TGI Fridays global president – delivering clearer value is central to our vision for the UK: Phil Broad, global president of TGI Fridays, has told Propel that delivering clearer value is central to its vision for the UK – with a new menu reflecting this launching next month. Earlier this week, the business and assets of Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group, the company that managed the operations of TGI Fridays’ UK restaurants, were acquired by Sugarloaf TGIF Operations in a pre-pack transaction. This saw the transfer and continuing operation of 33 restaurants across the UK, while 16 sites were closed with immediate effect. At the same time, the global TGI Fridays business unveiled its new global growth vision. The company, which operates nearly 400 restaurants in more than 40 countries, said through its “1-2-3 Strategic Vision,” it is “charting a dynamic path to global sector leadership”, targeting more than 1,000 units and $2bn in annual revenue by 2030. As part of that vision, the business plans to grow through a variety of formats, including airport locations, inside hotels and traditional full-service units. The brand also plans to strengthen its franchisee profitability through better support and partnership. TGI Fridays also said it is focused on investing more in leadership development, training and additional performance initiatives. Broad told Propel: “This strategy is our roadmap for the brand’s next chapter, revitalising Fridays for a new generation, accelerating sustainable growth, strengthening our franchise system and driving performance through our people. Central to this vision is delivering clearer, more compelling value for our guests. We know value matters more than ever in the UK, and in February we will introduce a new value menu designed to make Fridays more accessible while staying true to the quality, generosity and experience the brand is known for.”

 

Propel 500 report – coffee sector looks to light-touch growth: The coffee market is increasingly looking to franchising to fuel its ongoing expansion, reports Tim Street, Propel’s chief sub and deputy editor. Street was writing in Propel 500 – 2026, the sector-leading report covering the top 500 hospitality companies in the UK. He found that, despite rapid growth leading to multiple sites under the same brands in close proximity, cannibalisation was yet to prove an issue, saying: “It is perhaps a reflection of the nation’s ever-growing love of coffee, and of the coffee house as an increasingly attractive alternative to the pub as a place to meet and socialise”. The 45,000-word report includes exclusive analysis to provide a full understanding of the market's dynamics, as the top companies in the sector shift position after a challenging year. Mark Wingett reviews the mergers and acquisitions changing the shape of the Top 500 as size increasingly matters, while Katherine Doggrell examines the key developments in UK hotels and look into one of the sector’s brightest lights, experiential leisure. Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, looks at emerging growth sectors, while Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vanifatova analyses the latest trends in the quick service restaurant market. Propel 500 – 2026 is now available free to Premium Club subscribers. The report will be available to non-Premium Club subscribers for £595 plus VAT. 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. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Tigermilk CEO Alexis Melikov among speakers at 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Alexis Melikov, chief executive of Tigermilk, will be among the speakers at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Melikov will share the story of bringing the brand from Paris and Brussels to London. He will reveal the strategy behind localising the concept, designing photogenic spaces and launching with a bang in a hyper-competitive market. Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit 2026 is returning for its eighth edition. The conference has doubled in size this year with content occupying two stages on both days – there are almost 800 people registered to attend. Bookings are open for the two-day conference, taking place on 20 and 21 January at Hilton Bankside in London. This new, bigger venue allows for a dual-stage format, meaning more content than ever before. The conference will focus on technology, marcomms strategies, proposition, brand building, the latest market insights, digital developments and diversification of revenue streams. It is designed for customer focused chief executives, senior marketers, technology and innovation teams, as well as investors wanting to better understand the latest marketing, technology, innovation and development opportunities to build market share and grow. For the full speaker schedule, click here. A one-day ticket for operators is £320 plus VAT while a two-day ticket is £575 plus VAT. Supplier tickets are £950 plus VAT for the two days. Propel Premium Club subscribers receive a 20% discount. To book, email: rmi@propelinfo.com.

