Brasserie Bar Co secures £20m funding towards expansion
The French-style group, which includes the Brasserie Blanc restaurants and White Brasserie gastropubs, plans to use the loan to expand to 59 sites by 2022.
It follows a £3.5m rebrand of the Brasserie Blanc estate in 2014-16 which saw the chain ditch its white tablecloths in a bid to modernise and attract younger diners.
The group, originally developed by Blanc, also introduced ‘lighter’ versions of classic French dishes to appeal to female diners.
The gamble appears to have been a success, with turnover at the company rising from £37m to £41m in 2016.
Brasserie Blanc also launched its first hotel restaurant in Bournemouth this month as part of its ‘next phase’ of development.
“We have ambitious plans for both brands,” says Mark Derry, CEO of Brasserie Bar Co.
“Brasserie Blanc is well positioned to capitalise on the increased interest and footfall resulting from the refurbishment of the estate and The White Brasserie pubs have gone from three to 14 in the last four years with a menu, service ethos and ambience that is really hitting the mark with guests.”
Brasserie Blanc’s former managing director Rory Marthinusen told BigHospitality last year that the group was considering further expansion outside its southern heartland, and was looking at sites in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and York.
