Patisserie Valerie to shut 70 sites following administration, resulting in 'significant' number of redundancies: Patisserie Valerie is to shut 70 of its 200-odd sites, resulting in a "significant number of redundancies" after its parent company went into administration on Tuesday (22 January). Blair Nimmo and David Costley-Wood, of KPMG, have been appointed as joint administrators to Patisserie Holdings. At the same time, Costley-Wood and Will Wright have been appointed joint administrators to subsidiaries Patisserie Acquisition, Stonebeach, Philpotts and Flour Power City. The joint administrators will continue to trade 121 stores while they assess options for the business, including exploring the possibility of a sale as a going concern. The administrators have retained the management team under its new chief executive Steve Francis, to assist with this process. However, a total of 70 stores and concessions will close, which will "regrettably result in a significant number of redundancies". The joint administrators will provide further details regarding those outlets that will be affected by closure in the next 24 hours. Nimmo said: “Our intention is to continue trading across the profitable stores, as collectively, the brands have a strong presence on the high street and have proven very popular with consumers. At the same time, we will be seeking a buyer for the business and are hopeful of a good level of interest. Unfortunately, however, we have had to take the difficult decision to close 70 stores resulting in a significant number of redundancies. We will be working with those affected employees, providing all support and assistance they need.” Patisserie Holdings made the decision to go into administration after discussions with its lenders HSBC and Barclays to extend a standstill agreement on its debts came to nothing. Chairman Luke Johnson has extended an unsecured, interest-free loan of £3m to help ensure the January wages are paid to all staff. Last week, Patisserie Holdings revealed KPMG had been hired to carry out a review of all options following the accounting scandal that pushed it close to collapse last year. It unveiled the "devastating" extent of irregularities in its books, which included thousands of false entries into the company's ledgers. Patisserie Holdings said an initial investigation pointed to cash flow and profitability being worse than previously thought when a £40m black hole was first discovered in October. At the time, the company stated the company had a net debt position of £9.8m, rather than the £28m of net cash announced at the end of March. The company also said at the time it expected sales of about £120m and Ebitda of £12m for the year to September 2019. Trading in shares of Patisserie Holdings was suspended when the "significant, potentially fraudulent" accounting irregularities were first discovered. Following the company's administration, Canaccord Genuity has by mutual agreement resigned as nominated adviser and broker to Patisserie Holdings with immediate effect. Former finance director Chris Marsh being subsequently arrested and released amid a Serious Fraud Office investigation. Grant Thornton, which had overseen Patisserie's books since 2006, is the subject of a Financial Reporting Council inquiry for its handling of the contract. Ironically, KPMG's latest fraud barometer showed the number of alleged fraud cases, with losses of £100,000 or more, reaching courts in the UK in 2018 rose by 78%, with 453 cases totalling a value of £1.2bn. The barometer included one supercase – a case greater than £50m – but there were a large volume of smaller value cases between £10m and £50m – the bracket Patisserie Holdings appears to fall into – covering a broad sweep of areas such as evasion of duty, VAT fraud, investment fraud, loans and mortgages, counterfeit goods, pensions and social benefits.

Propel Multi Club Conference open for bookings, two free places for operators, Martin Hayes to present: The first Propel Multi Club Conference of 2019 is open for bookings. The full-day event takes place on Thursday, 7 March at the Millennium Gloucester hotel in London. Martin Hayes, co-founder of Craft Beer Co, will talk about the creation and development of his brand, offering market-leading variety in craft beer and “old-school pub values”. 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

