Soho House founder Nick Jones linked to development in London’s Westminster: Nick Jones, the founder and former chief executive of Soho House, is understood to be in talks to open a hotel and restaurant as part of the Arundel Great Court development in London’s Westminster, Propel has learned. Arundel Great Court is a mixed-use development on the bank of the River Thames, comprising 147 residential units, circa 100 hotel rooms, retail units, a restaurant and a spa. The site lies just to the east of the grade-I listed Somerset House and close to 180 House, a flagship location of Soho House. The whole development was purchased by Waterway PCP Properties for £234m in 2012. Propel revealed earlier this year that Jones, who stepped down from Soho House last year, had set up a new company called Jones & Co (Hotels, Restaurants and Residencies). Propel now understands that part of the proposed development on the south site of Arundel Great Court, including the hotel, has a working title of The Jones. At the same time, Jones has applied for a licence for a corner unit of the development at Temple Place/Arundel Street, for what is expected to be a brasserie/retail shop that will be known as The Corner Shop, which will trade throughout the day. In November 2022, Membership Collective Group (MCG), the New York-listed company behind the Soho House chain of members’ clubs, announced Jones was to step down as chief executive to be succeeded by the company’s president, Andrew Carnie. Jones led the company’s growth since founding Soho House as a single location in London in 1995 to a global membership platform of circa 40 Soho Houses and associated brands. He continues with MCG (now Soho House & Co) in a founder role. Former Soho House COO says the success of his new venture shows that old-school hospitality is still valued – see Company News.

 

Discover effective tactics to elevate your marketing strategy at Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Discover effective tactics for database growth and learn how to elevate a marketing strategy at the Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Hospitality marketing consultant James Mobbs will review the campaigns from more than 100 hospitality groups and highlights the power of missed opportunities across websites, data capture and email marketing. 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 two updated databases this week: Premium Club members will receive two updated databases this week. The latest Propel UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database will be sent to subscribers today (Wednesday, 11 December), at 12pm. The database will feature 50 new additions, plus updates to existing entries. It now has 330 entries and more than 178,000 words of copy. Among the new entries are CoffeeLab, Ben & Jerry’s, BeLeaf Juice Bar, Wolf, Bagel Corner, Mayfair House Group, Mikel Coffee Company, Salad Box, Incredible Ice Cream Co, Brunch & Cake, Freddy’s Chicken & Pizza, Gringo’s Nacho Factory, Rio’s Piri Piri, Mother Hubbard’s, Zambrero and Centenary Lounge. The latest Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book will then be sent to subscribers on Friday (13 December), at 12pm. The database will feature 30 new companies, for a total number of 1,039, with 65 accounts updated. Of these, a total of 650 are in profit and 389 are making a loss. Premium Club members also receive access to four other databases: the New Openings Database, the Multi-Site 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.

Sacha Lord to address House of Commons on urgent need for business rates reform: Sacha Lord, the night-time advisor for Greater Manchester, will address the House of Commons later today (Wednesday, 11 December) on the need for a reform of the business rates system, and set out a number of recommendations, including better industry collaboration. The Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill Committee will look at the long-term implications of the government's proposed reforms, and will welcome representatives from the night-time economy and hospitality industries to voice their concerns. Lord said: “Business rate reliefs have been a lifeline for hospitality over the past few years. The partial extension of this relief from 75% to 40% will save jobs, but this will still not be enough for many and the measure falls far short of what is needed to protect pubs and bars across the country. Reforming the business rates system is crucial. The industry urgently needs decisive action to ensure its long-term viability and my main concerns are the current lack of input from industry experts in shaping policy and the rapid pace of financial changes being implemented.” Lord will call on the government to provide finalised details on the reforms as soon as possible to provide certainty for businesses and help with long-term planning. He will propose a longer lead time between fiscal policy announcements and their implementation to allow businesses to adapt their operations, staffing and prepare their bottom line effectively. Lord will also call for better industry collaboration, emphasising the importance of seeking guidance from industry experts to ensure policy reforms provide targeted and meaningful support for sectors. Lord said: “We saw during the pandemic how sudden shifts and cost pressures can devastate businesses and I worry we're repeating that mistake.”

