Aquaclear goes into top restaurants league

Jul 8 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

LEISURE group Aquaclear Leisure has been recognised as one of the leading restaurant operators in the region, with an appearance in the Top 100 UK restaurants list.

The company, which has a portfolio of bars and restaurants in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, as well as venues in Nottingham and Sheffield, was recognised in the Restaurant Magazine’s inaugural R100 list.

Stuart Young, director of Aquaclear Leisure Ltd, said: “Restaurant Magazine is the leading publication for the restaurant industry and we are absolutely thrilled to have had our success recognised by them on a national level.

“To be included in the R100 list alongside high-profile names like Gordon Ramsay is testament to the high quality affordable food we offer, combined with the hard-work and commitment of all our staff and comes as the icing of the cake for what has been a prolonged period of growth for Aquaclear Leisure.”

Aquaclear Leisure, which has its head office in Washington, currently operates a portfolio of nine venues, including the Blue Coyote bar and grill and Popolo lounge, bar and kitchen both in Newcastle, San Lorenzo Italian restaurant in Gosforth and Cramlington, the River Bar and Fiume Italian restaurant in Washington and the Saltwater bar and restaurant in Nottingham. In December 2007 Aquaclear Leisure opened CafeAntipasto in Jesmond, followed by its first Popolo lounge, bar and kitchen in Sheffield earlier this year.

The firm has already begun planning further expansion within the very near future. Last week we reported that three Newcastle restaurant groups – Gusto UK, The Café 21 Group and the Black Door Group – had all been included in the list.