More than 350 sector businesses urge Ofgem to take swift action to improve energy market: UKHospitality and more than 350 hospitality businesses, representing thousands of venues, have presented a united front to Ofgem. They demonstrating the urgent need to the energy regulator to implement the recommendations set out in its review of the non-domestic energy market. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “The sheer devastation of the energy crisis has brought to light the need to fix the uncompetitive and wholly unfair business energy market. Critical feedback from UKHospitality and its members was a leading factor in hospitality being highlighted in Ofgem’s review and now is the time for decisive action. Ofgem and the government should waste no time in implementing its own recommendations, and energy suppliers should heed this call to get their house in order and start treating hospitality businesses fairly. The strength of feeling demonstrated by the sector throughout this consultation shows just how desperately change is needed. A clear and direct communication to energy suppliers to help the worst affected businesses should be the immediate priority, particularly as we head into winter. There is also a clear role for government, which we highlighted in our response, to implement regulation to deliver better behaviour in the market, particularly when it comes to regulating brokers and widening access to the energy ombudsman.” It comes after UKHospitality last week launched its “#FiveAsksForOfgem” campaign and urged sector businesses to respond to its consultation on energy bills. This in turn followed a recent member survey that showed 30% of businesses were fearful of failure in the next 12 months, and 94% of them linked this directly to energy prices. Nicholls, writing in last week’s Propel Friday Opinion, said: “We’re asking businesses across the sector to come together to raise awareness of the issue by responding to the consultation. Doing so is, in our view, absolutely critical to getting meaningful change on this. Too much time has been wasted already, and every week that goes by means more and more businesses – small, medium and large – are either closing or getting dangerously close to shutting their doors for the very last time.”

 

Sponsored message – reasons to visit Commercial Kitchen: Are you ready to revolutionise your commercial kitchen? Then look no further than the Commercial Kitchen show! Here are a few reasons why you should mark 27-28 September in your calendar to attend this event at ExCeL London. A spokesperson said: “Discover ground-breaking kitchen equipment and innovative solutions that can streamline your operations and enhance your overall efficiency across your kitchen. Brands confirmed include Unox UK, Smeg Foodservice UK, Environmental Products & Services, Jestic Food Service Solutions, Regale Microwaves, Synergy Grill, The Filta Group – and more. You can network with your peers, build valuable relationships and gain insights from those who have excelled in their fields. You can dive deep into the world of commercial kitchens through a series of educational sessions, interviews and panel discussions from Anna Haugh, head chef and owner of Myrtle Restaurants; Tom Shepherd, chef patron of Upstairs by Tom Shepherd; chef Nikita Pathakji; Paul Dickinson, head coach of England’s national culinary team; Steve Mangleshot, global executive chef and brand ambassador of Wagamama – and many more! You can also get inspired and stay up to date with food and drink trends across the co-located shows – Casual Dining and lunch!” To register, click here. If you have a sponsored message you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Next Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book shows sector companies’ profit outstripping losses by £1.34bn, up from £1.33bn last month: The next edition of the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, which will be sent to Premium subscribers on Friday (8 September), shows the profit being made by sector companies is now outstripping losses by £1.34bn. The Blue Book shows the total profit of the 754 companies in the list is £3,471,432,286 and losses are £2,135,077,847. Last month, the Blue Book showed sector companies’ profit outstripping losses by £1.33bn. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, which is produced in association with Virgate; the New Openings Database; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database; the Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage; and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee 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 are also being given exclusive access to the recording and slides to Propel Multi-Club Conferences. They 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.

 

Panel of operators to explore why people data is a barrier to industry growth at Propel Talent & Training Conference, open for bookings: A panel of operators will explore why people data is a barrier to industry growth at the Propel Talent & Training Conference. The all-day conference takes place on Tuesday, 3 October at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. The panel will feature Adam Dilks, group people director at Nightcap; Beth Anderson, people director at Revolution Bars Group; Chantal Wilson, people director at NQ64; and Jon Cotterill, director at the Columbo Group. The conference will showcase examples of outstanding people culture among companies within the sector and how the industry is attracting talent. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £395 plus VAT for suppliers and can be booked by emailing kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

London leads the way as overall August sector sales up 3.2%: London led the way in August as hospitality sales grew by 3.2% overall across the month, according to the latest sales data from people, productivity and payroll system S4labour. The capital saw an increase of 9.9% across the board, with food and drink sales up 12% and 8.7% respectively. The areas outside of London saw a 4.7% increase in food, but drink sales dropped 0.7% compared with last year. Chief growth officer at S4labour, Richard Hartley, said: “Despite a wet August, it is promising to see growth on last year and healthier numbers compared with last month, which saw only a slight increase of 1.4% in like-for-like sales. Outside of London, and particularly in more rural areas, it is likely that less people were going out to drink in pubs this month because of the bad weather. Nevertheless, the increase in food sales across the UK will go some way to offsetting inflation.”  

