Neame – it will take up to 12 months before it feels like we’ve got a normal pulse in the business: Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Kent brewer and retailer Shepherd Neame, has told Propel that in the face of inflationary pressures and getting a number of projects up and running, it is going to take “another six to 12 months before it feels like we’ve got a normal pulse in the business”. Speaking after Shepherd Neame reported record revenue of £85.3m for the 26 weeks ending 24 December 2022, he said: “In the autumn, we were seeing almost every single line inflating way above the national rate of inflation. Some of those areas are now stabilising, which is encouraging. I think there are early signs that food costs are beginning to stabilise, but they take time to filter into the economy. Then, of course, we need to pass those costs on where we can, which is not easy. Looking forward, there are still categories where we expect to see substantial inflation next year. I think the sector has experienced higher inflation than the general economy, and I think it will persist for longer in our sector.” To mitigate that, Neame said the company was “remobilising the business” and “going back to full establishment” in terms of headcount. “And, of course, we’re trying to kick-start a number of projects so we can invest and grow our way out of this,” he said. “What gives us a great deal of hope is we’ve got a lot of pubs with a lot of potential. We’ve got some very exciting projects coming up. It is going to take another six to 12 months before it feels like we've got a normal pulse in the business – a pipeline of good developments and lots of other projects to drive efficiency through the business, but we’re well up for that and we will definitely achieve that. I think the reality is almost every company will be experiencing a lower margin for a period of time and it’s going to take longer for those margins to recover.” In terms of growth opportunities, Neame said the company’s primary focus is to have a good internal pipeline of activity. He added: “We have got a lot of potential in our business. For all the challenges we face, the core of our business is performing very well. It’s all the additional costs and those input costs which are causing some of the challenges. We are definitely looking at opportunities, but there isn’t a great deal around at the moment. I think everyone will be kind of focused on getting their core business back on track as quickly as possible, but I’ve no doubt the market will start to open up over the next 12 to 24 months and opportunities will start arising.”

 

Variety of pizza restaurant operators set to join updated Premium Database of Multi-Site Companies: A variety of pizza restaurant operators are among the 23 new multi-site companies being added to the next edition of the Propel Premium Database of Multi-Site Companies, which will be released on Friday, 31 March, at midday. The updated Propel Multi-Site Database, which is produced in association with Virgate, includes Midlands pizza operator Pizza Triangle, which was opened by friends, Sapa Nuri and Elia Tavernese and operates sites in Walsall, Stoke on Trent, Solihull and Hackney, with a fifth secured in the Teal Park development in Nottingham. Also added this month is Little Caesars Pizza, the world’s third-largest pizza chain, which made its UK return last month, in Chellaston, near Derby, and expects to have 20 sites open in Britain by the end of this year. Premium subscribers will also receive a 2,000-word report on the new additions to the database. The comprehensive database is updated monthly and provides company names, the people in charge, how many sites each firm operates, its trading name and its registered name at Companies House if different. The database features 2,769 companies. Premium subscribers will also receive the next edition of the New Openings Database on Thursday, 6 April, at midday. It focuses on newly announced openings and upcoming launches in the sector and is updated every month. The next edition also includes a 6,000-word report on the new additions to the database. Premium subscribers also receive access to three other databases: the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book; 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. Premium subscribers are also to be given exclusive access to the recording and slides to Propel Multi-Club Conferences. Premium subscribers also receive their morning newsletter 11 hours early, at 7pm the evening before; regular video content and regular exclusive columns from Propel group editor Mark Wingett.

