Story of the Day:
Many prices falling as foodservice inflation hits a 28-month low: Year-on-year foodservice inflation fell to 4.6% – the lowest figure recorded in 28 months, according to the latest Foodservice Price Index (FPI) report from Prestige Purchasing and CGA. May also saw month-on-month deflation of 0.4%, only the fourth such decrease in the last 32 months. The figures indicate a sustained return towards pre-pandemic levels of inflation and mirror trends seen for some time in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). The basket of prices fell month-on-month in six of the FPI’s ten categories. The oils and fats category is of particular note, having delivered six consecutive months of year-on-year deflation. After more than a year of double-digit year-on-year inflation in most categories, this was reduced to just one in May. This underscores a significant shift towards price stability across the foodservice sector, those behind the index said. Shaun Allen, Prestige Purchasing chief executive, said: “This fall of input-inflation is very welcome, as the full basket of CPI has also fallen sharply to 2% year-on-year, and diners will soon come to expect stable pricing again in our restaurants. Buyers should be particularly wary of proposed supplier increases in this period of sharply falling inflation.” Reuben Pullan, senior insight consultant at CGA by NIQ, added: “While some rates remain higher than businesses would like, the general stability makes it much easier to plan for the future. In turn, it should also reassure consumers, who have seen food and drink menu prices rise sharply but will hopefully become more confident with their spending as we move towards the second half of the year.”
Industry News:
Tossed MD Neil Sebba to speak at Propel summer conference and party, three free places per company for operators: Neil Sebba, managing director of Tossed, the healthy eating brand, will be among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference and summer party on Thursday, 5 September, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry. The all-day conference will focus on “new ideas and directions in an era of strong headwinds” and will be followed in the evening by the summer party, with a barbecue and four hours of live music, including the UK’s best Ed Sheeran Tribute Act, The Ed Sheeran Experience; the UK’s top Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow tribute acts joining forces, Scott Borley and Daniel Hadfield; and the famous house band at Piano Works. Sebba will talk about how administration and covid made Tossed more dynamic and focused. For the full speaker schedule, click
here.
There are up to three free places per company for operators, but Premium subscribers can have up to four places. To book, email jo.charity@propelinfo.com. A room can also be booked for the evening. For more details, email jo.charity@propelinfo.com.
Propel’s next Multi-Site Database to be released on Friday with seven category segmentation including 771 operators from the pub and bar sector: Premium Club members are to receive the next Multi-Site Database on Friday (28 June) at midday. The next Propel Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate, provides details of 3,161 multi-site operators and is now searchable in seven main segments. The database features 927 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 771 (24%) pub and bar operators, 524 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 433 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 254 (8%) hotel operators, 198 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 40 new companies. Premium Club members also receive access to five additional databases:
the New Openings Database; the Turnover & Profits Blue Book; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and
the Who's Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club 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 that are Premium Club members are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club members receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club members will be sent a dedicated monthly newsletter that will highlight key updates in the sector and direct subscribers to all the vital content their membership offers. Premium Club members also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier.
Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.
Azzurri Group to feature in Zero Carbon Forum webinar series helping business on their journey to net zero: Propel has partnered with the Zero Carbon Forum for a webinar series designed to help business on their journey to net zero. In the third webinar in the series, Claudia Candiotto, head of responsible business at Azzurri Group, discusses how the group has reduced emissions by 10% year on year. The webinar will be sent to all Propel subscribers at 9am today (Wednesday, 26 June).
Disposable income for low-earning households hit a near three-year high in May: The latest figures from Asda’s Income Tracker reveals that disposable income for low-earning households hit a near three-year high in May, following a 12.6% increase year-on-year. Despite this increase, the research found that budgets for these families remain under pressure in real terms, as their take home pay was still not enough to cover bills and essential spending, leaving them with an average weekly shortfall of £66. Asda’s Income Tracker also shows that disposable income for the average UK household reached its highest level since September 2021 – a period of 32 months. The average UK household was £31.33 per week better off in May compared with the same period a year earlier following a 15.1% rise in disposable income to £239 per week. This marks the second consecutive month of double-digit annual growth. All UK households recorded record monthly improvement in annual growth in spending power, while disposable income for the highest earning households has also now exceeded the pre-cost-of-living peaks. Pushpin Singh, senior economist at the Centre for Economics & Business Research (CEBR), said: “This improvement continues to be driven by several factors, not least elevated nominal earnings growth, easing inflation, the uplift in the national living wage, and tax policy changes. CEBR anticipates spending power to see further improvements in 2024, bolstered by the relatively strong growth momentum seen in the first quarter of 2024.”
