Neos Hospitality CEO – ‘we would never say no to further opportunities but need to ensure we set up former Revel Collective sites to succeed’: Neos Hospitality would “never say no” to further acquisition opportunities but needs to ensure it sets up its former Revel Collective sites to succeed, chief executive Russell Quelch has told Propel. The company is currently in the process of integrating and planning conversions for the 20 Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba sites it acquired out of administration earlier this year. Speaking at the Propel Multi Club Conference, Quelch said: “We now have 40 sites, and we have the same plan we had when we had 19. Some will need refreshes and some will need rebranding – the plan is to continually evolve the estate. We would never say no to further opportunities, but it would depend on what it is. We’re very particular about what we buy and we’re lucky that Revs fell at the right time in the right locations. It would have to fit our long-term plan to have multiple brands across 15-16 cities. The key thing for us when our current investors took over was not what the business base is now, but where it can go in five years’ time. And that’s what we’ve taken out of the Revs acquisition – not what the sites are doing now but where they can go in five years. We need to make sure we set them up to succeed, because administration is one of the most brutal processes anyone can go through, and you have to make sure you have a foundation off the back of a change of ownership to grow the business long term.” Propel revealed last month that Neos would begin its conversion of the ex-Revs estate with sites in Bristol and Southampton – which will become a Barbara’s Bier Haus and a Bonnie Rogues respectively. Quelch said: “It’s not a simple integration – you’ve got two systems for everything, two cultures, two strategies – but we’ve got clear plans. We intend to close two sites and rebrand them this summer. The quicker the better as we didn’t acquire the profit sites, we acquired sites that fitted into our strategy, so there’s a few in there we saw the opportunity to turn around.” Quelch was among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference. All videos from the conference will be released to Premium subscribers on Friday (10 April), at 9am. Premium subscribers receive all the videos from Propel conferences each year – around 100 in total. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can 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. A new Premium Unlimited Plus option, which costs £1,995 plus VAT per annum, has some amazing additional benefits including four free tickets to Propel’s paid-for conferences – Excellence in Pub & Bar (19 May), Operational Excellence (9 July) and Talent & Training (15 October) – and the opportunity to run one free sponsored message or situation vacant notice during the year on the newsletter. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Propel Multi-Club Female Leaders and Entrepreneurs Conference open for bookings, JD Wetherspoon employee directors to speak: The Propel Multi-Club Female Leaders and Entrepreneurs Conference takes place on Thursday, 4 June at Park Plaza Victoria London. The all-day conference, which is organised in conjunction with Ann Elliott, will feature an all-female line-up of sector leaders. These include Debbie Whittingham, JD Wetherspoon employee director and regional manager for the West Midlands, and Emma Gibson, Wetherspoon associate employee director and pub manager of The Imperial in Exeter, discussing bringing the female perspective on to the board from the shopfloor. 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 Turnover & Profits Blue Book and videos from Propel Multi-Club Conference tomorrow: Premium Club subscribers will receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book tomorrow (Friday, 10 April), at 12pm. The database will feature 25 new companies and 120 updated accounts. The database now features a total of 1,265 companies, with 759 in profit and 506 making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Also on Friday, at 9am, Premium subscribers will receive all 13 videos from the Propel Multi-Club Conference. Premium subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. 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. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can 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. A new Premium Unlimited Plus option, which costs £1,995 plus VAT per annum, has some amazing additional benefits including four free tickets to Propel’s paid-for conferences – Excellence in Pub & Bar (19 May), Operational Excellence (9 July) and Talent & Training (15 October) – and the opportunity to run one free sponsored message or situation vacant notice during the year on the newsletter. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Sir Tim Martin criticises QR code ordering in pubs: Sir Tim Martin, founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoons, has criticised QR code ordering in pubs, warning the technology is undermining the traditional pub experience. Sir Tim hinted he may even decide to call time on the use of the technology in the future. It comes after a pub-goer’s complaint that ordering through an app is “taking away the atmosphere of chatting with the bar staff, or people in the queue”.  Sir Tim replied in Wetherspoon News magazine: “Don’t tell anyone, I beg you, but I couldn’t agree more. What’s a pub visit without shooting the breeze with the bar team? I was sure the app would never work, for the reasons you outlined. My colleagues mistakenly think you and I are wrong, but it’s only a matter of time before we are proven right.” 