Sector warns urgent action needed on energy costs for businesses if inflation is to be brought under control: Sector bosses have warned the government that urgent action is needed on energy costs for businesses if it is to bring inflation under control. Surging food prices pushed up UK inflation unexpectedly in February, with the rate increasing from 10.1% to 10.4%, defying expectations of a dip to around 9.9% projected by economists. The Office for National Statistics said the surprise strengthening in inflationary pressures was the result of higher price growth recorded in food, restaurants, and clothing. Food price inflation, which has been a record highs, rose again to 18.2% in February while price growth in restaurants and hotels was at its highest in 30 years at 12.1%. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “If the government is serious about bringing inflation under control quickly then it therefore needs to address this cost of doing business in the sector, particularly as this is only set to get worse this April when support with soaring energy costs falls away. At this point, contracted prices are due to rise a further 82% on average, which will force operators to raise prices for consumers again, further driving inflation. The solution is clear: urgent action on the market failures identified by Ofgem last week to force suppliers to the table, to enforce the renegotiation of contracts signed between July and December 2022, penalty-free, and to enact full regulation of the non-domestic energy market, if suppliers are not willing to act.” Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, added: “We urgently need action on energy costs for businesses and a plan to get inflation under control so our pubs and brewers can trade confidently and plan for the future, rather than just making it through from one crisis to the next.” Kate Vacovec, chief financial officer of Pizza Hut UK & Europe, said: “Last week, the chancellor fell short of delivering the support our sector needs to weather the storm. We hope from these figures, our government can recognise why hospitality businesses need additional relief so they can better balance the multiple businesses costs they’re facing and continue delivering growth to our economy and value to customers. It is only with its support that UK hospitality can once and for all get back to its feet.”

Rail strikes called off: Planned rail strikes in March and April have been called off. Union members for 14 train companies, including train guards, were set to walk out on 30 March and 1 April. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train companies, said it was now focused on “working constructively towards a settlement to this dispute”. The breakthrough comes days after RMT members at Network Rail voted to accept a pay deal. The RDG said it was a “welcome step” by the RMT leadership to call off the planned action. A spokesman said: “We are now jointly focused on working constructively towards a settlement to this dispute.”

BBPA – thousands of pubs at risk as energy bills set to rise by almost £20,000 from April: The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has said thousands of pubs will be put at risk as their energy bills look set to rise by almost £20,000 from next month. It said the average energy bill for a pub will rise by £18,400 a year when the government’s energy relief for businesses ends on 1 April. The BBPA is now urging Downing Street to insist suppliers offer a window for renegotiation for businesses locked into sky high rates. Chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “Last week the government extended energy support for consumers but left businesses out in the cold. As a result, pubs and breweries are doing all they can to prepare for an extreme hike in costs come 1 April, with some expected to pay almost £20,000 more for their bills than the day before. If these costs were passed on at the bar it would push prices for customers through the roof. With no action on energy for businesses, thousands of our pubs and brewers will be at risk of closure come 1 April and will be lost from communities across the country forever. We need the government to step in and give businesses in the ‘pain zone’ of sky-high contract rates a window to renegotiate and bring those costs down.” Joanne Farrell, who runs The Windsor Castle near Stockport, said: “When energy costs rocketed my bills went up three-fold, the end of the support will see them rise even further. I’ve run this pub for 15 years, but this is the toughest it’s ever been to keep it going. I’m doing absolutely everything I can to save on energy costs, but I also want my pub to remain a welcoming and warm place local people can enjoy.”

Demand for UK hospitality workers up 46% on pre-pandemic levels as employers struggle to fill vacancies: Demand for UK hospitality workers is up 46% on pre-pandemic levels as employers struggle to fill vacancies, according to a new study. An analysis of Office for National Statistics data by online staffing platform Indeed Flex shows the UK average for number of online job adverts posted for hospitality workers was 4,200 in December 2022, compared with 2,899 in the same month 2019. The biggest jump in demand for sector staff was in the north east, which saw advert numbers more than double over the period, from 570 to 1,175. This was closely followed by Scotland (61.3% increase from 2,105 to 3,395) and East Midlands (60.1% increase from 1,705 to 2,730). And while London has the smallest increase in terms of percentage (26.3%), it had the highest total number of job vacancies, with 10,460 positions advertised online in December 2022, up from 8,280 in December 2019. Novo Constare, co-founder and chief executive of Indeed Flex, said: “The hospitality sector is not alone in its struggle to fill positions – it’s a problem facing most sectors right now. But during the pandemic, hospitality was one of the sectors hit the hardest. Many businesses were forced to close for long periods and thousands of people were furloughed or made redundant. The uncertainty in the hospitality sector made many workers look for other employment. Unfortunately, not all staff have returned.”

