UK’s ‘first robotics-powered restaurant chain’ signs for The Brunswick Centre, Bloomsbury

The UK’s “first robotics-powered restaurant chain” has signed for The Brunswick Centre in Bloomsbury, London.

KAIKAKU, which is derived from the Japanese for ‘radical change’, has agreed to take a 2,791 sq ft unit on a 10-year lease, trading as Common Room.

As well as a restaurant, the unit functions as a robotics lab, office, and central production kitchen.

KAIKAKU was founded in 2023 by a team bringing together experience within robotics and hospitality. The company aims to use automation, robotics, 3D printed components, AI technologies, and wider operational economics to transform the customer experience within the quick-service restaurant sector.

The opening at The Brunswick Centre marks a milestone in the operator’s expansion plans, with KAIKAKU looking to open up to 10 more sites in London in 2024.

Savills acted for the landlord Lazari, and is also working with KAIKAKU to find more suitable locations.

Olly Eades, associate in the National Retail Team at Savills, said: “Leading restaurant chains worldwide are embracing technology to streamline their operations and elevate customer experiences, and KAIKAKU is one of the most exciting companies implementing robotics in a hospitality first approach. We are delighted to have secured them as a tenant for the Brunswick Centre in a deal that is key for their further growth plans and are looking forward to helping them expand further.”

Josef Chen, CEO of KAIKAKU, added: “For too long robotics companies in the food and beverage sector have been making mechanical horses, with convoluted robot arms and humanoids, KAIKAKU aims to shake this up and build the engine that will power the next 10,000 restaurants of the future. Brunswick represents our first step in realising this ambition as we look to scale the Common Room concept across the UK.”