Exclusive – The Salad Project secures £9m of new investment, backers include Nick Jones and Active Partners: The Salad Project, which launched in London in 2021, has secured £9m of new investment to aid its next stage of growth, including international expansion – with Active Partners, the Honest Burgers backer, taking a stake minority stake in the business, Propel has learned. As part of the £9m raise, the business, which was founded by Florian de Chezelles and James Dare and currently operates 11 sites across the capital, has also received further backing from its existing investor base, including Nick Jones, founder and ex-chief executive of Soho House, and Will Shu, co-founder and ex-chief executive of Deliveroo. Last week, Propel revealed that the company is set to make its international debut later this year – in the Sentier neighbourhood of central Paris, France – at the end of spring/start of summer. Commenting on those plans, De Chezelles said: “Our ambition has always been to become a European brand. We firmly believe that the product we have created cannot only delight London but a far wider audience, and we’re very excited about beginning our international expansion steps in France. The ambition is to start with this first store and hopefully gain the same levels of success and momentum that we’ve had in London. The ambition is to grow to 20 stores in Paris as quickly as possible, and once Parisians give us their confidence, we will look at further opportunities to grow the brand across the continent.” De Chezelles said the 11-strong business is still aiming to have 20 sites open in London by the end of this year. He added: “We are very much on track to achieving that. We’ve got 11 sites currently and have six or seven in the pipeline, and there could potentially be more. We're insanely picky about the types of sites that we go after. We’re conscious of not going too fast, and there are a few pillars of our brand that mean that we want big, beautiful locations, and we’re not going to want to compromise on that. So, our growth will always be somewhat constrained by access to phenomenal real estate. We will not try to become the largest player for the sake of being the biggest; we want to be the most popular. In the first quarter, we will have new sites in Canary Wharf, London Bridge and New Street Square, at the top of Fleet Street. In terms of a regional launch this year, we're monitoring things. We believe the trends in London will catch up to the regions. It’s not so much a case of if we launch a regional site, but more a case of when. And obviously, we’d love to become a national brand as well.” Salad Project is one of the many outstanding early-stage brands to have presented at the Propel Multi Club Conference series, outlining just why their business is ‘one to watch’. This video and slides of the video will be among 18 ‘one to watch’ presentations, from the last two years, which will be sent to Premium Club subscribers on Friday, 25 January at 9am. Other presentation videos and slides featured are: Knoops, Bubba Oasis, Atis, Beefy Boys; Treetop Golf, The After School Cookie Club; Bubala, Nell’s, Sandwich Sandwich, Sourdough Sophia, Insomnia Cookies UK, Imbiba, Heriots Patisserie and Bear. Premium Club subscribers receive videos of presentations from eight Propel conference events each year – sent two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. 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.

 

Propel 500 report – chicken shop segment as leading openings in fast food: The chicken shop segment led openings in fast food in 2025, according to Maria Vanifatova, chief executive and founder of Meaningful Vision. Writing in Propel 500 – 2026, the sector-leading report covering the top 500 hospitality companies in the UK, Vanifatova said the segment showed 6.4% growth on the year in site numbers. Looking ahead, Vanifatova expects new openings to continue to support traffic growth for fast-food brands, with chicken concepts, bakeries and coffee shops still having room for expansion. Vanifatova said: “In 2025, the growth areas were premium fast-food and fast casual restaurants, which benefited from consumer downshifting. This trend will continue in 2026.” Propel 500 – 2026 is available free to Premium Club subscribers. The report is available to non-Premium Club subscribers for £595 plus VAT. 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.

 

Knoops CMO Romy Miller among speakers at 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Romy Miller, chief marketing officer at luxury hot chocolate shop brand Knoops, will be among the speakers at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Miller will share how the brand carved out a new category in the crowded drinks space, cutting through noise to create a cult following. She will also reveal how to disrupt established habits, drive awareness and grow fast when no roadmap exists. Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit 2026 is returning for its eighth edition. The conference has doubled in size this year with content occupying two stages on both days – there are more than 500 company founders and chief executives, marketers and technology executives registered to attend. Bookings are open for the two-day conference, taking place on 20 and 21 January at Hilton Bankside in London. This new, bigger venue allows for a dual-stage format, meaning more content than ever before. The conference will focus on technology, marcomms strategies, proposition, brand building, the latest market insights, digital developments and diversification of revenue streams. It is designed for customer focused chief executives, senior marketers, technology and innovation teams, as well as investors wanting to better understand the latest marketing, technology, innovation and development opportunities to build market share and grow. For the full speaker schedule, click here. A one-day ticket for operators is £320 plus VAT while a two-day ticket is £575 plus VAT. Supplier tickets are £950 plus VAT for the two days. Propel Premium Club subscribers receive a 20% discount. To book, email: rmi@propelinfo.com.

