Boo-tiful' burger deal for ALB in Derby
Published On Friday 14 Oct 2022 by Sticky Beak
See Recent News Articles
Property firm ALB Group has cooked up a deal for trendy burger chain Boo to launch a new restaurant in Derby city centre.
The property deal, involving the lease of the former Burton menswear store on the corner of Victoria Street and St Peter’s Street, will see the fast-growing burger business open its doors to the Derby public in December or January.
The 2,000 sq ft prime retail space is one of several buildings in Derby that ALB purchased earlier this year as part of a long-term plan to breathe new life into the struggling city centre.
Boo expects to begin a large-scale £500k fit-out of the premises in November and will create around 30 full and part-time jobs in readiness for opening.
Arran Bailey, managing director of Nottingham-based ALB Group, said: “Boo is exactly the type of business that will help to drive our vision for revitalising Derby city centre.
“The former Burton store commands a prime location in Derby – which makes it perfect for a brand that prides itself on cooking prime Angus beef!”
ALB Group also purchased seven vacant buildings in nearby Albion Street and East Street, which have now all been let to a variety of businesses, including urban axe throwing venue Hatchet Harry’s, The Barista Lab and lifestyle fitness boutique Pace.
Arran said: “By encouraging new, niche and progressive businesses into the city centre, with more favourable lease terms than most landlords provide, we are well on the way to helping Derby’s high street out of a very challenging period.”
Boo launched its first restaurant in Leicester city centre in 2017 after the founding partners spent years exploring what was on offer in burger joints around the world.
The team behind Boo realised people were changing their approach to fast food and believed they could improve on the food, the ambience and the price that was typically on offer.
Boo has gone on to open a flagship 2,500 sq ft unit in Fosse Park, Leicester, as well as stores in Loughborough and Nottingham. In addition to Derby, further stores are soon due to open in Manchester, Preston, Birmingham, Abu Dhabi and another in Leicester, either as franchises or centrally run restaurants.
The simple menu, stemming from the company’s prime Angus beef burger, uses locally sourced ingredients where possible and is all freshly prepared on site, supported by Boo’s own butchery business.
Mohammed Suleman, director and co-founder of Boo, said: “We saw the regeneration underway in Derby, such as the former Debenhams site nearby, and understood what Arran and his team at ALB were bringing to the city centre. It made Derby the perfect fit for us.
“Our new premises in Derby is in a beautiful building, and we strongly believe that what Boo has to offer will really help to encourage more footfall to that end of Derby city centre, where trade has suffered of late, partly due to the Derbion shopping centre.
“We provide something different – freshly prepared, high quality food and drinks at an affordable price point and in a fantastic setting – and we’re confident it will appeal to the people of Derby.”
Mohammed added: “ALB was extremely positive about our brand and very straightforward to work with. We’re keeping a close eye on further opportunities that Arran and his team come up with in other towns and cities.”
ALB has been busy snapping up retail buildings in struggling town and city centres around the UK over the past couple of years. Its plan to transform the Bridlesmith Gate area of Nottingham with the vibe London’s Carnaby Street and the colour of Copenhagen has received huge praise.
Meanwhile, the company is spearheading other transformations following its acquisitions in places including Ipswich, Huddersfield, Stoke-on-Trent, Birkenhead and Sheffield.
The opening hours of Boo’s new Derby restaurant are yet to be confirmed, though it is likely to serve breakfast from around 8am or 9am, followed by burgers, fries, coffee and shakes right through to 10 or 11pm.
| Meet The Derby Restaurant Playing Cupid This November Romance is on the menu at one of Derbys most stylish restaurants, where a Breeze partnership is transforming weekends into First Dates moments. Nicco Restaurant Read The Article | |
| Luke Evans Bakery Unveils Fresh New Look One of the oldest family bakers in the East Midlands has unveiled new updated branding and livery to reflect its heritage and quality. Derbyshire-based Luke Evans Bakery has also Read The Article | |
| Derbys Cathedral Quarter Hotel opens its doors this Christmas to help tackle loneliness in the city A Derby hotel is staying open this Christmas so people feeling lonely over the festive season can book a break and find new friends. Read The Article | |
| The Bakewell Tart Shop celebrates third consecutive Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award The Bakewell Tart Shop has once again been recognised among the top 10% of restaurants worldwide, after being awarded Tripadvisors Travellers Read The Article | |
| The Ashford Arms Named In The Top 1% Of Restaurants Worldwide By Tripadvisor The Ashford Arms - a historic 17th-century country inn with rooms in Ashford-in-the-Water, near Bakewell in the Peak District - has been Read The Article | |
| Sheffields Food Heritage Book Launch Draws Crowds to Stannington Library People from across Sheffield made the journey to Stannington Library this week to celebrate the launch of The Unsung Flavours of Sheffield - a new book Read The Article | |
| The Miners Opens Its Doors: A Café, Deli & Wine Bar Celebrating Local Produce and Community Spirit A new chapter begins for one of Edwinstowe's most cherished spaces, as The Miners officially opens its doors this week. The Read The Article | |
| The Cupola in the Peak District Wins Central England Prestige Award for Self-Catering Accommodation The Cupola Kitchen and Rooms in Stoney Middleton has been named Self Catering Accommodation of the Year Read The Article | |
| The Hide Opens Its Doors - Chatsworth Escapes introduces new affordable Peak District hotel Set in moorland on the edge of Chatsworth Estate, The Hide opens its doors this week, providing an affordable yet stylish base for those looking Read The Article | |
| Losehill House Stakes Its Claim As The Peak Districts Most Romantic Hotel This Engagement Season Engagement season - the time between late autumn and Valentine's Day when almost half of all proposals take place Read The Article | |