Flat sales in January after Christmas hangover for hospitality: Tight consumer spending after festive celebrations led to a 0.1% drop in like-for-like sales at Britain’s top managed restaurant, pub and bar groups in January, according to the latest NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker.The Tracker, produced by NIQ, powered by CGA intelligence, in association with RSM, highlights the challenging trading environment facing the sector in 2026. A slow start to the year followed a flurry of spending in December, when sales rose 2.9% year-on-year. Trading was also impacted by prolonged wet weather in many parts of the country, and by participation in ‘Dry January’. Pub groups achieved marginal like-for-like sales growth of 0.4% in the first month of 2026. This was fractionally ahead of managed restaurant operators, where sales edged up 0.3%. It means pubs have outperformed restaurants every month since the start of 2025. Among other channels, bars sustained a long run of negative numbers, with sales slipping 4.9% behind the levels of January 2025. In the on-the-go segment, trading dropped 3.2%. There was more encouraging news on a total sales basis. Adding in venues opened by hospitality groups in the last 12 months, growth rose to 3.1%, in line with the country’s rate of inflation in recent months. However, sharp increases in the costs of labour and other key inputs mean operators’ profit margins have been very tightly squeezed in recent months. Other insights from the Tracker include a marginally better month for groups outside of London. Like-for-like sales nudged up 0.1% beyond the M25 but dropped 0.4% inside it.Karl Chessell, director hospitality operators and food, EMEA at NIQ, said: “January is always a tough month for hospitality, and many venues struggled for footfall as the post-Christmas pinch and rain kept many people at home. New openings and higher prices mean hospitality growth is just about keeping up with inflation, and businesses will be hoping that these latest figures represent a temporary pause on spending rather than the shape of things to come in 

2026. However, with so many pressures on both sales and costs, it is likely to be another challenging year for the sector.”

Cornish Bakery MD Mat Finch to speak at first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, open for bookings: Mat Finch, managing director of Cornish Bakery, will be among the speakers at the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, which is open for bookings. Finch will talk about how the business has become one of the UK’s most compelling retail success stories – a brand that proves craft, culture and commercial performance don’t need to live in separate rooms, and how it has evolved from a regional favourite into a nationally admired operator. The conference takes place on Wednesday, 25 March, at the Park Plaza, Victoria. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Operators can book up to three free places per company while Premium subscribers who are operators can book up to four free places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality today: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club subscribers today (Friday, 20 February), at midday. Another 56 companies have been added to the database, which now features 1,430 companies. This month’s edition also includes 196 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent developments reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel chief operating officer – editorial, Mark Wingett, and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. In this week’s Premium Opinion, Wingett looks at the week’s news and, if the “the mood among employers and those who invest in this country is the darkest” serial sector investor Luke Johnson has ever seen” what comes next? A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Sector businesses launch Sustainable Chicken Forum to drive welfare and sustainability and ensure affordable supply for consumers: Several leading hospitality businesses have teamed up to launch the Sustainable Chicken Forum (SCF) – to drive welfare and sustainability within the industry while ensuring an affordable supply for consumers. Eight businesses – Burger King UK, Wingstop UK, Loungers, Nando’s UK & Ireland, Popeyes, Big Table Group The Restaurant Group and the UK division of Yum! Brands (KFC UK & Ireland, Pizza Hut UK, Taco Bell UK) – have launched the cross-industry initiative, which is designed to drive further improvements in chicken welfare while balancing sustainability, net zero ambitions and long-term supply resilience. It will advance chicken welfare across supply chains and champion improvements in chicken welfare, while also further researching the challenges facing the poultry sector. The forum will also engage in policy development that supports the British supply to grow as part of the European and global poultry supply chain. The launch comes as the eight businesses announce they are withdrawing from the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC). They no longer believe the BCC is the right framework to drive the next phase of progress on welfare due to the requirement to source only slower-growing breeds. Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “Our restaurants and food-to-go brands are critical parts of the high street, and we know consumer demand for chicken continues to soar. However, this demand comes at a time of acute chicken supply pressures and operators rightly have to ensure consistent and secure supply chains, while continuing to improve welfare standards and cut their environmental impact.” Zero Carbon Forum director Bob Gordon added: “Improving chicken welfare while reducing carbon emissions is a complex but important challenge for the sector. We welcome the Sustainable Chicken Forum’s ambition to decouple increases in emissions from welfare improvements and to adopt a more holistic, system-wide approach.”