 

Former sector awards programme relaunched as UK’s first operations leadership accelerator: The ALMR Operations Manager Awards, which for decades celebrated and produced exceptional multi-site operators, has been reimagined and relaunched for a new era. Now called the North Star Competitive Operations Leadership Accelerator – the UK’s first programme of its kind – it will aim to “recognise, celebrate, nurture, retain and accelerate the next generation of hospitality Industry leaders”. Backed by Propel, UKHospitality and Parkdean Resorts among others, North Star aims to become “the definitive benchmark for operational leadership excellence in hospitality”. Nick Bish, former chief executive of the ALMR and creator of the original awards, is on the leadership team alongside Lynda Merryweather (founder of business growth and networking groups Connect & Grow and The Collective Community), Barrie Robinson (2013 ALMR winner and national operations director at Parkdean Resorts) and Matt Howcroft (former Stonegate Group regional manager and Marston’s area operations manager). Robinson said: “Winning the ALMR Award in 2013 was truly career-changing for me. Bringing this back through North Star is so exciting because it’s more than an award – it’s a platform to learn, gain a qualification, grow a network and launch tomorrow’s industry leaders.” Retuning as more than just an awards ceremony, the new programme is designed to identify and elevate 20 of the UK’s top multi-site operational leaders each year. This includes national recruitment and leadership screening, a three-day intensive masterclass focused on strategic leadership, in-trade leadership assessments, strategic business planning and presentation panels and an ever-growing alumni and industry community. It is free to enter.

Chancellor must extend rates bailout to prevent death of high streets: Senior ministers have warned that the chancellor’s business rates bailout for pubs must be extended to other sectors to prevent the death of high streets. The Sunday Times reports that Rachel Reeves is expected to announce a rescue package for pubs after many saw their business rates bills surge by tens of thousands of pounds through changes announced in last November’s budget. However, industry leaders and backbench Labour MPs have warned the package does not go far enough and must include other retail and hospitality businesses. They said: “This is a problem for the entire high street. Is this a sign that No.10 has finally learnt its lesson, or is this going to be another example where there is another U-turn followed by another U-turn and another?” The newspaper reports that a new analysis UKHospitality warns that 2,076 hospitality firms face closure in 2026 – nearly six businesses a day – without an industry-wide change. The hardest hit are restaurants and hotels, which stand to see 963 and 574 businesses close respectively. Simon Vincent, the Hilton Hotels president in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said: “The punitive business rates faced by hotel businesses will stifle job creation and economic growth and will impact hotel owners, many of them small and medium-sized enterprises. The government needs to act now to ensure hotels are included as part of a sector-wide solution.” According to government sources, Reeves is preparing a relief package worth several hundred million pounds for pubs, with the Treasury and No.10 still negotiating the bailout. Reeves is exploring several measures, which need to be announced before the end of the month to avoid closures due to the self-assessment tax deadline. Industry leaders who have spoken to Treasury ministers believe the most likely course is an increase in the discount for small retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. 

 

Hippodrome Casino boss – ‘getting Leicester Square right is so important for London, and 2026 should be the year we get it right’: The boss of the Hippodrome Casino has said “getting Leicester Square right is so important for London, and 2026 should be the year we get it right”. Simon Thomas, executive chairman of the casino, was responding to recent press reports asking if Leicester Square was “London’s moss naff attraction”. Thomas said: “Like many Londoners and many businesses in the West End, I was disappointed to see Leicester Square being portrayed nationally over the new year as somewhere visitors should avoid. We all know it is one of the most famous public spaces in the country. It welcomes millions of people a year and sits at the heart of our tourism, theatre and night-time economy. That makes it too important to drift into a reputation for chaos, poor behaviour and poor visitor experience. At the Hippodrome, we operate 24 hours a day and employ more than 820 people. We invest heavily in security, stewarding and partnership working with the Metropolitan Police and Westminster City Council because we understand that safety, confidence and footfall are inseparable. But what visitors experience is shaped by the whole system – policing, enforcement, transport and street management. Over the new year, we saw how decisions like limited enforcement of pedicab rules and the temporary closure of Leicester Square and many other central tube stations can quickly translate into crowding, confusion and frustration. None of this is unsolvable. The answer is not blame; it is coordination, resourcing and visible action. 2026 should be the year we get this right. Leicester Square is one of London’s shop windows to the world. It deserves the same care, attention and pride as any of our great public spaces.” In the year to 31 December 2024, Hippodrome Casino saw its record turnover of £117,839,629 in 2023 drop to £114,583,476, “as customers became more cautious with their spending”. Hospitality spend was up as “recently opened facilities started to mature, and customers showed they were prepared to spend on special occasions”. The company’s Ebitda dropped from £15.9m to £13.2 while its pre-tax profit grew from £12,232,692 in 2023 to £14,834,894. The casino welcomed 1,649,210 customers compared to 1,611,467 in 2023 and employed an average of 692 workers (2023: 706). The company said its tax burden accounted for 38% of turnover after paying out £44.1m (2023: £45.6m).

