Leon plans to grow to 100 UK sites over next four years after ‘shake up’: John Vinvcent, owner and co-founder of Leon, the naturally fast-food brand, said he expects the business to be back on the expansion trail after its restructuring with plans for as many as 100 UK outlets, mostly in the capital, over the next four years. The business, which was bought back by its former chief executive Vincent from Asda in October, could close up to 20 sites as part of its restructure. Propel revealed last week that the 71-strong business is planning to undergo a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) to help accelerate the restructuring of the business and reduce its number of loss-making sites. The company has appointed Quantuma as administrators for the next stage in its restructuring programme. It has already begun closing sites, with its restaurants in Tongham, Notting Hill, Brighton, Milton Keynes (Asda), Shepherds Bush, Richmond, High Holborn, Cheapside and Manchester’s Piccadilly already shuttered. Vincent told The Guardian he now wants to run Leon “as a family business, almost like running your own corner shop”. He says the business will be fuelled by a “founder’s mentality”, pondering problems from the early hours of the morning to late at night. Under the turnaround plan, Leon is shifting out of unprofitable locations and cities to concentrate on its owned stores – of which there are now 29 – in London. Franchisees will continue to operate locations in, for example, motorway service stations around the country. Once that shake-up has been achieved, Vincent expects to be back on the expansion trail, with plans for as many as 100 UK outlets, mostly in the capital, over the next four years. Overseas franchises and joint ventures in selected overseas cities are also on the cards, he said. The Leon team is also developing a new menu to be relaunched in the spring, which aims to bring back old favourites such as the fish finger wrap and new dishes aimed at reviving its healthy and tasty credentials at an affordable price. The survival plan for Leon is to be “massively differentiated”. Vincent said: “Leon has to be niche: it can’t be on every high street. We want to be the best food company in the world but don’t want to be the biggest. Every Leon should be magical. I want to be a beacon of what’s possible.”

 

Propel’s sector-leading guide to the UK’s 500 largest hospitality companies to be made free to Premium subscribers on day of publication: Propel’s sector-leading guide to the UK’s 500 largest hospitality companies is making its return – and will now be available to Premium Club subscribers on the day of publication. The Propel 500 – 2026 report will analyse the companies leading the charge in hospitality, reporting on turnover, number of sites and key staff. The 45,000-word report will feature exclusive analysis to provide a full understanding of the market’s dynamics, as the top companies in the sector shift position after a challenging year. Mark Wingett will review the mergers and acquisitions changing the shape of the Top 500 as size increasingly matters. Katherine Doggrell will examine the key developments in UK hotels and look into one of the sector’s brightest lights, experiential leisure, while Tim Street dissects the UK’s rapidly developing franchise market. Data expert Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, will look at emerging growth sectors, and Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vanifatova will analyse the latest trends in the quick service restaurant market. Propel 500 – 2026 will be released on Friday, 9 January at 9am and will be available free to Premium Club subscribers. The report will be 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 today to sign up and to pre-order Propel 500 – 2026.

 

The Alchemist head of marketing Aaron Morgan among speakers at 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Aaron Morgan, head of marketing, and Paul Jones, head of IT at The Alchemist, will be among the speakers at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. They will share how the brand transformed its website from a simple booking tool into a seamless digital extension of the guest experience. They will reveal how marketing and technology teams work hand-in-hand to create a platform that drives revenue while capturing the theatre, storytelling and innovation The Alchemist is known for. Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit is returning for its eighth edition, and tickets are on sale. The event is a partnership between Propel and Think Hospitality, aiming to build a community, promote the sharing of ideas, recognise talent and define the future of eating out. Bookings are open for the two-day conference as the centrepiece of the January event series, taking place on 20 and 21 January at Hilton Bankside in London. A 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, 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.

