PizzaExpress launches third-off food promotion: PizzaExpress is running a promotion offering a third off food in its restaurants until Sunday, 27 November. The company has been distributing vouchers advertising the offer, which can be handed to a waiter at PizzaExpress restaurants to receive the deal. The voucher can only be used once but covers the entire party dining with the voucher holder. The deal is valid all day, every day of the week except Fridays and Saturdays. The offer is only valid when dining in, with take aways and deliveries not included. The only restaurants where the deal is not applicable are Ashford McArthur Glen, Brent Cross, Olympia, Stratford Westfield, Jazz Clubs, Baker Street, Fulham Broadway, 363 Fulham Road, 895 Fulham Road, and O2 Arena, Twickenham or Wembley when sports and entertainment events are taking place nearby. In late August, PizzaExpress reported like-for-like sales at its UK and Ireland restaurants were down 1.3% in the year ended 26 June 2016, which it said reflected a broader slowdown in the casual dining market. Britain’s pizza market is becoming ever-more competitive, with new concepts regularly launching and US competitors such as MOD Pizza rolling out sites in the UK. The vouchers have been included in the packaging of chilled PizzaExpress pizzas on sale at supermarkets. The company sells more than 30 million chilled pizzas a year and this week launched a new Artisana exclusive frozen range into Iceland that, it said, would “stand out in the frozen pizza category”. Peter Backman, managing director of foodservice consultancy Horizons, told Propel: “Horizons’ Voucher Tracker has been following the ups and downs of restaurant vouchers since 2009. Their use was ramped up as the last market downturn gathered pace and helped many operators weather the storm. As we approach another rocky patch, especially when competition has never been tougher, this latest offer is a sign that vouchers are returning to the restaurant sector’s marketing armoury.”

Slowdown in US restaurant visits ‘only beginning’, says analyst: The slowdown in visits to US restaurants is “only beginning”, according to BMO Capital analyst Andrew Strelzik. He said deflating prices, that have triggered challenges to sales and earnings at supermarkets for the past several months, are only now arriving at their counterparts in the restaurant business, suggesting a tepid outlook for the foodservice sector, particularly for casual dining spots. Strelzik added that restaurant like-for-like sales trends tended to lag falling commodity prices by about nine months, while the spread between food-at-home and food-away-from-home indexes shows a similar lag, reports Nation’s Restaurant News. Commodity prices have been falling for almost ten months, suggesting the pressures on restaurants are only beginning to arrive, Strelzik said. The casual dining segment showed the strongest relationship between like-for-like sales and commodity movements, while quick-service restaurants and coffee segments appeared most insulated from those trends. Strelzik said: “Over the past decade, restaurant like-for-like sales track with changes in commodities on a nine-month lag pretty closely, and given that we’ve been seeing accelerating deflation going back a ways now, we think that relationship is a big reason that restaurant comparables have slowed – and you’re really seeing that accelerate here into the third quarter, starting in July. We think this is driven by the interplay between restaurants and grocery, where lower grocery prices have shifted the value equation to grocers and away from restaurants.”

We Brought Beer to launch £160,000 crowdfunding campaign to fund two openings in 2017, aims to build 18-strong estate by 2020: London-based specialist craft beer shop We Brought Beer is launching a £160,000 fund-raise this month on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube to help fund two openings in 2017. Founder James Hickson told Propel that the company, which has sites in Balham, Clapham Junction and Tooting, aims to build an 18-strong estate by 2020. He said: “One of the main reasons we want to crowdfund investment is because we know we have a great bunch of passionate customers who love beer as much as we do and we want to give them an opportunity to own a part of our growing company, to be involved as much as possible. Without our customers, we’d just have a very expensive drinking habit, and we can’t think of anyone we’d like more as investors. We have an ambitious vision for the future of We Brought Beer, with our overall aim to become not just London’s favourite beer shop with stores across the capital, but the go-to place for all things beer – from bottles to cans and from merchandise and events to content. It’s our belief that We Brought Beer’s ruthless focus on this amazing product makes us well placed to be part of this movement.” Meanwhile, the company has won the Best Drinks Retailer category at the Retail Industry Awards. Hickson said: “It’s a great honour for our small company to be recognised in this way and I’m delighted for all my team. Everything we do as a business has the celebration of beer at its core and it’s great to have this acknowledged in this way.” The award follows We Brought Beer’s double win at the Drinks Retailing Awards in February this year, which included Best Independent Beer Retailer. The company has also been shortlisted for several upcoming awards.

