Young’s CEO – Budget has kicked the can to 2026-2027 before we get certainty and real change: Young’s chief executive Simon Dodd has said the Budget has “kicked the can to 2026-2027 before we get certainty and real change”. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a reform of business rates, but which won’t come into force until 2026-27, with a reduced rate of 40% in the meantime. Reeves also announced a rise in national insurance contributions by employers from 13.8% to 15%, and a 1.7% cut in draught duty. “We are pleased the government has listened and committed to support hospitality through reviewing business rates, but this needed urgent reform, especially when costs are increasing substantially next year,” said Dodd. “The can has been kicked to 2026-2027 before we get certainty and real change. We support the government’s move to increase national living wage. However, this needed to be balanced with support elsewhere, as there isn’t a magic money tree in the gardens of hospitality that can sustain a 6.7% increase in its cost base overnight.” Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of brewer and retailer Greene King, added: “While a reduction in draught duty is welcome, in reality it is a drop in the ocean compared with the cost impact of lowering the threshold for national insurance contributions and increasing the rate paid by employers. I would urge the chancellor to work with the industry to help reduce the cost of doing business as a matter of urgency, with the possible changes to business rates for hospitality in 2026 needing to happen sooner to end the unfair taxation of the nation’s locals.” Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny said: “The lowering of the threshold for Employers’ National Insurance is a crippling hammer blow to our sector, and while news of a new hospitality business rates multiplier is welcome, we don’t know what that looks like and it does not come into play until 2026-27, while the changes to NIC will be with us from April. I’m just utterly disappointed  – the government has chosen to pass the biggest tax burden to hospitality.” Admiral Taverns chief executive Chris Jowsey said: “This was a prime opportunity for the new government to show its support for a sector that contributes more than £34bn to the UK economy each year and provides in excess of one million jobs. It is even more important now that the government uses the next two years to implement a proper reform of the business rates system.” Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, added: “The chancellor clearly recognised the sector with some business rate relief and a cut to draught beer duty, but it is hard to see how this Budget will unlock growth and the critical investment needed to deliver it. The cumulative impact means a £500m increase to the cost of doing business for the industry putting pubs, brewers, investment and jobs at continued risk.” Dean Banks Group chief executive Dean Banks said: “We’re at a crossroads where policy decisions could either nurture or neglect the independent spirit of entrepreneurship. I urge for a dialogue that includes small business owners in crafting solutions that ensure fair wages while also safeguarding the diversity and vibrancy of local economies.” Diageo GB managing director Nuno Teles added: “On the campaign trail, Sir Keir Starmer pledged to ‘back the Scotch whisky industry to the hilt’. Instead, the government has broken this promise and slammed even more duty on spirits.” UKHospitality will today (Thursday, 30 October), at 10.30am, host a special Budget webinar, where it will “unpack the details and explain what they mean for your business, as well as setting out our priorities for engagement with government in the coming months and years”. Register here. 

 

Premium Club members to receive updated segmented Multi-Site Database featuring 548 café bakery operators tomorrow: Premium Club members are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database tomorrow (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%) pub and bar 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 cafe bakery sector include Manchester dessert concept Cheat Daze, Australian Doughnut brand Lena Lu Donuts, and Welsh doughnut and café concept WhoCult. 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.

Edinburgh restaurant transported from San Francisco added to Michelin Guide: An Edinburgh restaurant transported to the Scottish capital from San Francisco has been added to the Michelin Guide. Avery was initially located on the west coast of the US, but having fallen in love with Edinburgh on a trip there, chef Rodney Wages moved himself and his business there. Having opened in May at 54 St Stephen Street, Avery offers “finely crafted dishes that fuse global influences with superb Scottish ingredients”. It is one of 16 new additions to the Guide in the UK and Ireland in October, along with Ahmet Dede’s Baba’de in Baltimore, County Cork – a spin-off of his two Michelin-starred flagship Dede restaurant, serving authentic Turkish plates. Also added is Lita, a new restaurant from Canadian-born restaurateur Daniel Koukarskikh which opened in London’s Marylebone this spring. Other London additions are Agora, Cloth, Kioku by Endo and The Hero. The other additions are 1887 (Achnasheen), Allta (Dublin), Elements (Glasgow), Goat on the Roof (Newbury), Gorse (Cardiff), Mr Deanes (Belfast), Norman’s Neighbourhood Bistro (Kirkburton), Tassili (St Helier) and The Tartan Fox (Summercourt).

