Las Iguanas

Las Iguanas is a United Kingdom casual-dining restaurant brand built around Latin American food, drinks and design. The chain originated in Bristol, where its first restaurant opened on St Nicholas Street in April 1991. Its menu draws particularly on Brazilian and Mexican cooking while also incorporating dishes and flavours associated with other parts of Latin America. Typical offerings include nachos, burritos, fajitas, tapas, steaks, burgers, empanadas and Brazilian dishes such as xinxim and moqueca. The brand also places substantial emphasis on cocktails and other drinks, including cachaça-based products connected with Brazil. The business expanded from its Bristol starting point into a multi-site UK chain, with restaurants in cities and towns including Bath, Birmingham, Manchester, London and Edinburgh. By July 2019, the chain operated 57 UK outlets. Its estate included conventional high-street and leisure locations as well as restaurants at Center Parcs resorts. The first Center Parcs Las Iguanas opened at Longleat in 2016, after which the concept expanded to additional Center Parcs sites. Las Iguanas also entered an overseas market through a franchise outlet in Gibraltar in July 2018. A distinctive part of the brand's development was its connection with Brazilian cachaça production. In 2003, the group acquired a sugar-cane field and distillery at the Fazenda do Anil estate outside Rio de Janeiro. This supported the chain's drinks proposition and reinforced its Brazil-oriented identity. Its wider menu has been designed for casual group dining, combining shareable dishes, main courses, vegetarian and vegan choices, and gluten-free options. The brand has also been approved by the Vegetarian Society. Las Iguanas became part of Casual Dining Group in June 2015. During the COVID-19 crisis, Casual Dining Group announced in May 2020 that it was working with advisers on the group's future. The company entered administration on 2 July 2020, resulting in the planned closure of 11 Las Iguanas branches. In August 2020, Casual Dining Group was acquired by the British private-equity firm Epiris and relaunched as The Big Table. Las Iguanas continued as one of The Big Table's restaurant brands. The brand has received recognition for both its food-and-drinks offer and its employment practices. It won the Restaurant Magazine R200 award for best restaurant drinks offer in 2014, the overall National Burger Awards in 2017 for its Buenos Aires Burger, and awards at the International Cuban Sandwich Festival in Tampa in 2018. It was also included in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For lists in 2013, 2015 and 2019, and was recognised in the Glassdoor Best Places to Work 2020 ranking. Its workplace recognition existed alongside public criticism in 2015 over a tips policy under which staff were required to contribute a percentage of sales from their tips to the company. Las Iguanas said the charge was not deducted from wages, and subsequently reported that staff had agreed to a revised policy under which cash tips and card-paid tips or service charges were distributed to employees.

Las Iguanas began in Bristol in April 1991, when its first restaurant opened on St Nicholas Street with a Latin American-themed menu. The concept was designed as a casual restaurant rather than a narrowly traditional national cuisine outlet, combining influences from Brazil, Mexico and other parts of Latin America with a colourful atmosphere and a substantial drinks offer. The menu developed around both familiar casual-dining formats and regional dishes, including nachos, burritos, fajitas, tapas, steaks, burgers, empanadas, xinxim and moqueca. The company expanded steadily from its Bristol base into a national UK estate. Restaurants opened in locations including Bath, Birmingham, Manchester, London and Edinburgh. The brand's estate eventually included both high-street restaurants and destination or leisure sites. In 2016, Las Iguanas opened its first Center Parcs restaurant at Longleat; the partnership subsequently extended to other Center Parcs resorts. The chain also made a limited international move when its first overseas location opened under franchise in Gibraltar in July 2018. Las Iguanas developed a particularly strong connection with Brazil. In 2003, the group acquired a sugar-cane field and distillery at the Fazenda do Anil estate outside Rio de Janeiro. The asset supported the production and promotion of cachaça, a Brazilian sugar-cane spirit, and helped connect the restaurant's cocktail proposition with its stated Latin American identity. Drinks became an important part of the brand's commercial and experiential offer, alongside food. The chain later received the Restaurant Magazine R200 award for best restaurant drinks offer in 2014. Ownership changed in June 2015 when Las Iguanas was acquired by Casual Dining Group. Around the same period, the business attracted criticism over its staff tips policy. Press reports in August 2015 said employees were expected to pay the company 3% of sales, or 4.4% in London, from tips received during shifts. Some employees argued that the arrangement could require them to contribute even where individual tables had not tipped. The company stated that the charge was not deducted from wages. A subsequent internal staff vote produced a revised policy under which cash tips were shared among the team and card tips or service charges were distributed to employees, in addition to statutory minimum or living-wage payments. The brand continued to expand and receive workplace recognition before the pandemic. It appeared in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For lists in 2013, 2015 and 2019, and retained Investors in People Gold recognition in 2015. In December 2019, it was reported as the highest-rated hospitality business in the Glassdoor Best Places to Work 2020 ranking, placing 11th overall. Mos Shamel, who had served as managing director, stepped down in July 2019 and Julie McEwan was promoted to brand director. The COVID-19 pandemic placed severe pressure on the parent group. In May 2020, Casual Dining Group announced that it was working with advisers on possible next steps for the overall business. The company entered administration on 2 July 2020, and 11 Las Iguanas branches were identified for closure. In August 2020, the British private-equity firm Epiris acquired Casual Dining Group and relaunched it as The Big Table. Las Iguanas continued within the reorganised group, alongside the group's other restaurant brands. Las Iguanas' food offer has remained broad and accessible. In addition to meat and seafood dishes, the menus include vegetarian and vegan choices such as vegetable chilli, moqueca and empanadas, as well as gluten-free options. The brand has been approved by the Vegetarian Society. It has also received food-related recognition, including the overall National Burger Awards in 2017 for its Buenos Aires Burger and awards at the International Cuban Sandwich Festival in Tampa in 2018. By July 2019, the chain operated 57 outlets in the UK, making it an established national casual-dining brand rather than a single-city restaurant concept.