  

Oxford Partnership – UK venues remain busy in January but drinking intensity softens post-Christmas: New analysis from The Oxford Partnership shows while UK hospitality venues remained busy at the start of the year, post-Christmas moderation led to softer drinking intensity and lower consumption levels. The report shows engagement across the on trade remained resilient, with venue occupancy rising to 64.2% and average dwell time holding at a festive-high 150 minutes, while the number of operating venues remained broadly stable. The report also highlights a widening gap between engagement and consumption, as total volumes declined 18.2% compared with December, reflecting the end of festive trading, although year-on-year growth of 1.4% indicates underlying demand remains intact. Average spend per head reached a new high of £26.74, driven primarily by continued growth in food-led occasions and higher operating costs. Food continues to play a central role in driving value, with food spend per head rising to £31.85. Drink spend also increased modestly, though at a slower pace, reinforcing the shift towards experience-led occasions rather than high-intensity drinking. Stout continues to lead momentum, posting 11.1% growth versus last year, while world lager and premium lager remain in modest growth. By contrast, core lager, premium lager and ale continue to face structural decline. “January reflects a clear shift in how people are using hospitality venues,” said Alison Jordan, chief executive of The Oxford Partnership. “Consumers are still prioritising social experiences and longer visits, but they are drinking more slowly and more selectively. Engagement remains strong, yet operators are finding it harder to convert that footfall into volume and profit. The message for 2026 is clear. Venues that succeed will be those that maximise longer visits through food, premium products and strong experiences. With margins under pressure from rising costs, simply being busy is no longer enough.”

 

Resist minimum wage U-turn, Labour told: Labour-supporting unions have urged Sir Keir Starmer not to ditch a manifesto pledge to pay young people the same national minimum wage as older workers. Chancellor Rachel Reeves refused to stand by Labour’s promise to equalise minimum pay rates after The Times revealed the policy was being reviewed by ministers. Unions said Labour should stick by its original pledge as they would be “extremely unhappy” with any move to water it down. Options being considered include slowing the rate of harmonisation by extending the timetable until after the next election or equalising rates only for workers over 20. Andy Prendergast, the national secretary of the GMB union, said: “Younger workers are not less productive. Businesses hire on the basis of need. They don’t employ more young workers than they would older workers.” In an interview, Reeves did not deny the policy was under review and said the government recognised the challenges facing businesses. She said: “We’re extending the number of further education college places, extending the number of apprenticeship places to help young people get the skills and the experience they need to move into work.” Workers aged over 21 must get at least £12.21 an hour. Those aged between 18 and 20 receive £10 an hour. Since Labour came to power there has been a 6.7% increase in the minimum wage for workers over 21 and a 16.3% increase in the cost of hiring someone aged between 18 and 20. This is due to rise by a further 8% for younger workers in April. The Federation of Small Businesses found 45% of small companies were recruiting fewer young workers as a result.

 

Small firms face ‘perfect storm in April’: Small businesses are facing an “unprecedented cost crunch” in April that threatens to force more than a third of employers to shut their companies or cut output levels. The Times reported the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has written to chancellor Rachel Reeves warning about the impact of a combination of rising energy bills, business rate increases, higher employment costs and changes to statutory sick pay that will come into effect in April. The lobby group for small employers has found 35% of businesses are planning to close or reduce their output in the coming year in response to the higher standing charges for energy, an increase to the national living wage and higher dividend tax rates. In a letter to Reeves, Tina McKenzie, policy and advocacy chairwoman at the FSB, said: “Running a small business in this country is about to get a lot more expensive. This undermines your central mission of economic growth. If small businesses have their profits cut because of government policy, their ability to invest or grow is curtailed.” The FSB shared analysis with the government showing that an employer of nine people paid the national living wage will see annual employment costs increase by £25,850 between January and April 2026, equivalent to 12.9%. The organisation said the typical small shop or restaurant will see its business rates increase to £5,590 from £4,790 this year, and that a hike in dividend tax costs, which is a primary method of take-home pay for small businesses owners, will take £578 a year from earnings of £50,000.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a growing healthcare group in the east of England that is seeking a head of culinary. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will shape dining culture, inspire teams and personally champion a warm, dignified and genuinely enjoyable experience for every resident, family member and visitor.” The salary is up to £85,000 and the position is based in Cambridge. For more information, email yasmin@corecruitment.com.

