Berkeley Inns begins building London presence, eyes six-strong estate: Berkeley Inns, the award-winning Derbyshire gastropub operator, has begun building its estate in London after securing a second site in the capital. The Howard Thacker-led company, which secured its debut site in the capital at the start of the year, The Rugby Tavern in Bloomsbury, is understood to have fought off strong competition from other London multiple pub operators to secure The Knights Templar, Chancery Lane. The Knights Templar was previously operated by JD Wetherspoon and benefits from a grade-II listed interior comprising a former Victorian banking hall. The business will be rebranded ‘The Last Judgment’ due to its close proximity to the Royal Courts of Justice and numerous chambers locally. It will offer an extensive cocktails, beer and wine list with a revolving seasonal à la carte menu in the restaurant, complimented by a bar menu. The venue is currently being renovated, including a full revamp of the trade kitchen and trade areas, with the reopening date set for Wednesday, 3 May. Berkeley Inns was established in November 2014 and also operates the Horseshoes in Long Lane Village, Derbyshire; The Cow in Dalbury Lees; and the Bluebell Inn in Kirk Langley, Hertfordshire. Its aim “is to revitalise great properties, recapturing the atmosphere of the local pub alongside a high-quality food offer”. On its plans for expansion in London, Thacker told Propel: “It depends on suitable sites becoming available, but our initial strategy envisages six units by the end of 2024.” Panayiotis Themistocli, associate director of AG&G, who acted for Berkeley Inns on the Knights Templar deal, said: “This was a very rare opportunity to acquire an established large pub business in prime central London, directly from the landlord, by way of a new 25-year free of tie lease.” CBRE and Shelley Sandzer acted on behalf of the landlord.

 

Sponsored message – how HDI can help you with pricing strategy, distribution and pricing tracking: HDI works with more than 50 businesses across the hospitality sector, helping its clients make better decisions around offer development, pricing, customer targeting and location planning. Mark Bentley, business development director, said: “Our unique data provides insight across the hospitality sector at individual site, retail brand and sector level, based on three billion-plus hospitality card transactions, 150 million-plus hospitality food and drink prices and 85 million-plus grocery prices. We combine big-data expertise with an in-depth knowledge of the hospitality sector. We’re hospitality experts with a passion for big-data, analytics and insight, with more than 100 years of experience working for leading operators and drinks manufacturers. We track product ranges and prices across circa 6,000 managed hospitality outlets and all major grocers. This enables operators and manufacturers to understand how overall food and drink ranges and retail prices are changing, including how specific competitors have moved their pricing from month to month. Our hospitality data goes right down to individual site level, enabling operators to benchmark their pricing locally, while brand owners can keep track of listings/de-lists. Our team has a wealth of pricing experience and regularly helps clients with their pricing strategy and ongoing competitor benchmarking.” To find out how HDI can help your business, click here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Just under half of sector operators expect their footfall will increase this year: Just under half of sector operators (49%) expect footfall will increase in 2023, with an average projected increase of 12%, according to a new exclusive survey by Propel and KAM. The State of the Hospitality Nation survey, which is produced in association with MAPAL Group, found that 63% of operators predict their spend per head will increase in 2023, with an average projected increase of 2%. At the same time, 70% predict their like-for-like sales will increase over the course of the year, with an average projected increase of 10%. On the year ahead, Richard Ferrier, managing director of Brasserie Bar Co, said: “The industry is likely to be polarised in a way we have not seen previously. The well capitalised businesses will benefit from ever greater opportunities to expand their estates. Other groups will be stressed by energy challenges, rising labour costs and covid debt. The chancellor provided little respite for these businesses in the latest Budget, meaning a two-paced year lies ahead for the sector.” James Hacon, global chief marketing officer, MAPAL Group, said: “Over the next few months and, probably, years, we will continue to be tested as a sector and will need to constantly adapt to changes in the external landscape, changing consumer expectations and growing competition as the best bounce back and the closures in the market make way for newer, entrepreneurial brands to enter and take market share. Challenges always bring opportunity, and this time is no different. Here at MAPAL Group, we are excited to see where this creativity and perseverance will take our sector next.” Operators who would like a free copy of the 40-page survey report should email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium subscribers to receive latest Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage and access to videos from latest Propel Multi-Club Conference today: Premium subscribers are to receive the latest Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage and access to the videos from the latest Propel Multi-Club Conference today (Friday, 21 April). The Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage is the first database where full profiles of 667 of the UK’s top food and beverage operators are available in one place. It features more than 174,000 words of content, including 74 updated entries, while 16 new companies have been added. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Also today, Premium subscribers are to be given exclusive access to the recording and slides from the latest Propel Multi-Club Conference. They will be sent 12 videos at 9am that will include: Razak Helalat, founder of Black Rock Restaurant Group; Meriel Armitage, founder of Club Mexicana; and Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King. Premium subscribers also receive access to four other databases: the Propel Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; the New Openings Database; the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book; and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database. 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 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.