Loungers closes Verano Lounge in Brighton: Cafe brand Loungers has closed one of its Brighton venues after two-and-a-half years because it “could not make the site work”. The company spent a reported £450,000 remodelling 95 Western Road before opening it as Verano Lounge in spring 2014. It is the fourth operator to attempt to make a success of the site since 2001 but, as with Greene King’s seafood restaurant Loch Fyne, Spanish canteen Pintxo People and the Rock ‘n’ Roller bar, it found the location too tricky to work. Loungers, which still operates Al Campo in London Road, Brighton, and Modelo in Church Road, Hove, said the main issue was the difficulty of making the venue work over two floors. Chief executive Nick Collins told Brighton and Hove News: “We are certainly not the first operator to not make a success of that site. It’s permanently closed as Verano. It’s being marketed and we hope someone else can make a success of it. Al Campo and Modelo both continue and trade very well. Here, we just couldn’t get it to work. We trade in all sorts of locations. The footfall was relatively strong, but the property being over two levels was a factor. It’s a beautiful building – it’s a real shame because we invested a lot of money, and the manager Amy and her team went to a tremendous amount of effort to make it work. All the staff were offered opportunities within the business and the vast majority accepted.” It is the third site Loungers has shut in its 13-year history, following closures in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, earlier this year and Formby, Merseyside, in 2015. 

Birmingham restaurant unit let to Turtle Bay sells for £1.18m: A restaurant unit in Birmingham let to Caribbean restaurant Turtle Bay has been sold for £1.18m. Birmingham Properties Group, represented by Savills, has sold the property to a private client of fellow agent Colliers International, with the price reflecting a net initial yield of 7.25%. Turtle Bay occupies the ground and lower ground floor on a 20-year lease from 2014. Located in John Bright Street, the restaurant sits within Birmingham city centre’s prime leisure area, in between The Mailbox and Birmingham New Street station. Birmingham Properties Group managing director John Tebbutt said: “This is an asset we have owned since 2006 and completely rebuilt following a large fire. Following on from the successful disposal of the upper parts to Easyhotel, we are delighted to have concluded the final part of the site.” Richard Fletcher-Brewer, associate director in the investment team at Savills, added: “This asset combines a strong tenant covenant with an attractive yield and generated significant market interest. We are pleased with the strong sale price achieved on behalf of our client.” 

BrewDog chiefs rename themselves Elvis by deed poll after Presley estate gets all shook up: James Watt and Martin Dickie, founders of Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, have changed their first names to Elvis by deed poll after lawyers from the Presley estate complained about copyright infringement regarding the company’s Elvis Juice beer. The company stated on its website: “Here at BrewDog, we don’t take too kindly to petty pen-pushers attempting to make a fast buck by discrediting our good name under the guise of copyright infringement. Unfortunately, it appears the late Mr Presley’s estate has got itself All Shook Up over a little beer called Elvis Juice. We recently received a notice from the lawyers of the Elvis Presley Estate that we were not allowed to call our blood orange and grapefruit-infused IPA “Elvis Juice”. We love Elvis Juice, both the beer and the name, and our customers do too! So we have taken the only sensible and effective course of action to ease their Suspicious Minds. As of 4 October our co-founders, James and Martin, have both legally changed their names to Elvis by deed poll. From now on, (they shall) be known as Elvis Watt and Elvis Dickie.”

Cinnamon Collection to launch Bazaar concept with Covent Garden opening, plans roll-out in London and south east: The Cinnamon Collection, which was acquired by Boparan Restaurants earlier this year, is to launch a new concept Cinnamon Bazaar. The Cinnamon Collection said it has ambitious plans to roll-out the Cinnamon Kitchen and Cinnamon Bazaar brands in London and the south east. Cinnamon Bazaar will offer an “accessible and relaxed all-day concept, serving modern Indian food with global influences”. The 90-cover, 3,100 square foot restaurant is opening in Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, at the end of November. It will span two floors and have a much bigger bar operation than its sister restaurants The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Kitchen and Cinnamon Soho. It will include a feature bar on the ground floor and a 30-cover private dining room on the first floor. Breakfast dishes will include traditional parathas, while small plates of Kolkata spiced cod and Indo-Chinese stir-fried chicken with chillies are options for lunch or snacks. Bigger plates such as chargrilled Chettinad lamb or Kerala boatman-style smoked haddock curry will also feature alongside executive chef and chief executive Vivek Singh’s quirky take on afternoon tea – High Chai. The bar will offer infused cocktails with a focus on gin and botanicals alongside non-alcoholic options such as lassis. Singh said: “We are delighted to announce the arrival of Cinnamon Bazaar – an all-day concept that mixes real Indian heritage with urban London. While identifiable as part of the Cinnamon family in terms of quality ingredients and bold flavours, Cinnamon Bazaar offers a more casual and fun format inspired by the colourful, bustling markets of India and the bazaars scattered on the ancient Silk Route, where ingredients and ideas were exchanged culturally.”

