Greggs sees scope for all stores to open until at least 7pm, expanding food-led coffee shop format, no coronavirus impact ‘yet’: Roger Whiteside, chief executive of food to go retailer Greggs, has said there’s scope for every store in its estate to open until at least 7pm as the company looks to make further inroads into the evening market. The company began trialling longer hours in the second half of last year, with 100 sites opening until 9pm. Responding to a question from Propel during a media conference call following Greggs’ full-year results, Whiteside said it had seen good growth in afternoon and evening trade during the trial. He added: “At the moment our stores tend to close at 6pm at the latest. We will look to widen the number of shops that open later where appropriate – such as travel hubs and areas with a strong night-time economy. We won’t do it all in one go and they won’t all be until 9pm but we think eventually every shop could open until at least 7pm.” Whiteside also said having overtaken Starbucks to become the third most popular brand for coffee in the UK behind Costa and McDonald’s, it was looking to add to its 160 food-led coffee shops, where sales on average were higher than a conventional Greggs. Responding to a question from Propel, Whiteside said these were outlets with at least 25 seats and expansion would be through new sites and extending existing outlets. He added: “Given we offer good coffee and food and value for money, why wouldn’t we want to expand that winning formula?” When asked by Propel about acquiring another brand, Whiteside acknowledged the idea was in the company’s thoughts – but not before 2025. He added: “We are growing well and excited about our ‘next generation’ Greggs as we look to expand with more sites across multi formats and through multi-channels such as click-and-collect and delivery – but there are no immediate plans.” Regarding international expansion, Whiteside said: “We have more than 2,000 shops and the next milestone is 2,500. We think we can add 100 a year for the foreseeable future. There’s plenty of opportunity. For example, there are 8,500 petrol forecourts in the UK and we’re only in 250.” Whiteside said the company would also begin its five-strong concessions trial with Asda in the “next few weeks”, while it was in talks with other supermarkets about similar opportunities. He said the company had yet to see any impact from the coronavirus outbreak but admitted the situation would change if people weren’t able to travel as much, while the company would pay staff who had to self-isolate. February’s storms, however, did hit trading, with a Cardiff branch having to close because of flooding. Whiteside said the company continued to see strong sales from its vegan range, with sales up 10% year-on-year in January. He added almost one-quarter (24%) of its customers had tried a vegan product with only 15% of those considering themselves vegan. Of the 24%, 14% were new Greggs customers. Staff will receive their annual 10% bonus in March, adding to the £7m payout made in January following a “phenomenal year”. Whiteside said employees would share £20m in total. Looking ahead, Whiteside said: “We have seen six years of unbroken growth and we’re excited about our prospects as we develop the next generation of Greggs.”  

New speaker joins Delivery Conference line-up, open for bookings: A new speaker has been added to The Delivery Conference line-up. The UK’s leading dessert parlour operator Creams, which has more than 90 sites in the UK and opened 21 last year, will discuss the challenges and considerations of delivery working within a franchised business model. The conference takes place at Painters Hall in Little Trinity Lane, London, on Tuesday, 21 April and is open for bookings. The ground-breaking event will cover all aspects of this fast-growing sector, offering expertise, ideas and insights. Other speakers are NPD Group foodservice director Dominic Allport; Robin Himmels, of Eatclever; Just Eat UK head of strategic accounts Amy Heather; AlixPartners US director Eric Dzwonczyk and UK counterpart Steve Braude; Susan Martindale, group HR director at Mitchells & Butlers; Tortilla chief executive Richard Morris; and Nigel Sherwood, UK managing director of Wagamama. Meanwhile, Alasdair Murdoch, chief executive of Burger King UK, will talk to Propel insights editor Mark Wingett about early adoption of delivery during his time at Gourmet Burger Kitchen, challenges and opportunities, and how delivery is working for Burger King. Deliveroo director of national accounts Matt Ring will talk to Mark Wingett about how the business continues to innovate, its use of data to create virtual brands and the challenges it faces to stay ahead. A panel featuring Macro Foods founder Kirsty-Lee Griffiths, Crosstown Doughnuts’ JP Then, Yard Sale Pizza founder Johnnie Tate, and Bababoom founder Eve Bugler will discuss launching, operating and growing in a delivery-focused world. Tickets to the event cost £295 for Propel Premium members, £345 for operators and £395 for suppliers. Email anne.steele@propelinfo.com

