Kricket founders put spin-offs and international expansion ahead of fourth London site: Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell, founders of Indian small plates concept Kricket, have told Propel the brand is eyeing potential spin-offs and international expansion rather than opening a fourth London site. After a debut at Pop Brixton, Bowlby and Campbell launched the first Kricket site in Soho in January 2017, which Bowlby said was “fully mature with all the cogs going round”. They launched a second, in Brixton, in May last year, which is “getting there”, followed by a third site in September at the former BBC headquarters in White City, where trade will benefit now that 2,000 office workers have moved into the development and apartments have started to come on stream. However, with the concept proven and fit to roll out across the capital and perhaps the rest of the UK, Kricket’s founders currently have other plans. Bowlby said: “We aren’t going to oversaturate London with a fourth Kricket – we’ll do something else to make the group more interesting. We’d like to do an international Kricket in India or China, while we’re doing some research and development on other horizontal stuff and spin-offs.” Kricket is financed by Chris Miller and his White Rabbit Fund. Campbell said: “We first met Chris at the container in Pop Brixton and we were his first investment – a safe one probably. We’re a good, solid, stable brand and we’re running it with all operational control. Chris is about great advice and money.” Read the full interview with Bowlby and Campbell in the summer edition of Propel Quarterly, which will be available in early June.    

Full speaker schedule revealed for Propel summer conference and party, two free places for operators: The full speaker schedule for the Propel Multi Club summer conference and party has been revealed. The event takes place on Thursday, 27 June at the Oxford Belfry, which is just off the M40. The speaker line-up is The NPD Group insights director Dominic Allport; Farmer J founder Jonathan Recanati; Ted Kennedy, owner of Pebble Hotels and veteran operator of pub assets; Three Joes co-founder Tim Hall; Las Iguanas chief executive Mos Shamel; Remarkable Pubs managing director Elton Mouna; Think Hospitality founder James Hacon; Mario C Bauer, advisor to Vapiano and former chief executive of franchising; The Glee Club founder Mark Tughan; Graffiti Spirits Group founder Matt Farrell; and Crepeaffaire founder Daniel Spinath. The conference will be followed by the summer party, with an evening barbecue, the Big Fat Quiz and the legendary sounds of DJ Big Lee. Operators can claim up to two free places by emailing Anne Steele at anne.steele@propelinfo.com. Rooms (bed and breakfast) are also available at £125 plus VAT and can be booked by emailing Anne.

Mark Wingett to look at continually evolving world of virtual brands and dark kitchens in latest Premium column: Propel insights editor Mark Wingett will look at the continually evolving world of virtual brands and dark kitchens as part of his latest opinion piece, which will be sent to Propel Premium subscribers on Friday (10 May) at 5pm. He will also ask whether Phil Urban has had an easy ride as chief executive of Mitchells & Butlers, while Jon Midmer, of global executive search firm JMA, asks whether less is really more when it comes to the human touch in hospitality. Propel Premium subscribers also receive their morning newsletter 11 hours early, at 7pm the evening before our 6am send-out, discounts to attend Propel conferences and events, and regular video recordings of key speakers. They also receive access to our database of multi-site companies, which has now grown to 1,400 businesses. An annual premium subscription costs £345 plus VAT for operators and £445 plus VAT for suppliers – plus £50 each for additional team members. Email anne.steele@propelinfo.com

Morrisons eyes opportunities with Just Eat and UberEats: Supermarket Morrisons has opened up its exclusive relationship with Ocado so it can scope out new opportunities in the ultra-fast delivery space with companies such as Just Eat and UberEats. In a call following Morrisons’ first-quarter results, chief executive Dave Potts said loosening the reins on the Oacdo partnership would “open the way for significant potential opportunities and partnerships” and allow Morrisons to “think more widely” in this area, reports Marketing Week. He said: “Ocado remains an important partner but this means we can dance at more than one wedding and we can mean more things to more people – and we intend to do that. When we look at consumers, as they change, Morrisons must change.” While Potts refused to disclose details of the “range of commercial discussions” Morrisons has been having, he hinted that talks with companies in the same bracket as Just Eat and UberEats had taken place. Potts said: “As both a food maker and shopkeeper, and not in every location in the country with bricks and mortar, I think there are special opportunities ahead for Morrisons to be involved in consumer change around ‘next meal and last mile’ and how those things can be fulfilled. There are a number of companies entering the market to be part of that last mile of fulfilment, very short time-scales between an order from the consumer to the receipt of goods, who believe their know-how and wheels can add value to retailers and consumers alike. Just Eat and Uber would be the type of companies involved in that.”

