Lebanese street food concept secures first franchise partners and aims to open more stores in 2024, targeting 20 sites in next five years: Lebanese street food concept Mayyil has secured its first domestic and international franchise partners and is aiming to open both sites this year, ahead of a planned expansion to 20 UK sites in the next five years, Propel has learned. Mayyil was founded in 2022 by Ayman Assi as a sister concept to Beit El Zaytoun, the Lebanese restaurant in Park Royal, west London, which opened in 2016. Having launched Mayyil near Harrods in Knightsbridge in September 2022, a second site opened in Notting Hill in January. A further company-owned site will open next year, but before that, Mayyil is aiming to launch and support franchise units in both London and the UAE before the end of the year. “We’ve already sold two franchises and we’re just reviewing sites for approvals,” Assi told Propel. “We want to expand outside of London too but we’re looking at prime areas in London, as well as airports and malls. In three years, we want to have ten UK branches, and 20 in five years. This week, we finalised our first international franchisee for UAE and we’re looking to further expand in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.” Assi described the concept’s offer as authentic street sandwiches, prepared on a live grill in theatre style kitchens, with fries and drinks, adding: “We want to teach people about Lebanese cuisine, the kind of food that fills the streets in many markets.” He has also recently developed self-service kiosks, an app and a loyalty scheme. He added: “We’re trading very well in Knightsbridge, it’s next to Harrods and has a good offer at reasonable prices. We have a large customer following from the GCC region as our concepts are very well known overseas.” Mayyil is being advised by Charlie Mander at Presman & Colard, which has just won the Rising Star Award in UK business consultancy at the UK Business Awards.

 

Propel launches Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club members: Propel is launching the Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference. The all-day conference takes place on Tuesday, 14 May at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £395 plus VAT for suppliers. There is a 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club members. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places. Speakers will include Stephen Owens, managing director – pubs and restaurants at Christie & Co, who will set the scene for the market, with an update on sector valuations, price expectations, market sentiment, who the buyers and sellers are, and what’s in store for the year ahead. Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, will talk about the areas where the pub sector is and has been performing strongly and where the opportunities are for the sector to drive growth. Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of Liberation Group, will discuss how the award-winning business has maintained its high standards while continuing to grow its mainland estate, the development of its bedrooms business as it targets a 700-bedrooms division, and the integration of the Cirrus Inns business, including its entry into the London market. Oisin Rogers will talk about the creation and running of The Devonshire, the Soho pub that incorporates a three-metre-long bespoke wood ember grill, the first of its kind in the UK; an on-site aging chamber that is the biggest in central London; its own bakery; three dining rooms; and the extraordinary lengths it has gone to in order to deliver the perfect pint of Guinness. Peter Borg-Neal, founder of the Oakman Group, will talk about maintaining the company’s award-winning standards against the backdrop of a volatile trading environment, his return as chief executive and how the sector must remain agile and respond quickly to the extraneous pressures it is facing. Susan Chappell, divisional director at Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), who is responsible for the All Bar One, Browns, Nicholson’s and Castle estates, which have an annual turnover of £300m, will highlight how M&B is evolving its business to stay abreast of trends in digital, delivery and premiumisation, and how its business transformational programme Ignite is delivering ongoing improvements. Andy Spencer, chief operating officer, and Robin Belither, managing director at Punch Pubs & Co, will talk about building the company’s managed partnerships division from scratch, the journey the division has been on, its successes, learnings and what comes next. James Brown, managing director of BrewDog Bars, will discuss building temples to craft beer in the UK and internationally, evolving the group’s model and its approach to hiring, training and retaining staff. Chris Stagg, who heads up the Revolution Bars Group-owned Peach Pubs, will speak about evolving and growing the business under new ownership, standing out in the premium pub market, and creating an award-winning culture. Phil Turner, managing director of Chestnut Inns, will talk about creating sustainable rural managed pubs and diversifying the business, such as acquiring a wine merchant, as part of its growth strategy. Meanwhile, Stonegate Group chief commercial officer Melissa Wisdom, Shepherd Neame managing director Jonathon Swaine, Greene King managing director Clair Preston-Beer, City Pub Group founder Clive Watson and sector investor Luke Johnson will talk about the challenge the sector faces in ensuring it maximises the performance of its pub assets in an era of declining alcohol sales.

