Nando’s reports sales exceed pre-covid levels, to open 14 new sites: Nando’s has revealed plans to open 14 new restaurants across the UK after it cut its pre-tax loss during its latest financial year. In the year to the end of Februar … view

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Fortress offer for Loungers resisted by big shareholders: Two of the biggest shareholders in Loungers are rebelling against Fortress Investment Group’s proposed takeover of the café-bar group. Fortress, the US private equity firm major … view

St Austell CEO – new funding will allow us to scale Ludo sports bar concept at pace: Kevin Georgel, chief executive of St Austell Brewery, has said the new funding secured for Ludo Sports Bar & Kitchen – its joint venture with Ed Mart … view

Exclusive – Boparan Restaurant Group secures debut UK site for Carl’s Jr: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has secured the UK debut site for US brand Carl’s Jr, in Cardiff, Propel has learned. BRG, which is led by Satnam Leihal, has s … view

Punch-backer Fortress to take Loungers private in £350.5m deal: Private equity firm Fortress, which backs Punch Pubs, has agreed a deal to take the 280-strong café bar operator Loungers private, in a £350.5m deal. The cash offer of 310 … view

M&B paid £21m in total for Ego, five sites converted to brand so far have doubled sales, Miller & Carter has its mojo back: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) paid £21m in total to acquire the Mediterranean-inspired business Ego, Propel has lear … view

M&B FY lfl sales up 5.3%, cost headwinds are now anticipated to total c£100m: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the Toby Carvery, Harvester and All Bar One operator, has reported a 5.3% increase in like-for-like sales in the year to 28 Septembe … view

The Beefy Boys – focused on expanding sustainably, hires Simon Blagden as chair, confirms fourth site: The Beefy Boys, the better burger business, has told Propel it is focused on “expanding sustainably”, as it confirmed it has secu … view

Shaftesbury – West End estates are “busy and vibrant” coming into the Christmas trading period: Central London landlord Shaftesbury has said that its West End estates are “busy and vibrant” coming into the Christmas trading peri … view

Greggs CEO – we won't slow growth despite increased costs from Budget, warns over price rises: Roisin Currie, chief executive of food-to-go retailer Greggs, has warned the measures rolled out in the autumn Budget would put pressure on p … view

Exclusive – Burger King UK to open first prime central London site in more than a decade: Burger King UK, which operates 561 restaurants, 285 of which are directly owned, is to open its first site in central London for more than a decad … view

UKHospitality – government’s industrial strategy risks shutting out the majority of the people in the country: UKHospitality has warned that the government’s industrial strategy risks shutting out the majority of the people in the c … view

Exclusive – remainder of Temper business acquired by new vehicle: The remainder of the Temper business, the modern barbecue brand, has been acquired by a new subsidiary of Wellfound, the Paradiso Burger and Cocktail Bar concept operator … view

TRG boss – we all have to find ways of improving our propositions as guests can’t take further significant pricing increases: Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group (TRG), the Wagamama and Brunning & Price owner, has sai … view

Pubs employ more young people than ever, but it will now cost an extra £153m to maintain this workforce: Pubs are employing more young people than ever, but new employment costs mean it will now cost an extra £153m to maintain this work … view

David Loewi to step down as D&D London CEO: David Loewi is to step down as chief executive of D&D London, at the end of this year, and become an advisor to the Breal Capital and Calveton-backed restaurant business. Loewi founded the busin … view

New Dawn Pubs – the Budget will require us to find an extra £240,800 to continue operating, 5.47% of our annual revenue: Mark Robson, co-founder of New Dawn Pubs, the Surrey-based company led by the founders of Red Mist Leisure, has sa … view

Sector sales flatten in October as cost pressures mount: Britain’s top managed hospitality groups achieved year-on-year sales growth of 0.6% in October 2024, the latest edition of the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker shows. It marks … view

Exclusive – TDR Capital founding partner backs The Beefy Boys: Manjit Dale, founding partner of TDR Capital, the backer of Stonegate Group and Popeyes UK, has become an investor in and director of The Beefy Boys, the Herefordshire bette … view

Licensed premises numbers increase for second successive quarter but Budget jeopardises recovery optimism: Britain’s number of licensed premises has increased for a second successive quarter, according to the new Hospitality Market Moni … view

Pizza Hut Restaurants UK operator seeks buyer amid Budget tax hike: Pizza Hut's biggest UK franchisee has begun approaching potential bidders as it scrambles to mitigate the looming impact of tax hikes announced in last month's Budget. He … view

Propel to launch definitive guide to the UK’s 500 largest hospitality companies: Propel is to launch a new and comprehensive guide to the top 500 hospitality companies in the sector, offering insights into the forces driving growth, inn … view

Exclusive – Gavin Adair to step down as Rosa’s Thai CEO, to be succeeded by Sarah Hills: Gavin Adair is to step down as chief executive of Rosa’s Thai, the TriSpan-backed business, at the end of this year, after seven and a half yea … view

