Ten Years For Seven – And Still Counting

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 8 November 2023

A family-owned Derby restaurant, which has been instrumental in building Derby’s appetite for daytime and evening casual dining, is celebrating a milestone anniversary.

Seven opened in Pride Park ten years ago and was the brainchild of entrepreneur Halen Salloway who is a trained chef.

She wanted to open the first independently-run restaurant in Pride Park to support the growing business community there with a relaxed gastro experience from breakfast through to dinner.

Her plans were endorsed at the time by Derby City Council who backed the business under the Derby Enterprise Growth Fund initiative which aimed to support growth and job creation through a mix of loans and grants.

Today, Seven continues to be popular with business people but also the wider community from Derby and beyond with its delicious menu of dishes created using locally-sourced ingredients alongside an extensive drinks menu and outstanding customer service.

Helen was joined in the business by son Campbell in 2015 and the family also opened the White Hart in Duffield five years ago – supported by a team of nearly 100 people across both venues.

Helen said:

“I can’t believe it is ten years since we first opened Seven which has achieved way beyond our expectations and I like to think that we have had a big impact on the restaurant scene in the city.

“My original goal was to have a restaurant in Pride Park where people could meet up or work, enjoy contemporary yet affordable British fayre and benefit from free parking, Wi-fi access and conference facilities.

“The local business community embraced our concept from day one but we are so much more than that.  We have a really eclectic customer base and now, post Covid, are busier than ever.”

Campbell Salloway continued:

“With three private dining and event spaces, we have people of all ages regularly coming for a quiet meal right through to celebration parties from baby showers to milestone birthdays and anniversaries.

“The common thread enjoyed by all our customers is that they choose whatever they want rather than being governed by the time of day. 

“Therefore, our team of chefs are flexible to customers’ needs – whether that was an early or late breakfast, coffee and cake, afternoon tea, a light bite or a three-course meal.”

With ten years under their belts, Helen and Campbell continue to be on the look out for the right venues to expand their casual dining concept.

Helen concluded:

“We are always open to expanding in the right premises and location and we continue to invest in our current sites to keep them fresh.

“Pride Park has changed so much over the past ten years and is now seen as a leisure destination as well as a place to do business.

“Seven has been instrumental in changing the way people in Derby think about casual dining and we are determined to remain at the forefront of this as lifestyles continue to change and the city carries on evolving.”

< Back