Property Week held a Q&A with some of the leading names in the food and beverage sector. See their responses below:
Ted Schama, managing director, Shelley Sandzer
What three restaurant or bar concepts should we watch out for this year?
- Sidechick – recently opened on James Street next to the original Patty & Bun.
- Wing Wing – recently opened flagship on Charing Cross Road, a main entrance to Chinatown, London.
- Marugame – soon to open on Middlesex Street and voted a top-14 brand in Japan (above iPhone!).
How confident are you in the sector rebuilding post-Covid?
I am very confident that those who have survived up until now will be very well-placed in rebuilding for the following reasons:
- Fitted units are often available for no premium and rent-free, meaning they have never been cheaper and offering a rapid return on investment.
- Landlords are contributing more than ever, again making a quicker return on investment with a lower risk profile.
- To survive, operators have had to adapt, which means not only a more streamlined business but also the creation of new businesses within their business, most notably DIY kits.
- Operators now have been granted extra outside dining areas, either by their landlord or council. Although most are of a temporary nature, I believe there will be some permanent conversions that would have more covers than pre-pandemic.
What was the first restaurant or bar you visited after lockdown?
The first place I went was Sidechick; it was a soft launch full of other restaurateurs, so it was a great buzz with all of us being together.
Charlie Catterall, co-founder of ETCH
What three restaurant or bar concepts should we watch out for this year?
Sucre, La Rampa, and The Seafood Bar
How confident are you in the sector rebuilding post-Covid?
Very, as we have already seen customers flock back to their favourite spots and places getting booked out. The current staff shortage provides a new issue for operators to overcome, but it is great to see demand has returned.
What was the first restaurant or bar you visited after lockdown?
Pergola Paddington.
Lottie Newman, associate director at Nash Bond
What three restaurant or bar concepts should we watch out for this year?
- I am most excited about The Seafood Bar opening on Dean Street in Soho. They are a wonderful, organically grown restaurant group from a family of fishmongers from the Netherlands, so I am very excited to taste the food. Their sites have a great vibe and my best friend got engaged in one of their restaurants in Amsterdam, so it holds a special place in my heart.
- The Big Mamma group are opening Ave Mario on Maiden Lane, Covent Garden. Everything they do is such a wonderful experience, which is something I missed the most through lockdown – the fun and theatre of eating out – so I am really looking forward to seeing what they do in this, their third site in London.
- Finally, Rita’s are opening on Lexington Street, Soho. This is their first full restaurant after starting out in a tiny unit in King’s Cross. It is so exciting to see a brand grow after developing such a great reputation.
How confident are you in the sector rebuilding post-Covid?
There is so much pent-up demand for consumers to go and enjoy themselves after such a prolonged period of isolation and being at home that I am confident hospitality will recover! Arguably, hospitality has been one of the hardest-hit sectors throughout the pandemic, with it expediting issues within the property market and forcing over 4,000 sites to close permanently in 2020. However, we are already seeing some encouraging data and positive noises since restrictions have started to lift.
Hospitality offers consumers an immersive experience that they cannot create at home. As we were seeing before Covid, I think consumers will continue to be more sensitive to good value and be more aware of the origins of what they are being served, so a push toward local will continue.
I also believe we will continue to see reduced menu sizes and the demand being more towards operations that specialise in their trophy products. The number of new enquiries and concepts looking for sites again supports that the sector will rebuild.
What was the first restaurant or bar you visited after lockdown?
I went to my small, local village pub at 17:30 on the Monday! Then, it was Sticks’n’Sushi in Oxford the following evening, as who wasn’t craving Sushi after lockdown? Sushi never tastes the same at home. The very next day, I had lunch at Homeslice on James Street, Marylebone, as no one makes giant pizzas as well as they do.
William Biggart, founder and managing director of Torridon
What three restaurant or bar concepts should we watch out for this year?
- The Seafood Bar from the Netherlands, which debuts in London on Dean Street, is personally one that I am excited about; it looks right up my street.
- In the QSR sector, I’m intrigued by the rollout of the Wendy’s and Popeyes brands. This is Wendy’s’ third stab at the UK and Popeyes’ first. Other US operators such as Five Guys and Shake Shack have proven the model of securing a flagship in Covent Garden and then expanding outwards. Wendy’s opening in Reading is a different tactic and it will be interesting to see how their growth develops.
- Fatto a Mano, the Brighton-based pizza specialists, are targeting their London debut and I see them as a brand to really watch over the next few years – great team behind it and a fantastic product.
How confident are you in the sector rebuilding post-Covid?
I’m a firm believer that we will bounce back, as people are set up to socialise. We like to have fun – hospitality embodies that.
There are headwinds that are working against the sector; putting aside inflation, rates and rent arrears – as they are well documented already – the elephant in the room is staff. It affects the consumer experience more than anything, and the difficulty in finding not only good, but any staff is challenging from the pressure caused by the pandemic and, laterally, Brexit. I see this being a problem throughout the summer, particularly in regional cities until the return of students.
Bars are likely to recover first when vertical drinking can return, as it will alleviate the pressure needed for table service, but getting good staff in restaurants, who add to the consumer experience, I see as a challenge in the medium to long term.
I would hope that by Q2 next year we are back to some normality in terms of consumer experience, but that will be driven by travel restrictions not only on consumers but the workforce, particularly in London.
What was the first restaurant or bar you visited after lockdown?
The first Bar was the Ice Wharf in Camden, wearing five layers in March, and the first restaurant was Tom Kitchin’s The Bonnie Badger in Gullane.
Camilla Topham, co-founder of Distrkt
What three restaurant or bar concepts should we watch out for this year?
