Morgan – TRG leisure division integration going very well, confident Frankie & Benny’s has a place in our portfolio: Alan Morgan, chief executive of Big Table Group – the operator of Las Iguanas, Banana Tree, Café Rouge and Bella Italia – has told Propel the integration of the former The Restaurant Group (TRG) leisure division is “going very well and on plan both from a timing and performance improvement perspective”. Big Table Group completed the deal for the 75-strong TRG leisure division, which includes Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito, at the end of October. Also included in the division are the Firejacks, Coast To Coast, Filling Station and EST brands, plus a number of delivery-only brands. Last October, the business hired Debbie Husband, formerly of Rank Group and Travelodge, as managing director for the leisure division. Morgan said: “I’m really pleased with the whole integration team as most of the heavy lifting is now complete, and under Debbie’s leadership, the performance improvements in the division are strong. While the leisure division brands are operating in a tough market at the moment, the synergies are more than we expected and the opportunities for the wider group remain exciting. On the brand front, we are confident that Frankie & Benny’s has a place in our portfolio. While the number of sites has reduced a lot over the years, I can only assume that has been more to do with the low profitability in the past (which has now been improved) as opposed to the consumer appeal. The average weekly sales in Frankie & Benny’s are very strong, it clearly still resonates and we are optimistic about its future. On Chiquito, we are still reviewing and learning. There is a lot of crossover between this and Las Iguanas, but they are by no means the same. We are about to conduct a few trials that involve using great parts of both brands in the same site to see how we might get the best of both.” Morgan said he expected some of the single site brands to be converted into other Big Table Group brands as “running brands with a very small number of sites is not commercially that sensible if you have other options available to you”. He said: “I estimate by May/June we will have learnt from various tests and trials and have a clearer picture of the future.” In regard to delivery brands, the business has already rolled out Bird Box into 20 Bella Italia sites with “about another 20 to come”. Morgan added: “We have also introduced the TRG leisure division burrito delivery brand in 21 Las Iguanas, with approximately ten more to come, and expect Super Nonna to go into circa 20 to 25 Frankie & Benny’s in the coming months. Overall, I’m really pleased with how it’s all going and see this as a very successful acquisition.”

 

M&B divisional director Susan Chappell to speak at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club members: Susan Chappell, divisional director at Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), will be among the speakers at 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. Chappell, who is responsible for the All Bar One, Browns, Nicholson’s and Castle estates, which have an annual turnover of £500m, 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. For the full speaker schedule, click here. 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.

 

Next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality to feature 36 updated entries and 11 new companies, released tomorrow: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will feature 36 updated entries and 11 new companies when it is released to Premium Club members tomorrow (Friday, 15 March), at midday. This month’s edition includes 866 companies and more than 232,000 words of content. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; the New Openings Database; the Turnover & Profits Blue Book; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. 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.

Hospitality groups deliver 1.4% like-for-like growth in February as spending pressures continue: Britain’s top hospitality groups achieved modest like-for-like sales growth of 1.4% in February, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. It continues a slow start to 2024 for the sector after marginal growth of 0.1% in January in the wake of strong trading over Christmas. Patchy consumer confidence amid still-rising costs and economic and political uncertainty means many people remain cautious with their spending. The tracker, produced by CGA by NIQ in partnership with RSM UK, shows restaurants were hospitality’s best performing segment in February with like-for-like growth of 2.2%, while pubs were only fractionally behind at 2.1%. However, bars suffered a 7.4% dip in sales, reflecting a squeeze on consumers’ late-night spending and a move towards earlier eating and drinking out. The on-the-go segment was 0.5% behind in February 2023. Restaurant, pub, bar and on-the-go operators performed slightly better in London than elsewhere in Britain. Groups’ February sales within the M25 were 1.9% ahead of last year, compared with 1.3% outside it. CGA by NIQ director Karl Chessell said: “Subdued trading in February shows consumers remain watchful with their discretionary spending. With costs still rising for businesses as well as individuals, margins are under pressure and some operators remain fragile. But while the short-term outlook for hospitality is uncertain, underlying demand is good, and as inflation and interest rates hopefully ease and the Budget’s reduction in national insurance contributions kicks in, we can be cautiously optimistic that people will start to loosen their spending over the spring and summer.”

