Arc Inspirations will open two new venues in Manchester in the autumn: a 230-cover Manhatta site on Deansgate and a second venue in the city for its Banyan Bar & Kitchen brand, at Spinningfields. The openings will take Arc’s total number of venues to 18. The US-influenced premium all-day Manhatta venue joins two others in Leeds, while the Banyan site will be Arc’s eighth, with another Manchester location on Exchange Square. Arc CEO Martin Wolstencroft said: “Our passion is creating an eco-system of bars that all provide something different for the local community. We’ve honed our craft over the past two decades and developed a portfolio of brands that do just that—they work cohesively together in close proximity without cannibalising custom from one other.”
Cocktail bar brand Be At One has announced plans to open in Chelmsford. It will launch in July after a £500,000 refurbishment of a 4,000 square feet former late-night venue in the city. Shelley Sandzer acted on its behalf in the deal. Be At One is also about to reopen its bar on Board Lane in Leeds shortly. Managing director Andrew Stones said: “We’re delighted to bring Be At One to Essex for the first time and believe that our bar will deliver something new and exciting to the bar scene in Chelmsford city centre. There is currently a gap for a specialist cocktail bar operator in the city and we believe that our new guests will enjoy the unique Be At One experience.”
Mitchells & Butlers’ expanding steakhouse brand Miller & Carter has signed to open at the Milburngate leisure and retail development in Durham. Pitcher & Piano, Whitbread’s Bar + Block and Everyman cinema are also confirmed for openings at the scheme.
Artisan bakery operator Paul is opening its first new Express format in St Pancras station on Monday (21 May). The 1,250 square feet unit will be close to the station’s international departure gates and will have an on-the-go offer for people boarding trains. The launch will be followed by another new opening at Cabot Place a week later on 28 May, after a move from a nearby site in Canary Wharf.
Social Entertainment Ventures, the team behind table tennis bar and restaurant venture Bounce, is launching a new modern bingo hall concept called Hijingo, according to reports. The first operation will open in London, with four more scheduled in the next three years. SEV is also planning to roll out its mini-golf concept Puttshack, which launches in White City in the next few weeks.
Nando’s is to open a ninth restaurant in Birmingham, local media report—at Waterloo House by Victoria Square. The launch is at the planning application stage.
Neil Rankin has opened a third site for the Temper brand, at Mercers Walk in Covent Garden. The first two Tempers are in Soho and the City, and this one will be focused on wood-fired pizza. It is also open for breakfast.
Major Japanese food hall Ichiba will open in the Westfield centre in west London on 14 July, its team has announced. The 17,400 square feet operation will have 200 covers plus a large retail operation and events including cooking demonstrations and tastings. Ichiba has been backed by the Japan Centre in the West End.
Three Cheers Pub Co has opened a second boutique hotel, above its Princess Victoria pub in Shepherd’s Bush. It launches on 9 June.
Harcourt Inns has opened the Hero of Maida pub and restaurant in Maida Vale. It was formerly the Truscott Arms and is the third opening from Harcourt, which is led by chef Henry Harris and James McCulloch.
Ei Managed Investments has launched the Old Spot Pub Company with the opening of the Anchor Inn in Wyre Piddle in Worcestershire. The venture is being managed by Dave Ford, director of Field to Fork, and Bernard O’Neill, who operate several restaurants and pubs in Warwick and London. The Old Spot Pub Company will open at the Kings Head in Little Marlow and the Leopard in Bishops Tachbrook in due course. Old Spot is Ei’s tenth Managed Investments partner as it steps up the managed side of its operations.
Martin Morales, founder of Ceviche, has opened a new Andina Picanteria restaurant and bar in Westbourne Grove. Next to it is Andina Panaderia, a new Peruvian bakery and cafe. They are Morales’ fifth and sixth sites in London.
Upmarket fried chicken concept Mother Clucker has launched its first permanent site in Exmouth Market, having previously operated as a street food venture.
Five Guys has applied for permission to open in Maidstone in Kent, local media report.
South London rappers Krept and Konan opened a new restaurant called Crepes and Cones in Croydon last weekend.
