Gourmet chicken business aiming to grow to 25 sites over the next five years, lines up international debut in 2026: Gourmet chicken business Rooster Shack is aiming to grow to 25 sites over the next five years and has lined up an international debut in 2026. Founded in 2016 by Imran and Abbas Mamud, Rooster Shack opened three locations in Surrey before expanding with sites in Birmingham and Stockport. Rooster Shack now has just those three Surrey locations again but has set its sights on growing again not only to other parts of the UK, but also overseas. “As the co-founder and chief operating officer of Rooster Shack, my vision for the next five years is both ambitious and exciting,” Abbas Mamud said. “I firmly believe we can expand out footprint to 25 stores during this period. This goal stems from my own journey in this industry, which began at the age of 16. I’ve gained invaluable experience along the way, learning the ins and outs and what makes a restaurant thrive. Rooster Shack stands out as a trendsetter because of our unwavering commitment to quality and creativity. We don’t just serve food; we serve experiences that delight our customers. Our innovative menu and the unique atmosphere we create have captured a loyal following, setting us apart from our competition. To achieve this growth, we’re implementing a strategic plan that focuses on thorough market analysis and selecting prime locations. We’re also investing in technology to streamline our operations, making the customer experience even better. Our team is our greatest asset, and I plan to empower our staff with training that ensures we maintain the high standards our customers except as we expand. A significant milestone on this journey will be the opening of our first store outside of the UK, in the Middle East, in 2026. This expansion is a testament to our brand’s strength and the hard work of our entire team. I’m confident that with our shared passion and commitment, Rooster Shack will continue to grow and thrive on a global scale.” Rooster Shack features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, which is exclusive to Premium Club subscribers and currently features 360 companies. 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.

 

Propel’s Culture, Talent & Training Conference open for bookings, Butcombe Group CEO Jonathan Lawson to speak: Propel’s Culture, Talent & Training Conference has now opened for bookings. The conference takes place on Thursday, 9 October at One Moorgate Place in London. Among the speakers will be Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of Butcombe Group, which was named one of the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For. Lawson will discuss how all of the group’s employees are treated as individuals at its pubs with no two being the same, how it continues to invest in training and development to underpin that ethos, and how he sees the employee/employer relationship developing. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £345 plus VAT for suppliers. Premium Club subscribers get a 20% discount. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

 

Next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality to be released to Premium Club subscribers on Friday featuring more than 255,000 words of content: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will feature more than 255,000 words of content when it is released to Premium Club subscribers on Friday (18 July) at midday. The database now features 954 companies, and this month’s edition includes 23 new additions and 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, the 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.

 

Birthdays and celebrations remain ‘sacred’ despite half of Brits cutting back on eating and drinking out: Birthdays and other celebrations remain “sacred” despite half of Brits cutting back on eating and drinking out, according to new research from 125 Data & Insights. Its State of the Nation report analysed feedback from more than 25,000 consumers to find that while almost 50% of Brits are cutting back on visits to bars and restaurants, only 6% refuse to cut back on birthdays and celebrations. However, net promoter scores for celebrations average just 50, a whole 19 points below the industry benchmark for all occasions at 69. Further data shows that 40% of guests don’t look at menu prices before the visit, and 27% of guests ignore price entirely when booking for a special occasion. The report also revealed that 14% of respondents have cut back on weekend brunches, 16% on date nights and 17% on coffee and treats. Furthermore, while a quarter of consumers will turn away from their favourite restaurant if main meals were to rise by £1 – rising to 60% of consumers for a £2 rise – nearly a third would stay loyal even if prices increased by £2.50 or more. Those aged 18-24 were most likely, at 38%, to visit their favourite restaurant regardless of price hikes. In terms of loyalty and discounting, 23% sought out a discount before booking over the last three months, 46% visit the same place three to five times a year for food and 62% prefer a general discount over a loyalty reward. “Guests will pay more when they trust the experience,” said Olivia FitzGerald, managing director of 125. “But trust is built on consistency – one misstep on a special occasion, and loyalty disappears. The winners will be the brands who deliver unforgettable experiences reliably, every time. If there is one strategic takeaway here, it is treat every celebration booking as an opportunity to deepen the relationship.”

