Open Restaurant Group eyes overseas expansion due to ‘heavy taxation in UK’: The Open Restaurant Group, which owns ‘8’ by Andrew Sheridan in Liverpool city centre, wants to open another Restaurant ‘8’ in the Middle East. The business, which has seven restaurants in the UK, predominantly across the north west of England and the Midlands, told the Liverpool Echo it wanted to expand overseas due to what it calls “heavy taxation in the UK” making the prospect of opening new venues in this country less viable. Sam Morgan, who runs the company alongside chef Sheridan, said: “My primary role is to keep growing the business – including where we are going next, what we are looking to do and what’s the most viable decision. Although we have seven restaurants in the UK, we’ve kind of got to the point now where we’re questioning the viability of continuing to open new sites in this country. And we’re starting to question whether it would be more viable to do it abroad. We’re continuing to explore that, and at the moment, we are working with investment houses and large property developers in Dubai and other regions of the UAE regarding the proposition of bringing Restaurant ‘8’ or Dishes – which is one of our newer sights in Prestatyn – to the country. To be blunt, this is predominantly due to heavy taxation in the UK. Operating a restaurant in the UAE, at the same revenue as in the UK, will make three times the amount of profit it does here.” He said Dubai welcomes more visitors than the whole of the UK “put together, ten times over”. He said: “For that reason, it’s a more fruitful place to do business. The other reason is that Dubai has now become a hub for some of the greatest produce in the world. These are the reasons why the Open Restaurant Group is quite willing to look to expand into the UAE, and why we are seeing it as a more fruitful place to do business than the UK at the moment. That’s a shame, because this is our home country and we’d rather be putting more back into it, but unfortunately there’s times when we have to consider whether or not that’s going to return anything to us as a business.”

 

Next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality to be released today featuring 891 companies: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club members today (Friday, 21 February), at midday. Another 16 companies have been added to the database, which now features 891 companies. This month’s edition will also include 85 updated entries and more than 238,000 words of content. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results 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 members also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. All Premium Clubs members will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including Excellence in Pub Retail (May 2025) and discounts on specialist sector reports such as the Propel 500 and International Brands report. Operators that are Premium Club members are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club members 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 members will be sent a dedicated monthly newsletter that will highlight key updates in the sector and direct subscribers to all the vital content their membership offers. Premium Club members also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. 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.

 

Rachel Reeves must act now to save pubs, City broker warns: Peel Hunt has become the latest broker to issue a warning that British pub culture is at risk due to structural pressures and tax hikes. Hospitality was the biggest driver of economic growth in both November and December, according to the latest government figures. But tax rises in the October budget “halted and reversed a year-long upgrade cycle”, Peel Hunt said, with increases to employers’ national insurance and the minimum wage expected to vastly increase cost pressures. Retail and hospitality bosses have campaigned to reverse or postpone the change to NICs, although this is “very unlikely to succeed”, Peel Hunt said. But the broker added that the campaign may “make the chancellor think twice next time”. The British Beer and Pub Association has said the cumulative impact of the October Budget will create an extra £650m in costs for the sector, while UKHospitality has said the industry’s growth is something the government should be backing but is instead stunting “by inflicting such damaging costs on businesses”. It comes as William Lees-Jones, managing director of JW Lees, told the chancellor Rachel Reeves to “wake up and smell the coffee and talk to businesses, not advisers”. Lees-Jones was speaking after Reeves announced plans to “go further and faster to drive growth” and had met with senior leaders from JP Morgan, BlackRock, Abrdn, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Citi, Fidelity and Schroders to “advance our vision for UK financial markets”. Lees-Jones said: “Determination is fine, but you have deaf ears to the family business sector, which is responsible for 25% of all private sector jobs. Wake up and smell the coffee and talk to businesses, not advisers.”

