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Mon 28th Nov 2016 - Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Story of the Day:BHA – overseas leisure tourist numbers fall by almost 400,000: The number of leisure tourists coming to the UK fell by almost 400,000 in the first nine months of 2016 compared with last year, according to the first British Hospitality Association (BHA) Travel Monitor, with no sign of a post-Brexit surge in tourism. However, overall the number of visitors is up by 700,000, the increase coming from a 3.8% rise in business travellers and an 8.2% increase in people visiting friends and relatives. Year to date, inbound travel is up 2.6%, with 702,000 more people visiting the UK than in the same period last year but that has been driven by business travel growth. The number of overseas visitors coming to the UK for a holiday has fallen 3.5% so far this year compared with 2015. The BHA said inbound tourism remained weak, with 385,000 fewer holiday passengers year-to-date versus the same period in 2015. By contrast, outbound holiday passenger numbers continue to grow strongly – there has also been a 5.5% increase in the number of people going abroad in the year to date – suggesting a slowdown in the UK staycation market. A combination of lower inbound holiday passengers and higher outbound holiday passengers is likely to be putting pressure on leisure businesses, the BHA said. The BHA Travel Monitor, which will be published monthly and quarterly, also highlighted a year-on-year decrease of 0.4% in overall UK holiday spend by overseas visitors. In the first half of 2016, inbound holiday spend was down more than 5% year-on-year, with more recent passenger numbers suggesting leisure spend continues to be significantly lower year-on-year, putting the hospitality industry under further pressure, the BHA said. In contrast, overseas spend by UK residents has grown 10% year-to-date compared with the same period last year. BHA chief executive Ufi Ibrahim said: “We have launched The BHA Travel Monitor so we can provide, through detailed and structured analysis of passenger data, a true picture of hospitality and tourism performance. For instance, our analysis of the increase in the number of incoming people up to the end of September shows it is not because of more leisure tourists, which might have been the initial impression. There has been no post European referendum tourist surge.”
Industry News:Line-up for Advanced Marketing and Insights Masterclass revealed: The line-up for the Advanced Marketing and Insights Masterclass, in which Propel is partnering with leading sector public relations and marketing expert James Hacon, has been revealed. Hacon will share industry-leading marketing campaigns and activity from some of the biggest and best brands across the globe and share tips on how to capture ideas and apply this innovation to a brand. He will also share his strategy and direction for marketing at Thai Leisure Group, where he will reveal how it has refined and defined the Chaophraya and Thaikhun brands, developed the proposition, and delivered a research-based, award-winning marketing campaign. Charles Banks, of The Food People, will dive into the hot new concepts, foods and products in the international market to see what eating trends are shaping the industry, how the traditional business model is evolving, and how millennials are changing the models and concepts of the future. There will be a guided group session sharing best practice, seeking advice and sharing stories. Oliver Taylor, senior insight manager at Elliotts, will share the latest insight on how consumers are making decisions on where to go drink or dine out, what inspires them, how they plan and how they prefer to book. Cote marketing director Andrew Gallagher will reveal what’s on the top of his marketing agenda and what he thinks will impact this during 2017. Helen Baptist, senior vice-president of Fishbowl USA, will show how data can be leveraged to understand and better target customers to drive revenue, and shares top tips on data-driven wins. She will also share real-life case studies from leading-edge, fast-growing US concepts, including Blaze Pizza, Average Joe’s and Jamba Juice. There will be also be a panel discussion led by Hacon with Maxwell’s marketing manager Anthony Wright, G1 Group marketing director Lyn MacDonald, and Drake & Morgan marketing and sales director Pooja Sharma Jones about where they see success, their plans for the future, and other topics discussed throughout the day. The event takes place on Thursday, 12 January at One Moorgate Place in London. Tickets are priced at £295 plus VAT for Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) members and £345 plus VAT for non-ALMR members and are available by emailing Anne Steele on anne.steele@propelinfo.com
Next Propel Premium audio presentation to feature Living Ventures’ David Mansbridge: The next audio presentation sent to Propel Premium subscribers on Friday (2 December) will feature David Mansbridge, director of training and compliance at bar and restaurant operator Living Ventures, who presented at this month’s People & Training Conference. Mansbridge talks about the company’s approach to recruitment, people development, retention, fostering first-class service standards, and creating a unique company culture centred on its staff. Propel Premium subscribers also receive the Propel Blue Book guide to sector turnover and profitability. The Blue Book lists and ranks 200 sector companies by turnover, profitability and profit conversion. It also provides a five-year overview of profitability and directors’ salaries. The current free service to all existing readers remains the same, but readers can opt to upgrade to receive the Propel Premium service. Propel Premium subscribers will be able to receive the Morning Newsletter, which is sent at 6.30am each weekday, 12 hours earlier at 6.30pm the day before. Subscribers will also receive a copy of the Propel database of 700 multi-site companies, which will be updated every six months, and receive a digital version of Propel Quarterly magazine a week before publication. For operators, annual subscription costs £345 plus VAT, with an extra £50 per additional subscriber at each company. For suppliers, annual subscription costs £445 plus VAT, with an extra £50 per additional subscriber at each company. To subscribe to the Propel Premium service, email Anne Steele at anne.steele@propelinfo.com
