Exclusive – Fulham Shore evolves management team, lines up new central London openings: Fulham Shore, the Toridoll/Capdesia-backed operator of the Franco Manca and The Real Greek brands, has a made a number of significant changes to its management team as it gears up for the next phase of its development, Propel has learned. Fulham Shore, which appointed Marcel Khan, formerly of Nando’s and Five Guys, as its new chief executive at the start of the year, has hired Laura Mimoun, formerly of Mondelez and PepsiCo and founder of Kaleido Salad Rolls, as its new group chief marketing officer, and Paulina Fraczyk, formerly head of operations at Itsu, as operations director of Franco Manca. Khan told Propel: “We feel the time has come to bolster our foundation and capabilities in a number of key areas, with a view to enhance brand awareness and engagement with customers, and to deliver the growth we anticipate for both Franco Manca and The Real Greek. Both Laura and Paulina bring a wealth of ideas, energy and experience in their respective fields and we are excited to welcome them into the family.” Mimoun added: “We are entering a new phase of development and growth for both brands and it is a very exciting time to join the company.” At the same time, some of the long-standing Fulham Shore management team have left the business. Javed Akhtar (managing director of Franco Manca), Sandro Spahiu (managing director of The Real Greek), Sorrel Ward (marketing director at Franco Manca) and Emily Douglas (marketing director at The Real Greek) departed at the end of May. Khan said: “Javed, Sandro, Emily and Sorrel have each contributed greatly to building two fantastic restaurant brands. Neither Franco Manca nor The Real Greek would be where they are without their invaluable contribution. They leave us with wind in our sails and everything to play for. I am grateful for their service and for building a platform where to grow from further.” Meanwhile, the company, which operates circa 70 Franco Manca and 27 The Real Greek sites, said it will soon open new sites under the pizza brand in Liverpool and Central London. The Real Greek, which recently opened in Sheffield Meadowhall, has also signed a lease on a prominent site in St Paul's, London – believed to be the former YO! site. Jasper Page, property manager at Fulham Shore, said: “We are taking considered and confident strides in terms of expanding our footprint and are hugely excited about these new additions to our estate.” It comes as The Real Greek recently launched its first retail range into 400 Tesco stores. The group’s Franco Manca pizza range is currently sold in circa 500 retail sites, including Tesco and Asda, across the UK. Fulham Shore features in the Premium Club Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the next edition of which will be released on Friday (14 June) and will feature 926 companies. Fulham Shore’s turnover of £82,700,000 for the year to 27 March 2022 is the 124th highest in the database. The Blue Book ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. 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. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

 

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 will be sent to Premium subscribers today (Wednesday, 12 June) at midday, featuring 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 pizza concept Pizza 1889, US premium steak brand Lawrie’s, Indian street food business Bombay Bites and kebab franchise The Kebab House. 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.

NTIA urges political parties to prioritise night-time economy with 12-point plan including dedicated minister: The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has called on all political parties to recognise the vital importance of the night-time economy. Ahead of the general election, the NTIA has come up with a 12-point plan, which includes the appointment of a minister for the night-time economy, the establishment of regional representatives and the development of a central strategy for the night-time economy. The NTIA also wants to align local policies with a national night-time economy strategy, transfer control of the night-time economy and hospitality to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and create an integrated licensing and planning system. Furthermore, the NTIA wants to see a reform of business rates, a reform of VAT to European standards, and to elevate the agent of change principle to primary legislation. Finally, it has called for the introduction of mandatory business licensing for security providers, the implementation of a heritage protection scheme for venues and cultural spaces, and the establishment of a national fund to support and protect cultural venues. “The night-time economy is a critical component of our cultural and economic landscape,” said NTIA chief executive Michael Kill. “These measures are essential for its recovery, giving it the ability to grow and fuel regeneration.” Sacha Lord, night-time economy advisor for Greater Manchester, added: “The current government has failed the night-time economy. All political parties should seize the opportunity in the coming weeks to understand the significant impact the night-time economy has on both the economy and culture.”