 

NTIA – nightlife industry has been shut out of government’s new £270m cultural funding package: The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has said the UK’s nightlife industry has been shut out of the government’s new £270m cultural funding package. Downing Street has pledged the “major investment” in hundreds of arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings as part of its Arts Everywhere Fund. But NTIA chief executive Michael Kill said traditional and heritage culture has been placed at the front of the queue while live music venues, clubs and festivals have been ignored. “The Arts Everywhere Fund is a misleading title – this funding does not recognise the importance of counterculture or the contemporary arts that keep our cities vibrant,” he said. “More than £270m has been pledged to museums, libraries and heritage institutions, but there is nothing for live music venues, electronic music, festivals or grassroots nightlife. If the government truly wants to cement Britain’s status as a cultural powerhouse, it must support the full spectrum of the arts, not just its most traditional forms. Nightlife and contemporary music are not an afterthought, they are a cornerstone of our creative industries, and excluding them from this investment is yet another blow to an industry already struggling for survival. If this government is serious about backing culture, it cannot continue to overlook the scenes that make our cities thrive after dark.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a specialist events business that is seeking an experienced senior business development manager to join its team as it continues to expand. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will be responsible for leading and motivating the team, while driving growth in an exciting, fast-paced environment. The individual will thrive on building relationships and closing deals.” The salary is up to £70,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email marlene@corecruitment.com.

 

Midlands smash burger business set to make international debut after signing multi-unit franchise agreement for Qatar: Midlands smash burger business Brgr Lab is set to make its international debut after signing a multi-unit franchise agreement for Qatar. The Middle Eastern country has been the focus of emerging UK food and beverage operators this month, with several exhibiting at the Qatar International Food Festival 2025 in Doha. Brgr Lab, launched by brothers Hamzah and Hassan Islam in 2020, have taken things one step further by securing a deal to open an initial three units in the country this year – the first launching in September. “We’re thrilled to announce that we are bringing our scientific flavours to the Middle East,” the company posted to social media. “Doha…we are coming. Grand opening: September 2025.” The business said the launch in Qatar will be just the beginning of its plans to establish a strong presence in the Middle East. Hassan Patel told whichfranchise: “This is a major milestone for Brgr Lab, and we are thrilled to bring our unique concept to Qatar. The country is a thriving market with a diverse population of 2.8 million expatriates, making it an ideal destination for our business. We also intend to continue this momentum by expanding into neighbouring countries in the near future.” Franchisee Bilal Abassi, who signed the multi-unit agreement, added: “I am looking forward to working with Brgr Lab and bringing a fresh twist to the food market in Qatar. The business’ unique aspects, especially the way the ‘lab’ concept is embedded into its philosophy, were incredibly attractive and will undoubtedly resonate with consumers here.” Brgr Lab opened its debut site in 2020, in Coventry’s Stanton Road. After launching a franchise programme, it opened its second site, and first franchise location, last October, at Braunstone Gate in Leicester – part of the De Montfort University campus. Brgr Lab said last month that it is aiming to open six new stores in 2025. Brgr Lab features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, the latest edition of which was sent to Premium Club members in December, with 330 entries. 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.

 

Fat Hippo plans up to five new openings by end of 2026: Michael Phillips, founder and managing director of better burger concept Fat Hippo, has told Propel the 17-strong business plans to open up to five new sites by the end of next year, starting with an opening in Leeds. The company has secured a site as part of a grade II-listed building at 23 Boar Lane in the city centre, for an opening later this year. Phillips said: “We’ve had our Headingley site open for four years now, so it’s always been the plan to find a suitable location in Leeds city centre too. It’s just taken a little longer than we’d planned to get the right site. In terms of future expansion plans, we’re hoping to open two new sites in the second half of 2025 (including the Boar Lane site), and then another two or three in 2026.” The business, which last year trialled a breakfast menu, currently operates 13 restaurants and four concession sites – three with Lane7 and one in Kommune in Sheffield.

