5 February 2012
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26 April 2010
Leeds restaurateur has recipe for success
An award-winning restaurant chain has opened its fourth eatery in Leeds using a £130,000 loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial.
Headlingley-based Giorgio's Ristorante Italiano has been opened by George and Vasoulla Psarias and specialises in authentic Italian dishes using locally-sourced ingredients. The restaurant employs 20 staff and can cater for up to 150 guests a night.
The Psarias family also run a Greek restaurant in Rodley, The Olive Tree which opened in 1986, and have two sister restaurants in Chapel Allerton and Headingley in Leeds.
After waiting 17 years for the right property to become available, owner George Psarias approached his banking partner Lloyds TSB Commercial which provided a £130,000 loan to purchase the premises that used to be Pietros Italian Restaurant.
George and Vasoulla Psarias have recently been awarded the ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Restaurant Industry’ in the 2010 Yorkshire Evening Post Oliver Awards. The family are also planning to expand the restaurant by purchasing the first floor of Giorgio’s later this year.
George Psarias said: “As a family business, we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best possible ingredients, atmosphere and value for money.
“Our passion for Mediterranean food has been the driving force behind all of our restaurants and we were delighted to find the perfect property from which to launch our latest Italian venture.
“Lloyds TSB Commercial has supported us for over 30 years, with its guidance and financial backing we have been able to continue to expand and achieve our ambitions.”
Matthew Canning, relationship manager for Lloyds TSB Commercial in Leeds, said: “We have built a strong relationship with George and recognise and understand his talent, drive and aspirations for the business.
“It’s fantastic to work with such an enthusiastic family that are so passionate about their restaurants and the quality of food they provide.
“We look forward to continuing to support George and Vasoulla and to helping them achieve their future plans.”
Headlingley-based Giorgio's Ristorante Italiano has been opened by George and Vasoulla Psarias and specialises in authentic Italian dishes using locally-sourced ingredients. The restaurant employs 20 staff and can cater for up to 150 guests a night.
The Psarias family also run a Greek restaurant in Rodley, The Olive Tree which opened in 1986, and have two sister restaurants in Chapel Allerton and Headingley in Leeds.
After waiting 17 years for the right property to become available, owner George Psarias approached his banking partner Lloyds TSB Commercial which provided a £130,000 loan to purchase the premises that used to be Pietros Italian Restaurant.
George and Vasoulla Psarias have recently been awarded the ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Restaurant Industry’ in the 2010 Yorkshire Evening Post Oliver Awards. The family are also planning to expand the restaurant by purchasing the first floor of Giorgio’s later this year.
George Psarias said: “As a family business, we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best possible ingredients, atmosphere and value for money.
“Our passion for Mediterranean food has been the driving force behind all of our restaurants and we were delighted to find the perfect property from which to launch our latest Italian venture.
“Lloyds TSB Commercial has supported us for over 30 years, with its guidance and financial backing we have been able to continue to expand and achieve our ambitions.”
Matthew Canning, relationship manager for Lloyds TSB Commercial in Leeds, said: “We have built a strong relationship with George and recognise and understand his talent, drive and aspirations for the business.
“It’s fantastic to work with such an enthusiastic family that are so passionate about their restaurants and the quality of food they provide.
“We look forward to continuing to support George and Vasoulla and to helping them achieve their future plans.”
Notes to editors
Lloyds TSB Commercial is a trading name of Lloyds TSB bank plc and Lloyds TSB Scotland and provides dedicated banking services for customers with an annual turnover of up to £15 million, from start-ups to established companies looking to grow.Lloyds TSB was voted Bank of the Year for the fifth year running at the Real FD/ CBI FDs' Excellence Awards 2009 in recognition of the support it offers its business customers.
Lloyds Banking Group has over one million small and medium sized business and not for profit customers and has launched a three-year programme of support for SMEs.
The key points of the 2012 SME Charter are:
1. Lloyds TSB will encourage enterprise, boost access to finance and provide clearer and fairer pricing for customers – including a pledge to help 300,000 new start ups by 2012
2. Lloyds TSB will run a programme of 200 nationwide seminars every year for the next three years, to provide expert guidance and support for SMEs on starting up, employment, exporting, bidding for 2012 contracts, sustainability and finance
3. Lloyds TSB will agree to any reasonable request for competitive commercially-priced finance (whether short-term or long-term) from viable business customers.
4. Lloyds TSB will not change the availability of overdrafts during the period of a customer’s agreement, as long as their accounts are kept within agreed terms and limits
5. The price of existing loans or renewed overdrafts will reflect the cost of funding. The margin Lloyds TSB charges over the cost of funding will only increase where there has been a material increase in risk (subject to a minimum 1.5 per cent over the cost of our funds). Lloyds TSB will be transparent about pricing and help customers understand the price of their facilities. Where margins increase, Lloyds TSB will provide a clear explanation of the reasons
6. Lloyds TSB’s fees will be competitively priced. And arrangement fees on loans and overdrafts will not be greater than 1.5 per cent of the overall value of the facility
For more information, please visit www.lloydstsb.com/business. Back to top | More Lloyds TSB stories