 

Labour considers banning zero-alcohol drinks for under-18s: Ministers have said they will consider making it illegal to sell no-alcohol products, such as 0% beers, to 16 and 17-year-olds as they could become a “gateway to alcohol consumption”. The Telegraph reports that Ashley Dalton, a health minister, said non-alcoholic products were different to soft drinks “as it is a beverage intentionally crafted to mimic traditional alcoholic drinks like beer, wine, or spirits”. She said: “This is a newly emerging area, but there is some evidence to suggest that exposure to alcohol-like products, even if low or zero alcohol, can normalise drinking, and become a gateway to alcohol consumption. Earlier alcohol use initiation is linked to a higher risk of harmful drinking patterns later in life.” In response to a written question last week, she said: “The government will explore measures to regulate access to no and low-alcohol products in line with other alcoholic beverages, including prohibiting sales to individuals under the age of 18 years old.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a pub group that is seeking an experienced general manager to take ownership of one of its flagship sites. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This role involves leading and managing a busy pub with a strong focus on high-quality British cuisine and excellent service standards, holding full responsibility for operations, budgets, payroll, and P&L performance, and contributing ideas to support the continued development of the business and its ongoing expansion plans in 2026.” The salary is up to £70,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com

 

Smash burger brand to focus overseas expansion on Middle East, system sales up more than 50% to over £8m in 2025: Smash burger brand Smacks has said it will focus its overseas expansion on the Middle East, as it reports system sales were up more than 50% to over £8m in 2025. Smacks, founded in 2021 by Kaysor Ali, last month opened its 15th UK location, and first equity store, in London’s Victoria. It also last year opened its first international location, in Dubai’s Motor City, and told Propel it is set to launch in the US in 2026. Ali, who previously told Propel the brand has ambitions to scale to 100 locations in the UK, is now doubling down on the Middle East and has signed with franchise consultancy Presman & Colard, to kick-start its franchise development strategy both here and abroad. Ali said: “In less than five years, we’ve built Smacks from a small unit in Thornton Heath into a brand that is rapidly growing with huge potential. Building on a fantastic 12 months, we have seen strong demand for our newest store at London Victoria, which – alongside our UK and international stores – gives us even greater confidence about the global appeal and scalability of our brand. Now, in partnership with the team at Presman & Colard, we’ll be continuing to develop our franchise proposition as we look to take Smacks to new heights and realise our 100-store ambitions.” Charlie Mander, co-founder and chief operating officer at Presman & Colard, added: “Smacks is a fantastic, vibrant brand with a really unique menu that keeps customers coming back, time and time again. We are confident it has the potential to breakthrough on the global stage and are excited to work with Kaysor and the team to refine its international go-to-market strategy, sign new development agreements in high-growth territories and help realise its growth ambitions.”

 

David Moffat steps down as country manager for Carl’s Jr UK: David Moffat, formerly of Hero Brands and German Doner Kebab (GDK), has stepped down as Boparan Restaurant Group’s (BRG) country manager for Carl’s Jr UK. Moffat, who was head of franchising at Lucky B’s, the hot chicken concept based in Glasgow, joined BRG in the summer of 2024 to oversee the UK operation of its Carl’s Jr franchise. BRG launched the brand into the UK at the start of April 2024 with an opening at the St David’s shopping scheme in Cardiff. The brand, which has more than 1,100 stores across the US and can also be found in more than 39 countries around the world, opened a second UK site last year, at 40 Wind Street in Swansea. The company had also lined up an opening in the Westquay scheme in Southampton. The expansion and development of Carl’s Jr in the UK will now be overseen by Rich Pigott, operations director at BRG, and Daniel Maund, who was recently appointed franchise director at BRG after previously being head of development EU, for Slim Chickens. 

