New Dawn Pubs – the Budget will require us to find an extra £240,800 to continue operating, 5.47% of our annual revenue: Mark Robson, co-founder of New Dawn Pubs, the Surrey-based company led by the founders of Red Mist Leisure, has said that the Budget will require his three-strong business to find an extra £240,800 to continue operating, which is 5.47% of its annual revenue. Robson said: “The end of 2024 is within reach and it’s hard to remain optimistic for 2025 following the recent Budget. I met Gregory Stafford, our new local (Farnham & Bordon) MP, earlier this week and expressed my concerns to him. He was very receptive and understanding of our concerns and has agreed to host a roundtable meeting in the new year with all 57 publicans in his constituency. So, how will the new Budget decisions impact the growth and success of my business? Business rate relief has been halved from 75% to 40%, which reduces the ability for fair play against the bigger players in the industry. We need to find an additional £36,300 next year to plug this gap. Employer’s national insurance has increased from 13.8% to 15%. More significant, however, is the reduction to earnings threshold, which triggers employers having to pay NI for an employee earning £5,000 (was £9,200). This will now capture a large proportion of our workforce, which means we need to find another £43,000 to add to the salary pot. National minimum wage has increased by 6.7% for 21 years-plus and 16.7% for 18 to 21-year-olds. As a guide, our annual payroll as a small business is circa £1.7m, and we now need to find an extra £161,500 from our magical money tree. In conclusion, the Budget will require us to find an extra £240,800 to continue operating, which is 5.47% of our annual revenue. We’re lucky enough to have over 20 years of industry wisdom and customer loyalty in our corner, but that still may not be enough to survive. There will be many business fatalities to follow, and the industry will undoubtedly have to pass some of these costs on to customers, it simply can’t be avoided.” UKHospitality says higher-than-expected level of inflation is a warning of what could come unless the government rethinks employer national insurance contributions – see Industry News.

 

Premium Club members to receive next Who's Who of UK Hospitality and videos from Multi-Club Conference tomorrow: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club members tomorrow (Friday, 22 November), at midday. Another 11 companies have been added to the database, which now features 874 companies. This month’s edition will also include 61 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club members will also receive all the videos from the final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2024 tomorrow, at 9am. They include Sophia Handschuh, founder of Sourdough Sophia, the London micro bakery concept, on how the business is looking to bring something new to the bakery/café category and plans for further sites. Meanwhile, Ben Lacey, managing director of Insomnia Cookies UK, discusses the late-night bakery brand’s entry into the UK market, creating a highly engaged community on social media – especially with Generation Z consumers, and its ambition to build a nationwide presence. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. 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.

 

UKHospitality – ‘higher-than-expected level of inflation ominous warning of what could come unless government rethinks employer NIC’: UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said the “higher-than-expected level of inflation is an ominous warning of what could come unless the government rethinks its changes to employer national insurance contributions”. UK inflation rose in the year to October to 2.3%, an increase from 1.7% in September, in part due to rising energy prices, official figures from the Office for National Statistics showed. The rate, which is closely monitored to determine interest rates, is now back above the Bank of England’s 2% target. In response, Nicholls said: “This higher-than-expected level of inflation is an ominous warning of what could come in April, when businesses across the country will be hit by significant cost increases. Hospitality is braced for its own £3.4bn cost increase, and that will impact jobs and push up prices, which we know will be a struggle for customers. The reality is that businesses are unable to absorb any more cost, having taken on so much over the past four years, and it is consumers and team members that will feel the effects. If the government wants to keep a lid on inflation, protect jobs and help businesses, it must urgently rethink its changes to employer national insurance contributions. I am calling for it to protect businesses and staff by introducing either a new employer national insurance contributions band for lower earners or implement an exemption for lower band taxpayers working fewer than 20 hours per week.”

