Martin Williams – new Gaucho team has made ‘dramatic change’: Martin Williams, chief executive of Rare Restaurants, the new parent vehicle of Gaucho and M Restaurants, has told Propel the former brand’s new management team has a made a “dramatic, quick and seamless change” to the business since it was acquired out of administration in October. Williams said the business had seen circa 20% like-for-like cover growth in the past five months, which offset a 15% decline in spend per head that followed a cut in menu prices and the evolution of Gaucho’s food and drink offer. Williams has also focused on halving the group’s head office costs, which at one point reached circa £9m. He has taken out Gaucho’s layer of area managers to allow the management team, including new chief financial officer Jim Kottler and Gaucho managing director Ross Butler, to be closer to general managers. He will also look to move the group’s head office out of Swallow Street, Mayfair. He said the business would focus this year on continuing the positive trend as well as the design and ambience of the Gaucho estate. The group’s sites in Charlotte Street and Chancery Lane will be refurbished, while restaurants at the O2 and Piccadilly will have new bars. He told Propel: “The new management team has hit the ground running and the impact it’s had has made a dramatic change that was quick and seamless. The work carried out has been seen in the covers growth and now we need to push on with upgrading the look and feel of the sites. The work we are carrying out this year on the design and ambience of some of the sites should take us through to the fourth quarter, then we can look at expansion opportunities, including opening M in Canary Wharf next year.” Williams said when it came to expansion the company now had the concepts to look at a three-pronged roll-out, with the more premium, multi-format M Restaurant, Gaucho, and the more accessible and local market-focused M Bar & Grill. At the same time, Propel understands the company has licensed its Gaucho site in Dubai to Addmind Hospitality Group. Dubai-based Addmind, which Gaucho founder Zeev Godik has worked with, is believed to have signed an agreement to take on the lease of the site in 18 months’ time.

Finance and Investment Conference open for bookings: The Propel Finance and Investment Conference has opened for bookings. The full-day event takes place on Friday, 24 May at One Moorgate Place, London EC2R 6EA. Christie & Co director Ramzi Qattan will give an overview of the current pub, restaurant and hotel mergers and acquisitions market; Andrew Ball, partner at haysmacintyre, will give his top ten insights on how to spot and prevent internal and external accountancy fraud; and Mission Mars chief executive Roy Ellis will talk about finding a funding partner, the BGF, to facilitate expansion of the company’s bar brand, Albert’s Schloss, and pizza business, Rudy’s. Meanwhile, Fleet Street Communications managing director Mark Stretton will talk about creating a communications campaign that complements a sales or investment process, touching on the company’s recent work with Be At One, while Jane Holbrook, former chief executive of Wagamama, will talk about the ten key steps taken on the road to ensuring Wagamama was optimised for sale. Fraser Anderson, partner at Sapient Corporate Finance, will look at the particular investment attractions of the retail coffee market in the wake of Sapient’s recent sale of a majority stake in Coffee#1 to Caffe Nero, while Oakman Inns and Restaurants founder and chief executive Peter Borg-Neal will talk about growing the company through new financing routes and partnerships and adapting to the economic climate. TriSpan European operating partner Robin Rowland will discuss the opportunities and challenges to being a new entrant in the UK and European scene and what the UK can learn from its US investment peers, while Charlie McVeigh will talk about lessons learned selling five hospitality businesses including Draft House to BrewDog and his investment criteria in the current climate as he seeks to make as many as three new investments. My Million Pound Menu investor Chris Miller, founder of White Rabbit Fund and investor in Kricket, Island Poke, Lina Stores and Kym’s, will talk to Propel managing director Paul Charity about his investment criteria, understanding the market and developing his investments. David Campbell, chairman of Bill’s Restaurants, will talk to Propel insights editor Mark Wingett about investing in a downturn on refreshing a business, enhancing its offer and re-engaging its people, and the results of this work so far. The day will conclude with Mark Stretton leading a panel session featuring Imbiba partner Darrel Connell, TriSpan advisory partner Brandon Stephens, and Tamweel Capital partner Ali Aneizi about the current prospects for the sector, growth opportunities, and mergers and acquisitions trends. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for Propel Premium subscribers and £345 plus VAT for all others. To book, email anne.steele@propelinfo.com

