St Austell CEO – new funding will allow us to scale Ludo sports bar concept at pace: Kevin Georgel, chief executive of St Austell Brewery, has said the new funding secured for Ludo Sports Bar & Kitchen – its joint venture with Ed Martin and the senior team at ETM Group – will help it scale the concept at pace. As reported by Propel, the joint venture has secured £6m of new funding from HSBC UK to grow its Ludo portfolio by five additional sites, with the first of these – a 400-capacity site – set to open later this month, in the Guildhall shopping centre in Exeter. The venue will become the second Ludo location in the south west, following the opening of Ludo, Bath in May 2023. Georgel said: “Having quickly become one of the go-to places for live sport in Bath, the first site of its kind has been a great proof of concept for us. Exeter boasts a thriving sports scene and we're sure the latest opening will quickly establish itself in the city as a premium, high-energy location for fans to unite. In partnership with Ed Martin and his team we have big ambitions for the Ludo brand. Securing the £6m of new funding from HSBC UK will allow us to scale at pace, and bring the premium sports bar concept to more locations across the south and south west.” Martin said: “It's always been our intention to expand our premium sports bar business in new markets outside of London. The proven success of Ludo has driven our vision; the site delivered revenue of close to £2m during its first 12 months of trading. Seeing the premises packed out on match days, fight nights and finals is really quite something – Bath versus Northampton (rugby) and the Tyson Fury versus Alexander Usyk fight (boxing) on Saturday, 18 May 2024 secured us a record day; and the Euros final was nothing less than electrifying. We can't wait to create these memorable experiences to even more sports fans across the West Country – and elsewhere.”

Sponsored message – last opportunity for individuals to join Candid Hospitality’s pilot scheme and dine out for free for a year: Candid Hospitality – the platform being described as “the dating app for hospitality careers” – is opening its doors next month, for a limited number of candidates and companies to take part in its three-month pilot scheme. Having already attracted close to 50 UK operators including Honest Burgers, Flight Club, New World Trading Company, Upham Inns, Tonkotsu, Granger & Co, McManus Pubs, Turtle Bay and Pizzarova, as well as hospitality suppliers including Tipjar, KAM Insights, Feed It Back, Propeller and Datahawks, Candid Hospitality is now calling last orders on any final candidates who wish to take a look behind the scenes. Co-founder Nick Holroyd-Doveton said: “The platform keeps candidates 100% anonymous, removing all unconscious bias and risk of discovery from the application process. Candid Hospitality Is also ditching CVs with profiles instead being built around culture, competencies and desired compensation. An ideal solution for passive candidates; those not actively applying for roles but happy to keep one eye open for a dream move. With the ability to set up personalised alerts and wishlists, Candid aims to act as a digital headhunter for both sides of the marketplace.” To celebrate the launch of the pilot scheme there is also a Candid Raffle being drawn on 8 December where one registered candidate will win £1,200 of hospitality gift cards. To register for free and claim a ticket, click here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

Brother Marcus co-founder Tas Gaitanos among speakers at Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Tas Gaitanos, co-founder of Brother Marcus, will be among the speakers at the Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Gaitanos will be part of a panel led by Propel group editor Mark Wingett that also features Satnam Leihal, chief executive at Boparan Restaurant Group, Graham Hall, chief development officer at Drake & Morgan, and Lisa Buckley, chief retail officer at BrewDog, talking about their market outlook, focuses for 2025 and where they’ll be looking to innovate and evolve their brand. Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit is returning for its seventh edition, and tickets are now on sale. The event is a partnership between Propel and Think Hospitality, aiming to build a community, promote the sharing of ideas, recognise talent and define the future of eating out. Bookings are now open for the two-day conference as the centrepiece of the January event series, taking place on 21 and 22 January at One Moorgate Place in London. The conference will focus on technology, marcomms strategies, proposition, brand building, the latest market insights, digital developments and diversification of revenue streams. It is designed for customer-focused chief executives, senior marketers, technology and innovation teams, as well as investors wanting to better understand the latest marketing, innovation and development opportunities to build market share and grow. For the full speaker schedule, click here. The pre-Christmas early-bird prices are as follows: a one-day ticket for operators is £295 plus VAT while a two-day ticket is £550 plus VAT. Supplier tickets are £395 plus VAT for one day and £700 plus VAT for two. Propel Premium Club members receive a 20% discount. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