Stonegate completes £3bn deal for Ei Group: Stonegate Pub Company has completed its £3bn acquisition of Ei Group. The deal sees Stonegate buy circa 4,000-strong Ei Group for 285p a share, a 38.5% premium to the closing price of 205.8p per share the day before the deal was announced in July. The acquisition valued Ei Group’s entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital at about £1.27bn. The terms of the acquisition implied an enterprise value of £2.97bn and a multiple of about 11.4 times Ei Group’s underlying Ebitda of £261m for the financial year ended 30 September 2018, adjusted for the disposal of 370 commercial properties. As previously reported, the new-look business is led by Stonegate chief executive Simon Longbottom. His Ei Group counterpart, Simon Townsend, has stepped down along with chairman Robert Walker, chief financial officer Neil Smith, group strategy retail director James Croft and non-executive directors Adam Fowle, Marisa Cassoni, Peter Baguley and Jane Bednall. Legal counsel and company secretary Loretta Togher will depart at the end of May while group commercial director Paul Harbottle and group HR director Andy Holness will support the integration programme, before also leaving the business. Ei Publican Partnerships managing director Nick Light will remain in charge of the group’s leased and tenanted business unit.

Total beer sales rise 1.1% in 2019 to more than eight billion pints: Total beer sales increased 1.1% in 2019, the equivalent of more than eight billion pints, according to the latest Beer Barometer sales data from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA). The growth followed an exceptionally strong 2018, which saw the biggest year-on-year increase in beer sales for 45 years following good weather, a royal wedding and the Fifa World Cup. The growth in 2019 equates to an extra 87 million pints of beer sold compared with 2018, which will have boosted the treasury by £57m. The BBPA said the decision by former chancellor Philip Hammond to freeze beer duty in his October 2018 Budget was a key factor in the growth of beer sales in 2019 and it warned any increase in next week’s Budget would “stifle” that growth. The BBPA is calling on new chancellor Rishi Sunak to implement a 2% cut in beer duty, which could create 4,700 more jobs in the sector compared with an RPI increase, according to analysis by Oxford Economics. BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “Beer sales increasing is clearly good news for our sector. However, this growth will be stifled if the government goes ahead with its planned increase to Beer Duty on 11 March. Rishi Sunak has a fantastic opportunity to nurture this growth by cutting beer duty in his Budget. Pubs and brewers have an overwhelmingly positive impact, not just on the UK economy but socially and culturally across the UK. It’s important the chancellor supports them.”

UKHospitality reiterates call for parity clause ban: UKHospitality has repeated its calls to ban the use of parity clauses by online travel agents (OTAs). The move follows a study by Which? Travel that found hotel rooms could be booked cheaper direct in 80% of cases than through OTAs. Parity clauses stop accommodation businesses from advertising rooms directly at the same price as those listed online. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “This data reiterates what we have been saying for a long time – parity clauses don’t favour consumers and take commercial power away from hotels. They have been banned in other European countries and should be banned in the UK.”

BrewDog sees like-for-like sales soar across bar estate driven by alcohol-free beer: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has reported large increases in like-for-like sales at its bars around the globe in 2020 driven by the success of alcohol-free beer, which is commanding up to 10% of total beer sales in a “number of bars”. January like-for-like sales increased 15.8%, while there was a 7.1% jump in February. The results have led BrewDog to state it will dedicate three permanent taps to alcohol-free beer across its estate. Retail director James Brown told Propel: “We have been really pleased with our retail business’ trading performance during the first few months of 2020. So far we have outperformed our expectations in our established UK and European bars as well as our recent openings in Dublin, Brisbane and Cincinnati. We are particularly pleased with February’s performance as we saw significant challenges with the numerous named storms and Valentine’s Day falling on a Friday. A large contributing factor to this performance has been the uptake and success of alcohol-free beer within our own retail estate. Even after the consumer health buzz in January died down, we saw our alcohol-free beer sales’ momentum continue, with this category now commanding up to 10% of total beer sales in a number of our bars. Based on this consumer demand data we are now committing three permanent taps to alcohol-free beer across our global bar estate.” Earlier this week BrewDog was ranked the second most-recommended beer and cider brand in the UK by YouGov’s BrandIndex. BrewDog scored 82.6% in the poll, beaten only by Scottish rival Innis & Gunn (83.1%).

