Luke Johnson – ‘even in the midst of mayhem there can be shining investment opportunities, but sector materially more challenging’: Serial sector investor Luke Johnson has told Propel that even in the “midst of mayhem” there can be “shining investment opportunities”, but after around 45 years of involvement in the industry, he believes it is “materially more challenging” and the only deals that are getting transacted are ones “where the sellers are being very realistic about price”. Speaking on Propel’s In Conversation podcast, Johnson also said that with one of his most recent investments – the Revel Collective – he made a mistake of thinking that the challenges facing the late-night sector were “going to be easy to fix”. Johnson said: “Inevitably, the life of an investor, particularly in a tough industry like hospitality, is a roller coaster. And unquestionably, some things haven’t worked in recent times. In particular Revel Collective, which was a business that I got involved with about 18 months ago, tried to turn around and failed, and that was disappointing. I made a mistake by thinking that the challenges facing the industry, and particularly the late-night sector, were going to be easy to fix. We were obviously sideswiped, as were all businesses employing people, by the national insurance increases, which essentially obliterated our profits. The pretty hefty increase the national living wage was difficult to cope with as well, and a very soft trading environment. So, it’s difficult out there, there’s no getting away from it. I continue to look at things on a weekly basis, because I love the industry, and even in the midst of mayhem, there can be shining opportunities. It’s not as if things aren’t probably going to get somewhat more challenging. There’s the Employment Rights Act coming now, and those who employ a lot of people still truly haven’t worked out what the harm could be from that.” Johnson said that there will always be chances to create “profitable new and innovative concepts”. He added: “Certain players will, no doubt, always find investment cases, but I think private equity itself as an asset class is going through quite a reappraisal.” In Conversation is a series of podcasts, exclusive for Propel Premium Club subscribers, featuring industry leaders and sector players talking about their businesses and issues impacting the UK’s hospitality market. 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.

 

Propel Multi-Club unveils its sixth Parallel Session – transform your approach to live sports: This year’s Propel Multi-Club Conference series has gone bigger and better with more content. Each conference will feature Parallel Sessions at each event, which has now moved to a new, larger premises, Park Plaza Victoria London. Aside from the full speaker schedule for our next event on Wednesday, 25 March (click here), each conference will host Parallel Sessions of content, which we are unveiling day-by-day. The sixth one is: stop selling sport, start selling status: Join Bums on Seats chief executive and founder Amber Staynings, and associate training, talent and people director, Dee Sturgess, for an impactful session where they'll dive deep into transforming your approach to live sports and maximising revenue opportunities in 2026. In this session, they will challenge the traditional mindset that simply showing the game with food and beverage is enough. They’ll explore the crucial elements that define a successful sports revenue system, including tapping into the diverse groups that make up today’s sports fans, effective strategies for partnerships and direct outreach, product and pricing strategies, and how to capture valuable customer data and segment it for maximum impact. There are more than 450 attendees already booked for the conference. Operators can claim free places by emailing kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality on Friday featuring more than 350,000 words of content: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will feature more than 350,000 words of content when it is released to Premium Club subscribers on Friday (20 February), at midday. The database now features 1,490 companies, and this month’s edition includes 64 new additions and 165 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent developments reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel chief operating officer – editorial, Mark Wingett, and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. 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.

UKHospitality – Youth Jobs Grant ‘helps address a major cost challenge for hospitality businesses’: UKHospitality has said the government’s proposed Youth Jobs Grant “helps address a major cost challenge for hospitality businesses”. Under the plans, firms will get a £3,000 grant for every person they take on aged 18 to 24 who is on benefits and has been looking for a job for six months or more. Alongside this, an existing scheme that subsidises six-month minimum wage jobs for benefit claimants who have been looking for work for 18 months will also be widened, covering those aged up to 24 rather than 21 now. Government-supported foundation apprenticeships, where employers are paid up to £2,000 in instalments, will expand into hospitality and retail from April. Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said: “Hospitality is the sector best placed to help people back into work, and these are important measures that remove barriers for businesses employing more people. The Government’s £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant is modelled on proposals UKHospitality submitted, and I’m pleased that this has been taken forward. Acting as the equivalent to an employer NICs holiday for businesses employing young people, the grant helps to address a major cost challenge for hospitality businesses. Including hospitality in foundation apprenticeships delivers on another of UKHospitality’s key asks and means there are now several supported pathways into work where employers are financially supported to reduce their costs.” A British Beer and Pub Association spokeswoman added: “Pubs and breweries have long been a gateway into the workforce, offering flexible roles, training and clear career progression for many young people starting out. Schemes that expand access to apprenticeships and early work opportunities have the potential to make a real difference, particularly when they are shaped alongside employers who understand the needs of the sector. At the same time, it is important that the wider policy environment encourages businesses to keep creating these opportunities.”

