Peach Pubs founder Cash invests in international cricketers’ pubco: Peach Pubs founder Lee Cash has invested in The Cat & Wickets Pub Company, which was founded by cricketers Harry Gurney and Stuart Broad, Propel has learned. After two … view

I love BrewDog … view

C&C boss – beer, cider and wine categories set for boost as consumers change drinking-out habits due to cost-of-living crisis: David Forde, group chief executive of C&C Group, has told Propel he believes the on-trade beer, cider and win … view

Chef Gary Usher cancels latest crowdfunding campaign, to launch Kickstarter round: Chef Gary Usher has cancelled his latest crowdfunding campaign, after admitting that for “one reason or another, it’s failed”. Launched through Seed … view

Rise in alcohol duty will ‘push sector businesses over the edge’ warn industry leaders, price of a pint could hit £7 in some cities: A rise in alcohol duty will “push sector businesses over the edge”, industry leaders have warned … view

Creams appoints new CEO: Dessert parlour operator Creams has appointed Everett Fieldgate as its new chief executive as the company enters its next stage of growth internationally and in the UK. Othman Shoukat will remain as managing direc … view

Fairgame in advanced talks on second site, plans US launch: Richard Hilton, co-founder of competitive socialising concept Fairgame, which launched in London last month, has said the business is already in advanced talks for a second Londo … view

Various Eateries reports strong revenue, significant increase in build costs: Various Eateries has reported a solid trading performance in 52 weeks ending 2 October, with sales for the year expected to be slightly ahead of market expectat … view

Peter Marks – I fear the government can’t afford to help the sector further: Peter Marks, chairman of Rekom UK, has told Propel he fears there will no further help for the sector in terms of a VAT cut or extension of business rates re … view

Rekom – Nearly 90% of people will change or have already changed their socialising habits due to the cost-of-living crisis: Just under 90% (88.5%) of people will change or have already changed their socialising habits around going on a … view

Pitcher – we feel there's a rich vein for growth with Peach, we’re building a more solid platform to hedge against structural changes in the way people use hospitality: Rob Pitcher, chief executive of Revolution Bars Group (RBG), has … view

Authors: Paul Chase, Glynn Davis, Nathalie Dalton-King … view

Deliveroo reports fall in orders in third quarter as consumers cut back: Deliveroo has reported a fall in orders in the third quarter of 2022. The company said GTV growth was up 5% year-on-year in the quarter in constant currency. It sai … view

Chopstix sees runway for 500-plus UK stores by 2028, on its way to becoming ‘largest Asian-inspired QSR brand in Europe’: Fast-growing quick service restaurant brand Chopstix has said it sees a runway for 500-600 UK stores by 2028 and … view

Hospitality loses 2,200 sites in three months as business cost challenges mount, nightclub numbers down 5.6%: Britain’s licensed sector saw a net decline of one closure every hour in the third quarter of 2022, the latest Hospitality Mar … view

Hospitality loses 2,200 sites in three months as business cost challenges mount, nightclub numbers down 5.6%: Britain’s licensed sector saw a net decline of one closure every hour in the third quarter of 2022, the latest Hospitality Mar … view

Just Eat returns to profitability but UK GTV drops 5% in Q3: Just Eat Takeaway has reported that it has returned to profitability “earlier than expected”, but saw orders and Gross Transaction Value (GTV) fall 15% and 5% in the UK, re … view

Hospitality groups’ September sales drop 3% year-on-year as inflation bites: Like-for-like sales at Britain’s top managed pub, bar and restaurant groups were 3.0% behind the levels of September 2021, the latest edition of the Coffer … view

Hospitality groups’ September sales drop 3% year-on-year as inflation bites: Like-for-like sales at Britain’s top managed pub, bar and restaurant groups were 3.0% behind the levels of September 2021, the latest edition of the Coffer C … view

Revolution in final stages of negotiating an acquisition: Revolution Bars Group, which operates the Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands, has announced that it is in the final stages of negotiating an acquisition, which is “expect … view

Hospitality underpins city centre vibrancy, but inflation and strikes hit recovery: Britain’s hospitality sector is powering the economic recovery of major cities from the covid-19 pandemic—but rising costs and strikes are threatening … view

Greggs, Stonegate and Various Eateries receive business interruption case judgments: Food-to-go operator Greggs has won an initial case against insurer Zurich over its claims for business interruption during the covid-19 lockdown, in a de … view