Chris Porter to step down as chief executive of The Benevolent: Chris Porter is to step down as chief executive of The Benevolent, a charity that supports employees in the drinks trade. Porter was the first chief executive in the charity’s 133-year history to come from a logistics service background and, before his appointment in January 2018, had been involved with the charity for more than 20 years, including as a trustee and chairman. Under his tenure, The Benevolent launched mental health campaign NotAlone, with the number of members of the trade helped through the charity’s helpline “increasing exponentially”. Porter said: “I have been incredibly humbled in playing a part to help people overcome financial, practical and emotional hardship.” The Benevolent chairman Michael Saunders added: “We owe Chris a huge debt of thanks for his work for our trade charity over the past 20 years.”

 

Franco Manca builds regional pipeline; secures Exeter and Leeds sites: Franco Manca, the Fulham Shore-owned pizza concept, will reach the 50-venue mark by the end of this summer after securing sites in Exeter and Leeds. The David Page-led company, which will soon open site number 46 in Bennetts Hill, Birmingham, is starting work on the former Gourmet Burger Kitchen unit in the Guildhall Shopping Centre in Exeter. It will also begin work soon on the former Pintura site in Trinity Leeds. The group expects to open all three sites within the next eight weeks. This will be followed by openings in the St Andrew Square development in Edinburgh and in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester. Propel understands the brand is negotiating on or is at the planning stage for six further sites. At the same time, Fulham Shore is also thought to be looking at five sites for sister concept The Real Greek, with the likelihood it will choose three of them to start with. It is understood the company’s recent Franco Manca opening in Greenwich has been its busiest so far, with the restaurant serving circa 3,500 customers in each of the first two weeks. Earlier this year, Page told Propel the company’s decision to cut back on openings and focus on improving its Franco Manca and The Real Greek menus had been key to getting the business back on track in the past 12 months.

The Alchemist targets flagship Canary Wharf site: The Alchemist, the Simon Potts-led bar and restaurant concept, is set to further strengthen its presence in London after lining up a flagship site in Canary Wharf. Propel has learned the 14-strong business, which is backed by Palatine Private Equity, is in line to take on a prominent site, believed to be in the gateway to Canary Wharf, for an opening towards the end of this year. The company will open its next site, its third in London, in Old Street later this month. In August it will open its second site in Birmingham, in Brindleyplace, while a further site in London will open next year in Embassy Gardens. Earlier this year, the company further strengthened its regional pipeline by lining up an opening at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. The Alchemist secured a former Strada site at the dockside destination, with an opening planned for October. In March, Potts told Propel the company had enjoyed a “brilliant start” to 2019, with overall like-for-likes up 3.6%.

Boparan takes Wondertree to New Zealand: Boparan Restaurant Group, operator of the Harry Ramsden, Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner brands, has opened a first international site for its Wondertree concept, in New Zealand. The company has opened a restaurant at Auckland airport in partnership with Emirates Leisure Retail, a subsidiary of the Emirates Group, which develops and operates hospitality outlets in Dubai, Singapore and Australia. Boparan operates two Wondertree sites in partnership with TRG Concessions, at Gatwick and Heathrow airports. Richard Barker, general manager of retail and commercial at Auckland airport, said: “The partnership is another milestone as we transform the food and beverage experience for travellers. Auckland airport was looking for a full-service, family-friendly restaurant and chose Wondertree because of its track record for outstanding service and quality food that has already made it one of the most popular restaurants at Heathrow and London Gatwick. We are proud to have worked with Emirates Leisure Retail to bring it to New Zealand.”

