Christie & Co – 2024 will see mid-market casual dining struggle for real growth, continued expansion for franchise brands and drop in new site openings: Christie & Co has forecast that 2024 will see the mid-market casual dining struggle for real growth, continued expansion for franchise brands with more variety, and a drop in new site openings as operators look to make better use of existing sites. In its annual Business Outlook report, Christie & Co also forecast some return to profitability for restaurant operators as menu prices remain steady and inflationary costs reduce, an uptick in insolvencies due to ongoing headwinds and a compressed/declining market landscape. This follows a period of transformation driven by pre-covid overexpansion, challenging trading conditions and changing consumer dining habits. The report said 2023 saw a negative 5.3% movement in Christie & Co’s restaurant price index, with its team selling £6.75m worth of restaurants in 2023, of which 85% were leases. Simon Chaplin, senior director of pubs, restaurants and franchise at Christie & Co, said: “In a year when closures reached a peak of five a day in the first quarter of 2023, and more than 2,000 businesses closed during a 12-month period, it’s clear to see it was a difficult year for restaurants. However, this may have represented a catch-up year from a tide that started in 2018. Such adversity often sees the best look to innovate, and we are already seeing operators review their business, tighten up on costs and fine-tune their audience. This is most evident in the quick service restaurant market, where we have seen sustained growth since covid, as new and exciting franchise brands bring their offer to the UK market.” In the pub sector, Christie & Co forecast regional and national pub companies will look to rationalise their estates and sell off bottom end pubs and the number of managed pub operations will rise in 2024. It also predicted limited M&A activity, the free-of-tie leasehold market remaining strong and cost pressures beginning to ease. This after the sector showed “resilience” in 2023, although interest rate hikes and a stubborn inflationary environment resulted in an 8.1% drop in Christie & Co’s pub price index. However, the company said an increased level of activity in the latter half of the year suggests a more dynamic market in 2024. Stephen Owens, managing director of pubs and restaurants at Christie & Co, added: “As we enter 2024, we have begun to see signs that pressures will ease, and our experience from the latter end of 2023 is that buyers are beginning to return to the market now that we have a more stable environment.”

 