 

AA B&B of the Year winners revealed: The 25 Boutique in Torquay, Devon, has been voted AA B&B of the Year for 2025 in England. The Townhouse in Perth, Perth & Kinross, took the award for Scotland, and Ramsey House in St Davids, Pembrokeshire, landed the Welsh award. In the awards’ 29th year, Restaurant with Rooms of the Year was won by Restaurant Interlude in Lower Beeding, West Sussex (England), The Dipping Lugger, Ullapool, in the Highlands (Scotland) and Plas Dinas Country House in Bontnewydd, Caernarfon (Wales). Inn of the Year awards went to The George Inn in Norton St Philip, Somerset (England), The Colintraive in the Isle of Bute, Argyll & Bute (Scotland) and The Nags Head Inn in Montgomery, Powys (Wales). Simon Numphud, managing director at AA Hotel & Hospitality Services, said: “This year’s winners represent everything that’s special about independent UK hospitality. They go beyond offering a bed for the night – they offer character, comfort and care that stays with you long after check-out.”

 

Portrush restaurant to review The Open price hike following backlash: A restaurant group in the County Antrim town hosting The Open golf tournament has said it is reviewing recent price increases following a social media backlash. Ramore Restaurants in Portrush has come under fire after prices went up as the town prepares to host the tournament this week. At the Ramore Wine Bar, the price of a chicken and bacon burger increased from £7.95 to £17.95, while a bowl of chilli chicken pasta that cost £14.95 earlier this month rose to £27.95. The Ramore Restaurants group includes the Harbour Bar, Ramore Wine Bar, Basalt and Neptune and Prawn. It said the price increases “reflects the significant investment we’ve made to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and high-quality experience for both locals and visitors”. A spokesperson told BBC News NI it had brought in more than 30 agency staff to support its employees, more than 30 security personnel and more than 20 entertainers over the course of the tournament. “All of our restaurants are open every day during this exceptionally busy period, and we’re committed to delivering the best possible hospitality to everyone who visits,” the group said. “That said, we’ve listened to the feedback and, as of today, have taken steps to revise and adjust pricing across all of our restaurant menus going forward.” The group said it had reduced prices across its menus for the current championship week and plans to further adjust and reduce them again once The Open concludes.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a drinks wholesaler in the Midlands that is looking for a regional account manager in the on-trade. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This role will manage key accounts, and develop relationships across pubs, bars and restaurants. The position will be responsible for managing the sales pipeline, ensuring high levels of customer service and negotiating commercial terms to maximise profitability.” The salary is up to £50,000. For more information, email mark@corecruitment.com.

 

Zip World – ‘challenging economic landscape has suppressed consumer discretionary spending, which has slowed growth opportunities’: Adventure tourism operator Zip World, which was acquired at the start of the year by private equity firm Dolphin Capital in a deal worth £100m, has said the “challenging economic landscape” has “suppressed consumer discretionary spending, which has slowed growth opportunities”. It comes as the group, which operates eight locations across Wales and England, reported turnover dipped to £27,412,000 for the year ending 31 December 2023 from £28,665,000 the year before. Ebitda before exceptional charges was down to £9,579,000 from £10,192,000 the previous year. The company posted a pre-tax loss of £3,329,182 compared with a profit of £109,299 the year before. The group incurred an exceptional cost of £2,274,000 in relation to the Skyflyer asset – a helium-filled aerostat product that would have flown 120 metres in the air – with management deciding to cease the project “because it did not meet performance standards”. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “We attribute this performance to an increasingly challenging economic landscape in the UK with both inflation and interest rate increases suppressing consumer discretionary spending, which has slowed growth opportunities. The business is well placed to benefit from an upturn in the market. Ride numbers have increased by 56,000 to 688,000, with the group introducing a number of new attractions with a lower price point to drive value and dwell time on sites.” The group did not receive any government grants (2022: £234,000). No dividend was paid (2022: nil). 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.

 

Oodles Wok targeting London suburbs as it looks to expand in the capital: Indo-Chinese brand Oodles Wok is targeting new locations in London’s suburbs as it looks to expand in the capital. The company currently has 12 sites in and around London – in Holborn, Walworth Road, Whitechapel, Kilburn, Tooting, Tottenham, Walthamstow, Upton Park, Ilford, Croydon, Southall and Loughton. The circa 50-strong business has now outlined the areas in the capital it would like to open in next, as it works towards its target of 100 UK stores. “Oodles Wok is expanding, and we’re actively looking for new properties all across the UK to open our next wave of stores,” the company posted to social media. “If you have a commercial property or know of a suitable space that could be the perfect fit for a thriving and fast-growing quick service restaurant food brand, we’d love to hear from you! High footfall locations 300 square foot to 600 square foot (food court) or 600 square foot to 1,200 square foot. Currently, we are actively searching for sites in: west London: Ealing, Acton; south London: Putney, Richmond, Fulham, Bromley; and surrounding areas. Agents, landlords or anyone with a lead, reach out, let’s chat.” Oodles Wok last month launched in its second international market when it opened its first Canadian site – at 41 Lebovic Avenue in Scarborough, Ontario. The business, founded in Leicester in 2010 by Mohammed and Ismail Umar, signed a 50-store agreement for Canada in March. This followed a launch in Dubai’s Motor City in October 2024.

