Foodservice Price Index rises in June as inflationary pressures build in hospitality: The UK foodservice sector saw a significant resurgence of inflationary pressures in June 2025, the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index reveals. All ten categories recorded month-on-month increases, and nine experienced year-on-year inflation amid widespread uplifts in costs. The total basket saw a strong month-on-month increase of 2.0%. The rise has been driven by a complex interplay of global and domestic factors, creating a challenging environment for hospitality businesses, the Index noted. Critically, the impact of significant increases in staffing costs introduced in April is now clearly translating into higher food and beverage pricing. Notable movers in the Index included the mineral water, soft drinks and juices category, where year-on-year inflation rose to 6.4% thanks to soaring packaging costs, with polymer plastic prices more than doubling since November 2024. Persistent inflation in raw materials like sugar and fruit concentrates have added to the pressures impacting essential beverage lines. The latest Index also reflects the significant impacts of climate change on the UK’s fresh produce supply. While the vegetable category recorded a slight year-on-year reduction of -0.6%, both this and the fruit category saw month-on-month increases of 1.0% and 0.9% respectively. These upticks are largely a direct consequence of adverse climatic conditions, including severe heatwaves and prolonged dry spells across southern Europe, a critical source for around 65% of the UK’s fresh fruit and a high proportion of its vegetable imports. Such extreme weather events drastically reduce yields and tighten supply, driving up prices in the UK market. Elsewhere, persistent supply chain challenges continue to affect key protein and dairy products – with ongoing issues in beef due to reduced cattle supply, chicken impacted by higher feed costs and welfare initiatives, lamb influenced by smaller breeding flocks and butter facing tight global milk supplies – all adding further complexity to procurement for the sector. Shaun Allen, chief executive of Prestige Purchasing, said: “The June FPI paints a stark picture of renewed inflationary pressures gripping the foodservice sector. The broad-based nature of these increases, with all categories showing month-on-month inflation, signals a challenging period ahead. Businesses must be acutely aware of these rising costs and adapt their purchasing strategies to navigate this volatile landscape effectively.” Reuben Pullan, senior insight consultant at CGA by NIQ, added: “The latest upswing in inflation adds yet another challenge to hospitality in the crucial summer months. Alongside labour cost rises of their own and hesitant consumer spending, it puts some businesses under severe pressure and will force them to push menu prices up further. The impact of climate change on fresh produce is particularly alarming, and extreme weather is very likely to make matters worse in the years ahead.”

Propel and AlixPartners to unveil the sector companies with the fastest profit growth: Propel has partnered with leading sector advisory firm AlixPartners to launch a new industry benchmarking initiative that measures profitability growth across the broad church of the UK’s hospitality sector. The new Profit Growth Tracker will be based on Ebitda growth across the last three sets of filed accounts. It tracks eligible financial periods, starting post-July 2021, to ensure the effects of covid-19 restrictions do not impact the results. The top 25 companies in the inaugural Profit Growth Tracker will be unveiled at the Propel Multi Club summer conference and party on Thursday, 4 September at the Oxford Belfry, which is attended by around 500 of the sector’s leading operators and suppliers. The unveiling of the inaugural growth list will take place as the culmination of the conference at 5pm. Propel managing director Paul Charity said: “This is an exciting project because this is a sector where innovation and excellent execution can still lead to impressive growth.” Graeme Smith, managing director at AlixPartners, said: “Despite some challenging trading conditions, standout businesses have continued to generate growth. The Profit Growth Tracker reflects this and highlights the fact that growth is being found across the breadth of the industry, from wet-led pub companies to premium casual dining operators, from QSR concepts to bakery chains and franchisees. We look forward to revealing the first top 25 companies in the Profit Growth Tracker and expect the new tracker to become a benchmark for industry and go-to resource for those looking to invest in the sector.” The Profit Growth Tracker will be based on a rigorous set of credentials. For companies to be eligible, they must be primarily F&B or competitive socialising-focused businesses and not be a subsidiary of another operating business (the data will be picked up as part of the data for its group), show active filed accounts at Companies House within the required legal filing date, and must not have been involved in any formal restructuring process (e.g. CVAs) over the relevant period. Ebitda is determined as reported statutory Ebitda per Companies House filing, with directors’ emoluments added back to reflect differences in remuneration structures for privately-owned businesses. Qualifying companies must report Ebitda of at least £1m in the first accounting period and report positive Ebitda across all three sets of accounts (which will be pro-rated to 12 months in the event of short or long accounting periods). The Propel Multi Club summer conference and party takes place on Thursday, 4 September at the Oxford Belfry. 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 the full speaker schedule, click here.