Propel to evolve its Premium subscription offer to launch Premium Club on Thursday, 1 February: Propel is evolving its Premium subscription offer by launching Premium Club on Thursday, 1 February. All circa 4,000 existing subscribers automatically become members. The launch of Premium Club comes with even more benefits. All subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to five Propel paid-for events – The Excellence in Pub Retailing Conference (14 May), Social Media for Profit (18 July), the Talent and Training Conference (1 October) and Restaurant Marketer and Innovator (two days in January 2025). Operators will also be able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Propel has also revealed that its key Multi-Site Database, which is updated each month and contains details of more than 3,000 multi-site companies, will be searchable by operating style from the end of January. Premium Club members also get exclusive access to five other databases – the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage. Premium Club members receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club members will be sent a dedicated monthly newsletter that will highlight key updates in the sector and direct subscribers to all the vital content their membership offers. Premium Club members also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Propel Premium subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. 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. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit 2024 open for bookings: Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit is returning for its sixth edition, and tickets are now on sale. The event is a partnership between Propel and Think Hospitality, aiming to build a community, promote the sharing of ideas, recognise talent and define the future of eating out. Bookings are now open for the two-day conference, as the centrepiece of the January event series, taking place on 23 and 24 January at One Moorgate Place in London. The conference will focus on marcomms strategies, proposition and concept development, the latest market insights, technology and digital developments, diversification of revenue streams and how brands are adapting to the new normal. It is designed for marketing, development and innovation teams, as well as senior executives and investors wanting to better understand the latest marketing, innovation and development opportunities to build market share and grow. Day two speakers include: Jenny Packwood, chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer at KFC UK; Andre Johnstone, sales and marketing director at Urban Pubs & Bars; Hannah Clark, UK head of marketing at Sticks ‘n’ Sushi; Megan Trimble, marketing director (Bella Italia) at The Big Table Group; Sarah McDermott, marketing director at BrewDog Bars; Aaron Solomon, chief executive and co-Founder at Ambl; Mark Stretton, co-founder and chief executive at Fleet Street; Punch Pubs & Co chief executive Clive Chesser; Elior chief executive Catherine Roe; Emma Banks, vice-president of food and beverage strategy at Hilton UK & Ireland; Paul Flatters, chief executive of insight agency Trajectory; Victoria Page, purpose and ESG lead at Fleet Street; Jonathan Doughty, managing director at Viklari Consulting; Fiona Richmond, head of regional food at Scotland Food & Drink; Mikala Kofoed Rasmussen, senior manager at Wonderful Copenhagen; Marta Pogroszewska, managing director at Gail’s Bakery; Rory Sutherland, vice-chairman of Ogilvy; Eljesa Saciri, general manager at The Zetter Marylebone; Michael Ingemann, chairman of Think Hospitality; Hilari Voorthuis, global food and beverage manager at Fairmont Hotel & Resorts; Sven Sallaerts, co-founder of Younique Concepts; Tom Patrick, marketing director at Banana Tree; Libby Andrews, marketing director at Pho Restaurants; Ali Alt Recanati, co-founder and brand and marketing director at Farmer J; Dan Brookman, chief executive of Airship and Toggle; Ben Webb, managing director at 3Stories; Joel Robinson, digital and technology director at Azzurri Group; Maya Orr, managing director at Connect Management; Anthony Knight, sales and marketing director at Incipio Group; Lynsey Benton, brand and franchising manager at I am Doner; Myles Doran, former commercial director at Revolution Bars Group and managing director at Hospitality Inc; and Supersonic founder Mark McCulloch. For the full schedule, click here. A one-day ticket for operators is £295 plus VAT while a two-day ticket is £550 plus VAT. Supplier tickets are £395 plus VAT for one day and £700 plus VAT for two. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Jo Charity at Propel on jo.charity@propelinfo.com.

London jerk chicken concept owner to open second site after being among winners of Uber Eats grants: London jerk chicken concept owner Karis Theophane is opening a second site following a £10,000 Uber Eats grant. Jerk Grill is one of 25 black-owned businesses sharing £250,000 in grants through the 2024 UberEats Black Business Fund. Almost 1,000 restaurants applied for the fund, run by Enterprise Nation, which has awarded £500,000 in grants since launching in 2021. Theophane, who began Jerk Grill in 2018, completely sold out within two hours when she first took her food truck to Peckham. Working six days a week through the pandemic at her cafe in the Pembury Community Centre, and overcoming the theft of her truck, Theophane is preparing to open a new site in Hackney this month. “We have definitely outgrown mum’s kitchen!” she said. “We are more than a jerk place, we are a community anchor providing jobs for disadvantaged people and a place for people from all walks of life to gather. Ultimately, we want to reinvest our profits into the business, helping us deliver our social mission of reducing food poverty, social isolation and providing meaningful employment and training opportunities for the local community.” Matthew Price, Uber Eats UK general manager, added: “We know black-owned businesses face unique challenges and we’re proud to offer support through this fund.” Other London businesses to receive grants include American Bites, Dudleys Coffee, Original London, The Flygerians, Bake Yard, Borough 22, The Food Bandits, Mud Cafes, Sisterwoman Vegan, The Jamaican, Dinner at Sans, The Jerk Joint and Yoyo’s Desserts. The other recipients are: Yettis Kitchen (Manchester), Blessone Kitchen (Sheffield), Dirty Chicken (Nottingham), Jabulani (Plymouth), Jerk King (Bristol), The Ital Collection by Vita (Birmingham), Beanie Bun (Newcastle), Mina Cuisine (Sheffield), Stuffed (Bristol), Lyfbar (Shropshire) and Afrisian (UK-wide).

