Cream Group teams up with Stormzy for immersive nightlife concept in London’s Soho: Cream Group – which operates London nightclubs including Cirque Le Soir, Reign and Dear Darling – has teamed up with musician Stormzy to open a new nightlife concept in the capital. House Party will launch in Poland Street, Soho, today (Friday, 7 July). The group said that while post-pandemic nightlife has changed from nightclubs to more relaxed venues and concerts, House Party “sits at the intersection”. Set across seven floors, each mirroring different rooms in a typical house, the experience also includes immersive actors, performers and interactive additions “to offer customers an authentic house party experience and bring the space alive”. Guests will be able to enjoy tracks and performances from some of the most sought-after DJs and artists as they explore each room, which includes a secret “Joey & Chandler” room with private mini fridge, a media centre and 1800 phone for fresh pizza. There will also be a roof terrace. The drinks menu will include classic and signature cocktails. Food will also be available throughout the venue including New York-style crispy pizza. Other features include a retro 1990s black BMW – Stormzy’s first car, that has been lowered into the basement – beer pong tables and Pass the Aux, where guests can connect their phone via Bluetooth and play their own music in any room. Guests can also find “mum’s diary”, follow the clues and possibly end up with a night of free drinks or listen to a confession and leave a mystery message for the next user on the hushed hotline. Cream Group was founded by Ryan Bishti with the launch of Cirque le Soir in 2009 and is in its second decade of operation.

 

Premium Club members to receive next New Openings Database today: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club members today (Friday, 7 June). The database will show the details of 234 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 234 new additions to the database. The database includes new openings in the quick service restaurant sector such as new Chinese burger concept Kung Fu Burger, which will soon be opening in London’s Shaftesbury Avenue; Japanese “beef bowl” business Yoshinoya making its debut in Europe with an opening in Edinburgh; and Burrito Picante, which is set to open in Liverpool’s St Johns shopping centre this summer. 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.

 

‘There are opportunities for growth but winning market share has to be a key priority for the pub sector’: Mark Bentley, business development director of Hospitality Data Insights – provider of card spending insight and pricing data to hospitality businesses – has argued that there are opportunities for growth but winning market share has to be a key priority for the pub sector. He said since 2019, the pub sector has seen its overall share of hospitality spend squeezed in a “real battle for market share”, with both formatted and branded pubs down 1.7%. He added there has been a big slowdown in UK pub and bar sales in the first quarter of 2024 across all location types – high street, suburban and rural – but in terms of the top 20 high street operators, no one type of operator is winning and there’s a real mix of value, mainstream and premium. Bentley highlighted Stonegate’s Craft Union, Loungers, Oisin Rogers’ The Devonshire in London, Stuart Broad and Harry Gurney’s The Griffin Inn in Leicestershire, and Mission Mars’ Albert’s Schloss as pub sector success stories. “These are all over the map in terms of factors like age and affluence, they’re not all in one place in terms of who they appeal to,” Bentley said. “Those businesses that have been successful are winning market share. They really understand their customers and their competitors and they’re setting themselves up to win each of the local markets that they’re present in. It’s tough out there, but there are opportunities for growth, but winning market share has to be a key priority for the pub sector.” Bentley also said ongoing industrial action is a concern, with a recent analysis of the effect on hospitality sales in London’s Zones 1 and 2 on strike days revealing they were typically down 32%, with pubs sales down 38%. He added that after The Black Dog in Vauxhall was namechecked in Taylor Swift’s new album, sales “went crazy” – up 26% year on year for the week ending 30 April, and up 66% versus the pub’s “pre-Swifties” period. “In the wider Vauxhall area, hospitality spend was down 5%, and it will be fascinating to see how that market evolves in the weeks and months ahead,” Bentley added. Bentley was speaking at Propel’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference – all the videos from which are now available to Premium Club members.

