Flat Iron – 2022 has “started encouragingly”, secures Westfield London site: Flat Iron, the Piper-backed affordable steak concept, has said that 2022 has “started encouragingly” and that it has “several opportunities under con … view

YO! owner picks float line-up as owners gauge appetite: The sushi chain YO!’s parent company has picked further advisers for a potential £750m listing even as market jitters exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threaten a sle … view

Ukraine invasion could lead to further rises in prices and interest rates, government urged to ‘remove obstacles to growth and investment’: The invasion of Ukraine by Russia could lead to further hikes in the prices of energy and food … view

AB InBev delivered over 15% top-line growth in FY21: AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, has announced that its profit would increase in 2022, in line with its medium-term growth range, after ending 2021 with stronger results than ex … view

Brighton Pier Group looks for more golf sites, bars performing ‘significantly better’ than expected: Anne Ackord, chief executive of Brighton Pier Group, has said the company is looking to add to its indoor mini-golf business but in … view

Fridays appoints Chris Liddell to head up QSR format and Julie McEwan as new chief operating officer: Fridays, the Robert B Cook-led brand, has appointed Chris Liddell, formerly of Costa Coffee and PizzaExpress, to head up its soon-to-lau … view

Caffe Nero reports robust trading in First Half: Caffe Nero has reported robust trading for its half-year (June 2021-November 2021), including strong like-for-like sales growth. The company also announced that its sales during the Omicron … view

Shepherd Neame appoints Jonathon Swaine as managing director of its pubs division: Kent-based brewer and retailer Shepherd Neame has announced the appointment of Jonathon Swaine, formerly of Rank Group and Fuller’s, as managing director … view

Junkyard co-founder to launch ‘intergalactic’ roller skate concept: Chris Legh, co-founder of crazy golf concept Junkyard, is to launch a new roller skate concept. Paradise Skate World will open in May in Manchester's Deansgate. Legh … view

Marugame Udon sets out plans to reach 100 sites within five years: International udon noodles and tempura restaurant brand Marugame Udon, described by one of its investors as “twice as fast as Wagamama but half the price” has unveile … view

Leon launches trial of coffee express units, 85% of transactions now through digital kiosks: Natural fast food brand Leon, owned by EG Group, has launched a trial of a new coffee express kiosk format, Propel has learned. Speaking on Prope … view

Exclusive – Pret extends funding facility by £100m, expects significant bank refinancing during 2022: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holding-backed business, extended its undrawn shareholder standby facility from £100m to £200m last month, a … view

Rockfish founder sets up seafood academy, aims to create talent pool ‘outside of the big cities’ and help tackle recruitment crisis: Mitch Tonks, founder of south west-based seafood restaurant group Rockfish, is setting up a seafood-f … view

KFC opens 1,000th UK site, plans 300 more over next five years: KFC has opened its 1,000th site in the UK and Ireland, and said it plans to open a further 50 this year, and another 300 over the next five years. The company said that despi … view

Mayor proposes £10m investment to attract more tourists back to London: Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced proposals to invest an additional £10m to attract more tourists back to the capital – including launching a new interna … view

Michelin awards new stars for 2022: There have been 25 new stars awarded in the 2022 Michelin Guide. Inspectors awarded one new three-Michelin star, five new two-Michelin stars and 19 new one-Michelin stars. This year’s stars were revea … view

Corbin & King fends off High Court challenge over debt repayment: Corbin & King has fought off a High Court challenge to a proposed £38mn rescue package. The FT reports that a subsidiary of Thai hotel operator Minor International – Cor … view

UKHospitality – stats show ‘fundamental shift in labour market that sector must address quickly’: Vacancies in hospitality are at double pre-pandemic levels with UKHospitality warning there has been a “fundamental shift in the lab … view

Managed groups’ sales up 3% in January on pre-covid levels, restaurants strongest performing segment: Rising consumer confidence about safety and the easing of covid-19 restrictions helped Britain’s managed pub, bar, and restaurant gr … view

Managed groups’ sales up 3% in January on pre-covid levels, restaurants strongest performing segment: Rising consumer confidence about safety and the easing of covid-19 restrictions helped Britain’s managed pub, bar, and restaurant gr … view

Inn Collection to change hands in circa £300m deal: Thirty one inns and hotels in the north of England and in Wales are set to change hands in a deal thought to value them at more than £300m. The Times reports that Alchemy Partners, the … view

Formula One takes stake in new competitive socialising concept from Adam Breeden: Adam Breeden, the co-founder of All Star Lanes, Hijingo, Bounce, Flight Club and Puttshack, has signed a global agreement with Formula One to launch and rol … view