 

Jane O’Riordan joins Tenzo as new chair: Jane O’Riordan, chair of Caravan and Flight Club owner Red Engine, has joined restaurant management and sales forecasting app Tenzo as its new chair, as the company said it “enters its next phase of growth”. O’Riordan has also previously been chair of Turtle Bay and held senior roles at Nando’s, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Pizza Express. She also contributes to wider industry innovation as chair of the UKHospitality Sector Council’s Innovation Working Group. O’Riordan said: “With margins under pressure and labour challenges continuing, Tenzo is providing operators with an opportunity to turn real-time data into confident, decisive action. I am excited to help scale Tenzo’s vision responsibly, both in the UK and internationally.” Christian Mouysset, co-Founder of Tenzo, added: “Jane’s appointment marks an exciting time for the business. As Tenzo approaches its next stage of growth, Jane will be influential not only because of her outstanding chair experience at the head of fast-growth brands, but also because of her deep, hands-on understanding of the hospitality industry today.”

Sector licensing specialist Peter Coulson passes away: Sector licensing specialist Peter Coulson has passed away following a short illness. Coulson, a founder member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, died peacefully at home in Gloucestershire on Friday, 27 March, ten days after being diagnosed with gastric cancer. A specialist licensing lawyer, journalist and publisher, Coulson was the founder and former editor of Licensing Review. His wife, Catherine, said: “For those who knew him personally, I hope Peter will be remembered as one of the good guys: a loyal friend with a sharp wit, a memorable turn of phrase, a wicked sense of humour, an infectious laugh and a positive sense of vitality and joie de vivre that stayed with him to the end.”

LTC launches ambitious new John O’Groats to Land’s End ‘pub run’ fundraising initiative: The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) has launched an ambitious new John O’Groats to Land’s End ‘pub run’ fundraising initiative. The LTC JOGLE Pub Run will see participants take on an epic 900-mile relay journey over 30 days – from Monday, 13 July to Tuesday, 11 August 20 – with the goal of raising £250,000. The initiative will see ultra-marathon runners cover an average of 32 miles per day, while key locations along the route will see hospitality teams, local residents and supporters invited to run, jog, walk, volunteer or cheer participants on. Pubs will also act as central hubs each day, hosting community days to celebrate the vital role pubs play in fostering connection, promoting wellbeing and supporting local communities. Supporters can also take part by joining the dedicated Strava challenge, logging their miles, following the route digitally and engaging with campaign activities online. Joby Mortimer, the LTC’s director of charity operations, said: “Not only will this help us raise vital funds, allowing us to support even more people in the sector, but it also creates an opportunity to bring communities together through a positive wellbeing activity, while highlighting the important social value of pubs. It is a celebration of community spirit, a platform for promoting mental and physical wellbeing, and a vital fundraising initiative for those working in licensed hospitality.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an international hospitality business to recruit a first-in-role tax director. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will shape and lead the group’s tax function across multiple jurisdictions while supporting growth, investment activity and governance. In addition, the position will drive continuous improvement in tax governance, processes, and efficiency.” The salary is from £110,000 plus bonus and the position is based in London. For more information, email oliwia@corecruitment.com

 

