Sector like-for-likes up 0.6% in January, drink-led businesses to see further growth with recovery for ‘well-run, sophisticated restaurant brands’: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant chains saw collective like-for-like sales increase 0.6% in January compared with last year, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker. Managed pub operators were ahead 1.0% nationally, driven mainly by drink-led businesses, which are expected to see further growth. Restaurant groups across the country collectively recorded flat trading – up 1.0% in London and down 0.3% outside the M25 – but a recovery for “well-run, sophisticated brands” is forecast. London traded better than the rest of Britain in January, with collective like-for-like sales ahead 1.6%, compared with 0.4% outside the capital. Managed pubs in London were up 2.0%. “A string of site closures announced by some of the sector’s more high-profile casual dining brands has done little to bolster confidence in the sector lately, but these latest figures suggest that overall the market remains relatively stable – people are continuing to go out to eat and drink,” said Phil Tate, chief executive of CGA, the business insight consultancy that produces the tracker, in partnership with Coffer Group and RSM. “But that doesn’t disguise the fact the market is experiencing increasing cost pressures on a number of fronts and competition is intense. Consumers have more choice than ever. Brands that may have over-extended themselves are now feeling the pain. Nonetheless, January is one of the quietest months of the year and also one usually most affected by weather, so we usually have to wait until later in the year to discover any real shifts in the market.” Coffer Group chairman David Coffer added: “Notwithstanding an increasing number of disposals and receiverships occurring mainly in the restaurant sector, these Coffer Peach Tracker figures for January show a degree of resilience against trend, especially in drinks-led businesses. As it is traditional for consumers to seek such venues during a recessionary or challenging political and economic period, we feel this trend will continue and there will be further growth in the drinks-led sector and also a recovery in well-run, sophisticated restaurant brands. It is interesting to note the drinks-led businesses that are comparatively more productive are those that are managed. Some would say an ‘adjustment’ in the restaurant sector is overdue following a lemming-like expansion programme from London to the provinces over the past five years or more. We believe lessons have been learnt and expansion will possibly be comparatively slower but operators will be redirecting investment into quality products, service levels and value. There are still challenges to be dealt with, especially property rates and the stabilising of employment from Brexit-affected countries. It still remains a difficult period for the food and beverage sector but the outlook still remains optimistic and positive.” Total sales growth among the 39 companies in the tracker cohort was 3.7% compared with January last year, reflecting the continuing if much more subdued effect of new openings. Underlying like-for-like growth for the sector was running at 1.1% for the 12 months to the end of January.

Propel Multi Club Conference open for bookings, two free places for operators: The first Propel Multi Club Conference of 2018 is open for bookings. The full-day event takes place on Wednesday, 7 March at the Grange Hotel in St Paul’s, London. Multi-site operators of pubs, restaurants and foodservice outlets can book up to two free places by emailing Anne Steele at anne.steele@propelinfo.com. Speakers include Tim Barrett, travel and leisure analyst at Numis, who will examine the unprecedented current cost environment in the foodservice sector and the potential winners and losers. Ian Edward, who is leisure advisor to Canaccord Genuity and sits on the boards of Brasserie Blanc, Seafood Pub Company and Hippo Inns, will set out his views on mergers and acquisitions trends and the ten key challenges and opportunities in the sector. Jon Collins, former chief executive of CGA Group, who has returned to the UK after living in Chicago for two years, will contrast the US and UK markets and offer thoughts on trends and practices over there that could be ripe for adoption over here. Sarah Bridge, former Mail on Sunday leisure correspondent and founder of the aLadyofLeisure.com hospitality website, will offer her top ten moments of hospitality, experienced on her travels in the UK and elsewhere, which could be replicated by UK operators. Iqbal Wahhab, founder of Cinnamon Club and Roast, will talk about the genesis and development of his new US southern barbecue concept Atticus and give his views on how foodservice entrepreneurs can make a difference in their communities. Max Hilton Jenvey, global head of franchise for Chopstix, which has 35 outlets, will set out how the brand has evolved since its unlikely birth at a fish and chip shop in Camden, with a focus on its rapid progress in the past two years following simplification of its cooking process, international expansion and franchising – and future plans for new concepts, a breakfast offer in transport hubs, further product development and European penetration. Alex Salussolia, managing director of Glendola Leisure, will talk about the longevity of the company’s three-strong Waxy O’Connor’s brand, which was conceived 25 years ago and is still winning major awards, and the company’s expansion into restaurant and coffee offerings such as Bar & Beef and Gordon Street Coffee. Paul Wells, chairman of Charles Wells, will talk about making a “sea-change” decision on strategy in selling its Bedford brewery to Marston’s, developing a managed pub estate, partnering great retailers and developing a pub estate in France. Bob Ivell, chairman of Mitchells & Butlers, whose brand portfolio includes Miller & Carter, Harvester, All Bar One and Toby Carvery, will talk to Propel managing director Paul Charity about progress across the company’s estate as it evolves its offer. Nick Taplin, chief executive of Black and White Hospitality, will explain how the company is developing a 50-strong franchised restaurant estate in partnership with chef Marco Pierre White, its unique brands, its USPs, partnership model and future prospects. Meanwhile, Yasha Estraikh, of Piper, will report on the findings of an exclusive survey of UK foodservice operators, undertaken in partnership with Propel, in relation to the effects of the growth in delivery opportunities on their business.

