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 marketing package with Sef includes:

• Monthly content shoots covering videography and photography
• Social media scheduling and community management, including DMs
• Aligning content and paid ads with seasonal menus and business goals
• Writing all social copy in-house
• Regular reporting and review meetings
• Paid social campaigns to drive bookings year-round
• Marketing consultancy, with Daryl acting as a sounding board and helping coordinate ideas, promotions and PR opportunities
• Influencer strategy, managing relationships with local creators to support menu launches and increase reach

The results:

Since starting work with Sef Steakhouse, we’ve contributed to their success by:

• Launching their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram from scratch, developing a following of over 7,000 people, generating 30+ direct bookings and hundreds of indirect bookings every month.
• Our role in raising awareness via social media has also led to this restaurant serving over 125k covers in its first 2.5 years.
• Advising on the introduction of the new menus and 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 and other publications to further their reach within the local community.
• Creating paid social ads from a small budget of £14k (including the management fee) to generate over £115k in revenue.

Due to the success of Sef, the owners are now opening a new restaurant in Gloucester, with our team playing a key role in bringing the launch to market.

In the meantime, if you need a hand with your social media marketing, get in touch with us today. We offer full-service marketing support, including social media management, with in-house videography, photography and drone content built into our monthly packages. For businesses without the budget for ongoing management, we also offer bite-sized brand shoots to all businesses – including restaurants, bars and hotels. These involve planning the content, capturing high-quality visuals, and delivering edited assets that businesses can use themselves. It is a flexible and affordable way to keep content fresh while still benefiting from our strategic input.