Stonegate Pub Company is opening a new branch of its Salsa! Latin American bar and restaurant brand next to Temple station in London. It will be a conversion of a former Walkabout bar there. The new bar will open in mid-September.
Whitbread is taking its new Bar + Block steakhouse concept to James Street Bath. The 132-cover restaurant continues Whitbread’s roll-out of the Bar + Block brand, which already has locations in Birmingham, King’s Cross and Whiteley. The Bath venue will open in September.
Yorkshire bar and club group Mavericks is to open four new venues in York, Harrogate, Skipton and Ilkley with support from Greene King. The partnership began last year with an opening in Bingley, its third venue. Mavericks is a 1980s themed bar and club concept that also has venues in Huddersfield and Horsforth.
The Draft House pub group has opened the Tankard in Kennington. It follows a refurb of the Victorian era pub, including a revamp of its roof terrace. The pub was previously part of the Grand Union group, acquired by the Draft House earlier this year.
Bill’s is opening at the Freeport development in Braintree on Monday (14 August). It has 130 covers and another 70 on a terrace.
Miller & Carter is opening a new restaurant in Bursledon near Southampton in late August.
Subway has hit the milestone of 2,500 sites in the UK with an opening in Keynsham near Bristol. It has adopted Subway’s new Fresh Forward design, which is being rolled out elsewhere in the Subway network.
The Alchemist bar and restaurant brand has confirmed three new openings in Cardiff, Bristol and Nottingham as its parent Living Ventures group continues an expansion around the UK. The Alchemist has just opened its tenth venue in Chester, and has two more to follow in Manchester and Oxford by the end of the year. Managing director Simon Potts said: “Cardiff, Nottingham and Bristol are all fantastic cities and I believe we have secured amazing locations in each of them.”
Westgate Oxford has announced another round of brands to open at the development in late October. Tommi’s, Nespresso, Grand Caffe Concerto, Krispy Kreme, Boost, Salt n Sauce, Crepes O Mania, Ned’s Noodle Bar and the Shake Lab have all signed up, joining previously confirmed restaurant brands including Polpo, Dirty Bones, the Alchemist and Pizza Pilgrims. Emma Mees, senior portfolio manager at Land Securities, said: “Today’s announcement will bolster our unique food and drink offering even further, and ensure that Westgate Oxford is truly a diverse and vibrant destination to visit.”
Italian steakhouse concept Macellaio RC has opened a fourth location on Northcote Road in Clapham. The 60-cover site joins restaurants in South Kensington, Exmouth Market and Union Street.
Greene King and KFC are each taking sites at the Nunnery Park development in Worcester.
Canadian coffeeshop chain Tim Hortons is likely to open up to 20 sites in Northern Ireland under its new franchise agreement for the UK and Ireland, the Belfast Telegraph reports. Most Northern Ireland branches will be in Belfast.
TGI Friday’s has applied to open at the Lexicon development in Bracknell. It will join brands there including Prezzo, Wagamama and Nando’s.
The San Carlo Italian group is opening a Fumo cocktail bar and restaurant on the fourth floor of the Selfridges store in Birmingham in the autumn. It will be a third joint opening between San Carlo in Selfridges, joining two in the Manchester branch, and the third Fumo location in all.
Hollywood Bowl has continued a programme of rebranded openings with the launch of Hollywood Bowl Tolworth. The revamp includes a new Hollywood Diner and bar.
Nando’s opens at the South Aylesford retail park on 23 August, according to local media.
The Ivy has submitted plans for an opening on Buchanan Street in Glasgow as it continues a roll-out of sub-brands, according to local media. The Ivy has a launch on St Andrew’s Square in Edinburgh lined up for the autumn, and has also just plans approved for an opening in Cheltenham.
A multi-site Sicilian restaurant group called Ciliegino is making a move into the UK with an opening in the St David’s Centre in Cardiff.