Lane7 appoints MD and group CFO as it gears up for next stage of growth: Boutique bowling company Lane7 has appointed Gavin Hughes as managing director and David Bence as group chief financial officer as the business gears up for its next stage of growth. The new structure will see Hughes lead the day-to-day running of Lane7. Founder Tim Wilks said: “Coming from Everyman Cinema, and with more than 25 years in the industry, it was clear Gavin was the right person for the job and was worth waiting for. His passion for creating an exceptional guest experience makes him the perfect fit to guide Lane7 through this exciting period of growth.” Bence, former financial director at Merlin Entertainments Group and interim chief financial officer at Southampton FC, has also officially arrived at the group, having already enjoyed what Wilks describes as “a good few months happily dating”. Wilks added: “We are already seeing the organisation and efficiency that comes with appointments like Gavin and David, meaning we can grow our brands with new confidence.” Earlier this month, Lane7 opened the largest site yet in its 12-strong portfolio with the launch of a 30,000 square-foot venue in Birmingham Bullring. The next opening will be in December in London’s Victoria – its first site in the capital. That will be followed by its first international site – in Dublin city centre next year at the Chatham & King mixed use leisure and retail scheme. “It’s going to be a huge year for the business, with our growth plans in the next 12 months affirming our commitment to providing top tier entertainment in vibrant, urban settings,” said Wilks. Lane7 has two sites in Birmingham and one each in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Bath, Bristol, Durham, Leicester and Newcastle. The business also has Level X venues in Glasgow and Middlesbrough and Gutterball in North Shields. Lane7 features in the Propel Multi-Site Database, which is available exclusively to Premium subscribers. The comprehensive database, which is produced in association with Virgate, is updated monthly and provides company names, the people in charge, how many sites each firm operates, its trading name and its registered name at Companies House if different. The database now features 2,983 companies. 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 kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.  

 

Next Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage to feature more than 203,000 words of content: The next Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage will feature more than 203,000 words of content when it is released to Premium subscribers on Friday (20 October). The database now features 752 companies, and this month’s edition includes 25 new additions and 123 updated entries. 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. 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 Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book; and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. Premium subscribers are also to get access to the videos from this month’s Talent and Training Conference. They will be sent 13 videos on Friday, 27 October 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 kai.kirkman@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.

 

Five Guys CEO John Eckbert to speak at final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2023, three free places per company for operators: John Eckbert, chief executive of Five Guys, will be among the speakers at the final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2023. Almost 400 people have booked to attend the conference, which takes place on Thursday, 16 November, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London’s Kensington, and is open for bookings. The all-day conference will focus on “progress in an era of strong headwinds”. Eckbert will discuss ten years of the brand being in the UK, its biggest challenges, how it stays ahead of the pack and what the size of the prize is here and in Europe. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Operators can book up to three free places per company by emailing kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Propel subscribers to receive second episode of Tipjar webinar series to help understand the complexities of new tipping legislation today: Cashless tipping platform Tipjar is giving Propel subscribers exclusive early access to a webinar series to help understand the complexities of the new tipping legislation poised to make waves in the hospitality industry next year. The “Fair Tips Talks” series, presented in partnership with The Tronc Advisor and hosted by KAM managing director Katy Moses, alongside tips and tronc expert Andy Hamman, offers expert insight and actionable strategies. The second episode will be released today (Tuesday, 17 October) at 9am. Moses and Hamman will be joined by Andy Dempster, senior consultant of GJC Advisory, and Hugo Murphy, operations director at Stint, to discuss how the new tipping legislation and fairness can reshape industry dynamics. Additionally, they’ll explore how this legislation influences recruitment, retention, and industry dynamics. 

 

NTIA to hold demonstration demanding VAT cut to 12.5% for hospitality and cultural sectors: The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) will hold a demonstration demanding a VAT cut to 12.5% for the hospitality and cultural sectors in the November budget. It will take place in London (with the exact location to be announced soon) on Saturday, 18 November, from 2pm-6pm. The demonstration will be part of a joint campaign with Save Our Scene UK (SOS) called Culture Calling, as the two bodies come together to “issue a rallying cry to anyone that values cultural spaces to stand up for these venues before they are extinguished forever”. It said the UK has lost one in three sector venues and nightclubs over the last few years and is reported to be losing two pubs every day due to the cost of operating, with a vast knock-on effect for communities. A VAT reduction in line with the UK’s European counterparts could salvage thousands of businesses and safeguard countless livelihoods, the campaign said. “In the coming four weeks, SOS and NTIA will be visiting cities across the UK, raising awareness through events, interviews and activations,” it added. “The campaign’s peak will be the UK’s largest-ever cultural march on Saturday, 18 November, as the industry stands together to protect what so many hold dear. The Culture Calling demonstration marks a critical turning point for the independent businesses and cultural sectors that have been severely impacted by the challenges brought on by the ongoing crisis.”