 

BBPA urges political parties to support their local with business rates and beer duty reform: The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has called on all political parties to support the nation's pubs by unlocking their economic and social value ahead of the general election. It is calling for a meaningful reform in business rates calculations which it said sees pubs burdened with disproportionate rates. The trade body is imploring the next government to extend the current 75% relief for pubs, which is set to expire in March 2025, to give much-needed financial stability while a new framework is developed. The BBPA also wants to see an end to the “excessively high rate” of beer duty that UK drinkers pay on every pint, including specific cuts to draught and lower strength rates. It proposes a lower rate of VAT for food and drink sold in pubs to level the playing field and encourage greater use of pubs across the UK. BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “We know how much pubs contribute not just to the communities in which they sit, but the economies they support locally, regionally and nationally. Extending business rates relief and reducing beer duty will go a long way to provide the stability and support our industry needs. These measures will help ensure that pubs remain vibrant community hubs, and with the playing field levelled, that they don’t just survive, but thrive for centuries to come.” 

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a global drinks brand that is seeking a national account manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will play a crucial role in driving the company’s sales strategy and ensuring the successful promotion and distribution of its products within major pub groups. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with key accounts, identifying growth opportunities, and achieving sales targets. Ideally you will have a background managing large pub operators along with a proven track record in business growth.” The role is based in London with a salary of up to £55,000. For more information, email mark@corecruitment.com.

 

Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant empire falls to loss in ‘very challenging economic and trading environment’: Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant empire posted a pre-tax loss of £1,377,368 for the year ending 28 May 2023 compared with a profit of £2,352,339 the previous year in what was a “very challenging economic and trading environment”. SL6, the parent company for Blumenthal’s Michelin-starred Fat Duck and Hind’s Head restaurants, reported turnover fell to £9,529,648 compared with £11,500,717 the year before. Of that turnover, £8,286,813 came from restaurant and pub operations (2023: £9,789,427), £631,509 from services (2022: £718,516) and £611,326 from royalties (2022: £992,774). A total of £9,046,599 came from UK operations (2022: £11,195,394) and £483,049 came from the rest of the world (2022: £305,323). In his report accompanying the accounts, director Ronald Lowenthal stated: “The company has been operating in a very challenging economic and trading environment. We will continue to navigate our way out of these legacy headwinds and by taking into account that there is currently no consensus on when the general economic uncertainty for individuals will turn the corner. The fundamental drivers of the business remains strong. The range and quality of our brands, our ability to deliver exceptional restaurant experiences, and the competent management team put the company in a good position to continue the weathering of these storms and to set up the foundations for improved growth and profitability. We will continue to see inflationary pressures in the cost of labour and in many areas of our end-to-end supply chain. We have invested in our customers by not passing all the inflationary costs to them. We are protecting and growing our customer base by delivering value and a superior customer experience. Our core team of experts in designing and delivery the restaurant experiences has grown stronger, and we are set to deliver many innovations.” The company did not receive any government grants (2022: £69,655). No dividend was paid (2022: nil).

Nightcap hires Sarah Miller as group director of business operations: Nightcap – owner of the Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group, Dirty Martini and the Barrio Familia group of 46 bars – has hired Sarah Miller as group director of business operations. Miller joins Nightcap after five years with Stonegate Group, including two years as business unit director for its Late Night Division including Be at One, Slug and Lettuce and Popworld. Previous to that, she was operations director for Novus, the private bar, club and restaurant operator. Sarah Willingham, chief executive at Nightcap, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Sarah to the team, she is a great fit for us all.  She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and talent to our fast-moving business along with a real drive for success. I’m really excited to have Sarah join the executive team and I can’t wait to start working with her.” Miller will join Nightcap during the summer.