 

Insomnia Cookies lines up Leeds opening: Insomnia Cookies UK, the late-night bakery business, has lined up an opening in Leeds for later this year. The brand, which made its UK debut in Manchester in 2023, plans to open in the former Vape Social e-cigarette shop in the St John’s shopping centre, located across from the Merrion Centre in the city. The business currently operates four UK sites – three in and around Manchester plus a site in Sheffield. Insomnia Cookies is also set to open a site in Nottingham this year, at 16 Angel Row. Talking to Propel last summer, Ben Lacey, managing director of Insomnia Cookies UK, said the business still had an ambition to build a nationwide presence and had an appetite to have up to ten new sites over the next 12-18 months. Last year, Krispy Kreme sold its majority stake in Insomnia Cookies, which has circa 250 locations worldwide, to investment firms Verlinvest and Mistral Equity Partners, in a deal that valued the late-night bakery brand at $350m (£271.1m).

 

German Doner Kebab expands service station presence: German Doner Kebab (GDK), owned by Hero Brands, has expanded its presence in service stations and strengthened its partnership with Extra MSA with an opening at Peterborough Services on the A1. The launch marks GDK’s second site in the city, joining its restaurant in Bridge Street. Visitors to the Peterborough Services outlet are able to choose from the brand’s breakfast menu alongside the main offering, which includes GDK’s new doner rice bowl. Simon Wallis, GDK chief executive, said: “As a key stop for travellers along the A1, Peterborough Services is the ideal location to reach a diverse group of customers. This marks a progression of expansion into service stations and is especially monumental being another stepping stone towards our 150th site opening.” Tom Dobson, chief executive at Extra MSA, said: “We are pleased to be extending our partnership with GDK, having supported the launch of its first motorway services concept at our Baldock site, and further support its meteoric rise.” Last month, GDK launched its first train station site, at London Victoria.

 

Starbucks franchisee Cobra Coffee secures locations to take it to 80 sites: Starbucks franchisee Cobra Coffee has secured the locations to take its estate to 80 sites. The business, which operates across the south and south west of England, this week opened store number 78, at Bristol Business Park. Several more are also in build, including a location at what will be the UK’s largest EV charging hub, being developed by Instavolt in Winchester. It will become Cobra’s landmark 80th site when it opens just off the A34 at Three Maids Hill this spring. “Our latest store – number 78 – at Bristol Business Park will service a great group of businesses and the University of West England,” said Cobra Coffee managing director, Gwyn Kennett. “A great way to celebrate my five years with the business and our growth from 12 to 78 stores in that time. Big thanks to my Cobra Coffee team that make it an absolute joy.” Of the forthcoming Winchester site, he added: “Store number 80 on its way and it’s great to have a store at this new super hub.” Kennett has been Cobra Coffee’s managing director for two years, following three years as its head of operations. He previously spent 12 years with Caffe Nero, first as regional manager south east and UK airports, then as operations manager London and airports. Cobra Coffee was founded in 2013 and is owned by Southern Co-op.

 

Rosa’s Thai confirms Balham opening plans: Rosa’s Thai, the TriSpan-backed business, has confirmed it will open a site in London’s Balham next month. Propel revealed last month that the Sarah Hills-led business had acquired the former Hache site at 37 Bedford Hill out of administration for £50,000. Located just off the high street, Rosa's Thai Balham will seat 54 covers across a mixture of booths and tables, as well as a further eight covers outside for al fresco dining during the warmer months. Co-founder Saiphin Moore said “We’re thrilled to be opening a Rosa's Thai in Balham. I’ve always loved the vibrant energy of this neighbourhood and can’t wait to bring our real Thai recipes and warm hospitality to the area” The circa 40-strong group recently opened a 72-cover, 3,728 square-foot site in Reading’s Jackson’s Corner development and also has an opening lined up for this year in Cheltenham.

