Cineworld to re-open UK cinemas on 31 July: Cineworld is to re-open its cinemas in the US and the UK starting Friday 31 July. The company stated: “Cineworld has and will continue to reopen cinemas in its other markets as previously stat … view

Capdesia and Toridoll enter JV to launch Marugame Udon in UK, Keith Bird to lead business: Capdesia Group, the backer of Wasabi, and Toridoll Holdings Corporation, the backer of Shoryu Ramen and Wok to Walk, have formed a new joint ventur … view

Creditors approve TRG leisure estate CVA: Creditors of The Restaurant Group (TRG) have approved the company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for its leisure business. More than 82% of all creditors voted in favour of the proposal, with 75% app … view

Spending in pubs this coming weekend forecast to be £210m: Spending in pubs is forecast to reach £210m when premises open their doors this coming weekend. Industry research suggests that 35% of adults will return to pubs within a week o … view

Findlay – government needs to be ‘big and bold’ on VAT cut: Ralph Findlay, chief executive of Marston’s, has said the government needs to be “big and bold” when it comes to a VAT cut to help stimulate the economy as the hospit … view

Marston’s – ‘we are well-placed in the medium term’: Marston’s has insisted it is well-placed for a post covid-19 recovery in medium term. It said plans are in place for pubs to reopen from 4 July, although initial revenue and e … view

Former TGI Friday’s and Parkdean Resorts backer in running for Azzurri Group: Epiris, the private equity firm, which formerly backed TGI Friday’s and Parkdean Resorts, is one of the parties bidding to acquire the Azzurri Group, the Zi … view

Greene King to open two-thirds of managed estate on Monday 6 July: Brewer and pub retailer Greene King is to re-open 1,294 of its managed pubs from Monday 6 July, with the remaining one third of the managed estate following in the second … view

Christou – Pret in eye of the storm, to pay 30% of June quarter’s rent: Pano Christou, chief executive of Pret A Manger, has written to the group’s landlords stating the brand is “currently in the eye of the storm”, with UK sale … view

CMA determines Amazon investment in Deliveroo would not result in significant lessening of competition in restaurant or grocery sector: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has determined Amazon’s investment in Deliveroo will not … view

Government publishes re-opening guidance: The government has this morning published a 41-page document offering the sector guidance of safe re-opening on 4 July. The guidance covers areas such a “keeping customers and staff safe”, “ … view

Leon-led group among bidders for Busaba: Natural fast food brand Leon is involved in one of the main bids for Busaba, the Thai chain founded by Alan Yau, Propel understands. It is thought the John Vincent-led business, which is backed by … view

Brasserie Bar Co ramps up talks with landlords, plans August reopening: Brasserie Bar Co, the Richard Ferrier-led operator of the Brasserie Blanc and White Brasserie Company, is working with advisors as it considers its options in regards … view

A tweet from this weekend courtesy of MeatLiquor founder Scott Collins: “If 4 July is the ‘legal’ reopening date for pubs/bars/restaurants can they open at 12.01am (licence p … view

Industry survey reveals protracted recovery and need for confirmation of 4 July reopening: Hospitality businesses are predicting a lengthy and painful recovery with levels of trade expected to be significantly supressed for many months to … view

Industry survey reveals protracted recovery and need for confirmation of 4 July reopening: Hospitality businesses are predicting a lengthy and painful recovery with levels of trade expected to be significantly supressed for many months to … view

Exclusive – Luke Johnson among bidders for Bistrot Pierre: Serial sector investor Luke Johnson is among the interested parties bidding to take control of Bistrot Pierre, the Livingbridge-backed group, Propel has learned. Johnson, who is … view

Government extends anti-eviction measures for businesses: The UK government has extended measures to prevent struggling companies from eviction over the summer. It said it would lay a statutory instrument to amend the Coronavirus Act to e … view

Scottish government publishes sector reopening guidelines: The Scottish government has published its reopening guidelines for the hospitality and tourism sectors. As well as reaffirming the proposed reopening of the industry from 15 July, … view

Living Ventures places Blackhouse business into administration: Blackhouse and Newgate Restaurants, the Living Ventures-owned business, has appointed administrators following the closure of its restaurants in March due to the covid-19 pan … view

Wagamama sees encouraging sales performance from reopened sites: Wagamama, The Restaurant Group (TRG)-owned brand, has said it has seen an “encouraging sales performance” from the 81 sites its has so far reopened over the past few wee … view

Parkdean Resorts reports bumper staycation bookings through to autumn, agrees £25m refinancing: Holiday park operator Parkdean Resorts, which is led by former Casual Dining Group chief executive Steve Richards, has said it was seeing “ … view

Westminster Council sets out reopening strategy for hospitality: Westminster Council has published its plans to help the hospitality industry reopen, including the temporary closure of a number of roads to make room for external seating. … view

McDonald’s reports global sales down 30% in current quarter but seeing recovery in demand: McDonald’s said global sales fell about 30% in the first two months of the current quarter due to the coronavirus pandemic but signalled a reco … view

Seafood Pub Company to enter administration: Seafood Pub Company, the north west based, ten-strong country inns business, is set to go into administration. The award-winning company, which was founded in 2010 by Joycelyn Neve, filed a Not … view

Sector CEOs and Deliveroo write to PM calling for urgent support for industry: Deliveroo and the chief executives of its leading restaurant partners, including Itsu, Pizza Hut, Pret A Manger and Wagamama, have called on the government to … view