Christmas footfall set to soar but rising costs and cautious spending cast a shadow: Christmas footfall is set to soar but rising costs and cautious spending are still casting a shadow, according to the new data from market intelligence platform Meaningful Vision. Its survey of 2,000 UK respondents indicates this festive season is set to be its busiest since 2019, with a projected 3% uplift in footfall to restaurants and bars this December compared with 2023. However, despite the predicted rise in visitor numbers, revenue growth is questionable as 80% of consumers plan to spend the same or less than last year. Despite 85% of Brits intending to spend money on out-of-home food and drinks over Christmas, the study also revealed 52% of consumers are being more careful with their spending. The growth of prices for Christmas items and festive menus has already exceeded the average inflation in the previous few months, according to Meaningful Vision’s price tracker. In November, popular festive coffees and sandwiches saw price hikes of 9% and 7% respectively, reaching an average of £5 for drinks and £5.70 for sandwiches. Meanwhile, three-course set menus rose to an average all-time high of £32.10, an increase of 10%. Meaningful Vision chief executive Maria Vanifatova said: “Despite inflation steadily slowing since the start of the year in foodservice, it remains higher than food and beverages inflation in retail – around 5% in fast food and 3% in casual dining, according to Meaningful Vision's monthly price tracking across more than 100 UK brands. However, with the UK government’s recent Budget announcement, inflation could once again become a pressing issue, as foodservice labour costs are set to rise significantly, which will likely be passed directly on to the consumer through further price hikes.”

 

Travelodge CEO – Budget to cost us £21m, has made creating part-time jobs more expensive: Travelodge chief executive Jo Boydell has said that the Budget will cost the business £21m and has made creating part-time jobs more expensive – at a time when the government should be encouraging more people into work. But she said she is still determined to invest in recruiting part-time staff and the hotel’s training schemes because they are essential to the business. Travelodge, which employs 13,000 people, has said that the combined impact from national living wage increases and employers’ national insurance contributions will cost the company £21m. Boydell told The Sun that the biggest shock to the business was the “completely unexpected hit” from the chancellor lowering the national insurance threshold from £9,100 to £5,000. Boydell said: “We are trying to create jobs and are committed to being a good employer. We believe that part-time roles are the best way for many people who need flexibility to get back to work or start their career.” Travelodge does not use zero-hour contracts and has a target to increase the number of 24-hour-plus contracts. Boydell said: “For mothers, fathers, those with caring responsibilities – families of any shape and size – the offer of flexibility in your career can mean the difference between working and not working. Finding a role that fits in around family life can be tricky.”

 

UKHospitality welcomes rates relief for Welsh businesses: UKHospitality has welcomed the business rates relief for sector businesses delivered in the draft Welsh Budget. The Welsh government has extended 40% business rates relief for hospitality and leisure businesses and capped any increase to the business rates multiplier at 1%. David Chapman, executive director of UKHospitality Cymru, said: “Continuing 40% business rates relief for hospitality businesses was absolutely critical. Rates relief will continue to be a lifeline for many Welsh hospitality businesses, particularly as venues have to pay significantly increased employer taxes from April. Crucially, this extension avoids a situation where Welsh businesses could have been left at a competitive disadvantage to the rest of Great Britain. Introducing a cap of 1% to any increase to the multiplier this year is another positive step, particularly for those larger businesses who don’t fully benefit from relief.” Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the Welsh Beer & Pub Association, added: “We welcome government heeding our warnings in this draft Budget, and this relief, which amounts to £4.3m, should bring pubs across Wales a much-needed sigh of relief and confidence to keep investing. It is concerning that there is no mention of wider rates reform in the draft Budget; we continue to call for the government to commit to meaningful long-term reform.”