 

Big Mamma Group plans Birmingham opening: Big Mamma Group, the McWin-backed restaurant group, is to add to its regional opening pipeline with a site in Birmingham. Propel understands that Big Mamma Group has applied to open a site at Two Chamberlain Square, in what is thought to be the former Vinoteca site, opposite Dishoom. Last month, Propel reported that Big Mamma Group, which operates circa 25 restaurants across Europe, had moved closer to making its regional debut after applying for a licence on a site in Manchester. The company plans to open a new Italian restaurant and bar in Gary Neville’s Relentless Developments’ St Michael’s scheme in Jackson Row. Big Mamma Group plans to trade across the ground and first floor. Japanese-Peruvian restaurant Chotto Matte has already agreed a deal to occupy the 20,000 square-foot rooftop at the development, with an opening planned for next year. Big Mamma Group has also lined up an opening in London’s Canary Wharf, for what would be its sixth site in the capital. The business has applied to open on the former All Bar One site in Mackenzie Walk, to trade on both the ground and first floor. Last September, McWin, the investment firm of food industry entrepreneurs Henry McGovern and Steven Winegar, which backs companies such as Vapiano and Gail’s, acquired a majority stake in the Big Mamma Group. The long-term investment made out of the McWin Restaurant Fund saw Big Mamma Group valued at €270m. The investment will help the business expand further in its existing territories and into new ones, including the Middle East and the US.

 

Cake Box reports robust sales as full-year revenue increases to £37.8m: Cake Box, the specialist retailer of fresh cream cakes, has reported its sales performance continues to be “robust”, with trading so far in FY25 “in line with management expectations”. The company stated: “While the trading environment for 2025 is expected to be challenging with the continuing uncertain macroeconomic conditions, the opening of new stores, investment in marketing, alongside a brand refresh roll out and new website, will help drive demand.” It comes as the group reported revenue rose 8.7% to £37.8m for the year ending 31 March 2024 (2023: £34.8m) “reflecting an increase in franchise store like-for-like sales and the addition of 20 new stores opening in the year”. Adjusted Ebitda increased 12% to £7.5m (2023: £6.7m). Pre-tax profit rose 15.1% to £6.3m (2023: £5.4m). Franchisee total turnover increased 9.1% to £78.8m (2023: £72.1m). Franchise like-for-like sales were up 4.4% (2023: 1.0%). A total of 20 new franchise stores opened in the year (2023: 20) with the business entering new locations such as Liverpool, Cambridge and Didsbury in Manchester. At the year end, there were 225 franchise stores in operation (2023: 205). The number of multi-site franchisees increased to 47. Chief executive Sukh Chamdal said: “It has been a successful year for Cake Box delivering robust growth across all areas of our business. Our strategic initiatives, including new store openings, enhanced marketing campaigns, and innovative product launches, have driven the increase in revenue. We are pleased to have delivered full-year Ebitda ahead of market expectations and to have also further strengthened our balance sheet. The launch of our new CRM system, e-commerce website, and brand refresh, along with the success of our increased investment in marketing, has enhanced our brand awareness and customer experience, improving our presence and helping to drive up demand. Our success is a testament to the dedication of our team, the franchisees, and the loyalty of our customers. We look forward to building on this momentum, continuing to expand our store estate, and further solidifying Cake Box as the go-to destination for fresh cream celebration cakes.”

Roxy Leisure plans Leeds opening for King Pins site: Roxy Leisure is planning to open a site for its fledgling King Pins family bowling concept in Leeds. The business, which last December created a new division, Pins Leisure, led by Colin Sadler, to support its expansion into the family market, has lined up an opening in the city’s White Rose shopping centre. The operator of the Roxy Lanes and Roxy Ball Room brands opened its debut site under the King Pins concept in Manchester’s Trafford Palazzo last summer, offering 15 lanes of ten-pin bowling and four lanes of duck-pin bowling alongside shuffleboard, ice-free curling, a batting cage, karaoke and arcade games. Earlier this year, a new flagship King Pins site opened in the former Sports Direct unit on the ground floor of Manchester’s Arndale. A further two King Pins sites are set to open in 2024 – at Bristol’s Cabot Circus and Glasgow’s Silverburn scheme. Last year, Roxy Leisure managing director Matt Jones told Propel the company was targeting six King Ping sites within the next two years.

