The first of the two sites is located at Regent’s Place in London’s West End, while the second is situated in the new AXA Real Estate development on St Pancras Square in King’s Cross. Both locations fit with the standard model that Drake & Morgan rolls out.
Managing director at Drake & Morgan Jillian MacLean said: “This is an exciting time for Drake & Morgan as we move into the next stage of our growth post Bowmark’s acquisition last year. We’re delighted to be working with AXA again and British Land. At both sites, we are in the company of some really great businesses and fellow leisure operators.”
New sites
The Regent’s Place site is 6,000sq.ft in size and ranges over two floors. The bar and restaurant will have a good-sized outdoor terrace and the group aims to open it in late 2014.
Finance director at Drake & Morgan Paul Lilley said: “The Regents Place development is already established and fits in well with our portfolio.”
The site in the AXA development is 12,000sq.ft in size and will also boast an al fresco seating area in a central courtyard. The group aims to open it in early 2015.
“The King’s Cross development is one of the largest of its type in Britain,” added Lilley. “It will be heavily populated by some fantastic companies that we look forward to supplying.”
Expansion
Drake & Morgan has a short term plan to expand its portfolio to 20 different sites in London and the surrounding area over the next few years, with these two new sites increasing its current portfolio to nine.
Lilley said: “We use a combination of our own property finding team and some nominated people round the city who site find for us. Ultimately we look for exciting sites where we think we can deliver a new concept to improve the service off for people in that area.
“Obviously when we establish a site we look at what else is in the area, but we offer innovative and original venues, so it’s more a case of what we can bring there.”
Drake & Morgan's most recent opening was The Fable in February this year.