Domino’s to roll out chicken concept to all UK stores after ‘outperforming expectations’: Domino’s Pizza Group is to roll out its Chick ‘n’ Dip across all its circa 1,400 stores in the UK & Republic of Ireland following a successful regional trial. Last September, Domino’s launched the Chick ‘n’ Dip sub-brand into 187 sites to tap into rapidly growing demand for chicken in the UK. The company said the trial, in the north west of England and Northern Ireland, received a strong customer response and outperformed the company’s expectations. Chick ‘n’ Dip will be now available to order in store, and across the brand’s web, app and aggregator platforms, from Monday, 9 February. The concept is delivered through Domino's existing kitchens, delivery network and supply chain, and the business said that it is “a highly complementary addition to the existing pizza offer”. The company said: “Launching Chick ‘n’ Dip with its own distinct identity increases visibility and relevance for Domino’s in one of the fastest-growing food categories. Chick ‘n’ Dip meets the growing consumer demand for chicken and gives customers more reasons to choose Domino’s for different occasions. The concept also drives incremental sales by increasing menu choice and basket size. Data from the regional trial showed that Chick ‘n’ Dip, which includes tenders, wings, boneless bites and nine new globally inspired dips, are highly complementary to pizza, with more than 80% of Chick ‘n’ Dip orders placed alongside pizza.” Nicola Frampton, interim chief executive of Domino's Pizza Group, said: “Chick ‘n’ Dip is an exciting new concept that is built on the same operational platform that has driven Domino’s success for decades. The rollout comes after a strong trial and will leverage Domino’s strengths in innovation, brand and service. Pizza remains at the heart of our business, and it is encouraging to see customers choosing pizza and Chick ‘n’ Dip together. We are confident that chicken will drive incremental growth for Domino's, helping us to serve additional customer occasions while continuing to lead the market in pizza.” Andrew Rennie stepped down as chief executive of Domino’s last November with immediate effect, amid efforts to shift the brand further away from its core pizza business. His surprise exit came after he indicated that the UK pizza market was nearing saturation point, telling the FT there is no “massive growth” left in this category. Under Rennie, Domino’s had been one of the bidders for Wingstop’s UK business. 

 

Cornish Bakery MD Mat Finch to speak at first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, open for bookings: Mat Finch, managing director of Cornish Bakery, will be among the speakers at the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, which is open for bookings. Finch will talk about how the business has become one of the UK’s most compelling retail success stories – a brand that proves craft, culture and commercial performance don’t need to live in separate rooms, and how it has evolved from a regional favourite into a nationally admired operator. The conference takes place on Wednesday, 25 March, at the Park Plaza, Victoria. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Operators can book up to three free places per company while Premium subscribers who are operators can book up to four free places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database today, all 49 videos from Restaurant Marketer and Innovator on Friday, 13 February: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers today (Friday, 6 February). The database will show the details of 203 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. The database will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis and Premium Club subscribers will also receive a 15,179-word report on the 239 new additions to the database. It is segmented into seven categories – cafe bakery, casual dining, experiential leisure, fine dining, hotels, pubs and bars, and quick service restaurants – making it even easier for users to search. The database includes new openings in the pub and bar sector such as Pub Invest Group opening Irish bar McNasty’s in Liverpool, brewery and pub operator Lancaster Brewery Company launching Scott & Hussey at Carlisle station, and Mr Fogg’s Tavern, from Inception Group, opening in London’s Covent Garden. Premium Club subscribers will also receive all 49 videos from the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit Conference on Friday, 13 February, at 9am. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel chief operating officer – editorial, Mark Wingett, and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

January brings strong growth for UK Hospitality: The latest figures from S4labour show another encouraging month for UK hospitality, with overall like for like sales up 5.5% in January compared to the same period last year. This builds on the momentum seen in December, when sales rose 3.4%. London delivered another strong month of trading, with an 8.3% uplift in like for like sales. Trading outside the capital also remained firmly positive, with non London regions reporting a 4.5% increase year on year. Richard Hartley, chief growth officer at S4labour, said the figures point to sustained consumer demand as operators move through the early part of the year, despite the well known challenges that typically accompany the post Christmas trading period. He added: “January like-for-like sales are always a good litmus test of consumer confidence and these numbers are encouraging. Those with a keen eye will be aware there is an additional Saturday in this year’s numbers, which will have inflated the position slightly, but nonetheless, operators should be buoyed by these numbers.”

