Reduction in EU workers puts squeeze on recruitment: A significant reduction in EU nationals working in the sector has put the squeeze on recruitment, according to new research. The findings by software provider Fourth showed recruitment … view

McDonald’s reports global like-for-likes up 7.5% in first quarter with strong UK growth, results surpass 2019 levels: McDonald’s has reported global like-for-likes were up 7.5% in its first quarter ending 31 March 2021 – with the UK … view

Parkdean to invest further £70m in its parks amid staycation boom: Parkdean Resorts, which operates 67 caravan, lodge, cabin, glamping and camping holiday resorts, is forecasting a year of rapid recovery in 2021 and is to make a further … view

Sector bosses battling staff shortages ahead of indoor reopening: Sector bosses are battling staff shortages as they prepare to welcome customers back indoors next month. In London and the south east, where the shortage is most acute, the … view

US-based Tao Group Hospitality acquires Hakkasan Group: US-based Tao Group Hospitality has acquired Hakkasan Group, creating a “premium hospitality powerhouse that includes a global portfolio of brands and properties with significant po … view

Starbucks reports full sales recovery in the US: Starbucks has reported a full sales recovery in the US with like-for-like sales up 9% in its Second Quarter, ended 28 March. Chief executive Kevin Johnson said: “I am very pleased with ou … view

Seasoned restaurateurs to launch concept focused on flatbread in London, plans up to 30 sites in next three years: A new restaurant concept focused on flatbread is to launch in London – with plans for 30 sites over the next three years … view

Whitbread plans £350m investment after 71.4% sales hit during pandemic: Whitbread has reported total sales in its 2021 financial year were down 71.4% year-on-year reflecting the impact of restrictions and closure of hotels and restaurant … view

Interactive football and entertainment concept spanning 30,000 square foot to launch at The O2 this summer: A 30,000 square foot interactive football and entertainment concept is to launch at The O2 in London this summer. Toca Social aims … view

Boris Johnson shelves covid passports for pubs and restaurants: The Daily Mail has claimed Boris Johnson has shelved plans to introduce covid passports in pubs and restaurants this summer. The newspaper reported: “The Prime Minister has … view

Shell to explore evolving F&B offer across nationwide forecourt estate: Petrol forecourt operator Shell has begun exploring its options to evolve the food and beverage offer across circa 130 of its sites in the UK, Propel has learned. Wri … view

Hornby – early signs were that The Restaurant Group “can turn the corner” after the restructuring: Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group said that the early signs were that the company “can turn the corner” after … view

Exclusive – Pret receives £185m cash injection from shareholders, completes further refinancing: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed chain, has received a cash injection of £185m from shareholders and completed another refinancing … view

Authors: Kate Nicholls, Paul Chase, David Read, Julia Wilkinsonview

Scotland’s biggest pub operator expects half its pubs will re-open next Monday: Scotland’s biggest pub operator, Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars, expects around 50% of its 230 pubs in Scotland to reopen on 26 April. With half its pubs … view

Operators urge government to adopt Australia’s rent relief scheme, UKHospitality’s Kate Nicholls plea for responses: Operators are urging the government to adopt Australia’s rent relief scheme to help businesses survive beyond the e … view

Oakman Group reports like-for-like sales up 33.4% in first full week of trading: The Oakman Group, which was recently rebranded following its acquisition of six Seafood Pub Company sites, has reported like-for-like sales up 34.3% in the f … view

Leon co-founder John Vincent backing new Thai venture Burning Rose: Leon co-founder John Vincent has partnered with Australian entrepreneur Dennis Turner and former Deliveroo global head of restaurant strategy Cengiz Rahmioglu to launch a … view

JD Wetherspoon to re-open a further circa 139 pubs to have 533 open: Wetherspoon is to open a further 44 pubs in England on Monday, 26 April. The company opened 394 of its pubs in England on Monday, 12 April. The new pub openings include … view

Access Group acquires CPL Learning: Software company The Access Group has acquired training company CPL Learning. It will be incorporated into The Access Group’s hospitality division. The addition of CPL Learning to the Access Hospitali … view

Access Group acquires CPL Learning: Software company The Access Group has acquired training company CPL Learning. It will be incorporated into The Access Group’s hospitality division. The addition of CPL Learning to the Access Hospitali … view

Miso Group plans UK rollout of technology-led Middle Eastern-inspired concept, launches delivery venture: Miso Group, co-founded by Canadian chef Adria Wu, is planning a UK rollout of a technology-led Middle Eastern-inspired concept and h … view

Exclusive – Woods to step down as Wagamama CEO, to hand role over to internal successor Thomas Heier: Emma Woods is to step down as chief executive of Wagamama, The Restaurant Group-owned (TRG) brand, to pursue her non-executive caree … view

Trade bodies again call for three-month extension to business rates cancellation over fear of businesses being ‘unviable’: Sector trade bodies have again called for a three-month extension to the business rates cancellation as a surve … view