 

Optimism up with almost half of restaurants expecting to deliver increased revenue in 2024: Optimism is up in the sector with almost half of restaurants surveyed for a new study expecting to deliver increased revenue in 2024. ResDiary – a global online table management system used by 10,000-plus restaurants, bars, cafes, bistros, hotels, pubs and clubs – made the finding in its latest Beyond the Booking report on hospitality. It found 48% of business surveyed expect revenue to rise across the year, with those expecting increased revenue predicting an average 22% rise – up from 13% in 2023. The report found just under a fifth of operators (18%) opened a new venue in 2023, with more than a quarter (28%) either opening or considering opening another site this year. Furthermore, it found that nearly half (46%) of diners went out more in 2023 than in 2022 and 36% expect to dine out more this year. But on a less positive note, more than three-quarters of restaurants (76%) were impacted by no-shows in 2023, with the average loss across the year amounting to £3,621. Diners in the East Midlands were the worst offenders, with 14% of bookings resulting in no-shows, while Scottish venues are being hit in the pocket the worst, with those failing to turn up costing an average of £4,611. ResDiary chief executive Colin Winning said: “The latest report should be a real shot in the arm for the industry. There have been many stories suggesting our sector is on its knees, but this latest survey paints a different picture, as operators appear to be quietly optimistic about the future.” The report contained insights from 175 people representing venues and a further 595 diners.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an award-winning food manufacturer that is seeking a category manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The business is undertaking a huge transformation and is looking for a highly talented, driven and innovative individual to join it as it embarks on expansion. You will work collaboratively with other teams to provide insight and utilise category expertise to build the brand offering and retail presence. This is an opportunity to join an established business that can offer genuine progression opportunities.” The salary is up to £55,000 and the position is based in Kent. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com.

 

Family Adventures Group targeting up to 30 new nurseries and eight new leisure sites in next four years, filling gap in provision for both nursery places and high-end indoor play: Family Adventures Group has told Propel it is targeting growth of up to 30 new nurseries and eight new leisure sites in the next four years following its £5m investment from regional private equity investment manager, Foresight. The cash injection, announced last week, will accelerate the expansion of the children’s leisure venue and day nursery concept, founded by husband-and-wife team Tom and Laura Filer in 2019. Family Adventures Group operates as a “hub and spoke” model which sees a children’s leisure site opening with accompanying nurseries created nearby. There are currently six nursery sites across the south west and Midlands, supported by two leisure venues and an upcoming third, Little Town Adventures in Weston-Super-Mare, which launches in May. “We’ve had some decent growth without money so far, but it’s nice now to have some funds to be able to grow business properly and not have to be as creative,” Tom Filer told Propel. “We wanted to prove the concept before we took that step, and we have done that. We started the business in 2019, which was bad timing as we all know what happened in 2020 – we were only open for eight months before we had to go into survival mode. Then we’ve grown for two years with limited capital, and the next phase should be much easier to scale with investment from Foresight. We’re now looking to grow substantially over the next four years, across both nurseries and leisure sites. Before that, we’ve got our next nursery opening in Birmingham in the coming months, and another following that in Bristol. We see a lot of growth potential in Birmingham, and then we’ll look to fill in the gaps back down the M5. Gloucester is a key target, as well as Bristol. I think we can go beyond these regions but it’s about scaling at the right speed with a strong focus on quality. Ultimately, there’s scope for it to be a national concept.” Filer and his wife, who were both new to hospitality following a background working as chartered accountants, believe their business model is filling a gap in the market in the high-quality provision for both nursery places and high-end indoor play. “I came to the end of a role and was going round soft plays with my one-year-old daughter and really didn’t enjoy it, which I think is an experience shared by a lot of parents, and that was the genesis of the idea,” Filer said. “There are some great soft play operators, but we thought we could do something a bit different and push the boundaries of the industry, creating venues which focus on providing learning through play educational experiences for children. We make sure we deliver high levels of customer service, and to do that we have recruited from wider sectors, with our management teams coming from industries including high-end hospitality. I don’t want to run down fellow operators, but for me, there was a gap in the market for a really high-end, quality offering. There will also be a place for the cheaper end of the market, but for the upper end, there just wasn’t anything there. In terms of nursery places, the need has been there for quite a while, especially for children under two.”

