Published: December 14, 2023 | Updated: 14th December 2023
Boutique hospitality group Fired Up Collective has added its eighth site, having acquired the former Café Rouge site in Westbourne.
The new site, which has a courtyard terrace and 120 covers, will become the fourth location under the Collective’s Nusara banner, the boutique Thai brand founded in 2021. It is planned to open in spring 2024.
The finance was provided by The FSE Group, a South West Investment Fund.
With sites now in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Poole and Wimborne, the group – which has achieved Thai Select Signature status from the Royal Thai Government and is the ambassador’s choice – has now built four restaurants in just three years.
The Fired Up Collective was formed in 2020 by hospitality entrepreneur Andy Lennox and focuses on delivering “great food and amazing service wrapped up in an infectious atmosphere”.
It consists of three branches of The Wessex Pub Company, one Pan-African Zim Braai and four Nusara Thai. The collective is also preparing to launch an Italian brand, La Bocca.
The group has plans to add several more restaurants in Dorset, before a potential nationwide rollout.
Andy Lennox said on Nusara: “This brand is really starting to take shape. We’ve managed to create something special out of such a tough time – it’s great to have such an amazing group of people in the room for something that is a bit of a passion project and to open 4 sites in what will be just under 3 years is nothing short of remarkable and is a testament to the team we have here.
“Being backed by the SWIF (South West Investment Fund) through the FSE Group is also a key marker in the sand for the brand as we’ve managed to secure for the first time more traditional debt financing which will allow for the potential of an accelerated roll out once we are bedded in.”
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