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a hotel located on the west coast of Ireland that is looking to hire a financial controller. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “They will assist the chief financial officer in administering all financial aspects of the hotel's operation. The financial controller will ensure that all policies and procedures are observed and be responsible for safeguarding the hotel assets and financial resources, contributing to maximising hotel profitability. The financial controller will have a university degree – major in accounting or finance preferred. ACCA, ACA or CIMA are a plus but not essential but the individual needs at least five years’ experience as an accountant in a hotel setting.” The salary is up to €70,000 (£60,000). For more information, email fabian@corecruitment.com.

 

Exclusive – Big Table Group hires Gareth Lock as new Las Iguanas MD: Big Table Group – the Bella Italia, Las Iguanas and Banana Tree operator – has hired Gareth Lock as the new managing director of its 47-strong Las Iguanas brand as well as the group’s Center Parcs division, Propel has learned. Lock previously spent more than three years at Casual Dining Group and was chief operating officer across its Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Belgo brands. Prior to that, he was chief operating officer at Las Iguanas. Lock was also national operations director at Spirit Group and was most recently chief operating officer at Clermont Hotel Group, where he worked with current Big Table Group chief executive Alan Morgan. Lock will be taking up his new role at Las Iguanas at the start of December. His appointment comes after Lisa Gibbons, current managing director of the Las Iguanas and Center Parcs divisions, made the decision to leave the business. Gibbons, who has more than 20 years’ experience in hospitality, having started her career in operations at Mitchells & Butlers, was named managing director of The Big Table’s portfolio division – a division including the Café Rouge, Center Parcs and franchise restaurants – in 2022. She then moved across to lead the Las Iguanas and Center Parcs division last summer. Morgan said: “Lisa has been a great driving force behind many brands over the years, and her passion for hospitality has inspired our team. While we will miss her and her leadership, we wish her all the best in her future endeavours.” The change of leadership at Las Iguanas comes as Big Table Group makes some changes to its structure, moving some brand functions into central teams to drive “stronger efficiencies and best practices in the specific areas that closely support our brands”. As part of the change, the company has created three new roles. Jen Read, the former finance director of Las Iguanas, becomes commercial director – supporting areas such as food and beverage, labour, delivery, central sales, insight, and group digital marketing. James Pidduck, previously finance director for both Bella/Amalfi/franchising and leisure divisions, becomes commercial finance director for the group. Hayley Moosa moves into a group HR director role from her previous role as HR director for Bella/Amalfi/franchising and the Big Table Group support teams. 

 

Sandwich Sandwich secures second London outlet for ‘largest sandwich shop in UK’, plans up to 25 sites over next five years: Bristol operator Sandwich Sandwich, which last October won the £100,000 top prize in the 2023 Uber Eats restaurant of the year awards, has secured its second site in London, in the City. Founder Nick Kleiner told Propel’s Multi-Club Conference that the business, which made its debut in London earlier this year in Gresham Street, has secured a site in Mark Lane – linking Great Tower Street and Fenchurch Street. He said the circa 3,500 square-foot site will be the “largest sandwich shop in the UK” when it opens. He added the business hoped to grow to up to 25 sites in the capital over the next five years and had already generated investment and franchise interest. The company, which also operates three sites in Bristol, was founded in 2012 and is operated by Kleiner and his son Joshua. They previously said they plan to launch locations both across the UK and internationally, including ten in London over the next two to three years. Earlier this year, the company appointed former Comptoir Group chief executive Chaker Hanna as a non-executive director. Sandwich Sandwich is also preparing to take its first steps into dark kitchens with Uber Eats. 

