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Story of the Day:

Exclusive – Big Table Group to restructure operations, Gareth Lock becomes COO: The Big Table Group – the Epiris-backed operator of Las Iguanas, Bella Italia, Frankie & Benny’s and Banana Tree – is restructuring its operations to “ensure the senior team is focused on the right areas for future growth”, Propel has learned. Propel understands while The Big Table Group continues to trade strongly in some of its brands, particularly Bella Italia, and remains profitable, the group has identified further areas where it can make efficiencies following a review carried out with AlixPartners earlier this year. As a result of continued cost pressures – mainly by government decisions on employment – The Big Table Group started consulting with its teams at the beginning of September on a support centre restructure that has resulted in some redundancies. This process ends this week and the group moves into the new structure from Monday (3 November). The main changes see a movement back to shared resources rather than brand specific ones in some departments, although there will still some separation in some areas of brand marketing. As a result, the group is recruiting a new group marketing director role, reporting to chief executive Alan Morgan. John Baker, currently managing director will focus on “operational execution” across Bella Italia, the leisure division, Amalfi and franchises. Kate Wilton, currently managing director of Banana Tree, will do the same but with added accountability for Las Iguanas. Gareth Lock moves in to the role of chief operating officer, focused on driving performance and efficiencies, specifically in the areas that drive operations such as HR, food and beverage, delivery and central sales. Big Table Group said in addition to the people cost review, it has also realigned expenditure “to be more focused on the areas that drive sales and provide the biggest profit upside”, and was continuing to leverage the benefit of the group to drive maximum efficiency with suppliers and partner spends. Morgan told Propel: “Continuous improvement of efficiency is part of how we operate – not a one-off initiative. As part of our continuous review across our business, we identified opportunities to streamline our support functions mostly through centralising some areas where roles were duplicated across our brands. By not refilling vacancies from earlier in the year and offering voluntary redundancies, we’ve been able to deliver meaningful savings with minimal disruption. Our new structure goes live next week, and I’m incredibly grateful to The Big Table Group team for its professionalism and support throughout. Let’s be clear: the current Labour government has made decisions that have been incredibly damaging to the hospitality industry. We anticipate further challenges ahead, as this government appears to consistently deliver bad news to businesses. These policy choices are forcing companies like ours to make difficult decisions to manage the ongoing cost pressures.”

Industry News:

Former Ratner’s CEO Gerald Ratner to speak at final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, open for bookings: Gerald Ratner, former chief executive of jewellery firm Ratner’s, will be among the speakers at the final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, which is open for bookings. Ratner, whose business had 2,500 stores during his tenure, described an item it sold for an affordable price as “rubbish” – it cost him his job. He will talk about the mistakes he has made, the role of resilience and overcoming adversity to find success again. The all-day conference takes place on Wednesday, 5 November, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London’s Kensington. 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 updated Multi-Site Database and videos from Culture, Talent & Training Conference on Friday: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database on Friday (31 October), at 12pm. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,474 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 1,001 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 798 (23%) pub and bar operators, 602 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 487 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 283 (8%) hotel operators, 229 (7%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 20 new companies. The database includes new companies in the pub and bar sector such as London wine bar Passione Vino, which is set to open a new location later in 2025. Premium Club subscribers will also receive all the videos from the Culture, Talent & Training Conference on Friday, at 9am. They include Karen Turton, founder of Purple Story, talking to Nickie Bartsch, people director at Honest Burgers, Amanda Smyth, people director at ETM Group, and Daryl Sutcliffe, head of talent acquisition at The Restaurant Group, about the challenges of building a culture in a fast-growing business across multiple concepts and multiple locations. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five additional databases: the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, 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 group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Hospitality businesses urged to ‘act now’ on new anti-terror measures: Hospitality businesses have been urged to “act now” on new anti-terror measures and not wait until the end of two-year window to enact changes. Martyn's Law, named in memory of a victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, received Royal Assent in April, introducing new duties for premises and events to improve public safety. Locations with a capacity of 200 or more must have clear procedures for lockdown, invacuation, evacuation and communication, while larger venues for 800 or more must also assess vulnerabilities, strengthen physical security and maintain a written security plan. For hospitality, any venue that can hold more than 200 people will be required to prepare for these measures within two years of the law taking effect. The full statutory guidance is expected to be published in the coming months. Campaigner Figen Murray, mother of Martyn Hett, who the law is named after, said: “This is about using common sense and taking responsibility, not spending huge amounts of money or turning venues into fortresses. Whether you’re a small independent operator or a major chain, there are simple things you can do right now that make a real difference, like making sure staff know what to do in an emergency, reviewing evacuation plans or proactively talking to your landlords or local authorities. Every business has a duty to protect its customers and its staff, and the time to act is now.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a restaurant in the heart of London that is looking for a head chef. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This is a chance to shape the culinary direction of a flagship site. The head chef will be a creative leader, passionate about vibrant food.” The salary is up to £60,000. For more information, email olly@corecruitment.com

