Bill's MD – ‘phenomenal start to a big year for the business’, ‘opportunity to take kiosk format to the high street’: Tom James, managing director of Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant group, has told Propel that the business has had a “phenomenal start” to what is a significant year for the business, in a market that has “never been more polarised”. The company, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, recently opened its largest site to date, and its 49th, at Westfield Stratford, with a transport debut at Heathrow airport, partnering with Avolta, to follow next month. James said: “The sector has never been more polarised. Some people are doing really, really well, and that's great to hear. But there are quite a few in the middle ground, or the bottom end of the scale. For us, fortunately, it has been a phenomenal start to the year. The core estate is trading more than 5% growth for the year. That’s cover growth as well. We’ve not dropped any big discounts or taken significant price. I think one of the lessons of the last two years is, if you’re not fighting on every front, then you can very quickly fall behind; it doesn't take much of a dip to lose momentum.” James said the business has “really invested” in the travel hub space – a project that it has been working on for two years. He said: “I think Bill’s naturally sits in that space. We’re adding features that we haven't done before, such as the Bill’s On Board, which is a kiosk format. So, if you want a meal to take on the flight, you can order one and get a quick delivery. It can work as stand-alone as well, and we are wondering whether there's an opportunity to take that to the high street.” On further expansion, James said there’s a number of cities where the brand is not currently and “where we'd love to be”. He said: “Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool, Bristol and Oxford are sort of priorities for us, and London. London's been trading so well for us for two years and there are areas we’re not currently in.” James talks to Propel chief operating officer – editorial, Mark Wingett in this week’s Premium Opinion – which will be sent to Premium Club subscribers today (Friday, 6 March) at 5pm – on the group’s data-led approach, the need for customisation, the brand’s biggest menu overhaul in five years, the strength of its people training and its international plans. 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.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database today: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers today (Friday, 6 March), at noon. The database will show the details of 141 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. The database will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published monthly, and Premium Club subscribers will also receive a 9,156-word report on the 141 new additions to the database. It is segmented into seven categories – cafe bakery, casual dining, experiential leisure, fine dining, hotels, pubs and bars, and quick service restaurants – making it even easier for users to search. The database includes new openings in the pubs and bars sector such as The Latimer, opening in London, Irish-themed bar concept Katie O’Brien’s, lining up openings in Manchester and Barnsley, and restaurant and wine bar group Forza Wine, opening its new Central London site in Soho. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel chief operating officer – editorial, Mark Wingett, and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can 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.

 

International Women’s Day takeover of Friday Opinion and Premium Opinion: Today (Friday, 6 March), Propel celebrates International Women’s Day with a special takeover of our Friday Opinion and Premium Opinion columns – shining the spotlight on some of the sector’s many impressive and influential female leaders. In Friday Opinion, which will be sent out at 11am, London restaurateur Zoe Paskin calls for a peer group for female leaders in hospitality, Signature Group director of sales and marketing Louise MacLean explores how leadership is being redefined in hospitality, Genuine Restaurants Group co-founder Fanny Stocker looks at the progress women have made in the sector since she began her career, Mayfair Chippy head of brand and partnerships Katie Welch explains how the industry depends on qualities many women lead with instinctively, and The Sloane Club managing director Neena Jivraj-Stevenson reflects on the legacy of an institution created as a sanctuary for women returning from the First World War. In Premium Opinion, which will be sent to Premium Club subscribers at 5pm, Lucky Saint managing director Emma Heal explores confidence building, WatchHouse managing director Caroline Ottoy reflects on four decades in hospitality leadership, former Hawksmoor chief growth and culture officer Ceri Gott looks at the extraordinary amount ordinary women are giving, and Be Inclusive Hospitality founder Lorraine Copes reflects on the power of generosity, particularly the kind expressed through words. 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. 

 

In Conversation – International Women's Day special: In the latest In Conversation podcast, to mark International Women's Day, Propel chief operating officer – editorial, Mark Wingett, talks to Shereen Ritchie, formerly of Leon and Buns from Home and co-founder of Boardwalk, the not-for-profit organisation providing senior women in the hospitality sector with outstanding, professional and exceptional mentoring to maximise their readiness for their first board role; Stonegate Group chief executive and Boardwalk mentor David McDowall; and Brava Hospitality Group marketing director and Boardwalk mentee Naddy Onions. Available today (Friday, 6 March) at 3pm to Premium subscribers, they discuss the role Boardwalk is playing, the importance of confidence and role models, the continued challenges faced by women building careers in hospitality and what more the sector needs to do support and develop female leaders. 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. 

