Gowrings is building a new Burger King restaurant at Gun Wharf Quays, Portsmouth, Hampshire. The new outlet is scheduled to open in November.

The company has exchanged contract on three others, subject to planning permission.

Gowrings, which has 38 restaurants, is confident of having 40 open by the end of the year. The company, which also incorporates Ford Motor Dealerships, reported interim pre-tax profits up 16% to £571,000 on turnover up 12% to £56.4m. The restaurant division boosted profits by 27% to £654,000 on sales up 10% to £13.21m.