 

Simon Stenning – ‘hospitality industry needs to reinvent itself in order to win back consumers’: Sector analyst and FutureFoodservice founder Simon Stenning has said the hospitality industry needs to reinvent itself in order to win back consumers and “achieve increased frequencies”. Writing in today’s (Friday, 6 February) Premium Opinion, Stenning said: “This ‘reinvention of hospitality’ is both a call to arms and a recognition that unless we do something different, consumers will stay switched off and will resort to the lower-cost, and improving, supermarket offers. ‘Reinventing hospitality’ describes the need to focus on service, delivering great experiences, creating memories and enabling escapism; while this can be easier for top-end parts of the market, we believe this is essential for the middle market, otherwise it will lose more ground. The environment, the atmosphere, the welcome, the presentation and the creativity of food all need to step up in order to deliver change.” Stenning also said despite the well-publicised challenges facing the sector, he is still forecasting growth for the market in 2026, “albeit at a lower rate than previously, before improving further in 2027”. Stenning will share more of his thoughts and forecasts in Premium Opinion, which will be sent to Premium subscribers at 5pm. This week’s Premium Opinion will also feature Propel editorial advisor Katherine Doggrell, who asks whether when it comes to business rates, the government is “more Mr Benn and less detail”. Meanwhile, Propel chief operating officer – editorial, Mark Wingett takes a look at some of the key news stories from this week.

 

Eatphoria – ‘it’s time to stop treating hospitality as a commodity’: Olivia Vachon, head of marketing at multi-brand restaurant group Eatphoria, has argued that “it’s time to stop treating hospitality as a commodity”. Eatphoria, which started in 2014 as Wraps & Wings and has grown to five physical locations and more than 40 virtual ones, told Propel last month that it is planning to expand to 100 sites across the UK through its hybrid model following a multimillion-pound investment. Writing in today’s (Friday, 6 February) Friday Opinion, Vachon said following reports of some operators resorting to “unusually steep discounts” to lure customers back, it is striking “how quickly price has become the default lever to pull”. She said: “But discounting to mitigate the impact of sector challenges creates new challenges in itself. Discounted prices are nothing but a short-term fix, and a flimsy one at that. In my view, it starts to treat hospitality as a commodity that can be traded purely based on price.” Vachon will share more of her thoughts in Friday Opinion, which will be sent out at 11am.

 

Jamie Oliver – Labour is extinguishing the spark that powers our brilliant food scene: Chef and restaurateur Jamie Oliver has said that Britain’s food is the envy of the world, but it “breaks my heart that the government is stubbing it out”. Writing in The Standard, Oliver said: “To run a successful restaurant, you need oxygen. You need the financial space to take a risk on a new idea or a new supplier, or to hire and train up a young apprentice. When the government chips away at margins until there’s nothing left but a smouldering wick, confidence and creativity die. We are in the throes of a culinary brain drain. Seasoned operators are leaving the industry, family businesses are folding and the next generation of talent is looking at the financial hurdles and deciding it simply isn’t worth the fight. Our British hospitality sector is packed with some of the most industrious, creative, talented and hardworking people you’ll ever meet. If the government doesn’t act now, we risk a total exodus. Our talent, young and old, will simply take their genius elsewhere. We aren’t just losing businesses; we’re losing the very character of our streets. If the government continues to ignore the plight of the independent entrepreneur – the person working 90 hours a week to keep their dream alive – we know exactly what happens next. The void left by our cherished neighbourhood spots won’t stay empty for long. It will be filled by the only entities that can survive this suffocating climate: huge, soulless global chains and the clinical rise of ‘dark kitchens’. I beg Rachel Reeves to take a moment to review the data; to compare the dream with reality. It’s okay to admit that things aren’t working. Food brings people together, it’s at the heart of communities and it’s something to be proud of. We have the talent, we have the drive and we have a public hungry for what we do. Let us be entrepreneurs again. Stop burying us in forms and strangling us with rates. Give us the reform we need, and we’ll give you a country that’s the culinary envy of the world. But do it quickly. Once that spark is gone, you can’t just wish it back.”

