Jones – we are not worried about a recession, targets 85 Soho Houses by 2027: Nick Jones, founder and chief executive of Soho House, has said the company is not worried about the prospect of a recession as past experience showed its members “ended up using the Houses more”. Talking after parent company the Membership Collective Group (MCG), the New York-listed vehicle behind the Soho House chain of members’ clubs, announced it is targeting record revenues of $1bn (£810m) this year, Jones said: “There’s a lot of the news at the moment about potential recession, and I just want to sort of talk about our experiences with recessions in the past. You think, we’ve been going for 27 years, and there have been a few of them. And what we found, particularly in the last one in 2008, was that actually members didn’t give up their membership – they ended up using the houses more. They expected good value when they came, but their membership was the one thing they didn’t want to give up because they realised it was a home away from home, and there was an incredibly long queue to get back in.” The company, which operates 35 Soho House members clubs, mostly in North America and Europe, introduced financial guidance for the first time since its listing in July last year. Jones said: “I am incredibly confident that our pipeline of between eight to ten Soho Houses per year is achievable, and this gets us to 85 houses by 2027. We’ve got four types of houses – large, medium, little and resort-style houses – and we plan to expand all four types equally over the coming years.” Humera Afzal, the company’s outgoing chief financial officer, said: “To give you a bit more colour on that, in 2022, I’d say five of the nine are medium houses, one or two are small and the remainder will be large. Looking forward to 2023, there’s probably one experiential, four medium and four large – that’s the rough breakdown for the next couple of years.” Andrew Carnie, president of MCG, added: “If you think about North America, our largest region, which is seeing a huge amount of growth, we’re going to add a lot more of the experiential houses. If you think about the farmhouse concept we have in the UK, which is incredibly popular with all our members, those kinds of concepts will be coming to North America. So that’s the way we see the experiential houses really adding value to our biggest regions.”

Sponsored message – Campari Group UK report highlights the rum renaissance: A landmark report by Campari Group UK has revealed how rum increasingly represents a key growth area within spirits in 2022 and beyond for the on-trade. The UK is the third largest rum market in the world, with the IWSR forecasting 4.8% growth – the highest compound annual growth rate growth rate to 2021 – taking the total value of the category to £1.17bn. In the on-trade, consumer preference for quality is driving positive momentum for premium rum brands – growing its share of the category by 6.1% on 2019. More than two-thirds of UK consumers noted they would spend more for a quality drink – with a third of these consumers drinking rum as a regular drink. The research also found rum to sit at the heart of the ever-popular cocktail trend, with the category’s versatility of serve allowing it take full advantage of the growing cocktail movement in the UK. Rum features in five of the top 20 cocktails across the on-trade. “Our rum report shows we have a tremendous opportunity to educate consumers on the vast potential of this fantastic category,” said Brad Madigan, managing director, Campari Group UK. Read the full report here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

Host of cafe operators set to join updated Premium Database of Multi-Site Companies: A host of cafe operators are among the 42 new multi-site companies being added to the next edition of the Propel Premium Database of Multi-Site Companies, which will be released on Friday (27 May), at midday. The updated Propel Multi-Site Database, which is produced in association with Virgate, features Hereford-based Life and Soul Kitchen, which has opened a second site, in the city’s Maylord Shopping Centre. Also added this month is vegan cafe concept Grön, which is owned by Marc Cunliffe, and currently operates sites in Leeds and Harrogate. In addition, Bristol-based cafe concept Burra, which is co-owned by Luke Morahan, Jake Heenan and Tom Tainton, and has launched a second site, in the city’s Gloucester Road, will be featured. Also included this month is artisan vegan patisserie and cafe concept Ruby’s of London, which was founded in 2010 by Ruby Amarteifio, and has recently opened its second site, in Tunbridge Wells. Premium subscribers will also receive a 3,212-word report on the new additions to the database. The comprehensive database is updated monthly and provides company names, the people in charge, how many sites each firm operates, its trading name and its registered name at Companies House if different. It features more than 2,000 companies. Premium subscribers will also receive the next edition of the New Openings Database, which is produced in association with StarStock, on Friday, 3 June, at midday. It focuses on newly announced openings and upcoming launches in the sector and is updated every month. The next edition also includes a 12,000-word report on the new additions to the database. Premium subscribers also receive access to the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, which is produced in association with Mapal Group. The Blue Book, which is also updated monthly, provides an insight into UK operator turnover and profitability over five years, profit conversion and directors’ earnings. Premium subscribers have also been given exclusive access to the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, which is an exhaustive guide to the companies offering a food and beverage franchise in the UK and will be updated every two months. The second edition, which was sent on Friday (20 May), features 120 companies, providing insight on the offer, locations, cost and other key details. The second edition provides almost 47,000 words of content. 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.

