The Team Behind Rick Shores & Central Have Just Announced A Wholesome Rebrand
introducing friends of friends
By Victoria Lewis | 18th September 2026Central. Southside. Norte. Rick Shores. Marlowe. You’ve heard the restaurants’ names, and you’ve hopefully (for your sake) dined within their walls, but before this week, you might not have known that these distinct venues were created by the one passionate team. Once called Fanda Group, the team of hospo heavyweights has officially rebranded, bringing together their seven Brisbane and Gold Coast venues under a new identity, fittingly titled friends of friends.
Marking a new chapter of growth for co-founders Nick Woodward, David Flynn, and Frank Li, the new name, branding, and website better encapsulate principles that have always been at the group’s core: connection, hospitality, and friendship.
Because at the end of the day, for these down-to-earth Brisbane locals, accolades and great design can only go so far. For them, it’s really about the meals you share, the memories you make, and the friends you meet along the way.
The story behind the rebrand
Before they grew a hospo empire in this pocket of South East Queensland, between Rick Shores, Norté, and Sueño on the Gold Coast, and Southside, Central, Marlowe, and now cafe Goodside in Brisbane, the friends of friends crew were just that: a group of mates working together in Brisbane’s music and hospitality scenes.
It was when co-owners David Flynn, Nick Woodward, Frank Li, and Andrew Hohns came together to open the now-iconic Rick Shores that the future story was really set in motion. After the years of organic growth that followed, the group now sees this renaming as an opportunity for the public to better understand the ethos behind the business.
Co-owner David Flynn says, “The new brand name ‘friends of friends’ reflects the group’s belief in the power of hospitality to bring people together. It is also a nod to the friendships that have shaped the business from the beginning. The friends of friends story began with one simple idea: build the kind of venues they wanted to eat and drink and spend time in, and trust that others would want to spend time there as well.”
Spanning different worldly cuisines, from the rich French-inspired menu of Marlowe to the fiery Latin American dishes of Notre, the friends of friends group has a knack for creating immersive experiences, where, for just a little while, it’s just you, those you are dining with, and the little bubble of warmth and ambience they have created in each location.
Where they’ve been, and where they will go
In the lead-up to the rebrand, when the group sat back and reflected on their seven venues, and what unites the varied dining experiences within each of them, the common thread always came back to the one idea: that when “warm service, good food, and beautiful settings come together, [they] create something really special.”
“We have always believed the best moments happen around a table. Our restaurants become part of people’s stories. We create places where conversations begin, memories are made, and friendships grow. Great food and design might get people through the door, but it’s the people and the connections made when sharing a meal that keep them coming back,” says co-owner Nick Woodward.
friends of friends is an ode to the friendships that founded the business, the wider network that has supported them from the beginning, and the growing community of staff, patrons, and supporters who are yet to become part of the story.
“The new name gives us a chance to celebrate where we’ve come from and what we’ve built so far, but it also sets the scene for what comes next. There are more ideas being passed around the table and plans already taking shape and options explored. Because the best part, this is just the beginning, and the circle can always get a little bigger,” adds Flynn.
Imagery: Jessie Prince / Mathilde Bouby
