CAU secures first central London site and plans to open more

12-Dec-2014 - Last updated on 12-Dec-2014 at 15:16 GMT

Operations director at CAU Graham Hall

Related tags London

Argentinian steakhouse concept CAU will open its first central London site in St Katharine Docks next year and intends to expand its presence in the capital.

CAU in St Katharine Docks is planned to open in March 2015. It will be the group’s ninth UK site and first in central London, though sites opened in nearby Henley-on-Thames and Wimbledon this year.

CAU’s operational director Graham Hall told BigHospitality that the group intends to expand further in London, and is hoping to open between one and two sites there a year.

“If the right site comes up in London we’ll go for it, but it has to be the right price as well,” he explained. “We don’t feel the need to get involved in big bidding wars. But if there is a landlord who is keen for us to come in then absolutely, we’d love to do more in central London.”

CAU is also looking to expand throughout the rest of the UK at a rate of six or seven sites a year.

“We want to reach between 25 and 30 restaurants over the next few years,” said Hall. “And we’d like to go all over the UK. We’re actively looking at sites in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as across the whole of the South West, North East, and the North West.”

CAU St Katharine Docks

CAU at St Katharine Docks will be 5,600sq.ft in size and will have 200 covers over two floors, including a mezzanine level.

Its design will follow that of the most recent CAU sites in Henley-on-Thames and Wimbledon, and it will share the same seasonal menu as the rest of the restaurants in the group.

The restaurant will be situated in the heart of St Katharine Docks by Tower Bridge, alongside a number of other restaurants, as well as bars, shops and offices.

“The St Katharine Docks site has everything,” said Hall. “There will be lots of tourists, office workers from the St Katharine Docks’ community, and lots of residents too.

“We offer all-day dining and attract lots of different customers who want to eat with their family, or as a couple, or come in for celebrations. In this location we will have a broad customer base to offer those opportunities too and that’s why it’s going to work.

“Add to that the fact that it’s a beautiful area and a great site, it works for us on all levels.”