Exclusive – Côte parts company with CEO: Côte, the French brasserie brand, is understood to have parted company with chief executive Emma Dinnis – less than a year after the former managing director of the DFS-owned Sofology joined the business, and just a few months after steering it through its acquisition by The Karali Group. Dinnis joined the circa 70-strong business as chief executive last spring. During her time at the helm of Cote, she stabilised the business, had begun to oversee the evolution of its management team – including the hiring of a new chief operating officer and a new marketing director – introduced a new menu and secured a solvent sale of the company. The business hired Alex Hanson as its new chief operating officer, and Liz Colledge as marketing director, respectively, last autumn. Hanson previously worked with Dinnis at Sofology, where he spent more than two and a half years as its trading director. Propel revealed last summer that Côte was working with advisors at Interpath on its funding options, to aid the next stage of its growth. The business, which had been backed by Partners Group since September 2020, was subsequently acquired by The Karali Group for an undisclosed sum. Dinnis said at the time of the deal with Karali that the company had “exciting plans for the future, we will continue to transform and grow this brand”. The family owned The Karali Group currently also operates the Taco Bell, Marugame Udon, and Crosstown Doughnut brands under franchise in the UK. At the time of the deal for Cote, Karim and Salim Janmohamed said: “We have long admired the much-loved Côte Brasserie and are thrilled to welcome this fantastic brand into our growing portfolio. We are looking forward to working with both management and the broader team on the exciting plans for the brand and welcome them all individually to the Karali family.” The Karali Group has been approached for comment.

 

Propel launches Tokyo study tour, open for bookings: Propel is heading to Tokyo for its next study tour, which is open for bookings. The visit takes place between 10-14 November and will be hosted by Myles Doran, managing director of Hospitality Inc. Join this immersive three-night journey into the heart of Tokyo – a city where cutting-edge technology, awe-inspiring design and culinary mastery collide. From world-renowned food and beverage operators to hidden gems tucked away in side streets, this tour is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see, taste and feel the very best of Japanese hospitality. Discover iconic cultural landmarks, explore innovative restaurants, bars and hospitality concepts and experience the seamless fusion of tradition and modernity that makes Tokyo a true bucket-list destination for any hospitality professional. Each day is carefully curated to inspire, educate and leave delegates with ideas to bring back to their business. Deposits of £500 are now being taken to confirm places – the price per person is £3,700. This includes flights, three nights’ accommodation, three hosted dinners, a welcome drinks reception and all tours. For further information or to reserve a place, contact: myles@hospitality-inc.co.uk or call 07710 783485.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive updated Multi-Site Database with 3,518 operators and 31 new companies on Friday: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database on Friday (30 January), at midday. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,518 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 1,019 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 803 (23%) pub and bar operators, 617 (18%) cafe bakery operators, 496 (14%) quick service restaurant (QSR) operators, 289 (8%) hotel operators, 237 (7%) experiential leisure operators and 55 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 31 new companies. The database includes new companies in the QSR sector such as Mr T’s, the family-run halal restaurant brand, Hertfordshire McDonald’s franchisee Lansia and Scottish McDonald’s franchisee Altea 4 Restaurants. 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 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.

 

