Yolé targeting 150 UK sites in next few years, aiming to open flagship store and first new franchise location this year: Yolé, the world’s first zero dairy and added sugar ice cream and frozen yogurt brand, has told Propel it is targeting 150 UK sites over the next few years and is aiming to open a flagship store and first new franchise location this year. Founded in Spain in 2019 and having spread to 20 countries, Yolé made its UK debut in 2021 and started an initial franchise expansion. All but two of its six UK sites are group owned, but having hired Lorraine Ellis as its new head of UK franchise earlier this year, it is ready to grow again and is actively seeking partners. “There’s been lots of openings in the rest of the world, but the focus is firmly on the UK now,” Ellis told Propel. “It’s our business case for this part of the world – we want to be successful in the UK first and then expand further into Europe and, of course, the US. We have big ambitions for the UK and can see up to 150 sites here over the next few years. We’re hoping to have a flagship store open in London by the end of the year – which will be a hub and a training centre, and somewhere we can roll out our new format stores. We’re recruiting franchisees and we’re open to everything – owner-operators, multi-unit franchisees – and having an ambitious target means they must be passionate about the brand. We’re hoping to open several by the end of this year. We expected that we’d begin in London and grow out from there, but we’ve had enquiries from all over the country, and a lot of interest from Scotland. We think that in the coming years, we’ll eventually be opening one store a week globally.” Ellis, herself an experienced franchisee in the nursery sector, said the business is looking for town centre locations, where possible, across the country, and will be looking to get late-night opening across more of its estate. Yolé has also seen big growth in home delivery, which will be a consideration going forwards. Formats for future openings will include larger kiosks and full shops. “Perfecting zero dairy, zero sugar added products with a premium taste is very hard to do, but years of research and dedication went into getting it just right before it launched, and it is really paying off with the growth we’ve seen on other markets – now we’re ready to do the same in the UK,” Ellis added.

 

Sponsored message – Crown Cellars launches 2024-25 wine portfolio: Crown Cellars is launching a 2024-25 portfolio featuring several exciting new wines selected by wine buyer Victoria Chapman and master of wine Jonathan Pedley. At the same time, Crown Cellars is unveiling a fresh new look for its brand Invenio (meaning “I discover” in Latin). Crown Cellars is placing particular emphasis this year on developing its no and low-alcohol range. “Our customers already have a fantastic selection of no and low-alcohol beer and other products to choose from via Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company, but some are still wary when it comes to wine,” said Chapman. “We wanted to boost confidence and seek out whichever wines are best-in-class at the moment, regardless of brand. The wines we’ve selected are great, and we’re delighted with the early customer feedback.” Pedley added: “I have had a sneak preview of this year’s edition and all I can say is ‘chapeau’ to the team for what it has put together. It is comprehensive, informative and visually stunning. Victoria and I had great fun selecting the range. We hope that you have as much fun selling the wine and hopefully tasting a few of them along the way.” To find out more, click here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Popeyes UK people director Matt Hudson to speak at Propel’s Talent & Training Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club members: Matt Hudson, people director at Popeyes UK, will be among the speakers at Propel’s Talent & Training Conference. The all-day conference takes place on Tuesday, 1 October at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. The conference will showcase examples of outstanding people culture among companies within the sector and how the industry is attracting talent. Hudson will talk about evolving a people culture while opening up to 30 sites a year. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £345 plus VAT for operators and £395 plus VAT for suppliers. Premium Club members get a 20% discount. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

 

Propel’s next Multi-Site Database to be released today with seven category segmentation including 436 operators from hotel sector: Premium Club members are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database today (Friday, 26 July), at noon. The Propel Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate, provides details of 3,200 multi-site operators and is now searchable in seven main segments. The database features 937 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 778 (24%) pub and bar operators, 532 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 436 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 261 (8%) hotel operators, 200 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month and this edition includes 50 new companies. The database includes new companies in the hotel sector such as Everbright Group, which operates six hotels; Cadogan Hotels, which operates 11 hotels; and Sunset Hospitality Group, which offers luxury rooms in Victorian townhouses. 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 Clubs members will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including the Talent and Training Conference (1 October), Restaurant Marketer and Innovator (two days in January 2025) and Excellence in Pub Retail (May 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.