Karma app launches in London connecting consumers with surplus restaurant food, forecasts £30,000 sales boost per site: Karma, an app that allows consumers to pick up high-quality surplus food from restaurants, cafes and grocers at 50% discount, has launched in London. The team behind Karma said the app could potentially bring in £30,000 a year per site from food that would otherwise go to waste and open businesses up to a new customer base. Operators upload a list of surplus food to the Karma app that customers can order, pay for and collect. Initially, the app is operating at 50 London sites including Michelin-starred Aquavit, nine sites owned by all-day French restaurant and bakery business Aubaine, vegetarian self-service concept Tibits, and six sites operated by Hummus Bros. Karma has 250,000 users in Sweden and 1,000 restaurant partners. Free push notifications are sent to nearby users when a sale starts. Karma founder and chief operating officer Elsa Bernadotte said: “The interest has been fantastic from day one and, with Londoners being environmentally conscious, great foodies and highly digital in their food shopping, we think it’s a perfect match.”

Industry bodies demand further clarity over post-Brexit immigration policy: The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) and the British Takeaway Campaign (BTC), an industry umbrella body led by Just Eat, have called on the government to provide more clarity on post-Brexit immigration processes. The move comes after the home affairs select committee called for details on a range of issues, including the legal status of EU and European Economic Area citizens in circumstances ranging from issues pertaining to the length of an individual’s current residency in the UK, the timing of registrations to remain in the UK, family reunion rights, and periods spent outside the UK. ALMR chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “The grey area regarding the rights and status of non-UK EU nationals and the post-Brexit immigration system is still too large. The government has made some steps to provide reassurance but employers and employees still need a great deal more clarity.” BTC chairman Ibrahim Dogus added: “The report underlines the urgent need for clarity on immigration for thousands of small, independent takeaway restaurants that contribute £9.4bn to the economy and support more than 231,000 jobs. More than a third of takeaway restaurants say they are unable to recruit the right staff, particularly chefs, front-of-house roles and delivery drivers. Many are anxious the situation will get worse – more than a third believe the UK’s decision to leave the EU will make it more difficult to recruit for their business.”

Generation Z holds key to romantic meals out: Generation Z holds the key to romantic meals out and brands should look to “build a relationship that lasts a lifetime”, according to Morar HPI’s Brand Vue tracker. Asked “what did you do yesterday?” on a daily basis during the course of a year, only 3% of respondents’ out-of-home evening meals were labelled “romantic”. The study found Generation Z is the group most likely to go out for a romantic meal, with Friday and Saturday evenings the most popular times. However, Generation Z’s average spend at restaurants was £16, compared with £23 among “empty nesters” and £19 by Generation Y. In terms of the number of covers deemed “romantic meals”, The Restaurant Group-owned Frankie & Benny’s, Nando’s and TGI Friday’s were the most popular destinations. However in terms of visit share, Mitchells & Butlers’ steakhouse brand Miller & Carter (10%), Greene King-owned Loch Fyne (8%) and The Restaurant Group-owned Coast to Coast (8%) skew the most toward romantic meals. A Morar HPI spokesman told Propel: “While Generation Zs are the most romantically involved but least likely to spend big, if your restaurant brand can help create magic experiences with them now, you could build a relationship that lasts a lifetime.”

