New York’s number one rated immersive experience plans UK launch: Spyscape, the number one-rated immersive concept in New York, is planning to launch its Spygames experience in the UK and has begun searching for sites in London, Propel has learned. Spyscape is described as “a contemporary edutainment brand focused on secrets”. Its first physical site in New York City uses immersive stories and experiences to help people “uncover their own potential”. The 60,000 square-foot museum and experience was created by London-based private investment group Archimedia and designed by Sir David Adjaye. It attracts circa 800,000 visits per annum and is 90% pre booked. As part of its Spygames concept, teams of two to five players test their mental and physical agility in a series of high-tech game rooms. The rooms are equipped with a mix of everything from lasers, lidars and screens to projectors, climbing holds, pressure-sensitive floors and walls. Designed with former operatives from CIA and Special Ops, the business said that Spygames is a “new twist on the world of competitive socialising that combines the adrenaline-pumping thrill of physical activity with the dopamine-fuelled joy of gaming”. Spyscape marketing director Francis Jago told Propel: “Imagine the physical rush of SoulCycle with the mental focus of F1 Arcade and you’ll start to understand why people love Spygames so much. The net promoter scores are off the charts and we are seeing people return two or three days in a row!” Spyscape is now looking to open multiple Spygames venues across the world offering active gaming experiences, starting with London in 2024. The business is working with property advisor Will Biggart, of Torridon, to secure a 6,000 to 8,000 square-foot site in the capital, with areas of interest including Borough, Covent Garden, Shoreditch and Soho. It is thought that Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin are also on its radar. 

 

Panel highlighting how sector companies are improving team engagement to take place at first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2024, open for bookings: A panel highlighting how sector companies are improving team engagement will be held at the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2024. More than 350 people have booked for the conference, which takes place on Thursday, 21 March, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London’s Kensington, and is open for bookings. Alastair Scott, founder of S4labour, will highlight how sector companies are improving engagement with their teams, in discussion with Brian Hannon, co-founder of Super8 Restaurants (Brat and Mountain); Jill Scatchard, HR director at Oakman Group; Adam Martin, managing director of Tesco Hospitality; and Dan Hawkie, chief commercial officer at Tipjar. Operators can book up to three free places per company while Premium Club members who are operators can book up to four free places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Variety of casual dining operators to feature in next New Openings Database released on Friday: Premium Club members will receive the next The New Openings Database on Friday (1 March), at midday. The database features openings by casual dining operators such as Wahaca, which is returning to the expansion trail with an opening in London’s Paddington. Meanwhile, African restaurant Afrikana has revealed a pipeline of 50-plus restaurants, with up to ten set to open this year, while Ottolenghi is set to make its regional debut with an opening in Oxfordshire. The database will show the details of 64 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. It will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis and Premium Club members will also receive a 2,800-word report on the new additions to the database. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; the Turnover & Profits Blue Book; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. 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. 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 Premium Club 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 Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Exclusive – Helen Charlesworth to step down as MD of Stonegate’s managed pub business: Helen Charlesworth is to step down as managing director of the managed pub business at Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, Propel has learned. Charlesworth will leave the business on Thursday, 28 March after eight years with the group. Charlesworth joined Stonegate in 2016 and has led every brand and format in the Stonegate managed estate, including the effective transition of a number of notable acquisitions. “This has been one of the hardest things I have ever done but I feel that the time is right to allow fresh vision for the business,” she said. “Stonegate is an incredible business because of the teams of people who work there, and I have been truly honoured to have led them over the last few years. I am sure they will continue to flourish and go from strength to strength.” David McDowall, chief executive of Stonegate Group, added: “I would like to personally thank Helen for all of the support she has provided to me since my arrival in the business just over a year ago. She is a first-class operator who has achieved remarkable things during her time with the business. I wish her every success for the future.” An announcement on Charlesworth’s successor will follow in due course.