UK wages rise by just £16 a week since 2010: Average weekly wages in Britain have risen by just £16 in real terms since 2010, according to a report by the Resolution Foundation. The Times reported sluggish GDP and productivity growth since the global financial crisis of 2008 have weighed on improvements to average living standards in the UK, the think tank found. Had pay grown at the same rate as in Germany and the US, the average British worker would be £3,600 a year better off, it said, which equates to nearly £70 a week. The foundation said that although most rich countries had been afflicted by relatively slower growth in real wages since the crisis, the deceleration had been more marked in the UK. The research underscores the severity of the slowdown in improvements to household finances during the Conservative Party’s time in government. In the 14 years to 2010, real weekly wages grew by £145. Although real wages have struggled for growth since 2010, employment in the UK rose sharply, reaching a record high rate of 76.2%, mainly driven up by low-income households and women. However, this trend has reversed. Employment rate is down to 74.3%, partly because of an increase in the number of people who have dropped out of the workforce with long-term ill health.
Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a drinks company that is expanding its presence across the UK and is seeking an experienced field sales manager in the south of England. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will be responsible for managing and developing the sales operations in the south. You will play a crucial role in driving sales growth, building strong relationships with clients, and ensuring the company’s products are well-represented across various retail and hospitality channels. This role will cover the south including Hampshire, Wiltshire and Berkshire.” The salary is up to £70,000 and the position is based in Hampshire. For more information, email mark@corecruitment.com.
Company News:
Tortilla founder – Fresh Burrito deal is one of the most important moments in the history of this business: Brandon Stephens, founder of Tortilla, has told Propel that the company’s acquisition of Fresh Burritos, the second largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant group in Europe, is “one of the most important moments in the history of this business”, and provides a perfect platform for further franchise opportunities on the continent. Tortilla, which operates 89 locations in the UK and the Middle East, acquired Fresh Burritos, largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant group in France, for a total consideration of €3.95m (£3.34m). The acquisition includes 13 company-owned leasehold restaurants, in high-quality locations in Paris and other major French cities, and the rights to the Fresh Burritos brand and network of 19 franchised locations. Stephens, who founded Tortilla with his wife Jen in 2007, told Propel: “We’ve been trying to get onto the Continent since 2018. This is one of the most important moments in the history of this business. It is about potential franchise opportunities throughout Europe, and this provides a perfect platform for it. This isn’t just a French deal – this is a European deal that we're really looking at. Once we get our stability in place, we’ll be looking to roll out around five in the first couple of years and then ten moving forward. We’d be looking to ramp up in France and then other country franchise units over the next couple of years.” The business will convert the company owned sites to Tortilla by the end of the year but said it will work with the franchise stores as “they are under no obligation to convert”. A key part of the deal is that it comes with a 14,000 square-metre central production kitchen in Lille. Tortilla chief executive Andy Naylor told Propel: “The deal is not necessarily about ramping up in France. The good thing about where our central kitchen is, is that we are not far from the Netherlands and Germany. The plan was always to target those western European countries. We’ve had lots of discussions in regard to other countries and explored numerous options, but this allows us to step forward with those. We particularly see the German market as one with a lot of opportunity for a lot of sites. There are existing burrito businesses in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, all of the obvious western European nations that would be the first priority for us. The fact we’re going to be adding 32 sites to our business means that volume is going to benefit the UK business in terms of buying power. We’re just at the beginning of an exciting journey that a lot of the big brands over the years have been on – the KFCs and Domino’s of this world – those scale economies make a massive difference.” Stephens also said UK expansion will continue and remains the company’s top priority, while Naylor added that there would be more consolidation in the UK market.
