Elephant & Castle Group Inc. Announces the Opening of Canada's Third Rainforest Cafe.

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 30, 1999--

Elephant & Castle Group Inc.(R) (Nasdaq:PUBSF)(PCX:PUB) today announced the opening of the newest Canadian Rainforest Cafe restaurant and retail village, located at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, Ontario. This is the third Rainforest Cafe to open in Canada. The first Canadian unit is located in Vancouver, BC and opened in June 1998. The second location opened in February of this year at Scarborough Town Centre, in Ontario.

Canadian Rainforest Restaurants Inc. which operates the three Rainforest Cafe units in Canada is a joint venture of Elephant & Castle Group Inc. and Rainforest Cafe Inc. The agreement calls for at least five units to be opened over a period of six years. Currently there are two additional Rainforest Cafe units under development in Montreal and Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Rainforest Cafe at Yorkdale Shopping Centre is a 20,000 square-foot, 390-seat restaurant and retail adventure. The unit is located just minutes from downtown Toronto and employs over 300 crewmembers. Rainforest Cafe recreates a tropical rain forest through a combination of animated wildlife and special effects. Entering the dining room, guests walk under an impressive archway aquarium, featuring a handmade coral reef exhibit full of vibrantly colored saltwater fish.

Walking through Rainforest Cafe, guests are enveloped by lush vegetation, simulated thunder and lightning, rain showers, majestic rock formations, the ecological messages of Tracy the Talking Tree, live parrots, whimsical butterflies, and the sounds and smells of a tropical rain forest, all set amongst a backdrop of enormous salt water aquariums, cascading waterfalls and larger than life Banyan trees.

The restaurant features an assortment of casual dining menu items for the entire family including pastas, salads, signature sandwiches, delectable desserts and freshly squeezed drinks served with or without spirits underneath the 42-foot Magic Mushroom Juice and Coffee Bar. Food quality and consistency are of paramount operational importance at Rainforest Cafe.

Elephant & Castle(R) Group Inc. is the largest operator of authentic British-style pubs with 20 locations throughout North America. In addition, the company owns and operates the Southwestern-theme restaurant concept called Alamo Grill(TM), currently located at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota and Franklin Mills Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These two brands are franchised throughout the United States and Canada. Elephant & Castle Group Inc. also has a joint venture agreement with Rainforest Cafe Inc. to develop, own and operate the Rainforest Cafe restaurant and retail facilities in Canada.

This news release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by the Company) may contain forward-looking statements, such as statements relating to future expansion, that involve risks and uncertainties relating to future events. Actual events or the Company's results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statement. The Company does not expect to update forward-looking statements continually as conditions change. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to competition, fluctuations and changes in consumer preferences and attitudes, intellectual property protection, development and construction activities. Investors are referred to the full discussion of risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements contained in the company's Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended Dec. 28, 1998.