Bill's Restaurant Group Gears Up for Expansion with New Locations
Posted by Emily on 1st Sep 2024
Bill's, the all-day restaurant group, is set to resume its growth trajectory, with plans to open two new locations in the coming months. The group, owned by Richard Caring, has announced that new sites will be launched in Milton Keynes and Street, Somerset, before Christmas, marking a significant step in its post-pandemic recovery.
This expansion is not limited to these two sites; Bill's is actively securing additional properties, aiming to roll out further openings in 2025 and beyond. The decision to expand follows a strong trading performance in the first half of 2024, where like-for-like sales saw a 3.4% increase. This success builds on a record-breaking 2023, during which the group's EBITDA rose by 45% compared to the previous year.
Tom James, Managing Director at Bill's, expressed optimism about the company's future. "We are now seeing a continued trend of positive results and feel the time is right to grow," James stated. He attributed this success to the group's unwavering commitment to enhancing the guest experience, pivotal in driving the business forward.
In addition to its traditional restaurant model, Bill's has been experimenting with a new concept. Earlier this year, the group introduced Bill's Café Bar, a bar-oriented sub-brand, in Newbury and St Albans. This concept offers a wider variety of shared dishes alongside draft beers and an expanded selection of hot drinks. James confirmed that the upcoming sites in Milton Keynes and Somerset will be hybrid versions, blending the conventional Bill's restaurant style with elements of the new Café Bar brand.
Before the pandemic, Bill's operated approximately 80 sites across the UK. However, the impact of COVID-19 forced the group to scale back, with its trading portfolio nearly halved. Bill's operates 46 sites across England and Wales, and this latest expansion signals a renewed confidence in the brand's growth potential.
As Bill embarks on this new phase of expansion, the group appears well-positioned to build on its recent successes, focusing on innovation and guest satisfaction at the heart of its strategy.
Image Sources: www.bills-website.co.uk & Bill Smith from Virginia Beach, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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