Tortilla features in the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, which features 926 companies. Its turnover of £65,700,000 for the year to 1 January 2023 is the 152nd highest in the database. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.
Hawksmoor – Chicago opening a key step in building international presence, FY sales on target to clear £100m: Steakhouse concept Hawksmoor has said that its opening in Chicago tomorrow (Thursday, 27 June) is a key step in building its international presence. The Chicago restaurant is Hawksmoor’s second in the US as it aims to open “world-class restaurants in world-class cities”, currently focused on North America. It follows its debut US site, which opened in New York City’s Flatiron district in 2021, and the launch of another international site, in Dublin, in 2023. The 16,500 square-foot, three-storey Chicago restaurant – its biggest and most ambitious yet – is housed in a building in 500 LaSalle Drive, which started life as a cable car powerhouse in 1887. The building, which at one point in the 1990s was home to Chicago Bulls basketball legend Michael Jordan’s eponymous restaurant, features a main dining room that can host up to 125 diners, with a wraparound bar. A second dining room on the first floor comprises space for 76 guests, plus two private dining rooms that can host up to a further 40 guests. Will Beckett, chief executive of Hawksmoor, said: “Chicago is right up there as one of the meat capitals of the world and, like New York City, is home to some of the very best steakhouses. It has one of the greatest hospitality scenes going, where food and drink is baked into the culture of the city, and for Hawksmoor to be a part of that is incredibly exciting. Over the years, we’ve learned to set our sights higher, both in terms of growth and of the integrity with which we want to build our company. We believe Hawksmoor has the capability to be one of the world’s great restaurant brands, and Chicago is an important step as we continue to develop our presence in the US.” The business said its full-year sales are on target to clear £100m this year, and that with consistent like-for-like growth, it is “proof that delivering real integrity at scale is not just the right thing to do, but also a strong financial model for restaurants”. Earlier this year, Hawksmoor said 2023 was a stand-out year for the business as it saw turnover increase by more than 20% to a record £90m (2022: £73.9m).
Farmer J lines eyes Bloomsbury site: All-day market concept Farmer J is set to further strengthen its presence in London with an opening in Bloomsbury. Propel understands Farmer J, which earlier this year raised an extra £5.5m to further expand in the capital and aid an international launch, is planning an opening on the ex-HSBC site at 1 Woburn Place. Farmer J, which was founded by Jonathan Recanati in 2016, currently operates ten sites in London. The business plans to open a further five to six this year as it looks to accelerate expansion in the capital. The company also hopes to take its first steps internationally next year, with a focus on the east coast of America, targeting locations in New York and Boston. The sites in the US will be company owned. Recanati told Propel in January that there are “plenty of places in London in which the concept can go into and thrive” and that all the group’s current sites are profitable.
Dogus International Group plans new Amazonica openings, UK site reports drop in turnover and profit: Dogus International Group has said it is planning new openings for its Amazon rainforest inspired Amazonica restaurant concept. Amazonica is one of several concepts D:ream (Dogus Restaurant Entertainment and Management) operates under its Paragus Group portfolio, with Amazonica sites in Madrid and Dubai as well as London’s Mayfair. In the accounts for the year to 31 December 2023 for its Mayfair site, the company said: “The directors believe that the company will be able to continue to trade for the foreseeable future based on the profits generated during the year, management’s thorough reviews on the cash flows and the strong pipeline regarding new management contracts, where the company will earn certain revenues in new openings of the Amazonico brand.” The UK restaurant’s turnover fell slightly from £22,973,787 in 2022 to £22,180,965 while its pre-tax profit was down from £3,519,586 to £2,837,197. Ebitda dropped from £4,695,000 to £3,920,000 but net assets rose from £3,565,384 to £5,641,207. No government grants were received (2022: £6,000) but the company won an insurance claim of £69,999 (2022: £532). No dividends were paid (2022: nil).