Premium Club members to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database and videos from Operational Excellence Conference this week: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club members on Friday (1 August). The database will show the details of 157 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. It will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis and Premium Club members will also receive a 9,157-word report on the 157 new additions to the database. The database includes new openings in the pubs and bars sector such as Vinny & Ted, an independent craft beer bar and bottle shop, The Ship in Bishops Sutton, and new wine bar concept, Tiny Wine. Premium Club subscribers will also receive all the videos from the Operational Excellence Conference on Friday, at 9am. They include Propel group editor Mark Wingett talking to leading sector investors, including Robin Rowland, operating partner at Trispan, investor in Mowgli, Rosa's Thai, Thunderbird Kitchen and Pho;  Lizzie Ryan, partner at Imbiba, investor in Pizza Pilgrims, Farmer J and Clays; and Chris Miller of White Rabbit Fund, investor in Lina Stores and Kricket, about the operating standards and metrics that they look for in an investment – and how these have changed over the last few years. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-site Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who's Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club 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.

White Rabbit Projects founder – overseas markets seeing far friendlier deal structures, Lina Stores outperforming CGA Tracker with double digit like for like growth: Chris Miller, ex-Soho House director and founder of hospitality incubator White Rabbit Projects, has said overseas markets are currently seeing far friendlier deal structures than here, and that there “needs to be a change in the UK”. Speaking on the investment panel at Propel’s Excellence in Operations conference, Miller said: “The UK is a really unfriendly market to be operating in; I’m hoping for the days when we get back to a slightly more supportive government. There’s still a huge amount of money to be made in hospitality, but it's frustrating when it gets hampered in certain ways. Yes, good assets will still demand investment, but I’m spending a lot of my time looking at international growth and going to places where it is a far friendlier environment for investment. A huge part of my focus now is looking at other territories – we’re looking at the US and the Middle East, we’ve just opened in Portugal – and we’re just seeing far friendlier deal structures and potential upsides and returns. There needs to be a change in the UK. I said a couple of years ago that this was the year I was expecting everything to come back, but I think it will be a good few years before we do.” Miller said value for money is an area he is seeing a lot of interest in and pointed to Lina Stores – one of the businesses White Rabbit invests in – as a prime example. “The areas we’re seeing a lot in success and interest in is value for money,” he said. “Lina Stores is a business that is massively outperforming the CGA Tracker, with double digit like for like growth, and part of it is we really haven’t touched price much over the last two years, so you can get a very accessibly priced, good quality bowl of pasta. A whole load of people are still coming back for that and we’re winning a whole load of the market from people who are bored of spending £100 a head in restaurants that have had to jack up prices. So, value for money is an interesting market, and so are assets that can command large capital injections from landlords. People see the likes of Lina as an asset for an office building so will happily put in a large chunk of capital contribution, which makes the numbers stack when the cost of building has increased, and operating numbers are tighter.” Miller added that Lina delivers good unit economics as it offers several revenue streams and multiple dayparts, as well as simple operations due to a central production unit. Premium Club subscribers will receive all the videos from the Operational Excellence Conference on Friday (1 August) at 9am.

