Spanish Restaurant Group confirms reopening plans

Spanish Restaurant Group Ltd, led by James Picton, has now opened 50% of its restaurants since Friday 17 July.

The 12-strong Spanish estate, which includes eight Tapas Revolution sites alongside its joint-venture partnership with the Independent Spanish Restaurant Company (owner of La Tasca and La Viña in Manchester), will continue its roll-out of openings across the UK over the coming weeks, with aims to be fully operational in October.

Sites within the group temporarily closed due to Covid-19 on Wednesday 18 March, three days prior to the nationwide lockdown, a strategy that ensured employees who lived overseas had the opportunity to travel home.

To help future-proof the group on resurfacing post-lockdown, and to safeguard staff and the company’s economic viability, the group has undertaken a management restructure at restaurant level, through the introduction of a new ‘Managing Partner’ scheme.

The scheme will see the new roles come into operation across the business; with cluster restaurant business accountability, responsibility for all front of house operations, and the sharing of success through its new profit-related pay scheme.

A management apprentice role has also been introduced, designed to encourage internal promotion and professional growth across the company, through a sustained six-month period of training covering all business areas.

“We’re in a great position to get our fleet of Spanish restaurants back in operation and have a team who are committed and eager to start welcoming guests through our doors again, with our initial performance ahead of expectation,” says Picton (who’s managing director at both Spanish Restaurant Group and Independent Spanish Restaurant Company.

“The new management structure we’re introducing will go a long way to help safeguard our future, whilst at the same time improving the prospects for growth and advancement for our employees, ensuring they feel empowered and instrumental in our success.

“It’s great that during such times of uncertainty we’ve been able to identify areas of opportunity for our staff, offering a host of promotions across the company in the process, whilst also setting out plans to recognise and develop aspiring talent.

“With a strong plan now in place to see all sites re-open over the coming weeks, and further sites in the pipeline as we look to expand the group, we’re ready, set and able to resume our Spanish revolution within the UK hospitality sector.”