Greene King MD – we’ve gained market share from using data to design our new pubs: Greene King managing director Claire Preston-Beer has said the business has gained market share from using data to design its new pubs. She said with the managed pub landscape evolving and customer patterns changing, and with economic headwinds not likely to change any time soon, the business is thinking carefully about how it evolves its model and offer to stay relevant. “We need to make sure we continue to have viable relevant pubs where we’re investing and improving the quality of experience the customers are having, and if we’ve got pubs located in places that are no longer relevant, we’ll continue to look at that as part of our overall estate view,” Preston-Beer told Propel’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference. “We’re using data to inform us how we design our new pubs, the environments we’re creating. I run a bit of the business called Pub & Social, which is designed to appeal to a broader set of occasions across a broader set of dayparts, and that appeals to women and younger people, and we’re having a lot of success with that. We can see it in the market share gains we’re making. Using customer data to inform how we’re creating pubs is key and we will continue to do that with a lot of our estate planning. We’ve already got in our pubs some great spaces with things like electronic darts and we’re evolving our socialising spaces all the time. We will continue to do that, creating zones and flexible spaces where we can cater for lots of different individuals to come to our pubs and connect. Young people in particular are living in a far more digitised society, and as that progresses, they value coming together in physical spaces. The key thing is making sure they’re still relevant and they’re spaces they want to come to. That does mean our environments need to look good, be kept good and evolve, and if we do that with the right range of products, absolutely pubs will still be here and will still be really relevant – and will become even more relevant in a digitised world.” All the videos from Propel’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference are now available to Premium Club members. 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.

Premium Club members to receive two updated databases this week: Premium Club members are to receive two updated databases this week. The updated UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, which will be sent to Premium subscribers on Wednesday (12 June) at midday, will feature 13 new entries, with three removed. The database now has 260 entries and more than 135,000 words of content. Among the new entries are chicken operators ChickKing, Lucky B’s and Wingstop, and burger businesses Dope Burger and Yoh Burger. Premium Club members will also receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday (14 June), at midday. It will feature 29 updated accounts and a total of 926 companies. Of these, 584 are in profit and 342 have reported a loss. Premium Club members also receive access to four other databases: the Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; the New Openings 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.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an international independent food and beverage operator that has partnered with a five-star hotel group that is seeking a procurement specialist as it prepares to roll out across London. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will be responsible for the whole UK procurement function, managing all food and non-food categories, implementing a successful procurement strategy, managing supplier relationships and being cost effective for the business. This role will initially be managing one site. However, it will organically develop into a multi-site procurement role once new sites are rolled out and the business is looking for someone with managerial ambition who it can build a procurement team around.” The salary is up to £55,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com.

Boparan Restaurant Group hires David Moffat as country general manager for Carl’s Jr franchise: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has hired David Moffat, formerly of Hero Brands and German Doner Kebab (GDK), to oversee the UK operation of its Carl’s Jr franchise, Propel has learned. Moffat, who most recently was head of franchising at Lucky B’s, a hot chicken concept based in Glasgow, has joined BRG as country general manager – Carl's Jr UK franchise. Moffat, who also previously worked with Stonegate Group and Gondola Group, helped grow GDK to 100-plus sites. Satnam Leihal, chief executive of BRG, told Propel: “David brings a wealth of experience from launching GDK in the UK and scaling up a franchise-only business to high streets nationally; his knowledge of the UK franchise market space is second to none. I am excited to see the leadership and strategic direction he will bring to our UK franchise operations of Carl's Jr and its impact on driving the growth and awareness of the brand across the UK.” Last month, Propel revealed that BRG had signed a master license agreement to launch the US quick service burger brand Carl’s Jr here. BRG has signed an agreement with CKE Restaurants Holdings to develop Carl’s Jr restaurants in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Under this agreement, BRG will open, operate, and franchise restaurants throughout the UK and Ireland as the exclusive Carl’s Jr developer. Propel understands that no number has been put on the size of the rollout in the UK. BRG also owns Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Carluccio’s and the Fishworks brands and operates Slim Chickens in the UK.