 

Hospitality sales up 4.9% year-on-year in last 12 weeks but recent growth slows, average price of main course in managed pubs and bars increases 20.8% over past two years: Hospitality sales grew 4.9% year-on-year in the 12 weeks ending 13 February 2024, according to analysis from HDI, the provider of card spending insight and market pricing data to the UK hospitality sector. Fast food and takeaway, coffee and sandwich and delivery were the best performing sectors, while pubs and bars and independents and smaller chains delivered more modest levels of growth, and casual dining sales declined by 1.4% year-on-year. Although like-for-like sector sales were up 4.9% over the period as a whole, this slowed to 1.2% in the last four weeks. The only sector to see growth in the past month has been delivery (7.6% growth compared with 5.7% in the last 12 weeks). Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, said: “After the strong Christmas period, we’ve seen a relatively slow start to 2024, with our consumer ‘share of wallet’ data for the latest four weeks showing on-the-go and at-home occasions taking a bigger share of the overall market. Nearly £3 out of every £100 spent in hospitality has shifted to coffee and sandwich, delivery and fast food and takeaway when compared with spending over the latest 12 weeks, reflecting what is typically a quieter time of year for out-of-home socialising. Pubs, bars and restaurant operators will be hoping that the lighter nights and warmer weather will help encourage more out-of-home socialising in the weeks and months ahead, providing a much-needed boost to their sales performance.” Meanwhile, further analysis showed that the average price of a main course in the UK’s managed pubs and bars has risen by 20.8% (£2.01) over the past two years, and drinks by 17.2% (57p). Versus last year, meal prices have risen 8.5% and drink prices 7.8%; while versus six months ago, they rose 3.6% and 3.8% respectively; and in the last quarter, the price rose 0.6% and 0.1%. HDI’s panel tracks the spending of 10.2 million people across more than 160,000 individual hospitality venues, with its pricing data covering circa 16,000 hospitality venues and all major grocers. 

 

Robinsons relaunches guide to sustainable practices within pubs and makes it accessible to industry: North west brewer and retailer Robinsons has relaunched a guide designed to support its pub partners and managers in becoming more sustainable businesses – and made it accessible to all operators. Robinsons last summer became the first brewer and pub company to have made a commitment to becoming a carbon-literate workforce, with a dedicated training workshop certified by the Carbon Literacy Project. Robinsons has now released the Greener Retailing Guide 2024, in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University, which builds on the original 2016 version and suggests enhanced recommendations, updated case studies and helpful insights aimed at encouraging sustainability within pubs. It is free to access on Robinsons’ website. “We recognise the importance of sustainability in today’s business landscape, and the Greener Retailing Guide serves as a valuable complimentary resource for those operating pubs,” said Jack Manifold, sustainability champion at Robinsons. “It not only highlights the environmental benefits of adopting greener practices, but also shows significant cost-saving opportunities that come with sustainability.”

Unchanged Scottish Budget ‘abandons hospitality businesses’: UKHospitality has said the unchanged Scottish Budget has “abandoned hospitality businesses”. The Scottish government’s Budget passed it final vote at Holyrood on Tuesday night, but the trade body said it has ignored a “no-brainer” to provide equivalent business rates support to hospitality businesses. Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHospitality Scotland, said: “The Scottish Budget passing, unchanged, is the clearest sign yet that the Scottish government has decided to abandon its self-proclaimed reset with business. Instead, it is continuing on the same worn path of warm words and no action. Businesses up and down the country, across hospitality, leisure and tourism, have put forward the strongest possible evidence that the lack of business rates support is stifling growth, deterring investment, reducing trading capacity and, ultimately, forcing businesses to close. With our sector being so integral to Scotland’s culture and offering on the world stage, using the additional funds resulting from 75% rates relief in England to put them on an equal footing was a no-brainer. Instead, for the second year in a row, our businesses in Scotland have been left at a significant competitive disadvantage. If the Scottish government wants to regain any semblance of trust from the sector, it now needs to make good on its publicly declared commitment to reform business rates for hospitality.”

