Garden Grill Company is inspired by the trend for both pop-ups and street food and the aim is to encourage more impromptu eating and drinking occasions.
The format, which is to be rolled out to around a dozen managed pubs by mid-July, includes a menu based on the principle that there are two barbecue “tribes”: those that want to customise every detail and those that go for signature dishes.
For the former, items such as proteins and grilled vegetables can be combined with various toppings and sides and served in a wrap, gap or naan. For the latter, there are substantial signature dishes such as the Whole Hog, the Boss Burger or the Chickatikkanaan.
Marston’s said the bar is self contained within the grill kitchen and stocked with bottled beers and ciders, many new to pub goers such as Mahou, Shipyard and Old Mout. The concept can be set up in a short amount of time to respond to, for example, changes in weather.
Forward thinking
Una Beck Johnson, commercial marketing director at Marston’s Inns & Taverns, said: “We are currently trialling this concept at a number of our pubs over the summer – we have some great gardens and the new Garden Grill Company concept makes the most of them, while also capitalising on the trend towards BBQ and ’street’ food.”
“We are always looking at ways to provide our customers with different and interesting eating out occasions; the Garden Grill is another way to add both flexibility and theatre to the dining experience in our pubs.”
All the Garden Grill Company venues were designed by JMDA, the creative team behind the Red’s True Barbecue design concept in Leeds.