Sushisamba owner linked to Hawksmoor process: Dubai-based investment firm Shamal Holding, which late last year completed the acquisition of Sushisamba Group, taking full controlling interest in the award-winning fusion restaurant brand Sushisamba, is understood to be one of the companies running the rule over investing in Hawksmoor, Propel has learned. Hawksmoor officially kicked off a process to explore its future funding options, which could involve a sale of the award-winning, 13-strong business, earlier this year. The company, which was founded by Huw Gott and Will Beckett in London in 2006, is working with US-based advisory firm Stephens on its options. Hawksmoor, which has been backed by Graphite Capital since 2013, is currently focusing its expansion plans in the US. A valuation figure for Hawksmoor has been mooted as being £100m-plus. Hawksmoor had previously been linked with advisory firm Stephens in regard to assessing the US investment market. Talking earlier this summer, Beckett declined to comment on the specifics of any process but told Propel: “We’ve got a great relationship with Graphite, and together we are getting to know the US investment community in more depth. As that continues, an opportunity may emerge that we wish to explore together.” Hawksmoor, which opened its debut site in the US, in New York in September 2021, opened a second site Stateside earlier this summer in Chicago. The company said that the opening is a key step in building its international presence, as it aims to open “world-class restaurants in world-class cities” with the focus currently on North America. Shamal Holding had owned a 50% stake in Sushisamba since 2014. It said the acquisition of the remaining stake in Sushisamba reflected its focus on building an “international portfolio of high-end hospitality, food and beverage, real estate and leisure destination assets, investments and experiences”. It has been the franchise owner of Five Guys in the UAE since 2015, and the Hart Shoreditch Hotel in London is also part of its current portfolio. After opening its first restaurant in New York in 1999, Sushisamba now operates two restaurants in central London, alongside locations in Doha, Edinburgh, Las Vegas, and Dubai. Hawksmoor declined to comment.

Videos from Social Media for Profit Masterclass available to buy: The videos from this year’s Social Media for Profit Masterclass have been made available for Propel subscribers to buy. The six videos – totalling three hours and 40 minutes of content – from the social media boot camp provide insights into how to build sales and brands using social media. Led by Mark McCulloch, who has more than 20 years’ brand, marketing digital and social media experience that includes senior positions at Pret A Manger and YO!, the event gives an overview of the latest trends in social media, including the impact of artificial intelligence, the rise of creator content in advertisements, and the growing significance of TikTok Shopping. McCulloch is joined by Alison Battisby, founder and director of social media consultancy Avocado Social, and they also share how to develop a robust social media strategy, engage audiences through experiential storytelling and address the challenge of getting non-marketing stakeholders to believe in the value of social media. The videos are available for £250 plus VAT by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium Club members to receive next Multi-Site Database featuring 3,232 operators and 44 new companies on Friday: Premium Club members are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database on Friday (30 August). The next Propel Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate, provides details of 3,232 multi-site operators and is now searchable in seven main segments. The database features 953 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 780 (24%) pub and bar operators, 540 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 441 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 265 (8%) hotel operators, 205 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 55 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month and this edition includes 44 new companies. New additions to the casual dining sector include Etci Mehmet, the Turkish steakhouse concept; plant-based concept Tofu Vegan; and Indico, the Indian small plates concept with a new opening in Solihull. 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.