 

Tesco Hospitality MD – preconception that in-store dining is downmarket is plain wrong, cafes run as a stand-alone business as hospitality is very different from retail: Tesco Hospitality managing director Adam Martin has said the preconception that in-store dining is downmarket is “plain wrong”, and its cafes are run as a stand-alone business as “hospitality is very different from retail”. Martin told the Propel Multi-Club Conference that the business employs 3,000 people who work only in the cafes and never on the shop floor. “We treat it as a stand-alone business as hospitality is very different from retail – you don’t want people going from sitting on the tills to flipping burgers,” he said. “We took the decision that this was first and foremost for people shopping at Tesco, and 70% of our customers are also shoppers. We wanted to create an environment we felt reflected positively on the brand but could stand on its own in terms of financial performance – every single one has to make a profit. We are quite ambitious on the menu too – you can get shakshuka eggs and we have matcha tea coming soon, while avocado on toast sells amazingly well. The preconception that in-store dining is downmarket is plain wrong. That doesn’t mean it’s not value, but it’s value in terms of quality for price and service rather than how cheap can you make it, which is emphatically what we’re not.” He added. “We try to work with the Tesco brand when it makes sense for the customer but we’re not ideological about this. Where we have a brand affiliation that works well, we’ll use it, and about a third of the stuff we use in the cafes, you can buy in the shops. If retail products work in a hospitality environment, we take them, but if they don’t, we’ll go elsewhere. Customer feedback told us they don’t want cafes to be product showrooms. We try to keep our own identity as a business rather than dial into the master brand.” Martin was among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference. His video and the 12 others from the conference will be made available to Premium Club members tomorrow (Friday, 22 November), at 9am. 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 a supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

 

James Watt – I lost £150,000 on Clean Kitchen Club investment, concept’s remaining site on the market: James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog, has said that his investment in Clean Kitchen Club, the plant-based, fast-food concept was “the single largest sum that I have ever lost on a single investment”, as doubts about the future of the business increased. Watt said: “I have a portfolio of 20 amazing companies which I have invested in, ranging from Mous to Tallow + Ash and from Dash Water to Moth Drinks. I love investing in very early-stage companies, which inevitably means that some of them don’t quite make it. Without being comfortable with the real possibility that you might sometimes lose your money, it is hard to back the eventual winners. Back in 2020 I invested £150,000 into a business called Clean Kitchen. Unfortunately, the business did not quite make it, and I lost every single penny of my investment. This loss remains, the single largest sum that I have ever lost on a single investment.” Watt’s comments come as Propel understands that Clean Kitchen Club’s remaining site in Battersea Power Station is being marketed. The business was founded in 2020 by YouTuber Mikey Pearce and Verity Bowditch, from TV show Made in Chelsea, as a healthier alternative to fast food. The business attracted investment from Watt and Steve Easterbrook, the ex-chief executive of McDonald’s, PizzaExpress and Wagamama. It previously ran sites in Wembley, Soho and Notting Hill, and a site in Camden remains “temporarily closed”. Earlier this year, Bowditch announced she had stepped back from running the plant-based restaurant brand after meat was added to its menu. Propel revealed earlier this summer that one company attached to the business – Champons – had been placed into liquidation. 

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a restaurant business that is seeking a chief marketing and commercial officer to join its executive team in Munich. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This is a pivotal role in defining and driving the brand's impact and growth across multiple regions. This position will also focus on brand and e-commerce. The business is looking for a hands-on leader in the marketing field. The role involves ensuring the brand is customer-driven by leading the commercial agenda, building customer loyalty, and spearheading the digital marketing strategy. Responsibilities will include setting and achieving targets, managing digital and traditional marketing channels and overseeing brand alignment and strategic positioning across different markets.” The salary is up to €150,000. For more information, email irene@corecruitment.com.

 

Palmers completes minority shareholder buyout: Family-run brewery and pub company Palmers, which operates 53 pubs in the south west, has completes its minority shareholder buyout with a £6m bank loan and £5.5m cash. The company agreed the buyout of the 40% minority shareholder in August 2023, and the purchase of 188,768 ordinary shares and 120,000 preference shares has now been completed. The remaining 91,234 ordinary shares will be purchased in tranches, the final one by August 2028, financed by the sale of selected non-core assets and cash generated from trading activities. The bank loan is repayable in quarterly instalments of £92,500 commencing 31 December 2024, with a final balance due on 11 August 2027. It comes as the business reported turnover increased from £9,736,675 to £10,323,701 during the year to 31 March 2024. Pre-tax profit grew from £1,515,748 in 2022 to £2,801,284 as the company made a £65,000 profit on disposal of properties (2022: loss of £192,171) and £940,182 in a fair value adjustment of investment properties. Dividends of £5,850 were paid (2022: £9,750). Director Anthony Palmer said: “Despite the challenges in the UK pub industry, we have demonstrated resilience in our operations, enabling us to pre-empt and mitigate the full potential effect of these risks. Underlying sales of goods increased by 7%, a promising sign given the pressures on our consumers due to rising costs, taxes, and interest rates. We continue to invest in refreshing and refurbishing our pubs to make them attractive family and food destinations, and this was reflected by the rental income growth of 3% in 2024. Cost efficiencies throughout the brewery area of the business have enabled us to control our cost of sales and result in the further growth of our operating profit from £1,634,648 to £1,970,314. While our net assets decreased in 2024 due to the restructuring, we have maintained a strong base, including our unique historic brewhouse and well-invested pubs scattered across the West Country. The company remains well-placed to continue to adapt to changing political, economic and environmental circumstances.”