Company News:

McDonald’s – 2025 has proven to be a landmark year for our restaurant development in the UK: Mike Spencer, McDonald’s UK & Ireland’s vice president of development, has said 2025 has proven to be a “landmark year” for the brand’s restaurant development here. He said this was perfectly illustrated by three new restaurant openings last week – including one in Central London from Claude Abi-Gerges, one of the brand’s biggest UK franchisees. The new restaurant, in Monument, was a 45th opening for Abi-Gerges’ Capital Arches business, which has an annual turnover of more than £182m. Carol Rogerson, whose Direct Dialog Visual business operates more than 20 restaurants across Suffolk and Norfolk, also opened a new location in Norwich, while Midlands franchisee Ash Raju added a third restaurant to his fledgling Endeavour Restaurants business. Spencer said: “It was a bumper day for new restaurant openings last Wednesday, with three new sites across the UK welcoming customers in for the first time. In London, Claude Abi-Gerges and his Capital Arches Group proudly opened the doors to the brand-new Monument restaurant in the City of London. This was one of our more complex acquisitions in recent years, and it’s fantastic to see it now trading in such a high-profile location, serving commuters and city workers with speed and convenience. In Norwich, franchisee Carol Rogerson celebrated the opening of her latest restaurant in Mousehold Lane, Norwich, bringing new jobs and modern dining experiences to the local community. And in Bridgnorth, Ash Raju continued his investment in the region with a new site on Stourbridge Road, Bridgnorth, expanding access to McDonald’s for even more customers. I’ve said that 2025 would be a landmark year for our restaurant development, and last week was a clear example of that vision in action. From a compact 20-seat site in Monument to high-capacity drive-thru’s in Norwich and Bridgnorth, we’re building restaurants that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, while creating meaningful employment opportunities across the country.” Abi-Gerges, born in Cambridge to immigrant parents from France, founded Capital Arches in 2016 after completing a degree in aviation but deciding to forego a career as a pliot to build a McDonald’s empire, which last year turned over £182,415,814. Rogerson founded Direct Dialog Visual in 2014 following 20 years with a customer call service company, and her business last year turned over £93,107,175. Raju, meanwhile, is a former regional operations manager and director of franchising for McDonald’s who founded Endeavour Restaurants in 2022 after deciding to become a franchisee.

Tim Lowther steps down as general manager for Carl’s Jr in Europe: Tim Lowther has stepped down as general manager for Carl’s Jr in Europe. Lowther spent six and a half years in the role, more than doubling the brand’s footprint in Europe and launching it into the UK. His previous roles include managing director of Smashburger, head of operation UK north for Five Guys, business manager UK for Shake Shack and franchise recruitment manager north west Europe for Burger King. He also spent ten years with SSP in various roles including international brand development manager, brand operations manager and global operations manager for chicken and pizza brand. “Well that’s a wrap! My time at Carl’s Jr has come to end, and as I sit here in Malta with my family on a well earned holiday, a chance to reflect with pride on the many achievements we made over the last 6.5 years, including more than doubling our footprint in Europe from 35 to nearly 100 restaurants as well as launching in the UK,” Lowther said. “But above all, I am proud and honoured to have worked with a fabulous international team and amazing EU franchise partners and have made lasting friendships and alliances in all four corners of the globe. I leave the business with very firm foundations and will be watching with pride as the brand continues to grow here in Europe and around the globe. As I take a short break to recharge, I’m looking forward to exploring executive, advisory and NED opportunities where I can help brands grow, scale and create lasting value.” Carls Jr, which has more than 1,000 sites globally, made its UK debut earlier this year with an opening in Cardiff, and last month added a second site, in Swansea. The brand, which is being rolled out here by Boporan Restaurant Group (BRG), has also lined up an opening in Southampton and also plans to open in Bristol, Manchester, York and Leeds this year. Lowther said before entering the UK that he saw the potential for 300 Carls Jr sites here in the long term, while BRG plans to open 100 within the next five years.