 

Bookings up 14% over Easter as brunch proves a winner: Bookings were up 14% over the Easter bank holiday weekend compared with 2022, according to new research by hospitality technology provider, Zonal. Brunch proved a big winner, with bookings up 98% on 2022. While this still accounts for less than 1% of overall bookings, brunch presents an untapped Easter opportunity for hospitality businesses to drive sales and revenue next year, Zonal said. Across the four-day period, Easter Sunday lunch was the most popular booking among consumers, while Friday and Saturday saw the most dinner bookings. Easter Monday, despite having the fewest number of bookings across the four days, did have the highest increase in bookings (23%) compared with last year. Lunch bookings across the entire period rose by 43%. Olivia FitzGerald, chief sales and marketing officer at Zonal, said: “The rise in bookings for Easter weekend represents a move in the right direction for hospitality and introducing an Easter brunch next year could be a real opportunity for the trade.”

 

Cosy Club MD – hospitality needs more diverse boardrooms to attract people into industry: Amber Wood, managing director of Loungers brand Cosy Club, has said hospitality needs more diverse boardrooms in order to attract greater numbers of people into the industry. “Hospitality has long had a rich history of welcoming and affording opportunities to people from different backgrounds,” she told the latest Propel Multi-Club Conference. “I think we’re very good at that up to and including site management level, but beyond that, less and less so. In terms of attracting more people into the industry to consider it as a career, I would say that welcoming diversity of all kinds needs to extend to boardroom level.” Wood said she is also passionate about seeing more women in leadership roles, but insisted they must be recognised for their achievements rather than their gender. “We have to be careful around this topic because the female leaders coming through the ranks should be afforded the acknowledgement that they have got to that point through being good and being at the top of their game,” she said. “People want to be acknowledged for what they have achieved regardless of gender. I don’t think there are additional pressures in leadership roles through being female – motivating people, inspiring people, delivering profit and creating a great product is the same regardless of your gender – but I think it’s probably been harder for women to get there. Women should lift women, which is something that’s getting better but isn’t quite there.” Wood added covid changed the way Cosy Club is run as a business and helped it “focus on the people side of the business” and “grow that empathy”. She said: “It wasn’t a time for business innovation, it was a time for people management innovation, and we took that very seriously. Our strategy and approach to people had to change massively, and that affects how we operate the business. We spent a year or two in finding how we make a business like ours work while rising to the challenge of an evolving workforce. I feel my business is in a fairly comfortable place – it’s still successful, our teams are certainly happier, and we’re more flexible.” Wood’s views will be among the videos from the Propel Multi-Club Conference that Premium subscribers will be given exclusive access to today (Friday, 21 April) at 9am. 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.