Pubs and bars return to growth as England make Euro 2024 final: Hospitality sales grew 1.6% year-on-year in the 12 weeks ending 16 July 2024, the period covering the full duration of Euro 2024, according to analysis from HDI, the provider of card spending insight and pricing data to the UK hospitality sector. Delivery, coffee and sandwich, and fast food and takeaway continued to be the best performing sectors over the 12 weeks, but data for the four-week ending period showed pubs and bars returning to growth with the sector enjoying 3.1% year-on-year sales growth over this period and outperforming the overall hospitality sector, which achieved growth of 1.6% over the same period. Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, said: “It was brilliant to see England going all the way to the final, providing a much needed sales boost for pubs and bars. The atmosphere and whole experience in pubs is unbeatable, and our detailed analysis of the tournament shows that football fans were in agreement with England matchdays being the key trading days driving the turnaround in sales performance for the pub sector. While we didn’t end 58 years of hurt, we came very close, and we’re hopefully just at the start of what will be a brilliant summer of sport for the hospitality sector.”

 

Christmas bookings up 54% compared with this time last year: Christmas bookings for 2024 are up 54% compared with the number of reservations made by this time last year, according to insight from hospitality technology partner Zonal. More than half of the bookings (52%) already made for December are for Christmas Day itself, compared with 44% this time last year. Saturday, 14 December is currently the most popular day for bookings in the festive period, followed by Saturday, 7 December. When it comes to group bookings (of ten people or more), reservations are up 38% in comparison with this time in 2023, and group bookings currently account for 26% of the total bookings for December. Tim Chapman, chief commercial officer at Zonal, said: “Our insights show that Christmas 2024 is already looking positive for hospitality, with bookings up on this time last year. With group bookings looking to be particularly popular, there is even more reason for operators to celebrate, but to also get prepared. Operators will therefore benefit from having a booking system in place which is able to facilitate large party bookings, enquiries, and pre-order functionalities. This will reduce any administration headaches while giving operators full visibility and control at the busiest time of year.”

 

Cask Marque to relaunch beer sommelier programme: Cask Marque, the non-profit beer quality control initiative that encompasses pubs and brewers in driving excellence in beer quality, is to relaunch the beer sommelier programme. With the support of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and the Institute of Brewers and Distillers (IBD), it will bring back a programme previously run by IBD, and prior to that, the Beer Academy. The accreditation lapsed in 2019, and there are more than 200 accredited beer sommeliers, who will have the chance to input into future plans. Further support has come from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), in obtaining a grant from the Brewers Research and Education Fund. Emma McClarkin, BBPA chief executive, said: “We are delighted to see that Cask Marque has relaunched the beer sommelier programme as an important tool to educate and support individuals to become beer educators and to promote the diversity, quality and heritage of the great British pint.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a contract catering company that is seeking a client relationship manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will be responsible for development of new business including presentations and bids, and the nurturing of a great existing client portfolio across business and industry and independent schools. Reporting into the managing director, you will have a wealth of support including bid writing and pipeline development/lead generation. You will bring a clear understanding of the market and its trends and be a true sector specialist within contract catering, while an operational background would be ideal. Alternatively, this could suit someone who has experience within selling into the contract catering sector. It would be great if you have experience working with high-end business and industry clients and experience within sales and retention. You will be an excellent communicator and financially savvy operator. Location is not of paramount importance; however, the Midlands would be preferred.” The salary is up to £60,000. For more information, email dan@corecruitment.com.