Punch Pubs CEO – ‘pub support package is a necessary correction, not a solution’: Andy Spencer, chief executive of Punch Pubs & Co, which operates circa 1,300 community pubs, has welcomed the government’s decision to address the proposed rise in business rates for pubs with a specific support package but said it was a “necessary correction, not a solution”. The government announced pubs will get a 15% cut to new business rates bills from April followed by a two-year real-terms freeze, as well as a review into the method used to value them for business rates. The chancellor also announced £10m of funding for the Hospitality Support Fund over three years – upped from £1.5m for one year announced last April – to support pubs across the UK. Spencer said: “It is right that the strength of feeling across the sector has been recognised. For too long, our pubs have shouldered a disproportionate and deeply unfair tax burden that has threatened their long-term sustainability. The announcement is a necessary correction, not a solution, and we will continue to work with the government, alongside our trade associations, in order to achieve meaningful, long-term reform of the rates valuation system.” Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, said: “This package gives reassurance to publicans by easing some of the considerable cost increases due to come into effect in April. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government on its longer-term plan for fundamental reform of the business rates system, and reducing regulatory burden, which is desperately needed by pubs and the wider hospitality sector.” Kevin Georgel, chief executive of St Austell Brewery, said: “It has been heartening to see the support of the public play out so clearly across the media in recent weeks and this public support has rightly influenced the government to reconsider their proposed changes to business rates that would have seen an acceleration in pub closures. We hope that this intervention is a recognition that we need a full review of the fiscal and regulatory landscape that has placed an unfair and unsustainable burden on the Great British pub.” Dom Jacobs, founder and managing director of Ardent Pub Group, said: Rachel Reeves’ latest U-turn may be welcome, but it is wholly inadequate. Hospitality continues to shoulder an excessive tax burden, and this half-measure does nothing to change that. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “This pub specific package will stave off the immediate financial threat posed by accelerating business costs and will help keep the doors open for many. We will now work closely with government to establish a transformative long-term plan that works for all pubs through permanent business rates reform.” Steve Alton, chief executive of the British Institute of Innkeeping, said: “This will buy many in our sector time, but their situation is still untenable in the long term, with over 40p in the £1 still going to the Treasury. We are only back to where we were before the Budget, with two-in-three pub businesses not making enough profit to reinvest in their teams and communities.” Ash Corbett-Collins, chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “This short-term announcement is not the ‘permanently lower business rates’ that pubs were promised.” Global Brands founder Steve Perez, who runs hotels and restaurants in the East Midlands, said: “Limiting support to pubs and music venues only – just a subsection of the hospitality sector – ignores the fact that restaurants, hotels and other venues are also facing the same intense cost pressures. The hospitality industry doesn’t operate in silos, and so neither should policy.” Lawson Mountstevens, managing director of Star Pubs, said: “This support is a welcome acknowledgement of the pub as the cornerstone of British society.”

Oxford Partnership – business rates relief still leaves pubs facing 52% cost shock: New analysis from Oxford Partnership shows the government business rates discounts will still leave the average pub facing a near 52% increase compared with the covid support period. Its data shows that during covid, the average pub paid £8,195 in business rates after emergency discounts and multipliers were applied. Following the November 2025 Budget, this rose to £14,625, reflecting the withdrawal of this support and the impact of higher rateable values. While chancellor Rachel Reeves has since announced a new discount, reducing the average bill to £12,431, Oxford analysis confirms this still represents an increase of £4,236 per pub, equivalent to a 51.8% rise versus covid support levels. “This is not a return to affordability. It is a partial easing of a much larger cost shock,” said Alison Jordan, The Oxford Partnership’s chief executive. “For many pubs, business rates are now significantly higher than they were when trading conditions were far more supportive.” The analysis also highlighted that the proposed discount excludes hotels and restaurants, despite them facing similar cost pressures, resulting in a policy that risks shifting financial pressure across the hospitality ecosystem rather than addressing it. “Hospitality works as a connected system,” Jordan added. “Supporting pubs while leaving hotels and restaurants exposed simply moves the problem elsewhere. If we want hospitality to survive and invest for the future, business rates reform must reflect today’s trading realities, not pre pandemic assumptions.”

 

Industry trade bodies urge Scottish government to rapidly introduce support for sector: Industry trade bodies have urged the Scottish government to move swiftly to use additional funding from the UK government to support the sector. It follows the UK government announcing pubs and grassroots live music venues will get a 15% cut to new business rates bills from April followed by a two-year real-terms freeze. Scotland’s finance secretary Shona Robison has written to the Treasury to clarify how much support will be available to Scotland through the Barnett formula. Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHospitality Scotland, said: “Now we have seen the details of the business rates support package in England, I urge the Scottish government to move swiftly to make good on its promise at the Scottish Budget to use these funds [from the UK government] to support hospitality. Like in England, Scottish hospitality businesses are facing steep hikes to business rates. Hotels are facing average increases of £68,000 over three years. Pubs are set for an average £36,000 increase. This is a hospitality-wide problem that needs a hospitality-wide solution.” Paul Togneri, a senior adviser for the Scottish Beer & Pub Association, said reliefs announced in the Scottish government’s draft Budget earlier this month “simply do not go far enough”. He added: “Without further action, many pubs will struggle to keep their doors open, and we risk losing jobs in communities across the country.” The Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) has written to all MSPs with real life examples of proposed property value increases facing businesses across the country. SHG spokesperson Stephen Montgomery said: “Licensed hospitality is seeing some of the largest increases in rates bills of any sector, due to a methodology that is flawed and unfair. Hospitality is the only business sector that pays rates based on turnover.”

