The Big Table Group

The Big Table Group is a privately owned hospitality company headquartered in the United Kingdom. It operates a portfolio of casual-dining and restaurant brands, primarily Bella Italia, Café Rouge, Frankie & Benny's and Las Iguanas, alongside sites trading under names including Banana Tree, Chiquito, Coast to Coast, Firejacks and Filling Station. Its restaurants serve a range of Italian, French, American-Italian, Latin American, pan-Asian and contemporary casual-dining formats. The group also has experience operating restaurants in leisure destinations, airports and other concession environments. The business traces its corporate history to 2002, when Whitbread sold 153 underperforming restaurants from its Pelican and BrightReasons divisions. Those businesses included Café Rouge, Bella Pasta, Mamma Amalfi, Abbaye, Leadenhall Wine Bar and Oriel. The resulting company, Tragus Holdings, was established through a management buy-in backed in part by ECI Partners. Finlay Scott led the initial management team, which also included executives associated with Bella Pasta and Whitecross Dental Care. Tragus changed ownership several times during the following decade. Its directors sold the business to Legal & General in 2005, and Blackstone acquired it in 2006. Under Blackstone, the group expanded through acquisitions, including Ma Potters and the Strada chain, whose portfolio included Belgo and Bierodrome restaurants. It also entered an operating agreement with Center Parcs for Bella Italia and Café Rouge locations. Graham Turner became chief executive after Legal & General's acquisition, and John Derkach succeeded him in 2012. Apollo Global Management acquired Blackstone's stake in early 2014. During Apollo's ownership, the company undertook restructuring and disposal activity, including changes to its lease commitments and the sale of Strada to Sun Capital Partners in 2014. In March 2015, Tragus Holdings adopted the name Casual Dining Group. CDG expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of Las Iguanas and later La Tasca, while also developing restaurant concessions at Center Parcs and UK airports. Some La Tasca sites were converted or sold as the group sought to reduce losses and close underperforming restaurants. Ownership shifted again in 2018, when Apollo sold its interest to KKR and Pemberton Capital Advisors, which had provided financing to the company. The business subsequently faced severe disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, CDG said it was working with advisers on measures to protect the company and plan for its future. On 2 July 2020, it entered administration. Ninety-one outlets were announced for closure, resulting in approximately 1,900 job losses, while 159 restaurants remained operational at that stage. On 3 August 2020, Epiris acquired the operating business out of administration, including the Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas restaurants. The company was renamed The Big Table Group and continued under the existing management team, led by chief executive James Spragg. In 2023, The Big Table acquired most of The Restaurant Group's loss-making leisure and casual-dining assets for £7.5 million, expanding its portfolio with additional brands and locations. The group has also promoted environmental and social initiatives. During the former CDG period, it reported a reduction in energy consumption between 2012 and 2016, partnered with The Prince's Trust and FareShare, supported seafood-sustainability measures, and worked toward greater use of free-range eggs. In 2019, it signed the European Chicken Commitment concerning chicken-welfare standards. The company has operated in a difficult, rent-intensive casual-dining market, making portfolio management, restaurant economics, restructuring and the integration of acquired brands central to its development.

