Hollywood Bowl CFO – we’re forecasting a record year of revenue, bowling more affordable than it was pre-pandemic: Hollywood Bowl chief financial officer Laurence Keen has told Propel the business is forecasting a record year of revenue and that bowling is now more affordable than it was pre-pandemic. In June, the UK’s largest ten-pin bowling operator reported record first-half group revenue of £119.2m, for the six months to 31 March 2024, and Keen said the second half is shaping up well too. “We are forecasting a record year in terms of revenue, and that’s in line with the brokers’ notes,” Keen said. “We’re rolling over what was a very successful year last year, on the back of a very successful year previous to that. Everything went in our favour last year – it rained, there were no major sporting events – whereas 2018, for example, was a very warm summer and we went negative in like-for-likes in the second half, but they recovered the following year as weather evens itself out. We’ve seen continued growth on a like-for-like basis, and that’s not been through pulling the price lever, which a lot of people in the industry have done, while inflation has been running at double digits. We’ve been very cautious and believe you have to earn the right to charge more. Both wages and the retail price index have outstripped our wage increases significantly. In FY23, wage increases were more than 9%, inflation was running at just over 8% and our price increases for bowling were just under 2%. The average game of bowling in 2018 was 80% of national minimum wage, and as of now it’s 59%, so it’s more affordable than it was five to six years ago, while a cup of coffee or a pint of beer have gone the other way. Footfall continues to grow, and average spend was up in the first half by 3%. The average customer spends just under £13 with us on a gross basis (£11 net of VAT), but they’re coming in and having a wide range of entertainment. A total of 48% of our revenue comes from bowling, 26% from amusements and 26% from food and drink. Food is only 9% of total revenue but it’s an important element. A burger and chips is £7.49, which has only increased 50p since 2019. You won’t find the same for that price outside of a quick service restaurant, and I stand by my view that our burger is as good as any that you’ll find in a casual dining restaurant.” The recent warmer weather has not been such good news for indoor leisure providers, but Keen remains confident. “We can’t affect the weather – all we do is look to engage with those customers who are prevalent to a discount and offer them a discount when the sun comes out,” he added. “We don’t really want to be discounting the core product, which is bowling, because all that says is it isn’t as worth as much as it’s meant to be. And the average customer doesn’t really understand what the price of a game of bowling is – you can say 50% off, but 50% off what? If I say 50% off a burger and chips or a pint, you have a fair idea what it costs.” A new report produced by Propel on the fast-growing experiential leisure sector was released on Thursday (1 August). The report profiles the current shape of the experiential leisure market – including brands, estate size, trading type and geographical location and future trends. It provides a detailed list of UK experiential leisure companies including key staff and Companies House information. The report includes more than 180 companies, 3,500 sites and a 35,000-word report. The report is available for £595 plus VAT although Premium Club members can receive the report for £395 plus VAT. The report will be made available for free to existing Premium members on Tuesday, 10 September at 9am. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to order a copy.

 

Panel debating the pros and cons of psychometric profiling to be held at Propel’s Talent & Training Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club members: A panel debating the pros and cons of psychometric profiling will be held 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. Hosted by Abi Dunn, founder of Sixty Eight People, the panel will feature Tom Vivace, head of talent at Turtle Bay; Gina Knight, head of people for Flat Iron; and Rachel Masing, people director at ETM. 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.

 

Premium Club members to receive two new databases this week: Premium Club members are to receive two new databases this week. The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent today (Wednesday, 7 August), at noon. The database will show the details of 268 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 11,881-word report on the 268 new additions to the database. Premium Club members will also receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday (9 August), at midday. The database will feature 59 updated accounts and 13 new companies for a total of 958. Of these, 602 are in profit and 356 have reported a loss. Premium Club members also receive access to four other databases: 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. 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.