 

Costa Coffee to increase barista pay by 4.1%, to invest £1.5m on new openings in Wales: Costa Coffee is increasing pay for more than 16,000 team members across its circa 1,500 UK company-owned stores by 4.1% from 1 April. The business said it will be the seventh pay increase for store team members since 2021. Costa said the £7m investment increases the pay for baristas to £13.12 per hour, up from £12.60 per hour. Costa’s “barista maestros”, who are team leaders and coffee trainers, will see their hourly pay increase from between £12.93 and £13.43 to £13.75, while Costa store managers have secured an overall 3% pay increase. Central London-based staff will receive an extra £1 per hour than the national rate, equating to £14.12 per hour for baristas and £14.75 per hour for barista maestros. Costa does not operate age-bandings, so all 16,000 hourly-paid UK-based team members in company-owned stores will receive a pay increase, with targeted bonuses also offered to high performing store teams. Nick Orrin, UK & Ireland managing director at Costa, said: “Our talented baristas and team members are the heart of Costa, with every drink shaped by their expertise, skill and passion. This latest pay uplift reflects our ongoing commitment to recognise, reward and invest in the people who deliver great coffee experiences and daily rituals for our customers across the UK.” At the same time, Costa has announced it is to invest £1.5m on at least four new store openings this year in Wales, starting with a store at Sainsbury’s in Newport. This will be followed by two new drive thru’s – at Border Retail Park in Wrexham and Buttington Cross in Welshpool – and then another Sainsbury’s location, in Rhyl. Following these openings, Costa will operate 110 stores across Wales.

 

Cut & Craft owners focused on measured growth in major regional cities, invests £1.2m in expanding Leeds site: The team behind the Cut & Craft steakhouse concept has told Propel it is focused on measured growth in major regional cities, after investing £1.2m to expand its existing site in Leeds. The business, which currently operates sites in York, Leeds and Manchester, is expanding its site in Leeds’ Victoria Quarter scheme to create an adjoining cocktail bar and lounge area, following its continued “stellar performance and growing demand”. The existing Cut & Craft will nearly double in size, with the bar, complete with a dedicated stage to cater to late-night entertainment and live music, transforming the existing venue into a space with seating for 370 covers. The existing restaurant will remain open to trade throughout the construction, with completion and opening of the new bar slated for this spring. The company told Propel: “York is The Cut & Craft’s flagship and remains central to the business. Following the success of the York grand reopening earlier this month, alongside strong trading in Leeds and the launch of Manchester, we are focused on measured growth in major regional cities in 2026. The £1.2m investment in Leeds reflects our confidence in the market and the continued demand for the concept. We are reviewing further landmark sites this year where there is clear appetite for premium, experience-led dining. The approach is selective and quality led. Every location must reflect the character of its city, as its Leeds restaurant in Victoria Quarter does.” The business said trading across its three sites has been “strong” and added: “Weekend demand remains robust, with continued growth in premium occasions, private dining and corporate bookings. York continues to perform confidently as our flagship, Leeds has delivered consistent growth and Manchester has traded positively since opening.”

 

M&B to invest £2m on new Miller & Carter in Edinburgh: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the All Bar One and Harvester owner, has completed an off-market acquisition of the Charwood Bar and Grill in Buckstone Terrace in Edinburgh from a private seller. The company will reopen the 6,000 square-foot site later this year under its Miller & Carter Steakhouse brand following a £2m refurbishment, which is now underway. Ginny Uttley, senior acquisition manager at M&B, said: “We are delighted to acquire The Charwood, which marks a significant addition to the Miller & Carter brand in Scotland. Given the restaurant’s strong performance in this region, we are eagerly anticipating the official opening later this year.” John Menzies, director in the retail team at Savills Scotland, which acted for M&B, added: “We are also now actively seeking further bar and restaurant opportunities for M&B throughout the country for a variety of its brands.” Christie & Co acted for the vendor. 