 

Sadiq Khan in push to boost London’s nightlife: London mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a nightlife commission as he prepares for new licensing powers aimed at bolstering the city’s late-night economy. An independent report published on Tuesday, authored by venue owners, promoters and civil society groups, called for changes to night-time policies in the capital, including a London-wide licensing standard that could override local council decisions on opening hours and the sale of alcohol. The independent review, commissioned by the mayor, lays out 23 recommendations to protect and grow night-time industries. The report also calls for tax relief, the creation of an independent Nightlife Commission, and changes to noise complaint policy that would mean ten unconnected complaints would have to be filed before a nightlife venue was investigated. The commission, which will be launched later this year, will replace London’s first night tsar, DJ Amy Lamé, who stepped down from her role in 2024 amid concerns over the closure of night-time venues and the long-term viability of the sector. Khan said that he will be providing a grant of £300,000, from UK Shared Prosperity Funding, to help establish this new industry-led Commission as a self-funded organisation. The report cited Shoreditch, Vauxhall and Peckham as areas that stay busier later than other parts of the city, with Haringey and Waltham Forest noted as two neighbourhoods with emerging nightlife sectors. Kate Nicholls, Taskforce member and chair of UKHospitality, said: “We're particularly keen to see a London-wide licensing standard introduced to bring much-needed consistency across the capital. We’re encouraged to see the mayor provide funding to help establish a dedicated Nightlife Commission to champion these recommendations.”

 

Publican offers discount for cash payments in protest at card charges: A Herefordshire publican is offering customers a 5% discount if they pay in cash. Alan Davies, who runs The Trumpet Inn near Ledbury and The Moon at Mordiford, said bank charges on card payments have got so high he could employ another member of staff for the same amount. Davies said the cost of the transactions meant him losing about £5 for every £50 made. He said: “I don’t really see much of what the banks are actually doing for us at the moment, because as far as I can see they're just taking money off us. I’m missing it to be honest. Since covid, there is no cash around, nobody’s using it – everybody’s gone to card, which means we're being charged quite heavily for it. That's just wrong. They don’t even do any work to take payments these days, it is all automated, so this is my campaign for cash. Will it make a difference? I don’t know – I just know that the fees I pay every month could pay for another member of staff.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a group of pubs based in London and the Home Counties that is looking for an operations director. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The company has 36 sites and is looking to add another three in the next year. The ideal candidate will treat the business as their own but report to the chief executive. Opening experience is essential, and experience with a leading London operator is key. The main area of focus is the operational team, marketing and sales, and involves working with other head office functions.” The salary for this London-based opportunity is up to £130,000. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com.

 

Harts Group makes international debut with Dubai opening: Harts Group, the London restaurant company that owns Quo Vadis and Parrillan, has made its international debut with the opening of a Barrafina site in Dubai. The business, which operates five Barrafina sites in London, has opened a 55-cover restaurant in Dubai’s DIFC. The menu includes dishes Barrafina has become known for, including the classic tortilla, gambas rojas and chicken thighs with romesco, alongside dishes created exclusively for Dubai such as daily specials of clams with salsa verde and a selection of Galician dry-aged beef. Sam Hart, founder of Barrafina, said: “Opening in Dubai felt like a natural next step. Its eclectic dining landscape and strong appreciation for quality food made it an intuitive home for our first restaurant beyond London.” Last September, the company told Propel it was building up a pipeline of international opportunities and is open to taking more of its brands to the Middle East. Anna Watkins, a director at Harts Group and managing director of the Barrafina brand, said: “We are actively exploring a number of markets in the GCC with no limit to the scope and scale of our expansion.” Harts Group partnered with Anthem Hospitality Group to bring Barrafina to Dubai, with more locations to follow throughout the GCC.