Hospitality payment app Zapaygo closes crowdfunding campaign after passing £500,000 target for expansion: Zapaygo, a lifestyle and payment app for the sports, concert, leisure and hospitality sectors, has closed its fund-raise on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube after exceeding its £500,000 target for expansion. The app allows users to pre-order and pre-pay for food, drinks or goods before arriving at a venue or have them delivered to their table or home. Founder Richard Dilworth offered a 5% equity stake in the company, with 286 investors pledging £561,580. The campaign has now closed, with £126,000 as the largest single investment. The pitch stated: “Zapaygo has contracts with listed and large corporate companies to ensure it reaches millions of users and thousands of venues. Planned revenue streams are processing fees, marketing advertising discounts and rewards, brand placement, and big data. Benefits to businesses include less cash on site and an ability to offer discounts and rewards to encourage repeat visits. Benefits to users include using Zapaygo as an approved form of ID verification in venues through Paycasso, linking accounts with other Zapaygo users, and peer-to-peer payments and messaging. Commercial highlights include a key strategic commercial partnership that will deliver global brand awareness and trust, mass user and venue adoption, robust technology, EPOS integration benefits, flexible payment-processing with market-leading providers, revenue opportunities via ads and consumer trend data, and a scalable model capable of replication internationally.”

Heavitree Brewery reports turnover boost: Heavitree Brewery, the Exeter-based tenanted pub operator, has reported turnover increased by £144,000 to £7,299,000 for the year ending 31 October 2017. Group operating profit was up by £358,000 to £1,778,000. Adjusted operating profit before tax rose 25.21% to £1,778,000. During the year The Pen And Quill in Taunton was sold, generating a small loss of £5,000. Impairments on this site had been absorbed in the accounts of previous years. Since the accounts were finalised, The King Of Prussia in Bovey Tracey has been sold. It closed in 2009 with a small rental income retained from the letting of a flat – the pub will be converted into a community facility. The Crown & Sceptre in Newton St Cyres, which closed in June 2017, and The Kings Arms in Strete, which shut in September 2016, are on the market with sales agreed, subject to contract. Further improvements to camping facilities and caravan pitches have been made to the Dartmoor Halfway Inn in Bickington. The company said it had no further major developments planned for 2018, while the new year had started “satisfactorily”. 

Vivino wine app raises $20m in Series C funding for international expansion: Wine app Vivino has raised $20m in Series C funding to aid international expansion and technology innovation. The company said it had increased its user base from 13 million to 29 million since its previous round of funding in January 2016. The latest funding round was led by SCP Neptune International, the investment arm of Christophe Navarre, who is also on Vivino’s board of directors. It brings Vivino’s total funding to $57m since it was founded in 2010. Balderton Capital, Creandum, SEED Capital Denmark and Iconical, all major investors in Vivino, are also contributing to the round. Vivino said its sales in December 2017 were four times that of the previous December, with six new markets added. The latest round of investment will enable Vivino to further develop technology, invest in its team and expand to markets such as Hong Kong with a target of selling $1bn of wine by 2020. Founder and chief executive Heini Zachariassen said: “Vivino’s 29 million users are exploring two million wines each day on the platform. In the US alone, more than 130,000 wines are available for purchase through Vivino. As we continue to expand our e-commerce offering, we will maintain our leadership position by advancing technology that meets the needs of consumers and the trade.” Vivino was advised in the transaction by London-based merchant bank Dial Partners.

Stuart Inns reopens Cambridgeshire pub for fourth site with Greene King Pub Partners: Family-run operator Stuart Inns has reopened The Old Crown in Girton, Cambridgeshire, following a six-figure joint investment with Greene King Pub Partners. It is the fourth partnership between the companies – Stuart Inns, which is run by the Macmillan family, also operates The Hadleigh Ram, The Lavenham Greyhound and The Long Melford Swan, all in Suffolk. The refurbished Old Crown features a refitted kitchen, a new bar and an extended dining space offering a new menu. Greene King Pub Partners managing director John Forrest said: “We’re proud to have an excellent working relationship with Stuart Inns and delighted this continues to grow and flourish. This is a significant investment by ourselves and Stuart Inns and highlights our commitment to putting the best operators in pubs across the country.”

McDonald’s makes becoming ‘credible chicken player’ top US priority: McDonald’s has said becoming a “credible chicken player” is one of its top priorities in the US. Decades after adding chicken sandwiches to its menu, the company is making the push under its “Better Chicken” project, according to internal documents seen by Bloomberg. In a letter to franchisees, who operate about 90% of US locations, the company said it is aiming to extend a three-year growth run by being “more like Chick-fil-A”. McDonald’s has already taken steps to elevate its poultry offering, vowing to stop serving chicken that contains antibiotics and removing artificial preservatives from chicken nuggets. The company also rolled out Southern-style sandwiches and tenders, which are coated in a crispy buttermilk breading similar to Chick-fil-A. The idea is to build on that push and establish McDonald’s as a top-tier chicken restaurant rather than just a burger joint. “It’s definitely a transformational era for McDonald’s,” said Jason Moser, an analyst at Motley Fool. “Chicken is part of that.” According to estimates from the Department of Agriculture, consumers are eating more chicken than before. Last year, they consumed 92 pounds on average, compared with less than 57 pounds of beef. 

