Exclusive – Darden Restaurants exploring UK launch for casual and fine dining brands: Darden Restaurants, which operates more than 2,100 restaurants through a number of casual and fine dining brands in the US including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and Capital Grille, is exploring a launch in the UK, Propel has learned. Through its subsidiary Darden Franchising, the Florida-based business is working with restaurant and hospitality advisory firm WhiteSpace Partners on its options for the UK and is looking for franchisees to aid its launch here. WhiteSpace, which is the exclusive representative for Darden Restaurants in the UK and other markets, is seeking area development franchisees for the company’s Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and Capital Grille brands. Olive Garden has around 1,000 restaurants worldwide and is seen as “the leader in the full-service American-Italian dining segment” and is famous for its “never-ending first course” of soup or salad and breadsticks that comes with every entrée. LongHorn Steakhouse operates from circa 620 locations and is also a casual dining brand, while Capital Grille is a fine dining restaurant and steakhouse brand, which currently operates from circa 75 sites. Earlier this year, Darden opened its first Olive Garden in Europe, in Spain. The opening, in Madrid, marked the first of a multi-unit development plan between Darden and a local Spanish franchisee, who have the rights to Spain and Portugal. Brad Smith, president of Darden Franchising, told Propel: “We’re excited for the future of Darden Franchising as we begin a broader, strategic expansion into Europe with our portfolio of iconic brands. This move reflects both the global appeal of our restaurants and the strength of the systems that have fuelled our success for decades. With restaurants in development for 25 countries, we’re building the foundation for long‑term growth with franchisees who share our commitment to operational excellence. Backed by a dedicated Darden Franchise team, we’re focused on consistency, execution and sustainable success as we bring the very best of our brands to guests across Europe.” Rebecca Viani, partner and head of international development at WhiteSpace, said: “What sets Darden’s brands apart is its consistent delivery of generous hospitality and real value for guests.”

 

Sponsored message – Paulig PRO unveils The World of BBQ range: Paulig PRO has unveiled The World of BBQ, a new Santa Maria range created to bring authentic global barbecue flavours straight to UK foodservice menus. A spokesperson said: “With barbecue continuing to rank as one of the strongest and most reliable flavour profiles in the market, operators are increasingly seeking bold, smoky and flavour‑forward dishes that deliver both comfort and crave appeal – without adding complexity to the kitchen. Developed specifically for professional chefs, the Santa Maria World of BBQ collection features eight sauces inspired by iconic barbecue regions and grilling traditions from around the world, including Kansas City, Memphis, South Carolina, Alabama, South Africa and Korea. The range spans rich and smoky classics through to tangy, sweet and the on‑trend ‘swicy’ heat operators are looking for. This global line‑up allows kitchens to experiment with flavour effortlessly while ensuring absolute consistency, speed and reliability across every dish. Highly versatile, the sauces work across core barbecue heroes such as wings, ribs and brisket, as well as wraps, loaded fries, bowls, burgers and mac ‘n’ cheese, helping operators refresh menus with minimal effort.” The Santa Maria World of BBQ range is available now via national wholesalers. Download The BBQ Playbook to inspire menu ideas and recipe innovation. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Signature Pub Group business development director Louise Maclean to speak at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club subscribers: Louise Maclean, business development director at Signature Pub Group, will be among the speakers at the Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference. The all-day conference takes place on Tuesday, 19 May at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. Maclean will discuss the growth strategy for the 24-strong, Edinburgh-based business, as it looks to further expand in Scotland and further afield. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £345 plus VAT for operators and £395 plus VAT for suppliers. There is a 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club subscribers. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive updated Multi-Site Database with 3,555 operators and 19 new companies on Friday: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database on Friday (27 March), at 12pm. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,555 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 1,026 (29%) casual dining operators, 806 (23%) pub and bar operators, 633 (18%) cafe bakery operators, 500 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 293 (8%) hotel operators, 240 (7%) experiential leisure operators and 55 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 19 new companies. The database includes new companies in the casual dining sector such as Berkshire pizza concept Knead Neapolitan Pizza and Manchester ramen business Lucky Ramen. Premium Club members 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 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. A new Premium Unlimited Plus option, which costs £1,995 plus VAT per annum, has some amazing additional benefits including four free tickets to Propel’s paid-for conferences – Excellence in Pub & Bar (19 May), Operational Excellence (9 July) and Talent & Training (15 October) – and the opportunity to run one free sponsored message or situation vacant notice during the year on the newsletter. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Food deliveries ‘have become a key social signifier’: Food deliveries have become a key social signifier, with members of a new “elite” class (the wealthiest and most culturally engaged 7% of the population) ordering an average of seven takeaways a month, according to The Telegraph’s Great British Class Survey. The research, in partnership with Public First, found this compared with only one or two ordered by the “left behind” group (the fifth of society with the lowest economic and cultural scores). The highest tier in the new system, devised by The Telegraph and Public First, based on polling of more than 13,000 people, is now typically younger and more ethnically diverse than the traditional upper class. Within the “elite”, 24% get takeaways “a few times a week” and 9% state they do so “every day” or “almost every day”. Similarly, 23% of the “ambitious high earners” group, encompassing many younger people with higher incomes, said they order takeaways a few times a week. Members of both the “elite” and “ambitious higher earners” groups tend to be younger, with many living in cities. By contrast, a quarter of the “quietly comfortable” class, whose members tend to be older and live in suburbs, villages and towns, said they never order takeaways. While more economically secure than much of the population, they are more likely than others to cook meals from scratch.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a family-owned business operating within the service and maintenance sector that is seeking a chief financial officer. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This is a pivotal appointment, with the successful candidate playing a key role in shaping and executing the financial strategy required to scale the US operations. A core part of the remit will be preparing the business for private equity investment and leading the onboarding process to unlock growth capital.” The salary for this London based opportunity is negotiable. For more information, email oliwia@corecruitment.com

