Roxy Leisure plans six sites over next two years for new family bowling concept and ‘no limit thereafter’, new smaller venue concept in pipeline: Roxy Leisure, the operator of the Roxy Lanes and Roxy Ball Room concepts, has told Propel it plans six sites over next two years for its new family bowling concept, with “no limit” for expansion thereafter. The business will launch the new format at Manchester’s Trafford City in early June. “We have another four sites in major cities and shopping centres in legals at the moment and we would target six sites within the next two years,” managing director Matt Jones told Propel. “There is no limit, however many the public want. If the brand is successful we will keep going, targeting any region that has capacity for a new reinvented family bowling alley. We have the capacity to open three a year, which is nice and steady. The key will be finding the right size buildings in popular locations. I think there are two distinct categories, family entertainment centres (FECs) like Hollywood and Tenpin, and adult focused venues like Roxy Lanes and Lane 7. We are striving to hit that sweet spot in the middle that families will enjoy but can still hold up as a quality date spot with your friends. The look and feel will be a little more grown up than a traditional FEC, almost imaging how Everyman Cinema has transformed the cinema experience. We consider King Pins to be the Everyman of Bowling. There is a very strong emphasis on the food and beverage area, unlike the traditional FECs that tend to put them off to the side. There is a full cocktail menu long with child-friendly mocktails, ten draught beers for the adults, two food vendors (Little Bao Boys and PLY Pizza) and one sweet treats shop.” Roxy also has openings in Cardiff, Leicester, Cheltenham and Liverpool lined up this year for its older concepts, taking it to 19 sites by the end of 2023, and aims to open another five in 2024. “We are always on the hunt for suitable sites,” said Jones. “We would love to find somewhere in Oxford, Cambridge or Reading as I believe these locations tick the right boxes for us.” It comes as Roxy announced turnover of £12,136,314 for the year ending 31 December 2021, up from £1,711,938 in 2020. Pre-tax losses of £2,269,103 in 2020 turned into a profit of £1,748,690. Ebitda also rose from a £1,117,342 loss in 2020 to a profit of £3,623,113. “We continue to trade successfully,” Jones said. “There isn’t a pattern yet as I think there is still readjustment from covid, where there was overtrading last year. However, these last three months has really surprised us. We thought it was going to be really tough with the cost of living, but we have been pleasantly surprised. There is a definite decline on the wet spends but gaming spends are holding up well.” Jones added that Roxy is also working on another concept “which may land in 2024” and which will “suit smaller venues but offer an exciting alternative to existing competitive socialising businesses”. Roxy Leisure features in the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book. Its turnover of £12,136,314 is the 390th highest in the database. Its pre-tax profit of £1,748,690 is the 245th 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 £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email jo.charity@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

Number of experiential concepts to feature in the next edition of The New Openings Database, 5,000-word report included: A number of experiential concepts will feature in the next edition of The New Openings Database. The database will show the details of 110 newly announced site openings and upcoming launches for Premium subscribers when it is published on Thursday, 6 April, at midday, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. It will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis, and the next edition features Lucky Voice, the social entertainment brand, which has opened a new £1.2m site in London’s Liverpool Street. Also added this month is Sixes, the cricket-based competitive socialising concept from the founders of Mac & Wild, which opened its seventh site, in Leicester’s Halford Street. Meanwhile, Topgolf, the golf entertainment brand, which opened the doors to its flagship venue in Glasgow’s Duchess Place, will be featured. In addition, crazy golf brand Junkyard Golf Club, which will open its second site in London, and its biggest venue yet, in Camden Market, is included. Premium subscribers will also receive a 5,000-word report on the new additions to the database. Premium subscribers also receive access to four other databases: the Propel Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; 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 £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 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.

