Top barber’s latest restaurant hopes to be a cut above

A Co Down businessman is bucking the recent trend in the hospitality industry by opening a new restaurant in east Belfast, creating 15 jobs.

Peter McCloskey, the award-winning barber behind Peter Oliver and owner of Oliver’s Coffee Bars and restaurant, is going against the trend of recent closures in the industry by investing his time and money into a new eatery in Ballyhackamore.

Broker is set to open its doors in the next two weeks and comes on the back of Peter dipping his toe in the hospitality pool seven years ago with his first coffee shop on the Belmont Road in the east of the city.

“Oliver’s is doing very well. My wife, my daughter and son came in to run it recently. It’s become a wee hub. We have a great clientele and we’re really greatly for the support we have.”

Peter later added Oliver’s Deli on Belmont Road, another coffee shop on Belfast’s Lisburn Road followed by Oliver’s Restaurant on the Upper Newtownards Road.

Now the Co Down man is doubling down on his Ballyhackamore investment with Broker, a nod to Abbey Autoline, one of the former tenants of the units he has acquired.

While acknowledging the extremely challenging business conditions, Peter believes Broker will be a good addition to the area.

“Ballyhackamore is good area, a very affluent area and it’s on the Glider route.

“We’re going to do brunch during the week, and four nights a week, it’ll be small plates, good wine and cocktails. We have a couple of really good chefs coming on board, and good bar staff.

“I think the longer you are in business and have a decent reputation, people will go to you.

“Hospitality venues such as coffee shops and restaurants are so important because they become almost a hub to get out and socialise. Businesses should be encouraged instead of penalised – if our high streets die then it will take a long time to get it back again.”