Angus Steakhouse facts for kids
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| Industry | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Founded | London, England (1968) |
| Headquarters |
London
,
England, UK
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Number of locations
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5 |
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Area served
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United Kingdom |
| Products | Steak |
Angus Steakhouse is a well-known restaurant chain in central London. It's famous for serving delicious steaks! The name comes from the Aberdeen Angus cattle, a special type of beef cow from Scotland. While there were many Angus Steakhouse locations in the past, five are still open today. Some restaurants even keep their old name, "Aberdeen Steak Houses," on their signs.
Contents
The Story of Angus Steakhouse
How It All Began
The idea for Aberdeen Steak Houses started in the early 1960s. A man named Reginald Eastwood, who began as a butcher at age 15, wanted to create a modern steak restaurant. He was inspired by American steak houses. The restaurants looked fancy, with big glass windows and comfy red velvet seats. They served popular dishes like prawn cocktail and Black Forest gateau.
In 1964, Eastwood and his partner Thomas Beale made the company public. This meant people could buy shares in the company. A year later, another company called Golden Egg bought most of the Angus restaurants. Later, in 1973, EMI Hotels bought the Golden Egg group.
Growing and Changing Times
By the 1970s, the restaurants became very popular with tourists. Many locations were in the West End of London, close to theatres and shows. Angus Steakhouse was part of the larger Aberdeen Steak Houses group. In 1980, EMI sold 13 of these restaurants to Thistle Hotels.
In 1984, a businessman named Ali Salih bought the group. Even though the menus and decorations didn't change much from the 1960s, the restaurants remained popular. They were known as a place for visitors to London to enjoy a steak. At its busiest, the company earned a lot of money and sold hundreds of thousands of steaks each year.
Facing Challenges
In the 1990s, the UK beef industry faced difficulties, and Angus Steakhouse was affected too. The company lost money in 2000. In 2001, several restaurant locations were sold. After the events of September 11th, 2001, fewer American tourists visited London, which also impacted the business. In 2002, the company faced financial trouble. At that time, the group had many different types of restaurants, including "Angus Steak House" and "Aberdeen Steak House" locations.
The company continued to operate while dealing with its debts. In 2003, a company called Noble Organisation bought the remaining 21 restaurants. Noble Organisation mainly ran amusement arcades. In 2008, they shared plans to update and improve the restaurants.
What People Think of Angus Steakhouse
Angus Steakhouse has a unique place in British culture. Some people, like comedian David Mitchell, have even joked that it should be a World Heritage Site. He said it's special for serving "shoe leather with Béarnaise sauce" to visitors, meaning it's a classic, if sometimes old-fashioned, experience for tourists.
Where to Find Angus Steakhouse Today
Today, Angus Steakhouse has five restaurants in London:
- Two are in the West End of London: one at 21 Coventry Street in Piccadilly Circus, and another on Cranbourn Street in Leicester Square.
- Two are near Oxford Street: one at 243 Argyll Street in Oxford Circus, and another at 10 Woodstock Street near Bond Street.
- One is located across from Paddington Station, at 163 Praed Street.