Operators in for ‘fight of their lives’ as sector faces £7.3bn increase in energy bills: Sector leaders have warned operators are in for the “fight of their lives” following the reduction in energy support for businesses. UKHospitality has said the industry is facing costs of £7.3bn in increased energy bills. A snap survey of UKHospitality’s members showed 41% had been refused a quote by an energy supplier for the sole reason of operating within hospitality. Meanwhile, energy costs now account for 11.4% of business turnover, up from 3.4% before the crisis. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “A £12bn increase in energy costs in a year is almost incomprehensible and, frankly, unsustainable for much longer. The transition to a continued, but significantly reduced, energy support scheme does not provide much comfort for anyone, especially with the £7.3bn price tag it comes with. It’s clear to everyone that a driver of these rocketing costs has been some suppliers that have seen this crisis as an opportunity to boost their bottom line, at the expense of hard-working hospitality venues. Ofgem itself has recognised this but has been unable to yet take decisive action. If Ofgem doesn’t feel it has the teeth to grip hold of this problem, the government needs to step in immediately to sanction those energy suppliers or immediately give further powers to the regulator.” The Night Tine Industries Association (NTIA) said with the National Minimum Wage also increasing, operating costs are estimated to go up by more than 100% over the coming months. NTIA chief executive Michael Kill said: “Over the coming months, we will see the impacts of government inaction take hold, and many important night time economy businesses will be lost. Intentionally shutting down our dancefloors, ignoring the immediate issue and accepting the losses is not an acceptable approach, and will have a considerable impact on the future of the sector, but will not be forgotten.” British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin warned that the average energy bill for a pub will rise by £18,400 a year when energy support is slashed, which she said will have “a direct impact on their ability to keep their lights on and doors open”.

Yummy co-founder – removal of energy bills support will see businesses enter a ‘quasi-lockdown’: Anthony Pender, co-founder of Our Yummy Collection, formerly Yummy Pub Company, has said the removal of government support with energy bills for businesses will see businesses enter a “quasi-lockdown”. Pender told The Times he has already taken steps to cut costs, including closing his kitchens earlier, frying less food and shutting earlier on Sundays to save on energy costs. But he said the slashing of energy bill support, introduced in the wake of rocketing energy prices last year, will see his bills go up by £3,400 a month. “In effect, we will be entering a quasi-lockdown by default because of the costs,” he said. “We are busy five nights a week and even we are struggling. We shouldn’t be in this position, but with energy relief falling away and wages going up, it will make it very hard to break even.” Pender said he believes his business will survive, but others will have to reduce opening hours or even close. Warwick Heskins, who runs the The Catherine Wheel pub in Newbury, Berkshire, said running a pub now is more challenging than it was during covid. After taking what was a pub with a poor reputation in 2014 and turning it into a successful business, he opened a second pub in the town, The Spare Wheel, mid-pandemic, in July 2020. In October last year, he shut the second pub, blaming rising costs. “All the overhead costs, energy costs and everything else made it difficult to staff and make it cost-effective, so we decided to close it down,” Heskins told Sky News. “My sales haven’t gone up to pre-covid levels, my overheads are probably 50% higher than they were pre-covid. The electricity has gone up from £1,200 to £3,500 a month, gas has gone up too and food prices are ridiculously high. Most of the drink suppliers are putting beer prices up by about 10% or 13%, which you can't pass fully on to customers, otherwise you won’t have any left.”

‘Week of woe’ for businesses as corporation tax rise set to kick in: UK companies are about to be hit with an extra £9bn a year of taxes at the same time as government support with energy bills is reduced and the living wage rises, in what is being called a “week of woe” by business groups. The main rate of corporation tax will rise from 19% to 25% from April, raising about £18bn a year for the Treasury, which will be partially offset by a 100% tax break on capital spending designed to boost investment. The so-called full expensing tax measure is worth about £9bn annually, leaving businesses about £9bn a year, or £750m a month, worse off, reports The Financial Times. Tim Sarson, head of tax policy at accountants KPMG, said the “starkest effect” will be felt by businesses taking the full six percentage point tax increase without being able to benefit from full expensing of capital expenditure. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said companies would be £12.5bn worse off after the reduction in help for energy bills. “Sadly, the Conservative party is about to plunge the UK’s small businesses into a week of woe,” said Craig Beaumont, chief of external affairs at the FSB. “Tax up, energy bills up, employment costs up, inflation up — but the government is oblivious, and now running out of road to make a difference.”

