Johnson – I suspect the industry is about to enter a period of what might be called ‘creative destruction’: Serial sector investor Luke Johnson has said he suspects the restaurant industry is about to enter a period of what might be called “creative destruction” and we may not see the like of the “remarkable boom” experienced by the sector in the last decade again. Writing exclusively for Premium Opinion, Johnson, former chairman of PizzaExpress and founder of sector investment firm Risk Capital Partners, said: “I fear the life cycle of typical restaurants is getting shorter. The market is dramatically more competitive, and costs have increased sharply – particularly in the last year or so. Operations have to do decent levels of trade, or they will rapidly bleed to death, thanks to rising overheads, energy bills, wages, ingredients and all the rest. Indeed, I suspect the industry is about to enter a period of what might be called ‘creative destruction’. Thousands of businesses have significant accumulated liabilities as a hangover from lockdowns. Arrears of tax, national insurance, VAT, rent and other obligations must be paid – but the current margin squeeze means cash flow is often inadequate to deal with the problem. Interest and principal repayments must be made on borrowings through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. Many difficulties were simply deferred and not addressed properly. Now comes the reckoning. The insolvency professionals predict there will be large numbers of bankruptcies or restructurings in the coming years. There will be no government bailouts now – so the walking wounded must either find new capital or cease to trade. Closures means there will be a greater choice of sites available for start-ups, or as new locations for existing operators who have the financial resources and want to expand. Of course, the impending downturn may be so savage that few will possess the confidence to invest and take over failed operations. The sector has seen a remarkable boom in the last decade or so, and billions of pounds of funding to launch and grow a bewildering array of establishments. We may not see the like again in our lifetimes.” The full version of the article formed part of Friday’s (24 June) Premium Opinion. Email jo.charity@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription. 

Sponsored message – UKHospitality backs Hospitality Rising, invest today: UKHospitality is supporting Hospitality Rising, but will you? The initiative aims to unite the industry by asking it to invest in and back its plan to change the perception of hospitality for the better, in the biggest sector recruitment advertising campaign the UK has seen. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “With sector vacancies now double what they were pre-pandemic, our industry is facing a unique recruitment challenge – and unique challenges need innovative solutions. This is why UKHospitality is backing the Hospitality Rising initiative as a core part of our Hospitality Workforce Strategy and is urging the rest of the sector to join the movement as well. While wages have been rising in our sector since before the pandemic and we are seeing some creative solutions to finding and retaining great staff, the number of vacancies continues to plague us. This will have a real and detrimental effect on our ability to recover, invest and grow. There’s no one silver bullet that will solve this workforce crisis but by coming together and showing real support for an umbrella initiative such as this, we can make a big difference. Hospitality is nothing without its people and this is a real opportunity to stand up and be counted among those willing to try to showcase what is a truly wonderful place to work.” Invest in Hospitality Rising now from just £10 per employee here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

Host of coffee shop operators set to join updated Premium Database of Multi-Site Companies: A host of coffee shop operators are among the 50 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 (1 July), at midday. The updated Propel Multi-Site Database, which is produced in association with Virgate, features Pickwick Coffee Club, which was founded by Tom O'Mahony and James Nicholls in 2021, and has sites at 110 Fleet Street and Old Broad Street in London. Also added this month is Liverpool independent coffee roaster 92 Degrees, founded and led by Jack Brewitt, and now operates ten sites, which are in Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Southport and its latest, in the new Triptych Bankside development in London’s Southbank. In addition, Vintage Tea & Coffee Co, the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Stephen and Charlotte Barker, which is set to launch Maison Entrecôte, a Paris-inspired bistro in Cardiff’s Castle Arcade – followed by a rapid roll-out – will be featured. Meanwhile, independent coffee retailer Gorilla Café, owned by James Connolly, which opened its debut site in Kings Heath and is now opening a second site, at Foundry in Brindleyplace, will be included. Premium subscribers will also receive a 4,500-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, 8 July, 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 17,500-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 featured 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 Propel group editor Mark Wingett.

David McDowall to speak at Propel Multi-Club Conference and summer party, two free places each for operators: David McDowall, president and chief operating officer at BrewDog, will be among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference and summer party, which takes place on Wednesday, 31 August, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry, and is open for bookings. The all-day conference will focus on “prospering in a post-pandemic world” and will be followed in the evening by the summer party with a barbecue, live band and more. McDowall talks about how the company’s new blueprint, including its profit-share scheme with bar staff, has been received and its impact on recruitment, the group’s expansion plans and remaining a force for good. Operators can claim up to two free places each by emailing jo.charity@propelinfo.com. A room can also be booked for the evening for £120.

