Gusto, the Tim Bacon-chaired and Palatine Private Equity-backed restaurant chain, is to roll out new look branding across its existing estate within the next 18 months in addition to opening new restaurants across the country.
The brand, which is led by Sue Crimes, will open its new flagship site, its tenth overall, on 5 December in Manchester’s Elliot House, complete with a new look taking inspiration from the “traditional grand cafés of Europe”.
M&C Report understands that it has acquired a site in Glasgow’s Bothwell Street for an opening next year.
Earlier this year, the company completed a management buy-out of Gusto with funding from Palatine as it looks to add about 15 sites over the next four years, including a move into the London area.
It said that guests can expect a “stylish destination bar and restaurant that will encompass a classic yet contemporary interior comprising of patterned marble floors and counters, glossy polished plaster and stained glass”. It will also include a private dining room.
Crimes said: “This is a very exciting time for myself and the Gusto team - the Manchester restaurant will set the standard for the Gusto brand going forward. After this city centre opening the group will roll out the new look branding across the existing estate within the next 18 months in addition to opening new restaurants across the country.”
Regarding further expansion, Bacon told M&C Report: “We’re looking at Chester, we’ll be looking at the M25 and London quite early on in the process. We’ve got a good site in Birmingham earmarked as well. We’re looking at four in the first year, then up to five for a couple [of years], getting us to about 25-26 units over four/four and a half years.”