Scottish on-trade continues to grow with operators showing increased optimism despite Brexit impact: The Scottish on-trade has continued to show an increase in growth although Brexit is having an impact with fewer bookings and the loss of staff. The Christmas/New Year On-trade Market Review by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) showed almost half (48%) were in growth, versus 39% at the end of 2017 and 28% at the end of 2016. Christmas trading also looked positive versus the full-year trend. More than two-thirds (69%) of outlets were either growing or stable during the festive period, versus 59% for the calendar year 2018. The report, sponsored by KPMG, also revealed increased optimism among operators. At the end of 2018, almost three-fifths (59%) were growing or stable, with the equivalent expected figure for 2019 at almost two-thirds (66%). However, less than one-fifth (17%) of hospitality outlets in Scotland said they had already seen a negative impact from Brexit with fewer bookings and loss of staff. Two-fifths (40%) expect loss of staff, while almost two-thirds (65%) expect wider staffing issues to continue. SLTA managing director Colin Wilkinson said: “After a number of years of decline our summer report indicated a recovering market and this trend has continued over the festive period. Key performance drivers included sourced gin and beer, while our industry also benefited from embracing digital trends. However, there are concerns, particularly around Brexit and in rural outlets, where pubs are critical to the community and key employers. Within rural pubs more than 20% are in serious decline. Looking forward, we anticipate a continued recovery in 2019 with the growth led by food, online bookings and locally sourced gin and beer.’’ Alistair McAlinden, head of hospitality and leisure for KPMG in Scotland, added: “It is heartening to see continuing signs of growth in the sector and Christmas trading appears to have been particularly positive. Clearly trading conditions remain challenging for out-of-town operators. Notwithstanding Brexit concerns, cautious optimism is continuing to build among operators, with two-thirds of respondents indicating they expect stability or growth in the year ahead. To achieve this, a focus on the customer experience, relevance and variety of offering, and digital capability will remain key factors during 2019 and beyond.”

Just Eat buys Flyt for £22m: Online food delivery business Just Eat has acquired the remaining outstanding share capital of Flyt for £22m from existing investors, including Time Out and Entree Capital. Flyt is a software platform that helps restaurant groups and suppliers integrate their point-of-sale systems globally with third-party services, removing the need for manual restaurant processes, reducing driver waiting times in restaurants and eliminating human error in order processing. Founded in 2013, Flyt works with more than 3,000 quick service and branded restaurants including KFC, Tim Hortons, Mitchells & Butlers, PizzaExpress and Nando’s. Flyt will continue to operate as a standalone platform and brand. Its founders, Tom Weaver and Chris Evans, will still lead the business and become an “important part” of the wider Just Eat Group, helping more than 100,000 restaurant partners serve more than 25 million customers globally. Just Eat is a current customer of Flyt and became a minority shareholder in the company in 2016 with an 8% stake. Just Eat said the acquisition enabled it to accelerate the development of Flyt’s technology and offer Flyt’s services to more of its restaurant partners.  It will also help Just Eat’s ambition to work with a much wider range of quick service restaurants and branded retail groups in the UK and globally. The consideration of £22m was paid using existing cash resources. A further cash consideration may also be payable subject to certain operational and financial criteria being met during the next three years. Time Out received £9.6m for its stake, a £4.5m profit on the investment it made in 2015. Time Out will use the proceeds to invest in one of its top strategic priorities – the global roll-out of Time Out Market following the success of its debut site in Lisbon, which attracted 3.6 million visitors in 2017. Peter Duffy, interim chief executive of Just Eat, said: “Bringing Flyt into our group will accelerate the take-up of these services around the world and allow the Flyt team to innovate with new and exciting technology solutions for the industry. We’ve admired Flyt for some time and have been hugely impressed by its technology. Integration between Just Eat and our restaurant partners is a critical component to providing world-class food delivery services.” Weaver added: “We have worked with Just Eat closely since it became an investor and customer in 2016 and have been continually impressed with Just Eat’s vision of the future. Flyt plays an essential role in accelerating the adoption of restaurant technology and the acquisition enables us to take our integration capabilities and platform to a wider audience of restaurants, technology partners and point-of-sale providers, faster. While we will continue to operate as an independent business and standalone platform serving all our customers, it’s exciting to have the financial security and stability from Just Eat to now deliver on our vision for Flyt.”

