Esquires owner targets 305 UK & Ireland stores by 2034 after opening five in as many weeks, UK sales up 27% so far in FY25: Cooks Coffee Company has targeted having 305 UK & Ireland Esquires stores by 2034 after opening five in as many weeks. The company ended its financial year to 31 March 2024 with 60 UK stores and 15 in Ireland, up from a group total of 64 in 2023. Since the year-end, it has opened at in the former WHSmith unit in Market Hill in Sudbury, Suffolk; at 11 Christchurch Road in Colindale, north London; 2 Love Lane in Pinner, north west London; and within the Celtic Springs Retail Park in Newport, South Wales. In Ireland, it has also opened a new store in Galway. “Target store numbers for UK & Ireland by FY34 is 305,” the company said in its accounts for the period. “Target stores for the end of March 2025 are 98 with 80 in the UK and 18 in Ireland. The company is expecting to continue to grow at this rate of stores being added per annum to have more than 300 stores operational in the UK and Ireland by FY34. The focus on suburbs and market towns has sheltered Esquires branded stores from the permanent changes in consumer behaviours post covid, such as the working from home lifestyle change. Growth in UK has been driven through strong performances by the regional developers in the south east, London, east of England and East Midlands. The appointment of two new regional developers during FY24 for the north of England and the south west and south Wales will accelerate the growth in those regions. The FY25 financial year has begun strongly with four new stores opened in the UK and one in Ireland in April and May. UK store sales after eight weeks of FY25 were up 27.3% on FY24 while in Ireland sales were 7% up on FY24.” The company reported total franchisee store sales in the UK & Ireland were up 18% at NZ$58.2m (FY23: NZ$49.5m). UK store sales up were 21% at NZ$38.3m (FY23: NZ$31.6m) and Ireland up 11% at NZ$19.9m, (FY23: NZ$17.9m). Group revenue was up 19% to NZ$4.7m from NZ$3.9m, while Ebitda was NZ$0.4m before impairment of receivables. The company said its Horsham store has exceeded expectations since reopening by more than doubling pre-refurbishment sales levels, and that regional developers for Scotland and Northern Ireland are currently being sought. Total equity in the company reduced to a loss of NZ$4.0m, reflecting primarily the non-cash impairment of goodwill and intangible assets relating to the Triple Two business, which was placed into voluntary liquidation in September 2023. “The Triple Two investment was fully written off in the September FY24 half year accounts," the group said. "This non-cash write-down has resulted in the company reporting NZ$4m of negative equity in the full year accounts. The board believes that there is no further impact of the Triple Two liquidation going forward.”

Premium Club members to receive next New Openings Database on Friday, 238 new additions: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club members on Friday (7 June). The database will show the details of 238 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 14,643-word report on the 238 new additions to the database. The database includes new openings in the casual dining sector such as Afrikana opening 11 new sites across the UK; Big Mamma increasing its presence in the capital with an opening in London’s Canary Wharf and Luxford Burgers opening a second site in Edinburgh, its seventh overall. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book; the Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. Plus, all members will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including 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.

Nearly 80% of Americans say fast food is now a luxury: Almost 80% of Americans now consider fast food a luxury good due to the high prices caused by inflation, a new survey has found. The Independent reported that LendingTree recently conducted a survey of 2,000 American adults, asking about their views and buying habits when it comes to fast food. The survey found that although three in four Americans typically have fast food once a week, 62% said they're dining out less due to rising prices. Increasing costs on menus have surprised 65% of Americans in the past six months, according to the respondents. Nearly 80% said fast food buys were a luxury due to the increased cost of meals. Half of the respondents said they view fast food as a luxury specifically because they're struggling financially. For Americans making less than $30,000, 71% considered fast food a luxury, as did 58% of parents with young children. Americans by and large – 67% – think fast food should be cheaper than eating at home, but 75% said that isn't the case anymore. Almost half of the respondents said that fast food, in their estimation, costs nearly as much as eating out at a typical sit-down restaurant. More than half of the respondents – 56% – said if they want a go-to, easy and inexpensive meal, they just cook at home. But it's not just Americans struggling financially who are eating out less; 52% of Americans making $100,000 or more a year said they're also visiting fast food less. That has led to an overall decrease in customers.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a growing purchasing business that specialises in procurement for premium hospitality groups that is looking for a sales director. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will be responsible for networking, selling and opening doors for new business within the premium hospitality sector. Strong knowledge of the sector is essential and being able to bring a black book of key contacts will be beneficial.” The salary is up to £70,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com.