Hospitality Jobs UK partners with Enterprise Inns and Star Pubs & Bars: Online advertising job board Hospitality Jobs UK (HJUK) has agreed a partnership with Enterprise Inns Publican Partnerships (the new name for Enterprise Inns Leased & Tenanted) and Star Pubs & Bars to launch an initiative aimed at finding pub tenants across the UK. HJUK attracts more than 10,000 daily visitors to its national job board and has initiated a bespoke click-through “micro-site” for leased and tenancy opportunities headed “thinking of running a pub?” The platform aims to attract candidates seeking self-employment in hospitality that would not have otherwise considered running a pub as a viable or attainable proposition. HJUK founder Dawn Redman said: “Our mission at HJUK is simple, to do everything we can to raise the profile of this tremendous sector and find great people who will be empowered with all the tools and knowledge to run a successful pub.” Matthew Ralphs, of Enterprise Inns Publican Partnerships, added: “Pubs can present a fantastic opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to run their own business, and we’re always looking for talented people who are passionate about great retailing. I’m pleased to be collaborating with HJUK and Star Pubs & Bars with a vision to work closer and share best practice, while recruiting these rising stars into the pub trade.” Zara Costello, of Star Pubs & Bars, said: “HJUK has given us the opportunity to try a new collaborative approach between companies to try to raise the industry profile and join forces to attract and recruit from a great talent pool.”
Speakers confirmed for Casual Dining 2017: Industry bosses from casual dining operators including TGI Friday’s, Mitchells & Butlers, Casual Dining Group, Bill’s, Wahaca, and Cote will be among keynote speakers at Casual Dining 2017. The show, aimed at multiple and independent pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, and contract caterers in the casual dining sector, returns to the Business Design Centre in London on 22 and 23 February. As part of the event Propel managing director Paul Charity will interview Mitchells & Butlers non-executive chairman Bob Ivell, while Peter Martin, vice-president of CGA Peach, will talk to Noble Inns executive chef Neil Rankin, who opened his whole animal barbecue restaurant and wine bar concept Temper in Soho earlier this month. Keynote speakers include Casual Dining Group non-executive chairman Martin Robinson, TGI Friday’s chief executive Karen Forrester, Bill’s chief executive Mark Fox, Wahaca managing director Jo Fleet, and Andrew Gallagher, group marketing director of Cote Restaurants. As in previous years, market updates and insights will be provided by Peter Backman, managing director of Horizons, MCA executive director Simon Stenning, and Kate Nicholls, chief executive of The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, who will give a comprehensive overview on the new regulatory costs of the National Living Wage, Apprenticeship Levy, and Business Rates coming into force in April 2017. Fox said: “It’s very important to bring all the key players, operators and suppliers together to spark innovation and to collectively address some of the macro changes that will mould the way consumers eat.” For more information and to register for a free trade ticket, visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk
Company News:Pub People opens 14th site with Enterprise as it extends partnership: East Midlands-based multi-site operator Pub People has opened its 14th venue with Enterprise as it extends its partnership with the company. The Six Barrel Drafthouse in Hockley, Nottingham, has opened as a coffee and craft beer concept following a joint investment of £275,000. The pub has been turned into one open plan room, with lots of seating and areas for board games. The pub takes its name from the number of beers on sale, with six craft beer taps on the back wall and six cask ales on the front bar. The pub also offers coffee from specialist roasters 200 Degrees. Pub People operations director Andrew Crawford said: “Although we already have 13 other sites with Enterprise Inns Publican Partnerships (the new name for Enterprise Inns Leased & Tenanted), this is the first pub we’ve worked on very closely to create a personalised offer for the local community. Our vision was to create a pub the local community can enjoy in a relaxed environment but also enjoy high-quality craft beers and ales, as well as a cracking morning coffee.” Enterprise Inns has invested almost £1m in its publican partnerships pubs in Nottinghamshire during the past year. Enterprise Inns Publican Partnership regional manager John Lobley said: “Pub People is a highly regarded operator in the region. It offers a very strategic approach, with everything from managed house expertise to in-house marketing executives on hand – we’re delighted to help grow its portfolio.”
