Chili’s Bar & Grill

About Chili’s Bar & Grill

US Tex-Mex casual dining brand Chili’s Grill & Bar, which has more than 1,600 locations worldwide, was founded in Texas in 1975 by Larry Lavine and is currently owned and operated by US company Brinker International. Chili’s offers American food, Tex-Mex cuisine and dishes influenced by Mexican cuisine such as shrimp tacos, quesadillas and fajitas - alongside a nutritional menu, allergen menu and vegetarian menu.

Chili’s has spread to circa 35 countries in Asia, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, with its only European markets being Romania and Germany (the latter only in US military bases).

In the spring of 2026, Chili’s partnered with The Franchising Centre to seek an entry into the UK market and told Propel it sees the potential for up to 100 UK restaurants and is aiming for its first flagship opening within 12-18 months. John Overdijking, franchise recruitment specialist at The Franchise Centre, said: “The UK represents a significant scale opportunity and estimated capacity is 85-100 restaurants nationwide - establishing a brand presence with an initial flagship and regional rollout in the short term, and building a national, multi-site platform focused on suburban growth in the long term. Subject to securing the right development partner, the aim would be a first flagship opening within 12-18 months.

“London is important for brand visibility and credibility, but the long-term strategy is heavily focused on suburban and regional markets, where Chili’s performs best globally. Ultimately, rollout will be led in partnership with the franchisee, based on territory strategy, but Chili’s is targeting a tiered national rollout, including tier one cities (London, Manchester, Birmingham), tier two regional centres (Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool) and strong suburban markets (Milton Keynes, Reading, Solihull).

“While Chili’s is best known for its full-service restaurants, the brand has flexible formats, including full-service restaurants (3,000-3,500 square feet), standard casual dining (2,500- 3,500 square feet) and fast-casual (1,500- 2,500 square feet). This opens up potential for compact urban sites, travel hubs, and even non-traditional locations over time. However, its initial focus will lean more toward full-service.”

Why franchise with Chili’s Bar & Grill

• ✓Chili’s is seeking a “high-calibre area developer, capable of rolling out multiple sites over time” as it sees “a clear gap in the UK for a scaled, family-friendly American grill brand with broad appeal and strong value credentials”. The company said the opportunity is not suited to single-unit operators or those seeking a modest income stream, and that it is only interested in engaging with serious, well-capitalised investors who are committed to substantial long-term growth.
• ✓Its ideal partner is as follows: “You’ve operated in hospitality, food service, retail or a closely related consumer sector. You understand multi-site operations, you know how to build and lead teams, and you have a feel for what it takes to deliver a consistent guest experience at scale and have a proven track record of operational credibility.
• ✓“You must have the financial resources not only for a substantial, initial investment, but also be able to fund its ongoing growth and development. You’re not looking for a single-site business or a modest income stream. You’re looking to establish a dominant brand position across a major market, and you have the strategic instinct to make the decisions that requires.
• ✓You understand both the UK F&B and property markets and have established business relationships which will help you identify and secure the right sites at the right pace. You can operate in the UK regulatory and planning environment with confidence. The investors who have created the most value in master franchise structures globally are the ones who thought about the territory as an asset to develop over 10-15 years, not as a business to optimise over three.”
• ✓The company said: “We take a flexible approach to structuring UK partnerships, and the exact nature of the arrangement will depend on the experience, capability and ambition of each investor. What will always remains consistent is the access to Chili’s proven operational infrastructure, brand, and support, and the expectation of serious, long-term commitment to building a significant UK presence. Behind it sits five decades of international franchising experience: refined systems, established supply chains, and a support infrastructure that has already been tested across every stage of market entry in more than 31 countries.
• ✓“Outlet designs range from 100 to 400 square metres, which means the model can work across a genuinely wide range of UK site types, including flagship high-street and retail park restaurants, leisure and entertainment venues, and transport hubs. The flexibility to deploy the brand across diverse environments is a real commercial advantage in the UK market.
• ✓“As our partner, you will have our extensive experience and expertise at your disposal.
• ✓Every Chili’s international partner has access to the full operational infrastructure we have built and refined across 1,600+ locations in more than 31 countries. At the centre of that infrastructure is our Restaurant Support Centre in Dallas – an operational hub of more than 500 people that coordinates supply chain, technology, training and functional expertise across the entire global network.
• ✓“Chili’s has a fully developed training curriculum covering every operational role, from guest-facing hospitality through to kitchen management and multi-site leadership. It’s built to be scalable and transferable, designed for the reality of operating a growing network across a large territory.
• ✓“You will be deploying a programme already proven across hundreds of locations in dozens of markets. As your network grows, continuing training for you and your team is built into the model.
• ✓“When you become our UK partner, you’re not just investing in a brand, you’re entering into a long-term partnership where we can work hand in hand to build this new market with you. The stronger your network performs, the stronger the brand becomes, and all of our support systems are designed with that shared outcome in mind.”