Exclusive – Stonegate buys out Frontier Pubs joint venture: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, has bought out the remaining equity stake in Frontier Pubs, its joint venture with Karen Jones, Jo Cumming and Peter Myers, bringing the partnership to an end, Propel has learned. The 15 London pubs in the group will now form part of Stonegate’s leased and tenanted division. Frontier Pubs was set up in 2016 with Enterprise Inns, which was acquired by Stonegate in 2020. Myers said: “It has been a joy to set up and grow Frontier into the success that it is through the quality of our operations team, our managers and the teams we have in our pubs and the hospitality they demonstrate daily. Our partnership with Stonegate, with Daniel Wilkinson, Michelle Cooper and Eve Turner, has been a rewarding collaboration, creating 15 pubs of which we are truly proud. The focus now is to find homes for each of the pubs, with publicans who are committed to continued growth through the care of the customer, care for the teams and the quality of food, drink, sport and hospitality that are the hallmarks of a Frontier pub.” David McDowall, chief executive of Stonegate, said: “It has been a privilege to partner with Frontier, creating outstanding pubs that have delivered strong growth under Frontier’s management. We are confident that the pubs will continue to thrive in the communities they serve, and we look forward to welcoming them into our Pub Partners business.” Jones said: “We are all proud of what we have created in Frontier. This has been fuelled by an entrepreneurial spirit that provides the foundation for the future flourishing of each pub under the management of equally entrepreneurial operators.” Propel understands Frontier has continued to show strong like-for-like performance in its current financial year. For the 53 weeks ending 29 September 2024, revenue increased 31% to £11,596,000 (2023: £8,857,000) with pre-tax profit of £353,000 (2023: loss of £111,000) and like-for-like growth of 8.8%.

Sponsored message – the rebirth of an iconic venue as the historic Royal Bell reopens as Bromley’s new members’ club, boutique hotel and co-working hub: This autumn, something truly special returns to the heart of Bromley. After years of silence, the grade II-listed Royal Bell is reopening: restored, reimagined, and ready to begin its next chapter across more than 20,000 square feet as a private members’ club, boutique hotel, community dining and entertainment destination with co-working lounge and a fitness studio. After dark, the membership only bars and lounges transform into spaces with a blend of curated members events, live performance entertainment and DJ sets in the historic The Royal Hall. With a £10m investment, The Royal Bell is being revived by The Belle Collective – the founding group with personal roots in Bromley. Local businessman Mark Goldberg leads the vision, with advisor Nick Gold bringing decades of strategic insight. In reimagining The Royal Bell, co-founders Jamie Gold and Max Cohen honour their grandfather's south London legacy, and seasoned hospitality professional Jon Yantin brings 30 years of expertise. The Belle Collective said it sees an opportunity in bringing a city centre concept into the suburbs and regions and are actively seeking further development sites. This is a landmark restored by those who know it best – for a new generation of members to make it their own. Tier one membership starts at £165. For more information, click here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Bear co-founder Craig Bunting joins speaker line-up for Propel summer conference and party, open for bookings: Craig Bunting, co-founder of coffee house, kitchen and bar business Bear, has joined the speaker line-up for the Propel Multi-Club Conference and summer party on Thursday, 4 September, at the Oxford Belfry. Bunting will talk about building a brand “we’re proud to own”, investing wisely and “staying true to our purpose”. The all-day conference will focus on “moving ahead with evolved thinking” and will be followed in the evening by the summer party, with a barbecue and more than four hours of live music. There are up to two free places per company for operators and Premium operator subscribers can book up to four places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com. A room can also be booked for the evening at an additional cost. For more details, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Meanwhile, the evening entertainment includes the return by popular demand of the UK’s top Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow tribute acts as Scott Borley and Daniel Hadfield again join forces. Pure Mercury, the UK’s foremost Freddie Mercury tribute act, will also be performing along with The Greek Street Live House Band, which will be playing guests’ requests. The evening will also feature a music quiz with PubQuiz. 

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality on Friday: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club subscribers on Friday (18 July), at midday. Another 23 companies have been added to the database, which now features 954 companies. This month’s edition will also include 81 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers 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 subscribers 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 subscribers 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.