BBPA – Lionesses boosted pub sales, but the sector needs a tax reduction to unlock its potential: The Beitish Beer & Pub Association has said while the Lionesses delivered a boost for pub sales this month, the sector needs a tax reduction to truly unlock its potential. England beat Spain on spot kicks in Sunday’s Women’s Euros final to again lift trophy, emulating their achievement in also winning the 2022 tournament. BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “The pub is the home for live sports, so it’s no surprise that fans flocked to the pubs to cheer on our fantastic Lionesses. However, UK pub goers paid ten times more in beer duty than those watching in Spain, which is why government must use the Budget to cut this tax. A reduction would help unlock the sector’s potential to drive even more growth for the economy, boost jobs, and will keep pints more affordable for all.” Heineken-owned Star Pubs reported sales surging by nearly 40% during Sunday’s final. Managing director Lawson Mountstevens said: “This a clear sign that when it comes to big national moments like this, the pub is still the natural place where people come together to support their home team. It’s more than just watching the game – it’s about sharing the highs, the nerves, the passion and the joy of victory.” Big Penny Social, the large beer hall in London’s Walthamstow, said sales on Women’s Euros matchdays were double the level of those in the same tournament in 2022. Big Penny Social said it hosted more than 1,000 fans for the final, with sales driven by advance bookings, which were up 44%, and large increases in walk-in footfall. For the first time, the final was also ticketed at £5 per person, and a thousand tickets sold out in under three minutes. Frank Maguire, head of commercial at Big Penny, said “The success of the Lionesses was amazing, both for England fan and for the hospitality sector. The appetite from fans for women’s football has risen like a rocket.” 

Star Pubs tied tenants asked to share views over potential Pubs Code breach: Tied tenants of Star Pubs have been asked to come forward over suspected breaches of the Pubs Code which span a six-year period. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) has been made aware by Star Pubs that notes of key operational discussions between tied tenants and their business development manager (BDM) may not have been sufficient, completed within the required timescale (14 days) or provided at all. The issue relates specifically to notes of discussions in connection with rent negotiations, repairs and business planning. It is a right for tied tenants under the Pubs Code to receive appropriate notes of these business-critical meetings with anyone representing the pub company.The PCA has been informed by Star Pubs that this issue relates to notes from meetings that happened between 2018 and 2024. The PCA is calling on affected current and former tied tenants to get in touch before 19 August 2025 to share any evidence that this happened to them, and any resulting impact on their business. The PCA will consider any responses in deciding any regulatory action it may take. PCA Fiona Dickie said: “If you are a tied tenant of Star Pubs, or were one between 2018 and 2024, your experiences and views on this matter are important and we kindly ask that you get in touch.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an exciting new restaurant opening this autumn, looking for a key hire to help them bring it to life. Already a global name, this is the client's first UK site, and they're looking for a strong, hands-on HR manager to lead all people operations from the ground up. This role will cover recruitment, onboarding, systems, compliance, training and everything in between. You'll be supporting the leadership team through pre-opening and then taking full ownership of HR day to day. There's already one HR officer in place and scope to bring in a second hire to support you once things are up and running. You'll be based on-site in London, with flexibility around working hours/hybrid working – and potential to grow with the brand as they expand. This role is based in London and offers a salary up to £65,000. For more information, please contact kate@corecruitment.com.

Page set to invest £500,000 into proposed Tasty deal: Industry veteran David Page, the former chairman of Franco Manca-owner Fulham Shore and ex-chief executive of PizzaExpress, is presumed to be set to invest around £500,000 of his own money as part of a proposed investment into Tasty, the listed operator of the Wildwood and Dim T brands, Propel understands. Page invested a similar initial amount into Clapham House, which included Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Bombay Bicycle Club and Tootsies, before selling to Nando’s, and into Fulham Shore. It is understood that the £500,000 will be part of a £10m equity raise, which will include contributions from existing Tasty shareholders, the current Tasty management team led by chief executive Johnny Plant, and new investors. If successfully implemented, the deal would see Page installed as executive chairman of Tasty, which would be renamed Bow Street Group on the London Stock Exchange. Tasty would acquire a cash shell owned by Page and associates as part of the deal. It would then seek to acquire a number of brands, for which it would act as an incubator. Nick Wong, who worked with Page at two of his previous ventures, would become Bow Street Group's finance chief. Tasty, which runs 36 restaurants, saw revenues tumble by 21.9% last year due to a restructuring. Last year, the group closed 18 restaurants as part of its turnaround efforts. Shares in the company climbed by 55% to 0.85 p following the news, giving Tasty a market capitalisation of £1.09m. It is thought that Tasty may look to further consolidate its estate and be left with a solid foundation for further growth. In May, Propel revealed that Page had secured the first round of fundraising for his new sector-focused investment venture, and had begun talking to a number of businesses regarding potential backing. The current MeatLiquor shareholder raised an initial £250,000 through SEIS for his new venture – The Ventnor Bay Company. It is thought he has already secured the backing of many of those who previously backed the initial launch phase of Fulham Shore. Page told Propel at the time that he had spoken to and was speaking to a range of operators including those with Lebanese, pizza, Japanese, Thai, steak house, Berber and Spanish small plates-focused concepts. He is also thought to have run the rule over a smart bars format and an all-day Italian café business. He told Propel: “Some of these businesses are flying and are very profitable. As I have done before, I will get involved, help them expand to 20 to 50 sites per brand and then see what happens. This would take various different approaches – depending on the business – and where their development is. It could be a joint venture, purchase outright, 50/50 investment, or a refinancing that would see existing shareholders exit.” Page was unavailable for comment on the link with Tasty.