Woods Foodservice acquires John Mower: Premium restaurant supplier Woods Foodservice has acquired long established wholesaler John Mower in a multi-million-pound deal. The move will create one of the UK’s largest, premium restaurant purveyors, with more than 3,000 customers who share upwards of 90 Michelin stars. The business boasts a client list including The Fat Duck, Gymkhana and The Ledbury, and the acquisition will see it take on further culinary icons such as Harrods and Ramsay. Established in 1982 and then re-established in 2000 by Darren Labbett, Woods Foodservice is forecast to achieve more than £40m in revenue this financial year, with year-on-year growth of 5% versus 2024. The acquisition of John Mower, which has been trading since 1947, will see its revenue grow to over £50m. Labbett said: “John Mower is an industry icon, and its core values align strongly with Woods Foodservice. This acquisition is a thoughtful step to deliver measured growth, while remaining profitable and continuing to deliver excellence.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a drinks brand that is seeking a sales director. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will oversee the development and execution of sales strategies to achieve ambitious goals. This role requires experience across drinks fast moving consumer goods, touching upon both on and off-trade sales, with commercial success at the forefront.” This nationwide position offers a salary of up to £130,000. For more information, email mark@corecruitment.com

 

Exclusive – multi-brand restaurant group Eatphoria eyeing UK-wide estate of 100 sites through hybrid model following multi-million-pound investment: Multi-brand restaurant group Eatphoria has told Propel it is planning to expand to 100 sites across the UK through its hybrid model following a multi-million-pound investment. The company started in 2014 as Wraps & Wings and has grown to five physical locations and more than 40 virtual ones. Using the same kitchen equipment and set-up, each physical Wraps & Wings location offers Eatphoria’s wider portfolio of brands, having been early adopters of the virtual brand model, to trade across all day parts. Alongside Wraps & Wings, Eatphoria’s brands, all of which are Halal, include breakfast and brunch concept Eggsquisite, bagel brand Holy Bagel, premium kebab concept Mad about Doner and Korean street food-inspired proposition Dim Dum, plus a partnership with US dessert brand Baskin Robbins. Following the new investment from TAN Food, part of Italian venture capitalist TAN Holdings, the group is coming “full circle” and starting to convert its cloud kitchen sites into physical stores – both for Wraps & Wings and potentially for its other brands. Chief executive Mohammad Shaikh told Propel: “We were pioneers of the virtual brand model long before everyone started doing it during covid, but we have come full circle, and our focus has changed to bricks and mortar. We are starting to convert our existing cloud kitchens into physical stores, and we aim to have 100 locations in the next three to five years. We are looking to open 12 this year, and we will kick off with two openings in the first quarter, the first of which will be in Kensington. We’re very London-centric at the moment but we’re looking to go into university towns and cities such as Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and Oxford. We will also be launching two new brands this year, one focused on flame grilled chicken a pasta brand to broaden our multi brand proposition.” Over the past three years, system sales for Eatphoria’s brands have increased by 163% to more than £25m in the year to December 2024. Each year, the group serves more than a million customers 2,500,000 portions of chicken wings, 3,000,000 tenders and 250,000 servings of Baskin Robbins ice cream. As part of its growth plans, Eatphoria has hired as chief operating officer Richard Benton, former operations director at large scale KFC franchisee Demipower Group, overseeing 121 restaurants who also spent more than 25 years at McDonalds in a variety of roles focused on operations and franchising. The company has also brought in, as head of marketing, Olivia Vachon, who joins from Miscusi, Italy’s leading fast casual pasta brand, where she oversaw its national marketing strategy and execution. Prior to this, she spent more than ten years at Eataly.