UKHospitality sounds warning over labour shortages: Sector businesses need access to labour to keep pace with projected growth, UKHospitality has warned. The call follows news that UK employment has reached a record high of 32.5 million. With levels of employment historically high, UKHospitality has said businesses are concerned about their ability to access labour and fill vacancies, an issue that is likely to worsen if migration is seriously reduced following Brexit. Chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “Historically high employment is driving labour shortages in sectors such as hospitality. Our members are reporting they are finding it increasingly difficult to fill vacancies. Businesses are concerned they will be unable to find the employees they need to continue to grow. This is only going to be exacerbated if the government continues down the path of seriously restricting migration post-Brexit. We need a future immigration system that meets the needs of the UK economy, not one based on inflexible ideology. We need workers from the EU to bolster our home-grown workforce and keep pace with growth, particularly with unemployment historically low. According to the new data, wage rates are growing on average by 3.3% but wage rates in the sector are growing even faster. The sector is working hard to fill vacancies and invest in their domestic workforces but their efforts will be undermined if there simply aren’t enough bodies to fill empty roles. Undermining hospitality businesses’ ability to invest and grow is only going to have a negative effect on the high street. Ultimately, customers are going to feel this knock-on effect if high-street businesses are destabilised and unable to hire and grow.” Meanwhile, UKHospitality is urging the sector to promote careers in hospitality with less than one month to go until Hospitality Works 2019. The event, led by UKHospitality, the Department for Work and Pensions, Jobcentre Plus, Springboard and the British Beer and Pub Association, highlights the benefits of a career in the sector. Nicholls said: “A large number of leading businesses have already signed up but we need the entire sector to come together, as it has previously, to promote the great work we do and secure the future hospitality workforce.” Click here to find out how to get involved. 

Tea value to UK foodservice market grows 13.6%: The value of tea within the UK foodservice market is increasing, with 13.6% growth between 2015 and 2017, according to a study by tea brand Tetley. The Tea Report revealed consumers are choosing to spend money on more “luxurious” types of tea, with an increase in awareness of a wider range of brands and flavours outside the home. Looking at trends for 2019, the report predicted demand for food and drinks with enhanced health benefits would grow 5.5% annually up to 2022. A new generation of tea drinkers will seek restorative teas containing items such as turmeric and added protein, while to meet their fast-paced lifestyles beverages will have to be ready to grab on the go. With a rise in consumer demand for natural and ethical products, tea drinkers will seek alternative flavours such as ginger, matcha, turmeric and cumin, the report stated. There has also been an increase in the popularity of cold brews and matcha tea, while the global kombucha market is expected to experience significant growth by 2021. As with artisan coffee, this trend will put “quality into the limelight”, with consumers willing to pay a premium for the best. The premiumisation of tea is expected to reinvent the British tea ritual with an eye on “Instagramability” – such as extravagant props, ingredients and backdrops – as the concept of “quintessentially English tea” becomes more of a theatrical experience.

Gleneagles chef Andrew Fairlie passes away: Chef Andrew Fairlie has died aged 55 following a long illness. Fairlie, whose Gleneagles restaurant is the only one in Scotland to have two Michelin stars, revealed in November he had a terminal brain tumour. His father Jim wrote on Twitter his son’s “many achievements and memory would live on”. Fairlie’s wife Kate and his daughters Ilona and Leah said in a statement: “We are utterly heartbroken Andrew has gone but are so thankful we had this extraordinary man in our lives.” Fairlie, who was first diagnosed in 2005, stepped down from his restaurant in November. He opened his own restaurant in 2001 within the Gleneagles Hotel, which is owned by Ennismore, which received its first Michelin star eight months later. The restaurant was awarded a fourth AA rosette in 2004, followed by its second Michelin star in 2006. Ennismore stated: “Andrew was a treasured part of our Ennismore family and he will be missed terribly.”

