I can't help thinking that whoever wins this televised popularity contest is going to land a 250,000 restaurant deal with just 2 weeks training.

Whoever it is (and quite frankly I don't much care at this point) can't possibly make a go of it on their own, can they?

I'm not even in the trade, only having worked in a greasy spoon cafe at 16 and a posh hotel bar at 18 where the head chef was Italian and tended to throw knives when he got in a strop, but even I know that there's more to running a restaurant than a two week intensive course in being bossed around by a highly rated chef.

I'm enjoying the programme immensely but I can't help thinking whoever wins will be signing on at the jobcentre again in a year's time.

For year, read 6 months.

As we near the end of the series, I can't help thinking that the £250,000 prize is totally disproportionate for what they've done. Maybe I'd give them £70,000 like BB (unless that's gone up - I haven't paid that much attention).

Are Granada putting anything in place to ensure it does actually all go on a serious attempt at making a go of the restaurant? Is there a spin-off show of the rise and probable fall of the enterprise in the pipeline?

Unfortunately, for anyone with such little real experience, I suspect that they might as well just pile the money up at the end of the show and have a bonfire.

But with that, good luck to both of them. It would make a much better TV show to see them thrive in the end.

...Martin...

yep. let's have yet another reality show of the rise and fall of the successful contestant. (should they ever agree ), to see how the £250k worked for them.

My guess is, it would be no more exciting than this whole show.

Waste......waste.........waste...........waste.......waste of everything

I reckon there's some sort of a "clause" and they won't actually get the £250,000 to spend on a restaurant in their hand, more likely the potential to run a £250,000 restaurant so long as they fullfil a long list of criteria. A bit like Pop Idol or Next Top Model programmes, where they receive a contract that could be worth £1,000,000 if they are successful. Listen carefully when they winner is interviewed what it is they are actually being awarded with.

They'll be hard pushed to set up a decent restaurant with tha pawltry £250,000 anyway. Certainly with a decent location anyway.

£1.2 million would be a more appropriate figure, unless they just want a greasy spoon that is.

as much as I disliked him, the only person in there I would have thought would have been good at that was Aaron. I think people just vote BB-like against people they dont like, rather than think "will this person actually be able to run a restaurant and make a success of it". I really want Terry to win, but I cant see him do that.

Wasn't that about the final bill that John Burton-Race ended up paying for the New Angel in Dartmouth?

If I recall correctly, alot of that was spent on the actual property and his wife's choice in very expensive furniture and decoration. Didn't he start off with a £300k budget?

Still, have to agree with you, I don't think £250k will get you much in the way of a restuarant.

You'd certainly be able to buy something established for 250K - I was more gearing towards setting up from scratch.

A bit more description here

http://www.***************/newsdetail.aspx?article=89

Just had a quick look to see what is available for that sort of money:

LIC'D RESTAURANT attractive residential locality KENT superbly ft'd & presented 34 cover character parade prop with gd s/c 3 bed family accom.T/o £85,000 pa on severely restricted hrs with vast scope to develop in nice busy location and viewing highly recommended at F/H £249,995

LIC'D RESTAURANT high footfall town ctre main st SUNDERLAND substantial 2-storey 140-cover rented parade prop ft'd equ'pd & presented to superb specs with 2-bed accomm taking £3,000pw & rising Young expanding staff run concern with VAST potential for hands-on operator in super location & viewing ess LEASEHOLD £205,000

Who ever wins I hope they have better standards of hygiene than what I've seen.

Can either of them make it work .........

Sadly No.

Would you be ringing to book a table at somewhere either of them were running the kitchen?

I wouldn't eat there if I was paid to. I have to be enticed by the reputation of a) the Chef and b) the Menu.

Kellie or Terry won't be able to do either for me.

Noooooooo waaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!

I'd go to Kellie's for an entertaining night out.