Mitchells & Butlers PLC (LSE:MAB), the hospitality company, is launching a New Orleans-themed BBQ restaurant, marking the first new brand from the group since launching Miller & Carter.
Orleans Smokehouse will open in Solihull on February 19 and is expected to serve “slow and low” style dishes such as ribs, brisket, shrimp tacos and king prawn po-boys.
However, M&B’s new restaurant won’t be the only smokehouse in town.
Rival Green King is also set to open a new site in Solihull, its recently acquired BBQ restaurant brand Hickory’s Smokehouse.
Only a few miles away from Orleans Smokehouse, the Greene King (LSE:GNK) venue will open a week later, on February 26, and will feature a similar menu including brisket, ribs and burgers.
When asked about the similarities of the openings, a Greene King (LSE:GNK) spokesperson said: “They do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and so we’d like to wish M&B all the best with their latest venture.”
“They’re perhaps 15 years late to the party... Seems strange to limit yourself to one state when you can celebrate all the Southern States. Either way, we’re looking forward to trying their take on New Orleans classics like crawfish and beignets.”
A Mitchells and Butlers spokesperson said: “The decision on where to invest is a complicated decision, taken over a long period of time, based on the location of potential sites from our existing portfolio, the suitable demographics in a local area, the cost of the investment, planning constraints and many other factors.”
They added that the new brand was an homage to its former restaurant Old Orleans, which ceased operations in the early 2010s.
Mitchells and Butlers' shares traded flat on Thursday at around 250p.