 

Government clamps down on fake reviews and hidden fees: A clampdown on fake reviews, hidden fees and confusing labels has been announced by the government, aimed at improving services for customers. The government said the proposed new business measures will help customers cut the cost of living and boost transparency. It has launched a consultation seeking views on measures to stop fake reviews, as initially announced in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill. The aim is to ensure consumers and traders continue to benefit from reviews that represent a genuine experience, while stamping out the purchase and sales of fake reviews, and ensuring firms take an appropriate level of responsibility for reviews on their websites. A further consultation looks at how to simplify labelling on goods. Research commissioned by the government confirmed so-called “drip pricing” – where the price paid at checkout is higher than originally advertised due to extra, but necessary, fees – is widespread and occurs in more than half of providers in the entertainment and hospitality industry, and almost three quarters across transport and communication sectors. In total, this costs UK consumers £1.6bn online each year. Minister for enterprise, markets and small business, Kevin Hollinrake, said: “These measures will help people keep hold of their hard-earned cash and ensure they have the clearest and most accurate information upfront before they make a purchase.”

 

COREcruitment launches people survey: COREcruitment is inviting HR professionals and people managers or directors to participate in a short survey focused on people priorities and retention. It said the purpose of the survey will help gain valuable insights into experiences, aspirations, and engagement, from a people management perspective. To complete the survey, click here.

 

Tom Kidd leaves Nightcap: Tom Kidd, co-founder and former managing director of Adventure Bar Group, has decided to leave Nightcap. Kidd has been with Adventure Bar Group for 18 years and had been on the Nightcap board for just over two years, where he was group commercial director after selling Adventure Bar Group to Nightcap in May 2022. Kidd said: “Having started the company with four friends and a ‘£15,000 dad loan’, it’s crazy to see what it’s become today. Not everyone operating into the pandemic has a stronger business now than when they went in, but with thanks to the team who went on the journey with us and those at Nightcap, we did. I believe the business is in great hands as it moves forward on to the next chapter. I will now focus my time looking for opportunities that allow me to use my energy in driving small businesses to growth. I miss the buzz of rapid growth, the chaos of working with just a few brilliant people with some mad ideas and realising those as fully formed, exceptional venues. I hope to get back to that in a segment of hospitality with truly extraordinary growth and development potential.” Sarah Willingham, chief executive at Nightcap, added: “While I am sad to see Tom leave, I am excited to see what he’ll do next and wish him well in his future career. I am privileged to have worked with Tom and pay special credit to the business he built, Adventure Bar Group, which saw countless years of growth and navigated the covid pandemic, and I would welcome the opportunity to work with Tom again in the future.”

EL&N to make debut in Germany: Cafe and lifestyle brand EL&N, the 33-strong London-based business, is to make its debut in Germany, next Thursday (14 September). The business, which made its debut in South Africa last month, will open its first site in Germany, in the Schadowstraße, in Dusseldorf. It follows on from four openings in August for the brand, in Johannesburg, Abu Dhabi, Paris and Kuala Lumpur. The new site in Dusseldorf will take EL&N’s global presence to 11 countries and represent its fourth new market this year following debuts in Bahrain and Malaysia. Propel revealed last month that EL&N is seeking an investment partner to aid its ambition to grow to 200-plus sites globally over the next five years. The business, which was founded by Alexandra Miller in 2017, expects to grow organically throughout 2023-24 by investing in its existing product range, and by developing new products and opening new sites.