Food and drink sales in Britain's cities back in growth but footfall remains ‘well down’ on pre-pandemic levels: Out-of-home food and drink sales are in growth in all of Britain’s ten biggest city centres, new research from CGA by NielsenIQ and Wireless Social has shown. The joint “Top Cities” report combines CGA’s sales data with device log-in data from Wi-Fi provider Wireless Social to provide a “vibrancy” ranking of Britain’s ten most populous cities over the four weeks to 4 June 2022. Sales were between 1% and 13% higher than in the corresponding four-week period in 2019 in each city – the first time that all ten have been in growth since the report began at the start of 2022. Glasgow topped the list, ahead of Bristol and Manchester, while Edinburgh moved up four places to fourth. London, where workers and tourists have been slow to return after covid-19 restrictions eased, grew its sales for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The capital also saw its best performance for log-ins, climbing from sixth to fourth place for this metric, likely due to the impact of the Jubilee period from Thursday, 2 June to Saturday, 4 June. However, log-ins remain well down in all ten cities compared with 2019, indicating growth is being driven by higher spend-per-visit rather than footfall. Cities dropping down the rankings in the latest four-week period include Birmingham and Liverpool. CGA client director Chris Jeffrey said: “The slow but steady recovery of sales in London is particularly encouraging, and we can expect it to continue tracking back towards its pre-covid-19 vibrancy over the summer. However, high inflation is making it hard for businesses to achieve growth in real terms.” Julian Ross, founder and chief executive of Wireless Social, added: “The industry seemingly can’t catch a break, with the recent industrial action on the railways and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis seriously impacting consumer activity and confidence. It’s vital communities are supporting hospitality when and where they can.”

Recession fears grow as inflation takes hold and households’ economic confidence hits record low: The odds of the UK economy falling into a recession shortened after data from companies, households and the government’s finances illustrated the impact high inflation is having on businesses and consumers. The Times reported quarterly economic growth is on course to contract for the first time since the start of last year in the three months to June, driven by multi-decade-high inflation pinching household spending, a rising tax burden on businesses and households, and additional bank holidays in the second quarter. A recession is generally defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth and analysts fear growth momentum will grind to a halt later this year. Data showed household confidence levels have collapsed to the lowest on record as consumers fight 40-year-high inflation and see little increase in their incomes. The monthly consumer confidence survey by GfK, the market research firm, dropped one point to minus 41 in June, as households reported falls in their personal financial situation and level of savings. Only one measure of the survey, purchasing intentions, stayed flat. UK households will suffer the biggest annual drop in disposable income since the 1950s this year, according to the government’s independent economics watchdog. The manufacturing sector has also been hit by rising costs and supply disruptions, reporting declines in new orders this month. Inflation is also hurting the government’s finances by raising the debt servicing costs on UK gilts to the third highest monthly total on record. The Office for Budget Responsibility, the independent budget watchdog, warned “further significant upside surprises in debt interest spending can be expected through the year”.

GSG to focus on expanding Bold Street Coffee over other brands as casual dining market is ‘suffering’: GSG Hospitality will focus on expanding its Bold Street Coffee concept as it believes the hot drinks market has a brighter immediate future than casual dining. The Liverpool group currently runs seven other concepts – Slim’s, Salt Dog Slims, 81, El Bandito, Duke Street Food & Drink Market, Santa Chupitos and Peppercat Sports – with many others also having come and gone since it launched in 2009. It recently took the decision to close its Slim’s diner in Liverpool, but by contrast, Bold Street Coffee is “doing great numbers” and set to be the group’s first concept to expand outside the north west. Echoing comments made by hospitality consultant Ann Elliott in last week’s Propel Friday Opinion the casual dining model is currently “just not viable”, GSG founder Matt Farrell told Propel. “It’s challenging to plan week to week, and hospitality has to continue to adapt and change according to the climate. Not all concepts will thrive under the current living climate, and you have to embrace those changes. But Bold Street Coffee is doing very well, as people change their eating and drinking habits. I think there’s an issue with the rising costs that will see the casual dining market suffer a little bit, so our focus is definitely on strengthening Bold Street Coffee as a brand. Birmingham and Leeds are options, as well as some other areas. We’re also looking at expanding it more into events, taking a converted ice cream to weddings and festivals.” Farrell said GSG is in talks to open a second Duke Street Market and is planning to add a high-end cocktail bar to the Salt Dog Slims it opened in Manchester last year – much like the 81 bar that sits next to the Liverpool site. Farrell also said Santa Chupitos, its original brand from 2009, “might be coming to the end of its cycle”, but El Bandito is another concept “we’d definitely take forward somewhere else, definitely in Manchester, and that would lead elsewhere”. Meanwhile, it is hoped the group’s new Asian restaurant concept, which will open in Liverpool’s Plaza building in October, will bring a new and exclusive dining destination to the city. Farrell added: “Pre-covid, Liverpool’s business district was very different. There’s already been a shift in paradigm of how people go to work, and we feel the restaurant should be a high-end and exclusive destination for the city. The building is in an exclusive area with a good corridor for Formby and Crosby, where there are pockets of affluent demographics, as well as other areas within Liverpool and the surrounding areas.”

