KKR among suitors for Wingstop UK: US private equity firm KKR is believed to be one of the investment firms running the rule over the UK business of Wingstop, which is being rolled out here by Lemon Pepper Holdings. Propel understands that KKR, which backs PureGym – Britain’s biggest health and fitness club operator – is one of a handful of investment firms that are still in the running to invest in Wingstop UK, which launched here in 2018 and currently has 55 sites. This summer, it hired Goldman Sachs to find new investors in response to unsolicited expressions of interest from potential buyers. Wingstop UK has a target of operating 200 sites within the next five years, and will open new sites in Bradford and London’s Walthamstow before the end of the year. Further sites in Aberdeen, Cheltenham, Swansea, Peterborough and Norwich are being lined up for openings next year. In October, Michael Skipworth, president and chief executive of the global Wingstop business, said that average unit volumes for its business in the UK were exceeding $3m (£2.3m). Wingstop’s first UK site opened at Cambridge Circus in Central London after Tom Grogan, Saul Lewin, and Herman Sahota persuaded the brand's American owner to sign a deal with them, despite their lack of restaurant industry experience. The American company also owns 20% of the UK operation. In July, Wingstop was named one of the fastest-growing businesses in the UK for the second year in a row. It came 38th in the Sunday Times’ guide – and was again the fastest-growing restaurant operator. Wingstop UK saw revenue grow 121.95% in the past 12 months to reach £84.4m. Earlier this year, KKR acquired Superstruct Entertainment, which owns and operates more than 80 music festivals across ten countries in Europe and Australia, for a reported £1.1bn. KKR was also previously a backer of the Casual Dining Group, the then Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas operator.

Ottolenghi chief marketing and growth officer Shona Campbell among speakers at Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Shona Campbell, chief marketing and growth officer at Ottolenghi, will be among the speakers at the Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Campbell will be part of a panel led by Katy Moses, managing director of KAM, that also features Andreia Harwood, marketing director – EMEA at Wingstop, and Emma King, chief marketing officer at Hawksmoor, discussing their sources of inspiration and sharing their strategies for building brands that create loyal, passionate fans. 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 new searchable and segmented New Openings Database this week: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club members on Friday (6 December). The database will show the details of 193 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. It will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis and Premium Club members will also receive a 10,943-word report on the 193 new additions to the database. The database is now segmented into seven categories – cafe bakery, casual dining, experiential leisure, fine dining, hotels, pubs and bars, and quick service restaurants – making it even easier for users to search. The database includes new openings in the casual dining sector such as Rosa’s Thai, opening in Norwich, Bill’s, returning to the expansion trail with openings in Milton Keynes and Somerset, and Lebanese restaurant Toum launching in London. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club 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.

Hospitality sales rebound as inflation pressures ease: Hospitality sales grew 1.6% year-on-year in the 12 weeks ending 19 November 2024, improving to 2.3% in the latest four weeks, according to analysis from HDI, the provider of card spending insight and pricing data to the UK hospitality sector. Independents and smaller players continued to outperform, with pubs and bars and coffee and sandwich shops showing encouraging growth, the data showed. It also revealed inflationary pressures are easing, with price increases slowing to 3.6% for managed pubs and bars and 3.3% for quick service restaurants and coffee shops. However, HDI said the gap between grocery and hospitality prices is widening, particularly in categories like beer and cider, which have seen grocery price deflation. Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, said: “Following the recent Budget announcements, April 2025 will bring additional inflationary pressures. Operators will need to understand how and where they can take price without alienating customers, which is where a data-led approach based on understanding customer preferences and the dynamics of local markets in-detail will be critically important.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a boutique hotel in the East Midlands that is seeking a general manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The individual should be an experienced general manager, with a background in luxury country hotels with a strong food and beverage division. The general manager will develop, implement and build on strategies to maximise the revenue of the hotel, optimise commercial activities, develop an effective, cohesive and competent team, and ensure all hotel standards and procedures are met.” The salary is up to £70,000. For more information, email lara@corecruitment.com.