 

Wendy’s promotes Michael Clarke to UK MD: Wendy’s, the third-largest quick service restaurant chain in the US, has promoted Michael Clarke to managing director of its UK operation, Propel understands. Clarke joined the business, which relaunched in the UK in summer 2021, in April 2020 as director of UK operations to oversee its re-entry into the UK market. He previously spent more than four years at a business development manager at Pizza Hut Restaurants UK. Prior to that, he spent nearly a year and a half as head of operations at pizza concept Firezza. Last week, Propel reported that Wendy’s saw turnover for its UK business increase to £21,266,567 in the year to 31 December 2022 (2021: £6,864,280) on the back of new site openings. The business reported a pre-tax profit of £1,473,507 during the year versus a pre-tax loss of £68,258 in 2021. The company ended 2022 with 12 company-operated restaurants versus six company-operated restaurants at the end of 2021. The brand currently operates 30 sites in the UK, through a mixture of restaurants (20 sites) and delivery kitchens. It has so far approved six franchisees in the UK, who will take on territories including Scotland and Wales. In August, Todd Penegor, chief executive of Wendy’s, said the brand’s UK business has been “growing like-for-like sales really nicely”. It has further openings lined up in Guildford and Cambridge.

 

Ballie Ballerson completes £1.5m debt funding deal, makes Wales debut: Ballie Ballerson, the Imbiba-backed, ball pit cocktail bar operator, has completed a £1.5m debt funding deal with NatWest, as it plans further openings in further major UK cities and a potential international launch, Propel has learned. It comes as the company, which operates venues in Edinburgh and a flagship 12,000 square-foot venue in the heart of London’s Shoreditch, opens its latest site, and first in Wales, in Cardiff. The new 7,000 square-foot “adult playground” in the city’s Brewery Quarter, features a 65 square-metre ball pit. Propel understands that the business is aiming to open six to seven sites in the UK, and that after its next opening it will begin exploring an overseas launch. Founder and chief executive Wenny Armstrong told Propel: “The Brewery Quarter has been our primary target for a while given the gravitational pull it has on the city. Cardiff has seen a number of market leading experiential openings recently and, with our unique concept and high-energy hospitality giving a festival-like feel, we hope to fit right in. Since opening, we’ve seen stronger than expected trade, which makes us excited and confident about sites four and five.” In the spring, the business made a number of key additions to its leadership team, including the appointment of ex-Hawthorn chief executive Mark Davies as chairman. The company further strengthened its leadership team by appointing Robb Harris, formerly of Adventure Bar Group and The Upham Pub Company, as finance director, and Travis Fish, co-founder of BabaBoom and ex-Nando’s and Mitchells & Butlers senior operator, as group development director. 

 

Costa Coffee launched restructuring programme to address scale of overheads, FY turnover at £1.1bn: Costa Coffee, the Coca-Cola Company-owned chain, launched a restructuring programme in the second half of last year to address “the scale of overheads and invest for growth”. The business said it saw strong topline growth in the year to 31 December 2022, as it emerged from covid-19 and delivered full year revenues of £1.1bn, an increase of £194m (21 %) versus 2021. Operating profit stood at £8.26m (2021: £33.4m), with a pre-tax profit of £243m (2021: £38,000), primarily driven by the operating profit and the receipt of dividend income of £245m. The company said: “Operating profit improved year on year, primarily driven by increased turnover as the company emerged from covid and improved trading conditions. In addition, the company recognised a reversal of equity store impairments recognised in the prior year. However, the business faced increasing headwinds from the challenging economic environment and inflationary pressures that impacted both profit delivery and margins. As a result of the economic environment and inflationary pressures, in the second half of the financial year the company launched a restructuring programme to address the scale of overheads and invest for growth.” Costa said it has established and continues to establish an international omni-channel strategy with equity stores, Costa Business-to-Business platform, fast-moving consumer goods and ready to drink products, franchises and wholesale operations in Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa. It said: “The directors believe that this omni-channel ‘Total Coffee Company’ proposition will continue to further build on its international foundations.” Total capex spend in the year was £70.5m.

