Le Bistrot Pierre is continuing a push into the Midlands with a new site in the Mulberry Walk development in Mere Green near Sutton Coldfield. It will open in February 2017. Le Bistrot Pierre’s next opening will be in Weston-Super-Mare next Friday (9 September), followed by Altrincham in November and Swansea in the spring. Brands including Prezzo and Caffe Nero have already signed up to the Mulberry Walk scheme. Le Bistrot Pierre’s co-founder Rob Beacham said: “The opportunity to open another bistrot in Mulberry Walk was an opportunity too good to miss. The bistrot will be a welcome addition to our growing portfolio across the UK as Mere Green benefits from major regeneration and is in a sought-after location.”
CAU will open at the Royal Priors shopping centre in Leamington Spa in the next couple of weeks. The brand is now past the 20-restaurant mark.
ASK Italian has lined up three more new openings before the end of the year—at the Grey’s Quarter development at intu Eldon Square in Newcastle; at Bond Street in Chelmsford; and at the Centre: MK in Milton Keynes. ASK Italian managing director Harry Heeley said: “We’re looking forward to bringing the ASK Italian recipe of delicious, classic dishes, warm service and fresh design to even more hungry diners around the UK with these new openings each in prime retail locations which should see high footfall in the run up to the busy Christmas period.” ASK has also been confirmed for a restaurant at the Arndale centre in Eastbourne, alongside brands including Nando’s, Byron, Frankie & Benny’s and Wagamama.
Mexican group Wahaca is the latest brand to sign up to the South Andrew Street development in Edinburgh. It has set an opening date of 10 October.
Late-night operator the Deltic Group is to open a new branch of its Pryzm brand in Plymouth. It will be the result of a conversion of an existing site at Barbican Leisure Park. The venue will also incorporate a new Steinbeck & Shaw bar concept. They will open in late October.
Turtle Bay officially opened its latest new restaurant on Swan Lane in Norwich on Tuesday (30 August). It is a 180-cover unit.
Tortilla has submitted an application to open at the intu Eldon Square development in Newcastle, local media report. It would join brands opening there including TGI Friday’s, Chiquito, Smashburger, Frankie & Benny’s, Bella Italia and Giraffe. Tortilla meanwhile opened its first restaurant in the Middle East yesterday (30 August)—at the Festival City Mall in Dubai.
Healthy fast food operator Chop’d has opened its first site outside of London—on Cross Street in Manchester. Chop’d is now up to a dozen stores in London, but is ambitious to open more sites beyond the capital now.
The Market Place shopping centre in Bolton has confirmed an opening from Gourmet Burger Kitchen in October. It will take on a site next to Nando’s there. Market Place will also host the opening of a new branch of piri piri chicken concept Pepe’s a few weeks earlier.
Canada’s Tim Hortons coffee shop and on the go brand is to make its debut in the UK after agreeing a master franchise deal. The identity of the partner has not yet been revealed. Daniel Schwartz, chief executive of Restaurant Brands International, said: “This deal is part of our growth plan to take the iconic Tim Hortons brand around the world. Great Britain is an attractive QSR market with a strong and growing coffee culture so it is a natural fit for the brand.”
The Real Greek has been confirmed as the latest addition to the WestQuay Watermark development in Southampton. It will be taking a 325 square metre unit on the lower promenade of the scheme. Project Pie, a US-based build-your-own-pizza franchise operation, will also open in Southampton, adding it to venues in Bromley and Dundee. The first phase of WestQuay Watermark is due to open later this year. Sarah Fox, head of restaurants and leisure at Hammerson, commented: “Each restaurant allows visitors to enjoy a different taste from around the world, building on the vibrant mix of global cuisine that the development already promises to deliver.”
Chicago Rib Shack is opening a new restaurant in Aldgate East. It will be a 125 cover site and should open in the first few weeks of October. It will be the fifth Chicago Rib Shack in all.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen has confirmed 12 September for the opening of its latest new restaurant in Exeter. It is situated at the Queen Street dining quarter of the Guildhall retail development.
