Olive Tree Brasserie owner in talks with investors to fund roll out
Speaking to BigHospitality's sister publication M&C Allegra Foodservice, group founder Dean Wilson described the bar as a Greek wine cavern with specialty cocktails including spirits exclusively imported and stocked at Elia.
Wilson, who opened the first Olive Tree Brasserie seven years ago, said both he has designed the concept to be rolled out into areas with a suitable demographic.
He said he is currently in talks with investors to fast track the expansion as well as looking to recruit an operations manager ahead with experience growing the brand.
Wilson currently operates Olive Trees in Preston and Lytham St Annes and Elia in Preston with plans to grow a network of restaurants and bars across the north of England.
The company is currently looking for a venue for a third restaurant to open in Manchester in January 2016, with a fourth to follow soon after.
Wilson said the two models allow him to consider a variety of sites with a view to opening either a bar, restaurant, or a combination of both depending upon the size of the venue.
He is considering central Manchester as well as smaller towns in the region for potential venues.
Olive Tree made a name for itself locally, and was highly commended in the Restaurant of the Year category at the Lancashire Life Food and Drink Awards 2014.
The group’s second site opened in Preston in November 2014, and has beaten forecast profits by 25 per cent.
The fresh produce is cooked in an open kitchen in front of diners, which includes two char-grills for cooking the restaurants souvlaki specialties.
The group opened their first venue in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, in 2007, and became the first independent family run restaurant in the North of England to be a member of MSC, helping to support sustainable fishing and stock levels in the sea.