 

Burrito business El Mexicana looking to open up to six new sites this year as it launches new dual concept store: Burrito business El Mexicana has told Propel it is looking to open up to six new sites this year as it strengthened its UK footprint with the opening of a dual concept store in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The opening brings together its El Mex Burrito Bar, sister dessert business Don Churro and a freshly launched breakfast offer in one destination. The Stevenage opening showcases the eight-strong El Mexicana’s evolving store concept, combining a fully remodelled El Mex Burrito Bar with Don Churro’s made-fresh-on-site churros. Purpose-built for roadside and out-of-town locations, El Mexicana said the new format is designed to meet rising demand for high-quality, convenient food throughout the day. The business was founded in 2011 by Paul Stagg and John Coverley, who told Propel: “We are currently on a strong growth trajectory and are looking to add five or six new sites to the El Mexicana portfolio across the UK in 2026. This expansion reflects our confidence in the brand’s scalability and the continued consumer demand for high-quality, fresh Mexican street food. Moving forward, the dual-concept format is a key strategic focus, particularly in high-footfall locations where there is a strong appetite for both savoury meals and premium dessert offerings. We will continue to evaluate each new location individually to ensure the dual-brand model is implemented where it is most appropriate and commercially viable.” The Stevenage launch follows a successful 2025 for the group and follows new Don Churro openings at Cambridge and Peterborough services, taking it to six sites. The business said trading “has been consistently in line with internal forecasts”, and despite the broader economic landscape, was seeing “resilient footfall and steady conversion rates”. El Mexicana has previously said it was targeting 25 sites by 2027 and Stagg and Coverley said that remains the case. They added: “Our current pipeline of openings, combined with the successful rollout of our self-order kiosk technology and the expansion of our dual-concept model, puts us in a very strong position to achieve this goal.”

 

Loungers to close Cosy Club in Worcester, to open Swansea site this autumn: Cosy Club, the Loungers-owned brand, has confirmed its site in Worcester’s Cathedral Square will close later this week following a period of “increased operational and cost pressures affecting the business”. The company said that decision comes amid rising costs across the hospitality sector, including business rates, utilities, staffing and supply chain expenses, which have “placed additional strain on day-to-day operations at some sites”. Lucy Knowles, managing director, Cosy Club said: “After much consideration, we have decided to close Cosy Club Worcester at the end of this week. Cosy Club has been part of the Worcester community for nearly nine years, and we are proud of the role it has played during that time. We would like to thank our team, past and present, for its commitment, warmth and professionalism. The staff have brought Cosy Club hospitality to life every day, and we are grateful for everything they have given to the business and to our guests. It has obviously been a shock for the team to hear about the closure, and we will do our best to find opportunities at other Cosy Clubs and Lounges in the area.” In November, Loungers, which is backed by Fortress Investment Group, opened the fourth site for its refreshed Cosy Club concept, in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The site, at 15 Christopher Place, followed the refurbishment of Cosy Clubs in Leeds, Manchester and Reading, and was the 37th Cosy Club location within the group. The company will open a new Cosy Club in Swansea’s Exchange Buildings by this autumn.

 

Island Poke founder leaves the business for next venture: James Gould-Porter has left Island Poke, a decade after he launched the brand’s debut site in London’s Soho. Hawaiian poké specialist Honi Poké acquired the business for an undisclosed sum last summer. At the time, Island Poke, of which Gould-Porter was also chief executive, operated nine sites in the UK and nine in France. Gould-Porter said: “What an incredible ten years it’s been. From a small street food stand in west London to opening 40 locations across the UK and France – a journey we could only have dreamed of when we started. As a founder, this chapter has been one of the most challenging, rewarding and defining experiences of my life. It taught me resilience, humility and the power of building something with purpose, from culture and community to brand and product. The highs were unforgettable, the lows invaluable, and every lesson will stay with me. I’m hugely proud of everything we set out to achieve: being true trailblazers of the bowl movement, standing for something different, creating memorable in-store experiences, and serving flavour-packed bowls that people genuinely loved. Having exited Island Poké to Honi Poke Group, I wish them every success as they take their brand forward into its next chapter. Taking all of these learnings forward, I’m excited to share news of my next venture in the coming days.”