Gino D’Acampo and Individual Restaurants to open third My Restaurant site, in Leeds: Italian chef and television personality Gino D’Acampo is to open the third site of his fast-casual dining concept My Restaurant in partnership with Individual Restaurants, in Leeds. The brand is opening in the heart of the city’s financial district following on from venues in Manchester and London. The new restaurant in Park Row currently houses Individual Restaurants brand Piccolino, which is set to relocate to a larger venue in the city. The new My Restaurant will feature an open kitchen, a cocktail and wine bar, and an eat-at deli bar. White marble, washed woods and trademark green leather will be used for the interior of the restaurant, reflecting D’Acampo’s passion for his homeland of southern Italy. He told Insider Media: “After months of planning for the opening, I can’t wait to welcome guests to My Restaurant, Leeds. Every effort has been made to make sure our guests have a true Italian experience – we've got some great dishes for you to try. I’m looking forward to treating Yorkshire to a real taste of Italy.”

Liverpool-based Bistro Qui opens eighth site, plans to focus expansion on other cities in north and Midlands: Bistro Qui, the Liverpool-based restaurant company, has opened its eighth site. The company, owned by family members Mark Friend and Stephen Slate, has launched Peruvian street food concept Chicha in Bold Street on the site of the former fashion shop Ran. An undisclosed deal with Royal Bank of Scotland has provided Bistro Qui with funding to support the opening and refit of the new restaurant. The menu includes lomo saltado, ceviche, and quinoa and avocado salad, while Peruvian Inca Kola and the traditional purple corn brew Chicha Morada are available on the extensive and authentic drinks list. The company said that with seven sites now within Liverpool city centre, it now plans to focus its expansion across other cities in the north and Midlands regions. Friend told The Business Desk: “The restaurant scene is highly competitive at the moment, which has encouraged us operators to improve across the board. This is great news for the customer and exciting times for restaurateurs. As the demand for fresh and sometimes diverse food increases, the more opportunities arise for openings in different locations.” Bistro Qui has seen its turnover increase from £750,000 to in excess of £9m since its launch in 2003. Its other sites include Bistro Franc, The Hub Alehouse and Kitchen, Button Street Smokehouse and The Refinery, while it also operates Bistro Jacques in Liverpool and Shrewsbury.

West Cornwall Pasty Co rebrands Cirencester site, fourth to open as part of new dine-in concept: West Cornwall Pasty Co, which is backed by private equity company Enact, has rebranded its site in Cirencester, Wiltshire, as West Cornwall Food Co. The outlet in Cricklade Street is the company’s fourth high-street venue to be refurbished as part of the new dine-in concept. The site, which was closed for three weeks for the refurbishment, now offers seating for 52 guests over three floors, with Cirencester being the first branch to introduce “soft and cosy seating over all floors”, reports the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. A statement on the company’s website said: “Our new concept has been incredibly well received and we’re taking over the high street.”

Tasty brings Wildwood to Wales with Llandudno launch: Tasty has brought its Wildwood restaurant brand to Wales after opening a site in Llandudno. However, Tasty dropped its original plan for the venue to feature a 24-seat cinema because there was not enough space at the unit in Mostyn Street. Wildwood operations manager Matt Livings said Llandudno was the ideal location for the first Wildwood in Wales. He told the Daily Post: “Llandudno is on the up. There is the summer holiday trade but also a large community here that we think will enjoy what we have to offer. There isn’t anything like this at the moment in the town. The company has been going for ten years and has been very popular in the south east of England. We are now looking to expand in the north of England and Wales.” Wildwood currently operates 49 restaurants, with openings due within the next couple of months in Worcester Park in Surrey, Bournemouth and Edinburgh, which will be the brand’s first site in Scotland.