 

JKS co-founder – ‘response in the US has genuinely exceeded expectations’, ‘seeing strong demand across London restaurants’: Jyotin Sethi, co-founder of JKS Restaurants, the award-winning London restaurant group, has told Propel that while the business has always known there’s an international audience for its brands, “the response in the US has genuinely exceeded expectations”. Last December, JKS opened a Gymkhana restaurant at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas, while last month, an Ambassadors Clubhouse began trading in New York. It also operates a Berenjak at Soho Warehouse LA. Sethi told Propel: “We’ve always known there’s an international audience for our London brands, but the response in the US has genuinely exceeded expectations. The level of enthusiasm Americans have shown – not just for our brands, but for high‑end Indian cuisine generally – has been exciting to see. They have embraced the idea of Indian food rooted in culinary heritage and delivered in a refined, celebratory way. It’s something we’ve always championed in London, and it’s been great to see how clearly and naturally that has translated in the US. In the UK, we continue to look at neighbourhoods and cities where our brands will resonate. Internationally, the US remains a key market for us. Now, with a senior team in place on the ground, we can explore that more fully. The next few years will also see continued growth across the Middle East.” The business recently reported a 22% increase in turnover to £72,572,655 for the year to 31 March 2025 (2024: £59,582,043) and saw pre-tax losses “significantly” reduce – which it said reflected “sustained demand” across its portfolio, the contribution from new site openings and “continued brand strength in core markets”. Sethi said “trading has been encouraging, and 2025 was a successful year for our brands”. He said: “We continue to see strong and consistent demand across our London restaurants. Overall, the business is performing in line with expectations and continues to build on the momentum from the previous financial year.”

