Karali Group CEO – ‘The Real Greek is a natural fit for what we’re building’: Karim Janmohamed, co-chief executive of Cote Restaurants-owner the Karali Group has said The Real Greek is a “natural fit for what we’re building: distinctive, well-loved restaurant brands with strong customer connections and room to grow”. Last week, Propel revealed Karali Group, which in October acquired the circa 70-strong Côte, had acquired 19 sites out of the 28-strong The Real Greek business via a pre-pack administration. The deal saved circa 360 jobs but saw nine sites close, plus the brand’s central kitchen. The sites closed were in Bristol, Dulwich Village, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Gloucester Quays, Solihull, Spitalfields, The Strand and Westfield London. Karali Group also backs Crosstown Doughnuts and Marugame Udon in the UK. Janmohamed said: “We are very pleased to have completed the acquisition of The Real Greek – a brand with real heritage, a loyal following and a talented and committed team that cares deeply about what it does and its tavernas. This acquisition extends our growing family of hospitality brands at Karali and The Real Greek is a natural fit for what we’re building: distinctive, well-loved restaurant brands with strong customer connections and room to grow. We welcome the team joining the expanding Karali family. Look forward to the future with great optimism for this loved brand.” In October 2022, Burger King UK acquired 74 restaurants from Karali Group, its then London-based franchise operator, and in the summer of 2024, Karali Group became the UK’s largest Taco Bell operator after purchasing 46 Taco Bell restaurants from Caskade Group via a pre-pack administration. Karali Group features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisee Database, one of six databases exclusive to Premium Club subscribers. The latest edition has 300 entries and more than 122,000 words of copy. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Propel Multi-Club Female Leaders and Entrepreneurs Conference open for bookings, Social Pantry founder Alex Head to speak: The Propel Multi-Club Female Leaders and Entrepreneurs Conference takes place on Thursday, 4 June at Park Plaza Victoria London. The all-day conference, which is organised in conjunction with Ann Elliott, will feature an all-female line-up of sector leaders. These include Alex Head, owner and founder of Social Pantry, discussing how attention to detail is critical in creating and delivering a consistent hospitality brand. 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 UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database this week: The next UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers this week. The database, which will be sent out on Friday (8 May) at 12pm, now has 400 entries and more than 230,000 words of content on brands already franchising in the UK, or looking to franchise here. Among the new entries are Northern Ireland bubble tea brand Teahouse Boba, which is looking to expand to England, and bakery brand CakeCo, which is looking to grow its presence here. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings 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.

 

Fast food and casual dining restaurants see steepest decline in visits for two years, prices grow by up to 8%: Fast food and casual dining restaurants saw their steepest decline in customer visits for two years in the first quarter of 2026, as the cost of living continued to rise and consumer sentiment weakened, according to new data from Meaningful Vision. The data showed footfall fell 2.3% across the more than 60,000 outlets the firm monitors during the three months to the end of March, the biggest fall since January 2024. Pub and restaurant traffic declined sharply – down 7.6% during the quarter – after seeing a 6.9% decrease in 2025. Fast food saw a 1.2% fall, compared with 1% growth during the same period last year, with only chicken shops (6.2%) and ethnic food stores (3.5%) welcoming more customers. Only the south east (2.7%), Greater London (4.1%) and the south west (15.9%) saw a rise in footfall during January to March. By contrast, London saw a 5.8% decline in customer traffic and its share of the total market shrunk by 0.8% – the highest of any region. Meaningful Vision’s analysis indicated prices in restaurants grew up to 8% – 2.3% higher than a year ago – and more than twice the rate of inflation. Price rises accelerated in February and March after three months of stable inflation, with increases across all categories – particularly “extras and dips” (13.6%) and hot drinks (13.5%). Against such an uncertain backdrop, fast food and casual dining brands began to put a brake on their expansion plans. Outlet growth has more than halved since the third quarter of 2025, falling from 2.4% to 1.1% Meanwhile, the number of pizza stores continued to fall, with a 3.2% drop compared with the same time last year, building on the 1% decline during 2025 – when it was the only market segment to contract. Vanifatova provides analysis on the growing number of US casual dining brands expanding in the UK as part of this year’s highly anticipated International Brands report. It will feature 160 international brands operational in the UK with turnover where available – plus those planning to open. The International Brands report is available for £450 plus VAT, with existing Premium Club members receiving it free. The report is published on Friday, 22 May at 9am. Order your copy today or sign up to Premium by emailing kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Workers’ rights overhaul leaves over-50s struggling for a job: Labour’s workers’ rights overhaul has made it harder for older people to get a job, experts have warned. Just under a million workers aged 50 or above are currently struggling to find work, according to the latest data. The number of unemployed older people looking for work has increased by 22% since 2023, with the age group consistently suffering the highest rates of redundancy. Experts said the problem was made worse by Labour’s decision to increase national insurance contributions as well as its flagship workers’ right act, both of which have made companies more reluctant to hire, reports The Telegraph. “Older workers, likely on higher salaries than their Generation Z colleagues, have borne the brunt of businesses reassessing their hiring strategies,” said Kevin Fitzgerald, the UK managing director at jobs site Employment Hero. Lyndsey Simpson, who runs career-coaching platform 55/Redefined, said people in their 50s who lose senior or well-paid roles can often struggle to be rehired. She said: “That’s why people are ‘age‑scrubbing’ their CVs. They remove dates, hide early roles and play down seniority because they know age can work against them before they even get an interview.”