Di Maggio’s Restaurant Group acquires Glasgow pizza business as part of eight-figure deal: Scottish restaurant operator Di Maggio’s Restaurant Group’s (DRG) has acquired the Glasgow-based, two-strong Paesano Pizza and sister business Sugo Pasta for an eight-figure sum. DRG, which is owned by Mario Gizzi and Tony Conetta, has purchased the business from restaurateur Paul Stevenson, whose vision for Paesano was to bring authentic Neapolitan pizza to Scotland. He opened the first Paesano in Glasgow’s Miller Street in 2015, which was followed by a sister outlet in Great Western Road two years later. The Sugo Pasta concept was launched in Miller Street in 2019. All three restaurants have been “major success stories” and are understood to be among the busiest in the country, attracting around 22,000 diners per week. The 250-cover Sugo serves more than 12,000 people per week. The three restaurants collectively employ more than 230 staff, all of whom have now joined DRG, and had a combined turnover of more than £15m last year. DRG said it is now planning to extend their reach even further, with the intention to open new sites under both concepts in other locations. Stevenson said: “I have had numerous approaches over the years from a wide variety of potential purchasers, including private equity groups and other big restaurant brands. However, having known the guys from DRG for more than two decades, it very quickly became clear that they were a perfect fit to take Paesano and Sugo to the next stage of their growth. Paesano and Sugo have absolutely exceeded any expectations we had of them when we first launched the business almost a decade ago. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Tony and Mario expand the business, while preserving everything that’s made Sugo and Paesano so special.” DRG is now one of Scotland’s largest independent restaurant groups, with more than 20 venues in its stable prior to its latest acquisition. As well as the Di Maggio’s, Café Andaluz, and Amarone brands, it has restaurants trading as The Anchor Line, Barolo, Cadiz, and The Citizen. Earlier this year the company revealed that it was planning to move into London. Gizzi said: “In our discussions with Paul, it quickly became clear that we shared a clear vision of bringing the Paesano and Sugo experience to more locations. We have shown repeatedly that we have the ability to take exciting restaurant concepts and expand them in a planned and successful manner, and it is going to be really exciting to do the same for Paesano and Sugo.” Alan Creevy and Peter Darroch, of CDLH, acted on the deal on behalf of the vendor. 

 

Exclusive – Tim Hall to step down as group CEO of Sourdough South: Tim Hall, co-founder of Sourdough South, operator of the Three Joes concept and The Stable brand, is to step down as the company’s group chief executive, Propel has learned. Hall, the founder and former chief executive of healthy fast food brand Pod, founded Three Joes in 2017, with Emma Blackmore and Peter Bruton. Alongside expansion of Three Joes, the business acquired the then 14-site Stable group from Fuller's for an undisclosed sum in summer 2020, and added the Fistral Beach Bar in Newquay a year later. The group currently operates nine sites under The Stable brand and three Three Joes sites, after closing three restaurants operating under the latter format earlier this spring. Hall told Propel: “I am handing over the reins at Sourdough South to my partners Pete and Emma after seven years as group chief executive and having built the group to £18m turnover. I shall be cheering them on and supporting as one of the largest shareholders but have decided to move on from day-to-day management.” Last August, Propel revealed Sourdough South had secured the first site under The Stable brand since it acquired the business from Fuller’s – in Padstow, Cornwall. Propel understands that Sourdough South will be back on site in Padstow this summer with the view to opening the site later this year or early next. Propel reported in April, that Three Joes had closed its sites in Fareham, Chichester and Cambridge – the latter two of which have been open for less than a year. Its remaining three restaurants – in Winchester, Lincoln and Sheffield, remain open. Hall told Propel at the time: “In common with many operators in this climate, we have made the decision to trim our restaurant estate and are closing a handful of our Three Joes sites. The Stable and Beach Bar restaurants are in excellent condition and performing ahead of 2023 with an anticipated strong summer ahead of us.” 