Loungers takeover faces more opposition: Opposition to a planned takeover of Loungers is gathering pace as more shareholders said they intended to reject the deal. Gresham House, which has an 3.9% stake in the AIM-listed café-bar group, according to FactSet, said it would vote against Fortress Investment Group’s 310p-a-share offer for Loungers, which values the company at about £338m, saying the bid “looks opportunistic and substantially undervalues the long-term prospects of the business”. Ken Wotton, managing director of public equity at Gresham House, told The Times the deal “is not in the interests of shareholders, particularly those unable to take up the opportunity of rolling into the private vehicle”. At the same time, fund manager Downing, which has a 1.5% stake in Loungers, said it was “absolutely furious” about the proposed deal. Judith Mackenzie, a partner at Downing, said the attempt to buy Loungers was “opportunistic”. The comments came after Slater Investments, which owns more than 10% of Loungers, and Axa Investment Management, with more than 4%, said they were opposed to the takeover. However, Canaccord Genuity Asset Management, which has a 1.7% stake in the AIM-listed café-bar group, said it would vote in favour of the deal. With this shareholder’s approval, it means that now almost 42% of voting shareholders have signalled approval of the deal. Loungers’ directors have recommended that shareholders vote in favour of the deal. A spokesman for Loungers told The Times: “This offer values Loungers’ shares at an all-time high, provides its shareholders with the opportunity to receive an immediate and certain valuation, and comes after a competitive process. Loungers’ strong and consistent growth has not been reflected in its market valuation, and the illiquidity in its shares has meant that it can be challenging to attract new investors, and for existing shareholders to monetise their holdings. As such, the board believes that the acquisition represents a compelling proposition for Loungers’ shareholders.”

Gail’s targeting £300m in sales next year and up to 40 new sites: Tom Molnar, co-founder of Gail’s, has said the circa 150-strong, fast-growing bakery brand, is targeting £300m in sales next year, with plans to open another 30 to 40 bakeries. Last week it emerged that Goldman Sachs had been brought in to sell the business for a reported £500m. At the same time, Grain Topco, the parent company of Gail’s, saw its revenue for the year to 29 February 2024 climb 28% to £231,785,000. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Molnar refused to be drawn on the sale process. He said the plan is to open another 30-40 bakeries in 2025, which will require him to hire an extra 1,000 staff. He is targeting £300m in sales next year. However, he struggled to hide his disappointment at the Budget. Increases in employer national insurance contributions and the minimum wage, and a reduction in business rates relief, will cost Gail’s an extra £1.5m to £2m, he estimated. Prices will have to go up as a result, Molnar said, although he is doing everything he can to limit this. “Nobody is making a tonne of money out of making food well,” he added. Molnar said the crisis in Britain’s town centres has been beneficial for his business: He added: “There are lots of empty sites on the high street. You get really attractive deals [from landlords]. That’s been fundamental to us.” He said the vacant properties are “mostly banks”. Molnar added: “The first day we opened in Cobham [Surrey], I sat having a coffee next to this older gentleman. He said: ‘You know what this place was before it was a bank? It was a bakery.’ So, it was a bakery built to be a bakery. Then it became a bank. And now it’s back to being a bakery again.” One investment banker specialising in restaurants said of the mooted price tag for Gail’s: “I’ll be stunned if it can do that before the changes to employer national insurance contributions and rises in minimum wages kick in in April.” An executive at a rival said: “Show me how you get to that number? I just don’t get it.” A veteran hospitality boss added: “It wouldn’t be my time to sell. But then it is a good business with plenty of growth potential.”

Swingers – Las Vegas opening has put us on the map as a global entertainment brand: Jeremy Simmonds, co-founder of crazy golf brand Swingers, has told Propel that the company’s recent opening in Las Vegas has “put us on the map as a global entertainment brand” and it feels like “this is the moment we can really get going” in terms of further expansion. Simmonds co-founded Swingers ten years ago in London with Matt Grech-Smith. Earlier this month, the business launched its latest site at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, its third US venue and fifth overall. Swingers will soon make its debut in the Middle East, with the opening of its first franchise site in Dubai’s Bluewaters Island, and will return to the US next autumn to open a site in Boston. Simmonds said: “Swingers has been an amazing journey. In many ways it feels like we are still just at the start even though it has been ten years in the making. Our recent Las Vegas opening has really put us on the map as a global entertainment brand and a mainstay in the USA. As such it feels like this is the moment we can really get going. Our openings have been fairly steady and methodical up to this point. We have a presence in London, New York, Las Vegas, Washington DC and shortly we will open in Dubai. We have chosen some of the entertainment capitals of the world. We always thought this would set us up for more explosive growth in the second ten years, which will be a mixture of company-owned stores and franchises. We believe that Swingers can be an anchor entertainment property in major developments across the world. Previously anchors have been nightclubs, cinemas, department stores and gyms. We think Swingers can supplement, and in some cases replace, historical anchors of major developments.”