 

Friska founders win catering contract for Bristol’s science and arts centre via new venture: The founders of former Bristol healthy fast food cafe business Friska have won the catering contract for the city’s science and arts centre via their new venture, Double Puc. Griff Holland and Ed Brown founded ethically minded cafe business Friska in 2009 and grew it to 12 sites before the pandemic – including eight in Bristol, three in Manchester and one at Luton airport. The last four of its sites, all in Bristol, closed in the summer of 2022 – a year after the bulk of the business had been sold via a pre-pack administration. Holland and Brown now operate independent cafe and events business Double Puc, which has taken on the catering contract for We The Curious. Double Puc has signed a multi-year contract to operate the cafe and kiosk at We The Curious, which is reopening on Tuesday, 2 July, as well as being appointed caterer for the Millennium Square venue. We The Curious, which features interactive exhibits spanning science and the arts, has been closed since April 2020 following a fire that caused extensive damage. Similar to Friska, Double Puc is committed to “upholding high ethical standards”, offering barista grade coffee, cookies, soft serve ice cream and a range of nutritious lunch options such as hot wraps, cheese toasties and burritos. Holland said: “We are immensely honoured to have been chosen as the designated operator for the café of We The Curious as it reopens.” Brown added: “We are deeply committed to providing not only exceptional food and service, but also fostering a sense of community and curiosity, which perfectly aligns with the mission of We The Curious. This partnership will represent a big step forward for Double Puc as we expect the contract to doubling our current team size and revenue. Our focus is to create memorable moments for visitors while contributing to the vibrant cultural landscape of Bristol.”

 

Little Dessert Shop closing in on 50 UK sites with Swindon opening, four more in the pipeline: Dessert franchise Little Dessert Shop is closing in on 50 UK sites after opening in Swindon for its 48th location, with four more in the pipeline. The company, founded in 2014 by Mu’azzam Ali and launching the following year in Wolverhampton, has opened at 539 Crickdale Road in the Wiltshire town. It comes a month after parent company MSZ Brands opened its latest X model store in Wolverhampton – combining a Little Dessert Shop with a store for its Betsy’s better burger brand under one roof. “It is with great pleasure that I announce our highly anticipated store opening in Swindon, and it was most certainly worth the wait,” said Kamran Hussain, head of franchise at MSZ Brands. “The response once again was incredible. We would personally like to thank the community of Swindon for an amazing opening and the patience they showed throughout the busy day. As always, it brings our team great excitement to bring the home of desserts to new places across the United Kingdom. Four more lucky places are in the pipeline, watch this space!” Hussain told Propel last year that MSZ Brands had a long-term plan for an UK estate of 150-200 stores, including more X model stores.

 

Parent company of Brasseria Family restaurant business in administration: Getti, the company behind neighbourhood all-day Italian restaurant business Brasseria Family, has been placed into administration. Propel understands that Begbies Traynor has been appointed administrators to Getti, which operates two sites in London’s Marylebone and Notting Hill. Both continue to trade. A Begbies Traynor spokesperson said: “Getti went into administration on 24 May 2024 and Stephen Katz and Asher Miller, of Begbies Traynor, were appointed joint administrators.” Earlier this year, Brasseria Family closed a crowdfund to open its third site after overfunding by more than £180,000. The business raised £1,230,564 from 140 investors on the Crowdcube campaign, with its backers including YO! founder Simon Woodroffe. Founded in 2018, Brasseria Family was planning to use the funds to open a restaurant in Brompton Road in South Kensington. 

 

Bear overfunding on £500,000 Crowdcube campaign to open more stores: Cafe bar concept Bear is overfunding on a £500,000 Crowdcube campaign to support its expansion, including opening new sites. So far, Bear has raised more than £520,000 from almost 200 investors. The company is offering 4.84% equity, giving the seven-strong business a pre-money valuation of £9,820,602. The Clark Group-backed business has opened two stores over the last 12 months and reported £15m revenue to date, with 39% like-for-like revenue growth for the year to 31 March 2024. “Inspired by adventure, connection and lifestyle, we serve speciality coffee, fresh food and cocktails across our seven locations in the UK,” the business said. “We are now raising to expand our stores and drive our business forward. We intend to expand our presence by opening more Bear locations across the UK, which we believe will in turn also generate more sales through our online store as more regional guests connect with Bear at home. Our view is that other speciality coffee competitors are focused on larger cities, discounting affluent, densely populated areas, not serving a regional audience with a more remote/hybrid work pattern and lifestyle. Regional destinations give us access to great location at affordable rent and rates and opportunities for higher operating margin. We will also invest in our people through our learning and development programme, University of Bear, with the ultimate goal of building a community of teams internally who are equipped and engaged to drive our business forward.” Founded by lifelong friends Craig Bunting and Michael Thorley, Bear began as a business inspired by Bunting’s travels in Australia and Thorley’s Royal Marines background and started in a shed with a supermarket espresso machine.

