SSP paid £1.75m for 25 ex-AMT Coffee sites, six more sold to Gourmet Coffee Bar & Kitchen: SSP Group paid £1.75m to buy out of administration 25 AMT Coffee sites, while a further six were subsequently acquired by the Gourmet Coffee Bar and Kitchen business, Propel has learned. AMT Coffee, which operated 43 sites in transport hubs and hospitals across the UK, was placed into administration last month, with Nick Holloway and Will Wright, of Interpath Advisory, appointed joint administrators. The transaction saw 25 AMT Coffee sites transfer to SSP Group, along with approximately 200 employees based across those locations. The sites will continue to trade under the AMT Coffee brand name. Propel has learned a further six former AMT sites were acquired by Gourmet Coffee Bar and Kitchen, the circa 20-strong business, which is run by Nick and Liz Garnell and has sites situated within or near train stations across the UK. Gourmet Coffee Bar and Kitchen is understood to have paid £62,500 for the six sites. They are in Weymouth, Wimbledon, Richmond and three at Cambridge station. AMT Coffee had annual revenue of approximately £15.5m at the date of the joint administrators' appointment. It made a loss of £1.9m in the year ended 3 January 2022 (2021: a loss of £3.2m). The joint administrators report stated: “Additionally, we understand the shareholders made an equity injection in June 2022 to support working capital. The company was loss-making for several years due to the difficult trading conditions. In the previous three financial years the company made losses of £1.9m, £3.2m and £1.2m respectively. The management team had been implementing a turnaround plan focused on repositioning the brand, improving its product offering and the quality of its sites and the company had secured further financing to support this turnaround plan from DPK, an entity connected to David Maxwell, director of the company, and funding through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme from Triple Point. Despite the actions taken by the directors, trading continued to be challenging. In the nine months to September 2022, the company accumulated losses of £1m. The company required further funding of circa £2m over the next six months from August 2022 onwards in order to fund ongoing trading and make repayments to overdue creditors, including arrears owed to landlords and HM Revenue & Customs. Funding was requested from existing shareholders and lenders but they were able to provide funding.” During the marketing process, 14 financial and trade parties expressed an interest in the business. Three final offers were received, all of which were for the trade and assets (excluding debtors) of the company through a pre-packaged administration. The subsequent sales excluded 12 sites, ten in the UK and two in Ireland, with the surrender of these leases offered.   

 

Sponsored message – choose Boxpark for your hospitality work Christmas party: If you’re a pub, bar or restaurant operator, chances are you are too busy sorting other people’s Christmas parties to think about your own. Well don’t worry. At Boxpark, you can host the “ultimate work party with an incredible array of global cuisine, exclusive drinks packages and great entertainment to get your team in good spirits”. A Boxpark spokesperson said: “We have three sites across London and at our amazing Wembley venue, you can even find unique activities such as virtual reality gaming, axe-throwing and a dedicated neon themed PlayBox area with all the best tabletop games. You can choose from a smaller scale gathering or a full venue takeover for up to 2,500. Bookings for January are now available.” For further information, click here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Burger King UK CFO to speak at Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit 2023, open for bookings: Tim Doubleday, chief financial officer of Burger King UK, will speak at the Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit 2023. The event is a partnership between Propel and Think Hospitality, aiming to build a community, promote the sharing of ideas, recognise talent and define the future of eating out. Bookings are now open for the two-day conference as the centrepiece of the January event series, taking place on 24 and 25 January at One Moorgate Place in London. Doubleday will discuss the company’s better business agenda, why it is championing change and how it’s central to future performance and growth. More than 50 industry and agency leaders will take to the stage over two days representing brands including Cornish Bakery, Gail’s Bakery, The Alchemist, Hawksmoor, Searcy’s, Press Up Hospitality Group, Vapiano, Popeyes UK, Inception Group, Oakman Group, New World Trading Company, Peggy Porschen Cakes, Krispy Kreme, KellyDeli, Red Engine, East Coast Concepts, Coco di Mama, The Cocktail Club, Tattu Restaurants, Hilton, Elior, MJMK, Lollipop, Chotto Matte, Ping Pong, Nobu, Gusto Italian, BrewDog, Kaleido, Darjeeling Express, Flat Earth Pizzas and Six by Nico. For the full speaker schedule for day one click here and for day two click here. Day one themes will be consumer and sector trends, start-ups, concepts and creativity and digital evolution, while day two focuses on purpose and responsible business, strategies for growth and communication and culture. Tickets for operators for the two days are £600 plus VAT and £350 plus VAT for one day. Tickets for suppliers are £950 plus VAT for the two days and £525 plus VAT for one day. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Jo Charity at Propel on jo.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