UKHospitality unveils six-point plan in levelling up report: UKHospitality has released a report setting out a six-point plan to support the government’s levelling up agenda. Called Level up Hospitality – Level up Society, it highlights how the sector is uniquely positioned to deliver growth and opportunity across the country. It identifies the six areas in which the sector can deliver the greatest impact: local leadership, skills, pride in place, health and well-being, digital connectivity and research and development. In respect of these, UKHospitality said it will support local government to ensure hospitality businesses are able to thrive; better promote hospitality as an attractive career choice; demonstrate how hospitality venues are at the core of every local community; showcase the sector’s role as complementary to a healthy lifestyle; ensure all venues are able to offer consumers access to high-speed data; and play a leading role in the roll-out of research and development across the sector. Kate Nicholls, UKHospitality chief executive, said: “Despite more than two years of setbacks, the sector is ready to get back on track and lead the way towards sustainable recovery and resilience. Hospitality is the great leveller, and we are working closely with government to deliver on its levelling up agenda, unlocking growth and opportunity in local economies across the country. Hospitality provides the solution to levelling up every community in the country and offers a vast range of opportunities, from entry level jobs to highly skilled ones. The inclusive nature of the sector provides opportunities for individuals across the ages, guided by a truly team spirited ethos in every venue.”

BBPA calls for flaws to be fixed in government’s packaging waste recycling system: The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has called for the government to fix the flaws in its packaging waste recycling system. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been seeking views on the current packaging waste recycling note (PRN) system – which gives documented proof that packaging material has been recovered or recycled by an accredited recycling company. The BBPA previously raised concerns on the functioning of the PRN “market”, which last year saw a huge spike in glass PRN prices. The trade body has now called for greater flexibility and transparency within the scheme to reduce volatility in the market, and said it also needs to ensure there is no double-payment by producers obligated under the forthcoming deposit return system (DRS). Emma McClarkin, BBPA chief executive, said: “The PRN scheme has so far played an important role in helping to achieve UK recycling targets, but it remains fundamentally flawed. It is vital that improvements are made to its operation to reduce volatility and increase transparency. For example, extending the compliance period for the trading of PRNs and introducing a compliance fee for those unable to secure sufficient PRNs are both required, as is more regular and robust reporting by reprocessors. It is also crucial that with the introduction of a DRS, producers do not also have additional obligations for those same materials under the PRN regime.” 

 

Brakspear plans one or two additions to managed estate a year, on track to generate sales of circa £17.5m: Henley-based pub operator Brakspear is planning to acquire one or two sites a year for Honeycomb Houses, its recently rebadged managed division, which is on track to generate sales of £17.5m in its current financial year. Last November, the Tom Davies-led company, which also operates a circa 110-strong tenanted division, launched Honeycomb Houses, which includes ten pubs in the Cotswolds and locations around the company’s heartland, as well as The Ghyll Manor near Horsham, which it acquired in February. Davies said the nine Honeycomb pubs currently open were trading well, with sales from them set to reach circa £17.5m this year, and profit near the £4.5m mark. The business is looking to create a collection of premium sites, with a sales mix of 50% food, 30% drink and 20% accommodation, and is targeting annual returns of 10%. In terms of acquisition opportunities, the group is targeting sites that generate £35,000-£40,000 average weekly sales as a starting point. Davies said: “It is a very competitive market, but the acquisition of Ghyll Manor proves we will look outside our traditional heartland for the right opportunity. Where we can differentiate is on the size of the business we can take on and how we can use those properties. We can look at larger sites that other operators might shy away from.” Davies said the company was planning to add a further 12 bedrooms to the 28-bedroom Ghyll Manor, which it hoped to reopen in 12 months’ time. The company recently reopened The Bull in Bell Street, Henley, following an extensive refurbishment – the first investment in its managed estate since it was last year rebranded as Honeycomb Houses.