Richard Caring set to sell entire The Ivy stake to mystery buyer as Middle East suitors miss out: Richard Caring is set to sell his entire stake in The Ivy to a mystery buyer as sovereign wealth funds from Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia miss out on the business. The Times reported The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, where Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour is a director, is understood to have bid £700m for Caring’s Troia group of restaurants, according to City sources. Saudi Arabia’s $700bn (£550bn) Public Investment Fund, which owns fellow Premier League football club Newcastle United, was also in the running – but has since dropped out, they added. Troia includes The Ivy, The Ivy Asia and Ivy Café brands, Granary Square and the Brasserie of Light at Selfridges. Caring has a controlling shareholding, but his financial interest in the group is split 50/50 with Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, the former prime minister of Qatar. Caring originally planned to retain a residual stake in the group of about 25 % when the sale process kicked off at the start of the year. However, he is understood to have backtracked on such plans and intends to cash out completely. A preferred bidder has now been selected and is expected to be granted exclusivity this week, with a view to completing the sale by July, City sources said. However, mystery surrounds the name of the suitor. Sources ruled out big sovereign wealth funds from Singapore and China. Caring hired HSBC at the end of last year to explore a potential sale of Troia. Generating £55m of annual earnings, Caring was seeking £1bn for the business with sources close to the sale pointing out the strength of the Ivy brand and the potential to open 30 more Ivy restaurants in the UK and more overseas. A spokesperson for Troia and Caring declined to comment. Meanwhile, Caring has confirmed plans to open the largest site to date under his Harry’s bar and restaurant concept, in London’s Victoria. He will open the new venue at Terminal House in Grosvenor Gardens, opposite Victoria station on Tuesday, 2 July. The site, which will open next door to The Alchemist, will comprise 184 covers, a private dining room, seating 16 – the largest in the Harry’s collection – and two summer terraces seating 36 in total. There will also be a separate bar area. Harry’s Bar Restaurants currently comprises eponymous restaurants in Knightsbridge (Basil Street) and Marylebone, plus private members' club Harry’s in South Audley Street, Mayfair.

Sushi Revolution – there’s potential for up to ten London sites: Aidan Bryan, co-founder of Sushi Revolution, has told Propel the business believes there is potential to open up to ten sites in London and to eventually launch in other major cities in the UK. Bryan and Tom Blackshaw, who previously worked together at Sticks‘n’Sushi, opened the second Sushi Revolution site earlier this month 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 business opened its first site in Ferndale Road, Brixton, in May 2021. Bryan told Propel: “We feel there is potential for eight to ten London sites, depending on locations and delivery radius, as the restaurant was designed to bring central London style sushi at a reasonable price to London neighbourhoods. We also feel there is definitely potential to move outside of London to other major cities.” 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.

Safestay CEO – scope to double UK portfolio, ‘just getting started’ in Europe: Larry Lipman, chief executive of hostel operator Safestay, has told Propel there is scope to double its number of sites in the UK while in Europe the journey “is only just getting started”. Safestay revealed it has secured its UK sixth site, in Brighton, for its 20th overall, as it reported full-year revenue was up 18% to £22.5m for the year ending 31 December 2023. Lipman said the company’s top UK target is now Manchester but other cities being looked at include Liverpool and Cardiff while Bath and York “could be a possibility”. Outside Britain, Dublin is on the radar while Lisbon “is a location we need to have”. Other targets include Venice, Rome and Milan. He added: “The market continues to grow at pace. We’ve added four hostels in the past few months taking the number to 20 and there’s more to come. For years we’ve been trying to get into Brighton. We’ve secured a prime site in what we believe is the best tourist location in the UK at the moment and shows the strength of our proposition.” In April, Safestay secured its first management contract, in Spain, which Lipman said has “opened a new opportunity for us”. He added the business was also exploring the franchising route. “We’ve got five hostels in Spain and when you look at the size of the country and the types of location that we believe a Safestay hostel would work, we’re only just getting started there,” he added. “It’s the same across Europe.” With occupancy levels still below historic levels, Lipman said the business has opened a new sales office in Walsall and also revamped its website to make direct booking easier, “saving us 15% in commission from online travel agencies”. Lipman said he was looking at a number of buildings every day, but it was about getting property for the right price. “We paid £4.2m for our site in Edinburgh, which is a prime location,” he added. “In Brighton, I saw a hostel sell for £6.5m and we paid £2.3m for the building we’ve acquired, which is 600m from the seafront. It’s a beautiful heritage building – and perfect for us.”