 

Popeyes UK hires Mike Tinnion as creative director: Popeyes UK, the US fried chicken quick service restaurant brand backed here by TDR Capital, has hired Mike Tinnion, formerly of Krispy Kreme, as its new creative director. Tinnion joins Popeyes UK after 13 months based in the US as director – global brand creative at Krispy Kreme. Previous to that, he spent nine years at Krispy Kreme UK & Ireland, including two and a half years as head of creative. Last week, Josh Kobza, chief executive of Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the owner of Burger King and Tim Hortons, said average restaurant sales for Popeyes UK reached nearly $3m (£2.4m) in 2024. Popeyes UK currently operates circa 70 sites. It plans to open 350 sites by about 2031, with more than 45 restaurants, drive-thrus and takeaway hubs at rail stations expected to open this year to expand its reach to large cities such as Leeds and Bristol. Popeyes UK is targeting sales of more than £200m in 2025, up 70% year-on-year.

 

Cupp opens first Edinburgh store, second to follow next month: UK bubble tea brand Cupp has opened its first Edinburgh store, with the second to follow next month. Cupp has opened in the former Brave, Strong, Beautiful beauty salon at 112 Lothian Road in the Scottish capital, and this will be followed by a launch at 321 Leith Walk on Friday, 7 March. Cupp already had five Scottish locations outside of Edinburgh – two in Glasgow and one each in Dundee, Aberdeen and Mosstodloch. Paul Tanner, managing director of Cupp, said: “Edinburgh has been on our radar for a long time, and we’re thrilled to finally open our doors here.” Founded in 2012 by Lee Peacock, Cupp now has 34 stores across the UK and is aiming for 50 by the end of this year.

 

Black and White Hospitality reports best ever Valentine’s Day: Black and White Hospitality, which owns and manages the franchise rights to eight Marco Pierre White branded restaurant concepts, has reported its best Valentine’s Day. In comparison with 2024, the UK-wide franchise restaurant group – which includes its Steakhouse, New York Italian and Chophouse brands – recorded a 24% increase on its 14 February covers. During the four-day “Valentine’s period”, covers were also up 16% in comparison with the same period in 2024. It follows the 29-strong group reporting its best January last month. Marketing director Robyn Lee said: “All our venues were very busy over the Valentine’s weekend and it’s great to see so many guests dine with us. The majority of our sites are located within hotel dining spaces, but our offer has a strong appeal to a lot of non-residential guests and is evident by the good start we’ve had in 2025. Our new spring menu is about to launch across the estate and includes a two courses for under £20 option, so provides guests with even more reasons to dine out.”

 

Coffi Lab to make Bristol debut next month for tenth site: Coffi Lab, the dog-friendly coffee shop concept that was launched in 2021 by Coffee#1 founder James Shapland, will open its tenth site next month and first in Bristol. The company will open the outlet at 317 Gloucester Road, in the Horfield area of the city, on Saturday, 9 March. In December, Coffi Lab secured £1.7m investment from the Development Bank of Wales to support its growth. The business plans to open a number of new outlets in south Wales and the south west of England. Shapland, who previously founded Coffee#1 in 2000 before selling it 11 years later to SA Brain, told Propel last summer he has a long-term target of 50 Coffi Labs over the next five years. Owen Cahill, of EJ Hales, acts for Coffi Lab.

 

Gourmet burger concept that has Fireaway founder as a backer set for Yorkshire debut: Gourmet burger concept Five Akhis, which has fast-pizza brand Fireaway founder Mario Aleppo as a backer, is set to open its first site in Yorkshire. Five Akhis was founded in 2021 by four friends who grew up in Milton Keynes together. Aleppo invested in the fledgling business in 2023, taking a 5% stake as well as lending his expertise. Five Akhis currently operates two sites in Milton Keynes – a full-service restaurant and an express format location – as well as in Oxford and Northampton, and last month made its north of England debut, in Preston’s Fieldgate. Five Akhis is now set to open in Sheffield’s London Road. “Big news, Sheffield, we’ll see you guys soon!” the company posted to Instagram. “We’re on a mission to bring a store closer to all of you, and Sheffield is up next to be blessed with a new Five Akhis spot.”

