Bill’s restaurant gets a super glam makeover at new Spinningfields site

Family favourite Bill’s will be moving from its current home on John Dalton street to a new Spinningfields location this Autumn.

But things are changing. The low-key restaurant and bar will be launching in the financial district with a whole new look that will feature modern décor, vibrant colours, luxurious velvet seating and statement chandeliers.

Quirky touches and vintage finds, hand-selected by founder and Sussex greengrocer Bill Collison himself, will complete the revamp.

Its new 177 square metre dining space will accommodate up to 113 covers in cosy booths, sociable sharing tables and at its shiny new bar area. Outside, further external seating will offer al fresco drinking and dining for up to 30 covers.

It will open its doors on Monday 28th October, serving up breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails seven days a week. Menus will continue to be seasonally influenced, drawing from the restaurant founder’s roots as a greengrocer.

Guests dining at Bill’s existing restaurant prior to its closure on Sunday 6th October will be given the opportunity to win dinner and cocktails at the new Spinningfields restaurant later this year.

The restaurant is part of Caprice Holdings, which also counts amongst its ranks The Ivy-branded restaurants and upmarket London haunts Daphne’s and Sexy Fish.

It has been a difficult few years for casual dining restaurants, Caprice Holdings included. The Bill’s revamp suggests a change of tack by owners given challenges facing the casual dining sector.

The group’s adjusted earnings fell 10 per cent to £11.1million this year, according to Companies House filings. And overall, sales nudged up just 0.8% in 2018 – helped along by strong performances at Daphne’s, J Sheekey and The Ivy.

Overall, factors such as rising wage costs and significant increases in rent and business rates suggest that the future is limited for casual dining chains.

Hopefully, the move to a glitzy and more upmarket location will give Bill’s a new edge going forward. If the recent closures of fellow chains Byron Burger, Frankie & Benny’s and Gaucho’s CAU brand is anything to go by, we’d say it’s going to need the leg-up.

Bill’s will open on Monday 28th October at 3 Hardman Square, Spinningfields.