Cambscuisine acquires first site since Smokeworks demerger: Pub and restaurant operator Cambscuisine has acquired its first site since it demerged barbecue concept Smokeworks earlier this year, Propel has learned. Cambscuisine has bought the freehold of The Royal Oak in the Cambridgeshire village of Barrington for an undisclosed sum. The grade II-listed building fronts on to what is understood to be the longest village green in Europe and is Cambscuisine’s seventh site. Founder and managing director, Oliver Thain, told Propel: “It’s a landmark pub in Cambridgeshire and fits perfectly into the Cambscuisine stable. We open on Wednesday (29 June) after a minor refurbishment ready for a full refurbishment post-planning permission early next year. The approach will be similar to our other country pubs, serving first rate food alongside local beer and warm, cheery hospitality. We’ve inherited a charming team and we look forward to developing it alongside this wonderful pub.” In March, Cambscuisine announced it would demerge Smokeworks as it turned its focus to growing its pub restaurant estate. Max Freeman, who is managing director of Smokeworks, left Cambscuisine to set up a new company under which Smokeworks intends to expand its reach over the next few years. Smokeworks has two sites in Cambridge.

Patisserie Valerie ex-chairman in line for pay out after auditor settles £200m lawsuit: The former chairman of Patisserie Valerie is in line for a large payout after Grant Thornton settled a £200m court case over the collapse of the chain. The Telegraph reported Luke Johnson is thought to be one of the top creditors to benefit from a multimillion-pound settlement of the case that was brought against Patisserie Valerie’s auditors. Though the settlement is confidential, sources said the payout represents most of Grant Thornton’s annual claims provision of £28m, which was contained within the auditor’s most recent accounts. Liquidators sued Grant Thornton after Patisserie Valerie collapsed in 2019 as “a direct result of a significant fraud”. Johnson, who previously chaired PizzaExpress and Channel 4, and was executive chairman of Patisserie Valerie, said he was tricked by other executive directors, who gave a fake picture of the company’s finances. Shareholders previously considered bringing legal action against the board of directors, including Johnson. He later took the unusual step of joining a committee of creditors alongside public relations consultancy Maitland. He was reportedly owed more than £10m and ranked among the company’s biggest creditors. Patisserie Valerie’s liquidators FRP Advisory hired lawyers at Mishcon de Reya in 2021 to sue Grant Thornton for damages of around £200m. The accountancy firm audited the company for 12 years and failed to spot any alleged manipulation. At the time, Grant Thornton said it would “rigorously defend the claim”, adding: “Patisserie Valerie is a case that involves sustained and collusive fraud, including widespread deception of the auditors. The claim ignores the board’s and management’s own failings.” In September last year, Grant Thornton was fined £2.3m by the Financial Reporting Council for failures in audits between 2015 and 2017. A criminal investigation into Patisserie Valerie and accounting practices of individuals associated with parent company Patisserie Holdings is still being conducted by the Serious Fraud Office. A spokesman for Grant Thornton said: “The Patisserie Valerie Group and Grant Thornton confirm in 2021 they resolved the claims brought against Grant Thornton by Patisserie Valerie Group. The terms are strictly confidential.” Johnson declined to comment.

