Chiquito
TypeTex-Mex Mexican themed restaurant chain
Founded1989 (1989)
Headquarters
United Kingdom
Number of locations
12
Owner
  • The Big Table
  • (2023–present)
Websitechiquito.co.uk

Chiquito is a restaurant chain based in the United Kingdom specialising in Tex-Mex foods.[1] It also serves food via its virtual restaurants Cornstar Tacos and Kickass Burritos.[2]

History

The company was established in 1989,[3] and at one stage had sixty eight restaurants across the country.[4] It dubs itself as 'The Original Mexican Grill & Bar', and has been described as the United Kingdom's best known Mexican chain.[5] Until 2023, the Chiquito units were part of the Restaurant Group (TRG).[6]

Sometime in-between 1998 and 2005, TRG began converting former Deep Pan Pizza restaurants into Frankie & Benny's, Chiquito and a selection of other brands under the same management.

Following the coronavirus pandemic, it was announced that restaurants of Chiquito would not be reopening after social distancing restrictions are lifted. In an announcement to the stock exchange on 18 March, owners The Restaurant Group announced their intention to place Chiquito into administration.[7] The chain re-opened a limited number of its restaurants in August 2020.[8]

TRG announced in September 2023 that they would sell the company, alongside Frankie & Benny's, to The Big Table, who own Café Rouge and Bella Italia for £7.5 million, to focus on Wagamama.[9] On October 30, it was announced that the transaction had been completed.[10]

Decor and style

The restaurants, which tend to feature a large bar and lounge style restaurant have rustic interior décor, based on traditional Mexican architecture and culture, where old Mexican posters and photos adorn the walls, alongside piñatas plates, balloons, castanets, fans, and sombreros.[3][11] Spanish and Mexican music played throughout the restaurant.[12]

Notable past employees

Nick Frost, actor and writer, worked at the Staples Corner (London) branch where he first met Simon Pegg.[13]

Environmental record

In November 2015, the chain was one of seven restaurants surveyed that failed to meet a basic level of sustainability in its seafood.[14]

References

  1. ↑ (4 March 2010). Go Mexican for a hot chain meal, Bristol Evening Post
  2. ↑ Beardsworth, Luke (28 June 2019). "Restaurants accused of lacking transparency over 'virtual brands'". LancsLive. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 Ritchie, Simon (27 December 2008). "Food & Drink - Chiquito, Clifton Moor, York". York Press. York. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  4. ↑ "Strong Brands, Focussed Strategy" (PDF). Annual Report 2010. The Restaurant Group plc. p. 2. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "Mexican chain hits town". Belfast Telegraph. Belfast. 15 April 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "Restaurant Group serves up strong sales". Reuters. 12 September 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "'It's adios for now' – Chiquito to close majority of sites as group files for administration". The Caterer. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ellesmere Port Chiquito restaurant to reopen this month". Chester & District Standard. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  9. ↑ O'Boyle, Daniel (11 September 2023). "The Restaurant Group pays £7.5m to get rid of ailing Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito". Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "The Big Table Group Limited acquired of 75 Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito Restaurants from The Restaurant Group plc". MarketScreener. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  11. ↑ Lloyd, Jane (30 March 2007). "Eating Out". Liverpool Daily Post. Liverpool. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  12. ↑ Anson, John (19 January 2008). "Chiquito's, Blackburn". Lancashire Telegraph. Blackburn. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  13. ↑ Stuart, Husband (18 July 2013). "Nick Frost: 'It's about time I showed off my smokingly hot side'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  14. ↑ Smithers, Rebecca (18 November 2015). "More than half of UK's family restaurant chains serving unsustainable seafood" – via The Guardian.
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