Greene King CEO calls for reduction in business rates multiplier for pubs to help unlock tens of millions in investment: Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenize has called for a reduction in business rates multiplier for pubs, to help unlock tens of millions of pounds in investment. Mackenzie was one of several leaders at Britain’s biggest pub groups to yesterday (Monday, 14 July) warn chancellor Rachel Reeves’ that her £1.7bn tax raid on businesses will trigger more closures. They spoke out after British Beer & Pub Association warned more than one pub a day would shut across Britain this year as publicans battle surging costs. Writing in a report titled Growth on Tap: Reforming Business Rates to Revive the Pub Sector, Mackenzie wrote: “We are calling on the chancellor in the autumn Budget to reduce the business rates multiplier for pubs by 20p, the biggest reduction possible under current legislation. If the multiplier for these premises is dropped by this amount, we believe it could help rapidly free up £13.7m of additional funding across our pubs, and tens of millions of pounds across the country as a whole. But this has to be just a first step. A big part of the reason why business rate costs are disproportionately high for pubs is because of the rateable value component. How this rateable value is calculated is outdated and unfair, based on pub turnover and not taking into account the reality that pub profits have been decimated by spiralling costs. Government has promised reform of the system, and we are calling for a move to a business rates system where rateable value is calculated on profit, not turnover, so pubs are able to pay a truly fair rate. This is finally a chance to put things right. Decades have passed since business rates were first introduced and countless politicians have said they are up to the challenge of initiating change, but it has never happened at the scale required.” Mackenzie said introducing a lower business rates multiplier would “deliver immediate relief for the whole pub sector” and could “unlock significant growth potential for the UK”. He said an average managed pub could save nearly £10,000 each year, which in turn would help create jobs and see more investment in both pubs and people. “This fundamental change could unlock additional investment in excess of £20m a year from Greene King alone,” he added. “We’re ready to invest, to grow and help Britain’s pubs thrive, but we’re calling on the chancellor to ensure the system is fit for the future, not stuck in the past.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a restaurant group that is seeking a head chef for its new site in south west London. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This will be an opportunity to shape a bold, ingredient-led Mediterranean sharing menu in a kitchen designed for creativity, featuring fresh pasta, fire-charred vegetables and collaborative menu development. The ideal head chef will come from a high-end restaurant background, with a passion for low-intervention produce and expertise in pasta, fire-cooking and crafting streamlined dishes, with just three or four ingredients. Strong leadership is essential, as the individual will manage and mentor a 15-strong brigade, working closely with the creative director and executive chef throughout the opening, training and menu development period.” The salary is up to £75,000. For more information, email olly@corecruitment.com.

 

Pasta Evangelists co-founder – the future of the business is the USA: Alessandro Savelli, the co-founder of Pasta Evangelists, has said the future of the business “is the USA” and that he believes the brand can conquer the US market. Pasta Evangelists was started by Savelli and two subsequent co-founders, marketeer Finn Lagun and finance expert Chris Rennoldson. Their partnership began with a deli counter in the Harrods food hall after the launch of Savelli's recipe kit service in 2016. The group – which now has more than 350 employees, serving up 200,000 portions of pasta per month, opened its first fresh pasta factory in North Acton in 2023 and also runs the UK’s biggest fresh pasta cookery school. Pasta Evangelists delivers in 50 UK towns and cities and harbours ambition to bring its restaurant arm to 15 locations by the end of 2025. Savelli told Yahoo Finance: “The future is the USA. It’s the biggest market for Italian food and pasta, number one for restaurants and is our priority for the future. For some reason, Italian cuisine does not have an owner in the restaurant space, and I think Pasta Evangelists will become this brand.” In April, Savelli said the “world is our oyster” when it comes to the brand’s expansion and revealed the business was in contact with possible partners in the US and China. Savelli told Forbes: “We’ve just met a very large travel operator where there could be a huge opportunity in one of the world's biggest airports to have a Pasta Evangelists unit. I’ve just written an email to a US investor to see if it wants to partner with us for launching in America. Last week, we met the biggest restaurant brand in China to see if it wants to launch Italian food in China. So, the world is our oyster.” Last year, Pasta Evangelists told Propel there was potential to grow its “Pasta Emporium” franchise to more than 100 sites in the UK.