 

Robinsons open second coffee shop within a pub, may roll out more: North west brewer and retailer Robinsons has opened its second coffee shop within a pub and may roll out more, Propel has learned. Robinsons has added the Cow Shed within the refurbished Bulls Head in Castleton, which has just reopened following a £500,000 makeover. “The latest additions also include the introduction of a charming coffee shop named the Cow Shed, where guests can indulge in delicious cakes, doughnuts, sandwiches, paninis and more,” a Robinson’s spokesman told Propel. “Perfectly positioned for walkers embarking on scenic adventures in Castleton, it’s the ideal spot to fuel up before hitting the trails, especially with the warmer months ahead. We have a similar coffee shop at the George III in north Wales, but it’s only because of the location of the pub really. We’d look to add them to walkers’ pubs when we do refurbishments in the future, but not as a definite.” The pub has also benefited from a new timber bar, a refurbished function room and five fully restored en-suite bedrooms.

 

Exclusive – Incipio Group appoints Ian Edward as new chairman: Incipio Group, operator of venues including Pergola on the Wharf, The Libertine and The Prince, has appointed Ian Edward as its new chairman, Propel has learned. Edward, who has advised and invested in leisure businesses for more than 30 years, joined the board of Incipio as a non-executive director in 2022. He was co-founder of Hippo Inns and is a founding investor and on the board of Pizza Pilgrims. His previous directorships include Geronimo Inns, La Tasca and Brasserie Blanc. Advisory transactions include the sale of New World Trading Company and Loch Fyne, and fundraisings for Pho and Be At One. He is also an investor in Thunderbird Fried Chicken and Double Dutch. Incipio Group chief executive Ed Devenport said: “I am delighted and very excited about Ian’s appointment as chairman. Ian has a wealth of knowledge and specific experience in our sector that will be of great value to Incipio at a crucial time as we begin the next phase of our growth plans.” Edward added: “From the moment I saw the transformation of The Prince in West Brompton from a quiet neglected pub into a busy, vibrant and spectacularly successful house of fun, I knew that Incipio was special. As one of the most innovative companies I have seen in our sector, we are well placed to take advantage of several extraordinary opportunities, and I look forward to working even more closely with such a great team.” Incipio reported its strongest ever month of trading in December 2023, with like-for-like sales up 66% on the same period last year, contributing to a record year in sales of £26.4m. Driven by a combination of an increase in Christmas party bookings, private events and festive activations, Incipio said it saw an increase of 38% in guest visits compared with the previous year. The strong like-for-like growth was bolstered by a record-breaking month of corporate and private hires, which alone delivered £1.2m in sales throughout December.

 

Ice cream and frozen yogurt brand Yolé hires new head of franchise ahead of ‘ambitious UK expansion plan’: Yolé, the world’s first no-sugar ice cream and frozen yogurt brand, has hired a new UK head of franchise ahead of an “ambitious expansion plan” here. Founded in 2014 in Spain, Yolé has since expanded to more than 80 stores in 15 countries. It made its UK debut in November 2021, in London’s Chinatown, and now has five sites across the capital plus one in the Lakeside shopping centre in Essex. It is now looking to further its footprint here, led by new head of UK franchise Lorraine Ellis, who was most recently managing director at the Banana Moon Day Nursery in Bromley, south London. “I have exciting news to share with you all! Yolé, the trailblazer in the dessert industry, is now embarking on an ambitious expansion plan in the UK,” said Yolé chief executive Marta Diaz. “After the tremendous success of Yolé in 15 countries, with more than 80 stores, we are excited to continuing our innovative and health-conscious concept in the UK market. To spearhead this movement, I am proud to introduce the driving force behind this expansion, our head of UK franchise. Lorraine Ellis brings a diverse range of expertise, a passion for franchise and a commitment to delivering the very best to our franchise partners and customers. We are actively seeking dynamic individuals interested in joining the Yolé family and becoming a part of the zero dairy, zero sugar added revolution. Together, we will disrupt the dessert market and create a lasting impact on the way people indulge in sweet treats.” Former Subway franchisees Milad Nawaz and Salman Qureshi have been the UK master franchisees for Yolé since 2019, as well as for UK noodle bar brand Wok&Go. In the summer of 2022, they opened both brands under one roof for the first time, with half dedicated to each, at 132 Bethnal Green Road in Shoreditch. Yolé features in the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, an exhaustive guide to the companies offering a food and beverage franchise in the UK available exclusively to Premium subscribers. The database is updated every two months, and the latest version features 235 businesses. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