• 2020

  Parent group enters administration and is relaunched as The Big Table

  [1]Las Iguanasen.wikipedia.org

  Casual Dining Group entered administration in July, followed by its acquisition by Epiris and relaunch as The Big Table in August.

• 2019

  UK estate reaches 57 outlets

  [1]Las Iguanasen.wikipedia.org

  The chain was reported to operate 57 UK outlets by July.

• 2018

  First overseas franchise opens in Gibraltar

  [1]Las Iguanasen.wikipedia.org

  Las Iguanas opened its first overseas branch under franchise in Gibraltar in July.

• 2017

  Buenos Aires Burger wins National Burger Awards

  [1]Las Iguanasen.wikipedia.org

  Las Iguanas won the overall National Burger Awards with its Buenos Aires Burger.

• 2016

  First Center Parcs location opens

  [1]Las Iguanasen.wikipedia.org

  The brand opened its first Center Parcs restaurant at Longleat and subsequently expanded to additional resorts.

• 2015

  Acquired by Casual Dining Group

  [1]Las Iguanasen.wikipedia.org

  Las Iguanas became part of Casual Dining Group in June.

• 2009

  Co-founder leaves the business

  [1]Las Iguanasen.wikipedia.org

  Co-founder Ajith Jaya-Wickrema left Las Iguanas in August and later co-started the Caribbean-themed Turtle Bay chain.

• 2003

  Brazilian cachaça production venture begins

  [1]Las Iguanasen.wikipedia.org

  The group acquired a sugar-cane field and distillery at the Fazenda do Anil estate near Rio de Janeiro.

• 1991

  First restaurant opens in Bristol

  [1]Las Iguanasen.wikipedia.org

  The first Las Iguanas restaurant opened on St Nicholas Street in Bristol in April, introducing the brand's Latin American casual-dining concept.

Mid-market casual dining with a vibrant Latin American theme, broad group-friendly menus and a strong cocktail proposition.

• Restaurant menu · 1991

  Latin American food menu

  The core menu combines Latin American influences with accessible casual-dining formats. It includes nachos, burritos, fajitas, tapas and sharing plates, alongside steaks, burgers and regional dishes from Brazil, Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America. The menu is designed for both individual meals and group dining.

• Restaurant menu

  Brazilian dishes

  Brazilian-influenced dishes form an important part of the brand identity. Examples reported for the menu include xinxim and moqueca. The Brazilian emphasis is reinforced by the company's historical connection with a sugar-cane field and cachaça distillery outside Rio de Janeiro.

• Special-diet menu

  Vegetarian and vegan range

  Las Iguanas offers meat-free options including vegetable chilli, moqueca and empanadas. The range supports the brand's broad casual-dining positioning and contributed to its approval by the Vegetarian Society.

• Beverages

  Cocktails and cachaça drinks

  Cocktails are a major part of the Las Iguanas proposition, with cachaça-based drinks linking the beverage offer to Brazilian culture. The brand's drinks focus has been recognised through a Restaurant Magazine R200 award for best restaurant drinks offer.

• Signature dish · 2017

  Buenos Aires Burger

  The Buenos Aires Burger is a signature burger associated with Las Iguanas. It won the overall National Burger Awards in 2017, giving the chain recognition beyond its Latin American-themed restaurant positioning.

• 2015

  Tips policy controversy

  Las Iguanas faced criticism over a policy under which staff were required to contribute 3% of sales, or 4.4% in London, to the company from tips received during shifts. Some employees said this could leave them contributing even when tables had not tipped. The company said the charge was not deducted from wages and later reported a revised, staff-approved policy distributing cash tips and card-paid tips or service charges to employees.

  Source

Read more

• 2020

  Restructure after parent-company administrationOther

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic created substantial pressure on Casual Dining Group and its restaurant portfolio.

  Action taken

  After Casual Dining Group entered administration in July, Epiris acquired the business in August and relaunched it as The Big Table.

  Aftermath

  Las Iguanas continued as a brand within The Big Table, while 11 branches were identified for closure during the administration process.

  Source

• 2018

  Enter Gibraltar through franchisingStrategy

  Background

  After building a substantial UK estate, Las Iguanas tested international expansion through a franchise model.

  Action taken

  The first overseas Las Iguanas branch opened in Gibraltar in July under franchise.

  Aftermath

  The move established the brand's first reported overseas location.

  Source

• 2016

  Expand into Center Parcs resortsStrategy

  Background

  The brand pursued locations beyond conventional high-street and city-centre restaurants.

  Action taken

  Las Iguanas opened its first Center Parcs restaurant at Longleat.

  Aftermath

  The format was subsequently extended to other Center Parcs sites.

  Source

• 2015

  Join Casual Dining GroupM&A

  Background

  Las Iguanas was an established UK casual-dining chain seeking to operate within a larger restaurant group.

  Action taken

  Casual Dining Group acquired Las Iguanas in June.

  Aftermath

  The brand continued expanding within the group, including through Center Parcs locations and an overseas franchise.

  Source

• 2003

  Acquire Brazilian sugar-cane field and distilleryStrategy

  Background

  The restaurant group's Latin American identity included a strong Brazilian component, particularly in its cocktail and cachaça offer.

  Action taken

  Las Iguanas acquired a sugar-cane field and distillery at the Fazenda do Anil estate outside Rio de Janeiro.

  Aftermath

  The investment gave the brand a direct connection to Brazilian cachaça production and supported its drinks positioning.

  Source

1. 1Las Iguanasen.wikipedia.org