 

Coca-Cola holds last-ditch talks in bid to salvage Costa sale: Coca-Cola’s proposed sale of Costa Coffee is at risk of collapse, and the soft drinks giant is holding last-ditch talks with private equity firm TDR Capital at the weekend in an attempt to salvage it. The FT reports that Asda and Stonegate Group owner TDR was selected as Coke’s preferred bidder for Costa last week after a board meeting in New York. However, talks with Coke and its advisers at Lazard have stumbled over the price, according to one of the people. Coke will make a decision this week on whether to shelve the sale process altogether. The deal on the table includes Coke retaining a minority stake in Costa, one of the people said, adding that the size of the stake could be adjusted in Coke’s favour in order to get a deal done. Coke wanted to get roughly £2bn for Costa. The drinks group paid £3.9bn to acquire Costa from Premier Inn owner Whitbread in 2018. But the business has since struggled against competition from independent operators and mass-market rivals such as Greggs. Rising costs of everything from coffee beans to staff wages have pushed the business’s finances into the red. In 2023, Costa reported an annual loss of £13.8m on revenues of £1.2bn, according to the most recently available set of accounts at Companies House. TDR, which also backs Popeyes in the UK, is seeking to buy Costa’s UK and international business, excluding its operations in China, according to people familiar with the matter. Other bidders for Costa included Bain Capital’s special situations division, which owns Gail’s and PizzaExpress. Centurium Capital, the private equity owner of China’s Luckin Coffee chain, has also been involved in the auction, according to people familiar with the process. Private capital firms Apollo and KKR have both dropped out of the process in the past few months. Coke announced this week that chief executive James Quincey will be replaced by chief operating officer Henrique Braun in March. Quincey, who told analysts in July that Costa had “not delivered”, will become executive chair. Coke did not respond to a request for comment while TDR and Lazard declined to comment.

Scottish hospitality set for £69m business rates hit, without action: New analysis from UKHospitality Scotland of the draft valuation roll from the Scottish Assessors Association reveals that these significant increases will drive bills even higher and cost the sector £69m in 2026/27, unless the Scottish government takes action at its budget in January. Business rates bills will increase by £69m for the sector, if existing 40% relief for Scottish hospitality properties below £51,000 rateable value is discontinued and alongside sharp increases in rateable values. In light of these draft valuations, UKHospitality Scotland has written to the first minister, urging the Scottish government to pause the revaluation process and work with the sector on an alternative solution, such as freezing rateable values at current levels. Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHospitality Scotland, said: “Hospitality businesses across Scotland continue to be punished by the broken business rates system. This 23% average increase to rateable values will push up hospitality’s business rates bill by as much as £69m. That’s simply not sustainable. There are businesses that have received their draft valuations and are seeing increases of 160% and higher. The Scottish government can solve this problem. With these valuations only being draft, the first minister and the cabinet secretary for finance can step in and make clear that they will not allow hard-pressed Scottish hospitality businesses to be hit with this level of unjust rates hike. I urge them to pause the revaluation process and work with UKHospitality Scotland on an alternative solution, which spares our sector from being hit by eye-watering increases to rates bills.”

 

Scottish licensed hospitality hit with punitive rates hikes as warehouses get off light:  The Scottish Hospitality Group is sounding the alarm for Scotland’s licensed hospitality sector after new non-domestic rates revaluations revealed a stark and damaging imbalance in how different sectors are treated. Licensed venues face increases of up to 578% while large scale distribution sees minimal change. Stephen Montgomery, director of the Scottish Hospitality Group, said: “These revaluations are not just unfair; they are economically reckless and are simply a tax on entrepreneurship. You cannot claim to support town centres and local jobs while loading unsustainable fixed costs onto the very businesses that keep our high streets alive. A bar or restaurant cannot just ‘put 50p on a pint’ the way a supermarket can add 50p to a loaf of bread. The margins aren’t there, and the risks are far greater.” Meanwhile, new analysis from UKHospitality Scotland of the draft valuation roll from the Scottish Assessors Association reveals that these significant increases will drive bills even higher and cost the sector £69m in 2026/27, unless the Scottish government takes action at its Budget in January. Business rates bills will increase by £69m for the sector, if existing 40% relief for Scottish hospitality properties below £51,000 rateable value is discontinued and alongside sharp increases in rateable values.