Greggs opens 400th franchise site: Food-to-go operator Greggs has opened its 400th franchise shop, in Selby, with the company’s newest franchise partner, Rontec. The opening marks a key milestone in Greggs’ continued expansion of its shop estate, in line with its strategic growth plans. In October 2021, Greggs unveiled plans to accelerate the rate of openings to around 150 per year from 2022, with an ambition to reach at least 3,000 shops across the UK. Of the 150 annual openings, around 50 of these are expected to be via franchise partners, and franchise shops are expected to account for 20% of the total estate in the years ahead. Many of them will be in “otherwise restricted locations” such as motorway service areas, petrol filling stations, educational facilities and smaller high street locations. The company said: “As Greggs continues to roll out new shops across the country, with an increased focus on targeting on-the-go locations that are accessible by car, franchise partners will continue to play a critical part in supporting the company’s expansion plans. Over many years Greggs has built and maintained strong and long-standing relationships with some of the UK’s largest franchise partners and forecourt operators, and today works with 14 franchise partners across the UK.” Malcolm Copland, commercial director at Greggs, added: “Over many years, we have developed strong relationships with key franchise partners that has allowed us to accelerate our shop expansion plans, open in more on-the-go locations and become even more accessible for our customers. We’re pleased to add Rontec to our growing list of franchise partners and look forward to continuing our journey with all our partners in growing our estate to 3,000 shops and beyond.”

Fuller’s takes on lease for new pub at Heathrow airport: London pub operator Fuller’s has secured a lease for a new site at Heathrow Terminal Two. The site, opening in early August, is landside and will be called The Queen’s Arms after the terminal’s alternative name, The Queen’s Terminal. Opening from 4.30am to 10.30pm to “illustrate Fuller’s commitment to the travel hub market”, it will sit alongside the company’s airside pub in the same terminal, London Pride. Fuller’s chief executive, Simon Emeny, said: “London’s Pride has been an amazing success – so we were excited by the opportunity to open a sister site, landside, in the same terminal. We have a great relationship with Heathrow and there are obvious benefits to having two pubs in the same terminal around deliveries and staffing. We’re really pleased to be getting The Queen’s Arms open in time to benefit from the busy summer season, and it further strengthens our travel hub portfolio.” Heathrow retail and property director, Fraser Brown added: “The Queen’s Arms will be an outstanding feature for Terminal Two and a wonderful way for departing passengers to start their journey, particularly for the summer season.” Emeny told Propel earlier this month that Fuller’s was ready to “move forward in a weakening market to do more acquisitions” in a “very staged, measured process”. His comments came as the company reported a return to profitable growth in the 52 weeks to 26 March 2022, and a positive start to its current trading year.

Administrators of Authentic Alehouses receive offers for three of four remaining pubs: The administrators of the once seven-strong Authentic Alehouses have received offers on three of the four remaining pubs, Propel has learned. A sale of The Ponty Tavern in Pontefract is expected to complete this summer and the offer “is in line with the RICS valuation” of the property. An offer on The Red Lion in Driffield, which has remained shut and been marketed as a development opportunity, has been accepted and should complete within the next three months. The offer is also in line with the RICS valuation. An offer on the Fountain Inn in Barnoldswick has also been accepted in line with the RICS valuation and the sale is expected to complete by the end of the year. A sale of The Albert Hotel in Hull has fallen through, but the property is being marketed again with improved trading figures. The administrators, Simon Bonney and Michael Kiely, of Quantuma, said the site continues to make a “small loss” although monthly revenue is now 20% above previous expectations and trading “continues to improve significantly”. The current trend suggests The Albert will be profitable for 2022, they added. The update was revealed in an email to investors by secured creditor Crowdstacker, which has been seen by Propel. Allan Harper-led Authentic Alehouses entered administration in March 2019 despite raising £6.4m in peer-to-peer loans via Crowdstacker. 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 2018 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.

Black Sheep Coffee and Cosmo to make Liverpool debut: Speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee and buffet brand Cosmo are to make their Liverpool debut. Both brands have signed for sites at Liverpool ONE after agreeing deals with landlord Grosvenor. Black Sheep Coffee will open a 1,800 square-foot site in Paradise Place. The outlet will offer the brand’s coffee menu by day before transforming into a cocktail bar at night. Cosmo will arrive in the city in July from a 11,000 square-foot site in Manesty’s Lane. The restaurant will include a bar and dedicated dessert counter, alongside its extensive seating area. Meanwhile, pop-up bar and street food hub, The Bus Yard, has extended its tenancy in Chavasse Park until early September. It comes as Grosvenor revealed food and beverage sales were up 9% in May compared with the same month in 2019, while year-to-date food and beverage sales are 18% ahead of the same period in 2019. Metis and Stärka acted for Liverpool ONE. Savills acted for Cosmo while Black Sheep Coffee and The Bus Yard dealt direct.