 

BrewDog to close distillery and axe all spirit brands: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has announced it will stop making spirits at its distillery in Aberdeenshire. The company said it will halt production of its distilling brands, which include Lonewolf Gin and Abstrakt Vodka, over the coming months, but will continue selling its line of cocktails. The business said that the distillery at its headquarters in Ellon will close indefinitely after “careful consideration”. In a memo sent to staff, the company announced the roll-out of a “responsible wind-down” in the coming months. The memo said: “That means doubling down on our beer range and Wonderland cocktails, where we see significant growth potential. Over the coming months, we’ll work through a responsible wind-down of the distillery, including managing existing stock and commitments. For any Equity for Punks who hold whisky-related perks, or any Whisky Cask investors: we will be contacting you directly with details on next steps. Importantly, we want to reassure you that we will fulfil all existing obligations in full. In a statement, BrewDog said: “After careful consideration, we've made the difficult decision to cease production of our distilling brands, with the exception of Wonderland cocktails. This will allow us to sharpen our focus.” Last week, Propel revealed that James Watt, who co-founded BrewDog with Martin Dickie in 2007, was considering launching a bid to buy back the business, which is backed by San Francisco-based TSG Consumer Partners. Last October, BrewDog announced job cuts across its business after posting a £37m loss in 2024 – and following the departure of co-founder Dickie and the closure of ten bars across the UK after a strategic review.

 

Costa to expand partnership with Sainsbury’s by a further 30 sites: Supermarket operator Sainsbury’s has announced more Costa Coffee store openings in up to 30 of its stores this year, following a collaboration that was launched in 2024. The supermarket has closed its in-store cafes since the announcement and said it would be replacing them with Costa stores. By this summer, it’s thought that 34 Sainsbury’s stores will also be home to Costa units. So far this year, the coffee shop chain has already opened four new stores in Sainsbury’s sites at Springfield (Chelmsford), Thanet West, Wood Cross, and Pepper Hill (Gravesend). A Costa Coffee spokesperson said: “We’re excited to continue expanding Costa Coffee’s presence across the UK, bringing more welcoming cafe spaces into Sainsbury’s supermarkets for shoppers to relax, unwind, and enjoy a great cup of coffee. Our collaboration with Sainsbury’s is all about making great coffee accessible to more people than ever before, and we’re excited to keep growing this journey together.”

 

Popeyes to open five new restaurants in Greater Manchester: Popeyes UK, which is backed here by TDR Capital, has said it plans to open five new sites across Greater Manchester this year. This includes the confirmation of a new landmark site at Manchester Piccadilly Station, the region’s busiest rail hub. The new restaurant openings will more than double Popeyes footprint in Greater Manchester, joining four existing restaurants at Manchester Arndale, Piccadilly Gardens, Bury New Road and Bolton. By the end of 2026, the region will be home to nine Popeyes locations, creating over 500 jobs. The confirmed new restaurants will open at Oldham, Elk Mill Retail Park; Manchester Wilmslow Road, Wilmslow Park; and Manchester Piccadilly Station, with the other two to be announced soon. As revealed by Propel earlier this month, the Manchester Piccadilly Station site will take over the former Leon site which shuttered in December. Tom Crowley, Popeyes UK chief executive, said: “Greater Manchester has an incredible food scene, and we’re excited to announce five new restaurant openings across the region, our biggest regional investment of 2026. From the city’s busiest transport hub to vibrant communities like Oldham, we can’t wait to welcome new fans, serve up our world-famous chicken and bring the unforgettable launch-day energy Popeyes is known for.” The US brand opened its 100th site in the UK in November, in London Bridge station.

 

Pepe’s Piri Piri opens landmark 250th store: Flame-grilled piri piri chicken brand Pepe’s Piri Piri has opened its landmark 250th store. It has opened at 275 derby Street in Bolton, Greater Manchester. It comes 15 months after the fast growing brand opened its 200th location, in Gilmerton, Edinburgh. The company posted to social media: “What a start to 2026. 250 stores open. Let’s hope the year continues with more stores operated by positive teams. Another new store in Bolton for customers to enjoy Pepe’licious food for generations to come.”

 

Pret to expand Heathrow partnership with T5 opening: Pret A Manger is to expand its partnership with Heathrow airport, with the opening of a site in T5 Arrivals later this year. The opening, in the largest single arrivals food and beverage unit in Europe, will take the number of Pret shops in the airport to nine. Pret will operate a 24-hour kitchen at Heathrow and the new shop will also trial mobile handheld tills. Pret now operates more than 220 shops in airports, stations and motorway service areas in the UK, with 63 shops opening in travel locations over the last 20 months. Pano Christou, chief executive of Pret, said: “We’re delighted to be growing our partnership with Heathrow. Airports are a natural home for Pret, allowing us to reach more customers looking for freshly made food and fast, friendly service while they travel. Expanding in major travel hubs is a key part of our growth strategy in the UK, and there’s no better place to do that than one of the world's busiest airports. We look forward to welcoming customers to our new Terminal 5 Arrivals shop very soon.”