Pho lodges plans for Liverpool site: Vietnamese street food restaurant group Pho has lodged plans for a site in Liverpool. The company has applied to the city council to open the venue in Bold Street in the grade II-listed building housing Chinese and Korean restaurant Seoul Love. The application, submitted on the company’s behalf by agent CBRE, includes alterations to the exterior and interior of the property that are “sympathetic to the listed status of the building”, reports Your Move. The restaurant specialises in pho, the national dish of Vietnam, and serves other Vietnamese street foods such as spring and summer rolls, spicy salads, curries and wok-fried noodles, along with Vietnamese coffee and beer. The group, run by Stephen and Juliette Wall, currently operates 19 sites.

Fazenda team to launch rodizio concept Picanha in Chester next month: The company behind Brazilian chain Fazenda – City District Group – will launch all-you-can-eat rodizio concept Picanha in Chester next month. The new 130-cover restaurant will be in a 6,000 square foot site in Newgate Street, offering all-you-can-eat cuisine and a bar for 30 people. City District said Picanha would feature a smaller, less expensive menu than Fazenda and target couples, groups and families seeking a “stylish but informal dining-out experience”. City District Group founder Tomas Maunier told BDaily: “Our new investment, Picanha in Chester, is inspired by the prime lean cut of meat in Brazil. Brazilians pay tribute to this special cut, as it represents quality and great taste, with an outer layer of fat bringing juiciness and flavour. The picanha is only one cut of ten on offer, but it represents the real essence of who we are and where we come from, being Brazilian, unique and high quality. Our success with Fazenda shows us that South American flavours and atmosphere are really loved by a wide range of people in the UK, and we plan to roll out more Picanhas after Chester.”

Michelin-trained chef to launch American-style diner concept in Hastings: Michelin-trained chef Kurt Carrington is set to launch American-style diner concept Cowboy Joe’s in Hastings, Sussex. Carrington, who trained under Raymond Thompson at his De Flavas restaurant in Kent, will open the diner at Priory Meadow Shopping Centre, with dishes including his own secret recipe of pulled pork infused with slow-cooked Coca-Cola and barbecue sauce. The menu will include other diner favourites such as mac 'n’ cheese, burritos, and homemade burgers. Carrington told the Hastings Observer: “I’ve spent days and nights trialling lots of recipes. Apart from the fries, nothing is being bought in ready-made, it’s all handmade fresh to order. I want to give people something that’s competitively priced but homemade at the same time. I noticed there wasn’t anything really modern in terms of fresh street food available and I knew I could bring something new to the town. This is going to be our guinea pig and starting point. We hope to be able to branch out all over the UK.”

Greene King to reopen Peckham pub next week following major refurbishment: Greene King division Metro Pubs Company will reopen The Victoria Inn in Peckham, south east London, on Monday (10 October) following a major refurbishment. The pub, which dates to 1878, will retain original period details such as the horseshoe bar, while the guest rooms take a more modern approach with Scandinavian-inspired interiors. There will also be a private dining space for 15 and new food and drink menus, with a large range of craft beer, locally distilled spirits and organic wines. The 100-cover restaurant will offer comforting dishes with a twist such as miso-glazed rabbit, baked devon crab with scrumpy-fried oysters, and chater pie. General manager Joe Sheasgreen said: “We are delighted to bring The Victoria Inn back to its former glory as a relaxed and friendly pub. With 15 stylish guest rooms, we want to celebrate the vibrancy of Peckham and showcase the area.”

Former car worker opens third Papa John’s franchise in Nottingham: Former car worker Sukhy Bains has opened his third Papa John’s franchise in the Nottingham area. Bains will run the Alfreton Road site in the city with wife Kam Kaur. The husband-and-wife team already operate Papa John’s franchises in nearby Beeston and West Bridgeford. Sukhy Bains said: “Before joining Papa John’s in 2011, I worked in the automotive manufacturing industry. The credit crunch had made life difficult and we were looking for something totally different. A friend worked for Papa John’s in London and recommended we look into this opportunity. We did and were impressed with the company from the outset. The company itself is growing rapidly and this means there is plenty of opportunity for expansion too. Now we’ve tasted success, we aim to open two or three more stores over the next 18 months.” Papa John’s was founded in the US in 1984 and has more than 4,800 stores in 40 international markets and territories, including 300-plus in the UK.

