Propel Morning Briefing Mast HeadAccess Banner  
Propel Morning Briefing Mast Head Propel's LinkedIn LinkPaul's Twitter Link Paul's X Link

Opus Apeiro Banner
Morning Briefing for pub, restaurant and food wervice operators

Fri 6th Dec 2024 - Propel Friday News Briefing

Story of the Day: 

Maki & Ramen to open seven sites in 2025, launching franchise arm, eyeing London opening: Edinburgh Japanese restaurant concept Maki & Ramen has told Propel it plans to open seven new sites next year, including its first franchise locations, while an opening in London is on its radar for 2026. The eight-strong business, which was founded by Teddy Lee in 2015 and is led by Michael Salvador, plans to open five company-owned sites next year in Birmingham, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Leicester and Sheffield’s Meadowhall. Additionally, it has launched a franchise arm, with two new franchised locations set to open in Manchester’s Northern Quarter and Glasgow’s West End, in 2025. Salvador told Propel: “Our year-on-year expansion rate is expected to mirror the growth we achieved in 2025. However, we anticipate a notable increase in the number of franchised sites, reflecting our commitment to scaling this aspect of our business. We’re steadily moving south towards London, with the goal of securing a Central London location by 2026. Alongside this, we’re planning to cross borders, with Dublin set to become our first European site in the same year.” Maki & Ramen is funded through a mix of self-funding, loans and investments. Salvador said: “Thanks to the love from our communities, we've been fortunate in our growth. While private equity has shown interest, it’s not the path for us. We’re here to serve high-quality Japanese food at a fair price – not to boost someone else’s portfolio. Selling to private equity would risk losing the heart of what makes Maki & Ramen special, and that’s something we’re not willing to compromise. Maki & Ramen puts guests first, adapting our menu to the UK’s diverse cultures, including western, Asian and Muslim communities. While others will likely raise prices with new living wage increases, we’re committed to staying affordable.” The business currently operates four sites in Edinburgh and two in Glasgow, plus restaurants in Manchester and Leeds. The group plans to open a site in Birmingham’s King Edward House in New Street. At the same time, Maki & Ramen has lined up an opening for next spring, in the former Carluccio’s in the Union Square shopping centre in Aberdeen.
 

Industry News:

Pricing, product and promotion power play strategies to feature at Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Pricing, product and promotion power play strategies will feature at the Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Maria Vanifatova, chief executive and founder of Meaningful Vision, will examine the key drivers shaping the sector in 2025. She will delve into price trends, menu strategies and the latest developments in digital and targeted promotions, providing valuable insights for businesses navigating the evolving landscape. Vanifatova will also be joined by Siobhan Lloyd, head of marketing at 200 Degrees, and Joanna Richardson, marketing director of Heartwood Collection, to discuss their strategies. 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, 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 today: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club members today (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 experiential leisure sector such as The Stock Exchange, a competitive social gaming concept in Belfast, Odeon opening in Peterborough for its Cambridgeshire debut, and Flight Club opening two new venues – in Oxford and Melbourne. 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 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.
 
CACI – Pret's in-store sales dropped year-on-year by 5% in August and a further 2% in September: Pret A Manger’s in-store sales dropped year-on-year by 5% in August and a further 2% in September on the back of changes to its Club Pret scheme, according to research by consultancy firm CACI. 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. Writing in today’s (Friday, 6 December) Friday Opinion, Paul Langston, partner at CACI, said: “Now that the changes have begun filtering through, we can see the significant impact they are having on sales, transactions and key customer groups. Starting with total year-on-year sales, Pret has seen a drop of 4% in the last quarter, against a cafes and coffee shops sector that has seen a rise of 3%. This suggests a loss in market share for the company beginning in July due to the announcement through September when the changes went into effect, despite various incentives for customers to stay with it. It would appear that Pret was banking on its core customer groups remaining loyal and starting to spend more in its stores. However, our Brand Dimensions data tells a different story. Pret's in-store sales dropped year-on-year by 5% in August and a further 2% in September, while its main competitors saw an in-store rise of 3% in August and just a 1% drop in September. This caused Pret to underperform the wider in-store market, reflecting a 7% and 2% drop in transactions in the same months and the largest in-store fall in average transaction value of any of its major rivals.” Langston will share more of his analysis in today’s Friday Opinion, which will be sent to subscribers at 11am.
 
