Foodservice price inflation flattens in January: Food and drink prices in the hospitality sector remained virtually flat in January, with month-on-month inflation slowing to just 0.02%, according to the latest Foodservice Price Index from NIQ and Prestige Purchasing. The deceleration follows a sharp festive surge in prices in December. Plateauing categories of the index include oils and fats, where prices dropped month-on-month. There was also a slight easing in the bread and cereals category and a complete flattening of price movement in meat and poultry, as demand cooled after Christmas and global supply balanced. The extreme inflationary pressures that affected the sugar, jam, syrups and chocolate and coffee, tea and cocoa categories throughout 2024 and 2025 have started to ease. Global cocoa futures have dropped to multi-year lows, driven by improved west African harvests and rising global stocks. However, the index shows inflationary momentum has not disappeared entirely. Seasonal and structural challenges pushed fresh produce prices higher in January, with fruit affected by high energy costs for glasshouse-grown berries in Europe and a 30% drop in Spanish lemon volumes. There was also seasonal tightening in some vegetable categories, though overall supply remains more resilient than during the same period last year. Meanwhile, the fish category is still under acute pressure, with cod prices at record highs due to severely restricted quotas. Shaun Allen, chief executive of Prestige Purchasing, said: “The unwinding of the cocoa crisis and the sharp drops in oils and fats provide much-needed breathing room for the hospitality sector after a punishing December. However, with fresh produce still climbing and foundational costs like energy and labour acting as a floor on pricing, true deflation across the board remains elusive.” Reuben Pullan, senior insight consultant at NIQ, added: “With other key costs like labour and taxation so high, there is no room for complacency on pricing and businesses will have to be braced for more volatility in 2026.”

Vagabond Wines MD Christobell Giles to speak at first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, open for bookings: Christobell Giles, managing director of Vagabond Wines, will be among the speakers at the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, which is open for bookings. Giles will discuss the resurgence of the business under the ownership of Majestic, how Vagabond has redefined what a wine bar can be – including its pioneering self-pour technology, developing the UK’s largest urban winery and how the business is looking to double the size of its estate in the next three years. More than 450 people are registered for the conference, which 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 tomorrow: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers tomorrow (Friday, 6 March), at noon. The database will show the details of 141 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 9,156-word report on the 141 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 experiential leisure sector such as Race Across the World, opening in Edinburgh, Bristol and York, new competitive socialising concept Gameface and Professionals at Play bringing Star Pins to Liverpool. 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.

 

Heart of London Business Alliance puts forward hybrid business rate proposal: Heart of London Business Alliance, the 500-strong multi-sector business membership organisation in the heart of London’s West End, has drawn up plans for what it calls a “hybrid business rate – a fair, modern framework that recognises the realities of today’s economy”. Writing in the Standard, the organisation’s chief executive, Ros Morgan, said: “We propose a modest levy of 2% on online sales, collected through the existing VAT system, to broaden the tax base and ensure digital operators contribute their fair share. This would enable us to retain a property-based business rate but slash it significantly to reflect its diminished relevance in a digital age. Such a system would allow cuts to business rates for hospitality and other businesses of 37%. This is not about picking winners or losers. It’s about correcting an anomaly that penalises those running high street businesses – including pubs, restaurants, hotels, theatres and galleries – while letting others get away with not paying their fair share. Importantly, the hybrid business rate would actually raise more revenue overall, supporting local services and the public finances. Our plan is already picking up broad support from business and political leaders across the country, and we aim to build a national coalition backing it. This is the courage we need to see from the government, which committed to real rates reform before the election. The time for temporary sticking plaster solutions has long passed. The resilience of any sector has its limits, and without a modern, equitable tax system, narrowing margins will squeeze investment, cost jobs and hollow out the places that make our city special. Let’s build a business rates system fit for the 21st century – one that supports vibrant hospitality, thriving high streets and a London that can continue to be the greatest city in the world.”