Donnington Brewery acquires Worcestershire pub: Donnington Brewery, which operates 19 Cotswold pubs as well as its brewery and two luxury accommodations, has acquired the 13-bedroom White Lion Hotel in Upton-upon-Severn. The grade II-listed former coaching inn has been under the ownership of Jon and Chris Lear since 1997, who are retiring after 25 years at the helm. Its restaurant and bar offers covers for more than 80 guests. Chris Lear said: “Now is the time for us to step back from the industry, but we’re delighted to be handing it to a company and family like Johnny’s that has deep roots in hospitality as well.” John Arkell, national sales director at Donnington Brewery, added: “We’re delighted to add the White Lion Hotel to our portfolio of Donnington Brewery pubs. We have a strong reputation in the area for providing good quality local beer as well as great hospitality. The new tenants, Michelle and Michael McClusky, will be picking up the mantel from Jon and Chris and providing great customer service and accommodation alongside our brilliant beer.” Peter Brunt, from Colliers hotel agency, handled the sale. 

Generator Hostels understood to be considering sale that could value it at up to £1bn: The owner of Generator Hostels is understood to be considering a sale that could value it at up to £1bn. The boutique hotel and hostel company offers lodgings in London, Rome, Paris, New York and other major cities for less than £50 a night. It was quietly put up for sale in 2020, reports the Mail on Sunday. The process was overseen by investment bank Goldman Sachs, but was halted by the pandemic. It had been hoped the business would sell for £1bn at the time, a source said. It is understood real estate private equity firm Queensgate Investment, which acquired Generator Hotels for £395m in 2017, has drafted in consultants to conduct due diligence ahead of an auction, which is slated for the final quarter of this year. Generator Hostels' current valuation is unclear, but the economic outlook is expected to help the business as more people turn to less expensive holiday accommodation, the source said. 

Hard Rock Cafe on a roll with plans for more hotels: Hard Rock Cafe is planning to roll out more hotels. The retail outlets linked to Hard Rock cafes and hotels generate 30-35% of a site’s gross revenues. With 268 venues in 68 countries, the business generates global revenues ¬– including franchised and licensed venues – of more than $7bn. Hard Rock may be best known for its cafes but Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International, was keen to point out that it has a range of businesses, including hotels, casinos, retail, sports betting and online gaming. The hotel business, in particular, is growing fast. It has 32 hotels operational, another 30 or so that are “definitely happening” plus 80-odd sites that are close to legal agreements, Allen told The Times. Having emerged from the covid-19 crisis “bruised but intact”, the company is targeting ten to 20 new cafes a year. Its estate is a mixture of sites managed by Hard Rock – “everything in western Europe and North America” – and outlets in the rest of the world, notably the Middle East and Asia, parts of Africa and South America, run under licence and franchise agreements. Hard Rock, which was founded by Peter Morton and Isaac Tigrett, was once part of Rank Group. Then in 2007 it was acquired by Seminole Gaming, controlled by the Seminole Native American tribe, with Allen holding a minority stake. There have been suggestions Hard Rock has considered a stock market listing, although Allen insisted there was “nothing planned specifically at this time”. He added: “We’ve certainly looked at different options over the years but nothing definitive at this particular time. We definitely would not rule it out, though.”

Greene King to launch pub lunch training sessions for office workers: Brewer and retailer Greene King is set to launch a scheme offering city workers a pub lunch and a pint alongside bite-size training sessions. The “Expensable Lunch” will go live at the start of next month and offer sessions covering areas including social media, personal branding, public speaking, leadership and growth, for £25. In return, they will get a meal – including burgers, fish and chips or a vegan option, as well as a drink – including a pint or soft drink. Each person will also get a certificate showing they completed a module, and a VAT receipt to claim back the meal on their company. The sessions will take place weekly throughout July and August. “With people spending fewer days in the office, lunch times are often rushed, with many central London workers opting to eat al desko”, said Alex Dawson, business unit director at Greene King Urban Pubs. “We feel it’s important people take a proper lunch break, and our ‘Expensable Lunches’ allow people to learn new skills over a pub lunch, to help them refresh and refuel for an afternoon in the office.”