20 new Bib Gourmand additions to 2023 Michelin Guide: A total of 20 new UK and Ireland restaurants have been named Bib Gourmands in the 2023 Michelin Guide, including 14 new additions. In London, neighbourhood restaurant Hām has been promoted, while three new additions are izakaya sharing dishes concept Evernight, Arcade Food Hall-based south east Asian concept Plaza Khao Gaeng, and former pub The Pelican. There are nine new additions elsewhere in England – The Blaise Inn and tapas bar Cor, both in Bristol; The Chequers in Bath; the Queen of Cups in Glastonbury; Root Wells in Wells, Italian-inspired restaurant Amelia in Ashburton, Dartmoor; The Galley in Topsham, near Exeter; Japanese skewers concept Kushi-Ya in Nottingham; and eastern European restaurant The Spärrows in Manchester. They will sit alongside Mediterranean osteria-cum-wine-bar Marmo in Bristol; cocktail bar/brasserie Flint House in Brighton; and The Six Bells in Lincolnshire, which have all been promoted. Elsewhere in the UK, small plates restaurant Yr Hen Printworks in Cardigan, Wales, is a new addition, as is European bistro Waterman in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Also in Belfast, Edo, which features an international sharing menu, has been promoted, while in the Republic of Ireland, small-scale Mediterranean small plates concept Saint Francis Provisions in Kinsale, which seats just 13 people, is a new addition.

European hotel values rise 3% in 2022 but investor appetite cools: Hotel values across Europe rose around 3% in 2022 – with Paris, London, Zurich, Amsterdam and Rome remaining those with the highest valued hotels – according to a new report. Hotel values benefited from several factors including strong improvement in revenue available per room (revpar) and the recovery of ancillary revenues, according to the annual European Hotel Valuation Index published by global hotel consultancy HVS. Despite this, high inflation, an increasing cost of debt and the threat of recession limited the recovery of values, leaving them below their 2019 peak. By the end of last year, many hotel markets were experiencing a strong post-pandemic recovery, the report showed, with several gateway cities achieving higher revpar levels by December 2022 than 2019 due to a significant uplift in leisure demand, as well as corporate travel returning to around 75% of its pre-pandemic volumes. However, significant challenges for Europe’s hotels, including labour shortages, meant many were forced to make cutbacks to opening times, food and beverage facilities or room inventories, while high inflation impacted wages and the cost of goods, as did rising energy bills. At the same time, increasing interest rates, the fear of an impact from the cost-of-living crisis on hotel demand and threats of a recession all led to the cooling of investors’ appetite for hotels. But the report paints a more positive outlook for 2023, the year having started on a strong footing from a revenue perspective, with average daily rates at record levels in many markets and good prospects for occupancy to fully recover over the months ahead. “No doubt investors are hoping for better visibility in the short term, so they can move on from the prevalent ‘wait and see’ mantra of 2022,” said report co-author Sophie Perret, senior director, HVS London. “Substantial amounts of capital await being invested in hotels, provided the return levels can be attained.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a premium spa and fitness operator that is looking for a director of spa and fitness. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the health club facilities including the pool and the spa by achieving the standards of service required, maximising member satisfaction and sales. You will oversee the management and service standards of reception, therapies, membership, gym, pool, food and beverage, promotions and changing room; and monitor membership levels monthly to achieve maximum revenue. You will also ensure a wide range of therapies are available and appropriate to the image and standards of the health club and develop a yearly promotional plan, outlining events and dates planned for approval by the director of marketing.” The salary is up to £85,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email david@corecruitment.com

 