 

Government says it backs pubs: Downing Street has insisted the government backs pubs, as a growing number sign up to a campaign to bar Labour MPs from their premises in protest at tax rates. The Labour MP ban kicked off a week ago and more than 250 pubs, restaurants and hotels have signed up all over the country. But the prime minister's official spokesman told BBC News the chancellor had delivered a £4.3bn support package for pubs, restaurants and cafes because hospitality is a “vital part of our economy”. He said: “Without this intervention, pubs would have faced a 45% rise in bills next year. We’ve cut that down to just 4%. We’ve also maintained the draught beer duty cut, eased licences rules over pavement drinks and events, and capped corporation tax. These measures show we're backing hospitality not abandoning it.” UKHospitality disputes the government’s figures, both for the support package and the impact of intervention. Meanwhile, TV personality Jermy Clarkson has barred more than 400 Labour MPs from his Cotswolds pub. The Clarkson’s Farm star banned prime minister Sir Keir Starmer from The Farmer’s Dog when it opened last year. Now, the 65-year-old has extended the boycott to Sir Keir’s entire party after his annual business rates bill rocketed from £28,000 to over £50,000. “I was well ahead of the curve when I banned Starmer. Every Labour MP is barred now,” he told The Sun. “Our annual business rates have gone up astronomically from something like £28,000 to well over £50,000. It is a disgrace.” Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie, who oversees 2,600 pubs 2,600, said the industry had been “let down”. He added: “Quite simply, this isn’t the relief or reform we were promised, and it could be the tipping point that changes the shape of the industry forever.”

Labour’s business rates raid shows ‘utter disdain’ for rural pubs: Rural pubs face financial ruin as a result of Rachel Reeves’s business rates tax raid, campaigners have warned. Joss and Kim Beechim-Horton, who run the Manor House Inn, a village pub in east Cornwall that benefits from rural rates relief, recently discovered their rateable value had been increased from £9,000 to £22,500. This means they will pay business rates for the first time from next year, facing an annual tax bill of £5,500. Mrs Beechim-Horton told The Telegraph: “Covid knocked us down, the financial crisis broke our teeth, but this new Budget is terrifying. How much more can we take? This is just our story – there are many more people in our situation. There will be many, many small business closures after this Budget, but we will do our best to keep fighting.” Johnnie Furse, of the Countryside Alliance, accused the government of showing “utter disdain” for village pubs by not uprating rural rates relief thresholds. He said: “Pubs are the beating heart of many villages in the countryside, providing jobs and a social hub for many who would otherwise be isolated. Rural rate relief exists for precisely this reason – in recognition of the importance of the village pub. By approving huge hikes to rateable values but without making any changes to the threshold to qualify for rural rate relief, the government is giving yet further proof that they have, at best, apathy for rural communities, and at worst, utter disdain.”

Cinemas demand Labour intervene against Netflix’s Hollywood takeover: Cinemas have urged Labour to intervene in the planned takeover of Warner Bros by Netflix, warning that the deal would result in a “much thinner” selection of films for audiences. The Telegraph reports that industry bosses have written to media minister Ian Murray to raise concerns about the streaming giant’s $83bn acquisition of the Hollywood studio behind major franchises such as Harry Potter, arguing that it could result in fewer films being released in cinemas. In the letter sent to MPs on both the culture select committee and business and trade committee, Phil Clapp, the chief executive of the UK Cinema Association, said the takeover would be a “significant blow” to the industry – which is still struggling to recover from the pandemic. Clapp warned that audiences would be the biggest losers from the proposed deal, adding that it would also lead to significant job losses. The trade group urged Murray to take an active interest in the takeover and called on both committees to launch an inquiry. In addition, cinemas have vowed to voice their concerns with competition regulators in the UK, US and Europe. The European trade body the International Union of Cinemas (Unic) has already written to the European Commission to outline its opposition.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a multifaceted concept spread over two floors – part of a group with three sites and plans to expand outside London in the not-so-distant future. These are sociable venues with a strong food offering and busy wet-led sales. It is looking for a strong general manager who has worked in a high-volume setting. This role includes managing multiple locations and concepts under one roof. The opportunity offers a salary of up to £80,000. For more information, please contact stuart@corecruitment.com.