Heavenly Desserts opens in Pakistan for third international market, Germany set to become fourth: Artisan dessert restaurant Heavenly Desserts has opened in Pakistan for its third international market, with Germany set to become the fourth. The company, which has 63 UK sites, earlier this year opened a second location in Canada, its first international market, with two more in the pipeline there. Heavenly Desserts then signed a 50-plus store development deal for India with Bhatia Group, for a roll out that will include flagship and franchise outlets across 20-plus Indian cities, starting with Delhi. Heavenly Desserts has now opened at the Dolmen Mall in Lahore, in Pakistan, with Hamburg in Germany up next. “Wrapping up the month with some more good news – the opening of our third international market in Lahore, Pakistan,” said Yousif Aslam, the brand’s co-founder and managing director. “Now open in the beautifully designed Dolmen Mall. A special thank you to our franchise partners and our teams for bringing this project to life with hard work and resilience. And the icing on the cake? Our second location is already in the works, with an announcement coming soon. Next up, Hamburg, Germany.” Wesley Williams, Heavenly Desserts’ global operations manager, told Propel in April that the company would kickstart its international expansion this year with openings in Canada, Germany, Pakistan and India. He said its plans for Canada were a particular focus, and that it is confident it can open 60-plus locations there by 2030. Since the summer, Heavenly Desserts has opened new UK locations in Bedford, Basildon, Wembley and Manchester, and is due to launch at Unit 5, Forge Island in Rotherham on Saturday (1 November).

Arc Inspirations makes London debut: Arc Inspirations, the premium bar operator, has made its London debut. The company has invested £4m to launch Box Piccadilly, a 7,200 square-foot venue in Shaftesbury Avenue that is spread across three floors and showcases live sporting events. There is a range of competitive socialising games on the mezzanine level, including electric darts and shuffleboard, plus three Superbox karaoke rooms spread across the ground and basement floors, which can also be used for private events. Live music runs every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday on the ground and basement floors, and Box’s signature Bandeoke event, where guests can sing on stage with a live band, takes place every Thursday night. Co-founder and chief executive Martin Wolstencroft said: “It has been months of hard work from the team to get us to this point, and opening Box is a very proud moment for our team.” Earlier this month, Wolstencroft told Propel that the launch in London “opens up other opportunities for the business such as rolling out in other areas of London, in Europe or partnering with hotels”. The London site joins six other Box locations – in Leeds city centre, Birmingham, Headingley, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester. Arc Inspirations, which is backed by Business Growth Fund, operates 20 sites across its Box, Banyan and Manahatta formats.

Chick-fil-A tests its first 24-hour vending machine: US brand Chick-fil-A, which made its debut site in Northern Ireland earlier this year as it begins its return to these shores, has tested its first 24-hour vending machine. The machine operates around the clock, except on Sundays, at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia, reports USA Today. The machine offers grab-and-go items such as the Chick-fil-A Cool Wrap ($8.49), the Southwest Veggie Wrap ($7.99) and two Waffle Potato Chip flavours ($2.19). A company spokesman said the machine “seeks to provide a convenient option for hospital employees and visitors on the go”. It comes after Chick-fil-A last week opened its first site in England since 2019. Chick-fil-A opened on the former Clarks unit in Commercial Street in Leeds last Thursday (23 October). The brand will also open single sites in Liverpool and London, the latter in Kingston. Propel understands that the brand is in talks to take the former Goldsmiths jewellery store in Liverpool’s Church Street.