 

Roasting Plant Coffee raises $10m to fuel growth and innovation: US coffee shop concept Roasting Plant Coffee, which operates six sites in London, has completed a $10m (£7.7m) funding round to aid its growth and innovation plans. The new funding round, which was oversubscribed, will aid innovation including value engineering of its Javabot coffee system, and the opening of new stores in key markets across the US and the UK. The business currently operates 15 sites in total. On its expansion plans, chief executive Jamie Roberston told Propel: “Our five-year plan is to expand to 105 company-owned stores with more in licenced territories such as the Middle East.” A total of 40% of the new investment came from existing shareholders, which the company said demonstrated “their continued confidence in Roasting Plant’s vision and proven business model”. The remaining 60% was secured from family offices, “highlighting the growing interest and belief in Roasting Plant’s unique tech-enabled approach to specialty coffee”. The company, which was founded by former Starbucks senior executive Mike Caswell, said the funding will enable it to open new stores in strategic locations including Washington DC, New York, Chicago and London. Robertson said: “We are thrilled to have secured this significant investment, which will help us take Roasting Plant to the next level in the US and UK. Our mission is to provide the freshest coffee possible, roasted and brewed to order by the cup, and this funding will allow us to share our ‘just roasted’ passion with more coffee lovers.” Roasting Plant Coffee’s Javabot coffee system is the only technology of its kind, offering a unique coffee experience where beans are roasted in micro-batches throughout the day, in every shop, “ensuring the freshest cup possible”. Customers can watch as their beans fly through a Willy-Wonka style system of tubes, roasted and brewed to order from their favourite single-origin beans. New stores in Washington DC, New York, Chicago and London are set to open within the next 18 months, each featuring Javabot and designed to provide an immersive coffee experience.

 

Rockfish CEO – new café opening to be test case for further expansion: Mitch Tonks, founder and chief executive of Rockfish, the nine-strong seafood restaurant group, has told Propel that the company’s first seafood café, which is set to open next year, will be a “test case for further expansion”. Propel reported earlier this week that Rockfish, which also has restaurant openings lined up in Sidmouth, Salcombe and Topsham – had secured planning permission to convert the Longboat Cafe in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, and expand it into the storm shelter next door. Tonks told Propel: “The format is smaller, it’s along the lines of a Spanish chiringuito, a beach cafe serving fresh seafood and drinks. The menu will feature local crab and lobster, oysters and plates of anchovies, tacos as well as grilled seafood. Paella will be served on Sundays from noon to 2pm and we will have an outside grill for sardines on warm days. From September, we will have a fried fish menu, and people will be able to enjoy fried local squid and a take away on the beach. We will be open for coffee and breakfast and have 35 inside covers, with a long burner for winter days and 65 covers outside on the beach. It’s going to be a great venue and a test case for further expansion.” Rockfish recently secured permission to turn Sidmouth’s Drill Hall into a restaurant.

 

M&B CEO – cost headwinds have improved but NMW likely to be significant again: Phil Urban, chief executive of Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the All Bar One, O’Neills and Harvester operator, has told Propel that cost headwinds have improved but the national minimum wage is “likely to be significant again”. It comes after M&B reported like-for-like sales were up 5.7% for the 42 weeks ended 20 July 2024 with all brands in growth. When asked how much price the business had taken over the period, Urban told Propel: “The point on price is that we only took circa 1.7% for light night menus and will be circa 3% for dark nights whereas we took circa 5% a year ago. Cost headwinds have improved but national minimum wage is likely to be significant again.” Urban said that when it comes to the performance of the group’s brands, Nicholson’s and Toby Carvery continue to lead the way. He said: “Nicholson’s is benefiting from tourism and more office working (and a bit of football) and Toby from the value for money proposition and poor weather. Conversely, the summer brands have had it tougher: Ember, Premium Country Dining, Vintage and Castle.” In May, M&B announced it had acquired the ten-strong Pesto. M&B said the consideration for Pesto will be determined over two payments and is partly contingent on its future performance but will be no more than £15m. Urban said Pesto was “doing well so far” and that a first conversion site for the concept has been lined up near Birmingham. M&B launched the first site under its Orleans Smokehouse concept near Solihull in February. Urban said: “We are still learning on Orleans as very big swings week to week depending on what is on. So far, we are happy, but frustratingly, the second site has stalled as drawing conclusions from one site is never good.”

