Pitch co-founder – ‘opportunity for 200 sites globally with 20 opening in UK over next five years’, ‘next launch here to be an important test with smaller scalable format’: Chris Ingham, co-founder of golf club concept Pitch, has told Propel he sees the opportunity for 200 sites globally, with 20 opening in the UK over the next five years, and its next launch here will be an “important test” for the business – with a smaller scalable format. Pitch, which Ingham co-founded with Elliott Godfrey, currently has three London locations, plus franchise sites in Dublin and Manchester. The company said earlier this week it is to accelerate its expansion across the UK and abroad through franchising, having partnered with consultants Presman & Colard. Ingham told Propel: “We have finalised agreements in Australia and the US, with the first clubhouses now under development. We are at the start of our journey, but we don’t see any reason why Pitch couldn’t scale to 200 sites globally in the future. However, to realise this potential, we would likely need to use a couple of format types. The next launch is planned for White City in London, and we are currently considering this site as an important test. It will be a slightly smaller site, with a food and beverage concession, which we feel – as a concept – could work well as a scalable concept, in addition to our flagships. We think mid-2026 is realistic for our next international opening, and then we will accelerate our growth in multiple countries. In the UK, there is still white space in London, but outside of the capital is where there is a real lack of quality when it comes to competitive socialising. We’ve always seen this as a bit of a surprise – many cities across the UK have a thriving night-life and social scene but few opportunities to socialise outside of a pub or bar environment. We see a huge opportunity to scale across the UK and expect to open 20 clubs in the next five years, from Cardiff to Newcastle and Southampton, with lots in between.” While the business said it won’t be moving forward with planned sites in Brighton and Birmingham, both cities remain key markets and alternative locations are being sought – with a new Birmingham one set to be announced soon. Ingham said both franchise sites have traded ahead of expectations so far, and Dublin has “performed particularly well” and “quickly become one of our highest grossing sites”. Its latest opening, in Canary Wharf, is performing in line with expectations, and while it had a “softer start” from a golf perspective, “our fantastic outside area has been really good for events and casual drinks”. Ingham added: “Our three Central London clubs are company owned, and as we look to our franchising growth, we feel it is really important to have ‘skin in the game’. We hope this will provide a strong foundation from which our franchisees can push on and scale with us. We want to create destinations for live sport and socialising, so consumers see Pitch as a welcoming environment they want to spend time in, even when not necessarily coming to play one of our games.” The 2025 Experiential Leisure Report, the second year of Propel’s exhaustive report on the market, is now available. The report profiles the current shape of the experiential leisure market – including brands, estate size, trading type and geographical location and future trends. It also provides a detailed list of UK experiential leisure companies including key staff and Companies House information. The report is available free to Premium Club subscribers. 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.

 

Vagabond Wines MD Christobell Giles to speak at first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, open for bookings: Christobell Giles, managing director of Vagabond Wines, will be among the speakers at the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, which is open for bookings. Giles will discuss the resurgence of the business under the ownership of Majestic, how Vagabond has redefined what a wine bar can be – including its pioneering self‑pour technology, developing the UK’s largest urban winery, and how the business is looking to double the size of its estate in the next three years. The conference takes place on Wednesday, 25 March, at the Park Plaza, Victoria. 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 tomorrow, 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 tomorrow (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 experiential leisure sector such as Vikings: The Immersive Experience, an immersive and historical exhibition opening in London, East Midlands soft play operator Rascal Ranch launching in Market Harborough, and Spinners, the competitive socialising concept, with a new opening in Chester. 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.

 

Fulham Shore – data and facts are marketers’ friends if they want to be heard on boards: Marcel Khan, chief executive of Fulham Shore, the Franco Manca and The Real Greek operator that is backed by Toridoll and Capdesia, has said that “data and facts are your friends” when it comes to marketers being heard more by company boards. Speaking at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Conference, Khan said: “Data and facts are your friends; and I think something to learn from is retail. My chief marketing officer comes from retail, and there is a discipline around data, understanding the facts, which is traditionally far stronger there than it’s been in the hospitality sector. I think that’s a massive win; and that’s how you get to the table, is understanding those facts. Then understanding the purpose with why you’re doing what you’re doing. Last year, we ran at Franco Manca a super deep discount that was Ebitda neutral. But what it did result in is an awareness, because the data showed that all of our customer metrics were up. Our food scores were at an all-time high, our service scores were at all-time high, and we wanted to reintroduce people to the brand. Everybody bought into that, and one year later, our frequency, which is such a critical measure, is up – which means that this January, we’re doing something completely different, where basically, for every kilometre you run, you get a pound off your pizza. It’s been the biggest success, and what’s magic about it is that it’s about connection and people doing good for themselves within their community. They come into our restaurants and they’re and they're rewarded for it. It’s been incredible.” 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.

