Diners getting the taste for a night out after World Cup hits demand

The restaurant group behind The Real Greek and Gourmet Burger Kitchen yesterday told investors it had tasted a return to the trends seen prior to the World Cup.

Clapham House reported an improved August although the week-by-week performance has been volatile amid uncertain UK trading conditions.

The company recently reported a 50 per cent rise in profits in the year to 28 March but then saw demand slip during June and the early part of July as the World Cup tournament and sunny summer weather put Britons off dining out.

Clapham issued its trading update on the day it opened another new Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GKN) restaurant, at the O2 complex in Greenwich, London. Another site will open at the Trafford Centre in Manchester next month and will be followed by a further outlet before the end of this financial year in March.

Clapham now operates 53 GBK restaurants in the UK and 15 internationally, as well as six under The Real Greek brand. North of the Border, the group has a sole GBK in Edinburgh.

The firm asked shareholders for cash in May so it could fund expansion and take advantage of cheaper rents. It also launched its first new range of GBK-branded retail burgers, available through Waitrose and online store Ocado.

Clapham House chairman David Page said the roll-out of new outlets was progressing well.