Papa John’s franchisees open fifth restaurant, sixth to follow this summer: Papa John’s multi-unit franchisees Mandy Kaur and husband Chan Singh have opened their fifth restaurant, in Carlton Street, Castleford. Kaur said: “We joined Papa John’s in 2008 and have taken the time to expand our franchised business gradually. Now our children have left home and have their own careers, we felt the time was right to take a bigger slice of the action. We opened in Pontefract last year, now Castleford, and have a further store planned in the north west this summer.” She added: “We try our best to offer a tempting career path for all our team members. Our Castleford store manager, Aden Salim, began as a delivery driver two years ago and will now be responsible for the new outlet. It’s the same story with our Brighouse store in Yorkshire – our manager there started out as a delivery driver, and now he’s in charge of the store.”

Temper confirms September opening for fourth site, includes first cocktail bar for concept: Temper, the Imbiba-backed, Sam Lee-led modern barbecue concept, has confirmed a September opening for its fourth site. Propel revealed in January that Temper, which launched in 2017 and is operated under the Casper & Cole umbrella, had secured the former Jones Family Project site in Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, for its next opening. Temper, which also operates sites in Soho, Angel and Seven Dials, sees chefs prepare food in front of guests. The menu at Shoreditch, served from the basement restaurant, will see the addition of some new specially created “experimental plates” from chef director David Lagonell (ex-Boxwood and Nopi). These include a smoked brisket with spit-roasted clam, anchovy and beef fat mayonnaise taco; and whole duck carnitas with a mix of duck meat, offal and crispy skin with pickled kumquats and fresh chillies, served on a homemade paratha. Temper’s bottomless barbecue brunch and Sunday roast options will also be available. On the first floor will be a cocktail bar serving bespoke drinks curated by general manager Janis Logins. The restaurant will have covers for 135, plus 60 at the bar. Lee, who previously worked for operators including Searcy’s, Vinopolis and Inn and Out Events, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing the Temper experience to Shoreditch. We’ve always felt the area would make an ideal home for our fourth Temper restaurant, and were so happy to find the perfect site, with space for our signature open kitchen and to launch our first Temper cocktail bar.”

Stonegate sells historic Northumberland pub to north east hospitality group off £500,000 guide price: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub operator, has sold the historic The Highlander pub in Northumberland to a north east hospitality group off a £500,000 guide price. The pub, which dates to the early 1700s and counts Bonnie Prince Charlie among its former patrons, has been bought by the team behind Northumberland wedding venue Ellingham Hall. Plans are now in place for a refurbishment on the site – which features a large restaurant area, open plan lounge bar and function room for up to 50 people – with the aim of opening its doors by Easter 2023. Anthony Hunter, director at Ellingham Hall, said: “The Highlander is steeped in heritage, and we’re thrilled to have added it to our portfolio. Over the coming months, we plan to invest significantly in a redevelopment programme that will breathe new life into the site, ensuring it once again is at the heart of the Belsay community while preserving its rich history.” In 2019, a fire ripped through the chapel area at Ellingham Hall, but Hunter worked alongside owners, Helen and Aidan Ruff, to restore the venue as an award-winning wedding and events destination. The team also operate the 18th century Lemmington Hall, in nearby Edlingham.

Bath pub operators acquire second site: Bath pub operators Daniel and Simona Matica have taken on their second pub in the city – The Old Crown – following a £165,000 joint investment with brewer and retailer Greene King. The husband-and-wife team has been operating pubs for 30 years and currently also run The Claremont in Claremont Road. The investment at The Old Crown has been used to completely revamp the pub both inside and out, including new bathroom facilities, lighting and updated accommodation. As part of the revamp, a new kitchen is being installed. Once finished, the Maticas plan to serve pizza and other hot food while a range of drinks are also available. They said: “Thanks to Greene King Pub Partners, we have been able to take on our second pub in Bath and grow our local pub business.”

