Privately owned French restaurant group Bistrot Pierre is to continue its expansion plans in 2015. Three new openings have been announced for 2015 – in Bath, Birmingham and Newport – enabling the group to capitalise on its strong brand recognition and steady growth within the premium casual dining sector.
“2014 has been a great year for us,” commented Robert Beacham, co-founder of Bistrot Pierre. “With our Cardiff bistrot opened we focused our attention on the Abbey Sands development in Torquay and opened there in September. To now be able to announce three new openings for next year is a great culmination to 2014.”
The sites
The first of the openings will be in Bath, where the group plan to open in March on George Street in the site of the old Jika Jika coffee house & canteen. The fit out is expected to cost around £700K and will be designed by Devon based architects Gillespie Yunnie, who have been instrumental in Bistrot Pierre’s openings in Plymouth, Cardiff and Torquay.
“Bath has been in our sights for some time” continues Beacham. “It is an elegant city that enjoys a rich heritage, yet relishes a cultural diversity, and will be a comfortable fit for our brand ethos of good service, quality surroundings and enjoyable atmosphere. To have found such a perfect spot in the city centre is a dream come true.”
The new site in Bath is typical of the town with its classic Georgian terraces and striking buildings, whilst the Birmingham bistrot will be located on Gas Street within a historic toll house backing onto the Birmingham canal.
Newport will be the group’s first site within a shopping centre (new Friars Walk development).
“Each of our bistrots is styled to complement the building it is in,” he continues, “and whilst our look changes between them, customers can expect the same attentive service and high quality French cookery every day. We’ve spent years creating a restaurant brand that is firmly focused on great value French dining and good food and are proud that this combination has proved to be the right mix and that it has enabled us to get where we are today.”
Bistrot Pierre embraces the French culture and love of good food, offering great value, authentic, bistrot dishes freshly made by its chefs each day using a mix of artisan provincial ingredients and carefully selected locally sourced ingredients – from sauces through to mains and deserts – in the style of typical continental bistrots. Favourite French ingredients include the nutty flavoured St. Marcellin cheese from Isere, the Toulouse sausage and the traditional escargot from Burgundy.