| Saturday 29th August 2015 |
| Update: CDG buys La Tasca, Pronto raises £1m |
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Casual Dining Group buys La Tasca: Casual Dining Group (CDG), operator of Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas, has bought tapas chain La Tasca, led by Simon Wilkinson, for a price of between £20m and £25m from Icelandic bank Kaupt … view |
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| Friday 28th August 2015 |
| Greene King sells 16 ‘competition’ pubs, Heineken buys 13 |
| Greene King sells 16 ‘competition’ pubs, Heineken buys 13: Greene King has sold the 16 pubs that it agreed to dispose of to meet regulatory concerns in the wake of its acquisition of Spirit Pub Company. Heineken has bought 13 of the 16 pub … view |
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| Friday 28th August 2015 |
| Red Oak Taverns buys 146 pubs for circa £36m |
| Red Oak Taverns buys 146 pubs for circa £36m: Red Oak Taverns, the circa 30-strong pub operator led by Aaron Brown and Mark Grunnell, has acquired 146 GRS Group of tenanted pubs for an undisclosed sum, although industry sources indicate a pri … view |
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| Friday 28th August 2015 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Restaurants and technology, tips and the pinnacle of brand and operational excellence Authors: Glynn Davis, Mel Joseph and Ann Elliott Restaurants and technology by Glynn DavisI … view |
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| Friday 28th August 2015 |
| The Restaurant Group reports LfLs up 2.5%, accelerating openings |
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The Restaurant Group reports LfLs up 2.5%, accelerating openings: The Restaurant Group has reported sales rose 8% to £334m (2014: £308m), with like-for-like sales up 2.5% in the 28 weeks to 28 June. Ebitda increased by 8% to £57.4m (20 … view |
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| Friday 28th August 2015 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
| Crowdcube to help investors gauge risk with Moody’s Analytics: Crowdcube is now presenting investors with output from Moody’s Analytics’ private company risk model to help them assess the bond investment opportunities listed on the site. … view |
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| Thursday 27th August 2015 |
| Greene King to retain Spirit offices in Burton |
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Greene King to retain Spirit offices in Burton: Greene King is to keep Spirit Pub Company’s headquarters in Burton open, relocating the combined managed business to the offices. Meanwhile, Bury St Edmunds will remain the company’s hea … view |
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| Thursday 27th August 2015 |
| M&B ends flagship Celtic Manor awards |
| Mitchells & Butlers ends Celtic Manor awards nights as it evolves awards scheme: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has ended its long-standing series of awards nights held at Celtic Manor, which have traditionally seen key staff from its 16 brands gat … view |
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| Thursday 27th August 2015 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Horizons – UK restaurant menus becoming increasingly eclectic: While burgers and steak may still be the most frequently listed items on British restaurant menus, dishes from Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Vietnamese cuisines are hav … view |
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| Wednesday 26th August 2015 |
| Beds and Bars reports second year of strong growth, £7m investment planned |
| Beds and Bars reports second year of strong growth, £7m investment planned: Beds and Bars, the pan-European bars and hostel provider led by Keith Knowles, has reported turnover rose 10% to £36,870,000 in the year to 31 March 2015. On a const … view |
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| Wednesday 26th August 2015 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
| Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker – households boost eating out spend in July by 11% year-on-year: Household spend on out-of-home leisure increased by 2% year-on-year in July, representing a relatively strong performance given inclement weat … view |
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| Tuesday 25th August 2015 |
| Realpubs founders plan seven site expansion drive |
| Realpubs founders plan seven site expansion drive: Urban Pubs and Bars founders Nick Pring and Malcolm Heap, who previously sold Realpubs to Greene King for £53.1m, are planning to add seven sites to grow the business to 12 sites by March 201 … view |
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| Tuesday 25th August 2015 |
| NPD – ‘London experiencing an eating out boom’ |
| NPD – ‘London experiencing an eating out boom’: Foodservice industry figures from insights firm The NPD Group show that London’s foodservice industry is flourishing thanks to consumers with a high tendency to spend. For the year ending … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 25th August 2015 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Pubs first choice for eating out because of ‘value for money’, according to new survey: Pubs are the first choice for consumers when it comes to eating out with 29% of respondents in a new survey choosing them because of their “val … view |
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| Monday 24th August 2015 |
| Punch sells 158 non-core pubs to NewRiver Retail for £53.5m |
| Punch sells 158 non-core pubs to NewRiver Retail for £53.5m: Punch Taverns has sold 158 predominantly non-core pubs to NewRiver Retail, the real estate investment trust focused on the retail sector, for £53.5m – NewRiver Retail previously … view |
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| Monday 24th August 2015 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Allegra – speciality coffee sector set for strongest growth in coffee market: A new report published today by Allegra World Coffee Portal titled The Future of Coffee, reveals that speciality coffee accounts for an estimated 15% of the t … view |
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| Friday 21st August 2015 |
| Update: Côte, Hawksmoor, BrewDog, Vaulkhard Group |
| Côte keeps entire service charge: Restaurant chain Côte is retaining the entire service change it automatically adds to bills, the London Evening Standard has reported. The company, which has 72 sites across the UK, said that the practice of … view |
