Burger King to open 30 new restaurants across UK sites

The fast-food chain’s UK arm confirmed it has secured a £60 million financing deal to fuel its next growth phase, with new locations planned across the UK and Ireland.

Around 18 to 20 of the upcoming sites will be company-owned, while the rest will operate under franchise agreements.

The brand, which already runs 574 restaurants nationwide, is also investing heavily in upgrading its existing footprint, with more than 60 locations earmarked for refurbishment.

The expansion builds on steady progress in 2025, when Burger King opened seven new UK sites and revamped 31 others. Growth has been supported by continued backing from investor Bridgepoint, which injected £30 million into the business last year.

Despite facing ongoing pressure from rising labour costs and cautious consumer spending, the company says it remains confident. It noted that inflation in some key areas is beginning to ease, while its exposure to short-term spikes in energy, food and currency costs has been limited through hedging strategies.

Burger King also pointed to strong sales momentum. Revenues climbed 10% to £448.7 million in 2025, with like-for-like sales up 6.8%, helped by increasing demand for delivery. Underlying earnings rose 7% to £28 million.

Chief executive Alasdair Murdoch said the company is entering 2026 with confidence, citing solid performance, disciplined cost control and a strong pipeline of new openings.

He added: “Looking ahead, we will continue to monitor the potential impact of geopolitical uncertainty on inflationary pressures and consumer confidence.

“We continue to generate strong sales growth and, through disciplined cost control, are well positioned to convert these sales profitably.

“With a clear pipeline of new openings and £60 million of additional funding secured post year-end to support future growth, we enter 2026 with confidence.”