Plans to relaunch Karen's Diner as Indian restaurant concept

The theatrical entertainment company that helped create Karen’s Diner in the UK is looking to relaunch the brand under a new Indian restaurant concept.

Showon Group put together the Karen’s concept for Viral Ventures UK and its restaurants became known for their deliberately rude waiters, attracting millions of views on TikTok.

Viral Ventures UK opened Karen’s Diners in cities including Brighton, Manchester, Birmingham and Sheffield, but appointed liquidators last year owing £400,000 to creditors.

Karen’s Diner in London’s Angel is the only UK site still trading with the theatrical side run by Showon Group under franchise.

Showon Group said it has the rights to operate and resurrect the brand due to an agreement with Karen’s Australian parent company.

It is now looking to move away from diner concepts to create Karen’s Bombay, which it describes as ‘the rudest Indian restaurant in the world’.

“When our Diner clients ceased to trade, we were left to fend for ourselves,” said the group’s creative producer.

“The Karen’s experience is loved by millions globally, and we felt now was the perfect time to bring our unique flair to new groups of diners.”

Showon Group is seeking Indian restaurants interested in transforming their venues into a theatrical dining experience.

The trading model offers participating restaurants a Karen’s Bombay license, allowing them to market under the Karen’s name. There are no fees for obtaining a license; instead, participants commit to a 7.5% share of all gross sales to the licensors. 

Showon said it will provide theatrical training for front-of-house teams for a fee and organise entertainment programs that align with the Karen’s Bombay experience.