Sandwich Sandwich secures debut transport hub site, grab-and-go format ‘set to be a game changer’, eyes New York launch: Sandwich Sandwich, which was founded in Bristol in 2012, is to make its transport hub debut with an opening in London’s Paddington station, Propel has learned. The company, which operates three sites in London and two in Bristol, will open a grab-and-go site in the station on Sunday, 5 April. Sandwich Sandwich will also open its first grab-and-go site next month in Broadgate Central, with founder Nick Kleiner telling Propel the new format could be a game changer. He said: “The whole queuing, taking photos, ‘Instagrammable’ experience is not great for your labour model, it slows everything down. The product is great, so there is no reason why grab-and-go won’t work, and if it does, it can be a growth driver. Opening in a transport hub is another huge milestone, and the new format opens up a new avenue of growth.” Last October, the business made its West End debut with an opening in Tottenham Court Road, with its subsequent success proving the strength of the business for Kleiner. On further UK expansion, Kleiner said: “We are looking down the M4 corridor a bit more, because while we’re still very new, to keep opening in London, there is the potential of cannibalising some sites. We're looking at Bath; we’re looking at Reading. I went to look at a site in Kingston.” Overseas expansion will be another area of potential growth, with a US launch on the radar. Kleiner said: “If you want to build something where you can exit, you’ve got to be looking abroad as well now. New York City is something I’m keen to explore sooner rather than later. I don’t believe there’s many people doing what we do, and that’s essentially modern British fillings. I’d like to think by this time next year, we will have something signed.” Last autumn, the business signed a franchise deal with The Sandwich Group, led by Conor McKay, to launch in the Middle East, and Kleiner said the business was close to securing its first site in Dubai – and hopes to have two open by the end of this year. 

 

Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vanifatova to speak at first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, open for bookings: Maria Vanifatova, founder of Meaningful Vision, will be among the speakers at the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, which is open for bookings. Vanifatova will look at where the growth is in the UK market, where the opportunities are and what pricing strategies and menu innovations are reshaping the industry amid evolving consumer preferences and economic pressures. 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 updated Multi-Site Database with 3,536 operators and 19 new companies today: Premium Club subscribers will receive the updated Multi-Site Database today (Friday, 27 February), at noon. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,536 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 1,021 (29%) casual dining operators, 805 (23%) pub and bar operators, 626 (18%) cafe bakery operators, 499 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 290 (8%) hotel operators, 238 (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 pub and bar sector such as Coral Pub Company, a new vehicle led by Ted Kennedy, and brewery and pub operator Lancaster Brewery Company. 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 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.

 

James Hacon – UK Treasury advisor who said we do not need any more restaurants ‘misunderstands what they represent in a global city like London’: James Hacon, managing partner at Think Hospitality Consulting, has argued that the UK Treasury advisor who said we do not need any more restaurants “misunderstands what they represent in a global city like London”. Rachel Reeves’ entrepreneurship adviser, Alexandra Depledge, attracted criticism earlier this week for making the comment in an interview, in which she urged investors to back fast-growing technology scale-ups. Writing in this week’s Propel Premium about why London is “still a hot ticket”, Hacon said: “And as for the assertion this week from a UK Treasury adviser that we do not need any more restaurants, I fundamentally disagree. That view misunderstands what restaurants represent in a global city like London. They are not surplus leisure units. They are engines of innovation, magnets for international talent, drivers of tourism spend and a genuine export platform for British and global brands alike.” You can read more of Hacon’s thoughts in Premium Opinion, which will be sent to Premium Club subscribers today (Friday, 27 February) at 5pm. Premium Opinion will also feature Stuart Gillies, former chief executive of Gordon Ramsay Holdings, on how lessons from large-group leadership can be applied to small, regional restaurants with the help of technology and artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Propel’s deputy editor Tim Street talks to Richard Zivkovic, who after almost three decades in the corporate world working for the likes of Pret A Manger, Costa and Knoops, has now opened a café-bakery in his home town. 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.