 

Tourism taxes ‘will hit city centre hotels hard’: Andrew Clarke, commercial director for Business Travel Association (BTA), has warned that city centre hotels will be hit hard by tourism taxes. The government is proposing to give city mayors and town officials the authority to charge a small fee for overnight stays that would apply to visitors staying at hotels, holiday lets, bed and breakfast, and guesthouses. Manchester already has an additional £1 fee on accommodation bookings, while Liverpool has a 1.6% levy on hotels, and in the south of England, Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch have a tax of £2 per room, per night. London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan is considering a flat rate of around £2-£3 per night on accommodation, while in Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow are introducing a 5% levy from 2026 and 2027, respectively. Aberdeen's tourist tax is planned to be the highest at 7% when it is introduced in 2027. Clarke said the levies will put “quite a significant increase on a corporate business's travel budget” and emphasised that such guests often stay longer than tourists. He said: “I think people will start to look at alternative options. Can I stay just outside the city centre and use taxis? If you stay just outside the ring road, there is no charge, and to get a taxi into the city centre will probably be £5-£10. So, if you've got a volume of room nights, and the impact of that is huge, then you are going to think about different alternatives. If the room rate is cheaper outside of that area, then why would you not move your business? This is not just about business travel; this is about travel in general.”

 

Two restaurants receive four AA Rosettes: Home by James Sommerin in Penarth in Wales and Sorrel in Dorking, Surrey, were awarded four AA rosettes at the AA spring update ceremony. Both restaurants have been upgraded to the higher rating, which recognises venues offering “a truly outstanding gastronomic experience that rank among the very best in the UK”. Home by James Sommerin was praised by the AA’s anonymous inspectors for its “family affair and welcoming space”. Joining it at this level is Sorrel, where inspectors commended the restaurant for its “first-rate seasonal produce, excellent technical skills and first-class presentation”. Meanwhile, The Tudor Pass at Great Fosters, Egham, Surrey, which saw its four AA Rosettes suspended in April last year following the departure of executive chef Alex Payne, was awarded three AA rosettes. Another 11 restaurants were awarded three AA rosettes, which are given to those showing “outstanding culinary excellence”. They were: Bonheur by Matt Abé, London; 74 Charlotte Street by Ben Murphy, London; The Cocochine, London; Loma by Graeme Cheevers at Cameron House Hotel, Balloch, Scotland; Li~Ly by Aiden Byrne, Knutsford, Cheshire; The Plumicorn at The Tawny Hotel, Consall, Staffordshire; Michael Caines at The Stafford, London; Morston Hall, Holt, Norfolk; Simply Wild Restaurant, Coleford, Gloucestershire; Sunlaws Restaurant at Schloss Roxburghe, Kelso, Scotland; and Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling at The Headland Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall.

 

Taster founder raises $3.5m to launch ‘real time data insights’ business for hospitality: Anton Soulier, early Deliveroo executive and founder of delivery-only kitchen concept Taster, has raised $3.5m (£2.6m) to launch a “real time data insights” business for hospitality. Soulier is the co-founder of Alpa, which enable sector operators “to base decisions on real-time profitability data rather than waiting weeks for the books to close”. The platform enables restaurant groups to understand gross margin, labour, overheads and profitability in real time, without bookkeeping, reconciliation or accounting workflows. The London-based business raised the funds in a pre-seed round led by Daphni. The round also saw participation from True Capital, 2100 Ventures, Firedrop, Oprtrs Club, Kima Ventures and Sonorcap. Angel investors include Voodoo founder Alexandre Yazdi and former Burger King France chief executive and McDonald’s Europe chief financial officer Jerome Tafani, who has joined the board. The funding will be used to strengthen Alpa’s core product and engineering capabilities. Soulier said: “Hospitality runs on thin margins, but financial visibility still operates on monthly cycles. That gap creates massive inefficiency and destroys value. Alpa is built to close it by giving operators real-time financial clarity so they can make decisions during the month, not after it. We’re not replacing accounting systems; we’re building the operational financial layer they’ve always been missing.” Taster operates more than 120 kitchens across France, the UK, Belgium and Luxembourg and is helping roll out SpudBros Express here.