Hong Kong dessert brand makes European debut in London: Honeymoon Desserts has opened its first European flagship site, in London. The Asian dessert brand, which operates more than 400 sites across Hong Kong, mainland China and Canada, has opened at 33 Shaftesbury Avenue. The site comprises 1,303 square feet, spread over ground and basement floors. Honeymoon Dessert opened its first branch in 1995 in Sai Kung, Hong Kong. Olly Eades, associate in Central London retail at Savills, who acted on the deal, said: “Shaftesbury Avenue provides the perfect location for Honeymoon Desserts’ first European site: just last month we saw tens of thousands of people flock to this vibrant destination in celebration of the Chinese New Year, and international tourism in the West End has almost recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The new site will be an excellent springboard for its UK expansion, as it looks to strengthen its presence in this new market.” Four & Co acted for the outgoing tenant.
Largest bakery and cafe brand in Israel to open second UK site: Roladin, the largest bakery and cafe brand in Israel, is set to open a second UK site. The brand, which operates circa 104 sites in Israel, launched boutique bakery concept, Donutelier by Roladin, in January 2023, in the former Patisserie Valerie site on the corner of Charing Cross Road and Great Newport Street in London. Described as the world’s first “Donutelier” concept, it has now struck a deal with Shaftesbury Capital to take on 50 Carnaby Street, within the Kingly Court hub in Soho. Donutelier will open the 1,300 square-foot space in the coming months, serving an array of high-quality doughnuts and pastries with a particular focus on artisan craftsmanship. Its creations include dulcey pecan, black forest, and vanilla cookie cream, which will be available alongside a range of croissants and Danish pastries. Théa Marks, chief operating officer at Donutelier, said: “Donutelier’s new opening in Carnaby Street is a very exciting move for us and we are delighted to be joining the heart of the renowned high street. Shaftesbury Capital has been supportive of our growth, and with our growing presence and unique offer, we feel that we can stand out in the market and match the demand of this fantastic location.”
Heartwood Collection opens Reading site: Heartwood Collection, the Alchemy Partners-backed business, has made its latest addition to its growing pub estate with the opening of The Rising Sun in Reading, following an extensive, multimillion-pound refurbishment. Inside, the original bar space has been transformed to create 80 covers, showcasing the original 13th century timberwork that is a feature of the historic building in Castle Street. To the rear, a new conservatory links the original pub to the old stables, which have been converted to create a vaulted ceiling dining room with space for up to 110 diners. Outside, the former car park has been converted into a garden for a further 100 covers. Richard Ferrier, chief executive of Heartwood Collection, said: “We are very excited to have reopened this iconic pub in the heart of Reading. The oldest pub in the town, we have really enjoyed restoring this property and hope the people of Reading like it as much as we do.” Heartwood plans to grow to more than 60 sites with a turnover of £133m by 2027. It currently operates 24 Heartwood Inns pubs and 14 Brasserie Blanc restaurants across the UK. The company will open The Ropemaker in Emsworth, Hampshire, on Tuesday, 23 July; followed by The White Hart in Lewes, East Sussex, in September; The Coat & Bear in Newbury, Berkshire, in October; and The Royal Forest in Epping Forest, Essex, in November. Further openings this winter/next spring will include The Prince of Wales in East Barnet, London; The Old Crown in Great Bookham, Surrey; The White Hart in Lymington, Hampshire; and The Ragged Robin in Godalming, Surrey.
‘James Bond’ tourist attraction to snub London market: A developer seeking to turn London’s “James Bond tunnels” into a tourist attraction has announced plans to list on the Amsterdam stock market, in a blow to the City. The Telegraph reported that The London Tunnels, which owns the historic Kingsway Exchange Tunnels under Chancery Lane Tube station in the City, said it hopes to float on the Euronext exchange with a value of £130m. The Kingsway Exchange Tunnels were built as a deep air-raid shelter during the Second World War but ended up being used as accommodation for troops and later as an operations centre for parts of MI6 and GCHQ, thought to be the inspiration for “Q Branch” in Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels. After the war, the tunnels were repurposed as a major Post Office telephone exchange and were the terminus point for the first transatlantic phone line. They also acted as a conduit for the “red phone” hotline used by the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. London Tunnels wants to transform the site – which has not been accessible to the public for 70 years – into a top tourist attraction that will cater to three million visitors per year. The company has said the renovated tunnels will offer “a combination of historical heritage experiences and a cultural, beautifully designed, multi-sensory, digital experience”. Bosses have set out plans to open the site in 2027 and aim to raise £30m to fund preparatory work via a share sale in Amsterdam. Angus Murray, chief executive of the London Tunnels, said: “We are delighted to announce the upcoming listing of our shares on Euronext Amsterdam. We believe a public listing of the London Tunnels is the logical next step, improving our ability to raise further capital over the coming years to support the company’s growth strategy and create long-term value. London is undoubtedly one of the world’s leading tourist destinations. It is one of the most visited cities in the world, with millions of visitors each year, all of whom we hope will be interested in visiting the tunnels.”
