Exclusive – Doner kebab brand with almost 100 branches in Germany makes UK debut, three more in pipeline as it targets rapid expansion here: A doner kebab brand with almost 100 branches in Germany has made its UK debut, with three more in the pipeline as it targets rapid expansion here, Propel has learned. House of Doner, which trades as Haus des Doners in Europe (94 branches in Germany and one in the Netherlands), has opened at 88-89 Cowcross Street in Farringdon, London. A second site is also “coming soon”, at 408 Coldharbour Lane in Brixton, with a Putney location also being lined up, along with a first regional site, in Reading. “At House of Doner, our mission is simple: deliver the authentic, mouthwatering taste of German doner straight to your table,” the company’s UK website states. “From our humble beginnings as a small local spot, we have grown into a global favourite with 98 locations across Europe and the Middle East. Now, we are thrilled to share our signature dishes with the UK, bringing the true taste of Germany to even more food lovers. What makes our Doner special? It all starts with top-quality ingredients. Our meat is imported directly from Berlin, ensuring that every bite is packed with genuine taste. We complement it with a range of homemade sauces, each carefully crafted to achieve the perfect balance of flavours. Our veggies are handpicked daily to keep them crisp and vibrant, and our bread is baked fresh to deliver that perfect, satisfying texture.” House of Doner was incorporated with Companies House in March 2024 by director Sadik Ayhan Arabaci. Arabaci is also behind Turkish all-day brunch and dining destination Cleo London, which is set to open at 54a Elizabeth Street in Belgravia, and is also lining up a site at The Whiteley apartment complex in Queensway. TCPW is the retained agent for House of Doner. 

 

Premium Club members to receive updated segmented Multi-Site Database featuring 961 casual dining operators on Friday: Premium Club members are to receive the Multi-Site Database on Friday (1 November), at midday. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,264 multi-site operators and is now searchable in seven main segments. The database features 961 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 784 (24%) pubs and bars operators, 548 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 445 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 267 (8%) hotel operators, 204 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. It is updated each month, and this edition includes 21 new companies. New additions to the casual dining sector include Zina, the Russian street food concept, Mission Mars-owned Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana and Bento Bab, the Korean street food concept. 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 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.

 

Report highlights need for more multi-skilled hospitality apprentices at career entry level, shortages still being felt in key areas such as chefs and waiting staff: A new report has highlighted the need for more multi-skilled hospitality apprentices at career entry level, and said shortages are still being felt in key areas such as chefs and waiting staff. The catering and hospitality route review, conducted by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), noted that the existing level 2 hospitality team member apprenticeship was said by employers to be too narrow in terms of the scope of training required. The review also pointed out that allowing apprentices to move between departments, giving them broader experience, would boost chances of promotion. The apprenticeship is therefore being updated to cover roles like bar work, dining, housekeeping and guest services. The report also noted that while sector vacancies have fallen from a peak of 176,000 between April and June 2022 to 95,000 from July to September 2024, the industry continues to face labour shortages, particularly in chefs, waiting staff, housekeeping and management. In addition, the report flags the mental health and well-being of workers as an important concern, and that trade bodies have been partnering with mental health experts to create support programmes. Joanna Moonan, deputy director of IfATE, said: “This report reflects how skills training is being improved to support more people into exciting careers and where possible progress to higher levels.”

 

Sacha Lord – everything is at stake for the night-time economy in tomorrow’s Budget: Sacha Lord, the night-time advisor for Greater Manchester, has said “everything is at stake” for the night-time economy in tomorrow’s (Wednesday, 30 October) Budget. Lord was speaking following the Night Time Industries Association’s warning last week that nightclubs could “vanish completely” by the end of this decade. It said the UK has lost 37% of clubs since March 2020, at a rate of three per week and more than 150 per year, and will be gone altogether by 2030 if the current rate of closures continues. “We’re all bracing ourselves for a tough Budget ahead,” Lord said. “Hospitality is the third-largest employer in the UK with 3.5 million people, and as I have said time and time again, no one benefits from further closures in the sector. Cities and towns will become desolate as high streets are decimated, communities will suffer from increased loneliness having lost vital social hubs, unemployment rates will increase rapidly, and public finances will suffer from the drop in the economic contribution. It makes basic social and economic sense to give the industry more support. An absolute must for the future of the sector is an extension of business rates relief – this one move alone will save hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country. But beyond this urgent need, we have to see a defined long-term strategy. Everything is at stake and the chancellor must present a clear plan that explains how this week’s decisions will benefit us all down the line. Business, and the general public, need to understand the positives and financial returns on the horizon to help us stomach the tough choices being made right now.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a national catering and soft facilities management provider that is seeking a contract director role. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This is a key contract within the portfolio that requires an established soft facilities management operator who can really lead from the front. The contract is for a large, multifunctional and complex contract to the tune of £60m-plus per year and therefore the individual needs to have knowledge and experience of what is required to run a contract in excess of £50m across multiple soft facilities management services. The position will be overseeing all soft facilities management elements including catering and cleaning.” The salary is up to £100,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email dan@corecruitment.com. 