 

UKHospitality – get prospective MPs visiting your venues to ensure hospitality’s voice is heard even louder: UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has urged the sector to contact would-be MPs ahead of next month’s general election and get them visiting their venues to ensure “hospitality’s voice is heard even louder”. She said the trade body has followed its extensive work with the Conservative government with “countless conversations, meetings and roundtables” with Labour – which is leading the polls – “to make sure hospitality was central in its policy development.” Now, Nicholls said, we have to “show the value of our sector to more than 2,000 candidates”. Writing exclusively in today’s (Friday, 7 June) Propel Friday Opinion, Nicholls said: “We’ve written to every single prospective parliamentary candidate to equip them with our key asks and the invitation to meet. Many have already taken up that invitation. I urge you to get stuck into the campaign and help make hospitality’s voice even louder. Why? Making the argument face-to-face is so much more effective, and we know there are thousands of the most passionate people out there in our sector to make that case. Let’s leave politicians in absolutely no doubt about the importance of our sector and the need to champion our cause. So, please, whether you are our member or not, write those letters and help us create the best possible relationships with would-be MPs. Because, in July, when 650 people take their campaigning from the pavements of their constituency to the green benches of the Houses of Parliament, many for the first time as MPs, we want them to be making the argument for hospitality. Now is the time to make that happen.” Nicholls will share more of her thoughts in today’s Friday Opinion, which will be sent out at 11am. 

 

Quarter of UK adults ‘zebra striping’ on every pub visit as Brits further moderate drinking: A quarter of UK drinkers are alternating between alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks, known as zebra striping, when they visit pubs and bars, according to new research. The 2024 Low and No: Drinking Differently report produced by research consultancy KAM and alcohol-free beer brand Lucky Saint, showed when you include situations where an individual is combining alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks while not necessarily “zebra striping”, this figure rises to two in three UK adults (78% of 18 to 24-year-olds). Moderation of alcohol is now a year-round habit for UK adults, the report finds. Three out of four UK adults who drink alcohol have said they are currently actively moderating their consumption of alcohol across 2024. A notable decline in the number of UK adults consuming alcohol more than once a month has been reported, with the figure dropping to 88% in 2024, down from 93% in 2023 (95% in 2022). According to KAM Insights, more than one in five 18 to 24-year-olds claim to not drink alcohol, the highest of any age group. The report also found that 53% of 18 to 24-year-olds report visiting a pub or bar once a week or more. There is a clear demand from younger people for quality alcohol-free options, with 68% saying they have left a venue early or disappointed due to poor low and no options, in the last three months. As drinking habits change, moderation is becoming part of everyday life. Moderation is no longer solely tied to specific occasions or weekdays. Instead, the most regular occurrence of moderation is during weekends (31% of UK adults versus 27% weekdays, 17% celebratory events, 11% Dry January). 

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a new luxury café and wine business that is expanding and is seeking a managing director. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “With one site already established and plans for four more in the pipeline, the company requires someone who can contribute value, leveraging their skills and expertise to fuel the company's growth. It is looking for a savvy managing director who excels in growth, strategy, finance, and service excellence as well as building teams. The role will be inclusive of site development, operations, recruitment, financial systems, people, culture, and process. You will have full financial accountability and must demonstrate success in a previous similar role.” The salary is up to £125,000 and the position is based in Surrey. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com.

 

Matt Crumpler to step down as Wagamama CFO: Matt Crumpler is to step down as chief financial officer of Wagamama, The Restaurant Group (TRG)-owned brand, later this summer after 18 months in the role, Propel has learned. Crumpler, who was previously at Virgin Active, joined TRG as group financial controller at the start of 2019 before being promoted to finance director, and then becoming chief financial officer of the Thomas Heier-led Wagamama at the start of 2023. Rebecca McDowall, who has been with Wagamama for eight and half years and is currently the brand’s director of commercial finance, will become its new finance director. A Wagamama spokesperson told Propel: “Following a successful five and a half years with TRG (initially as group finance director and the last 18 months as chief financial officer for Wagamama) ,Matt Crumpler leaves us later this summer. This comes off the back of a reorganisation of our finance team earlier this year, whereby Rebecca McDowall will step up as finance director upon her return from maternity leave in July. Matt has made a significant contribution in each of the roles he has held during his time with us, and he leaves with our very best wishes. Becs has been with Wagamama for eight years having held a number of senior finance roles over this time. She will report to Thomas and become a member of Wagamama’s executive team while working closely with Mark Chambers in his capacity as group chief financial officer.”

