Jamie Oliver Restaurants plans 18-plus international openings in 2022, in talks on US launch: Jamie Oliver Restaurants is planning to open 18-plus sites across the globe this year, and is exploring new partnerships in the US, Propel has learned. The chef’s company, which operates the Jamie’s Italian and Jamie Oliver’s Pizzeria concepts opened ten new sites in 2021, ending the year with 60 restaurants, with 13 partners in 21 countries. The company said: “We're delighted the majority of our portfolio is open with sites performing beyond expectations and some even outperforming pre-pandemic numbers. 2022 is looking very promising with 18-plus openings already planned across Brazil, Cyprus, Portugal, India and the Middle East. We’re also exploring potential new partnerships across the Netherlands, Germany and US.” The company has begun this year with opening a new Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria in Hyderabad, India, bring the total number of sites trading under Oliver's name in the country to 15. The first Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria opened in India in 2015 with franchise partner Dolomite. Oliver has continued to grow his international business, which is overseen by Ed Loftus, since the collapse of his UK restaurant arm in 2019. Last year, Oliver said he plans to open new restaurants, including a new version of his not-for-profit restaurant concept Fifteen. Last week, it was revealed Oliver recouped £1.75m from the collapse of his restaurant business, but suppliers who were owed millions will get a fraction of that. The chef closed 22 of his Jamie’s Italian restaurants with the loss of 1,000 jobs in May 2019 after profits plunged as customers stayed away. The business, Jamie’s Italian, owed around £83m when it went bust. Oliver ploughed in about £15m of his own money, and now £1.75m will be paid to his holding company, Jamie Oliver Holdings. 

Latest edition of Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book now available to Premium subscribers: The latest edition of the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, which is produced in association with Mapal Group, is now available to Premium subscribers. A further 48 companies have been added, taking the number of UK pub, restaurant, cafe and hotel operators featured to 507. It also features group editor Mark Wingett’s next quarterly pick of the companies well-placed to grow in the post-pandemic era. His latest pick of companies are Brakspear, Simmons Bars, Hub Box, Park Holidays, Vaulkhard Leisure, Hostmore, QFM Group, Caprice Holdings and Ivy Collection. The picks are also accompanied by a 2,100-word report. The Blue Book, which is updated monthly, shows the full damage done to the sector by the pandemic, with 321 companies making a combined loss of £8.17bn compared with 186 companies in profit – making a combined £797m. Losses now outstrip profits in the sector ten times over. Total turnover of the companies stands at £28.5bn. The Blue Book provides a five-year overview of turnover and profit, ranking companies according to turnover, pre-tax profit and profit conversion. It also provides details of directors’ earnings and highest paid directors. Premium subscribers also receive two other databases – the New Openings Database, produced in association with StarStock, and the Multi-Site Operators Database, produced in association with Virgate, which are also updated each month. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £895 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £445 plus VAT for operators and £545 plus VAT for suppliers. Email jo.charity@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription. Subscribers also receive access to Propel’s library of lockdown videos and Friday Wrap interviews and now also have access to a curated video library of the sector’s finest leaders and entrepreneurs, offering their insights on running outstanding businesses in the sector. Premium subscribers also receive their morning newsletter 11 hours early, at 7pm the evening before our 6am send-out, regular video content and regular exclusive columns from Mark Wingett.

Alastair Storey – working from home guidance and not Omicron is main issue crippling the sector: The government's working from home guidance – not Omicron – is the main issue crippling the hospitality sector and has seen some venues suffer a 60% loss in bookings, according to Alastair Storey, chief executive of Westbury Street Holdings. Ministers are coming under intense pressure to remove the policy following fresh evidence the latest covid wave is subsiding. Storey, whose company employs 19,000 employees and includes deli and catering company Benugo, said he expected “a very rapid recovery” if workers are allowed to return to the office. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: “Although we've got a 5% rate of absence the real problem is the lack of footfall. If you look at city centres and travel locations you'll see footfall is well down, and that's a big challenge for the whole hospitality sector. We've got great staff ready to go. Clearly, the booster programme has had a positive effect and it's good to see the restrictions are easing. When we see people returning to work with government approval we should see a very rapid recovery for the economy.” The number of journeys taken by foot, on public transport and in cars is 32%, 22% and 20% higher consecutively than on 13 January last year, but the figures are still down compared with before working from home guidance came in. Asked how badly working from home had affected the business, he said: “It's been massive, in some places we've seen a 50% or 60% reduction in volumes. In rural or staycation areas places are doing well but it’s in city centre and travel areas where business has been particularly badly hit.” UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has called for England’s “Plan B” restrictions, which includes working from home, to be lifted before the end of the month. Chris Soley, chief executive of north east-based brewer and pub operator Camerons Brewery, backed her demands, tweeting: “Visiting London and Leeds this week and with working from home advice these cities are like ghost towns. Large corporations essential for city centre footfall that supports businesses, jobs and the economy will not let workers back until the guidance changes. Working from home rules must be reversed asap.”

