Hubbox, The Alchemist and Bill’s have all been confirmed for openings at the Gunwharf Quays development in Portsmouth. The first to open shortly is US burger and barbecue concept Hubbox, followed by The Alchemist in November and all-day operator Bill’s in spring 2020. The three lettings were signed by Landsec, and follow recent openings from brands including Pho and Cosy Club.
YO! Sushi has opened its first full-service restaurant under the YO! Kitchen brand in White City Westfield. The 2,400 square feet restaurant is an izakaya-style operation with shared tables and sharing plates. YO! chief executive Richard Hodgson said: “After 22 years and almost 100 YO! openings across Europe, Australia and the UAE, we are excited to continue our Japanese food journey with a new concept.”
Sticks ‘n’ Sushi opens its ninth UK restaurant on Beak Street in Soho on 9 October. The two-floor restaurant will have 170 covers.
Indian street food style brand Mowgli opened on St Martin’s Square in Leicester this week. The company now has ten restaurants in all around the UK.
Wagamama has just opened a new restaurant on Old Street in Shoreditch.
Stonegate Pub Company has just opened a Slug & Lettuce on Long Row in Nottingham, after converting a branch of its Yates brand.
The Ivy has been confirmed for an opening at The Hayes in Cardiff in the next few months. It is a first site in Wales for the group.
Mediterranean restaurant group Ego has opened a new location in Lickey End in Bromsgrove. It follows a conversion of a Harvester restaurant there. Ego now has 20 locations in all.
TRG Concessions has opened a new operation called Bocco Kitchen & Bar airside at Aberdeen Airport. It specializes in sourdough pizza, pasta and cocktails.
All-day café, restaurant and bar group Bear has just opened at the Intu Derby shopping centre. It is a second site in the town for the brand, which also has sites in Uttoxeter and Stone, and a concession within the Jack Wills store in Soho.
Bill’s will open on Spinningfields in Manchester in late October. It is a relocation for the operation in the city, from John Dalton Street.
Thai street food brand Zaap Thai has opened in York. It has succeeded a branch of Gourmet Burger Kitchen on Lendal in the city. Zaap Thai also has restaurants in Leeds, Nottingham and Newcastle.
Bolton brewery Blackedge is to open its first standalone bar in Westhoughton. The Brewery Tap will open on 27 September.
Tony Macaroni has just opened at Victoria Square in Belfast. It successes a branch of Chiquito in the unit.
Berkshire brewery Wild Weather Ales opens its first pub in Reading on Friday (20 September). It has renamed the Eldon Arms in the town to the Weather Station.
Tex Mex group Taco Bell is to open on Broad Street in Reading as it continues its rapid rollout in the UK. It is also about to open in Hull.
Neighbourhood bar and kitchen Loyal Tavern has opened in Bermondsey. It has been set up by Adam White of Riding House Café and Tom Cenci, formerly of Duck & Waffle, and has replaced Village East in Bermondsey, which was part of White’s group.
US-based Mexican restaurant group Toca Madera is to open at the new Treehouse hotel on Langham Place in London in November.
All-day bar, café and restaurant group The Coppa Club opens in the Lanes in Brighton on Monday (23 September). It is a 3,600 square feet venue with a terrace. It will become the seventh Coppa Club, after Henley-on-Thames, Maidenhead, Sonning, St Paul’s, Streatley-on-Thames and Tower Bridge.