Sukho Group – Zaap Thai remains our top priority for expansion, potential for more Gai Zaap sites: Sukho Group, which operates the Sukhothai and Zaap Thai concepts, has told Propel that the latter concept remains its top priority for expansion, but believes there is potential for a future rollout of its new Gai Zaap format. The company, which operates six sites under the Zaap Thai name, will open a new 66-cover restaurant on its former Zaap's Thai supermarket site in Upper Parliament Street, in Nottingham, under new chicken concept Gai Zaap, in July. The business said Gai Zaap promises “to redefine the chicken shop concept with its unique, innovative Asian-inspired twist”. The name translates as “super tasty chicken”. The company told Propel: “Zaap Thai remains our top priority for expansion. However, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our innovative new concept, Gai Zaap, in Nottingham next month. We are excited to see how Gai Zaap will be received, and we believe there is potential for future rollout. Gai Zaap sites will have a much smaller footprint, allowing us to enter locations that would not have been suitable for Zaap Thai. This adds a dynamic new dimension to our group and broadens our reach. We have signed a new location at the Riverwalk in Durham for Zaap Thai, with a September opening planned, and we are in the final stages of securing two more locations for later this year. Our group is trading very well so far this year, and we had a 7% increase in like-for-like sales in May. Our continued growth is a testament to the hard work of our teams, as well as the loyalty of our valued customers. We are dedicated to continuing this momentum by delivering unique and memorable dining experiences across all our locations. Alongside our expansion plans we are committed to continuing to elevate our existing estate, with a particular focus on ongoing staff training and development. The future looks bright for Sukho Group, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead.” 

Tommi’s Burger Joint UK business on the market: The three-strong UK business of Icelandic brand Tommi’s Burger Joint has been placed on the market, Propel has learned. Launched in Iceland in 1981 by Tomas Tómasson, the brand launched here in 2012 as a pop-up before permanent sites opened in London’s Marylebone, Chelsea and Soho. The Chelsea site has since closed, but the brand still operates sites in Berwick Street and Thayer Street in the capital. At the end of 2017, the company opened a regional site in the Oxford Westgate scheme, which continues to trade. The wider business also operates sites in Iceland, Germany and Denmark. Propel understands that advisory firm Eddisons is seeking expressions of interest in the three-strong UK business with indicative offers accompanied with proof of funding required by 5pm on Thursday (13 June), with best and final offers due by 10am on Monday, 17 June.

Waitrose acquires meal-kit delivery service Dishpatch: Waitrose has acquired Dishpatch, the meal-kit delivery service that provides restaurant-quality home dining in collaboration with some of the UK’s leading chefs, for an undisclosed sum. Founded in 2020, Dispatch replicates a restaurant experience without leaving the house with chef-designed dishes from the likes of Angela Hartnett, Michel Roux Jr, Rick Stein and Sabrina Ghayour. Customers can choose from more than 40 Dishpatch menus, with food and wine delivered nationally on Fridays. The difference between Dishpatch and other meal kit companies is that all dishes come pre-prepared with only a few simple steps to finish and serve. James Bailey, executive director for Waitrose, said: “Waitrose sees significant opportunities for Dishpatch, which works with some of Britain’s most respected chefs and restaurants. We have shared values in serving our customers the best quality food and we’re looking forward to working together. While our immediate focus will be helping Dishpatch grow its core meal kit business, we are also looking forward to working with the team to bring further new and exciting food experiences to Waitrose customers.” Peter Butler will continue to be Dishpatch chief executive. Sam Birchall, head of special situations M&A at Interpath Advisory, which acted on the transaction, said: “Dishpatch has carved out a unique position in the meal-kit delivery market and its proposition chimes well with the brand, focus and ambitions of Waitrose. With consumers increasingly looking for innovative and engaging concepts, the team at Dishpatch have a great platform to further drive the expansion of the business with the support of the Waitrose team.”

