Charles Wells takes stake in Little Gems as it announces joint venture: Bedford-based brewer and retailer Charles Wells and Little Gems Country Dining, run by Steve Wilkins and Rachel Slater, have signed head of terms to form a joint vent … view

Just Eat reports revenue growth of 47% in Third Quarter: Just Eat, the online food delivery business, has reported revenue grew by 47% to £138.6m in its Third Quarter and is up in the first nine months of its financial year to £385.2m. … view

London-based premium food delivery service Supper launches £500,000 crowdfunding campaign to fuel growth: London-based premium food delivery service Supper, which brings healthy and home-cooked meals to consumers, has launched a £500,00 … view

Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Let’s Sushi to open in Meadowhall: British Land, joint owner of Sheffield shopping centre Meadowhall, has announced that Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Let’s Sushi will join the line-up at the Oasis Dining Quart … view

Bistrot Pierre reports 32% increase in turnover, all new sites meeting expectations: Private equity-backed restaurant group Bistrot Pierre has reported turnover increase 32% to £25,760,000 in the year to 30 June 2017. Gross profit increa … view

Street food restaurant The Good Egg to open second site next month after hitting £500,000 crowdfunding target: Street food restaurant The Good Egg is to open its second site next month after hitting its £500,000 target on crowdfunding p … view

Debenhams – we plan 50 more food and drink partnerships in the next three years: Debenhams has set out plans to expand it food and drink partnerships over the next three years. It stated: “We currently have almost 70 third party manag … view

Butcombe makes £4m investment in brewery operations: Butcombe Brewery, part of Liberation Group, has made a £4m investment in its brewing business in the West Country. The brewer has invested in four new projects, including a new craft … view

Douglas Jack – the demand and supply dynamics now more attractive for pubs than restaurants: Peel Hunt leisure analyst Douglas Jack has argued that the quoted pub sector is a more attractive investment proposition than the restaurant se … view

Hotcha ceases trading following suspected £35m tax fraud and money laundering investigation: Hotcha, which vowed to become the “Domino’s Pizza of the Chinese takeaway market”, has ceased trading following an investigation into a su … view

Whitbread reports turnover and profit boost: Whitbread has reported sales rose 7.4% to £1,671bn in the six months to 31 August with underlying profit before tax up 6.7% to £328m. Over 2,000 new Premier Inn rooms were opened in the UK in … view

Propel to launch sector’s most comprehensive marketing conference: Propel is to launch the most comprehensive marketing conference the sector has seen with a two-day event. Restaurant Marketer & Innovator, in partnership with Think Hosp … view

Fleurets – delay in dealing with appeals following new business rates may be too long for some operators to survive: Property agent Fleurets has warned the delay in dealing with appeals following the introduction of new business rates t … view

BrewDog’s Equity for Punks V raises £1m in two days: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has said its latest crowdfunding scheme, Equity for Punks V, raised more than £1m in the first two days. The fifth round of Equity for Punks is … view

More than three-quarters of Brits buy lunch out every day, weekend brunch on the rise: More than three-quarters (76%) of Brits buy lunch out every day compared with less than two-thirds (64%) in 2016, according to new research by Mintel. … view

Benito’s Hat hires new managing director as founder steps down: Benito’s Hat Restaurant Group has appointed Ping Pong’s Michael Pearson as managing director from the 1 November 2017. After more than nine years at the helm, founder a … view

UK’s night-time industry faces conundrum of balancing entertainment costs, says Deltic Group chief: Peter Marks, chief executive of The Deltic Group, the UK’s largest operator of premium late-night bars and clubs, has told the Bar and … view

Mark McQuater steps down from Revolution: Revolution Bars Group has announced chief executive Mark McQuater has resigned from the board and will be leaving the business with immediate effect. Chairman Keith Edelman will assume the role of … view

BrewDog looks to raise £50m with Equity for Punks V: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has launched the latest round of its record-breaking crowdfunding scheme, Equity for Punks, which the company believes will make it the biggest cro … view

Stonegate will not make revised offer for Revolution, Deltic still willing to discuss merger: Stonegate Pub Company has said it will not make a revised offer for Revolution Bars Group after its £101.5m takeover bid was rejected. Meanwhil … view

Tim Martin – ‘Wetherspoon food costs will go down if we opt for unilateral free trade’: Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin has argued that his company will save 1.5p per pint or meal sold if the UK opts for unilateral free trade after l … view

Sourced Market founder looks for further partnerships following success of hotel deal and production kitchen launch: Sourced Market founder Ben O’Brien has told Propel the success of the brand’s new small-format store in the City of L … view

Casual Dining Group signs franchise deal in Ireland: Casual Dining Group has signed a franchise deal giving exclusive rights to its Las Iguanas and Bella Italia brands in the Republic of Ireland to experienced restaurateur, Robert O’Don … view