UKHospitality Cymru calls on Welsh government to introduce new recovery fund to help sector bounce back from lifting of restrictions: UKHospitality Cymru has called on the Welsh government to introduce a new recovery fund for businesses to help the industry bounce back from the lifting of restrictions. First minster Mark Drakeford said from Friday, 28 January, nightclubs can reopen and hospitality will be allowed to operate normally, although covid passes will still be required for large events, plus cinemas, nightclubs and theatres. It comes as restrictions – imposed in the absence of any evidence-based justifications, UKHospitality Cymru said – significantly impacted trading over the commercially crucial festive period, with controls leading to a reduction in turnover of almost half. David Chapman, executive director of UKHospitality Cymru, said: “Businesses have been pushed to the brink and there has been a palpable collective sigh of relief at this news. Our gratitude is extended to the hundreds of businesses, large and small, which helped furnish UKHospitality Cymru with the financial data that helped to influence the Welsh government cabinet’s decision to speed up the lifting of restrictions. Hospitality is a cornerstone of communities across Wales and was a pre-pandemic economic powerhouse. It has been damaged but not downed and now needs a helping hand to support its long-term rebuild.” Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the Welsh Beer and Pub Association, added: “The ongoing support of the Welsh government will be important to make sure Welsh brewers and pubs bounce back as quickly as possible.”

Hospitality venues must 'up their social media game' to attract future guests: Hospitality venues need to go “beyond their four walls” in order to attract the next generation of guests, according to Ballie Ballerson marketing and PR manager Alysia Francis. Former pop-up Ballie currently operates as a single venue ballpit and cocktail bar in Shoreditch, and although a second site that opened in Soho in 2019 has since closed, the company has set its sights on expanding into other UK cities. It operates as very much an over-18s venue, but with 75% of its social media following in the 18-34 age group, the company is looking increasingly at targeting teens. And the venue received a big online boost last summer when major US influencer Addison Rae dropped in. “Our customers seem to be getting younger, so we’re talking to them through channels like TikTok,” said Francis, speaking at hospitality technology solution firm Zonal’s “Future Guests” event. “As soon as Addison walked in, something went off. We’ve had a lot more credible influencers come to us since, and that in itself shows what we are doing live outside these four walls. Social media is a big part of that, but it’s not enough to just post pictures. It’s taking the brand out of it and looking at ourselves as a consumer. On our feed, you will see posts that tell the story of Ballie and things which are just fun, singing along and dancing to something. Creating a conversation relevant to what’s happening means our brand has to sit outside the four walls, but it’s then about matching it with the reality, otherwise we’re branding ourselves as something we’re not.” Francis also sees Ballie as an e-commerce business selling advance tickets, which she says “surprises people about a bar business in a hospitality setting”. She said: “We look at Ballie as if we’re looking at a theme park, factors that cause people to book ahead, so we have to adopt technology and different platforms to be able to speak about ourselves beforehand. It’s no longer the case that just being a walk-in bar in a great place will work.” Francis also pointed to responding to all online comments personally as being good social media practice.