 

Propel launches redesigned website with streamlined navigation: Propel has launched its redesigned website that offers a more intuitive and user-friendly experience for professionals in the hospitality sector. The revamped site boasts streamlined navigation, making it easier to access the latest industry news, events and premium resources. Key features include a responsive design that is perfect for viewing on mobile phones or tablets. This upgrade reflects Propel’s commitment to ensuring hospitality professionals stay informed and engaged in the ever-evolving industry landscape. Phil Pemberton, Propel’s director of Premium services, said: “Our new website is part of a series of recent improvements that include segmented and searchable databases, sector-specific reports and new events. This is an exciting period for Propel as we enhance our offer to serve our growing number of subscribers and Propel Premium Club members.” Visit the new website here.

 

New Welsh first minister urged to harness hospitality’s potential: New Welsh first minister Eluned Moragn has been urged to harness hospitality’s potential to drive economic growth in the country. Morgan was selected as the first woman to hold the role of Wales’ first minister following the resignation of Vaughan Gething as Welsh Labour leader. She had been the country’s health secretary since 2021. David Chapman, executive director of UKHospitality Cymru, said: “I’d like to congratulate Eluned Morgan on becoming the new first minister and I look forward to working with her to achieve hospitality’s potential. The new first minister’s commitment to listening, partnership and economic growth is very welcome indeed and I hope we will enter a period of much-needed stability, where government and businesses can work together to drive economic growth, regenerate our towns and cities, and create fulfilling jobs in Wales. Hospitality can be the central pillar to achieving those goals, with a presence in every part of the country and its unique position at the heart of communities. Hospitality already serves Wales in so many ways and creates places where people want to live, work and invest, but we can do so much more. I hope the first minister recognises that and puts our sector at the centre of Welsh government’s economic and industrial policy.”

 

Job of the day: Daniel Thwaites is seeking an estates manager to be part of its family-owned hospitality and brewing business. Property director Jim Francis said: “Renowned for our collection of four and five-star hotels, inns, and award-winning pubs, Daniel Thwaites excels in delivering exceptional hospitality in great locations. As estates manager, you will manage a diverse range of properties, including pubs, hotels, inns, and unlicensed sites. Your responsibilities will include overseeing acquisitions, disposals, rent and valuations, as well as handling lease renewals and business rates. You will play a crucial role in maximising net income through effective asset management, providing internal valuation advice, and maintaining positive tenant relations. Recently, Daniel Thwaites has concentrated on expanding its managed properties and investing significantly to improve existing assets. This opportunity is available as the current estates manager prepares to retire after more than 25 years. Ideal candidates should have a degree in estates management or a related field, MRICS/FRICS membership, and at least five years of post-qualification experience in the licenced trade. Strong communication skills, a thorough understanding of property markets, and a full driving licence are essential.” The position offers a competitive salary plus benefits and is based at the company’s new headquarters in the Ribble Valley. To apply, click here.

 

KFC UK system sales down 3% in second quarter and 2% year to date: Yum! Brands has reported KFC system sales in the UK were down 3% for the second quarter, ended 30 June 2024, compared with the previous year. In the year to date, KFC UK system sales have fallen 2%. The UK accounts for 6% of KFC’s system sales worldwide. Globally, KFC like-for-like sales in the quarter were down 3% with US like-for-like sales falling 5% – system sales worldwide fell 1% to $8,226m. Operating margin was down 1.1%. Operating profit increased 3% to $334m. KFC opened 598 gross new restaurants in 57 countries during the period. Meanwhile, Pizza Hut system sales in Europe, including the UK, were down 6% – the continent accounts for 12% of Pizza Hut’s system sales globally. Year-to-date sales have fallen 5% in the region. Pizza Hut sales in the quarter were down 2% globally to $3,140m, with like-for-likes down 3%. US system sales, which account for 41% of global sales, were down 1%. Operating margin was up 2% while operating profit rose 4% to $94m. Pizza Hut opened 236 gross new restaurants in 30 countries during the period. Taco Bell like-for-like sales increased 5% and system sales were up 7% to $4,017m. Operating margin was up 0.7% while operating profit increased 10% to $250m. Taco Bell opened 56 gross new restaurants in 11 countries during the period. Yum! Brands’ total revenue in the quarter was up 4% to $1.763bn and 1% to $3.361bn in the year to date.

