Business

Bubbacue announces plans for third Northern Ireland restaurant

Bubbacue opened its second Belfast restaurant at Botanic Avenue during the summer
Bubbacue opened its second Belfast restaurant at Botanic Avenue during the summer Bubbacue opened its second Belfast restaurant at Botanic Avenue during the summer

POPULAR BELFAST restaurant Bubbacue has announced plans to open a third outlet in Northern Ireland and one in Dublin as part of major expansion plans.

The American barbecue themed restaurant has reported a 40 per cent increase in turnover since opening a second Belfast outlet just four months ago at Botanic Avene. The move, which created 15 new jobs, was supported by £400,000 from the Growth Loan Fund.

Bubbacue first opened in November 2012 as a pop up restaurant, before becoming a permanent fixture in Callender Street. Botanic Avenue was then chosen as the location for the second outlet due to the owner’s knowledge of the local area and suitable premises coming to market.

Managing director John Blisard said he has been heartened by the performance of the new restaurant and outlined plans for further expansion, including a new outlet "around the north coast".

“Our second restaurant has only been open since the end of June but it has traded extremely well. The student market is very lucrative and the last month in particular has been hugely successful," he said.

“There is certainly nobody else here or in England doing what we do and in America there are only a few franchises similar to us. The market is heading in one direction and that is towards fast-casual dining. It is something that has been in America for the past 10-15 years and Northern Ireland is only now grasping the concept.”

“We’re going to be opening the first Bubbacue in Dublin within the next nine months and we have plans to open a third store in Northern Ireland. We have customers who travel from Coleraine and Ballymena so opening a third store around the north coast is the next logical move. It’ll be a new concept to the area and we’re excited about our future expansion plans.”

Finance for the £50 million Growth Loan Fund – which provides loans to established Northern Ireland SMEs seeking to access growth finance – has been provided by Invest Northern Ireland and private investors, Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC). The fund is managed by WhiteRock Capital Partners.

Senior investment manager at WhiteRock, Neil McCabe said: “There are ambitious business plans ahead for Bubbacue with the owners hoping to gain a major foothold in the Irish market. We were delighted to have been able to help support the launch of their second restaurant and were very impressed with the food and service that they provided for over one hundred guests at our recent corporate event. We look forward to following the company’s future growth.”