 

Brits opting for fast-food over pubs and restaurants as inflation bites: British diners are increasingly turning their backs on the traditional pub and restaurant meal out, instead opting for “fast casual” options or premium fast-food outlets, according to new research by Meaningful Vision. Its full-year 2025 data – which tracks consumer traffic, pricing, promotions and store openings across more than 60,000 top UK fast food and casual dining outlets – showed restaurant and pub visits fell 6.8% last year, while fast-food traffic rose 0.9% over the same period. Despite fast-food proving more resilient, absorbing visits lost by restaurants and pubs, overall demand remains fragile. The sector’s growth was driven primarily by expansion, with outlet numbers rising by nearly 2%, resulting in a 1% decline in like-for-like fast-food visits when stripping out the impact of new openings. Bakeries accounted for the highest number of new store openings, with Greggs launching the most of any fast-food brand last year. However, chicken brand Popeyes was the fastest growing brand in percentage terms as its UK expansion continued. Performance also varied sharply by fast-food segment. Chicken restaurants were the strongest performers, with footfall up 5.9% year-on-year; followed by coffee shops, which recorded 3.6% growth; and bakery and sandwich shops, which added 2.6%. Other categories struggled to maintain momentum as burger brand visits fell 2.9%, while ethnic fast-food formats declined 1.6%. Burger outlets recording the steepest menu price increases at around 10% year-on-year, compared with the historically more competitive pizza segment, which saw the lowest increase at 3%. Maria Vanifatova, chief executive and founder of Meaningful Vision, said: “Restaurants and pubs are facing higher costs, which leaves them with little choice but to push prices up to protect margins – and it’s difficult to see that changing. That is leading to more consumers trading down – switching to fast food and fast casual options that feel like better value. Premium fast-food brands, in particular, have digital in their DNA and are using that to their advantage, engaging with Generation Z audiences. For those reasons, we believe the rise of premium fast food, at the expense of casual dining, is a long-term trend that will continue to play out this year and into 2027.” Vanifatova will be among the speakers at the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, which is open for bookings. The conference takes place on Wednesday, 25 March, at the Park Plaza, Victoria. 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.

 

Younger and lower-paid workers hit hardest by rising labour costs: Younger and entry-level workers are being squeezed the hardest by higher employment costs, slowing the rate that firms are hiring, new analysis shows. Some UK businesses have seen the cost of employing workers rise on the back of recent policy measures, including tax and minimum wage increases and reforms to employment rights, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr) said in its latest economic outlook. These factors have raised the marginal cost of hiring by around 7%, in real terms, for an entry level position, according to its findings. Niesr warned sectors most exposed to cost increases were experiencing a bigger impact, pointing to data showing a link between exposure to the national minimum wage and rising unemployment. This includes hospitality, which also have a greater concentration of younger and early-career workers. Its analysis found, rather than cutting existing jobs, many firms have chosen to slow the rate that they hire staff. In its report, Niesr said it was “hard to escape the conclusion that the rising cost of labour has deterred full-time job creation, particularly for younger workers”.

 

Edinburgh bar uses new legislation to cut cost of a pint by 25%: Edinburgh bar The Green Room has used the newly implemented Scottish Pubs Code to cut the cost of a pint by 25%. The legislation gives pub operators the chance to ask to just pay a rent without being tied to supply stock from the pub-owning business, meaning they can stock a wider range of beer. Furthermore, the bar said as a result, it has been able to cut the price of a pint of lager from £6.90 to £5.20. Anna Lagerqvist Christopherson, co-owner of The Green Room, said: “Breaking free from the tie of stock we have to supply has been transformative for us. It also allows us to offer fair, competitive prices to our customers while being able to stock a wider selection of drinks. Scotland would have a significantly more vibrant pub and bar culture if knowledge of this law were more widespread. We are seeing venues close every week, but if more owners knew they had the right to break these restrictive ties, we would see more businesses surviving, more employees kept in jobs and more taxes paid into the local economy. This isn’t just about cheaper beer; it’s about the survival of the pub.”

