| Friday 27th June 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: London’s alfresco revolution should be embraced, navigating the new frontier of peak performance in hospitality, our antiquated rules on young workers Authors: Glynn Davis, Ben Dixon, Alastair Scott |
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| Friday 27th June 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Exclusive – first round bids in for Dishoom: Transatlantic investment funds and high-net-worth-individuals are believed to be among the parties that have submitted first round bids to invest in award-winning Indian restaurant group Dish … view |
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| Thursday 26th June 2025 |
| Update: Ivy Collection and Brewhouse & Kitchen results, Marston's hires new CFO |
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Ivy Collection reports turnover increases to record £327m but profit falls amid sales talks: The Ivy Collection, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant brand, has reported turnover increased to a record £327,126,000 for the year ending 5 … view |
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| Thursday 26th June 2025 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Buzzworks aiming to become £100m-plus company within five years and open its first accommodation venue this year, planning expansion into England: Scottish independent restaurant and bar operator Buzzworks Holdings has told Propel it is … view |
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| Wednesday 25th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: Oakman files notice of intention to appoint administrators as it looks to complete sale |
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Exclusive – Oakman files notice of intention to appoint administrators as it looks to complete sale: Oakman Group has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, as it looks to complete a sale of the remainder of its business … view |
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| Wednesday 25th June 2025 |
| Valiant Pub Company names Mark McGinty as new CEO as Gerry Carroll transitions to executive chairman |
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Valiant Pub Company names Mark McGinty as new CEO as Gerry Carroll transitions to executive chairman: Valiant Pub Company, which operates community-focused pubs across the UK, has announced chief operating officer Mark McGinty will succee … view |
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| Wednesday 25th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: Buzzworks completes management buyout to propel £100m-plus growth plans |
| Exclusive – Buzzworks completes management buyout to propel £100m-plus growth plans: Scottish independent restaurant and bar operator Buzzworks Holdings has completed a family management buyout, Propel has learned. Kenny Blair, co-founder a … view |
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| Wednesday 25th June 2025 |
| Update: Big Table Group, BrewDog and Various Eateries |
| Big Table Group sees continued Ebitda growth despite ongoing sector challenges: Big Table Group – the Las Iguanas, Bella Italia, Banana Tree and Frankie & Benny's operator – has posted group Ebitda of £13.9m for the year ending 27 October … view |
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| Wednesday 25th June 2025 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Heartwood Collection CEO – performance of our pubs with rooms is exceeding expectations, a lot clearer on what we are looking for site wise: Heartwood Collection chief executive Richard Ferrier has told Propel that the performance of th … view |
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| Tuesday 24th June 2025 |
| Tortilla undergoes refinancing and CFO to step down, 200 Degrees turnover hits record £20m |
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Tortilla undergoes refinancing, CFO to step down: Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has entered into a new, enlarged funding facility with its long-standing banking partner, Santander UK. Tortilla has also … view |
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| Tuesday 24th June 2025 |
| Heartwood Collection CEO – momentum from ‘momentous’ year has carried into current financial year |
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Heartwood Collection CEO – momentum from ‘momentous’ year has carried into current financial year, refinances debt facilities: Heartwood Collection chief executive Richard Ferrier has said the momentum from a “momentous” year fo … view |
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| Tuesday 24th June 2025 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Exclusive – RedCat returns to acquisition trail ahead of ‘exciting expansion plans’, trials new carvery concept: RedCat Hospitality, the recently rebranded operator of Coaching Inn Group and RedCat Independent Pubs, has returned to … view |
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| Monday 23rd June 2025 |
| Operational Excellence Conference Parallel Sessions revealed |
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| Monday 23rd June 2025 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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US interactive museum and social gaming experience makes its UK debut: US interactive museum and social gaming experience Skyscape has made its UK debut. The 25,000 square-foot site has opened at 45 Wellington Street in London’s Covent … view |
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| Friday 20th June 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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| Friday 20th June 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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State of Play Hospitality CEO – US trading strong, UK is a tough market at present, considering what’s next for Bounce: Toby Harris, chief executive of State of Play Hospitality, the international experiential leisure operator, has to … view |
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| Thursday 19th June 2025 |
| Update: Whitbread first quarter sales down but ‘continues to outperform against challenging market backdrop’ |
| Whitbread first quarter sales down but ‘continues to outperform against challenging market backdrop’, forward bookings ahead of last year: Whitbread has said it “continues to outperform against a challenging market backdrop” as it repo … view |
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| Thursday 19th June 2025 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Slim Chickens co-founder – the opportunities in the UK and Europe for the brand are ‘boundless’, signs on flagship sites in Paris and Madrid: Tom Gordon, co-founder and chief executive of US brand Slim Chickens, has told Propel that … view |
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| Thursday 19th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: State of Play Hospitality completes new debt facility, full-year revenue nears $60m |
