Midlands smash burger business Brgr Lab has told Propel it is set to make London debut this year as it targets 28 sites by 2028 and is in the final stages of securing its first international location.
The business, launched by brothers Hamzah and Hassan Islam in 2020, uses an innovative “science meets food” concept – serving drinks in conical flasks and sauces in beakers and test tubes, while its burgers are “formulated like experiments, pushing flavour boundaries with bold combinations”.
It currently has UK locations in Coventry and Leicester and earlier this year signed a multi-unit franchise agreement to take the brand to Qatar.
The founders said: “We have an exciting pipeline of new openings scheduled for 2025. A major highlight will be our first flagship London store, opening later this year in Ilford – a 60-seater full-service restaurant. In total, we have five new UK stores planned for 2025: two in London, two in the north and one in Glasgow.
Our focus is on measured, strategic growth; we plan to expand the brand in phased stages to ensure each site is fully optimised for long-term performance. By 2028, our goal is to operate 28 stores across the UK and international markets. To achieve this, we are intentionally capping growth at six new stores per year.”
As for how the Qatar plans are progressing, they said the company is in the final stages of securing its first location there.
They said: “The rollout plan will focus on high-traffic shopping destinations during the initial three years, with targeted openings in four of Qatar’s premier malls. Looking ahead, Brgr Lab intends to expand into premium commercial real estate, including The Pearl, with plans to launch its first 50-seater flagship restaurant in Qatar by 2027.
We are also actively exploring opportunities for commercial restaurant space in both Dubai and Sharjah. From a strategic perspective, Sharjah is being considered as our initial entry point into the UAE market, and this location will most likely be operator-owned.
Following that, we plan to expand into Dubai through a franchise model, leveraging the brand recognition and operational foundation built in Sharjah.”
The founders also said their first franchise location, in Leicester, is performing beyond expectations.
They said:”Leicester is a highly competitive hub for QSR brands, so launching there came with its risks, but our partners believed in the Brgr Lab vision, and the results have exceeded expectations. The success of this launch has validated our model and given us confidence in our approach to franchising.”