 

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants hires Maria Hamilton as global marketing director: Gordon Ramsay Restaurants has hired Maria Hamilton, formerly of The Revel Collective and Fuller’s, as its new global marketing director. Hamilton stepped down as marketing director of The Revel Collective last year, after just over a year and a half in the role. She joined Revolution Bars Group in the spring of 2022 as head of growth and digital, before becoming its head of brand and digital. She spent almost seven years at Fuller’s, where she led its digital marketing and customer insight strategy. At the start of the year, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, which operates more than 80 restaurants worldwide, hired Nick Allen, formerly of Holland & Barrett and Starbucks, as its new chief financial officer, which it said strengthened its executive leadership team as it enters its next phase of global growth.

 

Heavitree doubles profit after selling one Exeter pub and receiving insurance settlement for another: South west tenanted pub operator Heavitree Brewery doubled its profit in the year to 31 October 2025 after selling one Exeter pub and receiving an insurance settlement for another. However, the circa 60-strong company warned it is forecasting to have “minimum headroom” on its overdraft facility due to forthcoming financial headwinds. Revenue increased from £7,498,000 to £7,628,000 while pre-tax profit jumped from £1,560,000 to £3,018,000. This followed the £1,056,000 profit it made from selling the Locomotive Inn in Exeter, as previously reported, plus an insurance payout of £877,000 relating to a fire at the Jolly Sailor, also in Exeter, in 2020. Chairman Nicholas Tucker said: “Although this company has once again ridden the storm and returned a satisfactory set of results, none of the much-reported pressures being felt by our tenants and leaseholders have gone away. The resilience shown by our landlords and landladies, and their staff, is commendable and I have been genuinely pleased by the levels of trade shown on my recent visits.” Five changes of tenancy and a lease assignment were completed during the year and two tenancies are currently available. Tucker said forthcoming changes in business rates, minimum wage and national insurance “will undoubtedly bring about more difficulties in an already stretched sector”. He said these factors “have the potential to lead to more tenant vacancies” and could “impact rental and wet sales income”. With this in mind, for the period to April 2027, the company is forecasting to have “minimum headroom of more than £2.5m on an overdraft facility of £3m”. Furthermore, following a process of paying down a £4.5m loan by selling non-core assets, the company said there are “no forecasted capital sales in the coming year” but this “will be evaluated again over the next 12 months”. Dividends of £319,000 were paid (2024: £289,000).

 

Ten Entertainment Group to open Wakefield site: Ten Entertainment Group, the Tenpin brand operator that is backed by US private equity firm Trive Capital, is to open a new site in Wakefield. The company is launching in the former Debenhams unit at the Trinity Walk shopping centre. Fit out is under way and the new Tenpin is set to open in late spring – taking over the entire upper floor of the unit. The venue will include 24 bowling lanes, two karaoke rooms, a laser tag arena, three escape rooms by Houdini’s, interactive darts, an arcade area, pool tables and a bar serving food and cocktails. Marc Couget, regional manager of Tenpin, said: “We’re pleased to play a key part in evolving this iconic space into something exciting and different.” James White, centre manager of Trinity Walk, added: “For years, people have been asking for tenpin bowling in the city centre, and this will deliver on that and much, much more.” Ten Entertainment Group operates 55 sites under its Tenpin brand. In November, the group acquired Fairgame, the competitive socialising concept from Richard Hilton, the founder of Gymbox, in a circa £40m deal.

 

Blank Street plans Liverpool opening: US coffee brand Blank Street, which made its debut in the UK in 2022 and now operates 50 sites here, is planning to open its first site in Liverpool. The business has submitted plans for a new kiosk within Liverpool ONE. Located in Paradise Street, the site is currently occupied by a Krispy Kreme kiosk. Propel revealed earlier this month that the brand is planning to make its debut in the south west of England. The business has lined up an opening in Bristol, on the former Fred Perry site in Park Street. Last month, Propel revealed Blank Street is to make its debut in a “student town” with its first opening in Cambridge. Blank Street has secured the former Real Eating Company site in Sydney Road, which closed last autumn, for an opening today (Friday, 20 February). 