| Exclusive – State of Play Hospitality completes new debt facility, full-year revenue nears $60m: State of Play Hospitality, the international experiential leisure operator, has secured a new $32.5m (£24.1m) debt facility to support its furt … view |
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| Wednesday 18th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: Ole & Steen in double-digit like-for-like growth, full year Ebitda up 25% |
| Exclusive – Ole & Steen in double-digit like-for-like growth, full year Ebitda up 25%: Danish bakery brand Ole & Steen has told Propel that it is in “double-digit like-for-like growth territory” on the back of a year “marked by continu … view |
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| Wednesday 18th June 2025 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Better burger business set to double in size this year including eight openings in next nine weeks, in talks on first international stores: Better burger business You Want Beef? has told Propel it is set to double in size this year, inclu … view |
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| Tuesday 17th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: St Austell Brewery delivers another year of growth and unveils major new rebrand |
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Exclusive – St Austell Brewery delivers another year of growth and unveils major new rebrand: St Austell Brewery has reported strong financial performance with a further year of record-breaking turnover and unveiled its first significan … view |
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| Tuesday 17th June 2025 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Foodservice prices again on the rise amid supply chain and climate pressures: Foodservice prices were on the rise again in April amid supply chain and climate pressures, according to the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index. The pr … view |
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| Tuesday 17th June 2025 |
| Foodservice prices again on the rise amid supply chain and climate pressures |
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Foodservice prices again on the rise amid supply chain and climate pressures: Foodservice prices were on the rise again in April amid supply chain and climate pressures, according to the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index. The pr … view |
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| Monday 16th June 2025 |
| Update: Richard Caring apologises for demanding discounts from suppliers |
| Richard Caring apologises for demanding discounts from suppliers: Richard Caring has apologised to suppliers of his restaurant businesses after a letter was sent out informing them there would be a “mandatory” 2.5% cut to their invoices. C … view |
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| Monday 16th June 2025 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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We Do Play anticipates exponential growth across all areas of its business over the next 36 months: We Do Play, the multi-concept experiential leisure operator, has told Propel it is anticipating “exponential growth across all areas of … view |
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| Saturday 14th June 2025 |
| Update: Stonegate, Greggs, Richard Caring and Pizza Hut Restaurants |
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Exclusive – Stonegate to cut support function roles to reflect decrease in size of managed estate: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, is set to reorganise its support functions to reflect the continued growth of its leased … view |
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| Friday 13th June 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Winning the postcode lottery, good things come in small glasses, losing our balance Authors: Katherine Doggrell, Glynn Davis, Mark Wingett Winning the postcode lottery by Katherine Dogg … view |
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| Friday 13th June 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Italian fire-baked pizza concept targets 50 locations by 2030 through franchising alongside growing its coffee/pasta room formats: Italian fire-baked pizza concept The Pizza Room has told Propel it is targeting 50 locations by 2030 throug … view |
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| Thursday 12th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: Greene King to continue to operate Venture Hotels division after talks end on sale of 39-strong portfolio |
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Exclusive – Greene King to continue to operate Venture Hotels division after talks end on sale of 39-strong portfolio: Greene King is to continue to operate its Venture Hotels arm, after talks on a possible sale of the division have end … view |
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| Thursday 12th June 2025 |
| SushiDog secures new funding to back UK expansion |
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SushiDog secures new funding to back UK expansion: Quick service sushi roll concept SushiDog has secured a further £1.3m of funding from backer Middleton Enterprises, with plans to reach 40 sites in the next five years, and build a natio … view |
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| Thursday 12th June 2025 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Fuller’s CEO – our low level of debt gives us plenty of firepower to add further ‘high quality’ assets, increases prices to help offset £8m in labour costs: Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller’s, has told Propel that the com … view |
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| Wednesday 11th June 2025 |
| Legal Briefing |
Hospitality – facing the uncontrollable by Michelle HazlewoodOver the past week, reports have highlighted a troubling reality for the hospitality sector: one in three businesses is now operating at a loss. The data comes from a new su … view |
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| Wednesday 11th June 2025 |
| Update: Fuller’s, Knoops and Wadworth |
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Fuller’s promotes Simon Emeny to executive chair, like-for-likes up 4.2% in last ten weeks, full-year revenue increases 4.8% to £376.3m: Fuller’s has promoted chief executive Simon Emeny to executive chair as it reorganises its lead … view |
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| Wednesday 11th June 2025 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
| Thai Leisure Group – with the right opportunities before us and when the conditions are right, we intend to seek investment: Ian Leigh, chief executive of Thai Leisure Group, operator of Thaikhun and Chaophraya, has told Propel that in due … view |
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| Wednesday 11th June 2025 |
| Nearly a third of hospitality leaders say their profits have fallen year-on-year |
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Nearly a third of hospitality leaders say their profits have fallen year-on-year: Mounting costs have strained businesses’ margins, with nearly a third (31%) of hospitality leaders saying their profits have fallen year-on-year, the late … view |
