Table ordering rule in pubs to be ditched as No10 seeks to axe social distancing on 21 June: Pub-goers look set for a boost as ministers are prioritising the return of ordering at the bar over ditching face masks. The Sun understands that … view

Franco Manca reports trading in first week was 92% like-for-like with two years ago: Franco Manca operator Fulham Shore has reported 71 out of the group’s 73 restaurants (53 of 54 Franco Manca and 18 of 19 The Real Greek) are now open a … view

Review of former Soho House restaurant estate to lead to further closures: Yucaipa Group, now the owner of the former Soho House restaurant brands including Pizza East, Chicken Shop and Dirty Burger, is to make further closures. The opera … view

Oakman reports like-for-like sales up 38.5% in first week, aims for 40 sites by 2022: The Oakman Group has reported a total loss of £13.9m for its year ending June 2020, with an Ebitda loss of £2.6m. The company stated: “As with the r … view

Dunstone takes control of Chik’n: Sir Charles Dunstone, the backer of Five Guys UK, has become the majority backer of Chik’n, the fried chicken concept from the team behind Chick ’n’ Sours, with plans to ramp up its rollout, Prope … view

Lord Smith calls for VAT cut for hospitality to be extended to March 2022: Lord Smith of Hindhead has called for an extension of reduced VAT for hospitality. In a House of Lords debate, he stated: “The government’s quick thinking and … view

The Conduit to open six-floor site in Covent Garden featuring all-day restaurant ‘showcasing the best in sustainable and ethical hospitality’: London-based social enterprise The Conduit will open a site in Covent Garden spanning six f … view

Wingstop makes minority investment in UK franchisee to drive growth: US chicken brand Wingstop, which has more than 1,500 locations worldwide, has announced a minority investment in the UK business, which is operated by its UK franchisee, … view

The Restaurant Group ‘encouraged’ by trading performance: The Restaurant Group has reported it had approximately 200 sites trading for delivery and takeaway in the six weeks to 11 April across its Wagamama and Leisure businesses prior … view

Krispy Kreme UK reports turnover falls almost a quarter amid pandemic, receives £2.5m business interruption insurance pay-out: Krispy Kreme UK has reported turnover fell 23.5% to £71.9m for the year ending 3 January 2021, compared with … view

YO! announces new Food-to-Go trial at 390 Tesco stores: YO!, the multi-brand, multi-channel Japanese and Asian food group, has announced a new trial agreement to supply pre-packaged YO! Food-to-Go products to 390 Tesco stores. The new agr … view

Exclusive – Greene King secures approval for Loch Fyne CVA: Brewer and retailer Greene King has received approval for the company voluntary arrangement (CVA) of its Loch Fyne restaurant business, Propel has learned. Propel revealed earl … view

Punch enters joint venture with Big Smoke Brew Co, eyes similar opportunities: Punch Pubs & Co, the Clive Chesser-led, circa 1,300-strong company, has entered in a joint venture with Surrey-based brewer and retailer Big Smoke Brew Co to i … view

Staff drought forces restaurant bosses to offer cash bungs to fill vacancies: Pub and restaurant bosses are pushing ministers to introduce a “coronavirus recovery visa” to persuade foreign workers to return, as they resort to increasi … view

 

Electra to demerge TGI Friday’s into FTSE main market later this year: Listed investment firm Electra is to demerge its TFI Friday’s business into the FTSE main market in the third quarter of this year. The move comes as Electra repor … view

Pret to make petrol station debut: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed chain, is to open new shops in petrol stations owned by Motor Fuel Group (MFG), the largest forecourt operator in the UK with more than 900 sites nationwide. Throug … view

Young’s confirms sale of 63-strong tenanted division being pursued, reports outdoor trading hit 85% of normal sales: London pub operator Young’s has confirmed it is looking to sell its 63-strong tenanted division and reported that ou … view

Findlay – pandemic will present consolidation opportunities and we are seeking ways to participate: Ralph Findlay, chief executive of Marston’s has said the pandemic will present consolidation opportunities within the pub sector over … view

Plans to ease social distancing in ‘disarray’: Plans for easing social distancing rules were said to be in ‘disarray’ on Tuesday amid concerns that pubs and restaurants may still have to serve at limited capacity after 21 June. … view

Sales down more than 10% on first day of indoor trading against 2019 as Sacha Lord warns it will take three years for businesses to return to pre-pandemic levels: Sales were down more than 10% on the first day of indoor trading compared w … view

Nick Collins – we won’t be back up to full profit until 21 June: Nick Collins, chief executive of listed cafe bar operator Loungers, has said that the business won’t be back up to full profit until 21 June and only if it is allowed … view

