Mayfair Chippy founders – ‘Saudi Arabia deal only the start of overseas growth’, ‘potential to expand in the UK through smaller QSR format’: Mayfair Chippy, the London fish and chip shop concept, has told Propel that its franchise deal to launch in Saudi Arabia is only the start of its overseas growth – and while it is not planning large scale UK expansion, there is the potential to add smaller quick service restaurant (QSR) format sites. The concept – which was founded by Pete Taylor, Jamie Jones and George Hammer in 2014 – currently has two London locations – in Knightsbridge and Mayfair. Mayfair Chippy has now signed a deal with property developer Alidara Real Estate to launch within the Tuwaiq Gate development in King Fahad Road, in Riyadh, this summer. The founders told Propel: “It’s been on the go for the last three years really. Where we are in London, one of our main clienteles are from the GCC, and we get a huge amount of franchise enquiries. Anything typically English or British, guys from the Middle East seem to get quite excited about, and when we opened Knightsbridge in 2024, we had a lot of Saudi Arabians coming in and asking when we were going to open over there. I think it’s going to get a big following out there. There’s some more localised fish and chip concepts but what we’re doing is the real deal, and we’re quite excited to get out there and show them what the real offer is like. We’re adapting the menu slightly to suit the local market and requirements, but apart from that, it will be exactly the same menu as in London. We do have a pipeline, and there will be more developments in the next six to 12 months – and further afield as well.” As far as the UK goes, the founders said they have “aspirations for one further restaurant in London” – and the UK operations will stay company-owned. However, further opportunities may arise through different models. They said: “We trialled a QSR model with a pop-up at Bicester Village, and it was one of the most successful food outlets there. So, we’ve got that model there in case a site comes along. It’s great brand exposure, and we’d look at doing smaller format permanent locations too, if the opportunity arises.” The founders said they have been mindful to retain a lot of the rising costs and not pass them back to the customer. “January has been superb for us,” they said. “We’ve had a buy one, get one free winter sale, and we’ve had record sales and footfall throughout the month. We’re quite lucky to have the volume to be able to set some good deals. We recently removed cod from the menu for sustainability purposes because it’s been overfished. At the same time, we added hake, and it’s been quite interesting to see how it’s been received. A lot of people are open to trying new things, and when you explain it’s for sustainable purposes, they’re really understanding.” 

 

Sponsored message – Northern Restaurant & Bar reveals speaker line-up: Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB), the north’s leading hospitality trade event, has announced its speaker line-up for its 2026 show, taking place on 10-11 March at Manchester Central. NRB 2026 will welcome more than 12,000 hospitality professionals and 400-plus suppliers, offering a unique opportunity to network, discover the latest innovations and gain practical insight from some of the industry’s most influential figures – all included with a free trade ticket. At the core of the event is NRB’s highly regarded seminar programme, designed to inspire and equip operators with actionable ideas to help grow and future-proof their businesses. Headline speakers include Will Beckett, co-founder of Hawksmoor, Simon Potts, chief executive of The Alchemist, and Lucy Milne, chief marketing officer at Dishoom. They will be joined by double Michelin-starred chef Kenny Atkinson; Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKHospitality; Laura Harper Hinton, co-founder of Caravan; and Joe Schofield, owner of Schofield’s Bar, alongside many more leading voices. Tickets are free for hospitality professionals and include access to all seminar sessions. To book, click here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Restaurateur Jeremy King to speak at first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, open for bookings: Restaurateur Jeremy King will be among the speakers at the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, which is open for bookings. Over the past 45 years, King has changed the way London eats, creating some of the city’s most iconic dining rooms and restoring others to their former glory. King, who has been described as the greatest living London restaurateur, talks to Propel chief operating officer – editorial, Mark Wingett, about how his return to the sector has gone, what has been different this time and where he sees the restaurant market in the capital going. The conference takes place on Wednesday, 25 March, at the Park Plaza, Victoria, and is open for bookings. 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 new searchable and segmented New Openings Database on Friday, all 49 videos from Restaurant Marketer and Innovator on Friday, 13 February: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers on Friday (6 February). The database will show the details of 239 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 on a monthly basis and Premium Club subscribers will also receive a 15,179-word report on the 239 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 cafe bakery sector such as Singaporean restaurateur Ellen Chew’s third site under her Arôme Bakery concept, specialty café concept Early Bees Coffee launching its third outlet, and Oxford gourmet sandwich and deli company Taylors opening its ninth branch. Premium Club subscribers will also receive all 49 videos from the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit Conference on Friday, 13 February at 9am. 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.