 

Operator sought for state-supported public restaurant set to open in Nottingham: Operators are being invited to submit expressions of interest to operate a state-supported public restaurant set to open later this year in Nottingham. The initiative is part of the DISHED project (co-Designing innovative Infrastructure for Sustainable Healthy & Equitable Diets), a collaborative research programme led by the Institute of Development Studies in partnership with the University of Nottingham, Nourish Scotland, the University of Sussex, Thriving Nottingham and the Dundee MAXwell Centre. The project aims to explore the role of public restaurants in the UK and internationally. The year-long pilot will test whether a publicly supported eatery providing meals at low prices can promote healthier diets, improve well-being, support the local economy and reduce environmental impact. Expressions of interest are open until Tuesday (10 February), with a subsidy of £240,000 available, along with research and partnership support. The project is seeking a hospitality partner to deliver catering and/or venue management for the public restaurant. Another state-supported public restaurant is set to open in Dundee this year as part of the project.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a multi-temperature wholesale organisation that is seeking an operations manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will have overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations, ensuring compliance, efficiency and excellent customer service. The position will manage a team across warehouse, transport and logistics, across two multi-temperature warehouse sites.” The salary is up to £65,000 and the position is based in York. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com.

 

KFC UK sees sustained growth in transactions as system sales increase 6.8% in 2025: KFC UK has said it saw sustained growth in transactions as system sales increased 6.8% for the year ended 31 December 2025 compared with the previous year. For the fourth quarter, sales in the UK, which accounts for 7% of KFC’s global system sales were up 7.4%, with in-restaurant sales increasing 9%. The growth came on the back of circa 50 new restaurants opening in 2025, with a similar number targeted in 2026. Rob Swain, KFC UK & Ireland general manager, said: “It’s been a fantastic year for KFC in the UK & Ireland. Not only did we deliver strong sales growth in challenging conditions, but we also saw sustained growth in transactions. Our performance in the second half was particularly impressive; driven by the innovation we introduced to our menu. In the run up to Christmas, we ran two incredibly successful limited time offers, including our Stranger Things-themed range, Christmas stuffing burgers and Festive Buckets, which drove fourth quarter results. We’re continuing to see strong growth across all formats, as we make it easier for more customers to enjoy KFC whenever they want.” Parent company Yum! Brands also reported that globally, KFC like-for-like sales were up 3% in the quarter and 3% in the year. System sales were up 6% in the quarter and 6% in the year. US like-for-like sales were up 1% in the quarter and down 1% in the year. KFC opened 1,132 gross new restaurants in the quarter and 2,986 restaurants in 105 countries in the year. Operating margin was up 0.8% for the quarter and down 1.6% for the year. Operating profit was up 10% in the quarter to $415m, and 10% for the year, at $1.50bn. Meanwhile, Pizza Hut system sales in Europe, including the UK, were down 5% in the fourth quarter and 3% in the year – the continent accounts for 12% of Pizza Hut’s system sales globally. Pizza Hut system sales were down 4% globally in the fourth quarter and 2% for the year. US like-for-like sales, which account for 40% of global sales, fell 3% in the quarter and 5% in the year. Pizza Hut opened 443 gross new restaurants during the quarter and 1,184 gross new restaurants in 65 countries during the year. For the fourth quarter, operating margin was up 0.9% but down 3.4% for the year. Operating profit increased 7% in the quarter, to $101m, and was down 9% for the year, at $340m. Taco Bell like-for-like sales increased 7% in the fourth quarter and 7% for the year. System sales were up 3% in the quarter and 7% in the year. Taco Bell opened 228 gross new restaurants during the quarter and 376 gross new restaurants across 27 countries for the year. Operating margin was down 0.5% for the quarter and 0.2% for the year. Operating profit increased 6% in the quarter, to $359m, and was up 8% for the year, at $1.13bn. 