High staff churn linked to seasonal sales decline: High rolling staff churn in the first half of the year leads to weaker revenue performance in the second half, according to industry-wide analysis from people and data specialist Pineapple, in partnership with AI-native workforce management software provider Sona. The two company’s 2025 H2 Insights Report, which analyses workforce and financial data from more than 35,000 employees across 75 national hospitality brands, indicates a strong correlation between high rolling staff churn in the first and second quarters and weaker revenue performance in the third and fourth. It found that brands operating with 12-month rolling employee churn above 66% in the first half of the year recorded an average -11.15% decline in location revenue in the second half, while more stable operators (66.2% churn) achieved 29.63% revenue growth per site over the same period. It said that this represents a 40.8% performance gap between high staff churn and low-churn operators. The analysis also identifies a clear inflection point. Every 1% increase in first half churn correlates with approximately a 1% reduction in second half revenue growth per location. The report also highlights a sharp spike in staff churn during the third quarter, with 12-month rolling churn rising to 75.8% and quarterly churn peaking at 20.7%. This followed a second quarter period where labour costs reached 35% amid mandated wage increases, alongside a dip in engagement scores. Although labour percentages eased to around 32.5% by year end, the data suggests earlier workforce disruption may have had lingering commercial consequences.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is looking for a head chef in south east London for a new central production unit. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role involves working with a Michelin-starred chef, supplying top London restaurants with high-quality mis en place, stocks, sauces and fresh pasta.” This Monday to Friday role offers a salary of up to £60,000. For more information, email olly@corecruitment.com

 

Starbucks – new UK licensing agreement will bring ‘greater transparency and alignment around where and how we grow’: Starbucks has said its new licensing agreement for the UK will bring “greater transparency and alignment around where and how we grow”. Propel revealed exclusively last month that Starbucks was reshaping its UK licensing structure after fears it had become too fragmented – dividing its UK operations into seven development territories. A new process is underway relating to the only development area remaining to be allocated – with existing franchisee Magic Bean set to hand over 19 of its 46 Starbucks stores to the new development partner before embarking on its own growth plans to reach 100 stores. Starbucks has now revealed more of the reasoning behind the move, which was shared this week at its UK store growth strategy forum. The company said: “Back to Starbucks means returning to the core of our brand. This renewed focus is already shaping everything from store design and food and beverage innovation to how we invest in our estate. And it’s also guiding how we grow – together with our licensees. Licensed stores are a vital part of Starbucks success. Across the UK, they already represent the majority of our estate, and they will continue to play a central role in how we grow. The new licensee model is designed to strengthen that partnership by creating clearer, more collaborative ways of working. At its heart is a shared ambition: sustainable growth that works for everyone. Rather than competing for the same opportunities, the new approach brings greater transparency and alignment around where and how we grow. It supports smarter portfolio planning, clearer market focus, and a shared commitment to building stores that are designed to succeed for the long term. This is about opening the right stores, in the right places, with formats that reflect local needs – from drive thrus and high streets to cafés that anchor local neighbourhoods.” Starbucks features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, while Magic Bean features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisee Database. They are two of six databases available exclusively to Premium Club subscribers. 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.

