Published January 28th 2025

Michelmores advise Maven on investment by British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund in Independent Bar and Restaurant Group

Authors

Harry Trick

Ben Adams

Harry Jones

Michelmores has advised the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund, through its fund manager Maven Capital Partners, on a £1.1 million investment in Deckhouse, a vibrant independent venue offering day-to-night brunching and dining experiences.

The South West Investment Fund provides a combination of debt and equity funding, ranging from £25,000 to £5 million, to support small and medium-sized businesses across the South West at various stages of their development. Maven manages the equity side of the fund in the north of the region.

Founded in 2022, Deckhouse creates a relaxed, coastal-inspired atmosphere where guests can unwind and enjoy freshly prepared food spanning brunch to dinner. In addition to dining, the venue hosts celebrations and events, including wine tastings and live music evenings. This investment will support Deckhouse’s strategic plans to expand into new locations, further establishing its presence in the region.

The Michelmores team advising on the transaction was led by Partner Harry Trick, supported by Associate Ben Adams and Solicitor Harry Jones of the Corporate team. Employment advice was provided by Partner Rachael Lloyd and Associate Matthew Warren, with additional support from the Transaction Real Estate team, led by Partner Paul Beanlands and Associate Charlie Gauntlett.

Harry Trick commented:

“We’re delighted to have supported Luke Matthews and the team at Maven in their investment in Deckhouse. We have seen the impact that the South West Investment Fund is having in providing access to capital for some of the regions most ambitious scale-ups, and this investment is another great example of that.”

Luke Matthews commented

“It was great to work with Harry, Ben and the rest of the team at Michelmores to complete this investment, not least as they have been such longstanding and active supporters of scale-up and investment activity in the South West. We certainly look forward to working with them again in the near future.”