Six by Nico to launch ‘community-first’ crowdfunding campaign and invite customers to ‘help shape the future of the brand’: SixCo, the company behind the Six by Nico restaurant business, will next month launch a “community-first” crowdfunding campaign and invite its customers to “help shape the future of the brand”. The Nico Simeone-led brand, known for its rotating six-course tasting menu, said that it is “embarking on a new chapter after eight years, 15 cities and hundreds of themed menus”. It said the new strategy will give its customers more control and “empower them to influence the company’s future rather than relying on private investors”. A new crowdfunded membership will go live in August “with the goal of building the largest and more active culinary community in the UK and beyond”. Customers will be invited to become “part of a closed circle of investors who will be rewarded for their support and given the opportunity to help shape the future of the brand”. Founder and chief executive Simeone said: “Six by Nico was built by the people who kept coming back not once, not twice, but again and again. We’re talking about a core community of tens of thousands of loyal guests who dine regularly every year. This isn’t just a customer base – it’s a community. And now, it’s time to bring them even closer. Because the next chapter isn’t just ours – it’s theirs too. Every brand reaches a moment of choice. We’ve had an incredible journey so far, but what’s next is even more exciting. We’re evolving, expanding and reimagining what Six by Nico can be. And we want the people who helped build it, our customers, to help shape what comes next. This is a new chapter; a new way to raise capital – with our community at the centre. We’re inviting the people who helped build this to invest in what comes next. Not just a seat at the table, but a voice in the vision and a share in what we are building.” In April, the company said it had decentralised its customer relations function out to its restaurants – a move it said will “create stronger relationships with our restaurant communities”. Earlier this year, the business also announced a change to the Six By Nico business model, cutting the number of sittings per day to offer a “more relaxed” atmosphere for customers and build in break time for staff.

Punch acquires Wild West-themed pub in Stourbridge: Punch Pubs & Co, the Andy Spencer-led, 1,264-strong pub company, has acquired a Wild West-themed pub in Stourbridge. The Mavericks, in Brettle Lane, is a former CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year known for its “fun Western theme and spectacular live music events”. Former owners Mark and Anne Boxley ran the pub, previously known as The White Horse Hotel, for 33 years. Jeremy Drake at Drake & Co acted on the deal. Last month, Propel exclusively revealed that Punch had completed a £640m debt refinancing to support its long-term growth plans. As part of the refinancing, the business has extended its bond financing – originally due for repayment in 2026 – through to December 2030 and increased the size of the bond from £600m to £640m.

Dishoom eyes Liverpool opening for Permit Room: Award-winning Indian restaurant group Dishoom is planning to open a site in Liverpool under its fledgling Permit Room format. The company, which next month will open a new restaurant under its eponymous brand in Glasgow, has applied to open a Permit Room at 1 Dale Street, in Exchange Court, in the city. Dishoom currently operates Permit Rooms in Brighton, Cambridge, Oxford and in London’s Portobello Road – the latter having opened earlier this year and being the first to offer accommodation. The company will open a 7,000 square-foot site at the former stock exchange building in Nelson Mandela Place, in Glasgow, on Friday, 29 August. This will be its second site in Scotland after opening in Edinburgh’s St Andrews Square in 2017. Last month, Propel revealed that transatlantic investment funds and high net worth individuals were believed to be among the parties that have submitted first round bids to Dishoom. This after Dishoom revealed it had appointed advisors to help it secure new investment to aid a launch in the US, which could happen as early as this year. The business currently operates ten sites under its eponymous concept. It has lined up a further opening under its eponymous brand, on the ground floor of 68-78 Vicar Lane in Leeds.

