Starbucks UK sees double-digit first quarter growth, Schultz teases Italian-inspired 'game-changer’: Starbucks UK saw “double-digit like-for-like growth” in its first quarter revenues, as the chain’s outgoing chief executive Howard Schultz hinted at a game-changing new "platform" coming to the global business later this month. The company reported consolidated net revenues of $8.7bn in the quarter ending 1 January 2023, a jump of 8% compared with the prior year. Its global comparable store sales were up 5%, primarily due to a 7% increase in the average ticket and partially offset by a 2% decline in comparable transactions. Michael Conway, Starbucks group president of International and channel development, said: “We are seeing a true tailwind and continued recovery coming out of the pandemic in all [international] markets. Just for example, Latin America, we're seeing revenue growth of more than 50%; EMEA, more than 20%; UK, which is a company-operated market, is having double-digit comparable growth; Asia-Pacific, more than 20% revenue growth, and we actually crossed 5,000 stores across that region. And then Japan, which is our third largest company-operated market is also continuing with significant growth.” At the same, Schultz, who returned for a third stint as the company's chief executive last spring after Kevin Johnson stepped down, told analysts on his final earnings call that: “While I was in Italy last summer, I discovered an enduring transformative new category and platform for the company – unlike anything I've ever experienced. The word I would use to describe it without giving too much away is alchemy. It will be a game-changer. So standby.” Schultz will travel to Milan later this month “to introduce something much bigger than any new promotion or beverage” He said his last earnings call was “very special for me and a powerful emotional reminder of the intersection of my life at Starbucks”. He said: “It was 1983, walking the streets of Milan, and having the inspiration for what Starbucks could one day be. Now 40 years later, we have more than 36,000 stores around the world, serving in excess of 100 million customers each week.” Laxman Narasimhan will become the company's next chief executive on Saturday, 1 April.

Restaurant Marketer and Innovator videos to be sent to Premium readers next Monday, next edition of Blue Book due on Friday: Propel Premium subscribers are to be given access to the entire recording of the 2023 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit Conference. Subscribers will be sent 30 separate video presentations, featuring more than 60 speakers. next Monday (13 February), at 9am. The videos include Gusto Italian chief executive Matt Snell talking about how stopping discounting has improved the brand’s NPS, Ogilvy vice-chairman Rory Sutherland discussing how hospitality and psychology are a match made in heaven, KellyDeli chief marketing officer Steve Flanagan revealing how to build a business case for a major media campaign and Krispy Kreme UK and Ireland retail marketing lead Matthew Steggles revealing the tactics used to open stores with a bang. Meanwhile, the next edition of the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book will be sent to Premium subscribers on Friday (10 February). The Blue Book will now feature 705 UK pub, restaurant, cafe and hotel operators with a total turnover of £39.4m. The Blue Book shows the sector building back from the pandemic with 438 companies reporting a profit and 267 reporting losses. The Blue Book, which is updated every month, provides an insight into UK operator turnover and profitability over five years, profit conversion and directors’ earnings. Premium subscribers also receive the Propel Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database; and the Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage. 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 Friday Wrap interviews and 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.

More closures imminent without further intervention on energy bills, sector trade bodies warn: Sector trade bodies have written to the government warning more closures are imminent in the industry without further intervention on energy bills. UKHospitality, the British Beer & Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and Hospitality Ulster have called on business secretary Grant Shapps to further support “vulnerable” pubs, brewers and hospitality operators. With more than 1,600 hospitality businesses already having failed in the last three months, according to recent CGA and AlixPartners research, the trade bodies issued a stark warning about the thousands more potential business failures in the sector without further support. In addition, results from a recent joint survey of the trade bodies’ members revealed the ongoing fragility of pub businesses, with one in three at risk of failure in the next 12 months, 16% of members having no cash reserves and a further 23% with fewer than three months reserves left. With the Energy Bill Relief Scheme closing at the end of March, operators will be left with little to no support from its replacement, the Energy Bill Discount Scheme (EBDS), leaving them facing bills of at least three and a half times that of the equivalent period in 2022, the trade bodies said. In a joint statement, they said: “Government has previously intervened to support our sector, recognising the tangible social value we provide, but if they fail to act at this crucial time, these essential businesses providing so much in our communities, villages, towns and cities will be lost forever. Spiralling energy costs and having to commit to long-term contracts at eye-watering rates, now represents the single biggest threat to their survival. Formally recognising our sector as an energy intensive and vulnerable area of the economy, as it has been throughout the pandemic and beyond, would also allow them access to the enhanced support under the EBDS. Without this, thousands of otherwise viable businesses at the heart of their communities will be lost, along with local, flexible, skilled employment. The growth that government needs can and will come from our sector, but without the support on energy bills the results will be catastrophic.”