The Big Table Group's corporate lineage began in 2002, when Whitbread divested 153 underperforming restaurants from its Pelican and BrightReasons divisions. The divested portfolio included Café Rouge, Bella Pasta, Mamma Amalfi, Abbaye, Leadenhall Wine Bar and Oriel. Tragus Holdings was created through a management buy-in backed by ECI Partners. Finlay Scott, previously associated with Aroma Café and Whitecross Dental Care, led the new company, with Gavin Williams and Harry Morley among the management team. In January 2005, Tragus was sold to Legal & General. Graham Turner became chief executive under the new ownership. Blackstone acquired Tragus in December 2006, by which time the group had grown to 163 restaurants. The company pursued a significant expansion programme in 2007, buying Ma Potters and the Strada chain. Strada's portfolio included Belgo and Bierodrome restaurants. Tragus also agreed to operate Bella Italia and Café Rouge venues at Center Parcs locations and developed plans for additional concepts, including Huxley's Bar & Kitchen at Heathrow Terminal 5. Graham Turner announced his departure in 2012, and John Derkach, previously associated with Costa Coffee, became chief executive. Apollo Global Management acquired Blackstone's stake in early 2014. During the Apollo period, Tragus worked on restructuring rent obligations associated with Café Rouge and Bella Italia and disposed of Strada, which was sold to Sun Capital Partners in September 2014. The company changed its name to Casual Dining Group in March 2015. CDG acquired Las Iguanas in July of that year and subsequently acquired La Tasca. It broadened its presence through concessions at Center Parcs villages and airports including Gatwick, Heathrow, Jersey and Inverness. The group continued to close or convert underperforming sites. Some La Tasca restaurants were converted into other brands, and the four remaining La Tasca restaurants were sold in February 2020. In 2018, Apollo sold its stake to KKR and Pemberton Capital Advisors. The restaurant group then encountered the severe trading conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, CDG said it was consulting advisers about the next stage of the business. It entered administration on 2 July 2020, with 91 outlets earmarked for closure and roughly 1,900 jobs lost. AlixPartners was appointed to handle the administration, while 159 restaurants remained in operation. Epiris acquired the business out of administration on 3 August 2020. The surviving operations, including Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas, were renamed The Big Table Group and continued under the existing management team led by James Spragg. In 2023, the group expanded through the acquisition of most of The Restaurant Group's loss-making assets for £7.5 million. The group and its predecessor have also reported social-responsibility programmes. These included energy-use reduction, partnerships with The Prince's Trust and FareShare, seafood-sustainability measures, free-range egg sourcing and participation in the European Chicken Commitment. The company's history reflects the consolidation and restructuring of the UK casual-dining sector, with ownership changes, brand acquisitions, lease pressures and administration all shaping its present portfolio.

• 2023

  Acquisition of assets from The Restaurant Group

  [1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The Big Table buys most of The Restaurant Group's loss-making assets for £7.5 million.

• 2020

  Administration and relaunch as The Big Table

  [1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  CDG enters administration in July and is acquired by Epiris in August, after which it is renamed The Big Table Group.

• 2018

  Ownership passes to KKR and Pemberton

  [1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Apollo sells its stake to KKR and Pemberton Capital Advisors.

• 2015

  Tragus becomes Casual Dining Group

  [1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopts the Casual Dining Group name and acquires Las Iguanas later in the year.

• 2014

  Apollo acquires Blackstone's stake

  [1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Apollo Global Management becomes the group's owner and later oversees restructuring and portfolio disposals.

• 2007

  Expansion through Ma Potters and Strada acquisitions

  [1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Tragus acquires Ma Potters and the Strada chain, including Belgo and Bierodrome restaurants.

• 2006

  Blackstone acquires Tragus

  [1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Blackstone buys the group, which had grown to 163 restaurants.

• 2005

  Legal & General acquires Tragus

  [1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Tragus's directors sell the company to Legal & General.

• 2002

  Tragus Holdings is formed

  [1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Whitbread sells 153 restaurants from its Pelican and BrightReasons divisions, creating the basis of Tragus Holdings.

A multi-brand UK casual-dining operator serving accessible, informal meals across themed restaurant concepts and leisure-oriented locations.

• Italian casual dining

  Bella Italia

  A UK Italian restaurant chain and one of the group's core brands. Bella Italia provides accessible Italian-style meals in informal restaurants and has also operated in leisure destinations, airports and other concession settings.

• French-inspired casual dining

  Café Rouge

  A French-inspired casual-dining brand inherited from the original Tragus portfolio. The format combines brasserie-style food and drinks with an informal restaurant experience and has operated both conventional high-street sites and leisure concessions.

• American-Italian casual dining

  Frankie & Benny's

  An American-Italian restaurant concept within The Big Table's portfolio. It is designed around family-oriented casual dining, combining Italian-influenced dishes with an American restaurant atmosphere.

• Latin American casual dining · 2015

  Las Iguanas

  A Latin American restaurant chain acquired by Casual Dining Group in 2015 and retained after the 2020 administration sale. Its positioning broadens the group beyond European and American-Italian dining formats.

• Pan-Asian casual dining

  Banana Tree

  A pan-Asian restaurant brand operated within the wider Big Table portfolio. It represents the group's use of distinct cuisine-led concepts to cover different customer occasions and locations.

• Mexican and Latin-inspired casual dining

  Chiquito

  A casual restaurant brand listed among The Big Table Group's operating concepts, associated with Mexican and broader Latin-inspired dining.