Tomahawk Steakhouse to shut London site to focus on northern expansion, agrees Nottingham deal: North east-based multi-site operator Howard Eggleston is to close the London site of his Tomahawk Steakhouse brand to focus on its northern expansion, Propel has learned. Eggleston has also added further to Tomahawk Steakhouse’s pipeline after agreeing a deal for a site in Nottingham. Tomahawk Steakhouse made its London debut in December 2020 when it took over Jamie Oliver’s former Fifteen restaurant site in Hoxton. But Eggleston has decided to shut the site “due to the ongoing growth of our brand, to allow ourselves to focus on our northern expansion”. Speaking at the Propel Multi-Club Conference in March, Eggleston said: “We signed for London literally a week or two before covid, and we never would have if we knew what we now do. Landing in London with a brand nobody knew was always going to be a challenge, and the idea was to put eight or ten of them together, but we just didn’t get that opportunity.” Eggleston also said at the time he was focusing his expansion plans on his Tomahawk Steakhouse and Rio Brazilian Steakhouse concepts rather than chicken-based takeaway brand Pollo. Eggleston currently operates 17 sites over the three concepts, and in February told Propel he was in funding talks to expand his estate to more than 50 sites. The next opening for the company’s core brand will be in Chester. Eggleston plans on opening a further eight sites before July including restaurants in Saltburn, Morpeth, Harrogate, Didsbury, Sunderland and Durham, with the latter two being under the Rio Brazilian Steakhouse brand.

Simmons Bars secures two new sites, three more in legals: Simmons Bars, the London-based, Lonsdale Capital Partners-backed cocktail bar operator, has secured two new sites in the capital, including the former Pillars of Hercules pub in Soho. The Nick Campbell-led company, which currently operates 22 sites across the capital, plans to reopen the Greek Street-based Pillars of Hercules by the end of June. At the same time, the business has secured the former @Bar site in Clapham High Street, which it is aiming to open at the end of July. Campbell told Propel: “We have three more in legals that should be completing in the next couple of weeks, so we’ve got a busy year ahead. We’re still looking for more, so whenever anything good comes up, we’ll be going for it!” Established in 2013 in Kings Cross, the group last summer expressed its ambition to expand to 30 sites over the next two years with new sites both in London and regional cities.

Pret in talks to launch in India: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-owned brand, is in talks with Reliance Industries’ retail subsidiary, Reliance Retail, to launch in India. According to The Economic Times, if the new partnership happens, it will align with the sandwich chain’s expansion plan, announced last year, to expand into five new markets by the end of 2022. “This will be Reliance Retail’s second attempt to strike a deal with a large cafe-restaurant business,” a source said. “They want to rapidly escalate their presence across multiple consumer-facing sectors, amid a quick revival of hospitality and travel sectors.” Earlier this year, Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons signed an agreement with a joint venture to open its first store in India later this year as part of its plan to roll out 300 locations there over the next decade. India’s cafe market is currently dominated by Cafe Coffee Day and Starbucks, which operate more than 500 and 250 stores respectively across the country.