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| Friday 21st August 2015 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Another bandwagon, the beer scene, defeating an Asset of Community Value nomination and the superlative Bull’s Head, Repton Authors: Paul Chase, Glynn Davis, Mark Brown and Colin Wellstead Another day, anot … view |
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| Friday 21st August 2015 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Propel to partner haysmacintyre for second benchmarking survey: Propel is to partner sector accountants haysmacintyre for a second benchmarking survey after the success of last year’s survey, which saw more than 70 multi-site companies … view |
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| Thursday 20th August 2015 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
| UK among best countries for low salt content in children’s meals at fast food restaurants: The UK is among the best countries for having a low amount of salt in children’s meals at fast food restaurants, according to new research. The find … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 19th August 2015 |
| Innis & Gunn hits £3m ‘beer bond’ target |
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Innis & Gunn hits £3m ‘beer bond’ target: Innis & Gunn has successfully raised its target of £3 million via a mini-bond investment offer, which will fund the creation of a state of the art brewery in South East Scotland. The Innis & … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 19th August 2015 |
| Tennis star Andy Murray invests in Tossed |
| Tennis star Andy Murray invests in Tossed: Tennis champion and world number two Andy Murray has announced he has made multiple investments on Seedrs, including healthy eating brand Tossed. Murray, who joined the Seedrs advisory board in June, … view |
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| Wednesday 19th August 2015 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Giggling Squid to boost management team as it plots pathway to 150 sites: Thai brand Gigging Squid is to recruit a raft of senior staff in the next six months as it paves the way to its target of expanding to 150 UK sites. The company is … view |
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| Tuesday 18th August 2015 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Competition watchdog questions bowling operators merger: Plans by a ten-pin bowling operator to take over a smaller rival chain risk being derailed by the competition watchdog. The Original Bowling Company (TOBC), backed by private equity … view |
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| Monday 17th August 2015 |
| Abokado reports record year, £2.6m of new funding |
| Abokado reports record year, £2.6m of new funding: Abokado, the healthy eating chain founded by Mark Lilley and backed by private equity firm Kings Park Capital, has reported a 33% increase in sales for the year to 31 March 2015, a 45% increa … view |
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| Monday 17th August 2015 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Scotland’s biggest Indian restaurant chain on the market amid staffing crisis: Scotland’s biggest Indian restaurant chain, Ashoka, has been put up for sale amid claims the traditional high street curry house is under threat. Owner San … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 14th August 2015 |
| Revolution founders plan 'world's best bars' after Manchester acquisition |
| Revolution founders plan ‘world’s best bars’ after buying 50% stake in Manchester operator: Revolution Vodka Bar founders Roy Ellis and Neil Macleod have acquired a 50% stake in Manchester bar operator Trof Group, founded by Joel Wilkins … view |
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| Friday 14th August 2015 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Last orders for EIS companies, the changing face of City of London drinking holes and Liverpool highlights Authors: Steve Kenee, Glynn Davis and Ann Elliott Could it be last order for EIS … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 14th August 2015 |
| Pret A Manger to pursue vegetarian store option |
| Pret A Manger to explore option of converting existing site into dedicated vegetarian store following customer feedback: Pret A Manger is to explore the option of converting one of its existing sites into a dedicated vegetarian store. Chief ex … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 14th August 2015 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
| Downing – new tax rules set to restrict activity of EIS-funded companies in the sector: Steve Kenee, a partner at pub sector investor Downing, has warned new tax rules will mean Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) funds can no longer, as of O … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 13th August 2015 |
| Intertain buys two Apres sites for conversion to Walkabout |
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Intertain acquires two more Walkabout venues, former Apres sites: Walkabout operator Intertain has acquired two new venues, following exchange of contracts on sites in Litchfield and Solihull in the West Midlands. The acquisitions follow … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 13th August 2015 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
| Pub and restaurant like-for-likes up 1.1% in July, strongest trading in branded restaurants outside M25: Expanding casual dining brands are increasingly competing with pubs for out-of-home consumer spending, latest figures from the Coffer Peac … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 12th August 2015 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Hotcha withdraws £1m mini-bond on Crowdcube after private equity approaches: Hotcha, the Chinese takeaway chain franchise with ambitions to roll-out nationwide, has withdrawn its £1m mini-bond offer on Crowdcube after receiving approach … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 11th August 2015 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
| Pubs Minister launches ‘Badge of Honour’ for pubs in effort to curb closure: The Community Pubs Minister Marcus Jones MP has launched a new campaign to protect England’s most treasured community pubs from demolition or conversion to othe … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Monday 10th August 2015 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
|