 

NTIA – ‘£10 pint in London highlights mounting pressure on capital’s nightlife’: The Night Tine Industries Association (NTIA) has said the reality of a £10 pint in London “highlights the mounting pressure on the capital’s nightlife”. The Telegraph reported at the weekend that a number of high-end bars are now charging £10, or in some cases even more, for draught and bottled beer. In response, the NTIA said rising operational costs, from energy and wages to taxation and regulation, are forcing venues to increase prices just to stay afloat. The trade body added the issue is not isolated to premium locations “but indicative of a wider strain across the night-time economy, raising concerns about long-term sustainability and accessibility”. NTIA chief executive Michael Kill said: “The reality behind rising pint prices in London is far more complex than a headline figure. While consumers are understandably shocked at the prospect of £10 pints, these prices reflect the intense and unsustainable cost pressures facing venues across the capital. What we are seeing is not profiteering, but a sector fighting for survival. The night-time economy has already contracted significantly in recent years, with closures and reduced footfall driven by the cost-of-living crisis and shifting consumer habits. Without meaningful government intervention to reduce the cost of doing business, these price increases risk becoming the norm, ultimately impacting accessibility, culture and the long-term viability of the UK’s nightlife.”

 

Asahi to replace BrewDog at Lords, Budweiser takes Isle of Wight Festival slot: Asahi UK has been chosen as the new official beer partner and supplier at Lord’s. In March, Propel revealed Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) had ended its beer partnership with Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog 14 months into a four-year deal. The agreement, which began in January 2025, was BrewDog’s first entry into sports arenas and saw Lord’s become the first sports venue in the UK to hand over its taps to a craft beer brand, as well as being the only to pour 100% British beer. The deal incorporated a comprehensive range of BrewDog beer and saw more than 450 draught taps pouring its brands. Asahi UK has been chosen to replace BrewDog at Lord’s. The deal sees the return of Fuller's London Pride to the ground’s bars, plus Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Fuller’s new Pride Lager and Meantime Craft Beer. At the same time, Propel understands BrewDog, which is now owned by US firm Tilray, has also lost the deal to supply the Isle of Wight Festival, with this year’s contract going to Budweiser. It comes as BrewDog announced it has agreed to become the official beer supplier of Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe. The 12-month deal, which has scope to extend beyond the initial agreement, will also see BrewDog take over as the official beer supplier at Christmas in Trafalgar Square, SKATE at Leicester Square and permanent live venue, Underbelly Boulevard Soho, in addition to Underbelly at The Edinburgh Fringe.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a food and beverage business that is looking for an off-trade controller. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This position will lead and optimise the wholesale and buying group strategy, develop and grow the existing business and manage the field sales function to ensure brand growth. The off-trade controller will directly be responsible for national relationships including Brakes, Bidfood and Creed. Candidates are required to come from a senior level within a drinks fast moving consumer goods business with a proven track record in commercial success across accounts mentioned.” The salary is up to £75,000 and the position is based in Manchester. For more information, email mark@corecruitment.com