 

Insomnia Cookies UK – we’ve got an appetite for at least up to ten new sites over the next 12-18 months: Ben Lacey, managing director of Insomnia Cookies UK, the late-night bakery brand, has told Propel the business still has an ambition to build a nationwide presence and has an appetite to have up to ten new sites over the next 12-18 months. The brand, which made its debut here last year, currently operates three UK sites in and around Manchester but has as yet not moved out of that area. It has been looking at city centre sites in high footfall locations near to the “late-night action” and student suburbs. It has lined up an opening on the former Simmonite butchers shop in Sheffield’s Division Street, which would stay open until 3am. The brand has also secured a site at 16 Angel Row in Nottingham city centre. Lacey said: “We’ve been open for around ten months and have been fine-tuning the model for the UK market while building out the infrastructure to support a multi-region (and eventually nationwide) operation. I’ve previously talked about our ambition to build a nationwide presence, and that definitely remains the case. We are actively looking for sites that closely align with our target criteria – namely sites located among late-night action with strong delivery catchments. We are prioritising big cities that have a vibrant late-night economy. Depending on site availability, we’ve got an appetite for at least seven to ten new sites over the next 12-18 months.” Lacey said that the brand has been received “extraordinarily well by consumers, particularly our core target demo of Generation Z”. He added: “North of 50% of transactions are from repeat customers and this gives me great confidence that once consumers try our unique range of products, they will keep coming back. We’ve already got a highly engaged community on social media, and we have generated millions of interactions across platforms. This is helping generate national brand awareness and it’s not uncommon for us to see people drive more than 100 miles to our bakeries. In addition, we’ve also learned that what makes Insomnia unique in the US also translates well here. More than a third of our sales come through delivery and we definitely bias towards later dayparts, so the brand is landing as intended.” Earlier this week, Krispy Kreme sold its majority stake in Insomnia Cookies to investment firms Verlinvest and Mistral Equity Partners, in a deal that valued the late-night bakery brand at $350m (£271.1m).

 

Chaiiwala set to open three more drive-thrus this year, plans further transport hub sites: Street food cafe franchise Chaiiwala is set to open three more drive-thru locations this year. Propel revealed last week that the brand had launched a second drive-thru, in Mellor Brook, between Blackburn and Preston, also offering 100-plus covers. At 2,000 square feet, it the largest UK Chaiiwala yet. This followed its history-making drive-thru launch in Bolton at the start of 2023, when it opened the UK’s first drive-thru offering Indian street food. Both sites are in partnership with EG On The Move, and the latest, which saw a £500,000 investment, is the 112th Chaiiwala store to open worldwide. As part of the ongoing partnership, Chaiiwala and EG Group will now open a further three drive-thrus by the end of the year. It comes after Chaiiwala last month made its airport debut, at London Luton, and plans are in place to open similar concessions across air and land transport hubs. Muhummed Ibrahim, chief executive at Chaiiwala, said: “We are delighted to add another great location to our portfolio, especially hot on the heels of opening at London Luton airport. We recognise the great brand equity we are building within the Chaiiwala network, and with the brand consideration and capital investment of strategic franchisee partners, we are excited for our iconic brand to grow stronger with each new opening.” Junaid Manjra, head of convenience and foodservice at EG On The Move, added: “Mellor Brook provides a peaceful countryside retreat with convenient access to urban amenities and major transportation routes between Blackburn and Preston. This drive-thru marks a significant milestone for us as we continue to expand and bring our unique blend of traditional and contemporary chai culture and desi fusion food to more communities on the roadside.”

 

Boston Tea Party launches delivery-only concept: All-day dining casual cafe brand Boston Tea Party has launched a new delivery-only concept, Hash & Bun. Available on Deliveroo from today (Friday, 26 July) the Hash & Bun menu consists of towering burgers and loaded hash fries, based on the cafe’s hash browns. The burgers include a chipotle barbecue brisket, a free-range buttermilk fried chicken, a reimagining of the cafe’s “sweetcorn hash” and a Korean-inspired fried tofu vegan bun. The loaded hash fries are a combination of homemade golden hash brown bites and a “generous topping of everything from melted cheese to brisket and fried chicken”. Boston Tea Party brand and marketing director Lucy Harwood said: “We felt there was a real opportunity to shake up delivery in our own inimitable fashion. There are loads of excellent burger brands in Bristol, but we wanted to offer something a bit different – so rather than your standard beef patty in each burger, we’ve used the best quality ingredients to create new buns that will be made to order in-house by our brilliant chefs.” Burger pricing starts at £10.95, while the loaded hash fries cost between £4.25 and £12.55 depending on portion sizes and toppings. Customers will be able to access the new menu from 5pm on Deliveroo between Thursday and Sunday each week.

