Knife & Fork Food, the Cardiff-based pub and restaurant operator led by Sean Murphy and Serge Luceau, is looking to grow is four-strong estate by one site a year over the next five years, after securing a new site from Enterprise Inns.
The group, which reported turnover of £2.3m in its most recent financial year, is to re-open the Discovery pub in Lakeside, Cardiff, in March, after a £175k investment.
The site will be the biggest the group has opened, with capacity for c200 diners.
The group is also in talks on a pub in Abergavenny, which it hopes to take control of next summer.
It currently operates the Old Swan in Llantwit Major, the Conway in Pontcanna and Woods Brasserie in Cardiff Bay.
The opening of The Discovery follows on from the autumn 2012 relaunch of The new Pilot in Penarth. This year, the Queen’s Road venue has been named one of the top ten pubs in the country by leading men’s magazine Shortlist and just last week was named one of the top 500 restaurants in the country by The Telegraph.
Murphy, managing director, Knife & Fork Food commented: “As a brand we have ambitious expansion plans and we aim to open at least one new venue every year for the next five years.
“It is important for any new locations that we open to be in the centre of vibrant, bustling communities, we want to be in amongst the chimney pots, amid the people. Cyncoed has been on our radar for quite some time and I’m delighted that we have secured a fantastic location in order to bring the Knife & Fork Food brand to the east side of Cardiff. It’s a really exciting time for us.”
“The investment in The Discovery venture is almost entirely self funded, with some additional help from Enterprise Inns who own the building. We have put together an exciting business plan, very much inspired by the success of The Conway and The Pilot, and it is a recipe that we are keen to replicate in Cyncoed.
“We are intent on rolling out our core concept of good food, good wine and a great atmosphere that everyone can feel comfortable in. The Discovery will have the same cosy, community feel as our other venues, albeit on a slightly larger scale, complete with log burner, bookcases and snug sofas.
“We hope to make a real impact in the community and become the go-to destination for locals, and those from further afield. The new look Discovery will very much be a pub for today.”