Chris Burford returns to Leon as CFO: Chris Burford has returned to healthy food brand Leon as its chief financial officer, in a move the company said, “reunited founder John Vincent with one of the key figures behind the brand’s growth” and is a “step toward building the leadership team”. Burford first joined Leon in 2014 as director of finance, following a spell leading the finance function at Wagamama, and over the next seven years, became a central part of Leon’s leadership team. Burford helped steer the business through the covid-19 pandemic and helped launch FeedNHS, providing thousands of meals to frontline NHS workers across. Burford also played a key role in the 2021 sale of Leon to EG Group, and following the acquisition, remained within the organisation and took on a senior finance role across the wider EG Group operations. He most recently served as chief financial officer at Boxpark. In his new role, Burford will oversee Leon’s financial strategy, as well as managing property and the commercial aspects of the supply chain, as Leon enters its next phase. Vincent said the appointment reflects a broader effort to reunite key figures who helped shape the brand’s original success. He said: “Chris was key to our successful growth to 2021. It is going to a pleasure to have my right-hand man back because of what he is capable of and because of who he is.” Burford added: “Even though I’ve been away for five years, my love and passion for the brand have renewed. To have the opportunity to be part of its future once again is an honour, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Six By Nico founder – new Lennox format not designed to be scalable: Nico Simeone, founder of Six By Nico, has said that his upcoming opening in Manchester, Lennox, is “not designed as a scalable concept”. Simeone will open the new restaurant later this month and replace the Six By Nico site in Manchester’s Spring Gardens. Inspired in part by the New York City scene, the business said that Lennox channels a “raw and open creative spirit where the kitchen sits at the heart of the room and the energy feels closer to a working studio than a traditional dining environment”. With a maximum of 56 covers across the restaurant and bar – including 18 bar seats and a six-seat Chef's Table launching alongside bookings – the experience is “deliberately intimate and controlled”. The menu at Lennox will be built around three core principles: nostalgia, technique and indulgence. Simeone said: “Each dish begins with something recognisable before being rebuilt with skill and precision, elevated without losing its emotional connection. The result is food that feels familiar at first glance but delivers far greater depth, richness and intensity.” Six By Nico currently operates 17 restaurants across 11 cities in the UK and Ireland. Unlike the growth trajectory of Six By Nico, Simeone is clear that Lennox is not designed as a scalable concept. He said: “Lennox is a new expression of myself, separate from Six by Nico. It is raw, vibrant and full of life.” He said he sees the restaurant as an opportunity to foster a “healthier, more considered kitchen culture, creating an environment that supports both creativity and people”.

 

Pret taking learnings from new format sites: Pret A Manger has begun taking learnings from the new shop format it launched last year, which features a more “family-friendly environment” including a play area for children called the Little Star Café. The new format was launched last year in Pret sites in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, and also offered fewer “grab-and-go” options in the hope of keeping customers in for longer with more space for dine-in guests. Pret’s franchise partners Hala Group (Maidenhead) and Joup Group (Dundee) operate these sites. Propel understands that the business has been taking some learnings from those shops to help inform some refurbishments or shop fit outs that it has been doing in other places. For example, the Little Star Café has recently been rolled out to a new site in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. At the same time, its shop in West One in London’s West End now incorporates some design elements from the Maidenhead/Dundee shop formats.

 

Joe and The Juice to add to regional presence with Reading launch: Joe & The Juice, the juice and cafe bar brand that operates 88 sites in the UK and circa 480 globally, is to add to its regional presence here with an opening in Reading. The company will open on the second floor of the Berkshire town’s The Oracle shopping centre at the end of this month. Jon James, the brand’s UK managing director, said: “We’re excited to be opening our first store in Reading’s Oracle, bringing the Joe and The Juice experience to such a vibrant retail destination. As we continue to grow across the UK, Reading is an exciting next step for us.” The brand, which will make its debut in Ireland, in Dublin, this year, last month signed a deal to launch in India.

 

Bingo club operator Castle Leisure anticipates further market consolidation in near term as it reports ‘positive’ start to 2026: Bingo club operator Castle Leisure has said it anticipates further consolidation of the market in the near term as it reported a “positive” start to 2026. It comes as the company reported turnover increased to a record £38,804,756 for the year ending 28 December 2025 compared with £37,136,548 the previous year. Ebitda grew to £10,365,512 from £8,334,650 the year before. Pre-tax profit was up to a record £6,513,629 from £4,800,309 the previous year. During 2025, the company incurred capital expenditure of £15.1m, inc-luding the acquisition of its first Scottish sites – in Falkirk, Glasgow and Irvine – as well as Barnsley in south Yorkshire. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “2026 has started positively, with revenue and profitability ahead of the strong comparative 2025 trading period. Cost increases will continue through the year primarily on utility bills and business rates, which will be impacted by the removal of relief and changes to rating valuations. The company anticipates further consolidation in the bingo market and continues to assess further acquisition opportunities. We continue to reinvest into our clubs and implement new innovations and technologies to generate operational and cost efficiencies and to drive long term revenue growth. This has led to an outperformance of the UK bingo market, with the underlying profit before tax 36% ahead of last year. Ten clubs grew profitability compared with 2024, with seven clubs achieving an all-time record high in profit contribution.” A dividend of £1,026,808 was paid (2024: £961,740). The company, which was formed in 1856 and constructed the UK’s first purpose-built bingo hall, operates 15 sites – eight in Wales, four in England and three in Scotland.