BBPA – pub operators still being subjected to hidden energy charges despite regulator intervention: Pub operators are still being subjected to “unfair” hidden charges by energy companies despite an earlier intervention by the industry regulator Ofgem that sought to stop bad practice by suppliers, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has said. In a letter to Ofgem, the BBPA warned the “extortionate costs” are putting pubs “under serious threat of closure as a result”. It highlighted numerous cases of energy suppliers increasing elements of energy bills that are outside of the remit of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) such as standing charges, installation fees and other hidden non-commodity costs. The BBPA is also calling on the government to provide urgent clarity and certainty an extension to the EBRS will be applied for pubs and breweries beyond the end of March. Recently released data showed energy costs were set to completely wipe out profits for many pub and brewing businesses if the scheme wasn’t extended. BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “As we face an extreme cost-of-living crisis and freezing temperatures, our industry is doing what it does best, providing warm and welcoming spaces for those who need it most. But we are at breaking point. Pubs want to keep their doors open for local people, but energy costs are continuing to cripple them. Unfair hidden charges mean the EBRS designed to save their businesses from failure, is doing little to help. We urgently need Ofgem and the government to take a serious look at these practices and guarantee that costs can be brought down both now and throughout 2023, otherwise we will lose these vital hubs that mean so much to so many.”

SBPA slams Scottish government for ignoring business rates relief: The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) has slammed the Scottish government for ignoring its pleas for business rates in its Budget. Several industry leaders warned that introducing no such measure would leave many businesses on a cliff edge from next April. But there was no mention of any further relief from deputy first minister and interim finance secretary John Swinney in today’s Budget announcement. SBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “The lack of an announcement on business rates relief for Scotland’s pubs is hugely disappointing and will be met with dismay by many operators. Both the UK Government and Welsh Government have ensured that eligible businesses there will receive a 75% discount on rates next year, after a 50% discount for the entirety of this year. In comparison, Scottish businesses have been back to full rates since the summer. This puts Scotland’s pubs at a significant disadvantage in their recovery given the challenges they are facing. We’re glad the finance secretary has listened to industry and agreed to freeze uniform business rates. This will provide a greater degree of certainty moving into 2023 but does not make-up for the failure to replicate the 75% discount the trade had been hoping for. We still desperately need additional action from both the Scottish Government and Westminster to save our much-loved pubs. They are being squeezed at both ends and profit margins are being wiped out.”

 

Licensing update: John Gaunt & Partners licensing solicitors has published its last licensing update of the year. It’s been a busy month in licensing news with lots of articles including a consultation in Scotland to restrict advertising and the promotion of alcohol that includes online promotions, so this could have implications outside of Scotland. There is also a review of licensing fees and a new app called “safe walk home”. There has also been an update on the relaxation of pavement licence restrictions and a potential increase to temporary event notices. All at John Gaunt & Partners would like to wish everyone involved in the leisure industry a peaceful and prosperous Christmas and new year. The full update can be accessed here.

