AKI signs as franchise partner for Smoky Boys at Highcross, Leicester
Our first brand partnership pairs a premium, 100% halal grill concept with one of the strongest retail and leisure destinations in the country.
Smoky Boys BBQ & Grill Haus is a premium BBQ and grill concept — 100% halal, entirely alcohol-free, built around slow-cooked meats, signature burgers and sharing platters. It serves a market that mainstream casual dining consistently underserves, and it does so with a confident, contemporary offer rather than a compromise.
The site sits in the heart of Leicester's leisure quarter, alongside Nando's, Wagamama and Wingstop. Leicester is one of the UK's most diverse cities, with a large, young halal dining market and an established city-centre evening economy.
Why this site, why this brand
We assessed the scheme the way we assess everything: footfall at different times of day and week, the strength of the food and beverage adjacency, the practical constraints of the unit, and total occupancy cost against realistic covers. The combination of an underserved market, a proven concept and a genuinely strong pitch made this the right first site for the group.
Delivery has been led personally by our directors — landlord design approval, professional team appointment, and full fit-out procurement — with banking facilities in place and compliance infrastructure built before opening.