Incipio Group launches Hammersmith food hall: Incipio Group, the company behind street food pop-up Pergola, renowned for its rooftop venture at the former BBC Television Centre in White City, has launched Feast Canteen, a 350-cover food hall in Hammersmith. The venture has opened in the Kings Mall leisure complex offering a rotating restaurant line-up for eat in, takeaway and delivery options via Deliveroo, Hot Dinners reports. The first restaurants are better burger brand Patty & Bun, Vietnamese concept Salvation in Noodles, sourdough pizzeria Born & Raised, taco joint Breddos and rice paper rolls concept Sinchow. In December, Incipio Group returned to White City to launch Feast Bar & Kitchen, a 300-capacity restaurant hub with alfresco seating and a rotating line-up of street food vendors. The company is also behind street food festival Little Feast in Shepherd’s Bush and an 800-capacity venture at The Prince pub in West Brompton Crossing that features two bars, four restaurants and an “enclosed woodland pergola garden”.

Plans lodged to convert former Milton Keynes PizzaExpress to private members’ club: Plans have been lodged to convert a former PizzaExpress restaurant in Milton Keynes to a corporate private members’ club. Documents submitted to Milton Keynes Council revealed plans for a bar and fine dining facilities. In Tandem Resources, which is based at Elder Gate, has earmarked the former PizzaExpress in Midsummer Walk for the project, reports Insider Media. The venue would be “extensively refurbished” under the plans, which would create Milton Keynes’ first members’ club where “business people can bring clients to enjoy refined surroundings and fine dining”. The venue would be known as Alpha Club and offer different levels of corporate membership. The building offers more than 5,500 square feet of floor space over lower-basement, basement and ground-floor levels. It shares a courtyard with a Holiday Inn.

JD Wetherspoon gets go-ahead for Liverpool city centre pub: JD Wetherspoon has had plans to open a pub in Liverpool city centre approved only four months after its initial bid was rejected. In May last year, Wetherspoon announced plans to open a venue in former offices at Victoria House in James Street, opposite Merseyrail station. The company wanted to invest £1.9m in the scheme, creating 70 jobs. However, planners rejected the move in October fearing the proposed beer garden would disturb flats above. Revised plans for the beer garden now include a covered area and landscaping to a fence next to the flats. Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon told the Liverpool Echo: “We are keen to open a pub on the site and believe it will be an asset to the area and prove popular with a wide range of people, as our other pubs in and around Liverpool have been for many years.” The company’s other pubs in the city centre include The North Western in Lime Street and The Lime Kiln in Fleet Street.

Six by Nico to open second site, in Edinburgh: Glasgow-based Scots-Italian chef Nico Simeone is to open his second Six by Nico site, in Edinburgh. Simeone launched the concept, which changes the theme of its six-course tasting menu every six weeks, in the Finnieston district of Glasgow last March. Now he is taking the restaurant to Edinburgh’s New Town, where Six by Nico will replace the Passorn Thai Brasserie in Hanover Street. Simeone said the new venue, which is due to open in April, would be a similar “revolving culinary hub” based on “different places, memories and ideas”. He told Herald Scotland: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the success and appeal of our first Six by Nico in Glasgow and couldn’t be more delighted about bringing a new offering and dining experience to the people of Edinburgh. We feel we’ve created the perfect recipe for an exciting epicurean adventure, not just for our diners but our team too.” Six by Nico themes have included a modern take on the traditional “chippy”, childhood favourites, illusion, a forest, New York, and Disney films. Simeone also owns 111 by Nico in Glasgow.

The York Roast Co to introduce seating at Stonegate site as part of £150,000 revamp: Street food business The York Roast Co is to introduce seating at its venue in Stonegate, York, as part of a £150,000 revamp. The family-run business, which specialises in wrapped-up roasts and sandwiches including the YorkyPud Wrap, will reopen the outlet next month as a diner and takeaway. It will now feature seating for 30-plus customers on the first floor. In keeping with the building’s 16th century roots, the revamped venue will feature solid timber tables and chairs complemented by “natural, earthy tones” alongside a geometric-patterned feature wall. The York Roast Co’s other sites are in Low Petergate in York as well as Chester, Shrewsbury and Salisbury.