 

Bill’s MD – the starting point with loyalty is working out what you want your customer to be loyal to: Tom James, managing director of Bill’s Restaurant, the Richard Caring-backed business, has said that the starting point with loyalty is “working out what you want your customer to be loyal to, and whether they’re going to be loyal to a discount or to your brand”. James was speaking at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Conference after his business had carried out a brand perception research project with 125 Data & Insights, which saw the business invite ten Bill’s customers to join its board for the day and spend time with the executive leadership team. James said the project delivered “a powerful model for guest-centric innovation, education and commercial impact”. He said: “We have done offers, and we have done quite deep offers with £5 pancakes and kids eat free. We’d looked at all the data, and what showed up in this survey was that Generation Z are far more likely to base their dining choices on what they see on social media and an offer or a partnership. Both the guys from the Generation Z demographic were like, that is exactly how we interact with a brand. So, we’ve had to kind of adapt our communications strategy around partnerships, and that’s how we want the loyalty. I’m really cynical about apps, and that came through as well. It is easy access to a discount. We’re going down a different route. From what we’ve seen, what we’re not particularly good at is talking to a huge array, as we saw in this group, of different demographics – and we’ve now categorised it as 48 different demographics that we want to talk to. There is that far more personalised approach, and we can create those moments of magic and still give them the discount. I don't like the idea that the people who leave happy have an app, it should be everyone, and we should be able to achieve that.” James said what also became clear was that kids want to be able to customise. He said: “Kids, out of all your customer demographics, are the most demanding and fussiest. The minute you give them that option to customise, there’s that ownership – this is my food being made especially for me. They’re so invested, so excited, and I think that experience is absolutely critical.” Propel Premium Club subscribers are to be given access to all 49 videos from the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Conference on Friday, 13 February, at 9am.

 

Star Pubs reports applicant levels up 10% in January as sector remains ‘attractive proposition’, shift in research behaviour: Heineken-owned Star Pubs has said its applicant levels for January were 10% up on 2025, illustrating the sector remains an “attractive proposition”. The increase comes as the company said entrants to the leased and tenanted sector are undertaking more protracted research into the trade before progressing, particularly online. This includes having a greater appetite for personally understanding the financials of their chosen pub, rather than relying on accountants. In response, Star Pubs has revamped its introductory training to include helping licensees build their business plans earlier in the process, with particular attention on costs like staffing that have significantly increased in recent times. There is also a new online training portal and content, including first-hand accounts from leased and tenanted operators of what it is like to take on a pub for the first time. Star Pubs head of attraction, Hance McPherson, said: “The economic uncertainty of the last few years hasn’t dented enthusiasm for running a pub, but combined with the move to seek knowledge online, has profoundly changed the way would-be licensees research taking on a pub. The industry needs to adapt to these long-term trends in order to meet their wants and needs. Nearly 60% of applicants now find their pubs through our website and social media, outstripping traditional routes like ‘to let’ boards – a shift that’s up 15% in the last three years alone.”

 

UKHopsitality Cymru – rates will still rise for Welsh sector businesses despite additional relief: UKHopsitality Cymru has warned that rates will still rise for sector Welsh businesses, despite additional relief. Around 4,400 pubs, restaurants, cafes, bars and live music venues will be eligible for 15% relief on their rates bills in 2026-27. The Welsh government is providing up to £8m for the package, using funding from the UK government but also deploying its own funds to extend the range of businesses helped in Wales. Eligible businesses can apply for the relief through their local authority from April. David Chapman, executive director of UKHospitality Cymru, said: “The additional 15% relief is helpful to some but it’s notable that this is only a one-year commitment, which is a significant difference to the three years committed to in England. Welsh government’s inclusion of restaurants and cafes, alongside pubs, is clear recognition that this is a hospitality-wide problem, yet this is far from a hospitality-wide solution. Rates bills will still be going up year-on-year, even for those receiving relief, and hotels, which were facing the biggest increases, have been excluded completely. It’s positive that additional funding has been used to support hospitality, but it was the Welsh government’s decision to exclude hospitality from business rates support that has led to this situation. We need a swift end to this unjust system, which challenges business viability, investment and growth.” A British Beer and Pub Association spokesperson added: “Given the unique and treasured role pubs play in our communities, culture, and job market, we’re pleased that political parties of all stripes are recognising the value of the local and want to ensure their success. Significantly reducing the overall tax burden and cost of doing business, are key to ensuring pubs remain at the heart of communities, boost the economy, and keep people in jobs.”