 

Barbecue food truck business seeking partners to grow on a national scale: Barbecue food truck business The Rub BBQ is seeking partners to grow on a national scale. The family-owned business, based in Milton Keynes and founded in 2017 by Harp Gill, now has six food trucks – located in Bedford, Buckingham, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Oxford. “After several years of exceptional growth where the business has gone from strength to strength, and the successful launch of our franchise offering, we are delighted to offer opportunities to the right investor to join us on this exciting journey,” Gill said. “We are in a unique position to capitalise on this success. We are now ready to take The Rub BBQ to a national scale.” No experience is necessary to secure a The Rub BBQ franchise, and franchisees will have an exclusive territory. Estimated set-up costs are £50,000 to £60,000 and partners are expected to have a minimum of 50% of the total investment in liquid assets, while a return on investment is anticipated within 12 months.

 

Origins 1450 opens second London site for Qima Cafe brand: Origins 1450, which acquired specialty coffee roaster and café group The Gentlemen Baristas out of administration last year, has opened a second London site for its Qima Café brand. Qima Café “celebrates the finest Yemeni coffee, combining tradition with a contemporary café experience”. Origins 1450, which is an integrated value chain coffee operator with a presence in 11 countries, brought its Qima Café brand to London in September 2022 with an opening in Warren Street. Now a second site has opened in New Row, Covent Garden. Origins 1450 acquired the now two-strong The Gentlemen Baristas out of administration in September last year. At its height, the business operated 11 coffee shops and a roastery. Hanover Green acted on behalf of landlord Shaftesbury Capital on the Covent Garden deal.

 

Kent McDonald’s franchisee returns to profit after opening new restaurant, launches further location: Kent McDonald’s franchisee AMH Family Enterprise returned to profit in the year to 31 March 2024 after opening a new restaurant, and has since launched a further location. The Maidstone-based business, led by Ali El Hajj, said its first full year operating four restaurants had led to a boost in sales. Post year-end, the company has opened its fifth location, in Aylesford. The company’s turnover grew from £10,144,029 in the nine months from 1 July 2022 to 31 March 2023 to £19,051,812 for the year to 31 March 2024. A pre-tax loss of £5,930 in the nine month period turned into a profit of £582,278 in the year to 31 March 2024. Dividends of £262,600 were paid (2023: £170,246). “The directors report that a significant improvement in turnover, gross profit margins and the operating result,” El Hajj said. “Sales growth was driven by the first full year trading four stores, alongside growth in revenue from digital channels. The net assets of the company were £592,782 (2023: £422,190) at the balance sheet date, reflecting the solid position of the company from an overall solvency point of view. This strong balance sheet is the foundation on which it can continue to grow and prosper. The comparative profit and loss figures represent the nine-month period ended 31 March 2023 and so are not comparable.”

 

Jamaica Patty Company opens fourth site, lines up number five: Meat patty concept the Jamaica Patty Company has opened its fourth site in London, in Farringdon, and lined up a fifth site for this spring. Launched in Covent Garden in 2014 by husband-and-wife team Andrew and Theresa Roberts, the business has opened its latest site at 42 Cowcross Street, Farringdon. Jamaica Patty Company will follow this up by making its transport hub debut with an opening in Stratford underground station. The business, which currently has no plans to franchise in the UK but hasn’t ruled out an international play, also operates sites in Canary Wharf and Liverpool Street.

