The Restaurant Group’s Concessions business has opened a new 7,000 square feet pub called The Smithfield at London Luton Airport. The airside pub is part of a major overhaul of the terminal, and will specialise in real ales including one brewed exclusively by Greene King. Nick Ayerst, Managing Director of TRG Concessions said: “The Smithfield shows TRG Concessions’ ambition to give LLA’s rapidly growing passenger audience the ultimate pub experience before their flight. The new pub will occupy a prime location in the terminal and we look forward to welcoming all who visit for years to come.”
Living Ventures’ The Alchemist brand is to open on King Street in Nottingham. It has taken on a unit previously run as a Hard Rock Café. Ben Tebbutt of Box Property, which brokered the deal, said: “This is a flagship deal for both Box Property and Nottingham—and perhaps the most exciting letting in years for the city.”
Living Ventures’ Gusto brand has opened its latest new restaurant in York—its 17th location in all. It is a 120-cover restaurant on Little Stonegate in the city. Gusto plans a couple more openings before the end of the year.
Cocktail bar group Dirty Martini is to take on a pub at Atlas House on King Street in Leeds, according to local reports. It continues an expansion beyond London for the brand.
Bodega, the Midlands-based Mexican bar and restaurant concept from the Bitters ‘n’ Twisted group, is opening in Sutton Coldfield in the autumn. It will be a fifth venue for the brand, joining Birmingham, Worcester, Derby and Leicester.
The Brewhouse & Kitchen group has picked up a site near Sophia Gardens in Cardiff—its first location in Wales.
Thai restaurant Chilli Banana is to open a sixth location in Knutsford later this year. The first site opened in Wilmslow 20 years ago, with others following in Macclesfield, Liverpool, Didsbury and Bramhall.
BrewDog is recruiting for a bar opening on Cowley Road in Oxford.
Miller & Carter plans to open on Union Street in Aberdeen by the end of the year, local media report.
All-day Hawaiian restaurant concept Ahi Poké has opened its second site, at the Nova development in Victoria. It is a primarily takeaway operation, and joins the original Ahi Poké in Fitzrovia as the brand attempts an expansion.
Soho Coffee Co has opened on Grosvenor Street in Mayfair. It is a second London opening in a week for the brand, and its seventh launch of 2017 in all.
Thai barbecue concept Smoking Goat is to open a second restaurant on Redchurch Street in Shoreditch in the autumn. It will join the original Smoking Goat on Denmark Street in Soho.
The Burning Night Group will open its fifth Yorkshire Potting Shed operation in Northallerton on 11 August. It will join venues in Beverley, Bingley, Guiseley and Leeds, with a sixth to come in Harrogate.
A new all-day coffeeshop and bar called Boki will open on Earlham Street in Seven Dials in London shortly. More London launches are planned.
The Lussmans Fish & Grill group has opened on Tring High Street following a refurb of an old bank building there. It is the group’s sixth restaurant, joining sites in St Albans, Hertford, Harpenden and Hitchin.
Five Guys has set 31 July for the opening of its Croydon restaurant.
A new café and bar concept called Coal Rooms is to open on the site of the old Peckham Rye train station’s ticket office in mid-August. It will have an open kitchen and robata grill, and has been developed by the team behind Peckham’s Old Spike Roastery and Aside.
CBRE Global Investors has signed a new British restaurant from chef James Cochran to its Angel Central shopping centre in Islington. The 2,100 square feet, 60-cover restaurant will open in late summer. It joins operators at Angel Central including Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Wagamama.