Adnams set to sell assets to pay down debt: Suffolk brewer and retailer Adnams is to sell off certain assets to pay down debt instead of bringing in new funding. In February, it emerged that the business was working with management consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal to help explore new funding options. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Jenny Hanlon, who was promoted from chief financial officer to chief executive earlier this year, confirmed that Adnams did explore selling the business to private equity or another brewer as part of a broad range of options considered. But it quickly became apparent that it was not going to work. “We didn’t really like what was brought to the table”, Hanlon said. “If you’re going to have this opportunity where Adnams is going to grow and expand, it needs to be off the back of something that strategically makes sense – not just a financial restructure.” Adnams’ problem was the business was carrying far too much debt after an overly optimistic investment in its production plant. Borrowing from Barclays peaked at more than £20m. But instead of bringing in new funding to repay some of this, the board has decided to begin selling assets instead. Together with the company driving sales growth, Hanlon is confident that this approach can reduce the debt burden. She refuses to say how much of the borrowing she needs to pay down, however, she added: “You’d be amazed what companies like Adnams own. There’s little pockets of properties here and there that actually were a luxury to have.” She points out more buildings in the centre of town that have been owned by the business over generations. Hanlon said: “There’s a little shop around the corner down here. There’s another shop and a flat.” A handful of the company’s pubs will be offloaded, too, she added, but the precise number is yet to be determined. “It’s a long, slow journey, but it’s one where we can be more in control,” she said.

Champneys to explore £250m sale: Champneys, the spa resort business founded by Stephen Purdew and his late mother Dorothy, has appointed bankers to help explore strategic options on the eve of its centenary. Sky News reported that Champneys has appointed Cavendish to advise it on potential deal opportunities, including the acquisition of a new site as well as a sale of the business. Champneys operates four resort properties and two spa hotels, including at Forest Mere in Hampshire and the original Henlow spa in Bedfordshire. Champneys is now understood to be in talks to finalise the addition of a further site by buying an existing spa hotel. It was unclear whether Purdew would consider selling a controlling stake in the company or whether any process would be restricted to a minority stake. Leisure industry sources said that a majority stake would be likely to attract interest from hotel brands, property investors and private equity funds. Potential bidders are expected to begin being sounded out in the new year. Reports last year said that the company had implied it was worth £300m, although market sources suggested that a lower valuation was likely given tough conditions in the hospitality sector. In addition to its resort spas, Champneys operates several day spas, an education and training business and sells a range of personal care products through a number of retailers. Accounts filed for the year ended 30 April 2023 show that turnover was flat at about £56.5m, but with a pre-tax loss of just over £5m. “The health resort, hotel and spa market remains highly competitive,” the accounts said. 

Itsu ventures beyond the high street with new partnerships: Itsu, the healthy Asian food brand, is building new partnerships beyond traditional high street locations as it aims to connect with customers in new ways. Itsu has begun a collaboration with Delaware North to deliver sustainable, nutritious sushi produce to the hospitality boxes at Emirates Stadium in London, the home of Premier League club Arsenal. This alliance comes hot off the heels of several new announcements from Itsu, including a new partnership with Vitality and the launch of its catering business, supplying sushi platters and salads to large corporate offices. Itsu said these moves are enabling the business to expand its reach to more customers in the workplace via corporate platforms like Feedr and Just Eat for Business and sales are up 250% year on year. While exploring new channels, Itsu said its growth to new locations continues as part of its strategy to diversify its retail footprint and reach customers in multiple ways. In 2024, Itsu has opened six new shops across the UK and France, with a seventh location opening in London’s Oxford Street on Monday, 9 December. A site in Manchester’s Trafford Centre will open in January 2025 while a “busy” pipeline next year includes sites in Amsterdam’s Schipol airport. Itsu chief customer officer Neil Miller said: “We’re reaching out to customers wherever they are – on the high street, in the office or at a major event. By expanding into new channels, we’re making Itsu accessible to more people, in more places, every day.” Yvette Chatwin, catering services director at Delaware North, added: “Partnering with Itsu enhances the experience for our corporate hospitality guests attending Emirates Stadium, offering fresh, nutritious food while watching our events.”