 

Soho House ends plans to go private after rejecting bid that undervalued the business: Members’ club group Soho House has said it has rejected a takeover offer by an unidentified party at a “substantial premium”, because it undervalued the company. The New York-listed business said it had rebuffed an offer by the unnamed party despite it being at a “substantial premium” to its current market cap, which is just over $1bn (£790m). In February, the company said an internal special committee, which had been formed last autumn, was assessing its options including a deal to go private. This committee has consequently been dissolved. Soho House said: “As previously announced, the board of directors of the company established an independent special committee of the board in the autumn of 2023 to evaluate certain strategic transactions, which included potentially becoming a private company. This was instigated because the company received interest from a party that conditioned a proposal on certain Class B holders rolling over their equity interests in the company as part of a transaction. The offer received from the party was at a value that reflected a substantial premium over the current trading price. After thorough review by the special committee and its independent advisors, the special committee concluded that the offer did not adequately reflect the value of the company and was not in the best interests of its public stockholders. Consequently, the special committee has requested that the board dissolve the special committee, which it has done. The board has the ability to establish such a committee in the future.” In February, the investment research firm GlassHouse accused Soho House of being “a company with a broken business model and terrible accounting” and warned it faced the same bankrupt fate as WeWork. Soho House subsequently claimed the report contained “factual inaccuracies, analytical errors, and false and misleading statements”. In March, shares in Soho House increased 20% after reports that CC Capital, the investment firm led by former Blackstone executive Chinh Chu, was one of the suitors in talks to take Soho House private. At the same time, the group’s chairman and largest shareholder Ron Burkle had sent a letter to shareholders in which he said he expects to be an owner of the business for a long time, and that he has debated for some time whether Soho House should be a public company. In April, Soho House reported that its losses rose to $46m in its first quarter (13 weeks to 31 March 2024), while UK membership numbers were up 48% in the last two years and its overall waitlist exceeded 100,000 for the first time.

Heavenly Desserts appoints new national operations manager to lead UK and overseas growth, seeking franchisees to lead its roll out in US: Artisan dessert restaurant Heavenly Desserts has appointed a new national operations manager to lead its UK and overseas growth. Following nearly three years as area manager in London and the south of England, Wesley Williams will now play a pivotal head office role, working on “executing key campaigns with the team and its franchise partners to supercharge growth across the Heavenly Desserts estate”. Marc Pantling will replace Williams as the day-to-day support for its franchise partners in London and the south, having previously worked for brands such as Everyman Cinema and Smash Burger. “Having worked not only with the southern region, but also with partners in the north and Midlands, I’ve had the benefit of understanding the motivations of our partners across the whole network,” Williams said. “This puts me in a valuable position to be able to develop our offering further.” Yousif Aslam, co-managing director of Heavenly Desserts, added: “Wesley’s promotion signals the growth that Heavenly Desserts has experienced of late. The team had reached a point at which it needed to expand to create that internal foundation that would allow us to continue our exciting plans for expansion. We also look forward to having Marc join the team. His skills from an impressive three decades in the sector will no doubt strengthen our team further and allow us to continue giving the right level of support to the partners on the ground.” It comes as Heavenly Desserts, which has grown to 56 restaurants in the UK and has major plans to expand internationally, is seeking franchisees to lead its roll out in the US. Heavenly Desserts so far has just one overseas location, in Canada, but has sold master franchise rights in India, Pakistan, the US and Denmark, with operations manager Nick Gemmel support growing opportunities in those countries. Heavenly Desserts has now also partnered with whichfranchise to seek area developers and multi-deal franchisees in the US. Aslam told Propel in January that he has targeted 100 sites by end the end of 2026.

