Top 100 Restaurants

Restaurant - July 2008

Here it is: our inaugural list of the top 100 restaurants companies operating in the UK today. Over the next 25 pages, you'll find properties of each of the companies, with information on thier brands, reasons for thier success and future plans. This list is based on turnover and ranges from the very large to the relativley small, but each of the companies here is stamped its mark on the restraurant trade. Collectively they've shaped vast swatches of it. Collectively they are known as the R100.

We've excluded those companies listed on the Stock Exchange's Main Market, but have allowed AIM-listed companies. AIM is the London Stock Exchange's international market for smaller growing companies and, as such, many AIM-listed restaurant companies share similar characteristics with the independant companies on our list.

Due to the lack of availiable data, a small number of turnovers quoted are estimates. These are clearly marked. Other figures are based on data that is accurate as of April 2008.

Because of space limitations, the companies that feature from 51 to 100 in our list have more concise profiles than the top 50. However you can find more information about the lower order by visiting www.bighospitality.co.uk/r100

Grille Restaurants

Top dogs: Co-founders Simon Wright and John Pallagi
Founded in: 2006 Number of sites: Three
Number of employees: 164
Latest annual turnover: £3.9m

The founders of Room Restaurants (see number 79) started Grille, their second brand, two years ago. London's Hoxton Grille opened firSt, swiftly followed by Lincoln and Harrogate. King's Cross Grille will open later in July wIth one or two new sites expected this year.
www.grillerestaurants.com

Room Restaurants

Top dogs: Co-founders Simon Wright and John Pallagi
Founded in: 2002 Number of sites: Three
Number of employees: 101
Latest annual turnover: £3.8m

Simon Wright and John Pallagi (of Grille ReStaurants, above) burst onto the scene with "classic retro dishes with a contemporary Room twist", The concept has rolled out from Leeds to Manchester to Liverpool and next up "has to be London or Edinburgh," says Pallagi.
www.roomrestaurants.com