JD Wetherspoon this week opened its largest ever pub in Ramsgate in Kent. The pub has a footprint of around 11,000 square feet, plus terraces, and is the result of a £4.5m spend. Wetherspoon is also lining up a launch in Liskeard in Cornwall, according to local reports.
Living Ventures has launched a branch of its Red Door cocktail bar concept on Call Lane in Leeds. Red Door already operates in Chester and Liverpool.
JKS Restaurants will open the second branch of its casual Sri Lankan brand Hoppers on Wigmore Street in Marylebone on 12 September. The restaurant will have 85 covers, plus 16 more outside and 24 in private dining areas, and will be slightly bigger than the original Hoppers in Soho, which opened in late 2015.
New World Trading Company has applied for permission to open a branch of its Botanist bar and restaurant brand at the Cathedral Lanes development in Coventry.
Loungers has signed to open a branch of its Cosy Club format at the new Lincoln Cornhill development. Local media report that it will launch early next year.
Marston’s is to open a new-build pub and restaurant at the major new residential development at North Bransholme in Hull.
The Castle Rock Brewery opens the Fox and Grapes pub at Sneinton Market in Nottingham on 7 September. It will become the 23rd pub for the brewery and follows a revamp of the old Peggers Inn.
Caribbean concept Cottons opens its fourth restaurant at St George’s Wharf in Vauxhall on 14 September. Cottons launched in 1985 and now has restaurants in Camden, Notting Hill and Shoreditch.
Arc Inspirations is opening its seventh Banyan Bar & Kitchen in Ilkley in October. It is a 5,000 square feet venue over two floors. Arc picked up the lease for the building on Station Road from Wildwood.
Healthy on the go group Crussh has just opened Fit Food & Juice Bar concessions within the stores of Holland & Barrett and Debenhams, both on Oxford Street in London.
Five Guys is to open at the Brewery Quarter development in Cheltenham in October.
City Pub Company has opened the Grapes on George Street in Oxford—its third pub in the city. It follows an acquisition from the St Austell Brewery.
The Cinnamon Collection will open its first restaurant outside London in October—Cinnamon Kitchen Oxford. The 4,000 square feet restaurant will have a bar area, chef’s table and private dining area, plus a rooftop terrace, and will be located in the Westgate Centre. It joins Cinnamon venues in Westminster, the City, Soho and Covent Garden. Founder Vivek Singh said: “We are delighted to be opening our first Cinnamon Kitchen in Oxford, the first restaurant for us outside London. The Westgate Centre is a breathtaking development and Oxford is a beautiful city, rich in culture.”
Shaftesbury has announced that a new Korean barbecue restaurant concept called Olle will open on Shaftesbury Avenue shortly. The 1,300 square feet restaurant has been set up by Charles Seo, who said: “Chinatown London’s draw as a world-class food destination makes it the ideal place for us to launch our new concept. Our menu, devised by Korean Head chefs, will offer a truly authentic Korean food in a contemporary setting, adding a modern touch to the traditional Korean cuisine experience.”
US-based Tex Mex operator Taco Bell is continuing its expansion into the UK by submitting plans for an opening on Bold Street in Liverpool.
A new restaurant concept called Flavour Bastard has opened on Frith Street in Soho. The 2,560 square feet site has been developed by restaurateur Vic Singh. The deal for the site, which was formerly occupied by Arbutus, was brokered by Shelley Sandzer.
Krispy Kreme has reached the milestone of 100 stores in the UK with a launch at the Intu Victoria retail centre in Nottingham.
Wagamama is recruiting for an opening in Reigate in Surrey, according to local media.
Pret a Manger has signed a franchise agreement in the US to open its first university stores in the country. The deal begins with the launch of two sites at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania this week, with another to follow at the University of Chicago in mid-September. The agreement is with Bon Appétit Management Company.
Leon is to open new restaurants in Scandinavia after signing a new arrangement with Umoe Restaurants in Norway. They have agreed up to 20 openings in Norway and Sweden in the last five years, with the first to launch in Oslo late this year or early next. Leon co-founder and chief executive John Vincent said: “I am so happy that we will be taking Leon to Norway and Sweden. I have huge admiration for the culture and the progressive values. Finding the right partner has been critical and we have found that with UMOE.”
Department of Coffee and Social Affairs is making a play for the US market by opening a site in Chicago—the first of six planned for the city. The brand currently has 13 sites in the UK, including in Bristol and Manchester as it seeks to expand beyond London. Chief executive Ashley Lopez said: “Our launch in the US is a natural progression following our success and market leading position in the UK speciality coffee market… By opening shops across Chicago within the coming months, we are laying the foundations, establishing our brand and values, before launching a completely new concept in the world of specialty coffee that we are all very excited about.”