 

Next edition of Premium Club Turnover & Profits Blue Book shows sector companies’ profit outstripping losses by £1.84bn, figure up again after last month’s fall: The next edition of the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, which will be sent to Premium Club members tomorrow (Friday, 8 March), at midday, shows the profit being made by sector companies is now outstripping losses by £1.84bn. This was a slight rise on the £1.83bn last month when the figure fell for the first time since June last year, when sector companies’ profit started outstripping losses for the first time since the covid pandemic. The Blue Book shows the total profit of the 888 companies in the list is £3,952,899,398 and losses are £2,115,273,329. The Blue Book shows 582 companies in profit and 306 reporting losses. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; the New Openings Database; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Clubs members 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 that are Premium Club members 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 supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

‘Empty’ spring Budget has ‘ignored sector’ and ‘kicked the can down the road’: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s “empty” spring Budget has “ignored the sector” and “kicked the can down the road”, hospitality leaders have said. Sector businesses and trade bodies had been hoping for a reduction in the VAT rate to 12.5% VAT for hospitality, among other measures, but it was not forthcoming. Simon Dodd, chief executive of Young’s, said: “The government has once again kicked the can down the road rather than implement much-needed long-term support for the hospitality sector. While we welcome the extension of the alcohol duty freeze, it is simply not enough to secure the long-term future of our sector and the livelihoods of the millions that work within it. To make a real difference, we absolutely need a sensible cut to VAT and reform of business rates.” Martin Williams, chief executive of Gaucho and M Restaurants, who earlier this week launched “VAT free Fridays” at Gaucho’s London restaurants – where diners will have 20% removed from all à la carte dining bills between 12pm and 4pm – said: “This Budget was the last chance for the Conservatives to support the hospitality sector for the first time since the pandemic, by listening to more than 100 hospitality leaders and reducing VAT in restaurants to 12.5% and capping business rates increases. Sadly, chancellor Hunt has once again ignored our sector. An empty Budget in terms of both ideas and support for hospitality.” Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, said: “A freeze in alcohol duty is welcome, but it is significantly outweighed by the continuing increases in the cost of doing business. Rising business rates and wages continue to disproportionately impact pubs, therefore it is disappointing the chancellor has, once again, missed opportunities to reduce VAT for hospitality and reform the rates system. The sector needs wider regulatory reform if it is to continue to create hundreds of thousands of jobs and support the nation’s economic growth.” Chris Jowsey, chief executive of Admiral Taverns, said: “While we welcome the chancellor’s latest support measure to extend the alcohol duty freeze until February 2025, we are disappointed that the government has not chosen to cut draught beer duty for pubs, nor addressed a reduction in employer national insurance contributions, and by the lack of long term, permanent support to mitigate the ongoing challenges of business rates. I would urge the chancellor to immediately reconsider further support to our sector to enable these vital community lifelines to trade out of this economic crisis.” Paul Davies, chief executive of Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company, added: “We’re pleased to see the chancellor has listened to the beer and pub industry which has strongly made the case that any increase to duty for our sector and our customers would be hugely damaging. The announcement that duty will be frozen until February 2025 will make a tangible difference to hospitality and the brewing sector, as our industry continues to adapt to a challenging operational climate that has seen many pubs sadly closing their doors in recent months.” Meanwhile, Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHospitality Scotland, has urged the Scottish government to use the additional £300m in funding it is receiving from the Budget to support the sector with business rates relief. He said: “Our sector is the beating heart of Scottish culture and a major part of our tourist offer on the world stage – we can no longer afford to lose businesses at the rate we currently are. Having lost more than 1,300 businesses in Scotland since the start of the pandemic, business rates relief on par with what is being offered to English businesses is essential, and I would urge the Scottish government to implement that as a matter of urgency.”