German Doner Kebab outlines North America expansion plans, expects to open five sites in 2019: Glasgow-based German Doner Kebab (GDK), which is part of the Hero Brands fast-casual portfolio, has outlined its plans for expansion across North America. Franchises have been signed in the Ontario and British Columbia provinces of Canada, while negotiations are under way to open outlets in Manhattan and New Jersey in the US. In total, the brand expects five stores to open in the region in 2019. GDK has also signed a development agreement with Texas-based Tanweer Ahmed for an initial 12 outlets in Houston, Dallas and Las Vegas, which will be rolled out during the next two years. The partnership with GDK helps to expand Ahmed’s portfolio, which currently includes 153 KFC outlets, 58 Pizza Huts and 24 Taco Bell restaurants. GDK global chief executive Imran Sayeed said: “The US offers a huge opportunity for GDK and we are excited to embark on an aggressive growth strategy for the region. Our idea of a gourmet kebab that is healthy and nutritionally balanced has truly resonated with consumers and our ambition is to disrupt and open up a new area of the fast-casual market place. We are looking forward to our first opening in Texas and working closely with Tanweer in his development area to bring the GDK experience to the US consumer.” Ahmed added: “GDK is a disruptive fast-casual concept that has been a phenomenal hit with consumers in Europe and the Middle East. I’m excited to partner with it and utilise all our shared expertise and infrastructure to launch and grow GDK in key development areas, including Houston, Dallas and Las Vegas.” GDK currently operates sites in the UK, Sweden, Dubai, Abu-Dhabi, Oman and Bahrain. In March, the company revealed it had signed a franchise agreement with Ajlan & Bros Group to open 100 stores in Saudi Arabia during the next ten years.

Mission Mars to launch Albert’s Schloss sister site, in Liverpool: Mission Mars, the north west-based operator behind Albert’s Schloss and Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza, is to open Albert’s Schenke, the latest addition to its Bier Palace & Cook Haus concept, in Liverpool this summer. The venue will launch at the former Hub Alehouse & Kitchen site, which the group acquired earlier this year. The venue is in the grade II-listed Casartelli Building on the corner of Hanover Street. Albert’s Schenke takes its name from Queen Victoria’s consort Prince Albert and “schenke”, a German term for pub or tavern. It will be a sister site to the award-winning and hugely popular Albert’s Schloss, which Mission Mars launched in Manchester at the end of 2015. Hub Alehouse & Kitchen was sold on a leasehold basis off an asking price of £750,000 through agent Christie & Co. The venue became the 12th site for Mission Mars at the time and second in Liverpool. Earlier this week it was revealed the group will expand Rudy’s to Birmingham. The company will launch an 85-cover venue this summer at a site in Bennetts Hill that was formerly occupied by Spanish restaurant Amantia. Rudy’s opened its debut site in Ancoats, Manchester, in 2015 and has added a site in the city’s Peter Street and a venue in Liverpool. The business was acquired by Mission Mars in 2017.

Leon to strengthen Roadchef partnership: Healthy fast food chain Leon is to strengthen its roadside presence by opening a third site in partnership with motorway services operator Roadchef. The company will open a site at Rownhams services on the M27 near Southampton next month. Leon launched a partnership with Roadchef in 2017, opening sites in the Norton Canes services on the M6 and in Strensham South services on the M5. Leon will open its first roadside site in partnership with Extra Services later this summer at the new Leeds Skelton Lake services on the M1. Leon will join brands including Starbucks, Burger King, KFC, Upper Crust, Urban Express, Harry Ramsden and PizzaExpress at the new £60m services. SSP has been contracted for a number of leases. Simon Smith, chief executive of SSP UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be working jointly with Extra MSA Group to bring a fantastic portfolio of brands to the new Leeds Skelton Lake MSA food court. There will be something for everyone and we look forward to opening.” Propel revealed earlier this year that Leon plans to open up to 30 sites in the next 12 months. The company is looking to open between ten and 15 company-owned outlets and a “similar number” with franchise partners as it continues to see “huge demand” for new restaurants, especially in London. A further site in central London, in Notting Hill Gate, is scheduled to open this month.