 

North east leisure group returns to profit after land sale: North east leisure group STR Enterprises has reported a return to profit after selling a parcel of land at Centurion Park Golf Club in Wallsend. The company saw turnover increase 11.6% to £8,055,695 for the year ending 31 January 2024 compared with £7,217,609 the year before. Ebitda was up 6.5% to £1,083,406 from £1,016,965 the previous year. The group posted a pre-tax profit of £1,568,397 compared with a loss of £367,784 the year before after making a gain of £1,190,774 from the land sale at Centurion Park. The venue has now closed for redevelopment ahead of reopening in 2026. A major upgrade of the Manor House Hotel and Spa in West Auckland continued with £219,475 spent in the year. There was also a refurbishment and upgrade of the bedrooms at the Victoria Hotel in Bamburgh with £78,652 spent during the period. In addition, a further £300,664 was spent on repairs (2023: £222,921). In his report accompanying the accounts, director Christopher Sanderson said: “The group is recovering well from the significant impacts of the covid-19 pandemic. Although these restrictions ended prior to the year under review, the effects are still ongoing due to changing working patterns of our customers such as working from home. Other significant impacts were the 10% increase in minimum wage and the very high costs of gas and electricity, which caused our power costs to rise significantly.” The company, which employs around 200 staff, did not receive any government grants (2023: £29,871) but did receive £86,831 in insurance claims (2023: £336,514). Dividends of £220,390 were paid, the same as in 2023. The group also operates the Honest Lawyer hotel in Croxdale and a holiday cottages business in the region, plus The Centurion Bar within Newcastle Grand Central station.

 

Bodean’s hires Richard Turner as chef director: London American barbecue diner-deli business Bodean’s has hired Richard Turner – part of the team at award-winning steak restaurant operator Hawksmoor in its early days – as its new chef director. Turner, who has worked in the kitchens of Marco Pierre White, Pierre Koffmann, Joel Robuchon and Alain Ducasse, is also behind British rare breed butcher Turner & George, and helped bring the Meatopia festival from the US to London. In his new role, Turner will be bringing to Bodean’s a new menu, with dishes such as an American shrimp cocktail and a Carolina pulled pork sandwich, and his own take on Bodean’s BBQ Platter. There will also be an extensive selection of American whiskey, with a strong focus on small-batch bourbon and rye, plus a selection of beer from London breweries. “Bodean’s is an institution, and I’m staying true to what made it special,” he said. “The new menu delivers on authentic flavours that stay true to the craft and culture of barbecue, using produce sourced from trusted farms and suppliers that prioritise animal welfare and traditional farming techniques.” It comes a week after Bodean’s hired Gemma Hampton-Stone, formerly of Rose Pubs Company, Noble Inns and Grosvenor Pubs, as its new managing director. Bodean’s currently operates “smokehouse” sites in Covent Garden, Soho and Tower Hill, plus an all-day diner in Camden.

 

Northumberland operator acquires second Star Pubs lease and eyes further sites: Northumberland operator Robbie Morgan has acquired his second lease with Heineken-owned Star Pubs. The Schooner in Amble, which has been closed for three years, will reopen in mid-April following a £420,000 joint refurbishment, creating 16 jobs. Morgan, an experienced licensee and qualified chef, aims to create a similar set-up to his other Star Pub site, The Half Moon in Stakeford, a premium food led destination pub that he has run since 2019. The refurbishment will transform the rundown local into a family and dog friendly pub with en-suite bedrooms and a front terrace with seating for 48. “My intention is to grow my pub estate in the north east organically,” Morgan said. “I don’t have a target number of pubs that I want to reach or a timeframe, but I will investigate opportunities as they arise. My bullseye is premium and quality food pubs in destination locations, which are proving resilient in these challenging economic times.” Tammy Molson, Star Pubs’ business development manager, added: “Robbie has done a fantastic job turning around The Half Moon at Stakeford. It’s great to be reopening The Schooner, and I look forward to helping Robbie realise his ambitions.”