Authentic Alehouses’ secured creditor amends strategy and agrees to sell one closed pub, all four trading sites profitable: Crowdstacker, the secured creditor of Authentic Alehouses, has amended its strategy to continue operating its pubs and carry out refurbishments while the properties remain in administration, Propel has learned. The company had previously agreed a deal to buy the seven-strong pub estate out of administration for £3m but has changed its approach because the move would “generate an upfront tax liability that would ultimately diminish investors’ return”. Crowdstacker also said the four trading pubs – The Albert Hotel in Hull, the Countess of Rosse in Shipley, The Fountain Inn in Barnoldswick and The Ponty Tavern in Pontefract – were now all profitable. Meanwhile it has agreed to accept an offer for one of the closed pubs, The Wakey Tavern in Wakefield, with the return “in excess of the valuations stated previously”. In an email to investors, seen by Propel, Crowdstacker said: “After considering legal and tax advice, we have decided purchasing the pubs out of administration would generate an upfront tax liability, which would ultimately diminish investors’ return. Therefore, to avoid this reduction to the potential investors’ return, we have amended our strategy slightly by taking an alternative route and agreeing with the administrators to continue operating the pubs and conduct the refurbishment while the properties stay in administration. To facilitate this we have agreed to an extension of the administration for a further 12 months. We are in discussions with potential tenants to take on long-term lease agreements that would make the pubs more attractive for sale.” The remaining two sites – the Crown Inn in Addingham and The Red Lion in Driffield – remain closed. Allan Harper-led Authentic Alehouses entered administration in March 2019 despite raising £6.4m in peer-to-peer loans via Crowdstacker. Simon Bonney and Michael Kiely, of Quantuma, were appointed joint administrators. Authentic Alehouses launched in July 2017 with a £5m crowdfunding campaign on Crowdstacker that was later doubled. Harper also led Burning Night Group, which went into administration in October 2019 after raising £7.5m on the same platform. Two months later, Burning Night Group was bought out of administration by a special purpose vehicle created by turnaround specialist Access Commercial Finance, which was a secured creditor of Burning Night Group.

Morso to start expansion this week, reassesses roll-out timescale: Pasta and grappa concept Morso is about to open its second site, while the company has reassessed the timescale of its expansion plans. The company will launch the venue in Kensal Rise on Saturday (7 March) at a site in Chamberlayne Road formerly occupied by Italian restaurant Rullo’s. The new Morso will offer 46 covers, with 20 more on a patio to the rear. Morso has raised £200,000 from private investors and through the Angel Investment Network to fund the opening. The restaurant will initially open for dinner only before a full launch on Saturday, 14 March. Morso opened its debut site in St John’s Wood in June 2018 following a series of pop-ups. Propel understands Morso is still looking to grow to ten sites but expects expansion to take a bit longer than first anticipated given current market conditions. It’s thought Morso will concentrate on its two sites for the rest of the year before looking to launch another fund-raise in 2021 towards a third site. The company is believed to be aiming to build clusters of sites in outlying areas of each corner of London. Morso is the brainchild of former Jamie’s Italian and Carluccio’s chef Paolo Vernetti who, along with Vanessa Vaz, Barak Peled and Barry McCaughley, has created a concept that combines fresh pasta and small Italian bites with grappa-based cocktails. Rullo’s was founded by Salvatore Rullo, who also operated the now closed Rullo’s Pizzeria in Camden.

