CG Restaurants & Bars plans four new openings in 2014

London-based CG Restaurants & Bars has revealed plans to open four new sites this year, as it unveiled record December trading figures, with like-for-like sales at its three Dirty Martini sites up 24%.

Like-for-like sales across the whole seven-strong group were up 7.5%.

In addition to the Dirty Martini sites in Covent Garden, Mayfair and the City, CG Restaurants has Tuttons in Covent Garden, Bitter Sweet in Soho, and two Fire & Stone pizza restaurants in Covent Garden and Westfield.

Pre-booked business in December was "significant" and increased 29% on the previous year, comprising 63% of sales in the bars across the Christmas period, the company said.

The third and most recently opened Dirty Martini site, in Bishopsgate, traded 41% up on budget in December, and the group said it was committed to "considerable further expansion in 2014", with four more units expected to be added in London.

CG chief executive Scott Matthews said: "December trading surpassed all expectations and capped a watershed year for CG. We managed to combine a focus on enhancing existing units with a commitment to expansion throughout 2013, providing a fantastic platform for us to continue to expand in 2014 and beyond."

Matthews confirmed that negotiations are currently underway on two new Dirty Martini sites, scheduled to open in the first half of 2014.