AA reveals 2023 Rosette Award winners: The AA has announced its 2023 Rosette Award winners, recognising the restaurants achieving the highest culinary standards in the UK. One venue was awarded the four AA Rosettes, marking it out as among the top restaurants in the country, while 16 more were granted three AA Rosettes, rewarding standards which “demand national recognition well beyond their local area”. La Dame de Pic London, the UK outpost of Maison Pic owner Anne-Sophie Pic, was the sole restaurant achieving four AA Rosettes, celebrating its “stunning classic dishes, featuring first class, seasonal produce, superb technical execution and flavour profiles”. Five further restaurants in the capital earned three AA Rosettes – Social Eating House, Pavyllon London in the Four Seasons Hotel at Park Lane, Claridge’s Restaurant, The Silver Birch and Studio Frantzen. Other restaurants in England to receive three AA Rosettes were Fallowfields at Housel Bay in Cornwall, Summer Lodge Country House in Dorset, Toffs by Rob Palmer in the West Midlands, The Gin Trap Inn in Norfolk, The Dining Room and Cellar at the Hillbark Hotel & Spa in Merseyside, The Tasting Room at The Vineyard in Berkshire, The Angel Inn in Suffolk and Kintsu in Essex. In Scotland, Edinburgh’s The Little Chartoom and Mingary Castle in the Highlands received the same honour, as did Thomas by Tom Simmons in Cardiff, Wales. Simon Numphud, managing director at AA Media, said: “We are delighted to celebrate and recognise the latest collection of outstanding restaurants. All deliver excellent culinary experiences where provenance, seasonality, flavour and great cooking take centre stage. Here’s to the remarkable chefs and front-of-house teams whose dedication has brought these accolades to life.”

 

CAMRA welcomes Crooked House rebuilding order: The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has welcomed an enforcement notice issued by South Staffordshire Council that the Crooked House pub in Himley is to be rebuilt brick by brick. The historic pub, which dates to the 1760s, burnt down in August 2023, just after an application was made to give the building listed status. The fire was immediately treated by the police as arson and three people were arrested, while MPs called for new measures to protect the UK’s heritage pubs. “The destruction of the Crooked House was a national tragedy, so it’s fantastic news that the owners have been ordered to rebuild the pub brick-by-brick,” said Gary Timmins, CAMRA’s pub and club campaigns director. “This is exactly what we were hoping to hear from South Staffordshire Council, and it’s a testament to the hard work of all the dedicated campaigners who stepped up and fought for the Crooked House. It’s now vital that systematic change happens, to ensure that the Crooked House is the last time we see such a shocking loss. Unfortunately, CAMRA is still investigating eight incidents from 2023 where pubs appear to have been demolished or converted without apparent planning permission. We’re calling for government to bolster planning policy so that unscrupulous developers know they will face action if they breach the law.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a growing international hospitality group that is seeking a chief financial officer. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will have primary day-to-day responsibility for planning, implementing, managing and controlling all financial related activities of the group. The group is looking for seasoned candidates who have extensive prior experience in managing financial structures, raising capital as well as providing strategic financial guidance.” The salary is up to £150,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email oliwia@corecruitment.com.

 