 

Bibi’s to open fifth site in London: Bibi’s, the London café concept founded by Turkish-born chef Bilur Yapici, is to open a fifth site in the capital. The business, which was founded in 2019, is to open a flagship site in the City, in Devonshire Square. Bibi’s – which already operates sites in Soho, Covent Garden, Golden Square and Angel – specialises in original salad recipes, made fresh every day. It said: “From freshly prepared, colourful salads, our specialty bulgur and made-in-house hummus, to homemade cakes and treats, mini stuffed croissants and more, you can find everything in our intimate cafés – perfect for popping in and out or staying for a while. We have four main salads on rotation each day. We also change it up with new favourites and additions. We always provide hummus, leaves and daily extras too.” Daniel Cuthbert, of Hanover Green Retail, acted on the Devonshire Square deal. 

 

The Entourage Group to launch Mr Porter brand in the UK: The Entourage Group, owner of gourmet burger bar The Butcher, is to launch a site in the UK under its Mr Porter Steakhouse, Bar & Lounge brand. The brand will make its UK debut at The Park Lane Hilton Hotel in Mayfair this September. Headed by co-owner and co-founder Yossi Eliyahoo, this will be the fourth Mr Porter site, with locations in Amsterdam, Barcelona and a pop-up in Ibiza. The company said: “Mr Porter, where the spotlight is on the ‘Dinner to Sinner’, artfully blends qualities of the modern steakhouse with the buzz and experience of a chic lounge. Expect a dynamic experience, offering unparalleled taste combinations, top-notch techniques and the finest Aberdeen Scottish beef for a steakhouse like no other. Breaking the rules of fine dining while offering the best culinary experience in town, Mr Porter invites you to a world of sinful delights and beautiful contradictions. Mr Porter is a companion by day, hunter by night, a gentleman, a merciless lover, a jetsetter and a local.” Eliyahoo said: “The opening of Mr Porter Park Lane is a significant milestone for the Mr Porter brand. We are thrilled to be bringing the restaurant to London, whose glamorous and vibrant energy is the perfect location for the next venue.”

 

Chelsea footballer-backed concept to open second site: Taco Taco, the Mexican concept backed by Chelsea FC footballer Hakim Ziyech is to launch its second site in London. Last year, Ziyech partnered with the co-founders of Inca in London’s Mayfair to launch Taco Taco at 141 Commercial Street in Shoreditch. Propel understands that Taco Taco has now lined up a second site, in Peckham, in the Cornerhouse at 33a Rye Lane. Two of Taco Taco’s co-founders are Damien Aiudi and Nathaneal Dadoun, who are part of the team behind Inca, while the other co-founder is Alex Peircy, who also works in property and recruitment. The tacos come with all manner of toppings, including scrambled eggs and sautéed shrimp, with a focus on quality ingredients. There are also takeaway items, a breakfast menu and an all-day menu, plus vegan and vegetarian options.

 

Belfast hotel and bar operator reveals plans for two new venues: Belfast hotel and bar operator Ringland Group has reveals plans for two new venues in the city. Founded by brothers Peter and Ben Ringland in 2008, Ringland Group's operations include two hotels – the Flint and The 1852 – and bar restaurants Town Square and Southside Social. The group plans to transform two ground level units adjacent to the existing Flint Hotel in Howard Street into Amelia Hall. The £11.5m Italian themed project, which is due to open before Christmas this year, will include a restaurant, café, beer hall and cocktail bar. The new operation will also feature a pizzeria and bakery. Meanwhile, a new Flint Hotel is proposed for the Cathedral Quarter. Peter Ringland said: “Belfast has found its feet and has rapidly built a reputation for quality accommodation, food and entertainment as well as an excellent conference city. We want to help revive the city’s fortunes and with the collaboration of other like-minded hospitality professionals, are confident that the future is very bright.” The company began in 2008 when the brothers started a small AirBnB business. Following its success, they extended their reach into the food and beverage sector with the acquisition of what is now the 1852 Hotel in Botanic Avenue. The Flint Hotel in Belfast city centre opened in 2018. The group now employs 80 staff.