EL&N to bring House concept to the UK: Cafe and lifestyle brand EL&N is to bring its more fine-dining focused House concept to the UK, with an opening in Central London. The business is currently converting its site in Lowndes Street, Belgravia, to its House of EL&N concept. The first site under the format launched last summer in Beirut, Lebanon. Unlike traditional EL&N cafes, House of EL&N is more akin to a restaurant with table service, a central kitchen and a sophisticated menu. The business said: “It’s an evolution of the original coffee shop and deli concept created by founder Alexandra Miller in London. Here, we offer a real dining experience, from brunch to dinner.” On the upcoming London launch, the company said: “After seven years, our Belgravia store has temporarily closed its doors to make way for a transformation we’ve been dreaming of for years. Following the success of our flagship in downtown Beirut, we are officially bringing the destination dinner spot to the heart of London with the launch of House of EL&N in Belgravia.” As part of its global growth model, EL&N plans to introduce a variety of operating formats across international markets, including full-service café restaurants, grab-and-go concepts and bakery. EL&N has introduced three new concepts over the past two years, starting with launching Deli & Bakery in London’s Covent Garden in 2024. It followed that with the launches of elevated dining concept House of EL&N and cookie concept Crumbs, in London’s St Pancras, last year. Earlier this year, the business said it was in “advanced talks” over expanding to the US. The company, which now operates 42 locations across 14 geographic markets, also said that by the end of its financial year 2025-26, in June, it will operate 60 locations globally.

 

The Beefy Boys promotes Paul Alexander to MD, to open two further sites this financial year: The Beefy Boys, the better burger business backed by Manjit Dale, founding partner of TDR Capital, has promoted Paul Alexander to managing director, Propel has learned. Alexander, who has been head of operations for the past two years, will help The Beefy Boys develop its growth plans in 2026 and beyond. Alexander is former managing director of Tiny Rebel and an ex-operations director at Loungers brand Cosy Club, where he helped grow the business for 11 years. The Beefy Boys co-founder Anthony Murphy said: “Paul has more than 25 years of experience in the industry with various hospitality companies and brings a wealth of scaling businesses across the UK to the leadership team.” The Beefy Boys is set to open its sixth site, in Nottingham, in late May/early June, adding to locations in Hereford, Shrewsbury, Cheltenham, Bath and Oxford. Following this, Propel understands The Beefy Boys will open two further sites this financial year. Murphy added trading has been “great” so far in 2026, with like-for-likes up in both covers and sales. 

 

Cubitt House deal to add 26 bedrooms to Young’s portfolio, Pearmans to step back from business: Young’s acquisition of London gastropub operator Cubitt House, which was backed by funds managed by TDR Capital, for circa £29m will eventually add 26 bedrooms to the Simon Dodd-led business. Cubitt House comprises a collection of eight leasehold pubs and pubs with bedrooms in west London. The acquisition also includes a ninth pub, in Belgravia, that is currently being developed – with the former post office in Eccleston Street set to be converted into The Duke of Connaught. The business currently has 16 rooms split across three pubs – The Grazing Goat, The Orange and The Princess Royal – with planning for a further ten bedrooms at the Duke of Connaught. Last September, Dodd told Propel that Young’s has a medium-term goal of adding 500 bedrooms to its estate to take it to circa 1,500 bedrooms. The company currently has circa 1,070 bedrooms across its 277-strong estate, with a medium-term target of reaching 350 pubs. At the same time, Lucky Onion group founders and Country Creatures owners Sam and Georgie Pearman, who joined the board of Cubitt House in October 2021, are to step back from the day-to-day running of the business. Sam Pearman has been focusing on the operational side of the business, while Georgie took charge of the redevelopment of the existing portfolio and new sites. Propel understands that they will continue to support the business in a consultancy capacity, “focusing on preserving the Cubitt House brand and contributing to the design vision that makes the pubs so special”. The pair added a fourth site under their Country Creatures banner last month with the opening of The Wild Duck Inn, a grade II-listed, 16th century coaching inn in the town of Ewen, in the southern Cotswolds.