 

Pret updates how Club Pret subscribers access QR codes, hires Amanda Hilton as global chief information officer: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed chain has said it is updating how Club Pret subscribers access their QR codes as the brand continues to “invest in our digital offer for customers”. At present, customers can use their “Club Pret” account with a QR code that can be added to services such as Apple Pay and Google Wallet. However, users can take a screenshot or picture of this QR code to share with others. Pret told customers this week they will now need to log in to its app to access a QR code from Monday (18 March). Each code will be unique to each subscriber. This means customers will no longer be able to redeem their Club Pret subscription through the Pret website or their Apple Pay or Google Wallet. The company said that any customers with problems accessing the QR Code on their phone should contact its customer support team. The company highlighted that Club Pret continues to offer up to five barista-prepared drinks a day and 20% off everything sold in-shop. A Pret spokesperson said: “We’re updating how Club Pret subscribers access their QR codes as we continue to invest in our digital offer for customers. QR codes will now be available exclusively via the Pret app and can no longer be added to Apple or Google wallets. Live QR codes will be reissued to all subscribers. This will deliver a more complete digital experience, so that the Pret app becomes the main digital touchpoint for our customers. We encourage any customers that need further support to contact our customer service team.” Meanwhile, Pret has hired Amanda Hilton, formerly of City & County Healthcare Group and SSP Group, as its new global chief information officer. Hilton has spent the last 12 years in the healthcare sector, firstly as IT director at Four Seasons Health Care for almost five years, and then as chief information officer at City & County Healthcare Group. Prior to that she spent two years as deputy director of IT services at SSP, and 13 months as head of information technology at Boparan Restaurant Group.

 

Italian gelato brand Amorino set to open furthest north site yet for 30th UK location: Italian gelato brand Amorino is set to open its furthest north site yet for its 30th UK location. It has secured a site at 39 Parliament Street in York, in the former Naked Deli unit that closed in January 2023, less than a year after opening. Amorino currently has 27 UK stores open – the majority of which are in London – with sites in Bracknell’s Lexicon Centre and at 38 Hampstead High Street in north London set to open shortly. “Shop not to let anymore!” said Amorino UK owner Hubert Attali. “After London, Leeds, Cambridge, Cardiff, Marlow and Windsor, Amorino is opening its 30th UK shop in a very prime location in York.” Amorino, which also has stores in Paris, Rome and Qatar, has previously targeted having 50 UK stores by 2025. It made its Welsh debut last summer with an opening in Cardiff from Domino’s franchisee DP Shayban.

 