New law lets staff sue their boss if customers offend them: Rishi Sunak is facing a Tory revolt over “draconian” laws that will allow workers sue their employers if a member of the public offends them at work. New harassment rules on the brink of becoming law will enable bar staff to take legal action against landlords if they are offended by drunk punters, and baristas take coffee shop owners to a tribunal if they overhear offensive remarks made by customers, reports The Telegraph. The Worker Protection Bill will make employers liable for staff being harassed by “third parties” such as customers or members of the public. It introduces a legal requirement for companies and public bodies to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent this. But senior Tories warn the proposed law will lead to an explosion of litigation and force business owners to run their establishments like a “police state”. Tory peer Lord Strathcarron said possible scenarios could include, “somebody going into the Dog and Duck ... then insulting the barman, and the barman suing the landlord. He added: “It’s mad, and no one’s thought it through.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a family-owned business that delivers products in the food and beverage industry that is looking for a national key account manager. The company has a turnover just shy of £1bn and a huge focus on sustainability, and supplies its products to many counties across Europe. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The business is seeking a national key account manager to join its sales team, to maximise sustainable short and long-term sales, boost profitability and increase its stronghold in the wholesale market with a particular focus on the leading UK food wholesalers and distributors. Reporting into its Buckinghamshire head office, this is very much a field sales position, and you must be extremely proactive in your approach and prepared to travel.” The salary is up to £70,000 plus benefits. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com 

 

Craft Union ‘contributed significantly’ to Stonegate’s strong recovery as it reaches 500-site landmark: Stonegate has said its Craft Union division, which has just reached its 500-site landmark, “contributed significantly” to the group’s strong recovery. Earlier this month, Stonegate reported trading above pre-pandemic levels in the year ending 25 September 2022, with revenue rising to £1.611bn from £707m, and Ebitda up to £465m from £151m. “We’ve been a considerable part of the recovery because what we found coming out of the pandemic is that people wanted to be local and found an allegiance again with their community,” Frazer Grimbleby, operations director for Craft Union, told Propel. “We’ve contributed double digit like-for-like growth and we’ve got positive volume growth, which means we’re attracting new customers. Some of the changes we’ve made in terms of our proposition, range and value pricing has also enabled us to grow profits and reinvest in the existing estate. We’ve had to pass on some of our cost price increases but held back a significant amount as well.” Craft Union has just opened its 500th pub since being founded in 2015, the Royal Standard in Leicester. Most have been leased and tenanted transitions, with some also recently coming via Stonegate’s managed estate. “We’ll continue to grow the business, even though we’ve reached the ambition from when we opened our first pub to get to 500 in five years,” Grimbleby said. “If you take away the two years of covid, which stopped us in our tracks, we delivered it in six. In the past year, we’ve added 65 pubs at an investment of £16m, and the plan is to continue adding pubs into the estate. We’re also focused on reinvesting in our existing estate, and we will reinvest in 50-60 more next year. We want to think big but also act small, treating every pub as an individual pub and working out with our operator how to best serve their individual community.” Craft Union also reported last year that its operator retention is at an all-time high. “We embarked on a well thought out retention strategy which recognised that as we grow with scale, we want these operators as a constant on our journey,” Grimbleby added. “We thought about how they could really enhance their earnings and were able to add on some unrivalled benefits, like they can take a 10% share of all machine income. We’ve also introduced a profit share, while sales targets and initiatives have allowed them to increase earnings as well. It’s also about attraction – and last month we attracted 600 enquiries from operators wanting to take on a Craft Union pub.”

Megan’s on track to deliver further sales growth of 70%: Megan’s, the fast-growing cafe and deli concept, has said it is on track to deliver further sales growth of 70% in its current financial year. The company, which will open its 20th site next month, in Guildford, reported an increase in annual turnover of 193% to 31 March 2022 of £22.7m (2021: £7.7m). It said that growth was supported by the successful opening of five new sites during the financial year, and a return to regular trading following covid-19 lockdowns. Adjusted Ebitda for the year increased to £4.1m (2021: £1.7m), with an operating margin of 17.8%. Gill Clements, finance director, said: “Despite another year of challenging market conditions, we’ve continued to deliver exceptional results because of the quality of our offering, our ability to truly trade all day from brunch through to dinner, and our fantastic teams. Our performance to March 2022 and the strength of our balance sheet has enabled us to continue to invest in our business. Our 20th site will open its doors in Guildford in April, and we remain focused on our existing estate, with a number of exciting capex projects ongoing. This wouldn’t be possible without our teams, and we are recognising that by continuing to invest in our team pay structures and opportunities. The business continues to grow at an impressive pace and we’re on track to deliver further sales growth of 70% in the year to come. We have proven our success across the suburbs of London and our focus now shifts towards those areas beyond, particularly the home counties. Our current three ‘out-of-London’ sites are significantly exceeding expectations, and we have a strong pipeline of over ten locations to continue our expansion in this key market.” In terms of future openings, the company has secured the ex-NatWest site in Twickenham’s King Street for the opening of a 4,300 square-foot restaurant later this year. At the same time, it is set to open on the former Argos store site in Farnham’s West Street. Earlier this year, the company said it was on track to deliver more than £26m of revenue for the 12 months to March 2023, with recent trading being “exceptionally strong”. The business, which said it has continued its 100% record of profitable new openings, recently announced it had secured £5m in bank debt to ramp up its expansion and freehold property strategy.