 

Tomahawk Steakhouse Group expects turnover of just under £40m for 2022, forecasts £50m in 2023: Tomahawk Steakhouse Group, owned by north east operator Howard Eggleston, has told Propel it expects turnover of just under £40m for 2022, and forecasts a rise to £50m in 2023. The current figure of £38.6m is an increase of almost £10m on the £28.8m it turned over in 2021. The group also has four sites in legals to add to the 13 Tomahawk Steakhouses, five Rio Brazilian Steakhouses and one Pollo Chicken Shop it currently operates. “As we all know, 2022 has been a tricky year to navigate for all businesses in the industry,” Eggleston told Propel. “But for us particularly, with supply chain delays and never-ending inflation, it created a constantly moving target which resulted in our development plans being reassessed almost weekly. The popularity upon opening Tomahawk in locations such as Nottingham and Chester have been a pleasant surprise and are well up on forecast target, as well as Rio in Warrington being our strongest site for a new opening. It goes to show we are sitting on two brands that are strong in a competitive market, as well as resilient in a social and economic downturn. Fortunately, we seem to have positively identified our customer demographic of both concepts. Providing a set price and with the cost-of-living crisis, Rio gives customers financial safety, which is important for people’s pockets. Tomahawk is still very popular, with December bookings up as well as our turnovers. This year’s annual turnover across the group stands at £38.6m, which given that we have had to postpone at least two locations due to hold ups – Morpeth and Harrogate – indicates that had we opened, we would definitely be in the position to have exceeded £40m. Considering this time last year we were at £28.8m, we are looking at close to a £10m increase in 12 months. All things considered, we can’t complain at that. Looking ahead to 2023, we have refreshed our list of locations and currently have four new venues at the solicitors and constantly looking for new sites around the UK. If everything in the new site pipeline comes together, we expect to exceed £50m turnover this time next year.” 

Simmons Bars secures new expanded £5.5m bank facility to support further growth: Simmons Bars, the London cocktail bar operator, has secured a new expanded £5.5m bank facility to aid its further growth, with three new sites currently in legals, Propel has learned. The Nick Campbell-led company, which is backed by Lonsdale Capital Partners, has completed the refinancing of its banking facilities with OakNorth Bank. The expanded £5.5m facility was put in place, which further strengthened the 25-strong group's balance sheet and supported its new site opening programme. Campbell told Propel that Simmons Bars, which recently opened its biggest site to date, in Holborn, had three new sites in legals, with completion expected to take place in early 2023, as well as a number of other sites under offer. Campbell said: “The business continues to perform extremely well. Sales are still tracking triple those seen in 2019 and there is no sign of any slowdown of the huge growth seen after the covid restrictions lifted in 2021. Year-to-date group Ebitda is currently 361% up versus 2019 and we just had our highest sales week last week, despite the England game dampening Saturday evening sales (we chose not to show any of the World Cup this year). Even with the impact of the rail strikes, we will still have had a very successful (and well above budget) Christmas period. Holborn has launched incredibly well, trading has been way ahead of expectations and is currently tracking 135% ahead of its sales budget. Despite the very challenging landscape the business remains incredibly strong and we're looking forward to further growth in 2023.” In October, the business said it planned to double its estate to more than 50 sites over the next three to five years. Campbell said at the time: “We are continuing to focus on London as we see plenty more opportunities there, but with one eye on regional expansion in key cities such as Manchester and Birmingham in the not-too-distant future.”

 

Rick Stein sees pre-tax profit climb to £3.8m as turnover soars on back of staycation boom: Rick Stein’s restaurant business has reported turnover increased to £28,382,000 for the year ending 2 January 2022 compared with £14,995,000 as it benefited from the staycation boom. Revenue also exceeded the £17,535,000 reported for the year ending 29 December 2019 – the last full year before the pandemic. Pre-tax profit rose at the ten-strong group to £3,784,000 from £999,000 the previous year (2019: £513,000). In April 2021, the group received a total of £969,000 in a settlement dispute. During the period, the group received £759,000 through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (2021: £1,483,000) and £148,000 (2021: £172,000) in business support grants from local authorities. No dividend was paid (2021: nil). In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “Revenue from our fledgling e-commerce offer significantly increased during the first quarter of 2021, while the country was in lockdown, which encouraged further investment in this area. At the end of lockdown, the restaurants reopened and e-commerce demand dropped away but there were enough signs of future appetite to see this as an ongoing opportunity. The group continues to seek opportunities to maximise the profitability of the core business. In this context, the 2021 financial year has seen the reopening of restaurants alongside strong demand for good food and ‘staycations’, which has been a driving force behind a rebound in the hospitality industry.” Stein’s empire, which he owns with ex-wife Jill, includes The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow as well as sites in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Barnes in London.