SRA calls on industry to follow UN’s sustainable goals: The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) has called on the food industry to follow the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve the menu innovation required to accelerate climate action. The association has a three-pronged strategy to reduce the environmental impact of menus – cutting meat consumption, keeping food on the plate without waste, and taking “serious action” on single-use plastic. In a new insight report by Edie on the hospitality and leisure industry that outlines how the sector can achieve a sustainable future, Stephen wrote: “The direction of travel is clear. We must focus our innovation on accelerating towards the UN’s SDGs. You aren’t everyone’s idea of a sustainable restaurant if you install waterless urinals while serving ingredients that place huge water stress on dry places. We must not set our aims too low or exclude the most material changes we need to make from our thinking.”

Redbridge late-night levy would ‘strangle’ nightlife: The introduction of a late-night levy in Redbridge, east London, would “strangle” nightlife, UKHospitality has stated in its evidence to a council consultation. Chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “It is dispiriting to have a conversation on the levy in 2019. A damning Parliamentary report in 2017 highlighted its flaws, outlined its ineffectiveness and called for its removal. The council’s proposal ignores the alternatives set out in the mayor of London’s Night Time Commission report as well as being contradictory to Redbridge Council’s regeneration policy pledge to nurture partnerships. This year we have seen money raised in Hackney, which hasn’t been spent in the borough. If Redbridge Council pushes ahead with this retrograde and thoroughly discredited tax, it is only going to strangle nightlife.”

BII begins hunt for new chief operating officer: The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has started its search for a chief operating officer to succeed Mike Clist, who plans to retire. The successful candidate will be responsible for the BII’s Farnborough headquarters and oversee a strategy that will ensure the association is “modern and well placed to support the challenges faced by licensees and staff in the hospitality industry”. BII chairman Mark Robson said: “It is really important in any organisation that a good succession plan is in place. Mike Clist came to the BII three years ago with the intention of staying for three to six months while it sought a new chief executive. Three years on, it’s now time to seek someone to succeed Mike and allow him to focus on his retirement, which he planned to take in 2016. Mike will continue in his full-time role until the new chief operating officer is appointed and then carry out the chief executive’s role part-time to assist with managing the transition and the BII’s relationships with key companies and bodies until mid-to-late 2020.”

Beannchor Group reports turnover passes £25m: Northern Ireland hospitality company Beannchor Group has reported turnover increased 9% to £25,811,900 for the year ending 30 June 2018, compared with £23,682,580 the previous year. Operating profit almost doubled to £11,196,442, compared with £5,670,818 the year before. Pre-tax profit was down to £2,054,680 compared with £3,183,296 the previous year, according to accounts filed at Companies House. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “Competition in the market place remains strong. That said, turnover increased by £2,129,320 (9%) in the year following the opening of a hotel in October 2017 and the acquisition of a number of licensed establishments. The directors consider the results for the year to be satisfactory. The external commercial environment is expected to remain competitive. While the directors expect a difficult trading year ahead they will continue to seek every opportunity to increase turnover and operating profit where possible.” Beannchor Group owns pubs, hotels and restaurants across Northern Ireland including National Grande Cafe/sixty6 and The Dirty Onion as well as eight Little Wing Pizzeria sites.

Hubbox begins eastern promise after securing Portsmouth site: Hubbox, the Richard Boon-led restaurant business, is to make a first move out of its West Country heartland after securing a site in Portsmouth. Propel has learned Hubbox, which will reopen its flagship St Ives restaurant in Cornwall next week after knocking through to next door to double its footprint and add a bar, has taken a unit next to the recently opened Cosy Club in Gunwharf Quays. The group, which recently submitted plans to open a restaurant in Barnstaple, Devon, plans to open the Gunwharf Quays site this summer. Hubbox currently operates seven sites with plans to expand its portfolio to between 18 and 20 sites by the end of 2021. Last year it also moved its Exeter business into much larger premises. Boon previously said: “We have pipelined some fantastic sites that will include great bars featuring beer and cider from some of the south west’s finest breweries.”