Ex-Bill's COO gears up to open second Kinjo site, adds premium takeaway concept to portfolio: Graham Ford, formerly of Bill's, Carluccio's and Benito's Hat, will open a second site under his fledgling Japanese restaurant and bar concept, Kinjo, later this month, with further expansion under consideration. Ford, who was previously chief operating officer at Bill's and commercial director at Carluccio's, opened the first Kinjo – which means neighbourhood in Japanese – at 46 Station Road East, Oxted, Surrey, in November 2022. The concept, which Ford co-founded with Purna Gurung and executive chef Nabin Ghale, will open a second site on the former Caffe Uno in Oakdene Parade, Cobham. Kinjo is described as an “all day Japanese restaurant, offering a broad range of freshly prepared sushi and high-quality Japanese food and drink”. Ford, who was also previously chief executive of Benito's Hat and is managing director of kebab restaurant concept BabaBoom, told Propel that the business had recently completed an investment raise to help open the new site and that further openings under the concept would be under consideration in similar locations if the Cobham site proved successful. This spring, Ford and the team also launched a premium Japanese takeaway and delivery concept called Takusan in Oxted in Station Road East in the old Subway site.

Bob Bob Ricard hires Tomas Minkley as new COO: Restaurant group Bob Bob Ricard has hired Tomas Minkley, formerly of The Ivy Collection and D&D London, as its new chief operating officer. Minkley joins Bob Bob Ricard after more than eight years as operations director at The Ivy Collection. He was also previously a general manager at D&D London for three and a half years. He said: “After eight incredible years, I've made the difficult decision to leave the Ivy Collection and Caprice Holdings. I’m deeply grateful for the lasting memories and the wonderful people I've worked with over the years. From a single restaurant to more than 50 locations across the UK, it has truly been an extraordinary journey. I wish the fantastic teams continued success and look forward to seeing everyone grow.” Last year, Bob Bob Ricard opened its new rotisserie chicken concept, BeBe Bob, in Golden Square, Soho. The group, known for its fine French and British food, small wine mark-ups and “press for champagne” buttons, currently has two sites in the capital, in Soho and the City. In August 2022, Bob Bob Ricard secured funds from lender ThinCats to help it expand its presence in the UK as well as abroad. Bob Bob Ricard plans to open more restaurants here as well as exploring potential markets in Japan.

Kent Costa franchisee to open tenth site in Morocco this week: Kent Costa franchisee Goldex Investments will this week open its tenth site in Morocco. Costa first launched in Morocco in 2014 before exiting the country in 2020, and then signed a 25-site development deal with Goldex in 2022. Goldex, which become the first UK-based Costa franchise to develop the brand overseas, relaunched Costa in Morocco with a store in Marrakesh’s Menara Mall. This was swiftly followed by stores in Casablanca and Bouskora and the signing of a deal to open Costa sites at three of Morocco’s busiest train stations – the last of which opens this week. In January, Goldex opened a Costa in Rabat, and last month, it returned to the Menara Mall to launch dessert franchise concept Kaspa’s in the country. A further Costa store opened last week in Tanjiers’ Marjane Medina, which will be followed by another, in Mohammedia, on Sunday, 16 June. “Last week I visited the latest of our two new Costa Coffee stores, which are almost ready to open,” said Goldex Group chief executive Diljit Brar. “Tangiers will open this week in Marjane Medina. Mohammedia opens 16 June to make our tenth store opening. Massive thanks to all our amazing team.” Founded in 2005, Goldex also operates 46 Costa stores in the UK as is the master franchisee here for Kaspa’s. Goldex also operates gym brand Goldex Fitness, which has a debut site in Gillingham and is also set to launch a ladies-only concept for its second gym, in Sidcup, south east London.