Starbucks to trial delivery in London: Starbucks is to trial delivery in London in partnership with UberEats this month. The limited pilot in London will be the first of its kind for Starbucks in Europe and will see a “small number” of company-operated stores “test and learn from the experience as it looks to scale this option to licensees”. About 95% of shop items will be available for delivery. The move follows trials in China through a partnership with Alibaba and on-demand food delivery service Ele.me, where the service has expanded to 2,000 stores in 30 cities, and the US, where it is also now expanding. San Francisco has become the second city to offer Starbucks Delivers following a pilot in Miami last year, with select stores in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Washington to be added in the coming weeks. Starbucks said the Miami pilot, also powered by Uber Eats, saw strong demand including repeat business throughout the day and positive feedback from customers. It also allows Starbucks to reach new customers who are using the UberEats platform and offer existing customers a new method for “including Starbucks in their daily routines”. Customers are able to access Starbucks Delivers through the UberEats mobile app. Roz Brewer, group president and chief operating officer for Starbucks, said: “We are building on key learnings from past delivery pilots and, by integrating our ordering technology directly with UberEats, we’ve unlocked the ability to bring Starbucks to customers for those times when they’re unable to come to us.” Jason Droege, head of Uber Everything, added: “We are always looking for new ways to offer people the widest selection of food they love. That’s why we’re so excited to deliver Starbucks fans their favourite food and beverages in a way that’s as easy as requesting a ride. We know this partnership will delight our customers.”

The Ivy in Dublin stops staff processing payments following tips row: Staff at The Ivy in Dawson Street, Dublin, have been told they won’t be allowed to process payments from customers after management alleged some waiters were asking for tips in cash rather than on a credit or debit card. Management at the restaurant posted a staff notice claiming certain members of staff “consistently asked for cash”, while cash tips weren’t being shared with other staff members, The Journal reports. The notice stated a new system would mean no team member could handle cash or card from a guest “until trust is rebuilt”. The notice said management would process all payments, while no bonuses would be paid while the situation was “dealt with”. In a statement, The Ivy explained when a tip was paid by credit card it went towards a shared gratuity per hour, which all restaurant staff received. It added: “This is paid in addition to their hourly wage and is guaranteed by the company in that the company will make up any shortfall and is, therefore, regardless of whether any tips are paid by patrons.”

Former Fuller’s and Faucet senior manager acquires London pub as debut site for fledgling firm: Former Fuller’s and Faucet senior manager Douglas Taucher has acquired The Waverley Arms in Nunhead, south London, as a debut site for his new company, Taucher Enterprises. Taucher bought the pub’s lease from a guide price of £150,000 in a deal brokered by agent Savills. The 100-year-old pub comprises a ground-floor bar, beer garden and terrace. Taucher, who was general manager for Fuller’s pub division, area manager for Faucet and, most recently, operations, training and development manager at Livelyhood, will implement a new menu and table service at The Waverley, with a refurbishment planned this summer. The venue will offer weekend brunch, Sunday roasts and theme nights including Fish Fridays and a pie-and-a-pint offer. Taucher said: “I am delighted to have taken over such a fantastic venue in an increasingly popular area. We look forward to making the Waverley Arms the hub of the community for many years to come and establishing a reputation for fantastic food, fabulous service and a great local to watch sport in!” Chris Bickle, director in the licensed leisure team at Savills, added: “The Waverley Arms is a historic neighbourhood pub with an excellent reputation. The new owner is keen to build on this and create a hub for the local community. We wish him every success.”

