Founded in 2020, Side Street launched from a ghost kitchen in Rochdale with a simple mission: deliver bold, American-style comfort food that people genuinely crave. What started as a lockdown delivery concept has evolved into one of the UK's most exciting fast casual franchises, with smash burgers, smokehouse BBQ, and Nashville chicken at the heart of a menu that customers keep coming back for.
Brand Overview
With established locations across East London, Scotland, Manchester, and Bedfordshire - and an average customer rating of 4.6 stars across delivery platforms - Side Street has proved the concept, refined the model, and is now ready to scale with the right partners.
The brand targets an underserved market: smaller towns and cities that the big chains overlook, but where real appetite for premium fast casual food exists. Two flexible formats - Fast Casual Restaurants and Ghost Kitchens - mean Side Street can be deployed across a wide range of locations and investment levels.
Current Locations
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East London: Whitechapel, Upton Park (4.6★), Walthamstow (4.5★), Tottenham
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Scotland: Bonnyrigg (4.6★), Edinburgh (4.6★), Dundee (4.9★)
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Manchester: Rochdale (4.4★), Bolton (4.2★)
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Bedfordshire: Bedford (4.8★)
The Opportunity in Numbers
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UK fast food market: £37.9 billion (2024), growing at 5% CAGR through 2029
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2.5 billion burgers sold annually in the UK - and growing
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Consumers willing to pay up to 58% more for premium fast casual
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Delivery and takeaway now accounts for over 60% of fast food revenue
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Side Street holds a 4.6-star average rating across all delivery platforms
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Burgers represent 31% of all QSR orders in the UK
Two Formats.
Maximum Flexibility.
Format 1 - Fast Casual Restaurant
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Quick Service Restaurant model with dine-in, takeaway, and delivery
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900–1,500 sq ft | High streets, towns & cities, prime footfall areas
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Total investment: £150,000–£190,000 (all-in, turnkey)
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Franchise fee: £20,000 + VAT
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Weekly royalty: £500 + VAT
Format 2 - Ghost Kitchen / Dark Kitchen
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Delivery and collection-only model with minimal footprint
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Approx. 300 sq ft | Towns, cities, residential areas
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Franchise fee: £15,000 + VAT
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Weekly royalty: £350 + VAT
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Available to franchisees after successfully establishing a Fast Casual site
Financial Snapshot
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Estimated total investment (Fast Casual): £150,000–£190,000
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Typical finance available: 50–70% of total investment (via trusted third-party partners)
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Expected break-even: 1–2 months
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Expected return on investment: 12–18 months
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Reduced franchise fee for multi-site operators
What You Get
Side Street franchisees receive full turnkey support from day one:
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Rights to operate under the Side Street brand, including all trademark and IP
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Full shop fit-out, project-managed by the Side Street team
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Comprehensive pre-launch and ongoing marketing support
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In-house marketing team managing social, paid ads, influencer activation, and local campaigns
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Pre-opening and ongoing staff training
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Access to preferred national supply chain relationships
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Negotiated, lower-than-market delivery platform commission rates
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Ongoing franchisee and operations support
Who We're Looking For
Side Street is not looking for first-time single-unit operators. The ideal partner is an experienced multi-unit or multi-brand operator with the ambition and capital to develop multiple locations across a defined territory. Specifically:
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Proven track record running one or more businesses in the UK
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Strong financial standing - ideally sufficient capital for first and second site without relying on high-street lenders
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Leadership capability and local market knowledge
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Growth mindset - multi-site development is actively encouraged
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Food & beverage experience advantageous, but not essential
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SIDE STREET FRANCHISE?
Please contact steve@platinumwave.co.uk and request the franchise prospectus!