Hospitality underpins city centre vibrancy, but cost pressures threaten recovery: Pubs, bars and restaurants are still driving the post-covid-19 renaissance of Britain’s top cities, research from CGA by NielsenIQ and Wireless Social shows – but costs pressures are threatening the recovery. The joint “Top Cities” report combines CGA’s sales data with device log-in data from Wi-Fi solutions provider Wireless Social to provide a “vibrancy” ranking of Britain’s ten most populous cities over the four weeks to 27 August 2022. Birmingham tops the report’s list for the first time in 2022 – just ahead of Glasgow, the leader in the previous four-week period. Leicester and Liverpool are among the cities on the rise in the new chart, in third and fourth place respectively. At the other end of the rankings, London is in tenth place – extending a run that has seen it finish no higher than eighth in any period so far this year. Sales and footfall in the capital have suffered from a shortage of office workers and tourists despite the ending of covid-19 restrictions. Leeds’ performance mirrors that of London – with the city staying towards the bottom of the vibrancy rankings. The report also reveals signs that hospitality’s city-centre recovery is at risk of slowing. Sales in four of Britain’s ten biggest cities were lower than in the equivalent pre-covid-19 period of 2019, while footfall, as measured by device log-ins, was behind in all ten. CGA client director Chris Jeffrey said: “Restaurants, pubs and bars are integral to city-centre life, especially at a time when so much of retail has moved online, and they are at the heart of Britain’s recovery from the covid-19 crisis. But as these figures show, that recovery is increasingly threatened by the impact of soaring fuel and food costs on businesses and consumers alike.” Julian Ross, founder and chief executive of Wireless Social, added: “While the government’s recently announced support package on energy bills is set to be extremely beneficial for small and large businesses in our sector, it’s vital the support doesn’t simply dry up.”

 

Roy Ellis to speak at final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2022, three free places per company for operators: Roy Ellis, founder of Mission Mars, the Albert’s Schloss and Rudy’s Pizza operator, will be among the speakers at the final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2022, which takes place on Thursday, 10 November, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London, and is open for bookings. The all-day conference will focus on “new ways of working”. Ellis will discuss evolving an award-winning bar and restaurant concept, expanding a pizza brand and creating a sector-leading culture. Operators can book up to three free places per company by emailing jo.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Fourth UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database released today: Several dessert and sweet treat concepts are among the 15 new franchisors expanding in the UK and abroad featured in the fourth UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, which will be sent to Premium subscribers today (Friday, 23 September), at midday. The fourth edition will feature 155 companies and almost 70,000 words of content, providing insight on the offer, locations, cost and other key details. Among them is Nugelato, an 11-strong Northern Ireland-based ice cream boutique company founded in Newcastle, County Down, in 2015 by Michael Nugent Jnr. Also featured is Delightful Desserts, a dessert franchise founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Baz and Sunny Koone which currently has 17 sites. Scooperb, an ice cream/dessert lounge concept founded in 2017 in Rayners Lane, north west London, by Deepali Prabhu, which opened its fourth site and first franchise this summer, is also featured. Premium subscribers also receive access to The New Openings Database; the Propel Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; and the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, produced in association with Mapal Group. Premium subscribers will also be given exclusive access to the recording of the Propel Multi-Club summer conference today, at 9am. 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 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. They 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.

Papa John’s temporarily closes a number of sites across the UK as it resolves issues with standards: Papa John’s, which operates circa 500 sites in the UK, has temporarily closed a number of sites across the country “while some issues are resolved”. Several Papa John's sites, which are all franchisee-owned and independently operated, have closed across the country over the last two weeks, including sites in Cardiff, Newport and Hereford as well as branches in Stoke-on-Trent, Plymouth, Guildford, and Chorlton, Manchester. A Papa John's spokesperson said: “Papa John's restaurants in the UK are 100% franchisee owned. Papa John's has been helping the franchise owner of these independently operated restaurants through a difficult period but certain locations now need to be closed temporarily while some issues are resolved. Papa John's has important operating standards to protect franchisees, team members and customers. If these standards are ever compromised, additional measures need to be taken that can impact a restaurant staying open. Papa John's is not the employer of the team members at these locations. The franchise owner of these locations is responsible for paying its team members. Nevertheless, in order to be supportive, Papa John's will take steps to ensure all employees are compensated. The independent franchise owner of these locations will need to address any remaining issues.” Papa John’s has more than 500 UK sites and is rolling out its new branding. The company was founded in the USA in 1984 and has a 5,000-strong global estate.

