Exclusive – Neos Hospitality to begin conversion of ex-Revel Collective estate with sites in Bristol and Southampton: Neos Hospitality is to begin the conversion of the 20 Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba sites it acquired out of administration earlier this year into its core concepts over the coming months, with sites in Southampton and Bristol first up. The former Revolution site in Southampton will relaunch as Barbara’s Bier Haus, while the ex-Revolution site in Bristol venue will be redeveloped into a Bonnie Rogues. The moves form part of Neos Hospitality’s wider strategy to invest in and reposition selected sites within its expanded estate, following the acquisition which saw the group double in size to 40 venues across the UK. The company said the rebrands are intended to align the sites more closely with its portfolio of experiential bar concepts, while also ensuring each venue is developed “in line with local market demand and customer expectations”. Russell Quelch, chief executive of Neos Hospitality, told Propel: “We’ve been carefully reviewing the sites we acquired to understand where our core brands are best placed to succeed. Southampton and Bristol are both strong nightlife cities, and we see a clear opportunity to introduce Barbara’s Bier Haus and Bonnie Rogues into those markets. Our approach is to work closely with landlords and local stakeholders to build venues that are sustainable for the long term. That means investing in the right locations, supporting the teams within those venues and developing concepts that reflect what customers want from a night out today.” The company reiterated that its priority throughout the process has been to “provide stability where possible, while creating a platform for long-term growth and continued investment across its estate”. It said that both sites will undergo extensive investment and refurbishment ahead of reopening, with further details on timings to be confirmed. The announcements mark the next phase of integration following the acquisition, as Neos continues to expand the footprint of its three core brands, Barbara’s Bier Haus, Bonnie Rogues and Circuit. Neos is set to open its first London venue later this year, located in the former Tiger Tiger site in Haymarket. The company will open its first-ever venue combining the company’s Bonnie Rogues and Barbara’s Bier Haus brands, at the site. Quelch was among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference. All videos from the conference will be released to Premium subscribers on Friday, 10 April, at 9am. Premium subscribers receive all the videos from Propel conferences each year – around 100 in total. 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. 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.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive updated Multi-Site Database with 3,555 operators and 19 new companies today: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database today (Friday, 27 March), at 12pm. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,555 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 1,026 (29%) casual dining operators, 806 (23%) pub and bar operators, 633 (18%) cafe bakery operators, 500 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 293 (8%) hotel operators, 240 (7%) experiential leisure operators and 55 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 19 new companies. The database includes new companies in the hotel sector such as Australian hotel company TFE Hotels and Liverpool aparthotel operator SevenStay Group. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five additional databases: the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who's Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel chief operating officer – editorial, Mark Wingett, and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. A new Premium Unlimited Plus option, which costs £1,995 plus VAT per annum, has some amazing additional benefits including four free tickets to Propel’s paid-for conferences – Excellence in Pub & Bar (19 May), Operational Excellence (9 July) and Talent & Training (15 October) – and the opportunity to run one free sponsored message or situation vacant notice during the year on the newsletter. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Geof Collyer – ‘there were big red flags at BrewDog’: Geof Collyer, founder of Lavender Bank Partners, looks at the downfall of BrewDog, and that the business should have been aware of some “big red flags”, in today’s (Friday, 27 March) Premium Opinion, which will be sent to subscribers at 5pm. As part of the piece, Collyer also looks at sources of capital, investment and performance since 2015 for BrewDog and benchmarks them against a sample of other large regional brewers. Also in today’s Premium Opinion, Flo Graham-Dixon, founder of sector advisory business Juniper Strategy, explores what the Iran conflict means for UK operators looking to launch in the Middle East, while Propel’s editorial advisor, Katherine Doggrell, looks at the role of cool in capitalism and why BrewDog should remind us just how uncool we all are. 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. 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.