 

McDonald’s UK&I names new CMO, adds barista-style role as part of refreshers and crafted sodas launch: McDonald’s UK & Ireland has named Tim Kenward as its new chief marketing officer. Kenward, who was most recently senior marketing director for the brand’s international operated markets business unit, replaces Ben Fox, who stepped down last month after 16 months in the role. Kenward brings more than 15 years of end‑to‑end marketing experience across the McDonald’s system, starting his career in Australia. In his role as senior marketing director for the international operated markets, he oversaw the reinvention of value strategy in key markets and, most recently, World Menu Heist – inspired by the UK & Ireland campaign, which became McDonald’s first truly multi‑market campaign, “delivering brand‑building at scale”. Kenward said: “I’m excited to be leading a team where I know inspiration thrives at every corner and creativity is so deeply embedded in the culture. We have some exciting marketing campaigns on the horizon this year, and I’m looking forward to celebrating our iconic menu items in fresh, relevant ways that resonate with our customers. I’m looking forward to using my experience within the global system to combine strong local insight with global best practice, and my focus will be on driving continuous growth, innovation and long‑term brand excellence across the region.” Meanwhile, McDonald’s is adding a new in-restaurant role called a beverage specialist to help make its new refreshers and crafted sodas consistently and at quality as it rolls them out. The brand said it is adding the barista-style role because the drinks are “more operationally complex than standard fountain beverages, with ingredients like fruit purée, popping boba and cold foam that require more careful assembly”. The range builds on lessons from the now-defunct CosMc’s concept, which served as a test bed for premium drink ideas.

Indian multinational fast-food restaurant brand to make UK debut with new premium casual format: Indian multinational fast-food restaurant brand Haldiram’s – founded in 1937, as a confectionery and desserts shop in Bikaner, Rajasthan – will make its UK debut with a new premium casual format. It will open a 120-cover, 3,000 square-foot site, including 20 heated outdoor seats, at 19-20 Irving Street in London’s Leicester Square in June. The full-service, casual dining format for the UK market marks a shift from Haldiram’s traditional quick-service model. It will offer dishes such as choley bhatura (a North Indian chickpea curry served with fluffy fried bread), pao bhaji (a rich, spiced Mumbai-style vegetable curry) and raj kachori (a large, crisp shell packed with classic chaat fillings). The site will also include a dedicated retail area, featuring a sweets counter and shelves of Haldiram’s packaged products for takeaway. Leading the expansion is Rhea Agarwal, a third-generation entrepreneur from the founding family, now leading Haldiram’s growth across the UK and Europe. She said: “While Haldiram’s is deeply rooted in tradition, we are equally committed to evolving with our consumers. London is an exciting step in making Haldiram’s a household name beyond India.” Halidram’s currently has a presence spanning more than 80 countries and 200-plus restaurants.

 

Harry Ramsden’s – latest opening ‘symbolic homecoming to Yorkshire heartland’ and ‘latest step in broader growth strategy’: Harry Ramsden’s has said it latest opening marks a “symbolic homecoming to its Yorkshire heartland” and a “latest step in the brand’s broader growth strategy”. The brand, which was founded in West Yorkshire in 1928, has opened a new restaurant in Spital Road in Staxton, Scarborough. The site is the third domestic Harry Ramsden’s opening in the last seven months after relaunching its franchise programme, refocusing its growth plans and rebranding its parent company from Deep Blue Restaurants. The now nine-strong Harry Ramsden’s opened in London’s Notting Hill in November, and in February made a return to the travel hub sector with a launch at Extra MSA’s Baldock Service on the A1 in Hertfordshire. The company said: “Harry Ramsden’s has opened a new restaurant in Staxton, North Yorkshire – marking a significant milestone in the brand’s ongoing UK expansion programme and a symbolic homecoming to its Yorkshire heartland. The opening represents the latest step in a broader growth strategy for the brand, which is actively seeking franchise and licensing partners across the UK. After successful openings in Notting Hill and Baldock, Harry Ramsden's is targeting high-footfall locations including travel hubs, retail and leisure parks and prime high-street.” Chief executive James Fleming added: “Yorkshire is where our story began nearly a century ago, and we felt it was only fitting to mark our return by celebrating with the local community. This is also very much a statement of intent – Staxton sets the standard for the next generation of Harry Ramsden’s restaurants: high-quality, craft-led and built around a genuine love of great fish and chips. For operators and partners considering Harry Ramsden’s, this restaurant is the clearest signal yet of where we are heading.”

