Living Ventures chief executive Jeremy Roberts has told MCA that the group aims to open a second site for its Grand Pacific concept early next year, with Birmingham the likely location.
Roberts said at that point the group would seek to appoint a managing director for bar and restaurant Grand Pacific and its sister restaurant Australasia.
He said the next step for the latter was still likely to be a London opening but stressed that currently rents remained too high in the capital.
He also confirmed that the group is likely to keep its powder dry on its Blackhouse steak restaurant concept for the moment, given the challenges in the casual dining sector.
Meanwhile, he said the currently three-strong Red Door cocktail bar concept could double up in existing areas such as Liverpool.
He said: “Red Door has been very successful in its heartland but at the moment we don’t have the infrastructure in that business for a broad expansion. Where you have got a city that has got more than one strong liquor circuit it’s certainly doable to open a second. That’s probably going to be the immediate trajectory.”
On Grand Pacific, he said: “We have had a fanastic first year at Grand Pacific. We are actively looking for a second site – and we would be keen to open another one by early next year. Birmingham has worked well as an outpost for New World Trading Gusto so that’s probably what we’ll look to do.”
