Beer & Buns, the Japanese craft beer and hirata buns concept from former YO! Sushi general manager Julian Bartlett and the team behind K10, is lining up a second site in central London, MCA has learnt.
The concept is believed to be in talks to open on the ground and first floor of 20 Bury Street in the City, near The Gherkin.
The first Beer & Buns opened as a pop-up in February 2015 above the K10 site in Appold Street, before becoming a permanent site later that summer.
The concept is a Japanese-inspired izakaya, specialising in ‘super-cold’ Asian beer and hirata buns (light buns with slow-cooked meat fillings), plus jumbo Korean-style chicken wings.
Its drinks menu also includes a wide variety of Asahi beer and Asian ale, and cocktails such as yuzu frozen margaritas and sake bombs.
The space also gives diners access to retro pinball machines and fussball to provide entertainment until late every day.
Initially running for six months, the pop-up was the latest project from Bartlett, who set up K10 with Chris Kemper in 2000.
After leaving the business in 2002 Bartlett went on to co-found pizza and antipasti delivery service Pizze Cucina and sushi delivery service Demaezushi before joining Me Love Sushi in 2009 as head of operations. He sold the business in 2014 and has been focused on building his latest pop-up venture since.
