Managed pub operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) toppled Gondola from its perch to regain its position as the UK’s largest restaurant operator in 2008.
M&B added 251 new venues over the year to end with 728 pub restaurants. Gondola, owner of the PizzaExpress, Ask and Zizzi chains, slipped to second place with 575 outlets, 50 fewer than in 2007.
These facts and figures are reported in British Hospitality: Trends and Statistics 2008, published by the British Hospitality Association.
The full report (which is free to BHA members) can be bought for £250 (for the printed version) or £200 (for a PDF file). Prices are progressively discounted as the year moves on. For enquiries or orders, phone 0207 404 7744 or contact bob.bacon@bha.org.uk.
View the leading restaurant groups from the 2007 report >>
View the leading restaurant groups from the 2006 report >>
TOP 20 UK RESTAURANT GROUPS IN 2008 (by number of outlets)
| Owner | 2008
outlets | 2007
outlets | 2006
outlets | Selected brands |
| 1 | Mitchells & Butlers | 728 | 477 | 799 | Harvester, Toby, All Bar OneVintage Inns, |
| 2 | Gondola | 575 | 525 | 505 | PizzaExpress, Ask, Zizzi |
| 3 | Whitbread | 398 | 237 | 157 | Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table |
| 4 | Bay Restaurant Group | 381 | 89* | 56* | La Tasca, Slug & Lettuce, haha Grill |
| 5 | Spirit Group | 344 | 402 | 510 | Chef & Brewer. Two for
One, Family |
| 6 | The Restaurant Group | 336 | 284 | 279 | Frankie & Benny's,
Garfunkels, Chiquito |
| 7 | Tragus | 267 | 228 | 162 | Café Rouge, Bella Italia, Strada |
| 8 | Greene King | 238 | 168 | 132 | Hungry Horse, Loch Fyne |
| 9 | Nando's | 190 | 142 | 133 | Nando's |
| 10 | Little Chef | 179 | 230 | 235 | Little Chef |
| 11 | Wimpy | 178 | 252 | 250 | Wimpy |
| 12 | Prezzo | 135 | 87 | 78 | Prezzo, Ultimate Burger, iMMO |
| 13 | Paramount | 75 | 76 | 25 | Chez Gerard, Caffè Uno |
| 14 | Clapham House | 74 | 70 | 57 | Tootsies, Gourmet Burger Kitchen |
| 15 | Wagamama | 59 | 51 | 39 | Wagamama |
| 16 | Town Centre Restaurants | 58 | - | - | Auberge, Café Giardino, Azzuro |
| 17 | Orchid Pubs | 44 | 66 | 76 | Oriental, Jim Thompson,
Contemporary Carvery |
| 18 | Carluccio's | 39 | - | - | Carluccio's |
| 19 | YO! Sushi | 33 | - | - | YO! Sushi |
| 20 | Individual Restaurant Group | 30 | - | - | Piccolino, Zinc, Bank |
* As Laurel Pub Company
Source: Horizons/Wordsmith & Company
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