 

Sri Lankan restaurant Kolamba confirms July opening for second site: Sri Lankan concept Kolamba has confirmed its second London restaurant, in Spitalfields, will open in July. Founders Eroshan and Aushi Meewella will open the 92-cover Kolamba East at 12 Blossom Street in Norton Folgate next month. Offering the duo’s “modern take on Sri Lankan home-cooking”, it follows the launch of their first restaurant, Kolamba, which opened in Soho in 2019. The menu will revive dishes from the pair’s childhoods in Colombo, celebrating the communities of Sinhalese, Tamil, Moor, Burger (Dutch) and Malay descent. These will include a new selection of larger feasting plates such as the Moor king prawn string hopper biryani made with alternating layers of steamed noodles and a rich king prawn curry; a Jaffna lamb shank served in a rich and spicy tamarind sauce; and red mullet served in a creamy coconut curry. Alongside two private dining rooms, Kolamba East will include a dedicated central bar – a new offering for the Kolamba team – serving cocktails made using Sri Lankan spirits and ingredients that reflect the food menu.

 

Scotland’s biggest nightclub halves its opening hours amid cost-of-living crisis and changing clubbing habits: Scotland’s biggest nightclub has halved its opening hours amid the cost-of-living crisis and changing clubbing habits. The Garage in Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow previously advertised opening its doors 365 days a year, including Christmas. But the nightclub, which has been running for 30 years, will now only open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, reports the BBC. Owner Donald MacLeod said: “Midweek has been terrible for the whole of Glasgow. Footfall in the city centre is down 400,000 people compared with the same period last year. The cost-of-living crisis is having a horrendous impact on the city. There is a massive change in habits – if you’ve no money, you can’t go out. If you can only afford to go out one day a week, then you'll pick the weekend.” MacLeod stressed that this was only a precautionary measure as summer was traditionally quieter and said he hoped the venue would return to normal opening hours if the sector improved. MacLeod is managing director of Holdfast Entertainment Group and live music promoters CPL and is also behind the Cathouse Rock Club in Glasgow.

 

Cardiff escape room operators to open second site: Cardiff escape room operators Calum Jones and John Lugsdin are to open a second site in the Welsh capital. The duo, who are behind Escape Rooms Cardiff in St John Street, have been granted permission by the city council to open Vault Run at 56 St Mary Street. The three-storey building will be transformed into an indoor games facility and have a maximum number of 42 people, including staff, every 90 minutes across all game rooms. The venue will have a floor area of around 11,345 square feet and include a 30-seat cafe on the basement floor, reception area and games rooms at upper levels. Developed and refined since 2016, Escape Rooms Cardiff has welcomed almost 250,000 visitors. Vault Run will be a collection of more than 20 immersive escape-room-like challenges. They will transport teams of up to eight players led by a host “through a dynamic journey”.

 

Former Premier League footballer closes second restaurant: A former Premier League footballer has had to close his second restaurant after the business was unable to agree a successful lease renewal. The Sun reported last year that Firefly in Manchester, where former Leicester City and Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater owns a 70% stake, had racked up debts of £1.1m. The former England international has now announced the closure of the restaurant on Instagram. “It’s with a heavy heart that Firefly Manchester will close its doors at One New Bailey after unsuccessful lease renewal negotiations with the landlord,” he said. “We have explored various alternatives and potential relocation options but unfortunately, none were viable within the given timeframe. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff and loyal customers for their unwavering support over the years and for making Firefly such a prominent part of the Manchester nightlife scene. We are now working closely with other operators to rehome the team.” It is not the first time Drinkwater has had to close one of his restaurants. He opened FoodWell, also in Manchester, in 2018, but the restaurant closed in 2022 having amassed £2m in debts.