 

Rudy’s lines up first opening of 2026: Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, the Mission Mars-owned brand, has lined up its first opening of the year, in the West Midlands. The company, which opened its 35th site, in Cambridge, in November, is set to open at 10 Birmingham Road, in Sutton Coldfield, on the ex-Built Unique gym unit. Earlier this week, Propel revealed Mission Mars, which also owns the Albert’s Schloss bar business, had posted record revenue of £36.2m in the three months to 28 December 2025, up 13% on the previous year, while group like-for-like sales were up 6% in the five weeks to 4 January 2026. The company said during the quarter to 28 December 2025, site records were broken across the majority of venues. Revenue in this period was boosted by an additional eight Rudy’s sites and continued strong like-for-like performance at Albert’s Schloss in London’s Soho. In the five-week festive trading period, the company said that overall, Rudy’s revenue grew by 24%, driven by organic growth and new venues performing strongly.

 

Cornish Bakery in new partnership with Origin Coffee: Fast-growing independent brand Cornish Bakery has entered a new partnership with fellow Cornwall business Origin Coffee. Cornish Bakery currently has 73 locations across the country and several more in the pipeline for this year, while Origin Coffee has become one of Europe’s leading specialty coffee roasters and has eight coffee shop locations around the UK. Cornish Bakery founder, Steve Grocutt said: “This is a celebration of Cornish quality, provenance and storytelling from our mother brand Cornwall who keeps on giving. Working with Origin, a business that shares our values and commitment to quality, allows us to deliver a high-quality coffee experience for the millions who visit our bakeries each year.” Origin Coffee founder, Tom Sobey, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Cornish Bakery, which feels like a celebration of where we come from and what we stand for. It’s special to see two Cornish-born brands supporting each other while bringing exceptional coffee to customers across the UK.”

 

Five Guys UK launches a low-carb meal deal: Better burger brand Five Guys, which operates circa 170 sites across the UK, has launched a new ow-carb meal deal. The brand has paired its lettuce wrap, which uses fresh lettuce instead of a bun, with Coca-Cola Zero Sugar as part of a £10 bundle. With 24g of protein and totalling 246 kcal (with tomatoes, pickles, grilled onions, green peppers and grilled mushrooms), the new wrap is designed to be a healthier option. “We’re excited to team up with Coca-Cola to offer our customers this fantastic Lettuce Wrap and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar bundle,” said John Eckbert, chief executive of Five Guys Europe. “It’s the perfect combination of fresh flavour and guilt-free enjoyment, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice taste to stay on track with your wellness goals.”

 

Honest Burgers to open third Bristol restaurant: Honest Burgers, the Active Partners-backed business that last year acquired 12 Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) sites from Boparan Restaurant Group, is set to open its third restaurant in Bristol. Honest Burgers will open in a 3,000 square-foot former GBK unit on the second floor of Cribbs Mall. As well as its classic beef burgers, Honest Burgers will offer smashed burgers, chicken and plant-based burgers, along with a local and seasonal special. Emma Sherwood-Smith, chief commercial officer at Honest Burgers, said: “Bristol has always been an important city for Honest Burgers, so opening our third restaurant here feels incredibly special. Cribbs Causeway is an exciting destination for us.” Sovereign Centros from CBRE is the centre’s asset manager for M&G Real Estate, while Time Retail Partners and Cushman & Wakefield are retained letting agents, with Green & Partners retained in a leasing advisory role.

 

Iro Sushi to open in Woking: Sushi brand Iro Sushi is to open in Woking, Surrey, later this month. Iro Sushi will open at 40-42 Commercial Way, offering items such as its salmon selection sushi box, featuring salmon avocado rolls, salmon maki, salmon nigiri and salmon sashimi. The site will also serve up “super crunch” rolls such as its crunchy chicken – a chicken katsu, avocado, cucumber roll fried in tempura batter topped with tonkatsu sauce – as well as futomaki, nigiri, sashimi,and tamaki. Alongside this, there will be a wide range of hot dishes and appetisers such as katsu curry, teriyaki rice, fried noodles, noodle soups and gyozas. The circa 30-strong business has previously said it is targeting having 50-plus stores by 2027 and 100 by 2030. Founder Chhong Sherpa said: “We are excited to open our newest store in Woking. With this, we’ll bring sustainably sourced, restaurant-quality sushi to the local community, creating a new destination for healthy and high-protein meals, and supporting our ambitious UK expansion strategy to scale up to 100 sites.”