 

US seafood concept Angry Crab Shack signs franchise deal for UK debut: US seafood concept Angry Crab Shack is to make its UK debut next spring, in central London, after signing its first international development agreement. The business, launched in 2013 by former NFL player Ron Lou, currently has 19 locations in the States, mainly in Arizona. It has signed a development agreement with Mason and M, which comprises director and sole shareholder Xiaoyong Li, operations director Lucy Liang and general manager Sonia Sheng. The first site under the agreement will open in March next to Leicester Square at 19a Rupert Street. Mason and M plans to open two additional restaurants, in London and Cambridge, and will have the option to enter into a master agreement for the UK. Liang said: “We are honoured and humbled to open Angry Crab Shack’s first international location in the UK. We know the brand will stand out in London’s dining scene thanks to its delicious food, community initiatives and family-friendly dining experience. With Angry Crab Shack’s strong growth and efficient operational systems, we are confident it will prove to be an asset in our investment portfolio.” Angry Crab Shack’s current 19-strong estate comprises five corporate and 14 franchised locations – with signed agreements in various stages of development in California, Georgia, Washington, Utah and Texas. The brand plans to open additional restaurants in other areas in the UK, as part of an overall expansion plan to have 100 restaurants open and operating by 2025. Andy Diamond, president of Angry Crab Shack, said: “We are excited that Mason and M has identified Angry Crab Shack as its next venture. Bruce, Lucy and Sonia are a seasoned international business team who are experienced in global ventures and we are excited to help them make our brand’s first international location in London a successful one. London’s diverse dining scene, which features food from all over the world, makes it an ideal market for Angry Crab Shack’s first location internationally.”

 

Heavenly Desserts eyes 2023 pipeline of up to 20 stores after opening final UK site of 2022: Artisan dessert restaurant Heavenly Desserts is eyeing a 2023 pipeline of up to new 20 stores following its final UK site opening of 2022. The new store, at the £115m Riverside development in Canterbury, marks a Kent debut for the brand. It is a 44th UK site and 45th overall for Heavenly Desserts, which also made its international debut this month with an opening in Toronto, Canada, as previously reported. “Congratulations to our franchisee Abdul on opening his second store in Canterbury, with his third store in Brighton being fitted out for a February 2023 opening,” managing director Yousef Islam said. “Our final store for the year, and we have a great pipeline of 15-20 stores for 2023!” He added: “Given the success of our expansion in London, we could think of no better place for the location of the store than the beautiful neighbouring county of Kent. We are delighted to be launching our 44th and 45th stores as we inch closer to our goal of 50 stores UK-wide as a franchise.”

 

GuestHouse founders to launch new ‘fire and ice’ restaurant concept next year, three sites confirmed: Brothers Tristan, James, and Tom Guest, who are behind boutique hotel group GuestHouse, will next year launch a new restaurant concept called Pearly Cow, with three sites confirmed already. The siblings will kick off their new venture, which will be themed around a ‘fire and ice’ concept’ by opening a 58-cover restaurant, including a 12-cover private dining room, in York in March 2023. This will be followed by further sites in Margate, in May 2023, and Brighton, in early 2024. The fire element of the concept will focus on quality meat, fish and vegetables cooked over a wood and charcoal grill, while the ice element will feature an array of crustaceans and seafood dishes. Celebrating the best ingredients from across the British Isles, Pearly Cow’s signature eponymous dish will be a 45-day aged Hereford beef tartare and oyster cream with salted cucumber and Exmoor caviar. The brothers have also brought on board Diego Masciaga, former restaurant manager at the three Michelin-starred Waterside Inn in Bray, as a consultant. James Guest said: “The fire and ice concept of the Pearly Cow is something we are hugely passionate about. The vibrant towns and cities of York, Margate and Brighton are the confirmed locations so far, and with their foodie scenes budding and established, we feel Pearly Cow will be the perfect fit.” The Guests founded GuestHouse in 2021 after selling the family business manufacturing plumbing systems, opening hotels in Bath, York, Brighton and Margate.