 

UKHospitality – interest rate rise will ‘exacerbate the already challenging trading environment’ for the sector: UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has warned the rise in interest rates will “exacerbate the already challenging trading environment” for the sector. The Bank of England increased the rate from 1.75% to 2.25%, taking borrowing costs to their highest level since 2008. The bank also forecasts the UK economy is already in recession – meaning two consecutive quarters of contraction. Nicholls said: “The rise in interest rates, while widely expected, has a two-pronged negative impact on an already struggling hospitality sector. It will simultaneously diminish discretionary spend for consumers while making borrowing more expensive, exacerbating the already challenging trading environment for our businesses. This underlines the acute need for further support for the industry, in the form of business rates reliefs and reduced rates of VAT to spur recovery in a vital sector upon which millions of jobs depend.” However, UKHospitality says the 1.25% National Insurance reverse to be announced in chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-Budget today (Friday, 23 September) is “excellent news” for the sector and its customers. It says capping the increase announced just six months ago means hospitality businesses will save an average £9,600 that they can plough into growth and development. Nicholls added: “Hot on the heels of the government support for businesses facing rising energy costs, cutting employer NI contributions (NICs) is more excellent news for the hospitality sector and will help businesses reduce their costs as they attempt to return to profitability. Cutting employee NICs is a great way to ensure people keep more of their money, primarily so that they’re able to pay their bills, and then to enjoy affordable luxuries, such as visiting hospitality venues. This announcement is particularly welcome, as UKHospitality has long campaigned for an employer NICs regime that supports job creation, which this move will certainly help towards.” Meanwhile, the Night Time Industries Association has welcomed an extension of the off-sales easement, also announced by the government yesterday (Thursday, 22 September). “The extension of the off-sales easement has come at a key moment within the recovery of the sector, as we move into the golden quarter,” said NTIA chief executive, Michael Kill. “This is without a doubt a step forward, but we must also ask the government to consider other areas of deregulation and easement, which would support a broader range of businesses within the night time economy and hospitality sectors.”

 

Family of mum who died after suffering allergic reaction to Pret vegan wrap calls for stricter food testing: The family of a mum with an acute dairy allergy who died after eating a Pret A Manger vegan wrap that she believed to be dairy-free but was in fact contaminated with traces of milk, have called for stricter food testing. Celia Marsh suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction after eating the £3.75 sandwich from a Pret store in Bath, Somerset, in December 2017. She subsequently collapsed in the street and died in hospital two days after Christmas. A two-week inquest into Mrs Marsh’s death, at Avon Coroner’s Court in Bristol, has concluded Mrs Marsh died from “anaphylaxis triggered by the consumption of milk protein” she had unknowingly consumed 15 minutes earlier. Speaking outside the inquest, Celia’s eldest daughter, Ashleigh Grice, said: “As a family, we believe action must be taken now by the food industry and the government. We need better testing, better labelling and better healthcare to prevent other families having to carry the grief that we will always hold. Enough is enough.” Celia’s husband, Andy Marsh, added: “Any manufacturer who makes something that is then labelled ‘free from’ has to take the responsibility for the testing to make sure it is exactly that.” Pret chief executive Pano Christou said the company fully supported the coroner’s findings and the incident “should never happen again”. He added: “On Pret’s part, we have taken significant steps forward with our suppliers and labelling policies since 2017. Through the Pret allergy plan, we made a clear commitment to lead the industry in developing new policies for people with food allergies. We will continue to do everything we can to help every customer get the information they need to make the right choice for them.” Coroner Moira Voisin said she would be writing a prevention of future deaths report to the Food Standards Agency and the Royal College of Pathologists.

