Balans Restaurants

What Balans Restaurants does

Balans Restaurants is a privately held London restaurant group operating under Running Hare Restaurants Ltd., founded in 1989 by Prady Balan and David Taylor. The group operates an iconic casual-dining portfolio centered on Soho No. 60 (60-62 Old Compton Street), a flagship with a Music and Dance licence enabling service until 5-6 AM, alongside a Kensington High Street location and a referenced Stratford site. The business started as Old Compton Café, a sandwich bar, before pivoting into all-day and late-night modern British dining with global influences.

The group's core products centre on an all-day brunch menu (Eggs Benedict, Full English, French Toast, Fried Chicken Pancakes), pre and post-theatre dining, and an extensive cocktail programme headlined by the Porn Star Martini, of which Balans claims to have served over one million since the cocktail's local invention in 2002. Signature drinks are differentiated through ingredient partnerships, including a Bloody Mary built on Doghouse Distillery's Chilli Bacon Vodka and a non-alcoholic Porn Star Martini via Lyre's. Premium supply partnerships with H. Forman & Son (PGI-protected London Cure Smoked Scottish Salmon) underpin key dishes. Layered on top of F&B is the Balans Art Programme, curated with agency Artiq, and event formats such as Porn Star and Paint workshops, Sparkling Thursdays, and Pride of Celebration collections.

Commercially, Balans generates revenue through pay-as-you-go unit pricing on food and beverage, private event bookings, and promotional mechanics including a loyalty/membership scheme and third-party partner offers (The Nudge). Distribution is direct via physical restaurant locations in London, with reservations through the website and walk-in service. Marketing is organic-social-led (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook), supplemented by email newsletter, the Balans Magazine blog, Spotify playlists, and event-driven earned media. The customer base spans general diners, late-night revelers, theatre-goers, celebrities, and the LGBTQ+ community, with the brand's 30+ year Soho heritage functioning as its primary competitive anchor.

Name

Balans Restaurants

Legal name

Running Hare Restaurants Ltd.

Website

https://balans.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Balans Restaurants is a privately held London casual-dining group operating the Soho No. 60 flagship and Kensington restaurant under Running Hare Restaurants Ltd., serving modern British brunch, late-night dining, and signature cocktails to locals, tourists, theatre-goers, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Sales: Core revenue from serving modern British cuisine with global influence, including all-day brunch, dinner, and cocktails. The restaurant generates revenue through cover charges, food orders, and beverage sales including their famous Porn Star Martini and extensive cocktail menu.
2. Private Events and Bookings: Revenue from hosting private events, celebrations, and special occasions. The venue is available for bookings and has hosted celebrity events and community gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Balans Restaurants operates casual-dining restaurants in London serving a modern British menu with global influences, anchored by an all-day brunch offering and an iconic late-night service at Soho No. 60 (open until 6AM). The group generates revenue through per-item food and beverage sales (including the signature Porn Star Martini cocktail), private event hosting, and curated guest experiences such as the Porn Star and Paint art workshops and the rotating Balans Art Programme at Soho No. 60.

Product overview

Balans Restaurants is a group of relaxed, stylish restaurants serving a modern British menu with global influences. The portfolio includes Soho No. 60 (flagship, open until 6am), Kensington, and Stratford locations across London. Core offerings include all-day brunch menus, pre and post-theatre dining, and cocktails, with signature dishes like Eggs Benedict featuring H. Forman & Son's premium smoked salmon. The brand is famous for serving over one million Porn Star Martinis (invented locally in 2002). Additional services include a loyalty membership programme, WiFi access, dog-friendly dining, and a notable art programme featuring emerging LGBTQ+ artists curated with art agency Artiq. Partnerships include Doghouse Distillery for Bloody Marys and Lyre's for non-alcoholic options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Soho No. 60 Restaurant Flagship restaurant at 60-62 Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 4UG, serving a modern British menu with global influences. Open until 6AM, offering all-day brunch, pre and post-theatre dining, dinner, and an extensive cocktail programme including the signature Porn Star Martini. Features rotating artwork from the Balans Art Programme.
• Kensington Restaurant Restaurant at 187 Kensington High Street, London W8 6SH, open daily from 8AM. Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner including daily specials alongside an a la carte menu. Stylish, classic atmosphere with interior refresh by stylist Tara Royston.
• All-Day Brunch Menu Iconic all-day brunch menu offered at Soho No. 34 and No. 60, featuring Eggs Benedict, Lobster Benedict, Full English, French Toast, Fried Chicken Pancakes, Steak and Eggs, and 'Eggs in Hell'. Targeted at diners seeking brunch outside of typical morning hours.
• Porn Star Martini Cocktail Signature cocktail made with Tito's vodka, vanilla, and passion fruit, served with a shot of Lanson champagne. Recipe taught directly to Balans by its inventor Douglas Ankrah. Over one million Porn Star Martinis have been served across the group.
• Porn Star and Paint Series Monthly ticketed art event series at Soho No. 60 featuring workshops led by emerging artists (resin jewellery, acrylic painting, ink painting) combined with bottomless Porn Star Martinis. Tickets sold at approximately £40 per person with materials included.
• Balans Art Programme (BAP) Ongoing rotating art exhibition programme at Soho No. 60 curated in partnership with Artiq, featuring emerging artists (notably LGBTQ+ creators). Includes permanent collection artists and themed exhibitions such as the Pride of Celebration collection.
• Private Events and Venue Bookings Private event hosting and venue bookings at Balans restaurants for celebrations, corporate gatherings, album launches, and community events. Coordinated through the head office.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 1 million Porn Star Martinis
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ArtiqcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2023London-based international art agency curating Balans' artwork collection. Manages Pride of Celebration collection featuring emerging LGBTQ+ artists, Porn Star and Paint events, and ongoing art installations at No.60.
• The NudgeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 April 2022London lifestyle platform offering 50% off food bill promotions to Balans customers, driving new customer acquisition through their subscriber base.
• SpotifyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 August 2020Music streaming platform hosting Balans' curated playlists including 'Balans is Back' created by DJ Fat Tony, enhancing the restaurant's atmosphere and digital presence.
• Doghouse DistillerycoreOthersLondon's only grain-to-bottle distillery supplying their signature Chilli Bacon Vodka for Balans' Bloody Mary cocktails. Founded by Braden Saunders, the partnership aligns with Balans' ethos of authenticity and supporting local producers.
• H. Forman & SoncoreOthersTraditional London smokehouse (est. 1905) supplying premium PGI-protected London Cure Smoked Scottish Salmon for Balans' Eggs Benedict and other dishes. Daily deliveries ensure maximum freshness.
• Lyre'sminorOthersNon-alcoholic spirit brand providing mocktail options including non-alcoholic Porn Star Martini, supporting dry January and non-drinking customers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Soho House: Private members' club and hospitality group with venues across London and globally, strong Soho presence, and emphasis on creative/LGBTQ+ community. Comparable on Soho cultural cachet and creative-community positioning.
• The Ivy: Iconic London destination casual dining brand with all-day service and high-profile clientele. Comparable on all-day dining, celebrity traffic, and Soho/West End real estate, though at broader scale and ownership.

Direct peers

• Dishoom: Multi-site London casual dining group famous for an all-day breakfast/brunch menu and a strong, story-led brand built on heritage and licensed premises. Highly comparable on daypart, design, and brand-led differentiation.
• Granger & Co: London all-day casual restaurant known for breakfast/brunch and globally influenced modern British menu. Direct overlap on daypart, menu philosophy, and Soho/West London real estate.
• The Breakfast Club: London-born casual all-day brunch chain serving queues-driven comfort food in Soho and other neighbourhoods. Most directly comparable on daypart mix, Soho presence, and brunch-led identity.
• Bill's Restaurants: UK casual dining chain built around an all-day breakfast/brunch offering and broad menu. Comparable on casual full-service format and brunch-led positioning, though at much larger scale.
• Hawksmoor: London-based independently owned restaurant group with multiple sites serving modern British menus and strong cocktail programmes. Comparable as a brand-led London independent with multiple locations and cocktail-driven bars.
• Ottolenghi: London-based independent group of delis/restaurants serving modern, globally influenced menus and signature dishes. Comparable as a brand-led London casual dining group with all-day service and premium positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/201386386557988
• Instagraminstagram.com/balanslondon
• TikToktiktok.com/@balanslondon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/balans-restaurants-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Balans Restaurants