Wellington voted UK’s favourite pub operator: Wellington Pub Co, which operates the UK’s largest free-of-tie pub estate with circa 850 tenants, has been voted the UK’s favourite pub operator by NIQ’s 2025 PubTrack rankings. These are based on a range of metrics from last year – including overall satisfaction and value for money, the quality of drinks and service and intentions to revisit and recommend. Wellington takes top spot after jumping six places from last year’s chart, thanks to a consistently strong performance against all metrics. In second place is Everards, which has around 150 pubs in the East Midlands, and third is Brunning & Price, part of The Restaurant Group, which topped the list in both 2023 and 2024. Brakspear and Young’s came in at fourth and fifth. Brakspear and Daniel Thwaites (sixth) have both moved into the top ten this year – as have JD Wetherspoon (seventh), Hall & Woodhouse (eighth) and Star Pubs (ninth). JW Lees completes the top ten in tenth place. Breaking down the data, Everards, Wellington Pub Company and Brakspear form the top three in terms of service, while Everards and Wellington also top the rankings for quality of drinks, ahead of JW Lees. The chart for best value experience is led by Wetherspoon, ahead of Amber Taverns and Wellington. Brunning & Price leads the rankings for most advocates, ahead of Brakspear and Youngs, while Brunning & Price and Young’s make the top three for building regular guests, alongside Hall & Woodhouse. Dani Rowlands, NIQ client director, said: “The significant year-on-year movement in our lists shows how fast brand perception can shift, as well as the importance of fundamental pub qualities like value and service.”

 

Government outlines new guidance to support employers ahead of law changes: Government ministers have rolled out new support to help British businesses ahead of new changes to employment law coming into effect from April. The move follows the passing of the Employment Rights Act 2025, which will include statutory sick pay becoming payable from the first day of sickness absence, alongside new day one rights for parental leave and paternity leave. A new online resource offers free practical guidance and support on what the changes mean and how to prepare. Content will include clear timelines, a summary of key changes and actions to take, plus links to additional guidelines. Employment rights minister Kate Dearden said: “Through clear guidance, we are giving businesses the practical support they need to understand these changes and get things right first time. These reforms benefit everyone. By improving fairness and security at work, we boost productivity, strengthen retention and support businesses to succeed – helping to drive a stronger economy for the future.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an eight-strong group that is looking for a general manager for an east London venue. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The individual will have an exceptional background in the bar and cocktail industry and has grown into an industry leader and a creative general manager who loves the late-night bar sector.” The salary is up to £70,000. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com

 

Licensing update: John Gaunt & Partners licensing solicitors has just published its latest licensing update. This month, there's a number of articles relating to digital ID and a guide to preparing for the World Cup from a licensing perspective. The full update can be accessed here.

 

China’s second-largest coffee chain to make UK debut: Cotti Coffee, China’s second-largest coffee chain, is set to make its UK debut with a double opening in London. According to the low-cost brand’s new UK Instagram account, it will open sites at 131 Middlesex Street in the City, and at 183 Camden High Street. A post said: “Hello, London. Cotti Coffee is coming soon. From sunlit mornings to late-night strolls, your next coffee ritual is about to begin. Since our founding in October 2022, we’ve grown to over 18,000 shops worldwide, making us the third-largest coffee brand across the globe. At Cotti, you’ll find expertly crafted coffee, refreshing teas, and seasonal favourites - all served with fair prices and friendly service. We can’t wait to share a cup with you here in the UK!” Luckin Coffee, China’s largest coffee chain, has expanded aggressively in China and overtaken Starbucks on the mainland, with more than twice as many outlets. It currently operates more than 26,000 sites globally. Cotti Coffee, which uses an entirely franchised model, was founded in August 2022 by former Luckin Coffee executives Lu Zhengyao and Qian Zhiya. Zhengyao and Zhiya, were part of the same team who established Luckin Coffee before leaving in 2020 following an accounting scandal.