 

Growth Kitchen targets £100m in sales: Growth Kitchen, the delivery franchising platform that works with The Athenian and Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK), has unveiled plans to surpass £100m in sales. Tom Gatz, who founded the business with Mate Kun, told PA their operation provides firms with access to a wealth of new customers nationwide without the substantial capital outlay required for brick-and-mortar locations. He described the model as similar to that of being an “Airbnb of professional kitchens”. Growth Kitchen has recently brought on board national brands Tortilla, Coco di Mama and Little Dessert Shop, joining existing partners including The Athenian, GBK, Coqfighter and Beer & Burger. Growth Kitchen has expanded its network of host kitchen partners to 150, collectively processing upwards of one million orders annually. After more than doubling revenue last year, the business is targeting some £30m in sales this year and has set its sights on achieving £100m in annual turnover within three to five years, with strategies to onboard additional restaurant brands and expand its host kitchen locations to 300. Gatz told PA: “Restaurant brands see the opportunity, regardless of the current climate. They see this as a long-term opportunity to scale with food delivery operations. But [current trading conditions] are perhaps accelerating the adoption of this model, because brands are looking for ways to grow, looking for new ways to make profits and looking for new ways to expand awareness of their brands across the UK.” The group is currently focused on expanding its UK presence, while eyeing up further international growth in the coming years, with both the Americas and Europe firmly on its radar.

 

AB InBev returns to growth as it cheers better beer sales but warns on hit to consumers from rising costs: The world’s largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, reported its first rise in sales volumes in three years, outperforming market expectations in every region during its first quarter. The company said sales volumes were up 0.8% year on year in the period, growing for the first time since early 2023. Analysts had been expecting sales volumes to decline 0.5%. Organic sales in the period increased by 5.8% to $15.3bn, which AB InBev said was thanks to higher volumes and prices – beer volumes were up 1.2%. Group underlying profits jumped from $1.6bn a year ago to $1.9bn in the latest quarter. The brewer cited strong demand for core brands such as Corona and Stella Artois, as well as growth in non-alcoholic beer and non-beer brands. Chief executive Michel Doukeris said: “Cheers to beer. The strength of the category and the consistent execution of our consumer-centric strategy drove continued momentum across our footprint. We are investing behind our megabrands and innovations to lead and grow the category. With strong execution by our teams and major moments of celebration ahead, we are well positioned for 2026.” Doukeris said in an earnings call that consumers recognised the “important role” of beer in “bringing people together and creating moments of celebration”. He said the upcoming Fifa World Cup would further boost demand, but warned rising costs arising from the Middle East war would hit consumers “towards the end of the year”, which could weigh on demand.

 

Beckford Group co-founder – ‘trading broadly positive but going out has become a treat’: Dan Brod, co-founder of south west operator Beckford Group, has told Propel that trading had been “broadly positive” so far in 2026 but going out “has become a treat”. It comes as Beckford Group reveals further details of Corsham House, the company’s first restaurant with rooms, which will open in Corsham’s high street on Thursday, 16 July. The menu will build on that of the group’s Beckford Bottle Shop in Bath, and the main brasserie will have around 80 covers in total, including a small courtyard to the rear. In addition, there will be a Beckford Bottle Shop and tasting room, with around 200 bottles available. There will also be 11 bedrooms upstairs. The opening marks a continuation of a year of growth for the group, with four new properties. In February, the group acquired and reopened the Bradley Hare pub with rooms in Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire. Teffont House, the group’s first village hotel, will open in June in Wiltshire’s Nadder Valley, with The King’s Arms, in Monkton Farleigh, launching in September, bringing the portfolio to nine sites. Brod told Propel: “Trading [in 2026] is broadly positive, though of course, cost pressures are ever increasing. We think we are seeing a trend of people going out less but spending more. Going out has become, perhaps inevitably, a treat.” In terms of further openings, Brod said: “Opening is the easy bit, keeping standards high every single day is the real work. So, we will want to really concentrate on making sure that all our sites are the best they can be rather than expanding further.”