MFA Bowl takes over Horsham nightclub and bowling alley: MFA Bowl has taken over Horsham Superbowl in the West Sussex town after signing a 25-year lease with Horsham District Council. The company will also run the nightclub, cafe and fully licensed bar at the venue in Albion Way, alongside the bowling centre and laser extreme adventure game. The deals expands MFA Bowl’s portfolio of “family entertainment centres” to 33 confirming, the company said, its position as the second-largest firm in the sector in Europe. MFA Bowl chief executive Mehdi Afshar told the West Sussex County Times: “It is an exciting time for us, having acquired 33 bowling venues over the past few years, and we are continuing to look at expanding our portfolio. Horsham Superbowl represents a sound investment with operational potential and we intend to continue to trade it as a family-friendly bowling centre, laser extreme, fully licensed bar, cafe and a late-night bar facility. MFA Bowl’s rapid expansion shows no signs of slowing as we continue to seek further bowling opportunities in the UK and internationally.” Ambar, which used to promote events at the nightclub, posted on its Facebook page: “We are looking for suitable units in and around Horsham where we can relocate.” Afshar said the nightclub would undergo a refurbishment before reopening.

M&B to open Miller & Carter steakhouse in Bristol next month: Mitchells & Butlers will open its latest Miller & Carter steakhouse next month, this time in Bristol. Work will start on the company’s Lamb and Flag Harvester pub in Cribbs Causeway on Monday (10 October) to convert the venue into a Miller & Carter steakhouse set to open in mid-November. The company is advertising for 50 staff at the new site to work in the kitchen and front of house. It is also on the lookout for any “budding bartenders who can shake up a cocktail and match wines to the perfect steak”. Miller & Carter regional business manager John Crayford told the Bristol Post: “Everyone who works for us is obsessed with steak and we’re keen to recruit people who share in our love for excellent quality – both food and service. We’re looking to attract applicants with enthusiasm to join the team and become official steak geeks.” Miller & Carter has more than 40 steakhouses in the UK and serves 12 cuts of Red Tractor Farm Assured meat, including rib-eye, fillet and chateaubriand. The closest Miller & Carter sites to Bristol are in Bath and Cardiff.

Sussex-based Half Man! Half Burger! to open third site, in Eastbourne: Sussex-based burger restaurant concept Half Man! Half Burger! is to open its third site, in Eastbourne. Founders Rory Myers and Matt Woodhouse are opening the venue in Grove Road. They told the Eastbourne Herald: “We are so buzzed about the Eastbourne site – another full-on licensed burger joint, located in super-cool Grove Road – same awesome burgers, same laid-back minimal vibe.” Half Man! Half Burger! operated as a pop-up before opening a permanent site in St Leonards last year. It also has a restaurant in Brighton.

Bone Daddies chefs release cook book revealing the art of ramen: Ross Shonhan, founder of Japanese ramen bar concept Bone Daddies, and head chef Tom Moxon have published a cook book that reveals the art of making, eating and enjoying ramen. As well as ramen recipes, Bone Daddies: The Cook Book, published by Octopus Books, also features photography by Paul Winch-Furness and specially commissioned manga-style artwork. Bone Daddies’ Soho site was a first for chef proprietor Shonhan, leading him to open in High Street, Kensington, Bermondsey and Old Street as well as Japanese Izakaya-style restaurant Flesh and Buns and Shackfuyu, which offers Japanese yōshoku cuisine. A new Bone Daddies site is under construction in Victoria, with more openings in the pipeline. Moxon became group head chef of Bone Daddies after a career at Zuma and making ramen in Japan.

Kate Moss’s brother reveals why he pulled out of permanent site for Vietnamese street food concept: Vietnamese street food trader Nick Moss, brother of supermodel Kate Moss, has revealed he pulled out of opening his first permanent restaurant at Boxpark Croydon because of “unforeseen circumstances”. Moss, who operates Vietvan at street food markets in London, was due to launch Viet Do An at the development next to East Croydon station, which opens at the end of the month. However, when the line-up of 35 traders was revealed this week, Viet Do An was no longer on the list. Moss told the Croydon Advertiser: “It is with regret that at this time we have had to pull out of Boxpark Croydon due to a personal matter in my business partner’s family. Boxpark has been extremely supportive, our relationship remains strong and we hope to work together again in the future. The Vietvan continues to operate with local businesses, markets and pop-ups and I remain a key advocator of Croydon’s regeneration and our local community.”