M&B chief executive – we won’t make a call on Orleans Smokehouse on one opening, getting some steam behind suburban Browns: Phil Urban, chief executive of Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), has told Propel the company won't make a call on its fledgling Orleans Smokehouse concept, after one opening, and the move of its Browns brand into suburbia, is getting “some steam behind it”. The company launched the first site under its Orleans Smokehouse concept near Solihull in the West Midlands in February, but has yet to settle on more sites for the fledgling format. Urban told Propel: “We don't want to make a call on one site, so we are desperately trying to find a second and third site. A site in Ruislip was looking promising but we couldn’t get planning permission to convert it the way we wanted. We've got a few others being briefed, and we hope to have two more signed off, but given timescales, they probably won’t start until the fourth quarter of this financial year. So, we're going to have to just bide our time on Orleans. You just can't make a call on these things on one site – good or bad – and so we want to do another couple before we really get behind it.” Over the past two years, M&B has been trialling its Browns brand in suburbia, stretching it beyond its usual high street location. The first trial site opened in August 2022 in Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire and the second opened in Ruislip in west London, in December 2022. Earlier this year, it converted its Miller & Carter site in Wilmslow’s Station Road to a Browns, and this month added conversions in Exeter, Devon, and in Sutton Coldfield. The former was the conversion of its Harvester site, known as The Malthouse, while the latter was the conversion of its Toby Carvery in Sutton Park, which took Browns to 28 sites. Urban told Propel that the strategy was “beginning to get some steam behind it, which is a good sign”.

 

Barons Pub Company acquires West Sussex pub from Marston’s: Barons Pub Company, the Surrey operator, has acquired a site in West Sussex from the Marston’s owned Revere Pub Company. The company secured the Curious Pig in The Parlour in the village of Copthorne, near Crawley. Barons Pub Company manager director Clive Price said: “The Curious Pig is a business I have long admired so delighted to welcome it as the 11th operation to join the Barons family. Along with nine contemporary en-suite bedrooms, The Curious Pig in The Parlour is complete with a spacious heated garden patio, plus a fantastic pizza oven perfectly poised for event catering. We are passionate about people and delivering great food, drink and accommodation and we very much look forward to seeing you soon.” In September, Propel reported Barons Pub Company saw turnover in the 12 months to 30 September 2023 climb to a record £19,962,756 (2022: £18,364,961), in what it said was “another challenging but successful year”. The company, which was named Greene King Pub Partners’ best multiple operator for the third year in a row earlier this year, saw pre-tax profit increase from £234,933 to £308,870.

Padel concept embarks on fundraise to support expansion plans: Padel concept The Padel Hub is embarking on a fundraise to support its growth, including the addition of a new site. The company said it is aiming to capitalise on the rapidly increasing interest in padel across the UK by offering indoor facilities “combining key locations, a tailored digital platform and a strong focus on community through events and coaching”. The group currently operates five sites – in Crawley in West Sussex, Reading and Slough in Berkshire, Epsom in Surrey and Whetstone, north London. The Padel Hub is raising funds via crowdfunding platform Crowdcube as part of a wider fundraise, aiming to raise £1,350,000 in return for 5.12% of equity, giving the business a pre-money valuation of £25m. So far, The Padel Hub has raised more than £1,400,000 from almost 110 investors. The pitch stated: “The majority of padel courts in the UK are outdoor, making the experience and enjoyment of the game harder to achieve due to local weather conditions. We're expanding our network of indoor padel centres across the UK, offering high-quality facilities, training programmes and hosting tournaments to cater to the growing padel enthusiast community. We strive for The Padel Hub brand to be synonymous with high quality padel experience, no matter the weather conditions or the level of players’ experience. The proceeds are to be used for group marketing activities, clubs’ facilities improvements, operational support and to help towards the buildout and operational launch of one additional club.”

