Bill’s has become a local institution. Beautifully presented with a bustling social scene, it has become known as a place that provides excellent, seasonal, casual, family dining at affordable prices. We just love it.
This is a far cry from where the chain started out in 2001, but it didn’t take long for Bill’s to make waves with a stake in the store and fabulous café being snapped up by Richard Caring, who owns Le Caprice and The Ivy: and he went on to spread the Bill’s model across the country.
Which is quite some legacy for Bill Collison, when you consider that he started selling veg from a nearby stall after his father gave him a shed and a barrow and told him to start a business and stop being a “pest”. Back then, you could spot Bill’s from down the street. Remembering his roots, Bill ensured that the pavement oozed fruit, with signs declaring: “Kentish corn-on-the-cob: five for 50p”.
These days you will venture inside to find a treasure trove of food, with hanging dried peppers and shelves of own-brand juices and olive oil. There is also a counter of desire-inducing puddings, decorated beautifully with flowers.
These days, you will find Bill’s always packed with fine quality food and attentive service. It’s popularity means its large dining room is a perfect place to sit and watch the social goings on of the town, or to sit outside and take in the town with an excellently brewed coffee.
Bill Collison, the eponymous “Bill”, answers our questions
Bill at Ardingly
✦ How do you look back now on your early days setting up Bill’s?
As pretty crazy times! Up every morning at 2am to drive to Covent Garden for fruit and veg. Then back to the shop to start the day.
✦ What would your parents say, who first gave you that shed, when they saw the success of Bill’s?
They would have been very proud, and probably amazed.
✦ When did you think it could really take off and become a national chain?
I didn’t, until it started to happen.
✦ Have you kept the original Bill’s in Lewes as it was, or is it now like the rest of the chain?
Bill’s in Lewes will always be special and different. Aly, the manager there, has been with me since we were a small greengrocers – nearly 30 years. She knows exactly how to run Lewes Bill’s to keep that old energy alive.
✦ Other restaurant chains mentioning no hames have been accused of losing their souls – are you worried about that?
Bill’s has always been about people – the people who work for us, and our customers. So long as that’s always our priority, we will have soul.
✦ Did you have to think twice before selling into a bigger company?
Of course. It was a very big decision. But we knew we would need help if we ever wanted to expand.
✦ Would you set up another restaurant/ cafe concept?
I’m always dreaming up new ideas!
✦ Why have coffee shops and now casual cafes selling decent food so taken off?
They’re an inevitable outcome of the food revolution that has been taking place in the UK over the past 15 years or so. The bar has been raised, the public expect better quality, more variety, and lots of it.
✦ Is it sustainable that we have so many cafe/s coffee bars on our high streets?
If they’re good they’ll succeed. If they get it wrong, they won’t. The public have huge
influence as they’re the decision makers.
✦ Why have the Brits suddenly bought into coffee/ cafe culture so much?
Lots of reasons.
International travel, better quality coffee, convenience, and a huge cultural shift to eat and drink out. Another huge shift has been the number of people now working from home, so cafes have become meeting places for work as well as for social gatherings of all different sizes.
✦ Away from work, what do you like to do?
Walk my dog Frank in the countryside around my home, cook for family and friends, watch my boys play sport, dream up new cafe/restaurant concepts (see above!)
✦ Please tell us a bit about your life away from work.
I’m married to Becca, and we have three boys. We lived in Lewes for years, but moved to the countryside near Uckfield a few years back now.
✦ What would be your perfect Sussex weekend?
A bit of sport – maybe a run and then a swim, lots of prep and cooking for friends and family around the table for dinner or Sunday lunch, a long walk with Frank.
✦ Where else do you like to eat in Sussex?
Marmalade in Brighton or The Swan in Lewes for a roast dinner and a pint of Harvey’s, simply perfect.