 

2024 Drinks Trade Regatta to take place in May: The 2024 Drinks Trade Regatta will take place between 17 and 19 May and reservations are now open. The regatta, which has been running for more than 30 years, sees operators and suppliers in the industry battling it out in a series of races on the Solent. Over the years, the event has raised more than £175,000 for charity, and the regatta is open to experienced sailors as well as novice crews. Full racing support and kit are included, and the event also includes dinner at the Royal Yacht Squadron. Anyone interested in joining the fleet this year can email Terry Hunt at thunt@prometneus-sailing.co.uk for details. There are limited spaces due to the size of the fleet and places are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis. 

 

The Alchemist CEO – this has been a financial year of two halves, excited by opportunity in Germany: Simon Potts, chief executive of bar and restaurant brand The Alchemist, has told Propel that the group’s current financial year to the end of March 2024 is “turning out to be one of two halves”. The 21-strong business posted record full-year revenue in the 12 months to 31 March 2023, with sales of £59,430,00 up 9% on the previous year (2022: £54,568,000). Potts said: “It was a record year both in terms of revenue and Ebitda. This highlights our tenacity and good husbandry of the business, working margins hard and layering consistent and controlled site Ebitda throughout the estate. This year we knew we were going to step into a much tougher trading summer – we knew what was coming in terms of top line and were pragmatic about sales. Instead, we looked hard at our cost base; working together to protect site Ebitda and ensure our central function was optimally set up to support venues and, maybe more significantly, our guest requirements – which are changing at pace. The last few years have very much been operated through the lens of the employee in a fragile labour market, but we’ve great credit in the bank with our teams, with salaried retention levels now at four years and six months. Shifting emphasis back to the ever-evolving guest perspective has been a really powerful mindset change and given us great impetus in the second part of this year. As an older, established brand, we recognise the value of our long-standing relationship with our guests and have been mindful of not being overly aggressive with pricing. Instead, we’ve focused on our offer – elevating both our food and drinks menus; our engagement – with huge growth in our TikTok and YouTube Shorts platforms; and looked in detail at our operational capacity, systems and processes to maximise key trading periods – including refurbishments at Manchester New York Street and Newcastle, with MediaCity UK and Oxford to follow in January. As a result, it’s been a year of two halves, with a weaker summer giving way to a good quarter three, underscored by some eye-popping festive trading, with city centres across the UK experiencing huge surges in activity over the last few weeks.” Last year, the business, which will open a site in London’s Victoria next month, made its international debut in Germany. Potts said: “We are delighted with our first six months of operation. We remain excited by the opportunity for us to replicate our growth story in the UK in Germany and are in the process of establishing our plans there for the next three years, with a second location search underway.”

 

Fulham Shore CEO – lots of white space for Franco Manca and The Real Greek to grow into: Marcel Khan, the new chief executive of Fulham Shore, the Toridoll Holdings and Capdesia-backed owner of Franco Manca and The Real Greek, has said there is still a lot of white space for both brands to grow into. Khan, who was formerly at Nando’s and Five Guys, took up his new role this month, in time to oversee the launch of the group’s new 100-cover flagship Franco Manca site in Brixton, south London. Talking about the circa 70-strong Franco Manca and 26-strong The Real Greek, he told Propel: “Like the burger category, when are there too many pizza operators? There are never too many good burgers, there’s never too many good pizza operators. There is a lot of white space for both brands. My biggest focus is internal at the moment – how do we protect the magic that’s there and find a way to grow it? It’s no secret 2024 is going to be turbulent, especially for the first six months, so it’s not really a time to stick your neck out. It’s time to focus inwards and be the best that you can be. My opinions of what’s great, okay and what needs looking at are very much at the beginning of being formed.” He said for the next 12 months, the business is focused on the UK, and that it will look to secure ten new sites between the two brands, with an opening for Franco Manca already lined up in Plymouth and sites in Liverpool and Sheffield secured for The Real Greek. In terms of strengthening its management team, Khan said if any was needed, he would look internally first. He said: “It has been run like a small company and it’s grown at a steady pace, but not at a crazy pace. One of the things I’ll be looking at is the internal growth potential, because the loyalty and the passion is there. There will be, across the industry, a natural level of churn, but the thing I want to protect is that feeling of ‘this is special’, and that's what I’m locked into.”