  

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a new Japanese restaurant opening in east London that is seeking a head chef. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will lead a team of 20 chefs in a 200-cover restaurant serving modern robata, skewers and sushi. The restaurant is part of a major new opening in a premium hotel setting.” The salary is up to £75,000. For more information, email olly@corecruitment.com.

 

Chaiiwala – ‘2026 is going to be a big year for the business in North America,’ hosts series of US pop-ups: Indian street food brand Chaiiwala has hosted a series of US pop-up events in Houston, Texas, as the brand prepares for its official US launch in 2026, with the business stating this year will be “a big one” for the brand in North America. The company, which was founded in Leicester in 2015 and currently operates circa 115 sites across the UK, 23 in Canada, and a handful in Dubai, has a strategy in place to scale up to 500 global locations over the next ten years. This includes significantly expanding its footprint in the UK and Canada with its existing multi-site franchisees, and exploring new international markets – including the US, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. With the pop-ups, Chaiiwala said it is preparing the ground for its US launch. With Houston, Texas, identified as a key priority market, Chaiiwala said it used its pop-ups as an opportunity to introduce local consumers and prospective franchisees to its “much-loved dishes”. Chaiiwala is currently exploring local partnership and franchise opportunities, with the company’s existing operations in Canada “making the US a natural step” for the business. Over the next 12 months, Chaiiwala is aiming to strengthen its global footprint with new stores both in the UK and in international markets. This will build on a successful 2025 for Chaiiwala, which saw the group open multiple new stores in a variety of new formats and location types. Nazibur Rahman, country manager US & Canada at Chaiiwala, said: “2026 is going to be a big year for Chaiiwala in North America. With 23 stores in Canada, the US is a natural next step for the business, and we have identified multiple opportunities across different states with proven operators who recognise the demand for our authentic street food-style menu and Karak chaii. Our recent pop-up was a first taster for consumers in Houston – a city that we believe has great potential for Chaiiwala in the short-term – and a total success. Now, we are focused on continuing our conversations with local partners and franchisees and bringing our high-quality, authentic menu to the market with a permanent fixture.” Last month, Rahman told Propel that Chaiiwala is aiming to grow to 100 sites in Canada by 2030, while last year, co-founder Sohail Ali told Propel that Chaiiwala thinks there is potential for a revised total of more than 1,000 stores under the brand in the US, complemented with a “fully-fledged UK potential of 400-plus stores”.

Chopstix backer names Kevin Derycke as new CEO: QSRP, the pan-European quick service restaurant platform which backs the fast-growing Chopstix brand, has named Kevin Derycke as its new chief executive, effective from 1 April 2026. The company, which acquired Chopstix in October 2024, said Derycke, who steps up from his current role as group chief operating officer, brings a wealth of operational experience, “strong leadership qualities, and an in-depth understanding of QSRP’s culture, brands and people”. He will take over from Alessandro Preda, who has led QSRP for the past nine years. The company said through Preda’s leadership and entrepreneurial drive, QSRP scaled organically, and through acquisitions into a leading multi-country organisation, generated nearly €2bn in annual systemwide sales. “As QSRP enters its next phase, our priority is to stay culturally and digitally relevant for Generation Z while remaining meaningful to all generations, by strengthening our brands, elevating taste aspiration and leveraging technology and artificial intelligence to continuously innovate,” Derycke said. To ensure a seamless transition, Preda will continue supporting QSRP in a strategic advisory role. He said: "I am immensely proud of what we have achieved over the past decade, particularly the remarkable team I have had the privilege to help identify, assemble, and lead. Through the Food Streaming strategy, we have laid the groundwork for capabilities that will propel QSRP confidently into the future.” Last week, Chopstix opened its debut site in France, in Paris, with plans to open 50 restaurants across the country over the next three years. 