Mark Hilton steps down as chief executive of bakery brand Paul: Mark Hilton has stepped down as chief executive of French artisan bakery and patisserie Paul, Propel has learned. Hilton became chief executive of Paul UK in 2019, before also taking on responsibility for North and South America and Northern Europe at the start of last year. Hilton previously spent nine years as international development director at the New York-based Popbar. He has stepped down from Paul, which operates 36 bakery stores in the UK, to return to running his boutique advisory firm Kikkirossi, which specialises in international franchise and brand development. Hilton said: “Delighted to be returning full time to Kikkirossi, the business that Francesca Tiritiello and I set up back in June 2010, which I’ve not been able to dedicate enough time to in recent years. I resigned from Paul UK in December, and my last day finished on Friday (31 March), so tomorrow marks the first day back. It was a privilege to lead Paul UK over the last nearly four years, and before that to have led the brand as a franchise partner for nine years in Romania. But the time was right to move on, and I’m super excited to be going back to my own business again.” Last autumn, Hilton oversaw the launch of the Paul brand’s first franchise site in the UK, in Oxford. He said the brand was aiming for a 100-site UK estate, with 50% of it franchised. 

Tom Kerridge plans London pub opening: Chef Tom Kerridge is planning to open a pub in London’s Chelsea, Propel has learned. Kerridge is set to take on the former Queens Head site in Tryon Street. It is thought the site could become the second to open under his Butcher’s Tap & Grill concept, with the chef recently setting up a new company, The Butcher’s Tap & Grill (Chelsea) Ltd. Kerridge told Propel last year that the concept “might be something we look at rolling out”. The original Butcher’s Tap was launched in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, in November 2017 as part of a joint venture with brewer and retailer Greene King. The site functions as a butcher’s shop and bar until 5pm, after which the space operates a simple meat-led menu with beer on tap, wine, spirits and community nights. Kerridge told Propel: “The Butcher’s Tap is probably the one that's bucking a trend because it’s slightly more value-led. It might be something we might look at rolling out. It’s a concept that’s not built on an individual skill set. It would need a team of people, but it doesn’t need people that have been within the business for ten years.” DCL and CDG Leisure are thought to have acted on the Tryon Street deal. 

Former Geronimo Inns MD Ed Turner secures third pub site: Ed Turner, the former Geronimo Inns managing director and current Brakspear non-executive director, has secured a third site for his Neighbourhood Pubs And Bars vehicle, Propel has learned. He has secured the Haven House Inn and Café – a pub, café and gift shop – in Christchurch, Dorset. In 2016, Turner and his wife Buffy launched the Old Ale and Coffee House in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Two years later, the Turners and business partner Shane O’Neill reopened The Dolphin pub in Newbury, Berkshire. The town centre pub, which had been closed for almost a year, reopened following a £500,000 joint investment with Star Pubs & Bars, its second site with Neighbourhood. On the new site, Turner said: “Right at the end of Mudeford Quay in Christchurch is the Haven House Inn and Café. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, crabbing, beachcombing, catching the ferry or just soaking up the sun with a bevvy… brilliant run by the Rolph's (brothers Graham, Derek and Brian Rolph) for 20 years, but ready for a Neighbourhood Pubs and Bars refresh.” 

