Tragus Holdings, the casual dining group, will open its fifth Ortega, its fledgling Spanish tapas concept, in Southend on 25 May.
The company, which opened its fourth Ortega in Six Fields, Northampton, earlier this year, plans to open a further four or five restaurants under the brand by the autumn.
The openings, which will be mostly concentrated outside of London, will take the group’s Ortega estate to nine or 10 sites.
The operator of Cafe Rouge and Bella Italia currently runs two Ortega’s in the capital, at Leadenhall Market, and at Smithfield’s Market, and a further site in Harlow, Essex.
The development of Ortega is intended to establish a Spanish division alongside its existing French (Cafe Rouge) and Italian (Bella Italia) operations.