 

York plans tourist tax: York is planning to introduce a tourist tax that could see visitors pay more for hotel rooms. The city, which had nine million visitors last year, is carrying out a consultation with hospitality businesses on whether to ask tourists to pay a nightly fee. It comes after Manchester introduced a system where visitors face a £1 charge per night, reports The Telegraph. York city councillor Kate Lomas said: “People are already very used to paying an extra small charge per night on their hotel bill for the tourist tax in Europe. What we want to do is look at how we charge a levy for tourists. From the discussions we have already had with the hospitality industry, I don’t think it would have any concern about the type of levy we would introduce.” She said the council has not arrived at the “level of detail” of a specific price for the levy and that the issue still required “a lot of discussion and a lot of work”. The proposal is yet to be included in the city’s budget for next year while the council continues to consult with local businesses. Of the nine million visitors to York in 2023, 1.7 million stayed overnight, according to the city council’s tourism promotion agency. Manchester’s tourism charge, known as the City Visitor Charge, has raised £2.8m since it was introduced in April last year. Liverpool charges a 1.6% levy on accommodation properties in its businesses improvement district for businesses valued at £45,000 or more. Under proposals in Wales, visitors staying in campsites and hostels will be charged 75p per person per night, while those staying in hotels and room rentals will pay £1.25 tax per person per night. Edinburgh, meanwhile, is gearing up to introduce Scotland’s first tourist levy in 2026.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a luxury hospitality group that is seeking a purchasing manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The position will be responsible for managing all food and non-food categories, implementing a successful procurement strategy, managing supplier relationships and being cost effective for the business. The role is site based five days a week.” The salary is up to £60,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com.

 

Honi Poké ahead of openings schedule, plans further regional expansion: Hawaiian poké specialist Honi Poké, which is looking to add a further 15 sites to its UK estate over the next 12 months, has told Propel it is ahead of schedule as it plans to enhance its regional presence in 2025. The company, which was founded by Vladimir Martynov and Kosta Varesko in 2017, currently operates 22 sites across London and three regionally, in Bristol, Leeds and Manchester. The company will open two new sites in London on the same day next week (Wednesday, 18 December) – on the former Veggie Pret site in St Mary Axe and on the ex-Veggie Pret in King William Street. Martynov told Propel: “The two new openings will take us to 24 sites so we will be the largest poké operator in the UK. We were mentioned a few months ago in Propel regarding the plan to open 15 sites in 2025 so we have kind of been ahead of schedule with these two openings, which will open in 2024 instead of early 2025. We have had a great year with openings outside of London. We opened Leeds and Bristol and had Manchester from the year before. We are now looking to expand into Birmingham, Oxford and Cambridge. We also plan to open a site in Baker Street in London next month, with a site in Cornhill opening in February. We have a few more sites coming in March/April.” Propel previously revealed that Honi Poké had secured the ex-Tamarind Tiger site at 13 Baker Street, between Itsu and a Joe & The Juice. Brandon Elmon, of Genius1 Group, acts on behalf of Honi Poké.

 