 

Tortilla expands franchise partnership with SSP as it sets out ambitious growth plans across UK travel hubs: Fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand Tortilla has expanded its partnership with SSP Group, the operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, setting the stage for ambitious growth across UK travel hubs. The new five-year agreement will see Tortilla’s presence in SSP-operated locations triple in size in the UK, expanding from six to 18 sites. This strategic growth follows the launch of Tortilla’s latest airport location, in Glasgow’s main departure lounge, in September. Tortilla said the expansion builds on strong performance metrics, with UK franchise locations delivering more than 10% sales growth in the first half of 2024. Tortilla said its highly scalable business model, featuring streamlined kitchen operations and centralised food production, has proven ideal for franchise partnerships, enabling rapid staff training and consistent quality across locations. Tortilla chief executive Andy Naylor said: “We’re delighted to extend our partnership with SSP for another five years, particularly given the strong sales performance we have seen this year. SSP’s ability to secure prime locations in airports and travel hubs has played a key role in driving brand awareness and fuelling our growth across these sites. Looking ahead, we see major strategic opportunities to accelerate growth through expanding our franchise network in the UK and Europe, both with existing and new partners.” Kari Daniels, chief executive of SSP UK & Ireland, added: “We have growing momentum in our partnership with Tortilla, including new outlets in Glasgow airport and Leeds train station. We’re now looking to the future and the next stage in our journey together.” The expanded partnership represents a key milestone in Tortilla’s Vital 5 strategy, with franchise expansion continuing to drive the group’s record growth trajectory.

Caffè Nero looking to open new sites across all its brands following 200 Degrees acquisition: Caffè Nero, the Gerry Ford-led, premium coffee house business, has told Propel it is looking to open new sites across all its brands following its acquisition of 200 Degrees. Propel revealed exclusively yesterday (Monday, 28 October) that Caffè Nero has acquired the Foresight-backed coffee roaster and retailer, which was founded in 2012 by Rob Darby and Tom Vincent and currently operates 21 sites. These will join the circa 620 Caffè Nero locations and circa 120 Coffee#1 in the Caffè Nero portfolio, which sit alongside its Harris+Hoole and Aroma brands. “We will look to open new sites for all our brands where the right opportunities exist going forward,” Caffè Nero head of communications Gareth Hopley told Propel. “We had our best first quarter in five years this year (June to September 2024). We think it’s a good market for quality brands and feel positive about the year ahead.” Earlier this year, Caffè Nero opened its first drive-thru location, at Stansted airport in Essex, with the business saying it would be the “template for further drive-thru stores in the future”. Hopley added: “Our drive-thru is performing well and we’re pleased with how it has started. It’s too early to think about 200 Degrees and a drive-thru at this stage.” Foresight invested £3m in 2017 to acquire a stake in the then six-strong 200 Degrees, which also has its own roastery, e-commerce channel and wholesale arm. Earlier this year, Propel revealed that the business had appointed AlixPartners as it explored the next stage of its growth.

