The Lowdown: Gordon Ramsay’s 2025 vision
Five new places… that’s a lot of lamb sauce
It also takes some big cojones to open so many restaurants in what isn’t exactly an ideal climate. But then Ramsay has never been one to shy away from a challenge.
What do we know about the openings?
In what is described as Ramsay’s ‘largest investment yet’, the chef has set out plans to open five sites at 22 Bishopsgate - the tallest building in the City of London no less, in February next year. News had been circulating since last year that he intended to open restaurants under his Lucky Cat and Bread Street Kitchen brands within the building but he’s thrown something of a curveball with the news that he will also open a second, smaller iteration of his three Michelin star flagship Restaurant Gordon Ramsay - which we had heard rumblings about...
Sounds impressive
It is. Lucky Cat will occupy the 60th floor, thus becoming London’s highest restaurant, with Bread Street Kitchen located on the floor below. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay Mark II will be a 14-seater chef’s table, also housed on the 60th floor of the building and its opening will coincide with the original restaurant’s 25th anniversary, and its 22nd year maintaining three Michelin stars.
That only makes three venues…
Alright Carol Vorderman. Site number four is the Lucky Cat Roof Terrace, a place for cocktails and entertainment that has a licence until 3am, and the final project is the Gordon Ramsay Academy, why is said to be ‘powered’ by pan brand du jour HexClad. Described as one of the fastest growing cookware brands, Ramsay has an interest in HexClad, which is reportedly on track to exceed $350m in revenue this financial year, and can routinely be seen crashing around with them on his social media channels, so the partnership makes sense.
How big will this make Ramsay’s restaurant estate?
It’ll take the group to nearly 40 sites in the UK alone. According to the group’s most recent accounts, published yesterday (9 May), Gordon Ramsay Restaurants currently has an interest in 56 restaurants worldwide including 34 in the UK and 22 licensed locations across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. We should note that those figures appear to not include the chef’s significant presence in the US, where he operates a further 20+ sites under brands including Gordon Ramsay Steak, Gordon Ramsay’s Fish & Chips, and Hell’s Kitchen.
How much bigger can the group get?
When it comes to Ramsay, the sky’s the limit. Back in 2020, the chef spoke of wanting to eventually create a ‘billion-dollar dining proposition’. As his latest accounts for the 52 weeks ended 27 August show, consolidated turnover for the group is now at £95.6m, having climbed 21% from £78.9m the year before. If he keeps going like he is, he could eventually reach his target. Certainly, there appears to be no stopping him right now, with ‘multiple’ new international openings expected in Thailand, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and India in the coming year.