Pure lines up two more openings: Pure, the healthy food-to-go concept in which Whitbread has a 51% stake, has lined up two further openings in London that will take its estate to 20 sites. The Spencer Craig-led business, which opened its latest site at the Broadway Centre in Hammersmith earlier this year, will open in Kingdom Street, Paddington Central, next month. The opening will be followed by a launch in Tooley Street, London Bridge, this summer. The company is looking to open four to five sites a year, including further units in transport hubs. Founded by Ed Bentley and Craig in 2009, Whitbread acquired its 51% stake in the company in 2016 and has an option to acquire the remaining stake in two years’ time.

Steve Cox acquires Buckinghamshire country pub: Steve Cox, who acquired the business and assets of his former Faucet Inn business earlier this year through a pre-pack administration, has bought The Dog & Badger in Medmenham, near Marlow, for his Golden Brick Pubs vehicle, Propel has learned. Cox is believed to have paid circa £2m for the pub, which was privately owned and recently reopened following a refurbishment. Earlier this year, Faucet Inn was sold in a pre-pack agreement, with its business and assets sold to Golden Brick Pubs and Freshwater Pub Co, which both list Cox as sole director. Administrator FRP Advisory stated: “At the time of administration Faucet Inn operated two sites in London – Neighbourhood in Stratford and The Northumberland Arms in Tottenham Court Road. Both sites continue to trade as normal. The company had previously operated other leasehold sites, which had become unprofitable and were subsequently closed. These losses, together with contingent liabilities crystallising from the closed sites, meant continued trading was untenable and the directors sought professional advice, resulting in the appointment of administrators. The business and assets were sold on appointment, with the two sites continuing to trade. All employees’ jobs were secured and arrangements reached with key suppliers for continued trading.” Paul Tallantyre, of Davis Coffer Lyons, acted on the Dog & Badger deal.

Yard Sale Pizza appoints Cowley as marketing director: Yard Sale Pizza, the restaurant and delivery concept that includes sector investor Paul Campbell as non-executive director, has hired Amy Cowley, formerly of Ceviche and Le Pain Quotidien, as marketing director. Cowley joined Ceviche, the Martin Morales-led group, as head of marketing in late 2016 following two years in the same role at Le Pain. Before that she was head of marketing at Antic. Yard Sale Pizza appointed Hawksmoor chairman Campbell as non-executive director late last year. Campbell has also invested in the four-strong business, which is led by co-founder Johnnie Tate. Campbell is an investor in and sits on the boards as chairman or non-executive director at Hawksmoor, Vinoteca, Hickory’s, Blacklock, Tortilla, The Alchemist and Gusto via his Hill Capital Partners vehicle.

Cubbit House lines up Haymarket opening: London gastro-pub operator Cubitt House is set to open its sixth site in the capital after lining up an opening in the St James’s Market development. The group, which is led by managing director Tony Gualtieri and chaired by Vanessa Hall, is understood to have lined up an opening at the former Veneta site that was operated by Salt Yard Group. The site in Haymarket closed at the end of 2017. Cubitt House, whose sites include The Alfred Tennyson and The Thomas Cubitt, secured investment from private investors in 2015. The consortium of investors acquired a majority stake in the business and provided funding to facilitate expansion. The company opened its most recent site in London – The Coach Makers Arms in Marylebone Lane – at the end of 2017. Davis Coffer Lyons is thought to have acted on the Haymarket deal.

Former Prezzo chief people officer joins Splendid Hospitality Group: Mark Powell, former chief people officer at Prezzo, has joined Splendid Hospitality Group, operator of the Absurd Bird brand and KFC franchisee. Powell becomes Splendid’s chief people officer after more than a year at Prezzo in the same role as part of Jon Hendry-Pickup’s management team. Before that he was at Poundland for more than four and a half years. Splendid, one the UK’s fastest-growing privately owned hotel groups, also operates the five-strong Absurd Bird restaurant brand and circa 40 KFC sites. It recently transformed two former Jack & Alice sites into new concept Coluco. The company has launched the format in Tring, Hertfordshire, while the venue in Thame, Oxfordshire, features the Coluco menu with a refurbishment planned for the summer. As reported by Propel, Splendid Restaurants retained the Tring and Thame sites when Mark and Vanessa Hall, co-founders of Jack & Alice, the award-winning local pantry wine bar concept, took full ownership of the brand and its site in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, early this year.