Heineken partners with football clubs in sustainability push: Heineken UK has teamed up with Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City to encourage more businesses to make sustainability commitments. The #NoPlasticFansHere campaign seeks to remove plastic from football and inspire fans to join the clubs and brewery on their sustainability journeys. Spurs was named the Premier League’s greenest club following a recent study by the Sport Positive Summit, having put single-use plastic reduction measures in place, while City have also removed all single-use plastics from their stadium and had success in trialling edible coffee cups. James Crampton, corporate affairs director for Heineken UK, said: “Together with forward-thinking partners like Spurs and Manchester City, we hope to inspire other businesses to act by demonstrating the benefit even small changes can have on our planet’s future. We hope our campaign will spark a conversation among football fans and the wider hospitality industry, encouraging more people to choose plastic-free and sustainable options where possible.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a hospitality portfolio that is looking to hire a chief operating officer. The role is based in London and the salary is circa £300,000 plus bonuses. The company is a vastly growing hospitality group with an international presence. A COREcruitment spokesman said: “As the chief operating officer, you will ensure the services and operations are kept in line with brand and company standards, which is embodied in the clients ethos. This position is responsible for managing day-to-day responsibilities of the operations team including suppliers’ chain, procurement, marketing, and facilities (management and construction/growth).” For more information and to apply, email Lara@corecruitment.com

JD Wetherspoon to open first university-based pub: JD Wetherspoon is to open its first pub based on a university campus, in Hull. The new opening is a result of a partnership between the pub group and Hull University students' union. Students will be able to drink unlimited coffee for 99p and get all the usual Wetherspoon offerings, including a £3.95 breakfast at the Sanctuary Bar. Jeremy Hartley, chief finance officer at the University of Hull with responsibility for commercial services, told Hull Live: “We know our students really value having all the facilities they need in one place. Our single-site campus provides our community with study spaces, food and drink establishments, gym and sports facilities and much more. This announcement further enhances that student experience, providing students with a quality, affordable food and events space right on their doorstep. Our campus is what makes the University of Hull the wonderful place it is, and this new partnership emphasises the importance of providing students with the very best experience possible.” Bar staff will continue to be employed by Hull University students union, but will get the same training and induction as Wetherspoon staff nationwide. A Wetherspoon spokeswoman said: “We have entered into a partnership with Hull University students union for the operation of the Sanctuary Bar and we look forward to working with it to making it a success.”

Brewhouse & Kitchen reports sales up 8.9% in final quarter of 2021, further freehold site in legals: Brewhouse and Kitchen, the UK's largest brewpub operator, has reported sales up 8.9% against 2019 levels in the last quarter of 2021 despite a “frustrating” December. The company said it has a further freehold site in legals and “a pipeline of further opportunities”. Chief executive Kris Gumbrell said: “With the onset of Omicron, our London business was hard hit. With one site closed throughout most of the period, we lost a significant number of trading days with high case rates and closure due to viability, but for the rest of the UK, our teams delivered a valiant performance. To the end of December we delivered sales growth across the quarter (against 2019) of 8.9%. This includes Christmas Day showing growth outside of London of 3.3%. We were set for a stellar Christmas at the end of November, but thankfully many Christmas parties were deferred until the first quarter of this year and we are encouraging guests to have the full Christmas experience again. The crackers will be on the table and the decorations will go back up. Our web shop sales exceeded £53,000 in the three weeks leading up to Christmas Eve, driven in part by the launch of our new whisky and beer matching masterclass. Craft beer and many other premium drinks have seen much more guest interest and indulgence during the pandemic, and the business has benefited significantly from the evolution of consumer expectation over the last two years. The company is cautiously optimistic for the coming year, with a further freehold site in legals, a strong balance sheet across the group and a pipeline of further opportunities. The inflation headwinds facing the sector are disconcerting, utility and input costs are set to increase significantly, the entire sector needs VAT at 12.5% on food to be maintained permanently as its cost base changes, and the cap on the amount of business rates relief should be lifted to support growing small and medium-sized enterprises, which continue to regenerate the sector, invest in people and create skilled hospitality jobs.”