Simple Health Kitchen passes £1m mark in fund-raise to open ten delivery hubs: London-based healthy eating concept Simple Health Kitchen has passed the £1m mark in its fund-raise on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube. The company, founded by former Newcastle Falcons rugby player Bradley Hill, was aiming to raise £750,000 – offering 7.48% equity in return for investment, giving the business a pre-money valuation of £10m. So far, 310 investors have pledged £1,009,230 and the campaign continues to “overfund” with 17 days remaining. Funds will be used to open eight to ten delivery hubs around London. Hill founded Simple Health Kitchen after a life-threatening illness forced him to focus his attention on diet and nutrition. Having opened a site in Watling Street in St Paul’s, he has added two more quick service restaurants in the capital, in Baker Street and King William Street in the City of London, and two delivery kitchens. The pitch states: “Since opening we have been growing revenues at 50% per year. We now have more than £240,000 average monthly revenues and a 12% Ebitda margin. Group revenue for the past 12 months was £2.9m (Ebitda £357,000). The company is debt-free. We are much more than a healthy restaurant. We plan to open eight to ten delivery hubs around London allowing almost anyone to order food from Simple within 30 minutes. We are also increasing our healthcare focus and we’re in the process of launching an innovative meal subscription plan, which will be directed primarily to nutritionists, doctors and personal trainers.”

Sukho Group to convert Sukhothai in Headingley for fifth Zaap Thai site: Sukho Group is to convert its Sukhothai site in Headingley, Leeds, to its street food brand Zaap Thai. The venue in St Annes Road will close on Sunday, 22 March to reopen in mid-April as Zaap’s fifth site. The restaurant will feature Zaap touches such as graffiti, tuk-tuk booths and neon lighting with more than 80 Thai street food dishes. Sukho Group founder Ban Kaewkraikhot said: “In the 13 years since we launched Sukhothai Headingley, we’ve seen our industry evolve in a rapid way. We believe the time is right for Sukhothai Headingley to undergo a rebrand. We have seen a move away from traditional dining, with more and more diners wanting a casual dining experience. We are thankful to our loyal customers at Sukhothai Headingley and hope to see them embrace the new, casual and fun dining experience that’s Zaap.” Sukho Group opened its first Zaap Thai in Leeds in 2015, followed by Nottingham, Newcastle and York. The conversion will leave the company with three Sukhothai restaurants – two in Leeds and one in Harrogate. In August, Propel reported Sukho Group was being supported by four new directors following a partial management buyout. 

Northumberland-based baker Glenton’s secures funds to open tenth site: Northumberland-based Glenton’s Bakery has secured funding from Barclays to open its tenth site in the county, in Blythe. Founded in 2006, Glenton’s Bakery has already used some of the funding to invest in new kit and equipment. Turnover for the business is expected to reach £1.5m for 2020, while the business employs more than 50 people. Managing director Keith Glenton told Insider Media: “We have scaled up the business at pace and decided we had the capacity to launch an outlet in Blythe. We’ve also invested in new machinery, which makes our operation a lot more efficient and environmentally responsible. We’re delighted Barclays has recognised our potential and supported our growth plans.” Jessica Cowan, relationship manager at Barclays, added: “Having the ability to grow at scale and pace is crucial for high-growth businesses and this funding package will provide them with sufficient capital and liquidity to expand their offering and increase their capacity.” 

Windsor & Eton Brewery opens fourth pub: Windsor & Eton Brewery has opened its fourth site, in Virginia Water, Surrey. The company has launched The Rose & Olive Branch in Callow Hill having secured the site’s leasehold. Windsor & Eton Brewery founder Will Calvert described the venue as a traditional country pub with a log fire and wooden pews serving fresh food and afternoon tea alongside the company’s beer range. Pub manager Pedro Cavaco said: “We have recruited a great team, including our head chef Natalie Terpilowska, to make The Rose & Olive Branch into a popular hub for the community.” The brewery, which holds a royal warrant, operates The George in Eton and The Old Court in Windsor as well as a taproom at its brewery on the Vansittart Estate in Windsor. It also has a minority stake in The Swan, a pub in the Clewer area of Windsor that is owned by the community.

Mindful Chef reports 165% sales surge amid coronavirus fears: Healthy recipe box startup Mindful Chef has reported a 165% surge in sales in the past week amid continuing fears over the coronavirus outbreak. The company said it had seen an uplift in sales across its entire range. Chief executive Tim Lee said: “The timing of this increase coincides with news from other countries affected by the coronavirus reporting an impact on the online food delivery sector. At this stage, we can only assume this is the start of something similar happening in the UK as we see increased consumer demand for online food services that offer home delivery.”