Cardiff chef to open third site this month: Cardiff chef Tommy Heaney is to open his third site in the city this month. The former Great British Menu contestant opened the eponymous Heaney’s restaurant in Romilly Crescent in 2018, followed by oyster and wine bar Uisce next door a year later. He has now partnered with Dave Killick, previously head chef at the Heathcock pub in Cardiff’s Bridge Street, for Ember, which will launch on the opposite side of Romilly Crescent on Friday (6 December). The 50-cover venue will offer nose-to-tail cooking using game, hand-rolled pasta and charcuterie, as well as cocktails and a curated wine list. Heaney said: “We're thrilled to be opening Ember in the heart of Pontcanna; this community has been an incredible home for Uisce and Heaney’s, and the excitement we’ve had around Ember already has been amazing. We are excited to bring something different to the area – with Dave's creativity and our shared passion for exceptional, seasonal food. We just wanted to provide another fun place to dine in the area.” Heaney’s currently holds the British Restaurant Awards’ title of the best restaurant in Wales.

Multi-award-winning Leeds restaurant operator Tharavadu to launch new concept: Leeds’ multi-award-winning, independent Indian restaurant operator, Tharavadu, is to launch a new restaurant concept, Uyare, at the Victoria Gate scheme in the city. Blending the rich culinary heritage of south India and capturing the spirit and flavours of Kerala, Uyare is set to open in January at the scheme, which is owned and operated by Redical. The 7,000 square-foot Uyare will accommodate between 150 and 180 guests and feature distinct areas including Bhoomi – The earth restaurant – and Agni – The fire bar. The menu promises to offer an array of traditional Kerala dishes, cooked with time-honoured techniques to “deliver the rich flavours that Tharavadu is celebrated for”. Prakash Mendonca, director at Tharavadu, said: “As Leeds is our home town, we are deeply committed to staying local, and it's a privilege to be part of this vibrant community. Opening Uyare at Victoria Gate is a significant milestone for us – a chance to celebrate our roots and offer something unique for the people of Leeds. Victoria Gate's prime location allows us to meet growing demand from our loyal customers, expand our offerings, and remain true to what we do best, delivering an authentic, flavourful, and memorable south Indian dining experience.” Lunson Mitchenall and Central Retail acted for Victoria Leeds.

Coffee concept Nagare secures site in London’s West End: Asian-inspired artisanal café concept, Nagare Coffee, is set to open its first site in London’s West End, in Soho. The business, which opened its debut site in Spitalfields in east London at the end of January, will open at 2 Newburgh Street, just off Carnaby Street, later this month. Nagare, which means to “flow” in Japanese, “takes an alternative approach to the average coffee shop, prioritising premium beans and stocking a variety of single-origin, hand filtered coffee from across the globe”. Dora Lau, co-owner of Nagare Coffee, said: “Nagare Coffee is the perfect café for the vibrant neighbourhood of Soho, bringing artisan practices and produce that will resonate with visitors. Hospitality contributes an enormous amount to the experience of Carnaby Street and Soho, so we cannot wait to embed ourselves within this leading location. As we build our reputation in London, there's nowhere better for exposure to an informed audience.” 

Gloucestershire all-day concept to open second site: Gloucestershire all-day concept Roots + Seeds Café & Kitchen is to open its second site. The concept, which is the brainchild of Toby Baggott and Sam Lawson-King and operates a site in Cirencester, is joining the line-up at Gloucester Food Dock in the new year. Roots + Seeds head chef Sam Idoine will create menus of modern British dishes with French influences using locally sourced produce within a 25-mile radius of Gloucester, including Roots + Seeds’ very own garden. Menus will change regularly and include both daytime and evening menus including a “specials board” of “field to fork” dishes dictated by the seasons. Daytime menus will include classic brunch options, sandwiches, salads, flatbreads and dips alongside more substantial dishes such as burgers and pasta dishes. Roots + Seeds will also offer a full bar featuring King Stone Gin, made by Lawson-King, offering cocktails mixed with homemade shrubs, cordials and mixers. A selection of wine will also be available. “We are just excited to be able to open our second restaurant, at Gloucester Food Dock,” said Baggott. “Not only is this area a successful hub known for its superb independent food outlets, but is also a wonderful and historic location with fantastic views.”

