Dishoom and Vinoteca in negotiations to open in Birmingham: Dishoom and Vinoteca are in negotiations to open in Birmingham city centre later this year – taking two sites at a new development, 1 Chamberlain Square. Development managers Argent previously oversaw the 2011 redevelopment of London’s King’s Cross – Dishoom secured a 9,000 square feet space in 2014 and is now looking to take a similar prestige unit as part of the development. When approached for comment about Dishoom, a spokesman said: “We are not in a position to confirm lettings at this stage.” Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Vinoteca told BirminghamLive, the wine focused restaurant chain known for their 200 strong wine list is “currently in legals to take a unit at 1 Chamberlain Square. Nothing has been signed yet.” The first Dishoom cafe opened in Covent Garden in 2010. There are seven cafes open around the UK with locations in London and Edinburgh. The latest Dishoom opened in Manchester in November 2018.

NewRiver adds M&B non-executive director to board: NewRiver has announced the appointment of Colin Rutherford as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Colin Rutherford currently serves on the board and is audit committee chairman of Mitchells & Butlers. He is also on the board and audit committee of the quoted oil and gas shipping and contracts services business, Renaissance Services SAOG, and on the board and audit committee of Nasdaq quoted Evofem Biosciences. He is chairman of Brookgate, a property development business. He graduated in Accountancy and Finance and qualified as a Scottish Chartered Accountant with Touche Ross (now Deloitte) in 1984. Margaret Ford, non-executive chairman of NewRiver, said: “I am delighted to welcome Colin to the NewRiver board. Colin brings with him a wealth of experience from his various leadership roles in public and private companies across a wide range of highly relevant sectors including retail, property development and leisure, pubs and hospitality.” Rutherford will be appointed to the board’s audit, remuneration and nomination committees.

 

Champneys reports turnover up, profit down: Champneys, the spa resort business owned by Dorothy and Stephen Purdew, has reported turnover rose by 15.4% to £42,176,741 in the year to 30 April 2018. Profit before tax was £2,808,573 after an exceptional item of £287,304, down from £3,489,613 the year before. Total number of guests was 189,627 (2017: 183,342) and revenue per guest was £171.71 (2017: £166.84). Royalty income was £1,296,618, down from £1,426,026 the year before. In May 2018 a new venture wax launched to provide spa services on cruise ships. In October 2018, the company acquired the Mottram Hall site in Cheshire.

Dodo Pub Company secures third Oxford site: Dodo Pub Company has secured a third site in Oxford. The company plans to re-open The Somerset Arms in Marston Road as The Up in Arms. It is being re-named in homage to the community’s three-year campaign to save their local. It will be modelled on sister pubs The Rusty Bicycle in east Oxford and Jericho’s Rickety Press, offering a range of beer and other drinks as well as pizzas, burgers, cakes and fresh coffee. Leo Johnson, co-founder of Dodo Pub Co, said: “We’re happy to give the community what they want. We were drawn to the local residents’ passion for their pub and can understand how much this place means to the community. The Up in Arms will not be short on Dodo vibe – the popular pizzas, the inviting décor and down-to-earth staff will all be there to greet our new customers. Like its siblings, it’ll be a place for the people that surround it, we are looking forward to a fantastic new chapter for us and The Up in Arms.” The pub had once been set to become a Muslim cultural centre before its owners agreed to keep it as a pub. It is listed on Oxford City Council’s Oxford Heritage Asset Register in 2018, which protects the features and places that bring character to the city.