New World Trading Company has secured a site in Liverpool for the second branch of its new bar and restaurant concept The Florist. The Liverpool Echo reports that it is taking over a site previously run as the Old Blind School pub restaurant on Hardman Street. The new venue is scheduled to open in early 2018. New World Trading Company recently announced the first location for the Florist brand in Bristol.
Casual Dining Group has signed a franchise deal that will see branches of its Las Iguanas and Bella Italia open in the Republic of Ireland. The partnership with restaurateur Robert O’Donoghue will see the first Las Iguanas site open in either Dublin or Cork in early 2018. Mark Nelson, managing director of concessions and franchising at Casual Dining Group, said: “We have several brands that have cut their teeth in the UK and are now earning their stripes across the globe. Ireland was a natural fit for a franchise partner, due to its cultural similarities with the UK. We’re delighted to have an experienced, hands-on operator like Robert flying the flag for our Las Iguanas and Bella Italia brands.
Stonegate Pub Company’s sports bar brand Felson’s opened its third site in Birmingham this week. It offers pool tables and various games as well as food and drink.
Revolution Bars Group has secured planning consent for a Revolucion de Cuba opening on Temple Street in Birmingham.
Asian on-the-go brand Itsu has signed a lease deal to open at the Retail Arcade next to the Shard skyscraper and London Bridge station in London. The store should be open by the end of the year.
Zizzi opens its latest new restaurant at the Oracle shopping centre in Reading in November. Brands already operating at the revamped centre include Wagamama, Bella Italia, Cote and Five Guys.
Darwin & Wallace has secured a site for its sixth neighbourhood bar and restaurant, in Wimbledon. It should open in the spring. Managing director Mel Marriott said: “After a long hunt for the perfect spot for Darwin & Wallace in Wimbledon, I am delighted to have finally found this wonderful space, centrally located and adjacent to the station in the midst of Wimbledon’s vibrant town centre.” Darwin & Wallace’s first five bars are in Pimlico. Clapham, Richmond, Chiswick and Battersea.
Nando’s has confirmed plans to open on Edge Lane in Liverpool in late 2018—its fourth restaurant in the city.
The Ivy Collection has announced the opening of a new restaurant in King’s Cross called Granary Square Brasserie. The 250-cover restaurant will open on Granary Square on 6 December. It will be an all-day operation with a central bar for evening drinks and DJ, and a 73-cover outdoor terrace.
Indian street food brand Mowgli opened at the Grand Central development in Birmingham this week. It is a 140-cover restaurant and the fourth for the operator, following two in Liverpool and one in Manchester. Another new opening is slated for Leeds in the spring.
The Three Cheers Pub Co has reopened the Princess Victoria in Shepherd’s Bush after a refurb.
Shoryu Ramen opens its 11th restaurant next Monday (23 October), on Great Eastern Street in Shoreditch. Another opening will follow close behind at the Westgate centre in Oxford.
Pret will open a store in the Nugent shopping centre in Orpington in Kent by the end of the year, local media report.
Wreckfish, a new restaurant supported by a crowdfunding round of £200,000, opens on Slater Street in Liverpool’s Ropewalks on Monday (23 October).
New York-style burger restaurant Bleecker has opened its third site, at the Bloomberg Arcade in the City. It has 40 covers inside and 20 outside. The first two Bleeckers are in Old Spitalfields Market and Victoria.
Wasabi this week launched its first sushi counter in partnership with Marks & Spencer, at its Westfield Stratford store. More openings are due in the next few weeks on Oxford Street and Marble Arch in central London, and in Kingston and Milton Keynes.
Cocktail bar brand Dirty Martini will open its Leeds branch next month, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports.
Italian restaurant La Tagliata has secured a second its—on the corner of WhItfield Street and Grafton Way in Fitzrovia. The two-floor venue over 3,300 square feet will open in November. The first La Tagliata opened in Spitalfields. The deal for the second site was brokered by Shelley Sandzer.
Ei Publican Partnerships has agreed a deal for a third pub with Knutsford-based operator Stephen Evans—the Old Rathbone in Frankby, previously known as the Farmer’s Arms. It reopened on Thursday (19 October) after a £250,000 joint investment.
Street food operators Bunnymans, The Gravy Train Poutine, Greek Food4Festivals, Tikks Thai Kitchen, and Meli Patisserie are the latest names to join the revolving list of brands at the Trinity kitchen area of the Trinity Leeds shopping centre. They will stay there for the next eight weeks.