 

Chicken Cottage extends overseas footprint, plans further international expansion: Halal fast food company Chicken Cottage has extended its overseas footprint by opening another store in Kenya and is planning further international expansion. The new site, in Nairobi, is the brand’s ninth store in the country. Chicken Cottage also had international locations in Iraq, Ireland, Malaysia, Nigeria, Belgium and Pakistan – alongside circa 70 UK stores. “We’ve opened our ninth Chicken Cottage outlet in Kenya, located at Shell Thome in Thika Road, Nairobi,” a company spokesman said. “This new store is part of our continued growth with our trusted partner Express Kitchen, bringing delicious Chicken Cottage along one of the city’s most dynamic transport corridors. This expansion is part of a bold strategic plan with eight more outlets planned across 2026 and future ambitions in regional towns and beyond.” Chicken Cottage, which has previously targeted reaching 100 locations by 2027, launched its first service station site at the end of last year – within the Esso Hylands service station in Bookham, near Leatherhead, in Surrey.

 

The Ivy Collection hires Katharine Shafto as new marketing director: The Ivy Collection, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant business, has hired Katherine Shafto, formerly of Creative Restaurant Group and Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, as its new marketing director. Shafto joins The Ivy Collection after a brief spell as marketing director at Addmind Hospitality, the Dubai-based restaurant and bar operator behind Soho’s Sucre and Clap London. Previous to that, she was head of marketing at the Creative Restaurant Group – which operates Endo at The Rotunda, Humo, Kioku by Endo, Niju and Sumi – for a year. She also worked for the Caring-backed Caprice Holdings for 15 months as a senior marketing manager, a role she also held at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants for ten months. Shafto joins the Ivy Collection after Maisie Denning stepped down as its marketing director after two years in the role. Denning has subsequently joined flexible workspaces provider x+why as its new director of brand marketing.

  

TeamSport to open new London site this spring with first full-scale bowling offer and mini karts for kids: TeamSport, the biggest indoor go-karting operator in the UK and Europe, will open a new London site this spring, with the company’s first full-scale bowling offer and new mini karts for kids. The site, in Brent Cross shopping centre, north west London, will be a fifth site in the capital for TeamSport and 38th overall in the UK – with six more overseas. It will be one of two new UK tracks the business opens this financial year, with one in Bicester also in the pipeline. Writing in the company’s accounts for the year to 30 June 2025, director Dominic Wilkinson said: “We now operate 37 tracks and see further opportunity for growth. We expect to open at least two more site in this financial year. We are currently on site constructing a new site in Brent Cross, with another at Bicester Heritage Museum under contract. Brent Cross is due to open in early 2026 and will showcase our first full-scale bowling offering, as well as introducing our new mini karts, suitable for children under eight, something that we have not previously offered. This will enable us to reach a new target audience and improve our focus on providing end-to-end go karting. In addition, we are investing in the continued refurbishment of our existing estate. We trialled a new track management system in Stoke, where we have received exceptional customer feedback. We are currently installing this in Warrington, one of our flagship sites.” It comes as TeamSport reported turnover of £59,721,930 for the year, down from £60,655,601 the previous year. Pre-tax profit dropped to £4,035,922 from £6,825,756 the year before as administrative expenses rose by more than £1m. There was also a £6,706,520 depreciation and impairment expense, compared with £5,548,090 in 2024. Wilkinson added: “We are performing in line with our expectations, despite the headwinds that have hit both businesses and consumers alike across Europe. Our investment in technology and in-house sales and marketing teams continues to enhance the digital customer journey. We have evolved our social media activity and CRM campaigns, all which help drive our on-line sales, with online bookings accounting for circa 90% of revenue. To maintain this success, we are investing in artificial intelligence, to see how we can improve the efficiency of every aspect of our business even further.” In October 2025, Propel revealed TeamSport had hired Gavin Adair, formerly of Rosa’s Thai and Wahaca, as its new chief executive, and the following month, TeamSport secured a £5m revolving credit facility from OakNorth to support its working capital and expansion activity.