 

US bakery brand Magnolia Bakery eyeing UK launch: US bakery brand Magnolia Bakery is eyeing a launch into the UK, Propel has learned. The original Magnolia Bakery was opened in 1996 by Jennifer Appel and Allysa Torey in New York’s Bleeker Street – the duo making their signature cupcakes from leftover cake batter. Appel left the business in 1999, and Torey sold the business to Steve Abrams in 2006, who in turn sold it to private equity firm RSE Ventures in 2021. The brand currently has 12 US locations – the majority of which are in New York – plus 11 in India, eight in Turkey, seven each in the Philippines and UAE, five in Qatar and one in Kuwait. The brand said at the end of last year it is seeking to double its international footprint by 2030, and has now started advertising its franchise offer in UK-based franchise publications. It said it has seen 30% international unit growth year-on-year and offers flexible and scalable unit formats, from 35-200 square metres. Leading the international expansion is Rick Raison, who was appointed as the brand’s vice-president of international and development sales last year. Raison said: “Thirty years in, and Magnolia Bakery isn’t slowing down! We are setting up our next chapter in a big way by building off all the success we've had in 2025 around franchising, retail, and consumer packaged goods. For me personally, it’s been an energising first ten months in this role. Supporting our team in signing new partners, reaching 40 international bakeries, and laying the groundwork for long-term international growth through new expansions has been incredibly rewarding. The trajectory is strong and the opportunity ahead is exciting. Proud of what this team has built and even more excited about what’s next.” The brand has also hired former Jimmy John’s vice-president of brand marketing and activation, Nathan Louer, as its new chief executive, whose role will focus on international and domestic franchising.

 

Chipotle set for expansion in London, where restaurants now generating ‘strong cash-on-cash returns’: Chipotle Mexican Grill chief executive Scott Boatwright has said its London restaurants are now generating “strong cash-on-cash returns”, paving the way for expansion in the capital this year. Speaking following the company’s fourth quarter update, Boatwright said: “We are accelerating global expansion. In 2025, we opened a record 345 new restaurants and saw more than 9% new restaurant growth. We opened 334 company-owned restaurants, where we surpassed 4,000 in December. This included 21 openings in Canada, an increase of 38% year on year for that country. We remain confident in our ability to reach 7,000 restaurants in North America longer term, and we are accelerating growth globally. In Europe, we ended the year with positive comparative sales and another step change in the economic model. In fact, Central London and Frankfurt have reached strong cash-on-cash returns, which has unlocked growth for these markets in 2026.” Asked specifically about UK expansion, Boatwright said Central London, where the brand has 17 restaurants, “is our biggest opportunity”. He added: “We made some strategic bets a couple of years back outside of Central London. That didn’t perform at the level we wanted them to perform at. So, we think about the strategy for London, which is more similar to New York or Downtown Chicago, where there’s so much opportunity to build and have a very successful return on investment. That’s where we’re going to lean into.” Chipotle beat quarterly profit and revenue estimates but forecast flat comparable sales for 2026. Revenue rose 4.9% from a year earlier to $3bn. Management said Chipotle plans to open between 350 and 370 new restaurants in 2026, including ten to 15 international partner-operated locations.

 

Portuguese hospitality group to make UK debut with burger concept: Vida Plena Hospitality, the Portuguese multi-brand operator, is set to make its UK debut with the launch of its Dallas Burger Joint concept, in London, Propel has learned. The business, which was founded by Pierre d'Andrimont in Lisbon in 2018, has secured the former Phoenix bar site in Shoreditch High Street for its UK debut. The company currently operates from 13 locations across Lisbon, including four sites under the Dallas Burger Joint concept – in Pink Street, São Bento, Anjos and Carcavelos. The company said: “Vida Plena is an innovative hospitality group founded in Lisbon in 2018, dedicated to making our guests and team feel truly at home. We pride ourselves on delivering warm, blissful experiences, fostering a diverse and inclusive atmosphere, serving top-quality fresh food, and providing exceptional service. We are thrilled to take our much beloved, Dallas Burger, from Lisbon to London.”

 

Inglenook adds trio of sites to estate: North west pub operator Inglenook has added three new sites in Yorkshire to its growing estate. The James Waddington-led business has secured The Royal Oak and The Albert in Keighley and The Red Lion in Wath upon Dearne. The company said: “We look forward to continuing the strong traditions these pubs have built, and to supporting their teams to deliver consistent service and welcoming experiences.” Inglenook currently operates 11 managed houses in partnership with companies including Robinsons, Daniel Thwaites, Greene King and Punch. Inglenook also has 43 tenanted pubs across the north west of England. Inglenook Group also operates a 23-strong retail division – predominantly wet-led community pubs across Yorkshire and the north west – that operate on the group’s self-employed operator agreement. Last year, the company hired Jodie Leigh, formerly of Admiral Taverns and Marston’s, as its new operations director. Leigh joined Inglenook after more than five years at Admiral Taverns as a business development manager.

