EditorUPLANDS: Swansea’s beloved Truffle restaurant put up for sale as owners step back after nine years to focus on family
One of Swansea’s most-loved independent restaurants has been put up for sale — with the couple who built it from scratch saying the time has come to hand it on to new owners and focus on their young family.
Truffle, on King Edwards Road in Uplands, has been run by chef Jonathan Cox and front-of-house manager Jodie Barlow-Haynes since 2017. Over nine years, the pair have built the restaurant into one of the city’s most respected independent eateries, with a 4.8-star rating across major review platforms and a loyal customer base that returns again and again.
Known for its French, Welsh and contemporary influences, Truffle has earned a reputation for freshly made dishes using locally sourced ingredients. The fully licensed restaurant also operates a popular bring-your-own drinks policy — a combination that has helped it carve out a distinctive identity in a competitive market.
Inside Truffle — the restaurant has built a 4.8-star rating across major review platforms over nine years. Image: Christie & CoJonathan and Jodie said in a joint statement: “Truffle has been our passion for many years. We are incredibly proud of how the business has grown, with loyal customers who return time and again, and the reputation we’ve built for our service and quality food.”
They added: “We will be sad to leave our successful business but have decided to make a lifestyle change to be able to spend more quality time with our young family. We hope the next owners will take Truffle forward into its next exciting chapter.”
The restaurant is being marketed as a leasehold sale with an asking price of £75,000 by specialist business property adviser Christie & Co, which describes it as “an attractive and profitable restaurant in a popular part of the city.”
Graeme Clifford, the business agent handling the sale, said there were plenty of opportunities for a new owner to build on what Jonathan and Jodie have created. “There are plenty of opportunities for a new owner to expand the business including broadening the food offer, introducing more covers, and extending the opening hours,” he said, adding that the site could suit new entrants, experienced restaurateurs or small multi-site operators.
The dining room at Truffle, which seats multiple covers and has potential to expand, according to Christie & Co. Image: Christie & CoThe sale comes at a difficult time for the hospitality sector across the region. In recent months, Swansea Bay News has reported on a series of restaurant closures, including the much-loved Gorseinon restaurant that shut after years of loyal custom, and two Llanelli restaurants closing on the same day. It is also not the first time an Uplands restaurant has come onto the market in recent years.
Truffle’s owners are at pains to point out that this is not a closure — the restaurant remains open and is continuing to trade while a buyer is sought.
Truffle has been a fixture of the Uplands food scene since 2017. Image: Christie & CoFor those interested in taking on the business, full details are available through Christie & Co at christie.com.
Uplands has long been one of Swansea’s most vibrant food and culture neighbourhoods, home to a mix of independent restaurants, cafes, bars and the weekly Uplands Market. The area’s loyal community of regulars and strong footfall make it one of the city’s most attractive locations for independent hospitality businesses.
Truffle’s sale represents the end of an era for many regulars — but also an opportunity for a new operator to take on a restaurant with strong foundations, a proven reputation and an established and loyal following.
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