Flight Club operator CEO – conversations have begun with potential investors, 2024 started ‘strongly’: Steve Moore, chief executive and co-founder of Red Engine, the team behind Flight Club and Electric Shuffle, has told Propel conversations have begun with potential investors as it looks at a fundraise towards the end of the year. He said: “The balance sheet is in great shape and we have the cash flow in place for our next set of openings, so it’s not something we need to do or are in a hurry to do, but we are having a few conversations at the moment.” Earlier this week, the company reported sales rose to more than £100m in 2023. Excluding franchise venues, Red Engine’s sales reached £67m, producing Ebitda of £12.2m. Moore said 2024 had started strongly for the group, with its two recent openings in Scotland – in Glasgow and Edinburgh – being “a massive success”. As previously reported, the group plans to open eight more venues in 2024, including in New York, Philadelphia and Washington in the United States. In the UK, Flight Clubs are launching in Liverpool and Oxford ,while a third venue here for Electric Shuffle is opening in Manchester. Moore told Propel: “We’re focusing on the countries where we are now and not looking at new markets. We’re trying to balance the new openings we have this year with developing the product and remaining market leaders. We have a net promoter score of around 90, which is pretty much unheard of in the industry. We’re not developing any other formats – we’ve got enough on our plates. We’re nine years old now, so we’re looking at refurbishing some of our older venues.” In terms of being in a position to consolidate the market, Moore said this wasn’t something the business was exploring as he felt it “operates in a different space”. He said: “We’re a bit different from the other competitive socialising operators in that we get multiple visits per week from people rather than ‘one off’ occasions. About 80% of our guests come just to have something to eat and/or drink, so with us, it’s not just about the play aspect.” Asked about the key differences in trade between the UK and US, Moore said in Britain there is more seven days a week trade, but across the Atlantic, the events market is “a step above”. He said: “Here, our venues are busy all the time, whereas in the US, it’s much more geared towards the weekend. However, the events market over there is so much bigger. We regularly have 200 to 300 people playing at the same time and the venues are designed in a particular way to cater for that – I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  

Exclusive ­– Urban Pubs & Bars appoints Jim Pickworth as new CFO: Urban Pubs & Bars, the London pub operator founded by Malc Heap and Nick Pring and backed by Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual, has appointed Jim Pickworth as its new chief financial officer, Propel has learned. Pickworth, who will report into Urban Pubs & Bars managing director Chris Hill, spent five years as chief financial officer at New World Trading Company, and prior to that, he spent 11 years as chief financial officer at Azzurri Group. He also held roles as finance director at YO! and Pret A Manger. Pickworth replaces Glenn Pearson, formerly of Admiral Taverns, who held the role for two years. Hill said: “I’m delighted to welcome Jim to the team. His pedigree speaks for itself, and I know he will be a brilliant support as we continue to grow. I’d also like to thank Glenn for all his hard work; Glenn has helped guide the business through a transformative period that saw the acquisition of 16 new sites. He has built a strong finance team and delivered excellent results. Glenn and Jim will work closely together over the next couple of months to ensure a smooth handover.” Urban Pubs & Bars operates 42 pubs, bars and restaurants across London including premium tapas bars Salt Yard Group. Earlier this month, Propel revealed that the group had secured the former All Bar One site in Northcote Road, Clapham. The site, which was closed by Mitchells & Butlers late last year, will reopen under the new name The Red Setter on Wednesday, 27 March. Earlier this year, Urban Pubs & Bars said it was poised for further expansion as it saw an “exceptional” Christmas period and reported record revenue of £52.2m. Urban Pubs & Bars features in the Premium Club Turnover & Profits Blue Book, which has grown to 875 companies and is available exclusively to Premium Club members. Its turnover of £52.2m is the 183rd highest in the database. The Blue Book ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club 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.

 

Swedish premium karaoke concept Moyagi confirms UK debut, targeting further sites here: Swedish premium karaoke concept Moyagi has confirmed it will make its overseas debut with an opening in London’s Marylebone – and is targeting further sites here. Propel revealed in October that Moyagi had secured a site at 5 Cavendish Place. Now Moyagi has revealed the venue will open on Friday, 15 March. The site will be able to host up to 180 guests and will have eight private karaoke rooms of various sizes, which include streamlined in-room drinks ordering technology, concierge bottle service and access to more than 150,000 classic and contemporary international songs on demand. In keeping with the style of a boutique members’ club, signature and seasonal mocktails and cocktails such as its best-selling Yuzu Margarita will be made to order in the lounge bar, which will also host guest DJs on weekends. A spokesperson told Propel that Moyagi has “ambitious plans for other sites in London and other UK cities”. Founded in 2019 by Marcus Schuterman, Jonathan Merlo Sjöö  and Alexander Irinarchos, Moyagi has sites in Stockholm and Malmo. Creative director Shuterman said: “Moyagi is the result of the belief that karaoke deserves so much more. Our idea was to create a transportative experience, which is fully immersive. By entering our ‘karaoke dimension’ guests can forget about everything, while getting lost in a highly seductive combination of intuitive tech, top of the line audio, bespoke drinks service and limitless entertainment. Quite simply, Moyagi [is] where karaoke lives.” Taylor Gershon is Moyagi’s retained agent.