 

Tortilla launches its first app as it streamlines loyalty scheme: Tortilla, Europe’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has launched its first app as it looks to streamline its loyalty scheme. Launched as “Burrito Society”, the company said the new app “makes it even easier to get your burrito fix, collect stamps, unlock rewards and beat the queue with order ahead”. Existing members of its Club Tortilla scheme will have their membership, plus any stamps and rewards, transferred over automatically. “We are always listening to our customers; the new Tortilla app will be making it easier to get more freebies, more often,” the company said. “We have created the app to make your experience with Tortilla even better. We are going to be surprising you with more perks, more often!” Having downloaded the app, guests must scan its QR code before they pay at the tills or kiosk. They will earn one stamp per transaction when they buy any main meal, such as burritos, salad bowls, tres tacos, quesadillas and nachos queso. Two stamps will earn one free guac topping with the next main meal, and five stamps will earn one free main. “The Tortilla app will bring everything together in one place: including your Burrito Society stamp card, rewards and perks, order ahead and a handy restaurant finder,” the company said. “We are introducing a refer a friend benefit – a way to gain yourself an extra stamp for spreading the burrito love. There will be more surprise perks that drop into your app, especially for the most flavourful among you. The validity period on rewards earned from stamps is now extended to 90 days.” Burrito Society is valid in company-owned stores only.

 

Costa and Kaspa’s franchisee sourcing new sites and planning to diversify further into new markets in coming year: Optimum Group, the company that operates circa 30 franchise sites in Merseyside under Costa Coffee, Kaspa’s and I am Doner, has said it is sourcing new sites and planning to diversify further into new markets in the coming year. In terms of an immediate pipeline, it is set to open two further Costa stores by the fourth quarter of 2024 and another I am Doner in the first quarter of 2025. The business became I am Doner’s first multi-site partner in 2022 when it signed a deal to develop the brand in Merseyside and the Isle of the Man, with a first site under the agreement launching in Bootle, followed by a second, in Liverpool. “The competitive nature of the coffee industry is increasing year on year,” chief executive David Connor said in the company’s accounts for the year to 31 August 2023. “We are managing to navigate this by continuing to source new sites for Costa, and also plan on diversifying further in to new markets in the coming 12 months. The group has now further diversified in to a new sector and has invested in a supermarket. For growth and development, we are excited to disclose the addition of two new Costa stores and one new I am Doner store. This, alongside the refurbishments of six existing stores, will prove to be an exciting year ahead for the Optimum Group.” It comes as the business reported turnover of £10,439,009 for the year, up from £9,533,144 in 2022. Pre-tax profit dropped from £374,023 in 2022 to £22,729. Dividends of £88,000 were paid (2022: £42,450). “Sales have increased over the year for all Costa companies,” Connor said. “We have begun refurbishing the stores to franchise standard and are seeing results in sales. The majority was generated by Costas, with contributed approximately 94% of revenue. Cash was strong at FY23, showing at circa £900,000. This is due to a consolidation of loans in the year with the business bank and general trade. Our financial performance in 2023 demonstrates resilience and operation efficiency in a challenging environment, but we continue to focus on our strengths, manage risks effectively and leverage opportunities for growth.”

 

Wafflemeister partners with Clermont Hotel Group for new store in London’s Piccadilly: Wafflemeister, the Belgian waffle operator, has partnered with Clermont Hotel Group, the largest hotel owner-operator in London, for a new store in London’s Piccadilly. Located at 31 Coventry Street, the store offers Wafflemeister’s signature range of freshly baked Liége waffles alongside gelato, thick shakes and ground-to-order coffee. The store, Wafflemeister’s 26th high-street location, is part of the company’s “continued focus on growing its presence across leisure and high street locations, as well as retail supermarkets, vending and wholesalers”. The partnership also sees the companies strengthen their existing relationship, formed through licence agreement pop-ups at the hotel group’s Marble Arch and Tower Hill properties. Rikos Leong-Son, Wafflemeister’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Clermont Hotel Group on launching the next Wafflemeister. We could not have asked for a better location between Piccadilly and Leicester Square – it is absolutely buzzing all year round, and we cannot wait to introduce our wonderful waffles with all the locals and visitors.” Gavin Taylor, chief executive at Clermont Hotel Group, added: “Clermont Hotel Group is committed to offering its customers a wide range of food and beverage options. Wafflemeister has a proven track record and we are thrilled to be able to continue to work with it to bring wonderful Belgian waffles, gelato and coffee to our customers at Piccadilly.” Wafflemeister was ranked 31st in the most recent The Sunday Times 100 annual list of Britain’s fastest-growing private companies, while Clermont Hotel Group has a portfolio of 17 hotels and 5,000-plus bedrooms across London.

