Exclusive – TriSpan in talks to acquire Pho: Private equity firm TriSpan is in talks to acquire a majority stake in Vietnamese street food restaurant group Pho, Propel has learned. Pho, which was founded in 2005 by Stephen and Juliette … view

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Pandemic cost hospitality £100bn in sales: Hospitality businesses have suffered a £100.2bn drop in sales from pre-pandemic levels in the 15 months since the start of the covid-19 pandemic, the latest edition of the UKHospitality Quarter … view

Oakman paid just under £3m for six ex-Seafood Pub Co sites: The Oakman Group paid under £3m to acquire six former Seafood Pub Company sites earlier this year, Propel has learned. The Dermot King-led group paid £2.94m in total, includin … view

Mitchells & Butlers – sales have been volatile: Mitchells & Butlers has described sales as volatile in the weeks since reopening. In a Third Quarter trading update, the company stated: “On 12 April we initially opened 16% of our estat … view

Findlay – wave of consolidation in the pubs sector expected: Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay expects a wave of consolidation in the pubs sector as firms rethink strategy in an environment with “a lot of US money around”. E … view

Marston’s – trading since 17 May better than expectations: Marston’s has reported significantly improved trading since 17 May – described as “better than our expectations”. The group’s entire 1,500 pubs have been open since … view

Costa trials combined hot and iced drinks machine in ‘world first’, Pret potentially eyeing vending category launch: Costa Coffee, which is owned by Coca-Cola, is trialling a new line of coffee machines across selected locations in Br … view

Robinsons now trading profitably after navigating ‘incredibly challenging year’ with turnover down £26m: North west brewer and retailer Robinsons has said it is now trading profitably after navigating an “incredibly challenging yea … view

US investment funds among bidders for Hawthorn: A pair of US-based investment funds were among the final bidders for community pub company Hawthorn, Propel has learned. On Monday (26 July), Admiral Taverns announced it had agreed to acqui … view

Hawthorn sold to Admiral Taverns for £222.3m: NewRiver REIT has entered into an agreement to sell its community pubs business Hawthorn Leisure REIT to Admiral Taverns for £222.3m. Allan Lockhart, chief executive of NewRiver, said: “Ov … view

Gilkes – we need a test and release scheme or the next three weeks are going to be long and painful: Charlie Gilkes, co-founder of Inception Group, the London-based group, which owns and operates concepts including Cahoots and Mr Fogg� … view

Nightclub bosses ready to take government to court over covid vaccine passports: Hospitality industry leaders have warned the government it could face legal action over plans for compulsory vaccine passports for nightclubs and other “l … view

I am Doner introduces ‘micro-bonuses’, sees increased productivity and 90% drop in customer complaints: I am Doner, the Think Hospitality-backed brand, has introduced “micro-bonuses” for its staff. The company said the move had be … view

Collins – we come out of the crisis with a better-balanced estate, fixtures and fittings supply chain ‘sluggish’: Nick Collins, chief executive of cafe bar operator Loungers, has said the business is coming out of the crisis with a … view

Loungers reports like-for-like sales up 23.7%: Loungers has reported like-for-like sales up 23.7% in the nine weeks from 17 May to 18 July 2021 versus the same period in 2019. The company said it is benefiting from post-covid trends, flex … view

Brinker International plans UK launch for Chili’s restaurant brand, scope for in excess of 100 sites: US restaurant group Brinker International is looking to launch its casual-dining concept Chili’s into the UK and believes it could o … view

Young’s – we’ve been trading at 95% of 2019 levels: London pub operator Young’s has reported trading at 95% of 2019 levels. In an AGM statement, chairman Stephen Goodyear said: “We are pleased to report that trading has continue … view

Sector bosses lambast government over move to make full vaccination mandatory for nightclubs and large events, PM warns requirement may be needed in pubs: Sector bosses have lambasted the government after it announced full vaccination wil … view

Stonegate files £845m covid lawsuit against insurers: The UK’s largest pub group Stonegate is suing a trio of insurers for losses it suffered during the pandemic, one of the highest-profile cases yet in a bitter dispute between the hos … view

Rolling 12-month sales down 27%, but June provides cause for optimism as sales near 2019 levels: Sales at Britain’s managed pub, restaurant and bar groups in the 12 months to June 2021 were down by 27% on the previous 12 months, highlig … view

Calls grow for new laws to put an end to restaurant bosses pocketing tips intended for staff: Tough new laws are being demanded to stop unscrupulous restaurant bosses pocketing tips intended for staff. Campaigners say about 1.6 million ho … view

JD Wetherspoon outlines measures from 19 July as it removes ‘absurd’ table-only service restriction: JD Wetherspoon will revert from Monday (19 July) to the measures that were in place in July 2020 after the first lockdown as they are … view

Covid passport backlash as pubs and restaurants say they can’t check QR codes: Pubs, restaurants and nightclubs have said they do not have the technology to scan covid vaccine passports. The Telegraph reported hospitality chiefs said th … view

Government launches strategy to support reopening and recovery of sector: A new strategy to ensure the UK hospitality sector “can thrive long-term and adapt to consumer demands” has been launched by the government. The Build Back Bett … view

Government launches strategy to support reopening and recovery of sector: A new strategy to ensure the UK hospitality sector “can thrive long-term and adapt to consumer demands” has been launched by the government. The Build Back Bett … view

Restaurants, pubs and bars urged to consider using covid passports and continuing table-only service: Covid passports could be used in pubs, bars and restaurants as new government guidance for businesses urged their wider rollout. On Wedn … view