Sandwich Sandwich secures debut London site: Bristol operator Sandwich Sandwich, which last October won the £100,000 top prize in the Uber Eats restaurant of the year awards, has secured its debut London site. Sandwich Sandwich, which was founded in 2012 by Nick Kleiner and currently operates three sites across Bristol, has secured the site at 1 Gresham Street, in the City, for an opening this summer. Josh Kleiner, marketing director of Sandwich Sandwich, said: “When my dad first opened his small sandwich shop in Bristol 12 years ago, he could never have imagined that we would be bringing it to London. Frankly, I can’t believe this is happening, and I think this is what people would normally describe as a ‘pinch-me’ moment. I honestly can’t put into words how excited yet nervous we all are. Naturally, I find myself focusing on the risks involved in making this move, but the love and support we receive on a daily basis tells us this is the right decision to make. We owe all of this to our customers and the team around us. Without you, Sandwich Sandwich would be nothing and I mean nothing. We wouldn’t be able to make great sandwiches, and you lot wouldn’t be able to stuff your face with them, so really it’s a win/win situation for all of us.” It is understood that the business plans to open two new shops in London, the Gresham Street site and another near London Bridge, along with dark kitchens in conjunction with Uber Eats. Earlier this year, Sandwich Sandwich said it was “currently exploring active opportunities around new locations and operational investment raises, which will see us expanding in 2024 and beyond”. Propel revealed earlier this month that Chaker Hanna, formerly chief executive of Comptoir Group, the Comptoir Libanais and Shawa brand operator, had joined Sandwich Sandwich as its non-executive chairman, while ex-Comptoir Group chairman Richard Kleiner is an advisor to the company. Both stepped down from Comptoir Group in the summer of 2022.

 

Gym Group to accelerate growth with appetite for health and fitness ‘never stronger’, narrows losses as revenue exceeds £200m: The Gym Group, which operates about 240 sites in the UK, has said it will ramp up expansion plans over the coming years as the appetite for health and fitness “has never been stronger”. Having opened six sites in 2023, the low-cost gym operator said plans were in the works to set up ten to 12 new locations this year. “With a strong start to 2024, and clear signs that demand for health and fitness has never been stronger, these are solid foundations on which to build our next chapter growth plan,” chief executive Will Orr said. “Over the next three years, we aim to strengthen the performance of our core business and accelerate The Gym Group site rollout.” It comes after The Gym Group narrowed pre-tax losses to £8.3m for the year ending 31 December 2023 from £19.4m the year before. Group adjusted Ebitda was up 6% to £75.5m from £71.3m the previous year. Revenue climbed 18% to £204m from £172.9m, with free cash flow increasing 62% to £27m. “There continues to be substantial headroom for low-cost gyms in the UK and we are fully focused on our aim of making high-value, low-cost fitness even more accessible for all,” Orr added.

 

Ronnie Scott’s exceeds pre-covid levels of turnover, pays £3m in dividends: Legendary jazz venue Ronnie Scott’s exceeded pre-covid levels of turnover in the year to 31 March 2023. The venue, which has operated in London’s Soho since 1959 after being set up and managed by musicians Ronnie Scott and Pete King, saw its revenue rise from £10,459,469 in 2022 to £13,865,092. This compares with the £12,355,528 in the year to March 2020 when the final few weeks of trading were impacted by the pandemic. Ronnie Scott’s pre-tax profit was down from £4,478,929 in 2022 to £3,437,421. Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £3,000,000 (2022: £500,000). The company received £4,060 in government grants compared with £277,245 in 2022. “The group has reported a rise in turnover and continued profitability for the year under review in line with the directors' expectation,” director Benjamin Bourne said. “The group continues to seek growth opportunities for the Ronnie Scott’s brand and improving the offering to its customers.”

 

West London McDonald’s franchisee who gave up high-flying corporate career takes on two new restaurants: A west London McDonald’s franchisee who gave up a high-flying corporate career in banking to partner with the fast-food chain has taken on two new restaurants. Anisha Sharma spent almost seven years in wealth management with Goldman Sachs and more than three years as head of compliance with Jordan International Bank before pivoting to food and beverage franchising in the summer of 2022. Setting up a new business, Rocket Restaurants, she acquired her first McDonald’s at the Iron Bridge in Uxbridge Road, Hanwell. She has now taken on further restaurants in Southall Broadway and Hayes town centre. “I am absolutely delighted to welcome Southall Broadway and Hayes town to the Rocket Restaurants group,” Sharma said. “I dreamt of many things as a young girl, and having my own business was my biggest ambition. Like many other women, I had doubts and fears about my capabilities and questioned whether this would actually happen. However, I had a couple of smoking guns – a mother who told me constantly that I am capable of anything, and a father who showed me how amazing life can be when you love your work and are passionate and tenacious in the pursuit of your goals and dreams. So this one’s for you mum and dad. For the sacrifices you made, for your belief in me, and for being the best babysitters around.” Sharma’s sister, Shafali Shown-Keen, is also a McDonald’s franchisee, with restaurants in Brentford, Heathrow and Watford. It is believed that they are the first two sisters in the UK to both franchise with McDonald’s, and they together run a programme that supports new female franchisees.

