London’s Bar.B.Q institution, Big Easy Bar.B.Q & Lobstershack has announced ambitious developments to the business, including a new site in Canary Wharf, a new senior management team and Crowdcube funding.
Big Easy Bar.B.Q & Lobstershack provides the most authentic, American fresh-smoked Bar.B.Q seafood, cocktail and drinks offer in the UK. It was established on the King’s Road, Chelsea in 1991 and opened its second site in Covent Garden in March 2014 to great acclaim. Following the overwhelming success of its Covent Garden site and the enduring popularity of the original, Big Easy founder Paul Corrett has brought on board a new team of directors with a wealth of experience to assist with the future success and development of the business.
New Senior Management Team
Joining the Big Easy brand as managing director is Noel D’Arcy (previously Mitchells & Butlers). Noel joins Big Easy with over 25 years’ experience in the trade, working across a range of dynamic brands such as Browns and All Bar One. Noel’s main focus is to continually improve Big Easy’s operations, whilst staying true to the roots of the brand’s offering.
Hired to optimise Big Easy’s performance and accelerate its growth, Mayuri Vachhani has come on board as Finance Director. With over 15 years’ experience in the casual dining, Mayuri has diverse experience across the sector including at Ed’s Easy Diner, Modern British Canteen, Ask Restaurants and McDonald’s.
Kevin Todd, industry heavyweight and also ex Mitchells & Butlers, joins as a non-executive director. Kevin’s experience across the leisure industry franchising and brand building is substantial. He brings with him an in depth knowledge of the industry from a successful career across multiple brands internationally.
Branching out to Canary Wharf
This new highly experienced senior management team has now joined Big Easy and will assist with the launch of the new flagship site at Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf, which is due to open in 2015. The success of Big Easy Covent Garden has also attracted the attention of major institutional landlords across the UK, who have been approaching Big Easy with exciting opportunities, some of which are currently being explored across the UK.
Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf
The impressive 11,000 sq. ft. site will occupy part of the top floor roof terrace of the new Norman Foster Cross Rail Terminal. The expansive space will boast a spectacular terrace for alfresco dining, drinking and entertainment, an oyster and raw bar, private dining rooms; and a remarkable bar now synonymous to Big Easy.
It will also feature Big Easy’s newest Imbibe Louis Roderer award winning wine list (Steak House and Grill Wine List of the Year 2014), a huge open kitchen with a focus on charcoal and wood parrilla style grilling and a pit room second to none in size and production to anything that is currently in the UK, housing three enormous two tonne US built smokers.
The style will be reminiscent of a turn of the century dock-side warehouse with all the intrigue and excitement of goods shipped from Southern states of America and the rest of the world. With spectacular views overlooking the whole of Canary Wharf and its adjoining skyscrapers, live music every night and for the first time, serving an all American breakfast and weekend brunch.
Crowdcube Funding
In recognition of its hugely loyal fan-base, and true to the brand’s innovative personality, Big Easy has decided to eschew more traditional funding routes, in favour of its mini-bond on Crowdcube. With the aim of raising over £3m to invest into future flagship restaurants, the Big Easy bond will allow private investors to make an initial investment of £500 upwards, and will offer the option of a fixed cash interest rate of 8% per annum or 12% in restaurant credit.
Other rewards on offer will include a free meal of up to £50 each quarter, during the life of the bond to the first 100 investors who invest £5,000 or more. The bond allows Big Easy to give something back to its devoted customers by offering them the chance to be a part of its growth across the UK.
Big Easy founder, Paul Corrett, comments: “As London’s love of Bar.B.Q, lobsters and steaks continues, I am absolutely thrilled to have built the ultimate team to help the brand grow, starting with the opening of our next big site Canary Wharf. I hope our customers are excited about our new mini bond offering and having the chance to be part of the business”.
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Find out more about The Big Easy Bond by registering with Crowdcube here