Jones the Grocer planning at least 22 sites here after making UK debut, targeting university towns and high streets as well as travel hubs: Dubai-based artisan café, bakery and deli concept Jones the Grocer has told Propel it is planning at least 22 sites here after making its UK debut. The brand, which has 38 stores across the Middle East, India and Singapore, earlier this month launched a restaurant, pizzeria and bar and a deli-style grab and go at Heathrow airport. In partnership with TRG Concessions, The Restaurant Group’s (TRG) concessions division, it launched Jones the Grocer and Jones the Grocer Express in Terminal 2’s international departure lounge. “When we did our overseas strategy, we included about 22 stores in the UK across different formats, including grab and go and full dining options,” chief executive Yunib Siddiqui told Propel. “It is a very different offer which we believe can stand on its own against any multi-site brand. We did have a deal for four London locations pre-covid, but that fell through, and it’s not been revived as the interested party decided not to go into food and beverage. So, we’ve been looking at the UK for at least four years. Our initial target is to look at London and the university towns such as Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, Birmingham, Cheltenham and Bristol – those are the main target towns for us. We just need to find the right operator with the capacity to roll out in these territories. We’ve had lots of enquiries from individuals who want to open one store or two stores, but what we’re really looking for is the right person and right operator to take on an area.” TRG Concessions is Jones the Grocer’s master franchisee for airport sites here, and the Heathrow site is among 12 Jones the Grocer has in travel hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi – but the brand will be looking to expand into a variety of locations. “We would look at high streets too,” Siddiqui said. “Pre-covid, we looked at a site in St John’s Wood/Maida Vale, and those sorts of areas remain good for us. Our existing sites are in venues such as golf clubs, offices, hotel lobbies and beachfronts, so it’s quite a diverse portfolio and quite versatile, adaptable and scalable.” Siddiqui is aiming to have the next Jones the Grocer UK sites open by next summer and said equity stores, of which the business currently has 11 (with 27 franchised) are unlikely but not completely off the cards. “It’s complicated because the HQ is in Dubai, and getting feet on the ground to set up a full structure is not an easy task,” he added. “We are very well tooled up for franchising, and that’s where the focus will be. I wouldn’t say no, but it will be opportunistic. We’ve got plenty of leads – we’re just sifting through and waiting for the right opportunity, right partner, right capitalisation and right operating structure.” Siddiqui also said the Heathrow stores are performing well and ahead of forecasts. “It really put us in a good place, and now we have proof of concept, I think we’re in a very good position to reinitiate some of our previous enquiries,” he said.

 

Brother Marcus co-founders to speak at Propel summer conference and party, three free places per company for operators: Alex Large and Tasos Gaitanos, co-founders of Brother Marcus, the eastern Mediterranean restaurant concept, 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. Large and Gaitanos will talk about expanding in the capital and building a support team to help it maintain its high standards as it grows. 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.

 

Premium Club members to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database this week: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club members on Friday (5 July). For the first time, it will also be delivered in an easy to search excel sheet and segmented into seven key categories of cafe bakery, casual dining, experiential leisure, fine dining, hotels, pubs and bars and quick service restaurants. The database will show the details of 160 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. It will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis and Premium Club members will also receive a 12,356-word report on the 160 new additions to the database. It includes new openings in the casual dining sector such as Shrimp Shack opening its second site; Giggling Squid increasing its presence with an opening in London; and Dhakaah, a new Bangladeshi restaurant opening in Camden. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book; the Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. Plus, all 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.

 