 

Real living wage raised early to help workers navigate cost-of-living crisis: The voluntary real living wage has been raised earlier than usual to provide more financial support to hundreds of thousands of workers during the cost-of-living crisis. The Living Wage Foundation, which sets the hourly rates that employers can opt in to, said they would go up by £1 to £10.90 across the UK and by 90p to £11.95 in London. The rates – which are independently calculated based on what people need to live on – are higher than the statutory £9.50 an hour for adults. They are paid by more than 11,000 employers who have signed up to the scheme. The foundation said 390,000 people would benefit, to the tune of almost £2,000 for a full-time worker. It said the new rates were now worth £2,700 more per year to full-time workers in the UK than those on the national minimum wage and almost £5,000 more in London. Katherine Chapman, Living Wage Foundation director, said Britain is facing “unprecedented challenges with the cost-of-living crisis”. She said: "With living costs rising so rapidly, millions are facing an awful 'heat or eat' choice this winter – that’s why a real living wage is more vital than ever.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment has partnered with a restaurant group that is looking for a finance director. A COREcruitment spokesman said: “As finance director, you will build a best-in-class finance function for the company. You will also lead business planning from an annual to five-year basis and helping to drive strategic choices to maximise growth and profitability, lead the company’s future M&A and fundraising initiatives, be responsible for the preparation and issuing of monthly management accounts, year-end reports, audit process and other ad hoc requirements to the relevant teams, ensuring timely and accurate management and financial reporting to the board, business partner and the operations teams to maximise performance. You will implement high quality commercial analysis across the business to assist in business-making decisions and to be proactively involved in margin improvements across all functions of the business.” The salary is “very competitive” and the position is based in central London. For more information, email oliwia@corecruitment.com

 

7Bone Burger Co appoints advisors to access funding options: 7Bone Burger Co, the Kings Park Capital-backed business, has appointed advisors to access its funding options, which could lead to a sale of the 13-strong brand, Propel has learned. 7Bone, which was founded in 2013 by Matt Mollicone and Rich Zammit, is believed to have appointed Interpath to help it access its options. Kings Park acquired a significant stake in the then two-strong business in August 2016, a deal which saw Derek Woodcock, previously finance director of Nando’s for 12 years, joining its board as a non-executive director. 7Bone opened its first restaurant in Southampton in 2013, followed by Bournemouth the following year. The brand operates sites across the Midlands and the south east, including restaurants in Bournemouth, Camberley, Eastbourne, Hove, Newbury, Northampton, Portsmouth, Coventry, Staines and Reading. Interpath declined to comment.

 

Mark McQuater-chaired Deckhouse concept lines up debut site: Deckhouse, the new all-day dining café and bar concept chaired and backed by Mark McQuater, the former chief executive of Revolution and Barracuda, has lined up a debut site in Somerset. The concept, which has a target of having 18 sites within five years, is believed to have lined up the ex-Bill’s site in Cheapside, Taunton. Earlier this month, Propel revealed Deckhouse had initial funding of £2m in place, with a plan of initially developing two sites this year, three to four sites in 2023 and 18 sites within five years. The business is targeting towns with “more than 20,000 people or higher quality smaller demographics”. The concept, which “combines coffee, restaurant and bar culture”, plans to serve “affluent under serviced quality market towns and suburbs in the south of England, Home Counties and the southern Midlands”. Alongside McQuater, who is also currently chair of Roxy Leisure, the Deckhouse management team comprises Tom Cullen, former director of property at Barracuda Group, who has also held senior positions in Mitchells & Butlers and Greenalls, as property director; Dominic Doherty, formerly of Revolution de Cuba and Ivy Collections, as operations director; and Nick Morgan, formerly chief financial officer at Barracuda Group and Port Haven Care Homes, as finance director.

 

Doubts raised over future of Gourmet4 business: The future of food marketplace business Gourmet4 has been called into question after a number of its sites were closed and returned to their respective landlords. The business – which operates in-house brands such as Fat Burgers, 3Amigos, Smokin’ Buns, Saucy Chicks and Bangon Thai street food – had grown to 12 sites across the UK, and had plans to double that number. However, Propel understands sites in Ruislip, Bristol, Newport, Crewe, Southampton, Harlow and Birkenhead have been permanently closed. Meanwhile, sites in Camberley, Sutton Coldfield, Watford and Newcastle are listed as “currently closed” on the company’s website. The company’s site in Wolverhampton is still taking orders. 

 

Electric Star Pubs takes on Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records site: Electric Star Pubs, the London business led by owner and founder Rob Star, has secured its eighth site in the capital, in Spitalfields. The company has secured the former Tracks & Records in Middlesex Street, close to Liverpool Street station. Tracks & Records was the Jamaican restaurant concept backed by Olympic champion Usain Bolt, which opened its London debut site in Middlesex Street in 2018. Star’s first pub, the Star of Bethnal Green, opened in 2008, since when six others have followed across the capital, including most recently the Lord Napier Star in Hackney Wick. Star has always said he has no plans to expand his empire outside of London, but would consider opening a site in his home city of Leicester if the opportunity arose. David Kornbluth and Salvatore Di Natale acted for the landlord in the letting of the ex-Tracks & Field site, alongside Jonathan Moradoff, of Davis Coffer Lyons.