Perritt brothers to open third Beer + Burger Store, in King’s Cross on Thursday: Brothers Jonathan and Andrew Perritt will open a third London site for their Beer + Burger Store concept this week. The duo will launch the venue at Art House in York Way, King's Cross, on Thursday (24 January). The Beer + Burger Store concept features a burger bar, taproom and bottle shop. It serves six American-inspired burgers and a selection of sides such as fries, cheese and gravy, chicken wings, mac balls and deep-fried jalapenos. Meanwhile, the taproom and bottle shop will offer more than 300 bottles and cans and more than 20 taps. Beavertown will host the first taproom residency at the site from Thursday, 31 January. Jonathan Perritt said: “Andy and I are really excited to be opening in King’s Cross. We’ve been looking for the right location for the past 18 months and look forward to being part of this creative, dynamic community.” The Perritts launched their debut Beer + Burger Store in Willesden Green in 2016 before opening a second site, in Dalston, in January last year. They also operate The Stag in Hampstead and The Mall Tavern in Notting Hill under their London Pubs umbrella.

TW Pubs grows portfolio to six with second Hawthorn Leisure site as it launches Asian-themed concept: Glasgow-based TW Pubs has grown its portfolio to six after taking on its second Hawthorn Leisure site. Kevin Bowie and Stephen Warisito, who run TW Pubs, have converted a former Hickory Steak House into Mr Wu’s – an Asian-themed venue they describe as a “kitchen disco”. The Kilmarnock Road venue, which had been closed since June, has been revamped. Spread across two floors, Mr Wu’s features Chinese-style red lanterns, illuminated cement seating, table tennis and pool tables, and retro arcade machines. A local artist has painted a large Mr Wu mural on one of the interior walls. Run by an 18-strong team, Mr Wu’s serves pan-Asian food, European dishes with an Asian twist, cocktails and Tsingtao, the Chinese beer that is sponsoring the venue. Bowie said: “Stephen’s parents run successful Chinese restaurants in and around Glasgow and Falkirk and we wanted to bring an Asian flavour to our latest pub venture. It’s really exciting for us because this is the first time we’ve been able to realise our own concept from scratch.” Hawthorn Leisure chief executive Gerry Carroll added: “Kevin and Stephen are very passionate, experienced operators. They’re hands-on too and were the right partners with the right concept for this part of Glasgow. This is their second Hawthorn Leisure reopening and we hope to be part of TW Pubs’ growth ambitions.” TW Pubs’ other Hawthorn site is The Weavers, a community pub in Condorrat, the village near Glasgow where Bowie grew up. TW Pubs also runs four sites with Iona Pub Partnership.

Frankie’s outlines plans for five further sites by 2020 as it opens second, in Blackburn: Casual dining concept Frankie’s has outlined plans for five further sites by 2020 after opening its second, in Blackburn. The company has opened a 170-seater restaurant in the former Pitchers Bar in the Salford area, creating more than 35 jobs. Frankie’s serves burgers, peri-peri chicken, healthy grilled options, desserts and shakes. A spokeswoman told Insider Media: “We believe our proposition is totally different to anything available in Blackburn, which is the main reason we chose this place for our second store. Our aim is to grow the brand across the UK including the north west as part of our growth strategy.” Frankie’s also has a site in Batley, while its website states it is “opening soon” in Bradford. 

Rosa’s Thai Cafe to launch first site outside London next month, in Liverpool: Thai restaurant group Rosa’s Thai Cafe is to open its first site outside London, in Liverpool, on Monday, 25 February. The venue will be the brand’s 16th site in total when it launches at Liverpool’s Albert Docks. Housed in a grade I-listed former warehouse, the 88-cover restaurant will be split over two floors, with a dedicated Liverpool menu to launch later this year. The interiors retain original brickwork and huge arches, alongside an open kitchen and a mezzanine level that will host events and private dining. Rosa’s Thai Café co-founder Saiphin Moore said: “As one of the first cities to open up trade links with Asia, we couldn’t think of a better place to open our first restaurant outside London – especially in a location with such enviable views across the historic Royal Albert Docks.” Rosa’s Thai Cafe managing director Gavin Adair previously told Propel the Liverpool launch would act as a “bulkhead for a cluster of restaurants in the north west”. Earlier this month, the company said it would aim to open up to eight sites a year as it looked to grow outside its London heartland. Rosa’s Thai Cafe was founded in 2006 by Alex and Saiphin Moore, who remain involved in the business after TriSpan acquired a majority stake in the company in June last year. On Sunday (20 January) it was announced Alex Moore has also joined immersive entertainment concept The Dream Corporation as chairman.