 

In Conversation – Propel talks to Black Sheep Coffee co-founder Gabriel Shohet: In the latest In Conversation podcast, Propel chief operating officer – editorial Mark Wingett talks to Gabriel Shohet, co-founder of speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee. Available today (Friday, 24 March) at 3pm to Premium subscribers, Shohet discusses the company’s growth to more than 100 UK sites, its expansion into the US and the Middle East, the brand’s approach to franchising and how it intends to stand out in a highly competitive market. 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. 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.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a branded hotel in west London that is seeking a senior sales manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This role will mainly look after the group and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions segments, but will also manage the current sales team. The hotel is looking for a proactive sales manager with experience in London. The senior sales manager will report to the director of sales.” The salary is up to £120,000. For more information, email kate@corecruitment.com

 

Paskin siblings exploring further overseas opportunities plus another UK site for The Barbary concept: Brother and sister duo Layo and Zoe Paskin, who are behind the likes of London venues The Palomar in Soho and Evelyn’s Table in Chinatown, are planning further overseas opportunities, Propel has learned. The duo, who are also behind “creative hospitality studio” Studio Paskin, are no strangers to overseas expansion, having opened a The Palomar in Sydney, Australia, in October. Layo Paskin told Propel: “Sydney has been fantastic. We are lucky that the head chef worked for us for many years before returning to Sydney and so the connection is real and natural. My partner is from Sydney, so I know the city through her eyes. It’s a beautiful building in a great location and the team there is brilliant.” Back home, the siblings are set to next year open a third site for their The Barbary concept, which currently has locations in London’s Seven Dials and Notting Hill. Asked if there is scope to grow the concept further, Paskin said: “Yes, but next year.” Assisting other operators through Studio Paskin, such as introducing three brands to Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh, has taken the siblings outside of London – and they would not rule out such expansion in a bricks-and-mortar sense. “Yes – for the right project,” Paskin added. “We have now done this in Scotland, Australia and Spain, so we feel we have developed a modus operandi both with our brands and the creation of original concepts for the client. It’s exciting work. The main concern is lack of control, so like any project, it does rely and depend on the right partners.”

 

Wasabi strengthens leadership team with new MD and marketing director: Wasabi, the sushi and bento brand backed by Capdesia, has hired Tony Barr, formerly of PepsiCo, Wendy’s and Avis, as its new managing director – commercial, overseeing its grocery and restaurants operations, Propel has learned. Barr joins the Henry Birts-led Wasabi after a brief stint overseeing brand and marketing strategic projects at Avis Budget Group. Prior to that, he spent five years as senior international marketing director at Wendy’s. He also spent six years at PepsiCo, including three years as senior global marketing director for Lipton Ice Tea. The circa 50-strong Wasabi has also hired Mays Elansari, formerly of Stonegate Group and Subway, as its new marketing director. Elansari joins Wasabi after six months as interim marketing director at Stonegate. She previously spent three years at Subway, including 16 months as regional brand marketing director, EMEA. She also spent six years at Alshaya, including four years as its head of marketing and communications – food division. Birts told Propel: “Tony brings international commercial and brand building experience and will lead the overall marketing and sales agenda across both grocery and restaurants to drive a more connected brand and customer agenda. Mays brings deep marketing, hospitality and quick service restaurant expertise, and will focus on the development and delivery of the restaurant brand strategy, elevating the customer experience across all touchpoints. Together, these appointments support the delivery of Wasabi's ambitious growth agenda, building a more cohesive brand across channels while strengthening the specialist focus and capability within both the restaurant and grocery businesses.”