 

PizzaExpress appoints Chris Holmes as international and channel director: PizzaExpress, the Paula MacKenzie-led business, has appointed Chris Holmes to the newly created role of international and channel director, Propel has learned. Holmes, who recently sold the rights to operate the Smash app he founded to Liva Healthcare, previously spent a year as managing director of the Azzurri Group-owned ASK Italian, Prior to that he spent five-and-a-half years at KFC, latterly as chief development officer. Before that he had stints at Boots, EMI and PwC. In his new role, he will lead the international, delivery and retail businesses at PizzaExpress.

 

New Dawn Pubs makes first acquisition: New Dawn Pubs, the new vehicle launched earlier this year from the founders of Red Mist Leisure, has made its first acquisition. The company has acquired The Gomshall Mill, near Guildford, which was formerly operated by The Restaurant Group-owned Brunning & Price. It is the fifth site to join New Dawn Pubs, which has sites in Surrey and Hampshire. The company said work is already underway on the 17th century mill that sits on the River Tillingbourne, with a view to opening ready for Christmas. Plans include refurbishment of the entrance, bar, dining room, and toilets, with further work to take place next year on the patio and gardens. It is the first acquisition by New Dawn Pubs, which is led by Mark Robson and Mark Williams, since establishing the business earlier this year. Robson said: “The Gomshall Mill is such a fantastic site. We’re already speaking with the locals and are looking forward to becoming a key part of the community there, working with and building upon relationships with local suppliers and creating an enviable destination pub.” The founders of New Dawn completed the sale of the 11-strong Red Mist Leisure to Red Lion Holdings at the beginning of July, and subsequently secured four of their former pubs – The Red Lion in Odiham, The Royal Exchange in Lindford, The Rose & Crown in Upper Farringdon in Hampshire and The Castle Inn, Farnham in Surrey. The company told Propel earlier this year that plans had also been set in motion for investment at the existing sites, the first of which will be The Castle pub in Farnham. Robson told Propel the group planned to secure another site, but after that will assess where the business is before expanding further.

Bewiched Coffee launches new express format, aims for 40 machines by end of 2023: Northampton cafe operator Bewiched Coffee has launched its new express format ahead of a roll-out which will see it operate 40 machines by the end of next year. The concept has made its debut in the Hillmorton Co-operative Store in Rugby, with plans to launch into further into Warwickshire and Northamptonshire this year and into 2023. “We are looking to offer something different in this space, which is dominated by the incumbent market leaders, whose offer is often impacted by the length of time that has passed since the coffee was roasted, as well as the associated darkness of roast and bean grade to hold roasted coffee for that length of time,” said Bewiched managing director, Matt Fountain. “We are offering freshly roasted artisan coffee, prepared by a fantastic machine, with the coffee extraction and milk texturing quality producing an amazing final product. Our aim is to have 40 of these machines in retail environments by the end of 2023.” Bewiched last month opened its 14th store, in Lower Heathcote, Warwickshire, and the previous month secured its second drive-thru site, with five more in the pipeline. Fountain plans to have 40 Bewiched sites by the end of 2026, including 20 drive-thrus by the end of 2025.

 

Admiral Taverns to invest £1m into five-year sustainability plan: Admiral Taverns, the Proprium-backed pub business, will invest £1m into a new sustainability scheme over the next five years. The plan will involve introducing several energy saving initiatives across its estate in a bid to reduce carbon emissions across all areas of the business. The initial £1m investment will target more than 450 of Admiral’s least energy efficient pubs, with energy saving initiatives including cellar management systems and fridge managers. Cellar managers can save approximately 30% of the energy needed to cool cellars, while fridge managers can save 33% of the energy used to power bottle fridges. Andrew Hallam, head of property at Admiral Taverns, said: “We pride ourselves on supporting our licensees, and this £1m will target the most energy inefficient pubs, reducing both their costs and our carbon emissions. Sustainability is of the upmost importance to us, and reducing our environmental impact is key to the long-term sustainability of Admiral’s business.” Admiral is already helping licensees reduce energy costs by installing LED lights where appropriate, and working with energy brokers to provide quotes and general advice. 