 

Young’s CEO – ‘discounting is coming back into the sector’, Ram Agency ‘has been a game changer’: Simon Dodd, chief executive of Young’s, has said discounting is coming back into the sector and “once it’s in your business, it’s very hard to remove”. Speaking to Peel Hunt analyst Douglas Jack, Dodd said: “What we are seeing, which isn’t great for our sector, is discounting is coming back. The trouble is with discounting, once it’s in your business, it’s very hard to remove, and then the next year, you’re chasing your tail, because obviously you discount year one, what do you do year two, year three, year four? We have a very clear policy. We don’t discount. We charge the right price for the right offer. If you look at the sector, it is looking at discounting during the week, to try and drive footfall. The other thing we’re seeing is a lot of pubs are starting to close on a Monday or stopping food during the week. Our belief and understanding from the consumer is they want consistency. So, if they come to your pub on a Monday and you’re closed, they won’t come back the following Monday. If you stop doing food midweek, they won’t come back the following week. So, our belief is, trade your pub seven days a week, offer food in all your businesses and give that consistency. It’s a knee jerk thing to immediately start putting discounts in the business to keep that top line going. But if you invest in pubs, your offer and your people, you don’t necessarily need to do that.” Dodd said the Ram Agency, the group’s internal staffing platform that offers flexible working hours, has been a “game changer” which saves, on average, around £1.5m to £2m a year on contract costs. He said around 10% of the workforce are now on Ram, and the aim is to “move that towards 15%”.

 

Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans approved: The pedestrianisation of London’s Oxford Street has been given official final approval by London’s mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan. He has instructed Transport for London to implement the proposals to remove traffic between Great Portland Street and Orchard Street, City Hall said. The decision follows the results of a second consultation on local traffic diversions to which 2,700 people responded, and City Hall said the majority agreed with the plans. It is hoped vehicles will be stopped from using the road by September, with further work to make the street more welcoming to pedestrians to follow. Sir Sadiq said: “I am delighted to be moving forward with my bold vision to transform Oxford Street into a world-leading urban space for shopping, leisure and outdoor events. We will outline more details in the coming days, as we continue building a better, more prosperous London for everyone.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is recruiting an executive chef to lead a premium, multi-site contract catering portfolio across London and Surrey. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role involves delivering a strong mix of hospitality-led fine dining and high-quality retail food offers. The individual should have multi-site experience, a contract catering background and a passion for elevating food standards, hospitality and team performance.” The salary for this Monday to Friday opportunity is up to £65,000. For more information, email yasmin@corecruitment.com

 

Rockfish founder – ‘I'm more cautious about growth than I've ever been’, ‘you have to keep upping your game’: Mitch Tonks, founder of seafood restaurant group Rockfish, has told Propel that in this political and economic cycle, “I’m more cautious about growth than I've ever been”, and while trading has been good this year, “the marketplace is smaller”. The award-winning business will open its latest site on Tuesday, 17 March in Sidmouth, Devon, marking the business’ 11th restaurant along the south west coast of England. Tonks told Propel: “Trading's been good, but it's clear the marketplace is smaller, people are going out less and thinking harder about where they spend. That means we have to work harder for our share of it. Frequency of visits is down, so you've got to focus on experience and on driving spend in the right way. You have to keep upping your game, making sure people think of you when they do decide to go out. In the end, it always comes back to hospitality: if you deliver something genuinely warm, generous and memorable, people come back.” In terms of further expansion and looking at opportunities outside its south west heartland, Tonks said: “We’d always go where there’s a brilliant site on the water – that’s the starting point. But in this political and economic cycle, I’m more cautious about growth than I've ever been. Sidmouth is our focus – we’re not looking at other sites currently.” Looking ahead to the rest of the year, Tonks said the business was focused on” deepening what we already do, getting even better at it”. He said: “That’s about sharpening our operations, building stronger teams. Our online seafood market has taken off like a rocket ship after four years of hard work, and we’re focusing on pushing that. Beyond restaurants, we’ve got these wonderful passion projects, like tinned seafood, special one-off events, festivals – anything that celebrates British seafood properly.”

 