 

200 Degrees reports coffee shop like-for-likes up 8% in December with business set to increase fy revenue by 26%, looking to open four to five sites in next fy: Stephen Fern, managing director of 200 Degrees, the Foresight-backed coffee roaster and retailer, has told Propel that like-for-like sales in its coffee shop estate were up 8% in December, while the business expects revenue in its current financial year, ending March 2024, to be up 26%. Fern said the 21-strong company was looking to open four or five sites in the next financial year and has already secured two leases for openings towards the end of 2024. Sales in its wholesale business were up 8% in December while revenue from online and subscriptions rose 71%. Meanwhile, sales from its barista schools saw 211% growth during the month. Fern said: “When it comes to our coffee shops, we are mature in our ability to open successful shops, and we continue to develop the other pillars of our business. Given that, we are really positive about our performance in December – and the current financial year – across all areas.” While much of its cost base has started to come down, Fern said the company was facing a “substantial” increase in labour costs with the rise in the national minimum wage in April. “When you sell coffee and cake, there’s only so much of the cost increases we can pass on,” said Fern. “We’re therefore looking at ways we can improve productivity and continue to drive footfall by making sure we provide that great experience to customers. We’re also introducing new barista courses and focusing on building the culture among our teams. One of the aspects I enjoy most about the job is doing a shift in one of our shops, and I do that as much as I can, to meet and support our teams, learn more about how we can support them and obtain direct feedback from our guests.” Fern said with Foresight having backed 200 Degrees since 2017, it was “inevitable” that the business would begin to look at new funding, but no talks have taken place yet. Founded in 2012 by Rob Darby and Tom Vincent, 200 Degrees has expanded its footprint across the Midlands and north of England.

Premium burger concept Marlowe’s appoints Carl Traill as new MD, to launch franchise model: Carl Traill, who stepped down from leading Miss Millie’s Fried Chicken in November, has joined premium takeaway burger concept Marlowe’s as its new managing director, Propel has learned. Traill announced he was to stand down as managing director of Miss Millie’s Fried Chicken after five years in the role to “pursue new challenges”. Traill, the former director of operations at Burger King UK, joined Miss Millie’s at the start of 2019, and under his leadership, the business, which is backed by HBM Investments, grew to 16 sites, launched a franchise offer and partnered with MFG, the UK’s largest independent forecourt operator. Traill was also previously consultant chief executive at Burger King franchisee Millcliffe and CPL Foods. Marlowe’s, which was founded in 2017 by Sean Marlowe, currently operates sites in Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Bromley, Worthing and Clapham. Traill told Propel he plans to use his previous experience to take the business into a franchise format. He said: “The plan now is to continue expansion through the franchise model. We are hoping to have our first franchise partner in the next six months. We are looking for single site and multi-site franchisees, initially in England. We’re targeting ten new openings in 2024. The model has a low-cost entry point, with affordable capex and strong sales and margin opportunities.”

 

D&D London reports ‘strong’ December trading: Restaurant group D&D London has reported “strong” trading for December. Compared with the same period last year, the group said it experienced healthy growth in overall revenue and Ebitda, both exceeding last year and budget. Highlights included a record month at German Gymnasium, 14 Hills in London and Queensyard in New York; a record Christmas Day at Quaglino’s in London; and the biggest revenue day in D&D history at Madison in the City of London on New Year’s Eve. Double-digit revenue growth for the six weeks to 31 December was achieved in a number of London restaurants, including Skylon and Madison (up 13%), Butlers Wharf Chophouse (up 18%), New Street Warehouse (up 12%) and German Gymnasium (up 11%). Queensyard in New York continued the strong performance, with December sales up 18% on the prior year. Chief executive David Loewi said: “In a year filled with uncertainties, we are delighted to have closed out December with such positive results. The unwavering support of our guests, coupled with the dedication and hard work of our teams, has been instrumental in achieving this success.” In October, Calveton, the backer of Byron, and Breal Capital, completed a deal to acquire D&D London, which owns and operates circa 40 restaurants across the UK and internationally.

