Type Private company Genre Latin American Founded 1991 Parent organization Tragus Group | Industry Casual dining Website iguanas.co.uk Headquarters Bristol | |
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Founders Eren Ali and Ajith Jaya-Wickrema Products Latin American foods with Spanish, African and Portuguese influences | ||
Las Iguanas is a casual dining restaurant chain originating from United Kingdom with a Latin American theme. Founded in 1991, Las Iguanas operates 44 outlets in the United Kingdom as at 3 October 2015. In 2003, the group acquired its own Cachaça sugar cane field and distillery on the Fazenda do Anil estate, outside Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.
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Las Iguanas specialises in Latin American food with Spanish, Portuguese and African influences.
History
Originally branded Café Iguanas, the first site opened on St Nicholas Street, in Bristol in 1991, offering a diverse Latin American-themed menu. Since then, the newly named Las Iguanas have opened up a further 39 restaurants all across the UK including restaurants in Bath, Manchester, London and Edinburgh.
One of the co-founders, Ajith Jaya-Wickrema, departed partnership with Las Iguanas in August 2009 in favour of creating his own Caribbean-themed restaurant chain named Turtle Bay.
Food
Las Iguanas menus include Latin American classics such as Nachos, Burritos, Xinxim, Fajitas and a wide range of Tapas with modern dishes such as Sirloin Steaks and Burgers. They include vegetarian options such as Champinones and Camarao a la Criolla, furthermore, Gluten free options are available to cater for everyone.
Recognition
Las Iguanas retained the Investors in People Gold award in 2015 and also holds IiP Champion status. Las Iguanas made it in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to work for, for the second time in three years after failing to make it in 2014. It celebrates UK companies with the highest levels of staff engagement.
Las Iguanas won Best restaurant drinks offer at the Restaurant Magazine R200 Awards in October 2014
Controversy
Las Iguanas hit the headlines in August 2015 after their controversial tips policy was revealed. Staff have to pay back 3% of all sales (4.4% in London) to the company at the end of every shift out of their tips. Some staff have claimed that this charge was taken even when they had received no tips for some tables forcing them to 'pay to work'. Las Iguanas denied that the charge was ever taken from staff wages.