Guinness to open new brewery experience in London in December: Guinness will open its new brewery experience in London in December. Guinness Open Gate Brewery will officially launch on Thursday, 11 December and will be open to visitors “to experience the magic of its new home in the nation’s capital”. The new 54,000 square-foot venue will be located on the site of the historic Old Brewer’s Yard in London’s Covent Garden and will offer an immersive tour experience led by master brewer, Hollie Stephenson, with guests able to sample a range of rotating, limited-edition craft brews and seasonal specials, including non-stout varieties and low-alcohol options. There will be two restaurants, led by chef Pip  Lacey, called Gilroy’s Loft and Porter’s Table. Gilroy’s Loft, with a horseshoe bar centrepiece, will space “celebrates the best of Britain’s coast” with a menu featuring line-caught fish and freshly shucked, native oysters, served in a rooftop location with skyline views across London. The Porter’s Table will have a sharing menu with locally sourced ingredients at its heart, with meat coming from trusted producers across the country and aged locally in west London, fish caught in British waters and vegetables grown in London’s neighbouring counties. Old Brewers Yard, a ground-level courtyard space, will feature the main bar and handmade pies by chef Calum Franklin and will host events and pop-ups. Deb Caldow, Guinness Great Britain’s marketing director, said: “The Guinness Open Gate Brewery London has been years in the making, and we’re thrilled that the moment has almost arrived. We consider this Guinness’ home in the UK. It will be a place to celebrate heritage, embrace innovation and invite visitors to discover new flavours, experiences and stories.”

Omniplex secures second Scottish site: Omniplex Cinema Group, Ireland’s largest cinema company, has secured its second Scottish site. The company is to reopen the former Cineworld in Glasgow's Renfrew Street, which closed in September. The venue – believed to be the tallest cinema in the world – will become an Omniplex and resume screening films next year after “a major upgrade” has taken place. Ominiplex said the plans would involve “a significant investment to deliver a premium experience for film fans” and include recliner-seat auditoriums with upgraded laser projection and sound, as well as three giant OmniplexMaxx screens. A 23-foot airstream trailer called Joe’s Food Truck, serving food and drink, will also be part of the new cinema. Omniplex director Paul John Anderson said: “The Renfrew Street cinema is one of Glasgow’s most iconic cultural landmarks and a cornerstone of the wider UK cinema industry. Steeped in entertainment history, from the site’s early days as Green’s Playhouse and later the Apollo to what now sits in its place as the tallest cinema in the world, this venue holds a special place in the hearts of many moviegoers. We are proud to be welcoming this historic site into the Omniplex family.” Omniplex currently has 47 locations across the UK and Ireland. The Renfrew Street building opened in 2001, under the branding of UGC. Cineworld then took over UGC's operations in 2005.

Thesleff Group to open new Japanese restaurant in London’s Mayfair: Thesleff Group – which operates Central London restaurants including Los Mochis, Sale e Pepe, and Juno Omakase – is to open a new Japanese restaurant in London’s Mayfair. Opening in January at 30 Upper Grosvenor Street in the former Ruya premises, MA/NA will be a 156-cover restaurant and bar serving refined Japanese dishes alongside a cocktail, wine and sake list. Executive chef Leo Tanyag will lead a menu including Ebi Wasabi (tiger shrimp tempura with creamy wasabi), Edamame Aburi (teriyaki edamame with black truffles), Kani Tartare Salad (king crab, Asian leaves, yuzu masago, pink peppercorns, espelette chilli, truffle ponzu and caviar pearls), and Avocado Aburi (robata-seared avocado with asparagus, mushrooms and spicy mayo baked in a flaming shell). There will also be a private dining room for up to 20 guests and an open wine room and sommelier station for four seated guests. As dinner draws to a close, MA/NA will evolve into a contemporary cocktail bar featuring resident DJs. Markus Thesleff, founder and chief executive of Thesleff Group, said: “I have a love for Asia; my father was born in Japan and my grandfather was Finnish ambassador to the country, so I have the utmost respect for Japanese culture and ritual. You can see this philosophy running through every detail at MA/NA, from the food to the furnishings.” The group, which will next month launch a new Italian dining concept at The Langham in Mayfair called Sale e Pepe Mare, secured a debut US site in September after agreeing to take space at the One Beverly Hills retail and dining development in Los Angeles. David Rawlinson, of Restaurant Property, acted on behalf of the seller on the Upper Grosvenor Street deal.

Wagamama opens new Liverpool restaurant: Wagamama, The Restaurant Group-owned brand, has opened a new restaurant in Liverpool. The new store, in the Shopping Park at Edge Lane, has 134 internal covers and 22 external covers. The most popular dish on opening day on Monday (27 October) was chicken katsu curry, with 650 being sold on the day. Open daily, the restaurant has created 45 jobs, and brings Wagamama’s total to 168 restaurants across the UK. Earlier this month, Wagamama made its return to Northern Ireland after the closure of its two sites in the country this summer. The brand closed its sites in Belfast’s Victoria Square and Dundonald in August, but Wagamama has now reopen the former as a company-owned site.