 

Additional 18 Cineworld sites face threat of closure: An additional 18 Cineworld cinemas are facing the threat of closure next month amid crunch talks with landlords. The company has warned the sites across the UK could shut before Christmas if deals are not reached with their owners. If negotiations to keep them open fail, the closures would add to five already shut during the summer, taking the total to 23. Cineworld recently secured court approval for a restructuring plan that imposed steep rent cuts on many of its cinemas’ landlords. The plan attracted opposition from a string of blue-chip landlords, including British Land and Land Securities, but won sufficient support from creditors to be pushed through. A Cineworld spokesperson told Sky News: “We want to reassure our customers and staff that we have no plans to close any additional cinemas beyond the five already closed. However, there are 18 cinemas left within our estate where we are awaiting further communications from landlords regarding their intentions. We are pleased to confirm that none have served notice to date, and we remain hopeful that they will work with us to keep these cinemas open.” Documents circulated as part of the restructuring plan process highlighted the fact the company did not have sufficient funding to meet a quarterly rent bill on 24 June of £15.9m. The group trades from more than 100 locations in Britain, including at the Picturehouse brand. Cineworld expanded as the cinema empire developed by the Greidinger family grew through a series of acquisitions, including Cinema City in 2014 and US-based Regal Cinemas four years later. However, the pressures of the pandemic quickly turned its $8.8bn in debt and lease liability into a burden, prompting it to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US in 2022. Cineworld delisted from the London Stock Exchange last year after its share price collapsed and was taken over by its lenders through a debt-for-equity swap.

 

Time Out raises £8.4m as it plans new markets in London and New York: Time Out Group has raised £8.4m to fund two new potential markets in London and New York, and to accelerate media technology investments. The group announced plans on Wednesday morning (30 October) to raise the funds through a share placing, which represented about 5% of the company’s existing issued share capital. The funds will be used towards proposals to open a new market in excess of 20,000 square foot in London, at 10 Piccadilly. An initial cash outlay of £2.6m for the rent deposit (and associated fees) secures a 15-year lease of the site and anticipated handover is in 2026, with opening expected in 2027. Time Out also intends to enter into a ten-year (with an option to extend to 20 years) lease over a circa 10,000 square-foot existing food hall in New York. This site is targeted to reopen as a Time Out Market in summer 2025. It will cost the company circa £2m to secure the site (a combination of rent deposit, capex and associated fees). Meanwhile, the company intends to make an investment of approximately £3.4m in technology developments. It came as Time Out reported revenue from its market operations fell 6% to £67,207,000 for the year ending 30 June 2024 compared with £71,511,000 the previous year. Adjusted Ebitda was up 87% to £12,033,000 from £6,437,000 the year before. New markets are set to open in Bahrain, Budapest, Vancouver and Osaka within the next 12 months, while sites in Abu Dhabi (2025) and Prague and Riyadh (both 2027) are also in the pipeline.

 

Pizza Hut launches new app in next step of digital innovation: Pizza Hut has launched its new app in the next step of its digital innovation. The new “personalised” customer app comes as part of the brand reset earlier this year with its “Together We Pizza” campaign, with the launch of its handcrafted pizzas and introduced “playful” brand positioning. Pizza Hut said the new app “puts the customer first and provides multiple benefits in an easily accessible interface”, with the Hut Reward loyalty card providing limited time deals, special recipe exclusives, in-app messaging and live order tracking. When spending either £15 on delivery or £10 on a collection order on the app, customers can secure a free large pizza for a limited time only, subject to conditions. Nicolas Burquier, managing director, Pizza Hut said: “Pizza Hut is committed to being at the forefront of digital innovation while always delivering on great taste. We understand that every single day people are using apps to make their lives easier, and food should be no different. That is why we feel it is critical that pizza lovers have access to a great app that delivers pizza for customers in the way they want.”

