Inception Group to roll out Mr Fogg’s

The Around The World in 80 Days​-inspired London bar chain opened its first site called Mr Fogg’s Residence in 2013 in London’s Mayfair.

This was followed by sister project Mr Fogg’s Tavern in Covent Garden, which opened in 2016 and is an ode to traditional English public house. 

Its Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour is accessed through a secluded side door located at 1 New Row, Covent Garden, and has more than 300 gins available.

Inception Group will open its fourth site in London’s Fitzrovia in June; followed by the first Mrs Fogg’s, in Broadgate Circle, in September – its first opening in the City of London.

This will be followed in October with the opening of Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration off the Strand in Westminster.  

Biggest expansion to date

Inception Group was founded in 2009 by Charlie Gilkes & Duncan Stirling. The group operates 10 London venues, including cult speakeasy bar Barts, ’80s-themed nightclub Maggie’s, Bunga Bunga and Cahoots. It also owns healthy eating brand, Squirrel, which currently trades from a site in South Kensington.

Gilkes said: “We are delighted about this year’s biggest expansion in the history of Inception Group and the Mr Fogg’s collection. We look forward to bringing London the next thrilling chapter in our Around The World in 80 Days​ journey.”

British Land's head of central London retail and Meadowhall Claire Barber said: “Mrs Fogg’s will be yet another great addition to an already fantastic choice of bars and restaurants at Broadgate. The team at Inception Group has an excellent reputation for creating unique, fun places for people to eat and drink. Their decision to open at Broadgate shows how successfully the neighbourhood is establishing a reputation as a public arena for new food, retail and culture.”

OakNorth​ has provided Inception Group with growth capital to initially fund the rollout of the three new sites across London this year.

Senior Surveyor for Restaurant Property, Guy Marks, who secured the site for Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals, added: ​"I am a big fan of Inception Group's quirky, original bars, restaurants and clubs and I realised straight away that the the former Dickie Fitz site would be a perfect fit for the group. It was off-market when we approached Charlie and Duncan with the details and I am delighted that we have been able to help them acquire the site."