Ten Entertainment strengthens executive team: Ten Entertainment Group, which is backed by US private equity firm Trive Capital, has strengthened its executive leadership team to support its next stage of growth, Propel has learned. James Croxall will join Ten Entertainment Group as chief marketing officer. Croxall brings a wealth of experience in brand development and digital transformation, having previously served as marketing director at Buzz Group. There, he led proposition strategy and full-funnel marketing performance across retail and leisure channels. Bret Astle, who is currently operations director at Ten Entertainment Group, will assume the role of chief operating officer. Astle brings more than two decades of operational expertise to the position, having spent the last 20 years with the group in a variety of leadership roles. Julia Terry, meanwhile, has been promoted to chief people officer. She originally served as Tenpin’s HR director from 2003 to 2010 and rejoined the company in the same role in 2022. Her career spans a range of sectors including retail, distribution, academia and consultancy. The changes are set to take effect in September. Chief executive Graham Blackwell said: “We’re delighted to welcome James to the executive team. His track record in driving digital-first marketing strategies across omnichannel environments will be invaluable as we continue to grow. Julia and Bret’s promotions are a testament to their leadership, commitment, and deep understanding of our business. Their continued contribution at the executive level ensures we remain well-positioned for future success.” In March, Blackwell told Propel the 55-strong group anticipates six new sites in 2025 and has a “robust pipeline for 2026 and beyond”. The 2025 Experiential Leisure Report, the second year of Propel’s exhaustive report on the fast-growing experiential leisure market, will be published on Friday, 1 August at 9am. The report profiles the current shape of the experiential leisure market – including brands, estate size, trading type and geographical location and future trends. It includes opinion from leading players Juliette Keyte, marketing director at Red Engine, Richard Beese, co-founder of We Do Play, and Lisa Boden, partner at investor Edition Capital, and provides a detailed list of UK experiential leisure companies including key staff and Companies House information. The report includes 197 companies, marking a 10% growth in the sector since last year's study, with 3,700 sites. The report is available for £595 plus VAT to pre-order now. Existing Premium Club subscribers can receive it on Friday, 1 August for £395 plus VAT. The report will be made available for free to existing Premium subscribers on Wednesday, 10 September at 9am. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to order a copy.

 

Verdant Leisure hires Rod McKie as chairman: Holiday park operator Verdant Leisure, which operates 14 sites across the UK, has hired Rod McKie, formerly of New World Trading Company (NWTC) and Welcome Break, as its new chairman, Propel has learned. McKie stepped down as non-executive chairman of the Graphite Capital-backed pub restaurant group NWTC after nearly three years in the role earlier this year. During his time with the company, McKie steered the business through a successful company voluntary arrangement and built a strong leadership team, including Amber Wood as managing director. McKie, who is also currently chairman of cafe and deli concept Megan’s, spent nearly 16 years as chief executive of roadside services operator Welcome Break. He was also previously international chief executive of Sticks‘n’Sushi, managing director of Coffee Republic and an operations director at Pret A Manger. Verdant is backed by Pears Partnership Capital. 

 

Pottery and café concept lines up three new openings in London: Bonbon Pottery Café, which was founded in 2021 by Tao Wei and Miao Wang, has lined up three new openings in London, including a site in Battersea Power Station. The concept, which “blends creativity and comfort, bringing together pottery painting and café culture in a calming, family-friendly space”, launched its debut site in Royal Wharf. The business will open in Battersea Power Station this summer, with an opening to follow at 64 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill. The 3,000 square-foot Westbourne Grove unit will open this autumn. The company has also lined up an opening at Wembley Park, with the aim of becoming the UK’s leading creative café brand. In addition to DIY pottery painting, customers can book a pottery taster class, a Cream Gel DIY session – inspired by cake decorating, adding charms, beads and sweet details to create unique accessories – and private parties. Davis Coffer Lyons acted on behalf of the private landlord to let the Westbourne Grove unit, which was formerly occupied by a hairdresser.