 

UK’s independent coffee shop market achieves 4.1% sales growth over last 12 months, segment grew 2.2% in size to an estimated 12,212 outlets: The UK’s independent coffee shop market grew by 2.2% over the last 12 months to reach an estimated 12,212 outlets, according to the World Coffee Portal’s latest report on the UK’s independent coffee shop market. The Independents Report UK 2004 also indicates the overall value of the UK independent coffee shop market withstood rising costs and tightened consumer spend to grow 4% during the period to £4.6bn. Nearly three quarters of independent operators reported increased sales last year, with 30% reporting more than 5% growth, while World Coffee Portal forecasts total independent coffee shop sales will surpass £4.8bn in 2025 and £5.6bn by February 2029, at 3.9% compound annual growth rate. The report said beverage quality, personalised service, authenticity and localness are key drivers of customer retention for UK independent coffee shops. Furthermore, these factors are also crucial differentiators between independent coffee shops and branded coffee chain competitors. However, while industry leaders view specialty coffee as a key indicator of a higher-quality coffee shop, the importance of specialty among UK coffee consumers surveyed by World Coffee Portal has fallen year-on-year, the report said. Industry leaders are evenly split in their assessment of current trading conditions – with the cost-of-living crisis a key concern. However, nearly twice as many leaders surveyed by World Coffee Portal believe trading conditions will improve for independent coffee shops over the next 12 months rather than anticipating a deterioration of sales. Allegra Group founder and chief executive, Jeffrey Young, said: “Despite the continued growth of chain concepts in the UK, consumers are eager to ‘support their local’ in these challenging economic times.” The analysis covers the UK independent coffee shop sector, defined as operators with up to four locations. It consists of more than 2,000 online surveys with UK independent coffee shop consumers and more than 100 online surveys, consultations and in-depth interviews with leading industry insiders in the UK.

Fourth month of private sector growth points to end of recession: Britain’s private sector economy grew slightly slower than first estimated last month but analysts said business activity had been on a sustained upward trend for several months, suggesting that the country has already come out of a recession. The S&P Global and CIPS composite purchasing managers’ index, a measure of activity in the UK private sector, hit 53 in February, up from 52.9 in the previous month and the strongest reading since May last year, reports The Times. The figure was above the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction for the fourth month in a row, but down from an initial estimate of 53.3. The services sector PMI slipped to 53.8 last month from 54.3 in January. Again, the index was revised down from the first reading of 54.3 and came in below City analysts’ expectations. Although the readings were softer than initially thought, Tim Moore, economic director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said that the above 50-point readings indicated “that the UK economy has turned a corner after entering a technical recession during the second half of 2023”. The UK slipped into a recession in the second half of last year. The measure of confidence that trading conditions in the services sector will strengthen in the coming months rose sharply in February to its highest point in two years — tied to expectations that the Bank of England will cut interest rates in the second half of this year and investment spending improving production processes. Companies have taken on more staff before this expected increase in sales. Overseas sales also improved in February, led by trade with the US and Asia. However, respondents to the PMI survey said that elevated wage expectations caused them to scale back their workforce expansion plans. Input costs across the private sector rose at the sharpest pace since August last year, highlighting that inflationary pressures remain in the UK economy. The Bank is forecast by traders to lower the base rate three times in 2024 from its present 16-year high of 5.25 %. Inflation remains double the central bank’s target at 4%.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a hospitality business that is seeking a head of people. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will drive the business forward and execute the people strategy to promote a high-performance culture that promotes the business needs and success. This will include the development and implementation of a proactive HR function to provide a comprehensive range of HR services and activities. This is effectively a start-up business in a huge period of growth. You will be hands on, solution focused, strategic and transactional in your approach. With a small team you will need to thrive in an entrepreneurial business. Reporting directly to the chief operating officer, you will be able to influence at all levels and advise on all people matters across different restaurant groups.” The salary is up to £110,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email kate@corecruitment.com.  