BrewDog draws interest from Danish group Royal Unibrew: A Danish brewing company is among the suitors weighing a takeover of parts or all of Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, which is currently in the midst of an accelerated sale process. Sky News reports that Royal Unibrew Group, which is listed in Copenhagen, is among several parties said to be seriously interested in BrewDog. Industry sources said Royal Unibrew, whose brands include Faxe and Anarkist, was likely to be most interested in BrewDog's brand portfolio rather than its bar estate. BrewDog was put up for sale through restructuring firm AlixPartners earlier this month following five years of consecutive losses. Among those rumoured to be interested in buying all or parts of the business are BrewDog co-founder and former chief executive James Watt, who is reportedly planning to plough £10m of his own money into a rescue bid. Two rounds of bidding for BrewDog’s assets have already been tabled, with several multinational brewers in the mix to buy its breweries and brands. Propel revealed last month that Watt, who co-founded BrewDog with Martin Dickie in 2007, was considering launching a bid to buy back the business. Propel revealed last week that first round bids for the whole or parts of BrewDog had already been submitted, with a deal or deals needed to be done by the end of this month. It is understood any deal for the whole or parts of BrewDog – be that its brewing arm, brands or bars – will be through a restructuring process. Propel understands out of the group’s circa 70-strong bar estate, only circa 25 make positive site Ebitda, with Waterloo generating circa £3m and Las Vegas circa £1m.

 

Basilico team launch protein-based pizza cloud kitchen concept as a franchise: The team behind Basilico, the ten-strong woodfired pizza restaurant business, has launched its protein-based pizza cloud kitchen concept as a franchise. Basilico, founded in 1998 and led by Paul Adams, claims to be London's first woodfired pizza delivery company and has branches across London. Basilico launched Protein Pizza five years ago after spotting a gap in the market for pizzas that “offer the kind of protein-calorie balance that standard pizzas don’t”. The concept has until now been available for delivery or collection from Basilico's restaurants, but it is now being offered as a cloud kitchen franchise. The roll out is being led by franchise director Victoria Creamer, former talent acquisitions manager for Sandwich Sandwich and co-owner of Melbourne Deli & Kitchen in Derbyshire. She told Propel: “We offer ten-inch pizzas, which are all under 700 calories and with 50 grams of protein. It's been very well received so far and added £100,000 a year in sales on to each branch of Basilico – as people ordering them wouldn't normally be buying standard pizzas. It's done very well in London and now we want to take it to market outside of the capital through a network of high quality, authentic pizzerias. The demand for protein is growing, and standard pizzas don't offer the balance between protein and calories that a lot of people are looking for.”

 

Bread Ahead to make US debut this summer: Bread Ahead, the independent bakery and baking school business, is to make US debut this summer. 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 – will now open in New York, although the exact location has not been disclosed, reports Nation’s Restaurant News. 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.

 

Lancashire operator Bowland Inns reports revenue boost driven by Wennington Hall acquisition, losses widen but forecasts return to profitability in 2026: Lancashire hotel, pub and restaurant operator Bowland Inns & Hotels has reported a revenue boost in the year to 31 May 2025, driven by the acquisition of Wennington Hall in Lancaster in late 2023. The 14-strong group also saw its losses widen during the year but forecasted a return to profitability in 2026. The group reported turnover of £25,369,979, up 3% from £24,716,196 in 2024, and maintainable Ebitda of £4,217,915, up from £4,214,751. A pre-tax loss of £1,000,125 in 2024 widened slightly to £1,044,212. The group currently has a £25m term loan facility with Barclays, having refinanced in October 2025, which will “allow for further acquisitions and continued growth plans”. Director James Warburton said: “The revenue increase was driven by the acquisition of Wennington Hall. Costs have been well controlled, leading to an increase in operating profit from £1,061,000 in 2024 to £1,389,000 in 2025. However, with the Bank of England base rate rising, the level of interest paid increased 18%, leading to an overall loss before tax of £1,044,000. The group incurred exceptional costs in the year of £754,000 (2024: £1,103,000) mainly relating to refinance costs (£273,000) and pre-opening costs for Wennington Hall (£329,000). We have prepared forecasts that show the group can return to profitability by May 2026. This will be achieved by the maturity of the Wennington Hall site, efficiency across the group and a reduction in the Bank of England base rate. We will continue to invest in our existing estate to improve our guest experience of our overall offering, with particular further investment opportunities at Wennington Hall, including additional bedroom stock by May 2026.”

 

Insomnia Cookies eyes London debut: Insomnia Cookies UK, the late-night bakery business, is lining up its first opening in London, in Camden. The business, which currently operates nine sites in the UK, is looking to open at 177 Camden High Street. It comes after the business, which is led in the UK by Ben Lacey, recently applied to open a site in Exeter’s Queen Street. Last year, the brand made its debut in the south west with an opening in Bristol. Insomnia Cookies also has an opening lined up for 28-34 Clayton Street, in Newcastle. Earlier this week, Propel reported Insomnia Cookies had hired Andrew Phillips, formerly of Five Guys and Krispy Kreme, as its new head of operations. Phillips joined the brand after nine and a half years at Five Guys, including two and a half years as head of operations in Germany. At the same time, Kevin Norman, who joined Insomnia Cookies at the start of 2024, stepped down as its head of property.

