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7th December Ask Begins Rollout of New Look and More Authentic ConceptHigh-street Italian chain Ask has begun to expand their new, more authentic restaurant concept across the 123-strong estate. This is the first major overhaul for the group since it was established in 1993, and will see the company form stronger ties with Italian suppliers, develop a new food and drink menu, and introduce a more modern interior design in an attempt to boost its authenticity. Chef Theo Randall has been developing the new menu which will include dishes such as risotto gamberoni and fettucine con verdu, whilst Italian food and wine writer Carla Capalbo and Master of Wine Adrian Garforth have been working on the all-Italian wine list. The transformation will be at a rate of one a fortnight and is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. |
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29th November Brasserie Bar Co. Buys Chez Gerard RestaurantsRaymond Blanc’s Brasserie Bar Co. has bought the eight restaurants in the Chez Gerard chain in a deal thought to be worth in the region of £9m. This move comes after last week’s announcement that Paramount Restaurants, the group behind Chez Gerard, has been placed into administration. The Brasserie Bar Co. plan to invest £4m into its eight new sites, all of which are located across the capital, to transform them into Brasserie Blanc outlets, although they will all continue to operate under their current name for the Christmas period. These acquisitions mean Brasserie Bar Co. now hold a total of 19 sites, including the nine existing Brasserie Blancs and two White Brasserie pubs. By 2016, it hopes to have 40 sites across the country. |
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23rd November Jamie Oliver to Launch Second Union Jacks in ChiswickJamie Oliver and Chris Bianco launched their first Union Jacks restaurant at the Central St. Giles development in London’s West End earlier this month, and today announced the second location for their new concept. The duo have taken on an eighteen-year lease in Chiswick, on the former site of the French Kitchen. Their company, Jamie Bianco, acquired the site from Relish Restaurants, who launched the French Kitchen earlier this year under a license agreement with Jamie Barber, at a passing rent of £130,000 per annum. Jamie Bianco is also considering a number of other London locations as possible sites for the Union Jacks' concept. |
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15th November Central St. Giles is Up and Running!We’re delighted to say that we’ve just successfully handed over three sites at Central St. Giles, the multi-coloured, multi-use development designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano. It’s now home to the first of Jamie Oliver and Chris Bianco’s Union Jacks, Brazilian barbeque chain Cabana, and the latest restaurant from Tom Byng’s proper hamburger chain Byron. All three restaurants share floor to ceiling glass walls and impressive seven-meter ceiling heights – beautiful vast spaces but definitely a challenge to ventilate! To find out more about how we got on, Read more > |
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9th November Cote Secures 30th Site in EsherCote, the French bistro chain owned by Richard Caring and founded by Chris Benians and Andy Bassadone, is set to open its 30th site in Esher, Surrey. They’ve taken a twenty-year lease from Blue Mango Investments on the site of the former George Bar and Restaurant: a 3,500 sq. ft. unit costing £110,000 yearly rent. Nick Weir, a director at Shelley Sandzer, who advised Cote on the deal, said: “They [Cote] are looking for the right combination of demographic, location and venue. When they found it in Esher they were prepared to move quickly”. |
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3rd November GBK Launches New Design and Limited Edition MenuGourmet Burger Kitchen has revamped its original site on London’s Northcote Road following the opening of its rival Byron directly opposite earlier this year. The Northcote Road restaurant has had a major facelift, including the introduction of booth-style seating and an enlarged terrace area to increase the number of covers. This move accompanies the introduction of a Limited Edition Christmas Menu, which will include a mince-pie flavoured milkshake and two new burgers, the festively named Mary and Joseph. GBK, which will celebrate its tenth birthday this year, have confirmed that they will be rolling out this new design across the rest of their 54-strong estate, following on from the re-design of the Kingston and Guildford sites earlier this year. For the full story, see this month's Restaurant magazine. |
