Director dealings: Restaurant Group surges on back of directors' share order

Restaurant Group directors ordered sizeable helpings of shares on Tuesday, sending other investors rushing for more of the same.

Chief executive Andrew McCue bought 50,000 at 356.7p, spending close to £180,000 before broking costs.

Finance director Barry Nightingale picked up 13,617 at 362.5p, and chair Debbie Hewitt just over 7,000 at 354.52p.

By 1615 BST shares in the FTSE 250 owner of Frankie & Benny's and Chiquita chains were being traded for 383.5p, a rise of 8.5% on the day.

The last news from the company was August's half-year results, when a pre-tax loss of £22.5m was unveiled due to restructuring costs, with the company announcing the closure of 33 outlets.

Hewitt, who purchased 17,325 shares at the end of August, said: "The board has moved quickly to undertake a review of the operating strategy and we now have clarity on the issues facing our Leisure brands, particularly Frankie & Benny's.

“The brand remains relevant and popular and we are confident that improved performance will be achieved by being more customer-focussed and data-driven, and through better operational execution.”

Top Director Buys

Restaurant Group (RTN)
Director name: McCue,Andy
Amount purchased: 50,000 @ 356.70p
Value: £178,350.00

Armadale Capital (ACP)
Director name: Johansen,Nicholas
Amount purchased: 500,000 @ 31.20p
Value: £156,000.00

Restaurant Group (RTN)
Director name: Nightingale,Barry
Amount purchased: 13,617 @ 362.50p
Value: £49,361.63

Marshall Motor Holdings (MMH)
Director name: Johnson,Peter William
Amount purchased: 25,000 @ 150.00p
Value: £37,500.00

Marshall Motor Holdings (MMH)
Director name: Ferguson,Alan M
Amount purchased: 25,000 @ 150.00p
Value: £37,500.00

Restaurant Group (RTN)
Director name: Hewitt,Debbie Howard
Amount purchased: 7,012 @ 354.52p
Value: £24,858.94

Jpmorgan Smaller Companies Inv Trust (JMI)
Director name: Quicke,Michael F
Amount purchased: 2,197 @ 794.62p
Value: £17,457.91

Amiad Water Systems Ltd (AFS)
Director name: Shalev,Amos
Amount purchased: 7,500 @ 142.00p
Value: £10,650.00

Tritax Big Box Reit (BBOX)
Director name: Jewson,Richard W
Amount purchased: 7,491 @ 132.00p
Value: £9,888.12

Tritax Big Box Reit (BBOX)
Director name: Jewson,Richard W
Amount purchased: 3,966 @ 132.00p
Value: £5,235.12

Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY)
Director name: Horta-Osorio,Antonio
Amount purchased: 3,549 @ 53.23p
Value: £1,888.99

Maintel Holdings (MAI)
Director name: McCaffery,A J
Amount purchased: 124 @ 894.00p
Value: £1,108.56

Maintel Holdings (MAI)
Director name: Buxton,Edward
Amount purchased: 71 @ 894.00p
Value: £634.74

Maintel Holdings (MAI)
Director name: Stevens,Kevin
Amount purchased: 36 @ 894.00p
Value: £321.84

Ubm (UBM)
Director name: Wyatt,Marina
Amount purchased: 21 @ 730.00p
Value: £153.30

Ubm (UBM)
Director name: Cobbold,Tim
Amount purchased: 20 @ 730.00p
Value: £146.00

Victrex Plc (VCT)
Director name: Court ,Martin
Amount purchased: 7 @ 1,756.00p
Value: £122.92

Victrex Plc (VCT)
Director name: Cooper,Timothy (Tim) J
Amount purchased: 7 @ 1,756.00p
Value: £122.92

Petrofac Ltd. (PFC)
Director name: Weller,TimÂ
Amount purchased: 13 @ 930.00p
Value: £120.90

Maintel Holdings (MAI)
Director name: Legg,Stuart
Amount purchased: 1 @ 894.00p
Value: £8.94

Top Director Sells

Martinco (MCO)
Director name: Wilson,Ian
Amount sold: 150,000 @ 154.69p
Value: £232,035.01