Six by Nico plans UK and international restaurant expansion

Scottish-Italian chef Nico Simeone is planning a “significant expansion” of his Six by Nico restaurant group over the next year off the back of strong sales.

Parent company Sixco Limited, which runs 13 sites in the UK and Ireland, will open four new UK restaurants, as well as new bar and bakery ventures in the first half of 2023.

It has also drawn up plans for international expansion, with potential to launch in Dubai towards the end of the year.

The Six by Nico brand was founded in Finnieston, Scotland in 2017 and offers six-course themed tasting menus for £44 in London and £37 outside the capital.

It has found success with its regularly rotating menus and now employs over 500 people and serves over 10,000 people a week, the company said.

Simeone said: “We’re really confident that, despite the economic headwinds, our high-value and high-experience restaurants will continue to excite our customers into the new year and beyond.”

Sixco Limited returned to profit in the year to June 2022 after pandemic restrictions hit trading. Turnover jumped to £30.8m, up from £18.1m over the previous 15-month period, while operating profits rose to £4.4m against a loss of £600,000.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) hit £5m, bouncing back from a £100,000 loss in the 15 months ending June 2021.

Sixco Group chairman Rob Wirszycz said: “Nico’s genius in coming up with the concept of fixed-price, six-course tasting menus that change every six weeks has struck a resounding chord with the dining public.

“The plans we have developed to extend our network and broaden our offering in the UK and overseas are enormously exciting.

“We’ve done our homework and are confident we’ll continue to deliver on our ethos of bringing incredible value for money and great food and drink experiences, that we believe gives us a level of resilience at a tough time for the sector more generally.”

Sixco's portfolio includes nine restaurants under the Six by Nico brand and the Beat6, CheateauX and 111 by Modou sites in Glasgow.