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27th October Pizza Express to Open Restaurants in IndiaHigh-street giant Pizza Express has announced plans to expand its estate into India. This follows similar moves by Dominos and Pizza Hut, who have both established sites there in recent years. Pizza Express, owned by Gondola Holdings, will join forces with Bahrti Family Office during their attempt to break into the country. Although the location of the new restaurants are yet to be confirmed, a spokesperson for Pizza Express said: “The Indian market presents an exciting opportunity for Pizza Express and we are looking forward to working with the Bharti Family Office to establish out business there”. The group hope to open their first site some time next year. |
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21st October Cote Prepare to Launch 29th RestaurantCote Restaurants, the French bistro chain owned by Richard Caring and founded by Chris Benians and Andy Bassadone, have been one of Chapman Ventilation’s loyal clients for several years now and are set to open their 29th restaurant early this December. This latest site to be added to their ever-expanding empire is a 4,000 sq. ft. unit in Islington Green, the former Playtime Bar owned by Ignite Group. Cote have secured a twenty year lease on the 100 cover site, which they hope will push their brasserie concept into the heart of one of London’s most culturally diverse and fast-paced areas. Nick Weir, a director at Shelley Sandzer, who advised Cote on the deal, said: “Cote were looking for an area that would mirror their informal and friendly offer… Islington Green really hit the spot for them”. Cote is on track to operate a 30-strong estate by the end of the year. |
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10th October Pizza Express and La Tasca Opt For Major RebrandsPizza Express and La Tasca, two of the country’s most recognisable and successful high-street brands, are in the throes of major rebrands in an attempt to revitalise their presence in the casual dining market. For Pizza Express, one of our oldest customers, this is the “biggest brand refresh” since it opened over 46 years ago. The designer behind Pizza Express’ experimental Living Lab in Richmond is in charge of co-ordinating the transformation of over 60 outlets in the next twelve months. The aim is that each site should “tell a local story”, and behind the revamped design there will also be significant operational changes. Front-of-house staff will be dressed more casually to reflect a more relaxed service style; cutlery will be presented in a tin can rather than laid out; and a piazzaiolo-inspired black and white stripe will feature on all crockery. The changes are designed to create a more casual ambience, whilst championing the heritage and authenticity of the brand. Similarly, La Tasca, now named La Tasca Spanish Bar and Tapas Kitchen, aims to emphasise its Spanish credentials with a more refined menu, high-quality hams and cheeses, and an exclusively Spanish wine list. For the full story, see this month's Restaurant magazine. Click here to see the transformation at Pizza Express Richmond. |
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3rd October Gordon Ramsay Launches Bread Street KitchenGordon Ramsay has launched his first restaurant since The Savoy Grill last October. Bread Street Kitchen opened last Monday in London’s One New Change development, a year after its neighbours launched. The mid-range restaurant occupies a two-storey, glass-fronted site and serves food from a raw bar, a traditional hot kitchen and a wood stone oven. The ground floor bar offers a selection of small plates, a variety of pastries and a comprehensive wine and cocktail menu, while the upstairs restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, serving dishes such as “Herdwick mutton and potato pie with Worcestershire sauce”, “Bread Street short rib burger” and “Poussin, chimmichurri, burnt lemon”. Its prime location means that diners can enjoy commanding views of St. Paul’s cathedral… and takes Bread Street Kitchen directly into competition with Jamie Oliver and Adam Perry Lang’s Barbecoa, one of our current clients, which has seen phenomenal success over the past year. The two culinary giants are literally a stone’s throw from each other, and are both targeting the mid-range market. |
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30th September 2011 Christos Karatzenis appointed The Real Greek’s Head of OperationsKefi Ltd. has appointed Christoz Karatzenis as the new Head of Operations for the London-based restaurant chain The Real Greek. Karatzenis has over 20 years’ experience in the catering industry. He was previously head chef at London’s As Greek As It Gets, operations manager at Ponti’s group, and general manager of La Tasca Canary Wharf. He was also heavily involved in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games as a food service project manager. Nabil Mankarious, joint owner of Kefi Ltd. said: “We’ve always aimed for a combination of authenticity and contemporary appeal, and Christos will be able to bring a new interpretation of modern Greek cuisine and hospitality to The Real Greek that will appeal strongly to the UK market”. The Real Greek opened their most recent restaurant earlier this month at the launch of the Westfield Stratford City development. |