New tax on beer bottles ‘could lead to customers bearing soaring new costs of up to £212m a year’: The beer and pub sector has warned the government that a new tax on beer bottles “could lead to customers bearing soaring new costs of up to £212m a year”. Industry leaders have written to the secretary of state for the environment, Steve Reed, to urge a review of these regulations and to sound the alarm around possible unforeseen consequences for brewers, pubs and customers. The British Beer & Pub Association, Independent Family Brewers of Britain, Campaign for Real Ale and Society of Independent Brewers and Associates said the proposed new fees will add “eye-watering” additional costs that brewers will be expected to bear from next year. In their letter to the government, the trade bodies advised that for 330ml glass bottles, the figures published will add between 3p and 7p on each of the 3.2 billion bottles of beer sold in the UK each year, a cost of up to £212m and with a midpoint estimate of £167m. For heavier 500ml bottles, in which most premium bottled ale is sold, the costs could be up to 9p per bottle. The trade bodies said this was the equivalent of an 8%-21% beer duty increase on these products and, like beer duty, which is set to rise again in February, will inevitably lead to price increases for consumers and fuel inflation. Industry leaders warned that the cumulative impact of the proposed fees could see the end of many of Britain’s bottled ales. Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of brewer and retailer Greene King, said: “We are committed to playing our part in supporting a more sustainable and circular economy. However, these new glass fees would contribute to significantly higher costs for brewers and so it is vital that a solution is found to protect hundreds of years of brewing heritage and maintain choice for customers. With the budget coming on 30 October it is more important than ever to look at how the government can reduce the extremely high costs of doing business for the UK’s pub and brewing sector.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a luxury hospitality group that is looking to hire a senior sales manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The business is looking for an individual who is driven to help drive revenue by selling group and charter bookings. Along with growing new business they will oversee an established account base. They will have at least five years’ prior experience in a similar position, exceptional attention to detail and excellent communication skills. Fluency in English is required.” The salary is up to £60,000 and the position is based in London. For more information and to apply, email Ed Stevenson at ed@corecuritment.com.

 

PizzaExpress looks to take on further international franchisees: PizzaExpress, the Paula MacKenzie-led business, is looking to further build its international franchise estate, and has begun looking for partners in countries including Canada. In April, Propel revealed PizzaExpress was looking to launch in the US and had begun the search for franchisees to aid its expansion there. It set up a new company, PizzaExpress US, to oversee the move and has partnered with consultants whichfranchise to explore rolling out in the country. Propel understands that PizzaExpress has now teamed with Seeds Consulting to seek out franchisees in other countries, including Canada, China and India, and across the UK. As Seeds points out, PizzaExpress is searching “for ambitious, experienced operators in a number of available international markets”. A prior record of successful site openings, a trusted team, and “a network that allows you to grow and develop”, are “all highly desirable”. The brand is looking for franchisees to operate kiosks as small as 600 square foot that capture high traffic, on the move areas that also benefit from delivery, flagship restaurants of more than 3,500 square foot in city and residential areas, and venues that can hold live music that are 5,000 to 6,000 square foot. The new low-capex kiosk format, which offers a “small footprint solution for high footfall and captive market/locations that are heavily focused on delivery and takeaway orders”, may be the basis on which the group’s upcoming Pod concept, which is set to launch in the Tesco Extra site in Bursledon, Southampton, will be modelled on. Propel reported over the weekend that PizzaExpress saw group revenue increased to £454,566,000 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £422,057,000 the previous year. Of this, £411,769,000 came from the UK & Ireland (2022: £379,644,000) and £42,797,000 from international operations (2022: £42,413,000). Of the total revenue, £435,886,000 came from restaurant operations (2022: £405,609,00), £10,775,000 from merchandising (2022: £9,728,000), £5,818,000 from wholesale (2022: £4,779,000) and £2,087,000 from franchise income (2022: £1,941,000). Like-for-like sales were up 8.3% in the UK & Ireland and 8.6% internationally. At the end of the period, the group operated 383 company-owned restaurants (2022: 392) and 77 franchise restaurants (2022: 62).

