Operators including Fuller’s, the Botanist, Turtle Bay, Pret, Thaikhun, Brunning & Price, TGI Friday’s, Bella Italia, GBK, PizzaExpress and Wagamama are among the many names with new openings plans to report this week.
Fuller’s has opened its latest new-build pub, the Sail Loft on Greenwich Reach (pictured). It is part of a new development there, and has space for 300 people across two levels. Fuller’s Inns managing director Jonathon Swaine said: “The Sail Loft is a fantastic addition to our portfolio. It is set to be one of our flagship sites and I am looking forward to seeing this pub gain in popularity.”
Living Ventures’ Botanist concept is to open in Farnham in Surrey in early March. It has taken over space previously occupied by Café Rouge in the Townhall Buildings.
Turtle Bay has applied for permission to open in Solihull.
Pret a Manger is to open its first campus-based store at the University of Exeter in late April.
Thaikhun will open in Guildford in May, local media report. Chaophraya, its sister brand in the Thai Leisure Group, is meanwhile taking over the rooftop space at the Eldon Square centre in Newcastle.
The Restaurant Group has acquired six more sites for its Brunning & Price brand. It has picked up locations in Oxted in Surrey, St Albans, Preston, Banbury, Buckland near Reigate and Horley.
TGI Friday’s is opening at the Waterfront centre in Walsall on Friday (19 February). It will also open its 74th restaurant at Newcastle’s Metrocentre at the end of March—its third site in the city.
Bella Italia launched this week at the Silverburn shopping centre in Glasgow and will follow up with a launch at Kingston-upon-Thames next Wednesday (24 February). It has also just opened in Colliers Wood and Orpington in London, both on retail parks.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen is to open in Southampton next Monday (22 February). It will be its 70threstaurant in all. GBK has also lined up a opening in Bolton.
Pizza Express wants to open one of the first branches of its new ‘Delivered’ brand in Reading. Local media report that it has applied to take over an off-licence in the town.
Wagamama has confirmed its new restaurant in Bridgend will open a week on Monday (29 February). It will be at the McArthur Glen Outlet there.
Vietnamese brand Pho opened its 18th restaurant late last week, on Wheeler Street in Cambridge. It has 150 covers over two floors.
Loungers’ Cosy Club brand is to open in York. The city’s paper reports that it has taken over the Macdonalds furniture store on Fossgate and may open before the end of the year.
Mid-Western US barbecue concept Bodeans is to open its seventh London restaurant in Covent Garden on 1 April. It will have only 60 covers across 1,000 square feet. Bodeans already operates in Soho, Fulham, Old Street, Clapham, Tower Hill and Balham.
Shoryu Ramen will open in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens in April. It will be its first restaurant outside London, where it has four sites.
Nando’s is to open on the site previously occupied by JD Wetherspoon in Stanmore. The pub will close on 28 February, the Harrow Times reports.
Miller & Carter will take over the Three Nuns pub in Mirfield. It should reopen in mid-March
The Revolution Bars group is to open a branch of its Revolucion de Cuba bar brand in Stafford. It has applied to convert a former pub in the town.
Cocktail bar group Be At One has opened in Sheffield. It is the second brand in the north of England.
JD Wetherspoon is to open a pub and hotel in St Ives around late July, local media report.
Iberica is to open at Hepper House in Leeds—its seventh site.
A new healthy eating café and retail operation called the Larder opened on Pearson Square in Fitzrovia this week. It is open from 7.30am to 6pm from Mondays to Fridays and from 9am to 6pm on Saturdays.
Tapas restaurant El Gato Negro, previously based in Ripponden, will open on King Street in Manchester on Monday (22 February). It has a three-floor space with features including a cocktail bar and retractable roof.
Bristol pizzeria Flour & Ash has secured a second site in Wetbury-on-Trym. The deal was brokered by Christie & Co.
Thai group Patara has opened its firth London site on Berners Street. It has just marked its 25thanniversary year.
Soho Coffee Co has opened its first store in Dublin. It is on Aston Quay and operated by Dublin-based Egan Hospitality, who plan to open more units in Ireland under a master franchise agreement.
Fleet Street Kitchen, run by the Town & Country Inns group, is to open new branches in Leamington Spa, Mere Green in Sutton Coldfield and Lincoln.
The Urban Leisure Group has set April for the opening of its previously announced Heist Bankconcept in Paddington. It will offer wood-fired pizza and craft beer across a 6,000 square feet site.