 

Two remaining Vagabond sites acquired out of administration: The two remaining sites of Vagabond Wines have been acquired out of administration. Joint administrators Andrew Andronikou and Brian Burke, of Quantuma, have completed the sale of the two remaining sites, located at Gatwick airport, to Airport Retail Enterprises (UK) in a deal that secures the ongoing employment of all 122 staff across the two sites. Andronikou and Burke were appointed as joint administrators of Vagabond in March and traded the business, which operated from 12 sites across London, the south east and Birmingham, while they negotiated a sale. The sale of nine Vagabond sites to Majestic Wine was completed in April with the Gatwick sites continuing to be traded by the administrators. Andronikou said: “I am delighted to have achieved such great outcomes, which all told means the preservation of in excess of 300 jobs. Both acquirers are well positioned to provide funding and operational expertise to support the next phases of profitable growth for the businesses.” Propel revealed last month that Majestic paid a total consideration of £6.5m for Vagabond. The deal, which saw £5.8m paid on completion, saved nine of the 12 wine bars from closure and 171 jobs. The sites in London’s Battersea Power Station, Charlotte Street, Fulham, Monument, Northcote Road, Paddington, Shoreditch and Victoria as well as its Birmingham outlet were all included. The site at Canary Wharf was not part of the deal and subsequently closed. Propel revealed in March that Vagabond had been put up for sale, with the performance of Vagabond understood to have come under increasing pressure over the past 12 months. The Fortress Investment Group-backed Majestic was understood to have fought off interest in Vagabond from investment firm Breal Group, with an offer believed to be considerably higher for the business.

 

Remarkable Pubs acquires former Laine Pub Co site in east London: London operator Remarkable Pubs has acquired a former Laine Pub Co site in east London. Remarkable Pubs has bought the Spark House at 557-559 Lea Bridge Road in Leyton, which had been acquired by Lane in 2022 after previously being operated by JD Wetherspoon as the Drum. “We are delighted to welcome the former Spark House into the Remarkable Pubs family,” said Remarkable Pubs managing director, Rob Thomas. “We are passionate about creating memorable experiences for our guests, and we see tremendous potential in the former Spark House to become a destination of choice for residents and visitors alike. Following refurbishments and a rename, we will be opening our doors as The European PH.” Andy Frisby, director at agent Fleurets, which acted on the deal, added: “There were several bidders for this property, and it is great to see the strength in demand for suburban wet-led pubs.” It is a 15th site for Remarkable Pubs, which is also set to open the former Leyton Technical site in Leyton High Road as the Leyton Engineer this summer, having acquired it from Antic Pubs last year. In March, Remarkable Pubs reported record turnover of £7,271,702 for the year ending 30 June 2023 compared with £6,480,353 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was up to £1,639,331 from £466,432 after the business sold one of its sites that realised a profit of £413,353.

 

BrewDog co-founder reveals plans for new venture: James Watt, co-founder of Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, has revealed plans for a new venture. Watt, who stepped down as BrewDog chief executive last month, is launching Social Tip this summer, which will be in the “brand building space” and will focus on “building community and rewarding everyday people for genuine brand advocacy and love”. He said he would reveal more details about the venture in due course. Watt said he already has a team of eight but is seeking a few “driven” individuals “to help me build a remarkable company”. This includes a USA general manager to lead its US operations, for which an equity package is available for the role. Watt is also looking for two “extraordinary” graduates to join its new graduate programme. Watt said they will work directly with himself and the director of partnerships on the sales, marketing, community, brand and social media elements of the business. He added the roles would be completely focused on growth and the graduate roles will be UK based. Watt co-founded BrewDog 17 years ago with Martin Dickie. James Arrow, who joined the business as its chief operating officer last summer, has stepped up to take Watt’s place as chief executive. Watt remains on the company’s board in the new role as “captain and co-founder”.