 

Shake Shack lines up Reading opening: US better burger brand Shake Shack is set to add a site in Reading to its regional estate. The company, which will make its debut in the north west with an opening in Manchester, next month, is set to take over the unit previously occupied by Thomas Cook in Reading’s Broad Street – part of Hammerson’s Oracle scheme. The brand is also set to open in the former Costa Coffee site in the Great Hall area of Manchester’s Trafford Centre after agreeing a deal with landlord Pradera Lateral. Last November, Shake Shack, which is led in the UK by Richard Franks, opened on the former Giraffe Stop site on the mezzanine level at King’s Cross station for its 18th UK venue.

 

Total Fitness reports Ebitda boost as revenue exceeds £50m: Total Fitness, which operates 16 locations across the north of England and Wales, has reported a revenue and Ebitda boost in the year to 30 June 2025. Revenue increased 12% to £51,609,000 (2024: £36,109,000) while adjusted Ebitda rose from £5,792,000 to £7,895,000, with Ebitda margin improving from 12.6% to 15.3%. Pre-tax profit grew from £1,232,000 in 2024 to £1,896,000. Membership levels reached new highs during the year, with the business saying its strategy has shifted to higher-value growth, increasing value per member through additional membership products and services bolted on to core plans. Total Fitness said bolt-ons such as the friend pass and multi-club memberships are driving higher-value engagement, while its swim academy experienced 45% growth year on year. Total Fitness also now operates two The Women’s Gym locations, with its site in Whitefield, Greater Manchester, at full capacity and operating on a waiting list basis. Investments in the estate included £310,000 spent at the group’s Wrexham club, £325,000 in Bolton and £250,000 in Wilmslow. Tom Rayner, chief financial officer at Total Fitness, said: “FY25 reflects the strength of our model, with more members engaging more often and taking advantage of the breadth of services we offer. The Women’s Gym Whitefield reaching capacity and record uptake of bolt-ons show that when we invest in experience and value, members respond. With continued demand across the sector and a strengthened capital structure, we are confident in our ability to sustain this momentum.”

 

Hero Brands planning more openings in Scotland and further afield for new Professor Green-led concept: The English pop artist and rapper Professor Green is to launch his new concept, called PG Fast Food, in Glasgow next month, with two more openings planned in Scotland this year. Green, real name Stephen Manderson, will open the first site under the concept in Byres Road. The rapper, who previously operated Giz & Green, with chef Gizzi Erskine, during covid, has gone into partnership with Hero Brands, the backer of German Doner Kebab and Sides, to develop PG Fast Food. The menu promises a “naughty but nice twist” on fast food, serving up “signature filled and sealed ‘UFOs’ or salad and rice loaded with delicious nostalgic recipes, including all day cheesy beano, barbecue chicken and pot roast beef”. The business plans to open a further two locations in Scotland this year. Rebecca Tye, managing director at PG Fast Food, said: “PG Fast Food is flipping the old fast-food game on its head and redefining what fast food means today. We’ve created a menu that demonstrates fast food does not have to be bad food. You can choose how indulgent or not you want to be on any given day, with flavour packed throughout the whole menu. Glasgow is just the beginning; we can’t wait to launch the concept, develop our offering and roll out in cities nationwide.”

 

Little Houses Group rebrands, sets out opening pipeline: Little Houses Group (LHG), the family members' club concept from Charlie Gardiner, has rebranded as OurHouse and set out its next three openings. Propel revealed last spring that international investment firm Blackstone, which backs Merlin Entertainments and Village Hotels, had invested in the business. Gardiner, who co-founded Incipio Group in 2015, opened Jaego’s House in London’s Kensal Rise as the first venue under the LHG umbrella in November 2022. Branded as a club for all the family, the venue features a jungle gym, crèche, child-minding service and kids’ cinema for children, plus a co-working office, gym, treatment room and library for adults. The 20,000 square-foot site also features a restaurant and waterside cafe, seating 85 inside and 24 on a canal side terrace. The business opened a second site – Jesse’s House in Heathman’s Road, near Parsons Green tube station – in August 2024. A third club – Orly’s – will open at Parkway House, East Sheen, later this year. This will be followed by Leo’s, which will open in Clapham in 2027. The business has also secured a site in Chiswick, which will be called Olive’s. On the rebrand to OurHouse, Gardiner said: “What started as one House has grown into something bigger – a different way of thinking about how families live, move, work and spend time together. This moment is about recognising what you’ve helped us build. OurHouse brings all of our Houses together under one distinctive brand – inspired by who we’ve always been and built for the families we’re here to serve. This is the next chapter of our story.”