Azzurri Group hires European business development director for Dave’s Hot Chicken, lines up Liverpool opening: Azzurri Group, the Zizzi and ASK Italian operator, has hired Lea Ghanem, formerly of Starbucks, as its new European business development director, to help launch US brand Dave’s Hot Chicken on to the continent. Last September, Azzurri signed an exclusive agreement to roll out US brand Dave’s Hot Chicken across Europe and develop a minimum of 180 Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurants across ten European countries, including Portugal, Spain and Germany. It came off the back of the agreement Azzurri signed in summer 2024 to open 60 locations across the UK and Ireland under the US brand. Ghanem spent six years at Starbucks, including more than three years as its senior strategy and business development manager, driving the strategic growth of the coffee brand’s EMEA business and identifying new market opportunities. She also spent seven years at L’Oreal, including two and a half years as a supply and demand manager. It comes as the business has lined up an opening in Liverpool for Dave’s Hot Chicken, as it moves closer to having 15 sites open in the UK under the brand by the end of June. The brand, which made its UK debut in autumn 2024, in London’s Shaftesbury Avenue, is set to take on the former Poundland site in Liverpool’s Lord Street. On Friday (6 February), Azzurri will open the eighth Dave’s Hot Chicken UK site, on the former Pret A Manger site at 25–27 Gallowtree Gate, in Leicester. Propel revealed last month the brand is set to make its debut in the south west, with an opening in the Glass Walk part of Bristol’s Cabot Circus retail scheme. It also has an opening lined up in Sheffield, while further launches in 2026 will include debut sites in Wales and Ireland, with openings in Cardiff and Dublin. 

 

McMullen’s exits leased and tenanted sector with Punch deal: The sale of 30 pubs to Punch Pubs & Co has seen family-owned brewer and pub operator McMullen's exit the leased and tenanted sector. Propel reported yesterday (Tuesday, 3 February), that Punch Pubs & Co, the Fortress-backed operator of circa 1,300 community pubs, had acquired the 30 pubs, which are located across Hertfordshire and Essex and boast “strong trading histories, distinctive heritage and established positions at the heart of their local communities”. The portfolio consists of 27 tenanted pubs and three smaller managed, which were sold pubs to Punch for an undisclosed sum. The pubs, 28 of which are freehold, have been part of the company for an average of over 120 years. Propel understands that McMullen’s has retained some leased ancillary property as a potential future managed pipeline both in London and outside. The company currently operates an 86-strong managed estate. The disposal was carried out after an extensive strategic review by McMullen’s, undertaken in conjunction with CBRE, over the last 12 months. The deal echoes a similar one that CBRE advised on in 2023, selling the entire tenanted arm of regional brewer Camerons to FB Taverns. Simon Johnson, of CBRE, said: “In a confidential process, we identified a small number of corporate buyers that would see the addition of these well-located and profitable pubs as significantly enhancing, and after a swift but intense process, were delighted that Punch were able to transact on the whole of the division.”

 

Brava Hospitality Group hires ex-BrewDog Bars MD and new people director: Brava Hospitality Group, the Prezzo Italian operator, has hired ex-BrewDog Bars managing director Martin Keith as its new director of customer, growth and innovation, and Emily Curtis, formerly of Pizza Hut and Starbucks, as its new people director, Propel has learned. Keith joins Brava, which is led by ex-BrewDog Bars chief executive James Brown, after stepping down as joint managing director of the Scottish brewer and retailer’s bar division in November. Keith spent almost 14 years at BrewDog, starting out as general manager of the group’s Kelvingrove bar in Glasgow, and holding roles including brand and projects director. Earlier last year, BrewDog created a new co-leadership structure for its bars business, which saw the appointment of joint managing directors. Chris Webb, formerly of the Azzurri Group and Cream Group, who joined BrewDog as global finance director of its bars division in May 2013, was appointed as the other co-managing director. Curtis joins Brava after a year and a half as chief people officer of Directional Capital, the former owner of Pizza Hut restaurants in the UK and current owner of the Pizza Hut franchise in Denmark and Sweden. Previous to that, she spent three years at Pizza Hut UK & Europe, including 13 months as head of people, operations and social purpose. She also spent three years as franchise head of people at Starbucks franchisee, the Queensway Group. Last month, Prezzo Italian reported turnover increased to £100.2m for the year ending 31 December 2025 compared with £92.6m the previous year, underpinned by a “robust turnaround” at the brand. Last year, Brava signed a partnership agreement to bring Jamie’s Italian back to the UK high street, with the first new Jamie’s Italian under the partnership will open in London’s Leicester Square next month.