 

Busaba promotes Winston Matthews to CEO: Busaba, the ten-strong Thai chain founded by Alan Yau, has promoted Winston Matthews to chief executive, Propel understands. Matthews has been with the Tnui Capital-backed business since November 2017 and has had stints at its head of purchasing and supply chain and food and beverage director. For the past three and half years, he has been the chain’s commercial director. Propel revealed in December that Terry Harrison was to step down as managing director of Busaba. Harrison, a former director at Gondola Group, was appointed managing director in the summer of 2017. The brand went through its own restructure in 2020 where it looked to exit sites in Oxford Circus, Reading, Manchester and St Albans. It returned to the expansion trail in 2021 with openings in Cardiff and Oxford, and last year launched a site in the Lakeside scheme in Essex. Busaba features in the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality, which is one of six databases exclusive to Premium Club members. The latest edition features 863 companies. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, 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. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Rudy’s adds to London openings pipeline: Mission Mars, the BGF-backed operator of Albert’s Schloss and Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, has added a further site in London to its 2024 openings pipeline for the latter 20-strong brand. The company, which aims to open a further ten pizzerias in FY24, has already secured openings in London’s Shoreditch High Street, Tottenham Court Road and Spitalfields, plus in Durham’s Silver Street; in High Ousegate, York; and on the former Black Pearl site in Bridgford Road, West Bridgford. Propel understands that Mission Mars has now added to its Rudy’s pipeline in London by securing a former Domino’s Pizza site in Queensway. The brand has also been linked with openings in Prestwich and Altrincham. Talking in January on the back of the company’s full-year results, Roy Ellis, chief executive of Mission Mars, said: “Strong trading across all venues for a sustained period gives us confidence that both our Albert’s Schloss and Rudy’s brands are well set to deliver growth and are likely to trade successfully in all parts of the UK. We continue to search for the best locations, with 12 new Rudy’s and one new Albert’s Schloss currently in legals.” Josh Rose, of Matter.London, acts for Mission Mars in London.

 

Former Oodles head of sales joins Phat Buns as franchising director as it opens 13th location: Hassan Sacranie, former head of sales and franchising at Indo-Chinese concept Oodles, has joined Phat Buns as franchising director as the Midlands better burger business opens its 13th location. Sacranie joined Ooodles in 2018 as head of business operating and franchising when it had just two stores in Leicester and oversaw its franchise-led growth to an estate of 35 stores across the UK. He spent his final five months with Oodles as head of sales and franchising before leaving in June 2023 to become chief executive of consultancy firm, QSR Services. Phat Buns co-owner Hussein Sacranie said: “Phat Buns is thrilled to announce the arrival of Hassan Sacranie as our dynamic new franchise director. With years of experience in franchising and an impressive background, collaborating with renowned global franchise giants like Ben & Jerry’s, Hassan brings a wealth of expertise to the table. He'll be spearheading our revamped, affordable franchise model, featuring an unbeatable franchise fee slashed to a mere £20,000 and a total build and setup cost of just £200,000.” It comes as Phat Buns this week opened its 13th location, at 29 High Street in Hounslow, west London. It is also set to open sites in Liverpool and Wolverhampton in the coming months.

 

The Ivy Collection hires Maisie Denning as new marketing director: The Ivy Collection, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant chain, has hired Maisie Denning, formerly of Burger & Lobster and AB InBev, as its new marketing director. Denning joins The Ivy Collection after nearly five years with AB InBev, including the last two and half years as its head of product – consumer digital. She previously spent three and a half years as head of marketing at Burger & Lobster and four years at Mitchells & Butlers, including two years as marketing manager for its Premium Country Dining brand. In January, Caring kicked off an auction for his stake in The Ivy and its sister restaurants, with his advisers putting a £1bn price tag on the business. HSBC began sharing marketing documents with interested parties for the Covent Garden restaurant as well as the Ivy Collection and Ivy Asia sites, according to City sources. Caring owns the Ivy group in a 50/50 joint venture with former Qatari prime minister Sheikh Hamad Bin-Jassim Bin-Jaber Al Thani. The business is to make its debut in Northern Ireland later this year. The company is taking circa 12,000 square feet in Cleaver House, on the corner of Donegall Place and Donegall Square. 

