Back in 1997, Kim and JP Gravier opened Le Petit Nantais on Bridge Road in East Molesey and, with the help of their daughter and dedicated team, they have successfully made the restaurant what it is today. 

Le Petit Nantais specialise in classic French cuisine with a modern twist. All produce is sourced from the best possible suppliers including Billingsgate and Smithfield markets, as well as bi-weekly deliveries direct from France to ensure authenticity of flavour and quality. 

"The term "family run business" means a lot to us as, even though some our team are not physical family members, we're our own little family of misfits that have worked together now for over a decade together."

"The best part about living and working in the Molesey and Hampton court area is the real sense of community. Everyone knows each other and looks out for one another's homes and businesses. Whenever there are events in the area everybody gets stuck in and you just don't get that in other villages anymore."

"We are currently running our "Frapas" menu every lunch time designed around the idea of little bites and sharing dishes of all your favourite French classics. One of the reasons we started this menu was because one thing our customers always say is that they can never choose which dish to have; this way they can have a little bit of everything they like without needing to be wheeled out the door! The other main reason for this menu is hopefully try to prove that dining French does not have to mean breaking the bank. The common misconception we have seen is that French food is expensive and we hope that this quashes that belief."

"Like all businesses we have had our ups and downs but with my fantastic team and talented husband by my side I am proud of all that we have achieved and will continue to achieve in the future"

Feeling Hungry?

Take a look at their a la carte and "Frapas" menus: www.lepetitnantais.com, follow them on Twitter @LPNantais, find them on Facebook or follow JP on Instagram @jplechef to see all latest deals and weekly specials. 

For all enquiries/bookings you can call 02089792309 or call/text 07796266006 

Or drop them an email at jp@lepetitnantais.co.uk 

Recent Rightmove data shows that more homeowners in East & West Molesey are choosing Newton Huxley Estate Agents to sell their home over any other Molesey Estate Agent.

It really is great to see how recommendations spread fast. The team has worked tirelessly to provide all of our customers with a friendly, straight forward and diligent service. In such a competitive market and at a time when stock levels are lower than usual (a.k.a "a sellers market") we see our commitment to providing the best service available in estate agency really working wonders.

A sellers’ market is something that many home owners will welcome (especially if you're not making an onward purchase), as this inherently pushes property values upwards. However, the dangers of over pricing can also increase as agents "starved" of new instructions seek to impress potential clients with over inflated valuations. Not only can this throw a real spanner in the works in terms of the time it takes to sell your property, but it can also encourage low offers if your property remains on the market for a prolonged period of time.

Here are three ways we think sellers in the Molesey area can avoid the aggravation of price inflation:

1. GET A ROUGH IDEA ON THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME.

Simply having 2 or 3 estate agents out to value your property may not be enough, it may seem obvious but looking at other properties that are currently on the market, or that have recently sold will give you a very good idea of what your property is worth.  A simply way to judge another property by comparison to yours is to check photographs for condition and floor plans for size. If the property is not under offer, check the listing history to see how long the property has been on the market. The internet is overflowing with local property price information and we have access to archive data on literally 1000's of properties. (contact us for more information 0208 396 6717 | info@newtonhuxley.co.uk)

2. BROWSE THE WEBSITES OF POTENTIAL AGENTS.

We are surprised to learn that many of our clients ONLY call us because they have noticed "sold" boards or have received a letter from us, you can easily tell if an agent is proactive and a consistent performer by the presentation of their website, and the quality of their property photography. If you want to achieve the best possible price for your home you need to attract as many buyers as possible, presenting your home to the market with great photos on an easy to use website will make all the difference. After all, there is a reason that Waitrose can charge more for a bag of sugar than ASDA. It’s all in the presentation!

3. AVOID ON LINE INSTANT VALUATION TOOLS.

Some property and estate agent websites offer an instant valuation. The algorithms used in these apps are nowhere near detailed enough to provide a reliable valuation of your property. In some cases, we have seen these provide valuations that are off by over 25%! Until additional data can be stored within these applications such as square footage and internal condition we recommend you avoid the temptation to use them.

The first two weeks of marketing your property are crucial, and an unrealistic asking price can not only put potential buyers off, but will encourage "low ball" offers if your property remains on the market for too long.

Interpreting the market correctly and setting your asking price at just the right level will help you achieve the best result possible. We are proud to report that more than 70% of the properties we have sold are at record prices when compared with similar properties in the immediate area, whilst achieving more than 98% of asking prices throughout 2015, many of which were previously on the market without success. Further proving that our model for selling property is highly effective.

If you are considering selling in East or West Molesey and the surrounding areas, and would like an independent valuation of your home without obligation and free of charge. Please call our team on 0208 396 6717 or email info@newtonhuxley.co.uk

The Magical Molesey event is hosted every year on Walton Road in East Molesey. Local businesses offer discounted goods and raise money for good causes, all in the name of the festive season.

