Le Bistrot Pierre is to increase its footprint in the West Midlands and the North with four new openings just announced. In the Midlands, it is moving into Staffordshire and Worcestershire with a launch at the Riverside Walk development in Kidderminster in early summer, and another to follow at the Friarsgate scheme in Lichfield in 2019. Further north, openings are due in Southport and Middlesbrough. Le Bistrot Pierre has recently launched in Altrincham, Weston-Super-Mare and Newport, with a launch due at the Mulberry Walk complex in Birmingham on 24 March. Co-founder Rob Beacham said: “We chose the new sites due to the potential they offer in terms of location, footfall and being part of significant retail and leisure initiatives within each town. We are delighted to be investing in the already thriving food and drink scenes in these regions.”
Loungers opens its latest Cosy Club bar and restaurant on the first floor of the Brewery Quarter in Cheltenham on Tuesday (28 February). It is a 17th location for the brand. It has also secured a site for a Lounge opening in Mansfield, where it will move into a disused bank building. It should launch there in the summer. The group’s other openings in the pipeline include the Brunello Lounge in Weston-Super-Mare on 29 March.
Carluccio’s has set 10 March for the opening of its new restaurant at the Mell Square shopping centre in Solihull. It will be a 94-cover site with a terrace for 42.
Hawksmoor has soft launched its seventh restaurant, on Winchester Walk in Borough, ahead of a full opening next Thursday (2 March).
Shaftesbury has announced five new restaurant lettings in the Chinatown region of London’s West End. They include Bubblewrap, a street snack waffle brand on Wardour Street; Hovarda, a Greek and Turkish concept which is taking a 5,670 square feet site on Rupert Street in the summer; XU, a Taiwanese bar and restaurant concept from the team behind BAO on the same street; Hot Pot, a Thai specialist on Wardour Street; and Leon, which has just opened on Shaftesbury Avenue. Julia Wilkinson, portfolio and group restaurant strategy executive at Shaftesbury, said: “The signing of all five brands reflects our curation of Chinatown London to create a destination that mirrors the changes taking place in East Asia, where old traditions are fusing with modern influences.”
Gaucho will open on Colmore Row in Birmingham in May. It will be a second site in the city for the group, which also has a branch of its CAU casual format on Brindleyplace.
The Restaurant Group’s Brunning & Price operation has opened a pub in Norwood Hill in Surrey called the Fox Revived. It is its first opening of the year, with several more due to follow.
Living Ventures has set 17 March for the launch of Grand Pacific, its major new colonial-style restaurant and bar on King Street in Manchester. It is in a site once run as the Manchester Reform Club. Chief executive Jeremy Roberts said: “We are delighted to bring this beautiful room back to life and echo its glorious past… Its heritage as a place to relax, eat and drink and enjoy some of the pleasures of life oozes from the walls.”
Duck & Waffle, the restaurant at the top floor of 110 Bishopsgate, is opening a fast casual concept called Duck & Waffle Local at St James’ Market. Founder Shimon Bokovza said: “We are now harnessing the energy of the brand and bringing it to the street in a more casual atmosphere that works for those who want the same high quality food and drink they are used to from Duck & Waffle—but want it to be quick and accessible.”
The Restaurant Group, are seeking new sites for their Joe’s Kitchen brand after the successful opening of York. Click here to view their nationwide property requirements.
New drinks hub concept TT Liquor opens on Kingsland Road next week. It features a basement cocktail bar as well as specialist liquor store, and will run events including cocktail making masterclasses and tasting experiences.
Pieminster is opening a branch in Waterloo Street in Birmingham, the Birmingham Mail reports.
Fast growing Thai brand Giggling Squid has confirmed an opening on Brentwood high street in April. It has also secured a location on the Montpelier area of Cheltenham.
Insomnia Coffee are looking to expand across the East Midlands, target locations include Lincoln, Leicester and Northampton. You can view their property requirements in full here.
The Handmade Burger Co has secured permission to open on Finkle Street in York, continuing a rapid expansion for the brand.
Celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo is to open a fourth site for his Gino D’Acampo My Restaurant brand on Parliament Street in Harrogate in June. It joins branches in Leeds, Manchester and London Euston station.
Asian noodle brand Chopstix is to open on Union Square in Aberdeen.
Patisserie Valerie has lined up an opening at the Friarsgate centre in Lichfield, joining a hot of brands due for the complex in 2019 including PizzaExpress, Zizzi and Starbucks.
Bens Cookies are looking for further sites in busy central London locations as well as regional cities such as Glasgow and Birmingham. Click here to view their property requirements.
TABLE, a ‘community eating house’ set up by chef Skye Gyngell with Photo London at Somerset House, will launch as a temporary installation from 17 to 21 May. It will offer a ‘Scratch Menu’ from leftovers and waste from Gyngell’s Spring restaurant.
BrewDog opens its DogTap USA bar at its brewery in Columbus in Ohio this week.
Zia Lucia, a neighbourhood pizzeria have instructed a London property agent to find them new sites in the Capital. Click here to view their property requirements.
Other brands that have new property requirements include, Brick & Liquor, Randy’s Wing Bar, The Fat Turk and McMullen & Sons
