Café operator? Start here
The coffee shops for sale in nottingham systems on this page are the same ones we run with UK coffee shops, cafés, kiosks and speciality roasters. If you're opening or scaling a café, talk to a UK coffee shop consultant or read the complete UK guide to opening a coffee shop.
East Midlands · Buyer's guide
Coffee Shops for Sale in Nottingham — Buyer's Guide (2026)
Last reviewed 27 July 2026
Quick answer
Coffee shops for sale in Nottingham typically ask £20,000 to £95,000 for goodwill plus stock at valuation, with rents in the Lace Market, Hockley and West Bridgford running £12,000 to £24,000 per year. Nottingham combines strong daytime workforce demand with two large universities — the trading pattern is more stable than the raw asking-price band suggests.
Nottingham coffee shops for sale — the numbers
| Typical asking price (goodwill + stock) | £20,000 – £95,000 |
| Lace Market / Hockley rent (400–700 sq ft) | £12,000 – £24,000/yr |
| West Bridgford / Beeston rent | £10,000 – £18,000/yr |
| Rateable value (typical small café) | £5,500 – £13,000 |
| Realistic net weekly turnover to justify £55K asking | £4,000 – £5,500 |
| Common lease length on offer | 5–10 years, 3- or 5-yearly review |
What's specific about buying in Nottingham
Nottingham's café market is defined by three trade zones with different underwriting logic. Hockley (Broad Street, Goose Gate, Carlton Street) is the city's strongest independent-café corridor and one of the highest-density specialty-coffee zones in the East Midlands. The Lace Market — anchored around Broadway, St Mary's Gate and the Ice Arena — carries strong daytime workforce demand plus evening event footfall. West Bridgford (across the Trent) is Nottingham's strongest suburban independent zone; Central Avenue and Melton Road concentrate residential-driven cafés with stable year-round trade and lower rent loads. The Broadmarsh redevelopment (2024 onwards) has materially shifted southern city-centre footfall patterns — verify measured footfall counts on the exact street, not aggregate city data. Nottingham University and Trent University's combined 65,000+ student population supports Beeston and Lenton cafés with strong term-time volume but thin vacation takings; buyers should model 30–40 weeks of term-time revenue plus a 12–14 week vacation trough. Nottingham City Council's pavement licence regime is inexpensive and typically granted within 8 weeks — comparable to Leeds and materially faster than Bristol's post-2024 objection-window regime. Business rates on typical Hockley or Lace Market cafés (RV £8,000–£13,000) sit above the full-relief threshold but qualify for tapered SBRR. Two Nottingham-specific gotchas: the Ropewalk conservation area imposes stricter shopfront and signage rules that can add £4,000–£12,000 to a first-year fit-out, and any site within the Bridlesmith Walk redevelopment zone should be checked for landlord development-break clauses in newer leases.
Cafés for sale in Nottingham — same market, different listing wording
Agents in East Midlands advertise the same sites as both "café for sale" and "coffee shop for sale", so search both terms before you conclude nothing is available. In practice, Nottingham café listings tend to include a food-led kitchen and a heavier wage line, while coffee-shop listings skew wet-led with stronger gross margins on the same £20,000 – £95,000 (goodwill + stock) range. Lace Market, Hockley and West Bridgford list highest; Sneinton and Beeston cheaper. Nottingham City Council handles food registration, premises licences and pavement licences.
Comparing several markets? See all UK city buyer's guides.
Where Nottingham buyers most often get stuck
Buyers use pre-Broadmarsh-redevelopment footfall assumptions for southern city-centre sites. Get measured 2025+ counts before making assumptions.
What to verify before offering
- 1Post-Broadmarsh footfall counts on the specific parade or street.
- 2Term-time vs vacation trading split for university-corridor sites.
- 3Pavement licence status.
- 4Lease review pattern.
- 5Rateable value and SBRR eligibility.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a Nottingham coffee shop cost to buy?
Small independent Nottingham cafés typically list at £20,000 to £95,000 for goodwill plus stock at valuation. Hockley and Lace Market sit at the top; Sneinton, Beeston and outer suburbs at the lower end.
Is Hockley or West Bridgford better for a first-time buyer?
West Bridgford typically offers better take-home for an owner-operator: lower rent load, stronger residential loyalty, flatter year-round trade. Hockley is higher-turnover but with materially higher rent and more competition.
How has the Broadmarsh redevelopment affected coffee shop takings?
Materially shifted southern city-centre footfall patterns. Use measured 2025+ counts, not pre-2024 aggregate city data, for any site south of Middle Pavement.
How do the student vacations affect Beeston coffee shop takings?
Beeston, Lenton and Dunkirk cafés typically see 25–40% dip during university vacation months. West Bridgford and residential zones have flatter year-round trade.
What weekly takings should a Hockley coffee shop clear?
£5,000 to £8,500 net weekly turnover is typical for a settled Hockley independent — the range that supports viable trade at prevailing corridor rents.
What this guide doesn't cover
- — Broxtowe, Rushcliffe and Gedling — different councils.
- — Franchise resales — separate governance.
- — University-tied catering concessions — separate contract structure.
Methodology & sources
Last verified: 27 July 2026. Figures are sector benchmarks based on the sources below and live client project data. Individual site economics vary — a feasibility study on your specific address is the only way to get a defensible number for your case.
- Rightmove Commercial and Christie & Co listings, Q2 2026
- Nottingham City Council premises-licence register
- Nottingham BID footfall reports 2024–25
- VOA rateable-value list (2023 revaluation)
Exclusions: Excludes Rushcliffe, Broxtowe, Gedling and Ashfield councils.
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