 

Star Pubs to roll out loyalty scheme across Just Add Talent sites: Heineken-owned Star Pubs is to roll out a loyalty scheme across its 190 Just Add Talent (JAT) sites following a successful trial. Star Pubs is investing £180,000 in the initiative after its pilot sites saw repeated and sustained use of the Pub Perks cards, which give users points on their purchases of food, drinks and snacks. Star Pubs found 85% of cards were used multiple times a week, with no drop-off in regularity over the six-month long trial. Trials where users were given bonus points during certain hours of the day increased dwell time and spend. In addition, six out of ten card holders signed up to email marketing about the pub. The loyalty scheme received a net promoter score of +72 from JAT operators who took part in the trial. Card users receive points on all products they buy at the pub – including food for functions – regardless of the day or time. Once they have collected 1,000 points, they can claim £1 off their next purchase. Star Pubs retail director Cathy Olver said: “We know from talking to our customers that they favour loyalty cards with a straightforward mechanic and the facility to redeem their points promptly. Pub Perks’ simplicity is key to its popularity; there are no limitations on when cards can be used, complicated terms and conditions or further steps required to redeem points, such as downloading vouchers. The ability to build up an in-depth understanding of our customers and their spending habits is another major benefit of Pub Perks. We will be using this to develop tailored offers and targeted promotions for our customers.” Developed in conjunction with Zonal, the cards work on JAT pubs’ existing till systems. 

 

Wingstop UK opens in Cheltenham: Wingstop UK, which is backed by US private equity firm Sixth Street, has opened its new site in Cheltenham. Located in The Brewery Quarter, the 2,067 square-foot site accommodates more than 60 covers and has created in excess of 60 jobs. The site is one of 20 the 69-strong brand is set to launch in 2025. Wingstop UK chief executive Chris Sherriff said: “We’re thrilled to be opening at The Brewery Quarter in Cheltenham, a lively location known for its mix of offerings and high footfall. Off the back of strong demand at our other locations, this launch represents an exciting milestone in our expansion across the country.”

 

Global Brands founder launches immersive wine cellar experience at Derbyshire hotel: Global Brands founder Steve Perez has launched an immersive wine cellar experience at one of his Derbyshire hotels. The new cellar, which features a £3,050 bottle of 2006 Petrus, is located at the Red Lion restaurant at the Peak Edge Hotel in Stone Edge, Chesterfield. Guests can “physically step inside the wine list” by being able to see, hold and explore the bottles up close and speak to experienced sommelier Adrian Tinis as part of their evening. “This isn’t just a storage space – it’s a talking point,” said Tinis. “Our cellar brings wine to life. Guests can explore the labels, ask questions and connect with the people and stories behind each bottle.” The cellar will be central to the Red Lion’s Wine Series, where bottles from “the world’s most exciting wine regions” are paired with dishes from the restaurant’s kitchen. Mark Thurman, managing director at Peak Edge Hotel, added: “The new wine cellar not only adds theatre and depth to our dining offer – it also reflects the high standards, craftsmanship and passion we bring to everything we do at Peak Edge. We’re incredibly proud to offer something unique for our region.” Perez also owns the four-star Casa hotel in Chesterfield. In 2018, he acquired back the Peak Edge Hotel and adjoining Red Lion site, which had been owned by his father between 1966 and 2010.

 

Pizza Pilgrims to open in Manchester next month: Pizza Pilgrims, the pizzeria brand, will open in Manchester’s Deansgate next month. Propel revealed in May that the Gavin Smith-led business had secured the ex-La Vina site for a flagship venue in the north west. The new restaurant will now open on Monday, 18 August at 105-107 Deansgate for Pizza Pilgrims’ debut in the city. The pizzeria will feature 140 covers across a ground floor and mezzanine dining space as well as a top floor masterclass kitchen and chef’s table, where the brand’s Dough It Yourself experience will led by experienced pizzaiolos. The site will offer Pizza Pilgrims’ new summer menu, including pizzas such as the Amalfi Coast (Cetaran anchovies, Piennolo tomatoes, Fior di Latte mozzarella, olives, capers and basil), the Principessa (Prosciutto di Parma, Piennolo di Vesuvio tomatoes, 24-month Parmigiano-Reggiano, Mozzarella di Bufala and extra virgin olive oil) and the Burrata & Pesto (Puglian burrata, Genovese basil pesto and sweet Piennolo tomatoes). Founders James and Thom Elliot said: “We’ve been looking to open a Pizza Pilgrims in Manchester for ages. This city is really special to us as we were both born in Manchester and raised in the local area, so it feels like we're coming back to our roots. We’ve waited a long time for the right opportunity to present itself, and we can't wait to join the city's amazing food community.”