 

Carlsberg turnover rises 18.8% after Britvic acquisition, soft drinks now account for 30% of total company volumes: Carlsberg has reported sales were up 18.8% after its Britvic acquisition in January 2025 and that soft drinks now account for 30% of its total volumes, which is double the figure before the deal. However, group organic growth was minus 0.6% excluding San Miguel, which the company lost the right to brew and distribute in the UK. The business said that its soft drinks businesses in the UK delivered “very good volume growth”. In the UK, it said total soft drinks volumes grew by 4%, driven by a "very strong performance" for the Pepsi portfolio, particularly Pepsi Max and new product developments such as Pepsi Treats and 7UP Pink Lemonade, which drove both volume and value market share gain. It said: “Own brands, such as Plenish and Jimmy’s, also contributed to the growth. It said synergies between the group’s Carlberg UK business and Britvic are “ahead of plan”, having already secured around 30% of the predicted £110m in the projected savings. The company said the takeover of Britvic helped operating profits increase by 22.7% to DKr13.9bn (£1.6bn) in 2025. It also helped overall sales volumes grow by 17.7%, with total revenues up 18.8% year-on-year. However, Carlsberg suffered a steeper than expected decline in full-year sales volumes after losing its licence to brew and sell San Miguel lager in the UK to rival brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev. It reported a 2% drop in group sales volumes in 2025, a slightly deeper decline than analysts expected. Group chief executive Jacob Aarup-Andersen said: “Navigating a challenging consumer environment, we successfully integrated Britvic, prepared to take over a substantial soft drinks business in Central Asia, achieved positive results for our growth categories and accelerated growth in India. The Britvic acquisition represents a significant step for the group, strengthening our position in the growing soft drinks category. The integration is progressing ahead of plan, and we are realising synergies earlier and at a higher level than originally anticipated. We’ve taken significant steps towards building a broad and diversified beverage portfolio. This will not only enable us to meet a wider range of consumer needs and occasions but also strengthen our position as a world-class brewer. The combination of beer and soft drinks is therefore unlocking exciting new opportunities for both growth and value creation.”

 

Odeon to open new site in Bristol next week: Cinema operator Odeon is to open a new site in Bristol next week. The Odeon Luxe Bristol will launch at Cabot Circus on Thursday, 12 February. The company agreed a deal with the scheme’s owner, Hammerson, at the end of 2024 on the back of a new cinema being the leisure experience most requested in a customer survey. Suzie Welch, managing director of Odeon UK & Ireland, said: “We are proud to be part of the local Bristol community, as we have been for 90 years now and counting, showing films in the way they were intended to be seen – on the big screen.” Odeon has more than 100 venues in the UK and Ireland and is Europe’s largest cinema operator.

 

Hall & Woodhouse invests more than £2.5m into tenanted pubs in 2025: Brewer and pub operator Hall & Woodhouse invested more than £2.5m into its circa 110-strong business partner (tenanted) pubs in 2025, including £250,000 on a major renovation of the historic Dolphin Hotel in Bovey Tracey, Devon, which it acquired in 2021. The company has renovated the main pub areas to create a “refreshed, more vibrant space” designed to welcome all-day trade. The group is now looking for an experienced operator to run the pub, which has eight en-suite guest bedrooms and is projected to make an £850,000 annual turnover. Hall & Woodhouse estimates the successful operator could generate an operating profit of £80,000 per annum after an initial onboarding period. The pub has 72 covers, plus a large function space, and lends itself to a food-led operation, with dry trade expected to account for 45% of overall revenue.