Sector warns industry facing ‘one of the toughest winters in history’ as almost all of mini-Budget reversed, alcohol duty freeze axed: Sector leaders have warned the industry faces “one of the toughest winters in history” after ch … view

Jamie Oliver ‘learned from collapse of restaurant chain’ and ‘ready to go again’: Jamie Oliver has said he has learned from the collapse of his restaurant chain in 2019 and is ready “to go again”. Oliver last week launched del … view

Authors: Glynn Davis, Ann Elliott, Duncan Colvinview

Loungers lfl sales up 17% in 24 weeks to 2 October: Cafe bar operator Loungers, owner of the Lounge and Cosy Club brands, has said it has continued to “significantly outperform the market” and is on track to open 30 sites in its curre … view

Lawson – the government has created a crisis of confidence for our customers, energy suppliers behaving in an incredibly hostile manner: Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of Channel Islands and West Country brewer and retailer Liberation … view

Bill’s promotes Tom James to managing director: Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant group, has promoted Tom James, formerly of Jamie’s Italian, Strada and Coppa Club, to managing director, Propel understands. James joined … view

Simmons Bars plans to expand to more than 50 sites over the next three to five years: Simmons Bars, the London cocktail bar operator, has announced plans to double its estate to more than 50 sites over the next three to five years, after … view

Part of our day-to-day work as licensing lawyers includes assisting clients with their applications for a key tool within their careers – their perso … view

Andrew Andrea – strategy over the last year to create pub ‘to be proud of’ now paying off and means we can look at acquisitions again, lots of customers still trading up: Andrew Andrea, chief executive of Marston’s, has told Prope … view

Lane7 launches debut site for family entertainment centre concept, at least four more to open in next 18 months: Boutique bowling company, Lane7, has opened the debut site for its family entertainment centre concept – Level X. The venue … view

Exclusive – Greene King acquires Hickory’s, sees potential for it to become a national brand: Greene King, the Nick Mackenzie-led pub company and brewer, has acquired American-style smokehouse and barbecue business Hickory’s Smokeho … view

Metcalfe – Itsu dwarfs Pret’s historic potential, the capital is back in business, explores Germany launch: Julian Metcalfe, founder of Itsu, has told Propel his healthy Asian food chain Itsu “dwarfs Pret’s historic potential”, … view

Authors: Charlie McVeigh, Paul Chase, Sarah Travell, Nick Liddle … view

Foodservice inflation tops 15% for first time: Food and drink price inflation in hospitality hit 15% for the first time in the history of the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index in August, the latest data has shown. Droughts, the war in … view

Exclusive – PizzaExpress in ‘solid position’ as it builds back from pandemic, substantially reduces losses, Ebitda above pre-pandemic levels: PizzaExpress has said it is in a “solid position” as the business builds back from the … view

Zonal acquires Airship, deal includes sister platforms Airship CRM and Toggle: Hospitality technology provider Zonal has acquired sector customer relationship management platform Airship in a deal which includes Airship CRM and Toggle. Th … view

Cooks Coffee Company plans ‘significant expansion’ as it eyes listing: Cooks Coffee Company, the international coffee focused cafe chain, is planning a significant expansion in the number of cafes operating under the company’s Esqui … view

Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards open for entries: The Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards are open for entries. The awards, in their fifth year, recognise outstanding marketing and innovation in the sector and the closing date t … view

Swingers reports all sites trading ‘strongly’, full-year revenue run rate above previous forecasts at £47m: Swingers, the crazy golf brand owned by Competitive Socialising, has reported all four venues in the UK and the US are tradin … view

Burger King UK acquires 74 sites from second largest franchisee: Burger King UK has acquired 74 Burger King restaurants from its second largest franchise partner, Karali Group. The deal increases the Alasdair Murdoch-led company’s dire … view

McVeigh – well-run companies suffer at the hands of life support for zombie businesses: Charlie McVeigh, the founder of Draft House and chairman of Butchies, has argued that well-run companies are suffering at the hands of life support … view

Exclusive – Five Guys UK reports record full-year revenue of £237m: Better burger brand Five Guys UK saw its full-year revenue climb 45% to a record £237,298,000 in the 12 months to 31 December 2021 compared with £164,206,000 the pre … view