Island Poké signs up UK franchise partners as part of plans to treble its estate

The agreements, will create a planned development pipeline of 23 new sites over the next five years – three times the poke's brands current UK footprint.

They come in addition to the 42 new restaurants already planned in France and Benelux over the same time frame and follows a recent investment​​ in the company from Hero Brands.

The first of the new Island Poké restaurant will open in Camden Market on 17 May, with subsequent openings focused initially on London. Discussions are however currently taking place with additional franchise partners, which the business said could see a further 50 sites open across the UK.

Island Poké is the largest poke brand in the UK and has continued to expand during the pandemic, doubling its estate and developing DIY poké boxes.

“We are just beginning to ease-out the pandemic which has been a hugely challenging period for the hospitality sector and these latest partnerships show amazing confidence in our brand,” says founder, James Gould-Porter.

“Hero Brands has given us key investment and expertise in growing our franchise model and it is also extremely pleasing to secure our first two partners so quickly after they have come on board with us.”

“Island Poké fits with our DNA and we are working with James and the team to bring our expertise and embark on our ambitions to create a truly global brand,” say Hero Brand’s chairman Athif Sarwar.

“The first two partnerships are the first steps in this journey and shows the huge potential of the concept and brand as we emerge from the pandemic.”

Last week Italian poke chain Poke House ​​announced it was making its London debut after acquiring poke brand Ahi Poké.

The first Poke House will open in London’s Notting Hill this June with six more venues slated to open by the end of summer in the capital.

The brand says it also plans to open 13 more restaurants across the country’s major cities in the near future.