Hospitality scrambling to fill the void left by the UK’s ‘snobby’ workforce: When Yotam Ottolenghi slashed the opening hours at some of his London restaurants last year, the celebrity chef blamed an inability to recruit enough staff – and The Telegraph reports that he is not alone in struggling to find enough workers.  According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the hospitality industry is scrambling to fill more than 100,000 vacancies, which account for more than 10% of all unfilled roles in the UK. That has been fuelled by a broader worklessness crisis, as more and more people are neither in employment nor looking for work. When looking at the hospitality sector, industry experts are pointing to a different issue entirely – a shortage of youngsters. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “The birth rate fell off a cliff around the millennium, so we always knew we were going to have 200,000 fewer 18 to 24-year-olds entering the jobs market between 2020 and 2024.” Charlotte Maulik, director of The Finch’s Arms in Oakham, Rutland, told the newspaper she now occasionally experiences not receiving a single CV for an entry-level position. The situation has been exacerbated by a decline in European workers post-Brexit, leaving operators pondering how to appeal to domestic workers. “The unemployed and the economically inactive have never been drawn to our sector,” said Brendan Padfield, owner of The Unruly Pig in Bromeswell, Suffolk. “We had the European diaspora come in post Tony Blair, and frankly, they were the best thing since sliced bread for hospitality, because the Brits won’t work in hospitality.” Part of the problem is cultural, says Chris Harber, a lawyer who helps hospitality firms recruit from abroad. “I think it’s fairly systemic snobbery,” said Harber. “Hospitality is seen a little bit as being just like a transient job, and there’s a misunderstanding from an educator’s perspective where it’s only seen as a career of last resort, to a certain degree.”

 

Pubs and bars seeing return to year-on-year growth during Euro 2024: Pubs and bars are seeing a return to year-on-year growth during Euro 2024, according to analysis from HDI, provider of card spending insight and pricing data to the UK hospitality sector. In the run up to the tournament, despite hospitality sales growing 1.9% year-on-year in the 12 weeks ending 11 June 2024, pubs and bars sales were seeing a slight decline year-on-year. But early data for Euro 2024, covering the opening five days of the tournament from June 14-19, showed pubs and bars returning to year-on-year growth, with England and Scotland games being the key trading days. Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, said: “It’s encouraging to see pubs and bars performing strongly during Euro 2024. England and Scotland games have been the key trading days so far, where like-for-like sales have significantly outperformed the previous 12 weeks. Performance on other matchdays has been far weaker so far, highlighting the importance of the home nations progressing in the tournament.” In the 12 weeks ending 11 June 2024, coffee and sandwich and delivery and fast food and takeaway were the best performing sectors.

 

Wingstop among sector companies that are fastest-growing private businesses in UK: Wingstop UK, which is being rolled out here by Lemon Pepper Holdings, has been named one of the fastest-growing business in the UK for the second year in a row. It came 38th in the Sunday Times Hundred 2024 – the newspaper’s guide to the fastest-growing private companies in Britain – and was again the fastest-growing restaurant operator. Wingstop saw revenue grow 121.95% in the past 12 months to reach £84.4m. Having launched in the UK market in 2018, the brand now operates 48 sites nationwide and employs more than 1,600 people. Wingstop UK has 15 new openings planned by the end of 2024 including its largest site yet – at Westfield Stratford City in east London, which opens this week and will span 5,000 square foot and host 160 covers. Also on the list is Gloucestershire brewery Hawkstone, which is owned by television star Jeremy Clarkson. Revenue at the brewery has grown 142.88% in the past year to reach £7.4m, putting it 24th in the list. Wafflemeister, the Belgian waffle operator that has 25 branded outlets across the UK, saw its turnover in the past 12 months rise 127.44% to reach £10.5m, placing it 31st. Emerald Hospitality Group, founded by twin entrepreneurs Arian and Alberto Zandi, and which owns four restaurants in London, posted revenue growth of 73.80% to hit £8.4m and was 79th.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an established facilities company that is looking to bring in a general manager for a London contract that has just been renewed. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will manage the on-site cleaning and support services, maintaining standards and ensuring targets are achieved across two sites with a focus on accommodation. The expectation is that you understand a multi-service stream contract and, ideally, have first-hand experience within cleaning across a complex contract. A facilities background would be preferred. The experience you will bring is team leadership, a strong financial understanding of budget and cost control and excellent client relationships. The site operates daily although the expectation would be largely Monday-Friday, with some evening and weekend work depending on business needs.” The salary is up to £55,000. For more information, email dan@corecruitment.com.

