The company behind the Chiquito, Garfunkel’s and Frankie & Benny’s chains expects the new James Bond and Star Wars movies to boost restaurant takings later this year.
More than half the 400 restaurants the company runs are next to cinemas and it said it was “very positive” on the outlook for 2015 and beyond. It said consumers had more cash to spend and it looked forward to new restaurant openings and the boost from a strong film release schedule.
Spectre, the eagerly awaited new Bond film, is scheduled for release on 6 November. It will be the second film in the series directed by Sam Mendes and feature Daniel Craig in his fourth performance as Bond. Star Wars, directed by JJ Abrams, returns to cinemas on 18 December with The Force Awakens. The continuation of the saga created by George Lucas will star Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher.
Restaurant Group said: “Following 2014, which has been the weakest year for cinema admissions for many years, 2015 and 2016 are expected to show significant growth as a result of much stronger film release schedules. After five years of decline, we are now starting to see increasing real incomes [adjusted for inflation], a trend which is expected to become more strongly established during the course of 2015.”
The FTSE 250 company is stepping up new openings with 42 to 50 new outlets planned this year, up from 40 in 2014 and 35 the year before.