McDonald’s UK launches campaign that challenges stereotypes about young workers: McDonald’s UK & Ireland has launched a new advertising campaign celebrating its young employees and challenging stereotypes around younger workers, as it said one in three of its managers is under 25. The campaign is built around the tension that, while society at large often dismisses young people and reduces them to stereotypes – “lazy, unable to communicate” – McDonald’s sees their potential and recognises they are “essential in the running of thousands of businesses in communities and on high streets up and down the UK and Ireland”. Ben Fox, senior vice-president and chief marketing officer, McDonald’s UK & Ireland, said: “We often hear many unfair stereotypes about young people, but we are proud of the young people working in our restaurants, who are fundamental to keeping them running successfully. A staggering one in three managers is under 25. We’re showing real crew members in real restaurant situations and letting them do the storytelling. You can see what we see every day in our restaurants, that young people today truly have far more potential than they are often given credit for. Where some see stereotypes, we see potential. The job environment for young people is tough right now, we see young people struggling with a lack of opportunity and we want to address that. We want to show everyone what it is like to work in McDonald’s, highlighting the workplace skills that can be learnt and nurtured. This shows our long-term belief in, and commitment to helping young people across the UK and Ireland to make it with McDonald’s.” 

 

Seven pubs close for every vape shop opened in past decade: Seven pubs have closed for every new vape shop that has opened in the last ten years, research shows. The Telegraph reported Labour has been urged to act because the changing face of high streets is contributing to a “breakdown in community life”. Since 2016, the number of vape and tobacco stores has risen by 245 to nearly 2,200, according to analysis by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) think tank. Meanwhile, Britain is thought to have lost almost 1,800 pubs and bars, equivalent to around seven for every vape shop opened. The think tank released its analysis after a study warned Labour would be “washed away in a tide of discontent” at the next general election unless it tackled the decline of the UK’s town centres. Research by the University of Southampton found people felt high streets had declined more than any other part of their local area over the past decade, owing to the rise of shoplifting and collapse of well-known retailers. Josh Nicholson, the CSJ’s head of housing and communities, said: “Britain’s high streets are changing and not for the better. The government must ensure the upcoming High Streets Strategy contains a plan to clean up the social breakdown wrecking our communities.”

Thai Leisure Group CEO – ‘the government’s policies are a dagger to our heart,’ closes Cambridge site: Ian Leigh, chief executive of Thai Leisure Group, operator of Thaikhun and Chaophraya, has said that the closure of the company’s Cambridge site is a “direct result” of government policies, which have been a “dagger” to the heart of the sector. The company, which currently operates six Chaophraya sites and nine Thaikhun restaurants across the country, recently closed its Thaikhun site in Cambridge’s Quayside. Leigh said: “Rachel Reeves, Sir Keir Starmer, this one’s for you. As a direct result of your policies, we’re having to shut our wonderful restaurant here in Cambridge, and with it, sadly, the loss of 14 jobs. People who I’ve worked with over the last ten years now going. We’ve survived all sorts. We’ve survived soaring utility bills, rising food costs and wafer-thin margins, but your policies are a dagger to our heart. By lowering the national insurance threshold, you didn’t go after the people with the broader shoulders. You went after young people, part time people and a sector on its knees. You went for the easy target. We need your help, and we’re crying out for your help. What we’re asking for is simple. We’d like a reduction in the rate of VAT for our sector. France, Germany, Spain and Ireland, have all got rates of 10% or less in their hospitality sectors. It’s not an unreasonable request. We’re on our knees here. Please listen. You can improve this sector hugely, you can improve employment of young people and you can give the UK economy the huge boost it needs. Please, if you’re talking about working people, then do this for us and do it now.”