Ten Entertainment Group’s record-breaking performance being driven by volume, with bowling prices cheaper than pre-pandemic: Ten Entertainment Group chief executive Graham Blackwell has told Propel its record-breaking performance is being driven by volume, with its bowling prices actually cheaper than before the pandemic. Speaking following the company’s full-year results, where the company saw revenue rise to £126.7m, Blackwell said the average price per person for a game of bowling was now £5.13 including VAT, compared with £5.21 in 2019. He said the group was only just starting to sweat its assets, with between six and eight refurbishments of its 49-strong estate planned in 2023. “We knew coming out of covid that there would be pent-up demand, so to increase like-for-like sales by 5.5% on that has been amazing,” said Blackwell. “However, we are rarely full, even at peak times, so we are exploring how we can maximise every footage of our venues. We’ve got 49 sites, but only 15 have karaoke rooms, only 12 have Houdini’s escape rooms and just four have soft play centres. We’ve seen footfall growth of 41% on 2019, so it’s about encouraging customers to increase their dwell time by giving them the opportunity of other activities beside bowling. As I’ve said before, we’re much more than that – we are family entertainment centres. We are two years into our refurbishment programme, which is producing a return on investment of 30%. We’ve had a slight impact on margins due to food costs mainly, but we won’t put up prices, and in fact, the average bowling price is now cheaper than 2019.” The group invested £13m in its sites in 2022, and Blackwell said he was hopeful of increasing that spend this year. Four centres are due to open in 2023 and the pipeline for 2024 is “strong”. Blackwell added the company paid out £2m in staff bonuses in 2022 as they are “one of the key reasons for our success”. Looking ahead at the macroeconomic climate, he added: “Inflation is painful for everyone, but it hits some people harder than others. We see our venues as being a place where people can get a bit of respite from some of the pressures that life can bring and at an affordable price.” Ten Entertainment Group features in the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book. Its turnover of £126.7m is the 54th highest in the database. Its pre-tax profit of £26.1m is the 17th highest in the database. The Blue Book ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. 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.

Oxygen acquires Jump Evolution: Indoor family activity brand Oxygen has built its portfolio to ten leisure parks by acquiring single-site Essex trampoline operator, Jump Evolution. The acquisition of the 27,500 square-foot venue in Romford further builds Oxygen’s presence within Greater London, and it becomes Oxygen’s fourth largest site by revenue. It is also the second acquisition by Oxygen in the last six months, following the brand’s purchase of RedKangaroo in November. At the same time, Oxygen has spent more than £1.23m on introducing its new “lounge” concept to its Croydon location, with the site due to reopen before Easter. First introduced at Oxygen’s Wilmslow and Acton leisure parks, the concept features best-in-class food and beverage, enhanced technology and dedicated suites for children’s parties. Oxygen has also invested in its team, introducing a new training programme for staff. Stephen Wilson, managing director at Oxygen, said: “The acquisition of Jump Evolution is another key moment in Oxygen’s growth. The park is an established and high-performing location with a great team in place. This comes at an exciting time for the group as we are soon to roll out our next evolution of our customer experience. As consumers face ever more pressures on their time and money, we believe it is imperative to exceed their expectations. As we have seen from the two sites to have received our new proposition so far, doing so creates greater loyalty, frequency of visit, dwell time and, ultimately, customer experience.” Russell Tiller, managing director of Jump Evolution, added: “Having taken the business this far, becoming part of Oxygen, who share our approach and commitment to the experience, opens up even more opportunities that will take us to the next level. We can’t wait to see their plans for Jump Evolution come to fruition.” Oxygen was acquired by Literacy Capital in July 2021. Its parks are home to trampolines, climbing walls, soft play areas, inflatable assault courses, dodgeball and other family-friendly activities.