London ranked third most attractive city globally for leisure and dining businesses: London has been ranked as the third most attractive city globally for leisure and dining businesses, with firms keen to invest in openings despite challenging market conditions. Property agent Savills looked at the potential cities offered for leisure and hospitality expansion, examining metrics such as spending power, tourism appeal and occupational costs. The Evening Standard reported Savills found “owing to its market size, the relative affluence of its population and disposable household incomes per capita”, New York topped the ranking, followed by Seoul. London came third, even at a time when leisure firms in the UK face headwinds including rocketing energy costs and higher food bills. Josh Leon, head of central London restaurants and leisure at Savills, said: “London continues to be one of the world’s most visited cities and the constantly evolving restaurant scene remains truly world class.” Carlene Hughes, the firm’s head of UK restaurants and leisure, added: “The immersive and experiential leisure market has seen major development in cities such as New York, Las Vegas, Seoul, Tokyo and London and we expect to see operators acquire further space in these cities as well as in new locations.”

Sacha Lord to launch foundation to help young people get into hospitality: Sacha Lord, night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, is launching a foundation to help young people in Manchester get into the hospitality industry. The Manchester Evening News reported Lord is starting the charitable organisation with his own money, and with contributions from other figures in the city’s hospitality industry. John Drape, founder of Ground Control, the events company which puts on Lord’s festival Parklife, will be among the donors, while its day-to-day running will be taken on by his wife Demi Lord. Other figures involved in the foundation will be announced in the coming weeks. The foundation will encourage young people from the Greater Manchester area to apply for funding for college or vocational courses, even for university studies. Lord said: “There are so many kids in Greater Manchester, particularly after covid, who will be in the same position I was back in the day, where you feel like everyone else knows what they’re doing and you don’t. If I can set up this foundation to alleviate that and try and help them carve a career in events and hospitality, that can only be a good thing. The funds will be a combination of personal money, and I’ll be reaching out to other colleagues in hospitality as well.” The foundation is in the process of applying for charitable status, and plans to be up and running later this year.

Craft brewers call for delay to bottle deposit plan: Craft brewers have demanded the Scottish government give them an extra 18 months to comply with its controversial deposit return scheme or risk sharp job losses in the sector. The Sunday Times reported it is yet another blow to the twice-delayed scheme. Retailers earlier warned the August launch date would be missed should ministers fail to provide them with an “operational blueprint” by the end of this month. The deposit return scheme, an SNP-Green flagship recycling project, requires drinks producers and businesses selling single-use drinks containers to recycle them. Shops will charge 20p for every drink bought in a container made from steel, aluminium, glass or plastic, to be refunded upon recycling. It will be an offence to sell a drink in a container covered by the rules in Scotland if its producer is not registered with the regulator, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. The Scottish government insists the scheme is one of the most environmentally ambitious projects in Europe, but it has been dogged by criticism about high upfront costs and a lack of clarity about how it will work. Jamie Delap, Scotland director of the Society of Independent Brewers and managing director of Cairndow-based Fyne Ales, said: “The only pragmatic solution is for small craft producers to be given an extra 18 months to comply, enabling them to implement the scheme without bankrupting themselves or laying off staff.” Delap said the extension should apply to firms that produce fewer than five million bottles, cans or cardboard containers a year. Small brewers represent 5% of the market across all drinks companies affected by the scheme, but employ more than 1,000 people.

