Member Article

London’s Big Easy Bar.B.Q & Lobstershack crowdfunds expansion

London’s Bar.B.Q institution, Big Easy Bar.B.Q & Lobstershack has appointed a new senior management team, opened a new site in Canary Wharf and launched a Crowdcube funding campaign.

Big Easy Bar.B.Q & Lobstershack was established on the King’s Road, Chelsea in 1991 and opened its second site in Covent Garden in March 2014.

Following the overwhelming success of its Covent Garden site and the enduring popularity of the original, Big Easy founder Paul Corrett has brought on board a new team of directors with a wealth of experience to assist with the future success and development of the business.

Joining the Big Easy brand as managing director is Noel D’Arcy (previously Mitchells & Butlers). Noel joins Big Easy with over 25 years’ experience in the trade, working across a range of dynamic brands such as Browns and All Bar One.

Mayuri Vachhani has come on board as finance director. With over 15 years’ experience in the casual dining, Mayuri has diverse experience across the sector including at Ed’s Easy Diner, Modern British Canteen, Ask Restaurants and McDonald’s.

Kevin Todd, industry heavyweight and also ex Mitchells & Butlers, joins as a non-executive director. Kevin’s experience across the leisure industry franchising and brand building is substantial. He brings with him an in depth knowledge of the industry from a successful career across multiple brands internationally.

This new highly experienced senior management team have now joined Big Easy and will assist with the launch of the new flagship site at Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf, which is due to open in 2015.

Big Easy has also launched a mini-bond campaign on crowdfunding platform, Crowdcube. With the aim of raising over £3m to invest into future flagship restaurants, the Big Easy bond will allow private investors to make an initial investment of £500 upwards, and will offer the option of a fixed cash interest rate of 8% per annum or 12% in restaurant credit.

Other rewards on offer will include a free meal of up to £50 each quarter, during the life of the bond to the first 100 investors who invest £5,000 or more.

Big Easy founder, Paul Corrett, comments: “As London’s love of Bar.B.Q, lobsters and steaks continues, I am absolutely thrilled to have built the ultimate team to help the brand grow, starting with the opening of our next big site Canary Wharf. I hope our customers are excited about our new mini bond offering and having the chance to be part of the business”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .