From concept to carving: How we helped launch Cheltenham's newest independent steakhouse with social media management, paid social ads and marketing consultancy services.

After successfully launching several restaurants globally, the seasoned owners were ready to open its first one in the UK with Sef Steakhouse.

With a combined 30 years of expertise gleaned from restaurant endeavours in Turkey and Kuwait, the aim of this ambitious venture in the heart of the Cotswolds was to open a steakhouse with a difference. Featuring premium cuts of meat meticulously dry-aged and expertly grilled over charcoal, the restaurant promised more than just a meal — it offered a theatrical dining experience.

Approaching us in February 2023, the owners sought the support of a smaller content marketing and social media agency that could be hands-on and reactive, given the volatile nature of launching a new restaurant.

What set us apart was our unique approach. Unlike bigger city-based agencies, our small team could deliver a hands-on, personal experience.  

And with our office conveniently located just around the corner, our proximity proved vital during the official launch over the bank holiday at the end of May 2023.Developing a social media strategy, we built anticipation and gradually ramped things up.

Daryl and the team were informed about the official launch date just a week before, requiring us to work reactively to maximise reach via social media.

The launch was triumphant, and since then, we've continued to work side by side with this amazing independent restaurant in Cheltenham to help them grow. Our comprehensive social media service includes:

• Bi-weekly content shoots – we visit the restaurant to capture videos and photos to use on social.
• Scheduling content and managing community engagement (i.e. responding to DMs).
• Working with the owners and wider team to ensure the social content and ads are aligned with new seasonal menus and company goals.
• Writing social content in-house.
• Reporting and meetings.  

The results:

Within the first 7 months since launch, we’ve contributed to Sef Steakhouse's success by:

• Launching their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram from scratch, developing a following of over 4,000 people, generating 50+ direct bookings, and hundreds of indirect bookings every month. Our role in raising awareness via social media has also led to this restaurant welcoming thousands of guests monthly.
• Advising on the introduction of the hugely popular roast lunch menu and promoting it via social media and an influencer strategy.
• Developing a PR strategy and managing the relationship with SoGlos to further their reach within the local community.
• Creating paid social ads from a small budget of £3,359 (including the management fee) to generate circa £20,000 in revenue.

We eagerly anticipate the continued development of our relationship with Sef Steakhouse and assisting them in expanding into other regions.

In the meantime, if you need a hand with your social media marketing, get in touch with us today.