Geof Collyer analyses the performance of BrewDog since it secured private equity investment in 2017: Leading sector analyst Geof Collyer, of Lavender Bank Partners, writing in this week’s Propel Premium, examines the performance of Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog since US private equity firm TSG invested in the business in 2017. He will look at the group’s aggregate losses over that time, its gross margin performance and the impact that the group’s “hero sites” in Las Vegas and Waterloo are having versus the rest of its bar estate. The full in-depth analysis on the state of BrewDog’s balance sheet by Collyer will be published today (Friday, 6 December) as part of Premium Opinion, which will be sent to Premium Club members at 5pm. Premium Opinion will also include Propel’s editorial advisor Katherine Doggrell on how the sector has more to teach operational real estate classes than how to cut the crusts off its cucumber sandwiches, while Propel deputy editor Tim Street talks to Signature Group founder Nic Wood about the effects of the Scottish Budget and the possibility of expanding into England. Premium Diary includes Loungers, Whitbread, Urban Pubs & Bars and Starbucks. 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.
 
Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a food-led restaurant group that is seeking a head of food. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “With multiple venues across the northern region of the UK, the head of food will play a key role in driving the success of food operations, elevating standards, and enhancing the overall experience across the sites.” The salary is up to £75,000 plus bonus and relocation package and the position is based in Edinburgh. For more information, email yasmin@corecruitment.com.
 

Company News:

Zaap Thai operator see full-year sales up 4.5%, closes chicken concept to focus on core brand: Sukho Group, which operates the Sukhothai and Zaap Thai concepts, saw a 4.5% increase in sales to £16.7m in the year to 31 March 2024, but told Propel that significant cost pressures had led to a decline in group Ebitda over the period. The company, which opened its seventh Zaap Thai site, in Durham, in September, also revealed it had closed Gai Zapp, its chicken concept site, which opened this summer in Nottingham, to focus on further expansion opportunities for its core brand. Gerrard Marks, managing director of Sukho Group, told Propel: “The growth reflects the continued loyalty of our customers and the dedication of our teams across all ten of our restaurants. However, we recognise the challenges of the year, as group Ebitda decreased from £3m to £2.7m. This decline was driven by significant cost pressures, including rising utility prices, food inflatio, and wage increases. We made a conscious decision not to pass all these additional costs on to our customers, prioritising value for money while maintaining our commitment to quality. We came to the end of a number of long-term utility contracts during the year, which had shielded us from the full impact of rising energy prices. As we transitioned to new contracts, we faced significantly higher rates, with some sites seeing utility costs more than double. Over the past two years, we also invested heavily in repairs and maintenance to ensure our restaurants meet the high standards our customers expect. Much of this expenditure is non-recurring, setting us up for sustained operational excellence in the years ahead. A key highlight of the year was the full repayment of our loan under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme by October 2023, underscoring the financial strength of the group. This milestone reflects our ability to navigate economic pressures while positioning the business for future growth. Looking ahead, we are excited about our continued expansion. The opening of our seventh Zaap Thai location in Durham this September marks an important step in our growth journey, with encouraging trade in the opening months. While we made the decision to close Gai Zaap in October to focus on the success of our core brands, we remain optimistic about exploring new opportunities in key cities across the UK, with Zaap number eight earmarked for opening spring 2025 in one of our major target cities. Despite the challenges of the past year, we remain committed in our mission to deliver exceptional dining experiences, whether through the elegant offerings of Sukhothai or the vibrant street-food-inspired atmosphere of Zaap.”
 