Young’s – Budget will cost us £11m annually but will try not to pass on all the costs, managed house lfl revenue up 6% in last eight weeks accelerating to 9.2% in last three: Young’s chief executive Simon Dodd has said he expects t … view

Caffe Nero – we’ve been approached by a number of coffee businesses seeking investment: Gerry Ford, founder and chief executive of the Nero Group, the owner of Caffe Nero and Coffee#1, has said the company has been approached by a num … view

Exclusive – BGF acquires minority stake in Blacklock: Chophouse group Blacklock has sold a stake in its business to the Business Growth Fund (BGF). Filings at Companies House confirm the investment firm, which backs the likes of Mission … view

At the Propel Multi-Club Conference on 30 October, a day that was also notable for chancellor Rachel Reeves’ new Budget, I had the pleasure of diving into the evolving lan … view

Fuller’s reports strong current trading with lfl sales up 5.4% this year and Christmas bookings up 15%, ‘positive and optimistic’ despite Budget ‘challenges’: Fuller’s has reported strong current trading, with like-for- … view

Ole & Steen chair – we are getting more out of the existing business, past five weeks in the UK have been the best ever: David Campbell, chair of Danish bakery brand Ole & Steen, has said the company is getting more out its existing UK … view

BrewDog’s bars business narrows losses as turnover increases to almost £70m: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog’s bars business narrowed its losses in the year to 31 December 2023 as its turnover increased to almost £70m. BrewDog … view

Wendy’s UK MD – we’ll look to take on more franchisees here next year, and where we can’t, we’ll open more company stores: Michael Clarke, managing director of Wendy’s UK and Europe, has said the brand will look to take on mor … view

Exclusive – Stonegate to launch two new formats into managed estate: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, is launching two new pub formats – Heritage Pubs and Pubsmiths – within its managed estate. Stonegate said the str … view

Exclusive – Spanish restaurant group Iberica placed on market: Iberica, the Spanish restaurant business, which currently operates four London sites and one in Leeds, has been placed on the market, Propel has learned. Iberica, which was … view

Various Eateries reports strong second half, company in a ‘strong position’ to mitigate effects of the Budget: Various Eateries, the Hugh Osmond-backed business, has reported a strong second half of the year following the return of to … view

TRG boss – golden rule is not to over-expand Wagamama, US is the classic curate’s egg: Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group (TRG), has said the golden rule for the business is not to over-expand Wagamama and it is “d … view

Sector warns government of ‘business closures and job losses within a year’ due to Budget tax hikes: Many of the UK hospitality sectors leading companies have signed a letter to the chancellor Rachel Reeves, warning of the unprecedent … view

Papa John’s CEO – I’m proud of the work we have done in the UK over the past year, business set up for long-term success: Todd Penegor, president and chief executive at Papa John’s, has said he is “incredibly proud” of the wor … view

Exclusive – Angus Steakhouse plans return to expansion trail with new look as it targets younger demographic: Noble Hospitality Group – the group behind Japanese concept Chotto Matte, Steak and Company and Alley Cats Pizza – is to r … view

JDW – Q1 lfls sales up 5.9%, cost inflation has jumped substantially again following the budget: JD Wetherspoon has reported that its like-for-like sales in the first 14 weeks of its financial year to 3 November were 5.9% higher than t … view

Foodservice inflation eases for the 15th month but underlying pressures remain: Year-on-year inflation in the hospitality sector continued its downward trend in September, falling to 2.4%, according to the latest Foodservice Price Index r … view

Plans to ban smoking in pub gardens are scrapped: Pubs and bars have welcomed news that the government has formally scrapped plans to ban smoking in pub gardens. The government will today (5 November) introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill … view

Bosses rail at business secretary over ‘avalanche of costs’: Business leaders expressed frustration with ministers on Monday (4 November) amid a growing budget backlash that bosses said would trigger an “avalanche of costs” and … view

Hospitality no-shows back to record high: The number of consumers not showing up for their reservations in pubs, bars and restaurants is back to a record high, with 14% not honouring reservations or informing venues in advance. New figure … view

Australian doughnut brand targets nationwide UK expansion, ‘actively developing robust pipeline of future opportunities’: Australian doughnut brand Lena Lu Donuts has told Propel it is targeting nationwide UK expansion and “actively … view

Authors: Anthony Pender, < … view

Hakkasan sees UK revenue climb to $87m and losses widen to $6.9m in first year under new ownership: Hakkasan saw its revenue climb to $87m and losses widen to $6.9m in its first year under new ownership. The global restaurant group, origi … view

Exclusive – Our Yummy Collection founder warns prime minister – a regular at one of his pubs – that his Budget will punish small businesses, with ‘far reaching impacts’: Our Yummy Collection founder Anthony Pender has warned the … view

Deliveries rise and takeaways stabilise as restaurants grow at-home sales by 6% in September: Britain’s leading restaurant groups achieved like-for-like sales growth of 6.0% in delivery and takeaway sales in September, according to CGA … view