 

McDonald’s franchisee – in-store guest count to grow quicker than drive-thru due to cost-of-living crisis, delivery to see softer growth as market ‘normalises’: Yorkshire McDonald’s franchisee Ronnie’s has said it expects in-store guest count to grow quicker than drive-thru due to the cost-of-living crisis and anticipates softer growth in delivery as the market “normalises”. The business is owned by Anne Wainwright, who has been franchising with McDonald’s for 15 years and has said she has ambitions to be its leading female franchisee in the UK. In her statement accompanying the company’s accounts for the year ending 31 December 2022, Wainwright said: “In 2023, we expect both in-store and drive-thrus to see similar levels of growth, with in-store likely to see a greater guest count impact from the cost-of-living crisis. However, this will be slightly offset due to a higher proportion of sales flowing through from McDelivery, which will have an increased pricing benefit. We will expect strong sales growth as a result of our menu and marketing plans across the year, but will see a significant benefit in the first, second and third quarter as a result of McCrispy, and the permanent launch of McSpicy products. We anticipate strongest sales throughout 2023 as we execute higher levels of pricing alongside seeing continued benefit from our digital plans, including MyMcDonald’s rewards. We anticipate delivery to see softer growth in 2023 as the market continues to normalise after the pandemic and we achieve our new post-covid baseline for the channel. However, we expect to continue to grow market share ahead of our competitors and boost sales through Deliveroo and the further optimisation of our delivery operations.” The business, which took its estate from seven to eight restaurants with a new opening right at the end of the financial year, saw turnover decrease slightly from £36,591,114 in 2021 to £35,862,186. Its pre-tax profit dropped from £3,502,105 to £29,723 as costs rose by just over £1m. It received no government grants compared with £67,876 in 2021. Dividends of £735,211 were paid (2021: £250,000). “Profitability, although strong in the first half of 2022, has been impacted in the second half of the year by, among other things, the increase in VAT back to the standard rate of 20%, a volatile supply chain and rising costs base,” Wainwright added. “The financial position of the company is healthy, with the balance sheet showing net assets of £3.8m, decreased from £4.54m in 2021. The company also plans to acquire more restaurants should the opportunity arise.”

 

Scoffs Group appoints Dave Cockfield as new FD: Scoffs Group, the largest Costa Coffee franchisee in the UK, has appointed Dave Cockfield, formerly of Costa and Sainsbury’s, as its new finance director. Cockfield joins Scoffs, which recently signed franchise deals with Itsu and Burger King UK, after more than four years at Costa, including two years overseeing franchise store investment for the coffee shop brand. He also spent time as commercial strategy and operations finance controller at Sainsbury’s. Scoffs, which is also a franchised of Miss Millie’s Fried Chicken, is set to open its first site under the new partnership with Burger King UK in Taunton, on the former Carphone Warehouse premises at 34 Fore Street, which has been vacant since April 2020. The business, which is led by Antony Tagliamonti, will also operate Itsus across the south and south west, with Exeter high street to be the first later this year. Scoffs Group features in the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database – the first time that profiles of 100 of the top food and beverage franchisees have been available in one place in the UK. This exclusive new database was sent out for the first time last month to Premium subscribers and will be sent out again bi-monthly, including new entries and updates to existing entries. 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. 

 

Dunkin’ aiming to add minimum of three more stores in London before end of year: US coffee chain Dunkin’ is looking to add a minimum of three more stores in London before the end of the year, Propel has learned. Dunkin operates one site in the capital, in Baker Street, with a second, which will be a flagship store in Wardour Street, launching later this month. Propel understands Dunkin’ is looking for there to be five-plus stores before the end of the year in London, adding to its 30 across the UK. Ahead of the Wardour Street opening, Dunkin’ is launching a campaign aiming to direct customers from rival coffee shops to its Baker Street store. On Thursday morning (7 September), an old school American yellow cab will be in Baker Street, along with staff wearing “Dunkin’ Diversion” flags on their backs, offering a promotion code for a free coffee when people download the app, along with a chance to win a year’s supply of Dunkin’. The business, which was founded in 1950, is the largest coffee and doughnut brand in the US and has more than 13,200 locations in nearly 38 global markets.

