7 December 2023

Comptoir Group plc

("Comptoir", the "Company" or the "Group")

Comptoir Libanais' expansion continues with new restaurant at the Southbank Centre, London

Comptoir Group Plc (AIM: COM), the owner and/or operator of Lebanese and Middle Eastern restaurants, is delighted to announce they will be opening a new restaurant at the Southbank Centre, London. The restaurant will be located opposite the entrance of the Royal Festival Hall, neighbouring Las Iguanas, Côte Brasserie and Honest Burgers restaurants. With over 5,400 events a year, the Southbank Centre site has a footfall of 19 million a year (2022/23), situating the restaurant perfectly to benefit from both international visitors and local guests in the heart of a thriving district of London. The restaurant is expected to open around Easter 2024. 

Comptoir Libanais' 23^rd restaurant will be an all-day dining experience that adds to the vibrant mix of the Southbank Centre's eateries. The 135 cover restaurant and 48 cover outside seating area will offer delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes, including classic best-selling sharing platters of hot and cold mezze, grills, salads and wraps to eat in or takeaway, as well as a new middle-eastern inspired breakfast menu. The drinks will feature a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails and specialist beers from the region as well as showcasing wonderful Lebanese wines from Ksara, Comptoir Group's long-standing partner supplying Lebanese wines. Comptoir Libanais, Southbank Centre will be a true reflection of the Middle Eastern culture, creating a vibrant and authentic atmosphere, all delivered in the true spirit of generous hospitality.

Tony Kitous, Founder, commented:

"We are proud to be a part of the fabric of London's diverse culinary landscape as we open the doors of another new restaurant, this time in London's South Bank. We are excited to have the opportunity to continue to share the flavours and cultural richness that have won the hearts of our guests, in an environment that captures the essence of Middle Eastern heritage".

Nick Ayerst, CEO, added:

"Following the successful recent opening in Ealing, we are pleased to announce the continued strategic growth in an area of London we have long desired to be in. The location on the South Bank captures an immensely high footfall of both workers, visitors and tourists who we know will be hungry for our well-loved authentic Middle Eastern food and culture". 

Susan Johnston, Chief Operating Officer, Southbank Centre, added:  

"We are thrilled to welcome Comptoir Libanais to our lineup of restaurants at the Southbank Centre. Authentic  Middle Eastern cuisine is a much anticipated addition to the variety of food and drink available at the Southbank Centre and we look forward to the new restaurant opening around Easter 2024."

Ends

Enquiries:

Comptoir Group plc                                                                 via Camarco

Beatrice Lafon, Non-Executive Chair

Nick Ayerst, CEO

Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker)

Simon Hicks                                                                             0207 220 0500

Camarco (Media Contact)

Jennifer Renwick                                                                       [email protected]

Letaba Rimell

About Comptoir Group

Comptoir Group PLC owns and operates 27 Lebanese restaurants, six of which are franchised, based predominately in the UK. The flagship brand of the group, Comptoir Libanais, is a collection of 22 restaurants located across London and nationwide, including cities such as Manchester, Bath, Birmingham, Oxford and Exeter.

The name Comptoir Libanais means Lebanese Counter and is a place where guests can eat casually and enjoy Middle Eastern food, served with warm and friendly hospitality.

The Group also operates Shawa, serving traditional shawarmas through a counter service model in Westfield and Bluewater shopping centres, Yalla-Yalla with branches near Oxford Circus and in Soho, and entertainment venue Kenza, located in Devonshire Square, London.

The group has expanded internationally with its franchise partners HMSHOST, with restaurants in the Netherlands, Qatar and Dubai and will shortly be opening in Milan Malpensa Airport with AREAS.

About the Southbank Centre

The Southbank Centre is the UK's largest multi-arts centre and engages the most diverse audiences of any performing arts organisation in the UK. Our biggest venue, the Royal Festival Hall (2,700 seats) is the lasting legacy of the 1951 Festival of Britain and the ambition and values of that project - that arts, ideas, innovation and culture can heal communities and should be available and accessible to everyone - are still our guiding principles today.

The Southbank Centre is uniquely able to offer a wide-ranging, inclusive and world-class artistic programme spanning contemporary visual arts, music, dance, performance, literature, comedy and spoken word across the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, the Hayward Gallery and our free spaces. We are also home to the National Poetry Library, the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) and six resident orchestras (Aurora Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Philharmonia Orchestra).

www.southbankcentre.co.uk