Burger King vows to buck high street downturn with 30 new UK openings this year - despite being landed with higher costs amid inflation rises and wage hikes

Published: 12:53, 13 April 2026 | Updated: 12:55, 13 April 2026 Burger King has promised to open 30 new restaurants this year, despite facing higher costs amid rises in inflation and a hike in wage costs.  Its defiance came as the US-based fast food giant announced a £60million financing deal to help support its growth in Britain.  Burger King, which has 574 restaurants across the country, said the investment will help bolster its 'next phase of expansion' across the UK and Ireland.  It said it will focus on the opening of 30 new restaurants this year, with between 18 and 20 of these set to be company-owned, with others being franchise sites.  The hospitality business added more than 60 restaurants will be refurbished within the push of its UK operation.  In 2025 the company opened seven new UK restaurants and redesigned a further 31 sites. The efforts of which were boosted by a £30million allocation from long-standing investor Bridgepoint.  The group said it is set to expand further after recently securing a £60million paycheck from lenders Metro Bank and Oak North.  The growth of the iconic brand comes despite wider cost pressures in the UK's  hospitality market, as well as a pressure on household budgets during a period of wider economic uncertainty. Burger King has vowed to oppose the decline of the UK's high street with the opening of 30 new restaurants this year, despite facing higher costs amid rises in inflation and a hike in wages Pictured: A Burger King restaurant on Euston Road, London Burger King, which has 574 restaurants scattered across the country, said the investment will help bolster its 'next phase of expansion' across the UK and Ireland  While the UK high street has reached a crisis point. Last year more than 13,000 stores closed with experts warning this year could see the permanent closing of more doors.  This reality sparked business leaders to urge Rachel Reeves to adopt a 'hybrid' business rates model that will tax online operators in a bid to support the high street.  The Chancellor faced fierce backlash over her botched business rates reforms last year, which hammered UK businesses already dealing with inflation-busting increases in the minimum wage alongside other tax hikes and red tape.  Burger King noted 'the macroeconomic environment remains challenging' but that inflationary pressure has begun to plateau in some key cost areas.  The company said higher labour costs are a significant financial headwind but it predicts an ease in the spike of wages.  Burger King added it is 'largely insulated' from short-term inflationary costs, with the hedging of turbulent energy, food and foreign exchange costs.  The fast food joint added its sales continue to rise despite facing wider pressures, having reported a revenue increase by 10 per cent to £488.7million in 2025 - with like-for-like sales growth of 6.8 per cent as home delivery grows.  Meanwhile underlying earnings improved by seven per cent to £28million for the year.  Alasdair Murdoch, chief executive of Burger King UK, said: 'I am pleased to report another year of solid performance for Burger King UK in 2025. 'Looking ahead, we will continue to monitor the potential impact of geopolitical uncertainty on inflationary pressures and consumer confidence. 'We continue to generate strong sales growth and, through disciplined cost control, are well positioned to convert these sales profitably. 'With a clear pipeline of new openings and £60 million of additional funding secured post year-end to support future growth, we enter 2026 with confidence.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.