 

Neos Hospitality hires Kayleigh Holmes as new people and culture director: Neos Hospitality, which last week acquired 20 Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba sites out of administration, has hired Kayleigh Holmes, formerly of Norstella and Sodexo, as its new people and culture director. Holmes joins Neos with extensive experience across HR and people leadership roles in the mergers and acquisitions, pharmaceutical, hospitality and events sectors. The company said her background spans organisational development, strategy and culture-led transformation, bringing a “breadth of cross-sector expertise to the fast-growing operator”. Holmes joins the Russell Quelch-led Neos after two years at Norstella – a group of prominent pharmaceutical solutions providers, where she was director of global HR business partners. She also spent four years at Evaluate, which provides commercial intelligence and forecasting models for the pharmaceutical industry, including two and a half years as head of HR. Holmes also had a stint as head of people operations at Sodexo. It comes as Neos is set to open its first London venue later this year, located in the former Tiger Tiger site in Haymarket, marking a major milestone in its national expansion. Quelch said: “As we expand our estate, enter new markets and integrate new sites into the business, our people and culture remain central to our success. Kayleigh brings a wealth of experience across multiple sectors and will play a key role in building a strong, engaged culture that supports our teams and enables us to carry on delivering stand-out experiences for our guests.” The group delivered more than £8m in venue transformations in 2025, with further new openings planned into 2026. Propel understands Neos will look to convert its first ex-Revel site to one of its own brands in time for summer trading.

 

Gaucho reports 11% like-for-like sales growth at regional sites over past six months, hires new regional operations director: Gaucho, the Baton Berisha-led restaurant group, has reported 11% like-for-like sales growth at its regional sites over the past six months, to the end of January. It comes as Gaucho hires a new regional operations director responsible for its eight locations outside of London. Jamie Belton will oversee the Gaucho restaurants in cities including Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle. Belton has more than 25 years’ leadership experience working for brands such as The Ivy Collection and DÍON in Dublin. Berisha said: “Jamie brings invaluable experience to our regional restaurants. I look forward to working closely with him as part of the senior leadership team as we continue to deliver strong performance and positive results across the business.” Belton added: “Joining Gaucho at such a pivotal moment for the business is an exciting step in my career. I am looking forward to getting started and working alongside a talented team to continue driving excellence across our regional sites.”

 

Phat Buns to open first site of 2026 for 20th outlet: Better burger business Phat Buns will open its first site of 2026 on Saturday (7 February) for its 20th outlet. The company, founded in 2019 by Hussein Sacranie and Ahtesham Moosa, will open at 14 South Street in Romford, east London. A Phat Buns spokesman said: “We’re opening Phat Buns Romford this Saturday, our first store opening of 2026. Expect the full Phat Buns experience from day one: smash burgers done properly, big flavours, fast service and a store built to deliver quality every single time.” It comes after the Phat Buns team, which also operates four Doorstep Dessert units, had a busy 2025, making its international debut in Sharjah. The company also launched three new brands last year – virtual brand Phat Ville, fried chicken concept Get Chicken’d and online doner kebab concept Flippin Doner.