Urban Pubs & Bars to reopen former east London JD Wetherspoon site after it was saved from closure: Urban Pubs & Bars, the London pub operator founded by Malc Heap and Nick Pring and backed by Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual, is to reopen the George & Dragon pub in Wanstead, east London, in the new year after it was saved from closure. The pub, originally named The George & Dragon but recently trading as The George, faced a permanent shutdown when its previous operator, JD Wetherspoon, closed the doors. With the prospect of the site being sold to property developers, a petition to save the pub, which was first opened in 1716, was launched and spearheaded by local councillor Paul Donovan. The campaign was further supported by letters from local MP Calvin Bailey to both Wetherspoon and the pub’s freeholders. The campaign's success was sealed when Urban Pubs & Bars, the 52-strong group, stepped in to save the venue. The group has pledged to invest £1.3m in a refurbishment programme. The George & Dragon is expected to reopen in mid-January, creating 60 jobs, including the return of more than a dozen former staff members. Chris Hill, managing director of Urban Pubs & Bars, said: “Saving The George & Dragon is exactly what Urban Pubs & Bars is about – celebrating London’s pub culture, supporting local communities, and preserving historic venues. We’re thrilled to not only preserve this historic pub but to celebrate its legacy with the people who fought so hard to keep it. We look forward to engaging further with the community, supporting local events, and building on the traditions of this remarkable venue.”

Stonegate Group to open debut site for new concept Rita’s Beer Hall and Ballroom today: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, will open the first site for its new trial concept, Rita’s Beer Hall and Ballroom today (Friday, 6 December), in Leeds. Propel revealed in September that Stonegate was to convert its existing Walkabout site in the city’s Woodhouse Lane to the concept. Propel also revealed in May that Stonegate was to trial two concepts that will be positioned in some of its late-night venues. One will be a karaoke-based format called Careless Whisper and the other a “high-energy” space, which will include live music, called Rita’s Beer Hall and Ballroom. The business has invesed £1m into the conversion of the Leeds site, which will offer a more “sociable” experience through its offer of live music, all-day dancing, beer hall tables and live sport. The food menu includes supersized pizzas available as giant slices or 24-inch sharers. The city-centre site has been dubbed a “beerhall for cocktail lovers”. 
 
The Coffee House opens furthest north location yet, will reach 30-site with double opening in January: North west independent coffee shop The Coffee House has opened its furthest north location yet and will reach the 30-site with a double opening in January. The group opened site number 28 yesterday (Thursday, 5 December), in the Charter Walk shopping centre in Burnley. “And just like that, The Coffee House, Burnley, is officially open,” the business said. “In just six short weeks, we’ve transformed this space into one of our signature cosy coffee escapes. Burnley marks our furthest north location yet, and we’re excited to continue expanding across Lancashire and into Yorkshire in 2025.” This will be followed by openings in the Port Arcades shopping centre in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, and in Farnworth Green, off King Street, in Farnworth, Greater Manchester, in January. Site number 31 will then follow in February, in Preston’s Fishergate shopping centre. Founded in 2011 by brothers Chris and Stephen Shelmerdine, the business told Propel in May that it is eyeing an estate of more than 80 sites after securing a £4m cash injection from the founder of investment platform AJ Bell, Andy Bell.
 
Parogon Group secures third site for Willow concept: Parogon Group, the award-winning premium gastropub operator led by Richard Colclough, has secured a third site for its Mediterranean all-day dining concept, Willow, in Sutton Coldfield, Propel has learned. Parogon, which opened its second Willow site in September, at Telford Southwater, has secured the former Prezzo site in Mere Green Road, Mere Green, with an opening planned for 20 February next year. Propel understands that Parogon has a fourth Willow in legals, which it expects to be signed up shortly after the new year. Although Willow was not the first of the group’s concepts to expand to a second site – it has Orange Tree locations in Congleton and Newcastle-under-Lyne – it is the one that Parogon has earmarked for further expansion. Last summer, the business said it is aiming to grow the concept to ten sites over the next three years, with a third planned to open before the end of the year. In August, the business said Willow, which first launched at the Trentham shopping village in Staffordshire three years ago, is generating average weekly sales of £60,000. The group operates 11 sites in total over nine concepts.
 