 

Hotels in London and Manchester see values fall 3.4% in 2025 due to supply increase and rising costs: Hotels in London and Manchester both saw values fall 3.4% in 2025, according to the annual Hotel Valuation Index (HVI), from global hotel consultancy HVS. The report said despite strong trading fundamentals, new supply coming on stream, coupled with a rise in overheads such as national insurance, minimum wages and property taxes, had led to the reduction. These factors are expected to impact profitability in the short to medium-term. Paris remains top of the chart when it comes to Europe’s most expensive hotels, followed by those in London, Zurich, Rome and Geneva. Overall, European hotel values experienced the most modest increase in value in 2025 since the pandemic – rising 0.2%. Copenhagen saw the highest rise, where strong demand and a slowing of new hotel supply prompted values to increase 5.9%. Identifying some of the trends likely to shape the performance of Europe’s hotel sector this year, the HVI highlighted the issues of overtourism in some markets, the viability of lease agreements as an operating structure and the potential resurgence of inflation because of the Middle East conflict, which could eventually impact the cost of debt.

 

New York City’s proposed $30 minimum wage would be highest in US: New York City has proposed new legislation that would nearly double the citywide minimum wage – which increased to $17 in January – to $30 an hour by 2030 for large businesses and $29 an hour by 2031 for smaller businesses. The Bill is currently being considered by Brooklyn City Council and would affect more than a million workers, reports Nation’s Restaurant News. If passed, New York City would have the highest minimum wage in the US, surpassing cities like Denver, which currently has a minimum wage of $18.81 per hour, Washington DC ($17.95) and Flagstaff, Arizona ($17.85). Many California hospitality workers earn $20 an hour following 2023 legislation that raised the minimum wage for fast-food workers. There have also been proposals in recent months for new minimum wage laws in Maryland and Oklahoma, while a bid to introduce one in Tennessee failed last month.

 

Alcohol-free beer joins goods used to measure inflation: A shift towards healthy living has been reflected in changes to the way inflation is calculated. Alcohol-free beer and hummus are among the items added to the virtual basket of goods and services used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to chart the rising cost of living. The ONS said 0% beer and hummus had been added due to their growing popularity and consumer spending. To make way, bottled premium lager purchased in pubs and restaurants has been removed from the list. The ONS collects the costs of 760 products and services across different retailers to come up with the monthly inflation figures. The items are reviewed every year and selected on the basis they are representative of things that consumers typically spend their money on. “This year, healthier lifestyle choices influence consumer spending, reflected by goods such as hummus and non-alcoholic beer,” said Stephen Burgess, the deputy director for prices at the ONS.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a foodservice business that is seeking a free trade sales manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This is a highly commercial role focused on growing sales, expanding distribution and delivering profitable growth across the free trade channel and the individual will work closely with internal commercial, marketing and operations teams to ensure outstanding service and successful execution of sales initiatives.” The salary is negotiable and the position is based in Leeds. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com.

 

Tilray Brands acquires BrewDog’s US operations: US-based Tilray Brands, which earlier this month acquired the global intellectual property rights of BrewDog, its Aberdeenshire brewery and 11 of its bars in a £33m deal, has completed the acquisition of the Scottish brewer and retailer’s US business. The deal, which follows one for BrewDog’s Australian operation, includes BrewDog’s brewery, pub and hotel in Columbus, Ohio, as well as the pubs in New Albany, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; and Las Vegas, Nevada. Tilray said as one of the largest craft beer brands in Ohio, the acquisition aligns with the company’s “regional jewel strategy”, which emphasises the development of strong local craft brands in their primary markets and the “cultivation of relationships with regional craft beer consumers”. Irwin Simon, chairman and chief executive of Tilray, said: “The acquisition of BrewDog’s key US assets strengthens our US beverage platform and advances our regional craft beer strategy across North America. BrewDog has built a strong following in Ohio and established a highly visible presence in Las Vegas, including a flagship brewpub located on a premier stretch of the Las Vegas Strip. These assets fit squarely within our brewpub model, creating destination-led venues that deepen consumer engagement while providing new opportunities to introduce and sell our broader portfolio of Tilray beverage brands. This transaction reinforces Tilray’s acquisition of BrewDog’s operating assets, building on our previously announced deals in the UK, Ireland and Australia. Tilray now owns the BrewDog brand and its intellectual property worldwide. This positions us to steward the brand's next chapter with a unified strategy and a fully integrated North American brewpub footprint designed to support long term growth and brand strength.” Earlier this month, Simon said Tilray is looking into reopening more UK pubs and reviving the brand’s recently closed distillery in Aberdeenshire. AlixPartners was appointed joint administrators to BrewDog, BrewDog International, BrewDog Retail and Draft House Holding (collectively, BrewDog) in February. 

