The ETM Group has unveiled three new openings before the end of the year. The first will be Burdock, an all-day 100-cover bar serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and drinks including tank beers and cocktails. It will be housed within the Royal London House hotel in Finsbury Square and should open in September. The hotel will also host ETM’s second launch, a 6,000 square feet rooftop restaurant and bar called Aviary. The third new opening will be Greenwood, a two-floor, 11,000 square feet pub at the Nova development in Victoria, which is expected to launch late in 2016. ETM co-founder Tom Martin said: “We are delighted to be bringing our pubs, bars and restaurants to two more central London locations and at such interesting developments. Our first rooftop venture is very exciting and being selected to be part of all that is happening at Nova, Victoria is a privilege.”
Leon has just opened its 38th restaurant at the Brunswick centre by Russell Square. The launch comes as Leon announced a new £19m funding deal with OakNorth that will support 50 new openings in the next four years. Co-founder John Vincent said: “We are so happy that people across the country ask us to bring LEON to their towns and cities, and that we have 700 young people working with us who want to grow and progress. This significant amount of money makes it possible for us to achieve both these things, and takes us a step closer to achieving our aim of making it easy for everyone to eat and live well.”
Wagamama’s latest new opening will be in Peterborough next month.
Latin American operator Las Iguanas will open its latest new restaurant in Braintree on 22 August. It has taken a unit in a new extension of the Freeport Designer Village there. The restaurant will have 169 covers inside and another 40 outside.
Carluccio’s has signed for its first restaurant in Edinburgh. It has joined the line-up at the South St Andrew Square development in the city, taking a 4,400 square feet unit on a 25 year lease. It should open in early 2018. The deal was brokered by Savills.
Intertain has exchanged contracts on a site for a Walkabout bar in Chelmsford. The unit has previously been operated by JD Wetherspoon as the Thomas Mildmay pub. Intertain chief executive John Leslie said: “This new site presents a fantastic opportunity for us. Situated overlooking the river in an excellent location in busy Chelmsford, the bar itself offers a large and adaptable space ideally suited to a new-style Walkabout. After we have completed the building work, we will be able to offer excellent live sport, zoned VIP areas, brilliant party nights and a great daytime food offer.”
Splendid Restaurants’ US-inspired fried chicken concept Absurd Bird will open its second restaurant on Peter Street in Soho in the next few weeks, as well as plans for sites in Exeter and Bath. The Soho restaurant joins the original Absurd Bird in Spitalfields, which opened in March. The second site will be a 40-cover restaurant with a basement bar, and will also offer takeaway. Splendid now wants to open ten more new sites over the next five years. Group operations director Mark Hall said: “Our second London site, while different in many ways from our flagship in Commercial Street, still retains its eclectic Southern menu with an interior exuding some old school Southern charm and we are confident it will trade well. Autumn launches planned for Exeter and Bath represent excellent regional opportunities for Absurd Bird, with prime locations in new dining quarters within high footfall shopping centres.”
Five Guys has lined up an opening on St Nicholas Street in Aberdeen in October. It is a sixth restaurant in Scotland for the brand. View their property requirements here.
The Four Sisters Townhouse, a second venue from Andrew Green and Simon Bastable, the team behind Four Sisters bar in Islington, is now in soft launch off Bow Lane in the City. It is modelled on a Victorian gentleman’s club
Nando’s has agreed an opening in Eltham. It will form part of a new retail and leisure development there that should open in 2018.
Ramen restaurant Tonkotsu will open at the bullring in Birmingham on 5 September. It has taken up space in the Selfridges food hall there.
South east pizza and cocktails operator The Snug will open in Aylesbury next Friday (19 August).
Franco Manca and Thaikhun are the latest brands to sign up to the major WestQuay Watermark development in Southampton. They have taken 130 square metres and 290 square metre units respectively. Hammerson’s £85m Watermark development is due to open before the end of the year, and has already signed up around 15 other restaurant brands. The final names are expected to be announced soon.
Pizza and cider operator The Stable has secured permission to open in Kingston.
Patisserie Valerie has just opened at the Mall shopping centre in Camberley. It has also lined up another opening in Dundee. It has applied for permission on a unit on the high street there.
Papa John’s has opened two new sites in Bournemouth and Southampton.
Northamptonshire burger brand Frank’s Hamburger House is opening in Long Buckby. It already has restaurants in Northampton, Wellingborough, Cogenhoe and Towcester.
Welcome Break has officially reopened its motorway service station at Sarn Park off the M4, home to brands including Starbucks and Burger King.
Madrid-based pizza restaurant brand Telepizza are now actively looking for new sites across the UK. View their property requirements here.