 

Castle Rock – year-to-date figures ‘promising’, confident of a ‘successful’ financial year ending March 2025: Nottingham brewer and retailer Castle Rock Brewery has said its year-to-date figures are “promising” and that it is confident of a “successful” financial year ending March 2025. Manging director Colin Wilde said headline turnover for the year ending March 2024 was up by 9.5% to £10.5m, with gross profit growing in similar vein. Wilde said the business has “developed and moved forward” this year, despite it “undoubtedly remaining a difficult economic environment”. During the year, Castle Rock added to its long-term bank debt to finance the transfer of a key site from a leasehold into a freehold asset, with the subsequent auditor revaluation “significantly” adding to shareholders funds in the balance sheet. Wilde said a decrease in net profit was down partly to increasing cost headwinds, but predominantly driven by some “prudent provisions” already reported as profit in the prior year, noting that March 2024 compared well with the running level seen before the pandemic. “In light of a Budget that could be challenging for our sector, Castle Rock’s year-to-date figures remain promising,” Wilde added. “The board is confident that the financial year ending March 2025 will be another successful one.” Castle Rock operates Nottingham’s largest independent brewery and manages 17 pubs in the East Midlands and beyond. The portfolio includes The Canalhouse, which was recently purchased by Castle Rock by freehold at auction following a sale by Nottingham City Council. 

Japanese speciality coffee house %Arabica appoints Mario C Bauer as non-executive director: Japanese speciality coffee house %Arabica, which has more than 200 cafes and franchises across the world including four in the UK, has appointed Mario C Bauer as a non-executive director, Propel has learned. Bauer, who will join the board tomorrow (Friday, 1 November) and is former head of international franchising at Vapiano, will play a pivotal role in further strengthening %Arabica’s global expansion within the specialty coffee market. Kenneth Shoji, founder of %Arabica, said: “Mario’s extensive expertise in international franchising will undoubtedly help elevate %Arabica to new heights. Until now, we have grown the business through trial and error, but Mario’s involvement marks the beginning of a new chapter for the brand.” Bauer added: “Ken is a true entrepreneur, and I have always admired innovators within the industry. I look forward to contributing my energy and passion to the brand and working alongside Ken and his team on this exciting journey.” The business is planning to expand its global presence with new stores planned across Europe, North America and Asia. The group made its UK debut in 2019 with two London openings – in King Street in Covent Garden and Broadway Market in Hackney. Two further sites have since opened in the capital – in South Moulton Street and Spitalfields Market. Bauer is also part of consortium Love & Food Restaurant Holdings, which acquired Vapiano in 2020.

  

Chaiiwala opens second airport site: Indian street food franchise Chaiiwala has opened its second airport site. Propel revealed last month that the brand had secured a site at Birmingham airport for its second such location, having opened its first this summer, at London Luton airport. Chaiiwala has now opened a 1,100 square-foot kiosk in Birmingham airport’s departures lounge following a £500,000 investment. Chaiiwala’s 115th store globally, it has created 20 jobs and operates a click-and-collect service via its app. The site offers signature products such as karak chaii and karak coffee alongside food including an “English-Ish Breakfast”, masala chips and samosas. Chaiiwala chief executive Muhummed Ibrahim said: “We are excited to bring our varied food offering and enhanced choice to travellers at Birmingham airport. Chaiiwala is a different food concept to what is currently on offer at airports and travel hubs in the UK. Our goal is to enhance the experience of our customers who are travelling by providing exceptional dining options and the addition of Chaiiwala to Birmingham airport is a key part of that vision.” The new store will be operated by long-term partner, EG On The Move, which operates several Chaiiwala stores in the UK, including drive-thrus in Bolton and Blackburn. “Opening Chaiiwala at Birmingham airport is a fantastic step forward in our strategy to give customers on move access to popular, high-quality foodservice brands,” said Junaid Manjra, director of retail and foodservice at EG On The Move. “Building on our successful roadside Chaiiwala concession network, this launch extends our strategic vision to offer transient roadside customers and travellers at travel hubs like airports and train stations, fresh and exciting foodservice choices, combining convenience with a quality food and drink experience.” Established in 2015 in Leicester, Chaiiwala’s global network of 115 stores includes 97 in the UK, with its international sites including three in the UAE and 15 in Canada.

