Our Story & History | Fridays UK

How it all began back in 1965

The first Fridays opened on the corner of 63^rd+1^st in New York, 1965 with the timeless promise ‘In here, it’s always Friday’. Inspired by the Barnum & Bailey Circus and with an ambition to put on the ‘greatest show on earth’ a red & white striped phenomenon was born. With flowing cocktails and charismatic bartenders, it quickly became the meeting place for local lovers of wild nights & fun times. Within a week it was the first restaurant requiring barricades to handle the hordes of enthusiastic guests! It became the meeting place that served not just hot food and drink but legendary atmosphere too!

That Fridays Feeling!

Our teams are looking forward to welcoming you to our restaurants where you can socialise, have fun & make memories. Whether you’re out for a date, girls night or a family dinner, Fridays will bring you that Fridays Feeling, no matter what day of the week or time of day.

Legendary Dishes

Enjoy our iconic loaded potato skins, proudly invented by Fridays, colourful salads, quality steaks hand selected by our master butchers to ensure they are exceptionally tender and flavoursome, famous burgers made from our own recipe using a perfect blend of prime cuts of brisket and chuck steak from British & Irish farms and Ribs which are slow cooked, marinated and coated in our Legendary Glaze all freshly made to order.

Cocktail Flair

We’ve got long history behind the bar, Fridays bartenders even trained Tom Cruise for his role in the film ‘Cocktail’! Made with premium spirits, our cocktails are handcrafted by our expert bartenders who can recommend the perfect serve just for you, including the icons like the classic Long Island Iced Tea, which was born at Fridays. We also have a great range of mocktails for a refreshing alternative.

The Propeller

The propeller is mounted above the bar in every Fridays restaurant. It is said that the bar was the start-up of the Fridays® engine. It was what made us famous and propelled us to success. On opening day any visiting VIPs sign a dollar bill and tape it to the propeller as a symbol of good luck.

A Peacock Welcome

Our ‘family pride’ dates back to 1965 New York. We still share the belief that the experience we offer and the service we provide is the best there is. Present in every Fridays, the peacock symbolises pride in our brand and is a reminder to our teams to put the best of Fridays on ‘show’. From our classic red & white stripes to our traditional memorabilia, Fridays is an authentic and unique place to share fun, enjoyment and great times together.

Myrna's Story

Many years ago, there were two Ivy League schools on the East Coast of the USA that both had rowing teams. Legend says that Myrna coached the losing team to a series of victories. She was an inspirational leader, who coached with passion & instilled a belief in her team that they were winners & together they created a legacy of success. On the championship race day, Myrna disappeared & only her saddle shoes were found in the boat. Today, each Fridays restaurant has a rowing scull that contains a pair of shoes & champagne bottle to remind us of the value of teamwork, leadership & celebrating success.