Premium Club members to receive updated segmented Multi-Site Database today featuring 450 QSR operators: Premium Club members are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database today (Friday, 29 November). The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,291 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 968 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 788 (24%) pub and bar operators, 556 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 450 (14%) quick service restaurant (QSR) operators, 270 (8%) hotel operators, 206 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 31 new companies. The database includes new companies in the QSR sector such as sushi roll concept SushiDog, Australian-style sushi concept Rolled and YoYo Noddle, the first Chinese cuisine franchise in the UK. 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.

UKHospitality – flexibility should underpin allergen guidance: UKHospitality has said hospitality venues should be able to develop allergen management plans that work best for their operations and customers. In its response to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) consultation on best practice guidance for allergen information for non-pre-packed foods, UKHospitality reiterated the importance hospitality businesses place on allergen management. The trade body highlighted the difference in operations that exist across the sector and how a “one-size-fits-all” approach would not be suitable. It also suggested the guidance take a whole supply chain approach in order to improve the flow of information reaching hospitality businesses at the end of the supply chain. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “Keeping our customers safe is hospitality’s main priority. There has been a significant focus on and investment in allergen management in recent years and further guidance for out-of-home businesses is positive. Our view is that flexibility to provide allergen information based on the business operation should underpin this document. What works for a restaurant providing table service might not necessarily work for a small café serving takeaway coffee. The current guidance does, to an extent, recognise that fact, but we would urge the FSA to make it a guiding principle. A perennial problem for hospitality businesses is the volatility that exists in the supply chain, with many kitchens having to regularly substitute products with new ingredients. Guidance for suppliers to actively inform hospitality businesses at the end of the supply chain if an ingredient or allergen has been substituted or added would be extremely useful in ensuring information is live and up to date.”

CACI – changes to Club Pret scheme has led to significant impact on sales and key customer groups: The changes that Pret A Manger made to its Club Pret scheme this summer have had a significant impact on the brand’s sales, transactions and key customer groups, according to CACI’s latest Voice of the Nation research. Previously subscribers to the Pret scheme could enjoy up to five coffees a day and 20% off food purchases for £30 a month. However, from September the deal changed – for £10 a month, users can get five drinks at half price and there is no discount on food. CACI said: “This has not only cost Pret loyal customers online, but those that they have retained are now spending £21 less per transaction. As a result, their online revenue, which contributed 9% of sales at its peak in March this year, has dropped to less than 2% in September. While Pret’s online sales volumes were already lower than Starbucks, they have now dropped below rivals Caffe Nero and Costa Coffee.” In this week's Propel Premium Opinion, which will be sent to Premium Club members today (Friday, 28 November) at 5pm, Paul Langston, partner at CACI, looks further at the impact of Pret’s changes to its Club Pret scheme, including the impact on its most loyal customers, and examines the company’s latest Voice of the Nation research, which reveals that Christmas socialising out of the home will be more important this year. At the same time, Jeremy Simmonds, co-founder of Swingers, talks about the company's ten-year journey and why competitive socialising is now recognised as a distinct – and valid – sector of the hospitality industry. Meanwhile, Propel group editor Mark Wingett looks at the deal that will again take Loungers private, and what comes next for the Nick Collins-led business. Premium Diary includes Mitchells & Butlers, Oakman and Bill's. 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.

