Martin Williams steps down as CEO of Rare Restaurants

Martin Williams has left his role as chief executive of Rare Restaurants after six years.

Williams, who co-founded the group behind the Gaucho and M Restaurants brands, said he was leaving to embark on his “next personal chapter”.

A new chief executive for the business, which operates 22 restaurants across the UK, will be appointed in early 2025.

Williams was terminated as a director of Lomo Topco, the group’s parent company, on Companies House yesterday.

He served as managing director of Gaucho from 2005-2014 before leaving to set up M Restaurants. 

Williams returned to work for Gaucho in 2018 when the business was bought out of administration by Investec and SC Lowry. In 2019 Gaucho’s holding company acquired M Restaurants and brought the two brands together to form Rare Restaurants with Williams as chief executive.

During his tenure, the group opened five new Gaucho steakhouses and reported strong financial results with like-for-like sales rising 23% last year and revenue hitting £75m.

A statement from Rare Restaurants said: “The board thanks Martin for his six years leading the group and wishes him every success in the future. Martin would also like to thank the shareholders, guests and the Gaucho and M teams nationwide for their amazing support in his nineteen-year journey with the company.”

The company said it was “excited about a busy two months ahead” and “looking forward to a strong finish to 2024”.