Panmure Liberum – Tortilla valuation attractive but needs stable forecasts to build on: Anna Barnfather, analyst at Panmure Liberum, has said the valuation of fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand Tortilla remains attractive but needs stable forecasts to build on. It comes after the business reported a “strong” fourth quarter, with like-for-like sales up “at least” 4%. The company said revenue for its UK business is forecast to exceed previous guidance, with a range of £64.0m-£64.3m now expected. Barnfather said: “We reduce our target price to 75p (from 90p) based on enterprise value (EV)/Ebitda multiple of 7.5 times (pre IFRS) for 2025 versus 5.6 times today, offering circa 50% upside. Prior to this announcement, the shares had traded up 5.1% over the last month and are up 4% year to date. We believe the stabilised and more prudent forecast outlook should provide foundations on which to build confidence to generate a re-rating. We also point out the significant valuation disparity and positive read across from international valuations if management can deliver on these now prudent plans: Darden’s July 2024 $650m acquisition of Chuy’s Holdings for 1.3 times sales or circa $6m per store. The initial public offering of Guzman y Gomez in Australia in June 2024 for 1.7 times sales and 32.6 times EV/Ebitda per the prospectus.” Tortilla has also chosen to delay the conversion to rebrand the Fresh Burritos restaurants in France it acquired earlier this year. Barnfather said: “Unfortunately, this means that it has not seen the uplift of trading it had originally anticipated, and instead 2025 will see a large amount of disruption as 12 sites will be required to close for four to six weeks to rebrand. As a result, we now expect £100,000 of additional losses in 2024 (offset by £100,000 higher profits in the UK) and £1m of losses in 2025 (versus positive contribution of £500,000 previously). The impact of slightly higher UK performance is not enough to offset the higher losses in France, and so, while we leave 2024 forecast Ebitda of £4.5m unchanged, we cut 2025 by 21% to £5.2m and 2026 by 18% to £8.2m. Adjusted net debt is expected to be £7.3m at the end of 2024, equivalent to 1.6 times net debt/Ebitda. The delayed refurbishment capex will push this up to £9.3m in 2025, or 1.8 times, before rapidly falling back down again in 2026.”

 

SSP plans IPO of travel hub concept in India: SSP Group, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, is planning an IPO of one of its travel hub concepts in India. In conjunction with K Hospitality Corp, SSP’s joint venture partner in India, it plans to IPO Travel Food Services (TFS), a leading player in the country’s fast-growing airport quick service restaurant and lounge sectors. Subject to regulatory approval, the pricing and completion of the IPO is targeted to be in the spring of 2025. SSP said it has built a strong partnership with K Hospitality Corp since the creation of the TFS joint venture, and that India remains a strategically important market for the business. SSP acquired an initial stake in TFS in 2016 and currently holds 49% of it, for which it paid a net consideration of £57.9m. Prior to the Transaction, SSP expects to purchase additional shares in TFS (representing 1.01% of TFS’ issued share capital) at a value referenced to the IPO price. Following completion, SSP expects to indirectly hold 50.01% of TFS’ issued share capital and TFS will continue to be consolidated in SSP’s reported financial results. The Kapur Family Trust, which is the shareholding entity of K Hospitality Corp, will be the selling shareholder. SSP chief executive Patrick Coveney said: “An IPO will set up our investment in India for the next stage of growth and will support TFS as it continues to deliver its growth strategy, while creating a structure to showcase the value of the business. It would ensure that SSP controls and consolidates TFS, in line with our strategy for the market. We believe that the market potential in India, combined with TFS' economic model and market leadership, provides a compelling opportunity to deliver growth and returns for the group.”

 

The Healy Group founder – takings were down pre-Budget as people worried about finances, but they have since recovered: Donal Healy, co-founder of family-run multi-site operator The Healy Group, has said takings were down in his pubs pre-Budget as people worried about finances, but they have since recovered. The group, founded by Donal and Marion Healy in 1991, with their first pub in Uxbridge, west London, initially grew to as many as 32 venues. It now has 20 leased pubs – stretching from Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire down to Hampshire – seven of them with Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars. Donal, who originally worked as a quantity surveyor before changing careers, is this year celebrating 40 years in the pub industry. “If there’s a failing pub, I go and have a look,” he said. “I shy away from high-end food pubs because of labour issues, and getting staff has been the toughest challenge over the years. A lot of the success of our pubs is because they’re based in strong community areas offering consistent local support. Although the environment is challenging, there is still demand. Takings were down a few weeks prior to the Budget as people were worried about finances but they have since recovered. It’s essential to keep investing as people won’t go into shabby pubs anymore. We spent a lot of money during covid redecorating and upgrading gardens, and our gardens are doing exceptionally well now, even in November. I am beginning to hand over the reins to the family. In fact, I have been trying to retire for five years, and I am still here!” Donal’s children – Kevin, Donna, Don Junior and Sian – all still work for the business in some capacity.