 

Starbucks to offer 40 more apprenticeship places: Starbucks has said it is to offer 40 more apprenticeship places as part of National Apprenticeship Week, which runs from 9-15 February. The new recruits will join nearly 250 people already on apprenticeship schemes with the business. Apprenticeships at Starbucks span a wide range of roles and levels, including Level 2 entry-level barista apprenticeships; advanced professional qualifications for senior leaders; and a fast-track leadership programme, enabling apprentices to progress to store manager roles in as little as 13 months. Reina Dynora Fernandez Zamora, a deputy store manager in Turnham Green, who joined Starbucks after moving to the UK and enrolled on the accelerated leadership programme in 2025, said: “Since joining the programme, I see a completely different version of myself. I didn’t know how to manage a team or make sure everyone felt supported before, but now I feel much more confident.”

 

M&B to invest in 18 Castle Pubs this year: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is to make investments in 18 sites out of its circa 100-strong Castle Pubs estate this year. The investment programme has begun with significant upgrade plans for three Castle Pubs, as part of a wider programme to strengthen and evolve its community-focused estate. It said The White Horse in Parsons Green, The Sun in Bournemouth and The Crown & Greyhound in Dulwich will be transformed as part of a combined investment. Reopened this week, The White Horse, a predominantly wet-led operation, has a revamped first-floor dining area complete with new British gastro menus and a new private dining area. Outside is an expanded garden with additional seating alongside a new outdoor bar with craft beer taps. The Sun, formerly Sixty Million Postcards, relaunches with a new identity on Thursday, 5 March. The repositioning will see the pub emerge as a family-friendly community hub. Completing the trio, pub with rooms The Crown and Greyhound will reopen on Thursday, 19 March following design-led upgrades to the ground-floor bar and outdoor spaces, adding 43 covers, alongside a contemporary event space upstairs. The 20 hotel rooms will be refreshed as part of the work. Dan Barnett, operations director at Castle Pubs said: “These refurbishments represent a significant investment in our estate and demonstrate our continued commitment to developing our pubs and securing their long-term future.” The company said the refurbishments form part of a wider programme to strengthen its Castle Pubs offering, with plans to invest in 18 sites throughout 2026, including the Prince Albert in Notting Hill and The Sun in Clapham Old Town.

 

Zambrero to make Scotland debut this weekend: Zambrero, Australia's largest Mexican quick-service franchise, will make its debut in Scotland this weekend with an opening in Glasgow. The brand, which currently operates 13 sites in the UK and more than 350 restaurants globally, will open a site in Byres Road with its new franchise partner Dan Hawley, who already runs four Zambrero sites in Western Australia. Hawley, who moved with his family to Scotland after spotting a “massive opportunity for the brand”, said: “Glasgow’s food scene is already bursting with amazing options, but I believe Zambrero’s vibrant flavours – and our mission to help end world hunger – will not just earn us a spot, but make us a standout favourite among locals.” Zambrero launched a franchise recruitment programme in the UK last year, with plans to open 100 sites by 2030. Last month, Emily Teh, its UK chief executive, told Propel the business has made a “really strong start” to its franchise journey here.

 

Pho offers guests the chance to win trip to Vietnam: Pho, the Vietnamese restaurant group led by Pat Marrinan and backed by TriSpan, is offering consumers a chance to win a trip to Vietnam to mark Vietnamese New Year on Tuesday, 17 February. The business said at a time when consumers are fatigued by discounts, Pho is “swapping short-term offers for a story worth telling – turning an everyday meal into the chance of a once-in-a-lifetime trip”. On 17 February, the company said every customer who dines at any of its 51 restaurants will receive a traditional lucky red envelope containing a prize. These will range from free bowls of pho, desserts and Vietnamese beer to a Pho VIP Card giving 50% off food for an entire year. Pho said: “One envelope will unlock the ultimate golden prize: a dream trip to Vietnam, including two return flights from London and five nights in a hotel, giving you the chance to get immersed in the Vietnamese culture, vibrant food scene and historic cities, experiencing first-hand where Pho’s flavours grew inspiration from.” The offer extends to those who order on Deliveroo or through click-and-collect.