  

Wingstop UK secures Crawley site: Lemon Pepper Holdings, the company behind the rollout of Wingstop in the UK, has added a site in Crawley, West Sussex, to its 2024 opening pipeline. Propel understands that Wingstop UK, which is on track to surpass the 50-site mark next month, has secured the former Harvester site at Crawley Leisure Park for an opening later this year. Lemon Pepper Holdings, which launched the brand in the UK in 2018, recently secured a site in the White Rose shopping centre in Leeds, for an opening in August. It comes after Wingstop opened its debut restaurant in the city’s Boar Lane last month, which it told Propel had been a “record-breaking launch”. Wingstop UK has also recently secured the former YO! site at the Middlebrook scheme, in Bolton, for an opening later this year. Further London sites at Westfield Stratford and Wood Green, along with Milton Keynes, are scheduled to open over June and July. Wingstop UK is also in talks on a site in Bradford. Mark Segal, of Brasier Freeth, acts for Wingstop UK. David Muslin, of Ecliptic, acted on the Crawley deal on behalf of Mitchells & Butlers. 

 

Sir Tim Martin unveils plans to expand up to 50 of its pubs: Sir Tim Martin, the founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon, has said the company is gearing up to expand up to 50 of its pubs. The business has been scaling up the size of its pubs, such as opening one in Ramsgate that can cater up to 1,400 customers and has the biggest beer garden in Britain. Work to enlarge its Newcastle pub, The Mile Castle, is now underway, which will include a 26-bedroom hotel and 3,000 square-foot beer garden. Sir Tim told The Sun: “We are probably going to expand 40 or 50 more of our pubs over the next few years, in a similar style to Ramsgate and Newcastle.” Sir Tim also said the company was able to sell beer and spirits so cheaply because it bought and sold in bigger quantities than anyone else. He said: “There’s no real secret, we sell a lot of beer. We’ve got bigger pubs than average, and we’ve got very long-term relationships with our beer suppliers, so they know that we’re not buying it for three months or six months. Our longest contract now has got 17 years to go.” He said that he had been inspired by US retail giant Walmart, which used to own Asda, which undercut its competitors on price because it sold more than anyone else. He said: “Sam Walton used to say ‘we sell three for two’, and that’s true of Wetherspoon. Our average sales per pub are probably far more than double most pubs.” Sir Tim said Wetherspoon takes almost the entire production of Greene King’s Ruddles beer, which is the cheapest beer Wetherspoon sells. He said: “I’ve never hung outside the brewery gate waiting for it to go out of date. It would be impossible.” He also said it was a similar story with spirits, which have a very long shelf life. He said: “The cheapest spirit we sell is probably gin, Gordon’s gin. I’ve never heard of gin going out of date. They pick it up out of a shipwreck from 300 years ago, and it’s still drinkable.”

 

Sussex coffee house company set to open ninth site as it grows beyond Brighton, two more in pipeline for 2024: Sussex coffee house company, Trading Post Coffee Roasters, is set to open its ninth site, with two more in the pipeline for 2024. The business, founded by Michael Deol in Brighton in 2017, will open in Montague Street in Worthing on Monday (10 June). It will be the company’s second launch this year, having opened its sixth Brighton location in February, in Western Road. The company also has stores in Lewes and Chichester and is set to open two further sites this year, including one in Horsham. The Worthing store has 72 covers inside and also features live roasting, an open plan kitchen and outdoor seating. It will offer Trading Post’s unique signature blends, featuring exclusively Rainforest Alliance and Soil Association Organic Certified coffee origins, as well as its limited edition, specialty single-origin coffee and seasonal drinks menu. There will also be a brunch menu with plant-based and gluten free options and a range of items for young diners. Trading Post’s head of wholesale, Ryan Deol, said: “The continued success of our sites in both Lewes and Chichester have demonstrated the strength of the coffee community as well as the Trading Post Coffee Roasters brand beyond Brighton & Hove. With the upcoming work to the neighbouring area of Montague Place to become a sustainable, accessible urban garden increasing greenery and biodiversity in the heart of Worthing – we couldn’t have found a better location that aligns with our sustainable, planet-conscious values.”