Exclusive – Richard Morris joins SushiDog as non-executive director: Richard Morris, the former chief executive of Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has joined the seven-strong, quick service sushi roll concept SushiDog as a non-executive director, Propel has learned. Morris, who stepped down as Tortilla chief executive earlier this spring after leading the business for a decade, also worked at TGI Fridays, Rainforest Café and Loch Fyne Restaurants. Earlier this year, SushiDog, which was founded in 2018 by Greg Ilsen and Nick Goldstein, secured a further round of funding from investor Middleton Enterprises, and opened its latest site near London Bridge. SushiDog, which is targeting a five-year growth plan of opening 30 sites, is understood to have had a record-breaking summer, with Morris believing that SushiDog can do the same in the grab and go sushi category that Tortilla did with burritos. Propel understands SushiDog will open its next site at 106 New Oxford Street, in late September, with a further two new openings set to open late 2024/early 2025. Morris told Propel: “I’m excited to be joining the board at SushiDog at this critical stage of its development, and I’m looking forward to working closely with Nick and Greg and the rest of the team. This is now a great opportunity for SushiDog to become a leading player in the healthy fast casual space.” Ilsen said: “Richard comes with a wealth of very relevant experience, which will undoubtedly help us as we grow. Now is a pivotal time for SushiDog as we have multiple site openings on the horizon, and to be bringing in someone of Richard's stature is testament not only to the progression we have made so far but also our vision and aspirations for the future.”

Exclusive – Boulebar Group plans multiple sites in London and growth across UK, reports record sales driven by success of debut site here: Sweden-based Boulebar Group has told Propel it is planning multiple sites in London ahead of growth in major cities across the UK. Founded in 2000 by Henrik Kruse, the group combines street food and drinks with the French game of boulebar – which is similar to lawn bowls. It currently has 13 sites spread across Malmö, Gothenburg, Örebro, Stockholm and Copenhagen and made its UK debut last year, on London’s South Bank. “We aim to have multiple sites in London over the next couple of years (our team are working actively on location finding) and then we have growth plans across major cities in the UK,” said the brand’s head of marketing Elle Rankin. “Boulebar Group has seen rapid growth over the last six years, launching in two nations (Denmark and the UK) and coming out of the pandemic strongly. Our aim for the business is to have a Boulebar in every major city worldwide. Our reception into new markets has been strong historically, and our London launch in the UK has exceeded expectations, so we know we have a product that guests want to experience and return to.” It comes after the group reported a record start to the year, which Kruse put down to the opening of the first Boulebar in the UK and continued success in the Danish market. Net sales for the first half of 2024 amounted to 133 million SEK (£9.9m), which was six million SEK (£450,000) higher than the corresponding period last year. “Our Boulebar in London is a real success, and the team in the UK is outstanding,” he said. “Having a pétanque bar in the middle of London is great fun, and we’re happy to create Boulebar fans in a new market. The UK expansion is a big contribution to a strong start to 2024, but the first six months have been positive in many different ways. Setting a sales record while being profitable is really a team effort. It’s obvious that we have something unique and attractive to offer to our guests. Boule pétanque is the most inclusive competitive game in the world, and it encourages social interaction like no other activity. It creates a lively and engaging environment.” Boulebar Group’s business here, Boulebar UK, is led by chief executive Alec Feakes, head of property Rich Willing and general manager Ollie Rudge. A new report produced by Propel on the fast-growing experiential leisure sector was launched on 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.