Mildreds – solid trading over past few months, excited about long-term potential of Tangra concept: London-based, vegan restaurant group Mildreds has told Propel trading for the business over the past few months “has been solid” and that its new Indo-Chinese concept Tangra is “performing well”. The Sam Anstey-led business operates six sites under its eponymous brand, Mallow in Borough Market and Tangra, which opened last October on the former Ceviche site in Frith Street, Soho. Anstey told Propel: “Trading over the past few months has been solid and broadly in line with expectations, given the wider market. We continue to see good demand in our core central London sites, while also taking proactive steps to manage the cost base and protect cash and margins. Tangra is performing well, and we are genuinely excited about the brand and its longer-term potential. Looking ahead to this year, the focus is very much on tightening execution by simplifying operations, investing in people and training, and improving consistency of service and guest experience across the estate. Overall, the business feels well positioned, with a clear plan in place and good momentum where it matters.” It comes as the company saw its turnover increase by 12% to £17,320,459 in the year to 30 March 2025, as it swung back into a per-tax profit of £78,591 (2024: loss of £429,046). It said: “This growth was accompanied by improvements in both Ebitda and gross profit, reflecting our continued focus on operational efficiency and menu innovation. The financial results demonstrate the effectiveness of our strategic initiatives in driving revenue growth and enhanced profitability across the portfolio. During the year, we opened a new Mildreds restaurant and completed the refurbishment of an existing site, both of which have performed in line with expectations. The company traded satisfactorily throughout the period and maintained a stable financial position at year end. The directors are pleased with the progress made and believe the business is well-positioned for continued development, with a solid operational platform and balance sheet to support future investment in the portfolio. The directors continue to review opportunities for the development of the existing business and, where appropriate, the introduction of new concepts.”

Fireaway founder – we plan to expand new cookie concept throughout the country, core brand to make Dubai debut: Mario Aleppo, founder of fast-growing pizza brand Fireaway, has told Propel that he plans to expand his new concept, Crack Cookies, “throughout the country”. Aleppo, who has grown Fireaway to more than 165 sites since founding the business in 2016, opened the first Crack Cookies store at 82a High Street in Clapham, south London. He told Propel: “It’s a new concept that I started with three other partners. We source chocolate from cacao farms in Colombia, British flour and fairtrade sugar. We have a store in Clapham High Street, which has been trading for a few months. We have six standard flavours plus a rotating monthly special. We also sell matcha drinks and Colombian coffee. We have a few more stores in London in the pipeline and then plan to expand throughout the country. We also pledge to give back a percentage of profits to the local community as well as the cacao farmers in Colombia.” On Fireaway, he added: “Fireaway is going well, with a couple of openings in the pipeline. Our first Dubai store should be ready to launch in seven weeks.”

McDonald’s UK unveils secret menu: McDonald’s has introduced a new “secret menu” at all UK and Ireland locations for a limited time. The menu includes the Surf N’ Turf, featuring two beef patties with cheese, onions, pickles, mustard and ketchup, served alongside a crispy white Alaskan pollock fish fillet; and the chicken cheeseburger, which combines a beef patty with a crispy chicken patty, cheese, onions, mustard and ketchup. The Chicken Big Mac, a previous Secret Menu item, has also returned. Additionally, Big Mac Sauce is now available as a dipping option for fries or McNuggets. Other items also include a new Espresso Milkshake and the Apple Pie Mini McFlurry. The January menu also features the Big Arch, Fajita Chicken One, Chilli Cheese Bites and Galaxy Smooth Caramel McFlurry. McDonald’s UK & Ireland senior vice-president and chief marketing officer Ben Fox said: “Some of these mash-ups shouldn’t work, but they are weirdly good and need to be tried to be believed. Others are more natural combinations that are simply delicious. This limited-time lineup celebrates the creativity of our customers that we see every day on social media.”

Midlands smash burger business makes international debut, lining up first Scottish site: Midlands smash burger business Brgr Lab has made its international debut and is lining up first Scottish site. The business, launched by brothers Hassan and Hamzah Patel 2020, currently has stores in Leicester, Coventry, Leamington Spa and Enfield in London. Propel reported last May that Brgr Lab was in the final stages of securing its first international site, having signed a multi-unit franchise agreement for Qatar. It has now launched at City Center Mall in Doha, marking “a significant step in the brand’s global growth strategy” and “reinforcing its ambition to become an internationally recognised name”, reports whichfranchise. Hassan said: “Opening our first international store in Doha is a huge achievement for Brgr Lab and a proud moment for the entire team. This is just the beginning of our international journey. We are actively looking to expand our territory beyond the UK, and the interest we’ve already received from markets such as Canada, Saudi Arabia and the UAE highlights the global appetite for what we do.” In the UK, the brand is targeting the opening of a further four stores in the first quarter of 2026, followed by an additional six locations throughout the remainder of year. According to the company’s website, its immediate pipeline includes a first Scottish site, in Hamilton, and a location in Ilford, Essex. The founders told Propel last year that they are aiming for 28 locations by 2028.