 

Glasgow better burger business set to expand further across Scotland with East Dunbartonshire launch: Glasgow better burger business Chilo’s is set to expand further across Scotland with a launch in East Dunbartonshire. Founded in Glasgow in 2020 by Honk Kong national Afran Mahmood, Chilo’s currently had 11 locations, including four in its home city. Chilo’s has also expanded to Stirling, Edinburgh, Greenock, Falkirk, Motherwell and Ayr. The business has now applied to East Dunbartonshire Council to open in a former charity shop in Cowgate, Kirkintilloch, reports The Herald. The proposed restaurant would have space for 34 customers and would occupy the ground and first floor of the building, with the restaurant at ground level while the first floor would be used for storage and staff facilities.

 

Cut & Craft owners report strongest Christmas and new year period to date, exploring new openings in Leeds and Liverpool: The team behind the Cut & Craft steakhouse concept in York, Leeds and Manchester has reported its strongest Christmas and new year period to date, and said it is exploring new openings in Leeds and Liverpool. Oscar Akgul and Osman Dogan operate the three Cut & Craft sites alongside Lucia Italian restaurant and cocktail bars in York and Beverley. Darioush Shahidi, operations director for both businesses, said the new Manchester Cut & Craft enjoyed “a record-breaking first year and helped elevate the brand nationally” while the festive period “surpassed previous years for both businesses”. He told the York Press: “December, and 2025 as a whole, has been record-breaking for us across all sites. Performance exceeded expectations, and we believe this success comes down to consistency and reputation.” Looking ahead, he added: “In York, the Cut & Craft restaurant will undergo a major refurbishment beginning on Sunday, 25 January, reopening on Friday, 13 February. This represents a significant investment. Beyond York, we are also exploring new openings in Leeds and Liverpool, continuing our steady expansion. The strong performance of our existing sites gives us real confidence as we move into this next phase of growth. It’s very much onwards and upwards for both Cut & Craft and Lucia.”

 

Scotland’s youngest McDonald’s franchisee more than doubles portfolio with three acquisitions: Scotland’s youngest McDonald’s franchisee, Iain Fyfe, has more than doubled the size of his portfolio with three acquisitions. Fyfe, from Inverness, became a McDonald’s franchisee in August 2021 and opened his first restaurant the following year. In acquiring the brand’s location in Nairn, he became the youngest McDonald’s franchisee in Scotland, at the age of 33. In December 2023, he added a second location, acquiring the brand’s restaurant in Elgin – both his sites having been acquired from fellow Scottish franchisee Craigton Foods, owned by Craig Duncan. Fyfe has now taken over ownership of the High Street and Inshes restaurants in Inverness, as well as the McDonald’s in Fort William, increasing his portfolio to five sites across the Highlands. They are also sites formerly owned by Duncan, who has sold his restaurants across the Highlands and Aberdeenshire after 37 years with McDonald’s, including 19 years as a franchisee. Fyfe told the Inverness Courier taking over the restaurants in his hometown was a “full circle moment.” He said: “Being born and bred in Inverness, I grew up visiting these McDonald’s with my friends and family. It feels especially meaningful to expand Teallach Restaurants into my home turf.” The group now employ 500 people across the Highlands and Moray.