London culture quarter taps backers for £1bn: The owners of the sprawling 14-acre Olympia development site in west London are gearing up to raise fresh funding to build an office, retail and cultural district valued at up to £3bn. The Sunday Times reported that investment banks JP Morgan and Evercore have been hired by Olympia’s ownership consortium, led by Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance International. Opened in 1886, the Olympia exhibition centre in West Kensington was bought by Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance seven years ago, with plans to transform it and the surrounding area into an arts, entertainment and cultural district. The site will include the largest purpose-built theatre in 40 years, managed by Trafalgar Entertainment Group, as well as a 4,400-capacity live music hall managed by AEG, operator of the O2. Some 550,000 square foot of offices will also be built alongside more than 30 restaurants and bars and two luxury hotels. The exhibition centre has remained open throughout the redevelopment of the site, which will formally open to the public in the second half of next year.

 

Claudi Bosi closes Socca in London’s Mayfair: Chef Claude Bosi and restaurateur Samyukta Nair have closed their French bistro Socca in London’s Mayfair. The pair opened the upmarket bistro on the former Richoux site in South Audley Street last year. The business said: “It is with a very heavy heart that we have decided to close Socca. Opening in 2023, Mayfair has become our home. A place for both locals and visitors to enjoy seasonally-led Provençale dishes. We want to say a huge thank you to all of those who have dined with us over the years, it has brought the team such joy to welcome so many. It has been an incredible journey.” Nair, who runs the LSL Capital hospitality group with her father Dinesh, is also behind concepts such as Koyn Thai, Jamavar, MiMi Mei Fair and Bombay Bustle.

Warwickshire coffee shop owner opens second site: Warwickshire coffee shop owner Ashley Davis has opened a second store in Kenilworth after saying he struggled to keep up with demand at his first site. Morning Sunshine, which opened in Castle Hill in November 2022, opened its latest location at The Square, in the former HSBC bank. “It is very similar to what we have at Castle Hill, but bigger and better really,” said Davis, who also used to run the café at Warwick Parkway station. “The menu won't change too much but we will be adding to it, because we now have a bigger kitchen. Hopefully, within a month, we will be opening in the evenings, and we will be doing more kitchen takeover nights with the chefs now we have more space.” Morning Sunshine will also be offering training to ex-offenders, the long-term unemployed and youngsters who struggle with mainstream education.

Birmingham operators secure former Glynn Purnell bistro premises for second site: The team behind Birmingham restaurant and bar Noel’s has secured the former site of chef Glynn Purnell's Bistro and Ginger's Bar in the city for its second site. Michelin-starred chef Purnell confirmed the permanent closure of the Newhall Street bar in September 2021 after letting the lease run down during the covid pandemic. The venue, called Regina, will serve modern Mediterranean cuisine, with the name meaning “queen” in Latin, embodying its mission to offer up a “regal dining experience”, reports Birmingham Live. Noel’s opened in Waterfront Walk in 2019.

Norwich better burger business to launch new concept: Norwich better burger business The Bun Exchange is launching a new concept. Owner Jeff Taylor, who operates The Bun Exchange at Micawbers in Pottergate, has acquired the former Slices on The Lanes shop in Bridewell Alley. There, he is opening Little Micky’s, which will serve cocktails and a mix of burgers. “Our intention since starting up the Bun Exchange was to have our own space,” Taylor told the Norwich Evening News. “After leaving Butcher Bhoy (The Bun Exchange’s first home), we got offered a space at Micawbers, and we’ve found ourselves in a position where we're having to turn away anywhere between 80 to 100 guests a week. It’s a brilliant position to be in, but we wanted to expand, and that’s when we sorted out the lease for the site in Bridewell Alley. It’s going to be Bun Exchange with the same recipes and amazing produce, but we’ll also have a cocktail lounge and serve some small tapas-like plates, with sliders and popcorn chicken.” The Bun Exchange launched in 2021 and moved to its current home in 2023.

Restaurateur Pierre Hobeika opens Lebanese concept in south west London: Restaurateur Pierre Hobeika has opened a Lebanese concept in Barnes, south west London. Omm, meaning mother in Arabic, has taken over a corner site in White Hart Lane long occupied by Annie’s, and more recently by the short-lived Farmer’s Mistress. Pierre’s career has seen him running restaurants from Beirut and Paris to London, most notably as manager of Fakhreldine in Piccadilly, in the building now occupied by Hide. He also founded Warda in Southgate, north London, in 2012. Joining Hobeika at Omm is a long-time associate, chef Salah Zneit, who has put together a classic Lebanese menu of mezzes, grills and home-cooked dishes, reports Harden’s. Omm can accommodate 60 guests sitting inside plus another ten on a terrace.