Five Guys to open at Westfield London
The group, which recently secured its first regional site at the Oracle in Reading, is believed to have secured the Le Palais du Jardin site at the entrance to the shopping centre. It is also thought to have shown an interest in a former Starbucks unit in Upper Street, Islington.
National presence
The company is planning to open in five strategic locations by the end of this year before assessing its model in the UK ahead of its aim of having a 'national presence' here.
It is thought that the group had been in talks with Network Rail regarding a transport hub site.
The group, which opened its first UK site in Covent Garden last week, is believed to have exchanged on the Ponti’s site in the Oracle in Reading, with an opening set for August.
Five Guys opened its first UK site to long queues on Independence Day last week
Marcel Khan, who is overseeing the group’s UK operations, told BigHospitality's sister publication M&C Report earlier this year that the group aims to have five sites open by the end of the year, including a flagship site, a regional unit, a shopping centre site and on a leisure park.
“The first year will be a period of learning for the chain," he said. "We do aim to have a national presence, that’s the ambition, but we first want to see how the model works in a number of key locations, not just a flagship unit, but in a high street and on a leisure park. Once we have that in place we can assess what works and what doesn’t and move on from there.”
Cedar Dean Gilmarc is believed to have advised on the Westfield deal.
This story was first published by BigHospitality's sister publication M&C Report. To subscribe to M&C Report contact Emily Croft on 01293 846578 or email rzvyl.pebsg@jeoz.pbz.