Exclusive – Arc Inspirations to open new Nottingham and Sheffield sites as part of city centre growth strategy: Arc Inspirations, the premium bar operator, is to open new sites in Nottingham and Sheffield this year, Propel has learned. The two new sites will build on Arc’s city centre growth strategy, which is key to its ambition to operate 50 bars by 2030. After launching Manahatta Sheffield in early 2023, and Box Nottingham in November last year, the company will double its presence in both cities with the launch of Box Sheffield, and Manahatta Nottingham, this autumn. Arc recently secured £7m in extra funding to accelerate its expansion across the UK, with a £4m loan from its banking partner, HSBC UK, alongside a £3m equity injection from its shareholders, including Business Growth Fund, which has backed Arc since 2022. With ambitions to deliver at least four new openings per year over the next five years, the capital will support Arc’s continued growth plans, and also fund a major programme of refurbishments. Box Sheffield will add to the brand’s existing sites in Leeds city centre, Deansgate in Manchester and Brindleyplace in Birmingham. Also opening in the autumn will be Manahatta Edinburgh, and the Edinburgh and Nottingham locations will both launch with a new interior look and feel, “evolving the brand while staying true to the original concept – a glamorous, exciting cocktail bar inspired by the beat of New York”. Arc co-founder and chief executive, Martin Wolstencroft, said: “We’re thrilled to be doubling our presence in the centre of Nottingham and Sheffield, two cities where we’ve seen great success in the last year. The new sites in Nottingham and Edinburgh mark a significant evolution for the brand, and the new design will be rolled out across existing Manahattas over the coming months.” Building on its ambitious growth programme and city centre strategy, Arc, which operates 20 venues, is also eyeing further launches in London, Liverpool and Cardiff in the near future, and said it will look to dispose of older, legacy sites that don’t fit the future strategy of the business.

Exclusive – Lane7 secures second London site: Boutique bowling company Lane7 has secured a second site in London, in Camden, Propel has learned. The Tim Wilks-founded business, which made its debut in the capital at the end of last year in Victoria, has secured a 15,000 square-foot site in Camden Market. The site, which is set to open late summer, will feature, alongside the brand’s premium bowling lanes, tech darts, beer pong, shuffleboard and the brand’s adults-only arcade hall concept, Play Dirty. The opening in Camden will be the third in a three-month period for the 12-strong business, following on from it first international site in Berlin, which will open in a few weeks' time and the new opening in Altrincham in July. Lane7’s managing director Gavin Hughes told Propel: “Following the success of our first site in London Victoria, we have been keen to find more locations in the city, so we are excited to bring Lane7’s brand of gaming and hospitality to Camden. The development at Water Lane has brought a new dynamic to Camden and working closely with James Norman and Maggie Milosavljevic, of Labtech, we can’t wait to bring the Lane7 experience to another fantastic area of London.” Lane7, which recently secured planning approval to open a site in Lincoln, also plans to open two new sites in its home city of Newcastle, including a new concept for the business. In March, Propel revealed that Lane7 will open its largest site to date later this year, in Milton Keynes’ Midsummer Place, spanning 38,000 square feet. It is also due to open a second European site in Dublin later this year. Will Biggart, of Torridon, acts for Lane7.

Monterey Jack’s launches new express format: Scotland-based, American-style restaurant Monterey Jack’s has launched a new express format. The eight-strong business last year opened its largest restaurant to date, set over 4,000 square feet at the M&D’s Scotland Theme Park in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, and offering 250 covers alongside immersive experiences. The business, which opened its first franchise site in December 2022, in Braehead, has now gone in the other direction and introduced a new quick-service format. “Jack’s Express is brought to you by one of Scotland’s best loved restaurant groups, Monterey Jack’s,” said franchise consultants Platinum Wave. “Being a company responsive to market trends, such as growing vegan and halal menus, Monterey Jack’s saw a strong opportunity for an additional format. Jack’s Express offers the biggest selling fan favourites, from its full menu of Americana classics and modern twists to award-winning restaurant quality burgers, dawgs, chicken and sides, plus a vegan range. Perfect for operators with an existing takeaway or small format restaurant that want to enjoy bigger sales and higher profits. Convert to a Jack’s Express from £50,000 for fit out and a £15,000 franchise fee, and you could be generating revenue of £5,000-plus per week. Create a new store from £75,000-£150,000 and your sales can be significantly more.” Platinum Wave said Jack’s Express offers cost efficient staffing (two to three per shift), training and support from an experienced franchisor, plus an excellent supply chain, supplier relationships and fit out providers. In addition to in-house dining, it also offers online ordering and delivery services. The business said in March it planned to make its English debut in 2024 and was eyeing sites in London, Manchester and Newcastle.

Daisy Green Collection opens Holland Park site: Australian restaurant group Daisy Green Collection has opened a new site in London’s Holland Park. As Propel revealed in April, the now 16-strong Daisy Green has taken over the site of the Holland Park Cafeteria. The café features an “expansive patio and terrace among the historic listed arches as well as ample indoor seating”. The business said: “The menu covers early mornings to evening small plates with our famous brunch available throughout the day, as well as hearty salads, sandwiches and our gelato hatch, serving up the Gelupo gelato.” Shelley Sandzer acted on behalf of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea on the deal.