 

Chicken Shop founder Carl Clarke steps away from business to focus on Disco Brands platform: Carl Clarke, founder of Chicken Shop, formerly Chik’n, has stepped away from the business following Kitchen Ventures acquiring a majority stake, to focus on his Disco Brands platform. Propel revealed last week that Kitchen Ventures, the restaurant group and brand incubator led by Jonny Boud, had acquired a majority stake in the eight-strong Chicken Shop. Clarke established Chicken Shop more than a decade ago, coming out of building Chick’n’Sours. “I’m proud of what we built at Chicken Shop, especially on the food side — that’s the part that stayed consistent,” said Clarke. “It felt like the right time to move on, and I’m leaving with real respect for what the business stands for and the people who shaped it with me.” Clarke is now focused on Disco Brands, a platform he describes as “built for where food culture is actually going, not where the industry assumes it is”. Disco identifies independent food brands with existing cultural relevance and scales them globally through franchise and territory partnerships, with a focus on high-growth markets including India and the Gulf, and younger consumer audiences. Unlike traditional brand creation businesses, Disco is designed to systemise and export brands that already work, rather than build from scratch. “The global quick service restaurant category hasn’t evolved with culture,” Clarke said. “Most of the big players are still running playbooks from 20 years ago. There’s a generation of independent brands with genuine heat that deserve to be on a world stage, and the infrastructure to get them there has been missing. That’s what Disco is.” He confirmed Disco Brands is already in active conversations across multiple territories, with further announcements expected in the coming months. Clarke said he is also selectively exploring advisory and non-executive roles with UK operators “where his experience in product, food innovation and scaling is useful”.

 

Experiential business Escapade Group hires Joe Ponte as new CEO: Experiential business Escapade Group, which is backed by Kings Park Capital, has hired Joe Ponte, formerly of Hotelplan UK and Explore Worldwide, as its new chief executive. Ponte joins Escapade Group – which operates Kidspace indoor play sites in Croydon and Romford in London, Hobbledown adventure parks in Epsom in Surrey and London’s Hounslow, a Gripped aerial adventure park at the Hounslow site and Watermouth Castle in Devon – after five years as chief executive of Hotelplan UK. Before that, he spent two years as managing director of Explore Worldwide and two and a half years at Topdeck Travel, including more than a year as its global general manager. Escapade Group was founded in 2011 by Richard Farley and Nick de Candole.

 

Investment firm Victory Group acquires Scottish resort Cameron House for £100m: Investment firm Victory Group has acquired Cameron House, the luxury resort set on the banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland, from affiliates of KSL Capital Partners for £100m. The acquisition marks a further investment by Victory into luxury and prime hospitality and real estate. Cameron House joins Victory’s portfolio that includes the Fairmont Grand Hotel Geneva, the largest five-star hotel in Switzerland, and an office redevelopment in London’s Jermyn Street. Cameron House occupies an estate that dates to the 15th century. The property extends across approximately 380 acres along the southern edge of Loch Lomond. Amenities include a championship golf course, a luxury spa and a marina with capacity for around 250 boats. Since opening as a hotel in 1990, the property has seen several adjustments to its room count. A major expansion, which completed in 2022, added 68 rooms, bringing the total to its current 208 rooms. Last year, Michelin-star Glasgow chef Graeme Cheevers opened fine dining restaurant Loma at Cameron House. Victory said it intends to build on Cameron House’s strong reputation, “enhancing the resort through carefully curated wellness and experiential‑led offerings, while respecting the estate’s historic character and environmental context”. Victory founder Erik Moresco said: “This acquisition reflects our strong conviction in high-quality assets in attractive locations. Cameron House combines a setting of breathtaking beauty, heritage and luxury, with legendary Scottish hospitality. We are excited to be making our first acquisition in Scotland, and we continue to see the UK as a compelling investment market.” KSL acquired Cameron House in late 2015 through its investment in the QHotels portfolio, purchasing it from Canyon Partners Real Estate and Bain Capital. 