 

Loungers to open three sites in six days: Café bar operator Loungers is in the midst of opening three sites in six days, including a new Cosy Club in Oxford. Last Friday (13 October), the Nick Collins-led business opened Bordo Lounge in Carlisle. Yesterday (Monday, 16 October), it opened its 36th Cosy Club (and 240th site overall), in Oxford. Located on the city’s Cornmarket Street, it is one of the company’s biggest sites to date, featuring a private bar space and large private dining/party room. Later this week (Wednesday, 18 October), the company is set to open Alfredo Lounge in the former Eve & Ranshaw department store building, in the Lincolnshire market town of Louth. Last week, Loungers reported an acceleration in like-for-like sales growth for the 24 weeks ended 1 October 2023, as it said it was on track to open a total of 34 new sites in its current financial year, a record number for the business. The Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside operator posted like-for-like sales growth of 7.7% over the 24 weeks to 1 October 2023. It said that this represented an acceleration from the like-for-like sales growth of 5.7% previously reported for the 12 weeks to 9 July 2023 and reflected a continuation of its strong like-for-like sales performance since the pandemic. 

 

Dishoom – having the right cultural alignment is huge when it comes to recruitment and retention: Andrew O’Callaghan, people director at Indian restaurant group Dishoom, has said having the right cultural alignment plays a huge role in how the award-winning business recruits and retains staff. Speaking at this month’s Propel Talent & Training Conference with Dishoom’s operations director Nina Panayiodou, O’Callaghan said: “We did a piece of research recently around what it is on our best day that’s working well, and it really is that cultural alignment piece. The way we run as a business is that if people sort of don’t agree, we kick a decision out. So, we have a leadership meeting on a Thursday and it’s got a reasonably strict agenda to it. You wouldn’t put an agenda item on there where you knew it was going to alienate someone, or you hadn’t really got their buy-in first. I think that way of working is across our business as well. We do it as a leadership team, but so do our head chef and our general managers. A general manager doesn’t get to call out that they are doing something in front of the house without consulting with the head chef. I’d not worked in hospitality before, but I think that’s reasonably unique in that we’ve all got to be on the same page before we make a change. The downside is we move a bit slower. I wouldn’t say it’s the most dynamic way, but in this kind of cultural alignment, when a decision is made, everyone’s really into it and has really been consulted. Everyone’s aligned on principles and ways of thinking.” O’Callaghan said length of service for the business is also “absolutely paramount” to creating that cultural alignment. He said: “When I joined, I was just blown away by the length of service at Dishoom. For our general managers and head chefs, the average is almost seven years, for managers it’s four years. From a consistency perspective, if they’re all culturally aligned, it should become like a cultural point. It doesn’t need to be processed, it should just be natural. On our really best days, that’s what happens.” O’Callaghan and Panayiodou’s presentation will be among those from the Propel Talent & Training Conference sent to Premium subscribers at 9am on Friday, 27 October. 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 kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

 

Buenos Aires Steak and Koh Thai Tapas sites ‘feeling effects of cost-of-living crisis’: High Road Restaurants Group, the owner of the Buenos Aires Steak restaurants business and the Koh Thai Tapas chain, has said some of its sites are feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis. Buenos Aires and its sister brand Buenasado operates nine restaurants in the south of England while Koh Thai Tapas operates four sites in Hampshire, and it closed a site in Lymington early this year. In October 2023, the business extended the loan note repayment terms provided by investors. In a statement accompanying the accounts for the year ending 26 June 2022, the company said: “Following a year of continued strong performance within the Koh Thai business, the company acquired its fifth site at Port Solent Marina. The restaurant reflects a new direction in terms of design while retaining all other elements including the menus. The restaurant opened on 15 April 2022. Although it has traded well, footfall at the scheme is lower than previous years, undermining the site’s immediate profitability. The invasion of Ukraine, supply led inflation and continued increases in interest rates, has negatively impacted the mood of the consumer. This was felt earlier on the south coast, and as of summer 2022, was also being felt by some of the regional Buenos Aires sites. During the period ended 26 June 2022, the group generated sales from restaurant activities of £10.75m (2021 £3.5m) generating an operating profit of £0.3m (2021: operating loss of £0.6m) and a loss before tax of £0.9m (2021: £0.9m). During the period, the group generated positive Ebitda of £829,884 (2021: negative Ebitda of £143,401).”

