economy, while its established city-centre location and picturesque riverside setting provide an appealing destination for both local clientele and tourists seeking a quality dining experience.
Accommodation
The Property
The business occupies the ground floor of a substantial three-storey traditional building, prominently positioned on the gable-end corner of Greig Street and Huntly Street, overlooking the riverside. The property is of traditional construction beneath a pitched slate roof and benefits from double-glazed windows and a double storm-door entrance.
The restaurant has an attractive, white-painted frontage with prominent signage and large display windows, providing excellent visibility and good levels of natural light.
To the side, a red awning provides shading to the dedicated al fresco seating area, creating an appealing outdoor dining space which takes advantage of the prominent riverside setting.
Terms
Reason For Sale
After over 24 successful years of owning and developing River House, the proprietor has decided the time is right to step back from the business. This presents an excellent opportunity for a new owner to take over an established and successful restaurant and continue its operation.
Rates / Council Tax
The retail unit has a rateable value of £18,000 as at April 2026, property reference number 06/07/349082/3 and should benefit from some discount under the Small Business Bonus Scheme.
Finance and Legal Services
ASG Commercial Ltd is in touch with a variety of different lenders who can provide specialist finance. We will be delighted to discuss your financing requirements with you and make an appropriate introduction where appropriate. We also have many contacts in the legal profession who can assist in all legal matters arising.
Specification
The property benefits from mains gas, electricity, water and drainage.