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a five-star hotel in Cyprus that is seeking a food and beverage manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This position is a 50/50 split between strategic administration and high-impact operational leadership. The position will be the catalyst for a cultural shift in service quality across all outlets – from the casual elegance of the poolside and snacking operation to the precision of their fine dining and high-stakes restaurant.” The salary is up to €50,000. For more information, email Beatrice@corecruitment.com.

 

The Breakfast Group founder hoping to open ‘many, many’ Laki Kane bars despite ‘enormous’ headwinds impacting late-night sector: Eric Yu, founder of restaurant bar group The Breakfast Group, has told Propel he hopes to open “many, many” Laki Kane bars following its joint venture with the immersive tropical cocktail and rum experience despite the “enormous” headwinds impacting the late-night sector. The move will see The Breakfast Group relaunch Burlock Bar in London’s Oxford Street – one of ten sites it operates across the capital and Birmingham – as Laki Kane. The relaunch will position Laki Kane, which was based in Covent Garden, in “a more elevated, late-night focused direction – building on its strong foundations while introducing a more club-driven offer”. Yu told Propel: “The Oxford Street site is much more suited because it’s a bigger space and on one floor – it’s a good fit. If it is a success, which we are sure it will be, we will make more of it. We’re hoping this will be the first of many, many sites. Georgi Radev, the founder of Laki Kane, will be heading up the operation and we are now in the process of trying to find new ways in which to communicate old concepts such as happy hour or Industry nights or even a cocktail masterclass with Georgi.” Yu said future growth opportunities would come through a mix of new openings and rebranding venues “that might benefit from a refresh”. Yu said trading has been “tough” and expects it to remain so as a wave of cost increases lands on the sector, including rises in business rates and labour. However, he stressed he was “not really one to wait around for things to improve”, adding: “You’ve got to make your own destiny, quite frankly.” Alongside organic growth and concept development, Yu is also open to acquiring other bar brands. “Some conversations [are happening] right now, but nothing immediately,” he said. “There’s always conversations going on around that.”

 

Black Sheep Coffee to open first site in Nottingham for East Midlands debut: Speciality coffee operator Black Sheep Coffee is to open its first site in Nottingham for its East Midlands debut. The brand will open a flagship store in Clumber Street on Thursday, 19 March – the first launch under a new development agreement that will see a minimum of eight stores open across the county. Spanning 2,000 square feet and with seating for 90, the Clumber Street site will be developed by existing Black Sheep Coffee franchise partners Luke Underhill and James Pascoe under their Future D2C business, following the recent opening of their first site at Chantry Place, Norwich. The new site will be followed by four to five additional stores across Nottingham itself, followed by further expansion into Nottinghamshire, including retail parks and drive-thru locations. Underhill said: “We’re excited to bring Black Sheep Coffee to Nottingham. Clumber Street is one of the city’s best high-footfall locations, and we know the people here value quality, character and flavour – just like we do.”

 

Lunar Pub Company hires advisors to review options: Lunar, the London pub company from Hubert Beatson-Hird and Oliver Marlowe, has appointed advisors to review its funding options, Propel has learned. The three-strong Lunar is understood to be working with FRP Advisory, with offers for the business believed to be sought by next Friday (13 March). Lunar was founded in 2018 with the launch of The Hunter’s Moon in South Kensington. In September 2021, the group opened its second site, The Ganymede in Belgravia, and last summer, chef Anthony Demetre teamed up with Beatson-Hird to open The Elizabeth on the Ganymede site in a grade II-listed Victorian townhouse. In the spring of 2023, Lunar opened its third site in the capital, in Clapham Old Town. Located at 13-19 Old Town, the 2,000 square-foot Apollo Arms site accommodates up to 100 covers inside, with an additional 70 outside in the alfresco garden terrace. 

 

Bubble tea brand Cupp to launch new concept store: Bubble tea brand Cupp is to launch a new concept store in the town where the brand first opened 14 years ago. Cupp was founded in Bristol in 2012 by Lee Peacock and has since grown to circa 33 UK locations, and with an international debut in India on its way. It is now returning to Bristol to this spring launch a new concept called The Milk Tea Store. The company posted to social media: “In 2012 we launched Cupp in Bristol with one goal: to bring authentic, quality led bubble tea to the UK. This spring,we’re coming back to where it all began. We’re proud to be opening a brand-new concept store, exclusive to our home city of Bristol – our way of saying thank you. Introducing The Milk Tea Store, our first large café style Cupp experience, inspired by the drink that started it all – the classic milk tea. The origin of boba tea; the origin of Cupp. A brand-new offering and a celebration of how far we’ve come We can’t wait to share it with you.” 

