Guy Hands’ Hand Picked Hotels reports £6.9m loss: Hand Picked Hotels, the operator of 17 upmarket hotels run by Julia Hands, wife of the company’s controlling party Guy Hands, has reported a pre-tax loss of £6.9m in the year ended 2 … view

Luke Johnson sets out his sector investment tips: Sector investor Luke Johnson, who has built brands such as PizzaExpress, Strada, Giraffe and Patisserie Valerie, has set out his tips for successful investment in the sector. Johnson, who … view

Wellington Pub Company reports 13 lease forfeitures in most recent quarter: Wellington Pub Company, the 798-strong free-of-tie pub estate owned by the Reuben brothers but subject to a securitisation, has reported ten properties were re-le … view

Tim Martin – food sales are 50% of turnover at many recent openings: JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin has told Propel Info that food sales at the most recent 100 openings within the estate are a lot higher than the estate average of 32 … view

Surrey hoteliers repaid £350,000 over mis-sold interest rate swap: A couple from Surrey is to be repaid nearly £350,000 after their bank mis-sold them an interest-rate swap arrangement. Terri and Stewart Flett, from Epsom, who own the H … view

Mitchells & Butlers reveals wide regional variations in like-for-likes; identifies growth brands: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) finance director Tim Jones has revealed wide variations in regional performance at the company with the south east … view

Mitchells & Butlers reports profit leap; unveils results of survey of 8,000 consumers: The UK’s largest operator of pubs and restaurants, Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), has reported a jump in profit before tax to £72m in the 28 weeks to 13 … view

JD Wetherspoon has always been a buyer of freeholds. Our second, third and fourth pubs were freehold and, by the time of our 1992 flotation, 20 of our 44 pubs were freehold.

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Turnaround at La Tasca complete: La Tasca, the Spanish tapas business led by Simon Wilkinson that went through a restructuring in 2012, has reported that its turnaround has been completed. The management team at La Tasca is approaching th … view

Luminar unveils joint venture with Jongleurs to open comedy clubs in Luminar sites: Nightclub operator Luminar has formed a joint venture with comedy club brand Jongleurs to open comedy clubs in Luminar venues. Jongleurs operator Momo Lei … view

Robin Rowland – YO! Sushi can grow to 200 sites in the UK; US market wide open: YO! Sushi chief executive Robin Rowland has told Propel that he believes the brand can grow from its current 65 sites to as many as 200 in the UK. He also b … view

Inside the City: M&B shakes off pub brawl hangover: The old showbiz adage says there’s only one thing worse than being talked about, and that’s not being talked about. But the cast of one of the Cit … view

Intertain plans expansion after change of ownership: Walkabout owner Intertain is on the acquisition trail after private equity specialist Barclays Ventures took a stake in the business. The change of ownership will enable Intertain to co … view

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Marston’s reports good start to second half, first half hit by weather; names new chairman; Stephen Oliver to retire: Brewer and retailer Marston’s has reported like-for-likes sales are up 6% in the six weeks to 11 May at its premium … view

Full speaker list unveiled for Propel Multi Club Conference: The full speaker list has been unveiled for the Propel Multi Club Conference on Thursday 20 June at the Oxford Belfry Hotel. Operators of multi-site pub, restaurant and foodserv … view

April sales flat after March declines: Britain’s pub and restaurant groups returned to sales growth in April after a disastrous weather-hit March. Latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker show collective like-for-like sales … view

Cold weather pushes Enterprise like-for-like income down 4.2% in the first half; Enterprise disappointed by statutory consultation: Tenanted operator Enterprise has reported net like-for-like income down 4.4% in the first half of its fina … view

Six flagship Botanic Inns pubs sold by administrator in pre-pack to Horatio Group: The administrator for Botanic Inns has sold six flagship sites to Horatio Group, controlled by former manager director Stephen Magorrian, in a pre-pack adm … view

New casual dining concept from former Restaurant Group director to launch on Carnaby Street: A new free-range chicken and egg casual dining concept, Whyte & Brown, will open on 8 July in Kingly Court, off London’s Carnaby Street. Overse … view

Hertfordshire multi-site pub and restaurant operators host MPs at ‘sector issues’ lunch: Three award-winning Hertfordshire multi-site pub and restaurant operators, who employ 500 people between them, have hosted two local Conservative … view

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Operators report exceptional trading at New Brighton’s Marine Point development: Operators have reported exceptional trading at the Marine Point development in the unlikely setting of New Brighton on the Wirral. The seaside resort of Ne … view

Tim Martin – Peroni has snubbed us too: Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin has revealed that Miller Brands UK has declined to sell the company Peroni on draught – it was revealed last week that the brewer has also declined to allow it to … view

Howard Schultz – the bulk of Starbucks innovation will be technology-focused amid “seismic change in consumer behaviour”: Starbucks chief executive Howard Schultz has reported that the bulk of Starbucks’ innovation over the next s … view

Red Hot World Buffet – Luke Johnson’s new growth brand? Luke Johnson, who sold Giraffe to Tesco in March for £48.6m, earning an eight times return on his investment, is set to take a minority stake in Red Hot World Buffet, according … view

Nine great crested newts cost McMullen’s £25,000 at £2m “Chicken & Grill” site in Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes: Hertfordshire based McMullen’s has revealed that the discovery of nine great crested newts has caused delays costing £2 … view

JD Wetherspoon applies for alcohol licence at Beaconsfield service station: The plan by JD Wetherspoon to open a pub at Beaconsfield service station, off Junction Two of the M40, first revealed by Propel, has moved a step closer with the … view

JD Wetherspoon ends eight-year property fraud litigation with final £400,000 settlement: Managed operator JD Wetherspoon has agreed to accept a payment of £400,000 from property investor Jason Harris to settle a legal claim. Wetherspoon … view

Whitbread plans 60 new co-located Premier Inns and pub restaurants; trials new room format: Whitbread plans to opens 60 new co-located Premier Inns and pub restaurants, which currently serve 46 million meals a year, in the UK in the next … view