Inception Group to make competitive socialising debut with Mr Fogg's Games Parlour: Inception Group, the London hospitality group known for its immersive venues, is to enter the competitive socialising space with the launch of a new gaming “vertical” this spring, Propel has learned. The new Mr Fogg's Games Parlour will debut at the group’s existing Mr Fogg's City Tavern in Broadgate Circle, near Liverpool Street. Located on the lower ground floor of the 5,000-square-foot venue, The Games Parlour will feature six specially designed gaming booths created in a “typically traditional Mr Fogg’s style”. The Games Parlour will feature a substantial bar, serving the Mr Fogg’s Tavern menu, and guests will be able to book a booth, accommodating up to eight players, to compete in six different games over an 80-minute session. The games, all adapted and “Victorian-ised”, take inspiration from darts, mini golf, parlour quoits, beer pong, shuffle puck and bagatelle, blending familiar formats with a distinctly unique Fogg’s twist. The company said the new format is best described as an “Olympic-style pentathlon but for pub games”. Inception Group co-founder Charlie Gilkes said: “We’ve seen the rise in popularity of competitive socialising concepts over recent years and knew that, if we entered the space, we would want to create something distinctly different from what's already out there. We’ve spent nearly 24 months testing our unique gaming concept and we're excited to be finally revealing it to our Mr Fogg's customers. True to our Victorian backstory, the experience is deliberately analogue rather than digital. There's something wonderfully simplistic about marking your own score on a chalkboard.” Inception Group, which operates 15 sites across the capital, is to open a new flagship site in Covent Garden’s historic Market Building this summer. The opening, which will be on the former The Crusting Pipe site, is set to be a flagship for the company’s Mr Fogg’s Tavern concept.

 

Masala Zone owner envisages ‘tenfold growth in sales in a decade’: The owner of Canadian financial group Fairfax, which acquired MW Eat – operator of upmarket restaurants Veeraswamy, Chutney Mary and Amaya, and the four-strong Masala Zone business – last November, has said he envisages  “tenfold growth in sales in a decade” and having “30 or 40” Masala Zones in Canada. Fairfax chairman and chief executive, Prem Watsa, said he has asked the MW Eat founders – Namita Panjabi, Ranjit Mathrani and Camellia Panjabi – to stay on as advisers and help to recruit new leaders for this phase. Watsa told the FT that MW Eat will now pursue global growth and that he wants to bring its top restaurants to Canada, the US, the Gulf and elsewhere. MW Eats made a £4.4m pre-tax profit on sales of £32m last year and paid a £4.7m dividend. “London is very competitive for Indian food because you guys understand it,” said Watsa, who was born in Hyderabad before emigrating at the age of 22 and becoming known as Canada’s answer to Warren Buffett. The deal has sentimental value since he is an old friend of the founders, but he called it “a very good quality investment with potential to expand all over the world”.

ASK Italian unveils major pizza revamp and new entertainment concept: ASK Italian, the circa 60-strong, Azzurri Group-owned restaurant brand, has unveiled its new menu concept, Pizza a Mano, which it said was its “biggest shake-up to its pizza offering in a generation”. Pizza a Mano is a “bigger, bolder format”: 14-inch, round, hand-stretched pizzas, stone-baked fresh in-house, which ASK Italian said taps into the shift towards gourmet pizzas in the UK. To celebrate the launch of Pizza a Mano, ASK Italian staged its first, one-of-a-kind live gameshow experience: The Slice is Right at its flagship restaurant in London, Paddington – coming to multiple UK regions in 2026. Guests competed table-to-table across three rounds for exclusive prizes including a jackpot city break to Italy. Azzurri Group chief executive Steve Homes said: “This launch roll out meets the modern demand for premium, crafted pizza, delivered as an elevated experience, which we know consumers are looking for on the high-street. This is the top tier of casual dining and levers for growth at a time when the sector needs it most.” The Slice is Right is set to roll out across the ASK Italian’s restaurant estate throughout 2026, with more details to be released this spring. The nine-strong “Pizza a Mano” menu includes Fiery Trio Di Carne – fiery ’nduja, pepperoni, pancetta and fresh chillies on a tomato and mozzarella base, drizzled with hot honey; and the Margherita – a tomato and mozzarella base, with fresh basil and oregano. 

 

PizzaExpress hires David Parnell as property development director: PizzaExpress has hired David Parnell, formerly of Sainsbury’s, as its new property development director. Parnell joins the Paula MacKenzie-led PizzaExpress after spending more than 25 years at Sainsbury’s, including three years as the retailer’s head of construction and delivery. He most recently had a brief stint as commercial director at Sec2 Security. At PizzaExpress, he will be accountable for all design, build, refurbishment and facilities management for the UK and Ireland. Earlier this month, Propel revealed Lance Batchelor, the former chief executive of Domino’s Pizza, had joined PizzaExpress as a non-executive director. PizzaExpress operates nearly 360 sites in the UK and Ireland and more than 100 internationally. The brand is currently in the process of launching Mac & Wings, a delivery-first mac ‘n’ cheese and chicken concept, nationwide.