 

Sichuan hot pot concept with 2,000 sites globally exploring expansion across the UK in coming years: The master franchisee here for Sichuan hot pot concept Da Long Yi has told Propel he is exploring expansion across the UK for the brand in the coming years. Founded in 2013 in Chengdu, in China’s Sichuan province, Da Long Yi has grown to more than 2,000 stores globally, including 300 franchised stores in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Singapore. Da Long Yi made its UK debut in 2023, through master franchisee Kris Young, who said the site, in London’s Berners Street, has seen strong trading, “with steadily growing footfall and a loyal customer base driven by both local diners and London’s Chinese diaspora”. Young, who said he has run multiple food and beverage ventures in London and supported several brands with market entry, operations and strategy, is currently working on a second UK site and is “exploring several promising London locations”. He told Propel: “We do plan further openings as part of a long-term expansion roadmap. London remains our priority for the next few stores due to high demand and established brand awareness. However, in the medium term, we are also evaluating opportunities in major UK cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Based on market analysis and demand for authentic Chinese dining, we believe Da Long Yi has the potential for eight to 12 stores nationwide over the next several years, with London supporting at least four to five sites. Da Long Yi has a strong global reputation for high-quality, authentic Sichuan hotpot, and I saw a clear gap in the UK market for a premium hotpot brand with strong cultural roots. Its proven operating model, brand recognition in Asia, and the rising demand for regional Chinese cuisine in London made it the right opportunity at the right time.” Young said the plan is to operate key flagship stores directly while partnering with experienced operators through sub-franchising for regional expansion. He added: “The main challenges in London have been high operating costs, sourcing specialised ingredients that meet UK standards, and ensuring staff training reflects the precision required for hotpot service. Despite this, customer response has been overwhelmingly positive. Weekend demand often reaches full capacity, showing the strong appetite for authentic Sichuan hotpot in the city.”

 

SSP launches first AMT Coffee Pod within an airport: SSP Group, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has launched the first AMT Coffee Pod within an airport. The launch, at Leeds Bradford airport, is also a Yorkshire debut for AMT Coffee, which has 15 shops across the UK – mainly in London. Richard Attwood, the new director of business development at SSP UK & Ireland, said: “Another fab opening at Leeds Bradford airport. This is our first AMT Coffee Pod in an airport, already proving popular with passengers.” John Cunliffe, commercial director at Leeds Bradford airport, added: “At the simplest level, this is a great coffee and fresh bakery proposition for customers in a pier unit, but look a little deeper, and it represents another industry first delivered at Leeds Bradford airport, with this being the first unit of its kind globally in air, delivered through our long-standing partnership with SSP UK & Ireland. Already landing well with customers (coffees were being ordered during installation), the pod is another small step on our journey to transform the customer experience, providing a second hit coffee offer in our newly expanded terminal facility. Later this week, we’ll open a second pod in the landside zone, replacing my personal favourite Café Ritazza for a short time until the permanent, larger AMT unit opens in the arrivals flow, later in the development.”

 

Greene King gets one million sign-ups to its loyalty and rewards programme in three months: Brewer and retailer Greene King has seen one million customers sign up to its loyalty and rewards programme since the launch of its new app in September. The company made a multi-million-pound investment in the evolution of its app to allow customers to make and manage bookings, customise orders and pay all in one place. It also incentivises repeat visits through exclusive and personalised offers, discounts and rewards. Greene King said the new app has helped to resolve historic issues such as reducing waiting time and customising food and drink orders by offering quick checkout and one-click repeat orders. Greene King group marketing director Kevin Hydes said: “We launched the new Greene King app with rewards to meet changing customer behaviours and capitalise on the demand for personalised experiences in our pubs. We’re proud to have recorded one million sign-ups in just three months, showing the appetite for a seamless and hassle-free digital experience, which supports in building a better in-pub experience and drives connection with our customers – whether that is through booking, ordering or paying or through incentivising repeat visits with exclusive and personalised offers, discounts and rewards.”

 

Kricket reports widening losses: Kricket, the modern Indian restaurant brand founded by Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell, has reported turnover rose to £8,838,774 in the year ended 29 December 2024 (2023: £8,216,531). However, losses before tax widened to £846,121 from £115,547 the year before. Kricket has sites in Shoreditch, Brixton, Canary Wharf and Soho. A fifth site is slated to open in Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden.