Tipjar backs new consultancy to ‘help hospitality navigate new tipping legislation’: Cashless tipping platform Tipjar has backed a new consultancy aimed at “helping hospitality navigate new tipping legislation”. Andy Hamman, formerly of accountants KPMG and auditors Crowe, has founded The Tronc Advisor, named after the arrangement used by businesses to manage the allocation and distribution of tips. Hamman, who has also worked for tax advisers BDO and HM Revenue & Customs, has more than 30 years of experience specialising in employment tax, and specifically tronc management solutions. His new venture will focus on the Employment Bill, which was recently passed to The House of Lords and is expected to pass as law later this year. The new legislation will require businesses to pass 100% of tips on to staff within specific rules regarding timing, fairness, reporting, and compliance. James Brown, co-founder at Tipjar, said: “Modern hospitality operators want to do right by their teams and reward talent and great service in their businesses, not create complex and misleading flows of tips that their teams don’t trust or understand. With Andy and The Tronc Advisor, they have a perfect partner to get this right.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an events business, which operates in the UK and overseas, which is looking for a head of operations. A COREcruitment spokesman said: “You will take ownership for the operations and delivery of events, getting into all the detail and logistics. The business is seeking an experienced individual, capable of leading large teams with solid experience across compliance and health and safety, while having strong commercial acumen. Your key responsibilities will be to support the teams with production and logistic solutions, input on budgets and management of production cost elements, the production or management of risk assessments, build schedules and timing plans, the onsite management of events, the management of existing suppliers and constant lookout for new innovative partners. A strong knowledge of production materials, finishes and fixings would be preferable.” The salary is up to £75,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email marlene@corecruitment.com

DieCast team – ‘we never sit still and have many more concepts to come’: The team behind new Manchester “creative neighbourhood” concept DieCast have told Propel: “We never sit still and have many more concepts to come”. Dan Mullen, Adelaide Winter and Joel Wilkinson, who operate the “clubsteraunt” The Firehouse and neighbouring Detroit-style pizzeria Ramona in Manchester, will this year launch the 5,000-capacity destination – located between Ducie Street and Store Street – featuring a night market, brewery, warehouse restaurant and festival stage over 250,000 square feet. The £7m project, which is already open for hire for film shoots and music videos, has been more than two years in the making, taking up much of the team’s focus. With several in-house food and beverage and entertainment offerings opening in several phases over the next year, DieCast will continue to take up much of their time, but other concepts will still come to the fore. “Our focus is Diecast, Ramona and The Firehouse, and our amazing team and guests that have enabled us to get to where we are.” Mullen told Propel. “We want to get this right, but we can’t ever sit still and have further concepts we want to birth as and when sites come up. We’re always on the lookout. We also want to concentrate on making each concept the best they can be in their sphere as opposed to going for the roll out plan, which can sometimes dilute the product.” Winter added: “We’re approaching DieCast as a one-off because it’s large enough to consume a large amount of our focus, and while nothing is out of the question, we’re not seeing it as a concept to be rolled out. For future concepts, in the short term, Manchester is the best choice for us and our team. Going global is our dream for sure, but Manchester and/or London for the next few years, and then maybe overseas.” While DieCast will be open daily for events and space hire, the hospitality offering, which will be kept in-house, will be more a Thursday to Sunday operation. Mullen said: “It’s about simplifying the whole operation as you scale up. Break-even Mondays and Tuesdays have been repeatedly questioned in our past businesses and very few operators have nailed a 12-hours-a day, seven-days-a week operation.” The team were previously part of Albert’s Schloss operators Mission Mars and Trof Group, but while taking inspiration from past projects, insist they are very much about innovation and new ideas. “We’re very forward-thinking in terms of food, operational and business ideas without regurgitating what we’ve done in the past,” said Mullen. Winter added: “We’ve taken learnings from Ramona and Firehouse on the use of outside space and what people want from their night-time leisure time now. People don’t necessarily want to pay to go into nightclubs but still want somewhere you can eat, drink and do all sorts of immersive activities.”

Loungers eye second site with rooms, gears up to open first Brightside site: Café bar operator Loungers has applied to open its second Lounge with bedrooms, in Llandudno, north Wales. The Nick Collins-led business opened its first Lounge with bedrooms, the Albero Lounge, which overlooks the River Ouse in Bedford, in 2019. The 224-strong company, which plans to open 30 sites across its latest financial year, has already secured planning to open the Ormo Lounge in Llandudno’s Gloddaeth Street. It has now submitted a bid to create a hotel on the upper floors of the building, with the hope of adding ten en-suite rooms. Loungers chairman Alex Reilley told Propel: “It is a site-specific thing – where we have got lots of space to the upper floors and think it’s worth considering, which clearly Llandudno is. We’re looking at another couple of locations also.” Last week, the company opened its first Lounge site of 2023. Martello Lounge in Clacton-on-Sea is the first Lounge with its own kiosk, which will sell hot drinks, alcohol, and snacks for the town’s beachgoers. On Friday (10 February), it will open the first site under its new roadside dining concept Brightside, just off the A38 near Exeter. The new venture comes complete with nostalgic design touchpoints, including avocado-coloured urinals. A further two Brightside sites are set to open in the west country before the end of 2023. In addition, the first purpose-built Brightside restaurant is set to be developed at the Ram Jam Services, on the northbound section of the A1 in Rutland. In time, Loungers believes there is scope to develop a “truly national brand” with Brightside.

