Two New Yellow River Cafes

ORIENTAL RESTAURANT GROUP PLC 18 October 1999 Announces Two New Yellow River Cafe Sites Oriental Restaurant Group plc, the predominantly City of London-based Oriental cuisine restaurant operator, announces two further sites for its new Yellow River Cafe concept in Chiswick and Islington. Oriental Restaurant Group PLC ('the Group') today announces that it has agreed terms on two further sites for its new Yellow River Cafe concept. The two new sites are located in Chiswick (approximately 3,100 sq. ft.) and in Islington (approximately 3,300 sq. ft) and will bring the Group's total restaurant operations to 11 sites. They will trade under the name Yellow River Cafe. Chiswick will be the first Yellow River Cafe to open and is due to commence trading in November. It is anticipated that the Islington operation will open in Spring 2000. Both restaurants will have capacity for approximately 90+ covers and will trade seven days a week. The Yellow River Cafe will be themed in a contemporary look, offering pan-Asian cuisine, aimed at the £12-15 mid spend, casual dining market. Both the Chiswick and Islington Yellow River Cafe operations will offer a delivery service targeting, in particular, the local business and residential markets. The fit-out costs will be approximately £350,000 at Chiswick and £480,000 at Islington and the rental will be £45,000 and £50,000 per annum respectively. In addition, it is anticipated that the Group's Yellow River operation will also open in Canary Wharf in November. This 7,000+ sq. ft. restaurant will have capacity for 250 covers and an extensive bar area. The ground floor will operate the same menu as the Yellow River Cafe, aimed at the #15 mid market spend and on the mezzanine level, there will be a formal oriental restaurant, targeting the #30-a-head corporate spend. The fit-out cost will be approximately #1.4 million and the rental is whichever is the greater of #125,000 or 8% of turnover per annum. It remains the Group's intention to develop the Yellow River concept and establish a chain of branded oriental restaurants and the Group currently has several other sites under advanced negotiation. This innovative new brand has been formulated in association with Ken Hom, the celebrated Chinese-American chef, who is advising the Group on the menu design, food offering and marketing of the brand as the Group progresses the roll out of its Yellow River Cafe. Hock Ann Chua, Managing Director of Oriental Restaurant Group PLC, commented: 'We have been attracted by the potential of an Oriental cafe concept for some time and are now in a position to exploit this growing sector successfully. It has long been our intention to expand outside the parameters of our primary focus in the City of London and the Yellow River Cafe concept offers exciting opportunities for a rapid expansion programme made possible by the set-up of our central production kitchen which is now up and running.' 18 October 1999 Enquiries: Oriental Restaurant Group PLC Tel: 0171 929 6868 Hock Ann Chua, Managing Director Michael Paterson, Finance Director College Hill Tel: 0171 457 2020 Matthew Smallwood Justine Warren