 

Isabel Mayfair CEO to launch new restaurant and bar concept in Manchester this month: Scottie Bhattarai, who is chief executive of Mediterranean restaurant Isabel Mayfair, will launch his new restaurant and bar concept in Manchester at the end of month. Bhattarai, who previously led restaurant brands in the Soho House stable as well as Petersham Nurseries to Michelin-starred recognition, is launching Maya, which will span three floors of the building that is home to the Leven hotel at the intersection of Chorlton Street and Canal Street. The ground floor will serve a modern-European style menu of brasserie classics. The main dining room, set below ground level, will offer a drinking and dining experience centred around an ingredient-led, hyper-seasonal and regularly changing menu. Further below the main dining room will be a secluded and hidden lounge bar. The culinary experience throughout is being crafted by Mancunian head chef Gabe Lea, who cut his teeth at Michelin-starred establishments like Le Manoir and The French at The Midland Hotel. The overarching concept, which leads the restaurant and bar’s approach, is what Maya will call “dinner plus”; where the dining experience “seamlessly evolves into exclusive late-night entertainment, with a roster of DJs all week providing the soundtrack to elegantly hedonistic nights”. Bhattarai said: “We aim to write a fresh new chapter for the city’s vibrant and wonderful hospitality scene. The team’s ongoing work over the past 18 months is to be applauded; the care and craft that has gone into ensuring every part of what will make Maya unique is something that I am incredibly proud of.” Joshua Senior, chief executive and co-founder, Leven, added: “Myself and the Leven team are delighted to be joined by Maya in our iconic, heritage building here in Manchester's Village neighbourhood. Maya’s unique spaces will mean guests can enjoy things on their terms, a perfect fit with our ethos here at Leven.”

 

St Austell launches equality, diversity and inclusion steering committee: South west brewer and pub company St Austell Brewery has launched a new equality, diversity and inclusion steering committee to support its efforts to “evolve our culture positively”. Writing in Propel’s International Women’s Day Friday Opinion, St Austell’s people director, Kate Price, said: “For 2024 and beyond, we have developed a people plan for the business that ensures that we attract, grow and develop the best talent, while ensuring that we evolve our culture positively, alongside a commitment to progress a culture where each team member can feel free to be at their best and feel free to be their authentic selves. To support this culture, we’ve established an equality, diversity and inclusion steering committee, which is chaired by our chief executive, Kevin Georgel, as well as a supporting employee advisory group. This is made up of circa 30 individuals from all business areas and work levels, bringing a range of diverse perspectives. It’s a safe space for those individuals to engage in open and honest discussions, working together to help define our equality, diversity and inclusion focus areas based on what matters most to our people.” You can read more from Price in her column for Propel’s International Women’s Day Friday Opinion, which will be sent at 11am on Friday (8 March).

 

F1 Arcade to make US debut next month: Kindred Concepts is to open its US debut site for its F1 Arcade concept next month, in Boston. Spanning 15,500 square feet across two floors, the new venue – which launches on Monday, 22 April – will feature 69 full-motion racing simulators and a 37-foot-long bar. It will also include a 2,400 square-foot private room and bar for up to 200 guests. Adam Breeden, Kindred Concepts founder and chief executive, said: “We are thrilled to bring the F1 Arcade experience to Boston this spring. After the incredible success of our London and Birmingham locations, we can’t wait for guests in the US to experience our high-energy hospitality and entertainment venue. From its jaw-dropping design and state-of-the-art simulators to its incredible bar, F1 Arcade has something for everyone. Whether you want to enjoy great vibes and music or get competitive with the thrill of the race – this is an exceptional adrenaline packed venue.” Last year, the business said it planned to open 20 venues in the US over the next five years. It also plans 30 more global openings by 2027 and secured £30m of new funding to fuel the next phase of the concept’s international growth. Last November, it opened its second UK site, in Birmingham, following a £6m fit out. It followed the group’s first F1 Arcade venue, which launched in 2022 in London’s St Paul’s.