 

Inamo lines up opening in London’s Hackney for street food concept: London tech-restaurant group Inamo has lined up a further opening in the capital for its sushi and fusion street food sub-brand Inamo sukoshi. The company will open a new site under the concept, which was created for use in food hall operations, at Hackney Bridge, later this summer. The opening will be the fourth under the sukoshi concept, following openings in Boxpark Wembley, Vauxhall and, most recently, Boxhall City, in Liverpool Street. The concept serves Inamo favourites such as dragon rolls and chicken karaage, alongside a selection of sushi and Asian tapas, including ramen, katsu curry, poké and bubble tea. Last year, Noel Hunwick, co-founder and marketing director of Inamo, told Propel the business believes the Greater London area could readily support 20-plus locations for Inamo sukoshi. Hunwick said in April that he believes that is still possible, and the business “continues to regularly review opportunities”. Inamo also operates eponymous restaurants in Soho and Covent Garden. 

 

Friska founders open fourth site for Double Puc Café concept: The founders of former Bristol healthy fast food cafe business Friska have opened a fourth site under their Double Puc Café concept in the city. The business has opened at The Crescent – Bristol’s landmark new workplace in the Temple Back area. Ed Brown, who with Griff Holland grew Friska to 12 sites pre-pandemic before closing the last of its sites in 2022, said: “We’re proud to bring our brand of purposeful, sustainable hospitality into this next-generation space – with specialty coffee, fresh food, and a warm welcome for all.” Double Puc also operates a café on the ground floor of The Eye in Bristol’s Glass Wharf, at the city’s science and arts centre, We The Curious, and Wake The Tiger – “the world’s first Amazement Park”, which attracts more than 150,000 visitors per year.

 

Mathew Carver to open third site for conveyor belt cheese restaurant concept: London cheese specialist Mathew Carver – who runs The Cheese Barge in London and Rind in North Yorkshire – is to open a third site for his Pick & Cheese conveyor belt restaurant concept. Building on the original restaurant at street food collective and hospitality group Kerb’s Seven Dials Market and at Das Canter in Berlin, the new venue will launch at Camden Market on Friday, 25 July. Taking the place of Carver’s The Cheese Bar restaurant in Camden Stables Market, an 18-metre-long conveyor belt will wind its way around the restaurant offering varieties of cheese including such as Cropwell Bishop stilton and kimchi and Cornish Yarg with pea and mint pesto. An off-belt menu will centre around grilled cheese sandwiches. The drinks menu will be led by natural wine,from a number of small producers, alongside a selection of port, craft beer and cider. Carver said: “We opened Pick & Cheese in Covent Garden because we wanted to make British cheese more fun, accessible and exciting and the response to it has been incredible. Six years on, I’m excited to introduce the concept to Camden and continue championing the amazing work of British cheesemakers across the country.”

Ossett Brewery and sister company Salt freshen up executive team: Yorkshire brewer and retailer Ossett Brewery and its sister company Salt have freshened up their executive team. Edd Simpson, founder of Barrique Fine Wines, joined the brewery as managing director in 2023 and has now completed a transformation of the leadership team with the addition of Matt Howgate as production director and Rich Nelson as sales director. Howgate joins from Vocation Brewery and Ossett said he brings significant experience in pushing operations forward and driving innovation – a strategy he will deliver in partnership with previous Vocation collaborator and Ossett’s new head of brewing, Gary Farlow. Nelson, who originally joined Ossett from Molson Coors and has been “a pivotal player in the success of Salt to date”, moves into the sales director role to drive distribution. Founder Jamie Lawson, who has been with the business since 2002, remains heavily involved. Simpson said: “Our challenge as a cask producer is to embrace evolution and innovation while retaining our strengths and legacy. Cask is the most authentic beer in the market, steeped in heritage and with the strongest call to be considered premium craft. By using this foundation with a progressive mindset, I believe cask beer has the potential to thrive, rather than survive in the beer market of the future; and as a team we’re excited to be at the forefront of the resurgence of cask.”