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22nd September 2011 La Tasca Abolishes Vouchers and Launches Breakfast to Refresh BrandSpanish tapas brand La Tasca has abolished its popular discount vouchers as part of a move to refresh its 65-strong chain of restaurants. Instead it will introduce a breakfast menu, expand the capacity of the bar areas to promote informal after-work dining, and refine the existing menu to feature regular meal deals, more wholefood salads and various paellas. These changes will go hand in hand with a new, lighter and more contemporary décor and a brand new name: La Tasca Spanish Tapas Bar and Kitchen. Wordy it may be, but it has been designed to reflect the company's renewed passion for authentic Spanish cuisine. The move follows the separation of La Tasca from Bay Restaurants, its previous holding company, earlier this year. In addition, the group intends to expand its presence in both the UK and the US, aiming to double its estate within three to five years. |
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19th September 2011 Chipotle Open Second UK SiteUS-based Mexican restaurant group Chipotle have opened their second London restaurant, this time in Baker Street. The firm, which is currently opening up to three new sites per week in the US, opened its debut London restaurant last year on Charing Cross Road. Since then, their expansion in the UK has been slow. In April, Jacob Sumner, head of Chipotle’s UK operations, said: “We’re taking it from a low-risk standpoint. We want to … make sure we get it right before we open more sites.” Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-chief executive of Chipotle, said: “We continue to think the prospects are very good for Chipotle in London”. |
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13th September 2011 Jamie Oliver and Thomasina Miers to Open Restaurants at BluewaterJamie Oliver and Thomasina Miers are among several operators due to open restaurants in the newly refurbished Plaza in the Bluewater shopping centre, Kent. The Plaza is set to open in November and will link Bluewater’s Thames Walk to the forthcoming Events Venue. Other operators joining Jamie’s Italian and Miers’ Mexican restaurant Wahaca include Wagamama, Balans and Browns, who will be opening a 9,000 sq. ft. flagship store to showcase the brand’s new design concept. Guy Thomas, head of retail leasing at Lend Lease, said: "The Events Venue at Bluewater is a significant addition that will create a very different offer for guests. It is vital, therefore, to create a restaurant offer that complements the experience." |
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6th September 2011 The Good Food Guide Bans Use of the Term "Gastropub"Elizabeth Carter, editor of the Good Food Guide, has banned the use of the term “gastropub” from all future issues beginning with the 2012 edition, to be released on 8th September. The company believe that the word contains connotations of expensive, restaurant-style food and service that may not necessarily be true due to the word’s uptake by large pub brands. “Our feeling is that ‘gastropub’ has become a restricted word and a bit of a cliché”, Carter told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser. “Although a gastro movement was needed to give pubs a wake-up call in the 90s, it does not sum what a modern pub is doing now”. She believes that pubs should turn their attention back to drinkers by offering a high-quality bar snack menu alongside a food offer, naming the Duke of Cumberland in Henley, West Sussex, as The Good Food Guide’s Pub of the Year 2012 for its dedication to both drinkers and diners. BigHospitality, the online news publication devoted to the hospitality industry, has been running a series of features exploring the use of the term ‘gastropub’ and its relevance in hospitality today. Follow the links below to read more about it. |
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30th August 2011 Yo! Sushi to Open its First Restaurant in NorfolkJapanese conveyor belt chain Yo! Sushi is set to open its 58th store in early October. The 63-cover site will open in Norwich near the city’s Chapelfield Shopping Centre, and will serve the brand’s signature mix of sashimi, soups, rice and noodle dishes across two floors of both booth and stool seating. Robin Rowland, Chief Executive of Yo! Sushi, said: ‘opening a site in Norwich is an extremely exciting venture for us and marks our first opening in East Anglia’. In the meantime, the group will be opening their next restaurant in Westfield Stratford City on the 13th September. |