 

Asahi to close Meantime Brewery site in Greenwich: Asahi has announced it is to close its brewing site in London’s Greenwich and move production of Meantime and Dark Star beers to the Fuller’s Griffin Brewery in Chiswick. The company said the move would help to “leverage Asahi’s extensive brewing expertise and capabilities, while also supporting the growth potential of its full UK beer brand portfolio through more efficient, sustainable operations”. Asahi said Meantime and Dark Star beers would “continue to deliver the great standards consumers expect and will retain their own unique brand identities”. A spokesperson for Asahi said: “We are committed to treating all colleagues impacted by this proposal with compassion and respect, and believe this is the best course of action for supporting the success of our brands and our sites.” It also said that plans were underway for the creation of a “new standalone consumer retail experience” in Greenwich to celebrate the heritage of the Meantime brand. Asahi acquired Miller Brands UK, adding premium brands like Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Grolsch and Meantime to its portfolio of beers, in October 2016. In 2022, Asahi closed Dark Star Brewery’s Partridge Green site in West Sussex, due to the brewery operating at “significantly below capacity”.

 

Former Typing Room trio launch wine bar and cellar shop: Blaise Coley, Skye Alejandro and Alex Pitt, who worked together at Typing Room, the London fine-dining restaurant from chef Lee Westcott that was in Bethnal Green’s town hall and closed in 2018, have launched a wine bar and cellar shop. The trio have opened Lower at 19 Lower Marsh, near Waterloo station, reports Hot Dinners. Coley also spent four years as general manager at Michelin-starred restaurant Brat, while Pitt was named by Harpers Wine as one of the top 25 sommeliers in the UK in 2022, and freelance drinks consultant Alejandro has worked at the likes of Clove Club and Kiln, in addition to launching a Filipino-cuisine-inspired pop-up called Sampa. The wine list at Lower offers curated by-the-glass options as well as bottles sourced by Pitt on his travels, including a wine he made in Austria with wine-maker Heidi Schröck. These are offered alongside snacks and a few hot dishes such as pistachio and lardo toast and a leche flan with seasonal blood orange. 

 

Boojum partners with drone delivery firm Manna: Mexican fast-casual brand Boojum, which was acquired by the Azzurri Group last summer, has begun a new partnership with drone delivery operator Manna Drone Delivery. As part of the partnership, the companies have begun delivery trials in Blanchardstown, Dublin. Boojum said the service will allow around 100,000 people to have fresh burritos delivered to their doorstep in just a handful of minutes. Manna already offers its drone delivery services in the US – in Fort Worth, Texas. The service is available daily – weather permitting – and will gradually expand across Dublin in the coming months. Bobby Healy, chief executive and founder of Manna Drone Delivery, said: “Food delivery today can be expensive and slow. With more than 150,000 deliveries under our belt across two separate countries, we are more than ready to provide delivery service to another market – and Blanchardstown is that spot. Boojum is also the perfect partner to help us kickstart our expansion to the Blanchardstown area – we are both Irish-born pioneering brands, collaborating to drive innovation in the food delivery industry.” David Maxwell, managing director of Boojum, added: “Innovation is a core part of Boojum’s culture and has been since the early days of pioneering the Mexican dining market in Ireland. As we grow, we’re always looking for ways to improve our offering and continue to delight our customers.” Founded in 2007, Boojum currently operates 15 sites, predominantly located across Belfast and Dublin. The company will open a ninth Dublin site in Tallaght’s The Square shopping centre, creating 30 jobs, this spring. Propel revealed at the end of January that Boojum plans to open 25 sites over the next five years in major UK student cities, starting with an opening in Leeds this spring, its UK mainland debut. The company’s current mainland pipeline extends into Nottingham, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester.