Arden launches meatball speakeasy concept: Christian Arden has told Propel he would love to take his new meatball speakeasy concept Ballroom into the food court environment. Ballroom has launched in Eastcheap in the City of London at a premises previously occupied by Peruvian-Japanese concept Waka. Ballroom offers Italian-style meatballs in a New York environment with a speakeasy cocktail lounge in the basement. Arden was inspired by his childhood in San Gimignano, Italy, watching his grandmother cooking. Ballroom has evolved her traditional recipes with a menu featuring hand-rolled beef, pork, Thai chicken and Moroccan lamb balls as well as fish and vegan versions. All are served with bases such as pasta, couscous, mash and greens. Ballroom also offers pastries and Caravan coffee. The basement bar offers tapas-style meatballs, cocktails, spirits, wine, lager and craft ale. Arden said: “Ballroom is three venues in one, with coffee, meatballs and the bar. I think it’s going to be a challenging location for us and we have been making tweaks here and there as we look to make it work. I think the concept would also work well in a food court environment. I would love to do something like Time Out Market or something similar.” Arden, who was behind Chicago Rib Shack and established late-night bar group Po Na Na, said he was developing a home-cooked catering model in which six to eight people could order meatballs, suitable for families or parties. Chicago Rib Shack went into administration in 2017, with the then five-strong group acquired by Camden Dining Group, which is now known as Enhanced Hospitality.

Casual Dining Group completes pilot of refugee work experience programme: Casual Dining Group (CDG) has completed a pilot programme that helps Syrian refugees gain skills and experience to work in the hospitality industry. The programme, run in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, World Jewish Relief and SPS Training Solutions, saw nine refugees undergo three weeks’ training that included work at Bella Italia and Café Rouge in Coventry. CDG has offered jobs to three of the participants, with a further three given provisional offers for when vacancies arise. There are now talks about widening the programme. CDG group HR director Claire Clarke said: “We have created a sophisticated and robust series of training and development programmes to support the progression of our employees. This programme is a great example of how we can use this experience as we look to support people with the necessary skillset to enter the industry.” The initiative, the first of its kind in the hospitality industry, forms part of the Specialist Training and Employment Programme run by World Jewish Relief, which operates in Coventry and Yorkshire, with programmes tailored to each refugee.

Suffolk-based operator takes on former Stuart Inns pub for third site: Suffolk-based operator Stock and Bailey Catering has taken on a former Stuart Inns pub for its third site. Stock and Bailey Catering has acquired the lease of the Lavenham Greyhound in the village of Lavenham and will reopen it as a tapas restaurant. The pub was one of three to close at the weekend following the collapse of Stuart Inns into administration. Stock and Bailey Catering, which was started six years ago by Ashley Stock and Paul Bailey, already operates a tapas restaurant in nearby Sudbury and a wine bar in Colchester. Stock told the East Anglian Daily Times: “We had spoken to Greene King because we were looking for a third site and were told it was available. I think with any small village pub it’s always going to be an asset to the community, which is why we wanted to get it back open as soon as possible.” The pub has stayed true to its roots by focusing on real ale, lager and an extensive wine list. The other two pubs operated by Stuart Inns – The Hadleigh Ram and Long Melford Swan – remain closed.

Kirkstall Brewery takes over Otley live music venue for fourth site: Kirkstall Brewery has taken over live music venue the Black Horse Hotel in Otley for its fourth site. The Leeds-based brewer has partnered with live music venue Brudenell Social Club to buy the Westgate venue. The news follows the end of a bid by community group LS21 to take over the hotel, which former owners Ei Group put on the market last autumn. Kirkstall Brewery’s other sites are The Sparrow in Bradford and The Bridge Inn and the Cardigan Arms, both in Leeds. Brudenell Social Club is also based in Leeds.