Faucet Inn to start Babel bar concept expansion with Cheltenham opening, 16th site in total: Faucet Inn is set to start expansion of its Babel bar concept with an opening in Cheltenham. The company, which has a portfolio of pubs, bars, restaurants and boutique hotels, has selected the multimillion-pound mixed-use development The Brewery Quarter for its 16th venue as part of its ongoing expansion programme. The 5,000 square foot unit will become its second Babel bar after its site in Clapham Junction in London. Faucet Inn managing director Steve Cox told Insider Media: “The Brewery Quarter is key to our ongoing expansion programme and growth strategy for the south of England. The development is right in the heart of Cheltenham, providing the perfect location for Babel and helping us celebrate 16 years in the industry. We look forward to starting work and opening our doors in spring 2017.” The Brewery Quarter is a leisure scheme with a mix of restaurants, bars and entertainment, including an 11-screen Cineworld IMAX, restaurant brands Prezzo and Nando’s, Hollywood Bowl and Fitness First Platinum Club.
Multi-site operator takes on fourth Star pub as part of roll-out of new Irish brand Whelans: Multi-site operator Austin Whelan has taken on a fourth pub with Star Pubs & Bars and will integrate it into his new Irish brand Whelans. The Crown & Sceptre in Uxbridge takes Whelan’s predominantly Greater London estate to seven pubs. Together, Whelan and Star Pubs & Bars are investing £400,000 to transform the 1,600 square foot bar into a flagship site for a new brand of high-end Irish pubs Whelan is creating, the first of which opened in Neasden last week with a further two expected in 2017. Work at Whelans in Uxbridge will take eight weeks to complete, with the site reconfigured to create a traditional Irish street scene with shop fronts as a backdrop. The brand offers traditional Irish food and whiskies, alongside wine, craft beer, breakfasts, snacks, sports shown on nine screens, and live music. Whelan said: “Whelans will be very different to the pastiche Irish theme bars commonplace in the 1980s and 1990s. This new incarnation of an Irish pub will represent the very best of Irish hospitality and offer a great atmosphere and top-quality food and drink. In Ireland, working behind the bar is a four-year apprenticeship. You don’t get to pull a pint for your first 12 months. This level of professionalism and high standards will be core to our offer.” Lawson Mountstevens, managing director of Star Pubs & Bars, added: “We have a great relationship with Austin and are pleased to be helping him to realise his vision for the pub. He knows the area well as he’s made a great success of another Star pub, The Black Bull in Ruislip.” Costa Coffee to launch in-store cup recycling scheme: Whitbread-owned Costa Coffee is set to launch a recycling scheme across its stores that includes taking in cups from its competitors. In a move designed to reduce the millions of used disposable cups that end up in landfill, customers will be encouraged to leave or return them to a Costa store, where they will be stored on a bespoke rack. Costa’s waste partner, Veolia, will take them to specialist waste processing plants with the capacity to recycle up to 30 million takeaway coffee cups a year from Costa alone. Following a successful trial in more than 45 stores in London and Manchester, Costa will roll-out the recycling racks in its 2,000-plus stores at the end of January. Only one in 400 coffee cups are recycled in the UK because they are made of a mix of paper and plastic that is difficult to recycle, prompting calls for a charge on takeaway cups by campaigners such as celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Jason Cotta, managing director of Costa UK and Ireland, told The Guardian: “As the UK’s largest coffee shop brand, we want to make it as easy as possible for the public to recycle their used coffee cups. Our research in Manchester and London shows around 40 cups per day are left in stores, which means we have the potential to recycle 30 million Costa cups a year. What’s more, the fact that we will accept competitors’ cups means we could significantly increase that figure.” Innis & Gunn passes £2m mark in crowdfunding campaign, double initial target: Scottish brewer and retailer Innis & Gunn has passed the £2m mark on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube – double its initial target. The company, founded by Dougal Sharp, is offering a 2% equity stake in return for the investment. It hit its £1m target within 72 hours of launch at the start of November and so far 1,611 investors have pledged £2,024,170 as the campaign continues to “overfund” with four days remaining. The largest investment to date is £200,000. Innis & Gunn intends to double its turnover to £25m during the next three years and the capital raised through the