 

Bowland Inns to put £12.5m towards future acquisitions, confident of being able to pursue pre-pandemic growth strategy: Lancashire hotel, pub and restaurant operator Bowland Inns & Hotels has said it is putting £12.5m of unused funds following its refinancing towards future acquisitions, and that is it confident of being able to pursue its pre-pandemic growth strategy. As previously reported, the group, which also has wedding venues, a food hall and a brewery across its 13 trading businesses, secured £25m from OakNorth in October 2023 to support its expansion plans. This, according to the group’s accounts for the year to 31 May 2023, replaced a previous £17.4m facility with Barclays. The new funds have already funded the post year end purchase of Wennington Hall, which is due to open this spring. “Alongside the core facility, an additional £12.5m uncommitted of funds will assist with the group’s future acquisitions and growth plans,” director James Warburton said. “Our immediate priority continues to be consolidation and maximising profitability from the existing estate, but the board is confident the group can pursue its pre-pandemic growth strategy through a combination of operational cashflow and accordion in the near future.” Warburton said Bowland Brewery, acquired in August 2022, and The Assheton Arms pub, added to the group in February 2023, are “already contributing positively to our group results”. He went on to say that the grade II-listed Wennington Hall, which will comprise 36 bedrooms, a wellness centre and a dedicated event space, will be “a jewel in the crown of our Dream Venues wedding collection”. It comes after the business reported turnover of £22,019,893 for the year, down just slightly on its record-breaking year of £22,495,116 in 2022. Its Ebitda fell from £5,095,457 to £4,102,135 while its pre-tax profit grew from £363,019 to £547,832. The company received £86,370 in government grants (2022: £55,350) and paid no dividends (2022: nil). Exceptional items included £191,538 in refinancing and acquisition costs (2022: £247,065); £34,773 in beer duty (2022: nil); and one-off costs of £49,264 in respect of staff terminations (2022: £42,374). Warburton called it an “excellent year for the group” and noted that the prior year represented a “record 12-month period as the group benefited from nearly two years of covid pent up wedding demand, meaning a record number of weddings were delivered across our sites”. He added: “The fact that we almost equalled this year, during what could be described as something much more akin to ‘business as usual’ was an incredible achievement. The board are extremely pleased with the contribution of the two acquisitions during the period and are looking forward to the impact that Wennington Hall will have on the group as it comes into operation next year.”

 

Burgerism to open fifth site: Burgerism, the fast-growing, north west smash burger concept, is to open a fifth site in the region. The Mark Murphy-led business is to open on a former Pizza Hut Delivery site in Denton, Greater Manchester. The venue is set to join its existing venues in Salford, Gatley, a delivery-only kitchen in Manchester city centre and pop-up in Freight Island, when it opens next month. Talking to Propel last year, Murphy said the business had generated interest from trade buyers, as it reported a “record-breaking” September.