Loungers shares up 28% on takeover announcement: Shares in Loungers surged 28% in trading to close at 304p on Thursday (28 November), after the café bar operator accepted a 310p-per-share takeover bid from US private equity firm Fortress. The offer represents a substantial premium to Wednesday’s (27 November) closing price, prompting Loungers’ shares to be bid higher to reflect the premium valuation. Fortress’ offer values the company’s shares at £338m and gives it an enterprise value of £350.5m. AJ Bell's investment director Russ Mould said: “It was only a matter of time before Loungers was taken over as it never seemed to click with the market despite showing considerable progress since floating in 2019. So many UK-listed companies are being taken over because the market didn’t spot the value on offer. Interestingly, it turns out that Loungers put itself up for sale earlier this year because it acknowledged the market wasn’t attributing fair value, so selling to a third party was an alternative way of generating an uplift for shareholders.” Loungers said it began to consider ways to optimise value for its shareholders in early 2024. The company engaged financial advisers to assist in an assessment of whether a significant increase in value could be obtained for shareholders. A competitive private sale process was undertaken during which Loungers said it entered into discussions with a number of potential strategic and private equity acquirers. As part of this sale process, Fortress submitted an initial proposal that the Loungers directors determined was not at a level they considered recommendable. During an extensive period of negotiations, Fortress made a further three proposals, culminating in the 310p-per-share offer. Budget measures to cost Loungers an additional £9m – see Company News

High-street restaurants may be ‘misleading parents’ with ready-made meals, study claims: Restaurant brands may be “misleading or even ripping parents off” by serving ready meals and ultra-processed food to children, according to a study. The Telegraph reported that The Soil Association, a food and farming charity, found meals were “rarely” prepared and cooked on site using fresh ingredients. Instead, restaurants such as The Big Table Group-owned Bella Italia, Prezzo and TGI Fridays were simply warming up pre-made pasta sauces. Franco Manca was ranked at the bottom of the table for not giving children enough vegetables while KFC was found to be importing meat from halfway across the world. Mexican restaurant brand Wahaca and Carluccio’s, owned by Boparan Restaurant Group, were the only brands found to be making family favourites from minimally processed ingredients. JD Wetherspoon also scored well as it served all of its children’s meals with two portions of vegetables and a fruit option for dessert, despite being one of the cheapest brands. For the study, the charity used secret diners and surveyed restaurant brands to compile a league table ranking of menus. The study found an “abundance of unhealthy options, excessively sugary desserts, problematic additives, plus ultra-processed and low-welfare meat”. Only The Restaurant Group-owned Wagamama, Nando’s and natural fast food brand Leon offered children’s menus that were free from both artificially sweetened and added sugar drinks. 

Greener food options and communal dining experiences leading the charge in the workplace: Greener food options and communal dining experiences are leading the charge as employees seek new and exciting cuisines in the workplace, according to Just Eat for Business’ 2024 food trends report. Pizza orders have risen 37% in 2024 while orders for Japanese cuisine have increased 69%. Buffet and platter orders have grown 42%, underscoring its status as a firm office go-to for collaboration. Gluten-free orders are up 24% while vegan orders have risen 13% and vegetarian options have seen a 9% increase. Other popular cuisines this year are Italian (up 55%), Vietnamese (up 50%) and American (up 30%). Midweek remains the busiest time for office food orders, with Thursdays accounting for more than a quarter (26%) of all orders. Tuesdays and Wednesdays account for 23% of total orders. Meanwhile, foodservice wholesaler, Creed Foodservice, has said its core macrotrend for 2025 – adapt to survive – is reflective of the current climate, and six trends will dovetail out of it. While consumers are increasingly happy to pay more for higher quality – particularly Baby Boomers, Generation X and millennials, price sensitivity around energy and food, staffing, government policies and industrial action are all factors inhibiting the sector. With consumers still watchful of expenditure when they do eat out, they want to experience dishes that are exactly how they like them with personalisation and customisation being key. With the extended period of economic volatility, consumers are looking at things differently and reshaping their own version of “value”, with more emphasis being placed on perceived value for money – something that is a priority across all generations. Sustainability remains an ongoing trend as does consumers being health conscious. Digital is also a key trend with artificial intelligence systems and robotic equipment on the rise.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a company that is looking for an experienced facilities manager to oversee maintenance, health and safety, and repair operations across multiple sites, including offices and restaurants in London, the south east and north west. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This is an opportunity for a proactive individual looking to make an impact, with the goal of building and leading a team within the next few years.” The salary package is up to £55,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email joe@corecruitment.com. 

