Olswang has advised Australia’s privately-owned food and beverage business Airport Retail Enterprises (ARE) on its first concession in the UK market: partnering with The Zetter Group and award-winning chef Bruno Loubet to adapt one of London’s hottest vegetable-led dining concepts to launch Grain Store Café & Bar at Gatwick Airport.

Grain Store Café & Bar is set to open this autumn at Gatwick’s South Terminal and is the concept’s first opening following the establishment of its flagship restaurant at King’s Cross in 2013. The airport restaurant adapts Grain Store’s vegetable-centric menu and features dishes starring fresh and organic vegetables, as well as fish and meat sourced from local British producers. The space was designed by the renowned Russell Sage Studio – designers of some of London’s most iconic restaurants including The Savoy Grill, Dishoom and the original Grain Store.

ARE will operate the outlet, its first in the UK and Europe, bringing more than 40 years’ experience operating food, beverage and retail establishments in airports throughout Australia.

Director of ARE Hayley Butts commented: “As a new entrant to the UK market, we needed a team with the leisure, franchise and real estate skillset who understood local market practice and could bring credibility and relationships to the table. Olswang was the perfect choice and it was great to work with David, Joel and Elle.”

Olswang Corporate Partner and Head of Leisure and Retail David Roberts commented: “The new Grain Store Café & Bar at Gatwick has received a lot of press and for good reason. Adapting a restaurant offering to an airport environment is a huge challenge and great care has been taken to develop a specialized concept in this case and we are sure it will be a great success. It has been a real pleasure to advise new client Airport Retail Enterprises on its first concession in the UK and we look forward to working with ARE in the future as it continues to expand further in the UK and European markets.”

David Roberts led the deal with assistance from the firm’s Head of Franchising Joel Vertes and Commercial Partner Elle Todd, who introduced the relationship to the firm.

Olswang's global Leisure practice combines the skills of its multi-award-winning corporate lawyers with the firm’s renowned finance, commercial and regulatory, construction, development, real estate, IP, tax, litigation, franchise or employment related issues faced by leisure businesses.