Baa Bar CEO awarded OBE in New Year Honours list: Elaine Clarke, founder and chief executive of Liverpool hospitality group Baa Bar, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list. Clarke has enjoyed a career that has spanned more t … view

Pret abandons vegetarian venture as novelty of meat-free branches wears off: Pret A Manger is axing almost all of its vegetarian-only stores as the novelty of meat-free branches wears off. The company is to shut or rebrand 75% of its Vegg … view

Mamma Dough business placed on market: London better pizza business Mamma Dough has been placed on the market after falling into administration, Propel has learned. It is understood Williams & Partners has been appointed by the joint admi … view

Esquires Coffee co-founder set to launch Korean cuisine concept in UK, aiming for 100 sites here by 2032: Doug Williamson, who co-founded Cooks Global Foods-owned Esquires Coffee in 1993, is set to launch Korean cuisine concept StickBug … view

Decision on energy bill support for businesses postponed: A decision on extending help for businesses facing soaring energy bills will not be made until the new year, the Treasury has said. Currently wholesale gas and electricity prices h … view

Crussh placed on the market: London-based healthy food and juice brand Crussh has been placed on the market after appointing advisors to assess its options, Propel has learned. The business, which operates 12 sites across London and the s … view

Alcohol duty set to be frozen for extra six months: Alcohol duty will be frozen until August in a major boost for the hospitality sector. Alcohol levies were due to be increased on 1 February, but chancellor Jeremy Hunt will delay that mo … view

Foodservice inflation hits record 21.5% but expected to begin levelling off: Foodservice price inflation reached a record 21.5% in November, but is now expected to begin levelling off. It marks a tenth consecutive month of double-digit in … view

Fulham Shore expects trade in the final quarter to behind rest of the year, to pull back on rate of openings: Fulham Shore, the Franco Manca and The Real Greek owner, has said due to the current challenges facing the sector, including the … view

SSP paid £1.75m for 25 ex-AMT Coffee sites, six more sold to Gourmet Coffee Bar & Kitchen: SSP Group paid £1.75m to buy out of administration 25 AMT Coffee sites, while a further six were subsequently acquired by the Gourmet Coffee Bar … view

Gilkes – 2022 revenue set to surpass 2019, new openings have exceeded expectations: Charlie Gilkes, co-founder of the Inception Group, has told Propel the 13-strong company's revenue for 2022 is set to surpass its 2019 level, helped by … view

We are (and have been for some months now) in a time of contradiction in the licensing world. On one hand, the vast benefits the leisure industry provides the country with has finally … view

Döner Shack aiming for up to 20 openings in 2023, taking first steps into European and US markets: Döner Shack, the Berlin fast casual kebab concept, has told Propel it is aiming for up to 20 UK openings in 2023 and is taking its first … view

Laurillard – we are starting to think about extra growth legs, planning to open a site a month from April: Andy Laurillard, co-founder of Thai restaurant brand Giggling Squid, has said the company plans to open another 20 sites over the … view

Indoor virtual clay pigeon shooting experience Clays secures investment from Imbiba: Clays, the indoor interactive clay shooting experience concept, has secured new investment from serial sector investor Imbiba to aid its further growth, … view

Kaspa’s founder sees runway for up to 500 UK sites and plans international expansion: Kaspa’s founder Azhar Rehman sees a runway for up to 500 UK sites for the dessert concept, with his next roll-out focused on smaller stores and kios … view

Urban – train strikes set to cost us between £4m and £5m, we moved both food and drink pricing by about 5% this year: Phil Urban, chief executive of Mitchells & Butlers, has said the train strikes scheduled to take place next week are … view

M&B sees encouraging start to new financial year with lfl sales growth of 6.5%: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has reported an encouraging start to its new financial year, with like-for-like sales growth of 6.5% in the last ten weeks (9.2% gro … view

Andrea – we need visibility on energy support to make pricing decisions, introducing one-off cost-of-living supplement payment: Andrew Andrea, chief executive of Marston’s, has said that the business needs visibility on further suppor … view

Marston’s like-for-like sales up 4% in final 10 weeks of FY22, sets out £1bn turnover target: Marston’s has reported that its like-for-like sales were up 3% versus 2019 and up 4% versus 2021 in final 10 weeks of FY2022, whilst curren … view

US burger, shake and craft beer concept Black Tap set for second attempt at UK launch, eyes up to 20 sites: US burger, shake and craft beer concept Black Tap is set to make a second attempt to launch in the UK, Propel has learned. Gilling … view

Punch Pubs chief says owners supportive of growth plans, welcomes ‘working from pub’ trend, wants to see more experiential pubs: Clive Chesser, chief executive of Punch Pubs, has said owners Fortress support his plan to invest and to … view

Mission Mars to invest £30m over the next three years, eyes Albert’s Schloss openings in London and Las Vegas: Mission Mars, the Rudy’s Neapolitana Pizza and Albert’s Schloss operator, plans to invest £25m-£30m over the next thre … view

Energy costs set to sink UK pubs and brewers without extension of bill relief scheme: Pubs and breweries will face major financial losses and many will be forced to close if the energy bill relief scheme is not extended for them beyond 31 … view

Hush wins landmark court case against landlord over new lease option: Hush Collection, the London restaurant group, which includes the Cabana, Hush and Haché brands, has won a landmark court victory against a landlord over an option on a … view

Collins – we’ve taken more price than we have done historically, nothing so far to suggest dramatic shift in consumer behaviour: Nick Collins, chief executive of café bar operator Loungers, has told Propel the business has “taken m … view