 

Taco Bell franchisee Campana planning ‘major rollout’ after securing £20m funding package: Taco Bell franchisee Campana is planning a “major rollout” across the UK after securing a new eight-figure funding package from HSBC UK. Part of the Symbro Group, Campana currently operates 23 Taco Bell locations across the south west, Wales and the Midlands. Campana said the new funding will accelerate its expansion plans, with six new sites due to open across these regions in the coming months. Following these, the business plans to scale up to 12 new restaurants a year, building a portfolio of 50-plus Taco Bell sites in the UK by 2029. The company said the next phase of its growth will focus on further locations in Wales, the south west and along the M4 and M5 corridors, plus further expansion in and around the Midlands. The £20m investment programme is expected to create around 600 jobs and increase revenue by between 50% and 60%, as the business continues to expand. HSBC UK said it will also provide Campana with a revolving credit facility, giving the business flexible access to capital. David Morgan, finance director at Campana, said: “Since opening our first Taco Bell six years ago, and with every additional new restaurant opening since, we’ve consistently seen strong demand for this much-loved brand, bringing craveable, Mexican-inspired flavours and unbeatable value to a new generation of UK consumers.” Symbro Group currently owns and operates 60 quick service restaurant franchises across the UK and the Netherlands, including Taco Bell, Subway and Starbucks. Latest accounts show Campana, which was founded in 2019, saw pre-tax profit grow from £680,837 in 2023 to £2,140,568 in the year to 31 December 2024. Turnover rose from £21,245,498 in 2023 to £26,142,337. 

 

Harry Ramsden’s opens first overseas site in seven years: Harry Ramsden’s has opened its first overseas site in seven years – in Romania. The restaurant, in Bucharest’s ParkLake Shopping Centre, is the brand’s first outside of the UK since launching at Resorts World Genting, Malaysia, in 2019. It is the first opening under a development deal Harry Ramsen’s signed for Romania in November. Development partner Horecagroup SRL has opened the restaurant in the food court area on level one of the shopping centre. Bucharest News reports that accelerated expansion in major shopping centres across the Romanian capital is set for 2027, and 2028 will bring roll-out to the largest cities in Romania. At the time of signing the development deal, Mikayla Whittle, director of franchise and licensing for Harry Ramsden’s, said: “This next phase marks an exciting time for Harry Ramsden’s as we continue to build on the brand’s strong momentum. We’ve signed an exclusive development deal for Romania, with the first site due to open in Bucharest in the first quarter of 2026, as we expand Harry Ramsden’s presence on the global stage, with further international opportunities currently being explored.” Also in November, Harry Ramsden’s opened its first restaurant since being acquired by Deep Blue Restaurants in 2019 – launching in Pembridge Road in London’s Notting Hill. Later that same month, Deep Blue Restaurants rebranded as Harry Ramsden’s Group.

 

Brunning & Price reopens ex-Oakman site under new name: Brunning & Price, The Restaurant Group (TRG)-owned pub company, has reopened the former Oakman Inns site, Banyers House in Royston, Hertfordshire, after a refurbishment, under the new name, The Chalk Farm. Last May, Propel revealed that the Oakman Group had sold ten of its freehold pubs to TRG, which said it would run the sites alongside Brunning & Price before integrating them into its estate, in a deal valued at circa £50m-£55m. The sites are now operated under the Acorn Pubs umbrella. The Chalk Hare boasts a garden room, terraced area with lawns and a private dining room seating 12-14 people and nine bedrooms. Acorn Pubs is a nine-strong collection of pubs, many of which offer bedrooms, located primarily across the Home Counties. Last December, Brunning & Price opened its latest site, The Barn Owl in Blacknest, Hampshire. The now 80-strong Brunning & Price acquired the site in Binsted Road, formerly the Jolly Farmer, earlier last year. The pub had been closed for almost two years. Next up for renovation is the Mallard in Tidbury Green, near Solihull, which is expected to open later this autumn. 