 

Cavern Club owner reports lfl sales up 15%, first overseas franchise to open this year, £1.2m pandemic loans fully repaid: The owners of the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool has said like-for-like sales are up 15% in 2024 and its first overseas franchise is set to open this year – with negotiations underway for further ones. The first of these will open in Brazil, with negotiations ongoing with prospective franchises in Dubai, Mexico and The Philippines. The company also said a £1.2m loan it took out “to survive the pandemic” has now been fully repaid, which it said is “further evidence of the company’s resilience and strength”. The company said the Festival restaurant it previously operated in partnership with BEM Brazil, and which it acquired outright last year, has been “a valuable acquisition”. Rebranded as The Cavern Restaurant, it has “performed above expectations”, with a 31.8% increase in sales from £977,000 to £1,288,000 in 2023. “The restaurant continues to deliver positive results in the current financial year,” the company said in its accounts for the year to 30 September 2023. Following delays, a Hilton Hotel will now open opposite the Cavern Club in 2025, which the it said will be “a huge opportunity to further boost revenue and profitability”. The company reported turnover of £10,529,745 for the period, up from £9,215,153 in 2022, while its pre-tax profit dipped slightly from £2,550,664 to £2,492,462. Government grants of £8,347 were received compared with £22,093 in 2022. Dividends of £1,249,999 were paid (2022: £700,000). “Once again, all five parts of the company have seen a rise in revenue compared with previous years when restrictions were imposed,” director Kim Jardine said. “What is hugely satisfying is the speed in which the recovery after the pandemic was achieved. Last year’s profit figure of £2,550,664 included a £692,000 acquisition value of the restaurant, which means the real profit was £1,858,664. Furthermore, figures for the first four months of trading for 2023-2024 turnover is more than 15% higher again and we are hopeful that next year will be another record year. This absolutely solidifies the power and value of the brand, which recently was estimated to be worth more than £40m. Our current bank balance is more than £3m, which gives us the strength and sustainability to meet any other unexpected challenges in the future. The recent ending of travel restrictions has seen people from China swiftly return. The Chinese overseas market in Liverpool had risen to the fourth most important after America, Spain and Brazil, and we hope to see a similar return of large numbers over the next couple of years.”

 

Chaiiwala secures site for its second drive-thru: Street food cafe franchise Chaiiwala has secured a site for its second drive-thru location. The brand made history early last year when it launched the UK’s first Indian drive-thru, at Manchester Road in Bolton. The garage forecourt site was launched in partnership with EG Group, which has more than 1,000 sites in the UK and Ireland. “Following the huge success of the first Chaiiwala drive-thru, in Bolton, I am delighted to have completed on a new lease for the second one, which will be located in Mellor Brook, Blackburn,” said EG Group development manager, Peta Pank. “We are repurposing the former KFC to bring beautiful Indian street food to the area. If you have any similar opportunities for roadside redevelopment or plots of land for sale or to let, please get in touch. We are looking for sites from around 0.5 acres to five acres across the UK.” Earlier this week, Chaiiwala confirmed that it will make its airport debut this summer with a site at London Luton, as revealed by Propel in March. The business currently has 105 locations globally and has a long-term target of 500 stores as it looks to grow in the US, Canada and the Middle East as well as here.

 

Provenance Inns and Hotels reports staff shortages and increasing cost of doing business reducing profit: Yorkshire operator Provenance Inns and Hotels has reported that staff shortages and the increasing cost of doing business are reducing profit. The group – which operates five premium country inns, one town centre pub and two luxury boutique hotels – saw its pre-tax loss widen from £1,479,199 in 2022 to £2,753,926 in the year to 27 August 2023. Turnover was down slightly from £7,561,911 to £7,243,645. “Staff shortages in each site and constant recruitment, together with the increasing cost of doing business and administrative costs, have led to a reduction in gross profit of 17% and a reduction in operating profit of 57%,” director Chris Blundell said. “Both food and wage inflation have been significant this year. From a customer perspective, the amount of disposable income available has decreased, particularly due to energy costs and interest rates rising.” No dividends were paid (2022: nil).

 

Ole & Steen parent company appoints Morten Vidal as new group CMO: Lagkagehuset, the parent company of Danish bakery brand Ole & Steen, has appointed Morten Vedel as its new group marketing director. Vedel was formerly commercial and marketing director at convenience store brand 7-Eleven. He will be responsible for commercial, marketing and branding initiatives across 109 Lagkagehuset stores in Denmark, as well as 26 Ole & Steen sites in the UK and five in the US. Vedel said: “Together with the whole team, I look forward to continuing to increase the focus on the proud Danish baking traditions, with a desire to serve our customers and guests with delicious quality baked goods, cakes and coffee, for the busy consumers in all our many stores, whether it is to-go or for domestic comfort.” Last November, the business, which is chaired by David Campbell, the former chief executive of Wagamama and PizzaExpress, appointed Joachim Knudsen, former managing director of McDonald’s Sweden and Denmark, as its new group chief executive. 