Real Eating Company opens in Maidstone for tenth site and first since being acquired out of administration: Real Eating Company, the Helena Hudson-led independent cafe and coffee concept, has opened in Maidstone for its tenth site and first since being acquired out of administration. It has opened at 8-10 King Street for the company’s second site in Kent, joining its Canterbury location. It also has two sites each in London, Cambridge and Chichester, and one each in Portsmouth and Horsham. “Excited to announce we have opened our new cafe in Maidstone,” said operations director Leon King, former operations manager at Ole & Steen and franchise business manager at German Doner Kebab. “Proudly independent, bringing local produce, quality coffee and our passion for people to the local community.” Founded by Hudson in 2004, Real Eating Company, last year underwent a pre-pack administration that left the business in “a much more robust position” and “looking ahead with confidence”. It was acquired out of administration by a new company set up by Hudson called Regular Cafes, which took on all of its sites apart from its debut location in London, in Chelsea’s King’s Road, which closed.

Yorkshire dessert bar concept seeking sites across the north and Midlands as it looks to expand: Yorkshire dessert bar operator Rassam’s Creamery is seeking sites across the north and Midlands as it looks to expand. The seven-strong business, founded in 2012 by Rassam Ali, currently has five sites within Sheffield plus one each in Wakefield and Beeston. The company is specifically looking for locations is Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Barnsley, Doncaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Glossop, Rotherham, Chesterfield, Manchester and Leicester. They must be high profile locations on major arterial roads, stand-alone or on retail parks on the edge of cities or towns, with city centre and high street locations not of interest. They must be 3,000 to 5,000 square feet in size and leasehold only, with no extraction required and no alcohol served. “We’re on the hunt for more sites,” Ali said. “Since 2012, we have opened several vibrant stores, catering to a wide range of customer demographics. With seven units already trading in Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire, we are now looking to expand our successful property portfolio. Rassam’s Creamery is a high footfall driver from mornings through to evenings, and therefore the concept would be a great addition to any retail scheme/park.”

Wagamama set to open Walton-on-Thames restaurant: Wagamama, The Restaurant Group-owned brand, is set to open a restaurant in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Located in The Heart Shopping Centre, the restaurant will offer 126 covers, including 18 external seats, bringing Wagamama’s total to 166 restaurants across the UK. The venue – which opens on Monday, 17 June – will feature Wagamama’s new summer menu including saku saku soba with a choice of crispy shredded duck or crispy pulled shiitake; and crispy otsumami with a choice of beef, salmon or pulled shiitake. New drinks include a pad Thai sour cocktail, inspired by the flavour of the popular Thai dish. Last week, Wagamama announced that it has partnered with Travel Food Services, India’s fastest growing travel food and retail company, to make its Indian debut in Mumbai airport’s International Terminal, with the ambition for further expansion in transport hubs across the country. A Wagamama spokesperson told Propel the plan is to open two or three sites per year for the next three years, with potential to further expand as the business evolves.

Interactive burger bar with rude waiters closes Birmingham site: Interactive burger bar Karen’s Diner, where customers pay for “rude waiters” to insult them, has closed its site in Birmingham’s Grand Central shopping centre. The brand confirmed to Birmingham Live that the site has closed for good after its licence was not renewed. A spokesperson said there were no plans to reopen the restaurant and that refunds would be processed to customers with bookings. The theme of the restaurant was unpleasant service in which staff would insult diners by making them play games, hold signs and wear hats bearing a variety of insults. Karen’s garnered attention online after customers began taking members of their family to the diner without explaining the concept, with videos showing bamboozled grandparents often going viral. It comes two months after Karen’s Diner terminated its franchise in Brighton after high drug readings were taken by police. The brand, which originated in Australia, took action as police prepared to ask city councillors to revoke the premises licence. Its remaining UK sites are in Barnet, Sheffield, Dublin, Manchester and London’s Angel. The brand closed three of its ten Australian locations last summer but said it was seeing “steady growth” in the UK and was eyeing further expansion here.