 

Mission Mars secures site in London’s Clapham Junction for Rudy’s: Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, the Mission Mars-owned brand, has secured a site in London’s Clapham Junction. The brand, which opened its 35th site, in Cambridge, in November, has secured the former The Party Superstore site in Lavender Hill for an opening later this year. Rudy’s already operates a site in Clapham Common. The company will open its next site, at 10 Birmingham Road, in Sutton Coldfield, on the ex-Built Unique gym unit, next month. Rudy’s also has openings lined up in Harrogate, Chester and Glasgow. Earlier this month, Propel revealed that Rudy’s is set to make its debut in Scotland later this year, with an opening lined up on the former Steamer Company unit at 35-39 Gordon Street, near Glasgow Central station. Josh Rose, of Matta.London, acted on the Lavender Hill deal.

 

Urban Baristas secures new City of London site: Aussie-inspired coffee concept Urban Baristas has secured a new City of London site. The 22-strong business has taken a 1,206 square-foot ground floor unit at Unit 2a, 10 Fleet Place, on a ten-year lease at a rent of £45,000 per annum, with an upward only rent review to open market rental value at year five. The new café is adjacent to CNBC's new television studio on the ground floor of 10 Fleet Place, which opened last year. The property is asset-managed on behalf of Vervain Resources, the Hong Kong investment company that acquired the building in 2015. Urban Baristas also has ten other locations “coming soon” – in Greenford, Fulham, Old Street, Southwark, Canning Town, Warren Street, Bermondsey Street, Greenwich, Marsh Wall, Homerton and City Island. Propel revealed last year that Urban Baristas is due to make its regional debut this year, in Liverpool, with founder Huw Wardrope saying he sees a “huge opportunity outside of London” for the brand. Wardrope also said he has had discussions about expansion to the US and UAE but “we don't want to overstretch ourselves at the moment” and will put the systems and processes in place to allow for international growth “when the time is right”.

 

Nightcap to launch new cocktail bar called Hidden Society: Nightcap – the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and the Barrio Familia group of bars – is to launch Hidden Society, a new stand-alone cocktail bar, in London’s Fitzrovia at the end of March. The business is converting its The Cocktail Club site in Goodge Street to the new bar, which it said draws inspiration from “art, storytelling and Fitzrovia’s creative community, offering a calmer, more considered alternative to London’s high-volume nightlife”. The company said the concept blends “precision drinks with an atmosphere designed for conversation, discovery and return visits”. Hidden Society will also feature a concealed area within the venue, offering guests a “sense of discovery and moments to unlock — reinforcing the bar’s layered, narrative-led approach”. Sarah Willingham, chief executive of Nightcap, said: “Hidden Society is about returning to the fundamentals of great hospitality – thoughtful service, beautifully made drinks and creating a space where people feel immediately at ease. Fitzrovia has such a strong creative energy, and we wanted to create a bar that complements that – somewhere calm, considered and genuinely welcoming.” Last November, the company rebranded its Barrio site in London’s Soho as La Familia.

 

Garbanzos secures new City of London site for tenth location in capital: Garbanzos, the Middle Eastern-inspired salad and street food concept, has secured a new City of London site for its tenth location in the capital. Garbanzos has leased a 462 square-foot ground floor retail unit at Evermore, at 128 Queen Victoria Street, on a ten-year lease – at a rent of £40,000 per annum, with an upward only rent review at year five. Garbanzos, which offers fresh and healthy Mediterranean food, plans to open the store in the second quarter of this year. Evermore, formerly known as Old Change House, was acquired by BauMont Real Estate and property investment and asset management company Addington in a joint venture in March 2024, and was rebranded in January 2025. Savills advised BauMont and Addington.

 

MJMK Restaurants hires Jo Cole as people director: London restaurant operator MJMK Restaurants – which is behind Casa do Frango, AngloThai, KOL, Lisboeta and Fonda – has hired Jo Cole, formerly of Turtle Bay Restaurants and Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK), as its new people director. Cole spent six and a half years as people director at Turtle Bay before stepping down last summer. Previous to that, she spent nine and a half years at GBK, including three and a half years as its head of HR and people development. Last year, the business, which was founded in 2018 by Jake Kasumov and Marco Mendes, told Propel it would focus on its existing UK estate over the coming 12 months but had begun to explore opportunities in the US, Middle East and Far East. 