Our friends at Musicland East, East Molesey will be switching on the lights on Walton Road that evening along with carol singing from local schools and community groups. We also plan to have a few Xmas treats outside Belhaven House on Walton Road, East Molesey to help Sakura Hair and Body Retreat raise money for their selected charity.

We're no doubt excited to be part of Magical Molesey 2015 which is on the 2nd December 2015 starting at 5pm. We look forward to seeing our fellow Molesey residents there.

For more information and a photo gallery of previous Magical Molesey events you can visit the Molese Life website here:

Magical Molese | Molesey Life

The current property drought is nationwide, with the average price of a property sold subject to contract in the UK in September at £221,797. On top of that, the supply of properties for sale is 14.3% down compared to 12 months prior, and 3.1% from August this year.

New instructions are also down 18.5% in London, where the average house price last month was £521,383.

Buyer activity is being magnified, with new buyer registrations up 8.4% annually, in particular the number of new first-time buyer registrations is up 7.4% with the current low mortgage rates.

What does this mean for the East and West Molesey property market?

Already we have seen a spike in new buyer registrations with many homes going under offer with the first seven days of marketing, and on average we are acheiving 98% of asking prices. A sure sign that there are more buyers per property.

The affect this has had on the Molesey property market is great news for those planning to sell in the near future. In the past 6 months property prices in East and West Molesey have increased by £15,583 on avg (2.86%), with 117 transactions in the KT8 postcode area in the same time period. 

For the first 6 months of 2015 there were 164 transactions which shows a drop in completed sales of around 28%. It is no wonder then that as the amount of new buyers searching for a home increases, and new instructions coming to market dropping, property prices have increased significantly.

This bubble will burst when mortgage rates rise and there are numerous reports that suggest this will happen in the not too distant future, when this happens we anticipate buyer activity will decrease and property values will level off temporairily. We therefor urge anyone considering selling to take advantage of the current market and to bring any plans to sell forward where possible.

Should you require a valuation and market appraisal of your home our appointments are offered free of charge and without obligation. Please contact our sales team on 0208 396 6717 to arrange your appointment.

Sam Kamali | Sales Director

07957 301 214 | sam@newtonhuxley.co.uk

Is now the right time to sell?

Figures from August show UK mortgage borrowing increased by the largest amount since the economic crash and should be taken as another sign that the housing market is heating up.

According to the Financial Times mortgage lending rose £3.4bn. The amount of new mortgage approvals for house purchases have reached an 18-month high of 71,000, according to figures released last Tuesday by the Bank of England.

Approvals for mortgaging also rose in August from the previous month as home owners sought to lock in current low interest rates deals.

Expert analysts are constantly warning that a shortage of supply on the market has been driving up values, especially in the London and Greater London Area.

With this in mind, if you are thinking of selling now is the perfect time to come to market before the Christmas market hits and buyers slow down. If you are about to come to market or already selling and you are without a buyer, call us to find out more about these findings and how our results back this information.

Sam Kamali | Diretor of Residential Sales

0208 396 6717 (option 1) | sam@newtonhuxley.co.uk

The new regulations for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in residential properties aims to save more than 20 lives every year which is great news! Here's what you need to know about the changes in legislation:

1. From October 1st 2015 all residential tenancies must be fitted with one smoke alarm per floor, and one carbon monoxide alarm for every solid fuel bruning appliance.

2. It is the landlords responsibility to ensure that alarms are installed, tested and in working order on the day their tenancy starts, not before or after.

3. Failure to adhere to the new legislation can result in a fine of up to £5000.00, although councils are required to provide 28 days notice to the landlord to rectify any breach before doing so.

If you have a tenancy that started after the 1st of October 2015 or are preparing your property for a let in the future, we are more than happy to offer further clarification and discuss the steps we have taken to ensure our clients and tenants are protected.

There have also been changes to the Section 21 notice legislation which may effect a landlords ability to end a tenancy, for more information please contact us on 0208 396 6717 or email lettings@newtonhuxley.co.uk, otherwise keep a look out for next feature.

If you are looking to let you property in Molesey or the surrounding areas and would like to know more about our flexible service levels, please contact Len Taylor on 0208 396 6717 or email len@newtonhuxley.co.uk.

Having tried (more than once and counting!) the recentley opened Cavan Bakery on Walton Road in East Molesey we just had to write a blog about this brilliant bakery. Commercial manager Suze Drew was kind enough to speak with us…

For those that don't already know, what is the Cavan Bakery?

Cavan Bakery sells hand crafted bread, baked through the night, traditional buns, cakes, hot savouries, freshly made sandwiches and great coffee!

When was the company started?

We are primarily bread specialists, having been baking since 1929. We have been trading since 1929 and the business is now run by the third generation of the Cavan family.

Who runs the business on a day to day basis?

The business is run on a day to day basis by Managing Director, Jeff Greenall (husband of Sarah Cavan, granddaughter of David Cavan who started the business in 1929), Sales & Catering Director, Wendy Paterson and Suze Drew, Commercial Manager.