 

Hospitality AI startup raises £506,000 to fuel growth: UK hospitality technology company Inntelo AI has raised £506,000 in a pre-seed funding round to fuel its growth. The round was led by venture capital fund Haatch and its partner British Business Bank, with participation from Look AI Ventures. The round also included support from several angel investors. It follows an earlier £120,000 investment from Antler at the company’s inception. Inntelo AI has developed a platform for hotels that combines guest and team communication, leveraging both conversational and agentic artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the guest experience “while delivering real operational efficiencies”. The company has already gained traction with both independent and franchised hotels, including Radisson and Wyndham branded properties in the UK, UAE and across Europe, with more hotels currently being onboarded. The seed funding will help accelerate the company’s commercial growth, expanding sales and marketing while supporting ongoing customer deployments and integration with property management systems. Inntelo AI was co-founded by chief executive Asif Alidina, who has previously worked for more than a decade in hotel housekeeping and facilities management. Alidina said: “Hospitality’s AI transformation must be led from within the industry. Too often, hotels have struggled to adopt new technologies because they were developed without real operational insight. We’re excited about this new era, where the hospitality sector can not only embrace technology earlier than ever before, but also lead the way for the wider real estate and service industries.”

 

Hotel group seeking to reposition its venues after making a loss: Immersive Hospitality Management (IHM), formerly Corus Hotels, has said it is seeking to reposition its venues after making a loss in the year to 30 June 2024. The company, which operates the Corus Hotel Hyde Park in London and St James’ Hotel in Grimsby, saw a pre-tax profit of £1,714,000 in 2023 turn into a loss of £4,328,000 after administration expenses jumped from £745,000 to £4,089,000. The company rebranded from Corus Hotels last year. IHM sold the Belsfield Hotel in Windermere in September 2022 and reported this under discontinued operations. Loss from continued operations was £4,328,000 (2023: profit of £1,714,000) and loss from discontinued operations was £33,000 (2023: profit of £6,100). The company’s turnover dropped slightly from £15,524,000 in 2023 to £15,356,000. Of this, £12,120,000 came from accommodation (2023: £12,586,000) and £2,680,000 from food and beverage (2023: £2,390,000). No dividends were paid (2023: £5,749,000). Occupancy was up slightly from 57% in 2023 to 58% but average room rate was down from £113.12 to £97.41, with room yield falling from £69.32 to £56.15. Director Khurram Mohmand said: “The group expects to reposition its hotels through a comprehensive refurbishment and repositioning in the market to improve the average room rate and the occupancy in the coming years.” The company also previously operated Burnham Beeches Hotel in Buckinghamshire, which now comes under the umbrella of Imerso Hotels, a new sub-brand from IHM. It also operates two hotels in Malaysia and is owned by London Vista Hotels, which is part of Malayan United Industries. The company started out in 1993 as Regal Hotel Group.

 

Yorkshire cycle-themed café bar concept set to open third site: Yorkshire cycle-themed café bar concept Mamil is set to open a third site. The family-owned business will open in late August in the former The Vault unit in Crown Street in Hebden Bridge. The venue  will join the company’s sites in Brighouse, which launched in 2021, and Halifax, which opened last year. Mamil, which is named after the cycling acronym “middle aged men in lycra”, is led by David Van Gestel, wife Lisa and daughter Evie. The new site will offer “varied menus, brews, craft beer, cocktails and offers across the week, not just to ‘Mamil’s’, but to everyone”. David van Gestel said: “We are delighted and excited to be opening our third Mamil site. Our continued growth as a business is a testament to our amazing team, the continued support from our suppliers and, of course, our amazing customers, who have supported us since the start in 2021.”

