Sameer Shetty, formerly of the Rick Stein Group and Hub Box, is set to begin the expansion of Crave with the opening of a second restaurant in Bristol this spring.
Sameer opened the first Crave restaurant on Exeter’s Quayside in summer 2024. Following a strong first year of trading, the business has now secured a site on Whiteladies Road, Bristol. The building itself forms part of the story. Most recently home to Haus Bar, Kinkajou, and before that the Indian restaurant Rajpoot for more than 40 years, the site has a long-standing food heritage. With Mediterranean and Eastern influences running through Crave’s menu, the team see the move as a natural continuation of the building’s past life.
The Bristol opening marks the first step in a measured growth plan for Crave, with Sameer targeting steady expansion going forward.
“After the success of Crave in Exeter, I feel the business is ready to grow,” said Sameer. “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. While the offer will evolve to suit the Bristol audience, the core principles remain unchanged: good honest food, a welcoming atmosphere and consistency of execution.
Sameer brings extensive operational experience to the brand, having spent six years as operations director at Hub Box. That experience has informed Crave’s people-led approach to growth. “We’ve built a strong team since launching in Exeter and it’s important that they grow with the business,” he said. “That includes creating progression opportunities and offering equity as the company develops. Expansion only works if the team behind it is invested and supported.”
Crave’s kitchen leadership includes Tom Lodge, who will work across both the Exeter and Bristol sites and continue to play a central role in menu development. Tom is set to appear this month 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, with booking details to be announced closer to launch. For more information, follow @Crave_Bristol on Instagram or visit craverestaurant.co.uk for more updates.
Image credits: Crave