 

Disneyland Paris opens world’s largest McDonald’s after €20m investment: The world’s largest McDonald’s has opened in Disneyland Paris after a €20m (£17.5m) investment. The new restaurant, which is a joint investment between McDonald’s and Disneyland Paris, is spread across 2,000 square metres, overtaking the existing McDonald’s site in Orlando, Florida, which measures 1,800 square metres. The new site has three floors, 600 seats (including 200 on outdoor terraces), a panoramic elevator, 23 self-service kiosks, a dual kitchen, five dumbwaiters and a three-storey indoor play area. The location’s employees represent 16 languages to help as many guests as possible. There is also an “elegant” McCafé. The site has 250 square metres of solar panels, 350 square metres of green space on the roof and in planters, and a 120 square-metre living wall promoting biodiversity and pollination. 

 

Junk Group secures second UK site for cookie concept: Junk Group, the French-based business that operates four concepts across France, has secured a second UK site for its freshly baked cookies brand, Puffy. The company opened its debut UK site for Puffy last summer, on the former Orée Boulangerie site in Old Compton Street, Soho. Junk Group has now secured a site at 12 South Molton Street, Mayfair, for an opening later this year. Junk Group, which was founded by Wissem Ben Ammar and Majed Mansour in 2013, currently operates seven Puffy sites across Paris. Junk Group also operates two sites under its eponymous smash burger brand in the UK, in London’s Marylebone and Soho.

 

Lagardere hires Michelle Madeley as group operations director: Global travel retailer Lagardère Travel Retail has hired Michelle Madeley, formerly of Moto and HMSHost, as its new group operations director. Madeley joins Lagardere after three and a half years as operations director at motorway services operator Moto. She was previously head of retail at Manchester Airport Group and an operations director and business development director at SSP UK (air). She also spent a year and a half heading up HMSHost, a subsidiary of Autogrill, in the UK. Last month, JD Wetherspoon opened its first pub in continental Europe – at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport in Spain – with franchise partner Lagardère Travel Retail, which is operating the pub, Castell de Santa Bàrbera.

 

Scottish Highlands coach-tour holiday company and hotel operator reports profit exceeds pre-covid levels as turnover increases to record £23.8m: Lochs and Glens Holidays, which is a family-owned coach-tour holiday company with six of its own hotels in the Highlands of Scotland, has reported pre-tax profit increased to £1,714,290 for the year ending 31 March 2024 compared with £606,113 the year before. This exceeded the £1,171,806 reported for the year ending 31 March 2019 – the last full year before the covid pandemic. Turnover increased to a record £23,799,556 compared with £22,283,427 the previous year. Net cash increased to £5,519,000 from £4,872,000 the year before. Dividends of £4,000,000 were paid (2024: nil). In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “The group is satisfied with the trading performance with turnover and profitability continuing to improve. Going forward, the company will once again seek to invest additional sums in its hotels as required.”

 

London restaurant group relaunches Michelin-starred Mayfair venue under new identity: Leong Enterprises, the restaurant group from brothers Geoff and Lucas Leong, have relaunched Taku, their Michelin-starred omakase counter in Mayfair, under the new identity of Sushi Amamoto London. The existing leadership of head chef Jongho Park and general manager Manson Au will remain in place, having managed the restaurant since its inception in 2022. Sushi Amamoto London is the first international restaurant from executive chef patron Shogo Amamoto, whose original Sushi Amamoto opened in 2015, in the Da’an district of Taipei, and which has since gained two Michelin stars. It comes after the London restaurant retained its Michelin star at the 2026 awards earlier this month. The family business first launched in the UK in 1995, with Japanese restaurant Koi in Kensington, which has now closed. The group’s other sites include Japanese á la carte and omakase concept Ine in Hampstead, Leong’s in Chinatown, Goldfish x Lan Kwai Fong in Camden and delivery platform Atla Foods. The group also operates two Dumplings Legends sites, in Chinatown and Chancery Lane, with further expansion for the concept planned.