Domino’s franchisee strengthens north west presence with acquisition: Domino’s Pizza Group franchisee Topacio Holding has strengthened its presence in the north west of England with the acquisition of fellow franchisee Glamorgan Retail for an undisclosed sum, Propel has learned. Serving Lancashire and the Greater Manchester areas, Glamorgan Retail operated seven “high performing Domino’s stores” and has built a strong market presence in the north west region, with a reputation for “delivering excellent sales performance and consistent growth”. Glamorgan, which was majority owned by Jeremy Davies, entered the Domino’s system in September 2010 with the acquisition of a site in Swinton. This was followed by the company further acquiring the branches of Westhoughton, Whitefield and Rochdale. Glamorgan then continued its growth by developing and opening new sites in the areas of Walkden, Blackburn and Rawtenstall. Topacio Holding, led by Mohammed Amin, already operates 17 Domino’s stores in the north west, along with a further 11 in the south east. PKF Smith Cooper advised on the deal. David Crump of PKF Smith Cooper said: “We were delighted to act on this important transaction to crystallise the investment in Glamorgan, one of the region’s leading Domino’s franchisees, and in doing so, securing a bright future for the company. As an existing and highly regarded member of the Domino’s franchise with a significant north west presence, Topacio was a standout acquiror of the company and we look forward to seeing the enlarged group continue the growth of Domino’s in the area.” Topacio Holdings will feature in the next Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. The database is updated every two months, and the latest version features 180 businesses. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

 

International bistro brand Bagatelle set to open second London site ahead of further UK expansion: International bistro brand Bagatelle has told Propel it is set to open a second London site ahead of further UK expansion. The company, which was founded in New York, currently trades from 14 venues globally including Mykonos, St Tropez, Coucheval and Mexico City. The business opened its debut site here, and its only UK site to date, in London’s Mayfair in the summer of 2018. In February, Propel revealed that it is planning a Manchester opening after hiring property advisory firm Starka to seek sites between 3,500 and 5,500 square feet in the city. Founder and chief executive Aymeric Clemente told Propel he now has wider plans for the UK, starting in West London. “We’re opening a new bistro in Notting Hill,” he said. “Sharif Ansar (Bagatelle’s director of European operations) is also exploring unique opportunities to expand the Bagatelle brand within the UK, including potential locations in Manchester and the Greater London area. London has always maintained a steady business. It serves as a gateway to the Middle East and has been key in setting trends for our UAE expansion. However, since Brexit, we’ve faced challenges, particularly with HR and recruiting staff, which has become much more difficult. Despite the challenges brought by Brexit, we’ve experienced continuous growth over the years. While summers tend to be slower, the recent refurbishment (at the Mayfair site) has brought an influx of new visitors alongside our loyal customers returning. We’re excited to remain a staple in Mayfair, especially with the upcoming launch of our new lounge bar, Intita, set for January. We haven’t been significantly affected by work from home patterns as we’re not primarily a lunch destination. Fortunately, many workers in Mayfair returned to their offices as soon as possible, which has helped us maintain a steady stream of regular customers.” Clemente said Bagatelle is also expanding rapidly in the US, with four new openings planned for early 2025, and it is also focusing on Turkey, Italy and Greece, among other markets. In terms of the impact of inflationary pressures, he said: “For our signature items, we’ve limited the impact by reducing our profit margins. About 30% of our menu is designed to feature ingredients that are accessible to a broad audience, and this is where our culinary team truly shines. We’ve also implemented a group purchasing strategy to help keep our prices more affordable.”