New opening target revealed for Stack’s delayed £12m Northampton venture: A new opening target has been revealed for leisure venue operator Stack’s delayed Northampton venture. The £12m project to transform the former Market Walk shopping centre into a Stack venue is now expected to begin in January 2026, according to West Northamptonshire Council. An initial start date was set for summer 2024, with a planned summer 2025 opening, but the council has now said the project will not be completed until winter 2026, meaning it may not open until 2027, reports the Northampton Chronicle. Cllr James Petter, cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure at West Northamptonshire Council, said: “As with any major regeneration scheme, dates are always indicative and subject to change. Both teams are working hard to bring this project forward, and we’re confident that Stack Northampton will be worth the wait.” In August, Stack admitted the project had been “a little ambitious” with its timescales. West Northamptonshire Council is supporting the development with £4.175m from the town’s funds alongside £8m from Stack, with the project due to create 250 jobs. Northampton is one of several new Stack locations has planned, alongside sites in Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Carlisle, Durham, Bishop Auckland and Whitley Bay. In August, Stack secured new funding from Westbrooke Alternative Asset Management UK to support its plans to roll out nationwide. Stack currently operates three sites across the north east – Seaburn in Sunderland, Middlesbrough and St James’ Stack in collaboration with Newcastle United – along with Stack Lincoln. A second Tyneside site – Stack Newcastle – is due to open this autumn at the city’s Worswick Chambers.

Trading Post Coffee Roasters certified as carbon neutral: Sussex coffee house company Trading Post Coffee Roasters has been certified as a carbon neutral business. This means the company has measured, reduced and offset its greenhouse gas emissions across its operations, from sourcing and roasting to packaging and delivery. The company has conducted a comprehensive emissions audit of all its operations, introduced further efficiency measures in its roasting, energy use and waste-management, partnered with credible offset programmes to neutralise residual emissions, and reinforced its existing sustainable sourcing practices. It will follow this by setting new targets to reduce absolute emissions across its operations, expand its use of circular-economy practices, continue to partner with growers and producers who share its values of regenerative agriculture, biodiversity and fair labour standards, and encourage transparent reporting on environmental performance. Ryan Deol, head of wholesale at Trading Post Coffee Roasters, said: "Sustainability has always been at the core of what we do. Achieving carbon-neutral certification is a proud moment for our team and our community, but it's really just the beginning. We believe that great coffee and great climate responsibility must go together.” Trading Post operates ten sites across Brighton and the wider Sussex area.

Contract caterer Thomas Franks exploring new opportunities in sports and leisure stadia, turnover reaches £100m: Contract caterer Thomas Franks – which provides catering services to offices, schools, care homes and fine dining restaurants – has said it is exploring new opportunities in sports and leisure stadia after its turnover reached £100m in the year to 30 September 2024. The company’s revenue grew from £77,468,504 in 2023 to £99,851,936. Its pre-tax profit increased from £998,686 in 2023 to £2,348,863. The business operated a branch in Switzerland during the year and set up subsidiaries to begin trading in Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Canada and the Czech Republic. It also transferred its Scottish business to a new subsidiary, Thomas Franks Scotland. Director Lorraine Wright said: “The group has seen an impressive increase in turnover due to another year of strong sales growth. This includes expansion into geographical areas like London and Europe and in the business and industry sector. The group has also entered into the contract cleaning sector and continues to explore new opportunities in the sports and leisure stadia sector. With the expansion of its training and development department, the business now offers an extensive range of training and development programmes, as well as apprenticeship schemes. These are now delivered regionally rather than centrally and include bespoke leadership training at both entry level and at an advanced level.” The company’s employee turnover fell year on year by 2% (Dec 2023 to Dec 2024) and remains more than 20% below industry average. Its gender pay gap fell year on year by 1% and its flight risk in 2024 was 11% (industry average 40%).