 

Black Sheep Coffee franchise plans to launch SpudBros in Scotland: Suhail Reham, co-founder of Black Sheep Coffee franchisee Sur Coffee, is planning to launch gourmet jacket potato business SpudBros Express in Scotland. Propel understands Rehman has lined up a site at 126 Lothian Road, in Edinburgh, for Spud Bros’ debut site north of the border. Sur Coffee opened its fifth Black Sheep Coffee site earlier this year, in Glasgow, as part of a 15-store development deal in the country. The family-run SpudBros started out as a potato cart in Preston’s Flag Market in 1950s before being taken over and rebranded by Jacob and Harley Nelson, relaunching as SpudBros Express and offering a franchise programme. SpudBros Express currently has sites in London, Liverpool, Sheffield, Blackburn, Wakefield, Portsmouth and Preston. SpudBros has partnered with Taster for its franchise growth and plans to have 30-40 stores by the end of 2027.

 

Chipotle hires Tommy Knight as culinary director, Europe: Chipotle Mexican Grill, which operates 20 sites in the UK, has hired Tommy Knight, currently at Everyman and formerly of Brewhouse & Kitchen and BrewDog, as its new culinary director, Europe. Knight joins the US brand, which also operates sites in France and Germany, after more than two years overseeing food operations at Everyman, the independent, premium cinema group. Before that, he was head of food operation at Wing Shack Co for three years, head of food innovation at Brewhouse & Kitchen for 15 months and global head of food at BrewDog for more than four years. Knight said: “As I head into the final stretch of an incredible chapter with Everyman, it’s time for me to say goodbye. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of leading and working alongside some truly talented people across the business. Together, we’ve evolved the food proposition, strengthened kitchen operations and continued to raise the standards that make Everyman such a unique hospitality brand. I’m excited to begin the next chapter of my career as culinary director, Europe at Chipotle Mexican Grill, and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead helping to grow such an iconic global brand.”

 

All-day dining concept Deckhouse closes both sites on back of ‘sustained period of significant cost increases’: Deckhouse, the all-day dining cafe and bar concept chaired and backed by Mark McQuater, the former chief executive of Revolution and Barracuda, has closed both of its sites, Propel has learned. Deckhouse opened its debut site on the former Bill's site in Taunton, Somerset, at the end of 2022. Two years later, Deckhouse opened a second site on the ex-Bill’s site in Lady Boswell House, at Bligh’s Meadow shopping centre in Sevenoaks, Kent. Propel revealed in July 2024 that Deckhouse had raised £1.1m of equity from Maven Capital to develop another site and look for a third location. Deckhouse planned to serve “affluent market towns and suburbs in the south of England”. A Deckhouse spokesperson told Propel: “It is with deep regret that we confirm the closure of both Deckhouse locations in Taunton and Sevenoaks. This has been an incredibly difficult decision. Over the past four years, our team has worked tirelessly to build and grow this start-up business. However, the hospitality industry has experienced a well-publicised and sustained period of significant cost increases. The minimum wage has risen by almost 50% over the past five years, and new employment taxes affecting part-time workers have placed additional pressure on small independent operators. At the same time, many customers are understandably reducing their spending on eating out. Across both sites, these combined challenges have left Deckhouse in a position where it is no longer viable to continue trading. Throughout this process, our immediate priority has been our team. We have ensured that all employees have been paid in full and given notice of the decision to close. Our focus now is on supporting our staff as they seek new opportunities within the hospitality sector.”