Rosa’s Thai secures Leamington Spa site: Rosa’s Thai, which is backed by TriSpan, has further added to its 2023 openings pipeline after securing a site in Leamington Spa, Propel has learned. The Gavin Adair-led company has taken the site currently occupied by Bill’s in the town’s Parade. The 32-strong company, which made its international debut in September in Dubai, has opened in Bath and Exeter in recent months. It is also set to take a unit at the Jackson’s Corner scheme in Reading. Earlier this year, Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant group, confirmed it had closed 12 sites as it prepares to refinance.

Greene King appoints new Pub Partners managing director: Brewer and retailer Greene King has appointed Dan Robinson as managing director of its leased, tenanted and franchise business unit, Greene King Pub Partners. Robinson will report to Wayne Shurvinton, the previous managing director of Greene King Pub Partners, who has moved into the role of Partnerships and Ventures managing director following a realignment of Greene King’s divisional structure. A Greene King employee since 2016, Robinson has held the position of asset optimisation director for Greene King for the last two years. Prior to this, he held roles as interim managing director of Greene King Local Pubs and central operations director across Greene King’s managed pubs. Prior to Greene King, Robinson held operational roles in Spirit Pub Company, Punch and Scottish & Newcastle. His career started at Allied Domecq as a graduate trainee, giving him more than 25 years’ experience in the pub sector. Shurvinton said: “With his years of experience in the pub trade, Dan understands Pub Partners well and I am excited to see him take the business forward, building on the great work that the team has already delivered.”

Barkby Group reports pub division trading remains ‘resilient’, in talks with Workshop Coffee management team over MBO: Barkby Group has reported trading in its nine-strong pub business has remained “resilient” as it focuses on improving profitability. The company also revealed it is in talks with the management team of its Workshop Coffee business around an externally backed management buyout “and will update shareholders in due course”. It comes as the company reported revenue in the pub division increased to £3.4m for the 26 weeks ended 31 December 2022 (2021: £3.2m). Like-for-like revenue declined 6% compared with the year before. The pub business made an Ebitda loss of £0.3m (2021: Ebitda profit of £0.5m). Labour shortages and increasing pay demands resulted in a 63% increase in operational labour costs, with direct labour increasing by £0.7m. The company said improving labour management is currently its main operational focus, in preparation for the traditionally busy spring and summer seasons. The majority of its energy contracts were fixed in December 2020 until December 2023, “providing protection from the energy cost pressures facing the industry”. During the period, the company added the tenancy of The Eliot Arms in South Cerney, Gloucestershire, to its portfolio, bringing the estate to nine pubs with 75 bedrooms. Executive chairman Charles Dickson said: “In the pub business, we have emerged from a challenging trading environment with a solid and robust business. We are now focused on managing the tight supply of experienced staff and enhancing the guest experience as we move into the busier spring and summer months.”

Sky News – Redbus Ventures eyes swoop on struggling Planet Organic: An investment vehicle set up by one of the founders of LoveFilm is plotting a rescue bid for Planet Organic, the struggling grocer. Sky News reports that Redbus Ventures, which has assembled a large portfolio of stakes in early-stage consumer-facing businesses, is among a small number of parties exploring offers for the organic supermarket chain. City sources said Redbus Ventures – founded by entrepreneur Simon Franks – was expected to table a proposal to inject several million pounds into Planet Organic imminently. Redbus Ventures describes itself as one of the most active funders of early-stage businesses in the UK and counts online florist Flowerbx, fintech Cleo and digital education platform Perlego among the companies it has backed. Franks built Lovefilm into a £200m business before selling it to Amazon in 2011, having previously sold Redbus Film Distribution to US media group Lionsgate. Last week, Sky News revealed that the chain had put insolvency practitioners on standby as it races to find new backers. It has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators – a move which provides it with breathing space from creditors as it continues rescue talks. Discussions with a number of interested parties are ongoing after Waitrose pulled out of talks about a deal late last week.

Jason Atherton to open flagship restaurant in London’s Mayfair: Chef Jason Atherton is set to open a new restaurant in London’s Mayfair. The flagship venue, Row on 5, will take over two floors of a new building in Savile Row, reports Hot Dinners. The concept is “a culinary voyage” involving a multi-course dining experience. On the ground floor, there will be a mix of counter dining and tables for 36 diners. Downstairs, there will be an open kitchen and bar and room for 22 more diners, along with a private dining room – or cellar – with eight seats. Atherton is behind six restaurants in the capital, including his Michelin-starred restaurant Pollen Street Social. 