 

Gordon Ramsay to open restaurant in Cheshire golf resort: Gordon Ramsay is opening a signature restaurant at the newly refurbished Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, which is currently undergoing a £60m transformation, this summer. The Knutsford Guardian reported the chef is to open Gordon Ramsay at the Mere at the newly refurbished five-star hotel. Designed as a destination in its own right, Gordon Ramsay at The Mere will deliver the brand’s “hallmark precision, confidence and flavour-led cuisine, interpreted through a concept carefully tailored to its setting”. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, owners of 96 opulent hotels including The Savoy in London, has pledged to turn The Mere into a high-end venue offering guests “unrivalled luxury”. A spokesman for Gordon Ramsay Restaurants Global said: “The partnership arrives at a defining moment in the evolution of The Mere, which is undergoing an extensive multimillion-pound refurbishment and expansion, which sees the rebrand of the property to Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere. The transformation encompasses newly designed guest rooms, the enhancement of public spaces and wellness facilities, and a strengthened culinary focus, elevating the resort to a new level of luxury while preserving its established character. The investment positions The Mere as the luxury hotel of choice in the north west of England for both business and leisure travellers.” The opening also marks a continued relationship between Gordon Ramsay Restaurants Global and Fairmont, building on the group’s longstanding presence at The Savoy in London (home to Savoy Grill), The River Restaurant and Michelin-starred Restaurant 1890.

  

Popeyes to open in Hull for first East Yorkshire site: Popeyes UK, the US fried chicken quick service restaurant brand backed here by TDR Capital, is to open a site in Hull – its first in East Yorkshire. The opening, at Kingswood retail park in Althorp Road, on Friday, 13 March, is the eighth for the group so far in 2026. The 74-seat restaurant will create 90 jobs. Tom Crowley, Popeyes UK chief executive, said: “Bringing the bold flavours of Louisiana to Hull for the first time marks an important milestone for us.” Earlier this week, Popeyes UK confirmed plans to launch in Ireland, including a “megastore” in the heart of Dublin, while last week, Propel revealed that Popeyes UK will open its first flagship restaurant in the capital this spring, in the former Specsavers site at 6-17 Tottenham Court Road. Popeyes launched in the UK in 2021 and opened circa 50 sites in 2025, and Crowley previously said he believes it can “keep opening at a similar pace” in 2026.

 

Black Country Ales reopens former Stonegate pub in Coventry: Brewer and retailer Black Country Ales has reopened the Nursery Tavern, in Coventry, for its 54th site. The company, which was founded in 1999 by Angus McMeeking, acquired the Lord Street pub from Stonegate Group in October last year. WTS Property Consultants acted on behalf of Stonegate on the deal.

 

Starbucks franchisee Magic Bean Company re-hires Rob Todorov as head of group operations as it gears up for growth: Starbucks franchisee Magic Bean Company has re-hired Rob Todorov as its head of group operations as it gears up for growth. Todorov previously worked for the group as head of operations – Starbucks, between 2022 and 2025, before leaving for a short spell as senior manager – buffet restaurants at Butlin’s. Before joining Magic Bean for the first time, Todorov spent six years with EG Group in several roles, including brand operations manager – Starbucks and senior brand operations manager – KFC and Starbucks. His new role with Magic Bean also incorporates Denny’s, the US diner brand for which it is currently the UK master franchisee. Todorov’s return comes just weeks after Propel revealed exclusively that Starbucks is reshaping its UK licensing structure, with Magic Bean at the heart of the process. With seven new development territories created, of which only one remains to be allocated, Magic Bean will hand over 19 of its 46 Starbucks sites to the new partner, leaving it with 27, before embarking on its own growth plan to expand to 100 sites. Todorov said: “Less than a year ago, I moved to a very different role to broaden my exposure to areas of hospitality I’m not as expert in. While still food and beverage based, I took great learnings being around accommodation, entertainments, leisure activities and more. I’m very grateful for the experience I’ve taken from that business and the many wonderful colleagues I was lucky enough to work alongside. Some might interpret it as a backwards step to return to an organisation. In fact, I think it is quite the opposite and speaks volumes about the importance of how a business and its leaders treat each other. Of course, things have evolved with the Magic team and our brand partners, so I now feel like I’m simultaneously back home, and also once again the new boy.”