Operators reveal extent of success of business pivots during pandemic and how they are set to stay: Operators have revealed the extent the huge pivots they made to their businesses during the pandemic have taken off – and are now set to … view

Exclusive – Nando’s to become carbon neutral this year, adds new plant-based options to menu: Nando’s has announced that it will become carbon neutral across its scope one, two and three emissions by November this year, on its roadm … view

IPO remains favoured route for Hawthorn despite private equity interest: A London stock exchange listing remains the favoured route for community pub company Hawthorn despite reported interest from private equity firms in the Mark Davies- … view

Pubs and restaurants will need more taxpayer support if 21 June opening is delayed: Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Kate Nicholls, UKHospitality chief executive, said: “The emergence of the so-called Indian variant in the UK is of conc … view

Authors: Glynn Davis, Ann Elliott, Amber Staynings, Jasper Cuppaidge … view

April like-for-likes down by a quarter at managed restaurants and pubs while total sales fall 60% versus 2019: Managed pub and restaurant groups recorded a 26% drop in like-for-like sales in April compared with the same month in 2019, the … view

ETM Group co-founder and senior management team to launch new leisure venture: Ed Martin, co-owner of ETM Group, which operates 13 premium bars, pubs and restaurants in central London, has joined forces with two of his senior management t … view

On 17 May, hospitality can finally open its doors and welcome the British public with a pint, whether the sun is shining or snow is falling. We look forward to this exciting milestone and … view

Andrew Andrea named as next Marston’s chief executive: Andrew Andrea has been promoted to become the next chief executive of Marston’s. The company stated: “Andrew’s appointment follows Ralph Findlay’s decision announced earlier … view

Exclusive – Wagamama tests lunch delivery-only concept: Wagamama, The Restaurant Group-owned business, has launched the test of a new lunch delivery-only concept called Box by Wagamama, Propel has learned. Emma Woods, Wagamama’s outgo … view

Revolution – bars open for outdoor trading delivering 48% of 2019 sales: Revolution Bars Group, which opened 20 bars for outside trading on 12 April, has opened a further five bars including those as permitted by the relaxation of restr … view

Nicholls – next week is ‘a psychological, not an economic opening’: UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has said next Monday’s (17 May) opening for consumers to eat and drink inside pubs and restaurants is “a psychologic … view

Greggs – delivery now at 800 shops and 8.2% of sales: Greggs has reported positive like-for-like sales since non-essential retail reopened and delivery service is now available from 800 shops – delivery sales represented 8.2% of compa … view

Laurillard – average weekly sales of £15,000 per site during lockdown has given us the confidence to expand, eight sites already secured: Andy Laurillard, co-founder of Giggling Squid, the Thai restaurant brand backed by BGF, has said … view

Hospitality chiefs plea for fresh government support package after revenue slump: Hospitality chiefs have urged the chancellor to prepare a new financial support package for the industry even as remaining restrictions on their operations … view

Luke Johnson – industry must never allow lockdowns again: Sector investor Luke Johnson has said the industry must never allow lockdowns again, but admits that will take work. Writing exclusively in this week’s Propel Premium Opinion, … view

Exclusive – new pub venture to launch after securing funding from private investors including the Sethi family: A new pub venture led by Dominic Jacobs of The Running Horse Mayfair, and backed by a number of private investors, including … view

Puttshack secures $60m for UK and US expansion: Indoor mini golf experience Puttshack has completed a growth capital round of $60m (£43.2m) led by Promethean Investments. The funds will continue to support the company's growth, bringing … view

Week-on-week sales fall 1.2%, number of sites open also declines: Hospitality sales were down 1.2% last week on the previous week, according to analysis from S4labour, the online labour-scheduling management system from Catton Hospitality … view

Island Poké signs first two UK franchise partners, further discussions taking place with potential for another 50 sites: Island Poké, the London-based, White Rabbit Group and Hero Brands-backed business, has signed-up its first two UK f … view

Lord and Osmond lose legal battle to bring sector reopening date forward: Sacha Lord, night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, and serial sector investor Hugh Osmond have lost their legal battle to force the government to bring … view

UKHospitality issues proposals to government to tackle £2.5bn rent debt ahead of formal statement on ‘call for evidence’: UKHospitality has issued proposals to the government to help tackle the rent debt crisis that threatens to “w … view

BBPA – leased and tenanted pubs secure average support of £27,000 while landlords give pub companies ‘but a fraction’: The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has said leased and tenanted pubs have received, on average, £27,000 … view

Financial overview: Greene King reported revenue of £562.1m for the 36 weeks ending 3 January 2021. The shor … view

Social distancing one-metre rule to scrapped on 21 June: Boris Johnson promises to scrap the ‘metre plus’ social distancing rule from 21 June, and, within days, issue the first list of ‘green’ countries that holidaymakers can visi … view