 

St Austell increases stake in Cornish craft beer company: South west brewer and pub company St Austell Brewery has increased its investment in Cornish craft beer company, Harbour Brewing Co. St Austell originally took a minority share in Harbour Brewing Co in 2022. It has now increased its investment to support the company’s next phase of growth. This follows the decision by Harbour’s long-standing investor, and majority shareholder, Rick Rowse, to step away from the business, ensuring “continuity and stability as the company enters its next chapter”. It comes as Harbour Brewing Co announced plans for the next stage of its growth journey, following a successful year which saw sales grow by 26% in 2025. As part of the brewery’s future ambitions, Harbour will be unveiling a new look in the spring, following an extensive brand and portfolio review completed at the end of last year. Eddie Lofthouse, managing director, Harbour Brewing Co., said: “Since we launched the company in 2012, Harbour has always been about brewing great beer for people who care about craftsmanship, provenance and flavour. We’ve had a strong year of growth, and this next phase is about continuing to build a sustainable, progressive business that stays true to our roots. In the spring, we’re excited to be unveiling a refreshed brand direction and new additions to our portfolio. It’s important to us that Harbour remains independent and rooted in Cornwall. The increased investment from St Austell Brewery enables us to accelerate our plans while staying firmly in control of the things that make Harbour unique. St Austell Brewery is a family-owned and independent brewery with shared values, and their support gives us stability and shared expertise, without changing who we are.” Kevin Georgel, chief executive of St Austell, added: “The opportunity to increase our investment reflects confidence in Harbour's momentum and our shared values as independent brewers. We’re proud to support the brand's growth in our pubs and through our wholesale network, introducing more beer drinkers to Harbour across the south west and beyond and building on its already strong market position in London.”

 

Heartwood Collection opens 35th pub: Heartwood Collection, the Alchemy Partners-backed business, has opened its 35th pub, The Woodman in Southgate, north London. The company, which also operates 13 Brasserie Blanc restaurants, said that The Woodman has undergone a “comprehensive refurbishment to breathe new life into the pub while respecting its heritage and character”. Heartwood Collection chief executive Richard Ferrier said: “This is a fantastic community pub, and we’ve taken great care to restore it as a warm and welcoming place for everyone.” The business will next open The Potter’s Heron in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, this spring. Last month, Propel revealed Heartwood Collection was on track to achieve £100m of turnover in the current financial year ending June 2026, reflecting sustained momentum across its estate and on the back of record festive trading. The business saw turnover for the year ended 29 June 2025 increase 21.7% to £82.6m (2024: £67.9m), while site Ebitda rose to £13.3m (2024: £11.7m).

 

Anytime Fitness franchisee opens first Urban Baristas site: Anytime Fitness franchisee Aary Walia has opened his first Urban Baristas site in London. In November, Walia, who is the founder of venture capital and private equity business Walia Capital, signed a multi-site development deal with Aussie-inspired coffee concept Urban Baristas. He has opened the first site under the deal, and Urban Baristas’ 22nd site in total, in Bermondsey Street. Urban Baristas founder Huw Wardrope said: “This is the first store for Aary Walia, and I want to thank him for believing in our brand and agreeing to help bring specialty coffee to more people throughout the UK.” In December, Urban Baristas told Propel that having built an estate of more than 20 stores in the capital over the last decade, “there’s a huge opportunity outside of London”. The company’s locations include ten franchised, and with 29 franchisee territories sold, is working through a 15-store pipeline. Urban Baristas is set to make its regional debut with a launch in Liverpool’s Bold Street, this spring. It also has eight franchise stores in legals – in Bow, Old Street, Hounslow, Southgate, Fleet Street, Elephant & Castle, Greenwich and Marsh Wall. A further six equity stories are either in legals or already in fit-out. Urban Baristas also recently signed on a site in Warren Street. Leo Marmion, of onepoint2, acts for Urban Baristas.