 

Bakers + Baristas reports record UK turnover of £14.2m: The UK arm of Bakers + Baristas, the artisan coffee and baking brand, has reported turnover increased to a record £14,189,061 for the year ending 31 December 2024 compared with £13,400,221 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was up slightly to £281,702 from £260,744 the year before. At the year end, the UK business operated 26 company-owned stores and 25 franchised sites. Today, the brand has a total of 54 stores, 45 of which are in the UK. At the end of 2024, the company had assets of £8,516,089 (2023: £7,578,110) and liabilities of £2,960,817 (2023: £2,993,973). In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “The group is funded by Causeway Capital, an investor in growing European small and medium-sized businesses, and AIlied Irish Banks. The funds have been provided to assist the Bakers + Baristas management team to grow the business through investment in people, existing site enhancements and new site openings in the UK and lreland. The Bakers + Baristas management team has ambitious plans and a clear strategy to continue to grow the brand over the coming years. The plan includes further refurbishments, new store openings and an increased focus on improving sales through various online and social media channels.” No dividend was paid (2023: nil).

 

Parogon Group ‘experiencing strong demand during peak periods’, confident of ‘strong profitability’ in 2026 and looking to expand: Parogon Group has said it is “experiencing strong demand during peak periods” and is confident of “strong profitability” in 2026 and looking to expand. The 12-strong company saw turnover grow to £26,650,899 in the year to 29 June 2025 from £24,105,661 the previous year, driven by two new openings under its all-day dining Willow format – in Mere Green and Telford. However, the costs associated with the openings, along with the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions, saw pre-tax loss grow from £283,704 in 2024 to £1,013,613. Group Ebitda was down from £1.5m to £1.3m. Founder Richard Colclough said: “Post period end, the group has continued to evaluate the impact of cost base changes, and some restructuring of the head office team was necessary to help mitigate this. The trading environment created by the cost-of-living crisis increased interest rates and inflation has undoubtedly impacted disposable income for many people. However, the group is experiencing very strong demand during peak periods. The directors are confident the group will report a year of strong profitability in the next period and continue to look to expand the business. The group will continue to seek out large, high visibility freehold sites to continue expanding into Shropshire, Cheshire and the surrounding counties. In addition, the more compact Willow sites are being sought too.” A debt facility with Cynergy, refinanced in 2024, completed in October, while a fresh debt facility of £9.6m was utilised to refurbish the two new Willow sites and purchase the freehold interest in The Wayfarer in Stone, Staffordshire, for £2.1m. This property was previously held on a lease with Stonegate. The Orange Tree Bar and Grill in Newcastle-under-Lyme was fully refurbished at a cost of £350,000, and the group said post refurbishment performance has been “encouraging, with both volume and double-digit sales growth”.

 

Sushi restaurant business opens sixth site: Sushi restaurant business Sushi and Bento House has opened its sixth site. The concept has launched in Chelmsford in Essex, in Annonay Walk, reports Essex Live. As well as sushi, the menu includes bao, chicken wings and nigiri. Sushi and Bento House has sites in Chadwell Heath, Basildon and Rayleigh in Essex, Walthamstow in east London and Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire.

 

Scottish operator Lisini lambasts government over continued lack of support and ‘inability to inject confidence into struggling sector’: Lanarkshire operator Lisini Pub Company has lambasted the Scottish government over its continued lack of support and “inability to inject confidence into a struggling sector”. It comes as the company – which operates Angels Hotel and The Castle Rooms in Uddington, Dalziel Park Hotel in Motherwell and The Parkville Hotel in Blantyre – saw turnover increase 2.7% to a record £13,924,357 for the year ending 31 March 2025 compared with £13,555,472 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was up to £463,520 from £196,622 the year before as the company reduced cost of sales by £146,000 to £4,325,403. Included within the figures for 2024-25 are £309,000 of planned repair costs incurred to improve the facilities across the company’s venues. In her report accompanying the accounts, director Siobhan Edwards said it has been another “challenging year for the company”. She added the “continued pressure on profits” was “due to the return of 100% business rates and the unfairness in the non-domestic rating system”, a “sharp” increase in the national minimum wage, VAT rates “not reflective of pressures on the sector”, higher levels of interest rates, the cost-of-living crisis, supply changes, inflation and “crippling” increases in energy costs. Edwards said: “Considering the current market conditions facing the hospitality sector, the directors are satisfied with the overall trading performance, and in particular, the management of costs and cashflow during this period. Continued lack of government support for the hospitality trade is of great concern, and the company is frustrated by the government's inability to inject confidence into a struggling sector.” No dividend was paid (2024: nil).