 

Pod and Three Joes founder seeking investment for neighbourhood wine-led concept: Tim Hall, the founder and former chief executive of healthy fast food brand Pod, is seeking investment for The Wine Yard – a new experiential neighbourhood concept. Hall was co-founder of Sourdough South, operator of the Three Joes concept and The Stable brand. He stepped down as the company’s group chief executive in summer 2024. He has teamed up with fellow hospitality entrepreneur Marc Wise to launch The Wine Yard, which is described as “a new, challenger brand with a proven model in a distressed sector”. According to an investment deck circulated by email newsletter Popbitch, the pair has “opened over 60 hospitality sites between them and created multiple £20m-plus turnover hospitality groups”. The pair has raised £225,000 of a £300,000 target with the final £75,000 under SEIS available now for the launch of the first site under the new concept. The pair believe the concept, which is described as “not a pub, not a restaurant, a neighbourhood space”, can grow to a 50-plus estate of sites. The investment pitch said: “Our pilot site delivered three times revenue expectation. The concept has been successfully proven. A challenger brand serving wine and great food in a differentiated way that customers love. A huge market opportunity. Invest at the start in a fantastic site in Kemptown, Brighton which has been fitted out by the previous tenant for £600,000 so a very low opening cost for us. The strategy is to convert well located, fully fitted sites that have failed as part of larger, struggling groups. There are lots available. The goal is to provide a superb exit for investors within three to five years. £100m-plus Enterprise Value can be achieved with this concept and team.” At the end of last year, Hall and Wise were granted a license to open at 120 St George’s Road, Brighton, although the site remains closed.

 

Fat Phill’s to open second Ireland location: Dutch smash burger brand Fat Phill’s is to open a second location in Ireland. The company, which has 19 locations in the Netherlands and 25 globally, signed a master franchise agreement for the Republic of Ireland last May and subsequently opened in Dublin’s Temple Bar. Franchisees Keith and Wayne Kenny will now next week open in the former Café Noir site at 38 Cook Street in Cork. Franchise consultants Seeds Consulting said: “After the record-breaking performance of the Temple Bar unit in Dublin, Fat Phill’s Irish franchise partners Keith and Wayne are opening their second location in Cork – perfectly in line with the development targets set out in their franchise contract. If Temple Bar is anything to go by, Cork is about to get very busy. It’s always exciting to see a franchise partnership execute exactly as planned: strong first location, rapid second-site rollout and disciplined growth. Congratulations to the entire team bringing this to life.” Fat Phill’s opened its first UK location in Clapham, south London, in December 2024, although this site has subsequently closed. The brandopened a second site in October 2025, in Wood Green, north London. Fat Phill’s chief operating officer Natalie Van Der Laan told Propel in December that the brand plans to open its first regional UK site in 2026.

 

Sticks’n’Sushi to open Manchester restaurant this month: Danish-Japanese premium restaurant group Sticks‘n’Sushi – in which McWin, the backer of Gail’s and Big Mamma Group, acquired a majority stake last year – will open in Manchester this month. The group will open its 17th UK restaurant, in Manchester’s Spinningfields, on Monday, 30 March. The two-storey restaurant will accommodate 246 guests across a ground-floor dining area, a mezzanine level and an expansive L-shaped outdoor terrace. The menu will feature the brand’s signature sharing dishes of sushi, sashimi, salads and grilled sticks, available à la carte or in set menus. Dishes will include Ebi Bites, tempura shrimp with miso aioli, lime and chilli and the Maki Maki selection of four signature rolls, while the drinks menu showcases sake, Japanese tea, wine, cocktails, premium spirits and beer – including the brand’s own-label yuzu pale ale. With 1,500 staff employed globally, the group is set to create 75 jobs with the launch of its Manchester restaurant. Andreas Karlsson, Sticks’n’Sushi group chief executive, said: “Manchester is an important milestone in our UK growth strategy. It’s been on our radar for many years, and we’re delighted to have found the perfect space for us.” 