 

Landmark heritage site operator reports overall decrease in visitor numbers but increase in spend per head: Heritage Attractions, which operates visitor attractions including Land’s End in Cornwall and The Needles on the Isle of Wight, has reported an overall decrease in visitor numbers but an increase in spend per head for the year to 31 January 2024. The company, which also operates the Royal Liver Building 360 Tour in Liverpool and the Snowdon Mountain Railway, also saw strong spend from holidaymakers but reduced spend from local customers outside of holiday periods. Land’s End saw a 3.07% decrease in visitor numbers and a 10.12% increase in spend per head, while Snowdon Mountain Railway saw an 8.45% increase in visitor numbers and an 18.84% rise in spend per head. The Needles saw a 5.03% decrease in visitor numbers and a 7.88% increase in spend per head, while the Royal Liver Building saw a 39.47% rise in visitor numbers and a 2.52% increase in spend per head. Overall, there was a 2.75% decrease in visitor numbers and an 11.67% increase in spend per head. “The 2023 season was against the backdrop of cost-of-living pressures in the UK, however, visitor numbers and spend at sites were generally pleasing against prior year and budget expectations,” director Peter Johnson-Treherne said. “Following three years of closure, the Snowdon Mountain Railway summit building, Hafod Eryri, reopened in June, which provided a welcome boost to this site. The directors believe the iconic and unique nature of its portfolio of sites has provided it with a resilience when consumer spending has been under pressure. The directors remain confident that their investment plans can continue with trading back in line with normal expectations and inflationary pressures somewhat easing.” For the 2024 season, The Needles’ chairlift will be undergoing significant refurbishment, while Land’s End will operate the signpost photographic opportunity “for the first time in decades”. It comes as the business reported an increase in turnover from £16,546,078 in 2023 to £18,583,917. Of this, £8,218,841 came from attractions and admissions (2023: £7,614,266), £4,195,634 from retail (2023: £3,673,974), and £5,913,363 from catering, hotel and bar (2023: £5,052,395). Pre-tax profit dropped from £7,657,766 to £2,277,378 as administration expenses jumped from £4,651,234 to £11,570,845. An amount of £5,569,030 held within monies owed to other group companies was also written off in the prior year. No government grants were received compared with £18,667 in 2023. Dividends of £1.6m were paid (2023: £1.2m).

 

The Breakfast Club opens first train station site: All-day dining concept The Breakfast Club has opened its first train station site, partnering with SSP Group to open at St Pancras station in London. The Breakfast Club’s 16th site in total has opened in the arcade part of the station, opposite Eurostar Departures. With all-day dining and a full bar offer, the 3,660 square-foot restaurant can cater for up to 156 dine-in customers. Menu highlights include the All American Breakfast and Grand Royale Benedict, as well as a twist on classic favourites such as the Cheeseburger French Dip and Smashed Avo and Mojo Picon. Kari Daniels, chief executive of SSP UK & Ireland, said: “Opening The Breakfast Club at St Pancras is a significant milestone for SSP. Not only is this our first rail location with this much-loved brand, but it’s in one of the capital’s biggest stations too.” Last year, The Breakfast Club, founded by Jonathan Arana-Morton, partnered with SSP to launch its debut travel hub site, at Gatwick airport. 

