Brasserie Bar Co has secured £20m of funding from OakNorth to expand its restaurant and pub group with 24 new sites by 2022, with the creation of 700 jobs.
The group comprises two core formats: Brasserie Blanc, the French brasserie business inspired by Raymond Blanc, and the White Brasserie Company, a quality pub dining business blending the standards of Brasserie Blanc in local settings in the south of England.
The company currently operates 35 sites across the two brands. The Brasserie Blanc brand was originally developed by Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc and has 20 sites. The White Brasserie Company was launched in 2010 and has seven sites in Surrey, four in London, and additional sites in Hertfordshire, Cheshire, Essex and Buckinghamshire, making 15 in total.
Mark Derry, CEO of Brasserie Bar Co, said, ‘We have ambitious plans for both brands. Brasserie Blanc is well positioned to capitalise on the increased interest and footfall resulting from the refurbishment of the estate and The White Brasserie pubs have gone from three to 14 in the last four years with a menu, service ethos and ambience that is really hitting the mark with guests.’
Ben Barbanel, head of debt finance at OakNorth Bank, said, “Since our launch, we have been focused on one thing – solving the problem of scaling non-standard lending in the UK, backing quality management teams in the process.
'Brasserie Bar Co. is an ambitious and entrepreneurial business which, despite uncertain market conditions, has continued to expand every year since inception, even during the recession.
'The business is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, yet has managed to stay fresh in an increasingly competitive market by expanding its offering into new formats and settings, and rebranding at the opportune time.”