 

French Latin American dining concept Tigermilk lines up a second UK site: Latin American dining concept Tigermilk, which made its UK debut earlier this summer, has lined up a second opening here. Propel understands that the business has lined up an opening in Spitalfields, at 1 Duval Row, for an opening next year. In August, the team behind Tigermilk told Propel that it wanted to open three more London sites over the next 12 months and saw the “long-term potential for a meaningful footprint in the UK”. The brand made its UK debut in June by opening a 138-cover restaurant at 127 Charing Cross Road. Founded in Paris in 2019 by Nina and Alexis Melikov, Tigermilk already has six restaurants in France and one in Brussels, Belgium. The business told Propel in August: “Right now, our focus is on making sure our first London site thrives, but we absolutely see scope for expansion. London still has plenty of room for us to grow, and we’re also exploring opportunities in other major UK cities where we think Tigermilk would resonate. Our short-term goal is to open three sites in London over the next 12 months, as we see real long-term potential for a meaningful footprint in the UK, while also exploring opportunities in key regional cities. London is our priority, and we want to give it the attention it deserves, but we’re always curious about new opportunities and keeping an eye on where Tigermilk might work next.”

 

Adrian Ayers stepping down as commercial manager after two decades with Puccino’s: Adrian Ayers is stepping down as commercial manager after two decades with travel hub coffee brand Puccino’s. Ayers started out as a general manager at Puccino’s branch at London Euston station in 2001 – a position he held for six years before being promoted to operations manager. After almost eight years in that role, Ayers spent two years as senior operations and purchasing manager and six years as operations director before becoming commercial director in 2023. Ayers said: “After an incredible 20-plus years at Puccino’s, I wanted to share that I have made the decision to leave the business to explore new opportunities and projects. Looking back, I’m extremely proud of what we achieved together; from strengthening the brand and elevating operational systems/standards to driving commercial performance and supporting the fantastic franchise partners and teams who bring Puccino’s to life every day. Over the past few months, we developed a real drive for expanding the business which is having some great traction. It is now that I feel we have brought the brand into a great position where it can really move forward for the next stage in the brand’s development. As for the next few months, I will continue to support the transition of my exit with the development and growth stages. As for what’s next for me, the future is exciting as I have a few projects in mind and I’m looking forward to exploring new opportunities where I can add value, support with solutions, and help businesses grow which I will update more on in the new year. Here’s to the next chapter.” Puccino’s has stores in 37 locations across the railway network in the south east of England and in Ireland. Ayers told Propel in 2023 that Puccino’s is looking to expand into new sectors like leisure, education and health, as well as exploring travel hub opportunities “both within and outside of the south east”.

 

KFC franchisee Soul Foods to open two sites before Christmas: KFC franchisee Soul Foods is to open two new sites under the fried chicken brand, on Merseyside, before Christmas. The restaurants will open in Crosby and Heswall and will be fitted with the latest KFC restaurant design. Each will feature 40 seats for customers choosing to eat in, as well as five digital ordering kiosks for those who want to grab and go. There will also be dedicated waiting areas for delivery drivers, with delivery available from day one via Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats. The openings will create 58 new jobs. Louisa Crook, acquisitions manager at KFC UK & Ireland, said: “For 60 years, we’ve been serving up our unbeatable fried chicken to loyal KFC fans across Merseyside. That’s why we’re bringing not one, but two shiny new restaurants to the local area, perfectly timed for Christmas.” Darren Smith, operations brand leader at Soul Foods, said: “Our team has pulled out all the stops to get our new restaurants looking sparkling for the festive season. Now we’re ready to fire up the fryers and serve fans their KFC favourites, from iconic Original Recipe chicken to Christmas specials like our Stuffing Stacker Burger.” The two new restaurants join 16 other KFC restaurants across Merseyside. The openings form part of KFC's £1.5bn investment plan for the UK and Ireland over the next five years, which will see the brand open 500 new restaurants over the next decade and create more than 7,000 new jobs across the business and its supply chain. Last month, multi-brand franchisee Soul Foods reported Ebitda grew to £23,206,333 for the year ending 30 June 2025 compared with £19,158,039 the year before. The business operates more than 400 KFC, Starbucks, Taco Bell and Burger King sites globally – with large estates in both the UK and Canada.