 

Banx Pub Group aiming for 30 sites in medium term but ‘no limit’ to growth plans: Banx Pub Group, a family-run business with 17 sites across the Midlands and south west, has said it is aiming for 30 sites in the medium term but there is “no limit” to its growth plans. Earlier this month, the company acquired the lease of The Princess Royal in Stoke-on-Trent, and with Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars, is undertaking a £123,000 upgrade of the property to create a wet-led pub that will open in mid-November. The Princess Royal is Banx Pub Company’s third lease with Star Pubs. It currently runs six others on temporary management agreements, with pipeline plans to convert four to substantive leases in the near future. The company was set up in 2021 by husband-and-wife team, Shelley and Graham Tongue. The group’s rapid growth led to other family members joining the business as general manager and head of finance, and it now has an annual turnover of around £6m. The pubs are a mix of leasehold and free of tie and include everything from food to community wet-led pubs and city centre late-night venues. General manager Jamie Newbold said: “Our current growth rate is around three to four pub investments per year. Our ambition is to have 20 pubs by the end of 2025 and 30 pubs in the medium term. However, there’s no limit on our growth plans, given we can identify the right pubs and publicans to run them. There are some great people running pubs that don’t necessarily have finance skills. We allow them to do what they excel at, and we take care of the rest, which has proved a successful combination.”

 

Birmingham better burger brand opens first franchise site, aiming to launch up to six locations per year and enter London in 2025: Birmingham better burger brand Project Bun has opened its first franchise site and told Propel it is aiming to launch up to six locations per year and enter London in 2025. The business was founded in 2021 by Zaheem Ahmed and opened its first location at 305 Ladypool Road in Birmingham. Having launched a franchise programme earlier this year, its first such location has now opened, at 23 Caldmore Green in Walsall, through franchisee Rahman Shaik. The business has partnered with Presman & Colard – franchise consultants for operators such as EL&N, Pickl, Drunch and Longboys – to help with its expansion plans. Presman & Colard chief operating officer Charlie Mander said two further franchise locations are currently under offer. “Owned by two entrepreneurs passionate about food, Project Bun has one of the highest ratings restaurants by Uber Eats in the local area,” Mander said. “The franchisee is a young individual who decided to start his own business who signed for a single location, with the aim to open a second within 12 months. The Midlands is Project Bun’s main focus for the next 18 months, and we will then look to expand further. We are aiming to launch five or six locations per year through franchising across the UK, aiming for university towns and plan to enter London by end of 2025.”

 

Henley Pub Co targeting minimum of ten pubs with rooms as it acquires lease of Brakspear property for third site: Henley Pub Co, the independently backed company from Henry Day, has told Propel it is targeting a minimum of ten pubs with rooms as it acquired its third site. Henley Pub Co has added the lease of The Duke pub and restaurant in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. The pub, which is owned by Brakspear, is set to reopen in early December. Located on the corner of Duke Street and Greys Road, the pub and restaurant will be a “foodie bolthole”. The menu will showcase small plates, using the very best seasonal British ingredients, “cooked simply to let the produce shine”. The menu will sit alongside a carefully selected wine list, local cask ale, beer and cocktails. The 2,600 square-foot pub and restaurant is undergoing an extensive refurbishment to create 65 covers, an enhanced bar area, dining room and a small courtyard. Day told Propel: “The plan is to open a minimum ten pubs with rooms. The Duke doesn’t actually have rooms so will be a one-off in that regard, but it’s in such a prime spot in Henley and we managed to do a deal that works for everyone. We’ll look to build a portfolio around Oxfordshire and perhaps stretch into Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. I’d love a couple of sites in the Cotswolds if we can. There’s some good opportunities out there so we’ll bed The Duke in and look to move on to the next one.” Day said trading at its other two sites – The Royal and The Coachmakers Arms, both in Wallingford – has been “positive”. He added: “We’ll still gaining traction at The Royal, but we’re in a good place.”

 

Young’s launches new pub with rooms in Surrey, second to run on green energy: Young’s has launched a new pub with rooms, opening The Teller’s Arms in a former bank in Farnham, Surrey. Offering nine boutique bedrooms, all-day dining and a rooftop terrace, it is also the second Young’s pub with rooms to run on green energy. Equipped with its own substation, 100% of its electricity is generated sustainably to power all aspects of the pub. Head chef Ryan Patterson has curated a menu that champions British ingredients, with dishes such as buttermilk fried pheasant with plum chutney, grilled poussin with a celeriac puree and Madeira gravy, roasted Jerusalem artichoke with squash and truffle orzo, and dry-aged 300g rib-eye steak. There is also local craft and draught beer alongside Young’s own ale, cocktails and a range of wine from across the world.

