The casual dining chain Bill's is resuming its expansion efforts after a successful trial of its new café bar concept earlier this year.
Backed by Richard Caring, the group has enlisted the property firm Savills to assist with its plans for nationwide expansion.
Bill’s, which currently operates over 40 restaurants across the UK, is set to open two new locations in Milton Keynes and Street, Somerset, before Christmas.
This follows a successful trial of its café bar concept earlier this year in the commuter towns of Newbury and St Albans. The concept featured a selection of the group’s core menu, £10 dishes on selected evenings, sharing plates, cakes, pastries, beers, and hot drinks.
Bill's is currently working on developing its property pipeline for 2025, focusing on both its café bar and main restaurant formats.
The group reported record sales in 2023, with EBITDA increasing by 45% compared to 2022. Like-for-like sales grew by 3.4% in the first half of 2024, while EBITDA saw an additional 51% increase during the same period.
Tom James, managing director at Bill’s, said: “We have identified several key locations across the United Kingdom where we believe Bill’s would be a great fit.
“We are excited to be working with Savills to realise our ambitions to bring this well loved and colourful Bill’s experience to more guests in 2025 and beyond.”
Bill's was originally founded as a greengrocer by Bill Collison in Lewes, East Sussex, in 2001. The brand was later acquired by restaurateur Richard Caring, known for The Ivy, in 2008.
Caring expanded the business into a nationwide chain of more than 80 restaurants but later acknowledged that it had become 'tired' and was in need of a turnaround. Following the pandemic, the group closed over 20 underperforming locations and has since invested in refurbishing its remaining sites.