London-based Memphis barbecue restaurant Porky’s will open its fourth and fifth sites in Crouch End and Chelsea, M&C has learnt.
The group has secured its first site away from central London on Middle Street in the centre of Crouch End, which is due to open as an 80-cover restaurant in November.
The fifth venue for husband and wife founders Simon and Joy Brigg will be on Fulham Road in Chelsea; Brigg said the site, which is currently in legals, is expected to open early in the New Year.
Earlier this year, Brigg said Porky’s has amended its expansion plans to target more London neighbourhoods rather than central site. He is considering Stoke Newington, Queen’s Park, Wimbledon, Clapham and Peckham as future Porky’s locations.
Brigg said the decision to open a restaurant in a residential part of London was spurred by rising property costs and a desire to build relationships within the community.
As well as offering a children’s menu to appeal to families in the north London neighbourhood, Crouch End will offer a weekend brunch menu which will include a Memphis take on eggs Benedict, US short-stack pancakes, US-style sausages and homemade hash browns. Brunch will be launched at the Camden site, which Brigg said had enjoyed strong weekend breakfast trade as Fogg’s restaurant prior to re-launching as Porky’s.
As with each of the Porky’s sites, Brigg said the newest additions will have their own quirks and personality.
He said trading across the established sites – Camden, Bankside and Shoreditch – is up year on year with Bankside as the strongest performer.
The Briggs hope to reach 10 restaurants over the coming two years after opening the first in Camden in 2013.
