​Smashburger Returns to UK Expansion with Cambridge Opening

American fast-food chain Smashburger has resumed its expansion in the United Kingdom, marking its first new opening in five years. The brand has taken over the former Chosen Bun site on Hills Road, Cambridge, marking its eighth location in the UK.

Known for its signature ‘smash’ technique, Smashburger specialises in burgers where the beef patties are pressed onto a hot buttered grill, resulting in a distinct texture and flavour. The Cambridge branch will offer the full range of Smashburger’s signature beef burgers, chicken burgers, loaded fries, and other sides, following the brand’s established menu format.

Smashburgers’s renewed growth comes after a prolonged hiatus in the UK. The brand first entered the British market in 2016 with its Milton Keynes restaurant, followed by a period of rapid expansion, with seven additional sites opening by the end of 2017. Locations were established in Brighton, Bath, Newcastle, Glasgow, Wednesbury, Dunfermline, and Inverness. At the time, Smashburger had ambitious plans to open 35 restaurants across the UK by 2020.

However, this momentum faltered, and no new sites were opened after 2017. The chain’s footprint in the UK even shrank with the closure of its Inverness branch. The decision to reignite its expansion efforts now aligns with the growing popularity of smash burgers in the UK. This trend has been particularly noticeable in London, where establishments such as Supra Burger, SMSH BN, and Supernova have recently launched, further fuelling the smash burger craze.

Smashburgers’s return to growth reflects its commitment to the UK market and the wider resurgence of interest in premium fast food offerings. The opening of the Cambridge restaurant signals a potential for more locations to follow as the brand once again seeks to establish a prominent presence in the UK.