Key Points
- The Open Restaurant Group will have ten outlets running by the end of 2026, an increase from eight earlier in the year.
- This will include the opening of Arcadian in Didsbury, the takeover of Wreck Bistro in Liverpool, and the new opening of The Counter in Manchester city center.
- The eighth site for the group is Arcadian, which opened in early September 2026 and features the 74-cover open fire dining concept at the old Hispi site.
- On 4 October 2026, the last service at Wreck Bistro will be served before closing temporarily to undergo a concept change under the culinary direction of Andrew Sheridan.
- The Counter at John Dalton Street will be the ninth site of the group upon opening later in 2026 and the concept will be rolled out in other major UK cities.
- The group has retained existing teams at Arcadian and Wreck Bistro, putting emphasis on job security and career growth in their expansion strategy.
- Sam Morgan, Co-Founder and CEO, termed the ten sites milestone as significant but emphasized sustainable growth and site selection as critical aspects.
- The group had closed the Restaurant Sow in Worcestershire as part of the strategy to make long-term investments.
Didsbury (Manchester Mirror) September 18, 2026 — The independent hospitality business led by chef Andrew Sheridan and operators Sam and Emma Morgan is on track to operate ten restaurants by the end of 2026, marking a significant milestone in its expansion across the North West of England. The group currently operates eight sites following the opening of Arcadian in Didsbury earlier this month and the acquisition of Wreck Bistro in Liverpool.
As reported by the editorial team at Hospitality & Catering News, the group’s growth strategy centres on acquiring established sites, retaining existing staff, and developing distinct concepts for each restaurant while leveraging shared operational infrastructure. The expansion comes as the group closes Restaurant Sow in Worcestershire, a decision made to focus investment on opportunities aligned with its long-term growth strategy, according to reporting by The Caterer.
Arcadian Opens as First Greater Manchester Site
Arcadian opened in early September 2026 at the former Hispi site on School Lane in Didsbury, becoming Open Restaurant Group’s eighth restaurant and its first in Greater Manchester. The 74-cover restaurant introduces an open-fire cooking concept built around a bespoke grill, with wood, charcoal and flame forming the basis of its culinary approach.
According to coverage by The Business Desk, the menu spans snacks, small plates, larger cuts, seafood and desserts, all prepared using fire-led techniques. The restaurant also includes a private dining area accommodating up to 12 guests. Open Restaurant Group retained the entire existing team from Hispi following its acquisition of the site, providing continuity for employees during the transition to the new concept.
As noted by Manchester Evening News, the location has housed Gary Usher’s Hispi bistro for the past decade before the handover to Open Restaurant Group. The opening represents a strategic entry into the Greater Manchester market for the group, which has previously operated primarily in Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales.
Wreck Bistro Acquisition Marks Second Gary Usher Deal
Open Restaurant Group has acquired Wreck Bistro in Liverpool from chef Gary Usher, marking the group’s second acquisition of a Usher-led establishment following the takeover of Hispi in Didsbury. As reported by Restaurant Online, the acquisition brings the group’s portfolio to nine sites once The Counter opens.
According to Hospitality & Catering News, Wreck Bistro will continue trading until its final service on Sunday 4 October 2026 before temporarily closing for a concept overhaul. Chef Andrew Sheridan will oversee the culinary direction of the new concept at the Liverpool site. The existing Wreck Bistro team will be retained following the acquisition, consistent with the group’s approach at Arcadian.
As reported by Confidentials Liverpool, the acquisition of the much-loved Liverpool restaurant forms a central part of the group’s latest expansion phase. Insider Media noted that the deal underscores Open Restaurant Group’s rapid expansion over recent years, with multiple launches and acquisitions since 2024.
The Counter to Complete Move to Ten Sites
The Counter will complete Open Restaurant Group’s move to ten sites when it opens on John Dalton Street in Manchester city centre later in 2026. According to The Caterer, the restaurant follows the launch of Noted in Chester and is intended to become the first of a wider rollout of The Counter concept across major UK cities.
As reported by Manchester Evening News, The Counter will be located in the Island building and is characterised as “bold, theatrical, and unmistakably Mancunian”. The concept is designed to serve as a template for future expansion into other major urban centres across the United Kingdom.
Sam Morgan, Co-Founder and CEO of Open Restaurant Group, stated that reaching ten sites this year is an important milestone but emphasised that the focus remains on finding the right sites, building strong teams and giving each restaurant its own identity. Morgan added that Arcadian has had a strong opening period and that the group is pleased with how both the team and concept have been received.
Staff Retention Central to Growth Strategy
Open Restaurant Group has emphasised that retaining teams at both Arcadian and Wreck Bistro reflects its wider approach to growth, with an emphasis on protecting jobs, developing existing employees and providing opportunities for career progression across the expanding portfolio. According to Hospitality & Catering News, the business seeks to provide continuity for employees as it introduces new concepts at acquired sites.
As reported by The Caterer, Morgan stated that retaining the people at both locations was hugely important to the group and that it looks forward to giving employees opportunities as the wider group continues to grow. The expansion is being accompanied by continued investment across Open Restaurant Group’s existing portfolio, with individual restaurants retaining their own concepts while drawing on the wider group’s operational infrastructure.
Background of the Development
Open Restaurant Group was founded by chef Andrew Sheridan alongside business partners Sam and Emma Morgan. The group has expanded rapidly over recent years, launching Noted in Chester in 2025 and Dishes in Prestatyn in 2024, among other sites. Prior to the 2026 expansion, the group operated six restaurants before adding Arcadian and acquiring Wreck Bistro.
The group’s expansion strategy has involved both organic growth through new openings and acquisitions of established restaurants from other operators, particularly from Gary Usher’s portfolio. The decision to close Restaurant Sow in Worcestershire was made as the group chose not to renew its lease, focusing instead on investment opportunities aligned with its long-term growth strategy.
Prediction: Impact on the North West Hospitality Sector
The expansion of Open Restaurant Group to ten sites by the end of 2026 is likely to intensify competition in the North West’s independent restaurant sector, particularly in Greater Manchester and Liverpool. For diners in the region, the development promises greater diversity in dining concepts, particularly in open-fire cooking and neighbourhood bistro formats.
For hospitality workers, the group’s emphasis on staff retention and career development may set a benchmark for employment practices in the regional sector, potentially influencing recruitment and retention standards across competing operators. For property owners and landlords, the group’s expansion signals continued investor confidence in North West locations, particularly in established dining villages such as Didsbury and city centre locations like Manchester’s John Dalton Street.
The planned rollout of The Counter concept across major UK cities suggests that Open Restaurant Group may pursue further geographic expansion beyond the North West in coming years, potentially entering markets in London, Birmingham or Leeds. For competing restaurant groups, the milestone may prompt accelerated development plans or consolidation activity as operators seek to match scale and market presence.