Doner Shack to triple UK presence with double Glasgow opening: Doner Shack, the Berlin fast casual kebab brand which opened its first international restaurant, in India, last September, is to triple its presence in the UK with two new sites in Glasgow. The business, which already operates a site in Silverburn in the city, will open new sites in Byres Road and Gordon Street. Sanjeev Sanghera, co-founder of Doner Shack, said: “We’re opening two new Doner Shack restaurants in what we genuinely believe are the two best locations in the city: 223 Byres Road (opening February 26) and 50 Gordon Street (March 26). These openings sit alongside our Silverburn flagship, which has been on an incredible run. Since launching our new menu and branding, that restaurant delivered a 50% year-on-year sales increase to 31 December 2024, followed by another 50% year-on-year increase to 31 December 2025. Momentum like that doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of relentless focus on product, systems, and consistency. Glasgow is home. It’s where this brand was shaped, challenged and sharpened. With these two new stores, we’re not just adding locations; we’re strengthening our presence in the heart of the city and setting the foundation to firmly establish Doner Shack as the number one kebab brand in our home market.” The brand’s first site in India opened in the Bandra West area of Mumbai – at the corner of Linking Road and Waterfield Road. Doner Shack is also on track to have locations open in at least eight US states by the end of 2026.

 

Kibou reports strongest year to date as turnover hits £12.5m: Kibou Japanese Kitchen & Bar, established by Regent Inns founder David Franks, has reported its strongest year to date. The company said double-digit growth in sales and covers was driven by sustained improvements in team retention and guest satisfaction, outperforming wider sector trends. Total sales increased 19% to £12.5m for the year ending 31 December 2025, including 9% like-for-like growth, while covers rose 15% overall and 6% on a like-for-like basis. The six-week festive period delivered further momentum, with like-for-like sales up 9% and covers up 7%. In response to ongoing cost pressures across the sector, Kibou said it has focused on driving volume growth through sustained investment in its people and guest experience, “which has delivered industry-leading team stability, supporting consistently high service standards and guest experience that outperforms sector benchmarks”. Managing director Sam Horswill told Propel: “These results reflect a long-term focus on our people. Supported, engaged teams deliver strong guest experiences, and the commercial results follow. Team stability has ensured that top-line growth is translating into improved profitability. Despite increases in national minimum wage and national insurance, site Ebitda improved year on year in 2025, with larger footprint sites averaging around 20% Ebitda.” Kibou was founded in 2019 and operates sites in London’s Battersea, Cheltenham, Bristol, Solihull, Cambridge and Oxford.

Bao saw Ebitda fall and losses mount ahead of sale to Singaporean hospitality group: London operator Bao, which was founded by Shing Tat Chung, Erchen Chang and Wai Ting Chung, saw its Ebitda fall and losses mount ahead of being sold to a Singaporean hospitality group. JKS Restaurants, which has backed Bao since 2015, sold its stake in the business to The Lo & Behold Group last July. In the year leading up to the acquisition, ending 30 March 2025, Bao’s adjusted Ebitda dropped from £2,522,086 in 2024 to £1,000,365. Its pre-tax loss widended from £533,942 in 2024 to £1,893,293 as costs more than doubled from £3,995,202 to £8,052,768, although administrative expenses fell from £9,406,873 to £5,774,890. The company’s turnover dipped from £14,358,347 in 2024 to £13,545,079. During the year, the company opened its eighth location in the capital. Shing Tat Chung said: “On 14 July 2025, JKS Restaurants Holdings sold its shareholding in the company to The Lo & Behold Group (TLBG), a Singapore-based hospitality group. As a result, the company ceased to form part of the JKS Group from the date of completion. This transaction represents a non-adjusting post balance sheet event and therefore does not impact the financial position as at 30 March 2025. TLBG has confirmed its intention to provide ongoing financial support to the company and to ensure the continuity of its operations. From July 2025, the company is no longer a party to the JKS Group cross-guarantee agreement. The loans previously covered by the cross-guarantee were refinanced in April 2025, and JKS Hospitality assumed the company's obligations under the agreement following the sale.” No dividends were paid (2024: nil). 