 

Hospitality Rising hits more than 100,000 job applications: Sector recruitment initiative, Hospitality Rising, has attracted more than 100,000 job applications, less than six months after the official campaign launched. Hospitality Rising’s inaugural campaign, “Rise Fast, Work Young”, was launched in October in a bid to tackle the sector’s high number of job vacancies. Supported by operators and suppliers, #RiseFastWorkYoung aims to entice new recruits by showcasing the opportunities that come with a career in hospitality. The targeted social media-led campaign uses long term branding to drive awareness and change perceptions, while also offering supporters unlimited job postings on the Hospitality Rising careers website. Mark McCulloch, founder of Hospitality Rising and campaign director, said: “The backing we’re getting from supporters is resulting in their vacancies being seen by a new audience as well as helping us reach our long term goals – 100,000 job applications through our careers website shows our audience is responding to the campaign on mass and that we're really making a connection. We are grateful for everyone who has invested in Hospitality Rising and continue to thank those who have made this vital movement possible. To be able to better understand what attracts both Generation Z and millennial job seekers into hospitality is something that we can build on to help the industry and reduce vacancies. We all want young people to see what a vibrant place hospitality truly is to work in, so reaching 50% of the UK’s 16 to 30-year-olds already is definitely a game-changer.” It comes as this week saw seven more operators joined the campaign, which is supported by more to 300 businesses as well as chefs and hospitality leaders. The latest investors are Living Ventures, The Ned, Quarter, First Restaurants, The Vineyard, Ned’s Noodle Bar, Army & Navy Club and Tate Eats. Businesses looking to join the movement can email hello@hospitalityrising.org.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an expanding wet-led pub group based across the UK that is looking for an operations director. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “With 52 sites currently open and another ten due in the next year, the business is set to grow. Reporting to the managing director, the ideal candidate will treat the business as their own. This mindset will allow for massive opportunities to move the business forward. Opening experience is essential, and you will have some branded experience (a background from pubs or bars is needed). The business is constantly evolving so would suit a candidate who has a track record of business change to keep ahead of market trends.” The salary is up to £125,000 and the position is based in the Midlands. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com

Lee Nixon steps down as MD of Ole & Steen: Lee Nixon has stepped down as managing director of Danish bakery concept Ole & Steen, Propel has learned. Nixon, formerly of Costa Coffee and Le Pain Quotidien, was appointed managing director of the then 12-strong business in summer 2020 after a period of being its interim managing director. The company said Nixon leaves the now 26-strong business, “after leading this phase of ambitious growth plans and doubling the size of the business in the UK since 2020”. In the interim, the brand’s operations director Tim Selby will step into the managing director role. The company said: “Tim has a very strong track record in hospitality, having previously been managing director at Masala Zone and chief operating officer of Gusto restaurants.” Earlier this month, the business launched a “grab and go” concept as it opened a new site in London’s Canary Wharf. Catering to the high-traffic commuter area, the new concept at Jubilee Place aims to “create ultimate convenience during precious lunchtimes and peak rush hours”. The company, which has opened in Guildford, London Wall and Kingston since the start of the year, has been linked with further openings in Blackheath, Henley and Marlow. 

 

Fallow chairman – we see the well-publicised economic turmoil as an expansion opportunity: James Robson, co-founder and director of London restaurant concept Fallow, has told Propel the business sees “the well-publicised economic turmoil as an expansion opportunity, where the environment makes it a more level playing field between nimble independents and the chains”. Fallow, the concept from chefs Jack Croft and Will Murray – who met while working at Heston Blumenthal’s two Michelin-starred restaurant Dinner – opened its first permanent site in London’s St James’s Market, in November 2021. It previously operated a pop-up in Heddon Street. Robson said the company had signed heads of terms on a second site in the capital and “may add a third within the year”. It comes as the company saw “solid” turnover growth in 2022, to end the year at £6.051m net (2021: £2.359m – including the part of the year the business was in Heddon Street), while pre-tax profit was £1.286m (2021: £215,000). It said: “No grants were taken in 2022 (£73,205 in 2021), gross profit margin rose 4% to 76.76%. Shareholder dividends rose to £608,062 (£75,000 in 2021). First quarter 2023 like-for-likes versus 2022 are up more than 50% on both net turnover and pre-tax profit. First quarter net turnover stood at £1.812m (2021: £1.113m).” Robson said: “We predict rapid like-for-like growth will continue as we are launching breakfast next month and have finally agreed extended street trading with Westminster Council following 18 months of procrastination and debate. Landlords are playing ball and there has never been a better time to negotiate for truly sustainable independent place-making brands. We have finalised heads of terms on a second site and may add a third within the year. Our digital growth remains a high priority too, with a current reach of more than ten million and plans to quadruple this within the year. We see the well-publicised economic turmoil as an expansion opportunity, where the environment makes it a more level playing field between nimble independents and the chains.”