 

Joule’s puts Lancashire pub on the market as it focuses on suburban and town centre locations: Shropshire brewer and retailer Joule’s has put The Crown pub in the Lancashire village of Silverdale on the market as it focuses on suburban and town centre locations. The company said Deana Ions has been at the helm of the pub since July 2020 and “navigated it through the challenges posed by the pandemic and the ever-evolving landscape of the hospitality industry”. She has agreed to continue working with Joule’s during the period of change to ensure the pub, on Brook Street, stays open. A spokeswoman for Joule’s said: “While it has been an extremely difficult decision for us, we believe this presents a unique opportunity for a new chapter in the pub’s storied history. The decision to sell The Crown comes from our appreciation that the pub market has evolved significantly, and as a local brewery, we are now targeting suburban and town centre locations where our brewery tap offer thrives. We believe The Crown would be best suited as a free house with a landlord who has the freedom to trade with an entrepreneurial spirit. We have been proud owner for many years now, and while the decision to sell The Crown marks the end of an era, it also presents an exciting opportunity for someone to take it forward. We are committed to finding a new custodian who will ensure its continued success and extend our sincere thanks to Deana and her team for their commitment to supporting the Silverdale community.” Last month, Steve Nuttall, managing director of the 42-strong business, told Propel that Joule’s is currently trading in line with expectations after absorbing cost increases to hold its beer prices for a fourth consecutive year. He added that the business is in legals to add another site before the end of its current financial year, in March, and is currently marketing two pubs for disposal while reviewing another two. It has since added the Red Lion Inn in Hockely, Birmingham, to its estate.

 

SSP secures Egyptian airport contract: SSP Group, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has secured a contract with Egyptian Airports Company to operate a number of restaurants and cafés in Terminal 1 at Hurghada International airport. The new deal will see the introduction of 12 brands to the airport including KFC, Costa Coffee, Camden Food Co and Levito Pizza & Pasta. These will join the existing brands operated by SSP there that include Burger King, FloCafe, Coffee Lab, Ritazza, Upper Crust, Flavours and Alsafi among others. George Antoniou, managing director of SSP eastern Europe and the Middle East, said: “Since we first began operating here in Egypt, our business has developed considerably. This new contract win is testament to our ability to deliver a high quality, innovative programme of food and beverage.”

 

St Austell partners with Cornish craft beer company for new Charlestown venue: South west brewer and pub company St Austell Brewery has partnered with Cornish craft beer company, Harbour Brewing Co, for new venue opening in Charlestown. Opening this summer, The Harbour Beer House is a joint venture between two companies that have a long history of collaboration, with St Austell having taken a minority share in Harbour Brewing Co in 2022. The new site, owned by St Austell Brewery, was previously known as the Harbourside Inn and is undergoing a refurbishment after extensive damage caused last year by a fire at the neighbouring Pier House. The Harbour Beer House will offer regular new and exclusive beer from Harbour Brewing Co alongside established favourites and limited-edition cask specials from St Austell. The venue will also offer a beer takeaway service and serve freshly made pizza. Eddie Lofthouse, who founded Harbour Brewing Co in 2021, on a farm in Lanivet on the outskirts of Bodmin, said: “We’re looking forward to bringing the Harbour brand to life in this new venue, and what better location than Charlestown?” Helen Sprason, area manager at St Austell, added: “Harbour Beer House will be all about top tasting beer and showcasing amazing breweries, both here in the south west and beyond.” The Pier House, also owned by St Austell, will reopen this summer too after undergoing a major refurbishment. It is not St Austell’s only recent joint venture. In April 2023, Propel exclusively revealed that St Austell has partnered with the directors of ETM Group, which operates an award-winning collection of bars, pubs, and restaurants in central London, for Ludo Sports Bar & Kitchen, intended to be a series of premium sports bars across the west country. The first Ludo opened in Bath’s Brunel Square the following month, and it has since become the “official sports bar” of Premiership side Bath Rugby.