 

Gerry’s Hot Subs gears up to open its debut site: André Blais, founder of American barbecue diner-deli brand Bodean’s, will open the first site under his new Gerry’s Hot Subs concept on Monday, 25 March. Blais secured an opening at 50 Exmouth Market, in London’s Clerkenwell, for the new concept, which he previously piloted out of the Foodstars kitchen in Battersea. Blais said: “My dad, Gerry, loved Schwartz’s, his local Montreal deli. A love he passed on to me. Now I know a thing or two about subs and smoked meat, having travelled Canada and the United States eating every kind of sub, Hoagie, Hero, Grinder, Torpedo and Poor Boy (and the occasional burrito and hot wing). All my research inspired me to set up the award-winning Bodean's. But now I am going right back to my roots with this authentic, hot sub ‘deli’ offer named, you guessed it, after my dad.” Propel previously reported that Blais was to begin fundraising for the concept. It subsequently launched a campaign through crowdfunding platform Seedrs, where it was looking to raise £276,001, offering 18.63% in equity, which gave it a pre-money valuation of £1.2m. The dark kitchen unit was launched with a £35,000 seed investment, and over its six-month run, sold circa 7,000 hot subs. The initial plan for the concept, which offers six and eight-inch subs, was to secure a bricks-and-mortar site in Soho’s “high-footfall pedestrian area, next to commuter stations”. Longer-term, the business previously said it planned to open 11 sites over the next five years. Bodean’s currently operates sites in Covent Garden, Soho and Tower Hill.

 

Pub snack brand backed by BrewDog co-founder closes £200,000 crowdfunding campaign with 182% funded, reports record January and February sales: Pub snack brand Serious Pig, which is backed by James Watt, co-founder of Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, has closed its crowdfunding campaign with 182% of its £200,000 target funded. The London-based business, led by George Rice, launched the campaign on Crowdcube last month, offering 2.17% equity, giving it a pre-money valuation of £16.5m. It has raised £365,331 from 749 investors, which the company said will “help turbocharge growth following a record year of sales”. The business also reported record January and February sales, 100% up on the same period last year. Its growth following the new investment will be spearhead by its halo product snacking cheese – an oven baked pure cheese snack made in Italy. During its campaign, the business said it will “intensify sales” of the snack, citing the size of the baked cheese market in the US as circa $500m. “I’m delighted with the success of this round as we welcome well over 700 new co-owners to our amazing community of 3,300 shareholders,” Rice said. “Raising investment during an economic downcycle can be difficult, but we have a great story right now off the back of a record 2023, and investors have seen our resilience as we’ve faced down all the recent challenges. Together with our talented team, I look forward to delivering on the growth plan and selling a lot more cheese! We’re laser focused on becoming the UK’s number one premium savoury snack brand and we’re off to a flying start for 2024, with some huge irons in the fire.” The business launched more than a decade ago with a “posh Pepperami” made from high welfare British pork and has expanded to include non-meat snacks.

 

Loungers completes trio of Lounge openings: Cafe bar operator Loungers has completed a trio of Lounge openings. The company has launched Pineto Lounge at The Lexicon in Bracknell, Berkshire, in the former Prezzo premises. The opening marks Loungers’ 216th Lounge and 255th site overall. It comes after Loungers opened two new Lounge sites last week – Riparo Lounge in the Westwood Cross shopping centre in Broadstairs, Kent; and Panadero Lounge, which opened in Mill Street in Macclesfield in a former Poundland. In January, Loungers executive chairman Alex Reilley said it feels like the business, which also operates Cosy Club and roadside diner concept Brightside, is only just getting started and “there is so much more for us to go after”, as the company opened its 250th site in total. He said: “We’re on track to open 34 sites in the current financial year, which will be a record for us and will involve the creation of more than 1,000 jobs. In the longer term, we believe there is scope for more than 600 Lounges alone across the UK.”

