Restaurant and pub operator, the Hartford Group, is aiming to raise £1.6m to expand its Common Room concept through a placing and open offer.

Led by Sheila McKenzie, creator of Pitcher & Piano and the Slug & Lettuce concepts, and Stephen Thomas of Luminar Leisure fame, the group operates eight restaurants and bars, but want to move the focus away from food-led venues to bars with a quality food offering.

Early indications are that The Common Room has the potential to be expanded further. With a defined strategy in place, we look forward to the next phase in this concept's development and building a substantial business going forward, said Thomas.

The Common Room launched in Wimbledon in October and a number of potential sites have already been identified in London and the South East for a second pilot operation.