Richard Westwood to retire from Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company: After a career spanning 47 years with the business, Richard Westwood will retire from Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) at the end May and move to an advisory role on its board. Westwood began his career with Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries (W&DB) in 1975, at Banks’s Brewery, and progressed into a variety of roles including shift head brewer for Banks’s and Hanson’s, brewing and logistics director and, from 2004 onwards, supply chain and commercial director. W&DB was renamed Marston’s in 2007, and six years later, Westwood was appointed managing director for Marston’s Beer Company (MBC), building beer brands that remain at the heart of the CMBC portfolio today. In 2019, he played a key role in the discussions to create a joint venture with Carlsberg Group to create CMBC, launching in November 2020. Westwood said: “It has been an incredible 47 years with the business and I have worked with so many passionate, dedicated and talented people throughout these decades. I am truly proud of Marston’s heritage and in my contribution in forming CMBC. This is the only industry I know, and I will never lose my passion for it. As this chapter closes, I am excited to continue to support the board to ensure that CMBC has the best brands, service and people, backed by an incredible heritage in brewing.” Paul Davies, chief executive of CMBC, added: “We are fortunate to have had Richard at the heart of our business during our first 18 months as a new company. His knowledge, expertise and strong relationships across the industry have given us the solid foundations from which to grow. I’d like to express my personal gratitude for his extraordinary contribution, energy and total engagement, and I am delighted he has agreed to remain as an adviser over the coming years.”

Award-winning chef Dominic Chapman to take on second pub: Award-winning chef Dominic Chapman, who was formerly head chef at Heston Blumenthal’s Michelin-starred pub The Hind’s Head, is to open a second pub in Berkshire. Chapman, who opened The Beehive in the Berkshire village of White Waltham in 2014, is to take on The Crown at Burchetts Green. Chapman said the new venue, which will open soon, would be “a little restaurant with a huge personality”, featuring “seasonal food, cosy bar, fine wine and warm hospitality”. Chapman was previously head chef at The Royal Oak Paley Street, Berkshire, where he earned a Michelin star, three AA rosettes and was named The Good Food Guide's Best Pub Chef.

Lane7 lines up three openings, five more in legals as company targets ‘rapid expansion’: Boutique bowling company Lane7 has lined up three openings, with five more in legals, as it embarks on a rapid expansion plan. Work has begun on the former Fat Bhudda site in Durham’s Walkergate Leisure Park, which the company secured in February, with another two sites confirmed to follow later this year. The Darlington-based company said it has seen a “huge growth in sales post-covid” and will be investing the cash back into the business “in the form of a rapid expansion plan”. It has set its sights on a range of major cities across the country. The privately owned brand has also invested heavily in its currently 11-strong estate, with the addition of a crazy golf course in Edinburgh plus additional bowling lanes across a range of sites. The £1.5m Durham location will include bowling lanes, cricket batting cages, darts, beer pong, basketball hoops and arcades, as well as a large bar and an outdoor seating area. Chief executive Tim Wilks said: “We came out of lockdown with an aggressive expansion plan, and it’s paid off. The sales reflect the investment we’ve made, and we continue to attract new customers in every location. Durham is the first of many new locations to come – it’s a great spot, and the anticipation from the city is an indicator that it’ll be another success for our team.” The company will also roll out its sister brand, Level X, this summer, as reported by Propel in January. The concept, which sees Lane7 enter the family entertainment centre market, has been trialled in the company’s South Shields venue, with plans to expand it nationwide.

Tortilla to open 50th restaurant next month, in Portsmouth: Mexican restaurant brand Tortilla will next month open its 50th restaurant, in Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays. Propel revealed in February that the south coast town was among Tortilla’s pipeline of openings, having also secured new sites in Lincoln, Bournemouth, Birmingham, Bath and Chester. The Portsmouth site, which will seat up to 46 people across one floor, with both inside and outside tables, will open on Friday, 17 June, in the Wharf’s Spinnaker Quarter. Tortilla also operates several takeaway locations across the UK through partnerships with Deliveroo, SSP Group and Compass Group UK & Ireland. The company aims to roll out 45 new sites by the end of 2026, and chief executive Richard Morris last month told Propel “the north is really growing for us” and “we are looking at a few more sites up there this year and going forward”. Internationally, Tortilla operates in the Middle East, with ten stores in Dubai and Saudi Arabia through an exclusive franchise partnership. It is also set to make its Northern Ireland debut with a restaurant in Belfast.