 

Origin Coffee secures £3.1m investment to support expansion: Cornish coffee roaster and retailer Origin Coffee, which operates six sites, has secured £3.1m of investment. The B-Corp business said the funds will support growth of its direct-to-consumer retail rollout and expansion of the wholesale channel while continuing its commitment to sustainability. The deal sees Origin sell part of the ownership for the first time. Majority owner and chief executive Tom Sobey will stay as majority shareholder but be supported by his new partners, which include Create Impact Ventures, Yeo Valley and The Cornwall & Isle of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF). Tracy Doree – of Freddie’s Flowers, Farewill, and Oddbox – will join the board as independent chair and a non-executive director, and David Bernstein, former chairman of Manchester City and the Football Association, will also join as a non-executive director. Sobey said: “The foundation of our business will remain ethical as we grow. Securing investment like this offers us the flexibility and opportunity to take the company forward. We know this is a big step for Origin and understand that with this growth comes considerable responsibility to our partners, employees and the wider industry.” Bernstein added: “We believe in providing support to transform growth-stage businesses into market leaders, and we’re excited to join Origin on its journey to expand nationwide while preserving its impressive culture and specialist market position. Together with Tom, we aim to promote sustainability and create employment opportunities in Cornwall and beyond, fostering both growth and impact.” Meg Salt, FSE investment manager at CIOSIF, said: “Our funding will support Origin’s growth in its retail and online presence, bringing ethically sourced, specialty coffee from around the world to customers.”

 

Pret A Manger to open first standalone store in Canada: Pret A Manger is to expand its presence in Canada with the opening of its first standalone site next year. Last summer, Pret opened its first site in Canada under its agreement with A&W Food Services, in Vancouver. The deal to bring Pret to the country over an initial two-year trial phase began with the brand opening a store-within-a-store model in the A&W site at Marine Gateway. Pret has since grown its Canadian presence to circa ten sites, with a target of having “12-15 Pret pop-ups” up and running over the next 18 months. The new standalone site will take over an ex-Tim Hortons site at 90 Adelaide Street West, Vancouver, with an opening scheduled for winter 2024. Pret has been building its presence in North America with the help of franchisee Dallas Holdings. Earlier this summer, Pret opened a new site in the Hudson Yards development in New York, in partnership with the franchisee. The site marked the first of three Pret shops opening in New York within a few months and was the first US site to open under the new franchise partnership, which Pret signed last December.

 

Raymond Blanc’s flagship Oxfordshire restaurant sees rise in turnover but drop in profit, both ahead of pre-pandemic levels: Raymond Blanc’s flagship Oxfordshire restaurant, Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, saw a rise in turnover but drop in profits in the year to 31 December 2022, with both were ahead of pre-pandemic levels. Turnover increased from £15,409,000 in 2021 to £20,620,000, of which £9,522,000 came from rooms (2021: £8,183,000) and £9,810,000 from the restaurant (2021: £6,561,000) among other activities. Its pre-tax profit fell from £3,396,000 to £2,925,000 as costs increased by more than £4m, while no Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme payments were received (2021: £603,000). This compares with turnover of £16,916,000 and a profit of £1,578,000 in the last full year before the pandemic, ending 31 December 2019. The company has net assets of £33,627,000 (£31,075,000) and net current assets of £21,786,000 (2021: £18,834,000). No dividend was paid (2021: nil). 

 

Three Uncles plans fourth site: Cantonese roast meat concept Three Uncles is lining up a fourth site in London, in the City. The business, which was founded by childhood friends and chefs Cheong Yew, Pui Sing Tsang and Mo Kwok in 2019, is planning to open on the former Pod site at 3 Old Bailey. Last year, Three Uncles launched its first permanent sit-down restaurant in Brixton Village. It also operates takeaway kiosks in Liverpool Street and Camden’s Hawley Wharf Market. Three Uncles’ menu includes chopped-to-order siu mei alongside pak choi and steamed jasmine rice. As well as a selection of hot and cold grab-and-go specials, it also offers Hainan chicken rice, lo mein noodles and dim sum.