 

Former Alshya Group operations manager takes on second Star Pubs & Bars site in Essex, eyes three more: Ben Mulvaney, former senior operations manager with Alshaya Group, which operates 80 brands across the Middle East and north Africa, has taken on a second Star Pubs & Bars site in Essex and is eyeing three more. Mulvaney – who has headed up the food and beverage offering at venues such as Hotel du Vin in Birmingham, The Trafalgar Hilton in London and Theatre by Gary Rhodes in Dubai – is the co-founder of Scratch Consultancy, which has just taken on the lease for The Compasses in Chelmsford. It is Scratch’s second site with Star Pubs & Bars, having taken on The Blue Lion in Great Baddow in 2020, as it looks to build an estate of five pubs with Star across Essex and north Kent. The companies will now undertake a joint £250,0000 refurbishment of The Compasses before reopening it in early November, after nearly three years closed. The new layout will include a 100-seater dining area, a new 20-seater private dining room and a 60-cover all-weather alfresco area. The menu will focus on gourmet pub classics, freshly prepared using local ingredients, while the drinks selection will include premium lager and spirits, classic cocktails and modern eclectic wine. Mulvaney, who says trade at The Blue Lion has increased 500% since he took it on, said: “People are seeking independently operated pubs and restaurants, and we’re targeting suburban locations where there’s a shortage of good places to eat and drink in the immediate vicinity. Our expansion plans are built around leasing rather than buying pubs as it ties up less revenue, allowing us to grow more rapidly while maintaining cash flow.” 

 

Vaulkhard Group secures debut Sunderland site: North east leisure firm Vaulkhard Group is to open a site in Sunderland. The company will open the venue beneath the new Keel Square Holiday Inn, creating 30 jobs. Vaulkhard Group has signed a lease for a ground floor unit alongside The New World Trading Company brand The Botanist, which recently confirmed its plans to open in the city. The venue will be Vaulkhard’s 19th in the region and first south of Tyneside and will serve food and drink throughout the day. Oliver Vaulkhard, founder of Vaulkhard Group, said: “We have only looked to Newcastle and further north for new venues in the past, but there really is a sense that Sunderland is transforming, and we want to be part of that. This really is urban regeneration on scale that is going on at Riverside Sunderland, and we see the opportunity that presents for us as a group.” While the branding and opening date is yet to be revealed, the business has applied to the city council's licencing team to enable it to trade from the unit with the aim of opening in spring 2023. The venue is part of the new £18m 120-bed Holiday Inn hotel at Keel Square, which is close to completion. The development, part of Riverside Sunderland, is being brought forward by Cairn Group.

 

Parisian gourmet boutique to make London debut with restaurant and deli: Parisian gourmet boutique Petrossian will make its London debut in November with a restaurant and deli in South Kensington. The venue will occupy the street-level space at 6 Fulham Road, and follows Petrossian’s UK debut last November, when it opened a caviar lab in Chessington, Surrey. Knowledgeable staff will be on hand to offer advice and expertise to customers on caviar, smoked salmon and other delicacies. There will also be a seating area where guests can try cult Petrossian recipes like croque caviar, foie gras, smoked fish platters and king crab salad. Founded in Paris in 1920 by brothers Melkoum and Mouchegh Petrossian, the company remains fully family owned. Its boutiques and restaurants have also spread to New York, Brussels, Las Vegas and west Hollywood.

 

Buzzworks to open new South Queensferry venue in November: Scottish restaurant and bar operator Buzzworks Holdings is set to open a new venue in South Queensferry in November. Taking over the former site of The Three Bridges, situated beneath the Forth Bridge in Edinburgh, Thirty Knots will feature a restaurant, a modern take on the traditional pub, an outdoor terrace with views over the Firth of Forth and a private events space for up to 100 guests upstairs. Buzzworks is investing a six-figure sum into the 19th century B-listed building and the venue will create 45 jobs. The restaurant will offer up a gastropub menu featuring a modern twist on some traditional classics including beer battered fish and chips, honey and garlic lamb shoulder and steaks cooked on a robata grill. The pub will serve draught beer and wine by the glass while showing live sport alongside hosting a programme of music and entertainment. Kenny Blair, Buzzworks managing director, said: “We’re delighted to have started work on Thirty Knots, a pub, and restaurant that we believe will be a great asset to the South Queensferry community, providing an impressive range of food and drink and excellent service.” Buzzworks operates 14 venues across Scotland alongside the three-strong Herringbone business it acquired earlier this year.