Brakspear CEO – managed business driving organic sales growth, actively looking for more acquisition opportunities: Tom Davies, chief executive of pub operator Brakspear, has said a high level of stability across its leased and tenanted estate and its Honeycomb Houses managed business is driving organic sales growth for the company, but profit conversion has reduced because of the sector’s well-documented cost pressures. It comes after the business reported turnover increased 9% to £38,641,816 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £35,407,477 the previous year. Revenue at the ten-strong Honeycombe Houses grew to £20,073,910 from £17,862,826 the year before. Income from its 115-strong leased and tenanted income was up to £18,567,906 from £17,544,651 the previous year. Ebitda before exceptional items was down 3% to £10,884,000 (2022: £11,226,000). Davies said: “Our business performed very well in 2023, with a high level of stability across our leased and tenanted estate and our Honeycomb Houses managed business driving the organic sales growth. While I am generally happy with our profitability levels, our profit conversion has reduced because of the well documented cost pressures that affected our customers and directly impacted the operation of our pubs.” Net debt reduced by 22% to £17m (2022: £22m) resulting from bank debt repayments during the year amounting to £3.8m and an increase of £1.2m in cash reserves at year end. Davies said: “Our balance sheet grows from strength to strength, enabling us to realise our ongoing ambition to add a significant number of high-quality pubs to our leased and tenanted and managed portfolios.” The company invested £5.3m into its pubs., including the £1.8m redevelopment of The White Bear in Warlingham, Surrey, which reopened in January 2024 as the company’s tenth Honeycomb Houses site. During 2023, there were no pub acquisitions, and one sale – The Reformation, near Reading in Berkshire, which had been closed for several years. On the subject of challenges, Davies said: “I look forward to the government delivering on its promise to reform the unfair and unfit business rates regime, which is long overdue.” Brakspear has purchased four freehold pubs this year: The Royal Exchange, Lindford, and The Rose & Crown, Alton, both in Hampshire; The Swan Inn, Chiddingfold, Surrey; and The George Inn near Bedford. The company said it is actively looking for more acquisition opportunities for its Honeycomb Houses and leased and tenanted estates. 

 

Former Admiral Taverns and Hawthorn ops director looking to build ‘small portfolio of community food-led pubs’ after securing second site: Former Admiral Taverns and Hawthorn operations director Andrew Parker has told Propel he is looking to build a “small portfolio of community food-led pubs” after securing his second site. Parker spent five years as operations director and a year as director of leased and tenanted operations at Hawthorn before its sale to Admiral in 2021. He stayed with Admiral for a further 18 months in a new role as central operations director to help with the integration of the two businesses, before leaving in January 2023 to start his own group, Collaborative Pub Co. The new group’s first site opened in January, having acquired the lease of The George in Burpham from Barkby Group. “Working with the team in situ, we have built the business up since January to be 50% ahead of 2023 in turnover and have invested heavily to set it up for the future,” Parker said. “Concentrating on locally sourced ingredients and excellent service, we have seen our business grow each and every week, while our feedback has been phenomenal. I have been looking for a second site, and while there have been some opportunities down south, I have also been looking a little closer to home. I saw the opportunity for a new lease at the Wheelbarrow Castle in Radford, Worcestershire, and together with a new business partner, Justin Bradley, we are looking to replicate the same simple formula. The pub will continue to trade as is when we begin the lease in early September 2024, with some tweaks around the edges until early 2025, when we will close for a refurbishment and relaunch. We will be looking for further venues over the coming months as we build a small portfolio of community food-led pubs that fit our model and demographic. Collaborative Pub Co was planned to be a new leased and tenanted platform for the future. Although I am still hugely passionate about this space, the current valuations of portfolios coming to market, coupled with the cost of capital, make this a longer-term plan, and I shall be concentrating on running quality, profitable businesses as a tenant myself in the near future.”

Slim Chickens makes German debut: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), the owner of the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Carluccio’s and Giraffe brands, has opened the first Slim Chickens site in Germany. Propel revealed in April that Boparan had signed a 20-site development plan for the country with The Foodelity Group, which BRG said was a significant step forward for both companies and “a significant milestone” in the Slim Chickens brand’s international expansion. The two businesses have now opened the first location under the new partnership in Berlin, at Mohrenstraße 17. BRG said that The Foodelity Group already had the first five sites in legal processes, with a plan to have all five locations open within the first 12 months. BRG currently operates circa 50 Slim Chickens sites and planned to continue its UK expansion by opening one new Slim Chickens restaurant every month for the remainder of the year, the majority of which will be company owned. On the launch of the brand in Germany, Sam Rothschild, chief operating officer of Slim Chickens, which operates more than 200 sites globally, said: “We have developed a great partnership with BRG, collaborating with our knowledge, capabilities and support that now enables Slim Chickens to initiate a relationship with Foodelity. We are thrilled to introduce Slim’s quality food and hospitality that will drive Slim Chickens as an exceptional fast casual chicken brand across Germany and beyond.”