Slim Chickens franchisee to aid Wendy’s UK expansion: JRK Restaurants, which is a franchisee for Slim Chickens along the south coast of England, is set to also aide the roll out of Wendy’s, the third-largest quick service restaurant chain in the US, in the UK. Propel understands the first site under the new agreement is set to launch in Portsmouth. It is thought JRK is planning to open more than 25 units in the next three years across the UK with the different brands it represents. It has so far opened three Slim Chickens site in Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton. At the end of last year, Wendy’s opened its first traditional franchise site in the UK, in Sheffield. Square Burger, which is from the team behind the Papas Fish & Chips business, opened a Wendy’s in Sheffield’s High Street, with a further site set to open in the former Monsoon Store, in Lincoln’s High Street. Wendy’s has so far approved six franchisees, who will take on territories including Scotland and Wales. Last month, Wendy’s opened its debut UK drive-thru site in Cambridgeshire. The new site at Brampton Hut, located on the A1/A14 intersection, is operated by Blank Table, the brand’s second UK franchisee. Propel revealed last year that Blank Table had signed up to become a franchisee of Wendy’s in the UK, with an agreement to open sites under the brand across the east of England. It plans to open more Wendy’s restaurants in the south east area this year, including locations in Wisbech and Cambridge.

Joe & the Juice refinances, UK business swings back into profit: Juice bar chain Joe & The Juice has said it carried out a refinancing last year, as the launch of “several digital initiatives” helped its UK business swing back into profit. The brand’s UK business, which operates circa 65 sites, posted turnover for the year to 31 December 2021 of £27,355,663 (2020: £20,306,331), with a pre-tax profit of £1,132,288 versus a loss of £4,899,291 in the previous 12 months. The business said it expected an increase in turnover of 30-40% in 2022 compared with 2021. It said a refinancing of the group “has been made and it is management's assessment that the group's cash positions are sufficient for the entire financial year 2022 to support current operations and strategic growth initiatives in the UK despite the negative equity in the company”. Furthermore, “the negative equity has been reduced in 2021 compared with 2020”. The company said “several digital initiatives” were launched in the year resulting in rapid growth in the number of digital users and sales. It said: “The company has high expectations for the digital transformation and expects a further increase in sales through digital channels.” The update comes as the chain has agreed to pay $715,000 and hire an employment monitor to settle a federal discrimination charge alleging the company has failed to recruit, hire and promote women at its US restaurants. The settlement was announced by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which said the company’s practice of discriminating against women dates to at least June 2017. It said Joe & the Juice under a four-year nationwide settlement will improve training and develop an internal online platform to ensure workers have equal access to promotions.

Creative Restaurant Group to open new ‘dining experience’ 20 Berkeley this spring: Creative Restaurant Group, which is behind London restaurants, Michelin-starred Endo at the Rotunda and sushi spot Sumi, is to open its fourth site in the capital this spring, 20 Berkeley in Mayfair. Situated in Berkeley Street, the company said the restaurant will be a “sophisticated dining experience, with a menu changing seasonally in order to showcase the freshest and most exceptional ingredients from all four corners of the British Isles”. It added: “20 Berkeley celebrates British craft product and design.” Creative Restaurant Group was co-founded in 2021 by Misha Zelman, founder of Goodman, Burger & Lobster, Beast, Zelman Meats and Sumi; alongside chef patron Kazutoshi and led by managing director Alex D’Aguiar. It recently launched Humo – a wood-fired concept in Mayfair. Humo was launched in the old Wild Honey premises in St George’s Square. Directly translated as “smoke” in Spanish, Humo revolves around a four-metre long grill, with no electricity or gas utilised as cooking fuel. Colombian chef Miller Prada, protégé of Kazutoshi at Endo at the Rotunda, is heading up the kitchen. Seb Howard Property acts for Creative Restaurant Group.