New coffee house concept 39 Steps launches in Soho: New concept 39 Steps Coffee Haus has launched in Soho. The 25-cover venue in D’Arblay Street roasts and grinds coffee on-site, with experts able to tell consumers the name of the farmer who grew the beans, which way the slope faced and how long the beans ripened for. Head roaster Jens Rettig buys beans from independent growers in India, Brazil, Mexico and El Salvador. The venue offers hand brews, cold brews, nitro brews, coffee smoothies and coffee milkshakes alongside cold-pressed juices. The all-day menu features homemade soup, salads, sandwiches and freshly made cakes and desserts.

Christian Guild Hotels puts two sites on market for £1.5m each: Christian Guild Hotels, represented jointly by Savills and Musson Liggins, is bringing Abbot Hall Hotel and Lindors Hotel to the market at a guide price of £1.5m each. Built in 1840, Abbot Hall Hotel in Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, provides 36 bedrooms in the main house, a 14-bedroom bungalow, five lodges providing 11 bedrooms and separate owner’s accommodation. The hotel also provides a range of business and leisure facilities including a restaurant, coffee shop and two conference rooms. Meanwhile, Lindors Country House Hotel in Lydney, Gloucestershire, offers 23 en-suite bedrooms, five separate lodges, three conference rooms and the 64-cover Stowes restaurant. Set in circa 24.4 acres of grounds, the main section of the hotel was built in the 1830s with the wing dating to 1660. Tom Cunningham, director in the hotels team at Savills, said: “Both are located in popular tourist destinations and benefit from a strong business and tourist trade, making them attractive to a range of buyers.”

Liverpool-based operators open second site: Liverpool-based operators Owain Williams and Chris Edwards have opened their second site in the city. Williams and Edwards have launched “neo-bistro” and bar Belzan in Smithdown Road following a fund-raise on crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. Belzan serves simple and seasonal food, natural wine and “killer” cocktails. Williams told the Liverpool Echo: “We use local ingredients when it makes sense, prepare all the cool stuff in-house ourselves, and buy from friends when possible. Whether we’re creating new dishes, mixing drinks or choosing guest coffee, people and produce are at the heart of everything we do.” Williams and Edwards also operate the Filter And Fox in Duke Street.

M&B named best place to work at HR Distinction Awards: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has been named “overall best place to work” at the HR Distinction Awards. The company’s apprenticeship programme also won the early career employment category during a ceremony at Birmingham’s Hilton Metropole. The awards celebrate HR strategies that contribute to outstanding business results. M&B’s HR director Susan Martindale said: “I am extremely proud of our team and the commitment from across Mitchells & Butlers in creating a great place for our people to work. The company’s Delivering Our People Strategy requires a huge contribution and input from the wider team so to see this recognised externally is both rewarding and a real testament that we are doing the right things for our people.” M&B was also shortlisted for awards in the employee engagement and experience, and leading transformational change categories.

Plans submitted for luxury lodges at five-star County Durham spa hotel: Plans have been submitted to build luxury lodges in the grounds of a five-star spa hotel in County Durham. The grade II-listed Seaham Hall has been in use as a hotel and spa since 2002. The venue has lodged plans with Durham County Council to transform a site to the north east of the hall that is occupied by grassland, a staff car park and two access roads, one of which is redundant. The plans propose changing use of the site for holiday accommodation including 20 bases for holiday lodges and four permanent lodges. The car park would be relocated to a plot of agricultural land to the north west of the hall, reports Insider Media. A heritage statement submitted with the application read: “There is a growing trend, nationally and locally, for the development of holiday lodge parks that offer luxury lodges for ownership and rent. Brexit and the devaluation of sterling have also created opportunities for the UK tourist industry, increasing the UK’s appeal to foreign visitors and supporting continued growth in the popularity of the ‘staycation’ among UK residents.”

Boxpark appoints W Communications as retained agency: Boxpark has appointed W Communications as its retained agency as the company embarks on its next phase of expansion. Following a competitive pitch, the agency has been brought on board to launch Boxpark Wembley and manage all communications for Boxpark’s sites in Shoreditch and Croydon. The Wembley street food and shopping destination is due to launch in late 2018 in partnership with developers Quintain. As with its sister sites, Boxpark Wembley will feature a selection of the best traders from London and around the world. The biggest Boxpark to date, the 50,000 square foot complex will also host a programme of original events. Boxpark chief executive Roger Wade said: “We are looking forward to developing the Boxpark brand further with the help of W.” Warren Johnson, W founder and chief executive, added: “Boxpark is a truly iconic brand with landmark status in Shoreditch and Croydon. We look forward to helping establish Boxpark Wembley as another great success.”

