Five Guys is set to fire up the grills on a new phase of growth after securing £185 million in fresh financing.
The burger chain has agreed a five-year debt deal with a syndicate of major high street banks, providing the fuel for an ambitious expansion across the UK and continental Europe.
The refinancing, expected to be confirmed midweek, comes at a time when many casual dining chains are downsizing or entering emergency sales. Five Guys, however, is bucking the trend by leaning into growth, with plans to ramp up its rollout of drive-thru locations, an increasingly central part of its European playbook.
Founded in the US and launched in the UK in 2013, Five Guys now operates nearly 180 restaurants across Britain, employing around 5,500 people. The wider European business, covering France, Germany and Spain, is a joint venture between the Murrell family and Sir Charles Dunstone’s Freston Ventures.
Together, the group employs roughly 9,000 staff and sees the new funding as a platform for wider market reach. The chain has already trialled its drive-thru format and sees it as a scalable model amid shifting consumer habits and the rise of convenience-first dining.
While the broader UK hospitality sector faces mounting pressure from inflation and tax hikes, Five Guys appears to be positioning itself for offensive rather than defensive moves. The refinancing deal not only reflects lender confidence in the brand but signals intent from management to grow market share at a time when many competitors are standing still or retreating.
If others are putting the brakes on, Five Guys is pushing the pedal down.