Gary Usher teases plans for tapas restaurant

Chef-restaurateur Gary Usher has teased plans to open a new tapas restaurant called Joya in a post on Twitter.

He did not confirm any further details, such as where the restaurant would be or when it is due to open.

It is the second time Usher has made an announcement this week, following news on Wednesday that he plans to raise £2m by selling shares in his restaurant business Elite Bistros to strengthen the business, create a new brand within it and open three further sites.

The winner of the 2021 Restaurateur of the Year – Independent Catey said the Crowdcube raise would launch on 4 April.

Elite Bistros' sites include Sticky Walnut in Hoole, Chester, the first solo restaurant for Usher, which opened in 2011; Burnt Truffle in Heswall on the Wirral, which opened in July 2015; Hispi in Didsbury, south Manchester; Wreckfish in Liverpool; Pinion in Prescot; and Kala in Manchester, which opened in 2019. All sites apart from Sticky Walnut were crowdfunded.

Last year, the group also crowdfunded the launch of an event catering business.