Big Food. Big Flavour. Bigger Ambitions. Side Street is looking for serious multi-unit operators ready to scale a fast-growing premium fast casual brand.
Founded in 2020, Side Street launched from a ghost kitchen in Rochdale with a simple mission: deliver bold, American-style comfort food that people genuinely crave. What started as a lockdown delivery concept has evolved into one of the UK's most exciting fast casual franchises, with smash burgers, smokehouse BBQ, and Nashville chicken at the heart of a menu that customers keep coming back for.
With established locations across Newham, Walthamstow, Whitechapel, Tottenham, Bedford, Rochdale, Bolton, Elephant & Castle, Bonnyrigg, Edinburgh and Dundee - and an average customer rating of 4.6 stars across delivery platforms - Side Street has proved the concept, refined the model, and is now ready to scale with the right partners.
The brand targets an underserved market: smaller towns and cities that the big chains overlook, but where real appetite for premium fast casual food exists. Two flexible formats - Fast Casual Restaurants and Ghost Kitchens - mean Side Street can be deployed across a wide range of locations and investment levels.
For franchise partners, it offers a flavour-forward, scalable model with strong market appeal, delivery-ready operations, and a concept that keeps pace with what customers want next
The Opportunity in Numbers
- UK fast food market: £37.9 billion (2024), growing at 5% CAGR through 2029
- 2.5 billion burgers sold annually in the UK - and growing
- Consumers willing to pay up to 58% more for premium fast casual
- Delivery and takeaway now accounts for over 60% of fast food revenue
- Side Street holds a 4.6-star average rating across all delivery platforms
- Burgers represent 31% of all QSR orders in the UK
Two Formats. Maximum Flexibility.
Format 1 - Fast Casual Restaurant
- Quick Service Restaurant model with dine-in, takeaway, and delivery
- 900–1,500 sq ft | High streets, towns & cities, prime footfall areas
- Total investment: £150,000–£190,000 (all-in, turnkey)
- Franchise fee: £20,000 + VAT
- Weekly royalty: £500 + VAT
Format 2 - Ghost Kitchen / Dark Kitchen
- Delivery and collection-only model with minimal footprint
- Approx. 300 sq ft | Towns, cities, residential areas
- Franchise fee: £15,000 + VAT
- Weekly royalty: £350 + VAT
- Available to franchisees after successfully establishing a Fast Casual site
The Investment
Estimated total investment for a fast-casual restaurant: £150,000 – £190,000. Side Street has also proven to open stores with far lower initial investment, however, this will depend on certain factors. Contact us to discuss.
Your investment covers everything needed to get your Side Street restaurant up and running.
Estimated 12-18 month ROI and breakeven within 2 months.
To get started, you’ll need access to sufficient liquid capital to open your first Side Street site (fast casual format). Funding for additional sites can be supported through our trusted third-party finance partners. Typically, 50–70% of the total investment can be financed - subject to your individual application and financial standing.
Ideal Partner
Side Street is not looking for first-time single-unit operators. The ideal partner is an experienced multi-unit or multi-brand operator with the ambition and capital to develop multiple locations across a defined territory. Specifically:
- Proven track record running one or more businesses in the UK
- Strong financial standing - ideally sufficient capital for first and second site without relying on high-street lenders
- Leadership capability and local market knowledge
- Growth mindset - multi-site development is actively encouraged
- Food & beverage experience advantageous, but not essential
If you’re driven, business-savvy, and ready to lead with passion, Side Street offers a proven path to growth and success. Join us and become part of a brand built for the future.
Hear from our franchisees
At Side Street, our franchisees aren’t just partners—they’re the heartbeat of our brand. Hear directly from those who’ve rolled up their sleeves, embraced the hustle, and built thriving local hubs. Their journeys speak to the passion, support, and opportunity that come with joining the Side Street family.
"Side Street Burgers has consistently delivered exactly what they promised. From product quality to service standards, their professionalism and attention to detail are evident across the brand. Their business model clearly works, as they continually refine the menu and introduce new items in line with customer demand. The online commission rates are also notably lower than those of many larger brands with over 50 outlets, which adds real value for partners. What stands out most is their genuine eagerness toward brand development and their supportive approach to franchisee growth. This combination of consistency, adaptability, and commitment makes Side Street Burgers a brand we confidently recommend and one we are proud to be associated with." - Ayyub - Multi-unit Franchisee
“It has been an incredible privilege to collaborate with the owners of Side Street on the opening of multiple franchise locations. The unwavering support, insightful guidance, and openness to feedback demonstrated by Joshua, Yasir, and their dedicated team have made the entire journey remarkably smooth and rewarding. Their innovative and forward-thinking approach to franchising is both refreshing and rare in today’s landscape.
What has truly inspired me as a franchisee is witnessing their clear vision for the brand and the genuine passion they bring to it. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and it fuels a shared excitement about the future of Side Street.”
Suhail - Walthamstow & Green Street, Upton Park, East London
“I was looking in the market to bring something exciting and fresh to Bonnyrigg. This is one of the many reasons why Side Street and us fitted so well. They are a brand who have exceeded our expectations from the moment we declared interest in Franchising. Following the success of Bonnyrigg, we have now opened a second branch in Leith Walk and are on track to open our third. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support we receive on a daily basis. The team at Side Street have consistently given us guidance on how to improve in the branch, and where we can make the 1% difference everyday to become better. The rapid growth of the brand is exciting for us and anyone else associated with them.”
Ali - Bonnyrigg and Edinburgh, Scotland
"As a Side Street franchisee, I’ve been genuinely impressed by the quality of the model and the professionalism of the team behind it. From day one, it has felt like a true turnkey proposition. It is clear, structured, and built to execute at pace and is supported by strong social media marketing that consistently converts attention into demand. The support is practical and well-organised across the full lifecycle: planning, opening, and the critical first weeks of trading. I’ve never felt left to improvise. Crucially, access to decision-makers within Side Street is straightforward, which keeps communication efficient and removes unnecessary friction. The commercial side is a real strength. Forecasting is clear, performance visibility is strong, and the guidance helps you stay on top of the numbers with confidence. Training is comprehensive, delivered in-house, and reinforced through ongoing development to protect standards as the business scales.
Most of all, it feels like a partnership. Side Street stays close to the market and keeps pace with food trends and customer expectations, so the offer remains fresh, relevant, and commercially robust." - Haroon - Bedford Franchisee
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