Crockers to double up with Henley opening next month: British seasonal food brand Crockers is to start expansion next month by opening a second site, in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. The venue will launch on Monday, 20 April at the former Loch Fyne restaurant in Market Place, which closed in May 2018 after almost two decades in the town. Crockers Henley will feature two 16-seat chef’s tables – The Thames Table and The Gardiner Table – a bar and grill, and seven rooms in The Quarters. Each chef’s table will have its own head chef, with guests able to watch them create dishes. The Thames Table will serve a seasonal British tasting menu, while The Gardener Table will feature a pan-Asian tasting experience. Both will offer a seven-course lunch and 12-course dinner. The Grill will offer a “more relaxed approach to drinking and dining”, while the bar will focus on cocktails and wine. The concept is the brainchild of chef and chief executive Luke Garnsworthy, who opened the debut Crockers restaurant in Tring in spring 2018. He said: “We are incredibly excited about our new home in Henley-on-Thames. After working on this project for more than a year with operations director Ian Churchill, excitement is reaching fever pitch as we near our launch date. We couldn’t wish for a more beautiful location in such a wonderful town.”

Buzzworks reveals more details of Linlithgow site: Scottish bar and restaurant operator Buzzworks Holdings has revealed more details of how The Bridge Inn in Linlithgow will look when it reopens in the summer following a major redevelopment. The east coast venue will feature a bar, restaurant, private dining room and courtyard, which Buzzworks will manage as part of its House collection. The relaunch will create 35 jobs. The Bridge Inn, which was vacant when Buzzworks, acquired it, is a former coaching inn that dates to 1660. The company said renovation works had involved a significant investment to restore the historic building while modernising it. Buzzworks Holdings chairman Colin Blair said: “It has been great to breathe new life into this historic building and create a contemporary venue. The Bridge Inn is a fantastic addition to our growing portfolio and will be a great asset to the Linlithgow community.” Buzzworks Holdings manages 12 venues in Scotland and at the weekend was ranked on The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies To Work For list for a fifth successive year. Last month managing director Kenny Blair told Propel like-for-likes were up in its current financial year, with turnover set to exceed £20m. He said the company had three projects in the pipeline as it continued to add to its estate.

Surrey-based Indian fine dining restaurant Saffron Summer to open second site, in Reigate: Surrey-based Indian fine dining restaurant Saffron Summer is to start expansion by opening a second site in the county, in Reigate. The venue will launch on Tuesday, 24 March at a site in Church Street formerly occupied by The Clove restaurant. Showcasing Indian haute cuisine, the kitchen will be led by executive head chef Awanish Roy, who has worked in London’s Cinnamon Club, Roti Chai and Chai Ki restaurants. His menu will feature signature dishes such as Goan wild boar vindaloo, Keralan cod fish moily, and Indo-Chinese curry leaf calamari. At lunchtimes the restaurant will serve an “office friendly” express menu of light Anglo-Asian set meals, while the happy hour will feature Indian street snacks. On Sundays the venue will offer an Indian four-course roast. Owner Ralph Sousa said: “Many Chessington customers travelling from Reigate have been imploring us to open in the town – even alerting us to possible sites. I researched the area and loved the vibe. I’m convinced the locals will appreciate our unique modern take on classic regional dishes from the subcontinent.” The debut Saffron Summer opened in Chessington in 2018.

Bristol-based operator to double up by opening cafe and cocktail bar: Bristol-based operator Ian Johnson is set to open his second site. Johnson, who turned the Clifton Observatory into a cafe with a rooftop terrace, has bought the listed Wellhead building at Finzels Reach from developer Cubex. He plans to restore and transform the property, which forms part of the former Georges Brewery premises, into a cafe and cocktail bar that is due to open in May. Johnson told the Bristol Post: “We are delighted to launch The Wellhead, a cafe and cocktail bar in Finzels Reach, which will complement the fantastic restoration of other historic brewery buildings on the site.” The cafe and cocktail bar will join the ever-growing community at Finzels Reach, which includes Left Handed Giant Brewing, which is led by former BrewDog operations director Bruce Gray.

Merlin Entertainments shuts Alton Towers waterpark after visitors suffer eye and throat irritation: Merlin Entertainments has shut its water park at Alton Towers after 33 adults and six children were taken ill. Emergency services were called to the Staffordshire theme park after the group reported eye and throat problems. Alton Towers’ amusement park is shut for the winter break and is due to open at the end of March and, although the water park has been open during the winter, bosses shut the facility at 1pm on Monday (2 March). Medical staff assessed all 39 people on-site but they were all discharged with “no treatment required”, the park said. An Alton Towers spokesman said: “We are working with West Midlands Ambulance Service and Staffordshire Fire Brigade to investigate. All affected guests are being offered medical treatment and their tickets will be refunded or revalidated.”