 

Kent McDonald’s franchisee set to open sixth restaurant: Kent McDonald’s franchisee Gian Chahal is set to open his sixth restaurant with the chain. The new site will take over the former Bird chicken and waffles unit in Gillingham’s Hempstead Valley shopping centre, creating 80 jobs. Opening on Wednesday, 13 March, it will see McDonald’s return to the centre, having previously operated a unit there, which closed in 2022. Chahal told Kent Online: “We are so pleased to be opening a new McDonald’s restaurant in Hempstead Valley shopping centre. It’s particularly exciting to be opening this new restaurant this year as McDonald’s celebrates its 50th year in the UK.” Chahal’s business, State 4 Restaurants, was incorporated in 2015. In the year to 31 December 2022, when it operated just three stores, the company reported turnover of £15,942,967 (2021: £16,613,773) and a pre-tax loss of £173,085 (2021: profit of £1,050,343). It received no government grants (2021: £258,520) and paid dividends of £133,000 (2021: £196,000).

 

Yorkshire hotel group to open new £500,000 restaurant at Harrogate site: Yorkshire hotel group Cedar Court – which operates hotels in Bradford, Harrogate, Huddersfield and Wakefield – is set to open a new £500,000 restaurant at its flagship Harrogate site. Amber will provide the hotel with a “high-quality dining experience” when it opens in April. A private dining and entertaining venue, the Imaginarium, is also being launched alongside the restaurant, with capacity for up to 28 people. Wayne Topley, Cedar Court’s managing director, said: “Since I joined Cedar Court five years ago, I wanted to put a special dining concept into Cedar Court Harrogate. The significant investment underlies our belief in Harrogate as a real Yorkshire gem, a first-choice dining destination for visitors and locals alike. The story of Amber’s will encompass the history of the Harrogate’s hospitality offering and lifestyles in the early 1900s and links with the history of the building we occupy, which originally opened as the Queens Hotel in 1687 and was the oldest hotel in Harrogate.”

 

Hertfordshire operators set to open fourth site: The Kayabal family is set to open its fourth site in the Hertfordshire town of Bishop’s Stortford. The owners of the Roni’s, Pircio and Rindio restaurants in the town have applied to turn the former White Stuff boutique in North Street into No 14 Restaurant, reports the Bishop’s Stortford Independent. The historic building is most notable as home to the town’s iconic white hart statue – the symbol of Hertfordshire and the emblem of the 1st Herts Light Horse Regiment. The statue was created in 1862 for the regiment’s barracks at Silver Leys. The 4,260 square-foot premises has also previously housed a bookseller and a chemist, and has also been a private house and a pub.

 

Pug cafe concept opens second site: Pug cafe concept CuppaPug, which launched in London in 2022, has opened its second site, in Manchester. The venue is a “pug playground” where guests can spend time with its resident pugs while enjoying pug-themed smoothies, milkshakes, coffee, tea and cakes, and with pug-themed merchandise available to buy. The idea is to create a safe and nurturing community around pugs, working with charities and organisations that rescue and rehome them, while educating owners. Owners Aaron Carty and Matt Pieterse, who launched the concept at 5 Ability Plaza in Arbutus Street, Haggerston, have now opened in Chapel Street, Manchester. Carty is a former police officer turned digital media producer and drag queen performer for the “Beyonce Experience”, while Pieterse is an actor who has appeared in Channel 4’s Bleach and short film Mild Thing. Pietersetold Bdaily: “CuppaPug’s vision is to firstly amplify the education of owning a dog, the responsibility and commitment it takes, continuing to share our pugs with people to bring them joy, help with mind wellness and mental health and rescue pugs. We’re thrilled to be opening in Manchester.”