 

McDonald’s opens new distribution centre in Darlington: McDonald’s has opened a new distribution centre in Darlington, creating more than 200 jobs. The 138,000 square-foot facility will supply more than 200 McDonald’s restaurants across the north east and will reduce average drive times by one hour, reducing carbon emissions across the McDonald’s supply chain. The development is fully aligned with McDonald’s ambition of achieving net zero by 2040 and the reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions. Laura Henderson, vice-president, supply chain at McDonald’s UK & Ireland, said: “The new distribution centre is a major milestone for our business and demonstrates our commitment to the north east. Investing in Darlington means investing in people, in local jobs, and in a more sustainable future. By cutting road miles, strengthening our network, and supporting local employment at scale, this centre shows how we can grow responsibly while supporting our customers and the communities we serve.”

 

BoxKitchen brings in former Just Eat UK & Ireland chief executive Graham Corfield as non-executive director: BoxKitchen, the new venture from BoxPark founder Roger Wade, has brought in former Just Eat UK & Ireland chief executive Graham Corfield as a non-executive director. The company said Corfield brings “significant executive and board-level experience within high-growth, consumer-facing businesses”, having led Just Eat UK & Ireland through a period of substantial development and transformation. BoxKitchen said his expertise in scaling operations, commercial strategy and governance “will support the business as it builds its position within the hospitality and events sectors”. Wade said: “We are delighted to welcome Graham to the board. His leadership experience within the food and delivery sector, combined with strong commercial and operational expertise, will be extremely valuable as we continue to build BoxKitchen with ambition and long-term focus.” Corfield added: “BoxKitchen represents an exciting opportunity within a changing hospitality landscape. The need for flexible, high-quality infrastructure is clear, and I look forward to supporting Roger and the team as the business develops its platform.” BoxKitchen provides fully fitted, high-specification modular kitchens that can be rented or purchased by event organisers, festival operators, hospitality brands and food businesses needing flexible, rapid deployment kitchen infrastructure. The company said it will roll out its first units this year, with nationwide coverage planned across major event hubs and hospitality destinations in the UK.

 

Seacare boosts turnover after acquiring two new hotels but profit drops as costs soar: Hotel group Seacare Hospitality boosted its turnover in the year to 31 March 2025 after acquiring two new hotels but saw its profit drop after costs soared. The company – which owns hotels in Cheltenham, Eastbourne, Manchester, Inverness, Leeds, Scarborough, Dundee, Dumfries, Carmarthen, Knowsley, Perth, Aberdeen, Ilfracombe and Portpatrick – acquired two further hotels during the year, in Liverpool and the Isle of Wight. Turnover grew from £23,286,464 in 2024 to £24,319,310 but pre-tax profit slipped from £4,231,252 to £2,958,300 as costs rose by more than £3m. Dividends of £1,130,000 were paid (2024: £1,200,000).

 

Midlands Aussie-inspired coffee shop concept to open third store: Midlands Aussie-inspired coffee shop concept Cacao Coffee & Chocolate Co is to open a third store. The company, which already has locations in Coventry and Solihull, is preparing to launch at 52-54 Warwick Street in Leamington Spa. Cacao Coffee & Chocolate will open this Saturday (7 March) in a former Esquires unit that closed in June. Cacao Coffee & Chocolate is owned by Sanj and Pam Bains. They said: “Our story began on the sunny coast of Australia, where we fell in love with the craft of great coffee and learned from some of the world’s best baristas, mastering everything from bean selection to the perfect pour. Inspired by Australia’s vibrant café culture, we brought that passion back to the UK and opened our first café in 2013 with a simple mission – to share the warmth, flavour, and community spirit we’d experienced abroad.”

 

Searles reports dip in turnover due to lower demand but income from short stays and amenities increases: Norfolk holiday park operator Searles reported a dip in turnover in the year to 31 March 2025 due to lower demand but said income from short stays and amenities increased. The company – which operates Searles Leisure Resort in Hunstanton, Searles Sea Tours and Heacham Manor Hotel – saw revenue fall from £17,7312,731 in 2024 to £17,449,599. Pre-tax profit also fell from £640,5491 to £510,666. Director Joanna Symons said: “Demand in the period was adversely affected by the rising cost of living and economic uncertainty in the country caused by political changes. In the period this has therefore resulted in lodge sales at Searles Leisure Resort in particular falling compared with the previous year. Income in other areas has however been greater, reducing the impact of this reduction in lodge sales. Good summer weather contributed to increased income in the period from amenities and short stays. Caravan sales have grown again on the previous year, despite the decrease in lodge sales. Heacham Manor Hotel and Pavilion income saw strong growth in the year benefiting from increase demand for short stay holidays, and management continuing to find opportunities for growth. After significant investment in the hire fleet last year, more work has been done in this area in the current period, reflected in increased turnover from holiday hire. In common with other businesses in the leisure sector, the company has been impacted heavily by increased wage and associated costs.” Dividends of £660,696 were paid (2024: £623,880).