 

Afrikana hires former Popeyes head of operations: Afrikana has hired former Popeyes head of operations Craig Simms to perform the same role at the African restaurant concept. Simms spent four years at Popeyes UK and was previously with McDonald’s for 21 years in various roles, including business manager and training officer. Hash Hussain, operations director at Afrikana owner City Restaurant Group (CRG) said: “Craig is a seasoned and proven operator who has worked with some of the biggest brands in the UK. He brings over 20 years of experience in QSR and casual dining, having worked across major brands including McDonald’s and Popeyes. His move into casual dining has helped broaden his operational horizons, while using his deep experience to fine-tune and strengthen the Afrikana Kitchen brand. Craig’s expertise across delivery platforms, drive-thrus, delivery kitchens and multi-site restaurant operations will have a profound impact at CRG. He has operated close to 100 locations throughout his career and is passionate about operational excellence and people-first leadership.” It comes as Afrikana is set to extend its footprint in the capital with a new restaurant in Marble Arch. Afrikana currently has 17 locations across the UK including Hounslow, Wembley, Holloway, Mile End and The O2 in London. A company spokesman said: “Afrikana Kitchen is gearing up to open soon, Marble Arch, London! With a fantastic, prominent corner location, this new spot will feature both indoor and outdoor dining, giving guests the perfect place to enjoy bold flavours right in the heart of the city.” CRG is also behind seven-strong bubble tea brand Mowchi and Detroit pizza concept Crave, which has two sites in London. It is also the UK franchisee for Dubai fried chicken brand BonBird and French taco brand Tacosmash.

 

McDonald’s longest serving franchisee Rahon Enterprises reports stable performance: Rahon Enterprises, whose director Des Lamph is longest serving McDonald's franchisee, has reported turnover rose slightly to £25,474,185 in the year to 31 December 2024 (2023: £24,094,958). Profit before tax was down slightly to £1,288,817 from £1,388,884 the year before. Lamph worked as a teacher and pharmaceutical salesman before becoming a McDonald's franchisee. He had to work 2,000 unpaid hours in a McDonald's restaurant before being accepted by the company. Founded in 1992, Rahon has ten McDonald’s sites in Northern Ireland.

 

Atis planning ‘multiple’ openings in 2026 as it prepares to open 16th site in capital, introducing new loyalty programme and app: London healthy bowl concept Atis is planning “multiple” openings in 2026 as it prepares to open its 16th site in the capital. The latest store will launch in Baker Street on Monday, 19 January. Atis is also launching a new loyalty programme and an app as part of a wider digital upgrade. Co-founder Eleanor Warder said: “We have started this year with a real bang, and opening our Baker Street site is a key milestone in an incredibly exciting year ahead for Atis. Alongside expanding our stores, we are focusing on what we do best throughout 2026 – from launching new seasonal menus and introducing our new hex-shaped dishes to rolling out our loyalty programme and continuing to evolve the Atis experience. Baker Street feels like the perfect next step as we build on this momentum.” Last year, co-founder Phil Honer told Propel that Atis was closing in on a regional launch and was exploring opportunities in Bristol, Brighton and Manchester, with initial offers submitted. The company also secured £8m of new funding to support its growth.

 

Puccino’s closing in on 40 locations with launch in London’s Lewisham: Travel hub coffee brand Puccino’s is closing in on 40 locations after launching in Lewisham. It has opened at Lewisham station, in south London, taking its estate across the railway network in the south east of England and in Ireland to 38 stores. Commercial director Adrian Ayers said: “A huge congratulations to our franchise partner Mohammad on his new franchise at Lewisham station, which is his second franchise with Puccino’s. Well done Mohammad and thank you for your support and confidence in the brand. I have every confidence this will be a great success for you. Watch this space for further developments for 2026!” Propel revealed last month that Ayers will be stepping down after two decades with Puccino’s, having started out as a general manager at its branch at London Euston station in 2001. He will spend the next few months supporting the transition of his exit before starting a new challenge.

Hall & Woodhouse invested £15m across pub estate: Brewer and pub operator Hall & Woodhouse invested more than £15m across its circa 150-strong pub estate last year, including the launch of its first experiential games-led site. The company said it undertook major investments in the year to “future-proof and evolve our pub estate”, including the purchase of a new pub in Poole. The company said: “We have invested heavily in maintaining our estate, increasingly catering to changes in consumer trends towards casual dining and coffee. We also introduced our first experiential games-led pub this year. The £3.8m acquisition and major transformation of The Quay in Poole has enhanced the guest offer and created a new appeal for groups and younger diners. Our multi-million investment has also helped to create and protect local jobs in hospitality, provide new opportunities for entrepreneurs to run pubs with strong underlying trade, and preserve historic buildings.” Mark James, the company’s property director, said: “Despite the doom and gloom in the wider environment, we have invested significant sums in our pub estate. In these difficult times, it is more important than ever that we continue to invest to ensure our pubs remain relevant and fit for the future.” Alongside its managed estate, the business said it continued to invest heavily in its business partnership pubs (tenanted). Some £450,000 supported a major renovation at The Ox in Ashley Cross, including a full modernisation of the inn’s 14 guest bedrooms. Beyond Dorset, the company opened a £5m new-build pub in Crowthorne, Berkshire, offering various dining and social spaces. In Devon, The Barn in Woolacombe underwent a major £2m refurbishment and The Dolphin in Beer received a £1.5m transformation.