 

Boxpark hires Rob Cooper as new CFO: Boxpark, the Matt Snell-led business, has hired Rob Cooper, formerly of Chicken Shop, Sage and Talk Talk, as its new chief financial officer. Cooper, who will lead Boxpark’s financial strategy and support the company’s next stage of growth, joins the business after four and a half years as finance director at Chicken Shop, the fried chicken concept backed by Sir Charles Dunstone, where he played a key role in supporting the business’ expansion and overseeing its financial operations. Cooper spent two years as head of central finance at Associated British Foods. Previous to that, he was director of finance at technology firm Sage and held the same role at Talk Talk. He replaces Chris Burford, who joined Boxpark at the start of 2025 but has now retuned to Leon. Snell said: “Rob brings fantastic experience and a strong track record of supporting growth, and he’ll be a key part of shaping our next chapter. I’d also like to thank Chris, who has played an important role in stabilising the business and setting us up to achieve our future growth ambitions.” Cooper added: “Boxpark has built an incredible reputation and a distinctive offer, and I’m looking forward to working closely with Matt and the wider team as we continue to grow and evolve.”

 

Remainder of Eclectic Bars business acquired by Capital Corporate Events owner: James Somers, owner of Capital Corporate Events, which oversees white collar boxing events in the UK, has been revealed as the acquirer of the remaining sites in the Eclectic Bars business. Previously owned by the Brighton Pier Group, Somers has acquired Embargo Republica in Chelsea and Le Fez in Putney in the capital. Somers said: “We’ve relaunched both our Friday and Saturday nights at Embargo’s, with HQ Fridays for 18-plus and Reclaim Saturdays for 21-plus. Bringing in two different age demographics, these nights have taken off since the launch, bringing in so many new faces and old returners.” Propel revealed last summer that Brighton Pier Group had sold its Lowlander bar site in Covent Garden to Urban Pubs & Bars, resulting in a £200,000 gain for the business. Last September, Propel revealed that Joe Heanen, who once co-owned Luminar – at the time the UK’s largest nightclub operator – had acquired two Lola Lo sites, in Bristol and Reading, from Brighton Pier Group.

 

Bistrot Pierre co-founder named chair of Nottingham tapas group: John Whitehead, the co-founder of Bistrot Pierre, has been named chairman of the Perkins-family led, Nottingham-based tapas group which operates the Baresca and Escabeche concepts. Whitehead launched Bistrot Pierre in Nottingham in 1994 with childhood friend Rob Beacham and grew the business to circa 25 sites nationally. He left the business in July 2020, and spent three years as food, beverage and events project director at The Island Quarter in Nottingham. Jonathan and David Perkins currently operate Baresca in Nottingham and Escabeche in West Bridgford. Whitehead said: “Very excited to join Jon and Dave Perkins and the team to help them with their expansion plans for the tapas side of the business: Baresca and Escabeche.”

 

Sessions passes five million order-landmark: Sessions, the growth platform for original food brands, has passed the landmark of five million orders since its inception in 2019. The company said it has achieved this through a network of more than 400 delivery kitchens across the UK. Through doing so, Sessions said it has alleviated cost pressures for independent food businesses by expanding them beyond physical sites into a nationwide virtual brand via a delivery only model. One example is SoBe Burger, which has grown from a residency in a London brewery to become the fourth fastest growing burger franchise in the UK, serving 9.4 million burgers across 200-plus locations, with a 19% month-over-month order increase. Further to this, Mikos Gyros went from launch in late September to 100-plus live sites by November. Sessions founder Dan Warne said: “We want to champion new pioneers in the hospitality industry by partnering them with our network of delivery kitchens so they can expand beyond their physical sites. It’s a really tough industry to be in at the moment, but delivery has removed the four walls of the restaurant, and our model unlocks a whole new world of expansion for independent businesses. Delivery is an opportunity for independents, not a threat, and we want to support them.”

