Stack & Still, the Glasgow-based operator of the UK’s largest chain of pancake houses – has unveiled its first expansion beyond Scotland – a flagship restaurant at a premium location in London’s Leicester Square.
The firm, which already serves in excess of a million pancakes per annum, is taking over a site on Irving St, previously occupied by US brand MOD Pizza, where it can squarely target the droves of families and tourists that frequent London’s famed cinema district.
Some £250,000 will be invested in opening this first branch in London, which will seat 225 people spread across 5,000sq ft over three floors and an outdoor terrace – but the company indicated that this is just the beginning of its advance on the south.
Founded by Graham Swankie and Paul Reynolds, Stack & Still now has seven Scottish sites – West George Street in Glasgow; the Braehead, Glasgow Fort, and Silverburn shopping centres; The Centre in Livingston; the Bonnie & Wild food court in Edinburgh’s £1 billion St James Quarter shopping centre; and the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, where it took over a flagship site from Jamie’s Italian last summer.
In total, it employs 200 people at these locations – but aims to double in size during the next two years, including more locations in London.
Following a soft opening in December, Stack & Still’s Leicester Square branch will roll out the red carpet in January for a movie premiere-style official opening.
Ryan Hawes, the group’s executive head chef in Scotland, will move to London from Scotland to open the flagship branch as head chef, while his role in Scotland will be taken up by Mark Ferrari.
Earlier in his career, Mr Hawes worked as a chef de partie and a sous chef at the five-star Dorchester Hotel near London’s Hyde Park, and held two AA rosettes while he was head chef at Livingstone’s Restaurant in Linlithgow, near Edinburgh.
Ryan will be joined by general manager Barry McPhee, who is rejoining the firm from Franco Manco. Barry will be supported by Lyle Maclean Beaton as assistant manager, who joined Stack & Still as a bartender when the brand launched in 2018.
Co-founder and chief executive Mr Reynolds said: “It’s long been my ambition to expand Stack & Still beyond Scotland and the move into, probably the most famous leisure destination in the UK, is testament to the strength of the brand.
“Opening our flagship pancake house in such a location will allow us to expand beyond our traditionally busy breakfast time by serving dishes throughout the day to families and international tourists.
“Guests can choose from 12 million combinations thanks to our selection of pancake bases, toppings, sauces, and other accompaniments.”
The firm will initially open its Leicester Square site between 9am and 5pm, before moving to a 12-hour service beginning at 8am.
With an eye on that tourist trade, the expansion plan includes order-at-table technology to order pancakes in multiple languages.
Stack & Still was advised on property by Oliver Wright of Wright Property. On legals, advisors were CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang for property and TLT LLP on licensing.