 

North west tapas bar business owners looking to turn grade II-listed former Chester pub into latest venue: The owners of north west tapas bar business, Porta Tapas Bar, are looking to turn a grade II-listed former pub in Chester into their latest venue. Brothers Joe and Ben Wright, who are behind the Porta Tapas Bar sites in Chester, Salford and Altrincham, have submitted plans to reopen Ye Gardeners Arms in Christleton Road, which has been shut for five years. The ground floor of the three-storey building would be retained as a bar and restaurant, while the first floor would be transformed into further dining room space for the restaurant. The building dates to 1907, when it was constructed for the Albion Brewery, reports Insider Media. A design and access statement said: “The applicant has recently purchased the building and wishes to renovate and modernise the building suitable for a modern-day restaurant/public house. The applicant is a local, established restaurant owner, with a number of successful premises in the Cheshire area.” The brothers, who launched the first Porta Tapas Bar in 2012, also previously operated the Joseph Benjamin restaurant in Chester, which went on to be awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand for 12 consecutive years before closing in 2021.

 

Sticks‘n’Sushi alumni open second Sushi Revolution site with ambitions for further outlets: Aidan Bryan and Tom Blackshaw, who previously worked together at Sticks‘n’Sushi, have opened the second site in London under their Sushi Revolution concept – and are planning further outlets. The business opened its first site in Ferndale Road, Brixton, in May 2021. The duo have now launched a 34-cover site in Curtain Road, Shoreditch, taking up a ground floor space at the new Stage Plaza development, overlooking the entrance to the Museum of Shakespeare that is due to open in 2025. The concept’s menu comes in two parts, labelled “Sushi” and “The Revolution”. The company said: “Sushi – with all your favourites including freshly prepared handmade sashimi, nigiri and makis… or The Revolution – our take on Japanese classics with a rebellious twist!” The drinks menu features beer, wine, a range of sake and cocktails. The duo said they have ambitions to open more sites in London, but in the meantime will concentrate on Sushi Revolution’s main goal – making its guests happy. “We aim to serve great food and drinks, quickly, in a great venue, with great service at a great price,” said Blackshaw. “Not always easy, but hopefully, if we can do that, our guests will keep coming back.”

 

Kent accountant takes on fourth Mooboo franchise: Kent accountant Rachael Sinae Wu has taken on her fourth franchise with Mooboo – one of the largest bubble tea operators in the UK. Wu, who also works as a manager at TaxAssist in Welling, first became a Mooboo franchisee in 2022, opening a site in Sidcup High Street. Further locations followed in Orpington’s Walnuts shopping centre and London Road in Sevenoaks last year. Wu has now expanded her operations into Hertfordshire with a launch in Chequer Street in St Albans. “Acquired Mooboo St Albans and have become the owner of four Mooboo shops,” she posted to social media. Mooboo, which has more than 100 UK locations, launched a new coffee shop concept earlier this year, with Daku’s debut site opening in Kensington High Street in March. The Mooboo was founded by Eric Khaw in 2012.

 

Jackson Boxer and Experimental Group to launch Covent Garden bistro Henri this month: Chef Jackson Boxer and Experimental Group will open Henri, a bistro at The Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden, this month. As previously reported, Henri will follow on from their latest creative collaboration, Cowley Manor Experimental, which opened in summer 2023. Xavier Padovani, partner and director of Experimental Group, said: “Jackson’s cooking is a poetic blend of British cuisine with subtle nods to French classics, and he never ceases to amaze us. Working with him at Cowley Manor has been an incredible treat and bringing him along for the ride at Henrietta couldn’t come at a better time.” The menu will reflect the “culinary traditions and timeless appeal of a Parisian bistro, serving Boxer’s take on French classics and signature Experimental cocktails until late into the evening”. Boxer, chef proprietor of Brunswick House and Orasay, said: “An enchanting area that has, over the years, surrendered to the chains, Covent Garden deserves a beautifully intimate restaurant with ambition that is just what we envisage for Henri. I admire the Parisian tone, temperament and jouissance that we see across Experimental and it sits so perfectly alongside the food I have planned for the restaurant.” Henri launches on Monday, 17 June.

 

New Italian restaurant set to open in London’s Knightsbridge: A new Italian restaurant is set to open in London’s Knightsbridge. Launching opposite Harrods, Alba will have a menu focused on the south coast of Italy. Dishes served from the open kitchen will change through the seasons but include risotto con gamberi and lemon alongside Sicilian gamberi rossi di Mazara. There will also be a seafood display. Wine will also be a big focus and sourced predominantly from France and Italy, while the venue will have its own wine cellar. There will also be a range of cocktails. Alba is set to open in September.