Alcohol-free craft beer brewer Big Drop launches £500,000 crowdfunding campaign: Alcohol-free craft beer brewer Big Drop has launched a £500,000 fund-raise on crowdfunding platform Seedrs to support its expansion plans. The company, founded by Rob Fink and James Kindred in 2016, is offering 6.22% equity in return for the investment, which gives the company a pre-money valuation of more than £7.5m. The company said it had seen 150% year-on-year growth during the past three years to reach revenue of almost £900,000 in 2019, while it had already secured £1.3m in private funding. Big Drop has already invested in a decentralised production model in which it partners with breweries around the world to produce its beer. With the new investment, Big Drop will not only look to expand into the US and Australian markets but also across the UK. Fink said: “We started this company because our lifestyles had changed. James and I had recently become fathers and the lower-alcohol beer we wanted wasn’t there. We knew a lot of people felt the same way. We realised we could create not only the beer we wanted but a community of like-minded people too. We can increase customer awareness, build our capacity and expand our catchment area, especially on draught. With investment from people who love our beer, we can take them around the world.”

Edinburgh-based restaurateurs double up: Edinburgh-based restaurateurs Karen and Ruori Stewart have doubled up with a second opening in the Scottish capital. The couple, who operate The Apartment in the district of Bruntsfield, have acquired the lease of a site in Canongate that was formerly occupied by Mexican restaurant Pancho Villas. They have launched Chessel’s restaurant and bar, which offers dishes that combine “Scotland’s inspiring natural larder” with seasonal Mediterranean cuisine. Following a makeover to the venue, which is split across two levels, the 40-seat restaurant offers tapas-style food that changes with the seasons and main course dishes in taster-size portions. Ruori Stewart told The Scotsman: “We offer good food in a casual environment. The food is high class – but black tie it ain’t!”

Nando’s opens at former Frankie & Benny’s in Hartlepool: Nando’s has opened a restaurant in Hartlepool. The company has launched the venue at Anchor Retail Park after transforming the premises that previously housed The Restaurant Group brand Frankie & Benny’s. Alterations have included new glazing, cladding, hand-painted artwork panels and outside seating, reports the Hartlepool Mail. Hartlepool Borough Council granted planning permission to Nando’s in October after Frankie & Benny’s closed in September 2018.

Glasgow-based vegan concept Root Candy goes from pop-up to permanent in West End: Glasgow-based vegan concept Root Candy, which is a regular at food events throughout the city, has secured its debut bricks and mortar site. Root Candy will take over a site in Partick that housed delicatessen Gather By Zique ahead of an opening this month. Root Candy has been a firm favourite at Glasgow events for some time, Glasgow Live reports. The company stated on its Facebook page: “It is time for Glasgow to finally get a taste of our all natural, all fresh vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Opening soon in Hyndland Street in the West End – the wait is almost over!” Root Candy’s menu includes Kentucky fried celeriac burgers with truffle mayo

Miss Millie’s Fried Chicken to upsize in Weston: South west-based operator Miss Millie’s Fried Chicken is to relocate its Weston-super-Mare restaurant to a much larger site. The restaurant will move from Locking Road to a former Co-operative Bank branch on the corner of Alexandra Parade and Regent Street on Monday, 24 March. The site lies within the Great Weston Conservation area and will be part of the pedestrianised zone in the council’s £5.3m revamp of the Somerset resort’s town centre, the Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury reports. In May 2019, Miss Millie’s Fried Chicken secured new funding as it set its sights on further expansion. The company, which was founded in 1988 by Harry Latham, who with Ray Allen opened the first Kentucky Fried Chicken store outside North America in 1965, secured new funding from HBM Investments. At the same time, the company appointed Carl Traill, former director of Burger King UK, as managing director. As well as the Weston-super-Mare site, Miss Millie’s, which has been run by the Latham family for 40 years, operates seven sites in and around Bristol. Its two venues in Cardiff closed in 2018.