 

US indoor water park business Great Wolf Resorts lodges plans for Derbyshire site: US indoor water park business Great Wolf Resorts has lodged plans for a proposed site in Derbyshire. The business, which was founded in 1997 by brothers Jack and Andrew Waterman, and which operates 23 resorts in the US, first unveiled plans in May last year for a family-oriented waterpark resort to be sited on land off the A619/Gapsick Lane junction, on the outskirts of Clowne. The company, which has planning permission to build a UK resort near Bicester and is looking to develop a site in Basingstoke, has now lodged a full planning application for the Derbyshire project with Bolsover District Council. The site covers a total area of approximately 47.6 acres, and it is estimated that the scheme would support create 500 jobs upon completion. As previously reported, the plans include a 512-bedroom hotel, an indoor water park, adventure park, conference facilities and a selection of restaurants, cafés and bars.

 

Bewiched Coffee planning to open 20th site: Northamptonshire cafe operator Bewiched Coffee is planning to open in Nuneaton for its 20th site. Planning permission is being sought for a new café as part of the existing Co-op store in Kern Street, Attleborough, reports the Coventry Telegraph. The company plans to subdivide part of the Co-op and use it as a coffee shop with a new shop front. The cafe will be located where the store’s existing staff room, welfare facilities, office and training room are. The proposal states: “The coffee shop is proposed to have two entrances; the main entrance will be from the front elevation of the building adjacent to the store entrance, and another entrance from inside the Co-op store. This would help facilitate use of the coffee shop by customers of the Co-op. The coffee shop will have outdoor seating for customers located outside of the main entrance to the coffee shop. The existing car park is considered sufficient for the proposed coffee shop use.” Bewiched, founded in 2010 by Matt Fountain, operates 19 stores in the region, including several franchise sites with the Heart Of England Co-operative Society. Fountain founded Bewiched after ploughing “every penny” of his redundancy payment from Pizza Hut into the business – as well as “maxing out” a credit card, taking out a bank loan and borrowing £5,000 from family members. The company now serves more than a million drinks each year and has 52,000 app users. Bewiched also has two drive-thru sites, with plans for a third, in Billing.

 

Former Arcade Hall COO acquires West Sussex country pub: Cokey Sulkin, who stepped down as chief operating officer of food hall operator and brand incubator Arcade last February, has acquired the freehold of a pub in West Sussex. Sulkin, who was previously chief executive of US comfort food and cocktails brand Dirty Bones, which he co-founded with entrepreneur Dipak Panchal, has acquired The Three Horseshoes in Elsted, near Midhurst, for an undisclosed sum. Set within the South Downs National Park, the pub had been owned and operated by the same owners for more than 30 years. The quintessential English inn offers traditional bar and dining spaces, an extensive beer garden, parking and two‑bedroom manager’s accommodation. Sulkin, who also co-founded The Black Dog in Vauxhall, said: “I am excited to have acquired the freehold of this much-loved Sussex pub. With a rich history dating to the 16th century, it enjoys a loyal local following, while guests also travel from far and wide to take in the outstanding views across the South Downs from the pub gardens. Our plans are to preserve the unique charm and character of this historic pub, while introducing an outdoor bar and wood-fired barbecue.” Christie & Co acted on the deal.

 

Northern Ireland operator Beannchor reports record turnover of £37.5m in ‘competitive’ market: Northern Ireland hospitality company Beannchor Group has reported turnover increased to a record £37,485,824 for the year ending 30 June 2025 compared with £35,094,116 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was down to £5,758,028 from £7,360,690 the year before, when the group also received an insurance payout of £1,169,067 following a fire at one of its properties in 2022. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “Trading conditions during the year remained competitive, with continued new market entrants and expansion of existing operators. Although inflation has eased from recent peak levels, cost pressures remain elevated.” No dividends were paid (2024: nil). Post year end, the group contracted the sale of investment properties for £660,000. The company’s portfolio includes Belfast venues Berts jazz bar, Bullitt Hotel and Ollie’s nightclub, as well as the Jenny Watts pub in Bangor and The Hillside pub in Hillsborough, plus Ten Little Wing pizzerias across Northern Ireland. 

 

Beckford Group acquires Wiltshire pub with rooms: South west operator Beckford Group – run by co-founders Dan Brod, Charlie Luxton and Matt Greenlees – has acquired The Bradley Hare pub with rooms in Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire, and will reopen it on Friday, 13 February as The Bradley Hare Inn. The pub – which offers 12 bedrooms, with seven above the pub and a further five in the coach house – has undergone a redesign after the previous operator went into liquidation. New additions include a bookcase wall and snug library, while in the garden, a private dining outbuilding has been turned into a sitting room for guests and a space for locals to come for tea and coffee. The Bradley Hare was launched by hospitality entrepreneur Andrew Kelly and former Soho House design director James Thurstan Waterworth, in partnership with the Duke of Somerset's Estate, in 2021. The opening comes ahead of a landmark year of growth for the group, which is are self-funded, with three further openings to follow. As previously reported, Corsham House, a British brasserie with 14 bedrooms, will open in June. This will be followed by Teffont House, the group’s first village hotel, in July, and a sixth inn with rooms, The King’s Arms, in Monkton Farleigh in September. 