Belfast brunch cafe and coffee shop concept expands to the US: Belfast brunch cafe and coffee shop concept, Neighbourhood Cafe, has expanded to the US. Neighbourhood has partnered with The Dead Rabbit pub in Austin, Texas, to open a new cafe next door. Neighbourhood Café was founded in 2021 by Oisin McEvoy and Ryan Crown in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, and the partnership with The Dead Rabbit is inspired by both business’ celebration of contemporary Ireland and a shared commitment to honouring Irish artisans, makers and artists, reports Insider Media. McEvoy said: “We are so happy to finally open our new cafe in Austin. The opening of a second location anywhere is great cause for celebration, but to do so in a city experiencing such an exciting period of growth and in partnership with our friends in The Dead Rabbit makes this opening all the more special. The initial reception to the café has been so encouraging and we are looking forward to fully bedding into our new home, becoming a staple of the Austin hospitality scene, and bringing a little bit of Belfast to the people of Texas.” Crown added: “The opening of a second Neighbourhood location was something we couldn’t have dreamed of when we opened our first Belfast cafe in Donegall Street in 2021. The opening of our second cafe in Austin is the result of three years of hard work, high standards, and prioritising the all-round experience of hospitality, from speciality drinks to top-class produce served in a warm, welcoming environment.”

 

Wingstop opens in Crawley for West Sussex debut: Wingstop, which is being rolled out here by Lemon Pepper Holdings and is currently seeking new investment, has opened in Crawley for its West Sussex debut. Having earlier this month reached the 50-site landmark in the UK with an opening in Derby, the company has begun the road to its next half century with a launch at Crawley Leisure Park. The London Road restaurant has 100 covers and created 70 jobs. Following this, Wingstop UK aims to open a further five stores this year – in Ealing, Whitechapel and Walthamstow in London as well as Manchester and Lakeside in Essex – with ambitions to reach up to 200 sites within the next five years. Chris Sherriff, co-chief executive of Lemon Pepper Holdings, said: “We’re excited to be opening in Crawley, bringing our iconic flavours to West Sussex for the first time. Our 50-site milestone in the UK was a significant moment for the brand, and there is huge momentum for further growth.”

Flight Club opens in Liverpool: Red Engine, the team behind Flight Club and Electric Shuffle, has opened its latest Flight Club location, in Liverpool. Propel revealed in October 2023 that Red Engine was lining up a unit at Liverpool ONE’s Chavasse Park for its first venue in the city, in the former Boujee restaurant at Kenyon Steps. It is the 13th Flight Club in the UK and the 22nd globally, with the brand’s 14th UK venue to follow in Oxford later this year. Set over two floors, the venue, which has a capacity for 400 people, has two bars, a ground-floor outdoor terrace and a first-floor balcony overlooking the park, as well as 16 semi-private oche areas and a mezzanine space. As well as immersive darts, it offers cocktails, sharing dishes, DJ sets and bottomless brunches. Tickets for the two-hour brunch session cost £35 per person for 60 minutes of gameplay, a bottle of prosecco per person and unlimited pizza. Steve Moore, chief executive and co-founder of Flight Club, said: “For years, we’ve been eyeing up Liverpool as the perfect place for Flight Club. There’s nothing we love more than an epic night out, and that’s something both Liverpool and Flight Club always deliver on, so it feels like a match made in heaven. This new venue has been months in the making to get every detail just right.”