 

Farmer J to open first west London site: All-day market concept Farmer J is set to make its debut in west London with an opening in Hammersmith. Opening next Wednesday (31 July), the group’s 11th site will open at 10 Hammersmith Grove. The company plans a further four openings this year, as it looks to accelerate expansion in the capital. It 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. Last month, Propel revealed that Farmer J is set to further strengthen its presence in London. The business, 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, and on the former Royal Bank of Scotland site at 127-128 High Holborn. Co-founder Jonathan Recanati said: “We’re delighted to finally announce the launch of our site in Hammersmith. We are always looking to grow so that more people are able to enjoy our food, so it’s exciting to be bringing Farmer J to West London for the first time. As we continue to expand our mission, to bring nutritious food that doesn’t compromise on flavour, remains the same – this is exactly what our customers can expect at Hammersmith.”

 

West Yorkshire coffee shop business Merrie England acquired by investor group: Merrie England, which operates six sites in West Yorkshire, has been acquired by a group of local investors. Established for more than five decades, the business has outlets across Huddersfield, Brighouse and Halifax and has been managed by the Hanselman family. However, in a strategic move to secure the future of the business, the family has decided the company can reach new heights under fresh leadership. Merrie England has been acquired by Gary Conway, who has extensive experience in the food and beverage industry, and his team, including investors Adam Sayers, Ian Coumont, and Anne Coumont. Conway said: “The Hanselman family has done a fantastic job in building a reputable business that is recognised locally for its strong food, coffee and service. We are excited to be the new custodians of Merrie England and to take it from strength-to-strength.” Conway said he and his team want to grow the business further and to increase its offering beyond its traditional heartland. A spokesman for The Hanselman Family added: “We are incredibly proud as a family of the business built to date and the great team working in the business, both past and present. We are excited to see what Gary and the team will further accomplish with Merrie England and have full confidence in them.”

Punch continually on the lookout for more quality acquisitions, adds Market Rasen site to estate: Punch Pubs & Co has said it is continually on the lookout for more quality acquisitions, including packages and single-site opportunities that “fit well with its modern and progressive vision and growth plans”, as it adds a Lincolnshire-based site to its estate. The Clive Chesser-led business has acquired The White Swan in Market Rasen, which will form part of Punch’s leased and tenanted estate, with new publican Macauley Bowers, who is already well known within the area, taking the helm. Punch Pubs & Co’s head of estate development and acquisitions, Andrew Cannons, said: “We are delighted to welcome Macauley into the Punch family following the acquisition of The White Swan. This fantastic town centre pub has huge potential and a long-standing reputation within the community. We are looking forward to working alongside Macauley to ensure The White Swan continues to thrive for many years to come.” The White Swan has a spacious lounge bar and games area, with six letting rooms in addition to private function facilities and a generous outdoor area.

 

Campaign launches to save Boxpark’s site in London’s Shoreditch from closure: A campaign has launched to save Boxpark’s site in Shoreditch, east London, from closure, with protestors urging the government to intervene. Having occupied the site since October 2011, Boxpark Shoreditch has reached the expiration of its lease and notice on the premises has been served by landlords Bishopsgate Goodsyard, which is set to be redevelop the site. But campaigners said Hackney Council’s failure to protect Boxpark Shoreditch would be a “glaring oversight, undermining the community’s trust and eroding the vibrant cultural landscape that defines east London”. Campaigners said since its inception, Boxpark Shoreditch has provided a platform for more than 250 businesses, supported in excess of 1,000 jobs, generated nearly £100m in economic value and attracted in excess of ten million visitors to the area. Boxpark founder Roger Wade said: “Despite our relentless efforts in collaboration with the Greater London Authority, Hackney Council and our landlords, we must close due to a planning requirement. Unfortunately, the developers will not start building immediately, which makes this decision even more disheartening, especially since our neighbours Power League received an extension. We have initiated a campaign to save Boxpark Shoreditch.” Night Time Industries Association chief executive Michael Kill added: “Public sentiment is clear – Boxpark Shoreditch must be preserved. The community is prepared to rally, protest, and escalate this issue to national attention if necessary. This is not a mere appeal; it is a demand for action. The new government’s commitments to planning regime changes must be leveraged to find a solution that ensures the survival of this indispensable venue.”

