An on-the-go restaurant chain specialising in Asian cuisine, which was founded in Chester almost a decade ago and now has more than 20 outlets across the UK, has turned to Crowdcube in a bid to raise £500,000 to support the launch of a flagship store in London.

Wok&Go serves a range of noodle dishes inspired by Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, Chinese and Japanese cooking. It was founded in 2008 by managing director Des Pheby following a trip to New York.

He told Insider: "There’s great momentum behind Wok&Go at the moment and we wanted to be able act on that and involve others in our growth and expansion. It’s the first time we’ve offered equity in the business."

There are currently Wok&Go branches in Chester, Manchester, Liverpool, Wirral, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Hull, Southampton, Cambridge, London, York, Southend and Shotton in Flintshire.

It is also on track to open a further 13 outlets in the next 12 months.

The business is aiming to raise £500,000 via Crowdcube, which will be used for the lease purchase and fit out costs for the London branch.

If more than £500,000 is raised, Wok&Go will look to open another store in central London.

Pheby added: "We see London as a key part of the puzzle for our ongoing expansion and increasing visibility of the brand."

He also told Insider that establishing a stronger presence could lead to expansion globally.

"We’ve already got two, soon to be three, stores overseas with ambitious plans for international growth..

"A question we’re frequently asked, particularly by international investors, is "where can we find you in London?". A flagship store in central London will be a strong addition to our existing portfolio and an excellent showcase for the brand."

In 2017, Wok&Go is on course to sell 1.1 million boxed of noodles. In its latest financial year, the company turned over £7.4m.

Read more at insidermedia.com