 

Reel Cinemas opens 16th location as it expands into north east, total revenue per customer up 15% on pre-covid levels: Family-owned independent operator Reel Cinemas will open its new cinema in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, today (Friday, 27 March), for its 16th UK site, as it approaches its 25th anniversary in 2026. The opening marks Reel’s expansion into the north east and forms part of a targeted expansion plan, with a further site planned in Ashington in 2027. The Bishop Auckland venue introduces a more experience-led format, featuring premier sofa seating, a café bar and a dedicated party room concept – The Popcorn Studio – designed to broaden appeal and increase visit frequency. The site also combines a “value-led proposition, with tickets starting from £4.99”, alongside premium seating options and in-seat food and beverage service. The opening also sees cinema return to Bishop Auckland for the first time in more than 40 years. Reel director Sunil Suri told Propel: “Trading overall in 2026 has been positive and in line with our expectations.
 Beyond Ashington in 2027, we continue to look at a number of opportunities, but nothing further to announce at this stage. Our approach remains selective and focused on the right locations for the business.
 We’ve added seven locations since pre-covid and are seeing strong trends, including total revenue per customer running around 15% ahead of 2019 levels.
” Reel now operates 88 screens across its 16 UK sites and said it remains focused on evolving its estate in a measured way, “maintaining a clear value proposition and delivering experiences that resonate with local communities, where audiences can feel the magic, not just the movies”.

 

Lunar Pub Company appoints administrators, closes site in London’s Clapham: Lunar, the London pub company from Hubert Beatson-Hird and Oliver Marlowe, has been placed into administration and closed its site in Clapham Old Town. Propel revealed earlier this month that the then three-strong Lunar was working with FRP Advisory on its funding options, with offers for the business believed to be sought by Friday, 13 March. Lunar was founded in 2018 with the launch of The Hunter’s Moon in South Kensington. In September 2021, the group opened its second site, The Ganymede in Belgravia, and last summer, chef Anthony Demetre teamed up with Beatson-Hird to open The Elizabeth on the Ganymede site in a grade II-listed Victorian townhouse. In the spring of 2023, Lunar opened its third site in the capital, in Clapham Old Town. Located at 13-19 Old Town, the 2,000 square-foot Apollo Arms site accommodated up to 100 covers inside, with an additional 70 outside in the alfresco garden terrace. That site has now been closed, while the other two sites, which remain open and trading, are thought to have been bought back as part of a pre-pack administration.

 

Bread Ahead signs lease on US debut site: Bread Ahead, the independent bakery and baking school business, has signed the lease on its debut US site, which is set to open later this year. Founder Matthew Jones told Propel in October that the brand was in advanced talks regarding a first site in the US as it ramps up its international growth. Bread Ahead – which has ten locations in the UK and 11 in the Middle East – has now signed a lease on a site in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York. Jones, who founded the business in 2013, also told Propel in October that it would open a first bakery in Thailand this year, followed by several locations in the Philippines, and was also planning further regional UK expansion. Earlier this month, the company said it was also planning to extend its London footprint, where the business has nine sites. Jones said: “What started at Borough Market has grown into one of the UK’s best-known bakery brands, with a loyal following built on quality, craft, and experience. Today, we are ready to grow further across Greater London, with the right franchise partners. This is not about putting a logo on more shopfronts. It is about partnering with experienced operators who understand hospitality, believe in standards, and want to build something special in their part of London.”

 

Nando’s to expand Nottinghamshire presence with West Bridgford restaurant as it targets prime suburban locations: Nando’s has agreed a 15-year lease on a new site in West Bridgford to expand its presence in Nottinghamshire, as the brand continues to target prime suburban locations. Nando’s will take space at 68 Bridgford Road, on the site of a former doctor’s surgery, which is set to be partially demolished and redeveloped to accommodate the new unit. Construction works are expected to take around six months, with site clearance already underway. The property has been let at an annual rent of £87,500, with a tenant break option included at year ten. The deal was brokered by Ben Tebbutt, director at Box Property, on behalf of landlord Jones Hargreaves. Nando’s has around 475 restaurants in the UK, including six in Nottinghamshire.