 

Valiant Pub Company adds circa 20 rooms to estate with double acquisition: Valiant Pub Group, which was founded by Hawthorn Leisure co-founders Gerry Carroll and Mark McGinty at the start of 2021, has added circa 20 rooms to its growing estate with the acquisition of sites in North Yorkshire and Somerset. The circa 85-strong business has secured The George & Dragon in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, and The Oakhouse in Axbridge, north Somerset, in two off-market deals. Both properties are historic 17th-century landmarks, with approximately ten bedrooms each, and are set to receive “major investment”. Last year, Valiant secured a further £14m in debt financing to support its growth plans. Jeremy Drake, of Drake & Company, acted on the off-market deals for Valiant. 

 

Cornwall Hotel Collection MD – ‘trading has got off to a strong start in 2026’: Ben Young, managing director of Cornish hotel operator Cornwall Hotel Collection, has told Propel that trading has got off to a “strong start” in 2026, with “encouraging demand across all areas of the business”. Earlier this week, the group acquired the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay, joining The Falmouth and The Greenbank in Falmouth, and The Alverton in Truro. The Atlantic Hotel has been a feature of Newquay’s landscape since 1892 and features 57 bedrooms, the Silks Bistro & Champagne Bar, an indoor swimming pool and spa. On trading this year, Young said: “Trading has been positive for the group so far. We’ve seen encouraging demand across all areas of the business, most importantly from within the local communities in which our hotels sit, but also in the key areas of leisure stays, weddings, and events. This balanced mix has provided a strong start to the year and gives us confidence as we move into the key trading periods ahead.” In terms of further acquisitions, Young said: “We are always open to opportunities to grow the portfolio, but our focus remains on ensuring that any future additions align with our values and enhance the overall quality and experience of the group. We are committed to sustainable, considered growth rather than rapid expansion, and will continue to assess opportunities as they arise.” Christie & Co acted on the deal, which saw the Stone family sell for an undisclosed sum.

 

Ex-Britvic MD joins C&C Group as chief commercial director: C&C Group has hired Paul Graham, former managing director of Britvic, as its new chief commercial officer. Graham spent 12 and a half years at Britvic, including more than 11 years as its managing director, before stepping down last summer. He said: “It’s a fascinating time for the hospitality sector – lots of change, but also real opportunity – and C&C sits right at the heart of it with a strong portfolio of brands and a unique route to market. Having spent my career working alongside customers and building businesses in fast moving consumer goods, I’m looking forward to getting out into the trade quickly, listening carefully and focusing on where we can create the most value together. There’s a real opportunity to build something distinctive over the next few years – for our customers, our partners and the business – and I’m excited to get started.” Earlier this month, C&C Group, the Bulmers and Tennent's owner, acquired the brand and associated global intellectual property of Scottish brewer and retailer Innis & Gunn out of administration for £4.5m. C&C had been a small minority shareholder and a brewing partner for Innis & Gunn for a number of years.

 

Greene King unveils new £23m consolidated depot for north west: Brewer and retailer Greene King has unveiled its major new supply chain depot in Middleton, Greater Manchester. The 290,000 square-foot warehouse and office space is serving around 1,000 Greene King managed and free trade pubs in the north west. The depot marks a £23m investment over the 15-year lease, in partnership with contract logistics provider GXO, to harmonise Greene King’s supply chain in the region. As many as 21,000 tonnes of drink and 11 million cases of food and goods not for resale will pass through the depot in a year. The redevelopment of the Middleton site brings all elements of the supply chain, which were previously stored at three depots, under one roof. Matt Starbuck, Greene King’s brewing and group supply chain managing director, said: “This is an important step in optimising our supply chain operations in the north west. By having all our food, drink and non-food items delivered from one depot, we have an agile and operationally efficient supply chain, which is good news for our pub teams, customers and communities. By leveraging our commercial strength and scale, the benefits will allow us to reinvest in the business.”