Anglian Country Inns opens tenth site: Gastro-pub operator Anglian Country Inns (ACI), led by James Nye, has opened its tenth site. The company has relaunched the White Horse in Holme-next-the-Sea in north Norfolk. The grade II-listed pub, which ACI acquired the freehold of in October last year, has been refurbished and offers 70 covers. Outside, the garden has a fire pit, more dining areas, a pétanque area and a kids’ playground. The menu from head chef Ian Daw includes Tim Allen’s pork T-bone chop, Sandringham Farm mutton chops and Billy Ward’s lobster with garlic and herb butter. General manger Will Pryke said: “Keeping the community at the heart of the pub will be key to its success. We’ve recruited a fantastic team of local talent who share our passion for creating memorable experiences.”
Domino’s CEO – ‘our customers buy on average 4.3 times a year, I want to get them to five’: Domino’s chief executive Andrew Rennie has said its customers buy from the brand, on average, 4.3 times a year, but he wants to “get them to five”. Rennie said earlier this year that the business was now in a position to introduce a loyalty programme but would do so “in a disciplined, structured, and profitable way”. Expanding on the theme, he told The Mail: “We’ve 30 million active customers in our database who buy, on average, 4.3 times a year. My wish is to get them to five.” Rennie also said earlier this year that the brand was “blowing the doors off” when going into new villages and smaller territories, as it seeks to grow into the 15% of the UK where it doesn’t have coverage. “They’re buying an awful lot of pizza,” he added. “A lot of those villages have very few brands, so we’ve become quite the place to go.” Rennie also said innovations like drones and driverless deliveries are “five or so years away”, adding: “The rarest asset on earth now is human beings, people to deliver the products.” Born in New South Wales, Rennie took on his first Domino’s franchise in his mid-20s, in his tiny Australian home town of Wagga Wagga. “Head office pointed out the average store had a 50,000 population around it, and mine had 10% of that and would fail,” he said. “But I got it open and became obsessed with service. If a pizza was late, or we made a mistake, I’d go to people’s houses, offer them free pizza, free Coke, beg them to return. I knew 350 of my customers’ names and addresses off by heart, and I’d personally handle their pizza. I wouldn’t sleep if I lost a customer. I was so driven that from our tiny store, smaller than most home kitchens, we became the number one store in Australia.” Rennie built a 30-strong Domino’s franchise over a decade before selling up and acquiring the Domino’s franchise for France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Over five years, he tripled the size of the French business, then grew Domino’s in Germany to 1,200 branches before becoming chief executive of its UK operations after a short-lived “retirement”, in July 2023.
Wells & Co adds another pub to its French estate: Brewer and retailer Wells & Co has added another pub to its growing French estate. The company has opened The Queen Elizabeth in Strasbourg, formerly named Le Comptoir D’Eugéne. Its first pub in the city comes on the back of acquiring two additional pubs in Bordeaux at the end of last year. Wells & Co currently has an estate of 165 pubs in the UK and now has 19 in France, in cities including Paris, Lille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lyon, Montpellier, Reims and La Rochelle. Wells & Co chief operating officer, Shirley Couchman, said: “We’re thrilled to have opened The Queen Elizabeth and be expanding to a new French city, with Strasbourg making an exciting addition to our French estate. We look forward to giving visitors the true English pub experience, through traditional English-themed décor and our range of fantastic quality beer.” In April, Propel reported Wells & Co was planning to add more pubs to its French estate. In the company’s accounts for the year ending 1 October 2023, chief financial officer Antony Fryer said: “We have sold one pub from the estate in France during the current year and also completed the sale and leaseback of another site in France. This has generated £1.8m of net sales proceeds, which will be reinvested into new acquisitions in France during the 2024 financial year.”