 

Central London hotel and townhouse operator Zetter Group exploring alternative financing routes after breaching banking covenants as loan repayment looms: Central London hotel and townhouse operator Zetter Group has revealed it is exploring alternative financing routes among other measures after breaching banking covenants as the repayment of a £19m loan looms. In its accounts for the year ending 31 December 2024, the company stated: “The group faces liquidity and financing risk arising from the scheduled repayment of a loan due on 9 February 2026. During 2025, the group experienced a temporary covenant breach. The breach was addressed through management discussions with the lender, as well as ongoing negotiations regarding revised terms and potential refinancing. The company has however breached covenants since the year-end and remain under negotiation. Although the group remains reliant on lender support, management is actively seeking to mitigate this risk by exploring alternative financing routes, improving cash-flow visibility, and strengthening the group's liquidity position.” The company, which operates Marrables Hotel and Zetter townhouses in Clerkenwell and Marylebone and is opening a site in Bloomsbury this year, reported turnover fell to £7,647,377 compared with £8,634,576 the previous year. Ebitda was down to £1,838,548 from £2,176,700 the year before. Pre-tax losses grew to £3,457,420 from £2,927,275. Main non-operating costs incurred include interest expense amounting to £3,408,760 (2023: £2,825,774). The company said that in July 2025, it entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire the ordinary shares of two Dutch entities, Aero Property and Max Brown Holding, via a newly incorporated Dutch subsidiary, Zorca Amsterdam. It said the acquisition “forms a key step in the group’s broader plan to extend its international footprint and diversify its hospitality asset base”. Zetter Bloomsbury will occupy 13,760 square feet across six Georgian townhouses, offering 68 bedrooms.

 

Wingers opens first store of 2026: Buttermilk fried chicken restaurant concept Wingers has opened its first store of 2026. The site, at 33 Horse Fair in Rugeley, Staffordshire, is Wingers’ 23rd overall. The company – founded during the covid pandemic by Amran, Dylan and Bill Sunner – saw out 2025 by making its Scottish debut, at Unit 9, Block 1 in Duloch Park, Dunfermline. The business has previously said it has “a strong pipeline for 2026 and beyond” and “a strategic aim of 50 stores open by the end of 2027”.

Lady Of The Grapes to open second London site: Lady Of The Grapes, the restaurant and wine bar concept, is to open its second site, near London Bridge. The business, which is the brainchild of Carole Bryon, has secured space at the Menier Chocolate Factory, in Southwark Street, for its “chef-led, French restaurant and wine bar” concept. The debut Lady Of The Grapes site opened in Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, in summer 2018. It offered biodynamic and natural wine made by female winemakers. The venture has opened at the site formerly occupied by Victor Garvey’s Encant, with the chef and restaurateur creating Lady Of The Grapes’ food menu focusing on “authentic and simple food made from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients”. The site’s shop featured 100 wines on sale, complemented by an extensive list of cheese, charcuterie and fine grocery products. Josh Rose at MATTA.London acted on the Southwark Street deal while Dan Brown, of Restaurant Property, acted on behalf of LOTG on the acquisition.

 

Camile Thai Kitchen opens first shopping centre location for its smaller format concept: Dublin-based healthy food delivery company Camile Thai has opened the first shopping centre location for its smaller format concept, Petit Camile. Offering a smaller footprint and speedier service in strategically placed higher footfall areas, Petit Camile launched in 2020, at the M9 Kilcullen service station in Kildare. It has since expanded to several locations around Ireland – including at Dublin airport's Terminal 2 and four with gas station operator Circle K. It has now launched Petit Camile number six, at the Marshes shopping centre in Dundalk. Camile Thai director Brody Sweeney said: “Our newest Petite Camile, and first in a shopping centre, opened this week in the Marshes in Dundalk. A fantastically compact unit, in a busy food court, and opening trading more than satisfactory.” Camile Thai, founded by Sweeney in 2011, operates circa 40 restaurants in Ireland, the majority of which are franchised, plus two in Northern Ireland and four in England. In April 2023, the business placed its UK operations into liquidation, and since then, has started to build back its UK estate. The company is also behind Indian comfort food brand Thindi, which has 16 locations in Ireland.