 

Padel concept Padium makes regional debut in Cardiff: Padium, the high-end padel concept backed by Spotify co-founder Martin Lorentzon, has made its regional debut, in Cardiff. The business, which was founded by Houman Ashrafzadeh, one of the founders of London fresh salad concept Urban Greens, has opened a new 35,000 square-foot venue in Cardiff Bay Retail Park, making it Wales’ largest purpose-built indoor padel complex with eight indoor courts. Ashrafzadeh said: “Opening Padium Cardiff is a huge moment for us. We've spent the past few years building an incredible padel community in London, and we’re excited to bring that same energy to Wales. Our goal is to create a place where people can come together through sport – whether they’re experienced players or picking up a racket for the first time. Cardiff is an amazing sporting city and we're excited to start building a vibrant padel community here.” The debut Padium site opened in Canary Wharf in summer 2023. Tom Richards, of ARC, acted on behalf of Padium on the Cardiff deal.

 

Liam Hatcher promoted to CH&Co people director: Liam Hatcher has been promoted to the role of people director at independent caterer CH&Co. He will oversee the people function across the group, which employs more than 9,000 people and includes the Company of Cooks, Gather + Gather and Vacherin brands. In his 13 years with CH&Co, Hatcher has delivered “award-winning transformational change initiatives” and spearheaded his section’s integration into Compass Group UK & Ireland following CH&Co’s acquisition. Starting out in operations, his journey to people director involved five promotions and four industry awards. CH&Co chief executive Bill Toner said: “Nurturing and developing great talent and leaders from within the business is important to us, and Liam is a fantastic example of this. He started out as a brilliant operator, but when people and training took his interest, we supported his career change, and the rest, as they say, is history.” Hatcher said: “My career path with CH&Co has been fantastic, and I’m grateful for the support and opportunities that have helped me get where I am today. I’m excited about the future and ensuring our people have access to the great development and career opportunities our business and industry offer is very important to me.”

 

Bespoke to cease operation of Chester hotel after discovery of unsafe concrete: Bespoke Hotels, the UK's largest independent hotel group, is to cease operation of the Chester Grosvenor Hotel after the discovery of unsafe concrete above the function suites of the building. The company, which runs the grade II-listed property in Eastgate Street, will close the hotel at the end of September. Bespoke Hotels told Cheshire Live: “Following the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) above the function suites, the scale and complexity of the works required to put a long-term solution in place, alongside necessary refurbishment works, we have taken the very difficult decision to cease operating The Chester Grosvenor. We closed our conference suites after the discovery of RAAC during recent surveys and the affected area will remain closed as a precaution. All other public areas of the hotel are unaffected and continue to operate as normal.” The property is owned by the Grosvenor Estate, which said proposals are being drawn up to renovate the hotel and to appoint a new operator.

 

Hedonistic nightclub Tramp to open Mayfair wellness sanctuary next month: The health and wellness sister club of the legendary West End nightspot Tramp is set to open on Mayfair’s Grosvenor Square next month. The Standard reports that builders are putting the finishing touches to a 20,000 square-foot sanctuary where Tramp members will be able to work off their hangovers from the night before. The ground floor, including the Tramp Health Wellness Cafe and Terrace, will launch on 1 April, with the rest of the club opening on 1 May. Tramp Health is the brainchild of the venerable nightclub’s new owner, Turin-born entrepreneur Luca Maggiora. The 57-year-old private members’ club on Jermyn Street in St James’s reopened in September 2024 after being bought by Maggiora, who undertook a £12m refit. Now he is spending another £10m, funded with bank loans, creating an opulent wellness centre at the corner of the former US Embassy building – now reincarnated as the Chancery Rosewood hotel – which has its own separate spa facilities. It is open to the 1,300 members of Tramp, who must first be interviewed by Maggiora and then pay an extra £390 a month, although there is no joining fee. In theory, non-members of Tramp can join too, though at a high price, and only after a meeting with Maggiora. The joining fee has been set at £5,000, with an annual fee of £10,000.