Megan’s opens Weybridge site, Farnham opening next: Megan's, the all-day, neighbourhood restaurant concept, has opened its latest site, in Weybridge, Surrey. The now 21-strong brand has opened in the town’s Church Street, and will follow this up with another opening in the county, in Farnham’s West Street. On the Weybridge launch, Megan’s operations director Bridget Lambert said: “The opening and first few weeks have been a huge success, exceeding budgeted expectations, and with rave reviews from our guests. Opening new venues is always exciting and fun (and hard work!), but our focus goes beyond just growing our footprint. We’re committed to driving up standards, upskilling our teams, and improving our already established sites. The excitement doesn’t end here – we’re already gearing up for our next opening in Farnham.” Earlier this summer, Propel revealed Megan’s had appointed advisors as it explores its further funding options, which could include a sale of the business. Megan’s, which is privately-owned and was founded in 2002, appointed sector specialist M&A advisor, Tamweel, to evaluate strategic options as it looks to continue its rollout across Greater London, large cities and towns nationwide. Propel understands that in addition to Farnham, Megan’s is believed to have either signed on or is in advanced discussions on sites in Crouch End and Blackheath in London as well as Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire and Oxford. Research carried out by the business has suggested it could operate 170 sites across the country, with grab-and-go and transport hub formats yet to be explored.

Derbyshire and Leicestershire McDonald’s franchisee sees profit jump to £4.9m as turnover hits record £109.3m: McLean Restaurants, which operates 21 McDonald’s sites across Derbyshire and Leicestershire, has reported turnover increased 8.08% to a record £109,320,498 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £101,144,211 the previous year. Pre-tax profit jumped to £4,922,466 from £278,906 the year before. In her report accompanying the accounts, owner Sarah McLean stated: “The re-imaging strategy continued to have a positive impact on sales growth, which is in line with expectations and objectives. The company continued its investment in the national McDonald's refurbishment projects. The ‘Convenience of the Future’ upgrade programme was carried out at one store during the year. Sales through digital channels – including McDelivery, mobile app and self-order kiosks – have increased during the year. The pace of change in the restaurant industry has accelerated post-pandemic, with customers increasingly looking for greater speed and choice when ordering food. The company will continue to push digital and delivery offerings. The financial performance of the company improved during 2023. This was aided by government support packages such as the 75% business rates relief in the retail and hospitality industry, temporary and permanent rent reductions from the franchisor. Higher levels of pricing have been introduced to counteract food cost inflation, which was at an all-time high of 19.10% in March 2023 but has slowly declined throughout the year.” A dividend of £2.5m was paid (2022: £2.5m). McLean began working at McDonald’s after leaving university “because she loved the food” and worked her way up the company. After a restructuring that saw her role as a regional manager become redundant, she bought 19 restaurants in 2002 and became a franchisee. The company now employs more than 2,500 staff.

Arc Inspirations confirms October launch for Nottingham Manahatta: Arc Inspirations, the premium bar operator, has confirmed its new Manahatta site in Nottingham will open in October. Propel revealed exclusively in June that Arc Inspirations, which also operates the Box and Banyan brands, would be building new sites in Sheffield and Nottingham as part of its city centre growth strategy – which is key to its ambition to operate 50 bars by 2030. The new site will launch on Saturday, 5 October, in Nottingham’s Queen Street, and will create 75 jobs. The bar will occupy a space of 700 square feet, holding a total capacity of 500 people. Dating to the 1800s, the building previously served as the regional air raid precaution headquarters during the Second World War and a post office, and was most recently occupied by a Red’s True Barbecue restaurant. Arc Inspirations co-founder and chief executive, Martin Wolstencroft, said: “Nottingham has proven to be an incredibly vibrant and welcoming city for us, and we are excited to introduce our stunning new Manahatta design here. Following on from the success of the launch of Box Nottingham, we can’t wait to bring the beat of New York to the city.”