 

Chipotle to bring high protein menu to UK: Chipotle is bringing its high protein menu to the UK following its US launch last month. The brand said the move was in response to a “significant and rapidly accelerating” consumer trend in the UK towards increased protein intake. Available from tomorrow (Tuesday, 13 January), the menu includes the High Protein Cup and mains such as the Double High Protein Bowl and Double Protein Burrito. “Since opening in the UK, our guests have used Chipotle’s build-your-own menu to create high-protein meals that fit their lifestyle,” said Anat Davidzon, managing director, international. “Our new curated high protein menu makes it even easier, with fresh, responsibly sourced ingredients and flexible portions to help meet protein and other dietary goals.”

Europe’s largest privately owned hostel brand to open in Manchester for third UK site: A&O Hostels, Europe’s largest privately owned hostel brand, has acquired the freeholds of two hotel assets in central Manchester from Ares Real Estate funds and EQ Group for its third UK site. Located in Portland Street and Dickinson Street, the four-storey, adjoining properties, totalling 140,000 square feet, were previously operated under a franchise agreement with Accor, trading under its budget and mid-market hotel brands Ibis and Novotel. A&O Hostels will progress an £8.2m refurbishment programme across both properties to deliver a scheme comprising 1,218 beds across 303 rooms, a mix of private rooms (30%), family rooms (30% and dormitories (40%). StepStone Group and Proprium Capital Partners sponsored the management-led acquisition of A&O Hostels at the end of 2023 and together they have invested about €500n into the platform’s expansion over the last 18 months. Oliver Winter, chief executive of A&O Hostels, said: “As one of the UK’s best performing hotel markets outside of London, attracting more than 1.9 million visitors annually, we have long regarded Manchester as a key strategic target, and are therefore really pleased that we can now establish a significant footprint through this freehold acquisition.” Founded in 2000 by Winter, A&O Hostels operates 42 hostels in 28 cities and 11 European countries. Its other UK sites are in London and Brighton.

Shepherd Neame to reopen landmark City of London pub following £1.8m refurbishment: Brewer and retailer Shepherd Neame is set to reopen a landmark City of London pub following a £1.8m refurbishment. The Hoop & Grapes in Farringdon will open its doors once more in February, having been closed since 2019 during a redevelopment of the surrounding area. Built in 1721, the pub gained notoriety as a venue for illicit ‘Fleet Marriages’ – clandestine ceremonies associated with nearby Fleet Prison in the 17th and 18th centuries – which is reflected in its swing sign. Shepherd Neame began a comprehensive restoration in October, and the pub will now offer three distinct experiences. The ground floor will remain a classic London pub, with bi-fold doors opening on to a courtyard garden, while the first floor will have relaxed seating leading to a fully covered, heated terrace, and on the third floor, an intimate piano room will offer a private retreat for dining or special gatherings. A refined new menu will showcase locally sourced, seasonal produce with an emphasis on relaxed, shareable dishes. Oysters will be a speciality, served freshly shucked with garnish or grilled in the pub’s take on Oysters Rockefeller, featuring bacon, spinach, shallots, Ricard, Tabasco, cream and Parmesan. The drinks offering will include an extensive range of Shepherd Neame’s award-winning Kentish ales and lagers, alongside premium English wines and a curated cocktail list. Operations manager Ryan Torrie said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming customers back after more than four years. As Farringdon continues its evolution, we have taken care to ensure our transformation celebrates the pub’s unique heritage while offering a refined, contemporary experience.”

 

Hong Kong café concept to double up: Hong Kong café concept Hoko will open its second site at the end of this month. Hoko first launched in London’s Brick Lane five years ago, offering authentic Hong Kong food and drinks. It will now launch a new venue, focused more on wanton soups, at Seven Dials Market by Kerb, in Covent Garden. Launching on Saturday, January 30, Hoko is one of three new traders at the market. Also new to the market will be Basque cuisine concept Bask Street Boys, which graduated from Kerb’s inKERBator programme in 2024. The team has developed London’s first tortilla bar, offering ingredients such as Txistorra (a paprika-spiced pork sausage from Spain’s Basque country), alongside a rotating selection of Pintxos, cold cuts, cheeses and gildas skewers of olives, anchovies and guindilla peppers. The third and final new trader is Masa Tacos, a family-run business blending traditional Mexican recipes with seasonal British produce, which was first spotted by Kerb’s food team at a Clapham market in 2023. Expect house-made tortillas crafted from Mexican heirloom corn, filled with slow-cooked barbacoa beef, grilled chicken, portobello mushrooms and other rotating specials – plus burritos and rice bowls. Kerb opened Seven Dials Market in 2019 and now serves up to 30,000 customers every week. The line-up is regularly refreshed, giving small businesses the opportunity to grow and develop in a lower-risk environment before often opening their own stores.