 

Cake Box CEO – ‘we tend to do well when there’s trouble on the high street, people are putting more effort into celebrations’: Sukh Chamdal, chief executive of fresh cream cake retailer Cake Box, has said the business “tends to do well when there’s trouble on the high street” and that people are “putting more effort into celebrations”. Speaking following the group’s full-year results, where turnover increased 13% to £42.78m, Chamdal told City AM: “We did really well in covid, in the 2008 recession – you find that a cake is an emotional purchase. When you’ve got one birthday a year, [it] tends to be a little bit extra special, and [people] tend to spend an extra couple of pounds. I think we’re very well positioned to take advantage of all the turmoil going on the high street at the moment. People are putting more effort into celebrations.” Cake Box recently joined a long list of retailers in slamming the current business rates system as too high for high streets. While the impact of high rates on Cake Box’s franchised stores is “limited”, the company’s finance officer Michael Botha said reforming business rates would be a driver of high street improvements. “Every successive government has promised they’re going to review it, but it’s an easy tax to collect – that’s why no-one reforms it,” Botha said. “Business rates reform is long overdue. We urge [the government] to prioritise it in the next Budget.”

 

Crown Golf unveils £1bn plan to build 3,000 homes on land around its courses, current trading strong with post-covid golf boom holding up: Crown Golf – the operator of eight golf courses in the south east plus the St Mellion Estate in Cornwall – has unveiled plans to redevelop land around its courses into more than 3,000 homes worth in excess of £1bn. The joint venture with London fund manager Fairway Capital, backed by Crown Golf owner Bangarra Group, will see core golfing operations retained while unlocking development plots. The flagship St Mellion Estate – home to a Jack Nicklaus-designed course – is earmarked for more than 200 homes to be built on land that’s surplus to the resort’s sporting needs. The redevelopment programme is expected to be phased over six years and Crown Golf’s courses will continue operating during the transition. It comes as Crown Golf reported trading has been strong in its 2025 financial year, with the post-covid boom in golf holding up. Chairman Campbell Fleming said: “Trading for the year ended 30 June 2025 has been strong, exceeding both expectations and the comparative period. The directors remain confident the outlook for the business is positive, with the post-covid resurgence in golf participation showing little sign of waning.” The company reported turnover of £15,208,000 for the year to 30 June 2024, up from £13,856,000 in 2023. Pre-tax losses narrowed from £5,946,000 in 2023 to £3,308,000. Exceptional items added up to a loss of £329,000 (2023: loss of £1,704,000). Fleming said: “The operating environment for the year remained challenging, with general inflation only subsiding towards the end of the period. More helpfully, energy prices have subsided, albeit they remain well above historic norms. Despite general headwinds, the operating performance of the group improved substantially year on year.” Post year end, in October 2024, rather than parent company debt being repaid in cash, 31,470,668 ordinary £1 shares were issued at a price of £1.40 per share. They were issued in exchange for discounted loan notes owed to the parent company of £44,058,936.

 

Merlin Entertainments to develop its ‘most technologically advanced attractions’ yet: Merlin Entertainments is set to develop its “most technologically advanced attractions” yet at two US locations. The company has unveiled the first details of the space-themed experiences being developed at its Legoland resorts in Florida and California, including ground-breaking indoor immersive rollercoasters. The company said this marks the next milestone in a £70m investment already announced for the two resorts. Merlin Entertainments chief executive Fiona Eastwood said: “Our Merlin magic making creative team are constantly working on new, compelling and interactive experiences across our Legoland resorts as we further strengthen our partnership with the Lego Group and broaden our appeal to Lego’s global fan base. In both locations, the boundless creativity of Lego will meet the wonders of space – setting a new standard for fun and imagination.”