 

Cornish Inns closes four sites saying there’s ‘simply not enough capital left to continue safely and responsibly’: Cornish Inns, the multi-site operator owned by Chris and Jason Black, has closed four of its pubs on the same day, saying there is “simply not enough capital left to continue safely and responsibly”. The business has closed The Pityme Inn in St Minver, the London Inn in Padstow, the Golden Lion in Port Isaac and the Lugger Inn in Polruan. All four are St Austell Brewery pubs. Cornish Inns’ other two sites – The Weavers Inn in Bodmin and the Loom Room cocktail bar in Wadebridge – continue to trade. Cornwall Live reported that Jason Black told staff: “Cornish Inns has been part of my life since 2018. Together, we navigated covid, lockdowns, supply shortages, rising energy prices, increases in the minimum wage and the constant cost pressure facing hospitality. Over the last few months, I have explored every possible option to keep the businesses trading. We have reduced costs wherever possible, worked with St Austell and looked at every possible way to strengthen our position. Unfortunately, winter trading has continued to impact cash flow and there is not enough capital left to continue safely and responsibly. Closing these sites now means we are acting while there is still structure in place and some funds available to manage the process properly rather than allowing things to deteriorate further." Andrew Turner, chief operating officer at St Austell Brewery, said: “We recognise how important pubs are to their local communities, and decisions like this are never taken lightly. We continue to support our business partners, who operate the pubs independently, and will provide a further update as soon as we are able to do so.”

Distinct Group acquires Coventry hotel for fourth site: Distinct Group has acquired a hotel in Coventry for its fourth site. It has bought the grade II-listed Chace Hotel, a Victorian and Edwardian property with 66 bedrooms, formerly known as the Iliffe Hotel and most recently operated as part of the Corus Laura Ashley collection. Having closed in December 2021, the hotel is now set to undergo a comprehensive restoration. Gareth Leakey, managing director of Distinct Group, said: “The opportunity to acquire The Chace came at exactly the right time for us, as we were preparing to reopen Brownsover Hall following its complete refurbishment. We are excited to give The Chace the same care, investment and attention to detail, restoring this beautiful historic building and bringing it back to life for the community.” The Chace will join Brownsover Hall Hotel in Rugby, The Bedford Swan in Bedford and The Hotel Cromwell in Stevenage in Distinct’s portfolio. Earlier this week, the group reported its turnover grew to a record £10,576,586 for the year ending 31 May 2025.

 

London-based family-run Italian deli Vallebona launches candlelit counter concept: London-based family-run Italian deli Vallebona has launched a candlelit counter concept. The 12-seat counter, for “intimate dining, coffee, lunch and candlelit evenings”, has launched at Vallebona in Wimbledon Village, south London. Founded in Italy in 1890 and established in the UK since 1997, Vallebona is a specialist importer and supplier to restaurants including Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Le Gavroche, The River Café, Bocca di Lupo, Trinity and Petersham Nurseries. The new format brings that same level of produce directly to guests, “offering a closer view of the preparation and a more immediate connection to the food”. The bar faces the preparation area, allowing guests to watch the team in action, and in the evenings, the atmosphere shifts to a stronger emphasis on wine and “longer, more relaxed meals”. The menu draws Sardinian and Japanese influences, with highlights including a kombu risotto made with rare kombu sourced from Japan; gyoza stuffed with sheep’s ricotta and lemon zest, served with truffle soy; and Naoko’s karaage chicken, marinated in Japanese soy and fried in the traditional style. An Italian cheese and charcuterie selection changes daily, accompanied by artisan bread and condiments, while there are cocktails and a wine list spanning hundreds of bottles from small producers. The counter is bookable, with space also reserved for walk-ins.