Indian street food concept set to open in Luton for eighth site: Indian street food concept Tikka Nation is set to open in Luton for its eighth site. The venue will open within the Bedfordshire town’s Luton Point shopping destination, which was formerly known as the Arndale Centre. Tikka Nation, founded in 2020 by Sumit Jain and Vikas Narula, last month opened its second campus location, at Royal Holloway University in Egham in Surrey, having earlier this year opened at on the lower ground floor at Leeds University students’ union. Tikka Nation also has sites in Uxbridge, Watford, Sutton Coldfield, St Albans and Preston.

PizzaExpress renews partnership with Tastecard: PizzaExpress has renewed its partnership with Ello Group, which is behind the Tastecard and Gourmet Society. The pizza chain previously linked up with Tastecard five years ago. Under the new partnership, Tastecard and Gourmet Society’s 4 million members across both brands will get 25% off the bill at PizzaExpress when they dine in. PizzaExpress said that 2024 has been a record year of onboarding new partnerships. The company said these include Blue Light Card and Defence Discount Service, Odeon Cinemas, O2 Priority and Monzo. Arslan Sharif, chief digital officer at PizzaExpress, said: “2024 has been an amazing year for partnerships with great brands to serve even more customers with our PizzaExpress pizzas. With Ello Group, we will have significant reach and real growth opportunities. All our partnerships this year have been with brands that remain true to what PizzaExpress is all about.”
 
Yorkshire dessert bar opens seventh site, more to follow in UK and abroad next year: Yorkshire dessert bar operator Rassams Creamery has opened its seventh site and said more will follow in the UK and abroad next year. The latest site, and fifth in Sheffield, has opened at 689 Stainforth Road in Darnell. Founder Rassam Ali said: “This is just the beginning – stay tuned as we have many new stores opening both across the country and overseas this coming year. We’ll be announcing our new locations soon.” Founded in 2012, Rassams is also looking to expand through franchising.
 
Award-winning Shepherd Neame licensees open fifth site: Sharon and Gordon Thompson, who are award-winning licensees with brewer and retailer Shepherd Neame, have opened their fifth site – the White Horse in Boughton-under-Blean, near Faversham, Kent. With more than 40 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, the Thompsons, along with all their grown-up children, run The Castle Hotel in Eynsford, Kent; The Abbey Hotel in Battle, East Sussex; The White Horse Inn in Maldon, Essex; and The Woolpack Inn in Chilham, Kent. Named after the historic White Horse, which was referred to in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, the 12-bedroom pub has been reinvigorated, in partnership with Shepherd Neame. The Thompsons, who won pub of the year in the 2024 Shepherd Neame Pub of the Year Awards, said: “Rest assured, The White Horse Inn is in safe hands. We are excited to becoming part of the wonderful community around Boughton.”
 
Nell’s Pizza opens fourth site after securing new investment: New York-style pizza business Nell’s has opened its fourth site, in Altrincham. The restaurant, located at the Foundation scheme, has been supported with a six-figure funding boost from FW Capital Debt Finance, which is managed by FW Capital as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II. The investment has helped the development and opening of the restaurant, the second branded Nell’s site following its Manchester Kampus opening in 2021. Nell’s, which is operated by husband and wife team Jonny and Charlotte Heyes, is also available as eat-in and takeaway slice bars at Common in the Northern Quarter in Manchester and The Beagle in Chorlton. Nell’s joins Lane7, Starbucks and Yum Cha in opening in the former House of Fraser site in the Greater Manchester town. Earlier this year, Nell’s announced plans for a further opening, in the ex-Croma site in Manchester’s Clarence Street. As well as Common, Beagle and their Nell’s portfolio, the Heyes’ are also behind Port Street Beer House in Port Street and previously operated The Pilcrow in Hanover Street, which is now Sadler’s Cat. Jonny Heyes said: “Nell’s is a real passion project, born from a love of pizza and the joy of making and baking by hand. The funding has allowed us to gather momentum and embark on this exciting step forward in our growth journey. The last few years have been difficult for the hospitality sector following the impact of inflation rises, dip in consumer confidence and covid but we’re doing well at Nell's and are excited for the future.”
 