 

Laros opens third site: Greek street food restaurant Laros has returned to Liverpool to open its third site. Having made its debut in the city’s Bold Street in May 2021, Laros expanded into Manchester five months later with the opening of a dark kitchen in Ardwick. It has now opened site number three, in Storrsdale Road in Mossley Hill, south Liverpool, and expanded its menu. It is serving Greek pastries and coffee for the first time, from 10am, as well as introducing a new dedicated vegan menu called Laros Green. Its authentic gyros, souvlaki and fresh Greek salads are also available to eat in or takeaway. Owner Nikolaos Fylladitakis said: “We’re excited to be opening in the heart of south Liverpool. We want to continue to share real, authentic Greek cuisine with our guests, made with only the highest quality ingredients and fresh each time. Our menu has something for everyone; from delicious meat and vegan gyros to succulent souvlaki skewers, vegan courgette fritters and tomato cakes, fresh Greek salads and our popular Talagani cheese fries.” The majority of Laros’ ingredients are imported from Greece, including Greek wine, beer and soft drinks, while the rest is sourced locally.

 

London operators open Japanese restaurant and live music venue for second permanent site: London operators Amit and Aneesh Patel have opened Mu, a Japanese restaurant and live music venue, for their second permanent site. The 120-cover neighbourhood bar and restaurant, which serves Japanese dishes from its charcoal robata grill alongside natural wine and both classic and seasonal cocktails, has opened at 432-434 Kingsland Road in Dalston. Mu, which is named after an album by jazz artist Don Cherry, will also host live performances from local musicians. It follows in the footsteps of Brilliant Corners, which the brothers opened further down Kingsland Road, at number 470, in 2018, and mobile sound system concept Giant Steps, which had a temporary home in Hackney that same year. The kitchen team is headed up by Duarte Loupa, formerly of Ginza Onodera and the previous head chef of Brilliant Corners, who will serve up small plates such as mackerel with daikon and ginger, and scallops with yuzu Koscho. Larger dishes include nikiri glazed tofu with wafu salad, daikon and carrot, and cherry wood-smoked salmon teriyaki with juntoro and parsnip crisps. There are also bar snacks and a selection of sake and mezcals. Live performances can be enjoyed from either pre-booked dinner tables or a 25-seater bar which takes walk-ins, with an optional £8 per person music cover charge for those that dine during the shows.

 

Wagamama launches ‘noodle union’ to help university students save money: Wagamama, The Restaurant Group-owned brand, has launched a “noodle union” club to help university students save money on a range of dishes. Alongside that, Wagamama has teamed up with YouTuber Niko Omilana, who has been appointed president of the noodle union, to spread the word about their discounts. Every student who signs up to the noodle union will benefit from a variety prizes and content while 100 will win a pair of limited-edition golden chopsticks, unlocking £300 of free food to enjoy at any Wagamama restaurant. Max Simons-Dukes, senior brand manager at Wagamama, said: “We know the current climate is challenging for university students, which is why providing them with real value is at the heart of this campaign. We’ve got brilliant content and giveaways coming throughout the year, exclusively for students signed up to the noodle union.” Meanwhile, Wagamama has secured a site at The Brewery in Romford, east London. The brand will move into a 3,478 square-foot unit, also on a 15-year lease, with the restaurant opening later this year.

 

Immersive storytelling operator set to launch new theatrical cocktail experience: Immersive storytelling operator Inventive Productions, which operates the four-strong Alcotraz prison cocktail bar concept, is set to launch a new theatrical cocktail experience where guests forage for their ingredients. Avora will launch in November at the Rosewood Building in Gorsuch Place, Hackney, east London. Guests will be briefed by a team of scientists and botanists, explore a newly discovered world and meet with natives to create bespoke cocktails. Avora is also set to become the world’s first carbon neutral immersive experience, with its fictional themes, brought to life by immersive sets and actors, reflecting real-world issues. Inventive Productions will be partnering with UK environmental organisation, Ecologi, to plant a tree for every ticket sold, while the cocktail options are being co-created with the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Sam Shearman, creator of Avora and founder of Inventive Productions, said: “It’s exciting to be bringing a new concept and immersive experience to London, and especially one with a narrative that speaks to what is happening in the world today. Our hope is that people have a fun and amazing time during their experience but also give a little more thought to the issues we are facing in our real world.” As well as Alcotraz sites in London, Brighton, Manchester and Liverpool, Inventive Productions operates Wild West inspired immersive bar experience Moonshine Saloon, in London’s Houndsditch. It also ran pirate-themed cocktail experience Pirates of the Hidden Spirit at St Mary Overie Dock, near London Bridge, which has now closed.

