A new Turkish restaurant opened in Little Chalfont last week – and is already braced for a tough business climate with fifty-fifty eat-in and takeaway services.

Steakhouse and cocktail bar Fernando’s was opened by Ali Tembel as an expansion of his Sussex-based family business in February – and, despite his intention to “bring something” to the community, nine months later it’s shutters down for the village’s newest addition.

And new Turkish restaurant and cocktail bar Makara arrived at the same spot, on 2 Nightingale Corner, yesterday, October 28 – after new bosses, all of whom live in the Amersham and Chesham area, decided to make use of the space and learn from Ali’s mistakes.

One of the new operators, Musti Atkinson, supervisor of the new restaurant, said Makara – which serves traditional Turkish food including doner kebabs and mezze – said a decision had been made to split the spot’s focus up the middle on eat-in and takeaway services.

Accordingly, the unit has been divided into two separate components – a regular restaurant on the left and takeaway shop on the right.

“The owner of Fernando’s had a lot of interest in his business but not enough footfall. I live nearby and I could see what happened – there were a few regular customers but just not enough people supporting it.

READ MORE: ‘Vital’ footbridge set for £72,000 repairs project

“I came in for food and it tasted good and was decently priced – it was a shame to see it close. I think he felt like he had been pushed out.”

Musti, alongside restaurant owner Daniel Asenov, talked to Ali before he shut up shop at Fernando’s and made the decision to change hands and rebrand the unit, skewing it from Latin American steakhouse food to a Turkish menu.

The multi-focused business model seems to be working for Makara so far – just one day into business, Musti says it’s going well, though that could be partly down to the fortuitous timing of a half-term opening date.

The new owners are keen to make a success of the enterprise and boost the diversity of Little Chalfont’s foodie scene.

Musti said: “It’s going alright so far but our fingers are crossed it’ll carry on. All we can do is make good, homecooked food and hope it’s enough to bring people in.”

Before Fernando’s, the unit was home to Nar Meze Grill before it closed after suffering a loss in trade from the COVID-19 pandemic.