James Watt – we had two takeover approaches last year: James Watt, co-founder of Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, has revealed the business had two takeover approaches last year – but remains focused on its plans to float. The long-promised stock exchange listing is rumoured to be worth more than £2bn, although Watt would not put a timeframe on when it would happen. BrewDog has appointed lawyers at Freshfields to help chart a course towards the stock exchange, bolstering a reshaped top team that includes finance chief Niall McCallum and former Asda boss Allan Leighton, who joined as its chairman and Watt's mentor four months ago. Watt told the Mail: “The key thing is getting that certainty and stability back [before we float]. We've had loads and loads of inbound [takeover interest], including two approaches last year, but we're very passionate about our independence.” Responding to suggestions institutional investors may still be nervous after last year's storm that BrewDog had generated a “toxic workplace culture”, Watt said: “We've done a very thorough, transparent response to those issues. I think we're now in a very good place.” Meanwhile, Watt said he “doubled down” on property investments during the pandemic, swooping on bargain sites for its bars and hotels. Huge new venues will soon open in Waterloo, London, and on the Las Vegas Strip. Watt said: “We might be a slightly unconventional public company, but we'll continue wearing our heart on our sleeve, continue to take a stand for the things that we believe in.” Annual sales growth has averaged 57% over the past decade and it is on course to sell 400 million cans this year.

Wingstop to double up in Manchester: Lemon Pepper Holdings, which is rolling out US chicken brand Wingstop across the UK, is to open a second site in Manchester, Propel has learned. The business, which opened in the city’s Piccadilly area late last year, is understood to have secured a site in Trafford Centre. It is thought to have taken the former Crèche unit in the scheme. Propel revealed last month that the business had begun building its openings pipeline for this year, with sites secured in Brighton and Nottingham. The company, which opened the 18th UK site for Wingstop, in Edinburgh in December, has secured the former TSB bank in Brighton’s West Street, and the ex-Pizza Hut in the Cornerhouse in Nottingham. It is also thought to be in advanced talks on a site in Bromley. Wingstop is also set to open a site in Wood Green, north London, in Capital & Regional’s The Mall scheme. The company will also add to its six delivery kitchen sites, with its first Deliveroo Editions unit in Acton. This week’s opening in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter, marks the brand’s debut in Scotland. It also recently opened in Manchester Piccadilly. In November, Charlie Morrison, chairman and chief executive of Wingstop, said the UK market was generating average unit volumes exceeding $2m (£1.46m) for the chicken brand, “well above the average we see in the US”. 

Ford – this is a great platform for us to grow our business: Gerry Ford, the founder and group chief executive of Caffe Nero, has said the company’s recent refinancing is a “great platform for us to grow our business”. Late last week, the company announced the refinancing of all its debt, when it entered a new debt agreement with Carlyle, HSBC and Santander. The six-year loan of approximately £330m also has with it additional facilities of £85m available for growth opportunities. Majority ownership of the business remains with Ford, alongside his family and friends. As a result of this new debt agreement, the EG Group, which attempted to take over the business last year, is no longer a holder of any of the company's debt. Ford said “This is a great platform for us to grow our business, including: opening up new stores, investing in digital channels, developing our coffee at home program and building our brand in international territories.” The group currently operates four brands (Caffe Nero, Coffee#1, Harris + Hole and Aroma) across 1,020 stores in ten countries. Pre-covid 19, the company had delivered notable success, registering 86 consecutive quarters of positive like-for-like sales growth. In the second half of 2021, with restrictions lifted, it said it started to return to its normal strong operating performance. Sales in the first-half of its financial year (June-November 2021) were up 61% with Ebitda for the same period recorded at £29.4m. Like-for-like sales at the end of November 2021 were tracking at 90% of FY19 levels. Ford said: “It’s great to have our family business returning to its successful pre-covid levels. We were a strong business before covid-19, and now having weathered the pandemic, survived a hostile takeover attempt, won the court case against the EG Group and paid back our emergency banking loans over the last 21 months, we have shown incredible resilience and I believe we will come out of these challenging times even stronger than we were before. I now look forward to taking the Caffe Nero brand to new heights as we forge ahead with our new partners.”