 

Scottish Starbucks franchisee sells its Slim Chickens business to focus on coffee, opens two new stores with more planned this year: Starbucks franchisee OCO Westend has sold its Slim Chickens business to focus on coffee, and has opened two new stores with more planned for this year, Propel has learned. The Glasgow group, which until 2011 was a Pizza Hut franchisee, opened the first Slim Chickens restaurant in Northern Ireland in October 2022, in Belfast’s Boucher Square, after signing a franchise deal with Boparan Restaurant Group. Propel understands OCO Westend, which is led by managing director JJ O’Hara, has now sold its two Slims restaurants to Capital Range – which operates Slims in the south west of England alongside a portfolio of Costa, Pizza Hut and Chopstix sites. “We have decided to focus our energy on Starbucks,” O’Hara told Propel. To that end, the business, which employs about 420 staff, has opened two new Starbucks drive-thrus in its current financial year, in Airdrie and Greenock, with more additions planned to its 24-strong estate. It comes as the business reported a rise in turnover to £25,713,988 in the year to 30 November 2023, up from £20,893,174 in 2022. Pre-tax profit fell from £4,147,791 to £3,496,594 as costs rose by almost £4m and administration expenses by almost £2m. Dividends of £690,643 were paid (2022: £267,747). “The directors are delighted with the performance of the business in 2023, particularly given the challenging economic climate during the year,” O’Hara said in his report accompanying the accounts. “Like the rest of the business sector, we remain cautious about the economic landscape looking forward. Household income remains under pressure from inflation. Additionally, the business sector is struggling to cope with exceptional levels of inflation particularly around wages and cost of goods. These risks are partially offset by the anticipated benefits from the stabilising utility and fuel markets that we are expecting to benefit from in summer 2024. Our development will continue in light of the risks mentioned above. We have already opened a further two stores in our 2024 fiscal year, with potential for up to another two before the end of the year. Our existing estate continues to perform well and, together with a strong balance sheet, we look forward to the year ahead and the opportunities it may bring.”

 

Independent hospitality group secures 15-year lease to operate new Preston food hall: Independent hospitality group Northern Lights Group (NLG) has secured a 15-year lease to operate a new food hall in Preston. NLG will create and run a cocktail bar and four food kiosks, to be let to small businesses, at Animate, the city’s £45m entertainment and leisure complex. NLG managing director Joe Foster said: “This is another incredibly exciting opportunity for us. As part of our growth strategy, we have been identifying new locations across the region, and Animate is the perfect fit. We look forward to opening in early 2025 and serving the people of Preston with delicious food.” Deputy leader of Preston City Council, Cllr Martyn Rawlinson, added: “Our ambition for Animate has always been to provide independent operators and trade alongside national brands. Having NLG at Animate will help us deliver an attractive offer for the people of Preston and wider Lancashire.” Earlier this year, NLG was named as the operator for a new food hall in Oldham’s historic Old Town Hall building, set to open this summer in the grade II-listed hall’s Egyptian Room. NLG already operates food hall and live music venue New Century in Manchester, as part of a portfolio of restaurants and entertainment venues across the north west. These include Wild Tots and Dockyard Immersive in Northwich’s Baron’s Quay, and two Dockyard pubs in Manchester.