GSG set to expand Bold Street Coffee and planning roll-out of food market concept: GSG Hospitality founder Matt Farrell has told Propel the business is set to expand Bold Street Coffee into a bakery offering and is planning a roll-out of its food hall concept, Duke Street Market. GSG has just opened Scandinavian-influenced restaurant Nord in Liverpool’s The Plaza building – building on its four Bold Street Coffees; two Salt Dogs Slims; and single Manolo, 81, El Bandito and Duke Street Market sites – spread across Liverpool and Manchester. Farrell told Propel last year that GSG’s expansion plans would focus on Bold Street Coffee, but a new element is now being added to the concept. Farrell, while confirming that Nord would be a single-site concept, said: “We’re definitely looking at bringing Bold Street Coffee into new cities – it seems to be a good market, and I can foresee adding more in the next 12 months. We also want to expand it into Bold Street Bakery and open a production unit. But it’s a two-step process and we can’t lose sight of what it is. I can see our food hall market elsewhere too, and we have our eyes on a couple of sites. Another Manolo-type offering, in Manchester, could be in the pipeline too.” Farrell, who is also looking to extend GSG’s lab products and retail range, also said while the group remains “proudly independent”, it may look at investment “at the right time”. He said: “Nothing is off the cards. Our online sales have gone live, and we’re still looking to expand our footprint in Liverpool, Manchester and beyond. We’re cautiously optimistic, but I think we’re going to see a lot of changes this year. Sales are steadier and we’re trading up from what we expected. Hopefully on a business perspective, we can put a really difficult time in the rear-view mirror. It’s very hard to plan ahead, but we can look to the future a little more than these last three or four years.” Meanwhile, GSG’s original Slims site in Liverpool, and Peppercat sports bar, are unlikely to reopen.

Tomahawk Steakhouse Group closes Chester site after just six months: The Tomahawk Steakhouse Group has closed its Chester site after just six months. North east operator Howard Eggleston only launched the Tomahawk Steakhouse in Newgate Street in September, on the site formerly occupied by Brazilian restaurant Picanha by Fazenda. But a notice in its window said the branch is closed “for the foreseeable future”, reports Cheshire Live. The Chester site is also no longer listed among the Tomahawk venues on its website, although the social media pages remain active. Eggleston told Propel earlier this month that he remains hopeful of opening up to four new steakhouses this year, with sites in Sunderland, Harrogate and Morpeth among the pipeline. Eggleston – who now operates 12 Tomahawk Steakhouses and five Rio Brazilian sites – is also hoping to launch a new coffee house concept, Rio Cantina, in Middlesbrough later this year, with the potential for a roll-out if it proves successful. In December, the group reported turnover of just under £40m for 2022, with Eggleston forecasting it to rise to £50m in 2023.

Greggs to double Primark cafe portfolio by summer after launching third site: Greggs is set to double its Primark cafe portfolio by the summer with three more openings after launching its third site within the retailer’s stores. Greggs launched the partnership, which included the introduction of a range of Greggs-branded clothes within Primark stores, last year with the launch of its biggest ever cafe, a 130-seater venue in the Birmingham High Street Primark. This was followed by a second opening, on the top floor of the department store’s London flagship Oxford Street East store, in October. A third location has now opened, in Newcastle, which will be followed by further cafes in Primarks in Bristol (May), Liverpool and Leeds (both June), reports The Sun. Tony Rowson, property director at Greggs, said: “We’re thrilled with the success of our partnership with Primark to date – ranging from three iconic fashion collections to now three brilliant ‘Tasty by Greggs’ cafes. We’re constantly on the lookout for new ways to inspire and excite our customers and we’re looking forward to extending our partnership to new locations later this year.”

Cardiff coffee shop concept Kin & Ilk opens seventh site: Cardiff coffee shop concept Kin & Ilk has opened its seventh outlet in the city. The business has taken a lease at Wales’ tallest office building, Capital Tower in Greyfriars Road. The cafe is the latest addition at the 25-storey building, serving its speciality coffee and menu of freshly made sandwiches, soup and salads, cakes, coffee and pastries. David Davies, founder of Kin & Ilk, said: “I always think of the prominent Capital Tower building as being synonymous with the city and the Cardiff skyline. There has been an incredibly positive reaction from the tenants and building management team at Capital Tower, and it’s a joy to work in the building.” Landlord Trinova, which purchased the building for £25m in 2018, was represented by joint letting agents Knight Frank and Fletcher Morgan.