West Midlands-based operators take on second Star Pubs & Bars site: West Midlands-based operators Chad Hudson and Sarah Price have taken on a second site with Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars – the New Inn in Bournheath, near Bromsgrove. The wet-led pub, which has been closed since the start of the year, will undergo a joint £350,000 refurbishment to reopen in May offering home-cooked dishes such as rabbit pie, roast pheasant and three-county sausage and mash. It will feature a new lobby and more spacious lounge and bar. A new patio and separate decked area will increase outside drinking capacity from 25 to 44. The couple also operate the Loyal Lodge in Halesowen. Hudson said: “It has taken us three and a half years to get the Loyal Lodge to where we want it. It’s important to us we focus on pubs individually to make them the best they can be before taking on another.” Star Pubs & Bars regional operations director Caren Geering added: “Chad and Sarah are experienced operators who know the area well. They’ve done a great job turning around The Loyal Lodge, where business has increased 90% since they took it on. I feel sure they’ll do the same with the New Inn.”

Global Brands reports turnover tops £50m: Drinks manufacturer and distributor Global Brands has reported turnover has topped the £50m mark for the year ending 30 September 2018. The company said the 19.5% increase in total sales follows a 16% rise in the previous 12 months. Gross profit also grew for the year ending 30 September 2018 to £14m from £11.8m, while the business sold about 60 million drinks with its brands now available in 58 countries. The company, which was founded in 1997, saw the value of exports increase 21% year-on-year, with strong demand in Belgium, Italy and South Africa. Founder and chairman Steve Perez said: “Our company growth is being driven by an innovative and entrepreneurial team that’s encouraged to do things differently. They’re constantly looking at how they can create new drinks that justify a place on supermarket shelves and in the fridges of bars, late-night venues and restaurants around the world. ‘Drinkstagramming’ and other social media trends mean drinks now need to look as good as they taste. This drives sales. Premium, quality-tasting drinks packaged in sleek and stylish cans meant we exceeded original sales targets for our premium canned cocktail range, All Shook Up, selling more than two million cans in ten months following launch.”

Basque cookery school and experiential dining concept launches debut UK site: Basque cookery school and experiential dining concept Mimo, which operates three sites in Spain, has made its UK debut in London’s Borough Market. Mimo offers classes in pintxos, paella and other Mediterranean classics at its schools in San Sebastian, Mallorca and the Algarve as well as wine tastings and dining experiences. The UK base in Cathedral Street offers cookery classes themed on London areas. Other courses include recipes for Galician octopus and gazpacho, and traditional Portuguese dishes. Four-hour classes include welcome drinks, while many ingredients are sourced from Borough Market. Mimo founder Jon Warren said: “We think Borough Market is the perfect place to explore local cuisine and bring the best of Spain and Portugal to the table.” The venue is led by Joseba Lasa, former executive chef of luxury events caterer Urban Caprice.

MasterChef winner to open Waterloo restaurant: Natalie Coleman, who won the BBC’s MasterChef programme in 2013, is set to open a restaurant in London’s Waterloo next month. Hello Darling will open at the former Waterloo Bar & Kitchen site next to the Old Vic theatre and feature an “eclectic tapas” menu. The venture is a collaboration with Darling and Edge, the design studio behind The Vaults, the arts venue in the tunnels beneath Waterloo station. Coleman previously had stints at Michelin-starred Le Gavroche and The Kitchin. She also worked with Laine Pub Company at the Dissenting Academy in north London.

Mother and son take on Bristol pub with Ei Group for second site: Mother and son Berny O’Reilly and Russell Wakefield have taken on the Churchill Inn in Winscombe, near Bristol, with Ei Publican Partnerships. O’Reilly also operates a guest house in Weston Super Mare and has years of experience in the hospitality sector. The new-look Churchill Inn sees her lead the kitchen while Wakefield oversees front of house. Ei Publican Partnerships, the leased and tenanted division of Ei Group, has funded a £185,000 refurbishment of the pub that includes new decking, furniture, back bar, roof, toilets and kitchen. The pub has introduced a new menu and will regularly host community events. Wakefield said: “We love this pub and are confident that, with our knowledge of the local market and expertise in running hospitality businesses, the Churchill Inn will be a great success.” Ei Publican Partnerships regional manager Isabelle Whitehouse added: “Russell and Berny have a distinguished track record in the local hospitality scene and are an excellent team. We’re committed to operating and supporting great pubs in the heart of local communities.”