Professor Green to launch fast food concept in partnership with Hero Brands: The English pop artist and rapper Professor Green is to launch a new concept called PG Fast Food in Glasgow, in the first quarter of next year, in partnership with Hero Brands. Green, real name Stephen Manderson, will open the first site under the new concept in Glasgow’s Byres Road. The rapper, who previously operated Giz & Green with chef, Gizzi Erskine, during covid, has gone into partnership with Hero Brands, the backer of German Doner Kebab and Sides, to develop PG Fast Food. He told The Scotsman that PG Fast Food is a “brilliant new concept that highlights the fact that fast food doesn’t have to be bad food”. He said: “It can be fun food, it can be indulgent, but it can also be healthy without having to be boring. I don’t like using the word clean around food. I think it’s more important that we encourage people to have healthy relationships with food than food always needing to be healthy. Everything has been chef developed – people who have much better skills than me have put this together – but I’ve been involved with the development of the food from the very first session, including with things like the acidity of the slaw. I’m in the DNA of the place. People talk about culture but, for me, it’s as much about the time of as it is a type of food or music and we’re trying to meet people along the way throughout their day – whether they’re coming in for the lunch, a rice loaded or salad loaded, or want to carb up on a Friday night before going out in town.” With another PG Fast Food coming to the city centre, and a pop-up van heading to The Fort shopping centre, the musician is also getting ready to open in his hometown of London.

 

The Ivy Collection lines up double opening in Glasgow: The Ivy Collection, the circa 50-strong business backed by serial sector investor Richard Caring, has lined up a double opening in Glasgow after securing one of the city’s most prestigious sites. The company has agreed a deal with Glasgow developer Lujo Properties for three floors of the former Clydesdale Bank headquarters in St Vincent Place. The site will house a The Ivy and a The Ivy Asia, with both set to open next year. The Ivy Collection currently operates a The Ivy in the city in Buchanan Street, which it is thought it plans to redevelop. Over the last few months, the company has opened The Ivy Northcote Road, on the Old Bank pub site in London’s Battersea, and The Ivy Nottingham, on the former Hugo Boss store in Bridlesmith Gate, for what was its debut in the East Midlands. The business also recently opened Ivy Asia sites in Liverpool and Dublin. It also recently opened a fifth London site under the Harry’s bar and restaurant brand, in Covent Garden, on the former Tuttons site. Last month, Propel revealed it had added a site in Chester to its 2026 opening pipeline, with it set to open on the former All Bar One site in the city’s Newgate Street.

 

Karak Chaii passes 30-store mark with Bedford launch: Indian street food concept Karak Chaii has passed the 30-store mark with a launch in Bedford. The brand, founded in Birmingham in 2019, by husband-and-wife team Javed and Sara Sughi, has opened at 23 High Street on the town. Serving authentic South Asian street food alongside its signature strong, slow-brewed chai, the menu “celebrates the vibrant flavours of Pakistan and India” – also featuring desi shakshuka, samosa chaat, Bombay tikka sandwich and chilli chicken. Franchisees Asad and Saqib Naveed have opened the venue, which has more than 50 covers and is the 31st Karak Chaii across the UK. They said: “Supporting local businesses is important to us, and we love being part of Bedford’s thriving food scene. The best part of running Karak Chaii Bedford is seeing people from all backgrounds and age groups come together over a cup of chaii.” Franchise consultant Paolo Peretti previously told Propel that the then 15-strong Karak Chaii could “comfortably open up to 80 more sites before exploring smaller formats”.

 

Montpeliers – ‘cost pressures remain significant, but we remain focused on driving efficiencies to protect margins’: Edinburgh pub and restaurant business Montpeliers has said that “cost pressures remain significant, but we remain focused on driving efficiencies to protect margins”. Commenting on the company’s current performance and priorities going into 2026, a spokesman said: “Montpeliers continues to hold its own in a demanding and fast-moving market. We’ve had to continually evolve our offer and pivot our sales approach to stay competitive, and that adaptability remains one of our core strengths. Cost pressures remain significant across the sector, and we remain focused on driving efficiencies to protect margins without compromising on quality. At the same time, we are committed to attracting the best talent, investing in training, and enhancing our product to ensure an excellent guest experience. Looking ahead to 2026, we remain confident. The landscape will continue to challenge us, but our strategic focus, operational resilience, and commitment to quality position us well for the next 12 months.” It comes as Montpeliers has partnered with Guinness for a brand takeover at its Indigo Yard bar, which started for the rugby Autumn Internationals and runs through to the end of the Six Nations. Over the opening weekend, Guinness pint sales at Indigo Yard rose by 131% and “have continued to soar”.