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26th August 2011 Restaurants to Open at Westfield Stratford RevealedWestfield Stratford has revealed a nearly complete line-up of bars, restaurants and fast-food outlets to for its grand opening on 13th September. Over 70 food and drink sites will feature in the 1.45bn Olympic development across four separate dining areas: The Chestnut Plaza and the Street; The food Court; The Loft; and The Balcony. They’ll join over 300 shopping outlets, a 32,000 sq. ft. Waitrose store and 17 screen Vue cinema amongst others. Just some of the restaurants already announced are: Jamie’s Italia; Bumpkin; Wahaca; Cabana; Busaba Eathai; The Real Greek; Wagamama; Pizza Express; Nando’s; and Pho. Chapman Ventilation are delighted to have been involved in several of these projects, and we can’t wait to see it all up and running! |
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22nd August 2011 Two Weeks To Go Until the Run Geordie Run Ball!Chapman Ventilation recently sponsored Mark Allison, otherwise known as Run Geordie Run, in his mammoth trek across the USA. In just 100 days, Mark ran from California to New York: a grand total of 3100 miles in aid of St. Benedict’s Hospice and The Children’s Foundation. Now he’s throwing the ‘homecoming of homecomings’. The Run Geordie Run Charity Ball will take place on September 3rd at Gosforth Park Marriott and will feature the usual auctions, games and emotional speeches, plus a mini Las Vegas casino. Tickets are £65 each. For more information, or to book a ticket, follow the link below. |
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17th August 2011 McDonald's' Steve Easterbrook to Join Pizza Express as Chief ExecutiveSteve Easterbrook, president of McDonald’s Europe, has announced that he will be leaving the fast food brand at the end of September to take on the role of chief executive at Pizza Express. In his new role, previously filled by Mark Angela until July this year, Easterbrook will be responsible for overseeing Gondola Holding’s chain of 400 restaurants alongside their expansion plans both in the UK and abroad. As president of McDonald’s Europe, Easterbrook managed the operations of more than 7,000 outlets in 40 European countries, and said yesterday that it had been a ‘real pleasure’. His role will be filled by Doug Goare, current executive vice president of McDonald’s global supply chain. |
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11th August 2011 Cost of London Riots to Businesses and Olympic Tourism "Unquantifiable"The gratuitous rioting and looting that has ransacked the country over the past four nights is thought to have cost the British high street tens of millions of pounds, but the long-term effect of the violence on Britain’s hospitality industry and 2012 Olympic Games remains to be seen. Sarah Cordey, spokesperson for the British Retail Consortium, says it is too early to start counting the damage. “How you measure the cost depends on what you’re counting” she said. Not only is there the immediate short-term cost of fixing the damage, there is the long-term cost to businesses that have been attacked during the riots and consequently will be unable to reopen. The riots have also raised worries and concerns across the globe about the security measures in place for the upcoming 2012 Olympics, meaning that overseas visitors planning to come to London next summer may think again. However, tourism agency VisitBritain has downplayed the importance of worldwide negative publicity, saying that “[p]erceptions of Britain are formed over many decades, if not centuries, and we believe these incidents are not likely to have a long-lasting effect”. |
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4th August 2011 Chapman Ventilation Sponsors Run Geordie RunYou may have heard about Mark Allison’s mammoth run across the USA. In aid of St. Benedict’s Hospice and The Children’s Foundation, Mark is running a total of 3100 miles from California to New York in just 100 days. That’s an average of 31 miles a day. Here at Chapman Ventilation, we were completely taken aback by his determination and the lengths he’s gone to to raise money for these wonderful causes. Just the thought of the flight from California to New York is enough to wear us out! Because of this, and because David and Anthony Chapman are both Newcastle fans, we are pleased to announce that we’ve just made a donation to Mark’s fund. Chapman Ventilation aim to sponsor two to three charities per year, and Run Geordie Run is most definitely a worthwhile cause. Follow Run Geordie Run's progress and make a donation here > |
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3rd August 2011 Mark Hix Abandons Plans for Tramshed RestaurantMark Hix, founder of restaurant group Restaurants Etc. and former Executive Head Chef for Caprice Holdings, has had to abandon plans to open one of London’s largest restaurants. Hix proposed to transform the Grade II listed Tramshed building in Shoreditch, but when local residents voiced concerns about possible noise pollution he was forced to abandon the project. Despite his commitment to satisfying all environmental, sound and planning conditions, the small number of complaints meant that the restaurant would have been unable to open past 11pm. |