Fried chicken concept Buck’s Bar to make Edinburgh debut with fourth opening: Glasgow-based American-style fried chicken restaurant Buck’s Bar is to make its debut in Edinburgh later this spring, after securing a site close to the Scottish capital’s Lyceum Theatre. The concept, which was founded by Michael Bergson in 2016, has begun work on the new site at 32-34 Grindlay Street. The first Buck’s Bar opened in Glasgow’s West Regent Street in 2016, which was followed by an opening in the city’s Trongate in October 2019. The latest Buck’s Bar opened in February last year in Cathcart Road in Glasgow’s southside. The company pulled out of a fourth opening in Glasgow, in the city’s West End, last summer. Buck’s Bar specialises in buttermilk fried chicken, wings and huge burgers served on wooden trays.

Six by Nico team to launch third eponymous site in Glasgow: The team behind the Six by Nico restaurant brand is to launch a third site under its eponymous concept in Glasgow, on Monday, 27 February. The 52-cover Six by Nico Byres Road will bring the Scottish-Italian chef Nico Simeone’s total portfolio across Scotland, England and Ireland to 11. Simeone said: “We are thrilled to bring a third restaurant location to Glasgow. Expansion in the city where our concept began is a significant step in our plan to grow further this year. We have quickly built an enthusiastic base of repeat customers in Glasgow, as well as an incredibly loyal customer base. We are excited to introduce a new restaurant design to both returning and new customers.” Propel revealed last month the team behind the Six by Nico restaurant brand is to launch a bakery concept called Valaria next month, in Glasgow’s West End. The concept, which will open on a former Vodafone shop unit in Byres Road, will offer “delicious cake, pastry and bakery products such as petit gateaux, laminated pastries and many, many more”. In January, the company announced it was set to open four new sites in the UK under its core brand, as well as new bar and bakery ventures, and an international launch, on the back of a “robust financial performance”. 

Australian fitness franchise to make London debut, sets UK target of 150 sites: Australian fitness franchise Body Fit Training (BFT) will make its London debut later this month and has targeted 150 UK sites by 2026. BFT, which has more than 300 franchise sites around the globe, opened its first UK venue in September, at 127 Granby Street in Leicester. It is set to follow this with an opening opposite Battersea Power Station on Saturday, 18 February, the first of four studios it is planning to launch in south west London. They will form part of a larger plan for 150 UK sites over the next three years. Founded in 2017 by Princess Diana’s former personal trainer, Cameron Falloon, BFT specialises in strength, cardio and conditioning classes across 13 different workout programmes. BFT, which has more than 200 studios in Australia alone, has been operating under a franchise model since 2018 and has also targeted 1,000 studios globally. The Battersea studio is being launched by Australian franchisee Charlie Hendrie, a personal trainer who has lived and worked in London since 2014. “We are pumped to bring BFT’s first London site to Battersea,” he said. “This will be the first of many BFT studios we will open within the next three years across south west London. We aim to provide the perfect environment for the community of Battersea to achieve their fitness goals, and we thrive on building an environment where people can build friendships and have fun while working out.”

Claude Bosi and Samyukta Nair’s Mayfair bistro to open this month: Chef Claude Bosi and Samyukta Nair’s Mayfair bistro, Socca, is set to open this month. Propel reported in January last year that Michelin-starred chef Bosi was teaming up with Nair, co-founder of London restaurants Jamavar, Mimi Mei Fair and Bombay Bustle, to launch the “French Mediterranean bistro” at the ex-Richoux site in South Audley Street. A menu inspired by the pair’s love of the French Riviera will include blue lobster orecchiette; gratin of tripe and cuttlefish; whole baked sea bass in salt crust; and beef cheeks provencal. Adjacent to the dining room is a timber-lined bar, while beyond that is a second snug-style dining room for ten guests. Bosi said: “It is with great anticipation we open our little pocket of the Riviera in London – a place with terrific French food at its heart.” Samyukta added: “Socca will mark our fifth opening in Mayfair, and it has been a joy to partner with Claude.” It is a first opening for Samyukta since Koyn in Grosvenor Square last September. Bosi, who heads up the two Michelin-starred London restaurant Claude Bosi at Bibendum, was last month named chef director of Brooklands, one of several restaurants that will open at The Peninsula London when it launches later this year.