 

Sideris – no plans for further Tashas UK openings at the moment, may look at launching other brands here: Natasha Sideris, founder and chief executive of South African boutique cafe group Tashas, has told Propel it has always been her dream to open a site in the UK, but has “no grand plans for further openings at the moment”. The business, which operates circa 30 locations in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Dubai and Abu Dhabi – will make its UK debut this summer at the Battersea Power Station development. Sideris told Propel: “The UK has such an unbelievable and vibrant food scene and culture of dining out. As a restaurateur, it has always been a dream to open here. Before coming to the UK, I wanted to prove that we could open in markets outside of South Africa. Thankfully we have done that very well, so the timing seems right to expand. I also feel we now have an incredible team and the systems in place to bring Tashas to this very competitive market, as well as maintain the authenticity of what the concept stands for. We have no grand plans for opening more restaurants in the UK at the moment. Our focus is to open this location and consistently deliver excellent food in a beautiful space with our distinct brand of South African hospitality, as well as to hopefully become a much-loved brand with a local following.” The business also owns the Flamingo Room by Tashas, Bungalo34, Le Parc and Nala concepts. On the possibility of launching them in UK, Sideris said: “We have chosen our first foray to be with Tashas as it is the heart of who we are and what we stand for. Opening this store will allow us to better understand the market, and if it feels relevant to look at bringing our other concepts, including some new ones that we are working on, we will.”

 

London’s largest KFC operator sees rise in turnover and profits as it seeks to expand and open new stores: FT Foods, part of Tahir Group, the largest KFC operator in London, saw both its turnover and profits rise in the year ending 31 December 2021 as it seeks to expand and open new stores. It reported turnover of £20,867,259 for the period, up from £14,435,654 in 2020. It made a pre-tax profit of £634,863, up from £331,561 in 2020. It received £69,125 in government grants compared with £1,063,122 in 2020. No dividends were paid (2020: nil). The average monthly number of employees fell from 413 to 334. Cash balance at the end of the year totalled £234,734 (2020 £2,658,333). Owner Fazan Tahir, in his statement accompanying the accounts, said: “The directors continue to actively search for new franchise locations to facilitate expansion and open new stores. This is while investing in existing stores to maintain turnover levels.” Tahir Group is a London-based property development and investment group also operating several Starbucks and German Doner Kebab shops in the region. The group was founded in 1978, with Tahir joining in the mid-1990s, and under his stewardship the KFC operations saw faster organic growth than any other franchisee-owned business in London. In December last year, it acquired eight KFC restaurants in the capital from Barack Group of Companies, taking its estate to 41 KFC restaurants across London as well as the Midlands. FT Foods features in the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the latest version of which was released on Friday (14 April). Its turnover of £20,867,259 is the 278th 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.

 

New World Trading Company lines up three new openings: Graphite Capital-backed pub and restaurant group The New World Trading Company has strengthened its openings pipeline for this year after lining up three new sites, Propel has learned. The Rod McKie-led business, which is looking at opening new venues at a rate of between five and eight per year, has secured new sites in Durham, Bournemouth and Sunderland for its The Botanist brand. The company has secured sites in Durham’s Milburngate development, the new Riverside scheme in Sunderland, and the ex-Bobby’s shopping centre unit in Commercial Road, Bournemouth. It is also understood to be in talks on sites in Leeds and Brighton. The company opened its latest site in February at The Glassworks scheme in Barnsley. It is also set to open a new flagship site, North Light, in Chester’s Northgate development. It has recently gone on site in Edinburgh for the opening of The Botanist at St Andrew’s Hall, in the St James Quarter scheme.