 

Tonkotsu to open first site in Wales next month: Tonkotsu, which is backed by YFM Equity Partners and chaired by Sarah Willingham, has confirmed it will make its debut in Wales, in Cardiff, next month. The 18-strong company, which was launched in Soho in 2012 by co-founders Ken Yamada and Emma Reynolds, will open the site at 7 High Street. Yamada said: “We love Cardiff and have been looking for the ideal location for a while. We’re really excited to join the brilliant dining scene in the city and can’t wait to serve our ramen to the people of Cardiff.” Last September, Reynolds told Propel the business plans to explore strategic opportunities over the coming year after reaching a scale “where inbound interest is growing”.  She also said the business was seeking to add a further two to four sites in the next two years. 

 

The Beautiful Pubs reports sales up 26% in 2025, strengthens leadership team: The Beautiful Pubs Collective, the independent pub operator led by Sam Hagger, has reported sales were up 26% in 2025, and it has strengthened its leadership team. Sales for the year ending 31 December 2025 were up 25.77%, by £1,015,791 to £3,941,614 (like-for-like up £96,115). During the year, the company transformed its original Leicester city centre pub, The Rutland & Derby Arms, with a £300,000 refurbishment and also repositioned its flagship Leicester city centre venue, Knight & Garter, adding an Italian influence to its dining room. In addition, the group restructured and strengthened its central team with the appointment of Chris Simmons to the new role of supply chain and commercial partner, and Alexandra Gardner as operations manager for experiences, while Rose Hagger, who previously performed the latter role, became HR and people partner. The group has kicked off 2026 with the launch of a 16-week joint £1.2m investment into The Old Horse, which was acquired in 2024, with Everards. The project will see the pub transformed inside and out, including one of the county’s largest beer gardens, complete with a full-range outdoor bar, a Germanic-inspired kitchen and its own ice cream van. Sam Hagger said: “Despite the financial challenges levied on us by government, 2025 was a hugely productive year for us as a company and as a team. Through the appointment of Chris, we have delivered genuine cost improvements without compromising on the quality our guests expect. This has helped offset inflation in other areas of the business. Alex’s appointment has also helped us elevate our people-first approach by strengthening our connection to our pubs and their teams. Our city centre businesses are performing well given the circumstances, but more support and focus is needed from both central and local government to drive visitor numbers.”

 

Camerons places four sites on market as part of strategic review: Camerons Brewery, led by Chris Soley, has placed four sites on the market, including two operating under its Head of Steam format, for a combined price of £1.55m. The sites are The Wheelhouse in Washington, which has a freehold asking price of £275,000; The Mitre in Bishop Auckland, which has a freehold asking price of £350,000; the Head of Steam in Hull, which has a freehold asking price of £475,000; and the Head of Steam in central Newcastle, which is available for sale and leaseback with an asking price of £450,000. John Foots, finance director for Camerons, said: “We have undertaken a strategic overview of the estate and identified these four sites for disposal. As is well-publicised, we sold our leased and tenanted estate in 2024. The Mitre and The Wheelhouse are amongst the last of our community pubs operating under franchise, and it makes sense for us to explore a sale. The Head of Steam in Hull is a great site but is now somewhat of an outlier when you look across the wider Head of Steam brand, which we are very keen on expanding after our recent success in Manchester. The Head of Steam on Neville Street is one of our oldest sites operating under that brand and it has helped shape the rest of the estate in many ways, so we are keen to stay in there. We’re massively confident we can continue to trade well and so a sale and leaseback works brilliantly for us.” The company opened its first Head of Steam site since 2019, in Newton Street, on the edge of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, at the end of last year. The company currently operates 15 sites under its Head of Steam concept. Christie & Co is marketing the four sites.