 

Peaky Blinders-themed bar in Manchester gets green light to continue trading under its name: A Peaky Blinders-themed bar in Manchester has been given the go-ahead to continue trading under its name after reaching an agreement with the makers of the hit BBC show. Peaky Blinders Manchester launched at 23 Peter Street in Deansgate at the end of 2018, with bartenders dressed in flat caps, braces and shirt sleeve holders in the style of Tommy Shelby. The bar and restaurant, which is themed in a 1920s style complete with chandeliers, gold ceilings, Chesterfield armchairs and a signature cocktail menu, was hit with a legal warning from the show’s producers the following year. They said the bar had “no authorisation” to use the Peaky Blinders television brand and the owners had been handed a legal notice to “cease and desist”. However, media company Banijay, which is also behind shows like Big Brother and MasterChef, said an agreement has now been reached and the bar can officially be associated with the show. The venue, which is based in the former Sakana pan-Asian bar and restaurant site, also features live music and garnishes its food with items like edible Tommy Shelby betting slips. David Christopher, group director of licensing and merchandising at Banijay, told the Manchester Evening News: “We love to offer fans the chance to inhabit the incredible world of Peaky Blinders, and a venue like this, which is enjoyed by so many people, complements our portfolio of immersive entertainment. Bringing Peaky Blinders Manchester on board as an official licensee, ensures customers can enjoy an experience synonymous with the integrity, quality and character of the series.”

 

Snobs reveals opening date for new site: A Birmingham nightclub that boasts more than 50 years of history has announced the opening date for its new venue. Snobs is relocating from its current premises in Smallbrook Queensway after closing on Saturday (2 March). The club’s new venue, in Cumberland House in Broad Street, will open on Wednesday, 13 March. Wayne Tracey, who bought the nightclub in 2002, said: “The opening of the new Snobs will be a major landmark in the club’s history.” It will be the third venue that the club has occupied in its history. Snobs has made the move because its current base was at risk as part of the city’s regeneration proposals. Plans have now been approved to demolish the Ringway Centre, where Snobs was based, despite a campaign to save it.

 

CHS chosen as creative agency for Mitchells & Butlers restaurants division: CHS has been chosen as the creative and strategic marketing agency for Mitchells & Butlers’ (M&B) restaurants division, which includes Toby Carvery, Stonehouse and Harvester. The collaboration will see CHS craft and curate marketing and communications campaigns aimed at enhancing the dining experience and brand engagement for the restaurant division. The announcement solidifies CHS’s role within M&B’s brand portfolio, expanding on its partnership with the company’s pub division, which includes O’Neill's, Ember Inns and Sizzling Pubs. Chris Southgate, managing director at CHS, said: “These brands – Toby Carvery, Stonehouse and Harvester – are some of the nation’s favourites, and we’re huge fans ourselves. We are excited to roll up our sleeves and get started.”

 

Former Punto and 1830 Eatery chef set to open first solo restaurant: Chef Rashith Siriwardhana, who was part of the team at Punto in Kilmacolm and 1830 Eatery in Gourock, is set to open his first solo restaurant. He is reopening the former WestEnd Bar and Kitchen in West Blackhall Street, Greenock, as Bird Chicken Shop – offering fried chicken, burgers, wings and loaded fries but with “new flavours”. He told the Greenock Telegraph: “I wanted to do something on my own and I wanted it to be different, so I looked around at what was on offer in the area. I thought it should be something authentic and freshly cooked, as well as bringing some new flavours for people to try out. This is the first time I’ve had my own place and it’s very exciting to have the freedom to do what I want and be creative. I looked around this area and I didn’t really feel there was something like this around here – you have to go to Buck’s Bar in Glasgow if you want this kind of experience. I’ll probably bring some kind of Asian flavours and sauces into it as well.”

 

Hopes raised that derelict Lancaster theme park could become a destination once more: Hopes have been raised that a derelict Lancaster theme park could become a destination once more. Frontierland opened in Morecambe in the 1980s after beginning life as a fairground in 1906 but closed in 1999. Lancaster City Council bought the site in 2021 and invited interested parties to submit plans for it. The authority said it hopes a developer will come forward with an “exciting idea” and that work can begin to transform the park within the next 18 months. Cllr Joanne Ainscough said: “We’ve just done the public consultation and the majority of people want a site that is a leisure site. We have done an expression of interest.”