Sustainable burger restaurant launching in Brighton
The restaurant will open on the site of the 50 cover Blenio Bistro in Seven Dials, which Coggings purchased the lease for two months after selling his award-winning gastro-pub, the Preston Park Tavern.
Something different
Coggings said: “For the past 8 years I’ve done gastro-pubs and having sold my last one in January I was ready to do something slightly different. In London in particular the burger phenomenon has completely taken off, and I think there are opportunities to expand on that in Brighton.
“At the Preston Park Tavern we were voted sustainable pub of the year last year, and that’s something I intend to bring to Coggings and Co. We’re very much focused on local sourcing and using local products because that’s what we do.
“The new venture brings an opportunity to do something that exciting that still uses our sustainability credentials.”
Coggings will be joined at the restaurant by the whole senior team from the Preston Park Tavern, including head chef Sean Kelly and assistant managers Rachael Murray and Kelly de Silva.
He said: “The other thing that will make the restaurant stand out is our service. I’m very fortunate to have my whole team from the old pub with me. We were in the Michelin guide and the team are renowned for their service.”
A facelift
The restaurant is currently being redecorated and is expected to open on the 8 April, which Coggings hopes will give enough time to get up and running before the Easter weekend.
He said: “We’re not doing any structural work on the restaurant but we’re changing everything on the soft side, buying new tables and doing lots of painting and decorating. It will be a completely different feel when it’s done.”
The new restaurant tables are being made out of recycled pine by the Brighton Woodstore and all the painting and decorating is being done by local eco painters Pure Decoration. Artwork will be local photographs by Heather Buckley.
Coggings believes the location of the restaurant will also help it stand out. “I actually tried to buy this site before about seven or eight years ago. Seven Dials is a very trendy area, really close to the city centre but still a residential area. It’s perfect for what we’re looking to do.”
Brighton’s burger scene
The number of burger restaurants in Brighton has been rapidly rising in the past couple of years as they become more and more popular with consumers.
BigHospitality previously reported on MeatLiquor’s expansion to Brighton and companies like Burger Off, the Trolls Pantry and Grubs have also set up shop there.