 

JD Gyms reports turnover exceeds £100m in record year as membership surpasses 500,000: Gym operator JD Gyms has reported a record year with sales surpassing £100m as it boosted its membership beyond 500,000. The company saw turnover rise to £100,877,000 for the year ending 3 February 2024 compared with £81,106,000 the previous year. The group made a pre-tax loss of £29,000 compared with a profit of £16,402,000 the year before following one-off costs of £22,144,000 related to the divestment and impairment of non-core assets. JD Gyms made an operating profit of £7,425,000 compared with a loss of £17,074,000 the previous year. At the end of the period, the company had expanded its portfolio to 85 sites, up from 79, and boosted its membership to approximately 536,000, an increase from 453,000. In March 2024, the company acquired four Simply Gym sites for £3.4m – three of which have now been converted to JD Gyms. The group, which employs around 950 staff, attributed its higher sales to “reflect enhanced membership volumes aligned to 24-hour operations and club reinvestment alongside underlying yield growth on the back of selective club-level member price increases”. During the year, JD Gyms raised its membership prices above its typical £19.99 monthly fee, “following significant multi-year compounded inflationary pressures”. Despite this, the company's directors expressed confidence that the selective price increases continue to offer members excellent value at the affected clubs. They added: “Since inception, organic growth has been the main focus for the company’s expansion. The business is well placed however to take advantage of targeted acquisitions where appropriate and is actively looking for opportunities that would enhance the rollout of JD branded gyms.” No dividend was paid (2023: nil).

 

Amorino signs new franchisee for Birmingham region with plans to open at least four stores: Italian gelato brand Amorino has signed a new franchisee for Birmingham, with plans to open at least four stores in the region. Saleh Al-Omeri is the latest franchisee to join the brand, which has 31 UK locations, and said he plans to open three stores in Birmingham and one in Stratford-upon-Avon. “I’m excited to be moving into the food and beverage market and working with such an established brand,” Saleh, who previously worked in exporting, told whichfranchise. “Amorino is really making an impact across the UK, and I’m delighted that I can bring it now to Birmingham and the surrounding areas, where I know it will be as successful.” Amorino’s franchise director, Roman Aslamzada, added: “We are excited to be opening in Birmingham. It has always been a key area for us and it’s great to be doing it with a franchisee with the passion and enthusiasm that Saleh brings to the network.” Amorino is seeking multi-unit partners across the UK as it looks to build to 50 stores here by 2025. 

 

Former McDonald’s UK COO turned franchisee sees turnover boost after making incremental price rises, adds three restaurants to portfolio: McDonald’s franchisee JRA Family Restaurants, which operates 12 sites across North Yorkshire and is owned by former McDonald’s UK chief operating officer and Nordics chief executive John Atherton, has reported turnover increased 2% to £37,919,761 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £37,144,699 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was up from £2,317,897 to £1,511,989. Gross profit margin increased slightly to 66.76% from 66.79%, which was “in line with expectations”. Net assets increased to £8.06m from £6.50m the previous year. In February 2024, the company acquired three restaurants for a total of £2.8m. In his report accompanying the accounts, Atherton stated: “As a result of the 2023 menu and marketing strategy, alongside the execution of incremental price rises, the company has seen increased sales growth as the company continues to operate against the backdrop of significant macroeconomic challenges. The growth in sales is predominately due to incremental price rises, with five pricing rounds overall. The 2024 pricing strategy will ensure gross margin growth while maintaining the business’ value proposition. During 2023, the company sold a restaurant and acquired two stores. On a like-for-like basis for the six stores open throughout both 2022 and 2023, sales increased about 7.23%.” Dividends of £180,000 were paid (2022: £584,000). Atherton began his career with McDonald’s in 1983 after leaving university and progressed through the ranks. He eventually moved to head office where he took up a number of roles, including chief operating officer for the UK business and chief executive of McDonalds Nordics. In 2014, he invested his life savings into acquiring the franchise of four restaurants in York and now employs more than 1,000 staff.