 

BVC Hospitality continues international roll out: BVC Hospitality is to continue the roll out of its concepts overseas, with new openings for Supernova, North Audley Cantine and Crème. The business has opened its first Supernova site in Qatar, in Doha’s Centro Mall, in partnership with MH Al Mana Holding. It follows openings for the burger brand, which operates sites in London, Riyadh and Bahrain. A site in Abu Dhabi is also planned in partnership with Belhasa Hospitality, which has already recently brought North Audley Cantine and JKS Hospitality’s Berenjak to the region. At the same time, BVC has opened a site under its dessert shop concept, Crème, in Doha. Crème operates two sites in London, plus sites in Paris, Bahrain and Dubai. Last summer, BVC opened 74 Duke, a Parisian brasserie offering all-day dining in the 3,250 square-foot former Spaghetti House site in Duke Street, Mayfair.

 

92 Degrees to open debut Birmingham site and first franchise next month: Independent coffee roaster 92 Degrees will open its debut Birmingham site next month, which also marks its first franchise. The business, which was founded in Liverpool in 2014, will launch at Multistory, a 295,000 square-foot office building in Birmingham, having agreed a deal with Railpen, manager of the £34bn railways pension scheme in the UK. The new 92 Degrees coffee shop will be open to the public and tenants, offering sit-in or takeaway coffee, alongside a dedicated kiosk within the new co‑working hub. Jack Brewitt, chief executive of 92 Degrees, said: “This opening is a special one for us. It’s not just our first franchise, but our first Birmingham store – a city that’s been on our radar for some time. Multistory felt like the perfect fit: a development that shares our values, with a strong sense of place, a diverse community, and a real vision for the future.” In December, Brewitt said the business is set to hit £10m in revenue for the first time. The 20-strong business launched its first franchise programme last year and has since signed up franchisees in the Midlands, Kent and Sussex. 92 Degrees will be joined by gym and wellness studio, That Day, which has signed for a 5,300 square foot space that is due to open in the first quarter of this year. CBRE and Creative Retail are the retail and leisure leasing agents on Multistory, while CBRE and Avison Young lead on the office leasing, with V7 Asset Management advising.

 

Miss Millie’s to open in Colchester for Essex debut this spring: Fried chicken operator Miss Millie’s will open in Colchester for its debut site in Essex this spring. Opening in a former KFC unit at 10 High Street, it will be Miss Millie’s 14th UK store and first launch of 2026. The new store will be spread across two floors, with dine-in space for 60 diners as well as space for takeaway customers on the ground floor. Miss Millie’s chief executive Andy Purnell said: “We were thrilled to get such an incredible response to our first opening in the East of the UK in Canterbury last November, so it’s really exciting to be bringing the taste of Miss Millie’s to Essex with our latest Colchester launch. We can’t wait to bring the south west’s best-loved fried chicken to the south east!” It comes after the brand launched a new look, recipe and growth strategy in 2025, and saw out the year by opening at 3 High Street in Canterbury, Kent. The company also has eight Bristol sites, plus one each in Newquay, Southampton, Weston-super-Mare and Musselburgh. Two of the company’s sites – its Newquay and Edinburgh locations – are garage forecourt units in partnership with Motor Fuel Group.

 

Açai brand Oakberry closes Birmingham site, seeking new location in city: Açai brand Oakberry has closed its site in Birmingham’s Bullring centre but said it is seeking a new location in the city. The company opened its kiosk in the centre in September 2024, for its fourth UK regional location following launches in Brighton, Belfast (which has also since closed) and Bristol. However, while the Bullring location will remain closed, the business said on Instagram that it is looking to open in Birmingham again “as soon as possible”. It said: “Unfortunately, due to operational issues, we’ve had to permanently close our Bullring location. But there's good news! We're already searching for a bigger and better spot in Birmingham – one that will include seating and a cosy atmosphere for you to enjoy.” The closure leaves Oakberry with nine UK locations – six in London and one each in Bristol, Brighton and Edinburgh. Oakberry, which was founded in Brazil in 2016 and has grown to 600 locations in 35 countries, first launched into the UK in 2022.