Popeyes set for Scottish debut: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, the US fried chicken quick-service brand, is set to make its Scottish debut at a site in Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street. An application has been submitted to Glasgow City Council to convert a Pound Shop into the restaurant, which made its UK debut at a former KFC site in Westfield Stratford in November 2021. The plans stated: “Popeyes see Glasgow as being a key hub in the UK and are seeking to establish a store in this location to help continue their UK expansion. The occupation of this unit by Popeyes will contribute positively to this part of the city centre, generating jobs and footfall.” The company, which is also set make its debut in the Midlands after securing a former Burger King site in Nottingham, recently confirmed it will open its third UK restaurant in Romford and was in the process of lining up its first drive-thru site here. It will open in Chelmsford next month and has also applied, or is in talks, to open in Clapham, Gateshead, Oxford, Reading and Cambridge. Popeyes UK has also launched additional delivery kitchens with Deliveroo Editions in Battersea, Whitechapel and recently Maida Vale, with another due to open in Bermondsey next month.

Lisini seeing return to profitable trading, invests in outdoor spaces to ‘future-proof’ business: Lanarkshire-based Lisini Pub Company has said it is seeing a return to profitable trading and is investing heavily in outdoor spaces to “future-proof” the business should lockdowns return. The company operates Angels Hotel and The Castle Rooms in Uddington, Dalziel Park Hotel in Motherwell and The Parkville Hotel in Blantyre. In its accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021, Lisini said some of its sites did not trade at all from the middle of March to November 2020 due to covid, then opened for just 22 days until the end of the financial year. It said: “Those units that did not trade at all, or with reduced capability, heavily impacted turnover and profitability.” Significant investment in external facilities at Angels Hotel led to “a call for more covid friendly outdoor space”, while new income streams were generated through takeaway food and drinks. However, a massive decline in sales and the cost of administration to rebook, refund, delay or cancel events “had a tremendous impact on cashflow” and a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme was secured – the company receiving £2.2m altogether in government grants. Its turnover for the year ending 31 March 2021 was £1.9m (2020: £9.3m), and it made a £520,000 pre-tax loss (2020: £352,000 profit). It said: “The sole focus of the company is to return the units to profitable trading, and early indications are this is occurring. It has always been our focus to invest in the units we operate, to future proof the performance and expansion of the business, and plans are in place to invest in revenue generating income, with a particular emphasis to outside space. The board remains optimistic on the continuation of tighter margins and an increase in gross margin profitability.” Lisini has also taken a leased unit back under management control post-year end.

Chotto Matte opens Marylebone restaurant: Chotto Matte, founded by Kurt Zdesar, has opened its new Marylebone restaurant – the Nikkei cuisine concept’s second London site and fourth altogether. Openings in Doha, Riyadh and San Francisco are slated for later this year, followed by Nashville and Los Angeles next year, as the brand looks to expand to 20 sites in the next five years. It is also eyeing further expansion in Mexico, Panama, Italy and various US cities, and last month signed for a rooftop site in Manchester’s St Michael’s development, set to open in the summer of 2024. Group executive chef Jordan Sclare has designed a menu with new dishes exclusively available in Marylebone, while global bar manager Gabor Fodor has also been working on the brand’s “Tokyo to Lima” menu of ten new cocktails.

Manchester-based hotel group adds Crewe property to portfolio, lines up Stoke-on-Trent openings: Manchester-based Brilliant Hotels has added Crewe’s Royal Hotel to its portfolio, and is set to open two more hotels in Stoke-on-Trent next month. The company, which operates hotels in Manchester, Rochdale, Cheltenham and Sheffield, acquired the 36-bedroom venue for an undisclosed fee. The sale was carried out on behalf of a private pension fund to Crewe Hotels, part of Brilliant Hotels. The three-storey hotel, based in Nantwich Road, also has a recently refurbished function room with its own dedicated bar, The Corner Bar, which has also had a recent revamp. Anoob Saban, managing director of Brilliant Hotels and director of Crewe Hotels, said: “We are excited to expand our work in the town and continue to play a crucial role in the development of this hotel. The Royal Hotel will be an excellent addition to our current portfolio, and we have two more hotels set to open in Stoke-on-Trent in June.”