Japanese restaurant chain Ramen Danbo to make UK debut: Ramen Danbo, the Japanese restaurant chain, is to make its UK debut with an opening in London, Propel has learned. The business, which was founded in Japan, in the town of Chikushino, in 2000, has secured the former Street Greek site at 62 The Broadway, in Wimbledon, for an opening later this year. The company currently operates 35 locations worldwide, including sites in the US and Canada. The company said: “At Ramen Danbo, we pride ourselves on featuring the highest quality ingredients sourced both locally and from Japan. As a family restaurant, our mission was clear: to deliver top-quality tonkotsu ramen with unwavering consistency. Our tonkotsu broth is crafted by boiling stock at extremely high temperatures, using only the finest pork bones and specially treated water. This meticulous process extracts maximum umami – the pleasant savoury taste – and essential micro-nutrients, resulting in a full-bodied, pure and creamy tonkotsu base for our ramen. Each of our restaurants prepares this soup on-site, ensuring freshness every time. Whether you’re seeking a lunch restaurant for a midday meal or a takeout restaurant for dining at home, Ramen Danbo offers an authentic Japanese dining experience to satisfy your cravings.” Marc Rogers, of MKR Property, acted on the Wimbledon deal on behalf of the vendor.

Vapiano promotes Mike Rainer to global CFO: The McWin-backed Vapiano brand, which currently operates circa 130 sites across 32 countries, including five in the UK, has promoted Mike Rainer to global chief financial officer. The company hired Rainer as its new UK finance director last September. Rainer spent two years as chief financial officer at clothes retailer FatFace and just under a year as group chief financial officer at Theo Paphitis Retail Group. He also previously spent three and a half years at the then circa 90-strong, food-to-go retailer EAT, including more than two years as its chief financial officer, and just under a year as its managing director after it had been acquired by rival Pret. Sinclair Beecham, the co-founder of Pret, was one of the group of investors that backed the new owners of the Vapiano brand when it was acquired in summer 2020. The group of investors, which also included AmRest founder Henry McGovern, backed Mario C Bauer, who was Vapiano’s former head of international franchising, to restart the brand after it filed for insolvency due to liquidity problems following declining sales earlier that year. 

Cake Box franchisee opens first Ambala Foods store in Scotland: Cake Box franchisee Bavinder Samra has opened the first store in Scotland for Ambala Foods – the manufacturer and retailer of Asian sweets. Cake Box acquired Ambala Foods – which currently operates 22 stores, with 19 owned stores and three franchised – in March for £22m. Cake Box chief executive Sukh Chamdal has since said he aims to grow Ambala Foods to 100 sites over the next five years. A Cake Box spokesman said: “Today we opened our first Ambala store in Scotland! Congratulations to Bavinder Samra on the launch of her first Ambala store in Glasgow under the Cake Box family. Bavinder has been a Cake Box franchisee since 2013 and currently runs two successful Cake Box locations. This marks a big step forward as we bring the Ambala name and our mithai to Scotland for the first time. We’re excited to see where this journey leads.” Earlier this month, Cake Box, said trading in the 2026 financial year “has started positively and in line with market expectations”, supported by continued momentum in franchise store performance and growing online sales. The company said the integration of Ambala Foods was progressing well and on track to achieve identified cost savings and efficiencies. 

Fairgame reveals details of St Paul’s flagship site: Fairgame, the competitive socialising concept from Richard Hilton, has revealed details of its upcoming second site, which will open in London’s St Paul’s next month (Thursday, 21 August). Propel revealed last summer that the business, which made its debut in Canary Wharf in October 2022, is to open a new 24,500 square-foot Fairgame at One New Change. The new site will feature 12 completely reimagined fairground games, including OAPrix – “a wacky mobility scooter-themed rollerball experience”, and Money Bags – a “futuristic, tech-enhanced twist on the traditional Cornhole game”. The food and beverage offer will include Burger & Beyond, Alby’s Pizza, and Le Bab. The venue also features The Funhouse, a 130-person capacity private events space complete with classic fairground styling and bendy mirrors. Fairgame co-founder and chief executive Hilton said: “Our new site is the next step in reimagining the fairground for a modern, grown-up crowd. We’ve got a totally new line-up of games that no one has seen before, powered by tech and designed to bring people together for some seriously competitive fun. Throw in amazing street food, DJs and a giant rotating duck, and we think it’s the most fun you can have next to a cathedral. It promises to be a funfair exactly like you don’t remember.” Propel reported earlier this year that Fairgame, which counts sector investor Paul Campbell as a co-founder, was understood to have several cities and properties under consideration in the US for its debut Stateside. Propel revealed last September that the business, which is backed by Business Growth Fund (BGF), was commencing a fundraise with the help of Tamweel Capital, following the “phenomenal success” of its maiden site in London’s Canary Wharf. It subsequently completed a multi-million-pound growth capital raise. The new funding, with financing provided by HSBC, is being used to launch the One New Change site, as well as push ahead with US expansion, with talks also underway for international franchising. The 2025 Experiential Leisure Report, the second year of Propel’s exhaustive report on the 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 also 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.

