New outdoor smoking rules will force ‘three pubs a week to close’: Three pubs a week will close in a blow to the industry if Sir Keir Starmer bans outdoor smoking, trade bosses have warned. Labour Party government leader Sir Keir is … view

Delivery gains ground as Euros and summer heat shape spending habits: Britain’s leading managed restaurant groups have seen a year-on-year (YOY) increase of 9.4% for delivery sales, CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker reve … view

Delivery gains ground as Euros and summer heat shape spending habits: Britain’s leading managed restaurant groups have seen a year-on-year (YOY) increase of 9.4% for delivery sales, CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker reve … view

Smoking could be banned in pub gardens and outdoor restaurants: Smoking in pub gardens could be banned under plans being considered by ministers. Leaked documents seen by The Sun suggest the government is also looking at extending the ban … view

Professionals at Play to consider funding options next year: Professionals at Play, the operator of Roxy Lanes, Roxy Ball Room and King Pins, has told Propel it is currently in talks with advisors on a potential investment process next ye … view

Greencore CEO – meal deals are getting posher as supermarkets take on Pret a Manger: Meal deals are getting posher as supermarkets take on Pret a Manger, according to the boss of Britain’s biggest sandwich maker. Dalton Philips, the … view

Prezzo returns to FY profit after restructure, says future outlook of the business is positive: Prezzo, the Cain International-backed Italian dining group, has said that it returned to profitability in 2023, after the completion of its r … view

Sushisamba owner linked to Hawksmoor process: Dubai-based investment firm Shamal Holding, which late last year completed the acquisition of Sushisamba Group, taking full controlling interest in the award-winning fusion restaurant brand Su … view

PizzaExpress reports UK & Ireland lfls up 8.3% as group revenue increases to £454.6m: PizzaExpress has reported group revenue increased to £454,566,000 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £422,057,000 the previous year. … view

Brakspear reports record turnover of £38.6m: Pub operator Brakspear has reported turnover increased 9% to £38,641,816 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £35,407,477 the previous year. Revenue at its ten-strong Honeycomb … view

Exclusive – Bill’s returns to expansion trail as H1 lfl sales climb 3.4%: Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed group, is to return to the expansion trail with a new iteration of its restaurant format, Propel has learned. Following the … view

The Evening Standar … view

The Fat Pizza aiming for 180 UK sites by the end of 2026 plus 50 across GCC, trialling dark kitchen pub model: Fast-growing pizza franchise The Fat Pizza has told Propel it is aiming for 180 UK sites by the end of 2026 plus 50 across the … view

Pizza Hut Restaurants UK operator seeing return to ‘more normalised trading’, FY lfl sales up 7.7%, becomes master franchisee for Ireland: Heart with Smart Group, which operates Pizza Hut Restaurants and is an Itsu franchisee, saw lik … view

Clive Chesser to step down as Punch CEO, Andy Spencer to lead next stage of company’s growth: Clive Chesser is stepping down as chief executive of the Fortress Investment Group-backed Punch Pubs & Co after six years in the role to becom … view

McDonald’s to open more than 200 new UK restaurants over the next four years with a focus on the high street: McDonald’s plans to opens more than 200 restaurants in the UK and the Republic of Ireland over the next four years, creating … view

Weather cools hospitality group performance as sector sees 1.5% sales growth in July: Britain’s managed hospitality groups reported year-on-year growth of 1.5% in July 2024, down from June’s rate of 2.9%, the latest CGA RSM Hospitalit … view

Weather cools hospitality group performance as sector sees 1.5% sales growth in July: Britain’s managed hospitality groups reported year-on-year growth of 1.5% in July 2024, down from June’s rate of 2.9%, the latest CGA RSM Hospitalit … view

Farmer J founder – the vision is to hit a minimum of 50 sites in the UK: Jonathan Recanati, founder of all-day market concept Farmer J, has said the vision for the business is to hit a “minimum of 50 sites in the UK”, and that it ha … view

Rick Stein exploring expansion opportunities, seeking central London site: Rick Stein’s restaurant business has said that it is looking to expand its restaurant portfolio and is actively seeking a site in central London. It comes as the … view

Hospitality returns to outlet growth after solid first half of 2024: Britain’s hospitality sector has recorded its first quarter-on-quarter growth in outlets in two years, the new Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartn … view

Individual Restaurants CEO – open to consolidation opportunities, current trading ‘a little bit behind my expectations’: Andrew Garton, chief executive of Individual Restaurants – which comprises 32 venues across its Restaurant Ba … view