 

Wagamama hires Sandy Gill as new marketing director: Wagamama, The Restaurant Group-owned brand, has hired Sandy Gill, formerly of BP and Pret A Manger, as its new interim marketing director. Gill joins the circa 170-strong brand after a year and a half at BP, including eight months as its global customer experience director. Prior to that, she spent more than three years at Pret, including two and a half years as its global head of transformation. Earlier this month, Wagamama signed a new partnership with Uber Eats, the brand’s first new delivery partnership since 2016. The two companies said the move marked a “new chapter in Wagamama's growth strategy”, as the brand looks to “bolster its delivery capabilities and reach new customers wherever they are”. The partnership is now live in Newcastle, with a rapid national rollout underway in the coming weeks.

 

Chipotle plots further UK expansion as it prepares to open first food court site here: Chipotle has said it sees more growth potential in the UK following a “positive” 2025. Chipotle international boss Anat Davidzon said it has been “impressed” by its momentum in the UK over the past year and will therefore look to grow its restaurant estate. It comes as the company prepares to launch its first food court location in the UK tomorrow (Friday, 10 April). The site, at Westfield Stratford City in London, will create 30 jobs. The brand, which was founded in 1993, has more than 4,000 restaurants globally, with the vast majority in the US. Chipotle launched in the UK in 2012 and has since expanded to 20 sites, primarily in Central London. Chipotle said the UK is its “standout” market within Europe and plans to grow its UK presence by 20% this year, with plans for longer term growth. Davidzon told the Press Association: “The opening in Stratford will be the first of 2026, and then we have a couple more already lined up this year. We had a positive 2025 and are looking to grow the brand more in London following that. We will take the time to select the right units, looking at those with high street visibility, ideally locations in central London with the dense foot traffic.” The company said it will focus on the UK and London now but sees growth potential elsewhere in Europe. Chipotle has said it sees the potential for “hundreds” of restaurants across the continent, with a particular focus on London, Frankfurt and Paris.

Indian street food concept My Delhi director – ‘we have a clear roadmap for expansion’, ‘trading strong across all locations’: Elahi Shah, director of Indian street food concept My Delhi, has told Propel it has “a clear roadmap for expansion”, while trading so far in 2026 has been “strong” across all locations. The company is set to open its fourth site, in Leeds. The flagship restaurant, within Hepper House in East Parade, will be its first in Yorkshire. Spanning more than 6,000 square feet, the venue, set to open in June, will be My Delhi’s largest and most ambitious to date, joining restaurants in Newcastle, Sunderland and Leicester. On trading, Shah said: “This year, My Delhi’s trading has been strong across all locations. Newcastle, our original and busiest site, continues to grow year-on-year and was recognised by Harden’s for high-quality food. Our Sunderland and Leicester sites, now more than two years in, have matured well and are performing strongly, showing the brand’s ability to settle and thrive in different cities.” In terms of further expansion, Shah said: “Beyond Leeds, we have a clear roadmap for expansion, targeting key major cities while also identifying opportunities in other towns and cities where we can become a true local favourite. As the traditional curry house market evolves, we see a real opportunity for My Delhi to fill that space, creating restaurants that feel like destination dining in major cities, while still being rooted in the communities we serve.” 

 

Topgolf founders open debut Poolhouse site: Steve and Dave Jolliffe, the founders of Topgolf and World Golf Systems, have opened the debut site under their new competitive socialising concept, Poolhouse. Propel revealed in September 2024 that the Jolliffes – who also co-founded Puttshack with Adam Breeden, co-founder of Flight Club, AceBounce and All Star Lanes – would launch Poolhouse in the City of London. That debut site opened this week, at 100 Liverpool Street. The technology-heavy pool hall concept uses projection mapping on a regular pool table to offer more intricate games and provide golf handicap-like adjustments for less experienced players. Spanning 21,000 square feet across two floors and featuring 20 private and semi-private play suites, at the centre is a main bar, while the kitchen offers a “made-for-sharing” menu including crispy tacos, fluffy bao and New York–style pizza. Last November, Andrew O’Brien, chief executive and co-founder of Poolhouse, told Propel that the new concept’s venues will be “like Apple stores” – serving a dual purpose in promoting its technology – while the goal is to get to “an Ivy Asia standard” of offer in competitive socialising. Global expansion is set to follow through a combination of franchise partnerships and third-party licensing of its proprietary technology platform.