Newcastle Michelin Guide restaurant owners set to double up with Sunderland venture: The owners of a Michelin Guide restaurant in Newcastle are set to open a new restaurant in Sunderland. John and Kimberley Calton, who run Newcastle’s Route bistro, which has Michelin Bib Gourmand status and serves up seasonal plates and wine, have been confirmed as the first occupiers in Sunderland’s new Sheepfolds leisure and events centre. The pair, who also previously ran the Staith House in North Shields, plan to open a new restaurant named Zinc, offering covers for up to 50 guests and a menu with an emphasis on locally sourced seasonal food. “We’re excited to be launching Zinc in Sheepfolds, an amazing venue that is being brought back to life with incredible vision and energy,” John said. “When we saw the plans for Sheepfolds, we were so inspired by the vision that we knew we had to be part of it. We’re not here to just make up the numbers, we really want to set the bar high.” Sheepfolds is set to be a new leisure destination with food and drinks operators, outdoor spaces and a staged area backing on to the River Wear.

Vinoteca reveals opening date for regional debut site: Wine bar, shop and restaurant concept Vinoteca will open its debut regional site next month, in Birmingham. Vinoteca is launching at Two Chamberlain Square as part of the Paradise Birmingham on Monday, 18 July. The 4,500 square-foot venue will become the city’s largest wine bar, with 150 covers set across a ground and mezzanine floor, 40 seats on the outdoor terrace, and an on-site wine shop. Charlie Young, co-founder of Vinoteca, said: “To be launching our first regional site in such a vibrant and dynamic city is a real milestone for Vinoteca, and we’re excited to be part of Birmingham’s well-established and respected food and drink scene. It has been brilliant seeing the venue come to life over recent weeks.” Rob Groves, regional development director at Paradise development manager MEPC, added: “The arrival of Vinoteca is another great addition to Birmingham’s famous culinary offering.” Earlier this month, Vinoteca closed its site in London’s Marylebone as it looks to open more larger venues.

Historic grade II-listed west London site sold to experienced hotelier: The Tudor Lodge Hotel, a grade II-listed building in Eastcote, west London, which dates 500 years, has been sold to a new owner. The 44-bedroom hotel, in Field End Road, has been acquired by Gurvinder Sethi, a London restaurateur and hotelier. Sethi, who operates a chain of hotels in the capital, plans to expand the business by adding additional rooms and covers to the existing restaurant. Previous owner Ruchir Gupta, of Siya Properties, had acquired the property in 2010. Having established several businesses in Europe and the US, he decided to put the hotel up for sale to concentrate on expanding his operations abroad. The sale was handed by Christie & Co.

Cains Brewery reopens in Liverpool following multimillion-pound investment: Cains Brewery, which was formed in Liverpool in 1858 but disappeared from the map nine years ago, has reopened following a multimillion-pound renovation. The start of a new era for the brewer was marked on Friday (24 June) when the first pint of its best bitter was officially served once again, at the site where Robert Cain first brewed his range of ales back in 1858. The beer known as “Liverpool in a pint” disappeared from bars almost a decade ago, but St Helens-based Mikhail Hotel & Leisure Group, the new owners of the Cains Brewery development in Stanhope Street, is behind its return under a new management team. The Cains brand was revived in 2002 when Sudarghara and Ajmail Dusanj bought the business, but the venture collapsed into administration in 2008. The Dusanj brothers bought back the brewery and eight of the original pubs, but brewing came to a halt in 2013 and, despite plans to relaunch as a microbrewery, the brand lay dormant until now. The return of Cains Finest Bitter will be followed by that of Cains Lager this week, and both will be available at all Mikhail Group venues across the north west, as well as the brewery’s taproom. Situated within the Baltic Triangle, the brewery is spread across three floors and features two private taprooms. The Mikhail Group operates a variety of outlets throughout the region, including the grade ll-listed Bold Hotel in Southport, and is also transforming Southport’s iconic The Grand, which will open next month. Andrew Mikhail, group chairman, said: “The beer they call ‘Liverpool in a pint’ has been missed by many since it disappeared almost ten years ago. I feel incredibly proud to be bringing this iconic brew back to life.”

James Cochran partners with Sauce Shop for condiment launch: Great British Menu winner James Cochran, who co-owns Islington restaurant 12:51 and will next month open sports bar concept Valderrama’s, has partnered with Sauce Shop for a new condiment launch. Sauce Shop x 12:51 Scotch Bonnet Chilli Jam is now available in Sainsbury’s stores nationwide, drawing on the flavours and traditions of his Cochran’s Caribbean heritage but with his own London twist. The jam featured on a goat dish Cochran prepared during his time on Great British Menu, and was later paired with jerk and fried chicken on his 12:51 menu before becoming a staple of his lockdown chicken burgers concept, Around the Cluck. It will retail at £3.75 following an initial £3 launch price.