 

Harts Group confirms April opening for Battersea El Pastor: Harts Group – the London restaurant company that owns Barrafina, Quo Vadis, Casa Pastor and Parrillan – has confirmed its El Pastor site in Battersea will open next month. Propel revealed in August 2023 that Harts Group would be opening the new site in Circus Road West in Battersea Power Station. It will now open on Friday, 26 April, offering the Mexican dishes inspired by the time founders Sam Hart and Crispin Somerville spent living and travelling in the country. Among these will be El Pastor’s first weekend brunch menu, exclusive to Battersea Power Station and served from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Highlights will include pancakes and crispy pastor ends with chile de arbol agave; lightly fried corn tortillas bathed in salsa verde with avocado and burrata; and eggs scrambled with refried beans and served with warm tortillas and salsa. As with all the El Pastor restaurants, fresh corn tortillas will be made in-house daily using heirloom Mexican corn, while a new signature dish of ash buttered dry-aged rib-eye with roasted jalapeños and poblano will be available. A standing bar area for 20 will serve a selection of mezcal, tequila and agave spirits, as well as cocktails, Mexican beer, wine and other spirits. The restaurant itself will comprise a 90-cover indoor restaurant and a 60-cover open-all-year outdoor riverside terrace, while behind two steel roller shutters will be a private dining room seat up to 26 people, with its own private covered terrace. It is the fourth El Pastor restaurant in the group.

 

Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam’s former fine dining restaurant placed on market: Legna, the Italian fine dining restaurant in Brmingham owned previously by Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam, has been placed on the market. WTS Property Consultants is marketing 8 Fleet Street, which features a ground floor and basement with a canalside view. The property is available for sublease with flexible rental terms, or the long leasehold may be available for purchase. Islam closed Legna in 2020, two years after opening the site. He runs Opheem in the city, which was awarded a second Michelin star at this year’s ceremony last month.

 

Team behind Bar Swift and Nightjar launches three-month Oriole pop-up in Covent Garden ahead of permanent reopening: Speakeasy Entertainment, which is also behind cocktail bars Bar Swift and Nightjar, has launched a three-month pop-up in Covent Garden for its Oriole concept. Prelude by Oriole will pave the way for the second iteration of Oriole, which will reopen in a permanent location in the scheme this summer. The pop-up will give guests the opportunity to try a new list of cocktails accompanied by an à la carte food offering. As with the original Oriole, the 34-cover restaurant and bar located in Slingsby Place, within The Yards, will have live jazz music. Co-founder Edmund Weil said: “After leaving Smithfield in 2023 [due to redevelopment], we always planned to revive Oriole with our top employees as operating partners. Finding a new home has proved a long journey, but we are delighted to have settled in The Yards at the heart of Covent Garden.”

 

Bolton Indian restaurant business set to open third site: Bolton Indian restaurant business Spice Valley is set to open a third site. The original Spice Valley was opened in Horwich 20 years ago by friends Sanjeev Muttra and Teelesh Bisnauthsing, with a second site opening on the Dunscar Business Park in Egerton in November. “We plan to open a new one in a different part of Bolton,” Muttra told the Bolton News. “We were really busy during Christmas, and we are still doing okay now.” He added that the new Egerton site has been trading well since opening.

 

Team behind North Yorkshire Italian restaurant plans second site: The team behind Italian restaurant La Piazza in Richmond, North Yorkshire, is aiming to open a site in Yarm. The business has lodged a premises licence application with Stockton Council for the former Barclays premises in High Street, which shut in July last year. The Richmond restaurant – which was taken over by new owners in 2015 – serves up Italian classics such as pizza, pasta and risotto. A spokesperson for La Piazza told Teesside Live: “We are still in the very early stages and hopefully will be opening another branch of our restaurant in Yarm if all applications go ahead.” La Piazza has applied to licence the premises for alcohol sales daily from 10am until 11pm, with the business also hoping to be open between the same hours.

