Shoryu Ramen secures Manchester site, first restaurant outside London: Shoryu Ramen Restaurant Group, which specialises in Kyushu cuisine from the southernmost of Japan’s main islands, has secured a site for its first venue outside London. The company has agreed a 25-year lease with Legal & General Investment Management Real Assets (L&G), represented by agent Savills, for a 1,448 square foot, ground-floor unit at One Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester, at an annual rent of £100,500. The restaurant will offer signature hakata tonkotsu ramen, shoryu buns and Gekkeikan Royal Warrant Sake, as well as limited edition seasonal cocktails and Japanese beer.” John Agnew, retail and leisure director at Savills, said: “We are pleased to have secured the first Shoryu Ramen outside London at One Piccadilly Gardens, where it will be an excellent addition to the wide variety of food choices already on offer.” The deal follows recent lettings at One Piccadilly Gardens to Azzurri Group-owned ASK Italian and better burger brand Byron. One Piccadilly Gardens was acquired by L&G’s Managed Property Fund in 2014. Shoryu Ramen was represented by Spectrum Property Consultants. The company has seven restaurants in London and one in Japan.

Barburrito continues Scottish expansion with third Edinburgh site: Mexican brand Barburrito, which is backed by the British Growth Fund, has continued its expansion in Scotland by opening its third Edinburgh site. The company has opened the restaurant, which covers more than 2,500 square foot, in Forrest Road in premises formerly occupied by Starbucks. Property director Jim Bishop said: “This location is ideal to serve our customer base with a good mix of students, office workers and local residents. The fit-out of the building has been challenging and exciting and we have managed to create 70 covers in a really special environment.” Founder and chief executive Morgan Davies added: “This latest opening cements our place as the leading burrito bar operator in Scotland. As the UK’s first burrito bar chain, we are now proud to be operating 18 restaurants across nine major cities.” Following the opening in Edinburgh, Barburrito will be taking its fast-casual Mexican food to Aberdeen with a 46-cover restaurant in Hammerson’s Union Square shopping centre. Barburrito has 20 sites, including its two other Edinburgh restaurants in Lothian Road and Shandwick Place. It is targeting a further ten outlets during the next two years.

Leon launches new burger and cakes: Natural fast food brand Leon will unveil an exclusive new burger on Wednesday (12 October), made in collaboration with professional chef, food writer and TV presenter Gizzi Erskine. The Leon X Gizzi Chicken Satay Burger takes inspiration from Erskine’s cook book Gizzi’s Healthy Appetite and comprises a chargrilled chicken thigh topped with spiralised carrot, daikon and sweet potato, served with mint, coriander and a punchy peanut sauce in a sesame seed bun. Leon will also introduce new items to its counter cakes range, including several new vegan versions of classics. The cakes include vegan billionaire’s shortbread, pistachio and sweet potato fonut, banana cake, and pecan tart. Leon chief executive and co-founder John Vincent said: “Gizzi cares about and enjoys food as much as us, and has always believed as we do that food can both taste good and do you good. We’ve found a soulmate – together we’re going to create the next chapter in the future of fast food.” Erskine added: “I’m really proud of what we’ve created together and the fact it’s available for all Leon lovers.”

Rick Stein to open first London site after buying Mortlake restaurant: Chef entrepreneur Rick Stein is to open his first London restaurant after acquiring The Depot Riverside Restaurant & Bar in Mortlake. Stein has bought the site, next to the Thames, from Tideway Restaurants for an undisclosed sum in a deal brokered by agent Savills. The 3,600 square foot (336 square metre) property can accommodate up to 110 diners internally, with courtyard seating for a further 40. It had been operated by the local entrepreneurs behind Tideway Restaurants for more than 30 years. The business will continue to run in its current form until the new year, when it will undergo a refurbishment. The Depot sits within Tideway Yard, which comprises a former stables, coach house and depot dating to 1901. The Yard is now home to numerous independent businesses and residential apartments. Stein said: “I’ve often been asked if I’ll ever have a restaurant in London and, to be honest, I’ve always said I wouldn’t. But when I went to have a look at The Depot it struck me how perfect a place it was – overlooking the Thames, being wonderfully close to central London but far enough out to feel like you’re in your own community, a little village almost. I watched people popping in on their way home from work, escaping the hustle and bustle of city life to sit back, have some food and a good bottle of wine and relax. It’s such an exciting opportunity and one that we wanted to accept with pleasure.”