Adventure Capital campaign will be used to accelerate its immediate growth priorities. Earlier this month, Sharp told Propel the primary aim of the fund-raise was to allow Innis & Gunn to roll-out The Beer Kitchen bar and restaurant brand, which it launched in Edinburgh in July 2015. It has since opened sites in Dundee and St Andrews, while a bar is due to follow in Glasgow, which will house the company’s first micro-brewery, before its first international venue in Toronto, Canada. The company also plans to expand beer production at the Inveralmond Brewery in Perth, Scotland, which it acquired earlier this year and is now called the Innis & Gunn Brewery. Production volume is forecast to triple in the next two years to 30,000HL. The company will also install a barrel-ageing hall and new filtration technology that will expand the development, giving it the capacity and capability to “brew some of the beers we’ve not been able to”. PizzaExpress to offer free snowball dough balls as part of charity fund-raise: PizzaExpress will be offering free snowball dough balls to customers on Tuesday (29 November) as it aims to raise money for charity. The company is running its third “Free Snowball Dough Ball Day” by giving customers who say “free snowball dough balls” a free portion to eat in or take away. It is asking customers to share pictures of themselves enjoying the dough balls on social media. The company stated: “A lot of our lovely customers have been asking when is Free Snowball Dough Ball Day? Well, the time to announce the date has come! Just visit any PizzaExpress this Tuesday (29 November) and say ‘free snowball dough balls’ to claim your free portion on takeaway (no additional purchase necessary) or eat in (with the purchase of a main course). We are thrilled to announce we are hosting the day in partnership with the amazing Macmillan Cancer Support; if you want to donate £1 in exchange for your snowball dough balls then we’ll be very grateful. Once you’ve picked up your free portion, please tweet/Instagram/Facebook/Snapchat us using #FreeSnowballDoughBalls so we can see your joyful faces.” Drake & Morgan opens The Refinery in Edinburgh, first site outside London: Bar and restaurant group Drake & Morgan, which is backed by private equity firm Bowmark Capital, has opened its first site outside London – The Refinery in Edinburgh. The all-day bar and restaurant has opened in the £75m office development at St Andrew Square and features a library lounge and al fresco terrace. Diners can choose from breakfast, brunch, set and all-day menus, while The Refinery also offers craft beer and cocktails alongside an extensive wine list. Drake & Morgan director of operations Dylan Murray said: “We are extremely excited to be opening our tenth site, in Edinburgh, where our founder Jillian MacLean has lived and worked. She is delighted to be returning to her roots with the brand she started in 2008! The new bar and restaurant will be an extension of that same brand but will have its own distinct personality and character befitting of its location. Edinburgh is one of the most exciting cities in the UK and our offering will showcase the innovation Drake & Morgan has become known for.” Drake & Morgan operates nine sites in London and will this week open another Refinery site, this time in Spinningfields, Manchester. In July, the company acquired London wine bar and restaurant operator Corney & Barrow Bars for an undisclosed sum. With the acquisition of Corney & Barrow, Drake & Morgan’s portfolio will have increased to at least 25 sites by the end of 2017. Handmade Burger Co lodges plans for York site: Birmingham-based Handmade Burger Co has lodged plans to open a site in York. The company has applied to the city council to open a restaurant on the site of the former Trespass shop on the corner of Finkle Street and St Sampson’s Square, reports York Press. Earlier this year, Handmade Burger Co co-founder Chris Sargeant said the company planned to add 15 sites to its 28-strong portfolio during the next three years. Sargeant launched his first restaurant with brother Richard in Birmingham in 2006 and now operates venues across the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire, the north east and Scotland, as well as sites in Manchester, London, Reading and Southampton. There are other sites in the pipeline for Bristol, Bournemouth and Grey’s Quarter in Newcastle. Daniel Thwaites opens £1m Yorkshire barn as ninth site for Inns of Character brand: North west brewer and retailer Daniel Thwaites has opened a converted barn in Malham, North Yorkshire, as the ninth venue for of its Inns of Character brand. The company spent £1m to convert the barn, which previously housed Edinburgh Woollen Mill and various craft shops, into luxury accommodation. The building had been empty for more than eight years but now features eight guest bedrooms, a communal