 

Lebanon sweet treats and coffee shop concept set to open first UK site: Lebanon sweet treats and coffee shop concept Rifai is set to open its first UK site. With more than 40 boutiques in Lebanon and two flagship stores in Paris, Rifai is now expanding to the UK with a launch next month at 217 Brompton Road. Rifai Knightsbridge will offer signature nut mixes, handpicked dried fruits, traditional Middle Eastern sweets, chocolate and fresh nut butters, as well as a coffee section where guests can “sit back, relax and savour your favourite brew in a cosy atmosphere”. The Rifai family opened its first boutique in Beirut in 1948. Chief executive Tania Ezzedine said: “We are thrilled to bring the rich flavours and proud traditions of Lebanon to London. Our first UK store will allow customers to experience the finest Middle Eastern treats, all while upholding the values of quality, authenticity, and sustainability that Rifai has stood for since our beginnings. We already had a strong presence in London through our collaboration with Harrods since 2019. Now, with the opening of our stand-alone flagship store, we look forward to deepening our connection with British consumers and offering them a taste of Lebanese heritage right in the heart of Knightsbridge.”

 

Thunderbird Fried Chicken sees 10,000 downloads of new app in less than three months: Thunderbird Fried Chicken, the wings and fried chicken concept backed by TriSpan, has seen 10,000 downloads of its loyalty and rewards-based app within less than three months. The company, which operates six Central London sites alongside an exclusive franchise agreement with Parkdean Resorts, soft-launched the white-labelled Pepper app in August before a light-touch campaign to its existing database and on-site customers began in September 2024. By signing up to the app, users become part of the Thunderclub, which offers reward stamps for each visit alongside “spot rewards” and offers. Plans moving forward are to bring their regular weekly themed food days – Wing Wednesday (where customers get 50% off all wings) and Strip Sunday (half price sharing buckets) – on to the app, making them available to Thunderclub members only. Chief executive Paul Gilchrist said. “We knew we had a very loyal fan base, and this is even more apparent on seeing how quickly our customers have downloaded and signed up. We’re looking forward to further growth and adding to the app’s capabilities.” 

 

Eden Hotel Collection reports revenue remains below pre-covid levels as longer-term pandemic effects and costs impact business: Eden Hotel Collection has reported turnover increased to £16,932,271 for the year ending 31 March 2024 compared with £16,460,257 the year before. However, revenue remained below the £19,474,326 for the year ending 31 March 2019 – the last full year before the covid pandemic. The business, which operates six luxury hotels across the Midlands, Cotswolds and south west, saw pre-tax loses widen to £3,474,051 from £2,668,193 the year before (2019: loss of £7,756,523). In his report accompanying the accounts, director Sir Peter Rigby stated: “The refurbishment programme continued with the commencement of a £1.2m refurbishment of the Manor House bedrooms at Mallory Court in Royal Leamington Spa. Additionally, a mews apartment complex within the grounds of Bovey Castle was purchased to provide a staff village for our employee accommodation as part of our continual upgrades in the employee package. While the direct impact of the covid-19 pandemic has come to an end, there continues to be longer term and regional effects that have impacted the business. In particular the south west has seen a much reduced demand for another year and customer booking patterns are much less predictable with a greater degree of cancellation than historic norms. Inflation and cost of living has had an impact during the year, both on the customer base, which has been forced to be more selective in their discretionary spend, and in the internal cost base where food inflation in particular has been extreme, together with increased payroll putting pressure on margins. The directors recognise that trade continues to be affected by both market changes from covid recovery and the current economic uncertainty. Additionally, disruption from the kitchen refurbishment at Bovey Castle and the commencement of the bedroom refurbishment at Mallory Court were significant in the final performance.” The company, which employs around 400 staff, did not receive any government grants (2023: £3,181). No dividend was paid (2023: nil). Eden Hotel Collection is a subsidiary of the Rigby Group, a family-owned business operating across Europe in technology, airports and real estate as well as hotels. Founded in 1975, it has grown to be the 12th largest family business in the UK, employing more than 8,000 people and with a consolidated turnover of more than £3.5bn.