 

Caledonian Heritable in ‘strong financial position’ and ‘well placed to take advantage of any opportunities it identifies’: Scottish pub, hotel and leisure operator Caledonian Heritable has said it is in a “strong financial position” and is “well placed to take advantage of any opportunities it identifies”. The company reported an increase in turnover in the year to 31 October 2023 to £57,032,560 from £55,498,833 in 2022. This included £34,484,402 from bars, restaurants and nightclubs (2022: £30,757,041), £6,169,312 from golf activities (2022: £5,412,620) and £5,433,284 from spa and event facilities (2022: £5,496,346). Further analysis shows £55,905,492 came from UK operations (2022: £54,647,266) and £1,127,068 from Europe (2022: £851,567). Pre-tax profit fell from £16,069,098 in 2022 to £15,022,080. The 2023 figure included £4,614,324 gain in disposal of a subsidiary, while the 2022 figure included a £1,173,407 gain on disposal of an associate. No government grants were received compared with £271,740 in 2022. No dividends were received (2022: nil). The company said margins in relation to continuing operations decreased from 42.8% to 37.4% due to a change in the sales mix, which will remediate itself in the future. “The directors are satisfied with the profit level for the year,” director Gordon Russell added. “The group is well placed to take advantage of any opportunities that it identifies. The directors are satisfied that the group will remain profitable and in a strong financial position.” The Edinburgh company, founded in 1981 and owned by leisure industry entrepreneur Kevin Doyle, operates several pubs and bars and a golf resort alongside haulage, plant hire and property interests.

 

Better burger brand Amigos Burgers & Shakes gearing up to expand outside of London, launches new delivery-led store format: Better burger brand Amigos Burgers & Shakes is set to expand outside of London with its regional and Scottish debuts and has launched a new delivery-led store format. Amigos was launched in Acton, west London, in 2011 by Waqas Siddique and Kasim Akhter and has since expanded to 20 sites across the capital. It is now gearing up to move into the Home Counties, the Midlands – where it secured a five-store deal for Birmingham in June – and Scotland. “Amigos Burgers & Shakes has a new store format with set-up costs from £150,000,” said franchise consultant Zane Naik. “Joining the fastest growing burger brand in the UK is more accessible than ever. As the world increasingly turns to Uber Eats, Deliveroo and other delivery services, we’ve adapted our model. Our data shows that large seating capacities are less critical, allowing us to optimise our spaces efficiently. New stores are already on the way in Milton Keynes, north London, Birmingham and Edinburgh.” In December last year, Amigos Burgers & Shakes outlined its plans for a 100-strong UK estate in the next five years.

 