 

BrewDog to open pub in Edinburgh Waverley station tomorrow: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog will open its pub in Edinburgh Waverley train station tomorrow (Wednesday, 30 October). The pub will have around 70 seats, with four-person booths as well as high top counters, and will offer a range of pub classics, as well as BrewDog’s signature wings and burgers. It will be a fifth site in the Scottish capital for BrewDog, alongside its locations at Cowgate, Lothian Road, New Street and the city’s airport. Earlier this month, BrewDog reported its pre-tax losses had more than doubled in 2023 but insisted it had seen a “significant improvement in profitability”, with the business returning to Ebitda positive trading by the first half of 2024. The group’s delayed accounts showed the business posted net revenues up 12% on 2022, to £280.9m last year. Underlying trading losses declined from £12.8m in 2022 to £2.5m in 2023, with that number turning positive in the opening months of 2024. However, the business posted a pre-tax loss of £59m for 2023 compared with a deficit of £25m in 2022, which it said was driven by one-off impairment costs related to historic acquisitions and restructuring.

 

Popeyes UK launches new delivery app, opens new drive-thru: Popeyes UK, the US fried chicken quick service restaurant brand backed here by TDR Capital, has launched a new delivery app. It is now available and free to download on iOS and Android. The launch has been overseen by chief technology officer David Carey, formerly of The Restaurant Group, where, as digital director, he was responsible for brands including Wagamama, Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito. Popeyes UK now has 61 sites and is aiming to have 70 by the end of the year. The latest opening was yesterday (Monday, 28 October) in Gildersome, West Yorkshire. The drive-thru restaurant, at Plantation Way, Unit 1A Wakefield Road, has created more than 100 jobs and marks the brand’s fifth location in West Yorkshire. Earlier this month, Popeyes UK said it is on track to deliver sales of £100m in FY24. The company reported revenue jumped to £58,123,056 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £15,056,674 the previous year as it accelerated its expansion. As a result, pre-tax losses increased to £10,422,263 from £4,503,992 the year before. 

 

Wingstop opens fourth Manchester site: Wingstop, which is being rolled out here by Lemon Pepper Holdings and is currently seeking new investment, has opened its fourth site in Manchester. Located at Parrs Wood Entertainment Centre in East Didsbury, it joins the brand’s dine-in sites at Piccadilly and the Trafford Centre as well as its delivery unit in the city. The new 3,400 square-foot site hosts 70 covers and has created 60 jobs as Wingstop builds towards having 60 UK units by the end of this year and 200 within the next five years. Wingstop UK chief executive Chris Sherriff said: “We’re excited to expand our reach across Manchester. The popularity and success of our current locations prove that Mancunians love our wings. We are on track to reach 60 sites by the end of this year – there is huge momentum, and we are just getting started.”

 

Stonegate to open second Be At One site of the year: Stonegate, the UK’s largest pub company, is set to open its second Be At One site of the year. It will open at 39-41 Watergate Street on Friday, 15 November, offering space for 200 guests. It is the brand’s 41st site nationwide and will follow the launch at Liverpool Victoria in August. Team members have been recruited through the company’s Bartender Academy – a comprehensive programme that includes two weeks of classroom learning followed by on-the-job training in Liverpool, Manchester, and Leeds. Earlier this month, Propel exclusively revealed that Rhys Oldfield, who co-founded the Be At One brand in 1998 before selling it to Stonegate two decades later, is to launch a new concept called Saviour Bars. At the same time, Stonegate confirmed the first site for its new trial concept, Rita’s Beer Hall and Ballroom, will open later this year, in Leeds.