 

Michael Farquhar steps down as operations director at D&D London: Michael Farquhar has stepped down as operations director at D&D London, which owns and operates circa 40 restaurants across the UK and internationally, after more than six and half years with the business. Farquhar joined D&D London at the start of 2017 as operations director, a new role within the business at the time, with the responsibility of managing all UK operations. He was previously global operations director at Cé La Vi Group in Singapore, where he led the operations team. Farquhar also has extensive food and beverage experience in the hotel sector including spells at Four Seasons and Intercontinental. Earlier this week, Propel revealed a handful of suitors are left in the process to take control of D&D London, with final bids for the company due later this month. Propel previously reported that second round bids were due on 11 August, with circa ten parties believed to have shown interest in the business. As previously revealed by Propel, first round bids were due to be submitted on 21 July. Interested parties are understood to still include co-founder and former chief executive Des Gunewardena, who is thought to still own a circa 14% stake in the company. A group of private investors, which are believed to have engaged Simon Wilkinson, ex-chief executive of Byron and La Tasca, to help them, are also believed to be still involved in the process. The sales process, which goes under the name Project Sandon, is being overseen by advisory firm Interpath. 

 

Newcastle pub operator Sir John Fitzgerald reports increases in profit and turnover: Sir John Fitzgerald, the Newcastle pub operator, has reported increases in both profit and turnover in the year ending 31 January 2023. Having returned to profit for the first time in three years the previous year, Sir John Fitzgerald built on this by reporting a rise in pre-tax profit from £1,361,482 in 2022 to £1,791,120. This compares with a pre-tax loss of £362,300 in the last full year before the pandemic, ending 31 January 2020. Turnover was up from £10,65,201 in 2022 to £14,914,612 but is still behind pre-pandemic levels, having reported revenue of £16,963,842 in 2020. The group received government grants of £104,000 compared with £435,000 in 2022. No dividends were paid (2022: nil). “The directors are satisfied with the performance of the company for the year and expect growth in revenue and profitability in future years,” director Mandeep Ladhar said in his statement accompanying the accounts. Sir John Fitzgerald operates 15 venues in Newcastle and surrounding areas in the north east. 

 

Team behind north London cafe concept Fink’s to open restaurant in Highbury: The team behind cafe concept Fink’s in north London is to open a restaurant in Highbury. Jess Blackstone and Mat Appleton will launch “modern neighbourhood restaurant” Saltine in Highbury Park next month. The venue will be open all day with a “lighter offering” for lunch, and a full restaurant menu in the evening. This will include seasonal dishes “led by provenance and sustainability”, using whole animals from select farmers and farm-to-kitchen fruit and vegetables. The initial menu will include cured bream with fennel seed saltine; and pigeon, corn, miso butter and hazelnuts. In a nod to Fink’s, coffee and a small pastry selection will also be available throughout the day. It will also feature a short cocktail menu and a wine list that leans towards low-intervention wine from Europe. Fink’s operates four cafes in north and east London.

 

Time Out Market to open site in Bahrain: Time Out Group, the global media and hospitality business, has entered into a management agreement with Majid Al Futtaim Properties Bahrain to open a new Time Out Market at City Centre Bahrain with an expected opening date towards the end of 2024. The company said the agreement increases the number of new sites to nine markets in development that are set to open between 2023 and 2027, in addition to six markets already open and a pipeline of other locations in advanced negotiations. Spanning 35,000 square feet, Time Out Market Bahrain will feature 11 kitchens, a dessert counter, a coffee shop, two bars, an exhibition space, stage and an alfresco rooftop. With more than 900 seats over two levels, the business said diners are able to experience the “best regional culinary and cultural talent from award-winning chefs to up-and-coming restaurateurs and artists”. Under a management agreement, Time Out Market receives a share of revenue and profits (subject to a guaranteed consultancy fee) but does not contribute to the capital cost of the site. Sandy Hayek, Time Out Market chief executive, said: “We will bring the best of Bahrain’s vibrant culinary scene together under one roof – the food here is incredibly diverse and culturally rich and we are looking forward to showcasing the best local talent at Time Out Market Bahrain. Interest from landlords and real estate companies to open Time Out Markets with us around the world remains strong. As we continue to grow our pipeline, we are looking forward to opening five new sites – including in Bahrain – by the end of 2024.”