London Pakistan-inspired cafe opens third store of 2024, four more planned this year: London Pakistan-inspired cafe concept Naan Staap has opened its third store of 2024, with four more planned this year, Propel has learned. Previously operating five sites in east London and its borders with Essex, it has this year expanded south and west in the capital with openings in Southall, Tooting and Harrow. Naan Staap has opened at 11 Station Road in Harrow, 30 South Road in Southall and 233 Upper Tooting Road in Tooting. Founded in 2018 by Zohaib Shahnawaz, the concept offers freshly baked stuffed naan, cakes, cookies and chai. Naan Staap is also looking to expand outside the capital, with franchise consultant Andy Hulbert saying earlier this year that it is looking to recruit franchisees in Bradford, Leeds, Leicester, Greater Manchester and Liverpool.

Fundamental Hospitality’s Shanghai Me to replace closed Galvin Brothers restaurant at London Hilton: Dubai hospitality group Fundamental Hospitality’s Shanghai Me brand will replace the closed Galvin Brothers restaurant at the London Hilton. The brothers closed their rooftop restaurant at the Park Lane venue in April following 18 years of operation. The space will now be taken over by Shanghai Me, which has restaurants in Dubai and Doha. The 1930s-style pan-Asian dining brand will now take over both the bar and restaurant at the London Hilton, with an opening date yet to be confirmed, reports Hot Dinners. Fundamental Hospitality made its UK debut in December with the launch of its flagship Greek and Mediterranean brand Gaia in London’s Mayfair. The company followed that up by bringing its French cuisine brand, La Maison Ani, to Cadogan Gardens, also in Mayfair, last month.

Tinie Tempah’s fried chicken concept RAPS to launch new residency: Tinie Tempah’s fried chicken concept RAPS will launch a new residency this week at the Queen of The South, in London’s Tulse Hill. The residency will start on Wednesday (12 June) at the pub, which is operated by Clement Ogbonnaya, and is the sister venue to The Prince Of Peckham. RAPS is a collaboration between Tempah and Kitchen Ventures, the cloud kitchen and virtual dining company. It is described as “a nostalgic nod to his early childhood spent frequenting the chicken shops of south east London after school and hearty family dinners”. Ogbonnaya and Tempah met in London’s West End in November 2009, a few months before the latter’s smash hit “Pass Out” was released. The pair said it made sense to celebrate more than a decade of friendship with a business collaboration to jointly celebrate their achievements. 

Doughnut concept Project D closes Sheffield and York sites: Doughnut concept Project D has closed its Sheffield and York sites. The company, which raised £475,000 last summer through a Crowdcube crowdfunding campaign, said despite making this “difficult” decision, its core business “remains strong”. Project D said its store at Heathrow Terminal 2, which opened in January, continues to trade. In an update to investors, Jacob Watts, who founded the business with Max Poynton and Matthew Bond in 2018, said: “Our team has been focusing on enhancing bakery efficiencies, securing large wholesale customers, improving our online gift offerings, collaborating with bigger event partners, and refining our doughnut selection. May was our strongest performing month in three years, and June is trending even stronger. One of our operating companies underwent minor restructuring due to the closure of our Sheffield Meadowhall store. I am pleased to report that this restructuring has been successful and does not impact our core business operations, which is the manufacture of premium handmade doughnuts. Our recent opening of a retail store at Heathrow Terminal 2 has been successful, and our online sales have increased by 50% compared with this time last year.” Project D opened the Meadowhall site – its first retail store – last year, which was then followed by the York site, which launched in Parliament Street. The business also had a site in Nottingham, which shut earlier this year.

Newcastle craft burger concept launches loyalty scheme: Newcastle craft burger concept Burger Drop, which is looking to expand across the UK through franchising, has launched a loyalty scheme. Burger Drop, founded in 2020 by Hasan Hamid and Amer Qayyum, currently has two sites in its home city and this summer will open its first franchise location, in Whitley Bay. Hamid told Propel in January that he is targeted 150 stores in the next decade and is looking to open five this year. “One of the main requests we’ve had from you is for a loyalty system,” he said. “We’ve taken that feedback on board and are proud to present Burger Drop’s loyalty rewards. Collect a stamp every time you spend £10 (or more), earn and redeem rewards every three, six or ten stamps.” Tier one (three stamps) gets the guest loaded fries, a milkshake, or five chicken wings; tier two (six stamps) earns any craft burger; and the tier three reward (ten stamps) is any craft burger plus loaded fries and any drink.