PizzaExpress targets 1,000 international sites by 2030, launches first Pod site: PizzaExpress, the Paula MacKenzie-led business, has a target of reaching 1,000 international sites by 2030, which would see the business increase its international and franchise estate by ten times over the next five years. The business, which currently has circa 360 sites in the UK, currently operates 100 international and franchise sites, with owned operations in Hong Kong and the UAE, as well as franchise operations across Asia, Middle East and Europe. In August, Propel reported the brand was looking to further build its international franchise estate, and had begun looking for partners in countries including Canada. In April, Propel revealed PizzaExpress was looking to launch in the US and had begun the search for franchisees to aid its expansion there. It set up a new company, PizzaExpress US, to oversee the move and has partnered with consultants whichfranchise to explore rolling out in the country. PizzaExpress has also teamed up with Seeds Consulting to seek out franchisees in other countries, including Canada, China and India, and across the UK. It comes as the business has launched its first PizzaExpress Pod format site in the car park of the Tesco Extra in Southampton. The company said the new concept marks a “milestone in the brand's mission of reaching its pizza fans no matter where they are, this time – on the go”. Positioned outside the Tesco Extra's main entrance, the Pod allows consumers to order and collect when on the move, ordering from an open kitchen and collection window. It also features a £9.95 pizza and soft drink lunch offer, with Tesco Clubcard members able to redeem their points at the Pod. Mackenzie said: “2024 has been a year of growth and new openings and we're showing no signs of slowing down as we come into the festive season. Not only have our three new pizzerias across the country – London Gatwick, Oxford Summertown, The ICC in Birmingham – been a huge hit but now, our PizzaExpress Pod, brings something new and eye-catching for our pizza lovers and Tesco-goers.” Chris Holmes, chief development officer at PizzaExpress, told Propel: "We are thrilled to have launched this permanent Pod at Southampton Tesco Extra, and stay tuned for more in this space in 2025.”

Loungers – Budget measures to cost an additional £9m, trialling changes to Lounge evening offer: Café bar operator Loungers has said that the increase to employers' national insurance contributions alongside the rise in the national minimum wage will cost the business an additional £9m to implement next year, and it will “inevitably lead to us having to put up our prices”. The 280-strong Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside operator said: “We have broadly maintained our labour costs as a proportion of sales versus last year, which in this increasingly inflationary wage environment is an achievement of which we are proud. We were, like many other businesses, disappointed with the recent Budget and in particular the increase to employers’ national insurance contributions via the reduction of the lower threshold. The combined impact of this increase, alongside the increase in the national minimum/living wage, will cost the business an additional £9m to implement next year (ending April 2026). As a growing business we are very fortunate that we can absorb this cost and continue to improve our margins, but it will inevitably lead to us having to put up our prices – albeit, as ever, in a disciplined, managed way.” The Nick Collins-led business said overall it is on track to achieve its medium-term target of returning to a pre-covid Ebitda margin level of 13.5%. On Lounge, the business said it is trialling some changes to its evening offer to look at “how we can drive footfall later in the day” and has invested in its hot drinks range. Propel understands the changes are around “tweaking its draught cocktail range, pricing, entertainment, playlist and ambience”. Towards the end of the first half of the financial year, Loungers launched a new Cosy Club menu. It said: “The launch saw a major reworking of our small plates and mains sections, elevating the offer and aligning our food more closely with the brand's personality and interior design. We have been delighted with the initial customer reaction.” The company has also just launched a new menu for its roadside diner concept Brightside, with an “even greater focus on speed and with a more formalised takeaway option that has been very well received by our customers”. Last week, Loungers opened its fourth Brightside, on the A1 in Rutland, and said the initial three sites under the concept are maintaining double-digit like-for-like sales growth.