 

Esquires to replace former Triple Two Coffee shop in Reading: Esquires, owned by Cooks Coffee Company, is set to take over the former Triple Two Coffee shop in Reading. The store, situated at a five-storey block of apartments on Flagstaff Road in Green Park Village, opened there in March 2023 but has been closed for months, reports Reading Live. Cooks Coffee Company also used to operate Triple Two Coffee but placed the 11-strong business into administration in October 2023. Propel revealed last year that Triple Two Coffee has been acquired out of administration by Mehdi Afshar, the chairman and chief executive of MFA Bowl. Last month, Cooks Coffee Company reported that its Esquires brand had reached the 100-site mark in the UK and Ireland following the opening of its first site in partnership with Tesco in Ireland, in Tullamore. It also said group revenue for the six months ending 30 September 2025 grew 111% to NZ$5.77m (£2.49m) compared with NZ$2.74m (£1.18m) the year before. Total store sales in the UK increased 26.7% to NZ$33.2m (£14.34m) while like-for-like sales in the UK were up 3.5%. Group Ebitda for the period was NZ$0.61m (£263,471) compared with NZ$0.81m (£349,855) the year before.

 

Five Akhis opens in Manchester for 15th site: Gourmet burger concept Five Akhis, which has fast-pizza brand Fireaway founder Mario Aleppo as a backer, has opened in Manchester. Five Akhis has opened at 53 Wilmslow Road in the city for its 15th site. Five Akhis also has two sites in Milton Keynes (full restaurant and express) and one each in Northampton, Oxford, Preston, Birmingham, Sheffield, Banbury, Nottingham, Luton, Bedford, Wellingborough, Coventry and Hemel Hempstead. The company’s current pipeline includes locations in Leicester and London’s Whitechapel. Aleppo invested in the fledgling business in 2023, taking a 5% stake as well as lending his expertise.

 

TRG Concessions signs new partnership for Jersey airport: TRG Concessions (TRGC) has signed a new long-term partnership with Ports of Jersey, which will see it take a central role in reshaping the food and beverage offer at Jersey Airport. From 2027, TRGC will launch a new flagship concept, The Shoreline Café Bar & Kitchen – a bespoke brand created exclusively for Jersey airport. TRGC said the venue will deliver a “contemporary dining experience with a strong sense of place, celebrating the colours, textures and flavours associated with Jersey”. Designed as a 228-seat, multifunctional hospitality space, The Shoreline Café Bar & Kitchen will feature a full-service restaurant and café with hot meals, freshly prepared dishes and seasonal specials, plus a serviced bar and grab-and-go options. Kirsten Pottinger, commercial director of TRGC, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Ports of Jersey on this ambitious project. The Shoreline Café Bar & Kitchen has been designed specifically for Jersey Airport, celebrating the island’s produce, personality and community. We look forward to working closely with local suppliers as we bring this exciting concept to life.”

 

Phat Buns to open in Preston this weekend: Better burger business Phat Buns will open in Preston this weekend for its 18th store. Propel revealed earlier this month that Phat Buns, which was founded in 2019 by Hussein Sacranie and Ahtesham Moosa, would be taking over the former MBB Chicken store, which opened in the town in June. The new Phats Bun store will open on Saturday, 20 December, at 5-6 Miller Arcade in Church Street. A company spokesman said: “Next Saturday, we're incredibly excited to open our 18th location in Preston, marking another milestone in our journey from a single Leicester store in 2019 to becoming one of the UK's fastest-growing burger brands. Preston represents everything we look for in a new market – a vibrant community that appreciates quality food, incredible foot traffic, and locals who've been asking us to come for months.” The Phat Buns team, which also operates four Doorstep Dessert units, has had a busy 2025, making its international debut in Sharjah. It has also launched three new brands – virtual brand Phat Ville, fried chicken concept Get Chicken’d and online doner kebab concept Flippin Doner.