Newport needs long term investment ahead of the 2010 Ryder cup, say recruiters.

Following comments made on jobsite Caterersearch.com from Newport council leader, Matthew Evans, that now is the perfect time to open restaurants in the area, Rob Maloney, managing director at hospitality recruiter Kerry Robert, told Recruiter that the area needed investment beyond the 2010 Ryder cup. “Newport needs life and more café culture. But what happens after the Ryder Cup? It needs a huge investment programme. If restaurants come in now, will they survive until the Ryder Cup? I think it is going to need more than just restaurants.”

Paula Rogers, managing director at hospitality staffing firm Admiral, adds: “There’s not usually a shortage of entrepreneurs looking to set up restaurants or is it that the area cannot support lots of new restaurants before the Ryder Cup actually gets into town?  Restaurants are expensive to set up and there is a high rate of failure but with the economic climate as it currently is and the fact that demand will probably peak over those few weeks in 2010. I’m not sure there will be a rush now to open in Newport. An alternative may be to encourage some of Wales’ most talented chefs to set up temporary restaurants for the duration of the tournament.”