Europeâs first Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. venue has opened its doors, following a ÂŁ1.85m contract to refurbish premises at 7-14 Coventry Street.
Replacing the iconic Planet Hollywood restaurant in Londonâs popular Trocadero, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is a fantastic new venue which is already making a name for itself within the nationâs capital.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is spread over two floors and comprises a 400-seater restaurant, a bar, a Gump House for group parties and a âretail marketâ which sells Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. branded merchandise. The corner restaurant overlooks both Coventry Street and Rupert Street so is ideally placed for passing trade and those wanting to try something a little different.
Known for its outstanding seafood in its native country of America, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. takes its name and inspiration from award-winning film Forrest Gump. The restaurant chain has 39 restaurants across the globe and is aiming to replicate this success here in the UK.
âI am thrilled about opening the first Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Europe and in such an iconic location,â said Fawzia Mubarak Al-Hassawi, restaurantâs franchise owner.
âI have been to a few of the sites in the USA and always wanted to bring the brand to Europe. The opening in London is the first hopefully of a series of successful openings throughout the UK.â
The first Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant was set up in 1996 by Viacom, owner of Paramount Pictures, and the distributor of the 1994 hit-movie Forrest Gump. After proving a hit, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. soon became a chain and was subsequently sold in 2010 to restaurant group Landry, led by entrepreneur Tilman Fertitta.
Tilman Fertitta, Sole Owner, Chairman and CEO of Landryâs, Inc, said:
âHaving established Landryâs as one of the leading dining and entertainment companies, we are looking forward to continuing to expand our presence in other countries. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is well-suited to the bustling London market and I know families will enjoy its entertaining atmosphere, family friendly service and quality seafood.â
The contract to refurbish the building which is now home to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. was carried out by main contractors P.E.C. The Yorkshire-based company has earned a national reputation for its fit-out and refurbishment projects and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is no exception.
P.E.C was invited to tender for this prestigious project based on their knowledge, experience, expertise, quality and competitiveness. Work began on the project in October 2013 and reached completion in September 2014.
The construction programme was designed specifically so that P.E.C could create a UK compatible take on the restaurantâs original US design concept. Speaking to Premier Hospitality about the project, Managing Director of P.E.C, Sohan Panesar, said:
âBubba Gump Shrimp Co. is a globally branded image, which has been translated to fit the UK market. The owners have used the concept from the movie Forrest Gump, therefore a lot of the detail, menu and wording is taken from the film. A lot of memorabilia is also placed throughout and we had to follow this as we created a UK-based restaurant.â
As well as replicating an already successful concept for the UK market one of the biggest challenges that P.E.C faced was the restaurantâs location. London is one of the busiest cities in the world and with tourists and the usual hustle and bustle of everyday life, P.E.C certainly had their work cut out for them when installing this in the Trocadero.
Sohan explained:
âWe had to consider the fact that Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is located within central London, where everything surrounding the project is live, with people walking around the area and shops open as usual. Our works were in direct contact to adjoining businesses either side, above and below, so they were subject to various restrictions at certain times. The area around Piccadilly Circus is an area of London which is open 24/7, so even our nightshift teams were exposed to similar challenges that our dayshift teams encountered.â
Seafood is at the heart of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. menu, with signature dishes including Coconut Shrimp, Lobster Linguine and the Bucket of Boat Trash, which showcases a mix of fried shrimp and crab claws. Meanwhile, fans of the Tom Hanks-starring film will recognise the likes of Jennyâs Catch of the day with Lobster Butter Sauce and Lt. Danâs Drunken Shrimp, cropping up on the menu.
Additional offerings at Bubba Gump include appertisers and light bites, such as Mama Gumpâs Garlic Bread Basket, Crab Stuffed Mushrooms and the Shrimperâs Net Catch. To complete the menu is a delicious selection of drinks, ensuring all tastes are catered for.
Reflecting on the project, Sohan said:
âBubba Gump Shrimp Co. was a unique project; the first in the UK and Europe, setting a benchmark for many more. Our presence in the capital is enhanced with our Mayfair office, however with this landmark location we will certainly be looking to reach out to even more likeminded clients. We helped deliver this new D&B contract â which was full of various challenges from start to completion â but finished as a great success.â
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. has restaurants in key tourist-orientated locations with the USA, including Universal CityWalk â Orlando, FL and Hollywood, CA; Santa Monica Pier in California; Times Square in New York City; and the Las Vegas Strip. International locations include Bali, Hong Kong, Cancun and Tokyo among others.
For more information about Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., please visit: www.bubbagump.com.
Euro Floors London Ltd
Euro Floors London Ltd specialise in the installation of hardwood flooring and finishing in the commercial and residential markets. Residential projects range from house building schemes to private projects.
Having been in operation for four and a half years the firm has worked with an array of high profile clients. Projects include the first phase of works at the National Theatre in Southbank as well as a huge private contract for the ARK joinery project.
Premier Hospitality caught up with Dave Smith, Sales Manager at Euro Floors London Ltd, to find out more about the firmâs recent involvement in the Bubba Group Shrimp Co.
Dave commented:
âAt Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. we installed around 700m2 of wood flooring to the ground and first floor restaurant and foyer areas. We then finished the floors applying a coloured finish and sealing it. Because of the sheer numbers of other trades on site, we took the decision to work nights. It was very important for us to be involved with Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.âs flagship project in Europe; which is the first of 20 branches set to be opened in Europe.
âWe pride ourselves in our workmanship and work ethic, as well as our high quality finishing and flexible service.â
Aurora Lifts
 Aurora Lifts specialise in the design, modernisation and installation of bespoke lifts across the UK. Aurora has grown significantly in recent years based on client recommendations for providing outstanding service from quotation to final hand-over.
Aurora has over 20 yearsâ experience within the industry and have a strong name in the customised lift sector. Now owned by Europeâs largest manufacturer; Schindler, Aurora is able to offer an increasing product range.
Since their inception the firm has worked with a plethora of high profile clients including P.E.C, Transport for London, GlaxoSmithKline, Ikea, Royal Borough of Greenwich and Norland. All of these clients have trusted Aurora to deliver complex solutions on varying projects from ÂŁ50,000 to ÂŁ2,000,000.
Most recently the firm has been involved with Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. The company were contracted to design, supply and install a bespoke lift to facilitate access to the new restaurant. The project required additional engineering input due to other floors in the building being occupied which required design dispensation for the lift to be installed.
It is a fantastic restaurant and has a great wood floor!