Owner of Las Iguanas to open 50 new restaurants and create 1,250 jobs

Restaurant owner The Big Table Group is planning to open 50 new sites in a move that will create 1,250 jobs.

The group owns Bella Italia, Cafe Rouge, and Las Iguanas, and said on Monday that it intends to invest more than £50m in expansion plans over the next three years.

Some £19m will be used to refurbish existing restaurants while the remainder will be used to open the new sites, which will include 35 Las Iguanas outlets.

The development will mean the group owns 200 restaurants in the UK.

Big Table Group, formerly known as the Casual Dining Group, said the performance of Las Iguanas had “exceeded all expectations” following the relaxation of pandemic restrictions earlier this year.

Chief executive Alan Morgan said: “Las Iguanas has consistently proven to be an extremely popular choice with consumers, and now is the perfect time to grow the brand across the country, targeting high footfall locations in major towns and city centres.”