 

The Salad Project set to open sixth site next week alongside central training hub: The Salad Project, the all-day dining concept that launched in London in 2021, is set to open its sixth site next week alongside a central training hub for the business. The company, which was launched just before the pandemic by Florian de Chezelles and James Dare, will open at 30 Fenchurch Street on Friday, 16 August. The site will also be home to The Salad Project Training Academy and Testing Lab. The academy will serve as a hub for training new employees and future stores will all hire from Fenchurch Street, “ensuring quick access to well-trained employees who have completed a rigorous training programme”. The lab, meanwhile, will see culinary director Clementine Haxby lead the company’s recipe development and testing for new menu rollouts, giving it “more agility to experiment with new ideas and improve existing menu items”. Dare said: “The Fenchurch Street store represents a significant milestone for us. Not only are we expanding our reach, but we are also enhancing our ability to innovate and train our wonderful Salad Project employees. This location will be the heart of our growth and innovation, ensuring we continue to deliver the best possible experience to our customers.” As well as further stores in Spitalfields, Bank, Oxford Circus and Mansion House, The Salad Project operates a dark kitchen in Battersea. In April, co-founder Florian de Chezelles told Propel’s Multi-Club Conference that the business plans to reach 20 sites in London by 2026, ahead of possible expansion outside of the capital.

 

Abokado unveils new-look loyalty programme: London healthy eating business Abokado has unveiled its new-look loyalty programme. Previously, members received a free organic coffee on three stamps, a free gyoza side on seven and a free meal (worth £10) on ten. While the free coffee remains at three stamps, the free gyoza is now awarded for five and the meal on seven stamps. Stamps are still given each time a member spends more than £6 and they still get a bonus stamp when they buy a coffee. Members have automatically had their existing stamps transferred to the new scheme. Co-founder Mark Lilley told Propel: “Rewarding our most loyal customers is always the right thing to do and we’re sure these enhancements will be well received and drive visit frequency. The relaunch has been really smooth as our loyalty platform integrates directly into Kurve, our self-order kiosk system.” Abokado, which was founded in 2004, now operates five sites.

 

Scottish family-run leisure company sees increase in turnover and profit despite reduced capacities, recruitment difficulties and 17% wage rise: Scottish family-run leisure company Visitor Centres saw an increase in both turnover and profit in the year to 31 October 2023 despite reduced capacity, recruitment difficulties and a 17% rise in wages. The company – which was formed in 1968 and operates Landmark Forest Adventure Park in Carrbridge, Camera Obscura World of Illusions in Edinburgh and Inveraray Jail in Argyll – reported turnover of £11,985,728, up from £10,279,766 in 2022. Pre-tax profit was up from £2,256,101 in 2022 to £2,609,967. The prior year’s accounts were also restated to recognise the accrual of staff bonuses at the year-end (£133,433 at 31 October 2022 and £125,055 at 31 October 2021). To reflect this, the profit arising in the year to 31 October 2022 was reduced by £8,378. No government grants were received compared with £76,100 in 2022. Dividends of £300,000 were paid (2022: £220,000). “The company had a strong performance this year, although Landmark and Camera Obscura were still working with reduced capacities, partly due to smaller volumes of people on-site at once, corresponding with a better visitor experience,” said director David Hayes. “However, in Landmark’s case, reduced capacity was also a result of the recruitment difficulties, which particularly affected rural areas. Turnover increased 17%, gross profit margin fell slightly by 0.5% and gross profit before taxation increased by 16%. It is encouraging that the increase in turnover was reflected in profit before taxation given substantial increases in costs, in particular wages and salaries, which rose by 17%. The company's financial position at the year-end remained strong, with net assets totalling £11.954,451. The cash reserves retained by the company rose by £1,292,450 and provide security against the risks of a bad year as a result of external factors such as adverse weather or economic conditions. A strong level of cash reserves also allows the company to invest in its attractions and ensure that the high quality of the visitor experience and services we offer are maintained.”