 

Heartwood Collection opens seventh pub with rooms: Heartwood Collection, the Alchemy Partners-backed business, has opened its seventh pub with rooms. The company has launched The George & Dragon in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, marking another step towards the group’s target of more than 400 rooms by December 2026. The George & Dragon has undergone a multimillion-pound refurbishment, with the new bar and dining rooms offering space for 200 guests. Outside, a newly created courtyard and front terrace provides space for an additional 50 covers. Upstairs, the pub has 17 boutique bedrooms. Heartwood Collection chief executive Richard Ferrier said: “We are delighted to be opening The George & Dragon, our 32nd Heartwood Inn and seventh pub with rooms in 16 months. It is an iconic pub in a beautiful town that we have been tracking for several years. To finally see it brought to life is a proud moment for the whole Heartwood team.” Last month, Ferrier has said the momentum from a “momentous” year for the company has carried into its current financial year and that it has refinanced its debt facilities, making an extra £6m available to support its growth.

 

Individual Restaurants to open first site within a hotel today: Individual Restaurants, the Restaurant Bar & Grill and Piccolino operator, will open its first site within a hotel today (Wednesday, 16 July). Propel revealed last month that the Andrew Garton-led business was set to replace the 1751 Distillery Bar & Kitchen site in the Hilton Tower Bridge Hotel, More London. The site, which was previously a Jamie’s Italian before The Restaurant Group Concessions opened the 1751 Distillery Bar & Kitchen there in 2020, will become Individual Restaurants’ 23rd site under its Piccolino brand. Garton said. “This marks a new chapter for the brand, combining our signature Italian hospitality with the world-class service of Hilton. Following a record year of performance in 2024, including 14% growth in December and successful openings in Marlow, Henley-on-Thames and Chichester, this partnership represents both a strategic expansion and an evolution of the Piccolino experience. This is more than an opening, it’s a step forward in our commitment to brand evolution, market diversification, and meaningful partnerships. We’re excited about what’s ahead.”

 

Gourmet burger concept that has Fireaway founder as a backer opens in Luton for tenth site: Gourmet burger concept Five Akhis, which has fast-pizza brand Fireaway founder Mario Aleppo as a backer, has opened in Luton for its tenth site. Five Akhis, which was founded in 2021 in Milton Keynes, has opened at 223-225 Selbourne Road in the Maidenhall area of the Bedfordshire town. It follows a launch last month at 21 South Bar Street in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Five Akhis also has two sites in Milton Keynes (full restaurant and express) and one each in Northampton, Oxford, Preston, Birmingham, Sheffield and Nottingham. Aleppo invested in the fledgling business in 2023, taking a 5% stake as well as lending his expertise.

 

Open Restaurant Group hires Tony Parkin as development chef: The Open Restaurant Group (ORG), owned by Andrew Sheridan with business partners Sam and Emma Morgan, has hired Tony Parkin as its new development chef. Parkin was most recently chef patron at the Michelin-starred House restaurant at the Cliff House Hotel in Waterford, Ireland, before leaving in January to return to England. He also worked at the Tudor Room at The Great Fosters Hotel in Egham, Surrey, when it was awarded a Michelin star and appeared on BBC’s Great British Menu. Parkin said: “I am excited to join Andy, Sam and Emma at ORG, and for the opportunities and challenges ahead.” Sheridan added: “Tony is a brilliant chef who brings with him loads of experience, and we can’t wait to see what he’ll bring to ORG.” ORA operates eight sites, including the three AA Rosette 8 By Andrew Sheridan in Liverpool, and Sow on the Netherwood Estate in Worcestershire. Its portfolio also includes Oxa in The Wirral, Dishes in Prestatyn, The Bracebridge in Sutton Coldfield, and Black & Green and Cofton on the Green in Worcestershire. Earlier this month, ORG revealed it had acquired the site of the Michelin-rated Da Noi in Chester, rebranding it as “Noted”.