Lane7 gears up to launch first ‘Playground’ gaming experience: Boutique bowling company Lane7 will introduce ‘Playground’, the first immersive, real-life gaming experience from its new partnership with international multimedia studio business Moment Factory, in its Birmingham Bullring site next week (Thursday, 28 November). Inspired by retro-gaming, Playground pops out of the screen and encourage players to get moving by using their body as a controller. The six games encourage interactivity, movement and competition. Following the Birmingham launch, there are plans to roll out the augmented games across Lane7’s venues nationwide. Headquartered in Montreal, since its inception in 2001, Moment Factory has created more than 550 unique projects worldwide, including the Lumina Night Walks, the Aura series and The Messi Experience. Lane7 currently operates 17 entertainment venues in the UK through its eponymous brand, boutique bowling and gaming venue Gutterball, and two Level X format venues aimed at families and the youth market. Gavin Hughes, managing director at Lane7, said: “We are beyond excited to bring Playground to Lane7 Birmingham Bullring. Moment Factory are the world leaders in creating immersive multimedia experiences, and partnering with them is a huge milestone for us.”

 

Mr Bao Group adopts new company name as it formalises restaurant operations ahead of expanding further beyond Taiwanese concepts: Mr Bao Group has formalised its restaurant group for the first time ahead of expanding further beyond Taiwanese restaurants. Co-founder Frank Yeung told Propel in September the group is planning more stand-alone concepts alongside further Master Bao sites. As part of its plans to be a collection of individual, hospitality focused concepts, Mr Bao Group has adopted a new name, 6 of 1. Since opening Mr Bao in Peckham in 2016, Yeung and fellow co-founder Abhinav Malde have gone on to launch a series of sites, including Daddy Bao in 2018, Master Bao in Westfield London (2019), Stratford City (2024) and, most recently, Good Measure, in September 2024. This was their first departure from Taiwanese restaurants and marks its future plans, as the team looks to move towards new concepts. Malde said: “For a long time, Frank and I thought we might just focus on opening more Taiwanese restaurants and growing our bao offering but we have such a strong team now, with so many varied interests and skills, we have been inspired to push ourselves in a new direction. This has already happened with Good Measure, driven by the talent of our Daddy Bao bar team, and this is only just the beginning.” Yeung added: “This feels like a really exciting next step for our company. We’re enjoying travelling, researching and testing out new ideas that move away from bao and this is ultimately what has inspired the group name. The hospitality scene in London is so exciting right now and we want to be building a group for the future that can really compete with other names in the industry that we respect so much.”

 

Britvic GB reports ‘strong’ performance with growth in hospitality revenue: Britvic has reported a “strong” performance in its GB division, with revenue increasing 8.5% to £1,288.7m for the year ending 30 September 2024 compared with £1,187.7m the previous year. The company, which said its acquisition by Carlsberg is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2025, added the British division saw “robust volume growth and favourable price/mix” with volume growth driven by the retail channel, with a weaker hospitality channel. However, both channels delivered revenue growth. Britvic said Pepsi, Tango and Robinsons continued to perform well while “significant growth” was delivered in its emerging categories. Plenish, its plant-based milk and shots brand, achieved new listings across retail, grocery and hospitality channels while distribution has nearly doubled. Jimmy’s Iced Coffee, which was acquired last summer, also secured new listings across grocery, hospitality and wholesale. London Essence won more than 50 new hospitality contracts, including Center Parcs, Barons Pub Company and The Belfry. Britvic reported group revenue in the period increased 9.5% to £1,899.0m compared with £1,748.6m the year before, while pre-tax profit rose to £173.2m from £156.8m the previous year. Chief executive Simon Litherland said: “We have delivered another excellent financial performance this year, with strong growth across our markets and portfolio of market-leading brands. Subject to approval from the regulatory authorities, we anticipate the acquisition by Carlsberg will complete in the first quarter of 2025. I am confident that the prospects for our brands and people are extremely positive, and I look forward to them going from strength to strength.”

 

Wendy’s lines up debut site in Scotland: Wendy's, the third-largest quick service restaurant brand in the US, has lined up its debut site in Scotland, in Glasgow. The brand has submitted plans to open at 139 Sauchiehall Street, which has formerly served as a Co-op and, most recently, a bargain store. In September, the brand’s franchisee Square Burgers signed a development agreement to open restaurants under the US brand in Scotland. Two years ago, the company became the first traditional franchise partner to open a Wendy’s restaurant in the UK, on the brand’s return to these shores, in Sheffield. It has since focused on expanding Wendy’s into South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, although it plans to open a site in Newcastle later this year. Earlier this week, Wendy's announced it had signed a new development agreement with franchisee Khidmat that will see six restaurants opened across the south west of England. It came as Wendy's confirmed that sites in Newcastle, Rutland (on the A1 northbound), Colchester and in London's Fulham Road, had been secured for future openings. Since relaunching here three years ago, Wendy's has grown to circa 40 locations and will close out the year on 49. The majority of these are split between five franchisees, with a company footprint of 13 locations.