 

Essex bakery set to open third site: Essex bakery business Bake Essex is set to open a third site. Bake Essex, co-owned by chef Ross Devonshire and Memet Hassan, opened its first site in February 2023, in The Ridgeway, Leigh-on-Sea. This was followed by a second location this February, in Manners Way in Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea. Bake Essex has now applied to open its third location in the former Dining Room restaurant unit in Leigh’s London Road. The site, which has operated as a restaurant for many years, recently closed due to increased overhead costs and less demand for restaurant dining, according to the application. Bake Essex serves freshly baked cakes, pastries and bread, along with sandwiches made using ingredients largely from Essex-based suppliers, reports The Echo.

 

DiningSix to open second London KöD site this month: Copenhagen-based business DiningSix, which made its UK debut with an opening under its Danish steakhouse concept KöD in London last year, will open a second site for the concept in the capital later this month. Propel revealed in May that DiningSix had lined up an opening on the former Zelman Meats/Block restaurant site in St Anne’s Court, Soho. DiningSix has now confirmed that KöD Soho will launch in mid-August. Founding partner Morten P. Ortwed launched KöD in Denmark in 2014 before expanding into Norway and then moving to the UK to oversee developments here, launching KöD City in Devonshire Square in March 2023. Running the kitchen operations for all UK KöD restaurants is James Durrant, who previously worked for Gordon Ramsay Holdings and The Stafford Hotel. DiningSix was founded in 2009 when the opportunity arose for Ortwed and five friends to take on the franchise of a cafe, restaurant and nightclub. It now has eight brands comprising 22 restaurants across several countries. KöD City was the seventh opening under the brand – joining three sites in Denmark and another three in Norway.

 

Cornish operator refinances and launches fundraise after ‘significant’ losses continue: Cornish operator Kingfisher Resorts, which operates the Meudon Hotel in Falmouth and the villa resort Una in Carbis Bay, has refinanced and launched a fundraise after “significant” losses suffered during the year to 30 December 2022 continued. “To fund the purchase and development of both Una Resort and Hotel Meudon, the group raised equity and debt finance,” the group said in its accounts for the period. “The impact of covid, construction difficulties and delays and recent planning issues have meant that the cash flows originally planned (for the developments) have not materialised thus far. This has left the group with significant interest costs that are a major contributor to the losses in 2022, and which have subsequently continued. As a result, an interim refinancing exercise has been completed [June 2024]. This has enabled the group to refinance £1m of existing long-term borrowing and generated funds of circa £1m, to be used for working capital and development cost needs. However, the directors have concluded that additional funding is required to continue its operations, service its debt and to continue to develop Una and Hotel Meudon. A fundraising process is underway, seeking additional funding from existing shareholders via a loan note issue and/or a preference share and/or a rights issue.” It comes after the group reported a drop in turnover for the period, from £6,874,020 in 2021 to £6,240,924. A pre-tax profit of £45,942 turned into a loss of £1,743,964. No government grants were received (2022: £208,101). Occupancy was down from 73% to 70% while average daily rate decreased from £202 to £143 and revpar dropped from £143 to £100. The hotel traded within expectations for its full of operation following refurbishment, “against a backdrop of difficult macro trading conditions”, but the group said the current level of activity is “uneconomic and requires additional inventory and facilities”. The group also continued the sale of long leases of land on which buyers will develop holiday villas, with more than £2.5m of transactions completed in 2022, and several available for letting from this summer.

 

Lancashire music bar concept Marvin’s shuts remaining Blackpool branch: Lancashire music bar concept Marvin’s has closed its remaining site in Blackpool after just 12 months. The bar, in Clifton Street, has been closed since May, and all signs have now been taken down from the building, reports the Blackpool Gazette. It follows the closure of the Marvin’s venue in Highfield Road in the town last summer, again after just 12 months, with the building still listed for sale nearly a year later. The branch was its largest until Marvin’s opened its fourth venue, at the former Co-op bank in Clifton Street, in May 2023. Owner Alex Huckerby has not said why the venue, known for its soul and Motown music, has closed, but all references to the Blackpool branch have been removed from Marvin’s website and social media. Marvin’s other two branches, in Poulton and Lytham, remain open. Marvin’s was set up by Huckerby and his partners, Adrian Reed and Graham Barr, in 2018. The first to open was the Breck Road branch in Poulton, followed by a second bar in Lytham’s Henry Street a year later.