 

Pret to open first site in India: Pret A Manger will open its debut site in India today (Friday, 21 April) in Maker Maxity, Mumbai, which will be the first of many shops set to open under the brand in the country later this year under its partnership with Reliance Brands. Pret said its inaugural Mumbai shop is a recreation of its “iconic London shops”, with a large dining space spread across 2,567 square feet, offering dine-in or takeaway. Darshan Mehta, managing director of Reliance Brands, said: “We are thrilled to be opening the first Pret shop in India. Freshness of ingredients, authenticity of recipes, and a curiosity in processes defines the new Indian consumer. With a commitment to provide fresh, clean and sustainable offerings, customers in India can now enjoy the same exceptional food that has made Pret a beloved and successful chain around the world.” Pano Christou, chief executive of Pret, added: “We have been working closely with the Reliance Brands team to create an offer for Indian consumers that reflects the Pret brand, while also adapting to local preferences and food habits. Coming to India has been a goal of ours for a long time, and the opening of our first shop in Mumbai is a landmark moment in our international expansion plans. We’re confident that with the support of Reliance Brands, the Pret brand will be a hit with consumers in India, and a welcome addition to the country’s growing food-to-go market.”

 

Kaleido Rolls makes international debut with Amsterdam launch: Healthy food concept Kaleido, which specialises in salad rolls and rice paper rolls, has made its international debut after launching three concession sites in Holland. The business, which earlier this year closed a crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs after raising almost £700,000, has linked up with Albert Heijn – the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands – to open three sites in its stores in Amsterdam. Kaleido Rolls said: “So excited to launch Kaleido Mix & Match counters in Albert Heijn, which shared our vision and impressed us with its excellence in execution and respect for our small but beautiful business. Definitely an exciting milestone for Kaleido Rolls.” The business, which was launched five years ago by wife-and-husband team Laura Mimoun and Denis Dahan, was initially aiming to raise £400,000, offering 6.68% of equity, with a pre-money valuation of £6m. It plans to grow its estate to 25 sites by 2025. The five-strong London business said in January that it was in discussions on a franchise deal with a “very large foodservice player in the Netherlands”, alongside “working on several exciting opportunities in the UK and abroad”.

 

Maki & Ramen confirms first site in England, to double up in Glasgow: Edinburgh-based, Japanese restaurant concept Maki & Ramen has confirmed it will open its first restaurant site in England, in Manchester. As previously revealed by Propel in January, the six-strong business, which was founded by Teddy Lee in 2013, is to open a site in York Street, in Manchester’s Piccadilly area, next month. The company, which currently operates five sites in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow, operates a delivery unit out of the Deliveroo Editions site in Ordsall, Greater Manchester. It said: “We are over the moon to announce our new branch in Manchester. We are bringing the flavours and culture of Japan to Manchester, offering a unique dining experience.” The business, which bills itself as “Scotland’s favourite Japanese dining experience”, will open its second site in Glasgow later this month, in the city’s Renfield Street.

 

Neat Burger opens first permanent US site: Lewis Hamilton-backed plant-based concept Neat Burger has opened its first permanent site in the US. The company, which has been operating a pop-up in midtown New York, in UrbanSpace Vanderbilt, has opened the site in the city’s Nolita area, at 25 Cleveland Place. The company said: “It means the absolute world that the people of New York City are joining the mission to make plant-based food more accessible and delicious than ever before. Our clean, green burger dream is truly becoming a reality.” The company, which operates eight sites in London, said last year that the US will take its lead from its UK strategy, with a mix of bricks and mortar sites and delivery kitchens. Last November, it partnered with Baker Street Hospitality to bring its concept to the UAE, with a restaurant opening in the food court of Dubai Mall. It is also gearing up to launch in Italy. The business previously stated a plan to expand to 1,000 corporately owned, franchise and dark kitchens by 2030.