Creme De La Crepe owner Nick Willoughby behind Bayou Bar opening in Tooting: Creme De La Crepe owner Nick Willoughby is heading a joint venture between Street Food Union and Slinging Po’ Boys that has launched in Tooting Broadway Market, south London. Bayou Bar is a New Orleans-inspired bar and kitchen offering cocktails, brisket, blackened shrimp Po’ Boy sandwiches and weekly live jazz. The cashless concept’s tills are app-based through iZettle, which means staff can operate the till and take orders via their phones. Creme De La Crepe operates at Covent Garden market and also caters at events. 

Flight Club appoints Jane O’Riordan as non-executive director: Social darts concept Flight Club has appointed Jane O’Riordan as a non-executive director. O’Riordan is former strategy director at Nando’s and founder of Antipodean-style cycling cafe and restaurant concept The Dynamo in Putney, south west London. A Flight Club spokeswoman told Propel: “We are delighted to confirm Jane O’Riordan has joined us as non-executive chair director. This comes at an exciting point in our business evolution and we look forward to her extensive expertise and guidance to help us take Social Darts to more people.” Flight Club operates three sites in London – in Bloomsbury, Shoreditch and Victoria – along with a venue in Manchester. The company has also lodged plans for a site in Birmingham.

Harcourt Inns opens fourth site, in Chiswick: Harcourt Inns, the venture from former Racine chef patron Henry Harris and James McCulloch, owner of The Harcourt in Marylebone, has opened its fourth London site, in Chiswick. The company has launched The Crown under Harris’ direction in conjunction with head chef Daniele Zaffora. Front of house is overseen by Ruth Leigh, formerly of Le Café Anglais and Dock Kitchen. The daily changing menus are Mediterranean-focused in homage to Zaffora’s Sicilian heritage and showcase the best of simple, quality ingredients such as olive oil and tomatoes. The majority of produce is sourced locally from small, family-run or independent suppliers. The drinks list includes beer from London brewers, wine, champagne, French spirits and classic cocktails. Formerly housing modern European restaurant Carvosso, the 6,000 square foot space in Chiswick High Road is a former police station and stables with capacity for up to 120 covers. The courtyard has a retractable canopy roof, while two private dining rooms open on to the main space with a wine cellar occupying former jail cells. Harcourt Inns’ other sites are the Three Cranes in the City, The Coach in Clerkenwell and The Hero of Maida in Maida Vale.

Asha’s to open third UK site, in Solihull this spring: Asha’s, the Indian restaurant, is to open its third UK site, in Solihull this spring. The company will launch the venue on the top floor of the Touchwood leisure complex in Solihull Shopping Centre. The 120-cover restaurant will be on the upper terrace next to Nando’s and offer a bespoke bar and private dining area. Asha’s, which was created by Bollywood singer and actor Asha Bhosle, has 17 sites in five countries on two continents, including its two UK venues – in Birmingham and Manchester. Director Pawan Kenth told The Business Desk: “Our customers, many of whom have lived in the West Midlands all their lives, have always complained there hasn’t been a high-end Indian restaurant in the south of Birmingham for decades and have been asking us to open for quite a few years.”