 

Metropolitan Gaming expecting to see financial benefits following reform in UK gambling legislation as it reports record turnover of £155.9m: Metropolitan Gaming, which operates nine casinos in the UK and three in Egypt, has said it expects to see financial benefits across all its UK venues following the reform in gambling legislation. It comes as the group reported turnover increased to a record £155,906,000 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £126,516,000 the previous year “buoyed by improvement across the portfolio but driven predominately by the London market”. Of this, £116,684,000 came from the UK (2022: £87,138,000) and £39,222,000 from Egypt (2022: £39,378,000). Of the total revenue, £145,891,000 came from gaming (2022: £118,394,000), £7,743,000 from food and beverage (2022: £6,625,000), £1,733,000 from other revenue (2022: £1,497,000) and £539,000 from brand licensing income (2022: nil). Pre-tax losses rose to £7,471,000 from £1,682,000 the year before. During the period, the company, which was incorporated in 2021 and employs 1,500 staff, acquired a premises licence to open a casino in Birmingham and also launched its online operation. Following the year end, the group agreed a £7m extension to its loan facility with its parent company, extending the amount to £57.7m. Metropolitan Gaming has made the following drawdowns to date during 2024: £7m on 22 April 2024, £2m for capital projects on 30 May 2024 and £1.5m payable as deferred consideration for the acquisitions of its casino in London's Park Lane on 7 June 2024. In April 2024, the group signed an agreement to extend its contract for running the Ramses Hilton Casino in Cairo for a further ten-year period ending on 30 December 2023. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “While the group expects continued challenges with labour supply and cost-of-living pressures on consumer discretionary expenditure, management interventions and plans have helped offset the impact of this situation throughout 2023 and 2024. The directors expect to see financial benefits across all UK venues from the reform in UK gambling legislation, which will allow for further slot machines to be installed. In anticipation of these changes, the business has started a refurbishment of its flagship operation, The Empire in London's Leicester Square, which is scheduled for completion in mid-2025.” No dividend was paid (2022: nil).

North American comfort food outlet Brewski to open second site for Chicago-style pizza concept: North American comfort food outlet Brewski is set to open a second site for its Chicago-style pizza concept, American Pie. Brewski, which has restaurants in Sheffield, Chorlton and Chester, opened the first American Pie at 58 Molesey Street, Manchester, in 2021, serving up seven-inch Chicago pies, 24-hour ribs, burritos and large garlic bread focaccias for sharing. It is now set to open at 23 Blossom Street in Ancoats, taking over the former US-style Second City Bar. Pizzas start at £13.50, with creative toppings such as slow cooked lamb birria and pepperoni, jalapeño and hot honey, while sharing platters are available for £70. Owners James Daly and Steven Stockton-King, who previously operated beach-bar themed Koh Tah in Fallowfield, opened their first Brewski, in Chorlton, in 2016, in the former Jam Inn.

UK arm of Go Ape sees turnover and profit dip: The UK arm of high-ropes adventure course operator Go Ape has reported turnover dropped 8% to £27,520,000 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £29,942,000 the previous year. The group, which operates at 37 locations across the UK, saw pre-tax profit fell to £3,549,000 from £10,362,000 the year before. Visitor numbers decreased 8% to 1,205,000 as the “exceptional demand experienced in 2021 following covid lockdowns again dropped off”. Average spend increased marginally by 5p to £23 due to “some small pricing adjustments”. As previously reported, in May 2023, the company, which employs almost 1,000 staff, repaid the full remaining bank loan of £413,727 together with accrued interest, leaving the group free of any external bank debt. During the period, the company opened its first stand-alone treetop adventure and treetop adventure-plus course, in Blackburn, as well as new treetop adventure, treetop adventure-plus and treetop challenge courses in Chelmsford, Essex. Dividends of £300,000 were paid (2022: £550,000). In 2021, Go Ape’s founders Richard and Rebecca Mayhew sold 90% of the outdoor adventure company to an employee ownership trust.