 

Roxy Leisure opens debut Welsh site with Cardiff launch: Roxy Leisure, the operator of the Roxy Lanes and Roxy Ballroom concepts, has opened its debut Welsh site, in Cardiff. The company has opened the 450-capacity venue in the former JJB Sports site in Queen Street under its Roxy Lanes concept. It offers offering ten-pin bowling, ice-free curling, American pool, air hockey, karaoke, arcade games, basketball, beer pong and shuffleboard. The food menu includes a variety of pizzas, “Roxy Dogs” and a range of small plates. Roxy Leisure commercial manager, Joel Mitchell, said: “We’ve been looking to open our first site in Wales for a while now and it feels so good to finally be able to open in Cardiff. The venue is one of our biggest yet and we know it’s going to be a great fit for this brilliant city.” Founded by Matthew and Ben Jones, Roxy Leisure opened its first Roxy Ball Room site in Boar Lane, Leeds, in 2013. One year later, the second site and first bowling lane concept, Roxy Lanes, opened in the city. Roxy also has openings in Birmingham, Cheltenham, Leicester and Liverpool lined up this year, taking it to 19 sites by the end of 2023, and aims to open another five in 2024.

 

Passyunk Avenue to open fifth London site, hopes to add a sixth this year: Passyunk Avenue, the Philadelphia-style bar and restaurant concept, is to open its fifth London site next month, and hopes to add a sixth later this year. The company is launching in the Embassy Gardens development in Nine Elms. Passyunk Avenue will occupy the space that was previously home to Irish cocktail bar concept Homeboy. The restaurant will have capacity for about 200 and feature a private dining room, and like its other sites, have TVs showing sport. Passyunk founder JP Teti told Propel: “We’re hoping to do at least one more in the next 12 months, but it will be opportunity dependent. We have some target neighbourhoods, but we’re trying to avoid full shell fit-outs given the current macro-economic condition for the country. Sadly, there will be lots of hospitality stock on the market because the operating environment is tough. London is more buoyant than most places, so it’s got to be pretty tough in other parts of the country. We have to make up for lost time during the pandemic and keep on bringing Philly to the world.” Passyunk launched its debut site in Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, in 2018, which was followed by a quick-serve version of the concept in Westfield Stratford City, in January 2019. It also operates Home Run House at Westfield Stratford and at Leake Street Arches, Waterloo. 

  

Kafoodle acquired by US retail technology business: Labelling and allergen compliance company Kafoodle has been acquired by US company 365 Retail Markets. The Kafoodle team will continue to operate out of its UK headquarters and will work closely with 365 Retail Markets’ global team “to ensure a seamless integration”. Adding Kafoodle’s technology into its portfolio will “complement the company’s existing offerings and enhance the ability to provide comprehensive solutions to our clients”, 365 Retail Markets said. The acquisition also expands 365 Retail Markets’ reach in the UK and European markets. Kafoodle’s software simplifies recipe and menu management, nutritional data tracking, and allergen regulation compliance for foodservice operators. “Kafoodle’s technology is innovative and aligns with our commitment to providing data-led insight to our clients while streamlining their business processes,” said 365 Retail Markets chief executive Joe Hessling. Kafoodle founder and chief executive, Tarryn Gorre, added. “We are excited to join 365 Retail Markets’ team, to offer global support to foodservice businesses and tackle the challenges surrounding what’s in the food we consume and how it is sourced.”