 

Taco Bell lodges plans for new site in Ayr: Mexican restaurant brand Taco Bell has lodged plans for a new site in Ayr. Proposals have been submitted to South Ayrshire Council for alterations to the former Tim Hortons premises in Highfield Drive, which closed late last year. If approved, the Taco Bell would be the second in Ayrshire after Irvine, reports the Ayr Advertiser. Taco Bell operates circa 135 sites in the UK, including about ten company-owned stores.

 

Fairview Hotels strengthens partnership with IHG with four new UK properties: Fairview Hotels has strengthened its partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) with the signings and openings of four new UK properties. They are the 114-room Voco London – Bloomsbury, and the Garner Hotel Lincoln, Garner Hotel Rotherham East and Garner Hotel Chesterfield North, which all have 91 rooms. The openings bring Fairview Hotels’ portfolio to 17 sites, six of which are in partnership with IHG. A Fairview Hotels spokesperson said: “We are delighted to grow our partnership with IHG through four new properties across its rapidly scaling Voco and Garner brands. The opening of Voco Letchworth Hall last year gave us valuable insights into the brand’s strength and how it can deliver, and we are excited about bringing another Voco hotel to a prime tourist area in the heart of Bloomsbury in London. Building on this momentum, we are expanding the Garner brand into Lincoln, Rotherham and Chesterfield – enhancing choice and quality for guests in these high‑demand locations.” The latest properties add more than 380 rooms to IHG’s UK and Ireland pipeline of in excess of 400 open and pipeline hotels, strengthening its footprint in its largest market in Europe.

 

Glasgow-based German doner kebab and peri peri chicken concept to open fourth site: Yayas, the Glasgow-based German doner kebab and peri peri chicken concept, is to open its fourth site. The company will launch its newest branch in the West End, in Dumbarton Road, in March. A spokesperson told the Glasgow Times: “We can’t wait to open in Glasgow’s West End! This is more than just a store – it’s a space for people to come together, enjoy incredible food, and soak up the energy that Yayas is all about.” The new branch will be open daily from 12pm to 10pm. Yayas operates sites in Paisley Road West, Fenwick Road in Giffnock, and the St Enoch Centre.

 

The Sea, The Sea to open new bistro and fish and chip shop and close original location: The Sea, The Sea – the fish shop, deli and seafood bar concept launched by Bonnie Gull co-founder Alex Hunter – is to open a new bistro and fish and chip shop in London’s Chelsea and close its original outpost on the same road. The original location, at 174 Pavilion Road, which opened in 2019, will stay operating until the new one opens in May, at 243 Pavilion Road – offering a bistro-style seafood restaurant and expanded retail offering, including freshly prepared lunch boxes and provisions. The upstairs bistro will be home to a dining room seating 40 guests, where head chef Nick Marsden will lead a menu of snacks and small plates as well as “seafood feasts” for the table. Guests can expect small plates such as cuttlefish, pickled salsify and cauliflower purée or confit sea trout, white asparagus and mustard greens, while larger dishes will feature the likes of grilled half Cornish lobster with vin jaune sabayon and brown butter, and whole plaice, braised punterelle, broad beans and mint. There will also be an extensive wine list and a collection of sea-themed cocktails. The shop, meanwhile, will feature fresh seafood sourced primarily from Cornwall and Scotland, as well as a seaweed counter. The freshly prepared lunch boxes will feature sashimi sets and shellfish rolls, as well as oven-ready options like miso black cod and Singapore chilli crab. By night, the shop will become a seafood bar with ten seats, alongside a 28-cover terrace. Hunter said: “It’s been an incredible and rewarding seven years seeing the response to The Sea, The Sea, and now being able to expand the business with this exciting new chapter. I love being in Chelsea, and so when the opportunity to open in a bigger site in Pavilion Road came along, it made perfect sense.”