Pizza Hut UK exits 22 locations, trims staff number by 900 as estate is re-shaped though investment: Pizza Hut UK, owned by private equity firm Rutland Partners, exited 22 locations last year as part of plans to boost UK profitability, ne … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 7th August 2015 |
| Former Peach executives launch new £5m gastro-pub company |
| Former Peach executives launch new £5m gastro-pub company: A new gastro-pub company Epic Pubs will launch its first site later this month – with three more lined up to open. The company, led by former Peach Pub Company partner Andrew Coath, … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 7th August 2015 |
| Friday Opinion |
|
Subjects: The rising importance of convenience, the sleepless nanny state and Budapest’s foodservice scene Authors: Glynn Davis, Paul Chase and James Hacon The rising importance of convenience by … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 7th August 2015 |
| Analyst - Enterprise embarking on most ambitious transformation ever seen |
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Jamie Rollo – Enterprise embarking on most ambitious transformation ever undertaken: Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Jamie Rollo has this morning cut his Enterprise Inns share recommendation to ‘underweight’ and reduced his price tar … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 7th August 2015 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
| Burger King had wanted to relocate Tim Hortons headquarters to UK for tax reasons: Burger King had originally wanted to relocate Tim Hortons headquarters from Canada to the UK for tax reasons, it has been revealed. Burger King’s first offer … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 6th August 2015 |
| McMullens unveils new joint managing director |
| McMullens unveils new joint managing director: McMullens, the independent Hertfordshire brewer and pub operator, has announced the appointment of Tom McMullen as joint managing director with effect from today. He joins Peter Furness-Smith who … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 6th August 2015 |
| Drake & Morgan reports Ebitda up 28% to £3.2m |
| Drake & Morgan reports Ebitda up 28% to £3.2m: Drake & Morgan, the London-based bar and restaurant group backed by Bowmark Capital, has reported turnover up 20% to £24.6m in the 52 weeks to 29 March. Like-for-like turnover was up 4.6% and ad … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 6th August 2015 |
| Enterprise Inns updates on strategy, reports 0.6% rise in LFL net income |
| Enterprise Inns updates on strategy, reports 0.6% rise in LFL net income: Enterprise Inns has reported a 0.6% rise in like-for-like net income in the 44 weeks to 1 August 2015 – and reported it has hired key staff for its fledgling managed d … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 6th August 2015 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
| Independent survey reveals differing tip policies from customers using cards among casual dining operators: A survey by The Independent newspaper has revealed the differing tip policies in respect of customers using cards among casual dining o … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 5th August 2015 |
| Davy’s buys five-strong El Vino’s business |
| Davy’s buys five-strong El Vino’s business: London wine bar operator Davy’s has acquired El Vino’s for an undisclosed sum. Both family businesses, their combined heritage spans 281 years in the wine trade, and the deal adds an addition … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 5th August 2015 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
|
BBPA chief executive – we’ll see more managed pubs and shorter agreements in the tenanted sector: British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds has forecast tenanted pub companies running more pubs themselves as ma … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 4th August 2015 |
| Zizzi and ASK Italian owner acquires restaurant discount clubs |
| Zizzi and ASK Italian owner acquires restaurant discount clubs: Tastecard and the Gourmet Society, the UK’s number one and number two restaurant discount card clubs, have been acquired by ASK Italian and Zizzi owner Bridgepoint Development C … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 4th August 2015 |
| BrewDog updates on international bar openings |
| BrewDog updates on international bar openings: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has updated on its international bar opening plans. Openings are lined up in Stockholm, Rome, Brussels, Berlin with plans to open in Warsaw, Paris and Dublin. … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 4th August 2015 |
| Update: Just Eat and Adnams First Half results |
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Just Eat reports sales up 54% to £107.8m in First Half: Just Eat, the digital marketplace for takeaway food, has reported ‘another period of excellent growth’ in the six months ended 30 June 2015 with revenue up 54% to £107.8 millio … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 4th August 2015 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
| Luke Johnson – the majority of my ‘super-winners’ have been in the food and drink retail sector: Sector investor Luke Johnson has told Propel that the majority of his “super-winners” in investment terms, which amount to fewer than te … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Monday 3rd August 2015 |
| D&D London unveils details of German Gymnasium dining destination at King’s Cross |
| D&D London unveils details of German Gymnasium dining destination at King’s Cross: D&D London have unveiled details of the cafés, restaurants and bars it will open at the German Gymnasium, the newly renovated former grade II-listed gymnasiu … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Monday 3rd August 2015 |
| Expanding coaching inn specialist rebrands as Coaching Inn Group |
| Expanding coaching inn specialist rebrands as Coaching Inn Group: Market town coaching inns specialist the Bulldog Hotel Group is setting the seal on its sector leadership ambitions by rebranding as The Coaching Inn Group. The Lincolnshire-hea … view |
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| Monday 3rd August 2015 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
|
Glendola Leisure expands in Scotland by buying Saltire Taverns, enters hotel market: Glendola Leisure, the Rainforest Cafe and Waxy O’Connor’s operator, has bought Saltire Taverns in Edinburgh from local operator Billy Lowe for an und … view |
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