The Alchemist is to launch a new concept bar called Aether at Liverpool ONE in September. The 1,600 square feet bar will focus on cocktails and live music, with 40 covers inside and tables outside adding 80 more covers. It will be situated next to the Club House at Liverpool ONE, run by the New World Trading Company. The Alchemist chief executive Simon Potts said: “The Alchemist is a great brand that continues to grow at a sensible rate… We’re an entrepreneurial team at heart though and when the opportunity to do something a little different presented itself we wanted to take that challenge on.” Alison Clegg, asset management director at Grosvenor Europe, said: “Aether is very exciting and will add something quite special to Liverpool ONE‘s thriving evening economy.”
Greek street food style operator The Athenian is to open in Tooting Market in the next few weeks. It will be called Petroupoli. It will be a seventh site for the brand, which already has five venues in London—in Victoria, Shoreditch, White City, Elephant & Castle and Southbank Food Centre—plus one in Bristol.
Ramen concept Tonkotsu will launch a 100-cover restaurant on Endeavour Square in Stratford in late July. It will be a tenth location for the brand, which also has restaurants in Soho, Bankside, Battersea, Haggerston, Hackney, Notting Hill and St James’ Market, plus concessions in Selfridges on Oxford Street and in Birmingham.
Loungers this week opened its Valero Lounge in Witham in Essex. It has also just opened the Tarko Lounge at the Green Lanes centre in Barnstaple.
Thai brand Giggling Squid will open its new restaurant in Cheltenham on 23 July. It has taken over a unit previously occupied by Strada.
Thai Express is to open its fifth restaurant at the Grand Central development in Birmingham. The worldwide brand was launched into the UK in 2012, and currently operates in Aldgate, Croydon. Guildford and Thurrock. It has been brought to Grand Central by Hammerson, which has also recently signed US soul food-style operator Holy Moly Macaroni.
Cocktail brand Adventure Bar is opening a seventh site on Hoxton Square in Shoreditch. It follows a £1.4m debt finance deal with OakNorth. Its parent group currently operates Adventure Bars in Clapham Junction, Clapham High Street and Covent Garden, plus other standalone concepts.
Peach Pub Company has acquired its 20th pub—the Boulters Lock in Berkshire. It will reopen after refurbishment later in the year.
Manjaros, a north of England-based restaurant group fusing Caribbean and African food, has submitted plans to open in Huddersfield. It would be a tenth location for the brand, which also operates in Birmingham, Bradford, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Preston and London.
Marston’s will open its new-build pub, restaurant and hotel near Spalding in Lincolnshire in September, local media report. It will be called the Tulip Green and have 150 covers and 38 rooms.
A new Indian on-the-go concept called Pali Kitchen has just launched on Bow Lane in the City.
Five Guys has set 16 July for the launch of its new restaurant in the Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. It will be next to Hollywood Bowl at the complex.
Bristol-based Pizzarova has opened a third restaurant in the city, on Park Street by College Green. It joins two restaurants on Gloucester Road and Wapping Wharf.
A new grab and go pizza restaurant concept called PizzaSqr will launch at Intu Merry Hill in Birmingham over the next few weeks. The concept will sell square slices of pizza, and its backers plan to open more sites around the UK.
A new vegan café and restaurant concept called When Polly Met Fergie will open at the Westgate Arcade in Queensgate in Peterborough in mid-August. The 1,500 square feet venue will have 40 covers and focus on sustainable and healthy eating, with a cocktail lounge bar alongside the dining area. Guy Thomas, head of retail at Landlease, said: “Veganism has been dubbed as one of the UK’s fastest growing lifestyle trends, making When Polly Met Fergie a timely and exciting addition to Queensgate’s Westgate Arcade.” When Polly Met Fergie joins brands including Turtle Bay and Pret at Queensgate.
Burger King is to open at the Marine Point retail and leisure development in New Brighton, local media report. It is recruiting for the opening now.
