Pieminister, the iconic Bristol-based specialist pie maker, is to grow its restaurant chain further next year with plans to open four more outlets.
The group, launched with a single restaurant in Stokes Croft in 2003, has recently opened its 16th – in Exeter – and has also exchanged contracts on its second venue in Manchester. 
The 900 sq ft Exeter site, which was acquired for Pieminister by its retained property advisers Carter Jonas, is close to the city’s Central Station, next to Five Guys and close to other city centre restaurants including Turtle Bay, Franco Manco and Comptoir Libanais.
Having also secured the additional site in Manchester, Carter Jonas is now looking at next year’s openings – with a target list that includes Bath, Brighton, Cambridge, Coventry, Newcastle upon Tyne, Reading, Southampton and York. All the units will be between 700 sq ft and 2,000 sq ft.
Pieminister now employs more than 300 people across its restaurant portfolio and its central kitchen in Bristol, which bakes all of its award-winning pies and patties using responsibly sourced ingredients.
Pieminister pies are also sold across the UK in independent and multiple retailers, pubs and farm shops as well as its own cafes and restaurants.
Carter Jonas Bristol partner Stuart Williams said: “Securing clever trading locations such as Exeter is key to securing profitable outlets. The fact that extraction is not a requirement does open up a wider range of opportunities. Pieminister’s strength of covenant is also an attraction to landlords.”
Pieminster joint founder and managing director Jon Simon said the company was no stranger to Exeter having traded at university for several years.
“However, with Exeter College, the railway station and city centre shopping close by, we are looking forward to welcoming a wider range of customers to enjoy our exciting range of award-winning pies,” he said,