 

Valiant adds Merseyside pub with rooms to estate: Valiant Pub Group, which was founded by Hawthorn Leisure co-founders Gerry Carroll and Mark McGinty at the start of 2021, has acquired The Griffin in St Helens, Merseyside. The 17th-century coaching inn has 11 letting rooms. The deal is a fourth off-market acquisition in 2026 for Valiant, which operates circa 85 sites. Last month, the business secured The George & Dragon in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, and The Oakhouse in Axbridge, north Somerset. In February, Valiant acquired The Plough Bar & Restaurant in St Asaph, North Wales. Last year, Valiant secured a further £14m in debt financing to support its growth plans. Jeremy Drake, of Drake & Company, acted on the off-market deals for Valiant.

 

Jonathan Kaye lines up ex-Wildwood site for next Storia opening: Storia, the Italian restaurant business founded by ex-Prezzo chief executive Jonathan Kaye, has lined up an ex-Wildwood site for its next opening, Propel has learned. The six-strong business is set to take over the former Wildwood site on Newmarket High Street in Suffolk. The site closed in February. Kaye, who was also the ex-chief executive of Dining Street – the formerly listed Richoux Group, which was the company behind the Richoux, Friendly Phil’s, Villagio and The Broadwick restaurant brands – opened his latest Storia site on the ex-Prezzo unit in Redhill, Surrey, in the spring of 2024. It came a few months after Kaye opened a Storia site on the former Prezzo unit in London’s Woodford Green’s and followed an opening on an ex-Prezzo in Shepperton in Surrey. Kaye grew Prezzo to circa 250 sites before it was acquired by US investment firm TPG in November 2014 for circa £304m. Storia made its debut in 2021, at the former Prezzo site in Tring in Hertfordshire, before a second site opened on the former The Broadwick outlet in Radlett, also in Hertfordshire. In the summer of 2022, he opened a third Storia, on the former The Broadwick site in Maidenhead in Berkshire. Last month, Mehdi Gashi was named chief executive of Storia, having been a director of the business since its launch. Gashi was previously a director at Richoux for four and a half years and spent nearly 15 years at Prezzo as a board director and operations director.

Colicci to open new café at Horniman Museum and Gardens: Colicci, which operates cafes, restaurants and kiosks across several London parks and a kiosk at Westfield Stratford, is to open a new café at Horniman Museum and Gardens in the capital. The café at the venue in Dulwich, east London, is the next development of a contract awarded in 2023, which saw Colicci secure its first major museum and visitor attraction partnership. Since taking over the hospitality operations, Colicci said it has delivered a 14% year-on-year increase in sales. The new cafe will be “immersed within a natural playground, seamlessly blending the boundary between indoor dining and the great outdoors”. Its offer will include signature sourdough pizzas, artisan gelato, specialty coffee and healthy grab-and-go options. “Opening the doors to this incredible space is a proud moment for us,” said Katy Manolescue, head of creative at Colicci. “When we won this contract in 2023, we knew we had a responsibility to elevate the Horniman food offering to match its prestigious reputation. Seeing significant growth in sales even before this new building opens shows the appetite for what we do. This new cafe allows us to fully realise our vision of hospitality that is harmoniously integrated with nature.” Horniman Museum and Gardens was opened in 1901 by philanthropist Frederick John Horniman and has a collection of 350,000 objects, specimens and artefacts from around the world.