Adam Handling opens second pub and second Cornish venture: Adam Handling has opened his second pub and second Cornish venture. The Tartan Fox is located between Newquay and Truro and is Handling’s second site in Cornwall, joining his restaurant and bar Ugly Butterfly in nearby St Ives. The launch also marks Handling’s second pub, following the opening of award-winning The Loch & the Tyne in Old Windsor, Berkshire, in 2021. In keeping with his group’s zero-waste ethos, all produce is locally sourced from in and around Cornwall, and Handling plans to cultivate homegrown ingredients from the pub’s garden space. The name of the pub is inspired by Handling’s Scottish roots and the location of the pub, which “much like a fox’s home, is a den to escape in the countryside”. The food offering is similar to that of The Loch & the Tyne, which has a Michelin Bib Gourmand and three AA rosettes, with dining options ranging from casual snacks and pub classics to signature Handling dishes, with a touch of Scottish influence. Alongside a selection of sustainable cocktails and local beer, there is an extensive wine list, showcasing wine from across the globe, as well as highlighting British excellence. The Tartan Fox seats 87 covers across two floors, which includes the bar, wine room, restaurant and two private dining rooms, as well as additional restaurant seating upstairs. The pub has an extensive garden area nestled in the Cornish woods, and Handling has also installed firepits to ensure year-round use. Meanwhile, the barn can be hired for private events. Once known as Carvynick House, the building dates to the 1600s and was built as a marital home by the Tanner family. 

Liverpool pub owner opens Italian restaurant in city: Liverpool pub owner James Nolan has opened an Italian restaurant in the city. Nolan took over The Deysbrook pub in West Derby in March 2015 at just 22 years old and invested £260,000 into giving it a major refurbishment. He has now launched Amici in the former Justino’s site in Aigburth Road, south Liverpool, creating 25 jobs. Nolan invested more than £100,000 refurbishing the venue, which has capacity for 120 customers. The offer includes salads and burrata, wood stone oven-fired pizza and calzone, risotto, pasta, fish and meat dishes as well as an à la carte menu. The bar serves a range of cocktails along with wine, beer and soft drinks. Nolan said: “We’ve put together a menu that everyone will enjoy, from nibbles and light bites to an excellent lunch offering, to our à la carte menu, which is the showpiece of our restaurant.”

Bespoke Hotels confirms autumn opening for new Hotel Gotham in Newcastle: Bespoke Hotels, the UK’s largest independent hotel group, has confirmed its new Hotel Gotham in Newcastle will open this autumn. The group announced at the start of the year that it planned to open four new hotels – including Hotel Gothams in Newcastle and Bristol – alongside a new acquisition in 2024. The first half of the Newcastle site, in the old fire station, will now open this autumn, feature 60 bedrooms, restaurant and bar. This will be followed by the police station side of the hotel in late 2025, offering 30 more bedrooms and an event space in the historic court rooms, accommodating up to 120 guests. It comes after Bespoke last week announced the sale of its iconic Hotel Gotham in Manchester to Leonardo Hotels for an undisclosed sum. Bespoke had opened the hotel in a former Midland Bank building in 2015. Thomas Greenall, chief executive at Bespoke Hotels, said: “We’re leaving Hotel Gotham Manchester in capable hands, but we remain custodians of the Gotham brand and are dedicated to its vision and reputation, putting all our efforts behind the two new locations – Hotel Gotham Newcastle and Hotel Gotham Bristol – building on our successes by exploring new opportunities that heighten our brand and bring new experiences for our guests.”

