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From a single shop in Lewes to one of the UK’ s most recognizable all-day dining brands, Bill’ s has spent the last two and a half decades carving out a unique place on the British high street. Known for its casual atmosphere and welcoming spirit, the company has built a loyal following while maintaining the independent identity that has defined it since the beginning. Now proudly celebrating its 25th anniversary, Bill’ s has evolved into one of the UK’ s best-known casual dining chains – the kind of place people go for brunch with friends, a relaxed weekday dinner, or pancakes on a Sunday morning. In light of this anniversary, Food Chain sits down with Tom James, Bill’ s Managing Director, to uncover how the business continues to refresh its menu, branding, and guest experiences.
“ Bill’ s has an interesting origin story,” Tom begins, reflecting on the business’ heritage.“ Bill, whose father and grandfather were greengrocers, used to sell fruit and vegetables in Lewes. There was a flood that affected a nearby charity shop, meaning that the unit became available, so Bill opened a café in there. It then became so popular that he bought the shop next door. Before long, Bill had grown the business to three sites: Lewes, Brighton, and Reading. It was at that point that Richard Caring visited the Brighton site. He liked the eclectic design of the restaurant and its busy, buzzing atmosphere, saw the potential and ended up acquiring the business. It then grew over the next 20 years up to its peak-80 sites pre-Covid.
“ With Covid, however, Bill’ s went through a rocky stage and some of those sites subsequently closed,” he says.“ Our goal over the last four to five years has been to
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