 

Pearmain Pubs reports double-digit growth, FY turnover passes £9m: Surrey operator Pearmain Pubs has reported double-digit growth across its three sites in the year to 1 January 2023, when compared with the last pre-covid-19 year of 2019, as it saw turnover top the £9m mark. Turnover for the period stood at £9,114,085 (2021: £6,386,181), with a pre-tax profit of £891,847 (2021: £456,554). An interim dividend of £200,000 was paid in the year. The company said: “With covid-19 restrictions no longer affecting trade, growth in turnover has been strong compared with 2021. Perhaps more importantly, we have seen double-digit growth on all sites when compared with the last pre-covid-19 year of 2019. The results achieved in 2022 are not only a result of continued monitoring of costs and management continually seeking ways to improve on the results being achieved, but also due to the continued delivery of excellent customer service that can only be achieved with the help of all of our employees. The balance sheet remains strong. Retaining profits within the business has enabled us to further pay down our bank finance. Funds advanced by the directors have also been retained and enabled the company to invest in the existing pubs and seek new sites. While the economic outlook may appear challenging, the directors are confident their market sector positioning will make ongoing profitability sustainable.” Earlier this year, Pearmain Pubs returned to the acquisition trail by securing The Brickmakers Arms in Windlesham. Founded in 2008 by Richard Brown and Anthony Hancock, Pearmain grew pre-covid to eight sites before selling five to London pub operator Young’s in March 2020. This left it with The Red Lion in Horsell, The Old Plough in Stoke D’Abernon and The Three Horseshoes in Laleham.

 

Team behind London restaurant Levan to divide business: Elder Restaurants, the team behind London restaurant Levant and Holm in Somerset, is to divide the business. After a six-year partnership, Nicholas Balfe, Mark Gurney and Matt Bushnell have made the collective decision to part ways. The trio said this has been a group decision, which will allow Bushnell and Gurney to focus on the businesses in London and Balfe to continue the work he’s been doing at Holm. In a joint statement, the trio said: “We want to thank our loyal customers and all of the incredible team members who have supported our restaurants over the last six years. We have had an incredible journey together while being collectively responsible for Elder Restaurants, and we are proud of what we have achieved in this time. We’ve had highs and lows and learnt a huge amount, particularly through the incredibly challenging trading climate of the last few years. Operating restaurant businesses with a 150-mile gap between the sites has proved challenging, and this division allows each of us to pursue our passions while focusing on businesses closer to home. We’re all thoroughly positive about what the future holds.” The division will see Bushnell and Gurney continue to operate Levan in London, as well as a soon to be revealed new project in Peckham. Holm will continue to be operated by Somerset-born Balfe, with new bedrooms opening at the South Petherton site in November.

 

Greater Manchester McDonald’s franchisee sees profit fall as turnover passes £40m: McDonald’s franchisee MCD Manchester, which operates 11 restaurants in the Greater Manchester area, has reported turnover increased 27.7% to £41,107,312 for the year ending 31 December 2022 compared with £32,181,939 the year before. Pre-tax profit was down to £1,382,084 from £3,760,009 the previous year due to rising costs. In his report accompanying the accounts, managing director Roger Khoryati stated: “We believe the trading environment will continue to be challenging but remain optimistic and will continue the company’s reinvestment programme. During the year, the company purchased a further restaurant, taking the total number operated to 11.” The business did not receive any government grants (2021: £301,963). A dividend of £20,000 was paid (2021: £31,600). In 1999, Lebanon-born Khoryati, who was a McDonald’s business manager at the time, was one of 25 staff members offered the chance to own their own restaurant, to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the company’s arrival in the UK. He remortgaged his house, cashed in his share options and opened his first branch – in Wandsworth, south London.

 

Wingstop opens third Birmingham site, further West Midlands location to follow as it closes in on 40 in UK: Lemon Pepper Holdings, the company behind the rollout of Wingstop in the UK, has opened the brand’s third site in Birmingham, with a further West Midlands venue to follow as it closes in on 40 UK locations. Its Birmingham New Street site is the second dine-in Wingstop in the city, alongside Wingstop Birmingham Bullring, plus a delivery unit. This will be followed later this year by a 2,650 square-foot unit on the Upper Mall at Merry Hill, near Dudley, with 70 covers. Earlier this summer, Deliveroo named Wingstop UK’s Spicy Korean Wings as Birmingham’s all-time favourite takeaway meal. Tom Grogan, co-founder of Lemon Pepper Holdings, master franchisee for Wingstop UK, said: “We feel right at home in Birmingham, having already received huge support for the brand. As the data from Deliveroo shows, this city loves Wingstop UK, our signature flavours and the variety of our menu. Launching at Merry Hill represents not only our commitment to expanding Wingstop nationwide, but also our dedication to becoming a staple in the West Midlands. Having already been warmly embraced in Birmingham, we’re thrilled to bring our unique flavours and experience to even more fans in the region.” Wingstop UK now has 37 sites across the country and is aiming to have 40 by the end of the year.