 

Cineworld leans towards CVA after screening bidders: The owners of Cineworld are leaning towards putting its British operations through a formal restructuring process after holding initial talks about a sale with prospective buyers. Sky News reported that Cineworld and its advisers at AlixPartners have begun formally exploring a company voluntary arrangement (CVA). The details of a potential CVA are still to be determined, with no visibility yet about any site closures or rent negotiations with landlords. However, one insider said that an insolvency mechanism such as a CVA was now far more likely than an outright sale of the business. Sky News revealed earlier this month that Cineworld had drafted in AlixPartners to consider a sale. Cineworld trades from more than 100 sites in Britain, including at the Picturehouse brand. In a statement issued to Sky News earlier in the month, it said: “Like many businesses, we are continually reviewing our UK operations.” Cineworld’s multibillion-dollar debt mountain forced the company into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2022 and it delisted from the London Stock Exchange last August, having seen its share price collapse. Under a deal struck last year, several billions dollars of debt were exchanged for shares, with a significant sum of new money injected by a group of hedge funds and other investors. Since it emerged from bankruptcy protection, Cineworld has appointed a new leadership team, hiring Eduardo Acuna, who ran Mexican cinema brand Cinepolis’s operations in the Americas, as its chief executive, and Eric Foss, a former Pepsi executive, as chairman. One property industry source previously told Sky News that an attempt by Cineworld to pursue a CVA or other restructuring which compromised landlords was likely to be met with fierce resistance.

 

Almost Famous founder to launch smash burger concept: Beau Myers, founder of cult burger restaurant Almost Famous, has announced plans for a new smash burger takeaway concept in Manchester. Called SuperAwesomeDeluxe, it will take over the former Lono Cove bar site on Thomas Street. The Manchester Evening News reports that the late-night venue will serve ultra-smashed burgers in a fast order takeaway style. It will only serve limited numbers each day to “keep the quality”. Myers first launched Almost Famous in Manchester's Northern Quarter back in 2012, pioneering the “dirty burger” trend in the city. The concept opened its latest site last year in the suburb of Withington. It currently also operates sites in Manchester’s Northern Quarter and Peter Street, plus restaurants in Leeds and Liverpool. Myers is launching a crowdfunder to raise a further £50,000 to put with their own investment to get the venture off the ground, which is set to launch in July. Myers told the newspaper: “It was born in lockdown. It was, ironically, going to be called SAD burger and be a pop up for a week, but it’s so good it needs to stay forever. I’m trying to shake my depression, so we’re losing the SAD, and it’s just super awesome. I’ve always struggled with mental health – I have a form of borderline which can be my superpower and also my curse – manic bouts of creativity offset with crippling self-doubt and anxiety. I’m not looking for sympathy, I know everyone’s struggling in some way. I don’t want people to think I’m not capable – I want to show you can be broken but still amazing at the same time.”

 

Aviva tells Carlsberg ‘raise your Britvic bid’: A major investor in Britvic has called on Carlsberg to sweeten its takeover offer for the group. The Mail on Sunday reports that Aviva, which is a top ten shareholder in Britvic, the maker of Robinsons soft drinks, said there would be benefits to a merger of the companies, but that the bid price was too low. Britvic revealed last week it had rejected two bids from the Danish brewer, with the highest offer valuing it at £3.1bn. The FTSE 250 firm said it “carefully considered” the second offer but that it was still too low to accept. Kunal Kothari, UK equities fund manager at Aviva, said Carlsberg has “scope to be more generous” with another bid. He said the brewing giant could benefit significantly from a takeover, for example, because the firms distribute drinks to similar customers. Kothari said: “Whether we support the deal or not depends on whether the offer price values the business appropriately.” He added that the current deal was not high enough because it did not take into account how Britvic's finances are expected to improve over the next few years as a standalone company. Carlsberg has until 19 July to table a final bid. Its £3.1bn offer, of 1,250p per share, was around 29% higher than Britvic’s share price before speculation about a deal emerged. Last week PepsiCo, which has a bottling contract with Britvic, said it would not stand in the way, which removed a potential roadblock.