 

Balfour Hospitality acquires two of its pub freeholds, introduces ‘locals’ discount offer: Balfour Hospitality, the south east-based pubs and venues arm of Balfour Winery, has completed the freehold purchase of two of its pubs, as the business said it continues to invest in the Kent area to help support local communities. The two pubs – The Goudhurst Inn in Goudhurst and The Tickled Trout in West Farleigh – have been part of their respective villages since the 18th century. A spokesman for the company, which operates a further eight sites in London and the south east, said: “With more and more pubs facing closure across the UK due to rising costs, including more than 1,000 in the least two years alone and more than 90 of those in Kent, Balfour were keen to secure these sites to preserve them for future generations. 2024 still promises to be a challenging year for hospitality, but Balfour’s management team remain positive about the future and is investing in these traditional local pubs as vital parts of their communities.” As well as securing the freehold of the sites, Balfour said it is also investing in renovating the exteriors, putting in new menus and installing new management teams. It is also introducing a “locals” discount in its sites – where anyone who lives within a few miles of one of its venues can receive 15% off all food, drink and even bedrooms. The pubs involved include The Goudhurst Inn, The Woolpack in Tenterden, The Tickled Trout, The Windmill in Hollingbourne and The Ship Inn in Rye, plus sites in Forest Row (The Swan) and as far afield as the Cotswolds (The Falcon). Lee Hart, Balfour Hospitality’s operations director, said: “We love the areas around our pubs, and our teams are all firmly focused on connecting with their communities as a hub for all. We want to make sure that our Balfour Inns are pillars for their regions and support those who support us.”

 

Lane7 acquires keys for first international site: Boutique bowling company Lane7 has picked up the keys to its first international site, in Berlin, which is due to open in June this year. The Tim Wilks-led company said the acquisition of the Berlin venue is the start of an “exciting period for the largest competitive socialising brand in the UK” as it begins is expansion into Europe, and the first of five new venues opening in the coming months. The Berlin venue, which spans more than 18,000 square foot, is strategically placed in The Playce, Potsdamer Platz. The site will feature Lane7’s signature boutique bowling lanes, mini golf, interactive darts, beer pong, shuffleboard and an upmarket bar area. Lane7 managing director Gavin Hughes, said: “We are excited to bring our unique brand of hospitality and entertainment to one of the most exciting cities in Germany and begin the next chapter in our expansion as we bring the Lane7 experience to Europe.” Lane7 is due to open a second European site in Dublin later this year, along with several new sites in the UK. In December, the business opened its debut London venue, featuring a food offer from Patty&Bun, the better burger concept led by Joe Grossmann, within The Zig Zag Building in Victoria. 

 

Pho confirms March opening for Glasgow debut: Vietnamese street food restaurant group Pho has confirmed it will open its first location in Glasgow next month. Propel revealed in October that Pho, which finished 2023 with 40 sites, had secured the former Moss Bros site in the city’s Renfield Street for a 100-cover restaurant. It will now open on Friday, 8 March, becoming Pho’s second site in Scotland following its launch in Edinburgh’s St James’ Quarter. The restaurant will offer dishes such as fresh summer rolls, savoury and spicy curries and wok-fried noodles alongside a variety of pho, the Vietnamese national dish. Following the launch, Pho’s full menu will be available to order on Deliveroo for delivery or click-and-collect from Monday, 18 March. Libby Andrews, who last year returned as marketing director of Pho after 16 months with Turtle Bay, said: “Glasgow has been on our radar for some time and we are so excited to finally become a part of the city’s vibrant and diverse community.” Earlier this month, Propel revealed that Pho, which is backed by TriSpan, plans to open a further six or seven sites in 2024 on the back of a strong 12 months, with full-year turnover set to top £72m. It comes after the Pat Marrinan-led business reported a turnover increase of 33% to £58.3m (2022: £43.7m) for the year to 19 February 2023, while its pre-tax profit stood at £1.8m (2022: £5.6m).