 

Oxford gourmet sandwich and deli company to open ninth site: Oxford gourmet sandwich and deli company Taylors is to open its ninth site. The concept is launching a flagship cafe at Oxford North, the city’s new innovation district, in March. Taylors is set to join the development's first phase, which includes new offices and laboratories, homes, public parks and amenities. The 80-seater café will be on the ground floor of The Red Hall, Oxford North’s hub for science and innovation start-ups and small and-medium-sized enterprises, and offer both indoor and outdoor seating. Alongside its menu of sandwiches, salads, freshly made pasta, delicacies and specialty coffee, Taylors will also provide catering services for meetings and events. Chief executive Juri Vahala said: “In what is our fourth decade of operating, we’re thrilled to be bringing Taylors to Oxford North. This will be our ninth cafe and a flagship for our business, with stunning interiors and welcoming views. Oxford North is an exciting new place that aligns perfectly with our commitment to community, sustainability, and great coffee and food.” The £1.2bn Oxford North was officially opened in October.

 

One Vision Management adds Battersea site to Noodle Inn opening pipeline: One Vision Management – the vehicle led by Alex Xu – has lined up a fourth site for its hand-pulled noodles concept, Noodle Inn. The company, which operates 20 sites under several concepts across five cities, launched Noodle Inn in September 2024, in Old Compton Street in London’s Soho. A second site opened last November, at 100 Middlesex Street, near Spitalfields. Propel revealed last week that One Vision Management, which also operates the Happy Lemon bubble tea business and Taiwanese dessert parlour Meet Fresh, had lined up an opening on the Gordon Ramsay Street Burger site in Maiden Lane in Covent Garden. It now understands that the concept has secured a site in the Turbine Hall area on the upper level of the Battersea Power Station development. Propel understands One Vision Management is looking to further roll out the concept inside and outside the capital, with regional location targets including Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Bristol. Last November, Propel revealed that Tom Vincent, co-founder of 200 Degrees, which was acquired by Caffe Nero in 2024, was working with Noodle Inn, advising the business on strategy and operations. Salvatore Di Natale at CDG Leisure and Matt Ashman at Cushman & Wakefield acted on the Battersea deal.

 

Steakhouse concept Goodman Restaurants sees turnover and profit fall in ‘challenging market’: Steakhouse concept Goodman Restaurants, which is now owned by Ilya Demichev and George Bukhov-Weinstein and operates two eponymous restaurants, in London’s Mayfair and the City, has reported turnover decreased to £13,239,066 for the year ending 31 December 2024 compared with £13,975,483 the previous year in what it described as “a challenging market”. Pre-tax profit was down to £106,616 from £537,972 the year before. Gross profit margin of 54% “remained in line with expectations” and the prior year, which “was a good performance given increasing salary costs”. During the period, the company shut its Zelman Meats concession within the Harvey Nichols store in Knightsbridge. In his report accompanying the accounts, Bukhov-Weinstein stated: “The group has managed to hold on to market share in an intensely competitive trading environment with key concerns being staff cost pressures. The group has available cash of £3,726,677 (2023: £4,719,390).” No dividend was paid (2023: nil). In February 2025, the long-time partners and co-founders of Burger & Lobster, Goodman Restaurants and Beast Restaurant – Misha Zelman, Roman Zelman, Demichev and Bukhov-Weinstein – announced a formal split of their business interests to focus on different ventures. Demichev and Bukhov-Weinstein took full ownership of the operations and future development of Goodman Restaurants and Beast Restaurant. They are also behind the Wild Tavern concept in the capital.

 

Early Bees Coffee opens third site in London: Specialty café concept Early Bees Coffee has opened its third site in central London. The business, which was founded by Celal Cay and Tarik Gunturk, has opened its latest site at 42 Cornhill, near Bank underground station. The business also operates sites in Holborn and Old Street. Cay said: “Opening our Bank branch feels like another proper milestone for us. As co-founders of Early Bees Coffee, we’ve always believed that good things are built the same way bees work – patiently, collaboratively and with real care. I’m genuinely proud of the team here. Everyone plays their part, just like in a hive. Small actions, done well, add up to something meaningful. We’re still at the beginning, but we’re building something solid – together.”