lounge and dining area, drying room, dog shower and secret garden. In September, Daniel Thwaites united its subsidiaries under a single brand. Inns of Character and Shire Hotels & Spas were brought under the Thwaites brand umbrella, with a single website selling all guest rooms, restaurants, conference and spa facilities. The company said that as well as simplifying the brand for customers, unification would bring added staff benefits. Newport-based Niche Hospitality acquires fourth site: Newport-based Niche Hospitality has acquired its fourth site in the Welsh city. The company has added the Riverside Tavern, which will be renamed the Riverside Sports Bar & Kitchen, to its portfolio. Located on the banks of the River Usk, the venue is now set to undergo investment in a bid to give it an “edgy and industrial-themed interior”. Director Lewis Lewis told Insider Media: “We couldn’t be more delighted at taking over the Riverside. There will be no changes in terms of prices and we will continue to show a range of sport and retain the pool tables and darts. What will be different is we will be investing in the overall comfort of the pub, improving the exterior to improve its appearance and inside to make it much more comfortable. We will be creating an area specifically for video gamers, with large screens so people can play the games we have or bring their own to play against others in the pub.” Niche Hospitality also operates Mojo The FoodBar, Hide and Sea, and Dog ‘N’ Dough in the city. York-based operator to open third Thai restaurant in city: Komgree Santakollakarn is to open his third Thai restaurant in the city. Santakollakarn has acquired the lease of the former Nineteen restaurant in Grape Lane for the Thai tapas venture in a deal brokered by agent Barry Crux & Co. The building had been occupied by the same Restaurant 19 since the 1990s and was revamped in 2006 to Nineteen. It closed in August this year as the owners looked into new projects, reports The Business Desk. Santakollakarn also runs Thai restaurants Khao San Road in Walmgate and Rice Style in Bishopthorne Road. Jamie Oliver seal of approval helps Nice Pie to start expansion with second site: Leicestershire-based pie-maker Nice Pie, which was inundated with orders after its appearance on Channel 4 television show Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast, has started expansion by opening a second site. The family-run business was founded in 2013 by Katharine Walmsley, who opened a bakery, farm shop and tea room in Old Dalby, near Melton Mowbray. Business boomed after the company’s exotic squirrel pies featured on Jamie Oliver’s show, while its tea room was voted best place to eat in Melton Mowbray for its wide range of homemade food, including themed afternoon teas, and award-winning pies, cakes and scones. Nice Pie has now opened a second site in Melton Mowbray at the former King’s Road Bakery site. Walmsley’s husband Phil, who co-runs the business with Katherine and their daughter Aimi, told the Melton Times: “We had got to the point where we couldn’t produce any more at our present base. Moving into Melton is fantastic for us because it’s a Mecca for pie-makers. The Melton shop will be the main bakery site for Nice Pie and we will still run the bakery and tea shop at Old Dalby. Aimi has graduated from college in bread-making and will be making bread at our new bakery.” Manchester-based multi-site operator launches micro-brewery, bar and restaurant in Altrincham: Manchester-based multi-site operator David Vanderhook has opened a micro-brewery, bar and restaurant in Altrincham. Vanderhook has converted the former Altrincham Conservative Working Men’s Club in Greenwood Street into The Con Club, creating 40 jobs. The main ground floor hall – which formerly housed the Conservative Club’s lobby, members’ bar, function room with games area and changing room – forms the bulk of the dining space with an open galley kitchen, and a private dining and function room upstairs. It also features a micro-brewery and bar, reports Altrincham Today. Vanderhook also owns The George Charles gastro-pub in West Didsbury and Lime at Salford Quays. Sugar Hut opens second site, in Liverpool: Sugar Hut, the brand launched by The Only Way Is Essex star Mick Norcross, has opened its second site, this time in Liverpool. The three-floor venue in Victoria Street blends a modern British dining room, cocktail lounge and two clubs into one. It also features a private dining room and event spaces, an interactive photo booth, make-up and powder rooms, and 34 booths that offer phone-charging facilities and a personal Sugar Hut Honey hostess for the evening. Each floor features either live music or a DJ and there is a selection of club and events menus, worldwide wines, cocktails and drinks. Sugar Hut Group chief executive Terry Pullen said: “Our passion and experience within the