 

London yakitori restaurant owners taking concept to Indonesia for second site, exploring further expansion opportunities: The owners of London yakitori restaurant Junsei are taking the concept to Indonesia for its second site and exploring further expansion opportunities. Aman Lakhiani, who has worked at Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant Dos Palillos in Barcelona, partnered with fellow chef Zach Farr, formerly of Torishin in New York, to launch Junsei in London’s Marylebone in 2021. It is now set to expand into south east Asia by launching in the Senopati district of Jakarta. The restaurant has a zero-waste philosophy, with every part of the chicken skewered in over 20 variations and grilled over white-hot Binchotan charcoal. Diners can choose from a variety of yakitori (chicken) cuts or kushiyaki (grilled vegetables), complemented by a wide range of sake, cocktails and Japanese whiskey. Lakhiani said: “We are thrilled to launch our second Junsei location in my home country of Indonesia. This is a significant milestone for us. The team has worked diligently, and I am confident that Indonesia, with its sophisticated palate, is the ideal next step for Junsei. Additionally, we have exciting plans for Junsei's expansion in the coming year. We are exploring new opportunities and locations to bring our distinctive culinary experience to more patrons.” Junsei’s general manager, Rizwan Khan, is a former general manager at Cinnamon Club and Kanishka by Atul Kochhar.

 

Boost Juice Bars reviewing its existing estate and looking for opportunities to expand in the right locations: Boost Juice Bars has said it is reviewing its existing estate and looking for opportunities to expand in the right locations. In its accounts for the year ending 27 September 2023, Dawn O’Sullivan, director of parent company TD4 Brands, said: “The group continued with its plan to focus sites in elite shopping centres in the UK and is constantly reviewing its existing estate, along with looking for opportunities to expand in the right locations. During the year, in subsidiary undertaking Boost Juice Bars (UK), the Oxford Street lease was the final site considered for disposal/closure as part of the planned strategy, largely due to the short length of lease remaining and the delays in the Crossrail line development and high rents in the face of these delays. All sites have now recovered from the covid-19 pandemic closure and are performing well. Following the period end, the subsidiary undertaking acquired a second site in Manchester Arndale Centre, which opened in March 2024. Following the period end, the group has also opened a site in the Trafford Centre, as a franchise of Bens Cookies, as the group continues to broaden its trading portfolio. Results have been strong across the estate again this year, and despite challenges of inflation and supplier price increases, the group continues to trade strongly. Just as important as new store openings is the profitability of our existing estate. We have continued discussions with landlords to obtain better deals at our marginal sites, alongside our rent concession negotiations.” The group operated 32 stores during the period (2022: 33). It reported turnover of £13,876,462, down slightly from £13,939,737 in 2022, which it said was due to the disposal of the Oxford Street lease. It reported a pre-tax profit of £975,928, compared to £1,470,961 in 2022. The group has net liabilities of £873,721 (2022: £762,139) and net current liabilities of £537,188 (2022: £53,250). Dividends of £403,734 were paid (2022: nil). A 2021 loan note of £250,000 is due to be repaid in full by 5 July 2025, while further loans totalling £1,566,615, entered into in 2022 and expiring in March 2026 and May 2028, had amounts outstanding of £395,295 and £784,157 at the period end.

 

Mowgli to open at Westfield Stratford: Indian street food brand Mowgli is to open its second site in London after securing a site at Westfield Stratford, Propel has learned. The Nisha Katona-led, TriSpan-backed business has secured the former Tapas Revolution site at the scheme for an opening later this year. The 22-strong business, which made its debut in the capital in Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, will open a site at the Designer Outlet in Bridgend next month, and also has openings lined up in the former Cafe Royal, in Newcastle’s Nelson Street, and in Knutsford’s King Street. Katona told Propel: “We are very excited to be taking such a beautiful site in such a great location. Westfield Stratford is a place that we have been looking at for some time waiting for the right spot to appear. This will be our first alliance with Westfield and we are so happy to be part of their carefully curated stable. We aim to open autumn/winter 2024 and I’m in the process of designing an exquisite, twinkling, uniquely beckoning restaurant to add to a great dining area.” Kate Orwin, Leasing Director UK, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, added: “The signing of Mowgli Street Food at Westfield Stratford City is a testament to the exceptional strength of our food and beverage offerings across our London centres.”

