The Botanist, Manchester
New World Trading Company is to open a branch of its Botanist bar and restaurant concept in Sheffield. It will be in Leopold Square in the city centre, on a 9,500 square feet spot within a Grade II listed building. It is New World’s ninth location, joining Manchester, Chester, Alderley Edge, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Marlow, Farnham and Knutsford. Managing director Chris Hill said: “We are incredibly excited to bring The Botanist concept to Sheffield. The character and atmosphere of Leopold Square is the perfect location for our brand and we look forward to making Sheffield our next home.”
The Stable, the cider and pizza concept backed by Fuller’s, has set 21 April for the opening of its first London venture in Whitechapel. It will be the Stable’s 14th location in all. Co-founder Richard Cooper said: “East London is about authenticity. Everyone is looking for the ultimate burger, gallery, graffiti, bikes, beards, you name it. Our restaurants are a cathedral to cider, 80 variants representing the very finest of the art, the pinnacle, a Mecca for cider lovers. So it follows that we should have a cathedral to cider in London – like the Apple Store in Oxford Street. And it’s a very British thing, cider, so it follows that it should be accompanied with the finest British produce. It will appeal to young and old alike because what unites them is an attitude that is to seek out the finest expression of authenticity.”
All Bar One, TGI Friday’s and Hollywood Bowl have all signed up to open at the WestQuay Watermark development in Southampton. All Bar One is taking a 420 square metre unit overlooking the square’s plaza, while TGI Friday’s has secured a 740 square metre plot. They all form part of a 17,000 square metre leisure and dining scheme that will launch at WestQuay later this year. It is now 83% let, and other brands to have signed there include Wahaca, Byron, Bill’s, Cabana, Five Guys and Red Dog Saloon. Hammerson’s head of restaurants and leisure Sarah Fox said: “Hollywood Bowl, All Bar One and TGI Friday’s are all fantastic brands to welcome to the scheme… this is testament to the development as well as to the city as a vibrant leisure, dining and retail hub.”
All-day café operator Boston Tea Party has moved into Warwickshire with the opening of a venue in Stratford-upon-Avon. It is its 18th venue in all.
The Open House group’s new all-day bar and restaurant concept The Lighterman has opened in King’s Cross. It is on Granary Square in the area, and covers three floors plus outside space. It is Open House’s third opening, joining Percy & Founders and The Larder in Fitzrovia.
Darwin & Wallace’s fourth venue in Chiswick will be called No 197 Chiswick Fire Station, the company has announced. It will officially open on 26 April. Darwin & Wallace has also just announced the acquisition of its fifth location, as part of the regeneration of Battersea Power Station.
Nando’s opened at the Feethams leisure complex in Darlington yesterday (30 March). It is a 96-cover restaurant.
Mexican concept Barburrito has opened at the Qube II development at the intu Metrocentre in Gateshead. It is the brand’s 19th location in all. More operators are to launch at Qube II over the next few weeks.
Fuller’s will open on Burnt Ash Road in south east London after acquiring the Lord Northbrook pub there.
Pret a Manger has opened at Dubai International Airport—its first location in the United Arab Emirates.
Bill’s has opened in Greenwich. It is a 150-cover site over two floors.
Hummus Bros has launched its sixth restaurant in Eastcheap in the City. Its other locations are in Cheapside, Exmouth Market, Gray’s Inn Road, Holborn and Soho.
Glasgow-based pub operator Rosemount Taverns has applied to open at a unit run by Costa Coffee on Reform Street in Dundee, according to local media. Its proposal involves turning the site into an all-day bistro-style restaurant. Rosemount already runs six premises in Dundee.
Villagio, the casual dining concept run by Richoux, has opened its eighth venue in Canterbury.
Ribble Valley Inns will open its sixth site in Great Warford in Cheshire this summer. It acquired the Stag’s Head pub two years ago and has been refurbishing it since.
The West Berkshire Brewery wants to open a first pub and new brewery after launching a £1.5m crowdfunding campaign via the Seedrs platform. The brewery site has been earmarked for Yattendon in Berkshire.
Ibiza-based Skinny Kitchen has opened its previously-announced first UK restaurant in Bournemouth.
Stonegate Pub Company has reopened Henry’s Café Bar Piccadilly after a £400,000 refurb.
Greggs has moved into Northern Ireland with a managed opening in Belfast. It is on the Boucher Retail Park there.