What attracted you to Molesey for the next shop?

Since relocating our main bakery and Head Office from Hampton Hill to Molesey in 2012, we have been looking for a suitable site for a shop.  When looking for the right site, we need to consider footfall, parking etc and although on the tiny side, 83 Walton Road is on the school run route, has a bus stop right outside and is a popular thoroughfare for tradesmen needing a good lunch whilst visiting Trade Paints, the Electrical shop and DIY shop.  It is a tight community of supportive residents and other traders, keen to see businesses succeed so a good site for our 8th family-owned shop.

What do you personally like about Molesey?

I am biased as I live in Molesey so knew a great local bakery is just what (I) and everyone else needed! Molesey is a small village where everyone knows everyone and word of mouth is key – it's a special place where residents will support local businesses if they're giving people the products and service they want.  Everyone who lives in Molesey that I know is keen to make the High Street as appealing as possible with as many thriving independent traders as possible.

Writing this has given us a craving for some sausage rolls. If you haven't tried them yet you are missing out!

Promotional offers

Choose a FREE bun with every freshly ground coffee or hot chocolate purchased before 10am.

Start a sandwich loyalty card and receive a stamp for every sandwich/filled roll/filled bap purchased – every 10th sandwich is FREE!

Buy 4 cakes and choose a 5th for FREE (offer doesn't include jam doughnuts).

Cavan Bakery, 83 Walton Road, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 0DP

Tel 020 8941 5512

info@thecavanbakery.co.uk

Open 7am – 4.30pm Mon to Fri and 7.30am – 4.00pm Sat

Want to feature your local business in Molesey? It's completely free to do so!

Call 0208 396 6717 or email len@newtonhuxley.co.uk 

Molesey residents will no doubt know The Buttonhole Florist on Bridge Road in East Molesey, we were fortunate enough to meet owner and long term Molesey resident Denise Hamer and her dog Elsa!

The Buttonhole Florist has been around for as long as I can remember, when were the doors first opened?

The Buttonhole was opened in 1947 by Mrs Maisie Pilgrim, and has always been a family run business. Her son took over when Maisie retired and I have owned the shop for 5 years having worked for the Pilgrims for 25 years.

What do you sell at The Buttonhole?

We have a wide selection of fresh flowers and plants which are delivered straight from Holland to cover all occasions.

What is it that you like most about Molesey?

I have lived in Molesey nearly all my life and is a wonderful place to live and work with so much to offer and the people in Molesey are so friendly with a real feel of village community spirit about it.

Do you have a special occasion coming up? Visit Denise and Elsa at The Buttonhole Florist!

117 Bridge Road, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9HT

Tel: 0208 979 3694 / 0208 979 9793     Email: sales@buttonhole.co.uk

Want to feature your local business in Molesey? It's completely free to do so!

Call 0208 396 6717 or email len@newtonhuxley.co.uk 

The Jewel Box in East Molesey has been established since 1976. Here's what owners Vera and Andina told us about their charming shop.

What does the Jewel Box sell and what additional services do you offer?

"We sell 9ct gold and silver jewellery, pulsar and lorus watches, handbags, costume jewellery, purses, wallets, scarves, seiko clocks, photo frames, candles and believe it or not…. so much more!"

Do you offer any specialist services?

"Watch and Jewellery repairs are our main focus. This includes watch straps, batteries, restringing pearls and beads and clock repairs."

When did The Jewel Box first open it's doors?

"Next year we will be celebrating our 40th year of trading. My mother and father came to Molesey from Blackheath, London in 1976."

Who serves your customers?

"My mother, Vera and myself (Andina)."

What inspired you to open The Jewel Box?

"It's our family business. Coming from London, Molesey certainly is a nicer, friendly and safer environment."

What's is it that you love about Molesey?

We love the fact it has a village feel, and our customers have been coming to us for so many years, we have their children as customers as well!

Want to speak to Vera or Andina?

Call them on 0208 941 1766 or 07702 020 652

Email at thejewelbox113@hotmail.com

Get your business featured here for free! Contact us.

This is great news right? Absolutely! But it is highly advised to proceed with caution.

It is vital you instruct an agent who understands what lies ahead and has the necessary measures in place to see you through to the finish line. With the increase in sales activity the legal process is not likely to be in a position to keep up. With the land registry preparing to take over the property search process, local authorities are refusing to invest in the technology and resources required to improve the current system and as staff are leaving not a lot seems to be going ahead in terms of replacing them.

The predictions are this will be an ongoing obstacle home movers could be looking at dealing with for the next 10 years.

It is because of this that our team at Newton Huxley deal with recommended and approved solicitors, take extra care when agreeing sales, and stay on top of the progression as this is the most vital part of the process that needs an agent to deliver and work effectively.

The average national fall through rate for 2015 is reported to be as high as 27.5% to date, to find out more about how we operate differently from other agents, achieving a fall through rate of just 12.5%, please contact us on 0208 396 6717 or click this link to go to our valuation page and book your appointment today.