Northern Ireland’s largest hotel operator reports turnover and profit exceeds pre-pandemic levels: Northern Ireland’s largest hotel operator, Andras House, has reported turnover increased to £29,359,989 for the year ending 30 April 2022 compared with £7,750,191 the previous year. Turnover also exceeded the £25,977,670 reported in the year to 30 April 2019 – the last full year before the covid pandemic. The company, which operates six sites in Belfast under franchise agreements with a total 956 bedrooms, saw Ebitda before exceptional items rise to £12,791,549 from £3,396,026 the year before. The business reported a pre-tax profit of £8,824,939 compared with a loss of £222,265 the previous year (2019: profit of £5,148,509). During the year, the company opened the Bodyscape Health Club at the city’s Crown Plaza hotel following a refurbishment. The group received government grants of £768,837 (2021: £4,565,984). No dividend was paid (2021: nil). The company, which was founded in 1981, also owns commercial properties in Belfast and has six developments in the pipeline.

Fuller’s rolls out reusable plastic cups for large event days: Fuller’s is rolling out reusable plastic cups across its managed pubs and hotels estate. The move is seen as a major step towards its commitment to eliminate single use plastics across the business and reach its net zero target by 2040. In partnership with Asahi and Sipsmith, two of Fuller’s key drinks suppliers, the cups will be used in Fuller’s pubs during events including the Six Nations. They will replace single-use plastic cups, which have historically been used for large events where glassware isn’t suitable for operational and health and safety reasons. Fuller’s is working with reusable solutions company, Green Goblet, which will ensure the cups are professionally washed and dried after each event – saving time, energy and water. Oliver Rosevear, Fuller’s director of sustainability, said: “After the government’s recent announcement on banning single-use plastics in England, rolling out the Green Goblet cups means we’re ahead of the curve. This will save tens of thousands of single-use plastic cups going to waste during these events. We trialled the reusable cups in some of our popular rugby pubs, near Twickenham Stadium, during the Autumn Internationals in November. By doing so, we saved more than 65,000 single-use plastic cups from going to landfill – across just five pubs. The positive impact this will have as we roll the cups out across our wider managed estate will be fantastic.”

Historic Parisian restaurant set for UK debut: Historic Parisian restaurant Café Lapérouse, which can trace its origins to 1766, is set to make its UK debut. Located in the Hotel de la Marin on Place de la Concorde, Café Lapérouse already has two French outposts – in Saint Tropez’s Port des Pecheurs and inside Printemps Haussmann, one of the largest department stores in Paris. But its first London outpost will be located in the central courtyard of the revamped Old War Office in Whitehall, reports Hot Dinners. It will be one of seven new bars and restaurants coming to the building, Mirazur’s Mauro Colagreco and Milan’s Paper Moon, as well as a new Raffles hotel.

Pinnacle Hospitality’s experiential cocktail bar concept partners with family-owned Edinburgh restaurant: Pinnacle Hospitality’s experiential cocktail bar concept, The Cocktail Mafia, has partnered with family-run Edinburgh restaurant, Delightfully Delicious, to introduce a food offering. Delightfully Delicious, which was opened by Jessica Skinner in 2020 at 15 Rosenheath Street, has taken residence of the kitchen at The Cocktail Mafia, which is located at nearby 15 Charlotte Lane. The Cocktail Mafia has become renowned for its “experimental cocktails and theatrical flair” since opening in 2021 as Pinnacle Hospitality’s second site, following The Raging Bull in Lothian Road. Delightfully Delicious will bring its take on American comfort food to the venue, with a menu of small and large plates made using local ingredients and designed for sharing. Highlights include steak sandwich with crispy chorizo, house chilli jam and house chimichurri, and loaded fries with house nacho cheese sauce, guacamole, jalapeños and pico de gallo. Andy Dunton, general manager of The Cocktail Mafia, said: “We’ve wanted to develop and expand our offering, and introducing food seemed like the natural next step as we saw a big increase in demand here for parties and other events last year. We are always looking to support local businesses and Delightfully Delicious ticks all our boxes, we think the food will complement our cocktails perfectly.”