 

Scottish Black Sheep Coffee franchisee opens fifth site with brand: Scottish Black Sheep Coffee franchisee Sur Coffee has opened its fifth site with the brand, in an iconic former Glasgow cinema building. The venue has opened inside Reel House, a grade B-listed building once home to an Odeon cinema. The opening is part of a 15-store development deal in the country that Sur Coffee, led by Tariq Din and Suhail Rehman, signed last year. Rehman said: “This is our fifth and biggest Black Sheep Coffee site to date, with seating for 130-plus people, indoors and out, and from the moment we opened it was full of life – more than 900 customers served on opening day! What really stood out was the number of customers who came in and shared their own memories of this building from its days as the Odeon cinema, which closed exactly 20 years ago this month. It struck a chord with a lot of people, and with me too. I spent a big part of my younger years in this cinema. We’ve put a huge amount of investment into restoring and respecting the rich heritage of this building because this is our way of giving something back to the city we love.”

 

Hotel company reports increased losses in year it acquired third hotel: Hotel company The Hydropathic Hotel Pitlochry, which operates the Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry, the Beaches Hotel in Prestatyn and which acquired the Lake District Castle Inn Hotel in April 2024, has reported turnover rose to £10,852,184 in the year to 31 March 2025 (2024: £8,643,736). Loss before tax deepened to £763,296 compared with £74,154 the year before. The group's three hotels offer more than 150 bedrooms, holiday lodges chalets and leisure facilities. It stated: “We sell rooms and packages to the leisure market, corporates, group operators, and conferencing market as well to the local market. We target each market so as to have no reliance on one sector.”

 

London pizza concept Napoli on the Road to open in Soho next month: Napoli on the Road, the London pizza concept founded by Michele Pascarella that was awarded first place at last year’s 50 Top Pizza Europa Awards for the second consecutive year, will open its third site in London at the end of next month. Propel revealed in August last year that the business was opening within the newly refurbished 140 Wardour Street in Soho. Pascarella launched the first Napoli on the Road in 2019, in Chiswick, followed by a second site in 2023, in Richmond. The company said that Napoli on the Road Soho represents an evolution of Pascarella’s signature approach, bringing a two-floor restaurant that features both a la carte and a tasting menu. Pascarella said: “Soho is full of creativity, culture and open-minded attitudes. We’re so excited to add a new approach to pizza to the tapestry of Wardour Street. Soho was where I first began working in London; returning feels like a homecoming and a dream come true.” Dan Brown, of Restaurant Property, who acted on behalf of Napoli On The Road, said: “This is what growth in hospitality is all about. From two humble sits in Richmond and Chiswick to a real flagship in heart of Soho on Wardour Street. Europe's best pizza has landed in Soho.”

 

Franco’s reports turnover and profit boost: Italian restaurant Franco’s, which operates in St James’, London, has reported a turnover and profit boost. Turnover rose to £10,203,78 in the year to 31 March 2025 (2024: £9,383,872). Pre-tax profit rose to £772,214 from £256,365 the year before. Gross margin was 73%. (2024: 72%). The restaurant is registered as Franco Holdings at Companies House. 

 

Nottingham four-star hotel goes into administration: The company behind the Nottingham Belfry Hotel & Spa has gone into administration. Anthony Simmons and Ian Corfield, of FRP Advisory, have been appointed as joint administrators of Delta Nottingham Hotel. The four-star hotel in Mellors Way, just outside Nottingham city centre, continues to trade. All staff have been retained and existing bookings are being honoured. The Nottingham Belfry has 120 guest bedrooms, a restaurant and bar, conference and event facilities and a health club and spa. The administrators are now seeking a buyer and have placed the business and lease on the market. The hotel has faced financial pressure in recent months, reflecting wider trading and cost challenges across the hospitality sector. The sale process is being handled by Christie & Co and the deadline for bids is Monday, 26 January.

 

Moddershall Oaks hotel and spa reports turnover and profit boost: Moddershall Oaks Hotel and Spa, which occupies 72 acres in Moddershall, near Stone, Staffordshire, has report turnover rose to £8,672,411 in the 18 months to 31 March 2025 (2024: £5,794,552). Profit before tax jumped to £2,215,438 from £957,642 the year before. The business began trading in December 2000. The company stated: “A major development during the year was the start of work on the Woodlands Pod project, which completed and opened in May 2025, adding 13 bedrooms to the site. In addition, the venue underwent a high standard refurbishment, further enhancing its offer. The company has successfully positioned itself as a premier destination for relaxation, wellness and leisure.” Net profit margin rose to 16% from 12.7% the year before. A dividend of £291,800 was paid (2023: £212,350).

