Merger Update

City Centre Restaurants PLC
10 December 2003

10 DECEMBER 2003

                  CITY CENTRE RESTAURANTS PLC ('CITY CENTRE')

                                   AND

                       ASK CENTRAL PLC ('ASK CENTRAL')

                              MERGER UPDATE

On 12 November 2003 City Centre and Ask Central announced that preliminary
discussions were taking place with regard to a merger of the two companies
structured by way of a recommended offer by City Centre for the entire issued
share capital of Ask Central.



Due diligence has now been materially completed and terms substantially agreed.
The offer proposal to Ask Central shareholders will be at a premium to the Ask
Central share price of 166p on 12 November and will be funded by a mixture of
City Centre shares and cash.



Both Boards are confident that there is an excellent commercial, strategic and
financial logic in combining the two companies.



A merged group would be expected to create:



-   One of the UK's largest independent popular catering restaurant
    operators with over 400 restaurants.


-   A group with three strong restaurant concepts with excellent roll out
    potential.


-   A strengthened management team with executive and non executive
    participants from each company.


-   Greater flexibility for the improvement, rationalisation and further
    development of new sites



A further announcement will be made in due course.



Enquiries:


City Centre Restaurants plc                                  Tel:  [phone]
Alan Jackson, Executive Chairman

Ask Central plc                                              Tel:  [phone]
Adam Kaye, Chief Executive

Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (City Centre)                 Tel:  [phone]
Charlie Batten, Managing Director

Evolution Beeson Gregory (Ask Central)                       Tel:  [phone]
Tom Price, Director

College Hill                                                 Tel:  [phone]
Matthew Smallwood/Tom Baldock



Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the
Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for City Centre Restaurants
plc and for no-one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and
will not be responsible to anyone other than City Centre Restaurants plc for
providing the protections afforded to customers of Dresdner Kleinwort
Wasserstein Limited, or for giving advice in relation to the contents of this
announcement or any matters referred to herein.



Evolution Beeson Gregory Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the
Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Ask Central plc and
no-one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and will not be
responsible to anyone other than Ask Central for providing the protections
afforded to customers of Evolution Beeson Gregory Limited, or for giving advice
in relation to the contents of this announcement or any matters referred to
herein.



End


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