 

Neapolitan pizza concept Santa Maria secures fifth site: Neapolitan pizza concept Santa Maria has acquired its fifth site, Propel has learned. Santa Maria, which was founded by Pasquale Chionchio and Angelo Ambrosio in Ealing in 2010, has secured the former Hawthorn restaurant premises in Station Parade in Kew, south west London. As well as Ealing, Santa Maria also operates sites in Fitzrovia, Fulham and Islington in the capital. Restaurant Property acted on the Kew deal.

 

M&B to reopen two further Browns sites following extensive refurbishments: Mitchells & Butlers is set to reopen two more of its Browns Brasserie & Bars sites following extensive refurbishments. Following the relaunch of its Cambridge site earlier this month, its Sutton Park (21 November) and Exeter (28 November) locations will follow next month. Each of the renovations “pays homage to the buildings’ histories while introducing a fresh, modern style” – with a standalone cocktail bar and an expansive dining area. The restaurants will offer Browns’ festive menu, including braised blade of beef with buttered mash, maple roast carrots, braised red cabbage, shaved Brussels sprouts with chestnuts, red wine and black garlic sauce; and fillet of sea bass with sauteed potatoes, red peppers, black olive tapenade and salsa verde. Also available will be Browns’ festive afternoon tea, featuring brioche rolls with lobster tail in Sicilian lemon and dill mayonnaise; turkey and stuffing sandwiches with red onion chutney; camembert, cranberry and chestnut sandwiches; and maple, mustard and orange dressed pigs in blankets. M&B operates 26 Browns sites alongside its Toby Carvery, Harvester, Ego and All Bar One estates.

 

Scottish restaurant group Scoop opens fourth site: Scottish restaurant group Scoop has opened its fourth site. The group launched with the Ox and Finch restaurant in Glasgow’s Sauciehall Street a decade ago, followed by south east Asian concept Ka Pao in the city’s Vincombe Street in 2020. Scoop branched out to Edinburgh in 2022 with a second Ka Pao site, in the St James Quarter, and has now returned to Glasgow to open the 138-cover Margo at 68 Miller Street. A menu focused on Scottish seafood, meat butchered in house and bread and pasta made from scratch includes dishes such as skate wing with kumquat kosho, trout roe and green peppercorns; Lamb faggot with bonnet polenta and salsa verde; a 600g sirloin on the bone with sauce Margo; and half Creedy Carver duck with liver parfait, marmalade and toast. There will also be cocktails including signature frozen martinis and yoghurt punch, as well as classic fine wines sitting alongside natural and biodynamic bottles from small, independent producers. Margo seats 138 diners across a main dining room and upper mezzanine, and there is also a large open kitchen with counter seating. Scoop managing director Jonathan MacDonald said: “Margo is an evolution of our first restaurant, Ox and Finch, which has just celebrated its tenth birthday. While retaining lots of the features that have made Ox and Finch so popular for the last decade, Margo is bigger and bolder. We’re very excited to be able to share what we’ve been working on with Glasgow, and we’ve also got some exciting plans coming up for Ox and Finch later in the year.” As previously reported, Scoop will next month also open site number five with the launch of underground bar and restaurant Sebb’s in the space below Margo.

 

Independent UK brewing group Sunrise Alliance Beverages adds London brewery Gipsy Hill to portfolio: Independent UK brewing group Sunrise Alliance Beverages, previously St Peter’s Brewery Group, has added London craft brewery Gipsy Hill to its portfolio. Gipsy Hill will become part of the Sunrise Group, which will invest into Gipsy Hill. Gipsy Hill will maintain its independence, with day-to-day operations and brewing remaining in the hands of co-founder and managing director, Sam McMeekin, and his team. Production will stay at Gipsy Hill's existing facilities. Sunrise Group said in a time of significant industry challenge, this partnership provides Gipsy Hill “with stability and the resources to navigate the evolving market environment and position it for sustainable future growth. McMeekin said: “This strategic partnership allows us to keep doing what we do best: brewing exceptional beer for our loyal customers.” Sunrise Alliance Beverages chief executive Richard Mather added: “Gipsy Hill is a fantastic business with excellent beer, strong brands and loyal consumers. Our union will enable Gipsy Hill to benefit from our group’s collective resources and operational efficiencies, while retaining its autonomy and character.”