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| Tuesday 10th June 2025 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Incipio Group CEO – Olympia site could allow us to pursue enormous national and international opportunities: Ed Devenport, chief executive of Incipio Group – operator of venues including Pergola on the Wharf, The Libertine and The Pri … view |
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| Monday 9th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: Gusto Italian to assess investment options |
| Exclusive – Gusto Italian to assess investment options: Gusto Italian, the Palatine and Beechbrook Capital-backed, premium Italian restaurant and bar group, has appointed advisors to help review its investment options, Propel has learned. It … view |
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| Monday 9th June 2025 |
| UKHospitality promotes Kate Nicholls, Pret launches new shop format, Popeyes secures £43m |
| UKHospitality promotes Kate Nicholls to chair as Allen Simpson becomes CEO to pave way for enhanced strategy: UKHospitality has announced that current chief executive, Kate Nicholls, is to step up to the new role of chair, while current deputy … view |
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| Monday 9th June 2025 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Evolution of Britain’s late-night economy being jeopardised by rising costs: The evolution of Britain’s late-night economy is being jeopardised by rising costs, the latest Night Time Economy Market Monitor has revealed. The quarterly … view |
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| Monday 9th June 2025 |
| Evolution of Britain’s late-night economy being jeopardised by rising costs |
| Evolution of Britain’s late-night economy being jeopardised by rising costs: The evolution of Britain’s late-night economy is being jeopardised by rising costs, the latest Night Time Economy Market Monitor has revealed. The quarterly monit … view |
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| Friday 6th June 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: When the yields dry up so do the menus, transforming hospitality: how AI is powering a new era of guest experience, consumer power and the cult of Bass, smaller brewers need relief Authors: Bob Gordon, Olivia FitzGe … view |
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| Friday 6th June 2025 |
| Update: Pret owner sounds out investors, McMullen’s posts record year, Sessions |
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Pret A Manger owner sounds out new investors ahead of potential IPO: The owner of Pret A Manger has recently explored bringing in new investors to the sandwich and coffee chain ahead of a potential initial public offering. The FT reports … view |
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| Friday 6th June 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
| Young’s CEO – City Pubs has injected fresh energy into the overall business, brought top 30 pubs together to see how we can be more efficient: Simon Dodd, chief executive of Young’s, has told Propel that the City Pub Group estate, which … view |
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| Thursday 5th June 2025 |
| Update: Young’s FY lfls up 5.7%, Incipio reveals details of Olympia development venues |
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Young’s FY lfls up 5.7%, makes “fast start” to new financial year: Young’s has this morning reported like-for-like revenue growth of 5.7% for the 52 weeks ended 31 March 2025, and said it had made a “fast start” to its new fin … view |
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| Thursday 5th June 2025 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
| Exclusive – ASK Italian launches new customer rewards app: ASK Italian, the circa 60-strong, Azzurri Group-owned restaurant brand, has launched a new customer rewards app, ASK Perks, which it told Propel marks “the next phase in its commit … view |
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| Wednesday 4th June 2025 |
| Caffe Nero owner reports UK like-for-likes up 6.2% in third quarter, Will Stratton-Morris promoted to new group-wide role |
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Caffe Nero owner reports UK like-for-like sales up 6.2% in third quarter, Will Stratton-Morris promoted to new group-wide role: Nero Group – the owner of Caffe Nero, Coffee#1 and 200 Degrees – has reported UK like-for-like sales were … view |
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| Wednesday 4th June 2025 |
| Update: Boardwalk welcomes inaugural cohort of mentees, local shops, Welcome Break |
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Boardwalk welcomes 22 mentees to its inaugural cohort: Boardwalk, the mentoring programme dedicated to accelerating senior women in the hospitality industry into board-level positions, has announced the selection of 22 women into its inau … view |
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| Wednesday 4th June 2025 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Hakkasan owner sees cover numbers increase 5% at London restaurants after making menu changes as it looks to become ‘more than just a visit for a special occasion’: Tao Group Hospitality vice-president Jared Boles has told Propel that … view |
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| Tuesday 3rd June 2025 |
| Exclusive: Punch completes £640m debt refinancing, Martyn Cornell passes away |
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Exclusive – Punch completes £640m debt refinancing: Punch Pubs & Co, the Andy Spencer-led, 1,264-strong pub company, has completed a £640m debt refinancing to support its long-term growth plans, Propel has learned. As part of the refi … view |
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| Tuesday 3rd June 2025 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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YO! parent company considering options for more than a third of its UK restaurant estate, continues to explore growth opportunities: Wonderfield Group, formerly Snowfox Group, the multi-channel and international Japanese food business tha … view |
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| Monday 2nd June 2025 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Christie & Co – very good interest in JD Wetherspoon franchises from hotel operators, expects first sites to open this year: Hotel operators are showing “very good interest” in JD Wetherspoon franchises and a first site is expected … view |
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| Monday 2nd June 2025 |
| One third of hospitality businesses now operating at a loss |
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One third of hospitality businesses now operating at a loss: One third of hospitality businesses are now operating a loss following the £3.4bn of additional costs that hit the sector in April – an 11-percentage point increase on the la … view |
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