Joshua Simons (left) and Steve Crawford, Co-Founders, Aviary Hospitality.
Published: January 4, 2023 | Updated: 5th January 2023
An award-winning hospitality group is to expand its Chicken & Blues and Flamingo café bar brands by investing more than £500,000 in two new sites.
Aviary Hospitality, co-founded by entrepreneurs Joshua Simons and Steve Crawford, says over 50 jobs will be created with the launch of Flamingo in Boscombe Spa and Chicken & Blues in Christchurch town centre.
It follows Aviary’s acquisition of the James and White Group and its two restaurants/café grills in Sea Road, Boscombe Spa, and Church Street, Christchurch.
Renovations are now underway at both locations with the new Chicken & Blues scheduled to open in Christchurch next month and Flamingo in Boscombe before the summer.
Flamingo will be modelled on the brand’s inaugural site in Winton, pictured, which launched in May 2021 and has proved a big hit with its ‘from breakfast to bedtime’ concept.
The 70-cover neighbourhood café bar will be open seven days a week from around 8am until 11pm.
The Miami-inspired venue will cater for all kinds of occasions from weekend family brunches and midweek drinks with friends to breakfast meetings, romantic date nights and all manner of celebrations.
The Christchurch Chicken & Blues will be the third C&B restaurant with sites also in Bournemouth (Winton) and Poole (Ashley Cross).
Located within a short distance of Christchurch Priory it will offer dine-in, takeaway and collection with up to 25 covers outside, providing al fresco dining, and 45 covers inside.
Joshua said the acquisition of James and White and its two sites provided a “once in a generation” opportunity.
He added: “We’re delighted to have acquired such prominent locations, both of which have been home to successful restaurant operations for decades.
“We see these landmark sites as a generational opportunity, and the team couldn’t be more excited.
James and White in Sea Road, Boscombe Spa.
“On a personal note, myself and Steve are thrilled to be growing both brands in unison, and look forward to them starting to realise their potential in the months and years to come.”
Joshua said Chicken & Blues, which opened its first ‘posh’ chicken shop ten years ago, had come close to securing a site in Christchurch last year but the deal had fallen through.
He said: “This site is just perfect for us. We’re right in the heart of town.
“We don’t doubt these are challenging times for hospitality, and other sectors, but we take the view that if you can successfully trade through tough times then you’re in a stronger position at the other end.
The Church Street site in Christchurch.
“We believe there’s room for around half a dozen Flamingo’s in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole region over time.”
Aviary Hospitality is also investing around £100,000 in a mobile food truck for Chicken & Blues which will attend festivals, outside events and private occasions.
A seven metre Hymer motorhome is undergoing a full conversion with the truck already booked for several events this summer.
A spokesperson for James and White said: “After well over ten years of James and White in Christchurch and Boscombe Spa, the time has come to pass the baton.
“The team were keen for these legacy sites to end up in the right hands.
“As such, we’re delighted that Joshua and Steve can continue to grow their exciting concepts across the region.
“Thank you to our customers for their loyal support over the years.”
Once both new sites are open, Aviary Hospitality’s combined workforce will number more than 120 people.
Awards won by Chicken & Blues include Best Family Restaurant at Deliveroo’s Restaurant Awards as well as Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis’ New Business Award, and the title of Best Takeaway in the South East of England at the British Takeaway Awards.
Flamingo was named joint Gold winner of the Café/Tearoom Award at the 2022 DMB Tourism Awards.