Exclusive Collection publishes latest impact report as it celebrates B Corp recertification with 17.5% score increase: Exclusive Collection, which operates eight luxury hotels and spas across the UK, is celebrating its B Corp recertification with a 17.5% score increase. The UK’s first B Corp-certified hotel group, Exclusive Collection has published its latest impact report, with key highlights from the year including launching a biophilic lodge development featuring a wild swimming lake, and a 17.7% decrease in total kilowatt-hour and a 3.30% reduction in water usage, saving 3,550 cubic metres of water. The group achieved a B Corp score of 94.4, up from 80.3 – including a 14% improvement in worker wellness and inclusion, a 22% growth in local sourcing and charitable giving and a 28% increase in sustainable practices. The group is now looking to become carbon positive on Scope 1 and 2 by 2026. Managing director Danny Pecorelli said: “The foundations we put down when we became a B Corp in 2021 are taking root now. These early initiatives gave us a baseline that now enables us to track and measure progress, making our sustainability ambitions through to 2027 fully quantifiable. We’ve got a clear roadmap, and it’s led us to a fantastic new score of 94.4. This huge increase is testament to our brilliant team that lives our values and use our business as a force for good every day.” Earlier this month, Exclusive Collection reported an increase in pre-tax profit for the year to 30 March 2025, on the back of its ongoing investment programme across its estate. The company posted turnover of £67,453,795 (2024: £64,277,743), Ebitda of £9.2m (2024: £8.0m) and a pre-tax profit of £3,255,417 (2024: £2,248,533) during the period.

Owner of The Mantl in London’s Knightsbridge set to open a new Turkish restaurant in Mayfair: The owner of The Mantl in London’s Knightsbridge is to open a new Turkish restaurant in Mayfair. Serdar Demir will next month launch Chargal, a new three-storey dining destination at 11 Berkeley Street, where he will “blend Turkish heritage with refined Mediterranean flair”. There will be a ground-floor mezze level, a first-floor dining space and a basement lounge. At the heart of the concept lies open-fire cooking, with the kitchen’s oak-charcoal flames producing “refined interpretations of Turkish classics”, including the signature wagyu iskender, crafted with premium wagyu beef. Other highlights will include grilled halloumi doughnuts and kuru cacık, a modern interpretation of the traditional yoghurt-cucumber dish. Demir said: “It’s almost my interpretation of Turkish cuisine, reflecting my journey of being Turkish-born and raised between two cultures in the UK, combining the authenticity of traditional Turkish flavours with the contemporary presentation and refinement of European dining.”

Zaza grows its revenue and turnover: Zaza, which operates seven Italian restaurants across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and north and west London, grew its revenue and turnover in the year to 30 September 2024. The company’s turnover increased from £11,298,574 in 2023 to £11,647,327, while its pre-tax profit was up from £598,206 to £776,339. Dividends of £300,000 were paid (2023: nil). Director Fernando Pacelli said: “During the year under review, the company experienced a modest growth in sales, and despite challenging market conditions, managed an increase in profit. Costs of wages and social security payments rose as per expectations, reflecting efforts to retain and motivate staff. Wages costs increased to £5,152,232 in 2024, up from £4,846,250 in 2023. Despite the challenges, the company's profit margins remained stable due to strong operational efficiencies and a strategic focus on managing overheads and direct costs. Measures have been put in place to enable the company to continue growing in future and increase gross margin and the resultant effect on profit. There was an increase in net profit compared to the previous year due to reduced costs, and despite increasing wages.”

London Thai restaurant Som Saa to reopen next month following six-month fire closure: Som Saa, the London Thai restaurant from Andy Oliver and Mark Dobbie, will reopen on Tuesday, 11 November following a closure due to a kitchen fire in May. The team has used the hiatus as an opportunity to travel, research and develop an evolved food and drink offering at the Spitalfields venue, as well as refining some of its signature dishes. New additions of lemongrass salad with squid, pork and cashew nuts and salted beef and fresh bamboo braised in coconut cream will sit alongside returning favourites. For the first time, Som Saa will introduce a dedicated bar snacks menu, featuring dishes such as pickled mango with fried shrimp paste relish and rice crackers with grilled cockles and chilli jam. A specials section will also debut, and the drinks programme is also being revitalised, with the non-alcoholic offering expanded to include made-to-order, zero-proof cocktails, premium cold brew sparkling tea, and house-made kombuchas, infused with ingredients such as palm sugar, galangal and mandarin. Oliver said: “The fire and resulting period of closure have been very challenging, but the silver lining of this is that we've been able to reflect on how Som Saa has developed and matured since opening nearly ten years ago. The Thai food scene in London has come a long way since then.” Oliver and Dobbie are also behind Kolae, which opened in 2023 in Borough Market and showcases southern Thai cooking.