 

Manchester craft ale brewery and taproom Alphabet goes into administration: Manchester craft ale brewery and taproom Alphabet Brewing Company has gone into administration. The company, which was founded in 2014, has its own venue in North Western Street and also supplies bars, restaurants, and retailers throughout the region. Alphabet announced last week that it was closing. Now administrators from Begbies Traynor have confirmed they have been appointed to the business, which they say has been experiencing financial difficulties in recent months. Joint administrator Paul Stanley said: “After exploring all the options available, the directors took the decision to place the company into administration. We’re currently working on maximising the return for creditors. Alphabet Brewing Company is a well-respected brand that has played an important role in the craft beer scene in Manchester. The regional craft ale industry faces huge challenges. Not only because of the inflation in the cost of raw materials and energy, but the competition from multinational beer companies who have the ability to buy emerging brands and flood the market with them by producing them on a national scale.”

 

Sixty Eight People launches London office: Hospitality recruitment company Sixty Eight People has launched a new London office, based in Euston, as it looks to tackle staff shortages in the city. Founded in Manchester by Abi Dunn and led by managing director Charlotte Kemp, previously people director of Mission Mars, Sixty Eight People’s mission is to dispel the negative recruitment stereotype and put people before profit. Having supported businesses such as Dishoom, Rare Restaurants, Melia Hotels, Everyman Cinemas and Junkyard Golf Club in their regional growth over the past four years, Dunn and Kemp felt it was time to “bring their northern hospitality expertise to London, and wake the sector up to many of its archaic recruitment and retention practices”. Dunn said: “London has been a long time coming for us, and it’s not a move we are taking lightly. We are coming to build a hospitality network and use it as a force for good, enhancing the existing sense of community the sector already has. The market is challenging right now, but the opportunity to support London job hunters and employers is massive.” Kemp added: “After working in the capital for the majority of my operational career, I know the London hospitality scene is unrivalled. Sixty Eight People isn’t your typical agency full of recruiters focused on commission – we’re a team of people who have previously held management roles in world-class hospitality operations. By drawing on our experiences, we bring to the capital a different recruitment experience for both candidates and clients that sets us apart.”

 

Clermont Hotel Group to rebrand Hard Rock Hotel London: Clermont Hotel Group, which rebranded from Greater London Hospitality last autumn, is to also rebrand the Hard Rock Hotel London from next month. From May the venue, which sits opposite Marble Arch on the corner of Oxford Street and Great Cumberland Place, will be known as The Cumberland. The move is part of a repositioning of the company within the travel, hospitality, and leisure markets, as it streamlines and repositions a number of property assets under its key brands. It will also see an expansion of the hotel’s food and beverage offering, entertainment space and meeting and event spaces. Gavin Taylor, chief executive at Clermont Hotel Group, said: “The journey with Hard Rock International has been valuable, and as we start a new chapter of development, our focus will remain on providing great experiences and quality service for our guests on the back of The Cumberland’s rich history in London and the music scene. The Cumberland sits perfectly within our Clermont Hotel Group family, a portfolio of hotels that provides a wealth of choice for diverse leisure and corporate guest needs.” Jon Lucas, chief operating officer at Hard Rock International, added: “London will always be a special city as the birthplace of our brand, and Hard Rock International appreciates the service of all Hard Rock Hotel London team members and the patronage of guests who stayed at the hotel over the past four years. We’re also grateful to Clermont Hotel Group for its partnership and wish it well as it transitions the property to The Cumberland.” The 1,000-room hotel will be honoring all existing bookings.

 

Freehold of Norwich site let to Rekom UK on market for in excess of £1.95m: The freehold of a Norwich property let to UK bar and nightclub operator Rekom has gone on the market at a guide price in excess of £1,950,000. Fleurets is marketing the 19,667 square-foot site in Prince of Wales Road, which trades as Bar & Beyond. The price reflects a net initial yield of 7.96%. The lease is held by CC Stim Tradeco 2, which is owned by Rekom UK, which operates 52 venues and reported revenue increased to £97.8m for the year ending 31 December 2022 compared with £65.8m the year before. Ebitda reached £18.4m, (2021: £16.6m). Elysia Wilson-Gunn, senior associate of Fleurets, said: “Rekom is a stable and attractive covenant with another year of successful trading as shown by the recent year-end results and still being the largest nightclub operator within northern Europe. This unit is located in a high student population area with strong footfall location.”