 

Cupp founder aiming for 200 sites in India after making international debut: Lee Peacock, founder of bubble tea brand Cupp, has said he is aiming for 200 sites in India after the brand made its international debut over the weekend. The company, which signed a development deal for India a year ago this month, kicked off its growth in the country with a launch in Navanirman Nagar Colony, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. Peacock, who founded Cupp in Bristol in 2012 and has grown it to 33 UK locations, said it was a “real pinch me moment”. He said: “Seeing our first store open in India is an incredible feeling. It gave me a similar buzz to when we first launched in the UK; the long journey to opening day, the challenges along the way, and the many hurdles that make the moment you finally open the doors even more special. How far we’ve come and the way the brand has evolved is a true testament to the fantastic team behind it. And of course, a huge thank you to our amazing franchise partners, who believe in the brand, the concept and the vision. This is just the beginning. Next target: 200 stores across India.” The brand posted to social media: “It’s been a long journey to get here, and serving our first international drinks was a beautiful moment for us all. Hyderabad, this is just the beginning.” Earlier this month, Propel reported that Cupp is to launch a new concept store in the town where the brand first opened 14 years ago. Cupp is returning to Bristol this spring to launch a new concept called The Milk Tea Store, “inspired by the drink that started it all – the classic milk tea”.

Harry Goss steps down as head of foodservice at sector investor McWin: Harry Goss has stepped down as partner and head of foodservice at McWin – which backs sector operators including fast-growing bakery brand Gail's, affordable steak concept Flat Iron and Danish-Japanese premium restaurant group Sticks’n’Sushi – Propel has learned. Goss has played a significant part in a number of key sector deals since he joined McWin from Nomura Bank in November 2022, Aside from the aforementioned businesses, Goss also played a part in McWin’s investment in Big Mamma Group and the master franchise deal with global sandwich brand Subway, which will result in the opening of almost 600 new restaurants across France, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg and Belgium. Propel understands that McWin’s foodservice arm is now headed up by Vaibhav Juneja.

 

Costa commits £3.5m investment to Scotland as it reaches 200-store milestone: Costa Coffee is planning a “major expansion” across Scotland, committing more than £3.5m of investment and opening up to ten new stores in 2026. The company said the new stores will create more than 70 jobs and take Costa’s total Scottish retail estate to more than 200 stores, which it said is “a signal of its long-term confidence in Scotland as a key growth market”. The first Scottish store opening of 2026 took place at the end of last month, in Strathkelvin Retail Park, Bishopbriggs. Further opening will include new sites in Edinburgh airport, Princes Street and Pilton Drive in Edinburgh, plus four new stores in Sainsbury’s superstores and a store in Next, Dumbarton. Laura Crow, regional operations director for Scotland and north England at Costa, said: “Scotland is an incredibly important region for Costa, and this £3.5m investment reflects our long-term commitment to growing our footprint here. Reaching more than 200 stores in Scotland is a significant and exciting milestone for us. We’re proud to be investing not only in new locations, but also in enhancing existing stores and creating valuable jobs and careers in communities across the country. We see strong growth opportunities in Scotland.” Last month, Costa announced it is to invest £1.5m on at least four new store openings this year in Wales. At the same time, the brand said it would be increasing pay for more than 16,000 team members across its circa 1,500 UK company-owned stores by 4.1% from 1 April.

