Liberation Group first half managed lfl sales up 6.4% driven by food offer and accommodation: Brewer and retailer Liberation Group, has reported a 6.4% increase in like-for-like sales across its managed estate in the half year to 27 July 2024, driven by 10% growth in food sales, strong occupancy in its accommodation business and a growing breakfast and brunch trade. The Jonathan Lawson-led business, which operates 130 pubs and inns with over 400 rooms, said that the roll out of the group’s premium room offering, Butcombe Boutique Inns, has progressed to plan, with The George Inn and Swan Inn both launching successfully. The company said that customer feedback and results have been “really encouraging” and that Butcombe Boutique Inns remains on track to have at least eight inns live by the end of the year. The company said: “We announced at the start of the year that we saw an opportunity for our managed pubs to take advantage of the growing demand for breakfast and brunch. We have been delighted with the early results, with the pre midday sales in 33.9% like-for-like growth.” The group completed three significant renovation developments in the last quarter, including The Langford Inn, where three additional rooms and a new private dining room were added. The Langford Inn will become a Butcombe Boutique Inn, with The King John Inn following shortly after it has undergone refurbishment this summer. There will also be a number of further key investments by the end of the year, all due to be launched into Butcombe Boutique Inns. In London, The Brown Cow in Fulham has now had a complete refurbishment and re-opened with a brand-new all-day food offering, with initial sales more than doubling compared to the previous year. On 27 August, the Punchbowl in Mayfair will reopen following a six-week closure and development. The company said its Butcombe Brewing and Drinks business performance has continued to grow, with own brewed volume up 3.3% on last year and an “excellent performance” in the UK Free Trade market, with sales up 8.5% year-on-year. Butcombe has launched a second non-alcoholic beer, Tall Tales Pale Ale Zero, with initial feedback being “particularly positive”. Lawson, chief executive of Liberation Group, said: “I’m pleased that we have maintained our strong start to the year, despite the challenges posed by an unseasonably wet summer so far. We have a simple strategy and clear plan for growth across our group and it is particularly satisfying to see strong performances in key areas of focus including our newest pubs, food (particularly in breakfast and brunch), accommodation and our Free Trade business. We are confident about the second half of the year, particularly if the sun shines, and are already turning our thoughts towards providing a truly memorable Christmas for our customers.” 

Kerb aiming to open one more weekly lunch market in London this year as it prepares to launch in Holborn: Street food collective Kerb is aiming to open one more weekly lunch market in London this year as it prepares to open a new site in the capital. Kerb Holborn will launch on Wednesday (7 August) at Hand Court. Kerb has selected a mix of traders ranging from mainstays in London’s street food scene, like Only Jerkin’, to newcomers like Fatè, which graduated from Kerb’s Inkerbator programme at the beginning of the year. Operating every Wednesday, with an additional day expected to be added later this year, the initial line-up at Kerb Holborn will also include Inkerbator graduates such as Filipino concept Filligrillz; Mexican-inspired MexClub and Singaporean focused Rice bandits; It’s All Gravy, which won the best sandwich in the UK at the British Street Food Awards for its Beef Dip Sandwich; and Sri Lankan-inspired Ceylon Kothu. A Kerb spokesperson told Propel: “We are aiming to open one more [lunch market] this year, location to be confirmed.” Kerb said the launch of markets like Holborn gives more trading opportunities and another location for Kerb to nurture and accelerate traders through the hospitality sector. In 2024, Kerb said it will provide close to 2,000 lunch market trading spots in London alone. Kerb Holborn will also generate funding for Kerb’s social enterprise, Kerb+, allowing programmes, including a free quarterly nine-week Inkerbator, to continue to help small independent businesses “level up and overcome barriers to entry”. So far, this programme has produced 100-plus new street food businesses. Founded by Petra Barran in 2012, Kerb has evolved to operate food halls, offer event catering services and run a social enterprise focused on nurturing street food talent. Having launched its first food hall in London’s Seven Dials Market in 2019, Kerb is launching sites this year in San Francisco and Copenhagen, with another site expected to arrive in Berlin next year.