Popular seafood and steak-led restaurant set to expand with second site in Bristol - here's where

Sameer Shetty, formerly of the Rick Stein Group and Hub Box, is set to begin the expansion of Crave.

Shetty opened the first Crave restaurant on Exeter’s Quayside in summer 2024.

Now, following a strong first year of trading, the business has secured a site on Whiteladies Road, Bristol.

The site, most recently home to Haus Bar, Kinkajou, and before that the Indian restaurant Rajpoot for more than 40 years, has a long-standing food heritage.

The team, with Mediterranean and Eastern influences running through Crave’s menu, see the move as a natural continuation of the building’s past life.

The Bristol opening was said to mark the first step in a measured growth plan for Crave, with Shetty targeting steady expansion going forward.

"After the success of Crave in Exeter, I feel the business is ready to grow,” said Shetty. "Bristol has been on my radar for some time, it’s a city with an incredible food scene and a real appreciation for independent businesses. Whiteladies Road felt like the right fit for our next step as we aim to open around one site a year."

Crave is positioned as a relaxed, all-day dining concept, with the Bristol site shifting the emphasis further towards small plates, seafood and sharing dishes, alongside a full cocktail bar.

Shetty brings extensive operational experience to the brand, having spent six years as operations director at Hub Box.

Tom Lodge, who will work across both the Exeter and Bristol sites and continue to play a central role in menu development, is amongst Crave’s kitchen leadership.

This month, Lodge is set to appear in the new series The Heat on ITV2, which follows ten chefs working under multi-Michelin-star, award-winning chef Jean-Christophe Novelli in Barcelona.

Crave @ 52 is due to open on Whiteladies Road in spring 2026. Booking details are due to be announced closer to launch.