 

Zizzi expands frozen retail range: Azzurri Group-owned Zizzi has expanded its frozen retail range with three new dishes, available in Tesco and Waitrose. The Zizzi in-restaurant best-seller Rustica Sticky Pig Pizza (retailing at £4.50) has been added to the range along with the Rustica Aubergine Parmigiana pizza (also £4.50) and the new Pappardelle Beef Ragu (£3.75). The Rustica Aubergine Parmigiana pizza is exclusive to Waitrose and is available there alongside the Rustica Sticky Pig Pizza and a newly improved garlic bread recipe, Garlic Bread with Mozzarella (£2.75). The Rustica Sticky Pig Pizza and Pappardelle Beef Ragu are now available in Tesco, as well as a new and improved Casareccia Chicken Piccante (£3.75). They join the Italian Ham and Mushroom Rustica Pizza (£4.50), Piccante Pepperoni (£4.50), Chorizo Carbonara (£3.75) and Carne Piccante Calzone (£4.50) already available in Tesco. Rachel Hendry, retail and grocery director at Zizzi, said “We have worked hard to develop unique products and delicious recipes using high-quality, recognisably Zizzi ingredients. We have also improved our recipes to ensure they continue to closely align to the in-restaurant dishes.”

 

Edyn Group – four projects in pipeline, turnover increases to record £73.7m: Aparthotel operator Edyn Group, which operates in the UK under three primary brands – Locke, SACO and Cove – has said it has four sites in the pipeline as it continues its expansion plans. It comes as the group reported turnover increased 5% to a record £73,670,217 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £70,232,863 the year before. Pre-tax losses were down slightly to £4,590,050 from £4,666,452 the previous year as the company opened three new sites. During the period, the company opened aparthotels in London, Berlin and its debut site in Switzerland, in Zurich. In their statement accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “The long-lasting impacts from the covid-19 pandemic continued in the hospitality industry in 2023, most notable through continued labour shortages and ongoing change in business travel. Additionally, the conflict in Ukraine, with resulting inflationary increases on energy and food, interest rate rises and cost-of-living pressures, has impacted consumer spending power in 2023. The resilient business model of the group has helped to moderate the impact of these external pressures, Revpar was up year on year on a like-for-like basis, fuelled by strong average daily rate growth. Gross operating profit per available room has also risen in 2023, despite significant cost inflation. The group continues to seek growth opportunities and has ambitious European expansion plans. The burgeoning technology and creative scenes across European cities match our vision to be an inspired second home for communities in every European gateway city. Further expansion of the Locke and Cove brands is planned through openings in new and existing locations in the coming years with four projects (three in Europe and one in the UK) in the pipeline.” The company, which employs around 200 staff, received £280,864 from a business interruption insurance claim (2022: £398,910). No dividend was paid (2022: nil).

 

Frisco Group acquires third London pub: Frisco Group, the pub business led by award-winning licensee Heath Ball, has acquired its third London pub. Ball, who operates the Red Lion & Sun in Highgate and the Wenlock Arms in Hoxton – as well as the Lockhart in Haywards Heath in West Sussex – is the new owner of The Angel Inn in Highgate Village. Ball told Hot Dinners the new pub will allow him “to try some new things, like a breakfast and brunch menu”. He added: “It will be nice to have a great, perhaps more relaxed, option down the road to send people to which will still have a great food and drink offer, just with a different kind of vibe.” Ball acquired The Red Lion & Sun in 2007 and The Wenlock Arms in 2013, before taking on the Lockhart Tavern, and the Anchor Tap in Horsham, in 2020, from West Sussex brewer Dark Star. He sold the Anchor Tap the following year to Sam Clayton, the owner of the Malt Shovel pub and The Beer Mine beer shop in Horsham.

 

Australian hotel brand opens second UK site: Australian “affordable luxury” lifestyle hotel brand Tribe has opened its second UK site, at Manchester airport. It joins the brand’s location in London’s Canary Wharf, plus ten others across Australia, France, Cambodia and Indonesia. It offers 412 rooms while the ground floor has an Italian-inspired Tribe Table restaurant, a 220-seat bar and a grab and go coffee shop corner serving freshly brewed coffee and pastries. There is also a fully equipped gym and plans for a retail shop. Mark and Melissa Peters, who founded Tribe in Perth in 2017, have said they have up to 43 more hotels in the pipeline.

 

Gloucestershire operators acquire lease of Stonegate pub for second site: Gloucestershire operators Georgia Bird and Greg Watkins have acquired the lease of a Stonegate pub for their second site. The duo, who run The Umbrella pub in Orchard Way, Cheltenham, have taken over The Bell Inn off the A46 Shurdington Road, near the junction with Leckhampton Way, in the same town. With the pub due to reopen in the first week of November, the new owners say they say they are bringing it back as a “traditional home cooked quality food restaurant and watering hole”, reports Gloucestershire Live.