Persuading operators and those working in the police, local authorities, and enforcement to think about their relationship in a new way is “difficult”. I’ve been fortunate my life has provided me with e … view

Loungers chairman calls on government to ‘step up to the plate’ on sector guidance: Alex Reilley, executive chairman of cafe bar operator Loungers, has called on the government to “step up to the plate” and provide the sector with … view

Exclusive – The Restaurant Group CVA sets out plans to exit 148 leisure division sites: The Restaurant Group (TRG) plans to exit almost half of its leisure division estate as part of proposals included in its company voluntary arrangeme … view

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Market Taverns acquires ex-Food & Fuel sites: London pub operator Market Taverns has acquired four sites from the former Food & Fuel estate, Propel has learned. The seven-strong group, which is led by Steve Welsh, has acquired the sites, … view

Greene King unveils reopening plans and new £15m ‘Pub Safe’ initiative: Brewer and retailer Greene King has unveiled details of how its pubs will look and operate ahead of them reopening, including launching “Pub Safe” – a new … view

Greene King unveils reopening plans and new £15m ‘Pub Safe’ initiative: Brewer and retailer Greene King has unveiled details of how its pubs will look and operate ahead of them reopening, including launching “Pub Safe” – a new … view

Operators unimpressed by draft property code of conduct: Sector operators have given an unimpressed response to the draft version of the government’s code of practice for landlord and commercial tenant negotiations, which was published … view

Shaftesbury CEO – the traditional lease model is falling apart: Brian Bickell, chief executive of Shaftesbury, one of London’s biggest West End landlords, has said the traditional leasing model was “falling apart” as it prepared f … view

Just Eat Takeaway.com confirms merger talks with Grubhub: Just Eat Takeaway.com has confirmed it is in advanced discussions with US food delivery giant Grubhub about an all-share merger. The discussions come amid increasing uncertainty ab … view

As licensing and regulatory lawyers, we regularly deal with the defence of enforcement actions by upholders of the licensing regime. As the country slowly emerges from this extended period of lock-down … view

Osmond – government needs to help oil the wheels of landlord/tenant negotiations: Hugh Osmond, serial sector investor and current backer of Coppa Club, has told Propel the government needs to help with “a bit of financial oil to the w … view

UK Hospitality sends PM letter urging him to tackle sector’s £1.4bn rent bill: UK Hospitality has urged the prime minister Boris Johnson to help the industry tackle a looming £1.4bn rent bill. Sky News has seen a letter sent last week … view

Pubs and restaurants encouraged to keep same shift teams and use radios for sending orders as part of government guidelines to reopen sector: Pubs and restaurants are to be encouraged to keep the same shifts for teams and use radios to se … view

Ministers identify 22 June as re-opening date for pubs and restaurants serving customers outdoors: Ministers have identified 22 June as the date when they hope to reopen England’s pubs and restaurants serving customers outdoors, amid fe … view

Wasabi appoints advisors to help assess strategic options: Wasabi, the sushi and bento chain led by Henry Birts and backed by Capdesia, has appointed the restructuring team at KPMG to advise on its strategic options and assist with ongoin … view

Downey – next few weeks will be as fraught as the first few weeks of this: Hospitality Union founder Jonathan Downey has said that for many in the sector, the next few weeks are going to be as fraught and as difficult as the first few w … view

Dardis – trying to create a new pub model will do more damage to the sector than coronavirus: Patrick Dardis, chief executive of London pub retailer Young’s, has told Propel trying to create a new pub model in a post-coronavirus world … view

Greene King expands delivery and takeaway: Brewer and pub retailer Greene King is expanding its delivery and takeaway services outside of London to pubs across the UK. Following the successful launch of takeaway, delivery and deli service … view

TRG to close 100 to 120 leisure division sites: The Restaurant Group (TRG), the owner of Wagamama and Brunning & Price, is to close 100 to 120 sites in its leisure division. Propel understands the vast majority of the site closures will c … view

Trade body calls on sector businesses to act on unpaid insurance claims ahead of Friday deadline: The Financial Conduct Authority is moving quickly to file its action in the High Court to seek clarification on the interpretation of busine … view

Investors seeing investment world in ‘three buckets’: Darrel Connell, partner at sector investor Imbiba, which backs operators including Farmer J, Vagabond and Darwin & Wallace, has said the company is seeing the investment world in � … view

WHO – keeping one metre apart slashes coronavirus risk by 80%: Keeping just one metre apart reduces the risk of catching coronavirus by 80%, a major WHO study has revealed. The new research, funded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) … view

Multiple insurers back down on coronavirus policy dispute after FCA challenge: Multiple insurers have admitted they are liable to pay company owners under business interruption insurance policies after the regulator challenged them to pro … view

The reasons we have 40,000 coronavirus deaths in the UK are very simple and have nothing to do with catching the virus down the pub on a Saturday night. Restaurants, … view

Fuller’s updates on financing: London-based pub operator Fuller’s has updated in relation to covid-19 during the current temporary closure of its Managed and Tenanted pubs and hotels. The company stated: “As stated previously, Fulle … view

Osmond – the hospitality industry needs to call out ‘ridiculous’ two-metre rule: Hugh Osmond, serial sector investor and current backer of Coppa Club, has said those in the hospitality industry need to be brave and call out the “r … view