Rare Restaurants, which operates Gaucho and M Restaurants, has appointed Vanessa Hall as a non-executive director, as it gears up for a period of accelerated growth.
Hall has significant experience in the hospitality sector.
Currently non-executive chair at Gravity Active Entertainment and co-founder, director and advisor at wine bar and pantry Jack & Alice, she has formerly been CEO at YO! (2013-2015) and held the same role at Vapiano in Germany.
She is also a former non-exec chair at Cubitt House, and brand and operations director and director of finance at Mitchells & Butlers.
Martin Williams, CEO, Rare Restaurants said: “In the context of our outstanding results for 2021 and 2022, continued like-for-like growth and a strategic new opening roadmap in 2023 (and beyond), Vanessa has already proved to be a fantastic addition to our board at Rare Restaurants.”
Jamie Mitchell, chairman of Rare Restaurants added: “We are delighted to welcome Vanessa on to the board. With her deep sector experience, regional knowledge and affinity with iconic brands, Vanessa is the perfect fit to support Rare’s ambitious growth plans.”
Commenting on her appointment, Hall said: “I am absolutely delighted to have joined Jamie, Martin and the whole Rare team at such a positive time of planned expansion and growth. It’s a pleasure being part of this journey, remembering my first visits as a guest to Gaucho Piccadilly some 20 years ago.”
Last month, Williams confirmed that Clearwater International had been appointed as advisers, to assess the group’s “strategic options”.
Williams said the decision was made following “a highly successful 18 months trading post-pandemic”, adding that the group’s turnover last year stood at £53m with £10.8m EBITDA.
The group is due to open new restaurant Gaucho Liverpool this month, in the former Bank of Liverpool building, a Grade 11 listed venue, at 7 Water Street.