Star Pubs investing £4.6m in revamping outdoor spaces at 156 of its sites: Heineken-owned Star Pubs is investing £4.6m in revamping the outdoor spaces at 156 of its sites. Of these, 86 will receive upgrades such as awning-covered areas opening via bi-fold doors and free-standing heated and lighted pergolas with pitched roofs that are separate to the building. A further 70 will receive new mural and swing signs, lighting and planting plus additions such as feature entrances and cladding. Chris Moore, Star Pub’s property director, said: “A pub’s exterior is just as important as the interior. People want a premium experience when they go out and attractiveness is key. Pubgoers have lost none of their enthusiasm for sitting outside since the pandemic, and going to a lovely pub garden with friends is now firmly established as a favourite consumer occasion.” The company said the £150,000 it invested in transforming the garden behind The Winchmore in Winchmore Hill, London, into an all-weather, 80-seater area earlier this year is doubling sales at busy times and increasing trade 20% at weekends. The expenditure is part of Star Pub’s overall £39m investment in upgrading its pubs in 2024.
Popeyes UK launches value box meals for under £10: Popeyes UK, the US fried chicken quick service restaurant brand backed here by TDR Capital, has launched its first box meals. The chicken sandwich box meal, chicken sandwich deluxe box meal and signature Louisiana chicken box meal will sell for £9.99. The box meals are available nationwide in its sites, with delivery available from Tuesday, 16 July. The Louisiana BBQ Sandwich box meal will also join the menu from that date. With every box meal, consumers can select a Popeyes sandwich paired with a side of two chicken tenders or three hot wings, or they can opt for a combo of three chicken tenders and three hot wings. Each meal also comes with regular fries and a regular drink. Dave Hoskins, head of food at Popeyes, said: “We’ve noticed that our customers love to combine their favourite items in one order. Coupled with the fact that customisation and personalisation is an emerging foodie trend, offering the option to mix and match our much-loved New Orleans flavours at a special price seemed like a no-brainer.” Earlier this week, Popeyes UK said it is set to open a further 15 outlets in Britain this year as it prepares to hit the 50-site mark. The milestone will be in Glasgow, where the brand will launch in Sauchiehall Street, as it remains on course to double the size of its UK estate in 2024.
Bristol brewer opens sixth venue in city: Bristol brewer Left Handed Giant (LHG) has opened a sixth venue in the city. The company, which was founded by former BrewDog director of operations Bruce Gray in 2015, has opened “Aussie-Scottish mash-up” diner Hotplate Diner in the city’s Stokes Croft, serving breakfast, brunch, burgers, coffee, tea, milkshakes, cocktails and beer. Gray told Bristol24/7 that the diner’s menu is a “real mashup of the Scottish-Aussie breakfast scene” from his own Scottish background and business partner Jack Granger’s Aussie roots. Hotplate Diner is located behind the remaining façade of the grade II-listed Carriageworks building, designed in 1862 by acclaimed architect Edward Godwin. Within a site that has been empty for decades, the team is also set to take on the unit on the other side of the central archway alongside Pizza is Lovely, with the two businesses already working together at LHG’s brewpub in Finzels Reach and Renato’s in King Street. LHG is also behind Small Bar in King Street, its brewery and taproom in St Philip’s and The Old Bookshop in North Street.