Nando’s and Heavenly Desserts lined up for new Brighton development: Nando’s and artisan dessert restaurant Heavenly Desserts are being lined up as tenants for a new development in Brighton. The two operators have been revealed in a planning application that seeks to amend the layout and usage for new student block Pavilion Point in London Road. The five-storey building replaced the former Boots and Co-op supermarket at 118-132 London Road and was originally designed with two retail units on the ground floor. The smaller one next to Oxford Street has been taken by the Co-Op, but the larger unit has proved trickier to let. Now, developer Curlew Opportunities has applied to Brighton & Hove City Council for permission to split it into three smaller units that would be occupied by Nando’s, Heavenly Desserts and Starbucks, reports Brighton & Hove News. The application said: “The premises have been subject to more than one year of marketing, with only the three proposed occupiers wanting to take space within the building and being legally acceptable with regard to restrictions imposed by Co-Op (already occupiers of the site) to ensure a variety of tenants within the site. These operators are looking on average to invest more than £350,000 on fitting out their stores.” If approved, Starbucks would take 157 square metres, Heavenly Desserts 153 square metres and Nando’s 338 square metres.

Lancashire-based former Best Western enters administration owing almost £1m: A former Best Western hotel in Chorley, Lancashire, has entered liquidation owing almost £1m. The Park Hall Hotel, based in the village of Charnock Richard, closed without notice on 7 February, cancelling events that had been lined up for the months ahead. This came after a bid to close the hotel to the public and use it as accommodation for asylum seekers failed. Lancashire Live reported its owners had intended to seek a Home Office contract, but since the plan fell through the hotel has remained closed. Best Western said at the time of the closure it would investigate and, if necessary, sever ties with the hotel, which it said was independently owned and managed. The following month, Best Western confirmed it had removed the hotel from its portfolio, and went on to say all operational decisions were taken by the hotel’s owners and management team. According to newly filed documents with Companies House, Park Hall Hotel had an estimated deficiency of £961,000. Leeds-based Smith & Barnes Insolvency is handling the liquidation. A letter sent to creditors said cash flow problems began during the pandemic and were made worse when restrictions prevented it being able to trade at full capacity. It said: “The company secured a small bounce-back loan from the government funding scheme that was utilised to pay the expenses of the company. This removed some pressure in the short term, but unfortunately, this was not sufficient to support the company’s cash flow and ongoing cost.”

Bristol-based cafe company Spicer & Cole opens fifth site: Bristol-based cafe company Spicer & Cole has opened its fifth site. Owners Carla and Chris Swift have launched the venue on the ground floor of the RWA gallery and it includes an outside terrace. The cafe offers cakes and pastries, bagels, filled croissants, baguettes and toasties; as well as Spicer & Cole’s seasonal salads and soup of the day alongside coffee, reports Bristol 24/7. Spicer & Cole has sites in Clifton Village, Finales Reach, Gloucester Road and Queen Square Avenue, where the original cafe opened in 2012.

Whitbread set to open first Lake District Premier Inn following £6m investment: Whitbread is set to open its first Lake District-based Premier Inn by the end of the year following a £6m investment. Permission for the hotel was granted by the Lake District National Park Authority in October 2020, despite a public campaign against it, backed by Keswick Town Council, including a 3,000-strong petition. The company is predicting 44,000 overnight stays per year at the hotel, while Darlington-based Premcor, which owns the site, said it proposed to invest more than £6m in the 89-bedroom venue. A Premier Inn spokesman told the Cumbria Crack: “We still have a way to go before we’re ready to welcome our first guests, but we remain on track to open the hotel before the end of the year, all being well. It will be a landmark moment for us when we do, and we’re really looking forward to becoming part of the community, employing locally and helping to support Keswick all year round.”