Harviestoun partners with Marriott Hotels in UK to create Oktoberfest pairings: Harviestoun Brewery has partnered with Marriott Hotels in the UK to create the “ultimate food and craft beer pairings” for Oktoberfest. Chefs at more than 40 Marriott hotels will pair dishes with Harviestoun’s beers, including griddled lamb and coriander patties with amber ale; pulled pork in a brioche bun with Schiehallion lager; and sole goujons with lemon and truffle mayonnaise matched with a golden ale. Sean Kelly, Marriott Hotels area director food and beverage UK, said: “We wanted to offer guests throughout the country something different to celebrate one of the biggest folk gatherings in the world, and what better way to do that than by partnering with a brewery as well-regarded as Harviestoun?” Toby Knowles, Harviestoun Brewery managing director, added: “Every beer has a unique style and finding the perfect dish to pair it with will only enhance the diner’s experience, so we’re delighted to be partnering with Marriott Hotels in the UK to deliver this.”

Manchester nightclub changes hands: A Manchester nightclub that has hosted an array of famous music artists, including The Smiths’ first gig in 1982, has changed hands. The art deco O2 Ritz nightclub in Whitworth Street West, which was built in 1927, has been acquired by real estate company APAM, alongside joint-venture partner NPV International (NPVI), from MCR Property Group. The recently refurbished grade II-listed venue has welcomed an array of artists down the years, including The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, and The Stone Roses. The Ritz is let to UK music and club operator AMG until 2036. APAM director Chris Taylor said: “We are delighted to have completed another acquisition in 2016 with NPVI. The Ritz represents a further addition to our portfolio of assets with NPVI, underpinned by strong, long-term property fundamentals. The asset is a well-known and successful venue in Manchester located in one of the fastest developing parts of the city. Our strategy of investing into regional commercial assets across the UK, alongside our diverse range of joint-venture partners, continues.”

Subscription cocktail and craft spirit company in crowdfunding campaign on track for 263% sales growth: Subscription cocktail and premium craft spirit company Tipple Box, which has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube to accelerate expansion, has revealed it is on track to achieve sales growth of 263% in its second year. The company, founded by Sonny Charles, is now offering a 13.79% equity stake instead of 9.64% as it looks to raise £80,000. So far, it has raised £27,320 from 105 investors with four days remaining. Charles said: “October brings with it the end of our second year of trading. We are delighted to announce that Tipple Box is on track to achieve growth of 263%. The marketing for the Crowdcube campaign has also directly increased subscriber numbers and we have now secured our highest ever number, surpassing 200 subscribers. All of this has been achieved organically, with no designated marketing budget. Imagine what we can do with investment!” Tipple Box has shipped more than £2,000 in boxes to date and eventually aspires to sell the company to a global drinks brand. 

Carling launches Official Premier League Pubs initiative: Molson Coors’ Carling brand has launched its Official Carling Premier League Pubs programme, an initiative designed to help publicans create the “ultimate live football viewing experience, second only to being at the game itself”. Official Carling Premier League pubs will be established across the UK as part of a partnership with the Premier League and Sky Sports. Participating pubs will benefit from varying levels of investment to transform their venue into the “ultimate spot to watch live football”. All venues will receive signs endorsing them as an Official Carling Premier League Pub. They will also receive point-of-sale materials and be included on the Carling Tap Pub Finder app. Carling will also provide new “speed-of-serve solutions” to enable venues to maximise revenue on busy match days and has launched app and web-based game “They Score, You Score”, with match tickets and pints to be won. Molson Coors customer marketing director Alpesh Mistry said: “We are using the power of our partnerships with the Premier League and Sky to bring the atmosphere of a live Premier League game to your pub. Ultimately, we want to give consumers a reason to choose your outlet over any other when deciding where to watch the match.” The first Carling Premier League Pub to launch is Greene King’s The Counting House in Leicester.