Stack to open Middlesbrough site next week: Leisure venue concept Stack will open its fourth site, in Middlesbrough, next Tuesday (10 December). Located where the A66 flyover meets Exchange Square, the purpose-built container village made from 25 shipping containers will feature Greek gyros from Acropolis, smash burgers from Brack Burger, stone baked pizzas from Zza Pizzeria, loaded duck fries from Holy Duck and fluffy stuffed baos from Bao Down, as well as three bars and a stage for live entertainment. Neill Winch, chief executive of Stack, said: “We’re thrilled to be opening Stack Middlesbrough just in time for Christmas. The original Stack in Newcastle was always hugely popular with customers from Middlesbrough, so we’re delighted to now give them a Stack closer to home.” Stack currently operates three sites – in Sunderland, Lincoln and Newcastle. Other projects in the pipeline include a second site in Newcastle as well as venues in Manchester, Whitley Bay, Durham, Bishop Auckland, Carlisle, Northampton, Leeds, Wigan and Sheffield.
 
Michelin-starred chef Adam Byatt to open brasserie at forthcoming Fulham Pier development in London: Chef Adam Byatt, who is behind the Michelin-starred restaurant Trinity in London’s Clapham, is to open a brasserie at the forthcoming Fulham Pier development in the capital. Brasserie Constance is being billed as a modern British brasserie, and will be inspired by Constance Spry, a local influential florist and writer, who has been referred to as the “first domestic goddess” and the creator of coronation chicken. Based on the second level of the development at Fulham FC, the restaurant will have a terrace as well as a private dining room that comes with its own private terrace. In addition to the restaurant, the bar Flo, which is named after Spry’s assistant and friend, Florence Standfast, will have its own cocktail list and a menu of 200 wines selected by the Trinity sommelier team. Byatt told Hot Dinners: “Having lived in Fulham for several years during my early career, it is an exciting full-circle moment to be bringing Brasserie Constance to life within such a landmark destination.” Byatt is also chef director of food and beverage at Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair, where he oversees Charlie’s restaurant. Opening in the summer of 2025, Fulham Pier will also feature a fourth site for west London pizzeria concept Base Face Pizza, a second venue for curry restaurant Goila Butter Chicken, and singer Tinie Tempah’s Raps soul food concept. There will also be a riverside market, a members’ club, a health club and spa and an events area called The Orange Box.
 
Freehold investment in London’s Exmouth Arms site sold for £4.3m: The freehold investment of the Exmouth Arms in London’s Clerkenwell has been acquired by real estate company Dam Investments, off an asking price of £4.3m, Propel understands. AG&G was instructed by CBRE Investment Management to market the freehold investment opportunity, with the asking price providing a net initial yield of 5.46% (assuming standard purchaser costs). The whole building is let to Urban Pubs & Bars, expiring in 2054 at a passing rent of £250,000 per annum, subject to annually compounded five-yearly rent reviews. Urban Pubs & Bars operates circa 50 sites across London. In 2021, the group acquired 13 leasehold pubs from Barworks for £16.5m, and the Exmouth Arms formed an integral part of the transaction. Dam Investments is part of Amsprop. Michael Penfold and James Grimes, of AG&G, acted on the Exmouth’s Arms deal. 
 
Sheffield craft beer bar and bottle shop business set to open beer hall and restaurant in the city: Sheffield craft beer bar and bottle shop business, Two Thirds Beer, is set to open a beer hall and restaurant in the city. The 4,500 square-foot venue Kapital will be located over two floors within the £470m Heart of the City mixed-use development. Kapital will showcase fresh imported tank beer from Europe, continental cuisine and live entertainment. The space will be dominated by four huge stainless steel beer tanks filled with fresh, unpasteurised Budvar Czech lager, delivered directly from South Bohemia to Sheffield every week. The venue will also have an outdoor beer garden, pan-European restaurant and private hire space with panoramic views. Co-founder Ben Stubbs, who is also behind Two Thirds Beer in Abbeydale Road, said: “Our vision is to bring something fresh, innovative, and exciting to the area with a authentic European drinking and dining destination unlike anything else. Bringing the near-religious experience of drinking tank-fresh, unpasteurised Czech beer to Sheffield for the first time in our city’s history is just one of many exciting and unique features that Kapital will offer.”
 