 

Whitbread set to open 21st Bar + Block steakhouse restaurant and first in 2023, in Birmingham: Whitbread is set to open the 21st steakhouse restaurant under its Bar + Block brand on Monday (27 March), in Birmingham – its first launch in 2023. Opening at 5 Exchange Square in The Priory Queensway, it will be Whitbread’s second Bar + Block in the city. The 6,000 square-foot restaurant will feature 170 covers inside, with an additional 48 outside, and adjoins a 235-bedroom Premier Inn hotel. It will offer its signature steaks, fresh burgers, salads, grills and sharing plates. Exclusive to the Birmingham sites will be a Chock a Block cocktail – a mix of Absolut Vanilia vodka, Baileys choc luxe, salted caramel syrup and toffee sauce, inspired by the nearby Cadbury’s World. Rebecca Donaldson, commercial marketing director at Whitbread, said: “We are delighted to announce the further expansion of Bar + Block as we continue to grow the brand nationwide. Marking our first Bar + Block opening of 2023, the steakhouse will be joining a new retail and restaurant hub, located in the heart of Birmingham and close to key transport hubs.”

Humdingers opens third London bakery: London catering firm Humdingers has launched its third bakery, in Highbury, north London. The site, at 88 Highbury Park, follows its existing locations at Hoxton and Hornsey and includes a space for hosting evening events. The brand, which also operates an event catering business operating across London, also offers free hot meals to anyone in the community who is in need. The brand’s soup kitchen in Hoxton was launched in response to the pandemic, when catering facilities and staff were repurposed to feed the local community, leading to a British Empire Medal for founder Robert Hunningher. “It’s about playing our part to ensure no one in our community goes hungry or is stuck at a disadvantage,” he said. “This will also hopefully inspire other businesses to act in a similar way, to always be mindful of their surrounding community and what they can do to help.”

Bundobust pulls the plug on York opening: Bundobust, the Indian street food and craft beer concept, has pulled the plug on its plans to open a new site in York. The company last year applied to open a site in the former Argos building and neighbouring William Hill site in the city’s Piccadilly Street, as previously reported. They gained planning permission from City of York Council but were unable to make the site work for them and pulled out a deal, agents Central Retail Property Consultants told The Press. “Having obtained planning permission, sadly the fitting out costs came in a lot higher than their budget allowed, and therefore they withdrew, but I have got other well-known food and beverage operators looking at it and I hope to complete a deal shortly, Central director Tom Limbert said. Founders Marko Husak and Mayur Patel opened the first bricks-and-mortar Bundobust in Leeds in 2014 before adding venues in Manchester and Liverpool.

Australian barbecue concept named among the best 50 restaurants in Asia set for UK debut, in Harrods: An Australian barbecue concept that has been named among the best 50 restaurants in Asia is set make its UK debut, in Harrods. Burnt Ends was founded by Dave Pynt, who hails from Australian but opened his restaurant in Singapore, having operated an earlier version of it, Burnt Endz, at Climpson’s in London. It has held a Michelin Star since 2008 and was placed at number 41 in the Asia section of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants (and 94th overall). Pynt made an appearance with fellow chefs at Harrods last year, sparking rumours of Burnt Ends coming to the luxury department store, and it has now been confirmed by Pynt on Instagram. The restaurant will open in 2024, reports Hot Dinners.

Liverpool Italian restaurant owners set to open second site in city: The owners of an Italian restaurant in Liverpool are set to open a second site in the city. Sicilian Alessio and Federico Carlisi launched Carlisi in Dale Street in 2018 and now plan to open a second site, in Allerton Road, having acquired the site formerly occupied by Maray. Opening next month, the new Carlisi will also feature an expanded menu, including some of the brothers’ own family pasta recipes. “We’re proud of our heritage, and we import a lot of our products directly from suppliers around Italy,” Federico said. “Our arancini is handmade in Sicily by a member of the Carlisi family, and we import the finest cheese, wine and meat from the best Italian suppliers. We are delighted to be opening our second site in Allerton Road, an area which is known for the quality of its independent operators.” The brothers also import oranges and lemons from their family’s farm in Italy for their own brand of Carlisi Gin. Maray, the restaurant and cocktail bar concept, closed its site at 57 Allerton Road in November to focus on the remainder of its estate. It still has two sites in Liverpool and one in Manchester. 