 

Team behind Ta Ta Eatery set to relaunch sister brand Tou as pop-up: The team behind Portuguese-Chinese concept Ta Ta Eatery in London’s Dalston are set to relaunch sister brand Tou as a limited-time pop up. Husband-and-wife team Ana Gonçalves and Zijun Meng will open the new Tou on Friday, 5 April upstairs at the The Globe Tavern in London’s Borough Market. The room will be turned into a 1970s Japanese Americana inspired sando bar, offering sandos alongside ice cream sundaes and a focus on Pet Nat and natural wines. Dishes will include the showpiece Ibérico Pork Katsu Sando (Ibérico pork neck cutlet with cabbage, raspberry sauce and xo shallot sauce in a lightly toasted brioche sandwich). Gonçalves and Meng said: “We’re so excited for the relaunch of Tou at the Globe Tavern. We’ve long had a vision for a space that recalls American and Japanese diners of the 1970s, a space that enables guests to unwind and savour the simplicity of good food, funky wines and the allure of a bygone era. The addition of Pet Nats to our Sando Bar completes the Tou concept with the refreshingly light drink cutting through the delicious richness of the Ibérico pork.” In September, Gonçalves and Meng launched the 80-cover Solis in Arcade Battersea. The pair met while working under Nuno Mendes and followed him from The Loft Project to Chiltern Firehouse before launching Ta Ta Eatery as an evening offering at Dalston’s Curio Cabal cafe in 2015. They have operated various pop-ups and residences and also collaborated with Samuel Haim on Mr Ji.

 

Afrikana to open Coventry site on Friday: African restaurant concept Afrikana will open its new site in Coventry on Friday (15 March). The venue in Moor Street will feature a bar and two indoor seating areas along with an outdoor seating space, reports Coventry Live. Last month, Propel reported that Afrikana has a pipeline of 50-plus restaurants, with up to ten set to open this year. It currently has 14 UK locations – including two for its Lil’ Afrikana concept – and its most recently launch was at London’s O2 Centre in October. Among the locations set to open are Hayes, Victoria Road Glasgow, Kingston, Hounslow, Ilford, Southampton, Oxford, Reading and Ipswich. Propel revealed in January that the team behind Afrikana has also lined up the first two UK sites for French taco concept Tacosmash. Restaurants are set to open in Mile End in London and also in Birmingham.

 

Bolton set to get new indoor food hall: A new indoor food hall is set to open in Bolton later this month. The new venue at Bolton Market has been funded by Bolton Council in a bid to drive footfall through the town centre. The space, which can host nine traders, was funded as part of a wider £5.5m transformation of the area. Market manager Pete Entwhistle said it would feature a licensed area for alcohol and would also be open on Friday and Saturday nights. Organisers wanted to encourage “niche and unique” traders who were not currently represented in the town centre, he added. Bolton Council has used funds from the government's £3.6bn Town’s Fund to build the venue and transform the surrounding area. It comes after neighbouring Oldham Council announced plans to redevelop the former town hall into a food and drink hall.

 

Owner’s disappointment at plans to demolish Cornish restaurant of more than 50 years: The owner of a restaurant that has stood on a harbour in Cornwall for more than 50 years has expressed her disappointment at plans to demolish it. Cornwall Council Harbours has applied to demolish the Waterside Meadery in Penzance as part of the modernisation of the harbour. The demolition of the building, which is owned by Cornwall Council Harbours, will allow for off-road space for HGVs to park up and unload their cargo. Emily Stephens, who runs the business with her husband Jon, told the BBC: “We’re very disappointed. I’m not against development but do it right. To knock down a thriving business for what is effectively a car park just seems a shame.” Jon Stephens added: “You see all the time about hospitality businesses in crisis, but we’re busy. We’re a thriving business and employ 27 people all year round. The recompense we’re getting won’t even cover half of our costs.” Waterside Meadery was started by Emily’s father, Robin Smith, in 1970. He said: “I am disgusted that a council can do this to a restaurant that has been in business for more than 50 years and has paid hundreds of thousands of pounds in rent and rates and millions into the local economy for supplies.” The council said the business’ lease agreement included an 18-month demolition clause that was served in December 2023. It added that the project “has been developed to meet the ambitions of the local community”.