 

Gordon Ramsay to open 100th restaurant today with ‘elevated’ Bread Street Kitchen & Bar in London’s Bishopsgate: Gordon Ramsay will open his 100th restaurant globally today (Wednesday, 6 May) with the launch of an “elevated” Bread Street Kitchen & Bar at the 22 Bishopsgate scheme in London. The all-day dining destination, on the 59th floor of the City of London’s tallest building, follows the launch of Lucky Cat at the scheme in February 2025. The group said Bread Street Kitchen & Bar at 22 Bishopsgate “represents the most elevated expression of the brand to date”, building on its first opening in St Paul’s in 2001. The new venue offers 250 seats across the dining room and bar, including 59 bar seats. The menu features elevations of signature Bread Street Kitchen and Ramsay’s Kitchen favourites alongside more than 30 new dishes. The drinks offer includes signature cocktails, with the bar showing live sport across five large screens. DJ sets are held in the evening from Thursday to Saturday. In March, it was announced Ramsay is opening a signature restaurant at the newly refurbished Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, which is undergoing a £60m transformation, this summer. The chef is to open Gordon Ramsay at the Mere at the newly refurbished five-star hotel, marking a continued relationship between Fairmont and Gordon Ramsay Restaurants Global – building on the group’s longstanding presence at The Savoy in London (home to Savoy Grill), The River Restaurant and Michelin-starred Restaurant 1890.

 

Three-Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Trèsind to open in London this weekend: Dubai-based Passion F&B group is to bring its three-Michelin-starred Indian restaurant brand Trèsind to London on Saturday (9 May), with an opening in Mayfair. The business will open Trèsind in Hanover Street. The company currently operates the two-time, three-Michelin-starred Trèsind Studio in Dubai, which opened in 2018, and the original Trèsind site that opened in 2014, also in Dubai. Passion F&B also operates a site under the Trèsind name in Mumbai, India. Tresind Studio in Dubai became the first Indian restaurant to be awarded three Michelin stars. The fine-dining London venue, led by head chef Amit Bagyal, will offer a seven-course tasting menu, highlighting seasonal ingredients and regional Indian flavours. The ground floor will be home to the main dining room and a private dining space, with the bar anchoring the basement, alongside an experiential private room conceived for curated tastings, special events and immersive culinary moments. Passion F&B, which was formed 11 years ago, operates several concepts in Dubai and India “showcasing contemporary Indian food to a global audience”, including Avatara, Maison De Curry, Bistro Aamara, A Cappella, Nonnaverse, Viva La Goa and Gala By Tresind. Suyash Nath, chief executive of Passion F&B UK & US, said: “Trèsind began as my father’s passion project – a modern interpretation of Indian cuisine rooted in creativity and hospitality. Over the years it has grown into a global story and bringing it to London feels like a natural next chapter.” Taylor Gershon, of TCPW, acted on the Mayfair deal.

 

Iro Sushi adds five new sites to opening pipeline: Sushi brand Iro Sushi has signed up five new locations, as it accelerates its ambitious UK expansion strategy. Founded in 2014 by trained sushi chef Chhong Sherpa, the business is set to open new sites in Basingstoke, Bristol, Ipswich, Ilford and Maidenhead. The new openings will take Iro Sushi’s estate to 38 locations and strengthen its presence in existing regions, including the Thames Valley and Home Counties, while also marking entry into new towns and cities such as Bristol and Ipswich. All stores will roll out in the brand’s newly enhanced store design, which is inspired by traditional Japanese “Izakayas”. The new openings follow “continued momentum across the business”. Last year, the group delivered system sales of £18.5m, up 29% year-on-year, and 19% on a like-for-like basis. With a growing pipeline of committed sites and franchise partners, the group said it remains on track to deliver on its ambition to reach 100 locations by 2030. Sherpa said: “This is another significant milestone for Iro Sushi. Over the last six months, we’ve worked hard to refine our proposition with the launch of our new store format and continue evolving our menu. Now, with the foundations firmly in place, we’re ready to turbocharge our growth with the opening of new sites across the UK. This will see us look to strengthen our footprint in high-growth areas of the country, such as the Home Counties and London, and broaden our reach with the opening of new locations in new towns and cities. This will create new opportunities for us to introduce the brand to more consumers, continue evolving our proposition, and take a step closer to becoming the brand of choice for lovers of sushi and Japanese cuisine across the country.”