My Million Pound Menu winner Baba G’s to open debut permanent site, in Camden this month: Indian-inspired street food trader Baba G’s, which gained £300,000 funding from Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochar on the BBC’s My Million Pound Menu, is to open its debut permanent site, at Camden Market. Alec Owen and Liz Selway have been operating Baba G’s for the past ten years as a pop-up at Pop Brixton, Camden Market and a site it launched at Flat Iron Square last month. Now Owen and Selway have agreed a deal with Camden Market’s owner LabTech for a permanent site in the revitalised North Yard. The new 50-cover restaurant will launch on Friday, 24 May and open seven days a week. It will feature an open butchery, with burgers made from scratch. There will also be a large open kitchen, marble counter dining and a shorter menu for takeaway options available through a hatch. Although the new venture is Owen and Selway’s, they will receive mentoring from Kochhar and fellow My Million Pound Menu judge Jamie Barber, of Hush Brasserie. Alongside the regular Baba G’s dishes such as chicken tikka nuggets and bhangra burgers, the venue will offer new small plates and a children’s menu. Drinks will be Indian-inspired and spiced using cardamom and chai, with a cocktail menu focusing on the old fashioned and spiced rum. Selway said: "We have been in search of the perfect bricks and mortar site after our success on My Million Pound Menu and we're pleased to be part of Camden Market's current revitalisation and opening our first sit-down restaurant within the North Yard. When the opportunity arose to see our brand grow further, Camden offered the energy and reflected the ethos of the Baba G experience.” Maggie Milosavljevic, LabTech food and beverage commercial director, added: “Baba G’s popularity has shone through following more than a decade of street food service, right up to being a winner of the Million Pound Menu. The brand now has the opportunity to open up a dine-in restaurant and our North Yard redevelopment really fit the bill for this type of operation.” LabTech acted on behalf North Yard, while Baba G’s represented itself.

Camile Thai reveals London expansion plans as it prepares to open six more Irish restaurants: Dublin-based, healthy food delivery company Camile Thai has revealed plans for further sites in London as it prepares to open six restaurants around Ireland. The company will open outlets in Naas, Greystones and Navan as well as three more in Dublin, creating 120 jobs. Camile Thai has more than 20 restaurants in Ireland and the UK, including four in London, with ten more in the pipeline. The company stated: “Camile’s fast-growing franchise has ambitious plans to develop further in Ireland and then further afield, including in London. Home delivery of hot food is exploding in urban areas around the world, driven by the rise of food aggregators such as Deliveroo and Just Eat.” Camile Thai marketing manager Daniel Greene told News Talk: “We are now offering franchises across Ireland and experiencing a lot of interest in our brand. With some of our Irish branches exceeding sales of €35,000 (£30,190) per week, this is a significant and serious opportunity for the right type of operator.”

Indian restaurant operator opens sixth site: Indian restaurant operator Shah Hussain has opened his sixth site, in the Worcestershire village of Cutnall Green, near Droitwich. Hussain has launched Entouraj in a former pub in Kidderminster Road following a six-figure loan from Lloyds Bank. The restaurant aims to “blend traditional Indian recipes with modern flavours”. Hussain told The Business Desk: “I have always loved cooking and it had been a dream of mine to own my own restaurant so to open my sixth is a real milestone moment. We were first attracted to Cutnall Green as the area is so beautiful and, when we saw the building in Kidderminster Road, we knew there was a lot we could do to give it a luxury but cosy atmosphere.” Hussain’s portfolio includes restaurants in Gaydon in Warwickshire, Leicester and Oxford.

Megan’s launches fifth south London site, in Battersea: Megan’s, the south London-based cafe and deli concept owned by Tossed founder Vincent McKevitt, has opened its fifth site in the capital, at the Battersea Power Station development. The dog-friendly cafe concept focuses on all-day brunch, switching to dishes such as pan kebabs, charcuterie boards and home-made baklava in the evening. Earlier this year, Propel learned the company was looking to raise circa £6m with the goal of operating 17 sites by the end of 2021. Megan’s other sites are in Fulham, Parsons Green, Balham and Clapham and the company is believed to have exchanged on a sixth site, which is expected to launch in Wimbledon this summer. Megan’s is understood to be on track to deliver full-year turnover of circa £7m and Ebitda of about £2m. In February, the company appointed Ryan Jacovides, former managing director of Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group and chief operating officer of No 1 Lounges, as managing director. Megan’s was founded in 2004 as a daytime cafe in King’s Road and was acquired by McKevitt in 2014. 