M&B – people's perception of Harvester has changed again, expects more businesses to exit retail/leisure ‘boxes’: Phil Urban, chief executive of Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the Miller & Carter, Toby Carvery and All Bar one operator, has told Propel that people’s perception of the company’s Harvester brand has changed again, which comes off the back of a “fantastic year” for the circa 150-strong business. Urban said: “The slight irony was when we were pushing Miller & Carter, Harvester was a complete basket case, and Toby Carvery was just sort of tickling along. Now Toby is a high flyer and Harvester had a fantastic year last year. We haven’t got that burning need to find a conversion for anything really. It is quite a nice position to be in, where we're just building up a range of options or models that we're confident in, and at the right time we can make a call. Whereas six or seven years ago, we were thinking we had to get out of some of those Harvester sites, that issue has gone away now. Harvester was too big – it had got to around 235 sites when I arrived, and it's around 150 now. The food is excellent, and people's perception of Harvester has changed again. It is back to being famous for what it does, which is the food, whereas eight or nine years ago it was the price point. It was just viewed as a ‘pile it high and have as much you want’ place, which is just not Harvester. I think one of the other things we're seeing in the sector, and Harvester, for us, mirrors this, is that between 2010 and 2012 there was a huge growth in retail/leisure ‘boxes’, and most of them have got 15-year breaks on their leases. We're coming up to 2025 and we've already exited most of the sites that we would say were toxic leases for us, which is one of the reasons why we were able to clear up our poor performing sites. But I suspect over the next two or three years, there'll be a lot of those boxes that people will be walking away from because they now can.”

Gail’s parent company sees FY revenue top £230m, driven by its growing retail estate: Grain Topco, the parent company of Gail’s, the fast-growing bakery brand, saw its revenue for the year to 29 February 2024 climb 28% to £231,785,000. The company saw revenue in its retail business increase from £135,304,000 in 2023 to £179,050,000, while its wholesale division posted revenue of £83,725,000 (2023: £70,244,000). Group Ebitda increased by 40% to £43,082,000, while it posted a pre-tax loss of £7,442,000 (2023: loss of £12,899,000). The company said: “The wholesale market is very competitive and growth can only be achieved by continuing to offer existing customers the highest levels of service and quality at reasonable prices, while attracting new customers with an unparalleled quality of ingredients and products. The retail business (Gail's) continues to be the faster growing and more profitable part of our group. But the market also remains very competitive and we recognise that to be able to grow we must continue to provide innovative world-class food in attractive neighbourhood bakeries, the number of these retail bakeries grew by 21 in the year, including the first openings outside of the south east of England, in Manchester; this wider national growth will continue in the year ahead. The group will open 35 Gail's stores this year in England, and similar going forward. The business will also develop the Milton Keynes (wholesale) bakery, which continues to grow.” The group said that profit growth was aided in the year by some improvements to its operating margin driven by the “growing share of our business coming from the more profitable retail arm”. The group said that gross profit margin fell because of increases in staff costs and utilities. Gail’s opened its 150th site last month, in Watford.

Pasta Evangelists makes airport debut and offers breakfast for first time: Pasta Evangelists has opened its debut airport site, at Manchester airport Terminal 2. The launch builds on its rapidly expanding portfolio of consumer stores, having opened franchise sites in Richmond, Greenwich and Chiswick in London, with several more to follow. The Manchester airport site is the first to offer breakfast, which is set to be rolled out to other locations in the near future. Co-founder Alessandro Savelli said: “It is a very exciting time to see the rapid growth of the Pasta Evangelists brand as it continues to reach new consumers. This past year has been a huge step forward for us, the launch of our pasta factory, our Richmond, Chiswick and Greenwich restaurants and a wealth of regional openings for our takeaway kitchens. We are constantly seeking new ways to innovate and the Italian-inspired breakfast menu at Manchester airport is just another example of our passion and willingness to expand into new areas.” Earlier this year, Pasta Evangelists, which also operates circa 50 takeaway sites, said there was potential to grow its “Pasta Emporium” franchise to more than 100 sites in the UK.

Valiant Pub Company hires Andy Parker as MD of operations: Valiant Pub Company, which was founded by Hawthorn Leisure co-founders Gerry Carroll and Mark McGinty at the start of 2021, has hired Andy Parker as its new managing director of operations. Parker was previously central operations director at Admiral, and spent more than seven years at Hawthorn, including two years as its director of leased and tenanted operations. The 71-strong Valiant, which is backed by Njord Partners, said: “Andy will play a pivotal role in shaping and driving the company’s strategic vision as it continues to expand its portfolio of pubs across the UK. Andy will oversee the operational strategy and delivery across the business, ensuring that Valiant continues to thrive as a leader in the pub sector.” McGinty said: “Andy is a proven leader with exceptional operational expertise and a deep understanding of the pub industry. Having worked with him at Hawthorn Leisure, I’m confident in his ability to drive performance, enhance customer experiences, and support the growth of our business. His appointment is a testament to Valiant’s commitment to attracting the very best talent as we continue to build a market-leading pub company.” Parker said: “Having previously worked with Gerry and Mark, I know the strength of their vision and commitment to the pub sector. With the support of Njord Partners and the talented team at Valiant, I look forward to delivering exceptional experiences for our customers and driving the continued success of the business.” Last month, Valiant secured a £12m loan facility with Metro Bank to support its expansion plans.