 

Comptoir makes Italian debut: Comptoir Group, the owner of the Comptoir Libanais and Shawa brands, has made its debut in Italy. The company has opened a Comptoir Libanais restaurant at Milan Malpensa airport. Located in Terminal 1, the restaurant has capacity for 210 covers. The opening marks Comptoir’s first venture with Areas, a leading global food and beverage concessions company. Comptoir Group chief executive Nick Ayerst said: “We are excited to bring our culinary expertise to Milan Malpensa. This opening marks our fourth airport concession following the opening of our Shawa restaurant at Zayed International airport in Abu Dhabi in March. We are strategically focused on opening restaurants in high footfall areas and Comptoir will benefit from the constant flow of travellers seeking exciting flavours that Milan Malpensa offers.”

 

Taro opens two new sites including first outside of London: Taro, the Japanese restaurant group, has opened two new sites, including its first outside of London, to take its estate to eight restaurants. It has opened at 37 High Street in Brentwood, Essex, and 2 Catford Broadway in Catford, south London. Taro Catford will be serving bottled cocktails from local business Bottle, while Taro Brentwood will have special dishes exclusive to the restaurant such as TanTan Ramen and two special sushis – the Brentwood Roll and the Essex Roll. Both sites will also serve small plates such as grilled chicken or prawn gyoza along with a selection of fresh sushi, sashimi and salads. There will also be hot bowls of ramen, udon noodles and rice dishes or bento boxes filled with sushi, tempura, katsu and edamame along with miso soup and Japanese rice. Drinks include a mix of hot and cold sake, Japanese beer and soft drinks. Founder ‘Mr Taro’ said: “I’m thrilled to add two further sites to our portfolio this summer with the opening of Catford and our first opening outside of London. It’s wonderful to be able to reach new diners outside of central London who share my passion for authentic homemade Japanese food.” The first Taro restaurant opened in 1999, on Brewer Street. Last year, the group said it is looking to explore possible openings in regional cities, alongside further expansion in the capital.

 

I Am Döner appoints new franchise manager: I am Döner, the award-winning, better kebab brand backed by Think Hospitality, has appointed Andrew Sakowicz as its new brand and franchise manager, Propel has learned. Sakowicz joins from Caerus Holdings, where his sales and marketing roles included implementing Vingeek, a new wine lifestyle brand in Singapore, as well as overseeing the e-commerce strategy of other Caerus brands including Lady M Singapore, Leckerbaer, Mr Holmes Bakehouse and Luke’s Lobster. He was also previously sales and marketing manager for Di-Vine Cellars Maldives. Sakowicz replaces Lynsey Benton, who has left after three years for a new role with venues and event business Sodexo Live. Benton previously held brand and marketing roles with Thai Leisure Group, Thaikhun Thai and Chaophraya Thai. “For the last few years, I’ve been part of an epic team at I am Döner and I am so proud of everything we have achieved as a team,” Benton posted to social media. “I’ve had an incredible time, a few highlights being opening five new stores with our amazing franchisees; I am Doner 2.0 brand refresh and design; and implementing some 'out there' marketing campaigns – camel kebab anyone? My new adventure as senior venue sales marketing manager for Sodexo Live starts on Monday and I can’t wait!” Last month, I am Döner said it had secured its first Canadian site and is in talks to expand its presence in the Middle East. It also opened its seventh UK site – and second with franchisee Optimum Group – in Liverpool’s Woolton Street.