Stokes Tea & Coffee launches grab and go concept for third site: Lincoln-based cafe operator Stokes Tea & Coffee has launched a grab-and-go concept for its third site in the city. The family business has opened Stokes To Go next to its High Bridge cafe in High Street. Stokes To Go offers takeaway options including freshly baked pastries and sandwiches along with Stokes’ roasted coffee. Nick Peel, managing director at Stokes Tea & Coffee, told Lincolnshire Today: “We were conscious there hasn’t been a lot of choice for customers who prefer locally sourced, top-quality options for their takeaway breakfast and lunch. So, opening Stokes To Go means customers can enjoy a unique menu served fast.” Stokes Tea & Coffee also operates The Lawn cafe just across from its headquarters.

Bristol-based cafe concept opens third site: Bristol-based cafe concept Fed has opened its third site in the city. Owners Charlotte Hawe and Ross Rawlings have launched the outlet in Fishponds Road in the premises previously occupied by an estate agent. Fed’s menu includes salads, filled brioche rolls and sourdough toasties along with coffee. Hawe and Rawlings opened the first site in Gloucester Road in 2018 before adding a second site in Abbotsford Road in Cotham, reports Bristol 24/7.

Essex-based cafe and wine bar concept to double up with Southend launch: Essex-based cafe and wine bar concept, Cafe No 11, is to double up. The company, which operates a site in Rayleigh, is opening in Southend. The venue is set to open in June off High Street. Cafe No 11 operates as a cafe during the day before becoming a wine bar in the evening. A spokesman for Cafe No 11 told the Basildon, Canvey and Southend Echo: “Opening a second location is exciting for us, and we are delighted to bring our food and menu style to Southend. We have a lot of Southend-based customers coming to our cafe in Rayleigh already, and so we hope we can give the No 11 experience to a lot more people. We will also be developing a small plate food menu for the evening to complement our selection of drinks.”

Manchester-based toastie shop to open grab-and-go concept for second site: Manchester-based toastie shop, Frankie’s Toasties, is set to double up with a second site in the city. Frankie’s became the UK’s first dedicated toastie shop when it opened in Portland Street in 2018, where it has operated since. Owner Barry Chui is now set to open a new grab-and-go concept, known as Little Frankie’s, in the Arndale Market in July. Alongside the more conventional fillings are unusual ones like katsu curry, red hot ramen, super noodles and builder’s breakfast. Sweet options include apple and custard, Lotus Biscoff and seasonal specials.

West Midlands pub operator eyes second site: West Midlands pub operator Edmond Bolland has applied to build a second venue on the site of a former Barclays Bank. Bolland, who opened The Pub@Kings Heath in Kings Heath, Birmingham, in June last year, wants to turn the site, at 537 Bearwood Road in Bearwood, into The Pub@Bearwood. The application is currently with Sandwell Council.

Chester-based independent wine bar to double up with Manchester opening: Chester-based independent wine bar Covino is set to open a second site, in Manchester. The new bar, which will be based on the roof of Bruntwood Work’s Blackfriars House, will be called Climat, reports Manchester’s Finest. No opening date has yet been set. Founded in 2016, Covino offers seasonally inspired small plates alongside an extensive menu of wine from all over the world. It recently moved to a larger premises in Northgate Street after outgrowing its original site, and also earned a place in this year’s Michelin Guide.

Derbyshire farm owners add restaurant to site alongside cafe and deli: Neil and Georgina Crofts, owners of Hackwood Farm in Derbyshire, have opened a new restaurant at the venue, which already operates a cafe, deli and tearooms. The new venture has allowed them to expand their offer to evening meals in the restaurant and alcohol from the bar. Neil told Derbyshire Live there is scope for further expansion at the complex, in Radbourne Lane near Mickleover, in the next few years, with an anticipated increase in demand from two nearby housing developments. He said: “This represents a new chapter for Hackwood, and one that we are very excited to see unfold. It has really come from a demand forged by new housing.” New head chef Steve Bird, formerly of Bennett’s Brasserie and Darley’s, offers a menu based around English classics. The Crofts took on Hackwood Farm, which had been part of a family-owned estate for centuries but fallen into disuse, in 2010.