 

Cornish Bakery reveals site and opening date for first Welsh location: Fast-growing independent brand Cornish Bakery has revealed the site and opening date for its first Welsh location. The company said last month that it first site in Wales would be in Betws-y-Coed and would be its biggest every bakery. It will also be the first site under the company’s new “RISE by Cornish Bakery” concept, which will expand its traditional coffee and bakery offerings to include small plates. The company has now said it will open in the town’s former Alpine Coffee Shop in Station Approach, which has operated since 1976 but closed in January. Opening on Wednesday, 22 April, the site will seat up to 166 people inside and outside and will also feature The Hatch, a takeaway counter for customers who wish to grab and go. The company told North Wales Live: “At 2,500 square feet, this new design-led concept will introduce Cornish Bakery’s significant new brand extension, ‘RISE by Cornish Bakery’. The building was previously the Alpine Coffee Shop, a beloved fixture in Station Approach that has served locals and visitors alike for nearly 50 years. Now, Cornish Bakery is committed to carrying this legacy forward, being a positive addition to the village, listening to local voices and working to support the community spirit that makes Betws-y-Coed so special.”

 

Burger Boi makes Kent debut for 20th store: Premium smashed burger business Burger Boi has made its Kent debut for its 20th store. The business, founded by Surj Bassi, has opened at 10-11 Sun Street in Canterbury. It is a third opening of 2026 for Burger Boi following launches in Solihull and Hednesford. Bassi said: “To be in position to have opened three stores is an exciting start to 2026 for us! The support we have received from the local communities has been overwhelmingly and we are excited to see where our journey takes us next.”

 

Di Maggio's Restaurant Group opens second Sugo site: Scottish operator Di Maggio’s Restaurant Group (DRG) will today (Thursday, 5 March) open a second site in Glasgow for the Sugo Pasta concept it acquired in 2024. The new 160-cover restaurant will open on the former Zizzi site in Cresswell Lane in Glasgow’s West End. DRG, which operates 11 concepts across 21 locations in Scotland, said: “This launch marks an important step in our continued growth and reflects our commitment to investing in the city’s vibrant hospitality scene. The West End has a strong independent spirit and an established food culture, and we’re proud to be adding Sugo to that landscape.” In May 2024, the group acquired Enoteca Scotland, which operated the two-strong Paesano Pizza, and sister business Sugo Pasta, from restaurateur Paul Stevenson, for £13,179,281. Sugo currently operates a site in Glasgow’s Mitchell Street. DRG currently operates three sites in Glasgow under the Paesano brand – in the city’s Miller Street, Great Western Road and Pollokshaws Road. Last November, the business opened the first site outside Glasgow for the Paesano concept, at 77a George Street in Edinburgh.

 

Irish-themed bar concept Katie O’Brien’s to replace Peaky Blinders bar in Manchester: Irish-themed bar concept Katie O’Brien’s has secured a Peaky Blinders-themed bar in Manchester for its first opening in the city. Situated in Manchester’s Peter Street, Peaky Blinders bar, which opened in 2018 and was inspired by the TV series of the same name, announced this week that it was closing with immediate effect. The venue will be replaced by Katie O’Brien’s, which operates ten sites across the north and Midlands. The business is owned by the Newcastle-based Innvest Group, led by Gordon and Jonathan Codona, who are also behind the Innspired Leisure business in the north east. Katie O’Brien’s is also preparing to open in Barnsley’s Glassworks scheme, located within a former TGI Fridays unit that closed in 2024.