Former Corrigan’s Mayfair head chef to lead kitchen at new Battersea Celtic-inspired restaurant: Former Corrigan’s Mayfair head chef Luigi Vario will lead the kitchen at a new Celtic-inspired restaurant in London’s Battersea. Vairo will be executive chef at Boudica when it opens at 12 Palmer Road, near Battersea Power Station, on Friday, 28 April. The company said: “Paying homage to Boudica’s Celtic origins, our menu offers classic comfort foods but with a contemporary and international twist. Celtic cuisine has become synonymous with comfort something that we felt lacking in London’s upmarket restaurant scene. Executive chef Luigi Vairo combines classic favourites with innovation in gastronomy to bring you the best of both worlds.” Fish and meat cooked over a charcoal grill will feature highly on a menu taking inspiration from French, Italian, north African, Middle Eastern, pan-Asian, Irish and British cuisines and cooking techniques. There will also be a European-led wine list, a whisky menu and a wine-led large outdoor terrace.

Nando’s opens at Belfast’s revamped Odyssey for ninth Northern Irish restaurant: Nando’s has opened its ninth Northern Irish restaurant at Belfast’s Odyssey complex, creating 40 jobs. Nando’s will be joined by Azzurri Group-owned Zizzi and Five Guys, which have also signed leases for new restaurants at the revamped scheme. Investment company Matagorda 2, which acquired the long lease for the Odyssey Pavilion in 2016, originally announced a £17m refurbishment programme in late 2019. Cineworld opened its first premises in Northern Ireland at the Odyssey in 2021, with Hollywood Bowl moving in last year.

Dorchester Collection opens new luxury boutique: Luxury hotel company Dorchester Collection has opened a new luxury boutique at The Dorchester, in London’s Mayfair. Selling cakes, champagne and hampers among other items, Cake & Flowers has its own entrance on the Deanery Street corner of the hotel. Its food offering has been masterminded by executive pastry chef Michael Kwan, who having joined in January 2022, leads the 25-strong team of chefs and bakers responsible for creating cakes and patisserie at the hotel. He previously held head pastry chef positions at Hotel Café Royal, Ladurée and Duddells, and positions within the pastry teams at The Fat Duck and Hakkasan. The Dorchester Collection’s portfolio also includes 45 Park Lane in London plus several luxury hotels in Paris, Milan, Rome, Beverley Hills and Los Angeles – and the Lana is Dubai, opening later this year.

Northamptonshire hotel and spa returns to profit as turnover passes pre-pandemic levels: Northamptonshire hotel, spa and events facility Rushton Hall returned to profit in the year ending 31 August 2022, as turnover passed pre-pandemic levels. Turnover was up from £2,312,466 in 2021 to £4,910,771, and also exceeded the £4,194,738 reported in the last full year before the pandemic, ending 31 August 2019. A pre-tax loss of £357,797 in 2021 turned into a profit of £1,293,839 (2019: profit of £500,805). It received no government grants (2021: £317,617). Dividends of £56,178 were paid. Director Thomas Hazleton, in his report accompanying the results, said the performance was in line with expectations. He added that, with continued investment in the site and facilities, the directors are confident of continued satisfactory results in future years.

Hull Neapolitan pizza concept opens debut bricks and mortar site: Hull Neapolitan pizza concept Stretch Pizza has opened its debut bricks and mortar site. Husband and wife team Jason and Tash Nichols have been operating at local markets and catering for private events since launching the brand in 2020. It has now opened its first permanent location, a 40-seater restaurant at Hull’s Paragon Arcade.