South west operator opens new restaurant at award-winning Dart Valley vineyard: South west operator Ian Alexander has opened a new restaurant at award-winning Dart Valley vineyard Sandridge Barton. Alexander, who is behind the Live and Let Live in Landscombe, Devon, and is currently working on a second pub project in South Hams, has opened Roam, which “embraces a farm-to-fork ethos”, offering a “seasonal, ingredient-driven menu rooted in provenance and simplicity”. Alexander, who opened and managed Mas Café and 57 Jermy Street in London, is also the co-owner od St John’s Tavern in North London. The kitchen at Roam is led by ex-St. John’s Tavern executive chef Sean Blood, who will lead a series of seasonal menus with highlights such as dry-aged Tuna au Poivre and leeks, coal-roasted chanterelles and confit egg yolk, and Saffron Madalfi, lemon and Parmesan. The drinks list features a wide selection from Sandridge Barton’s cellar alongside Luscombe soft drinks, craft beers from Bays Brewery and a forthcoming range of international wines. Roam, which also features a terrace for al fresco dining, is currently open for lunch daily, with plans to introduce dinner service on Fridays and Saturdays later in the summer. A guest chef residency programme is also in the works, set to bring a rotating line-up of young talent into the kitchen. Alexander said: “We’re bringing the energy and creativity that’s reignited the UK dining scene to Sandridge Barton, combining decades of experience with a genuine respect for place and produce. Roam is a restaurant built for now - a place with purpose, flavour and warmth. And yes, really good food.”

Heineken UK agrees Amazon Business partnership: Heineken UK has announced a new partnership with Amazon Business to bring exclusive discounts to its customers and Star Pub operators. Available through Heineken’s ecommerce platform and resource hub, eazle Club, the pub and brewing business will be working with Amazon Business to offer its on-trade customers access to thousands of discounted products to help run and grow their businesses. These include10% off selected Amazon private label products and pre-approved credit facility in the amount of £1,500 and a payment term of 30 days. Mark MacDonald, head of supplier management, at Star Pubs said: “We know our publicans must wear so many different hats from marketing director to front of house lead, accountant to support worker. We’re therefore eager to lighten the load wherever possible. Partnering with Amazon Business gives Star Pubs’ landlords access to a huge range of business essentials at great price points, so they don’t need to spend time shopping around for the best deal and instead focus on the areas that matter most to their business.”

Wingstop UK opens in Basildon: Wingstop UK, which is backed by US private equity firm Sixth Street, has opened in Basildon, Essex. The company, which last week passed the 70-site landmark with a launch in Norwich, has opened at the town’s Festival Leisure Park. The new 4,506 square-foot site, which has 120 covers, will offer the brand’s new Mango Habanero milkshake, available for a limited time only. Wingstop UK chief executive Chris Sherriff said: “We’re really pleased to be opening our doors at Festival Leisure Park in Basildon today. Off the back of last week’s launch in Norwich, this is another great step as we continue to grow across the UK and strengthen our presence in the East of England.” The site is one of 20 the brand is set to launch in 2025.