hospitality and entertainment business has inspired us to extend our brand to Liverpool by opening a unique venue serving fresh food, quality drink and uplifting music in luxury landmark premises.” Last month, Sugar Hut reopened its debut site in Brentwood, Essex, following rebranding and a major refurbishment. Norcross said Sugar Hut would also open venues in Newcastle and Cardiff. Restaurateur launches curry and cocktail bar concept in Whitley Bay: Restaurateur Kamrul Hussain has launched a curry and cocktail bar concept in Whitley Bay after working in restaurants in London, Liverpool and the north east for more than 20 years. Hussain has opened Shampan in Whitley Road at a site formerly occupied by Italian restaurant Old Pane Vino. His menu includes the signature Bangladeshi Shampan Handi lamb or staff curry (slow-cooked lamb on the bone with onions, garlic, ginger and a secret mix of spices). The separate cocktail bar also offers mocktails. Hussain told BDaily: “We’re seeing lots of couples coming in to sample our cocktail menu. Opening Shampan wasn’t just about me achieving my dream, it’s about Whitley Bay and bringing people into the town. We’ve already had diners from across the north east, visitors from Scotland and we’re building up a great group of regulars in the restaurant and the cocktail lounge. We’re offering the best Indian cuisine with authentic flavours. We’re catering for everyone – whether you want a lounge table for a few bottles of bubbly, fabulous cocktails and sharing platters, or want to reserve a table for a business lunch or family get-together. We’ve worked hard to get Shampan right and turn it into a destination restaurant with a buzzing atmosphere.” East Midlands-based gourmet dessert parlour concept to start expansion with second site, in Nottingham: East Midlands-based gourmet dessert parlour concept Dolcino is to start expansion by opening its second site, in Nottingham. The company, which launched in Loughborough, has been given the go-ahead by the city council to open the outlet in Beastmarket Hill at the former TSB site, reports The Business Desk. Dolcino describes itself as a “gourmet dessert company and cafe inspired by Italian lifestyle and design”. It serves gelato-based desserts, coffee, waffles, crepes, hot and cold drinks, sundaes and shakes. Tortilla opens Bristol restaurant, 32nd UK site: Mexican restaurant group Tortilla has opened its latest venue, this time at The Mall shopping centre in Cribbs Causeway on the outskirts of Bristol. Tortilla has signed a ten-year lease on a 1,620 square foot site at The Mall, which opened in 1998 and houses 135 shops and restaurants. The new restaurant is Tortilla’s 32nd in the UK, with 18 in London as well as a branch in Dubai. The nearest Tortilla site to Bristol is in Cardiff. The Mall is owned by M&G Real Estate, Intu and JT Baylis. Other restaurant brands at the complex include Carluccio’s, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Nando’s, PizzaExpress, Pret A Manger, TGI Friday’s, Wagamama, and Casual Dining Group-owned Bella Italia. Michelin-trained chef opens fine dining restaurant Bilson Eleven in Glasgow: Michelin-trained chef Nick Rietz has opened fine dining restaurant Bilson Eleven in Glasgow. Rietz, who mastered his craft at the Michelin-starred, “best restaurant in the world” Hof van Cleve in Belgium, has launched the restaurant with wife Liz in Annfield Place in the city’s east end. Dishes include curried skink (a fusion of curry and traditional cullen skink soup), scallops with lemon jam and roe crisps, and whisky pannacotta with smoked apple and barley sauce. Rietz told Glasgow Live: “Bilson Eleven is intimate, informal dining, where our focus is always on quality rather than quantity. Our aim is to give exceptional food and service to a smaller-scale customer base – we want to make sure every person who dines here is given a unique experience.” Boom Burger begins expansion with second site, in Brixton: Boom Burger, the Caribbean-inspired burger restaurant founded by Joshua De Lisser, has started expansion by opening a second site, this time in Brixton. The Boom Shack has opened in Brixton Station Road featuring a cocktail bar offering Caribbean-influenced drinks, juice blends with tropical flavours, and classic Jamaican rum punch. There are morning and evening food menus, with sandwiches served in ciabatta or brioche, Hot Dinners reports. Dishes, available to eat in or take away, include Boom Cubano (slow-cooked pork and hot peppers) and the Boom Sarnie (Scotch bonnet chilli beef with bacon jam). Boom Shack is open from 4pm to 11pm on Wednesdays, 4pm to 1am on Thursdays and Fridays, 10am to 1am on Saturdays, and 10am to 6pm on Sundays. De Lisser opened the first Boom Burger in Portobello Road in Notting Hill. New Portuguese cuisine concept opens in Cardiff: New Portuguese cuisine concept Mãe Maria has launched in Cardiff. The venue is divided into a restaurant, taverna bar and deli and has opened in Cowbridge Road East in Canton. Tapas is served in the taverna, while the deli offers fresh bread, pastries, cheese, chutneys, cured meat, fine wine and port. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a focus on food from the Portuguese mainland, rather than the island, with “stews and lots of cooking from scratch”. The concept is the brainchild of Laura Da Silva, who is originally from Portugal and was pining for cooking from her homeland – “mãe” means “mother” in Portuguese. After studying in Oxford, Da Silva moved to Cardiff in 2007 where she worked for Portuguese bakery Nata, which has three branches in the city, before deciding the time was right to set up her own restaurant. She told Wales Online: “I couldn’t believe how big the Portuguese population is in Cardiff. I’ve met so many. I wanted to bring our food to the British but also to the Portuguese who want a little bit of home.” Merseyside bar opens that plays and sells vinyl records: A new concept, Bar 45, has launched in Southport, Merseyside, which plays and sells vinyl records. The bar and cafe has opened on the former site of The Little Gourmet restaurant in Leicester Street and offers live music alongside lager, cider, real ale and hot beverages. Customers can play vinyl records, covering a wide range of styles, on the venue’s record decks. The records themselves are also available to buy. Bar 45 states on its website: “We will be having many different types of live acts such as acoustic, open-mic nights, comedy nights, informative talks and creative sessions. The bar will provide a hub for many local art, craft and music-related groups.” M&B opens Miller & Carter steakhouse in Bristol: Mitchells & Butlers has opened its latest Miller & Carter steakhouse, this time in Bristol. The company has converted its Lamb and Flag Harvester pub in Cribbs Causeway. Miller & Carter steakhouses serve 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. Talking to analysts following the company’s financial results last week, Mitchells & Butlers chief executive Phil Urban reported that the company hoped to have another 48 Miller & Carter sites open by the end of 2017 to hit 100 sites in total. He said conversion to the premium steak brand cost between £600,000 and £700,000 but was producing a 40% return on investment in the case of the most recent 12 conversions. Mitchells & Butlers reported like-for-like sales down 0.8% in the year to 24 September but with improving trends – the first eight weeks of the current financial year have seen like-for-likes up by 0.5%. The company reported total sales of £2,086m (FY2015: £2,101m) and profit before tax of £94m (FY2015: £126m). A total of £167m (FY 2015: £162m) was spent on capital investment, including eight new openings and 252 conversions and remodels across its portfolio. Greene King scoops apprenticeship award: Brewer and retailer Greene King has scooped the best apprenticeship strategy category at the Springboard Awards for Excellence. The awards, which reward inspirational people, organisations and initiatives in the hospitality sector, recognised Greene King for its excellence in recruitment and development of apprentices. Since 2011, Greene King has supported more than 8,700 apprentices and offers bespoke qualifications that support a range of roles, including front of house, kitchen and management tailored to each Greene King pub and restaurant brand. Greene King chief executive Rooney Anand said: “Apprenticeships are something we are really passionate about and our scheme has proven a real success for us. We want to support our team members’ career paths and their progression within the company, and we are proud our apprenticeship programme supports us to achieve these goals.” Schroder appoints Savills as joint leasing agents at Cardiff Bay leisure complex: Schroder UK Real Estate Fund has appointed Savills as joint leasing agents at Mermaid Quay, the mixed-use leisure complex on Cardiff Bay waterfront. Savills joins agents Philip Hughes Davies and Reid Rose Gregory at the scheme. The 150,000 square foot (13,935 square metre) destination opened in 1999 and is home to more than 30 restaurants, cafes and bars, including Bill’s, Carluccio’s, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Azzurri Group-owned Zizzi, and Wagamama. There is also a mix of retailers alongside live comedy venue The Glee Club. Mermaid Quay is less than two kilometres from Cardiff city centre and attracts more than 5.3 million people a year. Chris O’Mahony, director in the retail team at Savills, said: “We are delighted to be appointed as joint leasing agents at Mermaid Quay. Its unique mix of restaurants, bars and boutique shopping has ensured its reputation as a ‘must visit’ destination in Cardiff.”
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