Greene King makes £1m strategic investment in Central London flagship site: The Railway – located in London’s Liverpool Street close to the station – is set to reopen following a £1m strategic investment from Greene King. The investment has been designed to transform the historic pub and elevate it to become a flagship Greene King location. The bar on the first floor will now be known as “The Office” and will feature new TVs for live sports and two digital darts lanes. A new room, known as “The Waiting Room”, is being introduced and will be available to hire. The exterior is also being revamped, with an improved outdoor space, new seating and a new entrance leading to the upstairs bar. Zoe Bowley, managing director for Greene King pubs, said: “The Railway is an important part of our Greene King pubs brand and has become one of the go-to sites in the local area. This major investment will help to reaffirm the pub’s position in Liverpool Street, where it stands proudly at the forefront of City’s hustle and bustle, retaining nods to its rich history and transforming it for the modern-day guest.”

High Note Hospitality confirms details for One Club Row restaurant: High Note Hospitality, the new venture from James Dye and Benjy Leibowitz, has confirmed the details of its One Club Row restaurant, which will open next month in London’s Shoreditch. Earlier this month, the business opened its first project – a revival of The Knave of Clubs pub in London’s Shoreditch, with a menu overseen by culinary director Patrick Powell, formerly of Midland Grand Dining Room and Allegra. In March, One Club Row will open on the first floor of the property, an entirely separate space with its own dedicated private entrance. The opening of One Club Row will be the first time in the grade II-listed building's 145-year history that the first floor has been used as a dining room. The room will seat 45 people, with a further ten seats at the bar, which will be kept for walk-ins. Above the restaurant, the team has transformed the top floor of the building into a series of private event spaces. Leibowitz said: “After a decade in New York, I’m so looking forward to working alongside our team on the floor and at the door, with a focus on guest experience and hospitality at the core of everything we do.” Nye is the founder of the London-based Bambi, Gladwell’s, Camberwell Arms and Frank’s Café, and Leibowitz is the former director of strategic projects at JKS Restaurants and ex-director of guest relations at NoMad Hotel in New York.

Northumberland’s first Michelin-starred restaurant to shut: Northumberland’s first Michelin-starred restaurant will close at the end of the year, to make way for a new venture. Restaurant Hjem was opened in May 2019 by Swedish chef Alex Nietosvuori and his Northumberland-born wife, Ally Thompson-Nietosvuori. Named in honour of both the Swedish and Northumbrian word for “home”, the venue achieved the county's first Michelin star in January 2021 – retaining it year-on year. The venue will shut on 31 December, with the remainder of the year “serving as a celebration of everything that has been accomplished”. The founders had previously unveiled plans to build a restaurant-with-rooms, named Freyja, on the Close House Estate in nearby Wylam. Nietosvuori said: “Making the decision to close has not been an easy one. The past six years have been an incredible journey, filled with amazing people, unforgettable experiences, and a passion to create something truly special. It gave a platform for me to showcase my abilities and share my passion for food. It has shaped who I am and will always hold a special place in my heart.” Thompson-Nietosvuori added: “A break clause in our lease prompted us to think long and hard about the next few years and the ambitious plans we have for Freyja, which will open in autumn 2026.”

Surrey brewery Crafty Brewing acquires Oxfordshire counterpart Ridgeway: Surrey brewery Crafty Brewing has acquired Oxfordshire counterpart Ridgeway Brewery. Based in Dunsfold, Crafty Brewing was founded by Luke Herman in 2014 and produces award-winning beer such as Arctic Fox Pilsner, Wave Catcher Session IPA and Blind Side Best Bitter. Founded by Peter Scholey in 2002, Ridgeway Brewery produces beer including Ridgeway IPA, Biter and ESB. Herman said joining forces was the next natural step fore his business: He said: “Peter brings a deep understanding of the industry, expert brewing skills, and a portfolio of world-class beers. I’m thrilled to be working alongside him, learning from his experience, and maintaining the Ridgeway brand he has built with such dedication.” Scholey added: “Any business needs a succession plan but with brewing it is far more than just finding a new manager. You need someone who shares your vision of what ‘good beer’ should be and I am pleased to have found that person in Luke.” Crafty Brewing said the combined business can produce 100,000 litres of beer per week.