Sugar and salt tax for sector businesses proposed as part of national strategy: A sugar and salt tax for hospitality businesses is being proposed in the second part of the National Food Strategy that calls on the government to commit to a … view

Sugar and salt tax for sector businesses proposed as part of national strategy: A sugar and salt tax for hospitality businesses is being proposed in the second part of the National Food Strategy that calls on the government to commit to a … view

Hospitality operators throughout England have recently heaved a massive sigh of relief after the prime minister announced “Freedom Day” would take place on 19 July. This is despite the d … view

UKHospitality – situation over rent agreements ‘improving’ but stalemate in negotiations for one in five sector businesses: UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has told MPs the situation over rent agreements is “improving� … view

Hostmore exploring QSR opportunities for Fridays, sees scope for 20 63rd+1st sites by 2023: Hostmore, the parent company of Fridays and the 63rd+1st concept, is exploring QSR opportunities for its core brand with service station providers … view

BrewDog updates on progress following ‘toxic culture’ allegations, appoints consultancy to conduct ‘full, unbiased’ review: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has appointed consultancy Wiser to conduct a “full, unbiased” rev … view

Marks – many of our clubs are pre-sold out for reopening, nine in ten young Brits planning to visit club or bar once restrictions lift: Peter Marks, chief executive of Rekom UK, the UK’s largest nightclub operator, has told Propel the … view

Marks – many of our clubs are pre-sold out for reopening, nine in ten young Brits planning to visit club or bar once restrictions lift: Peter Marks, chief executive of Rekom UK, the UK’s largest nightclub operator, has told Propel the … view

Young’s to sell majority of tenanted estate to Punch for £53m: London pub retailer Young’s has agreed to sell most of its tenanted estate – the Ram Pub Company – to Punch Pubs & Co for £53m in a cash deal. Young’s has agreed t … view

Jones – the crisis has allowed us to re-establish what was important, especially the well-being of our people: Karen Jones, executive chair of Prezzo, chair of Mowgli and Hawksmoor, and non-executive director at Deliveroo, has told Prop … view

Permanent al fresco dining will form part of Boris Johnson’s ‘levelling up’ drive: Al fresco dining will become the norm and pavement licences made permanent as part of government plans to rejuvenate the high street after the pandem … view

Exclusive – Tortilla to explore IPO option: Tortilla, the Quilvest-backed fast casual Mexican concept, has appointed advisers to explore a possible initial public offering (IPO), Propel has learned. It is understood the circa 50-strong, … view

Exclusive – new sector acquisitions vehicle featuring Justin King planning listing: Epicurean Endeavours, a newly formed hospitality and leisure acquisitions vehicle, which is being backed and advised by former Sainsbury’s chief execu … view

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Emeny – 19 July can’t come soon enough for the sector, invests in ‘winterisation’ projects: Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller’s, has said that 19 July can’t come soon enough for the sector as the feel-good factor and sale … view

Fuller’s managed like-for-like sales for 12 weeks to 3 July 2021 at 76% of 2019 levels: Fuller’s reported its managed like-for-like sales for 12 weeks to 3 July 2021 were at 76% of 2019 levels. Reporting results for the year to 27 Mar … view

Burger King UK to trial smaller ‘urban box-style’ format: Burger King UK, the Bridgepoint-backed fast-food chain, is to trial a smaller “urban box-style” format by the end of the year/early 2022, Propel has learned. Propel under … view

JD Wetherspoon reports like-for-like sales down 14.6% on 2019 levels between 17 May and 4 July: JD Wetherspoon has reported its like-for-like sales from 17 May to 4 July, when pubs were fully open, were down 14.6% on 2019 levels. The comp … view

Reilley – without the abolition of ten-day self-isolation requirements for all those pinged by Test & Trace hospitality will shut down: Without the abolition of ten-day self-isolation requirements for all those pinged by the NHS Test & … view

Last orders for social distancing gives pubs and restaurants a £400m boost: Prime minister Boris Johnson’s decision to ease social distancing rules sent pub and restaurant shares soaring. Almost £400m was added to the value of the sec … view

Friska founders step away from business as new owner found: Griff Holland and Ed Brown, the founders of Friska, the Bristol-based healthy eating brand, have stepped down from the business, after a new owner was found for the eight-strong … view

Social distancing and table service set to be scrapped in pubs and restaurants from 19 July: Prime minister Boris Johnson is expected to tell people in England that it will be left to their “judgement” to manage coronavirus risks as h … view

Operators – we can’t wait until 19 July for a change in test and trace rules: Sector operators have said they can’t wait until 19 July for changes to be made to the current test and trace rules, which are “making it impossible to … view

Masks to be ditched – and no more QR codes to enter a pub: The prime minister will reveal plans this week to ditch many of the covid-19 rules that have plunged the hospitality industry into chaos. From 19 July, masks will become volunt … view

SA Brain markets 99-strong freehold investment portfolio: Welsh brewer SA Brain has placed a 99-strong freehold investment portfolio on the market, Propel has learned. Propel understands the business has appointed property advisers Avison … view

Double-jabbed Brits won’t have to isolate for ten days if they come into contact with covid victim from 19 July: Brits who have had both jabs will no longer have to isolate for ten days if they come into contact with a covid victim from … view

Brasserie Bar Co undergoes restructuring and refinancing, currently trading well above expectations: Brasserie Bar Co, the operator of Brasserie Blanc and the White Brasserie Company, completed a restructuring and refinancing process, whi … view