 

Prezzo Italian offering £5 pizzas for National Pizza Day: Prezzo Italian, part of Brava Hospitality Group, is offering a £5 pizza deal to celebrate National Pizza Day on Monday (9 February). All classic-size pizzas will be available for £5 with the purchase of a drink, for one day only, when guests download a voucher from the Prezzo Italian website. The 11-strong classic pizzas range includes margherita, Tuscan barbecue chicken, and garlic prawn and pesto. Guests must sign up in advance and present their voucher at the time of ordering. The promotion is valid for dine-in only at participating Prezzo Italian restaurants and can be redeemed by up to 12 people per bill. Naddy Onions, marketing director at Prezzo Italian, said: “National Pizza Day is the perfect moment to celebrate everything people love about pizza, or find a new favourite – especially when it’s just £5.”

 

Brew York to open food hall and event space: Brew York, the Yorkshire craft brewer and operator, is to open a new food hall and event space in Goole. The company plans to open Goole Market Hall this spring, which will comprise four food outlets, a bar with 18 keg lines and six cask beers and live music, sport and events. Brew York – which operates taprooms and bars at venues in York, Leeds, Otley, Pocklington, Guiseley and Knaresborough – was successful in its bid to bring its combination of craft beer and street food to the venue in 2024. Last October, the business hired Geoff Hodgson as its new chairman, which is said underlined its ambitions to expand the geographical reach of its beer and extend its growing portfolio of sites. The company opened four new venues in 2025: the Old Grey Mare in Clifton, York; Brew+Bao in Chapel Allerton; Brew+Bao in Scarborough; and Towers Tap Room in Carlton – and said it had “a few more venues to launch in early 2026”.

 

Entertainment venue operator Bistro Live closes months after rescue deal: Entertainment venue operator Bistro Live has closed just months after being acquired in a rescue deal. The company, which has sites in Nottingham, Leicester and Milton Keynes, was acquired by FM Hospitality in October through a pre-pack deal following its collapse into administration, saving 100 jobs. However, in a statement on its website, Bistro Live said it has made the “incredibly difficult decision” to permanently close after “25 unforgettable years”. The company added: “This decision has not come easily but the ongoing economic challenges facing hospitality in the UK have made it impossible for us to continue.” Prior to being rescued, Bistro Live had been significantly impacted by the covid-19 pandemic, facing a mandatory closure for 18 months. Despite government support and internal cost-saving measures, the business accrued substantial debt during this period. Although the business achieved a rebuild in subsequent years, the burden of pandemic-era debt remained a challenge, and following a quieter summer period caused by cost-of-living pressures, the business eventually ran out of cash.

 

Bourne & Hollingsworth Group places Fitzrovia bar on market: London bar operator Bourne & Hollingsworth has placed its eponymous site in Fitzrovia on the market, following 19 years of trading. The cocktail bar and late-night venue in Rathbone Place is up for sale by way of lease assignment. Parent company, Bourne & Hollingsworth Group, said the continued success of its flagship site, Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, a multi-faceted clubhouse in Clerkenwell and the company’s expanding external events business has prompted the decision to laser focus on these parts of its London business. Davis Coffer Lyons has been instructed on behalf of the Bourne & Hollingsworth Group as sole agents for the sale.

 

Newcastle operator puts late-night bar on market: Newcastle operator Paul Pringle has put one of his late-night bars in the city, Tokyo Bar, on the market. Pringle, who is also behind Alvinos Bar at 88 Pilgrim Street, is looking to sell Tokyo Bar at 17 Westgate Road. Pringle was also previously behind Intermezzo at 82 Pilgrim Street, which was taken over by NQ64 in 2022. Tokyo Bar has a capacity of 320 across five floors and is on the market with an asking price of £1,275,000 for the freehold. The business and a new lease are also offered at an asking price of £200,000 and an asking rent of £85,000 per annum. Christie & Co has been instructed to market the property.