 

Notto to open in London’s Baker Street next, co-founders plan to expand Little Sourdough Kitchen: Notto, the pasta bar concept from Phil Howard and Julian Dyer, will next open a site in London’s Baker Street, Propel has learned. Howard and Dyer opened their third Notto location just before Christmas – and first to offer takeaway and click and collect options – in Broadgate, in the City of London. And this is also likely to be the format for the next Notto opening. Howard said: “2026 is a year to focus on our operational efficiencies and bedding in the new Notto concept. Our next site is located in Loxton Walk, Baker Street. We will always look for prime locations with exceptional levels of footfall, and Baker Street offers both business lunches and residential dinner trade. This is very much an offer for people either on the go or stepping out of their workplace for lunch, and our meal deal is working wonders. Hospitality in general has had a very challenging year, and we will think very carefully about plans past Baker Street. We love our two restaurants, but until the conventional restaurant model is proven to be back in favour, we will continue to focus on the quick service restaurant format.” In January, Howard and Dyer also acquired west London artisan bakery Little Sourdough Kitchen. Howard said the pair are planning more openings for the venue, which has been operating for the last eight years in Munster Road, Fulham. He said: “We have refurbished, refreshed, rebranded and evolved the single site to exactly where we want it to be – a seven day a week operation serving outstanding baked goods and wonderful coffee. The focus will now be to both maintain the standards at Munster Road and look to grow the business with further locations in west London.”

 

Doner Shack set to open first US site in May: Doner Shack, the Berlin fast casual kebab brand, is set to open its first US site in May. Doner Shack signed up its first US franchisees – Summet Kainth (Las Vegas) and Hassan Uzzaman (Dallas-Forth Worth) – a year ago this month and has since gone on to sign development deals for 16 US states. Prosper, Texas, has long been earmarked as the first to open – in a shopping centre at the intersection of Teel Parkway and University Drive, near the PGA Golf Resort. Jason Steele, Doner Shack’s chief executive Americas & Europe, said: “Getting ready to serve Texas. The first phase of our Doner Shack Prosper, Texas location is now officially underway. Hoarding is up and the site is beginning to take shape as we prepare to introduce our modern Mediterranean fast-casual concept to the Texas market. Prosper represents an important step in our US growth strategy, with the opening currently projected for late May. Over the next five months, we expect to open the first seven Doner Shack locations across the US as we establish the brand in key markets and build our presence.” The brand’s first international site opened in India in the Bandra West area of Mumbai, at the corner of Linking Road and Waterfield Road, last September.

Heartwood Collection secures first pub with rooms in the West Midlands: Heartwood Collection, the Alchemy Partners-backed business, has entered into an agreement with Solihull Council to transform the former sites of restaurant Missoula and nightclub Luna, on the town’s High Street, into a pub with 25 bedrooms. The site will undergo a multi-million-pound refurbishment, creating 25 bedrooms alongside a landscaped terrace and garden. Called The Muddy Fox, it will become Heartwood’s ninth pub with rooms on opening. It will also be its first pub with rooms in the West Midlands and will take the group’s total room count to almost 300. Heartwood Collection chief executive Richard Ferrier said: “We are delighted to be working with Solihull Council on the transformation of this characterful old coaching inn. We intend to invest significantly in the property with the aim of creating a beautiful pub with rooms that will reopen as The Muddy Fox and once again be a valued part of Solihull’s town centre.” Heartwood Inns will now begin working on a detailed planning application, and if the plans are approved, work is expected to begin later this year. The business, which opened its 35th pub – The Woodman in Southgate, north London – last month, also recently also acquired The Lord Bute, a hotel and restaurant in Highcliffe, Dorset. 

 

Korean food and culture hub concept Oseyo plans north east debut: Korean food and culture hub concept Oseyo is planning to make its debut in the north east, with an opening in Newcastle. The business, which operates 19 sites, including 13 in London, is understood to be planning to open in the Eldon Square shopping centre. Oseyo currently operates two sites in Manchester, plus sites in Guildford, Cambridge, Birmingham and Sheffield. The brand will open its 20th site later this spring, in London’s Liverpool Street station. The concept features traditional Korean cuisine, a fresh ingredients section and a Korean pancake station, as well as non-food items including Korean cosmetics, K-pop albums, stationery and Korean household appliances.

 

Shake Shack to open first halal-friendly UK site with Manchester launch this month: US better burger brand Shake Shack will open its first halal-friendly UK site with a launch in Manchester this month. The site, in the Great Hall area of the Trafford Centre – which opens on Friday, 27 March – also marks the brand’s north west debut. Located in the former Costa Coffee unit, it will have 134 covers indoors. All the meat on the Shake Shack Manchester menu will be halal-certified, including beef and chicken, and, for the first time in the UK, halal bacon. Last month, Propel revealed Shake Shack is set to add a site in Reading to its regional estate. The company is set to take over the unit previously occupied by Thomas Cook in Reading’s Broad Street – part of Hammerson’s Oracle scheme. Shake Shack, which is led in the UK by Richard Franks, currently has 18 sites here, having opened in the former Giraffe Stop premises on the mezzanine level at King’s Cross station in London in November.