 

SSP Group brings two new food experiences to Thailand with further expansion to follow: UK-based transport hub foodservice specialist SSP Group has opened two new bespoke Thai concepts at Suvarnabhumi International airport in Thailand – with further expansion to follow. Koh Hop Bar serves a selection of beer and bar food classics “with a twist”, including a signature Thai-flavoured Koh Hop Bar burger. Another Koh Hop Bar is scheduled to open this month, and there are plans to open an additional unit at Phuket airport next year. Meanwhile, Imm Rice & Noodle brings local Thai cuisine to Suvarnabhumi. Among its wide selection of traditional dishes are plant-based options including vegetarian pad Thai and stir-fried spicy tofu and mushroom with basil. Imm is scheduled to expand to Don Mueang International airport. Jonathan Robinson, chief executive of SSP Asia Pacific, said: “Koh Hop Bar and Imm Rice & Noodle are appealing to the new generation of younger travellers. Both brands have been carefully curated based on our long experience in the region and our detailed understanding of the Thai travelling consumer.”

 

Scottish management company expands into Asia, new hotel and restaurant project underway in Scotland: Inverlochy Castle Management International (ICMI), which manages 14 boutique hotels across Scotland – including Inverlochy Castle, Greywalls Hotel, Fasque Castle and Andy Murray’s Cromlix House Hotel – has expanded into Asia. ICMI has launched the Hotel Telegraph in Singapore, in a deal will see it manage all front and back of house services at the 134-bedroom Lion City venue. The heritage building has been run as a hotel since 2014 and will transform into The Hotel Telegraph on Wednesday (28 September) under a new owner and ICMI’s management. It comes four years after the company expanded into the Caribbean, where it oversaw the launch of The Liming, in Bequia. Norbert Lieder, managing director of ICMI, said: “ICMI’s attention to every detail of a hotel experience will help to elevate the Hotel Telegraph in the local market. Expansion internationally also helps us attract top talent, who are able to develop their career across Scotland, the Caribbean and now Asia.” Significant investment is also underway at several of ICMI’s Scottish properties, following the launch of a new Michel Roux Jr restaurant at Inverlochy Castle in April. A stable block has been restored at the same venue to create eight new bedrooms, while at Crossbasket Castle, work is underway to create a new restaurant, spa and 40-room hotel. Lieder added: “The projects at both Inverlochy Castle and Crossbasket Castle represent a significant investment for the owners and are a result of continued demand for luxury rooms across Scotland.”

 

Soho House shakes up food festival for more interactive experience and to champion sector talent: Soho House has shaken up its Soho Farmhouse Food Festival to give it a more interactive experience and champion talent in the sector. After a two-year hiatus, FoodFest returned to Soho Farmhouse to bring food, farming, and flavour together as never before. The event featured a stellar roll call of UK pioneers of the culinary scene, restaurateurs and high-profile dining enthusiasts, and was attended by more than 3,500 Soho House members and guests. Working with marketing consultancy Salt, the main festival area, “Where the Wild Things Grow”, brought together a curated line-up of the nation’s best chefs, producers, artisans and craftspeople. This included Gareth Ward of Ynyshir in Wales – recently named the number-one restaurant in the UK; Michelin-starred chefs Brad Carter and Tom Brown, and Imogen Davis, of Native. The Harvest Table at Barwell Barn featured a series of culinary feasts that took place on long communal tables, hosted by wine and drinks maestros including Honey Spencer of the Palomar Group (previously Noma). Other experiences included The Jungle at The Glass House with an edible plants sanctuary and pizzeria pop-up by Chris Leach of east London’s Manteca and Lakeside Oysters by the Wright Brothers. Max Moran, head of member events at Soho House, said: “We wanted to shake up the format of previous years and do something fresh and food focused. With an incredible line-up, from emerging chefs to some of the UK’s most influential restauranteurs, we have demonstrated how we can further extend Soho House’s support for creative talent into the hospitality industry.”