Bank Restaurant Group – the owner and operator of Bank Aldwych, Bank Birmingham and Bank Westminster restaurants – has reported pre-tax profits up 43 per cent to £457,000 on a turnover of £4.7m, for the six months ending 30 April 2005.

New executive chair Robert Breare – also chair of Noble House Leisure, who has previously built up and sold a number of groups in the leisure sector, including Arcadian International – has announced a new strategy to grow the company by acquisition in the restaurant sector.

Bank is currently in negotiations with Conran Holdings to buy the Zinc Bar and Grill chain. Details: www.bankrestaurants.com