 

Giggling Squid welcoming ‘exhausted parents’ for solo dining following end of summer holidays: Giggling Squid, the Thai restaurant brand backed by the Business Growth Fund, is welcoming in “exhausted parents” for solo dining following the end of the school holidays. The business said it was inspired to offer the “back to school” deal following a recent spate of solo diners being turned away from restaurants or being made to pay double to eat alone. It said all parents have to do is turn up and request some “peace and quiet” and they will be presented with a single table in the quietest corner in one of Giggling Squid’s 49 UK restaurants, as well as a free glass of Prosecco. Giggling Squid co-founder Andy Laurillard said: “I know personally that the children going back to school in September brings a wave of emotions – sadness that the summer is over, but also relief as we get some time back after the busy holidays. The launch of our ‘peace and quiet’ tables celebrate solo diners (who have been getting a hard time recently) as well as parents and the great work they do, day in and day out.” Giggling Squid, which is aiming to have its 50th restaurant open by the end of 2023, made its Welsh debut in June with the launch of a 200-cover flagship in The Hayes in St Davids, Cardiff.

 

Travis Kalanick’s CloudKitchens shuts sites: Travis Kalanick’s ghost kitchen start-up, CloudKitchens, has sacked workers and closed locations as it attempts to rein in its expenses amid low occupancy at a number of its warehouses, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The Financial Times reported that CloudKitchen’s buildings were only about 50% full at the end of the first quarter and several sources said the business, which leases food preparation space to restaurants, had failed to win as many contracts with the restaurant chains it hoped would supercharge its sales. The company has closed some buildings it bought, including in New York and Tennessee. It has also been cutting staff numbers, which have grown into the thousands. In line with the cutbacks, CloudKitchens appears to have dramatically slowed new building purchases. The company has also rejigged its model, focusing on smaller warehouses, a source added. Last year, CloudKitchens refinanced debt it had taken on in 2021 from hedge fund King Street Capital, a move that preceded an $850m funding round later that year from investors including Microsoft. The newer credit facility – from a group of banks that included Barclays, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase – brought the company “cheaper financing” than it had in place from King Street, the people said. It also helped consolidate CloudKitchens’ outstanding debt into a single loan and revolving credit facility. In June, Propel revealed that Foodstars, which provides kitchen space for food companies in the UK and is also backed by former Uber chief executive Kalanick, had placed ten of its sites in London on the market. Foodstars, which was founded in 2015, appointed property advisors Hay Hill Property to explore the sale of ten commercial units spread across London, which house more than 110 fitted kitchens, including sites in Chiswick, Shoreditch and Wandsworth.

 

Luxury resort and golf course business reports record number of bookings, self-funding from profits since pandemic: Luxury resort and golf course business Leaderboard Golf has reported record booking numbers and said it has been self-funding from profits since the pandemic. The company operates a portfolio of three golf course and hotel, spa and events venues in the south of England – Sandford Springs in Hampshire, Dale Hill in East Sussex and The Oxfordshire in Thame. “Our golf breaks and staycation bookings have been at a record high for 2022 and 2023 looks like following a similar trend,” Peter Gibbons, who has been chairman and owner for 23 years, said in its accounts for the year ending 31 December 2022. “The group has been able to fund itself from profits throughout 2023, 2022 and 2021. Previously, the chairman, who is also the principal shareholder, had funded the capital projects. Without the need to raise funds externally, the group has a definite advantage over its competitors. Our five-year plan is to continue to invest in the properties to aid the growth in top-line sales and profitability. The biggest threats the group faces are increased food and drink costs, shortage of staff prompting increased wage cost, and fluctuation in utility costs.” It comes as the business reported turnover increased from £10,231,161 in 2021 to £12,907,279 in the period. Its pre-tax profit fell from £1,203,503 to £779,272 as costs increased by £1.4m. It received £48,789 in government grants compared with £738,774 in 2021 and had also received a £24,630 insurance pay-out in the previous year. This compares with turnover of £10,386,303 and a pre-tax loss of £410,472 in the last full year before the pandemic, ending 31 December 2019. No dividend was recommended (2021: nil). Occupancy rates were 73.75% compared with 47.61% in 2021 while membership numbers were down 4.44% compared with 6.77% growth in 2021. Planned capital projects include a new spa at Sandford Springs.