 

Chef who once cooked for US president opens second Middlesbrough venue: A chef who once cooked for a US president during their visit to Britain has opened his second Middlesbrough venue. Tarek Thoma, the owner of the Oven restaurant in Linthorpe Road, was working at the Dun Cow in Sedgefield when George Bush and then prime minister Tony Blair dropped in for a bite to eat in 2003. Thoma, who has also worked at Michelin-starred restaurants including the L’Escargot in London and Chapter One in Kent, opened his first Oven two years later, in Darlington. In 2015, he relocated the restaurant to Middlesbrough in a £500,000 investment, saying at the time that he intended to roll out further Ovens across the country. Thoma has now transformed a former coffee shop in Captain Cook Square into Bazaar, which he said has the largest indoor Italian copper pizza oven in Europe, reports Teesside Live. Thoma said the concept for Bazaar, which offers “flavours from around the world” alongside cocktails and desserts, was born around two years ago, after visiting the circus. He said: “I went to see a show by Cirque du Soleil and I was absolutely mesmerised. I thought why can’t we do a restaurant that encompasses this experience? Here, you’ll be able to see the chefs, the pizza oven, the mixologist, the pastry chef, the fire and flames, and you’ll be sat in the heart of all of it. We’ve created a crazy world, it’s like Charlie and The Chocolate Factory for grown-ups.”

 

North London French restaurant confirms it won’t be reopening its Highbury branch: North London French restaurant Patron has confirmed it won’t be reopening its branch in Highbury. Jean Francois and Tanzi Ellison closed the doors to the site, at 158a Blackstock Road, a year ago, leaving just its Kentish Town branch, at 26 Fortress Road. The owners told Hot Dinners that while they were waiting for the go-ahead to return to trading, the new landlord gutted the restaurant. “We’ve been through an awful period of time filled with uncertainty and legal battles that resulted in a loss of our beautiful restaurant,” they said. “The new landlord had alternative plans for the building from the get-go, which was made shockingly apparent to us when we discovered that the entire restaurant had been ripped out, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts and pockets.” Meanwhile, the pair have launched a new secret garden chef’s table experience at their Kentish Town restaurant, where guests can enjoy a five-course tasting menu under the stars before having a private tour of the restaurant kitchen.

 

Blackpool pizza restaurant opens second site: Blackpool pizza restaurant Pizza Rana has opened a second site. Following its debut site in the town’s Abingdon Street Market, it has now opened a restaurant in Clifton Square in nearby Lytham. Pizza Rana will be walk-ins only and offers pizza cooked in just 60 seconds alongside wine, beer and spirits hand-picked to complement the food. Owner Rachel Galt told the Blackpool Gazette: “We are so excited to open our new restaurant in Lytham. Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional food and service.”

 

Teesside chef plans second site: Teesside chef Martin Jones is planning a second site in the region. Jones has announced he is taking over the Virgo’s restaurant in Dundas Street East, Saltburn, and turning it into a second Truffled Hog. It comes just one year after Jones, who has been a chef for 38 years, took over The Truffled Hog in Stokesley. “At The Truffled Hog, we have something a bit special,” he told Teesside Live. “We are an independent and we are big foodies, and there is a nice Scandinavian vibe about what we do. Virgo’s has been there for 32 years and it’s now going to be transformed into The Truffled Hog Saltburn. I’m really looking forward to bringing The Truffled Hog to Saltburn. I feel sure it will be a great success by the seaside.”

 

Birmingham craft beer and Indian street food concept to open new brewery and taproom next month: Birmingham craft beer and Indian street food concept Indian Brewery will open its new brewery and taproom next month. The business, which already operates a venue serving its beer alongside Indian food at Snow Hill, will open at the site of the old Brook Welding warehouse in the city’s Jewellery Quarter. The venue will feature a circa 220-cover beer hall, 25 beer taps, a theatre kitchen, live sports, brewery tours and an events and community workspace. “New brewery taproom opening soon,” the company posted to social media. “It’s going to be incredible, trust us!”