Hotel Chocolat opens in Manchester: Hotel Chocolat, the premium British chocolatier, has opened a new store in Manchester’s Arndale shopping centre. The company’s new flagship store opened after it signed a ten-year lease to occupy the 7,288 square-foot unit on Cross Street. The new store includes a café space alongside its range of ethically sourced chocolate bars, hot drinks and gifts. Hotel Chocolat began life in 2003 as a boutique chocolate shop and has since expanded its portfolio to 126 stores across the world, with flagship sites in London, Tokyo and New York. As well as retail outlets, the brand has opened cafés as well as launching cookbooks, coffee lines and experiences such as the School of Chocolate Vaults in Covent Garden. Scott Linard, portfolio manager for landlord M&G Real Estate said: “At Manchester Arndale, we pride ourselves on offering a varied F&B mix as we want to provide customers with a vibrant lineup of refreshing drinks and delicious food. This investment by Hotel Chocolat in Manchester Arndale is further evidence of established brands having confidence in the centre as they look to capitalise on our wide catchment area which brings in visitors from across the north west.” Last week, Hotel Chocolat opened a new Velvetiser Café in High Street in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

Grain & Grind to relaunch original site as an American Diner: Glasgow coffee shop operator Grain and Grind is to relaunch its original site in the city as an American-inspired, all-day diner. Owners Matthew Mustard and John Gartley opened their first Grain and Grind in 2018, in Battlefield in Glasgow’s Southside. They have since grown the business to seven sites across Glasgow and Inverness. They recently closed the Battlefield site for a “refurb and a rebrand.” They said: “We’re planning to re-open in late August as Queens Diner, an American-inspired all day dining experience. Queens Diner will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our menu will feature waffles, fried chicken, filled subs and burgers, as well as breakfast rolls and subs to takeaway. We will still serve the same great coffee roasted by John and some great new additions like freshly pressed juices, ice cream floats and milkshakes. Thanks for all your support over the years, it has been a blast! We’re super excited for the next part of this journey.”

Spud Bros set to open in Liverpool: London gourmet jacket potato business Spud Bros, which is targeting UK-wide expansion through franchising, is set to open in Liverpool. Spud Bros has secured a ten-year lease on a former Costa Coffee unit at the Queen Street development in Liverpool. The business has its roots in 1950s Lancashire, having started out as a potato cart run by Ernie Rhodes in Preston’s Flag Market in 1955. It has been a family-run business since, with Jacob and Harley Nelson taking it over in 2020 and rebranding it as Spud Bros, operating out of Archer Street in London’s Soho. It is also currently preparing to open in the former Philpotts sandwich store in the Manchester’s Marble Street. In April, Spud Bros partnered with Taster, the delivery-only kitchen concept which has more than 30 franchise locations across the UK, to help with its expansion plans. At the start of the year, the company also launched an Express format, to aid its roll out.

West London’s first global food court opens on Edgware Road: The Food District – a new global food court bringing together 15 kitchens under one roof – has launched on London’s Edgware Road. The “immersive culinary playground” is the result of a collaboration between landowners Criterion Capital and Shaz Khan, “transforming a prime London location into a buzzing social dining hub”. It will build on the success of Khan’s other venues, 5 Continents in Stratford and Medz Corner in Kensington. The Food District offers 15 international kitchens with halal-friendly options and 100 covers, all set within a space inspired by the Mediterranean. Kitchen operators include OK Doner Kebab Point, serving authentic Turkish kebabs and grills; Okawari Sushi with Japanese-Thai fusion dishes; The Taco House serving French-Latin street food, Birria tacos, and the viral Birria pizza; and Rice and Roast, offering Malaysian-style duck and chicken with fragrant rice. Khan said: “Visitors want authentic street food in an environment that feels social, stylish and inclusive. The Food District brings that vision to life – and Edgware Road was the perfect place to make it happen.” Omar Aziz of Criterion Capital added: “We’re proud to have worked closely with Shaz and his team to bring this innovative concept to Edgware Road. At Criterion, we’re passionate about curating high-quality, experiential spaces that engage both local communities and visitors, while driving economic vitality and growth. The Food District is a perfect example of what happens when great ideas meet the right location.”

Mathew Carver opens 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 – has opened 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 has launched at Camden Market. Taking the place of Carver’s The Cheese Bar restaurant in Camden Stables Market, an 18-metre-long conveyor belt winds 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 centres around grilled cheese sandwiches, while the drinks menu is led by natural wine from a number of small producers, alongside a selection of port, craft beer and cider. On Wednesdays, the restaurant will introduce the original site’s 'bottomless plates' offer, where guests can enjoy unlimited plates of cheese and charcuterie from the belt for just £29.50 per person.