 

Dave’s Hot Chicken plans Newcastle opening: Dave’s Hot Chicken, the US brand that is being rolled out in the UK by the Azzurri Group, is lining up an opening in Newcastle. The brand, which recently opened its tenth site in the UK, in Bristol’s Cabot Circus scheme, is set to replace the ASK Italian site in the Eldon Square development. Last September, Azzurri signed an exclusive agreement to roll out the US brand across Europe and develop a minimum of 180 Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurants across ten European countries, including Portugal, Spain and Germany. It has openings lined up in Cardiff’s St Mary Street, Dublin and Liverpool, as it looks to have 15 sites opened here by the end of June. Last week, Propel reported that Azzurri Group is set to explore a potential sale of the UK and European franchise rights for Dave’s Hot Chicken.

 

French patisserie brand Ladurée strengthens London footprint with Broadgate Central launch: French patisserie brand Ladurée, which claims to have invented the double-sided macaroon, has strengthened its London footprint with an opening at the Broadgate Central development. The opening marks an 11th outlet in the UK for the brand and offers Ladurée’s signature range of macarons, pastries, freshly baked viennoiseries, speciality coffee, latte, curated tea and ice cream. Ladurée, which has in excess of 100 boutique stores in more than 20 countries, first came to the UK in 2005. In 2024, the company launched a new café format, Ladurée Café, in London’s Notting Hill. In December, the brand opened its second Mayfair outlet, in South Molton Street. At the time, Ladurée said that outlet and the Broadgate launch “form part of our strategic London expansion, following a period of double-digit growth across several boutique openings and pop-ups”.

Stringfellows plans new Mayfair ‘gentlemen’s club’ club: Iconic Covent Garden ‘gentlemen’s club’ Stringfellows is looking to take on a new Mayfair site. The Standard reports that the Dover Street premises is just a five-minute walk from Green Park station and has sat empty for several years. Stringfellows has submitted a licensing application to Westminster City Council, which if approved, would allow it to open until 6am seven days a week. Objections were filed by authorities including Mayfair Neighbourhood Forum and the Metropolitan Police, which raised concerns around the hours applied for and “the potential this has to have an increase in crime in the area at a time that is consistently difficult to police”. Barrister David Dadds, representing Stringfellows at a council licensing sub-committee meeting this week, said while the hours requested are later than those stipulated under the existing licence, the impact Stringfellows would have on the locality would be less than if the building is turned into a nightclub. A decision is due to be issued by the council early next week.

 

South Asian street food concept Paratha Box opens Edinburgh site: South Asian street food concept Paratha Box has opened its fifth site, in Edinburgh. The business, which launched in Glasgow in 2020, has opened a franchise site in Edinburgh’s Liberton Road. Led by Farrukh Hafeez, Paratha Box currently operates two sites in Glasgow, plus sites in Bradford and Slough. The company said it has further franchise locations in the pipeline in Southampton, Birmingham, London’s Southall and Dundee. The Edinburgh site offers customers both dine-in and takeaway options, with its “signature menu featuring parathas and paratha rolls as well as fusion favourites like pizza parathas, noodles and Desi beverages”. Paratha is a flatbread from the Indian subcontinent that is folded and rolled with ghee, before being shallow-fried.

 

Nightclub operator Glamorous Group to open fourth site: Nightclub operator The Glamorous Group is to open its fourth site, in Nuneaton. The company is set to reopen the former Popworld in the Warwickshire town’s Church Street on Friday, 27 March as Vibe, which will offer “good music, a packed dance floor, a great atmosphere and friendly staff” and be a “place where everyone feels welcome”. The group said: “While Glamorous Group is known for LGBTQIA+ venues across the Midlands, Vibe will be an inclusive space for everyone. Our team has spent years building busy nightlife venues across the Midlands, and we’re excited to bring that experience to Nuneaton.” The company also operates sites in Birmingham, Coventry and Oxford.