 

Whitbread opens new hub by Premier Inn in City of London: Whitbread has opened a new hub by Premier Inn in the City of London. The 212-bedroom hotel has launched within the former City of London Snow Hill police station in Farringdon. Following the opening, Whitbread now has seven Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn hotels across the City, with a further two Square Mile locations under construction or in planning. Nationwide, nearly 30% of the company’s development pipeline are hub by Premier Inn hotels, the majority of which are in London. Jonathan Langdon, senior acquisition manager for Whitbread, said: “We have poured our heart and soul into creating a showcase development – demonstrating how affordable hotels like hub by Premier Inn can breathe fresh life into vacant historic buildings in Central London.” Launched in Covent Garden in 2014, hub by Premier Inn now offers 19 hotels and almost 3,300 bedrooms in locations across Central London and Edinburgh city centre. Meanwhile, a 132-key Premier Inn hotel at Swansea’s Waterfront has been acquired by asset management firm ME Asset Management, which plans to undertake a restoration. The company completed the acquisition of the hotel with support of a £9.6m senior loan facility from real estate lender ASK Partners. The hotel is operated under a long occupational lease to Whitbread, with ten years unexpired.

 

Morgan Pub Collective takes on former Rare Restaurants site: Morgan Pub Collective, the multi-site operator led by Richard Morgan, has further added to its estate with the acquisition of the Crane Tap in London’s Twickenham. The site, in Wharf House, was previously operated by Rare Restaurants, the operator of the Gaucho brand, and was part of M Restaurants. Last autumn, the Morgan Pub Collective acquired the two-strong Jolly Fine Pubs business, which comprised The Victoria in East Sheen and the Fox & Grapes on the edge of Wimbledon Common. The Morgan Pub Collective operates circa 25 sites across London, the south east and Oxford. Paul Tallentyre at Davis Coffer Lyons acted on the Twickenham deal.

 

Dessert bar operator set to open in Manchester: Dessert bar operator Rassams Creamery is set to open in Manchester. The business, founded in 2012 by Rassam Ali, is preparing to open at 18-20 Deansgate in the city. Rassams currently has five sites within its home city of Sheffield – plus one each in Liverpool, Wakefield and Beeston – and last year made its international debut in Nairobi, Kenya. “Manchester, the wait is almost over,” Ali said. “Rassams is arriving in the heart of the city, bringing the desserts everyone has been talking about straight to Deansgate. From being a Sheffield favourite to expanding across Wakefield, Nottingham, Liverpool and as far as Nairobi, the Rassams experience continues to grow and now it is Manchester’s turn. Doors opening soon.” The company, which has previously targeted an eventual estate of 50 locations, also said last year that it was lining up openings in Leeds, Barnsley, Leicester and Chesterfield.

 

Hoppers opens fourth site: Hoppers, the JKS Hospitality-backed, Sri Lankan concept, has opened its fourth site in London, in Shoreditch. The business said the new restaurant, at the Tea Building in Shoreditch, marks an exciting new chapter for Hoppers. Ten years on from the launch of its debut site in Soho, the company said the new opening looks beyond Sri Lanka to the regions that have long influenced much of the Hoppers kitchen, exploring the southern states of India through a new menu shaped by research trips across the region. Karan Gokani, co-founder of Hoppers, said: “Hoppers has always been a love letter to Sri Lanka, but South India has been a huge part of our story from day one too. Over the last few years, we have travelled deeper across that region, eating in homes, restaurants, hotels and streets, and have discovered so many exciting new things. Shoreditch is our chance to bring that inspiration to life with new dishes that feel personal, exciting and proudly regional, while still keeping everything people love about Hoppers at the heart.”

 

The Gladwin Brothers acquire first regional site and first with bedrooms: The Gladwin brothers, Richard and Oliver, have secured their first site outside London, and their first with bedrooms – The Black Horse in Amberley, West Sussex. The site, the group’s sixth, will reopen on Wednesday, 25 March with 11 bedrooms. The brothers’ London restaurants are The Shed, Rabbit, Sussex British Bistro and The Black Lamb, which operate alongside their most recent opening, The Pig's Ear in Chelsea, which was their first pub. The Black Horse offer produce almost exclusively from Sussex and the surrounding counties, with menus including handmade pies, the brothers’ signature rotisserie chicken, “affordable” lunch menus and “Oliver's famous roasts”. Oliver and Richard said of the opening: “This is a special moment for us. We have had a brilliant time with our restaurants and beloved pub in London, but this is truly home for us. We grew up in and around this pub, so when the opportunity came to take it over, it was a no brainer for us. This building and village mean a lot to us, so we are determined to do it justice. We’re bringing home everything we've learnt over the 12 years of operating in London to roost in this pub.”