 

Award-winning operators take on third Greene King pub: Maria and Steve Harris have taken on their third pub with brewer and retailer Greene King – The Mailmans Arms in Lyndhurst, Hampshire. The couple, who opened their first pub in February 2021, also operate The Stag in Lyndhurst, located next door to The Mailmans Arms, and The Old Mill in Salisbury – all in partnership with Greene King Pub Partners. Last year, The Stag won pub team of the year, community pub of the year and pub of the year at Greene King’s Night of Excellence awards. Located in Lyndhurst high street in the heart of the New Forest, the pub’s transformation was completed over two stages. Firstly, its trading area was overhauled, and secondly, five guest rooms have been fully refurbished and will be ready to welcome guests for the spring and summer. The stage two works also included a full external refurbishment which includes launching the “Dog House”, a specific area where guests can play pool and darts and watch sport. The food offering is a small plates menu consisting of street food made predominantly with local ingredients. Dan Robinson, managing director of Greene King Pub Partners, said: “I’m over the moon for Maria and Steve whose pub business continues to go from strength-to-strength. As their business partner, it is a privilege to be a part of their success and to help them grow.”

 

Food hall and social venue to open in rural West Yorkshire town: A craft beer bar situated in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, is expanding into a new 180-seat food hall and social venue following investment. Coopers Yard, which will open on Saturday, 16 March, is a new concept created by the team behind O’Briens Beer Cafe in Holmfirth that aims to bring a “vibrant-like market” back to the former market town. Situated in a former abattoir and pie factory that closed in the 1980s, Coopers Yard will house three street food vendors from across Yorkshire, as well as a permanent cafe and another bar that will sell a range of drinks such as cocktails, world beer and soft drinks to complement craft beer bar O’Briens, which sits within the building complex. Elena O’Brien, co-founder of O’Briens and Coopers Yard, said: “Coopers Yard is a concept we’ve been thinking of since 2020 after being inspired by the American-style food halls in Georgia and South Carolina. We started with our craft beer bar and always dreamt of how we could make something like this, but it wasn’t until the building behind our bar came up for sale that we thought this dream could become a reality with the right business plan and level of investment.” Luke O’Brien added: “The goal is to make a place for the community – something that doesn’t just have amazing street food and drink choices, but is a real place the locals can be proud of. We aim to run a lot of community-led events such as fitness classes, live music, art classes, exhibitions, night markets and more.” The initial vendors include Bina’s Karachi-inspired street food from Sheffield, Koben low and slow barbecue from Leeds, and Cucina Romana, traditional Roman street food from Huddersfield. Step Out Coffee and Danelaw will be collaborating on the permanent cafe on site, both local to Huddersfield. 

 

JW Lees opens ‘temple to our nearly 200-year-old family brewery company’: Manchester brewer and retailer JW Lees has opened Founder’s Hall, which it said has been “created as a temple to our nearly 200-year-old family brewery company”. The site, which has replaced Dutton’s in Albert Square, Manchester, and joins Rain Bar, Gulliver’s, The Rembrandt and The Millstone as one of JW Lees’ five pubs in the centre of the city. Dutton’s had been trading since 2013. The redevelopment has created a space to experience the vast line-up of the brewery’s beers all in one place, as well as creating 25 jobs. The venue pays homage to the company’s founder, John Lees. The menu features nibbles, bar snacks and small plates along with hand-crafted pies and a Sunday roast with unlimited Yorkshire puddings and gravy. JW Lees operates 43 managed pubs, inns and hotels and lets another 100 pubs to its partners.

 

ASM Global set to operate Utility Arena Sheffield: ASM Global, which operates the AO Arena in Manchester and SSE Wembley Arena as part of its global portfolio, is set to manage the Utilita Arena Sheffield from January 2025. It has been selected by the city council following an eight-month tender process, meaning Utilita Arena Sheffield joins ASM Global’s network of more than 350 venues, which collectively host 20,000 events and welcome 164 million guests every year. Cllr Richard Williams, chair of the communities, parks and leisure committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “This is a major step forward in our ambitious plan for the city and entertainment facilities. ASM Global has an unrivalled reputation in the global venue industry and this new investment will certainly allow us to compete on a global scale.” Chris Bray, president of ASM Global Europe, added: “Sheffield is a city with a rich cultural heritage. We are excited to have been appointed to operate the Utilita Arena, which joins ASM’s industry-leading UK portfolio.”