The Superlative Group adds sports bar to portfolio: Glasgow operator The Superlative Group has added a sports bar to its portfolio in the city. The Clubhouse has opened on the second floor of Princes Square shopping centre and is a sports bar offering all-day dining. It features an extensive whisky collection alongside a cocktail menu. Food and drink starts with breakfast rolls before progressing through lunch and dinner. Live sporting events from around the world are screened and there are plans for live entertainment. The Superlative Group, which is led by Andy McCartney, already operates the likes of Glaschu, Gost, The Duke's Umbrella and the recently opened Maison by Glaschu in Glasgow. Joanne Leslie, senior retail business manager for The Superlative Group, told The Herald: “We are delighted to be able to bring this venture to the city centre. For ages, we have discussed the gap in the market for a premium environment in which people can watch sports. We know from the first weekend of trading that we have an offering that is filling that gap, and the feedback has been incredible.”

Pearmain Pubs sees turnover pass £10m: Surrey operator Pearmain Pubs has reported turnover increased to £10,247,465 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £9,114,085 the year before. Pre-tax profit was down to £753,218 from £891,847 the previous year. In his report accompanying the accounts, co-founder Richard Brown stated: “The balance sheet remains strong. Retaining profits within the business has enabled us to further pay down our bank finance. Funds advanced by the directors have also been retained and have enabled the company to invest in the existing pubs and seek new sites. While the economic outlook may appear challenging, the directors are confident their market sector positioning will make ongoing profitability sustainable.” No dividend was paid (2022: £200,000). Founded in 2008 by Brown and Anthony Hancock, Pearmain grew pre-covid to eight sites and was turning over circa £24m, before selling five pubs to Young’s in March 2020 in a deal understood to be valued at circa £30m. This left Pearmain with The Red Lion in Horsell, The Old Plough in Stoke D’Abernon and The Three Horseshoes in Laleham. In 2023, Pearmain, which now employs 180 staff, returned to the acquisition trail by adding The Brickmakers Arms in Windlesham to its portfolio.

Scottish stuffed cookie concept secures third site: Scottish stuffed cookie concept Chulo’s, which has sites in Glasgow and Edinburgh, has secured its third site. Owners Jordan Rankin and partner Rebecca Paterson launched the business in Glasgow’s Finnieston in 2021 before adding a second bakery, in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge, last year. Following a pop-up trial in February and a temporary residency at Edinburgh’s Bonnie & Wild food hall over the summer, it has secured a permanent location there. “We’ve had to expand the team to cope with demand and our kitchen is practically running non-stop,” Rankin said. “People have got a real appetite for our stuffed cookies, while they’ve also been a major hit online as well. It’s been an incredible journey since we first started trading at farmer’s markets and food fairs only a few years ago.” Bonnie & Wild’s managing director, Ryan Barrie, added: “We invited Chulo’s in for a pop-up during the February half-term, when it’s safe to say it smashed all expectations and sold almost a tonne of cookies in little over a week. We were delighted to welcome it back for the summer and it’s been every bit as popular, selling its cookies almost as fast as it can make them. As a result, we’ve been able to give it a home in the St James Quarter. It’s a fantastic success story for a young Scottish food business.” The Chulo’s pop-up was the latest in a programme of meet-the-makers, tastings, pop-ups and brand activations at Bonnie & Wild, which aims to showcase Scottish food and drink brands.

  

Leeds street food venue in line for £15m expansion: The company behind a Leeds street food venue has revealed plans for a £15m expansion. Trinity Leeds owner Landsec has submitted plans to expand its Trinity Kitchen concept, which would be the company’s biggest investment into the centre since it opened in 2013. The plans including a new 6,000 square-foot terrace and would transform a previously unused 15,000 square-foot space above Trinity Kitchen. Trinity Kitchen has hosted almost 300 independent traders, having showcased their food to an audience of 800,000 through street food pop-ups and permanent dining. Steven Foster, centre director at Trinity Leeds, said: “This investment will enhance and expand the space for the long term and build a best-in-class food and leisure destination. Trinity Kitchen pioneered a unique indoor street food concept in the UK when it first launched in 2013 and is one of the city’s greatest success stories of the last ten years – not just for the millions of people who have enjoyed dining here, but also the social value – from the jobs created to the food businesses that have grown their brands here.” If approved, the works are expected to start in the spring of 2025.