Bao launches third London site, featuring karaoke room and grab-and-go hatch: London-based Taiwanese restaurant Bao has opened its third venue in the capital, in Borough Market. The venue differs from its sister sites in Soho and Fitzrovia by featuring a karaoke room and grab-and-go hatch. The karaoke room lies below the new restaurant and offers cocktail pitchers and beer buckets alongside fried and grilled karaoke platters with dishes such as chilli chicken wings, Xinjiang mushroom and Taiwanese sausage, Hot Dinners reports. There are also three new bao on offer, a late-night noodle menu and more dishes inspired by late-night grills such as beef meatball with fried egg and Borough curry. The venue also features a Suntory Hi-Ball machine that serves whisky and soda and a hi-ball menu with a “quirky combination of flavours”.

Salisbury-based operator takes on third pub: Salisbury-based operator Jason Schinkel has taken on his third pub. Schinkel has reopened The Horse & Groom in the Hampshire village of Woodgreen, near Fordingbridge. The pub, which had been closed since September, has undergone a complete refurbishment, with a new kitchen, decor and furniture. Schinkel told the Salisbury Journal he wants The Horse & Groom to be a “destination food place” offering “more upmarket, pub-style food”. He has brought in Peter Goodridge-Reynolds, who has worked with Raymond Blanc, as head chef. Schinkel also runs the Bat & Ball in Breamore and the Radnor Arms in Salisbury.

Former Bob Bob Ricard executive chef launches debut restaurant, in Chelsea: Former Bob Bob Ricard executive chef Anna Haugh has launched her debut restaurant, in Chelsea. Myrtle is a modern European restaurant with an Irish influence. The 40-cover site is split across two floors, with a downstairs bar and mezzanine. Haugh, who has also worked in London with Philip Howard, Shane Osborne and Gordon Ramsay, has created a menu that includes dishes such as beef wellington and whole roasted sole. The restaurant’s name is a homage to Myrtle Allen, former head chef at Ireland’s Ballymaloe House hotel and restaurant, who is Haugh’s culinary hero. Bruce Gillingham Pollard acted on behalf of Haugh to secure the site.

Greater Manchester-based Indian restaurant to open third site, in Bowdon: Greater Manchester-based Indian restaurant Sangam is to open its third site, in Bowdon. Owner Mohammad Salim will launch the venue on Friday (10 May) at a site in Richmond Road that was formerly occupied by Indian restaurant Swadesh, which shut last year, reports Altrincham Today. The 120-cover Sangam restaurant will offer authentic modern Indian food and be managed by Nitya Pathak, who has previously managed Sri Lankan-inspired Sigiriya in Hale and Indian restaurant Rasassi in Altrincham. Sangam’s other outlets are in Portland Street, Manchester, and Wilmslow Road, Didsbury.

MasterChef winner opens Hello Darling in Waterloo: Natalie Coleman, who won the BBC’s MasterChef programme in 2013, has opened a restaurant in London’s Waterloo. Hello Darling has launched at the former Waterloo Bar & Kitchen site next to the Old Vic theatre and features an “eclectic tapas” menu. The venture is a collaboration with Darling and Edge – the design studio behind arts venue The Vaults, which is based 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.

Northumberland-based cafe concept opens third site: Northumberland-based cafe concept The Running Fox has opened its third site. Founder Kris Blackburn, who operates sites in Felton and Longframlington, has expanded to Shilbottle. The venue has opened on the site of the Farriers Arms. It offers seating for 50 diners and includes a retail area that stocks local produce. Most of the items on the menu including pies, quiche, cakes and scones are made daily at the company’s bakery, which is now housed at the Shilbottle site, reports Chronicle Live.

Greene King to close Cheshire village pub: Brewer and retailer Greene King has decided to close its pub in the Cheshire village of Dunham Hill. The company said it would shut The Wheatsheaf in Chester Road in three weeks’ time. A spokesman told Cheshire Live: “As a leading pub operator and brewer we are committed to running high-quality community pubs. To be able to continue to invest in our estate, from time to time we have to make difficult decisions and, after much consideration, we have decided to close The Wheatsheaf. Our team at the pub is aware of the situation and we are working closely to find positions for as many people as possible at other Greene King pubs in the area. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers who visited over the years.”