 

Popeyes lines up Glasgow drive-thru site as it looks at raft of openings under format: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, the US fried chicken quick-service brand, has lined up a further drive-thru opening next year, in Glasgow. The Tom Crowley-led business will open its first UK drive-thru on a former KFC restaurant at the Rotherham Parkgate scheme. The business – which will open its 11th UK restaurant this weekend, in Leicester – has also secured a drive-thru site at the Barrhead Retail Park, Glasgow. Propel understands the brand has also applied to open further drive-thru sites at the Riverside Retail Park in Nottingham; the Boldon Leisure Park in Tyneside; Woodbury Park, near Bere Regis; and Sixfields, Northampton. Last month, Crowley said: “As well as the new high street restaurants and delivery kitchens, we’re excited to announce that in 2023, we’ll be opening a raft of drive-thru locations, with the first likely to be in Rotherham at Parkgate Shopping Park. Consumer demand has been high for a drive-thru since we landed in the UK, so it feels like a real milestone for us.” The brand has opened ten restaurants and six delivery kitchen sites since it launched in the UK last November. The business expects to open 20 restaurants in 2023, with other sites secured in Cardiff, Cambridge and Reading. It has also been linked with openings in central Glasgow, Plymouth and Croydon. 

 

South west McDonald’s franchisee reports rise in turnover and profit: South west McDonald’s franchisee Caspian Networks, which operates 12 branches in Bristol and south Gloucestershire, has reported a rise in turnover and profits in the year ending 31 December 2021. Turnover was up 47% from £40,815,971 in 2020 to £59,979,845 (2019: £47,910,418). Pre-tax profit rose from £1,410,201 to £3,846,438 (2019: £1,363,403). The business received £606,452 under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (2020: £2,841,288). It closed one branch permanently during the period. The company said it had a strong year, with positive turnover and profit growth a result of strong demand for delivery and a return to in-store dining. It said: “The financial position of the company is increasingly healthy, with the balance sheet currently showing net assets of more than £10m. The growth in sales is predominantly due to stores being closed for several weeks during 2020, along with an uplift in delivery sales. Gross profit stood at 65.78% compared with 66.34% in 2020 and is in line with expectations. The company plans to acquire more restaurants should the opportunity arise.”

Just Eat and Co-op to launch nationwide UK partnership: Just Eat has partnered with Co-op to launch an on-demand online delivery partnership. Initially rolling out to 50 stores early next year, the service is expected to expand to more than 1,000 Co-op stores by the spring. Through the tie-up, shoppers will be able to order items from Co-op via the Just Eat app and website. Amy Heather, strategic accounts director, Just Eat UK, said: “We’re excited to launch our partnership with Co-op to offer convenience grocery from its stores to customers across the UK. This partnership is another example of Just Eat’s commitment to grocery in the UK.” Chris Conway, e-commerce director, Co-op, added: “We are committed to exploring new and innovative ways to increase access to our products and services and, with our members and customers leading busy lives, ease, speed and convenience is a cornerstone of our approach.”