Spinners preparing to launch third site: Spinners, the competitive socialising concept offering electric clay shoots, duckpin bowling, crazy golf and electric darts, is preparing to launch its third site. It will next month open at Touchwood Solihull, adding to its sites in Reading and Plymouth. Opening on Friday, 12 July, the venue will welcome under-18s before 6pm while evenings will be adults only, reports Insider Media. Amy Trott, head of operations at Spinners UK, said: “Solihull has a vibrant hospitality scene and we're looking forward to being a part of it by bringing the Spinners concept to Touchwood. As our third location in the UK, we have pulled out all the stops for Solihull, which will feature our widest variety of games yet. My personal favourite is the clay shooting, but who doesn’t love a bit of crazy golf.” The business, which was founded by Jamie Bylett, is also thought to have openings in Northampton and Colchester lined up.
Team behind Birmingham Vietnamese street food business confirms July opening for new seafood restaurant: The team behind the three-strong Vietnamese Street Kitchen in Birmingham has confirmed its new seafood restaurant in the city will open next month. Seafood City will open in the Arcadian on Monday, 1 July. The concept takes inspiration from the original southern “seafood boil” made famous in Louisiana, which uses a traditional cooking method to lock in the taste of the sea. Since then, the cooking style has been adopted by the Vietnamese community, which has added new flavours. Its dishes will include the City Boil, which includes five king prawns, five fresh mussels, red roast potatoes, garlic bread, corn on the cob and a sauce, and the Don’t Be Shellfish sharer combo, with lobster tail, ten king prawns, ten fresh mussels, red roast potatoes, corn on the cob and garlic bread. There are also non-seafood alternatives such as chicken burgers and tenders, and there will be cocktails and mocktails alongside a selection of international lager on tap. General manager Oliver Ngo said: “It’s all about diving right in, putting your bib aprons on and getting your hands messy so you can enjoy seafood in an unpretentious way. The seafood boil is a wonderful way to enhance individual flavours and textures. Not only that, but you can mix it up and grill or fry your favourite seafood too.” The 1,700 square-foot venue is in the unit once occupied by Rozu and will seat 99 people inside, with a cocktail bar as the centrepiece, plus outdoor seating.
Bert Blaize set to open Norfolk wine bar: Wine expert Bert Blaize is set to open a new wine bar in Norfolk. Blaize, previously of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Clove Club and St Leonards and nominated as Young Sommelier of the Year in 2018 by GQ magazine, has had planning permission approved for North Norfolk Cellars in Wells-next-the-Sea. Blaize, who studied computer game design at university before working for the company that makes Call of Duty, only got into the wine trade after being made redundant. He now designs wine menus for restaurants and is a freelance sommelier for celebrities. In 2020, he teamed up with specialist car showroom Hexagon Classics to launch wine and deli shop, Bottles N Jars, in Highgate and East Finchley, north London. Last summer, the venue won permission to extend its opening hours and relaunch as a wine bar. At the time, manager Matthew Clarke said: “Opening a wine bar was always something we planned on doing. Hopefully it will bring even more people to this wonderful little venue.”
One Devonshire Gardens head chef confirms July launch for first solo venture: Gary Townsend, head chef at Glasgow’s three AA Rosette One Devonshire Gardens for the last six years, has confirmed he will launch his first solo restaurant venture next month. Townsend – also previously of L’Enclume, Restaurant Sat Bains, Hibiscus and The Kitchin – will open Elements in Glasgow’s Bearsden on Thursday, 11 July. The menu will showcase his passion for sourcing produce from Scotland and around the UK and focusing on using the best local ingredients, including handpicked ones from the surrounding area of Loch Lomond and the Trossach. Highlights will include North Sea cod loin poached in butter and served with cockles, white asparagus, courgette, cod dumpling buttermilk and miso; and Scottish lamb saddle with sweetbread, barbecue gem lettuce, smoked aubergine and chimichurri. The cocktail menu will highlight local producers, while the house Champagne is from the Côte des Bar region of France. Townsend has invested £400,000 in refurbishing the 36-cover restaurant ahead of opening. It will offer a seven-course tasting menu and a three-course à la carte menu, as well as a four-course lunch menu. Guests will also have the option to book the chef's counter experience, providing an immersive opportunity to observe Townsend and his team cooking up close. “I’m thrilled to be preparing for our official opening,” Townsend said. “We have had a few setbacks in the renovation process, but that’s given me and my team additional time to ensure everything is just right.”