 

Ossett Brewery reports sales and Ebitda boost in first half of FY24, latest site exceeding expectations, facilities in place to grow pub estate: Yorkshire brewer and retailer Ossett Brewing Group has reported a sales and Ebitda boost in the first half of FY24, with its latest site exceeding expectations, and said the facilities are in in place to grow its pub estate. The group operates Ossett Brewing Company and 23 pubs and bars, including 11 freeholds, following a demerger of the ten-strong Salt Brewing Co business in October 2022. In the group’s accounts for the year to 31 March 3023, director James Merrill said: “The directors have been extremely pleased with the group’s financial performance for the first six months of FY24. The unaudited management accounts at 30 September 2023 show increases in both sales and Ebitda for the group. In June 2023, the group opened a new site in Horbury Bridge, The Bingley, which has far exceeded the financial projections and is proving to be a huge success. The group will continue to look for opportunities to grow its pub estate with the addition of new sites, both freehold and leasehold. Any new sites will be financed by bank or shareholder funding, with facilities agreed and in place.” It comes after the group reported turnover of £22,232,745 for the period (including £5,038,482 from discontinued operations), up from £19,742,116 in 2022 (including £6,596,746 from discontinued operations). Of this, £14,610,871 came from its pubs and bars (2022: £12,298,543) and £7,621,875 from its beer production (2022: £7,443,573). A pre-tax profit of £923,091 in 2022 (including £43,872 from discontinued operations) turned into a loss of £3,809 (including a £540,693 loss from discontinued operations). Ebitda dropped from £1,964,584 (£1,606,914 from continuing operations) in 2022 to £911,156 (£1,288,824 from continuing operations). Dividends of £163,224 were paid (2022: £135,000). No government grants were received compared with £529,105 in 2022. Merrill added: “The directors are pleased with the financial performance during the year across the group in light of difficult trading conditions and cost pressures as experienced across the brewing sector. The group results for the period were impacted by the performance of the Salt business in the first six months, the continuing activities of the Ossett business were more in line with the prior period results. The pubs business performance was consistent with the previous year’s trading. The directors continue to focus on developing new sites to increase the portfolio, as seen with the positive opening of The Bingley.”

 

Prestige Purchasing founder appointed chairman of Workshop Coffee as brand looks to scale in 2024: Prestige Purchasing founder David Read has been appointed chairman of Workshop Coffee, as the luxury coffee brand looks to scale in 2024. It follows a run of recent new deals for the wholesale and subscription business, including The Langham, 1 Hotel Mayfair, Hilton Park Lane, Sofitel St James and Raffles London. Read founded Prestige Purchasing 25 years ago following ten years as operations director within Crest Hotels, THF and Forte, and five years as purchasing director at Forte. He said: “Having long-admired Workshop Coffee’s ethos and approach, I’m delighted to be working with it as chairman, and I see a business that is well-placed to continue reinforcing its position as a supplier of premium coffee experiences.” James Dickson, who founded Workshop Coffee in 2011, added: “David’s extensive expertise and industry experience across operations and procurement in the food and beverage and hospitality space is a true asset. It is, I hope, the first of many exciting developments for Workshop Coffee in 2024 and beyond.” Barkby Group sold Workshop Coffee last summer by way of a management buyout (MBO), as it disposes of its non-core businesses to focus on real estate. In the year ended June 2022, Workshop achieved revenue of £1.5m, a loss before tax of £0.8m and had net liabilities of £7.1m. The MBO included the transfer of £1.7m of third-party liabilities, the repayment of £0.2m of intercompany lending and £0.3m of deferred consideration payable in cash in June 2024.