Carlisle-based operator opens second site: Carlisle-based operator Matthew Wills-Jenkins has opened his second site in the city. Wills-Jenkins, who owns The Currock pub in Boundary Road, has launched Mixers in Botchergate on the site of the former Queens bar. Wills-Jenkins told the News & Star: “Mixers is my first bar. I’ve thought about it for a while and I never thought it would actually happen. I got the name because we are playing a mix of music and there’s a mix of drinks too. I think Botchergate is a good place to be. Having the takeaways close by helps.”

Former VisitEngland executive acquires Lake District hotel: Former VisitEngland executive Philip Nettleton has acquired a hotel in the Lake District for £830,000. Nettleton and wife Charlotte have bought Rickerby Grange, near Keswick, from Des and Carol Taylorson in a deal brokered by agent Colliers International. Rickerby Grange was built in the 1920s as part of Rickerby Farm and offers ten en-suite letting bedrooms, a separate three-bedroom owners’ flat, gardens and parking. Haydn Spedding, of Colliers’ Manchester office, told BDaily: “Philip’s knowledge of the Lake District’s many attractions through his work at VisitEngland played a key role in their decision to relocate by acquiring Rickerby Grange. The Lake District continues to be Colliers’ most productive region for hospitality sector deals in the UK, with this being the latest of more than 30 sales in the past two years.”

Carling unveils five community projects supported by its Made Local initiative: Carling has revealed the five community projects it has supported through its Made Local initiative, which champions UK communities. The initiative was launched in May to support local community projects nominated by Carling customers as part of a wider campaign – Putting The Great Back Into Great British Pubs And Clubs – launched by Molson Coors two months previously. Made Local led to the development of a new print studio in Rotherham, an outdoor gym in Tonypandy, South Wales, a community hub in Goathland village, North Yorkshire that includes a link road, library, bar and cricket pavilion, and community projects in Padiham, near Burnley, and Pengam in South Wales. Carling brand director Miranda Osborne said: “We are extremely proud of the work we’ve delivered as part of our Made Local initiative. We recognise the value of supporting local communities because pubs, landlords and their drinkers are crucial to making Carling what it is. To see the tangible impact this initiative has had on the communities we’ve worked with has been fantastic. We look forward to supporting more local communities across the UK throughout 2018.”

Sheffield-based brewer lodges plans to convert former dairy into micro-brewery: Sheffield-based Holley Paquette Brewers has submitted plans to launch a micro-brewery at a former dairy in the city. The company has applied to Sheffield City Council to transform Unit 8 at The Old Dairy in Broadfield Road. Built in the 1920s, The Old Dairy was a milk and cheese processing plant that was repurposed into industrial units. The unit covered by the application is one of the original dairy buildings. The micro-brewery would be created on the ground floor and produce craft beer in bottles and kegs for sale to wholesale customers, Insider Media reports. A statement submitted as part of the application read: “The proposal to renovate Unit 8 of The Old Dairy for use as a micro-brewery is a sustainable use, which will provide jobs and increased business to the neighbourhood and beyond. The site has a history of food processing and manufacture, which is in keeping with this new proposal.” Holley Paquette Brewers’ directors, Dann and Martha Holley-Paquette, were previously behind the Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project in the US.

Kingfisher’s £25m Cornish holiday resort plans approved: Truro-based Kingfisher Resorts has had its plans to build a £25m holiday resort in Cornwall approved. Work is due to start later this year, leading to the creation of 200 jobs. The luxury holiday resort will be built on the site of a former caravan park at Carbis Bay, near St Ives, and consist of a 42-bedroom aparthotel, leisure facilities, and 130 villas and apartments. Kingfisher acquired the site a year ago from London-based property fund Frogmore Real Estates with planning permission for 123 holiday homes, of which 29 properties and the amenities building have already been built. Kingfisher plans to invest at least £25m to develop Una Resort and has already spent more than £200,000 to create Una Kitchen – a Mediterranean restaurant with wood-burning pizza oven. Kingfisher director Damian Sargent told Insider Media: “Una St Ives is in a fantastic location and we want to realise its full potential by creating a word-class resort featuring iconic architecture that takes its inspiration from the Cornish landscape.”