Devon holiday cottage business owners open ‘county’s smallest pub’: Paul and Debbie Turner, owners of Devon holiday cottage business Compton Pool Holiday Cottages, have opened what they said is the county’s smallest pub. The Turners have owned Compton Pool Holiday Cottages, which offers ten cottages set in 14 acres between Torquay and Paignton, since 2021. They have now opened The Gropers Arms, which they believe to also be one of the smallest licensed pubs in England. Created inside what was a reception and ice cream parlour, the pub measures just 2.3 metres by 3.3 metres, with a 140cm bar. The pub seats ten guests inside and around 20 more on a terrace overlooking landscaped gardens and fishing lakes. Named after its location in Gropers Lane, the pub serves small-batch Devon spirits, local wine and craft ale, with simple food options such as cooked breakfasts, pizzas and smash burgers being introduced soon.

West Midlands Safari Park reports record turnover of £26m, pays £5m in dividends: West Midlands Safari Park, owned by Looping Group, reported record turnover of £26m for the year to 30 September 2024 and paid £5m in dividends. The company’s turnover grew from £25,556,384 in 2023 to £26,146,812. Of this, £17,973,830 came from admissions and accommodation (2023: £17,651,928), £3,291,404 from retail (2023: £3,294,238) and £4,881,578 from catering (2023: £4,610,218). The company’s pre-tax profit dropped from £7,411,591 to £7,014,653. Director Laurent Bruloy said: “In July 2024, four new African Wild Dog lodges were successfully opened, along with a new animal house and exhibit. This brought the total number of lodges up to 30, and demand remained strong across all lodges through the year. Unfortunately, we were hit with some construction delays on the four Hippo Lodges and had to delay the opening of these lodges until December 2024. The year was impacted by customers still feeling the impact of cost of living and the colder weather over the summer period. There was strong competition in the market place to attract customers with discounts and offers as customers were looking for deals and value for money. There was some benefit in lower energy prices as prices returned to a more normal level, but this was largely offset by increasing wage costs and inflation impacting animal food and bedding. Planning permission has been prepared for a further four lodges at the park.” Dividends of £4,999,995 were paid (2023: nil).

Staff at employee-owned Bristol noodle concept launch £70,000 fundraiser to ‘find a new home and rebuild’: The staff at employee-owned Bristol noodle concept Daily Noodles have launched a £70,000 fundraiser to “find a new home and rebuild” after losing its St Nicholas Market site “through no fault on our own”. As well as the market site, Daily Noodles has a location in the city’s Wapping Wharf plus a central kitchen. The staff said the funds would pay the deposit on a new space, fit out and decorate the site, cover the first month’s rent and restart operations. They said: “Since December 2024, we have proudly operated as an employee-owned business. When one of our former directors left to return to his legal career, the other director transferred the business to us, the team. Together, we built something special: a food business where every worker has a real stake in its success. The St Nicholas Market site operated under a licence still held by a former director who left. For more than six months, we tried to transfer it to one of our new directors, but despite repeated requests to the council, nothing happened. Then, in August, we arrived to find the locks had been changed and we were told to remove our equipment. At first, we thought the council had acted but later learned it was the former director himself. It was devastating. Losing access meant losing the heart of what we had built, and a main source of income that sustained our team and business. We’ve since learned that the former director plans to reopen there on his own, which has been incredibly difficult to accept, but we’re not ready to give up. We’re determined to rebuild and find a new home – a site with both indoor and outdoor seating, where we can trade all year round. A space that gives us the stability and spirit we need to keep growing. Without a new site soon, our business will not survive. That would mean closing our doors for good – ending an employee-owned venture that gives local people the chance to share directly in the success of their work.” The fundraise is live on Crowdfunder and has 70 days left.

Scottish distillery Eden Mill opens new distillery and visitor centre: Scottish distillery Eden Mill has opened its new distillery and visitor centre. The multimillion-pound site on the banks of the Eden Estuary, just outside St Andrews, offers immersive gin and whisky tours, shop exclusive bottlings in the retail space and panoramic views from The Lookout – a top floor, 40-seat cocktail bar with views across the water towards the St Andrews skyline. The distillery, powered entirely by renewable energy, also features a golf simulator. Euan Kinninmonth, brand home manager at Eden Mill, said: “The vision was to create a distillery and visitor centre that would celebrate the town’s rich distilling heritage, highlighting St Andrews as a must-visit destination for spirits tourism. I’m delighted to say that this vision is now a reality. It’s a landmark moment.”