Over the past decade, Town Centre Restaurants has grown from small beginnings into one of Britain's leading restaurant groups. Now the company operates over 60 cafés and restaurants throughout the United Kingdom.
Town Centre Restaurants Ltd previously traded as Giardino Group Plc, an AIM listed company. In January 2003 the company was taken into private ownership following a management buyout backed by The Bank of Scotland. At that time the ownership and operational control passed into the hands of the incumbent management team.
Following the initial buyout a full review of the business and all aspects of it´s operation has been undertaken by the new management team.
This created a platform for a new and exciting phase of growth and expansion in Southern England. In December 2006, Gresham, the UK mid market private equity specialist backed the secondary buy-out of Town Centre Restaurants ("TCR") from HBOS IF, in a deal with a total funding package of £48m.
Christian Bruning led the Gresham deal team and has joined the board. Richard Simpson has also joined the board as Chairman. Richard was Chairman of one of Gresham's previous investments.
Since this point TCR have continued a steady period of growth opening new cafes in Basildon, Hastings, Hatfield, Lakeside and Romford. A significant refurbishment programme has also been completed TCR continue to be well place to extent the existing portfolio further, as and when suitable sites become available.