 

Lebanese restaurant Kinz to open in Notting Hill Gate: Kinz, a new restaurant which will offer a “fresh interpretation of Lebanese cuisine”, is to launch in London’s Notting Hill Gate later this spring (15 April). Co-founded by Jad Lahoud, Karim Lahoud, and Rasha Khouri Bruzzo, the restaurant said it will bring “an authentic yet contemporary take on Lebanese cooking, rooted in tradition and shaped for modern, all-day dining”. The all-day menu will begin with breakfast (from £12), centred on egg-based dishes, traditional rolls and sandwiches, alongside a full Lebanese breakfast designed for the table. Lunch and dinner will centre on mezze intended for sharing, house-made breads and lighter plates, with small dishes (from £8) such as baba ghanoush and tabbouleh, and larger plates (from £18) including lamb kafta, warak enab with koussa and lamb cutlet. The restaurant will be set within a former Lloyds Bank building, which dates back to the 1930s, and accommodate 130 diners, alongside a private dining room for up to 16 guests. Jad Lahoud said: "Growing up in London, Karim and I were surrounded by a strong Lebanese community and the food that defines it. With parents who were both chefs, those flavours shaped how we eat and cook today. Kinz is our way of bringing the spirit of Lebanon to London.”

 

German family entertainment business to launch immersive Viking experience at London’s Dock X: German family entertainment business FKP Scorpio Entertainment (FKPE) is to launch a new immersive Viking experience at London’s Dock X, in Canada Water. FKPE, a special projects division of international promoter FKP Scorpio, has previously promoted experiences such as Jurassic World: The Exhibition, Disney100: The Exhibition and Formula 1: The Exhibition at Excel London, as well as Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue and The Legend of The Titanic Exhibition in Canada Water, and Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition at Immerse LDN. In March, it will launch Vikings: The Immersive Experience, an immersive and historical exhibition that offers guests “an unprecedented deep dive into the lives of the Viking world’s most formidable family” – King Ragnar Lodbrok, Queen Kraka and their sons Ivar The Boneless, Bjorn Ironside, Hvitserk and Sigurd Snake-in-the-eye. Blending state-of-the-art technology with immersive historical storytelling, the exhibition allows visitors to explore Viking replicas within physical sets, including a full-size forest. It also features a virtual reality adventure, a mist-filled portal room and a 360-degree video-mapped cinematic presentation, complete with a real-life Viking longship.

 

French pastry chef Nicolas Rouzaud opens first solo London venture: French pastry chef Nicolas Rouzaud has opened his first solo London venture. Rouzaud, who runs Nicolas Rouzaud at The Connaught, has launched Le Café in Burlington Arcade in Mayfair. Inspired by Rouzauds’ childhood and loved ones, the menu at Le Café is new and exclusive to the two-floor space. At the heart of the menu sits the brioche à tête, a French pastry offered in both sweet and savoury forms. There is also Rouzaud’s take on the Victoria sponge and, inspired by Rouzaud’s Polish wife, a seasonal soup. The drinks menu includes cocktails and coffee. “With Le Café, I wanted to return to something instinctive: warmth, memory, and emotion, yet with a freer, more playful spirit,” said Rouzaud. “A little bolder, more spontaneous, more alive – a place where everyone is welcome, where you come for a simple pleasure and leave with a souvenir, something comforting, seasonal, and made at its absolute best.” Having operated at The Connaught, Rouzaud has since expanded the brand into Doha with Nicolas Rouzaud at Four Seasons the Pearl Doha and Nicolas Rouzaud at Place Vendôme Mall.

 

Diageo to close Scottish whisky visitor attraction: One of Scotland’s flagship whisky visitor attractions is set to close as the industry grapples with falling demand and rising cost pressures. Diageo is preparing to close the visitor centre at Clynelish distillery in Brora, in the north Highlands. The distillery will continue production, but the move will result in the loss of an undisclosed number of jobs at the site. Clynelish’s visitor centre underwent a multimillion-pound renovation as recently as 2021. The refurbishment formed part of Diageo’s wider £185m investment into tourism across Scotland, aimed at transforming its Scotch whisky visitor experiences. A Diageo spokesman said: “Following a recent review, we have proposed changes to our visitor centre operations, which regretfully includes a proposal to close the visitor centre at Clynelish. We are currently engaging with and supporting colleagues as part of this process, and we can confirm these proposals are unrelated to distillery operations, where production will continue.”