 

Sandwich concept Mondo Sando to open first permanent location this month after overfunding on £30,000 fundraiser: Sandwich concept Mondo Sando will open its first permanent location this month after overfunding on a £30,000 fundraiser. Launched three years ago as a pandemic project by Jack Macrae and Viggo Blegvad, Mondo Sando has held residencies at the Grove House Tavern in Camberwell and The White Horse in Peckham. It will now launch a bricks-and-mortar site at 42 Peckham Road on Friday, 22 November after raising £34,950 from 400 backers on Kickstarter. “We’ve spent a long time looking for a shop that fits the bill,” said Macrae. “South east London has always been our home, it’s where our regulars live, and where we first started out. Expect a fast-slinging sandwich joint by day, and a little dive with affordable drinks, snacks and plates by night.” By day, the café will offer sandwiches such as its Mondo Frango, pork and greens and fish fingers, while by night, it will pivot to a short, changing menu of bar snacks and small plates such as chicken schnitzel, patty melt, aubergine fritti and deep-fried treacle tart. Drinks will include slushies, beer, wine and cocktails. The café will have space for 30 inside, 30 on the front porch and 50 in the back garden.

 

Former Galvin at Windows head chef to open first restaurant: Former Galvin at Windows head chef Joo Won is to open his first restaurant, Cálong, in London’s Stoke Newington. Cálong will combine classical French techniques, seasonal British produce and Won’s Korean culinary heritage. Cálong is taking over the premises in Church Street occupied for nine years by Rubedo, a European bistro and natural wine bar that shut on Saturday (26 October), reports Harden’s. Originally from Busan, South Korea’s second city, Won spent 15 years at Windows, in Mayfair’s Park Lane Hilton, where he rose to the position of head chef. He left to launch his own more casual project. Won has tested Cálong at pop-ups, including a guest-chef residency at Carousel three years ago. His repertoire of dishes include his signature JFC chicken as well as kimchi risotto with egg and cheddar, and vegetable and tofu mandu in mushroom broth.

 

Expanding UK group Magenta acquires purpose-built Manchester hotel: Expanding UK hotel group Magenta has acquired a purpose-built hotel in Manchester. The company has bought Diamond Lodge in the Belle Vue area of the city. The hotel comprises 88 en-suite guest rooms as well as a bar, lounge and restaurant, parking, and a courtyard. The hotel was sold by Stephen and Christine Smith, who acquired the property in 2002 and are selling due to retirement. Magenta director Rohit Lakhanpaul said: “This investment underscores our commitment to securing hotels in key locations throughout the UK. Manchester is a vibrant city, and Diamond Lodge will be an integral part of our expanding portfolio.” Christie & Co acted on the deal. Tom O’Malley, associate director at Christie & Co, who managed the sale, said: “We ran a competitive process on behalf of the owner, receiving multiple offers from a range of buyer types, resulting in a sale to an expanding UK hotel group. The level of interest received underlines the appetite in the market for limited service ‘bedroom factories’ in and around city centres.”

 

Australian construction group acquires Northern Ireland hotel, golf course and country club for €30m: Australian construction group The Brady Group has acquired a Northern Ireland hotel, golf course and country club for €30m. The group, led by Cavan-born Tom Brady, who emigrated to Australia in 1973, is the new owner of Slieve Russell Hotel, Golf & Country Club. The 300-acre property, which opened in 1990, once formed the showpiece of former billionaire Seán Quinn’s business empire in the region. Under the control of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation since 2011, it has remained profitable, and around €7.5m has been invested in upgrading the resort, which has a 224-bedroom hotel, an 18-hole championship golf course, a nine-hole par three course, and a driving range. “I was in Ireland in July, and I played golf at Slieve Russell and heard it was up for sale, so I made enquires and we started the process,” Brady told Anglo Celt. “It’s a beautiful property with a great golf course and a great hotel, and the local angle was part of the decision.” Brady, who owns five hotels in Melbourne, has formed a new company, Brady Hotels Ireland, to manage Slieve Russell.