 

Red Engine secures approval for Nottingham site: Red Engine, the group behind Flight Club and Electric Shuffle, has secured approval to open a site in Nottingham under its social darts concept. The business has secured approval from the city council on its plans to open on the former Ted Baker site in the city’s Bridlesmith Gate. A Red Engine spokesperson told Propel: “Nottingham is still firmly in our sights as a potential location to bring the Flight Club experience. We are exploring options in the city and hope to share news on our plans in the not-too-distant future.” Last week, the business opened its 16th Flight Club site in the UK, in the Station Hill development, in Reading. Red Engine also told Propel that trading in 2026 “remains in line with expectations” while there has been “a shift in how people spend their time” as consumers tighten their budgets. Since launching in 2015, Flight Club has expanded to 32 sites worldwide and welcomed more than 14.4 million unique guests in the UK alone.

 

Michelin-starred chef Adam Byatt to open new Italian-inspired restaurant in London’s Wandsworth: Michelin-starred chef Adam Byatt is to open a new restaurant in London’s Wandsworth. Byatt will launch Italian-inspired Rosina in Bellevue Road this summer. Having owned and run Clapham’s Trinity restaurant for more than 20 years and honing his craft in British and French cuisine, Rosina marks Byatt’s first professional venture into Italian cooking – the food he said he has long loved preparing for his family. Named after Byatt’s young daughter, Rosie, the restaurant will include a large dining room with 50 covers, stand-alone bar, terrace with 25 covers and private dining room that has its own private terrace. Byatt said: “What I want to achieve with Rosina is simple really – I want people to feel better in leaving than when they were arriving. I want them to appreciate – even if they don’t notice them all – the thousand small things that we do and have created to make them feel good. That’s what I strive to achieve in my restaurants. The menu is a tribute to the most well-loved cuisine in the world, and I can’t wait to share it with this London neighbourhood.” Byatt started his cooking career at Claridge’s aged just 16. He opened Trinity in 2006. The restaurant holds a Michelin star as well as three AA rosettes and is visited by 50,000 diners a year. Rosina marks his sixth restaurant project.

 

Team behind Carmela’s pizza restaurant in London’s Islington to open ‘slice shop’ in Covent Garden: The team behind Carmela’s pizza restaurant in London’s Islington is to open a “slice shop” in Covent Garden. Phil Chaykin, who is also behind the three-strong Asian fusion concept Ugly Dumpling, has again partnered with Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany, of the Bite Twice Instagram food blog, to launch Carmy’s. The venture will open this summer in the space that previously housed Monmouth Street Wines – the pop-up wine bar from Oysterman founders’ Rob Hampton and Matt Lovell. Carmy’s will offer just three pizzas – cheese, pepperoni and a rotating special, reports Hot Dinners. As with Carmela’s, which opened last year, all the ingredients for Carmy’s will be sourced from the UK and Italy. 

 

Liverpool street food and cocktails concept opens fourth site: Liverpool street food and cocktails concept The Bus Yard, which operates from converted buses and containers, has opened its fourth site in the city. Founded in 2021 by Andy Laird, Antony Smith and Darren Ryder, The Bus Yard has opened at the new Liverpool Waters destination at Princes Dock. The opening follows venues at Crosby Marina, Liverpool ONE and New Brighton. Laird said: “We’re excited work with [developer] Peel Waters to turn this dockside space into a proper summer hangout. It’s all about great food, great drinks and good vibes.”