Tomos Parry to open restaurant in London’s Soho: Michelin-starred chef Tomos Parry is to open a restaurant in London’s Soho. Parry will launch Mountain in June in Beak Street, in the premises previously occupied by better burger brand Byron. Mountain will be “in essence a wood grill and wine bar”, reflecting Parry’s favourite meals from journeys across Spain over recent years. The menu will include pink bream served whole, wood grilled lamb chops and whole Anglesey lobster in a rich caldereta aromatic braise. The wine list will focus on a dozen or so winemakers whose wine reflects the “mountain and sea” inspiration in the kitchen. Vermouth made in Sicily will be poured from tap, alongside blood orange Garibaldis and a selection of spritzes made with citrus fruits. Downstairs, a bar will serve classic cocktails. Parry, who is also behind Michelin-starred Brat, said: “I’ve always loved walking by the windows of Soho restaurant institutions catching glimpses of tables that began at lunch and are now threatening to roll into dinner. I can’t wait for guests to eat these dishes and share in these moments, watching the world go past the windows at Mountain.”

Israeli chef Eyal Shani to open third London restaurant: Israeli chef Eyal Shani is to open his third London restaurant. Shani is launching Seven North at the new Sircle London hotel in Devonshire Square this autumn. It’s billed as taking influence from Mediterranean, French, German and Italian cuisine, with dishes including golden aubergine resting on tomato clouds swirled in tahini and chopped egg; and burning seabass in stormy sauce of Viennese tomatoes, reports Hot Dinners. Shani, who also uns a Seven North restaurant in Vienna, operates two restaurants in London under his Mediterranean-inspired street food concept Miznon, in Soho and Notting Hill. Shani opened his first restaurant, Oceanus, in Jerusalem in 1989. Later, he opened a fine dining restaurant, Hasalon, in Tel Aviv, before going on to operate 40 restaurants around the world alongside partner Shahar Segal.

Rochelle Canteen co-founder Margot Henderson to open first pub this month: Margot Henderson, co-founder of Rochelle Canteen, will open her first pub this month. Henderson will relaunch The Three Horseshoes in the Somerset village of Batcombe on Tuesday, 25 April. The 18th century inn, which has five guest bedrooms, has been restored, and the food will be “heartfelt, wholesome and celebrate the very best produce from local farmers”. Dishes will include grilled Old Spot chop and apple sauce; and roast beetroot, goats curd and watercress. There will be a succinct wine list alongside cider and craft beer. Henderson said: “I’ve spent many weekends over the years visiting family and making lifelong friends in the area. Through these years I’ve become inspired by the rich, quality produce available in Somerset, so I’m excited to be embarking on this journey to the south west and taking advantage of all that is available there.” Originally from New Zealand, Henderson trained in her home country before moving to London and started working at The French House in Soho, where she met her husband, Fergus Henderson, founder of St John. She opened Rochelle Canteen in Arnold Circus, with Melanie Arnold, in 2006 and published her first book, “You’re All Invited”, six years later.

Sides joins line up at Market Place London in Harrow: Sides, the virtual fried chicken concept from Hero Brands-owned Virtual Hero, has joined the line up at Market Place London’s new Harrow site. As previously reported, the food hall concept will open its fourth location, at 80-84 St Ann’s Road, on Thursday, 6 April, with space for up to 300 people across both indoor and outdoor areas. It will house a third physical site for Sides, which was developed in collaboration with YouTube collective The Sidemen and already has several delivery sites across the UK, and launched its first two physical locations last year. Robin Mehta, chief executive at Sides, said: “We’re buzzing to be partnering with Market Place London to launch our third location at their next food market in Harrow. We’re aiming to build on our successes to date at Boxpark Wembley and Gravity Wandsworth, as well as our virtual kitchens around the UK. We’re excited to bring the UK’s best up-and-coming chicken brand to more and more physical locations.” The Sides partnership brings the total number of Market Place Harrow vendors to eight. Blake Henderson, managing director of Market Place London, added: “It’s a proud day for the Market Place London team as we announce our partnership with the brilliant team at Sides. It’s our goal to celebrate up-and-coming independent brands who we believe will make a big impact on the food and drink sector, and Sides is no exception to this core belief.”