 

London Italian sandwich concept Dal Fiorentino to open fifth site for West End debut: London Italian sandwich concept Dal Fiorentino is preparing to open its fifth site – and first in the West End. The company, founded by Cristina Affortunati and her husband Andrei Bazavan in 2022, will this spring open in the former Made in Little France unit at 38 Westbourne Grove, reports Hot Dinners. Dal Fiorentino already has locations in Brick Lane, Fitzrovia, Holborn and Hoxton. In November, Affortunati told Propel: “We would love to open more shops around London, ideally expanding into new areas beyond east and central. There’s still so much potential for growth across the city – we see opportunities in neighbourhoods where people value quality, authenticity and a sense of community.”

 

Freight Island to make London debut in May: Freight Island, the entertainment and dining business, will make its London debut in May. Freight Brixton will bring a 1,000-plus capacity open-air food, drink and music destination to south London. Located adjacent to Brixton Village Market, Freight Brixton is set to become London’s largest rooftop venue – a culture-led space blending chef residencies, cocktail bars, live music, DJ collectives, food festivals, community programming and major sports screenings. Opening on Thursday, 7 May, the 20,000 square-foot venue will create around 50 jobs. Launched in Manchester in 2020, Freight Island is also set to open sites in Newcastle and Leeds, where the business has secured a partnership with Landsec to make the Trinity Kitchen space its fourth location, ahead of a £15m redevelopment of the food hall. Dan Morris, managing director of Freight Island, told Propel in January the business has "some great options in the pipeline to support our continued growth”.

 

East London operators to open third pub: East London operators Ronnie Finch and Jamie Tack are to open a third pub in the area. Finch and Tack are the co-founders of Taverns East Pub Group, which is also behind Leytonstone Tavern in Leytonstone and Tavern On The Hill in Walthamstow. On Friday, 20 March, they will launch pub and diner Empire Tavern, located next to Hackney Empire. Empire Tavern will offer a “carefully curated programme of music and events” alongside “casual all-day dining”, running from breakfast and lunch through to evening dining, pre-theatre and Sunday roasts. The evening menu will feature the signature Leytonstone Tavern burgers, while exclusive to Empire Tavern will be the Bone Daddy Burger, featuring smoked, braised beef brisket, confit garlic mayo, Guinness gravy, crispy onions and a hunk of smoked bone marrow. Snacks will include smoked ham and cheese croquettes with pineapple jam and mustard mayo, and house hash browns with Cacklebean egg and chip shop curry sauce. As well as hot drinks, there will be beer and cask ale. There will also be a large retractable door overlooking Hackney Town Hall Square, with alfresco seating for up to 50 people. The company said Empire Tavern is committed to being a fair employer, paying the London Living Wage. Finch is also a majority shareholder in East London Brewing Co, in Lea Bridge.

Former McDonald’s franchise consultant takes portfolio with the brand to three stores: Former McDonald’s franchise consultant Gary Blair has taken his portfolio with the brand to three stores. Blair, who only started franchising in December, has acquired the McDonald’s stores in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, and Toryglen, in southern Glasgow. He has worked for McDonald’s for 19 years in various roles including operations consultant, national training consultant, deployment consultant and franchisee consultant. Ffion Williams, franchisee attraction partner at McDonald’s, said: “I’m thrilled to celebrate an incredible achievement for one of our fantastic franchisees, Gary Blair, who has just added his third restaurant to his portfolio – all since acquiring his very first in December. Gary has recently added both the Rutherglen store and the Toryglen Asda store to his portfolio, marking yet another impressive step in his franchising journey. His drive, commitment and passion for delivering great customer experiences continue to shine through with every new restaurant. It’s inspiring to see franchisees like Gary grow so quickly and confidently.”

 

Green & Fortune secures B Corp status: Independent hospitality business Green & Fortune has secured B Corp status, which it said formally recognises the company’s long-term commitment to operating a “values-first business that balances sustainable growth with a positive social and environmental impact”.  The accreditation supports what the company said is an exciting chapter of growth, with £20m-plus revenue expected for 2026, up from £17.5m-plus in 2024, and the upcoming opening of four new food and beverage concepts at London Museum later this year. Emma Williams, director at Green & Fortune, said: “Achieving B Corp certification is a hugely important step for Green & Fortune. Becoming B Corp certified gives us a clear framework for accountability as we continue to scale, while staying true to our values.”