 

Travelodge searching for further 100 sites in London as work starts on Chiswick hotel: Travelodge has said it is searching for a further 100 sites across London as it starts works on its latest hotel in the capital. Construction has begun work on a 113-bedroom site in Chiswick, south west London. The hotel will feature the group’s on-site restaurant and is located next to the Chiswick Roundabout. It is the company’s fourth hotel currently under construction in the capital. The other three sites include the group’s 600th Travelodge – a 95-beroom hotel at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground in partnership with Surrey County Cricket Club. A 73-bedroom hotel in Bermondsey and a 72-bedroom hotel in Beckenham are also being constructed. With the opening of these four hotels, Travelodge will operate 84 hotels in London. Funding partner RTP Global Real Estate Investments purchased the Chiswick site and committed to fund the development for £19.4m. The hotel is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025 and will be let to Travelodge on a new 35-year lease, with five-yearly, index-linked rent reviews with caps and collars. Steve Bennett, Travelodge, chief property & development officer, said: “Nowadays, more Britons are choosing to stay in a budget hotel than any other hotel type, but London cannot fulfil this growing trend as it has a shortage of good quality and low cost accommodation. Therefore, to help fill this growing gap, we are actively searching for more than 100 new hotel sites across the capital.” Andy Cole, of Vokins, Travelodge’s retained agent for west London, represented Travelodge for the Chiswick development deal and is searching for a further 15 development locations across west London, including Hammersmith, White City, Southall, Staines and Uxbridge.

 

Poke House opens tenth London site: Poke House, Europe’s largest poké restaurant chain, has opened its tenth site in London. The business, which has more than 160 sites globally, has opened at 32 Maddox Street in Mayfair. Matteo Pichi, co-founder and chief executive at Poke House, said: “Maddox Street will be our tenth site opening in the capital and is centred at the heart of traditional London. Known for some of the most iconic restaurants and shops in the UK, it it the perfect place for our latest location, helping whisk our guests away to a more exotic destination.” In May, Poke House said it had secured new investment to help it strengthen its international presence and develop its retail offer. The cash injection was led by Red Circle Investments, which is owned by Renzo Rosso, founder of international fashion group OTB. Poke House currently operates in nine countries with more than 1,000 employees and a 2022 turnover of €100m (£87m). Last year, Pichi told Propel he was aiming to open Poke House’s first UK regional location in 2023, with Cambridge earmarked as a starting point ahead of further expansion outside the capital.

Parched London seeking to expand if right opportunities come along as it celebrates 20th anniversary: Parched London, the team behind The Montpelier and White Horse pubs in Peckham, has said it is seeking to expand if the right opportunities come along, as the business celebrates it 20th anniversary. The independent group of South London pubs – run by Isaac Tooby, Michael Robinson, Neil Watson and Shane Ranasinghe – also operates The Roebuck in Borough, The Railway in Streatham, Grove House Tavern in Camberwell and The Earl of Derby in New Cross. “Looking forward, Parched will continue their mission to help save London’s pubs,” the business said. “If the right landmark pub comes available that is under used by the community, the team is always ready to give it the love and attention the community deserves.” It will also be giving more focus to staff wellbeing in 2024, including trips to wineries, breweries and distilleries. Robinson said: “We understand that putting our staff first has a positive impact on everything we do. It allows us to meet key targets while also promoting a culture of inclusiveness and ensuring a more personalised and tailored experience for our customers.” Parched will be hosting a series of events across its sites to celebrate its 20th anniversary, including DJ nights, mega quizzes, beer festivals and weekly knockdown 2003 prices.