Nathan Outlaw acquires second Port Isaac site: Two Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw and his wife Rachel have acquired Stargazy Inn, in Point Isaac, from local operators David and Jackie Barnard. The Outlaws plan to refurbish the nine-bedroom property, which boasts an award-winning restaurant and coastal views, as an exclusive venue. The property was sold off a guide price of £1.85m. Outlaw said: “Over the last seven years, I’ve been gazing at the property from our restaurant just a stone’s throw away, dreaming that one day we could get our hands on it, and now we have the keys. We are so excited to have brought such a great place and can’t wait to get going with Outlaw’s Guesthouse.” The Barnards will continue to operate the Port Gaverne Hotel and Pilchards on the Beach in the north Cornwall village, home to TV series Doc Martin. They added: “We wish Nathan and Rachel, who have been our friends and neighbours for the last seven years, the greatest success with Stargazy Inn.” In 2020, Outlaw closed his flagship Restaurant Nathan Outlaw in the village, later reopening it as Outlaw’s New Road. The restaurant has been based in Port Isaac since 2015, having originally opened in the nearby village of Rock in 2008. Outlaw’s London site Siren, which opened in 2019 in Belgravia’s The Goring Hotel, closed permanently during the pandemic. Simon Stevens Associates, in conjunction with Charles Darrow, acted on the Stargazy Inn sale.

Bistrot Pierre appoints Natasha Williams as operations director: Bistrot Pierre, the Nick White-led business, has appointed Natasha Williams, formerly of SA Brain and Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), as its new operations director. Williams is the founder of coaching business Thriving Minds and was previously vice-chair of For Cardiff, which represents Cardiff city centre businesses through the delivery of projects and campaigns that enhance Wales’ capital. She spent five years as senior operations manager at SA Brain and a year and a half as M&B as a retail business manager. In July 2020, the bulk of the Bistrot Pierre business was acquired by a new company through a pre-pack administration. Named after the year the company was founded, Bistrot Pierre 1994 is backed by the brand’s chairman, John Derkach, and chief executive White together with existing backer Livingbridge and NatWest. The new company acquired 19 of the 25 Bistrot Pierre sites – located in the north, Midlands, Wales and the south coast. Livingbridge invested £9.8m in Bistrot Pierre in 2015.

Individual Restaurants to rebrand five Gino’s My Restaurant sites: Individual Restaurants, the operator of the Piccolino and Restaurant Bar & Grill brands, is planning to close and rebrand five Gino D’Acampo My Restaurants later this month. The Gino-branded sites that will close on Thursday, 27 January include Gino's My Restaurant at the Corn Exchange in Manchester and at Castle Street in Liverpool, Temple Row Birmingham and Park Row in Leeds. All will become new Riva Blu restaurants with the existing teams said to be remaining in place. Meanwhile in Harrogate, the Gino D'Acampo My Restaurant will also remain as an Italian restaurant, but will be rebranded as a Piccolino instead. The changes will not, however, affect Gino's My Pizza and Prosecco Bar brand, which will stay inside the Next store at Manchester Arndale, and his Next collaborations in Hull and Leeds will also remain. A spokesman for Individual Restaurants told the Manchester Evening News: "Gino D'Acampo's restaurants and Luciano are both separate businesses from Individual Restaurants. Gino Worldwide Restaurants has always had Sir Malcolm Walker and Tarsem Dhaliwal as shareholders where they have enjoyed a successful partnership with Gino for several years; however, the time has come for both parties to explore new ventures. 2022 is a new year with a new vision. Individual Restaurants is proud to announce the launch of its new brand, Riva Blu.” Propel revealed at the start of the year that Individual Restaurants, which is chaired by Karen Forrester, was to launch a new Italian restaurant and bar concept called Riva Blu. Chef D’Acampo will open a second restaurant under the Luciano name, in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, on the ex-Piccolino site in London Road, later this month. Late last year, liquidators from Beesley Corporate Recovery were called into the chef’s three-strong, London-based My Pasta Bar chain, which has debts of circa £5m. 

Mediterranean restaurant Haz secures seventh site: London-based Mediterranean restaurant Haz has secured its seventh site, in The Yards, Covent Garden. The company has agreed a deal with Longmartin Properties, a joint venture between Shaftesbury and the Mercers’ Company, for the site, at 10 Upper St Martin’s Lane, for its first West End flagship location. Opening its doors two decades ago, Haz currently operates six sites across the City and is set to launch the 7,000-square-foot restaurant within The Yards in early 2022, forming part of its expansion plans for central London and the West End. Built on the vast experience and passion of the brand’s three Turkish founders, Haz takes great inspiration from ancient Turkish cooking techniques and celebrates Mediterranean flavours. The new restaurant will cater for 150 covers, both inside and out and will feature a bespoke menu, all using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients, especially created for The Yards. Zafer Cicek, director of Haz, said: “As three Turkish men in the UK, we found ourselves unable to find traditional food from our homeland in London and set about to be the first truly authentic Turkish restaurant in the capital. Two decades later, we have established ourselves as a warm and inviting restaurant providing brilliant authentic Mediterranean cuisine. We have always been keen to open a site in central London and had not found anything quite right up until now. The Yards offers us the perfect location and space.” CBRE is the asset manager on behalf of Longmartin Properties and Colliers and DCL acted for The Yards. Haz represented itself.