In hotel land … view

The Light set to raise investment to support accelerated growth plan and recapitalise balance sheet: Cinema and entertainment operator The Light is set to raise investment to support its accelerated growth plan and recapitalise its balanc … view

Breakthrough in negotiations between the government and train drivers is “crucial step forward for sector”: Two years of rail strikes appeared to be nearing an end last night after ministers offered drivers a 15% pay rise, a move that … view

Trio of sites from ex-East London Pub Co business change hands for just over £9m: A trio of pubs that were part of the East London Pub Co business, which was placed into administration last November, were sold for a combined figure of ju … view

British TV audiences likely found it fitting when they heard John Cleese and Connie Booth’s American tourist character, Mr Hamilton, say to Basil Fawlty: “What’s wrong with thi … view

Thomas Kelly to move to chair at Honest Burgers: Honest Burgers, the Active Partners-backed business, has announced that Thomas Kelly, who joined the business at the start of this year as its chief executive, is to step up to become its c … view

Burger King UK CEO – there remains a lot to go after, pretty confident with where the business is at present, hires new COO: Alasdair Murdoch, chief executive of Burger King UK, has told Propel that there remains “a lot to go after” … view

We Do Play secures UK debut site for Canadian interactive gaming concept Activate: We Do Play, which is behind trampoline brand Flip Out and crazy golf concept Putt Putt Social in the UK, has secured a UK debut site for Canadian interacti … view

Trof Group founders to launch new quick-service pizza restaurant concept and aims to roll out nationwide: Joel Wilkinson, Adelaide Winter and Dan Mullen, founders of the Trof Group, are to launch a new quick-service pizza restaurant conce … view

Burger King UK reports 3% rise in FY lfl sales, H1 24 trading has been resilient: Burger King UK, which operates 561 restaurants, 285 of which are directly owned, has reported a 30% rise in revenue to £381.8m in the year to 31 December 2 … view

The Athenian set to pass 100-site mark this year, rapid growth led by dark kitchen openings but also keen to launch further physical stores: Greek street food restaurant group The Athenian has told Propel it is set to pass the 100-site ma … view

Soho House reports losses increase to $33.9m in second quarter, UK membership numbers up 33% in two-and-a-half years: Members’ club group Soho House has reported its net loss in the 13 weeks to 30 June 2024 increased to $33.9m from $2.6 … view

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Revolution received six offers separate to Nightcap including £16m for Peach business, secures High Court approval for restructuring plan: Revolution Bars Group – the operator of the Revolution, Revolución de Cuba and Peach Pubs brand … view

New owner paid £150,000 to acquire Island Poke out of administration: London health food business Island Poke was acquired out of administration for £150,000. Propel reported in June that Island Poke was bought by IP Topco, a subsidiary … view

Australian-style sushi concept to make UK debut with scope for ‘hundreds’ of sites here: Australian-style sushi concept Rolled is to make its UK debut, with its founder confident that Britain can sustain “hundreds” of sites. The o … view

Hollywood Bowl CFO – we’re forecasting a record year of revenue, bowling more affordable than it was pre-pandemic: Hollywood Bowl chief financial officer Laurence Keen has told Propel the business is forecasting a record year of reven … view

TGI Fridays operator reports Ebitda improvement but year-to-date lfls down 12%, reveals plans to transition to fully franchised model if acquisition of US brand owner completes: Hostmore, the parent company of TGI Fridays, has reported an … view

Exclusive – RedCat completes £61m refinancing, giving business ‘stability required to invest for growth’: RedCat Pub Company, the investment vehicle founded and chaired by Rooney Anand, has completed a £61m refinancing, giving the … view

Exclusive – Whitbread hires Nigel Sherwood as new MD for restaurants division: Nigel Sherwood is to step down as chief operating officer at The Restaurant Group-owned Wagamama to become managing director of Whitbread’s restaurants di … view

Liberation Group first half managed lfl sales up 6.4% driven by food offer and accommodation: Brewer and retailer Liberation Group, has reported a 6.4% increase in like-for-like sales across its managed estate in the half year to 27 July … view

Exclusive – Clays subject to overseas interest as lfl sales sitting at over 20%: Tom Snellock, founder of Clays, the Imbiba-backed, indoor interactive clay shooting experience concept, has told Propel business has seen “growth in all … view

Punch reports strong current trading including record sales day for management partnership division: Punch Pubs, the Clive Chesser-led business, has reported strong current trading, including a record sales day for its management partners … view