Bill's to open Horsham and Guildford restaurants before Christmas
Both new sites, in the Old Town Hall and at Angel Gate respectively will open for business on 10 December, in time for festive trade and will mark the end of a busy year of expansion for the company, which was bought by Cote in 2008.
The new restaurants rapidly follow the opening of Bill's in Cardiff and Chichester, which opened earlier this month, and several new sites in London and one in Exeter. Their opening will bring the company's estate up to 14.
Founded by Bill Collison in 2001, Bill's started life as Bill's Produce and Store, a cafe-come-greengrocers on the site of a former greengrocers in Lewes, East Sussex.
The group has become more restaurant-focused since expanding, but it has aimed to retain its relaxed yet bustling atmosphere with blackboards displaying daily specials that have a seasonal-focus.
Collison said: "Our ethos couldn’t be simpler; we aim to look after our customers well and serve them great seasonal dishes at good prices. That’s why our customers come back time and again.”
Latest openings
Like Bill's other sites, the company's latest restaurants will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with dishes including Bill's Burger, Bill's Fish Pie and Sharing Boards to appear on the menu.
Collison said he was pleased to be finally opening in Horsham, having put in an original bid to take over the town's Old Town Hall and convert it into a restaurant in 2009. Opposition to the council's intention to sell the building for private use, however, led to the operator focusing on expansion elsewhere.
“It’s great to be opening in Horsham,” said Collison. “The dishes we serve in our restaurant, and the friendly atmosphere, will fit right in with the local buzz. The restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. In the evening, we light the candles and it’s a really nice place to wind down with drinks or for supper."