Alton Towers site owner makes successful share placing in bid to acquire 55 Travelodge sites in £196m deal: Real estate investment trust Secure Income, which owns the site of Staffordshire theme park Alton Towers, has made a successful share placing in its bid to acquire a portfolio of 55 Travelodge hotels. The total deal is expected to cost Secure Income about £196m but the new share offer will see the firm raise £140m from investors. The remaining £60m will be secured through a fixed-rate, seven-year, non-recourse credit facility from M&G. The company said it now expects to complete the acquisition on Friday, 28 October. Secure Income’s independent non-executive chairman Martin Moore told The Business Desk: “The success of this placing is a clear reflection of the expected accretive impact the acquisition of the Travelodge portfolio will have on both the company’s growth prospects and its dividend payments, which the board believes are highly compelling attributes for investors in a low interest rate and low-growth environment. The Travelodge transaction is precisely in line with the strategy set out at initial public offering of growing the company through acquisitions that are highly complementary to our existing portfolio – in this case the assets being individually leased on full repairing and insuring terms with an exceptionally long weighted average unexpired term of 27 years and with upwards only, uncapped RPI-linked rent reviews.”

Compass Hospitality acquires tenth UK hotel: Thailand-based Compass Hospitality Group has acquired its tenth UK hotel. The company has bought the 46-bedroom Best Western Plus Milford Hotel & Watermill Restaurant in Peckfield, Leeds, for a sum in excess of a £2.6m guide through agent Christie & Co. The previous owner-operator had run the hotel and restaurant for more than 20 years and was looking to retire. Ryan Lynn, Christie & Co associate director, who handled the sale, told Insider Media: “We are delighted to continue to help Compass Hospitality expand its operation in the UK having assisted it with other hotel purchases across the country. This shows that international operators are still looking at the UK as a prime location for investment and many have plans to expand their existing portfolios. We are continuing to see a strong level of interest in high-quality hotels across the north of England from a range of potential buyers.”

Speaker schedule for Propel Multi Club Conference unveiled: The full speaker schedule for the Propel Multi Club Conference on Thursday, 3 November at Congress Hall, London, has been unveiled. Operators of multi-site pub, restaurant and foodservice operators can claim up to two free places by emailing anne.steele@propelinfo.com. Richard O’Donnell, head of the leisure sector at Canaccord Genuity, will provide an overview of the restaurant sector M&A landscape, current valuations in the market and the do’s and don’ts when attempting to attract investment or sell a hospitality business. James Spragg, chief operating officer of Casual Dining Group, will give his views on how brands can be revived, majoring on a case study of how Cafe Rouge has been revived thanks to a focus on menu authenticity, investment in facilities and environment, staff training, and head office support. Fraser Bradshaw, partner at investment fund Imbiba, will talk about how it identifies opportunities in the market place, finds and backs talent, assimilates innovation from around the world, and its current group of investments – Darwin & Wallace, Camm & Hooper, Ruth & Robinson, Wright & Bell, and Casper & Cole. Ed Brown and Griff Holland, co-founders of healthy eating brand Friska, will outline the company’s approach to ethically sourced healthy food, service, its journey as a company from its south west base, and perspective on the healthy eating market. Christian Rose, managing director of All Star Lanes, will talk about the “brand’s revolution”, improving the food and beverage offer, updating design, the growing importance of “experiences”, market potential and expansion plans. Professor Chris Edger, the UK’s leading author on multi-site brand management and leadership, will draw on his forthcoming book written in partnership with Tony Hughes, eMotion – How leaders mobilise positive feelings in super-performing teams, to outline the “ten moments of emotional truth” of leadership that separate the best from the rest. Ian Leigh, managing director of Thai Leisure Group, operator of Chaophraya and Thaikhun, will share how the company is successfully retaining its unique company culture while moving forward its brands and rolling out eight sites per year. Brian Whiting, founder of gastro-pub operator Whiting and Hammond, will talk about the company’s £200,000, 24-hour fund-raise through Funding Circle to open its latest pub, partnering with pubcos, developing slow-starting sites to realise their potential, tikki huts, and menu evolution, including the introduction of a high-end smoker. British-born entrepreneur Jonathan Segal is founder of ONE Group, which operates the STK brand. He will discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with operating an international restaurant brand, with locations from Las Vegas to London, and Chicago to Ibiza, as well as regularly catering for the stars at the Oscars and Super Bowl. David Henkes, advisory group senior principal of food service insights and research firm Technomic, will provide insights on the hottest new concepts in the US, what makes them successful and their common threads. He will also report on which categories are performing best in the US market.