Soul Foods Group to open Taco Bell site at Preston leisure scheme: Large scale franchisee Soul Foods Group is to open a site for Mexican restaurant brand Taco Bell at the Animate leisure scheme in Preston. Soul Foods Group has agreed a deal with Maple Grove Developments for the final restaurant letting at the scheme. Soul Foods Group has taken a 2,800 square foot space in the middle of the restaurant terrace on a 15-year lease. Once open in spring 2025, Animate will offer a food hall, eight-screen cinema from Arc, 16-lane Hollywood Bowl and also be home to sites for operators including Azzurri Group-owned ASK Italian, Big Table Group brand Las Iguanas and café bar operator Loungers. Soul Foods Group is a family-owned multi-brand franchise operator that operates more than 400 sites globally, working with brands including Starbucks and KFC. Bruce Layzell, UK general manager at Soul Foods Group, said: “Our goal is to deliver a great customer experience with bold flavours but also to create jobs and contribute positively to the local communities we serve. We are excited to bring Taco Bell to this vibrant new development.”

Mercato Metropolitano promotes Luke Jenkins to CEO: London community food market Mercato Metropolitano has promoted Luke Jenkins to chief executive, Propel has learned. Jenkins, who has been managing director since January this year after stepping up as commercial director, replaces founder Andrea Rasca. Before joining Mercato Metropolitano in 2021, Jenkins held operation roles at sector companies including The Columbo Group and Urban Leisure Group. A Mercato Metropolitano spokeswoman told Propel: “After seven years leading the business and supporting and mentoring Luke and the team, Andrea is leaving the role.” Founded by Rasca in 2015, Mercato Metropolitano operates four sites in London – in Ilford, Elephant & Castle, Mayfair and Wood Wharf.

Disco Bowl adds Swansea site to growing estate: Disco Bowl, the family entertainment operator led by Pete Terry and Nigel Blair, has acquired its fourth site in the space of a few weeks, in Swansea, to take its estate to ten sites. The Superbowl UK site, which has been acquired from QL Partnership (QLP), has 14 lanes of bowling, Ninja Tag active, arcade and a Crazy Club soft play. Disco Bowl said: "We have immediately restructured the pricing of these activities in order to offer great Disco Bowl value and customers will notice changes in the centre as we move toward a relaunch early in 2025. Our two other Welsh centres in Newport and Cardiff have already received significant investment in light, sound, new balls and pins.” Earlier this month, the company acquired three Superbowl UK centres from QLP – in Cardiff, Newport and Warrington in Cheshire – for an undisclosed sum. Terry said: “Swansea joins our other recently acquired centres, which are strategically located and align perfectly with our expansion goals at Disco Bowl. We have long admired QLP's rapid growth in recent years, and these venues are leaders in their local markets. This deal benefits both parties – QLP can concentrate on a more focused portfolio, while we strengthen our presence across the UK. This now gives us a strong M4 presence to expand our brand.” In the near term, these locations will continue operating under the Superbowl UK brand, but Disco Bowl plans to rebrand them using the company’s newly unveiled logo, already featured at its Nottingham and Nuneaton sites. Disco Bowl is privately owned by Blair and Terry. The company, which was formed in 2019, operates the largest bowling alley in the UK, in Nottingham, with 48 lanes, as well as locations in Nuneaton, Chatham, Worcester, Lewisham and Banbury.