Trade bodies again call for three-month extension to business rates cancellation over fear of businesses being ‘unviable’: Sector trade bodies have again called for a three-month extension to the business rates cancellation as a surve … view

Asda brothers snap up fast food chain Leon in £100m deal: The billionaire brothers who own supermarket giant Asda have struck a secret deal to snap up fast food chain Leon for up to £100 million. Mohsin and Zuber Issa are understood to … view

Healthy eating concept Choppaluna plans UK rollout: Hero Brands, which operates the German Doner Kebab brand, plans to expand its healthy eating concept Choppaluna across the UK, after the success of its debut site that launched in London … view

Deliveroo reports fourth quarter of growth acceleration: Deliveroo has reported growth accelerated for the fourth consecutive quarter, with group orders up 114% year-on-year to 71 million and gross transaction value up 130% year-on-year t … view

Backer of Bird restaurant brand acquires half of former Dining Street business: Crown Partnership, the backer of fried chicken and waffle chain Bird, is understood to have secured more than half of sites operated by Dining Street, the com … view

The team at John Gaunt and Partners has been incredibly eager to get back to our favourite venues. We sat cold, but smiling, in our local pub garden, The Stag in Sheffield, for a celebr … view

Hawthorn looks to IPO as a standalone business: Community pub company Hawthorn has today unveiled plans to list on the stock market as a standalone quoted business, heralding the return of a tenanted and leased pub group to the London sto … view

JD Wetherspoon still losing £3m a week despite return of beer gardens, Scottish reopening plan ‘meaningless’ given indoor alcohol ban and curfew: The impact of trading restrictions on the sector has been highlighted in both England a … view

Revolution Bars Group to launch experiential seaside fairground-inspired bar and ‘community hub for entrepreneurs’ concepts: Revolution Bars Group is to launch an experiential seaside fairground-inspired bar with pizza offer and a “ … view

Pubs and restaurants fear covid passports would cut profits by a quarter: Businesses fear that covid passports would slash pub and restaurant profits by a quarter, according to a new survey. According to The Telegraph, a survey of members … view

Sessions Market secures new investment, strengthens head office team: Sessions Market, the food hall concept backed by Imbiba and led by former Deliveroo managing director Dan Warne, has secured further investment and strengthened its hea … view

S&P – most pub operators will take up to three years to rebuild finances to 2019 levels, larger companies have better recovery prospects: Most pub operators will take up to three years to rebuild their financial profiles to 2019 levels, … view

Two-thirds of pubs lack outdoor space to open on Monday: Two-thirds of pubs cannot open on Monday (15 April) because they lack the outside space to serve customers safely, it has emerged. Pubs, cafes and restaurants in England can open fo … view

Loungers secures 12-month extension to bank facilities; taking phased approach to reopening: Cafe bar operator Loungers has announced it has secured a 12-month extension to the bank facilities it secured last April, which now provides the … view

WatchHouse to ramp up openings, secures first regional site, plans international launch: Edition Capital-backed coffee concept WatchHouse plans to open a further six sites in the UK by the end of this year, including its first regional la … view

Neds Noodle Bar in fundraising talks, opening sixth site with Milton Keynes launch: London-based Neds Noodle Bar is in fundraising talks as it looks to accelerate its growth through its franchise model. Co-founder James Breslaw told Prope … view

Kaye brothers to step down from Tasty board, company continuing to work on various strategic options available: Wildwood operator Tasty has said brothers Adam and Sam Kaye, who played key parts in the creation of the business, in which th … view

Judge rules in favour of expedited resolution to why hospitality can’t open at same time as non-essential retail: A judge has ruled that the legal action seeking to reopen indoor hospitality at the same time as non-essential retail will … view

Papa John’s to make pub debut in Staffordshire: Papa John’s is to be available from a pub for the first time. The company has teamed up with Staffordshire-based pub the Saracen’s Head, to offer customers pizza with their pint. From … view

Exclusive – Wasabi founder to launch Pelicana in the UK: Wasabi founder DongHyun Kim has acquired the UK franchise rights to South Korean fried chicken brand Pelicana and is planning four openings this year. Pelicana is South Korea’s … view

Government refuses to shut door on ‘vaccine passports’ for pubs and restaurants as outdoor hospitality gets go-ahead to reopen next week: The government has not shut the door on pubs and restaurants having to ask customers to … view

Government to ditch plans to force customers to show vaccine passports when they visit the pub: Prime minister Boris Johnson has ditched plans to force customers to show a vaccine passport every time they go into a pub or restaurant. Acco … view

As many as 30,000 sites could close if the government does not stick to lockdown lifting plan: Up to 30,000 pubs, bars and restaurants will close if ministers do not stick to the roadmap out of lockdown, UKHospitality has warned. Thousand … view

Byron set to open its first new site for five years: Better burger brand Byron is set to open its first new site for five years as part of its expansion plans, Propel has learned. It is understood the new site, which is believed to be loc … view