 

Scottish hotel and restaurant group undergoes further restructuring as losses widen: Scottish hotel and restaurant operator CSG Commercial, which operates the five-strong Bon Vivant restaurant division, has undergone a further restructuring after seeing its losses widen. Having refinanced its loan with OakNorth in July 2024 and entered into a group facility agreement for £26.6m with RBS, CSG Commercial entered into a revised agreement with RBS in December 2024. This provided available facilities of £84.55m, including access to a revolving credit facility of £5m. The group, which is led by Christopher Stewart and also has a property development portfolio, revealed the details in its accounts for the year ending 30 June 2024. Turnover increased to £15,215,978 compared with £14,771,486 the previous year. Pre-tax losses grew to £4,408,111 from £1,028,667 the year before. The 2024 figure included £7,387,513 from food and beverage sales (2023: £8,226,686), £4,298,082 from room sales and guest services (2023: £3,211,130), £2,384,599 from property management and consultancy services (2023: £1,919,833) and £1,086,409 from facilities management and building services (2023: £976,036). In November 2023, the group opened the Glasgow AC by Marriott hotel, which “performed strongly”. Rooms sold increased to 32,015 from 9,706 following the opening of the Glasgow hotel. Average room rate fell to £105.60 from £319.22. Occupancy rates dropped to 56.57% from 70.85%, with revenue available per room dropping to £59.74 from £226.15. In his report accompanying the accounts, Stewart stated: “The restaurant sub-group continued to experience challenging operating conditions with inflation continuing to affect trade.” No dividends were paid (2023: nil).

 

North west butcher and bakery business undergoing ‘gradual rebrand’ as it launches franchise programme: North west butcher and bakery business The Pork Shop has said it is undergoing a “gradual rebrand” as it launches a franchise programme. The Pork Shop was founded by the Gardner family in 2001 and has since grown to seven sites – full stores in Poulton-Le-Fylde, Lytham and Walmer Bridge and express format locations in Blackpool (two), Preston and Burscough. The Pork Shop is now undergoing a gradual change of name to Uncle D’s – named after a Cumbrian butcher uncle who passed the business his secret sausage recipe in his will – to give a stronger brand identity as the business seeks to grow. Director Jack Gardner said: “Names stick with people. That’s why we haven’t rushed the move from The Pork Shop to Uncle D’s. The Pork Shop is a name that means something to people, especially locally. It’s trusted and recognised. But as we’ve expanded into franchising, we’ve needed a name that could grow with us – one that could stand out on a national scale without losing the heart of where we started. That’s where Uncle D’s comes in. Rather than switch everything overnight, we’ve been introducing more Uncle D’s products in-store and slowly building the brand presence, from packaging to POS. You’ll now spot signage that reads Uncle D’s by The Pork Shop. It’s been a gradual shift, and that’s been intentional. One day, the name Uncle D’s might stand on its own. But everything people know and love about The Pork Shop? That’s not going anywhere. Franchising wasn’t always part of the plan, but it’s become a huge part of the journey. It’s still early days, but it’s exciting to see more people believe in what we’re doing and want to be part of it. Here’s to what’s next.”

 

Multi-brand franchisee opens fourth Slim Chickens site: Multi-brand franchisee Alok Yadav has opens his fourth site with US brand Slim Chickens. Yadav, who operates circa 60 Starbucks stores under his KBeverage business, launched KChicken in 2023 to take on a franchise of US brand Slim Chickens – which is being rolled out here by master franchisee Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG). KChicken has opened Slim Chickens locations in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge and Chichester, and has now launched in Walton on Thames in Surrey. Yadav said. “We’re proud to announce the grand opening of our fourth Slim Chickens store, right in the heart of Walton on Thames. The opening was nothing short of amazing – the energy, the look of the store, and the overwhelming positive response have been phenomenal. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to BRG for its unwavering support throughout this journey. Onwards and upwards – let’s keep building!” KBeverage was founded in 2015 by Yadav, who arrived in the UK from India in 2007 speaking little English but taught himself by reading pizza menus at the Domino’s where he had a cleaning job. Yadav went on to build portfolios with both Pizza Hut, which he has since sold, and Starbucks before returning to Domino’s in June 2023 to open his first franchise store with the company he started out with. He opened his 60th Starbucks site in February and most recently opened a drive-thru in Cromwell Road, Wisbech, last month. 