 

Chef acquires former coffee shop in Lincoln and reopens it as new concept: Dorota Szukaj, a chef at the former Bar Unico coffee bar in St Benedict’s Square in Lincoln, has acquired the site after it closed and reopened it as a new concept. Crazy Appetite features a breakfast menu along with a variety of hot and cold sandwiches, smoothies, gelato, specialty coffee and cocktails. Szukaj said: “I’ve been working at Bar Unico in Lincoln for six years so I’ve got to know a lot of the customers very well and I hope they will like the new coffee bar just as much. Going out for breakfast or brunch is becoming increasingly popular and I’m keen to cater for that market by serving breakfast all day alongside our more traditional lunch menu. We also have a children’s menu and very much welcome families.” Gio Carchedi, who founded Bar Unico in Lincoln in 2013 and opened a second coffee bar in 2021, in Horncastle, will continue to run the other site, reports The Business Desk. Carchedi said: “I’m sorry to close Bar Unico in the city and would like to thank all of my customers and suppliers. However, many of them are also regular visitors to Bar Unico in Horncastle, and I’m looking forward to focusing all my attention on growing this business. Dorota is a very talented chef and has an exciting new menu – I’m sure Crazy Appetite will be a hit and I’d like to wish her every success.”

 

Ex-MasterChef The Professionals winner to lead new food experience in former Nottingham church: Ex-MasterChef: The Professionals winner Louisa Ellis is to lead a new food experience in a former Nottingham church. Destination 105 is opening in the former Methodist church at 105 Trent Boulevard, in the Lady Bay area of the city. Ellis appeared on the BBC cooking competition in 2017, reaching the final three, and then went on to win a MasterChef: The Professionals rematch in 2020. Since MasterChef, Ellis has been working as a private chef, and for a time, launched a home delivery service of dishes with an Asian twist. Her first brick-and-mortar venture will host different dining experiences, from tasting menus and three-course menus to refined Sunday dinners and collaborations with other chefs. Ellis will continue to do private dinners as well as holding events at the church, where a new kitchen with an open pass has been installed. A flexible space, the ground floor can be set out as a dining area for 40 to 60 people, or the tables can be cleared for events with canapes for around 100. Booths on the mezzanine will be used for arrival drinks. Paul Abbey, who has worked in Lady Bay for 15 years, bought the building two-and-a-half-years ago and runs another business at the rear of the property. Ellis came on board after an invitation from Abbey, who had eaten some of her heat-at-home deliveries during lockdown. He told Nottinghamshire Live: “They were amazing. I like the refinement, the lean on Asian flavours, I just like her style of cooking.” 

 

Surrey building let to JD Wetherspoon and Snap Fitness sold for £2.5m: A building in Surrey let to JD Wetherspoon and Snap Fitness has sold for £2.5m. The site, 48-56 High Street in Godalming, houses JD Wetherspoon pub The Jack Phillips and a branch of 95-strong gym franchise brand Snap Fitness, as well as a Fat Face clothes shop. The building generates £265,431 per annum in rent, representing a net initial yield of 9.9% for the purchaser, Queensbury Investments. Ross Kemp, director at Queensbury Investments, said: “We are grateful to [property consultants] Vail Williams for approaching us regarding this off-market opportunity as it knew we had other assets in the town. It complements our commercial property portfolio in the immediate vicinity.”

 

Plans approved for Chester Zoo overnight accommodation: Plans have been approved for the creation of overnight safari accommodation at Chester Zoo. The development, now backed by Cheshire West and Chester Council, will feature 51 safari-style lodges, a reception building with a bar and restaurant, and a lake. This attraction aims to complement the visitor experience for the forthcoming Grasslands exhibit, which is currently under construction. The design incorporates native species, open mosaic habitat-style planting, and a large biodiverse water body, complete with earth banks for Sand Martins migrating from Africa to nest. Additionally, a central island in the lake will serve as a venue for events, gatherings, functions and storytelling, reports Insider Media.