 

Maki & Ramen lines up two new sites including West Midlands debut: Edinburgh Japanese restaurant concept Maki & Ramen has lined up two new openings for 2025, including its debut site in the West Midlands, Propel has learned. The eight-strong company, which was founded by Teddy Lee in 2015 and is led by Michael Salvador, plans to open a site in Birmingham’s King Edward House in New Street. At the same time, it has lined up an opening for next spring, in the former Carluccio’s in Union Square Shopping Centre, Aberdeen. The business operates four sites in Edinburgh and two in Glasgow, plus restaurants in Manchester and Leeds. Earlier this year, the company announced the closure of two of its sites in Edinburgh, including its debut venue in West Richmond Street.

 

Kaspa’s founder opens sixth Döner & Gyros site in UK: Kaspa’s founder Azhar Rehman has opened the sixth site under kebab brand Döner & Gyros. It has opened at a service station in Sandwich Road in the Kent village of Whitfield, near Dover. Rehman owns the UK franchise for Döner & Gryos, which originated in the UAE and also had sites in the Middle East, North America and Asia. The brand also has UK sites in Aylesbury, Taunton, Rugby, Reading and Norbury, south London. The Whitfield store is operated by large-scale Costa and Kaspa’s franchisee Goldex Investments, which operates sites under both brands in the UK and Morocco. “The team has made a great Doner & Gyros store within one of the busiest service stations in the UK,” said Goldex chief executive Diljit Brar. “The store is already trading very successfully, and we look forward to its continued success.”

 

Caprice Holdings hires Laurelle Gilbert as new group CMO: The Richard Caring-backed, high-end restaurant business Caprice Holdings has hired Laurelle Gilbert, formerly of Farfetch and Burberry, as its new group chief marketing officer. Gilbert joins the business after more than four years at Farfetch, including a year and a half as its vice president of brand. Previous to that, she spent two and a half years as Burberry’s global director of content, and four years at Net-a-Porter, including just under a year as its director, brand creative. In September, Propel revealed that Simon Allison had Caprice Holdings as its new marketing director after leaving the business this spring. Venue Group Hospitality, which is headed by Ben Lovett of folk-rock band Mumford & Sons, hired Allison as its new group marketing and communications director in April after he stepped down from his role as head of marketing at Caprice Holdings. Allison spent nearly two years with Caprice Holdings and was previously head of marketing at Bill’s Restaurants for a year. 

 

Staycity make key acquisitions in Austria and Germany: Aparthotel operator Staycity Group has acquired a 74.9% stake in the Felix Group, owned by Munich-based Denkmalneu, to operate three aparthotels, in Leipzig and Dresden in Germany and in the Austrian city of Vienna. Both the Leipzig and Dresden aparthotels, with a total of 388 rooms, will be rebranded as Staycity aparthotels, while the 130-apartment property in Vienna, currently under construction, will open under Staycity’s lifestyle brand, Wilde, in the second quarter of 2025. Denkmalneu retains a shareholding in the properties. The deal, for an undisclosed sum, furthers Staycity’s ongoing European expansion. The company currently operates 5,800 rooms in 35 aparthotels across France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the UK, with a development pipeline taking it to 10,000 keys. Further growth will see the group operate 20,000 apartments by 2032. In 2025, Staycity will open in Amsterdam, Cambridge and an additional location in London, as well as moving into Portugal for the first time, with a Wilde opening in both Lisbon and Porto. Staycity chief executive Tom Walsh said: “As we near the end of 2024, I’m delighted Staycity remains in a strong financial position, with high levels of liquidity and no net leverage. This enables us to continue seeking well-located aparthotel opportunities across Europe, with the DACH region of Germany, Austria and Switzerland being very much part of our strategic growth.” Staycity is a privately held company, with a 13% shareholding held by the Irish Strategic Investment Fund. Next year, the company is forecast to deliver a turnover of €300m.