Greek street food business set to open new permanent site in Banbury: Greek street food business Mr Souvlaki is set to open a new permanent site in Banbury. The concept, founded in 2017 and which also operates sites in Leamington, Cheltenham and London’s Bermondsey, will soon be opening in the Oxfordshire town’s Broad Street. In preparation of moving into the permanent location, it has closed the kiosk it has operated at the Lock29 destination within Banbury’s Castle Quay shopping centre for the last four years, reports the Banbury Guardian. Founder Ilias Alexeas, said: “I am so proud of the way in which our authentic craftsmanship, artisan street twist and high-quality ingredients won our customers’ hearts, and though I am sad to be leaving, I am grateful for the opportunities trading here has given me.” Lock29 manager Stuart McGregor said: “Lock29 is proud to have been part of Mr Souvlaki’s success story and wishes it continued success as it embarks on this new chapter.”

Birmingham LGBTQ+ venue and festival operator set to go into administration: The fate of Birmingham Pride and several of Birmingham’s best-known LGBTQIA+ venues and festivals hangs in the balance after its owners sought court protection from action from its creditors. GB Holdings (UK) is the parent company of Birmingham Pride; The Village Inn, one of Birmingham’s oldest LGBTQ+ spaces; and The Nightingale, which describes itself as “the heart of the city’s LGBTQIA+ nightlife and clubbing scene”. The group also owns The Loft Bar & Kitchen, the Solihull Summer Fest and the Paric Festival, the largest Irish music and culture event at Birmingham’s Irish Centre. GB Holdings (UK) and The Nightingale (UK) have both filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, reports Insider Media. GB Holdings (UK) is two months overdue filing its 2023 accounts and a compulsory strike-off notice has been published by the Registrar of Companies. Birmingham’s night-time economy adviser Lawrence Barton is described as the owner of GB Holdings (UK) on the company’s website, although he does not have a majority shareholding and has not been a director for nearly five years. He is also a significant minority shareholder in The Nightingale (UK) but left the board in October 2022. Barton is also a deputy lieutenant of the West Midlands, a West Midlands Combined Authority leadership commissioner and a board member of Birmingham Southside BID. The Nightingale’s current directors are David Nash and Terence Runcorn, who are both also part of the GB Holdings leadership team, with Nash overlooking festivals and venues and Runcorn in charge of operations. Birmingham Pride organisers have called on the council to find the event a new home for 2025, as the site will make way for the £1.9bn Smithfield regeneration scheme. Plans include a new home for the city’s historic Bull Ring markets plus new leisure and cultural spaces.

Burmese restaurant concept Lahpet to open in London’s Bermondsey for third site: Burmese restaurant concept Lahpet is to open its third site. Having expanded from London’s Shoreditch to Covent Garden, the business is heading south of the river for its next opening, Lahpet Larder, in Bermondsey. The venue is launching next month in Bermondsey Street, taking over the space that was most recently The Hide bar, reports Hot Dinners. The name for this opening comes from Bermondsey's history as being “London's larder”, but also because tit will be offering some Burmese staples and pickles that people can buy and take home for cooking. The restaurant menu will highlight ingredients imported from Myanmar. Dishes will focus on regional Burmese cooking styles, with sharing plates and bowls including Rakhine salmon and papaya salad, and Dawei Mohinga, a regional version of the classic Burmese fish noodle soup. The restaurant will have space for about 90 people and have a central open kitchen and private dining room.

Team behind Northumberland Italian restaurant open new coffee shop and deli: The team behind Lollo Rossi Italian restaurant in Morpeth has opened a new coffee shop and deli in the Northumberland town. The 96-seater Gran Caffé Lollo has opened in the former Barclays branch in Bridge Street. Enrico Petini came up with the idea for the venture and entered into a three-way partnership with Lollo Rosso’s owners, Giovanni Marabini, Miguel Pupo-Perez and Niko Petrakis. With Petrakis subsequently moving back to Greece, Petini has also become the new co-owner of Lollo Rosso. “It was a lot of hard work, and we had a slight delay, but we were able to get everything in place to open Gran Caffé Lollo, and it has been really busy from the moment we opened to the public,” Petini told the Northumberland Gazette. “We are fully staffed up and hopefully this great start will continue.” Everything remains the same at Lollo Rosso, but with Petrakis leaving, Petini’s son Matt has joined the team.