 

Lina Stores opens Broadgate Circle site: Lina Stores, the deli and restaurant brand backed by White Rabbit Projects, has increased its presence in London with an opening in Broadgate Circle. Propel has learned that Lina Stores, which opened its eighth site, in Shoreditch, in October, has taken on the former Medley site in the Upper Circle of the scheme in the City. Lina Stores opened an 87-cover site and the second iteration of Bar Lina, its aperitivo bar, in Shoreditch High Street, which was the group’s first opening in east London. The group is set to make its regional debut with an opening in Manchester in February. The brand also operates three sites in Japan. 

 

Yolk to launch coffee subscription next month: Fast-growing “fine fast food” business Yolk is set to launch a coffee subscription next month. Yolk BrewClub, which is described as a “coffee and barista-made drink subscription”, goes live on Monday, 6 January. All barista-made drinks are in the deal. Membership will be tiered into three levels – BasicBrew, ClassicBrew and PremierBrew. BasicBrew membership is free, with members receiving a free coffee on signing up, then collecting loyalty points so they get every tenth drink for free. ClassicBrew membership, priced at £10 per month, sees members get 50% off all barista-made drinks plus double loyalty points on orders after 2pm. PremierBrew membership, priced at £40 per month, sees members get three barista-made drinks per day, plus double loyalty points to swap for treats, all day every day. The company, founded in 2014 by Nick Philpott, last month opened its ninth site, in New Oxford Street, as it works towards a target of 25-plus locations by the end of 2026. It comes after Yolk closed a crowdfunding campaign in October after raising almost £650,000 to help “deliver its next stage of expansion”. 

 

Wiltshire and Somerset McDonald’s franchisee reports £15m sales boost and return to profitability after growing estate: Wiltshire and Somerset McDonald’s franchisee Lloyd Sharp Restaurants has reported a £15m sales boost and a return to profitability after growing its estate. The company, founded in 2017 by Sarah Lloyd-Sharp, now runs eight drive-thru sites and employs more than 1,000 people. For the year ending 31 December 2023, Lloyd Sharp Restaurants reported turnover of £37,036,842, up from £22,009,072 in 2022. Despite costs rising by more than £9m and administration expenses by almost £6m, the company turned a pre-tax loss of £687,893 in 2022 into a profit of £367,538. “As a result of the acquisition of three additional stores part way through 2022, the 2023 menu and marketing strategy and the execution of incremental price rises, the company has seen a significant increase in sales growth on the past year,” said Lloyd-Sharp. “The three new restaurants have now seen a full year of sales. On a like-for-like basis for the remaining stores in operation, sales have increased by £1.63m. The gross profit margin is 63.72% compared with 63.94% in 2022 and is in line with expectations. The company is in a net current liabilities position at the balance sheet date. However, this is a reflection of the nature of the fast-food industry and as result of purchasing three restaurants. Despite the net current liabilities position, the strength of the business remains strong, and we consider the company to have adequate resources to meet liabilities as they fall due.”

 

Japanese speciality coffee house %Arabica set to open fourth UK site: Japanese speciality coffee house %Arabica, which has more than 200 cafes and franchises across the world, is gearing up to open its fourth UK location. The site will open within Turbine Hall A of Battersea Power Station in January, following a soft launch this weekend. The company said its Battersea opening is “part of a broader strategy to expand its footprint in high-profile global locations”. It comes after %Arabica hired Mario C Bauer, former head of international franchising at Vapiano, as a non-executive director, in October. The group made its UK debut in 2019 with two London openings – in Covent Garden and Hackney. The brand then opened two further sites in the capital – in South Moulton Street and Spitalfields Market – but the former has now closed.