 

Team behind London bakery concept Fred to launch Turkish restaurant concept next month, trading ‘really strong’: The team behind London bakery concept Fred and the Faros restaurants in the capital, is to open its new Turkish-inspired venture next month. Lokal will launch on Friday, 1 May in Market Place in Fitzrovia “combining the rich culinary traditions of Türkiye with the energy and diversity of London”. The restaurant will feature 110 covers indoors and 14 outdoors, alongside a semi-private dining room, counter dining, and a dedicated cocktail bar. The menu, led by head chefs Salih Serden and Akacan Agir, will focus on modern Turkish cooking featuring refined small plates, and a cocktail list that echoes these influences. Dishes will include reinterpretations of Turkish classics, such as lamb tandir and lamb loin. Signature cocktail serves will include Mesopotamia, a blend of tequila infused with Padrón peppers, rosé wine, Campari and rosehip cordial. Co-founder Burak Demirelli said: “Following the success of Fred Bakery and Faros, we wanted Lokal to move beyond expectations of Turkish food and showcase its depth, diversity, and versatility. London felt like the perfect place to do that – there’s an openness here to new ideas, while still appreciating authenticity. For us, it’s about bringing those two worlds together on one table.” Fred and Faros both have sites in Holborn and Oxford Circus. On current trading, Demirelli told Propel: “Trading at Faros and Fred has been really strong in 2026 so far, with a much more regular and engaged guest base across both concepts.”

London co-living and guesthouse business to open fourth site: London co-living and guesthouse business Mason & Fifth will open its fourth site next month. The company will launch the 56-studio property in Belsize Park. Originally designed as a guesthouse, the newly restored property will bring the building back to its initial intent, opening on Monday, 18 May. The building will feature a modern communal kitchen with a daily “help yourself” breakfast offering, guest lounge areas and a landscaped private garden. Founder Ben Prevezer said: “Belsize Park marks an exciting new chapter for us in one of our favourite areas in London. Each building we open is thoughtfully shaped by its neighbourhood, and we hope to be a welcome addition to this special London community.’’ Mason & Fifth currently operates sites in Primrose Hill, Bermondsey and Westbourne Park. The company also has an opening in east London lined up and has ambitions to expand beyond the capital in the coming years.

 

Creative Restaurant Group to launch fire dining venture focused on seafood: Creative Restaurant Group, which is behind London restaurants Endo at the Rotunda and sushi spot Sumi, is to open a new venture this month. Igni, a 34-cover restaurant with a ten-seater chef’s table, will launch on Wednesday, 22 April in Mayfair’s St George Street. Under the direction of new executive chef Theo Clench and general manager Gaëlle Dubois, Igni will open in place of the group’s Humo restaurant as a “refined evolution of fire dining, focusing on seafood and world-class produce”. The menu serves as a personal narrative for Clench, drawing inspiration from his Brighton upbringing and childhood memories by the water. Igni will operate with set menus only with options of eight, five and three courses. Clench said: “I have been with the company for a few months and realised our vision of hospitality, people, culture and restaurants align. As Creative Restaurant Group is always evolving, the opportunity to open Igni arose. We are building an incredible team, full of young, passionate cooks who are essential to the future of the industry. For me this is the culmination of years of experience, and I am excited to be back cooking in the heart of London.” The group is also behind Kioku by Endo in the capital.

 

Freemans Event Partners hires projects director: Freemans Event Partners has hired Roger Lowe as projects director. The company said the strategic role will focus on driving new ventures, partnerships and commercial growth across the business. Lowe has extensive experience across motorsport, live entertainment and venue development. He spent eight years as commercial director at Donington Park, leading commercial diversification, event growth and fan engagement initiatives. He also played a key role in shaping Melbourne Hall in Derbyshire as a cultural destination, co-developing the “Field of Dreams” concept with Johnny Vegas, transforming the estate into a glamping and live events venue. Most recently, Lowe worked with RG Live (Sony Music), where he led the development of its food and beverage division, enhancing visitor experience across a portfolio of national events and heritage sites in partnership with Freemans Event Partners. Stephen Freeman, executive chairman of Freemans Event Partners, said: “Roger brings a rare combination of commercial instinct, operational expertise and creativity. As we continue to explore new opportunities and partnerships, he will play a critical role in turning strategic ideas into deliverable, high-quality projects.”