Brend Hotels launches chef training academy: Brend Hotels, which operates a portfolio of 11 three and four-star hotels in Devon and Cornwall, is spearheading a training academy aimed at nurturing aspiring young chefs. The academy aims to empower the next generation of chefs with mentoring, training, and the opportunity to gain invaluable experience at different venues. Executive head chef Stuart White leads the charge in implementing the programme at Sidmouth’s Victoria Hotel. He said: “There are ongoing challenges faced by the hospitality industry, particularly regarding staff shortages, and it’s more important than ever to invest in the future of our workforce. By training aspiring chefs, we not only ensure the sustainability of our own establishments but also contribute to the hospitality industry as a whole.” Under the guidance of the Brend’s head chefs and mentors, young chefs gain hands-on experience across various kitchen departments, honing their skills in butchery, patisserie, sauce, and banqueting. The programme also emphasises innovation, creativity, and adaptability. White added: “We also hone in on the importance of understanding customer preferences and adapting to evolving demands over time and they’ll gain an understanding of the operational aspects of running a kitchen, including financial management such as ordering food, understanding value, and effectively managing budgets.”

Bristol live music venue owner takes over Manchester bar: Bristol live music venue owner Chris Sharp has taken over a bar in Manchester and transformed it into another live music venue. Sharp, who has owned The Fleece in Bristol since 2010, is part of a team that has acquired Font Bar in New Wakefield Street, which closed in January 2023 after 22 years. Following a revamp, it is set to reopen as live music venue and Irish bar Mother Mary’s, which aims to serve as a prime spot for new and upcoming artists and DJs to perform. Joining Sharp in running the venue will be fellow nightlife veterans Greg Dwyer – who tours with some of the world’s biggest bands and regularly delivers events at nightclubs and live venues across Manchester – and Joseph Finegan – who was general manager at Manchester venues such as The Deaf Institute and South Nightclub. Aiming to takes its inspiration from Ireland and the US, Mother Mary’s will serve beer, wine, cider and craft ale, and there will also be a dedicated cocktail menu that will include a special serve called “The Font”, in honour of the site’s former resident. Mother Mary’s will also serve a food menu headed up by chef Andrew James, who has also fronted Stockport's pie shop Ate Days a Week and Blackbird Brewhouse and Kitchen. His menu will feature all-day breakfasts, Irish favourites and a Sunday roast. Throughout the week, the two-floor venue will host gigs from local and touring bands, comedians and entertainers, including an open stage every night, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Greenock pizzeria owner set to open new wine bar: Greenock pizzeria owner Tony Bonatti is set to open a new wine bar in nearby Gourock. Bonatti, who owns Tonino’s in Greenock’s Grey Place, was given planning approval to revamp the former Domus Interiors shop in Gourock's Kempock Street in April. The venue, which will be called Vino by Tonino, will have capacity for 40 people, and Bonatti hopes it can launch around Christmas time, reports the Greenock Telegraph. He said: “I feel like there’s definitely a bit of a gap in the market. I’ve got a love of Italian wine and wine in general. I want to grow Tonino’s, it’s now eight years old and it’s time to expand, but I want to diversify. That’s partly because I feel like what we have in Grey Place is quite a magic thing, I don’t think I could just roll that out and repeat it everywhere. I want to do something a bit different, but obviously with a bit of Tonino’s inspiration. We’ll be serving food here that will have been made on Tonino’s premises, but it’ll be cold food – nibbles, antipasti or meat or cheese. It’s a growth of the business without being a replica.”

Sisters to open restaurant centred around Nepalese steamed dumplings in London’s Borough Yards: A restaurant centred around Nepalese steamed dumplings is to open in London’s Borough Yards. Eat Momo comes from sisters Trishna and Dipa Chamling and is due to launch in one of the railway arches at 1 Bank End in August, reports Hot Dinners. The sisters have being inspired by regional recipes across Nepal and will be serving up chicken, pork and beef momo, flavoured with coriander and spices. They'll also have vegetable momo packed with ginger. All the dumplings will come with traditional accompaniments – tomato chutney and spicy chilli pickle for dipping. The Chamlings said: “We have such vivid memories of making momo with our family over the years. They represent home comforts – and we aim to bring that love and care of momo-making to Borough Yards.”