Coyote Ugly signs 12-site UK franchise deal: Coyote Ugly, the rowdy, western-themed bar that celebrates the wild side of American culture has signed a franchise agreement that will bring 12 bars to major cities throughout the United Kingd … view

CGA – Christmas is the perfect time for premiumised offer: Pub, restaurant and bar operators across Great Britain may face an uncertain trading environment this Christmas but consumers are still likely to spend an additional £562m on d … view

CMA – Just Eat acquisition of Hungryhouse does not raise competition concerns: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reached a provisional conclusion that Just Eat’s acquisition of Hungryhouse does not raise competition conc … view

Teenagers will ‘look to brands to build their confidence’ as research reveals key trends set to impact food and drink market in 2018: Teenagers in Europe are increasingly defined by anxieties around image, health and work, and are loo … view

Heineken predicts new 'plug and pour' draught beer system could boost casual dining sector by £123m: Heineken has launched a new "plug and pour" draught beer system that it predicted could boost the casual dining sector by £123m. The co … view

ALMR names best UK late-night operators: The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has announced the winners of the 2017 Late Night Awards, from a record number of entries – more than 300 nominations were received this year. … view

Healthy recipe box startup Mindful Chef closes crowdfunding campaign after raising £2m in 11 days: Healthy recipe box startup Mindful Chef has closed its fund-raise on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube after raising double its original £1 … view

Soho House secures more than £400m to support growth: Soho House has secured more than £400m to help shore up its creaking balance sheet as it refinances its existing debt to support future growth. The company has signed an agreement wi … view

Gaucho reports turnover boost but losses double in first year under new ownership: Gaucho, which operates its eponymous brand as well as CAU, has reported a turnover boost in its first year under new ownership. The company, which was boug … view

Hollywood Bowl Group reports like-for-like sales up 3.5%: Hollywood Bowl Group, the UK’s largest ten-pin bowling operator, has reported like-for-like sales increased 3.5% for the year ended 30 September 2017. In its pre-close trading up … view

Deltic still working on cash offer for Revolution despite tabling merger proposals but won’t be pressed into ‘silly’ deal: Deltic Group chief executive Peter Marks has told Propel the company is still working on a possible cash offe … view

Revolution acknowledges Deltic merger proposal, analysts’ views on deal: Revolution Bars Group has acknowledged Deltic Group’s proposed terms for a merger and said it would provide a response in due course. The company stated: “Shar … view

Deltic tables Revolution merger plan: Deltic Group has published its proposed terms for a merger with Revolution Bars Group. The merger proposal provides for a combination under which existing Revolution shareholders would own 65% and Del … view

Senior leaders upbeat over prospects despite challenges, 70% pass on food cost rises by increasing prices: Two-thirds of senior executives in the eating and drinking out sector remain upbeat over prospects for their business while acknowl … view

Senior leaders upbeat over prospects despite challenges, 70% pass on food cost rises by increasing prices: Two-thirds of senior executives in the eating and drinking out sector remain upbeat over prospects for their business while acknowl … view

Douglas Jack – Domino’s is building momentum: Peel Hunt leisure analyst Douglas Jack has issued a ‘buy’ note on Domino’s shares, arguing that sales momentum is staring to build. Issuing a target price of 400p, he said: “We bel … view

Revolution boss – Revolución de Cuba has ‘proper momentum’, smaller trading format provides scope for more than 50 sites for brand: Revolution Bars Group chief executive Mark McQuater has told Propel Revolución de Cuba has “prop … view

JW Lees reports record turnover and investment: North west brewer and retailer JW Lees has reported record turnover of £67.7m, +£3.6m or 5.6%, for the year to 31st March 2017. During the year JW Lees made capital expenditure investments … view

Revolution Bars Group reports sales increase in full year results: Revolution Bars Group has reported sales were £130.5m (2016: £119.5m) in the 52 weeks ended 1 July 2017 – like-for-like sales increased 1.5% (52 weeks). Six new sites … view

Healthy recipe box startup Mindful Chef reports record sales: Healthy recipe box startup Mindful Chef, which has raised more than £1.2m on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube, has reported record sales in September. The “farm to fork” bu … view

Foodservice price inflation grows to 9.3% in August: Foodservice price inflation grew to 9.3% in August to reverse two months of reductions, the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index has revealed. Inflation has grown by more than tw … view

Time Out Market site secured in Boston, Massachusetts: Time Out Group has signed a lease agreement for a new Time Out Market in Boston, with the benefit of planning for the site already secured. The site is located in the striking 401 Par … view

Sector marketing and innovation to be recognised in new Propel awards event, entries now open: Propel is partnering Think Hospitality to launch a new awards scheme to recognise marketing excellence and innovation within the sector – and … view