Caffe Nero buys rest of Coffee#1: Caffe Nero has reached an agreement to acquire SA Brain’s remaining 33% stake in Coffee#1. The group and one of its supportive shareholders originally bought 67% of Coffee#1 in 2019 from owner SA Brain, … view

US fund Knighthead lodges fresh bid to acquire Corbin & King: A US-based fund is trying to break an impasse over the future of some of London’s top restaurants by tabling a fresh offer to extract it from insolvency proceedings. Sky News … view

Boojum appoints advisors for equity raise as it looks to expand across UK: Belfast-based burrito chain Boojum, which currently operates 14 sites, has appointed advisors for an equity raise in support of its expansion plans, as it looks to … view

Oakman Group reports healthy growth, new financing deal and strongest ever pipeline: Oakman Group, the Dermot King-led pub-restaurant operator, has reported healthy growth, a new refinancing deal and its strongest ever pipeline. Oakman ha … view

Industry unites around £5m Hospitality Rising campaign as sector vacancies hit 400,000: Organisers of a national grass-roots campaign aiming to raise £5m to combat the sector’s crippling jobs crisis have secured further industry backi … view

As we head into February, it is clear we are indeed starting to learn to live with covid. The last remaining restrictions are being relaxed across all three jurisdi … view

Young’s set to acquire ‘handful of pubs’ from The Lucky Onion Group: The Lucky Onion Group, owned by Superdry founder Julian Dunkerton, is to sell some of its pubs and hotels to London pub retailer Young’s. While it is understood … view

Alchemy deal gives Brasserie Bar Co £100m-plus war chest: Brasserie Bar Co, the operator of Brasserie Blanc and the White Brasserie Company, is set to benefit from a £100m-plus war chest as part of its recent circa £40m acquisition by … view

Hospitality and leisure spending slips into decline after five consecutive months of growth: Overall spending in hospitality and leisure slipped into decline in January compared with last year – falling 6.3% – after five consecutive m … view

Alchemy Partners acquires Brasserie Bar Co in circa £40m deal: Brasserie Bar Co, the operator of Brasserie Blanc and the White Brasserie Company, has been acquired by Alchemy Partners in a deal that is thought to be valued at just over � … view

Alchemy Partners acquires Brasserie Bar Co in circa £40m deal: Brasserie Bar Co, the operator of Brasserie Blanc and the White Brasserie Company, has been acquired by Alchemy Partners in a deal that is thought to be valued at just over � … view

More than 250 hospitality business leaders urge chancellor to hold VAT at 12.5%: More than 250 business leaders from hospitality and leisure have written to the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, urging the government to keep VAT at 12.5% beyond Ma … view

German Doner Kebab set to open 78 new restaurants this year, like-for-like sales up 27%: German Doner Kebab, owned by Hero Brands, plans to open 78 new sites this year, creating almost 3,000 jobs. The company revealed plans to grow to 17 … view

Sector businesses planning double-digit price rises in wake of spiralling costs: Sector businesses are planning double-digit price rises in the wake of spiralling costs and a return to the 20% rate of VAT on the horizon. In a UKHospitalit … view

SSP – good start to the year, group revenues at circa 62% of 2019 levels: SSP Group, the operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has said it has had a good start to its new financial year, notwithstanding th … view

Keeping VAT at 12.5% would save £4.6bn over ten years and create almost 300,000 jobs in ‘once of a lifetime opportunity’: Keeping VAT at 12.5% for hospitality and tourism rather than returning to 20% in April would save £4.6bn and h … view

Middletons plans steady expansion as founder says business is in a ‘sweet spot’ when it comes to funding: Stephen Hutton, the founder and managing director of Middletons Steakhouse & Grill, has told Propel the business is focused on f … view

Exclusive – Pret to increase coffee subscription to £25 a month to cover increased costs: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed business, is to increase its coffee subscription service from £20 to £25 next month, as it looks to comb … view

Pret sales up in London’s financial districts, but recovery being dented by inflationary pressures: Sales at Pret A Manger grew faster in London’s financial districts last week than in any other UK area as banks call staff back into … view

Hub Box reports 25.1% increase in like-for-likes, sees scope for 100-plus sites: Hub Box, the south west-based burger and barbecue concept led by Richard Boon, believes there is scope to grow an estate of 100-plus sites in the UK, Propel … view

King – I was told a year ago that unless I conceded to their want to franchise, I would go bust within two weeks: Jeremy King, co-founder of London-based restaurant group Corbin & King, has continued his war of words with leading share … view

Chesser – the government cannot sit by and expect the labour shortage issue to fix itself, sizeable number of pubs shut at least one day a week: The government cannot sit by and expect the labour shortage issue to fix itself, Clive Ches … view