 

North east cocktail bar concept Mother Mercy eyes Durham opening: North east cocktail bar concept Mother Mercy is eyeing an opening in Durham, which would become its first venue in County Durham. The company, which currently operates sites in Newcastle in the Cloth Market and Grey Street, Heaton, and inside the Fenwick department store, has applied to open on the former Carphone Warehouse site at 19 Silver Street, in Durham city centre. Mother Mercy also previously operated a site in Sunderland, at the Sheepfolds scheme. Co-founder Neil Donachie previously told Propel he plans to open “multiple venues” in the north east as he sees “significant opportunity” in the region. Established in 2019, the business is “renowned for its innovative cocktails, exceptional service and elegant venues serving drinks made with high-end spirits and ingredients”.

 

Boom Bap duo to launch steakhouse concept for second site: Anthony Gaughan and Stephen Bagatti, the duo behind Boom Bap in London’s Leadenhall Market, are to launch a steakhouse concept for their second site. Launching on Tuesday, 3 March, also within Leadenhall Market, MRBL will be a 75-cover restaurant situated across two floors, offering “exceptional” steaks and wines. The steaks come with a choice of flavoured butters, enriched with everything from blue cheese to fermented chilli, alongside classic sauce options. Sides include marrow mash, beef fat triple-cooked chips and crispy hash browns with black garlic aioli. Beyond the steaks, guests can enjoy dishes of grilled monkfish tail and succulent roast chicken, all cooked over charcoal, while lunch options include a slow-braised rump sandwich with smoked cheese and Guinness onions. In partnership with wine consultant Nicola Hale of Vin Hale, MRBL will also offer a selection of wines that “balances classic regions with exciting discoveries”, alongside a selection of craft beers, lagers, Guinness and house cocktails. Gaughan and Bagatti, who launched Boom Bap burgers in 2015, said: “We are incredibly excited to be bringing our vision to life in such an iconic City location. Leadenhall Market was once home to London’s meat, game and poultry traders – MRBL feels like a natural evolution of the market’s deep-rooted history.”

 

Ardent Pub Group secures B Corp status: Ardent Pub Group, formerly JKS Pubs, which last December received backing from a US-based investor, has become a certified B Corp – verified as meeting the high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Ardent, which is led by Dom Jacobs, currently comprises The Cadogan Arms in London’s Chelsea, The George in Fitzrovia and The Hound in Chiswick. Jacob said: “We are thrilled to have reached this significant milestone, becoming only the second pub group in the UK to achieve B Corp certification, and with the highest score awarded to any UK hospitality group. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our entire team and the shared ambition to deliver the gold standard of public houses in the UK. The B Corp ethos strongly resonates within our historic pubs, where preservation for future generations sits at the heart of what we do. As custodians of these buildings for just a brief chapter in their centuries-long stories, we are both humbled by their past and proud to be recognised for the positive role we play in serving our communities today.”

 

Leonardo Hotels to open second Sabine rooftop bar in London: Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland is to open its second Sabine rooftop bar in London. Building on the success of its St Paul’s rooftop, the second Sabine venue this will open in April, in Holborn, offering a signature skyline‑focused experience and sweeping city views. An electronic retractable roof and fully retractable windows will allow the venue to open to the sky in warmer weather. Sabine Holborn will accommodate exclusive hire for up to 100 guests for standing and group bookings for up to 30 guests in roped off sections. Venue director Nigel Tindall said: “We are proud to bring Sabine to Holborn as the next milestone in our London portfolio. Building on the success of St Paul’s, this new rooftop reflects our continued commitment to creating vibrant, design-led destinations defined by exceptional cocktails and a compelling guest experience.”