 

Berkshire coffee shop owner partners with fellow operator for fourth site: Berkshire coffee shop chain owner Ranj Nagi has partnered with fellow operator Pavan Badesha for her fourth site. Nagi, who previously spent two decades working in financial services solutions, is behind Saints Café and Poached by Saints in Maidenhead, and The Cuppa in Holyport. She has now partnered with Badesha, owner of Chai Cocoa in Maidenhead, to open The Coffee Collab in the atrium of the town’s Nicholson’s Centre. The venture was initiated with a vision to showcase speciality coffee and Nagi’s other independent coffee shops. It offers teas, chai lattes, matcha lattes, milkshakes, smoothies, iced lattes, iced matchas, bubble tea and pastries alongside its own blend coffee. “It’s a different [coffee] blend again to all the others,” she said. “It’s a specialty coffee, an acquired taste. But people who know coffee will know instantly the difference between a high street brand and us. The pastries are from an artisan bakery and get delivered every morning.”

 

Owner of drag show concept FunnyBoyz opens new Benidorm-themed bar in Liverpool: The owner of drag show concept FunnyBoyz has opened a new Benidorm-themed bar in Liverpool. Drag queen Linda Gold, who operates FunnyBoyz sites in Liverpool and Middlesbrough, has taken on the former Social site in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. The Benidorm Bar, on Stanley Street, celebrates the hit ITV show and features musical bingo, karaoke, drag queen DJs, pool tables and games. Customers can also buy a wristband that allows them to buy pints for £1, a concept the owner is bringing from her days as a resident entertainer at The Birdcage in Alicante, where they charged €1. “For the past ten years, we all hear the same thing, that Liverpool’s Pride Quarter is inferior to scenes in Manchester and Blackpool,” Gold told the Liverpool Echo. “My goal has always been to create a scene worthy of our closest rivals. We have ambitious efforts of competing with queer cities such as London, Barcelona and Berlin and want to drive tourism upwards across the wider region.” Gold previously held Benidorm Bingo events at venues such as Liverpool’s Camp & Furness, and with and Mersey Ferries.

 

Kent building housing Epic Bars & Club’s Greatest Showman-themed nightclub goes up for auction: A Kent building housing Epic Bars & Club’s Greatest Showman-themed nightclub, Ovation, is set to go up for auction. Epic Bars & Club’s – the new venture from Mark Shorting and Nigel Blair, two of the founders of the Fever Bar business – opened Ovation at 28-32 Gabriel’s Hill in Maidstone last year. It took over from Madison’s bar and restaurant after it suddenly closed in 2022, and before that, was home to Strawberry Moons until 2017. Now, the 16,047 square-foot space, which also houses a Paddy McGinty’s bar, has been listed for sale by auctioneers Acuitus, with a freehold guide price of £1.1 million. The annual rental income from the club is £115,000, rising to £120,000 in May 2025. The Epic Bar-owned businesses will remain unaffected due to a 15-year lease which began in the spring of last year. Company director Duncan Squires told Kent Live: “It’s always been a great site for the company and we’re looking forward to continuing what we are doing each weekend.” Epic Bars & Clubs currently operates nine sites which include the Trilogy nightclub brand, Labyrinth Bath, Home & Botanic Cheltenham and the Botanic bar brand. Earlier this year, having acquired several sites from Rekom UK, Epic told Propel it is on the expansion trail and looking to become the UK’s largest chain of bars and nightclubs.

 

London-based Irish pub concept opens second site: London-based Irish pub concept Nancy Spains has opened its second site. Brothers Peter and Nicholas O’Halloran, who have a background working in hospitality in Ireland, opened their first Nancy Spains in March, at 128-139 Curtain Road in Shoreditch. They have now doubled up with a launch at 143 Fenchurch Street in Monument, offering cocktails, Irish pints and live music. It also has plans to turn its spacious basement into “something special”. A Nancy Spains spokesman said: “Expect exclusive events, private parties, and a few surprises that we’re excited to reveal soon.”