 

Midlands restaurant group to launch second restaurant for Japanese concept it was forced to rebrand following Gordon Ramsay copyright claim: Midlands restaurant group A Rule of Tum is set to launch a second restaurant for the Japanese concept it was forced to rebrand following a copyright claim from Gordon Ramsay. The group will open its second Maneki Ramen location in the former Stirlings Bar & Lounge site at 21 Ludgate Hill in Birmingham this autumn. The group initially launched Maneki Ramen as a noodle bar pop-up called Lucky Cat in 2020, opening its debut bricks and mortar venue in Worcester the following year before changing its name after receiving a letter from Gordon Ramsay’s solicitors. The group said the letter claimed Ramsey, who has Lucky Cat restaurants in Manchester and London’s Mayfair, holds a trademark for the use of the Lucky Cat name, and so it agreed to a rebrand. For the second site, the group has taken on the lease of the 4,000 square-foot Birmingham venue for around the asking price of £60,000 per annum. Dorian Kirk, one of the founders of A Rule of Tum, said: “We love basing our restaurants in properties that have a bit of history and we just love the beautiful look of 21 Ludgate Hill, with its period features in the great location of the Jewellery Quarter. We expect to be fitting out the property this summer and to be opening Maneki Ramen by the early autumn, which will create at least 20 jobs.” Kirk founded A Rule of Tum with brother Edwin and their friend, Jon Stead, in 2013, staring out with a series of suppers and Sunday lunches at Dunkerton’s Farm in Herefordshire. As well as the two Maneki Ramen sites, it also operates The Bookshop and Leaven Pizza in Hereford, plus Burger Shop venues in Hereford and Worcester.

 

Jeremy Clarkson reveals plans for historic Cotswolds pub: Jeremy Clarkson has revealed his grand plans for a historic Cotswolds pub. The television presenter paid “less than £1m” for The Windmill, near Burford, Oxfordshire – and now hopes to make his mark with all-British ingredients and bar games, as well as a ban on noisy televisions, fruit machines and “confusing” toilet signs. The pub announced it was under new ownership on 4 June. Despite early challenges finding staff “thanks to Brexit” and teething problems with a “loft full of dead rats” and “illegal” lavatories, Clarkson said he remains committed to getting the pub back up and running promptly – writing in The Sunday Times that he still has a wedding reception to host “in a couple of weeks’ time”. As part-owner of the Cotswold brewer that makes his Hawkstone lager, and harnessing barley grown on his nearby Diddly Squat farm, Clarkson said the next step was a place where he could sell “all that we make” on the farm – with his own lager in the taps. “I just needed the pub where all this could happen,” Clarkson wrote in newspaper. “And then, after I’d looked about 14,000, I found just the place.” Clarkson said he envisions a fun and homely pub with bar billiards, darts and a garden – and a place he can go on a Sunday with his granddaughter for gammon, egg and chips. “Well-priced, British-grown food with a pint of Hawkstone beer,” he suggested. It was reported earlier this month that villagers had raised concerns their “Venice of the Cotswolds” could be swamped by visitors if he bought the grade II-listed Coach & Horses Inn in Gloucestershire. It came after huge queues amassed around Clarkson’s Diddly Squat farm near Chipping Norton, just a 20-minute drive from the pub, after the shop reopened in May.

 

Doughnut Time opens 16th UK site: Doughnut Time has opened in its 16th UK store – at 27 Goodge Street in London. It is an 11th location in the capital for the brand, which also operates stores in Reading, Oxford and Windsor, plus kiosks in Bracknell and Thorpe Park. Doughnut Time, originally founded in Australia, established its first store in London in 2018. The brand made its German debut last summer with a launch at Berlin’s TV Tower in Alexanderplatz. It has since opened a second site there, in the former Unilever/Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream store in Berlin’s Rosenthaler Platz district.

 

Alain Ducasse extends his partnership with The Dorchester: Alain Ducasse has extended his partnership with The Dorchester in London for a further five years. Since its opening a decade ago, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester has “showcased Ducasse’s unique vision of contemporary French cuisine, emphasising the finest ingredients, distinctive fresh flavours, exceptional service and an ambience of elegance overlooking Hyde Park”. Ducasse will continue to manage the restaurant, which is one of only six in the capital to hold three Michelin Stars. “The Dorchester is a place of historical significance and unmatched luxury,” Ducasse said. “It has been a privilege to share my culinary philosophy with its guests. I am excited to continue this journey and to bring new and inspiring dining experiences to London.” The Dorchester’s general manager, Luca Virgilio, added: “Alain Ducasse’s presence at The Dorchester elevates our dining offerings to extraordinary heights. His unwavering commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with our dedication to providing guests with unforgettable experiences. We look forward to many more years of successful collaboration.”