  

Bakery brand Wrights expands to East Midlands with Leicester opening: Bakery brand Wrights the Bakery, part of The Compleat Food Group, will open its first site in Leicester today (Friday, 27 March) as it expands into the East Midlands. Located at The Stage Services in Leicester Road in Wigston, the 2,300 square-foot bakery marks Wrights’ 23rd store and ninth franchise operation nationwide. The store will offer freshly baked hot savoury pastries, sweet bakery items, sandwiches and pizza, alongside a 40-seat dining area. Jason Manley, brand director at Wrights, said: “Having built a loyal and established customer base in our home region of Staffordshire, we’re now focused on bringing that success to new locations, as we expand across the UK. We’re excited to be introducing our much-loved bakery offer to Leicester and to be welcoming new business partners to the Wrights family. As we grow, we remain committed to doing things the ‘Wright’ way, combining quality ingredients, carefully crafted products and a warm, welcoming customer experience that we hope resonates just as strongly with customers in Leicester as it has in our hometown.” The Leicester opening also coincides with Wrights’ centenary anniversary, which will see a year-long programme of celebrations and investment, including a refresh of its retail estate across Staffordshire, expansion of its store network, community initiatives and the Wrights Roadshow, a tour to key customer events and local shops. 

 

Hotel brand Locke to open sixth London location, including its first rooftop bar and restaurant: Hotel brand Locke is to open its sixth London location in May. Locke, which has a presence in 28 locations across 14 cities, will open in Canary Wharf. The site will join the brand’s other London hotels at Aldgate, Tower Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Kensington and Bermondsey. Spanning 19 floors,the Canary Wharf hotel will offer 279 rooms and Locke’s very first rooftop restaurant and bar, opening later in the year. Situated on the 19th floor, the bar will offer crafted cocktails and a concise menu, alongside panoramic views of the London skyline. In the ground floor communal space, guests and visitors will be able to enjoy a range of coffee and pastries, served all day at the on-site café. Locke chief executive Alastair Thomann said: “The opening of Locke London Canary Wharf marks an important addition to our portfolio. The property delivers high-end design, versatile communal spaces and our new rooftop restaurant and bar concept. As Canary Wharf continues to grow as a residential, leisure and business destination, we look forward to welcoming guests to a property that reflects both its character and ambition.”

 

Atis confirms June launch for 16th London site, to launch first drinks range: London healthy bowl concept Atis has confirmed it will open its 17th London site in June. The company, founded in 2019 by Eleanor Warder and Phil Honer, earlier this year secured a 3,600 square-foot location at The Broadway mixed-use development in St James’s Park. A serving counter, clad in recycled plastic panels, will anchor the space, while a large kitchen window will provide a direct view into the preparation area. In the meantime, Atis will next month launch its first smoothies and shakes range. The company said this marks its entry into the beverages category and “introduces a new daypart for the business”. The range, available in all sites from Monday, 27 April, will comprise three smoothies and three shakes, including banana nut, cacao power, blueberry fuel, green glow, berry boost and club tropic, and will be priced between £6-7. Horner said: “Smoothies and shakes are a natural next step for us. The category is growing and customers want more reasons to engage with Atis beyond our core offering. As we continue to grow, we are focused on evolving the menu in line with how people eat and drink, while staying true to our flavour-first approach and commitment to nourishing food.”

 

Paddy & Scott’s hands two coffee shops to Suffolk youth work charity: Independent coffee shop operator and wholesaler Paddy & Scott’s has agreed a new partnership with Suffolk youth work charity, The Mix, to support essential youth work in local communities. Backed by the University of Suffolk and East of England Co-op, two Paddy & Scott’s sites – located at Ipswich Waterfront and Hadleigh High Street – will become part of The Mix’s growing social enterprise offer, joining its existing cafés in Stowmarket and Needham Market. From Wednesday (1 April), profits from the two former Paddy & Scott’s coffee shops will help fund The Mix’s free youth work services for young people across Suffolk. These services include mentoring, employability support, educational assistance, life skills development and safe spaces for young people to access support when they need it most. Jon Reed, chief executive of Paddy & Scott’s, said: “We’ve always wanted Paddy & Scott’s Coffee to deliver more than just great taste. Community has always been at the heart of what we do, so it’s wonderful to be working with The Mix to see these locations grow into coffee shops that can offer young people careers, training, support and the wider community a warm welcome.”

