Liverpool-based bar and restaurant operator Graffiti Spirits is planning a national roll out and also eyeing international opportunities.
The group is set to open its sixth venue – rodizio pizzeria concept Santa Maluco on Castle Street – in March.
But founders Matthew Farrell and John Ennis told M&C their next opening would “definitely not be in Liverpool” and said they were actively looking for sites in London.
The current estate is made up of standalone concepts with a strong cocktail culture running through them and the pair believe they can replicate this success in other areas.
Ennis told M&C: “Our venues are independent and all of them have that feel. We think we can take that vibe to more commercial areas.
“We think what we do would work very well in a West End area and would offer something that isn’t there already. There is the temptation when something is successful there to do the same again somewhere else so you end with a situation where nothing there is truly unique and independent.
“We have done the hard work here in setting up multiple concepts and we can take that offer and that style to those areas.”
Farrell described the Graffiti Spirits DNA as being about “strong, independent, cocktail-cultured bars with really interesting food concepts”.
He said: “The real target for us is international. There is a big gap in Paris for our offer. We would fit fantastically into the scene in Berlin. And we think we could take what we have learnt from New York and take it back there with our own twist.”
The duo, who are the main shareholders in the business with a minority stake held by another partner, say they have had discussions about funding and that “we’re willing to look at all options”.