- Pam’s is a great new bar and grill from the Barworks group, which has recently opened in Carnaby, London. They have a number of other great pub/bar concepts opening up.
- MJMK group are working with some of the most exciting chefs in the market at the moment, including Tata Eatery, as well as expanding their amazing Casa de Frango concept.
- The trend for vegan and vegetarian is going to continue to develop and there are going to be exciting things coming from the Mildreds team this year.
How confident are you in the sector rebuilding post-Covid?
I’m very confident that the demand is there to fuel the recovery of the sector. While it has been hard-hit, we are appreciating hospitality experiences more than ever. The carrot that is being dangled of the ‘roaring twenties’ is giving confidence to the sector and, at present, there are a significant number of requirements in the market.
The issues that will hinder recovery – aside from future lockdowns – are the lack of supply of property, which is a result of the extended moratorium and government support, and an extreme staff shortage, which is a result of people going ‘home’ for the pandemic and the Brexit effect.
The staff shortage is a very real concern for operators and has caused some hospitality operations to be unable to reopen at all. While there are many new openings planned, all of the operators are concerned about how to source good staff.
What was the first restaurant or bar you visited after lockdown?
Super 8’s Smoking Goat is one of my absolute favourite restaurants. I literally couldn’t wait to eat a plate (or two) of their Fish Sauce Chicken Wings!
Matt Ashman, head of London leisure and restaurants at Cushman & Wakefield
What three restaurant or bar concepts should we watch out for this year?
- Adventure Bars’ recent purchase (by Nightcap) means they are in a position to act now, when the rest of the bar market seems a bit more tentative, whether this is due to current customer levels/demand or competition from restaurants due to relaxed licensing.
- JKS are continuing to pivot and push boundaries and I hear rumours of an incubator partnership…
- And Gordon Ramsay seems to be on a mission, making up for lost time (taking over where Jamie Oliver left off!).
How confident are you in the sector rebuilding post-Covid?
Totally confident – it’s the number-one thing people want to go back to; it’s also one of the most entrepreneurial sectors. Yes, working lives have changed, but even if you are in a city centre for two or three days a week, you are going to make sure F&B, leisure and culture is on the agenda. It’s why you come in. While it is not going to be easy I am positive about the future.
What was the first restaurant or bar you visited after lockdown?
Drink-wise, I just had to go to the NoMad, Covent Garden’s newest hotel – a rare situation where reality surpasses Instagram – where my first drink was a Pandan Negroni in the Side Hustle bar. I’ll admit that my first meal – at The Prince, West Brompton – made me feel I’d aged more than a year since lockdown, but there’s nothing like diving in at the deep end, and it was a blast. Incipio have just nailed it on the inside, outside, ease and atmosphere.
Oli Marcroft, head of leisure at KLM Retail
What three restaurant or bar concepts should we watch out for this year?
- 202 Kitchen – it’s such an exciting new entrant to the market, and their social restaurant concept is going to be huge.
- Humble Chicken – I just love the idea of using every part of the animal, and the guys really know how to cook.
- Rudy’s Vegan – a vegan butchers and restaurant is just really forward-thinking and the food is amazing!
How confident are you in the sector rebuilding post-Covid?
It’s fair to say that everyone has missed socialising and eating out, and we’ve already seen this following the recent reopening. There’s still a fair way to go, but there are some amazing new concepts and operators out there who are continuing to push boundaries and create some really exciting hospitality experiences.
What was the first restaurant or bar you visited after lockdown?
Mercato Metropolitano – great food and drinks.
Josh Leon, director – head of central London restaurants, Colliers
What three restaurant or bar concepts should we watch out for this year?
- Omakase – these are traditional Japanese chef’s table restaurants with a very limited number of seats and typically long waiting lists – great for a post-pandemic treat with friends.
- Pet Nat is a naturally produced Portuguese sparkling wine that we should expect to see on wine lists and headlining at specialist wine bars such as Bar Douro.
- The lockdown trend of DIY meal kits is getting organised, with companies like Dishpatch taking London’s hottest menus and guest-chef collaborations nationwide, or top London restaurant groups doing special menus for DIY like Occasions by Hakkasan.
How confident are you in the sector rebuilding post-Covid?
Enormously confident, and here’s why: London wants to enjoy itself again, and although we’ve all got used to conducting our social lives on Zoom or on a park bench – or more recently on a cold, wet, windy pavement – we haven’t forgotten that we still live in a city famed the world over for its fabulous restaurant scene.
There are challenges, not least staffing, but we will overcome because the hospitality industry is packed full of talented people who know how to meet customer demand and surpass expectations.
What was the first restaurant or bar you visited after lockdown?
It depends which lockdown, but the first proper meal after the latest one was in April at the River Café with five friends sitting outside (of course) on one of the most gloriously sunny days of the year. Memorable for all the right reasons.
David Bell, head of international leisure at Savills
What three restaurant or bar concepts should we watch out for this year?
- Brewdog is looking very acquisitive this year, with a number of different formats in the pipeline including The Doghouse Craft Beer Hotel, which is really cool.
- Also, Pergola On The Roof, which is an amazing operator focusing on outdoor space, which is of course very important in a post-Covid world.
- Gordon Ramsay’s business is also still going strong and looking to expand right across the UK for his various brands.
How confident are you in the sector rebuilding post-Covid?
We are already seeing incredibly strong demand since reopening in the spring. Consumers in the UK have always loved to eat and drink out. It’s part of our DNA!
What was the first restaurant or bar you visited after lockdown?
The first restaurant I went to was Sergio’s, an institution in the West End and a Savills favourite!
No comments yet