 

Cardiff bakery led by former MasterChef: The Professionals contestant to open sixth site: Cardiff bakery Ground, led by former MasterChef: The Professionals contestant Tom Simmons, is to open a sixth site. Ground will take over the café in the hut at the entrance to Thompson's Park in Canton. Ground, which Simmons owns with his partner Lois and has investors including former Welsh rugby international George North, will open the site today (Friday, 27 March). The location, found just inside the park gates at the Romilly Road entrance, will have a slightly smaller offering than Ground’s brunch cafes and bakeries. Simmons told Wales Online: “Visitors can expect a range of sweet and savoury pastries, coffees, ice cream and a few other Ground treats when we open. Thompson's Park is a great location, with no other coffee offering around.” The hut was previously operated by Lufkin Coffee for five years. Last month, Simmons also opened a second restaurant in Cardiff, offering diners a “front-row seat to an intimate, chef-led counter experience”. Lofft opened exactly six years after Simmons first opened his award-winning restaurant, Thomas by Tom Simmons, in Pontcanna. That site was recently “reinvented” as Thomas The Brasserie. Located upstairs at Thomas The Brasserie, Lofft caters for just 12 guests at £110 a head, with a single table designed to face the open-plan kitchen.

 

Aparthotel operator Lamington Group to open Leeds site: Aparthotel operator Lamington Group is set to open a new site for its Room2 format in Leeds. The development, on the former Leeds International Swimming Pool site, forms part of the wider Lisbon Street regeneration in the city. The 16-storey scheme will comprise 200 hotel rooms, including a mix of studio and suite accommodation. The development will also include a ground floor café and bar under the Winnie’s concept, alongside meeting and events space, a gym, laundry facilities and retail concessions. Marrico and Helios Real Estate have secured £46m worth of forward funding from Aberdeen Investments for the delivery of the hotel. Lamington Group chief executive Robert Godwin said: “Our ambition is to deliver ‘hometels’ across the UK, which combine great guest experiences with a responsible approach to hospitality. We’re excited to be bringing a new sustainability-led Room2 hotel to Leeds in partnership with Aberdeen Investments, Helios Real Estate and Marrico.” The scheme is targeting completion in spring 2028. Room2’s “hometel” offering was the brainchild of Godwin and his brother Stuart, former members of the British Olympic development sailing team. The venues combine elements from Airbnb, serviced apartments and boutique hotels. Room2 currently has four operational locations – in Hammersmith and Chiswick in west London, and in Southampton and Belfast. The group is also developing a site in York.

 

Berkshire pizza concept to open third site: Berkshire pizza concept Knead Neapolitan Pizza is to open a branch at Windsor and Eton Brewery in Duke Street, Windsor for its third site. The business, which is led by Simon and Olivia Perry and counts Nick Csemiczky, formerly of Byron and ASK Italian, as a director, launched in Maidenhead in 2022 – at Trinity Place in St Ives Road. Knead Neapolitan Pizza opened a second site in summer 2025, in Peach Place, Wokingham. Now the business will launch at Windsor and Eton Brewery on Friday, 3 April, a Facebook post has revealed.