 

London-based South American street food concept opens first franchise site: London-based South American street food concept Assenheims 56 has opened its first franchise site, Propel has learned. The outlet has opened at 8 London Bridge Street, for the company’s eighth site in total, all located in the capital. The other locations are in Holborn, Ludgate Hill, Canary Wharf, Smithfield Street, Great Tower Street, Wormwood Street and Queen Victoria Street. Assenheims 56 was founded in 1989 by Matthew Ashley, who also owns a low-calorie peanut spread business called Nutty Professor. “Congrats to our franchisee Carlos, who is opening our first franchised site at 8 London Bridge Street,” Ashley said. “We’ve seen a lot of interest in our new franchise model and looking forward to announcing more in the coming year.” Assenheims 56 has been working with consultants Presman & Colard on its franchise launch.

 

Liberation Group promotes Alice Bowyer to director of food and drink: Brewer and retailer Liberation Group has promoted Alice Bowyer to the newly created role of director of food and drink, in response to the company’s continued success in food growth across the business. While retaining overall responsibility for food, Bowyer, who joined the company in 2016, will also lead in the acceleration and innovation of the drinks side of the business. Bowyer was promoted to director of food in December last year. The company said: “Since Alice's arrival, managed pub sales have increased and the group's reputation for excellent food has become central to its success as a provider of premium accommodation in the UK.” Bowyer said: “Our incredible drinks offering deserves as much attention and focus as our food, so I am looking forward to working closely with our brilliant teams to make sure we continue to innovate, elevate and push the boundaries, creating even better and more memorable experiences for our guests to enjoy.” Jayson Perfect, chief operating officer at Liberation Group, added: “Alice is the perfect choice to oversee and grow the drinks side of the business. She brings with her, to this new role, the tenacity, dedication, and expertise that has been so successful for our food offer, which will create incredible experiences for our guests and even more reasons to visit our amazing pubs.”

 

Belgian poké brand opens second UK site: Belgian poké brand Moana Poke has opened its second UK site. It has opened in Manchester’s Trafford Centre, joining the company’s debut UK site, which opened earlier this year in Cambridge’s Grand Arcade. The new restaurant is located in the Lower Orient area of the Trafford Centre, which has also opened a newly refurbished dining area in the Upper Orient. Moana Poke director Abdullah Stanikzai said: “Trafford Centre is the perfect location to expand our footprint in the UK. Growing up here, I always felt the lack of healthy, flavour-packed dining options. We are excited to introduce Manchester to poké bowls and contribute to the local dining scene.” Founded in Brugge in 2019, Moana Poke has several locations across Europe, including two in Belgium.

 

Former Soho House COO – success of new venture shows that old-school hospitality is still valued: Martin Kuczmarski, former chief operating officer at Soho House, has said the success of his The Dover restaurant and bar, which opened in London’s Mayfair last year, shows old-school hospitality is still valued amid a wider industry push for tech-driven innovation. Kuczmarski worked in luxury hospitality at Michelin-starred restaurants and five-star hotels before being recruited by Soho House founder Nick Jones. Over 15 years, he helped turn the business, with a handful of locations in London and New York, into a household name. By the time Kuczmarski left, Soho House had about 120,000 members across dozens of sites in ten countries. “What I’ve done with The Dover is go backward,” he told Business Insider. “Maybe it’s time for the members’ club to go backward. The original idea was to get the right people in the right room for the right objective. The purpose of members’ clubs has changed – and a lot of people have become greedy.” Ahead of a stock market listing in New York in July 2021, Kuczmarski said his schedule at Soho House morphed into endless conferences, Zoom meetings and flying between cities, leaving little time for the people-facing tasks he prefers. “The personality, the human touch, was disappearing,” he said. He wouldn't be drawn on Soho House specifically but said he’s proud of what he accomplished alongside Jones, who stepped down as chief executive in late 2022, and that the company’s new management team is “very good”. Given his time at Soho House, Kuczmarski said it’s only natural that people ask if opening his own club is on the agenda. He said: “Something in my stomach is burning now to show how to do members’ clubs — to get it right.” In the meantime, Kuczmarski is also planning a second restaurant in London, which he hopes to open next summer, as well as a 60-room designer hotel in Italy.