River Cafe protégé to open restaurant inspired by Japanese and Italian cuisine, in east London next month: River Cafe protégé Joshua Owens-Baigler is to open a restaurant inspired by Japanese and Italian cuisine, in east London next month. Owens-Baigler has partnered with former Bocca di Lupo chef Daniele Ceforo to launch Angelina. The 40-cover, 1,200 square foot restaurant will open on Wednesday, 20 February within the new Dalston Lanes development. The eight-plate sharing menu will feature dishes such as unagi risotto with burnt soy butter and dashi. Inspired by Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, drinks will be served from the restaurant’s hidden drinking den, Golden Ga. The drinks menu will feature Japanese and Italian cocktails and wine. Owens-Baigler trained at River Cafe and worked for the Bistroteque Group and Hix, becoming bar manager at Bocca Di Lupo before being appointed general manager of Artusi and, more recently, Bevis Marks. He said: “We like the surrealism associated with challenging and poking fun at the way we eat. Saying that, we are respectful of technique and tradition.” Ceforo added: “Angelina is an exciting project for me, working with new Japanese ingredients and techniques that will allow me to showcase my passion and creativity.”

Kent-based pub operator takes on second site: Kent-based pub operator Barrie Thompson has taken on the Dukes Head in the village of Sellindge, near Ashford, for his second site in the county. Thompson, who also operates The Red Lion in Hythe, will offer a pub restaurant at the venue, which unexpectedly closed in September after years of trading. The pub, just off the A20, will reopen in March to feature a 100-cover restaurant with beer garden, children’s play area and 30-space car park. It also offers three-bedroom living accommodation on the first floor. Thompson told Kent Online: “We have got a fair bit of work to do before we get the pub trading again and we plan to reopen in March as long as everything goes to plan. We’re excited to get this great pub trading again to serve the community.”

Derbyshire-based Italian restaurant to open second pub site: Derbyshire-based Italian restaurant Angelo’s is to open a second site. Husband-and-wife team Angelo and Carly Carrieri will open the venue in the renovated King’s Head pub in the village of Duffield. Building work is taking place at the Town Street property ahead of an expected opening in early March. The couple said the bistro would have a different menu to its restaurant, which is based in The New Inn in Hopping Hill, Milford. Angelo Carrieri told Derbyshire Live: “We want this bistro to run alongside our restaurant. We decided on the King’s Head because it is newly refurbished and things are going very well there. It is at a great location. We want to offer good food in a different setting. We are so excited about the move – it is the right fit for what we want to do.” Ryan North, owner of The King’s Head, added: “We have a great venue here and to work with Angelo’s is a great opportunity. Together, I think we can create something very special.”

Nando’s to open second Dundee site, this month: Nando’s will open its second Dundee outlet, at the end of the month. The company will open the restaurant at Camperdown Leisure Park. It will replace Indian restaurant Ashoka Shak, which closed several months ago. The city’s first Nando’s opened in Nethergate in 2012 in a space formerly occupied by Pizza Hut. A Nando’s spokesman told The Courier: “We know there are a lot of peri-peri fans in Dundee and we can’t wait to open our second restaurant in the city.”

Yorkshire-based holiday park operator secures funding to upgrade sites as it eyes 20% turnover boost: Yorkshire-based operator Park Leisure Marketing has secured seven-figure funding from HSBC UK to upgrade its sites as it eyes a 20% boost in turnover in the next 12 months. The company will implement a raft of improvements at Beachcomber Holiday Park & Entertainment Centre in Cleethorpes and Longbeach Leisure Park in Hornsea – including upgrading Beachcomber’s 200-cover Bucket’s sports bar and restaurant. More than 5,000 holidaymakers visited Park Leisure’s sites last year. Director Richard Varley told BDaily: “Since starting the business in 1991 we have always looked at ways to improve our parks. Beachcomber and Longbeach offer fantastic accommodation and entertainment facilities for holiday-makers across the UK, as demonstrated by our upcoming event with boxing superstar Tyson Fury.” HSBC invested in the firm through its £12bn 2018 SME fund. HSBC UK relationship director Jamie McCullough said: “It is an exciting time for the British tourism industry, which enjoyed a record-breaking summer last year due to increased demand for home-grown breaks across the UK. Park Leisure Marketing has proved it knows how to capitalise on opportunities and is not afraid to invest to keep its parks fresh.”