 

London bakery from co-owner of Hackney Italian restaurant Ombra opens second site: London bakery Forno, from the co-owner of Hackney Italian restaurant Ombra, has opened a second site. Mitshel Ibrahim, who is both co-owner and head chef at Ombra at 1 Vyner Street, launched the first Forno, at nearby 332 Andrews Road, in 2023. Milan-born Ibrahim has now opened another Forno, at 47 Church Road in Leytonstone – offering filled maritozzi, torta Caprese, Veneziana buns, rosemary focaccia and more, reports Hot Dinners.

 

North west padel operator to open second site: North west padel operator Ignite Padel is set to open its second site. The company will launch the venue at Cheshire Oaks next month. Based off the M53, the site will include five indoor and two outdoor courts and build on a six-floodlit outdoor court hub in Liverpool, which opened earlier this year. A spokesperson said: “Cheshire Oaks is a major focal point for the whole area, and millions of people head there every year, so it gives us a wide reach into Cheshire, Wirral and Liverpool in the winter months. The nearest indoor club is currently at the Trafford Centre, so players are having to travel from Liverpool and further afield. Having the indoor and outdoor courts will give us greater flexibility and allow us to host top-level tournaments.”

 

North east pub operator opens second site: North east pub operator Darren Goodwin has opened his second site. Goodwin, who also runs the Tanners Arms in Ouseburn, has acquired the Black Bull, near Newcastle United’s St James’ Park ground, and rebranded it as The Blue Star. The same kitchen team as at the Tanners Arms offers a menu of roasts and street food. Goodwin told Bdaily: “We wanted to bring a slice of the Ouseburn scene to the West End. That means quality food, a bit of edge in the decor and a vibe that’s cool, creative and family-friendly. We’re not trying to be a football pub – there’s a few of those around the ground already. We’re offering something different – bringing art, culture, food and community to the West End.” The expansion builds on the success of Scranners Arms, Goodwin’s delivery concept launched during the pandemic with head chef Stuart Hann. “Our reputation has grown since covid, when Stuart and I teamed up, and people have stayed with us,” he added. “The response has been brilliant, and we will continue to grow the Scranners concept within The Blue Star.”

Devon hotel owner relaunches his gourmet burger business: Devon hotel owner Tomo Kembery has relaunched his gourmet burger business, Tomo Burger, in a new location. Devon Live reported that Kembery, who acquired the Three Palms Hotel in Paignton last September, has opened Tomo Burger in the former Crab & Hammer restaurant in the town’s harbour. Kembery previously operated Tomo Burger at 6 Princes Street in Stafford, which closed earlier this year. “Tomo Burger is coming back – and it’s coming back to Devon,” he said in a social media video. Kembery – who has worked in the kitchens at Le Gavroche and The Savoy and as a consultant for Patty & Bun – opened the original Tomo Burger in 2017 before moving to Devon. Tomo Burger offers signature 100% Aberdeen Angus burgers plus options such as a Bangkok bad boy bean, chicken and waffle sandwich, Skinny Japanese and plant-based Smoky Mountain. Kembery said: “We are all about good quality ingredients and local produce, and a quality burger restaurant is certainly something that is lacking in Paignton, so we think we've spotted a gap in the market. I’m also passionate about helping young chefs, and due to the success of the two soft openings we've already had, we’ve been able to offer five jobs to local people, and that’s fantastic.”

 

Nottingham hotel that was home to first Dakota goes on market for £7.25m: A Nottingham hotel that was home to the first Dakota has gone on the market for £7.25m. The Mour Hotel, located in Annesley close to junction 27 of the M1, offers 92 en-suite bedrooms over five floors, as well as a bar and restaurant, fitness suite and function spaces. It has capacity for up to 150 events guests and also offers an outdoor terrace. The venue was the first Dakota hotel, a boutique hotel concept co-founded by Ken McCulloch, the founder of Malmaison, and David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver. Russel Allen, owner of The Mour Hotel, said: “After nearly two decades of ownership, this is a genuine retirement sale for me. The Mour Hotel has been a rewarding project and I’m proud of what we’ve built. It’s a strong, award-winning business and I believe there’s real opportunity for a new owner to take it even further.” Dakota Hotels was founded in 2006 and currently has six locations. It sold the Nottingham hotel in 2009.