John Fowler Holidays – UK holiday park market continues to be robust and successful sector, seeking opportunities to expand and add new locations: West Country holiday park operator John Fowler Holidays has said the UK holiday park market continues to be a robust and successful sector and that it is seeking opportunities to expand and add new locations to its 13 sites across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Wales. In the company’s accounts for the year to 31 October 2023, director John Steer-Fowler said: “Demand for holidays remains strong, and advance booking levels compare favourably with those pre-covid. It is evident that the British holiday park market continues to be a robust and successful business sector, and we continually seek opportunities to expand our business and add new locations.” It comes as the business reported a fall in pre-tax profit for the year, from £3,221,081 in 2022 to £1,065,899. Turnover dropped slightly from £35,933,558 to £35,655,818. This included £15,314,551 from accommodation (2022: £15,646,128), £5,929,062 from holiday home sales (2022: £6,360,678), £4,490,806 from bars and restaurants (2022: £4,185,630) and £1,718,577 from shop sales (2022: £4,186,630). No government grants were received (2022: £60,000). A £127,685 gain was made on disposal of tangible assets (2022: £289,922). On-park spend totalled £7,038,361, while park Ebitda was £8,347,427 and sales per employee was £83,308. “Trading for the year held up remarkably well during a period in which we began to witness the impact of rising interest rates on consumer demand,” Steer-Fowler added. “Despite the strength of our income streams, profit fell as a result of higher wage and supply costs.” Work began on a redevelopment at St Ives, including 78 additional lodges, and planning has been submitted for several premium caravans at Sandaway, with hot tubs and sea views. Improvements at Llanrhidian were completed while improvements at Sandy Glade, including the addition of a mobile bar and catering unit and all-weather beer garden with large screen TVs, continued.

 

East London operator set to open gastropub and brasserie in former JD Wetherspoon pub for fifth site, freehold investment goes on market: East London operator Remzi Edrogan is set to open a gastropub and brasserie in a former JD Wetherspoon pub in Romford for his fifth site, as the freehold investment of the property goes on the market. Agent Fleurets has been instructed to market the freehold of 113-117 South Street for £1.5m. This includes the ground floor leisure unit, which produces £120,000 per annum, and the long leasehold interest in the above two floors, comprising 11 flats. The ground floor is operated as a gastropub, brasserie and lounge bar called The Ivy House, due to open shortly after a major refurbishment. The Romford Recorder reported in March that Edrogan, who also operates four restaurants, is the new leaseholder of the ground floor unit, which was formerly a Wetherspoon pub called The World’s Inn. The pub shut in April 2023 and Edrogan took they keys from Wetherspoon in January 2024. He said The Ivy House will offer English and Mediterranean food, DJs and “high-quality” drinks. Whitbread is the guarantor for the ground floor unit but has sublet it, with the next upwards only rent review on 25 June 2025. The first and second floor flats are on a long leasehold lease of 999 years from December 2004 at a peppercorn rent. Elysia Wilson-Gunn, divisional director of Fleurets, said: “The in-situ tenant pays £120,000 per annum on a lease ending in December 2030. A purchase at this level would reflect a net initial yield of 7.55%. With the original guarantor being Whitbread being in place until the term ends, the income is secure.”



Joule’s breaks ground on brewery expansion project to increase brewing capacity, aims for summer 2025 completion: Shropshire brewer and retailer Joule’s has broken ground on its brewery expansion project to increase brewing capacity and is aiming to complete the project by the summer of 2025. The company last year acquired The Stag’s Head, a former Admiral Taverns pub next door to its brewery in Market Drayton, which will be incorporated into the brewery. As part of the project, a new, purpose-built space behind the pub will house the town’s museum. The Red Lion, Joule’s other pub in Market Drayton, will also get an expanded kitchen and dedicated events space. “This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our brewery and the Market Drayton community,” a company spokesman said. “The expansion, part of our ambitious £1m development plans, will enhance our brewing operations, increase capacity and integrate new community spaces. Our journey began with a public consultation earlier this year, where we invited the community to share their thoughts and feedback on our plans. We were overwhelmed by the positive response and are excited to move forward with the project.” Joule’s acquired its 43rd taphouse in May – The New Inn in Harborne, Birmingham. 

 

London wine bar and restaurant concept set to close Bethnal Green restaurant: London wine bar and restaurant concept Sager + Wilde is set to close its site in Bethnal Green. The unit, at 250 Paradise Row, is set to shut for the final time on Saturday, 10 August. Originally launched as Mission in 2015, it relaunched as the second Sager + Wilde following a legal battle over its original name, reports Hot Dinners. The original Sager + Wilde in Hackney Road remains open, as does founder Michael Sagar’s coffee shop Equal Parts, also in Hackney Road; wine bar Fare in Old Street; and wine bar/shop Bruno, which launched in Victoria Park Village earlier this year.