Lake District hotel goes on market for £2.5m: A hotel beside Bassenthwaite Lake, near Cockermouth in Cumbria, has gone on the market with a guide price of £2.5m. Set within seven acres of grounds, The Pheasant Inn offers 15 en-suite bedrooms and a three-bedroom manager’s house. It also features two AA rosette restaurant The Fell and another eatery, The Bistro. Savills, acting jointly with JLL, has brought the venue’s freehold to the market on behalf of a private client. Tom Cunningham, hotels director at Savills, told Insider Media: “The Pheasant Inn presents a fantastic opportunity for someone to acquire a historic property in one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations with genuine opportunities to further enhance the facilities and increase revenue.” Neil Milligan, associate at JLL, added: “Opportunities to acquire freehold assets such as this in the Lake District appear all too infrequently. The Pheasant Inn will allow the incoming investor a unique opportunity to capitalise on this iconic location and add value to this long-established business.”

West African and eastern European fusion restaurant opens in Mayfair: A restaurant that fuses west African and eastern European cuisine has opened in Mayfair. Michael Adjovi Kalu and Nadina Grigoras have launched Stork in Cork Street. The restaurant offers 120 covers across two floors and features stork-themed memorabilia. The story behind the concept follows a stork on its flight from Europe to Africa, while the food is inspired by the founders’ national cuisines. Kalu said: “Little is known about west African or eastern European cuisine and Stork brings these flavours to London.” Chef Adebola Adeshina, who has worked for Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, heads Stork’s kitchen and menu development.

Drake & Morgan launches wellness series at The Allegory: Drake & Morgan, the London-based bar and restaurant group backed by Bowmark Capital, is offering a series of weekly mindfulness and wellness sessions at The Allegory in London. The group has teamed up with The London Essence Company for the events, which will take place until Wednesday, 31 July. They include FitBEAT, Boxercise, Zumba, Bootcamp and Train Body Brain as well as yoga. Each guest will receive a goodie bag containing a yoga mat and a scented candle featuring fruit and botanicals used in drinks made by The London Essence Company.

Cheltenham-based cafe and gelateria looks to Gloucester for second site: Cheltenham-based cafe and gelateria Clementine is looking to open a second site, in Gloucester. Owners Andrew and Deborah Thomas have submitted plans to the city council to open a venue in Westgate Street at a site formerly occupied by Raging Bull clothing store. The Thomas’ launched Clementine in Cheltenham last month and previously ran The Swallow Bakery in Imperial Square, which shut last month as the building was due to be refurbished, reports Punchline Gloucester. A planning statement submitted with the application reads: “Our intention is to invest in the site to open an artisan bakery and tea rooms. We would provide a facility that isn’t adequately provided for at present. All our cakes, bread and other goods will be baked on the premises.”

TGI Friday’s and Nando’s to open restaurants at Antrim leisure park: TGI Friday’s and Nando’s are to open restaurants at The Junction Retail and Leisure Park in Antrim. The restaurant brands will launch their venues towards the end of the year. Construction on the units is due to start shortly and is part of the latest phase of a £30m redevelopment at the complex. Craig Stewart, of Lotus Property, which owns The Junction, told the Belfast Telegraph: “From our initial outline planning approval in December 2017, we have worked behind the scenes to push ongoing generation at the site. This has brought new retailers such as McDonald’s, Intersport, Bonmarche and Beauty Outlet.”

Restaurant advisory firm appoints Jonathan Doughty as senior external advisor: Restaurant and hospitality advisory firm WhiteSpace Partners has appointed Jonathan Doughty as a senior external advisor to the company. Doughty is a director and global head of foodservice, leisure and place-making at ECE Projektmanagement, based in Germany. He is also founder of foodservice and leisure real estate consultancy Coverpoint, which is now JLL Foodservice Consulting. As a senior external advisor, Doughty will complement the WhiteSpace Partners team of former Vapiano executive board member Mario C Bauer, Vincent Mourre, Guillaume Rochette and Alexander Eberl by providing strategic guidance and advice based on his unique knowledge of the foodservice industry. Mourre, who is chief executive of WhiteSpace Partners, said: “I am delighted by Jonathan’s decision to provide us with strategic, external advice and guidance, not only for his exceptional industry know-how but his outstanding people skills. Our long-standing close relationship with Jonathan will be strengthened even further by this appointment.” Doughty said: “I hope to be able to influence and guide companies into new markets I know well. This will result in new tenants and operators wanting locations in our market place and expanding the choice and variety for our guests globally.”