Serving the Teesside Business Community | 13
An artist’ s impression of RMB Automotive’ s new £ 4.5m Darlington site. The RMB management team( left-to-right): John Wade, Darren Small, Richard Gordon and Paul Noon.
RMB Automotive announces £ 4.5m investment in Darlington
RMB Automotive Group has agreed the purchase of a four-acre site in Darlington. The North of England group, which is a multi-franchise business incorporating a Toyota and Renault Centre in Darlington, is now investing £ 4.5m in the development on Yarm Road, which will create 35 jobs.
The new site will incorporate a stateof-the-art multi brand centre, with a new all Business centre which will replace the temporary facility on McMullen Road.
RMB managing director Robert Bennett said:“ Since being awarded the Renault and Dacia franchises for Darlington and Northallerton we have been working on ideas for a redevelopment on McMullen Road, but towards the end of last year we realised that a move to Yarm Road was going to be the best prospect for the business due to the ongoing growth in our current business, but also the fantastic prospects for our Renault and Dacia franchise.
“ As part of the new development we will also be incorporating a new Renault Sport Centre which will be one of only 28 in the UK specialising in Renault Sport cars. There will also be a Business User Centre which will cater for all business users’ needs in the Darlington and Tees Valley region.”
The Business team will be spearheaded by recently joined Paul Noon, group fleet manager, who is currently based from the
Teesside Business Centre within RMB Toyota Teesside site.
Plans which will soon be submitted to Darlington planning for consideration will include the building of two dealerships and a dedicated display area for vans.
The new site is just half a mile from the existing dealership on McMullen Road which will continue to be operated as a dealership though it is not known with which franchise at this stage.
The new development will result in the creation of a further 15 jobs once all existing employees have relocated from McMullen Road. It is also anticipated that a further 20 jobs will be created at McMullen Road.
Café culture is a High Street hit
Atmosphere, service and food. Those are the three key elements that Sardinian owner Roberto Pittalis believes have made Café Lilli one of the most talked about restaurants on Teesside.
Based on Norton’ s increasingly popular High Street, Café Lilli is bustlingly busy throughout the week as word spreads ever further about its cracking combination that combine to make the perfect night out.
The restaurant can even afford the unique position of not offering bookings after seven o’ clock on Friday and Saturday evenings, to create the unique atmosphere of what it calls a Café Lilli Weekend.
Previously co-owner of Sassari, once of Durham’ s Sadler Street and later on Middlesbrough’ s Linthorpe Road, Roberto took a risk when opening Café Lilli 12 years ago.
He recalls:“ I was looking for more of a village-type of restaurant and was told about a vacant property on Norton High Street. The high street was very different to what it is now. When I saw it I fell in love with the place. I liked the village and I liked the
Roberto Pittalis has put a lifetime’ s restaurant experience into Café Lilli
location.
“ It was a risk to open a restaurant when there were no others here at the time but if you don’ t take a chance you will never know. And it’ s proved to be the best business decision of my life.”
Now Roberto and Café Lilli, with its staff of 27, have built up a loyal customer base and welcome new customers daily.
“ There is really no secret to our success,” smiles the lifelong restaurateur, who describes Café Lilli’ s food as a fusion
between modern cuisine with an Italian influence.“ It’ s down to hard work, always being positive and to never be afraid of being innovative. The awards, the reviews and the positive responses gives us the buzz to keep improving the place in all aspects.
“ Perhaps the most important aspect of what we do is a really personal customer service. Knowing the customers’ needs and having the best team are essential to succeed in this business.”
For more details visit www. cafelilli. co. uk.