 

Ambassador Theatre Group set to operate new £76m Milton Keynes entertainment venue: Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) is set to operate a new £76m entertainment venue earmarked for Milton Keynes. Milton Keynes Development Partnership (MKDP), run by the city council, said ATG would operate the 4,000-capacity site at the Old Bus Station in Elder Gate. ATG has operated Milton Keynes Theatre since it opened in 1999, but the proposed new venue would allow for “larger-scale music performances and live experiences”. MKDP said the project will go to public consultation later this year and could open in 2029. The closest comparable venue is Arena MK, which holds up to 5,000 people. MKDP estimates the new venue will attract more than 300,000 visitors annually and create about 70 new jobs. The site is currently used by the Winter Night Shelter, which will relocate. Nicola Sawford, chair of MKDP, said: “Identifying ATG as our preferred partner takes us one step closer to delivering a world-class events venue for Milton Keynes. The venue will not only bring incredible live entertainment to the heart of the city but also boost the local economy, create jobs, and strengthen Milton Keynes’ reputation as a destination for music, culture, and events.” ATG owns, operates or programmes 72 venues across Britain, the US, Germany, Austria and Spain. Of these, 38 are in the UK, including Edinburgh Playhouse, Manchester Opera House, Liverpool Empire, Bristol Hippodrome, Theatre Royal Brighton and King’s Theatre Glasgow, plus Apollo Victoria Theatre, Savoy Theatre and Lyceum Theatre in London’s West End.

 

North Norfolk hotel group grows turnover as profit dips: North Norfolk hotel group Mackenzie Hotels grew its turnover as its profit dipped in the year to 31 March 2025. The company, which operates three hotels in the region, reported turnover of £4,788,245, up from £4,638,878 in 2024. Pre-tax profit dropped from £281,337 in 2024 to £258,123. The company, led by husband-and-wife team Marc and Liz Mackenzie, paid dividends of £68,060 (2024: £168,756). Marc Mackenzie said: “Looking to 2026 and beyond, factors considered key risks to the hospitality industry as a whole are the increase in the minimum wage in April and the increases in business rates due to the increase multiplier and the loss of the business rates reduction. Energy prices and supplier costs for food and drink remain high. High turnover in hospitality roles and skill gaps for chefs will continue into 2026. The uncertain economy will continue to have a negative effect on visitor numbers. The company’s approach to risk management is to minimise the effects of adverse external conditions and the directors believe Mackenzie Hotels is well placed to manage the conditions.” The company operates The Links Country Park Hotel and the Sea Marge in Cromer, and The Dales Country House Hotel in Upper Sheringham.

 

Blackpool’s LGBTQIA+ cabaret bar Funny Girls falls into administration little more than six months after being put up for sale: Blackpool’s LGBTQIA+ cabaret bar Funny Girls has fallen into administration, little more than six months after being put up for sale. Administrators have been appointed, although their identity has not yet been disclosed, and it is unclear whether the venue remains open for trading, reports The Business Desk. The £1.8m-turnover business, Ellis Noble Leisure, directly employs around 30 staff. A further 30 people, mainly the cabaret performers, are self-employed. Funny Girls had previously been in administration in 2018, when it was taken over by north west brewer and retailer Daniel Thwaites before founder Basil Newby regained control a year later. Newby announced last summer that he planned to retire after three decades running the entertainment venue. Christie & Co put the five-floor building on the market at £3.5m. The venue has a 1,700-seat auditorium, a 120-cover restaurant, the Level 3 Nightclub and show bar Oscar’s. Newby had run The Flamingo as Blackpool’s first gay nightclub in the 1980s before launching Funny Girls in 1994. Funny Girls moved into its current home – the historic grade II-listed Odeon Cinema building – in 2002.