 

Bristol café to open third site: Bristol café Hatter House Café is to open a third site, opening in Park Street. The cafe business already has sites in Clare Street and in Broadmead in the city. While no official opening date has yet been confirmed, branding is already in place at the unit in Park Street, with signs reading: “Coffee craft, food and drinks by Hatter, coming soon”, reports Bristol Live. The new cafe sits in what was formerly the home of Korean barbecue eatery, Q-BBQ. The Hatter House Café launched its first site in 2019, and in 2025 said it had plans to expand more in the coming years. The company said: “We want to have five sites in Bristol. We want to expand outside of Bristol too but want to reach five sites here before considering that.”

 

North London Italian restaurant concept to open second site: North London Italian restaurant concept Rossella is to open a second site. Opening in May, the new venue, located at 107 Muswell Hill Road, will bring together a restaurant, bar and deli under one roof and builds on Rossella in Kentish Town. The new bar, which can also be reconfigured as a private dining area for up to 30 guests, will offer aperitivo and cocktails alongside a menu of small plates and pizzas, while the deli will showcase Rossella’s own products and curated Italian hampers. The main restaurant will introduce a more expansive à la carte menu with a stronger emphasis on generous mains. Alongside signature pasta dishes such as Tagliatelle Ragù di Agnello and Spaghetti allo Scoglio will be seasonal main dishes including Veal Milanese, Bistecca Tagliata and Salmone alla Puttanesca. House wine will be sourced directly from the family vineyard in Benevento, while Limoncello and Meloncello will be made on the Amalfi Coast using the family’s traditional recipes. Owner Luca Meola said: “Everything we do at Rossella comes from my family and how I grew up. Food was always about bringing people together around the table, and that’s still what drives it now. Muswell Hill feels like somewhere that really values that kind of place, somewhere local, relaxed and genuinely part of the neighbourhood.” The original Rossella was established by Luca’s father, Luigi, in Benevento in 1960. The family moved to the UK in 1978, and Luca followed in the family tradition by opening the Kentish Town site in 2012.

 

Co-founder of London restaurant Carousel and actor Theo James to launch second venture: Ed Templeton, co-founder of Carousel, the restaurant that hosts rotating chef residencies in London’s Fitzrovia, is to launch a second site in partnership with actor Theo James. The pair partnered with chef Naz Hassan last year to launch Lupa, a neighbourhood restaurant dedicated to Roman comfort food, in Highbury. Now, they are joining forces again to open Ornella, in Hackney. Ornella will launch in the former Fran's premises in Wilton Way next month and have a menu inspired by Milan, where Hassan grew up. The Hackney restaurant will be almost double the size of Lupa, with more space on the pavement terrace. Ornella will offer dishes including risotto alla Milanese, along with vitello tonnato and tagliatelle al burro e Parmigiano. “We could have done a second Lupa, and maybe we will one day, but we wanted to do something even more ambitious here,” Templeton told Hot Dinners. “We can’t wait to see how Naz and the team channel their talent into another iconic city with another very strong culinary identity.”

 

Birch co-founder strengthens leadership team at new hotel venture as MD steps down: Crafted, the new hotel venture from Chris King, co-founder of the Birch hotel business, has strengthened its leadership team as it managing director steps down. Jordan Thomson has been hired as general manager at Crafted. Most recently, he served as group pre-opening manager at Sircle Collection, leading the launch of multiple hotels, restaurants and members’ club concepts across key European cities. Prior to this, Thompson was pre-opening director of food and beverage for Virgin Hotels during the brand’s entry into the UK market. In addition, Ben Swindells has been hired as head of operations at Crafted at Powdermills. He joins from GuestHouse Hotels, where he served as operations director and hotel director at No.124 Brighton. Prior to this, he held senior leadership rolesm including operations director at co-working operator Huckletree, general manager at The Ministry and general manager at Harbour Hotels Group. These appointments follow the decision by Joel Williams, managing director at Crafted, to step down from his role as he relocates to Qatar. The first Crafted site – Crafted at Powdermills – opened near Battle, East Sussex, at the end of last year. Crafted will be a series of life-friendly hotels and clubs that are “crafted by name, crafted by nature”.