 

Costa Coffee voted nation’s favourite coffee shop for record 16th consecutive year: Costa Coffee has been voted the nation’s favourite coffee shop for a record 16th consecutive year, following a World Coffee Portal poll of more than 5,000 UK coffee drinkers. Over the past year, Costa has opened more than 100 new stores and refurbishing in excess of 400 of its circa 2,700 estate. Alongside its core coffee, Costa said it continues to introduce new seasonal drinks, iced beverages and plant-based options, and last month, launched its first matcha latte range nationwide. Nick Orrin, managing director UK & Ireland at Costa Coffee, said: “We are incredibly proud to be recognised by our customers as the nation’s favourite coffee shop for the 16th year in a row – and have increased our favourability by 5% year-on-year. This award is a true celebration of our baristas, partners, suppliers and the millions of customers who visit us every day.” Earlier this week, the World Coffee Portal’s market report, Project Café UK 2026, revealed Greggs has overtaken Costa to become the UK’s largest overall operator. Greggs now has 2,737 outlets, while Costa has 2,707 and Starbucks 1,424.

 

Holy Carrot to open second site next month: Plant-based restaurant Holy Carrot, which is the brainchild of former Vogue producer Irina Linovich, will open its second site next month, in London’s Old Spitalfields Market. The concept started as a pop-up in Knightsbridge in May 2021, and this was followed by the launch of a flagship restaurant in Notting Hill’s Portobello Road in 2024, with chef-owner Daniel Watkins at the helm. The new Holy Carrot will open on Friday, 13 March, introducing new vegetarian dishes alongside its established plant-based offering and a new on-site fermentation vault. Known for its use of seasonality, fermentation and grill-led techniques, the restaurant has been working towards a near-zero-waste kitchen, with by-products such as focaccia trims and vegetable peelings transformed into ferments, pickles, miso, soy sauce and garums. Guests can expect fire-grilled filled koji flatbreads and changing pie du jour alongside vegetable-driven plates, while a new pizza oven will bring pizzettas to the menu for the first time. Watkins said: “We want food to feel generous and fun, never restrictive, and the new site gives us the space to push that idea further.” Linovich added: “Spitalfields feels like a natural next step for Holy Carrot. Its strong food heritage makes it an inspiring place for us to evolve the menu while staying true to what matters most to us: good produce, solid technique, and food people genuinely want to come back for.”

 

Yorkshire Italian restaurant to open second site this spring: Yorkshire Italian restaurant Domo is to open a second site this spring. Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah Elliott-Busceddu have operated Domo in Sheffield’s Eagle Works in 2019, offering Sardinian and Mediterranean dishes. Work is now underway on their second location, in Leeds’ Tower Works, which is due to open in the coming months. Domo Leeds will occupy a 2,841 square-foot canal-side space, offering around 95 covers inside along with outdoor seating for 25. In addition to its main restaurant offering, Domo Leeds will offer a daily lunch menu, with takeaway options as well as weekend breakfasts. Sarah Elliott-Busceddu said: “Opening our second restaurant feels special. Domo started as a shared dream, built from years of hard work and a deep love for Sardinian food culture and to be bringing that passion to Leeds is a huge milestone for us and one we’re proud of. We both spend a lot of time in Leeds, and we love the city and the people. When we discovered the site at Tower Works, we knew instantly it had to be the home of Domo Leeds. We’re excited to join the incredible indie food scene here and become part of the local community.” Fox Lloyd Jones was agent for the lease agreement, acting on behalf of Legal & General.

 

The Great Northern Market opens at Manchester airport: Airport Retail Enterprises UK has opened The Great Northern Market – a 472-seat food hall – at Manchester airport’s redeveloped Terminal 2. The company said the new venue brings “the best of Manchester’s street-food scene to the airport, featuring six international street food kitchens including a Gooey desserts unit”. The street food concessions are Nashville Hot House, Black Iron Grill, Kouzina, Palms Café, La Casita and Napoli Street Pizza. The kitchens are all set around a central dining area. John and Hayley Butts, directors at Airport Retail Enterprises, said: “Great Northern Market will provide all the benefits of a market hall environment – variety, quality, value and a lively, social atmosphere -– on a scale not previously seen in UK airports." Richard Jackson, retail director at Manchester airport, added: “This is the first unit of its kind in a UK airport, but we know market halls are really popular, and we want to ensure the offerings in our new Terminal 2 keep up with modern tastes, providing a range of dining experiences.”