French brasserie chain Cote is planning to reopen a further 7 sites before the end of July, following the successful reopening of 3 locations across London. The reopened sites will have a reduced menu, shorter opening hours and accommodate groups of up to 6 guests alongside an adapted table layout to facilitate social distancing.
3Sixty Restaurants has reopened 9 of its Ego sites, with a further 6 set to reopen on Thursday July 23. The reopening date of the remaining 6 sites has yet to be decided.
Azzurri Group has begun a phased reopening of both the ASK and Zizzi brands, with an initial wave of 39 sites opened on Monday July 20 with disposable menus and card only payments part of new safety measures.
A further 60 Pizza Hut restaurants have reopened on Monday July 20, with a further 16 planned throughout July, meaning two thirds of the estate will be open by the end of the month. The reopening of sites has been sped up following the chancellor’s announcement of the Eat Out To Help Out scheme.
French bakery and café brand Paul UK has opened for dine-in customers at 21 sites across London with Perspex screens at counters and contactless payments encouraged.
Hawaiian concept Island Poke has reopened half of its sites with the remaining locations due to open on Monday July 27. To coincide with the reopening, it has launched a broader menu with some lower price points introduced in anticipation of consumers being more cautious about their spending. It has also announced the opening of second and third locations in France following the successful launch of first site in Paris in June.
Bettys & Taylors has announced a phased reopening strategy of its cafes, with Harrogate and Northallerton sites the first planned to open on Monday July 27, followed by a further 3 sites on Monday August 3.
The Botanist has announced a further 3 sites will be open by the end of the month, following the successful reopening of 12 sites so far across the UK. The New World Trading Company owned brand has installed hand sanitiser station around sites and is only allowing cashless payments to keep guests and staff safe.
London based US comfort food brand Dirty Bones has reopened sites in Kensington and Oxford this week, with plans to reopen Soho location next Wednesday August 5.
JKS Restaurants’ Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Gymkhana in Mayfair is to reopen from Tuesday July 28. JKS Restaurants has now opened 4 sites since restrictions were lifted, including Michelin-starred Trishna, which has reopened this week.
Wagamama has now reopened 18 of its sites across the UK for dine-in customers, using Japanese style Shoji screens on their benches to separate guests from different parties. The company is planning to have the entire estate open by September.
TRG – owned Frankie & Benny’s now has 18 sites across the UK open for dine-in customers with reduced opening hours and a limited menu to allow for social distancing in kitchens. A further 13 sites will be opening on Monday July 27 with further reopenings planned throughout August.
Casual Dining Group has reopened 6 concessionary sites at Center Parcs villages with a new menu for collection and delivery only. The remaining 6 sites located within Center Parcs will be reopening on Monday July 27 when all sites will resume full dine-in service.
The Rick Stein Group has announced plans to transform the cookery school site in Padstow into a pop-up restaurant until the school can reopen in the Autumn. The space will be open from Wednesdays to Sundays showcasing fish and seafood from Cornwall.
Harrods has opened a standalone bar in partnership with Baccarat. The Baccarat Bar is located beneath the Knightsbridge department store, but a separate entrance allows it to remain open until midnight.
McDonald’s has reopened around half of its sites for dine-in customers, with guests able to order food at till points, through the app or touchscreen kiosks. The circa 700 restaurants will be offering table service only and all customers will be required to leave contact details electronically, either through a QR code or a web page.
Whitbread has announced that entire portfolio of circa 750 restaurants will be open by Wednesday August 5 and brand such as Bar + Block, Beefeater and Brewer’s Fayre will be participating in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
YO! has reopened 3 sites this Wednesday July 22 and another 5 sites will be opening on Saturday July 25. The sites will not have the conveyor belt in operation and instead will be relying on table service while the company works on its new and improved belt system to provide a contactless dining experience.
Tasty has now reopened 33 of its 56 strong estate, including 29 Wildwood sites and 4 out of 5 Dim T locations.
Boparan Restaurant Group is planning to begin gradually opening recently acquired Carluccio’s estate, starting with 2 sites in London next Thursday July 30 with 3 more openings in the capital planned for the following week.
Restaurant and bar company Wright & Bell is planning to relaunch the South Bank favourite The Green Room following the closure last year. The Green Room #2 will open on Friday July 31 as an outdoor space offering pizza and cocktails alongside dishes from other Wright & Bell venues.
See last week’s edition of Reopenings round-up.