 

North west hotel group Oddfellows sells 25% stake in business to Brightstar, forecasts increase in turnover and profit levels in 2026: North west hotel group Oddfellows has sold a 25% stake in the business to Brightstar, which operates circa 20 hotels across the UK. Following the deal, disclosed post year end by Oddfellows in its accounts for the year ending 31 March 2024, Brightstar has lent the group an additional £686,000. Oddfellows, which owns sites in Chester and Cheadle, agreed a bridging loan of £4.072m with Charles Street Commercial Investments in December 2023, which it renewed for a further 12 months in December 2024, and said it intends to refinance the facility in December 2025. Director Douglas McGeorge said: “Although turnover in the year to 31 March 2025 is forecast to have reduced to £3.7m, the forecast for the year to 31 March 2026 is showing an increase in turnover and profit levels. The group recognises there is opportunity for further growth in turnover and profit in the hospitality and leisure industry, and with the management company having overseen its first year with the company, it hopes to take full advantage of this in the coming years. Forecasts beyond the year ended 31 March 2025 show a sensible level of growth. Overseas travel and staycations are expected to gather pace, which should see the group return to occupancy rates of 85% and the pipeline for weddings and events is strong.” It comes as the group grew its turnover from £3,729,747 in 2023 to £4,116,602. Pre-tax losses widened from £32,813 to £366,138. McGeorge added: “Cheadle continues to trade well and Chester has had a recent mini-refurbishment, which will give the business some more momentum in the 2025-26 trading year. The new management company, Brightstar Hospitality, working in conjunction with the general managers in the hotels, continues to develop new ideas and improvements to the customer experience. The group continues to have the support of property lenders Charles Street Commercial Investments.” 

 

Former Restaurant Gordon Ramsay chef patron reveals first details of debut solo venture, to open this autumn: Former Restaurant Gordon Ramsay chef patron Matt Abé has revealed the first details of debut solo venture, to open this autumn. Abé will open Bonheur by Matt Abé at the site of the former Le Gavroche restaurant on Upper Brook Street in London’s Mayfair, after 18 years under the mentorship of Ramsay. The menus will feature “classically rooted cuisine with a contemporary touch, utilising the finest seasonal ingredients and underscoring Abé’s dedication to detail”. Guests can choose between an á la carte selection or explore one of the carefully curated tasting menus, while for a more intimate encounter, the Chef’s Table experience, Petit Bonheur, will seat six guests and feature open, collaborative cooking. “Bonheur translates to ‘happiness’ in French, so for me, Bonheur is a place of escapism,” said Abé. “We’re breathing new life into an iconic site, creating a space that is elevated without overwhelming; that is warm, timeless, and comfortable; and that celebrates community, craftsmanship and the bounty of the British Isles.”

 

Personal trainer behind Nottinghamshire gym for ‘people who don't like exercise’ plans second site: The personal trainer behind a Nottinghamshire gym for “people who don't like exercise” has put forward plans for a second location in the county. Tom Buckle currently operates a gym in Victoria Road, Netherfield, where he runs training classes called TBH Bootcamps. Now the business looks set to open a second location, in Colwick, with plans submitted to Gedling Borough Council. If approved, the gym would open in a unit at Colwick Quays Business Park, off the Colwick Loop Road. The current site in Netherfield, which opened in January 2023, offers weight-loss boot camps. “We get people coming in from all over who never usually do exercise,” Buckle told Nottinghamshire Live. “The main complaints I hear is that they feel uncomfortable in gyms. People want to come to a place where they feel welcome and can work hard.” Buckle, originally from Suffolk, had been running a boot camp in Woodthorpe for almost two years prior to the opening of the permanent Netherfield site.

 

London Sichuan restaurant set to open second site: London Sichuan restaurant Jincheng Alley is set to open a second site after its plans to open a new venue in Woolwich were approved. Kitty Luan opened the first Jincheng Alley in 2022, at 43 New Oxford Street. She has now got the green light from Greenwich Borough Council to open at the base of a tower block built on the former Waterfront car park in south east London. 

 

NEC Group paid £5.3m in settlement after withdrawing from Bradford Live project: The amount the NEC Group paid to Bradford Council in settlement after withdrawing from the Bradford Live project has been revealed. NEC Group paid £5.3m to the authority, it has emerged, after the Information Commissioners Office ruled Bradford Council should disclose the settlement amount. The figure had previously been withheld as it was deemed to be prejudicial to commercial interests and subject to confidentiality requirements under the terms of the settlement. The monies received from the settlement have now been deposited in the council’s bank account. Following the appointment of a new operator for Bradford Live, the council argued that there was no longer any commercial prejudice, and that it was in the public interest to override the confidentiality clause. Since NEC Group withdrew in September last year to concentrate on its operations in the Birmingham area, Bradford Council has secured live entertainment company Trafalgar Entertainment to run Bradford Live. The operator has invested £3m in a fit-out of the venue, which will host its first events next month.