R & B Restaurants’ acquisition marks first expansion beyond Liverpool
An award-winning restaurant group now in its third decade of success and with four flourishing Liverpool brands in its current portfolio has expanded to Cheshire.
R & B Restaurants Ltd co-owned by Jonathan Poole and Paddy Smith has acquired the popular Libby’s Bread & Wine in Marple Bridge to their portfolio.
The Cheshire-based bakery, coffee house and restaurant has become the first brand for R & B outside of Liverpool and will enable them to build on both their own and Libby’s good reputation in the sector as co-owner Paddy Smith explained:
“We’re really pleased to add Libby’s as a going concern to the group. It’s near to where I live so I know it well and have always loved going there. We’re looking forward to building on the strong reputation Libby’s has enjoyed down the years and adding our experience of three decades in running successful, independent hospitality businesses just like Libby’s.
In adding Libby’s to their portfolio within the group which now includes Salt House Tapas, Hanover Street Social, Bacaro and Bouchon, Group turnover is now forecast to be in excess of £8.5m in 2022.
Jonathan Poole said: “It has obviously been a difficult time and inflationary pressures look set to continue for a while yet. Fortunately, demand remains strong and we’re profitable so adding Libby’s to the business is exciting.”
The news comes just 7 months after the highly acclaimed opening of French bistro Bouchon in Liverpool, bringing the total number of restaurants to five in the current portfolio.