 

Andy Maddock to step down as CEO of Purity Brewing Co: Andy Maddock is to step down as chief executive of Warwickshire-based Purity Brewing Company later this year. Maddock, who was promoted from managing director to the company’s chief executive last July, will leave the business in November. Maddock joined the Business Growth Fund-backed business in spring 2021 and has vast experience across brewing and brands, with previous senior positions including European agile transformation director and trading director national groups and festivals with Heineken UK, following two years as managing director of Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh. He became Purity’s chief executive after Paul Halsey stepped down to take up a non-executive role at the company he founded in 2005 with Jim Minkin. Maddock said: “It has been an absolute blast. We have achieved so much in a relatively short period of time. I would like to thank the board for its support, and the whole team in the business for its commitment, energy and resilience to achieve what we have in the last couple of years. I have loved every minute and will look from afar at the continued success of the group in the months to come.”

 

Five Guys plans to open second Norwich site: Better burger brand Five Guys is planning to open a second site in Norwich. It has applied to open in the former Frankie & Benny’s restaurant at unit one in Wherry Road, which closed in May, reports the Norwich Evening News. Five Guys opened its first Norwich store in October 2016, in Orford Place. In June, John Eckbert, chief executive of Five Guys UK, told Propel the circa 160-strong business sees scope for a further 150 sites here, and that a transport hub opening is the “last boundary that lies ahead” for the brand. Eckbert said the British business had “exceeded expectations” and is now looking at opening sites in airports and train stations.

 

The Westbury Hotel owner restructures and refinances £450m loan following covenant breach: The owner of the five-star The Westbury Hotel in London’s Mayfair has restructured and refinanced loans worth £450m following a breach of covenants. Cola Group, which also operates Kensington Close Hotel and the Hilton London Kensington, is owned by Kurdish-born millionaire Bakir Cola and run by his son, Azad. In its accounts for the year ending 30 September 2022, the group said its Kensington Close Hotel subsidiary had breached its loan covenants and owed a total of £450m at the year-end. “The group, headed by Cola Holdings Group, underwent refinancing post year end, and group restructuring took place to accommodate the amendments to the existing HSBC loan agreement,” it said. “The group is in discussions with its bankers to ensure continuance of support for the foreseeable future. The director is confident of a successful outcome in this respect.” The group said it has “significant headroom in terms of asset values” as the market value of its owned property assets is “significantly in excess of cost”. Furthermore, its bankers have continued to support it as “the group has met its capital and interest payment obligations in full despite breaching its loan covenants”. It comes as the group’s restated £10,009,000 pre-tax profit in 2021 turned into a £16,598,000 pre-tax loss in 2022. Turnover increased from £27,820,000 in 2021 to £47,293,000. This compares with turnover of £75,851,000 and a profit of £4,246,000 in the last full year before covid, ending 30 September 2019. No government grants were received compared with £3,809,000 in 2021. No dividends were paid (2021: nil). The group said its performance had “declined from the prior year” due to “a downward revaluation of the Hilton property, a revision to the depreciation charges for freehold property and an unfavourable movement in the HSBC interest rate swap”. An extensive £100m refurbishment of The Westbury, which began in November 2020, is expected to be completed in December 2024.

 

Newcastle Indian street food concept set to open first restaurant outside north east: Newcastle Indian street food concept My Delhi is set to open its first restaurant outside the north east. Owners Shah and Elahi Amin, Gaurav Dayal and Garry and Neha Goyal have acquired the former Zizzi site at 26 Belvoir Street in Leicester, which closed in 2020. It will be a third branch for My Delhi, which followed its debut site in Newcastle by opening a second, in Sunderland, last summer. Its awards include National Chef of the Year (ARTAs 2022), Best Takeaway in the North East (Just Eat Awards) and Best Street Food Restaurant (Nation’s Curry Awards), and it also triumphed in the Indian cuisine episode of the BBC series Britain’s Top Takeaways. Director Elahi Amin told Leicester Live: “We’re delighted to be opening our newest restaurant in Leicester. Part of the secret to My Delhi’s success is our team's commitment to providing exceptional food and service to every customer, treating them as special guests in our home. We’ll be extending this to our Leicester restaurant and can’t wait to welcome our first diners through the door.”

Plans for new McDonalds, Costa Coffee and Taco Bell in Darlington approved: Plans to establish new Taco Bell, McDonalds and Costa Coffee sites at a Darlington retail park have been rubber-stamped. They are among six new units Almscliffe Properties is developing on a 7.7-acre site at Faverdale Industrial Estate. It was initially recommendation for refusal but has now been given the green light following reassurances about the impact of the scheme on local businesses. An eight-bay EV charging station is included in the application, alongside 314 parking spaces.