 

North Yorkshire operator puts award-winning restaurant on the market: North Yorkshire operator Five Star Collection, which owns five pubs and restaurants in the region, has put one of its award-winning restaurant on the market. Five Star, which is owned by theatrical producer Nick Thomas MBE, has instructed Christie & Co to lease The Copper Horse to an Indian or Pan-Asian restaurant operator. Originally a collection of farm buildings dating back 300 years, Thomas acquitted The Copper Horse from the Price Stephens family in 2005. Its awards including Les Routiers Restaurant of the Year 2012 and 2017. Located on Main Street in Seamer, the venue, which features a bar and restaurant with 92 covers plus 30 in an outside seating extra, is available to let for a term of ten years, on a free of tie basis. Thomas said: “We have maintained the property to a first-class standard for many years. It is ready for an operator to re-open with minimum expense required to adapt the food offer.” Thomas’ Five Star Collection also operates The Yew Tree cafe and bistro and The Mayfield pub and carvery in Scarborough, The Plough pub and restaurant in Scalby and Five Star Stays – a collection of holiday cottages in Scalby and Seamer.

 

Surrey operator acquires second site as he explores other opportunities in the area: Surrey operator Ollie Bailey has acquired his second site, as he explores other opportunities in the area. Bailey is a director at The Running Mare pub in Cobham, where his father, Adrian Bailey, has been license holder for more than three decades. He has now acquired his first leased pub, The Seven Stars in Ripley, with Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars. They are undertaking a joint £265,000 refurbishment with a view to reopening at the end of November as a dog and family friendly traditional local, creating ten jobs. Once The Seven Stars is established, Bailey intends to expand his business and is looking for 50/50 food-led pub opportunities with good outdoor spaces within a 20-mile radius of Ripley. “The Seven Stars was tired and old looking but the bones of it are good,” he said. “I wouldn’t have been interested if Star wasn’t investing as it needs this cash injection to enable it to reach its potential. Ten to 15 years, ago people would come out to drink, now it’s important to offer food to entice people out. I am optimistic about the future.” The refurbishment will include two new bars and an extra ladies’ toilet, while the menu will include classic British dishes “with new and exciting flavours using fresh, local ingredients and homely nostalgic food”. Richard Foster, business development manager at Star Pubs & Bars, added: “We’re delighted Ollie is taking on the lease of The Seven Stars as the food and reputation for great hospitality at The Running Mare have won it a number of Surrey based awards.”

Dip Anand to open new restaurant and microbrewery in Milton Keynes: Restaurateur and author Dipna Anand will next month open a new restaurant and microbrewery in Milton Keynes. The 150-cover Dipna Anand Kitchen & Bar will open in the city’s Unity Place development, along with its own microbrewery from Toast Ale, which makes craft beer from surplus fresh bread. It will open alongside another more casual concept, Dipna Anand Indian Street Food, which has opened in Unity Place’s Urban Food Market. A menu of “revisited classics on small plates” will include “familiar curries alongside some new and unexpected menu items” and a grill serving tandoori lamb chops, salmon, chicken and paneer tikka and lamb shish. Sides include masala fries, tadka coconut greens, kachumber salad and a zingy mango and feta salad. Anand said: “It has a completely different feel to my previous sites, but we’ll be serving some of my oldest family recipes. We’ve developed some new dishes alongside our beloved classics and have a mega grill that we’ll be firing up to char all our tikkas and chops on, which is very exciting.” Anand, author of cook books Dip in Brilliant and Beyond Brilliant, is the third generation of a family of chefs who came to the UK in 1973 and launched the Brilliant Restaurant in Southall two years later. In 2018, she also launched Dip In Brilliant in Chelsea’s Fulham Road, and in 2021, she opened Dipna Anand at Somerset House, at the central London venue. Both sites have since closed.

Harts Group confirms plans to open El Pastor site in Battersea: Harts Group – the London-based restaurant company that owns Barrafina, Quo Vadis, Casa Pastor and Parrillan – has confirmed plans to open a site under its El Pastor concept, in London’s Battersea. As revealed by Propel in August, the business will open the new site at Circus Road West, Battersea Power Station, in spring 2024. El Pastor will launch its new space in a prime position on the river, opposite the north entrance. The new site will comprise a 90-cover indoor restaurant, a drinks-led standing bar area for 20, a 26-cover Mexican greenhouse-inspired private dining room and a 60-cover open-all-year outdoor riverside terrace. Co-founder Crispin Somerville said: “We are thrilled to be opening a new Pastor not only on the banks of the Thames, but also in the shadow of one of London’s most iconic landmarks.” Sam Cotton, head of asset Management at Battersea Power Station, added: “We have been hoping to welcome El Pastor to our line-up for some time, knowing they would make a brilliant addition to the neighbourhood and our vibrant alfresco dining scene.” El Pastor Battersea will be the fourth restaurant in the group.