Grillstock, the fledgling barbecue concept, has continued to strengthen its pipeline of openings for 2016, by lining up openings in Cardiff, Exeter and Reading.
The five-strong group, which is set to open in Liverpool, before the end of the year, has secured a site in Exeter’s new Queen Street dining quarter for an opening next summer.
At the same time, M&C understands that the company, which is led by John Finch and Ben Merrington and includes Turtle Bay founder Ajith Jaya-Wickrema as a backer, has also lined up a site in Reading’s Friar Street.
It is currently waiting on licensing approval to open its first sites in Wales, in Cardiff.
It plans to open on the site of the former Pure Sport store in the city’s St Mary Street close to the Brewery Quarter.
Grillstock will join Turtle Bay, The Stable, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Artigiano’s craft beer bar The Terrace at the new dining quarter In Exeter, which is due to open next summer. There will be eight restaurants in total at the scheme with the remaining three tenants due to be announced in the coming months.
Last year, Andre Plisnier, the co-founder of the Belgo brand, joined Grillstock’s board. Plisnier founded Belgo in 1992 with Denis Blais, before selling the business six years later by Luke Johnson.
The first Grillstock Smokehouse opened at Triangle West in Bristol’s Park Street in June 2013.
