Flat Iron to open "two to three" further London restaurants by 2019

Speaking at the Casual Dining Show Jo Fleet said the company was looking to grow its five-strong footprint in the capital despite “uncertain” conditions in the market.

BigHospitality’s​ sister site MCA​ reported in February that Flat Iron has secured a site near London Bridge for its first opening south of the Thames, and is hoping to launch in King’s Cross this year.

It comes after private equity group Piper invested £10m in Flat Iron​​ in 2017 to finance its expansion.

Fleet added that there were no immediate plans to take the group, which doesn’t take reservations and offers its signature flat iron steak for just £10, outside the capital.

"[In a year] we’ll be at an extra two to three sites and looking to grow that at the same rate," she said.

“London is definitely our focus for this year. Obviously we’ll talk about [regional expansion] but you’ve got to be careful when you go out of London to keep the culture, it can be quite demanding in terms of time for the team.

“It’s such uncertain times at the moment, over the next 18 months to two years we’ll have to look again, because I certainly feel there’s going to be quite a lot of change.”

Fleet added that while there was a possibility Flat Iron could grow its menu, which focuses on steak, six sides and four sauces, the simplicity was currently working “really well”.

Though the rise of veganism is driving other restaurants to widen their meat-free options, Flat Iron is sticking to its original offer for now.

“It’s always a concern and you’ve got to be aware of it,” said Fleet. “I still believe you come to a restaurant and it’s fun and indulgent. You come for the quality and if you’re a vegan you’re obviously not going to come to Flat Iron.”

Flat Iron started out as a pop-up in Shoreditch and opened its first permanent site in Soho in 2012.