Hawksmoor will open its sixth London restaurant near Borough Market in February. It has acquired a 140-cover unit over two floors on Winchester Walk. Hawksmoor’s other London restaurants are on Air Street, Guildhall, Seven Dials, Spitalfields and Knightsbridge. It has another in Manchester and a planned opening in New York.
Enterprise Inns has reached the milestone of 100 managed pubs as it continues a rapid roll-out of a strategy unveiled 16 months to grow the managed side of the business. The latest opening is the Caerphilly Cwtch, run under Enterprise’s Craft Union Pub Company. It is Craft Union’s 70th pub in all. Enterprise Inns chief executive Simon Townsend said: “Not only does today’s news demonstrate the excellent progress we are making against our strategy of growing our managed estate, but more significantly, it is the perfect example of our purpose to put great pubs back at the heart of local communities.”
The new Boxpark Croydon has named the 35 operators who will be in place when it launches on 31 October. They include MeatLiquor, Arancina, Bao Bao, Chilango and The Breakfast Club. For the full line-up, click here.
The Revolution Bars Group has confirmed three openings for its Revolucion de Cuba brand before the end of the year—in Harrogate, Reading and Aberdeen.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen has signed up to the new Redrock development in Stockport. The scheme should launch towards the end of next year. Other brands including PizzaExpress and Zizzi have already been confirmed there.
Wagamama will open on Colchester High Street soon, local media report. A licensing application is in and Wagamama hopes to be open by Christmas.
US-based chef Dominique Ansel has opened his first Europe-based bakery on Elizabeth Street in London. Dominique Ansel Bakery already operates in Soho and West Village in New York, and in Tokyo. The London shop is a two-storey location with the bakery and seating on the first floor and kitchens on the second.
L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, reportedly the oldest pizzeria in Italy, is to launch in the UK after securing a site on Church Street in Stoke Newington. The Naples restaurant will operate here under a franchise agreement.
Nando’s will open in Worthing after agreeing a deal on a site at the Montague centre. It should be open towards the end of next year.
The Tasty Group’s Wildwood brand has opened in Llandudno—its first restaurant in Wales.
JD Wetherspoon opened its first ever standalone hotel on Tuesday (4 October) – the Sandford House in Huntingdon. You can view JD Wetherspoon’s property requirements here.
Redcomb Pubs has taken on the Old Shades pub in Whitehall. The pub was previously run by Faucet Inn. You can view Redcomb Pubs property requirements here.
A new chips-based concept called HipChips will open on Old Compton Street in London towards the end of the month. It will sell chips alongside various dips.
Costa is launching a new concept store that will sell alcoholic drinks for the first time. The site in Wandsworth Old Town will also offer various speciality coffees as well as alcohol from 4pm each day. Several other coffeeshop and on-the-go brands have extended their offer into alcoholic drinks in the last few years.
Le Comptoir Libanais has opened its new restaurant in Exeter—its first launch in the south west.
The Absurd Bird deep fried chicken concept from Splendid Restaurants has also opened in Exeter—its first restaurant outside London. It has taken on a unit at the Guildhall centre, where several other brands have launched lately.
Papa John’s has opened in Dundee.
London restaurants Ethos & Farmer J are looking to gain further representation in the Capital, you can view their property requirements here & here.