 

Two Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam to make London debut next month: Two Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam will make his London debut next month, with the opening of Oudh 1722 in Borough. Best known as the chef behind Birmingham’s two Michelin-starred Opheem – one of only two Indian restaurants in the UK, and four worldwide, to hold the distinction – the new restaurant will focus on Awadhi cuisine, a historic style shaped in the royal courts of northern India. Named after the Awadhi region and a year that nods to the roots of its cuisine, Oudh 1722 – which opens on Friday, 1 May – will be set across three floors of a listed Victorian building in Borough. The 80-cover restaurant will present Islam’s interpretation of Awadhi cooking, originating in Lucknow. As well as an à la carte menu, the restaurant will also offer the Dawaat e Khas, “a feasting-style journey through the kitchen’s signature dishes”. Last month, it was reported Islam is set to open a restaurant in Bristol. Kush Bristol will be based in the former The Mint Room site in Clifton.

 

West London pub owner acquires second site: Max de Nahlik, chef-owner of Michelin Guide-listed pub and dining room The Holland, in Kensington, west London, has acquired his second site. De Nahlik has secured Brook Green neighbourhood pub The Bird In Hand. Currently undergoing an interior renovation, The Bird In Hand will relaunch in late April. The menu will be an evolution of The Bird In Hand’s existing food offering of Italian-Mediterranean plates, with dishes including smoked cod's roe with toasted focaccia, and a variety of pizzas. The first-floor private dining room, which seats up to 20, is also being renovated. De Nahlik said: “I’m delighted to be the new custodian of The Bird In Hand. I intend for her to be very much a sister to The Holland. There’s a real kinship between the two pubs – they’re both at the heart of their respective neighbourhoods, but each has a distinct personality and appreciably different food and drink.” He is being supported and advised on the project by his mentor and friend James McLean, who is behind The Oarsman in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Andrew Robinson, of A3A4 Licensed Property, acted on the Kensington deal.

 

North Yorkshire hotel and golf resort Rudding Park set for £30m development following seven-figure funding deal: North Yorkshire hotel and golf resort Rudding Park is set for a £30m development. The property, near Harrogate, plans to create a new 60,000 square-foot golf and country club, along with seven new padel and tennis courts, an accompanying pavilion and a full restoration of the property's walled garden. There will also be upgrades to existing health and well-being facilities, a new swimming pool and general improvements across the resort. Owners the Mackaness family will use a seven-figure package from HSBC UK to carry out the plans, which could create 75 jobs. Rudding Park is said to have experienced a 4.8% increase in turnover in the last year, which compares with the latest available accounts covering 2024 that show turnover of nearly £28m. Nick Mackaness, joint managing director at Rudding Park, said: “This is an exciting new phase of growth for Rudding Park, as we continue to expand and diversify high quality experiences for our guests. HSBC UK support will enable us to complete these development works, making sure our facilities exceed the expectations of our guests old and new.” Rudding Park has been owned by the Mackaness family since 1972 and now includes 90 bedrooms and suites, a spa, three restaurants, a kitchen garden, private cinema, two golf courses and conference and events spaces.

 

Doctors to open contemporary Indian restaurant concept in Liverpool: A new contemporary Indian restaurant is set to open at Liverpool’s Kings Dock in May. White Tiger, created by Merseyside doctors and long-time friends Meenal Abhyankar and Dhanya Kalathil, will “celebrate the depth, regionality and creativity of Indian food”. The duo have spent more than 20 years working as doctors in the region and began developing White Tiger during their spare time. The menu is being created in collaboration with two award-winning Indian chefs, Shipra Khanna and Anahita Dhondy. The menu will draw on the vast landscape of Indian cuisine, “from bold, nostalgic regional dishes to refined, modern interpretations, alongside influences inspired by Hakka street food and global flavours”. Abhyankar said: “Dhanya and I have both built our lives and careers in Merseyside and feel incredibly grateful to the city region, but we always felt there was something missing when it came to Indian food. We wanted to create a space that reflects the variety, depth and elegance of the dishes we grew up with. Working with chefs like Shipra and Anahita has allowed us to bring that vision to life in a way that feels authentic, exciting and different.”