 

Egyptian concept Koshari Street opens second site, eyes further expansion: Koshari Street, the Egyptian grab-and-go concept, has opened its second site in central London and plans further openings in the capital. The business, which is led by co-founder Seif El Sobky and Lebanese-born cook and food writer Anissa Helou, opened its first site in St Martins Lane, in March 2013. It has now opened on the former Benugo site in Cannon Street, in the City, and is understood to be looking to open three to five sites in the capital over the next couple of years – either through company-owned or franchising. Koshari is a vegetarian dish consisting of lentils, rice and pasta topped with spicy tomato sauce, caramelised onion and boiled chickpeas.

 

Clove Club Group co-founders demerge their restaurants and create two separate businesses: Clove Club Group co-founders Isaac McHale, Johnny Smith and Daniel Willis have demerged their London restaurants and created two separate businesses. Following an amicable parting of ways, Smith and Willis are now co-owners of Luca in Clerkenwell, while McHale owns The Clove Club in Shoreditch. The trio founded The Clove Club in 2013 and went on to launch Luca two years later under The Clove Club Group umbrella. Smith and Willis said: “After 14 years since the first Clove Club supper club, we feel it is time to move on from the group. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built and thankful to everyone who has supported us along the way. We wish Isaac all the best and look forward to focusing on the exciting next chapter of Luca.” McHale added: “I will always be immensely proud of what we built together and the heights that we have reached. Luca was always intended as a place to make people happy with a menu that would satisfy my passion for Italian food, and I have loved being a part of its journey. Now, I’m excited to continue to focus on The Clove Club and its legacy on the global fine dining scene.” McHale added that he also has an “exciting new venture” on the horizon in 2025.

 

Taco Bell launches second UK equity store: Taco Bell, the Yum! Brands-owned brand, has opened its second UK equity store. The company, which operates circa 135 franchise sites in the UK, opened its first equity-owned restaurant in the UK last month, at Anglia Retail Park in Anglia Parkway, Ipswich. At the time, it said it would launch five more UK equity stores this year and ten more in 2025. The second has now opened – at 14 London Street in Norwich – and is the first Taco Bell to open in Norfolk. “Here we go again – Taco Bell UK opens a new store in Norwich as it heads towards a total of five open by the end of this year,” the company posted to social media. “Terrific effort to open this second store only three weeks after the first in Ipswich, which made the record books as the first company owned store outside the US.” Taco Bell first opened in the UK in June 2010, at the Lakeside shopping centre in Essex.

 

Pub Invest Group opens Irish-themed bar in Liverpool: Liverpool operator Pub Invest Group has added an Irish-themed bar to its portfolio. The business, which operates more than 30 pubs, bars and nightclubs in the area, has launched Kells of Eden in Concert Square. The venue also features an all-weather sheltered and heated beer garden, which can be used for live music artists. A spokesperson said: “We are pleased to bring our Irish-themed venue to the heart of the city’s nightlife sector, taking expectations to the next level. As well as offering the best live music the city has to offer, enabling new and established artists to showcase their talents, we are the only Irish bar in Liverpool to feature our all-weather beer garden that is fully equipped to host key sporting events.” The company recently launched new rock bar Diego’s Demise in Wood Street next to its K1 Metal & Electrik Warehouse.

El Mexicana set to open in Lincoln for ninth site: Burrito brand El Mexicana is set to open in Lincoln for its ninth site. It is one of two new arrivals at leisure venue concept Stack’s Lincoln site from 4 December, alongside a fourth site for sister company Don Churro, over two units on the roof terrace. El Mexicana offers a range of burritos with different fillings and sauces, as well as loaded fries and nachos, while Don Churro, elevates the churro with a range of sauces, toppings and ice creams. Joint owners Paul Stagg and John Coverley said: “We are very excited to bring El Mex and Don Churro to Lincoln. Our locations are often chosen on the basis of being experiential, so Stack completely fits the bill for us.” Stack chief executive Neill Winch added: “El Mex and Don Churro are fantastic additions to the site. We are delighted that the company has chosen Stack as their next venue, and we are sure that both outlets will be a huge hit with visitors.” It is a furthest move north yet for both brands, with El Mexicana and Don Churros’ existing locations spread across the home counties, Cambridgeshire and the south west. Five of the current El Mexicana sites are in service stations. In June, Stagg said he and Coverley are seeking an investment partner to support their “rapid expansion plans” which include launching 25 new sites by 2027. They appointed a team from FRP Corporate Finance to bring on board a partner to “support plans to continue both brands’ rapid geographical expansion”. FRP partner Chris Adlam and director Alex Patey will oversee the process and are exploring options with potential buyers and investors.