Cantina Laredo, the US-based upmarket Mexican restaurant chain, has opened its first restaurant in the UK at St Martin’s Courtyard in London’s Covent Garden, and stated intentions to open a total of 35 sites across the UK and Ireland.
The 220-cover Covent Garden restaurant spans two floors with a total floor space of 7,218sq ft and features a bar specialising in tequila and a private dining room.
Oriole Restaurants Ltd, a family-run business founded in 2008, has been selected by Consolidated Restaurant Operations (CRO), Cantina Laredo’s parent company, to the first European franchisee of the Mexican restaurant brand.
John D Harkey Jr, chief executive of CRO, said: “The restaurant opening in London markets the first Cantina Laredo in Europe, bringing the authentic taste of gourmet Mexican cuisine to another market. It represents further significant expansion of the footprint of our brand and solidifies our global appeal.”
Each UK outpost of Cantina Laredo is expected to create around 75 jobs.
Outperforming American restaurants
Jackie Ginsburg, chief executive of Oriole Restaurants, said she expected the first London outpost of Cantina Laredo to outperform those in the US, of which there are 28 spread across locations such as Dallas, Florida, and Colorado.
"In the US the concept works in holiday destinations at some times of year better than others, but because we are a cosmopolitan city here in London we believe that trade will be good all year round," she said. "We expect to perform at a same level if not better than our US couterparts."
Ginsburg added that Oriole Restaurants aimed to open at least five Cantina Laredos in the UK over the next five years, concentrating on 'London and its surrounds' before expanding to 'other cities'.
Cantina Laredo joins Jamie's Italian, Bombay cafe Dishoom, and Bill's Produce at St Martin's Courtyard, the latter of which is due to open later this summer. The Covent Garden development also includes one additional restaurant site that is yet to be leased.
For more information and to see a sneak preview of St Martin's Courtyard, watch our video.