Marston’s to roll out electric car charging points at 200 sites: Marston’s is to offer rapid charge points for electric vehicles at 200 of its sites. The partnership with Octopus Electric Vehicles, Octopus Energy and Engenie will see eight pubs initially offer 100% renewable electricity as part of a move to install 400 rapid charge points at 200 Marston’s sites by 2020. Octopus Energy will supply 100% renewable electricity to all charge points, which can charge an electric vehicle with 75 to 100 miles in about 30 minutes through the Engenie network. The Bakehouse in Welwyn Garden City will be the first Marston’s site to receive the chargers. Marston’s waste and recycling co-ordinator Jon Davies said: “We continue to work hard to ensure Marston’s is a top-performing, progressive and sustainable hospitality company and this next stage of our Engenie partnership with Octopus is testament to that.” Engenie chief executive Ian Johnston added: “Our first-of-its-kind partnership with Marston’s is part of our nationwide roll-out of rapid charge points in places where people already spend time eating, shopping or meeting colleagues, friends and family.”

Goodbody cuts Domino’s Pizza forecasts given slower UK roll-out and ‘scepticism’ over international division: Goodbody has cut its forecasts on Domino’s Pizza given its slower roll-out in the UK and scepticism over the company’s international division. Issuing a ‘Hold’ note on the shares with a target price of 245p, Goodbody leisure analyst Rachel Fox said: “We have reduced our anticipated UK store openings from 50 to 30 in 2019 given the slow rate of openings in the first ten weeks (three stores) and reports franchisees are refusing to open stores in the first half of this financial year. Additionally, without sufficient comfort around the international division’s ability to break even, we now forecast a circa £1.1m loss this year (FY18: loss of £4.1m). This has led to a circa 1.6% downward revision in FY19 profit before tax forecast to circa £97m and a reduction in FY20 profit before tax by circa 2% to £103m. While international remains a small part of Domino’s (circa 8% of system sales), it has been a source of downgrades in recent updates. A clearer strategy for each market has now been laid out by management and it hopes to break even this year. However, we are sceptical on its ability to turn this division around in 12 months given the challenges it faces in building scale in these markets. To change our view, we will need to see some tangible evidence of a better performance in these markets. Despite the significant de-rating Domino’s has had, uncertainty remains over the growth trajectory for the UK while the franchisee dispute continues and, as outlined above, we have concerns around international growth prospects. However, we would note Domino’s continues to operate in the fast-growing online delivery market (three-year compound annual growth rate of 8%) and has historically proven to be relatively defensive in a downturn scenario. We expect circa 6.2% earnings per share growth in 2019, driven primarily by some narrowing of the international losses and the reduced share count resulting from last year’s share buyback. As a result, we retain our ‘Hold’ recommendation.”

Three Cheers Pub Co breathes new life into debut site: Three Cheers Pub Co, led by Tom Peake, Mark Reynolds and Nick Fox, has reopened its debut site – The Abbeville in Clapham – following an extensive refurbishment. The 1,510 square foot, 80-cover pub now features an aged oak frontage and a 20-cover terrace. Inside, it features vintage lanterns, 19th century oil paintings and an original fireplace. Fixed booths and a ten-cover communal table have also been introduced, while the new menu focuses on seasonal and sustainably sourced British produce. Peake said: “We are delighted to have been able to breathe new life into what is a special pub. The Abbeville has been a huge part of the community and our loyal regulars deserve the best.” Three Cheers Pub Co operates nine sites, two of them under the Six Cheers umbrella with Ei Group.

Home House opens private members’ club aimed at entrepreneurs: The team behind London luxury members’ club Home House has launched a second venture in Marylebone, this time aimed at high-growth entrepreneurs, investors and business innovators. Home Grown is set across a grade II-listed, six-storey Georgian townhouse in Great Cumberland Place. The private members’ club covers 26,000 square feet and aims to enable high-growth entrepreneurs and company owners to “grow their networks and businesses through collaborations with investors and like-minded individuals”. Home Grown also hosts Rock Star, a series of events that focus on an entrepreneur’s business journey, as well as a calendar of members’ events including monthly dinners and wellness seminars. The venue also features a brasserie, study cafe, bars, business lounges, meeting rooms, pitching suites and 35 bedrooms. Andrew Richardson is managing director of Home House and Home Grown. In December, the company appointed former Hakkasan Group vice-president of global brand marketing Claire Ashman to its senior leadership team.