• Casual dining

  Firejacks

  A contemporary casual-dining concept operated within the group's multi-brand portfolio.

• American-style casual dining

  Filling Station

  A restaurant concept included in The Big Table Group's portfolio, using an American-style casual-dining format.

• Spanish casual dining

  La Tasca

  A Spanish restaurant chain acquired by Casual Dining Group after the Las Iguanas transaction. Some sites were converted to other brands, and the four remaining restaurants were sold in February 2020.

• 2009

  Criticism over tip and wage practices

  Media reports alleged that Tragus and other restaurant groups used customer tips, particularly card gratuities, in calculating minimum-wage payments and pressured staff over the collection of cash tips. After legal changes took effect on 1 October 2009, Tragus reviewed its arrangements and moved to a payroll-based tronc system, subject to a deduction for certain card-related administrative costs.

  Source

Read more

• 2019European Chicken Commitment

  United Kingdom · Europe

  CDG signed up to the European Chicken Commitment, which addresses chicken-welfare standards in the supply chain.

  Source
• 2016Free-range egg sourcing commitment

  United Kingdom

  In partnership with Compassion in World Farming, CDG stated an objective of using only free-range eggs, including eggs used as ingredients, by 2025.

  Source
• 2012Energy-consumption reduction programme

  United Kingdom

  The former CDG business reported reducing energy consumption by 17% between 2012 and 2016.

  Outcome. The reported reduction was 17% over the stated period.

  Source
• FareShare food redistribution partnership

  United Kingdom

  The group partnered with FareShare to redistribute surplus food that might otherwise have gone to waste to people in need.

  Source
• The Prince's Trust partnership

  United Kingdom

  The former Casual Dining Group reported a partnership with The Prince's Trust as part of its social-responsibility activity.

  Source

• 2023

  Acquisition of The Restaurant Group assetsM&A

  Background

  The Big Table pursued expansion by acquiring most of The Restaurant Group's loss-making assets.

  Action taken

  The group completed the acquisition for £7.5 million.

  Aftermath

  The transaction expanded The Big Table's restaurant portfolio and increased its presence in UK leisure and casual dining.

  Acquisition price. £7.5 million (2023)

  Source

• 2020

  Administration restructuring and relaunchStrategy

  Background

  COVID-19 restrictions intensified existing financial and operational pressure on the casual-dining group.

  Action taken

  CDG entered administration in July, and Epiris acquired the operating business in August and renamed it The Big Table Group.

  Aftermath

  Ninety-one outlets closed and approximately 1,900 jobs were lost, while the acquired business continued operating 159 restaurants at the administration stage.

  Source

• 2015

  Rebrand from Tragus to Casual Dining GroupStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to present itself as a broader operator of casual restaurant brands.

  Action taken

  Tragus Holdings changed its name to Casual Dining Group in March 2015.

  Aftermath

  The renamed group acquired Las Iguanas and later La Tasca, while continuing to manage a multi-brand portfolio.

  Source

• 2014

  Sale of Strada to Sun Capital PartnersM&A

  Background

  Under Apollo ownership, Tragus was reviewing its portfolio and financial obligations, including rent commitments associated with other restaurant brands.

  Action taken

  Tragus sold the Strada chain to Sun Capital Partners in September 2014.

  Aftermath

  The disposal reduced the group's brand portfolio and formed part of a broader restructuring and asset-management programme.

  Source

• 2023

  The Big Table acquires most of The Restaurant Group's loss-making assets[1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The Big Table bought most of The Restaurant Group's loss-making assets for £7.5 million.

• 2020

  Casual Dining Group warns of financial pressure during the COVID-19 crisis[1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company said it was working with advisers on measures to protect the business and plan for its future as pandemic restrictions disrupted restaurant trading.

• 2020

  Casual Dining Group enters administration[1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  The group entered administration on 2 July 2020. Ninety-one outlets were scheduled to close, with approximately 1,900 jobs affected, while 159 restaurants remained operational.

• 2020

  Epiris acquires and renames Casual Dining Group[1]The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  Epiris acquired the operating business out of administration and relaunched it as The Big Table Group, retaining the Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas businesses.

1. 1The Big Table Groupen.wikipedia.org