 

Scottish operator The Rocca Group to open new all-day restaurant concept overlooking St Andrews golf course: Scottish restaurant group The Rocca Group is to open a new all-day concept in St Andrews this spring. Clarets will take residence in The R&A World Golf Museum, overlooking the world-famous Old Course. Work is now underway to transform the former Niblick Restaurant, with Clarets occupying the first-floor space with seating for 50 guests. The venue will also be available for private hire, accommodating up to 100 guests. Clarets will retain the majority of the existing Niblicks team. Stefano Pieraccini, managing director of The Rocca Group, said: “Clarets is about more than just food and drink – it’s about celebrating St Andrews. We wanted to create a space that reflects the character, heritage and natural beauty of this town, where the views across the Old Course and West Sands are matched by the warmth of the welcome, the atmosphere in the room, and the quality on the plate.” The Rocca Group also operates fine-dining restaurant The Seafood Ristorante in St Andrews, and The Broughton gastropub and Café Calton in Edinburgh.

 

Mediterranean restaurant brand Jul’s to make UK debut next month: Mediterranean restaurant brand Jul’s will make its UK debut next month. Jul's was born in Ibiza in 2018, created by chef Christos Fotos, Jem Akyuz and his son, Ilhan. The group also includes Humain by Jul’s in Athens. Now, the trio is bringing Jul's to London, opening in St James’s on Wednesday, 18 March. The restaurant, in a former bank in Waterloo Place, will have a menu described as “Greek-inspired yet unmistakably Mediterranean, rooted in simplicity, generosity and modern craft”, with dishes such as giouvetsi, flatbread with slow-cooked lamb and grilled fish over an open fire. Wine will hold a central role at Jul’s, with a 6.5-metre-tall glass wine wall running the height of the restaurant’s ground level. Downstairs will be a late-night bar called No 11, with distillation and infusions being used to craft cocktails “that reflect the kitchen’s flavour profile”. Fotos said: “Jul’s culinary philosophy is rooted in my Mediterranean upbringing – centred around the ingredients and big generous plates. At Jul’s London, we aim to recreate that sense of connection, offering thoughtfully prepared, abundant dishes.”

 

Whitbread gets green light for £12m Carlisle Premier Inn: Whitbread has received the go-ahead to build a new Premier Inn in Carlisle, in a £12m investment. A 104-bedroom hotel is earmarked for a vacant site, formerly home to a Central Plaza Hotel, at West Walls in Victoria Viaduct. The five-storey hotel will feature Premier Inn’s latest format “standard” and enhanced “premier plus” bedrooms. Jill Anderson, acquisitions manager, for Whitbread said: “As a team, we feel very passionate about this development. Bringing the site back into use as a hotel will encourage people to stay in the city centre, supporting other existing businesses as our customers eat and drink out, and will create permanent, flexible, year-round hospitality jobs – creating long-term value for the city.” Around 25 jobs are expected to be created on opening, and the company is hoping to welcome its first customers before the end of 2028. The company currently owns and operates 11 Premier Inn hotels in Cumbria.

Company behind Shropshire hotel overhauls teams and introduces experience-led packages as it aims to turn around fortunes: The company behind the Lion Quays Hotel in Oswestry, Shropshire, has overhauled its teams and introduced experience-led packages as it aims to turn around its fortunes after a “severely challenging” trading period. The senior spa management team has been restructured while pay rates for spa therapists have been “enhanced” to address staffing shortages. The events sales team has been replaced while a specialist paid advertising provider has been brought in. Experience-led packages introduced include a family-focused stay package and the ‘Snuggle and Snooze’ break. It comes as the hotel reported turnover dipped to £6,439,762 for the year ending 30 November 2024 compared with £6,667,523 the previous year. Of the 2024 revenue, £1,936,592 came from rooms (2023: £2,026,507), £2,548,208 from food and beverage (2023: £2,502,175), £1,771,558 from the health club and spa (2023: £1,920,606) and £183,404 in other income (2023: £218,235). The business posted a pre-tax loss of £789,770 compared with a profit before tax of £648,885 the year before. Director Paula Walker said: “The year was a severely challenging trading period. Performance was further impacted by significant and unprecedented facilities failures and mechanical breakdowns for a second consecutive year. Ongoing water supply issues continued to disrupt operations throughout the year. The business also faced sustained challenges in recruiting and retaining suitably qualified spa therapists following the covid-19 period, which constrained capacity and limited the ability to achieve revenue targets. Concerns regarding website performance, particularly reduced organic traffic and conversion, led to the decision to develop and launch a new website to improve brand presentation and enhance the customer booking journey.” No dividend was paid (2023: nil). The hotel is owned by LQ Resorts, which also owns Langstone Quays in Hampshire and Ufford Park in Suffolk.