Former Maria G’s executive chef to open restaurant in London’s Pimlico this autumn: Former Maria G’s executive chef Aaron Potter will open his new restaurant in London’s Pimlico this autumn. Potter, who has also worked at Michelin-starred Elystan Street in Chelsea and Trinity in Clapham, will launch Wildflowers at Unit 2 in the new Newson’s Yard development, at 57 Pimlico Road. His first solo venture, Wildflowers will be a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, wine bar and deli with a restaurant and terrace downstairs and an extensive bar space upstairs, as well as a private dining room. Potter has partnered with interior stylist Laura Hart for the venture, inspired by the relaxed dining culture of France, Italy and Spain, where seasonal dishes will be paired with European wine in a laid-back setting. Dishes will include moules farcies cooked in wild garlic and parsley butter; grilled sheep’s ricotta, with fine beans and dandelion; and cuttlefish fideua with grilled prawns and saffron aioli. The upstairs wine bar will serve a selection of vermouth, amaro and spritzes, while the in-house deli will offer pastries and sandwiches alongside a concise selection of Italian olive oil, house-baked focaccia and charcuterie. “For us, restaurants are all about eating together, sharing great food with good company in a friendly and relaxed environment, and that’s exactly what we want Wildflowers to be,” the duo said.

Former Diageo global head of luxury tequila opens new taco concept in London’s Soho: Billy Sengupta, former global head of luxury tequila at Diageo, has opened a new taco concept in London’s Soho. Sengupta recently moved back to London from Mexico City and bought some of the taco street food inspiration with him to open CDMX Tacos. It has launched in the former Yalla Yalla Lebanese grill unit at 1 Green Court, offering tacos and quesadillas with al pastor (marinated pork), chicharron (crispy pork belly), asada (grilled beef) and nopal (grilled cactus). There are also sides such as chips with either salsa or guac, or potatoes with crema, while drinks include Mexican coke, jarritos and three beer options – Victoria, Dos Equis and Modello. “CDMX Tacos is more than just a taqueria,” he told Hot Dinners. “It’s the fast-moving, loud, vibrant atmosphere that is ingrained within the taco culture of Mexico City.”

Independent Leeds bistro launches fundraise to help it move to bigger city centre site: Independent Leeds bistro The Swine That Dines has launched a fundraise to help it move to bigger city centre site. Owners Jo and Stu Myers are hoping to raise £25,000 through a Crowdfunder campaign, which will end on Sunday, 7 July. Their restaurant currently has capacity for just 18 covers with a small kitchen that can only accommodate two chefs. The proposed new site will double its covers to 30 as well as include a private dining room with an additional 15 covers. Supporters can invest anything from £10 upwards, with a series of investment-related rewards including meal vouchers, a private evening dinner for ten, a Christmas meal for 30 and a trio of one-to-one cooking courses with Stu. “We love our little North Street restaurant and we’re so proud of what we’ve managed to achieve in such a tiny space, but the size has stalled our expansion,” Jo said. “The opportunity to move The Swine to a new location in the city centre which has more space is a dream come true. The new site is a blank canvas, so we’re appealing to our customers, friends and the Leeds community to help us transform it into the new The Swine That Dines.” The Swine That Dines started life as sandwich shop The Greedy Pig in 2012, which closed in 2018.

San Carlo reopens Leeds restaurant after £2m revamp to mark its 50th anniversary: San Carlo Group has reopened its San Carlo Flying Pizza restaurant in Leeds following a £2m refurbishment to mark its 50th anniversary. The work features new terrazzo floors and a completely revamped bar. All designed in-house, the custom design draws on concepts from the group’s Alderley Edge establishment. With a seating capacity of up to 130, San Carlo Flying Pizza has been established in Roundhay since 1974. Marcello Distefano, chief executive of San Carlo Group, said: “We lived in Roundhay until I was seven years old. My family and I would eat at Flying Pizza every Sunday at the same table. The place was always buzzing with regulars who brought life and character to the restaurant. Adriano, the original owner, was a larger-than-life character who epitomised the role of an Italian restaurant owner. My father still keeps in touch with him.” The Distefano family acquired the restaurant when it faced closure years later. Distefano added: “It was important to us to keep the name Flying Pizza because it had legendary status in Yorkshire. Now, on its 50th anniversary, we’ve undertaken a second refurbishment to breathe new life into this iconic establishment. As a kid, I was always in awe of the supercars parked outside. It felt like a showroom at the front of the restaurant. We hope that Flying Pizza will be around for another 50 years. We might not be here, but hopefully, someone else will continue to look after the restaurant and its heritage.”