 

Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course makes first profit as turnover exceeds pre-covid levels: Donald Trump’s luxury Scottish golf resort, Turnberry, has made its first profit since the former US president acquired it almost a decade ago. Trump Turnberry in Ayrshire, which features three golf courses and a century-old hotel, was bought by the Trumps for a reported $60m in 2014 but had never since made a profit. According to accounts for the year ending 31 December 2022, Trump Turnberry made a pre-tax profit of £571,000 compared with a loss of £3,726,883 the previous year. With attendance recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, revenue rose to £21,827,760 from £13,120,845 the year before. Revenue also exceeded the £19,667,000 for the year ending 31 December 2019 – the last full year before covid. The resort was closed the next year because of the pandemic and reopened in April 2021. Trump Turnberry did not pay any tax on its 2022 profit, the accounts show, because of deductible losses carried forward from previous years and other allowances. According to his website, the former president, who is a keen golfer, owns 18 golf courses across the world. Trump Turnberry – along with its smaller Aberdeenshire resort – Trump International Scotland – received more than £1m in taxpayer support during covid-19 lockdowns. As reported earlier this week, Trump International Scotland saw pre-tax losses increase to £738,344 in the year to 31 December 2022 from £696,845. This was despite revenue rising to £3,593,122, from £2,070,487 in 2021. Trump resigned his directorship of Trump Turnberry before he was sworn in as US president in 2017, with his eldest sons Donald Jr and Eric taking control. SLC Turnberry — the company that operates the resort — lists the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust as its ultimate controlling shareholder. SLC Turnberry is directly controlled by UK-based holding company Golf Recreation Scotland, which lists Eric Trump as the person with significant control. Golf Recreation Scotland, which reported a higher pre-tax loss than SLC Turnberry in 2021, has yet to file its overdue accounts for 2022. SLC Turnberry’s accounts state the site’s owners were “fully committed” to it and had indicated they would continue to invest with future plans to “enhance the resort”. In the past, the Trump family promised to spend $200m on renovations. The newly filed 2022 report refers to a “significant capital investment to significantly… improve the resort”.

 

Teams behind Kirkstall Brewery and Whitelock’s Ale House acquire historic Leeds pub: The teams behind Leeds brewer and retailer Kirkstall Brewery and Whitelock’s Ale House have acquired a historic pub in the city. They have partnered to take on The Victoria & Commercial in Great George Street and revive the grade II-listed pub to its former glory. While the upper floors of The Victoria Hotel and the neighbouring Shenanigans Irish Pub are being redeveloped into student accommodation, the pub itself, which dates to 1865, is being left intact. “This is a wonderful opportunity to preserve an icon of Leeds pub history,” said Steve Holt, founder of Kirkstall Brewery. “Our own pedigree of restoring historic pubs, such as The Cardigan Arms and The Kirkstall Bridge Inn, puts us in good stead for this project.” Ed Mason, managing director of Whitelock’s in Turk’s Head Yard, which itself dates to 1775, added. “We’ve had a close partnership with Steve and his team at Kirkstall Brewery for a long time, and we love their pubs, so when the opportunity came along to join forces it felt like a natural next step. At a time when so many pubs are being lost, we are delighted to be able to work with the developer to ensure that this beautiful Victorian pub is preserved for future generations.” The renovations will include a new kitchen and interiors, with the plan being to reopen the pub in September.