Roti King to release debut cookbook: Malaysian restaurant business Roti King will release its debut cookbook in April. Inspired by Malaysia’s vibrant street food culture and the home-cooked classics of his childhood, chef-founder Sugen Gopal will share recipes for Roti King favourites, such as nasi lemak with fried chicken and its roti Canai. Gopal was born and raised in Ipoh in Malaysia, where in the family restaurant, his parents showcased their love of authentic Malaysian cuisine. Inspired by the food of his childhood, Sugen moved to London and created the first iteration of Roti King at Oriental City (now Bang Bang Oriental) in Colindale. In 2014, Sugen opened the first Roti King site in Euston and has since added sites in Battersea, Waterloo and Spitalfields. Sugen also operates Gopal’s Corner in Oxford Circus, Victoria, Westfield London and Market Halls Canary Wharf.
 
Roxy Leisure adds extra floor and new game to its Roxy Lanes Bristol site: Roxy Leisure has added an extra floor and a new game to its Roxy Lanes site in Bristol’s Union Street. The ground floor now features nine-hole crazy pool, a Roxy exclusive combining crazy golf and American pool. The venue also now also includes a new ground floor bar, two ten-pin bowling lanes, a karaoke room, shuffleboard, ping pong, tech darts, ice-free curling and arcade games. Roxy Leisure co-founder Matt Jones said: “It’s been a fantastic two-and-a-half years for Roxy Lanes Union Street, so we thought what better way to say thank you to our customers for their support than by opening a whole new floor and introducing even more games for them to enjoy.” The Roxy Lanes and Roxy Ball Room concepts both sit in parent company Professional at Play’s Roxy Leisure portfolio. The group also operates the King Pins and Star Pins concepts under the banner of Pins Leisure.

Hull brewery acquired out of administration in pre-pack deal: Hull brewery Atom has been acquired out of administration in a pre-pack deal. Gareth Lewis and Matthew Russell, of Lewis Business Recovery & Insolvency, were appointed as joint administrators of Atom Brewing on 27 November 2024. Atom was founded in 2014 and opened its first taproom – Atom Bar Hull – in 2018. Following the appointment, Atom secured an investment deal with local business owner Rob Brocklesby. The investment secures the future of the Atom beer brands and ensure the continuity of the brewery. Brocklesby said: “In a very challenging market, Atom has always strived to make the best beer possible and has significant recognition across the industry and is a recognised Hull brand. The beer is excellent and with this investment there is a bright future ahead.” All staff members are being retained. Atom’s sister business, Atom Bar Hull, is unaffected and has been retained by the original shareholders.

Lake District brewery to open flagship taproom next year: Lake District brewery Lakes Brew Co is set to open its flagship taproom next year. The taproom will open in Ambleside, offering the independent company's craft beer and other drinks. The business was established in 2021 by four friends “committed to craft beer” – Michelle Gay, Steve Ricketts, Paul Sheldon and Matt Clarke. Since 2022, Lakes Brew Co has opened a monthly pop-up facility at its brewery in Mintsfeet industrial estate, Kendal, but wanted to provide a permanent space. Ricketts said: “A central Lakes taproom has been a long-term ambition and we're delighted to have secured a fantastic space in Ambleside.” Lakes Brew Co has invited Toast of Windermere to be the onsite food vendor at the new taproom.

Return to Archive Click Here to Return to the Archive Listing
 
Punch Taverns Link
Return to Archive Click Here to Return to the Archive Listing
Propel Premium
 
Square Kiosk Banner
 
Bums on Seats Group Banner
 
Nory Banner
 
Tenzo Banner
 
Access Banner
 
Testo Banner
 
Tevalis Banner
 
Tenzo Banner
 
Nutritics Banner
 
Contract Furniture Group Banner
 
Propel Banner
 
Venners Banner
 
Airship – Toggle Banner
 
Wireless Social Banner
 
Startle Banner
 
Deliverect Banner
 
CACI Banner
 
Meaningful Vision Banner
 
Growth Kitchen Banner
 
Zonal Banner
 
Purple Story Banner
 
HGEM Banner
 
Zonal Banner
 
Christie & Co Banner
 
Sideways Banner
 
McCain Banner