 

Pret and Black Sheep Coffee open in Romford: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed chain, and Speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee, have both opened new stores in Romford, east London. Both chains have opened their first branches in the borough with launches at The Liberty Romford shopping centre. Located in a prominent corner unit between Stewards Walk and Lockwood Walk, the new Pret measures 4,100 square feet, while the new Black Sheep Coffee measures 3,300 sq ft and overlooks the heart of the destination, Liberty Square. The Liberty Romford said it has annual footfall of 13.6 million and retail spend opportunity amounting to £247m. Oliver Lloyd, leasing director at The Liberty Romford, said: “Under the centre’s new Redical ownership and leadership, we’re starting to unlock the full commercial potential of the destination and are actively looking to develop and enhance the centre’s F&B offering.”

 

Cumbrian brewery acquires second Manchester bar for sixth site: The Fell Brewery, based in Cumbria, has acquired a second Manchester bar for its sixth site. It has bought The Pelican, an independent craft beer bar on the corner of Dale Street and Tariff Street. The Northern Quarter venue had originally been opened by Manchester brewery Squawk in 2023, although operating independently. But it lost its brewing partner when Squawk announced in January that it would cease trading as essential maintenance works meant “ripping out the brewery and not making beer for a few months, which is not feasible”. It is the brewery’s second foray into Manchester, with its first venue there, Fell Bar, located in Chorlton since 2020. Founder Andrew Carter told the Manchester Evening News: “Pelican is a great venue. I’ve been there as a drinker a number of times and we’ve always had a really warm welcome and a brilliant atmosphere. It’s really unfortunate what has happened to Squawk. Pelican has always been a separate business, but it had a really close relationship with the brewery. They approached us about a partnership to keep a close brewery relationship going. We intend to run it in very much the same ethos as when they were partnered with Squawk. Manchester’s always been somewhere we’ve had a fantastic relationship with.” The Fell Brewery also operates Fell Bars in Kendal and Penrith, the Royal Oak pub in Cartmel and music and events space Glisky in Kendal.

 

Flight Club operator confirms July opening for Electric Shuffle in New York: Red Engine, the team behind Flight Club and Electric Shuffle, has confirmed a July opening for its Electric Shuffle site in New York. Propel revealed in August 2023 that the Steve Moore-led business, which already has Electric Shuffle sites in Austin and Dallas, would open on Broadway and 30th in New York City. It will now launch on Friday, 12 July, occupying 10,000 square feet in the city’s NoMad district. Set across two floors, the space has floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Empire State Building, two bars, 13 shuffleboard play spaces accommodating up to 20 players each, and a capacity of up to 375 people. It is a seventh site globally for the brand and takes Red Engine and its partners’ total global estate to 28. Red Engine owns and operates all Flight Club venues in the UK and all Electric Shuffle venues in the UK and US, while Flight Club venues in Australia and the US are owned and operated under license by Red Engine’s partners. Steve Moore, chief executive and co-founder of Electric Shuffle and Flight Club, said: “To open a venue in one of the most exciting and cutting-edge cities in the world for hospitality is something which was beyond our wildest dreams when we opened our first venue almost ten years ago.” With further opening planned this year in Liverpool, Oxford, Philadelphia, Washington and Melbourne, the global Flight Club and Electric Shuffle venue portfolio will grow to 33 by the end of 2024. Red Engine last week posted sales of £68.6m for 2023, up 27% year-on-year, and said it has traded strongly in the first six months of 2024.

 

Swiss cheese specialist to open third site: Swiss cheese specialist Jumi has opened its third site. It has opened in the former Moors Bar site at 57 Park Road in Crouch End, north London, joining its locations in Borough Market and Newington Green. It sells a range of cheeses including the “blue brain” – reputed to be one of the mouldiest cheeses available in the UK – to a truffle raclette and a 30-month-aged Schlossburger, reports Hot Dinners. Founded in 2011 by Jurg Wyss and Mike Glauser, Jumi is inspired by five generations of family cheese-making in the Emmental Valley of Switzerland.