London-based baking brothers open second shop: Buns from Home, a bakery business that started out as a pandemic project for west Londoner Barney Goff, has opened its second shop in the area. Goff, who started out selling buns to neighbours from his mum’s kitchen before progressing to a pitch at Portobello Market, opened his first shop, with brother Gabriel, in Notting Hill last summer following a successful crowdfunding campaign. The pair have now doubled up with a new store in Holland Park Avenue, with treats on sale including the muscovado sugar-cinnamon bun, foccacias and pesto and cheese braids. “Such a big moment for us, just around the corner from my home where it all started,” Barney posted on Instagram. “The store is a completely different design from our Notting Hill store, all the homeliness of Notting Hill with a more rustic feel.”

Veteran Leeds-based operator opens new Spanish restaurant in the city: Joe McDermott, who ran the Arts Cafe in Leeds’ Call Lane for 25 years, has opened a new Spanish restaurant in the city. The Arts Cafe was a long-established stalwart of the Leeds food scene before closing in February last year and being replaced by Jamaican street food venue Jam Rock, from the team behind the city’s If Coffee Bar. McDermott, who also set up the Ilkley Moor Vaults in Ilkley, has now returned with Bomba at Saw Mill Yard, in Leeds’ South Bank. The concept started out as paella delivery service during lockdown and grew to a stall in Leeds’s Kirkgate Market before becoming a fully-fledged restaurant. Set over 1,574 square feet of space and with a terrace, the venue will be open all day for eat-in, takeaway and delivery. Paella will be made in large pans to serve individual portions at lunch and then made-to-order pans in the evening, while churros con chocolate, boccadillo sandwiches and classic tapas dishes will also be available. “We’d been looking for a venue that would allow us to move into evening service for a while, and when we saw this space in such a fantastic heritage area, we knew it was perfect for us,” McDermott told Business Desk. “Holbeck Urban Village and the Leeds South Bank is quickly becoming a bustling community with lots of new places to live and work, and it feels like the place to be. Atmosphere is incredibly important to us, and this area has it in spades.”

Olive Tree Brasserie offers free vegan food: Mediterranean restaurant Olive Tree Brasserie is offering free vegan food this month in a bid to boost people’s health and the planet. Owner Dean Wilson went vegan two years ago and is encouraging others to give it a go. One free vegan dish can be claimed per person, per day with any drinks order of £6 or more. Bookings must be made online, quoting “FREEVEGAN”. The offer is available Sunday to Friday throughout this month subject to availability and excludes Sunday roasts. Wilson has also launched a heavily discounted dining scheme for all Olive Tree Brasserie staff choosing vegan dishes. Going forward he plans to make 50% of the menu vegan friendly this year. Wilson said: “I’ve always been interested in and conscious of the huge environmental impact that we as the hospitality industry have. I’m ready to lead by example, making considerable eco-friendly improvements across my restaurants and educating my team so they in turn make positive lifestyle changes.” Olive Tree Brasserie operates sites in Chester, Lytham and Stockton Heath.

Searcys secures five-year catering contract for Stationers’ Hall in London: British restaurateur and events caterer Searcys has been appointed as the new catering partner for Stationers’ Hall in London, providing catering services across the venue in a five-year agreement. Located by St Paul’s Cathedral, Stationers’ Hall is currently undergoing a £7.5m refurbishment and will reopen in July. Event spaces include a set of interlinking rooms including the Main Hall. Guests can also enjoy the garden that can be hired for weddings, receptions and parties. The new spaces being added as part of the refurbishment programme, include an expansive meeting room, available theatre-style or as three separate board rooms, and the “Charter Room” – a new private dining space seating 12 with views of the garden. Searcys’ menus will showcase the best of seasonal produce from the British Isles with a variety of packages running from breakfast to fine-dining experiences.