Gaucho bolsters estate with three new openings

Rare Restaurants – the 22-strong restaurant group consisting of Gaucho and M Restaurants, headed up by Martin Williams – has announced plans to further expand Gaucho, its modern Argentinean steak-house brand. 

Three new Gaucho sites will open in the next three months, including its first London opening since 2009. These launches follow a record-breaking year with double digit EBITDA on turnover of £73m, up from £55M.

Opening in June on James Street, Covent Garden, the 7,000sq ft site will accommodate 120 covers. Reflecting the area’s bustling theatre and nightlife landscape, Gaucho Covent Garden will offer extensive pre- and post-theatre dining, alongside late-night entertainment evocative of Argentina’s iconic tango halls. In addition to its signature selection of sustainable steaks and menu of modern Argentinian dishes, the site will also open for breakfast.

Following exceptional demand, Gaucho will open its first site in the north-east in March. Located on Pilgrim Street in Newcastle, the restaurant will be situated in a Grade II listed building. The venue will offer a lunch menu, evening à la carte and group sharing, as well as Gaucho’s Sunday Sessions featuring a bottomless Sunday Roast and live music.

In another first, Gaucho will open in Wales in May. Located on Bridge Street in Cardiff, the 8,500sq ft site will sit across two storeys and accommodate 220 covers, with the option for exclusive hire of one floor. The space will boast two private dining rooms, a central cocktail bar and a beef bar that will showcase an Argentine beef tasting menu and provide an interactive dining experience.

Williams comments: "I’m delighted to announce a wave of new Gaucho openings across the UK, particularly our first London opening for over a decade. With all the headwinds facing our sector (in London more than anywhere else) it would be easy to focus outside of London – but Gaucho was born in the West End. We have enjoyed fantastic post-pandemic trading in the capital and are beyond confident that Gaucho Covent Garden will be a triumph. Our recent openings in Glasgow and Liverpool have been incredibly well received and I have no doubt that Cardiff and Newcastle will be too."

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