Parkdean Resorts trials solar panels and electric vans in energy-saving drive: Parkdean Resorts, Britain’s biggest holiday park operator, is trialling a roll out of solar panels and electric vans in an energy-saving drive. The initiative will see more than 1,200 solar panels installed at Parkdean’s two “Sustainable Parks of the Future”, Warmwell and Sandford in Dorset, to enable them to start generating their own energy. The panels will be installed on the roof of the main complex buildings early next year, as the business looks at how it can best save energy across its 66 parks nationwide. Parkdean is also replacing 25 diesel vans with electric vehicles, used by maintenance teams on parks, which is being trialled at Warmwell, Sandford and Trecco Bay holiday parks. This is expected to save approximately 21.5 tonnes of carbon at the parks per year. Furthermore, electric car charging facilities have been introduced at seven of the business’ holiday parks across the UK – Sandford, Warmwell, Cayton Bay, Fallbarrow, Lizard Point, Southview and Trecco Bay. Jane Bates, Parkdean’s director of procurement and sustainability, said: “These new projects are exciting and important steps forward for us as a business, and the trials will give us a great opportunity to test, learn and start to understand how we can reduce our energy usage, and what we can roll out more widely across the business. We want to put sustainability at the heart of staycations at Parkdean, so we’re excited to see the results of the trials and implement the findings into our future decision-making.” Parkdean has committed to achieve a 25% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2025.

 

Crazy Bear trading strongly after returning to profit, turnover exceeds pre-pandemic levels: Hotel and leisure group Crazy Bear has said it is trading strongly after returning to profit in the year ending 30 June 2022, with turnover exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The group operates hotels in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire; and Stadhampton, Oxfordshire, with a total of 71 bedrooms, four restaurants, two bars, eight function rooms and four massage treatment rooms. It also operates a farm shop at its Stadhampton site and runs luxury yacht and hot air balloon experiences. It turned a £3,185,629 pre-tax loss in 2021 into a £1,398,963 pre-tax profit in 2022, the first profit the group has made since the last full year before the pandemic (£688,690 in 2019). Turnover more than doubled from £8,402,674 in 2021 to £19,776,246 and was also up on the last pre-pandemic figure of £16,742,902. Group Ebitda rose to £4.9m from £1.14m in 2021, while hotel occupancy was 90% (2021: 93% when open, 44% overall). Restaurant covers per day stood at 389 (2021: 415), with a food and beverage margin of 75.5% (2021: 71%). The company spent £646,000 during the period on creating three new bedroom suites in Beaconsfield. It received £45,635 in government grants compared with £1,989,554 in 2021. In his report accompanying the accounts, director Jason Hunt said: “We are currently trading above forecast and future bookings are strong. Direct Christmas bookings and gift vouchers have surpassed all previous years. Our event calendar for next year has more events than any previous year due to our highest demand in the last 12 months. We are in advanced stages of launching our new takeaway/home delivery menus with third parties in the new year. Our UK visa and immigration Grade A sponsorship licence enables us to maintain a steady flow of employees from overseas, and our new staff retention scheme has proved successful in retaining high calibre employees and continued high levels of service.”

 

Patisserie Valerie confirms appointment of Martin Burke as group chief marketing officer: Patisserie Valerie, which is backed by Irish private equity firm Causeway Capital, has confirmed the appointment of Martin Burke as group chief marketing officer. Propel revealed last month Burke had taken up the role after ten years with Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate, including the past six years as its marketing and e-commerce director. It has now been confirmed Burke will oversee the marketing for Patisserie Valerie’s 29 stores and sister brand Bakers + Baristas’ 64 sites across the UK and Ireland, as well as Patisserie Valerie’s e-commerce platform. James Fleming, group chief executive, said: “Martin’s impressive marketing track record, expertise in e-commerce and passion for the industry means he is perfectly placed to drive the two brands forward, and we look forward to seeing where this leads us.” Burke, who has also held marketing positions at Warner Bros Entertainment and PlayStation, added: “I’m looking forward to seeing how we can move in new and exciting directions, not just with our circa 100 stores, but across our e-commerce channel to deliver innovative and delicious hand-crafted products to our customers nationwide.”