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25th July 2011 Jamie's Italian Sees Profits Soar by 181% in 2010Jamie Oliver’s high-street chain Jamie’s Italian has reported a massive 181% rise in profits in 2010 with a whopping pre-tax profit of £4.65m. The brand underwent a massive expansion plan throughout 2010 with the launch of ten new restaurants across the UK and its first overseas franchise in Dubai. Jamie’s Italian is committed to providing high-quality, affordable and authentic Italian food with an emphasis on serving fresh ingredients within a vibrant, ‘neighbourhood’ atmosphere. Chapman Ventilation have been working with Jamie’s Italian for some years, and are delighted to have been involved in the design and installation of their HVAC systems across the country. |
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27th June 2011 Busaba Eathai to Open Eighth RestaurantThe casual dining chain Busaba Eathai is set to open its eighth restaurant on London’s Floral Street. Busaba is a ‘modern Thai eatery’ that aims to serve a diverse but simple menu with the minimum amount of fuss and bother. Primarily a London chain, Busaba opened its first site outside the city in February: a branch in Oxford’s luxury designer outlet Bicester Village. The 108-cover Floral Street development is set to open on 4th July. |
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23rd May 2011 Hawksmoor to Open Third Steakhouse in the CityHawksmoor, ‘the best steak restaurant in London’, is set to expand into its third restaurant: Hawksmoor Guildhall on Basinghall Street. The founders, Will Beckett and Huw Gott, sold their Bethnal Green restaurant Green and Red in November last year in order to fund the Hawksmoor expansion. This newest site, designed by Macaulay Sinclair, will feature a 160-cover restaurant, London’s only Port enomatic preservation system and a wine cellar large enough for tastings. |
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21st April 2011 Chipotle Prepares for UK ExpansionMexican restaurant chain Chipotle launched their first UK site last May on Charing Cross Road, and has so far resisted any further expansion in this country. The chain, renowned in the US for its dedication to providing fast food from sustainable ingredients and using traditional cooking methods, is currently focussing on their rapid expansion in the states where they’re opening two to three new sites a week. But this hasn’t stopped them from researching potential expansion plans in the UK from a ‘low-risk standpoint’. Jacob Sumner, who heads Chipotle’s UK business, said ‘We’ve literally visited every inch of England...’ while looking for the ideal location. |
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25th March 2011 The Real Greek Backers in Sale TalksCapricorn Ventures, the private equity firm behind GBK, Nandos and The Real Greek, have said they are in talks to sell the chain of Greek restaurants. Capricorn are understood to have received interest from three parties concerning The Real Greek. Final bids were submitted last week, with the deal expected to complete in late May. |
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24th February 2011 Pizza Express Rolls Out Living Lab DesignAfter the resounding success of their pioneering ‘living-lab’ design in Richmond, Pizza Express are planning to expand the theme to five existing sites across the country. The revamped sites will feature acoustic domes hanging above the tables to create a more intimate, conversational atmosphere, exposed kitchens to showcase pizza-making as the heart of the restaurant, and an array of events and themed evenings open to the public. |
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January 2011 Cote Business ProfileSince the launch of their second site in 2007, Cote have expanded rapidly across the UK. Headed by the ‘mid-market veterans’ Andy Bassadone and Chris Benians, founders of Strada, Cote is a return to the simple and authentic French food served in the many bistros that populate Paris. Classics such as steak frites and moules marinieres feature regularly alongside lighter salads and fish dishes. But what exactly has made Cote such a resounding success? And what is it about the concept that has so quickly transformed the stereotype of French cuisine from pretentious food and snooty waiters to simple, uncomplicated authentic dishes? |
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January 2011 Drake and Morgan Launch New Site at Heron TowerDrake and Morgan, founded by Jillian MacLean in 2008, has recently invested in a 6,500 sq. ft. site in London’s Heron Tower. The 46 storey building located in the heart of the City of London and just minutes from Liverpool Street Station features 40,863 sq. m. of office space, a high-rise restaurant and sky bar on the top floor, and the largest privately owned aquarium in Europe. The ground floor will be the site of Drake and Morgan’s fifth bar, The Drift, which will be following in the footsteps of their previous successes: The Refinery, The Parlour, The Anthologist and The Folly. |
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