The growing egg sandwich chain has been backed by the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund
Michael Williams, Investment Executive at NEL Fund Managers; Edward Evans, Head of Strategic Development at Pablo Eggsgobao;
Emma Dent, Founder and Director of Pablo Eggsgobao(Image: NEL Fund Managers)
A restaurant chain is to open a new site in Newcastle city centre after securing a six-figure funding package from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. Pablo Eggsgobao – which recently hit the headlines when it was praised by Newcastle United star Dan Burn – is to open its seventh store on Newcastle’s Pilgrim Street after securing funding from the NPIFII fund.
The new location will create six jobs and it is hoped that it will lead to more expansion for the popular brand, which has developed a devoted following for its creative bao buns and vibrant brunch dishes. The brand led by Emma Dent has gained momentum through word-of-mouth, social media, and consistently strong customer reviews.
As well as adding to the company’s existing sites in Newcastle, Sunderland, Whitley Bay and Edinburgh, the new store will act as a prototype for future franchised locations.
Emma Dent, founder of Pablo Eggsgobao, said: “We’re incredibly excited about the opportunity this investment brings. It’s a huge moment for our team, our customers, and our journey as a brand.
Pablo Eggs-Go-Bao in Whitley Bay (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
“The support from NEL allows us to bring Pablo’s to even more people, starting with our flagship site on Pilgrim Street. It also enables us to test and refine our franchise model, which is a key part of our long-term vision. We started with one grill and a lot of graft, and with this support we’re ready to scale while staying true to our values of creativity, quality, and community.”
Michael Williams, investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, said: “It’s been brilliant to support such a vibrant and exciting brand with a proven ability to thrive in a tough market. Pablo’s has experienced significant growth backed by strong customer engagement which it now plans to leverage as part of an ambitious UK-wide growth strategy.
“It was a pleasure to work alongside Emma and Edward throughout the investment process, with both individuals demonstrating a clear willingness to strengthen key areas of the business in preparation for growth. I look forward to seeing the business scale and execute its strategy of rolling out stores across the rest of the UK.”
Sarah Newbould, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, said: “This NPIF II investment supports not only a well-loved local brand, but also a female-led business with a clear and scalable vision for the future. Pablo Eggsgobao is an example of the entrepreneurial energy and creativity that continues to drive growth across the North East. Backing the launch of Pablo’s flagship store and its franchise model reflects NPIF II’s commitment to supporting ambitious companies turning regional success into a bigger opportunity.”
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIFII) covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25,000 to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead. It was launched to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovative Northern businesses.
The deal was led by NEL investment executive Michael Williams, with legal support provided by Ben Jackson, corporate senior associate, James Houghton, associate solicitor, and John Morgan, commercial property partner at Hay & Kilner Law Firm.
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