 

Former Hungry Donkey owner set to open new Greek concept: Markos Tsimikalis, former owner of the environmentally conscious Greek restaurant Hungry Donkey in London’s Spitalfields, is set to open a new Greek concept. Tsimikalis closed Hungry Donkey, the Hellenic street food-influenced restaurant he opened in Commercial Street in 2015, earlier this year. He is now planning to open a new venture, Vori, at 120 Holland Park Avenue, Notting Hill, on Thursday, 5 January. As well as charcoal-cooked hot and cold mezedes (small dishes), it will offer all-Greek cocktail and wine lists, as well as unpasteurised beer from Greek microbreweries. Menu highlights include grilled kalamari with santorini fava and caramelised onions; lamb chump with tahini, honey and rosemary chickpeas; and gemista risotto. Tsimikalis said: “I switched careers ten years ago to pursue my dream of promoting Greek cuisine and attaining the representation it deserves in London. Vori in Holland Park enables our passionate team to move even close to this goal – we view ourselves as ambassadors of Greek hospitality, food and wine. Fascination in Greek cuisine has soared in recent years, with a renewed interest in Greek wine from all over the Hellenic islands, not to mention the love of good traditional Greek food. This is why I’m excited to see Vori open in January and showcase the essence of rustic Greek cuisine.”

 

Turkish restaurant Kervan Kitchen lines up Colchester site: Turkish restaurant Kervan Kitchen is set to increase its presence in its home county of Essex, with a new opening in Colchester next year. The business – which was founded in 2018 by Maggie Themistocli and Savas Firat and operates sites in Brentwood, Basildon and Romford – has signed a 25-year lease on a 6,000 square-foot store at the Northern Gateway scheme in Colchester. Firat and Themistocli said: “We are delighted to be joining the Northern Gateway scheme and are committed to delivering amazing, authentic Turkish food to our customers. With local jobs for local people at the forefront of our mission too, we look forward to a bright future in Colchester!” The scheme, which will open in autumn next year, has also pre-let sites to Cineworld, Travelodge, Greggs and Wendy’s drive-thru restaurants, Hollywood Bowl, Puttstars indoor golf and a Jump Street climbing centre. Kervan Kitchen is set to open a fifth site in spring 2024 at the £50m Seaway development in Southend.

 

Turtle Bay confirmed for Chester: Turtle Bay, the Piper-backed Caribbean restaurant brand, has confirmed it will open a site in Chester in the spring. The 47-strong business will open a 3,000 square-foot restaurant, which will serve a total of 182 covers, at the city’s Northgate scheme in March. Crossley told the Propel Multi-Club Conference last month that he sees a runway of 120-plus UK openings for Turtle Bay starting with five more in 2023. It will open in London’s Hammersmith in January and has also secured a site in Blackpool. 

Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa to open skyline restaurant and bar at Battersea Power Station in February: Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa will open JOIA, an Iberian restaurant and bar at PPHE Hotel Group’s new art’otel London Battersea Power Station, in February. As previously reported, JOIA will comprise three distinct spaces, a 15th floor 85-cover restaurant; a bar on the 14th floor; and a rooftop bar with infinity pool, all overlooking the site. The restaurant menu will highlight Sá Pessoa’s culinary heritage and be influenced by the flavours and cooking techniques of Catalonia and Portugal, using the best of British and Iberian produce. The menu will include salted cod esqueixada with pickled red onion and orange; and braised Iberian pork cheek with apple and turnip puree, fig and plum chutney. The bar will offer cocktails and a broad list of Portuguese and Spanish wine and vermouth, with a particular focus on lesser-known producers. Sá Pessoa owns the two Michelin-starred Alma and the trans-Iberian tapas spot Tapisco in his native Lisbon, and he is the executive chef at the ARCA restaurant located in art’otel Amsterdam. 

 

Family-run Solley Hotels returns to profit: Solley Hotels, which operates three sites on the east coast of Scotland, has reported turnover increased to £6,619,470 for the year ending 30 April 2022 compared with £2,249,515 the previous year. Revenue also exceeded the £6,234,716 reported for the year ending 30 April 2020, although the final six weeks of trade were impacted by the start of the covid pandemic. The business made a pre-tax profit of £612,180 compared with a loss of £485,258 the year before (2020: profit of £90,983). The company received £249,639 through government grants (2021: £1,490,625). No dividend was paid (2021: nil). The family-run business owns the Pitbauchlie House Hotel in Dunfermline, the BW Kings Manor Hotel in Edinburgh and the BW Balgeddie House Hotel in Glenrothes.