Caribbean group Sugar Dumplin set for £1.5m expansion across UK

The group, which has invested around £1.5m in the expansion so far, has also committed to finding a permanent site in London’s central Zone 1 for 2017.

The first new location will be at 60-cover site in Kingston, expected to open in mid-July. A 100-cover site will follow in Wembley in late August, with a kiosk at Leeds Trinity Kitchen expected for early autumn.

Each new site will serve food and drink along the brand’s “Caribbean Rum Shack” theme, and include décor inspired by candle-lit beach huts. There will also be live music.

Founded by entrepreneurs Norris Panton and Craig Ince in 2015, Sugar Dumplin currently operates venues in Princes Square Glasgow, and the Atrium in Camberley, Surrey. It has also been testing the operation elsewhere, via a pop-up in central London in Soho Square, as well as being the sole food operator at the London Beach Rugby tournament in the City’s Finsbury Square.

Panton, co-founder and operations director, said: “In 2015, trade research found Caribbean food was in high demand but under-represented on the UK restaurant scene [so] we wanted to change that. We want to make it available to all, at a reasonable price. Inspired by our heritage, love of food and good times we’ve tried to bring the essence of the Caribbean to the UK.”