 

Maslow’s founder set to launch new Italian concept at Mortimer House: Guy Ivesha, founder of Maslow’s – the group behind Nessa, 1 Warwick and Mortimer House in London – is set to launch a new Italian concept. He has partnered with executive chef Tom Cenci for the launch of Mortimer House Kitchen in Fitzrovia next month. Opening on Monday, 5 February at 37-42 Mortimer Street, it will offer a “vibrant Italian-inspired menu” including a selection of scarpetta and antipasti plates designed to share, followed by larger pasta dishes championing both British and Italian produce. Highlights include maccheroni with taleggio with truffle and black pepper; chicken or aubergine parmigiana with marinara sauce; and sirloin steak served on focaccia with charred onions. There will also be Italian-inspired cocktails, including no- and low-alcohol options, and a list of wine from the country. A separate breakfast menu will feature the likes of Italian baked eggs on focaccia and n’duja bruschetta with whipped ricotta and poached eggs, while weekend brunch will see the addition of pan dulcis with Amarena cherries and pancakes with ricotta, Amalfi lemon curd and maple syrup. The 90-cover dining room, on the ground floor of private members’ house Mortimer House, will offer a further 45 covers for alfresco dining. The Conservatory, a private space positioned at the back of the main dining room, will also seat up to 20 guests. Ivesha said: “The last year has been a big one for Maslow’s with the opening of 1 Warwick in Soho, and I am so proud of what we have created with Tom at Nessa. He is a hugely creative chef and brilliant leader, so I am very excited to extend our partnership to Mortimer House Kitchen.”

 

The Breakfast Club confirms third opening in London’s Soho: All-day dining concept The Breakfast Club has confirmed it will open a third site in London’s Soho. Propel revealed in December that the 15-strong company, which already operates two sites in Soho – at D’Arblay Street and in Berwick Street – had acquired the ex-Patty & Bun site in Old Compton Street, which closed earlier this year as part of the burger brand’s company voluntary arrangement process. The Breakfast Club has now revealed the site will open on Saturday, 20 January. It will give The Breakfast Club, which opened its first Soho site 18 years ago, circa 120 covers across all three sites. Last month, Propel revealed The Breakfast Club is to make its train station debut this year, at London’s St Pancras station, in partnership with SSP Group, the operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide. Last year, The Breakfast Club partnered with SSP Group to launch its debut travel hub site, at Gatwick airport. The Breakfast Group most recently launched a new site in London’s Covent Garden. The business opened an 894 square foot “caf” at 55 Neal Street in Seven Dials. Rob Meadows, of DCL, acted on the Old Compton Street deal.

 

Georgian-inspired small-plates restaurant and cocktail bar opens in London’s Fitzrovia: Georgian-inspired small-plates restaurant and subterranean cocktail bar Kinkally has opened in London’s Fitzrovia. The brainchild of Diana Militski, the venue has launched at 43 Charlotte Street, comprising of restaurant Kinkally and cocktail den Bar Kinky. “Georgia has one of the most fascinating gastronomic traditions in the world but its food is so under-represented in the west, and London is no exception” Militski said. “We think it’s time for Londoners to share the khinkali experience, but with some boundary-pushing flavours that take inspiration from across Eurasia. Moreover, Bar Kinky will bring something special to London’s cocktail scene.” The menu is inspired by a Georgian dish called khinkali, which is a dumpling traditionally filled with beef, pork or lamb and a touch of parsley. Alongside this are small plates inspired by Georgia’s ancient food culture, while Bar Kinky serves up new twists on classic cocktails.

 

Wolverhampton set to get new multimillion-pound food, entertainment and events venue: City of Wolverhampton Council has submitted plans for a new a multimillion-pound food, entertainment and events venue in the west of the city centre. It follows the demolition of derelict shops at 1-7a Cleveland Street in 2023 and would be constructed on the cleared site and a car park between Cleveland Street and Bell Street, plus land from the proposed demolition of the vacant Neville Garratt Centre. The working title for the venue is Bell Works, reports Insider Media. Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal said: “Subject to approval, we will deliver a modern food, beverage and entertainment city centre facility that will boost footfall and create invaluable employment and business opportunities. These types of spaces are hugely popular in other areas of the country such as Newcastle, London and Sheffield and will be a superb addition complementing Wolverhampton's existing leisure, events and evening economy.”