The Draft House
Brakspear will open its ninth managed pub in late November—the Retreat in Staines. It is a transfer of a pub called the Anglers Retreat from its tenanted estate. Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said: “We are delighted to be adding the Retreat to our managed division and turning it into somewhere that is modern and stylish but still at heart a locals pub, where our customers can relax and unwind at the end of a busy day or week. The Retreat is the perfect name for what we will be offering when we reopen.”
The Draft House has officially opened its latest new pub in Milton Keynes. It is the group’s ninth pub and its first outside London. You can view their property requirements here.
Five Guys officially opened on Orford Place in Norwich this week. It is a 120-cover restaurant over two floors. Five Guys continue to seek new sites across the UK, you can view their target towns here.
MOD Pizza has set 10 November for the opening of its third UK location, at the Intu Metrocentre in Gateshead.
Prezzo has signed to open at the Marischal Square development in Aberdeen. It would be a second restaurant for the brand in the city, joining one on Union Square.
Tortilla has reached the milestone of 30 restaurants with an opening on Russell Square in London on Monday (17 October). It has also lined up openings at the revamped Intu Eldon Square in Newcastle and Cribbs Causeway in the next few weeks.
City-based Middle Eastern street food concept Pilpel will open a fifth location on Alie Street in Aldgate on Monday (24 October). It will focus on falafel, houmous and saabich dishes, to eat in or take away. The new site has 50 covers over 1,850 square feet. Pilpel plans to open two more sites by the end of next year. Founder Uri Dinay said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of our fifth site in London as part of the new Aldgate development. We have quite a following in the City already serving fresh, healthy food with exceptional service and lots of love. We’re confident this will be a great new location for us.”
Oakman Inns is to open in Olney in Buckinghamshire after paying £1.5m for Westlands House, a Grade II listed former care home. It will now be seeking planning permission to turn it into The Cherry Tree, named after the cherry festival in the town each June. The site will be Oakman’s 18th pub in all. Its next new opening is Banyers House in Royston, which opens on 2 December. Chief executive Peter Borg-Neal said: “I have long been an admirer of Olney and have always wanted to have an Oakman Inn in the town. We like this part of the world, and the runaway success of the Navigation Inn at Cosgrove has provided further encouragement. We’re always looking to continue to grow our reputation for providing a modern, relaxing atmosphere and a welcoming environment.”
All you can eat buffet concept Nines has acquired a second site in Swansea, to open in the next couple of weeks. It is a 230-cover site. Nines opened its first restaurant in Cambridge earlier this year.
Five Guys has confirmed an opening at the Merry Hill retail centre in Dudley, as it nears 50 UK restaurants in all. It should be open in early December.
Prezzo will open in the Reading suburb of Woodley in December, local media report.
Street food operator Squid Kitchen has taken up a residency at the 119 Lower Clapton café in Hackney.
Barburrito, Pret a Manger, Wrapchic and Subway have all signed to open at the Meadowhall centre in Sheffield as part of a revamp of the Oasis Dining Quarter.
Young’s is opening a new pub at the CB1 development in Cambridge. It is due to launch in the spring.
Café and coffee shop concept Nordic Bakery is opening on Neal Street near Covent Garden—its fourth London site in all. It should be open by the end of November.
Counter Kitchen, a new all-day healthy eating concept, opened on Goswell Road in Clerkenwell on Monday (17 October). It has a strapline of ‘Because Mother Nature Nailed It’, and sells dishes including hot bowls, salads, soups and cold press juices.
YO! Sushi is stepping up its expansion in the US with openings at Seaport Square in Boston next week and Madison Square Park in New York to follow.
Wagamama has just opened its first restaurant in Saudi Arabia. It is a 280-cover site in Jeddah that has been opened with franchise partner Prestige.
Following their recent acquisition in Nottingham, Red Dog Saloon continue to seek sites throughout London and the UK, click here to view.
Both Cocotte Rotisserie & Roka have announced plans to open sites in London, you can view their requirements here & here.