 

Gunpowder founder opens second site for new bakery concept: Harneet Baweja, the founder of Gunpowder Group and Empire Empire, has opened the second site for his new bakery concept. Baweja launched Moi et Toi, in collaboration with chef and restaurateur Edward Delling Williams, founder of Le Grand Bain in Paris, in London’s Notting Hill in September. The duo have now doubled up with a launch at Gunpowder Tower Bridge at 4 Duchess Walk, offering signature pastries such as pistachio and chocolate escargot, brown butter pecan tart and a fig, walnut and Parma ham Danish. There will also be a daily section of seasonal sandwiches alongside Monmouth coffee. From 12pm onwards, the space transforms back into Gunpowder Tower Bridge for lunch and dinner. Moi et Toi will also create a range of desserts for Gunpowder, each highlighting one of the ten spices that make up the restaurant’s signature spice blend.

 

Iconic Westminster café brought to market: The Regency Café, the iconic Westminster-based venue that appeared in the films Layer Cake and Brighton Rock, has been placed on the market. Propel understands that Christie & Co is marketing the lease of the 68-cover site, with an asking price of £170,000 and rent of £29,000 per annum. Located near Westminster and Victoria stations, the Regency Café opened in 1946 in Regency Street and is designed in an art deco style. The cafe has been featured as a filming location in several BBC series such as Judge John Deed, Rescue Me and London Spy.

 

Chef Jackson Boxer to replace Orasay with Dove: Chef Jackson Boxer has confirmed he is to close his restaurant Orasay in London’s Notting Hill on New Year’s Eve and reopen the site under his new venture, Dove. Last week, Boxer announced on Instagram that after five years of trading, Orasay was set to close. He said: “There are a multitude of reasons for this, but the simplest one is that Orasay was never a very lucrative business. We specialised in working with a fragile and elusive product with a minuscule shelf life that needs a great deal of labour to prepare, and though we're busier than we've ever been in terms of guests through the door, those guests have considerably less freedom to spend than perhaps they once did, and as such, being unable to raise prices, and being unwilling to work with a cheaper and inferior product, we have decided to imagine a bold new future for ourselves in quite another direction. The function endures even as the form adapts.” The new form will be Dove, which will open in the same spot, at 31 Kensington Park Road, on Tuesday, 7 January. Boxer said: “It is not re-inventing the wheel, but re-inventing the restaurant for today’s economy.” Example dishes include lemon and ricotta dumplings, lobster cream and lime leaf (£22), and roast chicken, fennel and blood orange (£29).

  

Oklava co-founder opens new neighbourhood restaurant in Amsterdam: Selin Kiazim, co-founder of modern Turkish restaurant Oklava, which ran for seven years in London’s Shoreditch, has opened a new neighbourhood restaurant in Amsterdam. The London-born chef, a Great British Menu winner in 2017, has opened Esra with partner and co-founder Steph de Goeijen, who previously worked in front-of-house and restaurant management roles at Oklava. Esra offers an “evolving menu shaped by Selin's Turkish-Cypriot heritage and seasonal ingredients from local Dutch suppliers, alongside wine from Turkey and the Mediterranean”. Kiazim, who founded and operated Oklava with Laura Foster from 2015 to 2023, relocated to the Dutch capital in 2020. She was also behind Turkish plates restaurant Kyseri in Camden, which was replaced by Oklava Bakery + Wine in 2019, which, in turn, closed last year. Having previously worked under Peter Gordon at his The Providores and Tapa Room and Kopapa restaurants, Kiazim has also written two cookbooks, Oklava and Three.