Burger & Lobster co-founders to launch new venture in London’s Mayfair: George Bukhov-Weinstein and Ilya Demichev, the co-founders of surf and turf restaurant group Burger & Lobster and Mediterranean restaurant Wild Tavern, are launching a new venture in London. The duo are opening Pinna with friend and business partner Elmira Amdiy in Curzon Street in Mayfair on Monday (2 December). The venture will see Sardinian chef Achille Pinna, from Sant’Antioco on the southwestern coast of Sardinia, lead the offer. Pinna was also the executive chef at Bukhov-Weinstein and Demichev’s Wild Tavern restaurant, reports Hot Dinners. Last month, Propel revealed Bukhov-Weinstein and Demichev are set to open a new site in the City. Propel understands that the pair have secured a new lease on space at Frederick’s Place in Old Jewry, between Gresham Street and Cheapside. Bukhov-Weinstein and Demichev, who are also behind steak brand Goodmans, opened the first Wild Tavern in Chelsea’s Elystan Street in December 2019. They followed that up with the opening of Wild in Notting Hill, at 202 Westbourne Grove, last year. The pair also teamed up with London chef Chris Denney to open neighbourhood restaurant Fantômas at 300 King’s Road in Chelsea last month.

Manchester coffee house concept to open second site for its bakery business: Manchester coffee house concept Pot Kettle Black, which operates three cafes in the city, is set to open a second site for its bakery business. Half Dozen Other, the bakery arm of Pot Kettle Black, has announced it will be opening its next site in December, at the Circle Square development in Oxford Road. It follows the launch of the first Half Dozen Other site last summer, in the city’s Red Bank District, reports the Manchester Evening News. The new Half Dozen Other will house a pastry room, kitchen and café. 

Lincolnshire cafe operator Stokes Tea & Coffee makes Nottinghamshire debut: Lincolnshire coffee roaster, wholesaler and cafe operator Stokes Tea & Coffee has opened its first site in Nottinghamshire. The family-run company has launched the venue in Newark. On Friday and Saturday, the 60-seat cafe in Robin Hood Walk stays open later to offer a dinner menu alongside drinks, reports Nottinghamshire Live. Stokes Tea & Coffee, which opened its first site in 1902 and roasts its own coffee, operates three other sites, all in Lincoln. 

Edinburgh pizza concept looking to expand: Edinburgh pizza concept Pizza Geeks has said it is looking to expand. Founded in 2016, Pizza Geeks started out trading at local markets, festivals and events before launching its first restaurant in 2018, in Haymarket. A second unit followed in 2021, in Leith’s Commercial Street, and a third site opened in Easter Road at the end of last year, featuring an arcade and gaming room for guests. “Just like my stomach, Pizza Geeks is always going to be in a state of growth,” co-founder Patrick Ward told The Herald. “We as a company are always looking into new business opportunities as we grow and move forward. Our most recent venue in Easter Road was our largest venue to date, with a gaming and movie theme, complete with arcades, quiz nights and movie evenings. We have further plans for expansion for this space too. A year without some kind of crisis would help – from the cost-of-living crisis, covid twice, energy crisis and inflation. On the other hand, it has taught us a lot and we have learned to be better at what we do in any situation that is thrown at us. A whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger kind of mantra.”

Chef Chantelle Nicholson to launch restaurant venture in West Sussex: Chef Chantelle Nicholson, who is behind Aprilcity in London's Mayfair, is to launch a restaurant venture in West Sussex. Nicholson is launching The Cordia Collective within the Borde Hill grade-II listed country estate near Haywards Heath. She is teaming up for the project with wine expert Ruth Osborne and baker Janine Edwards, who will launch Baked by Cordia in the spring. In the summer, Nicholson will open The Cordia Collective cafe and workshop in the estate's 118-year-old Victorian stables building, which will be getting a new glasshouse restaurant and terrace that will overlook the kitchen garden. That garden will be a big focus of the seasonal menu, which also has a focus on regenerative principles. The drinks menu will follow the same ethos and will feature Sussex wine. Nicholson told Hot Dinners: “To have the opportunity to be in the heart of nature, and work in tandem with the terroir and seasons is a true realisation of a dream. I can’t wait to immerse myself in it all and, alongside Ruth, create a new, dynamic collection of nature with delicious food and drink, and warm hospitality.” Nicholson opened Aprilcity in April 2022.