 

North west Italian restaurant concept to open second site: North west Italian restaurant Social Trattoria is to open its second site. The concept is the first tenant for Stockport’s new food and drink destination, Weaver’s Square. The project, which is part of the £60m Weir Mill development, will feature ten new bars and a series of restaurants and cafes. Built on the site of a former cotton mill, the space will consist of four outdoor spaces spread across 65,000 square feet. Social Trattoria offers small plates, pizza and traditional pasta and currently has a site in Poynton, Cheshire. Will Okill, co-founder of Social Osteria, told the Manchester Evening News: “You can’t help falling in love with this building, and that’s what happened when I walked into Weir Mill. It was stripped back to its bare bones, but the atmosphere was already there, you could feel the character. And then the outdoor space overlooking the river sealed it. As soon as I saw it, I could picture what we’d create here. We’re all about taking traditional Italian cooking and making it fresh for today – everything from scratch and using locally-sourced ingredients wherever we can. Stockport’s indie food scene is booming, and we can’t wait to be part of it.”

 

Japanese hand-rolled rice concept confirms March opening for its Central London comeback: Temaki, the traditional Japanese hand-rolled rice concept inspired by California’s handroll bars, has confirmed it will make its comeback this month. Founded by American Alex Maximilian Dupee, Temaki takes its name from the Japanese words “te” (hand) and “maki” (roll) and focuses on the skilled rolling of rice and fish in front of customers. The concept was launched in Brixton, south London, in 2021 but closed in August last year. Temaki will now make its return in a new and bigger Central London home on Monday, 23 March, opening over two floors in Maddox Street in Mayfair. Upstairs will be a dining room for 16 guests around a counter overlooking the chefs at work, while downstairs will feature a 28-seat space that takes inspiration from Japan’s listening bars and will also be available for private dining. For the new site, the menu has expanded beyond handrolls alone, with the emphasis shifting toward a broader selection of Japanese small plates designed for sharing. The menu will include Temaki’s crispy rice topped with premium cuts of fish, A4 wagyu sliders and revolving sandos and toro, alongside a curated wine list, Japanese saké and a cocktail menu.

 

City Football Group to invest £300m in new east Manchester ‘entertainment destination’: City Football Group, the holding company for a global portfolio of football clubs spearheaded by Premier League side Manchester City, is to invest £300m in a new east Manchester “entertainment destination”. Medlock Square, named after the River Medlock, which runs beneath the site, will open later this year as a part of an evolution of the Etihad Campus – home of Manchester City’s stadium and the Co-op Live arena – into a “year-round hub for culture, leisure and entertainment”. At the heart of the development will be a diverse food and beverage offering, providing speciality coffee and all-day dining through to signature restaurants and exclusive dining experiences. There will also be a sky walk experience, alongside zip-wire and abseiling activities, complemented by a programme of immersive seasonal events hosted within a 3,000-capacity covered space. The venue also includes the newly opened 401-room Medlock Hotel – a Radisson Blu hotel that began taking bookings last month and has already seen “strong early demand”. The wider development will also see the stadium’s North Stand redeveloped to include new hospitality spaces, a new immersive museum and a City Store.

 

London hotel The Cadogan to open new British bistro next month: London hotel The Cadogan is to open a new British bistro next month. Willett’s will be led by executive chef Michael Turner, who joined last year after a 13-year tenure with Gordon Ramsay Group, most notably as executive head chef at The Savoy Grill and The River Restaurant. Named after the Willett family, the builders behind the 1887 Chelsea townhouse, Willett’s will seat 44 guests, with an additional eight seats at the chef’s counter. The bar will offer 43 covers plus an eight-seat bar counter, alongside 16 covers on the terrace. Sourdough crumpets form the signature of the menu at Willett’s, served savoury and sweet across the day. Mains will include Sutton Hoo chicken and morel pie with mash and liquor and soused Cornish mackerel with fennel and Yorkshire rhubarb. A dedicated Sunday lunch service will offer British roasts. Turner said: “Our ambition is to create a true neighbourhood bistro, somewhere welcoming and centred around British cooking and produce. We’ll focus on well-loved classics and seasonal ingredients, with the aim of building a restaurant residents return to regularly.” Willett’s will open on Thursday, 2 April.