Tough first half for hospitality groups as mixed weather flattens June sales: Britain’s leading pub, bar and restaurant groups finished a soft first half of trading with sales exactly level year-on-year in June, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. It follows a drop of 1.0% in May and means sales were static or negative in four of the first six months of 2025, with a warm April the only period to deliver real-terms growth. June trading was affected by mixed weather and tough comparatives with the same month last year, when the Euro 2024 men’s football tournament was underway. For the sixth month in a row, pubs achieved the best growth of the major segments of hospitality. Managed pub groups’ like-for-like sales were 1.2% above June 2024, while restaurants saw trading slip fractionally by 0.5%. Bars continued a long run of negative numbers with a year-on-year dip of 5.7%, and the on-the-go segment slipped by 4%. The Tracker showed groups’ June sales within the M25 were down by 1% year-on-year, while sales further afield rose marginally by 0.4%. It means trading in London lagged the rest of the country for five of the first six months of 2025. Groups’ total sales through all channels, including at venues opened by groups in the last 12 months, were 2.8% ahead of the same month in 2024 – slightly below the UK’s rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index. Karl Chessell, director hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said: “June’s numbers round out a tough first half for hospitality groups. They have had to deal with the dual challenges of fragile consumer confidence and a hike in labour costs from April, and with inflation ticking up again, the second half of 2025 may be just as challenging. Nevertheless, there are some encouraging pockets of growth, especially in pubs, where people seem to be spending with a little more confidence. Operators will be hoping the rest of the Summer brings some brighter weather to help lift the sector back into growth.”

 

Sponsored message – Matty Healy backs groundbreaking national festival celebrating the grassroots of British music: With Britain’s beloved live music and hospitality sectors under growing economic pressure, a major new festival is set to shine a spotlight on where British music truly begins. The Seed Sounds Weekender, presented by live music marketplace GigPig, is the UK’s largest multi-venue music festival. From 26–28 September 2025, over 1,000 pubs, bars, restaurants, and hotels across 20 UK towns and cities will be transformed into vibrant live stages, hosting more than 2,000 performances from emerging local artists. The festival is championed by Matty Healy, frontman of The 1975 and official Seed Sounds Weekender ambassador, who said: “Local venues aren't just where bands cut their teeth, they're the foundation of any real culture. Without them, you don't get The Smiths, Amy Winehouse or The 1975. You get silence. The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn't start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.” These ‘seed music venues’ contribute over £2.4 billion to the UK economy each year and are critical to nurturing the next generation of British music talent. Free tickets and full information, including participating venues and artists, are available here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

Propel’s Culture, Talent & Training Conference open for bookings, panel to be held about creating industry leading internal progression: Propel’s Culture, Talent & Training Conference is open for bookings. The conference takes place on Thursday, 9 October at One Moorgate Place in London. The conference will include a panel where Abi Dunn, founder at Sixty Eight People talks to a panel of Pineapple’s top ‘Internal Progression’ performers including Anna-Maria Tsili, head of HR and talent at Itsu, Gina Knight head of people at Flat Iron, and Chris Morgan, learning and development manager at Parogon Group, as they delve into the benefits of internal progression, how these top performers have ensured their talent is ready for the next step and what is the optimum percentage. 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. 

Premium Club members to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database and videos from Operational Excellence Conference tomorrow: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club members tomorrow (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 experiential leisure sector such as Bristol-based art experience Wake The Tiger, Mulligans from Adventure Leisure, and Hollywood Bowl Group, opening its largest site to date. Premium Club subscribers will also receive all the videos from the Operational Excellence Conference tomorrow at 9am. They include Claire Robertson, operations director of Premium Pubs and Bars within Marston’s, talking about getting the best out of multiple teams. 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.

Greene King CEO – two steps are essential if government wants to deliver on a cut to business rates: Nick Mackenzie, the chief executive of Greene King, has said there are two steps that are essential if the government wants to deliver on its promise to deliver a permanent cut to business rates, including applying the full 20p discount on the rates multiplier for pubs at the upcoming Budget. Over the weekend, business secretary Jonathan Reynolds promised a permanent cut to business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure, calling it a “disproportionate tax burden”. Mackenzie said: “He’s absolutely right. Pubs generate just 0.4% of UK business turnover, but we pay 2.1% of the total business rates bill. That imbalance holds back jobs, investment and growth in every part of the UK. If the government wants to deliver on this commitment, two steps are essential: apply the full 20p discount on the rates multiplier for pubs at the upcoming Budget, and base future valuations on profit, not turnover – starting from 2026. Business rates reform isn’t a handout – it’s an investment in an industry that sustains high streets, employs hundreds of thousands of people, and fuels local economies. We’re ready to do our part, and we look forward to working with HM Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade to make change happen.” Earlier this month, 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.

Generation Z leading lunchtime revolution as social dining replaces eating at the desk: Generation Z workers are leading a lunchtime revolution which is seeing social dining replace eating at the desk, according to Just Eat for Business’ new More than a Meal report. The study, in partnership workplace psychologist Dr Audrey Tang, followed a survey of more than 2,000 British workers, found that 56% of Generation Z take their full lunch break, compared to just 36% of Generation X and 22% of Baby Boomers. “This marks a decisive shift toward establishing healthier work-life boundaries, prioritising wellbeing in a way that previous generations failed to recognise,” the report said. More than half (58%) of office workers now say they'd rather catch up with colleagues over lunch than socialise after work, with Just Eat for Business data showing orders for buffets and platters jumped 42% in 2024, with pizza orders soaring by 37%. Generation Z is also leading the lunchtime social scene, with 66% dining with co-workers at least once a week, outpacing Millennials (55%) and Generation X (36%). The city with the highest percentage of workers likely to take their full lunch break is Plymouth (63%), with just over half of Londoners (53%) doing so, and Birmingham workers (33%) the least likely. The report concludes that “food as a culture” in the workplace will continue to rise, that hybrid working patterns will continue to reshape lunch culture, and that health and wellness will continue to drive food choices in the workplace. Matt Ephgrave, managing director at Just Eat for Business, said: “We’re seeing a significant shift in lunch break habits, moving away from hurried, isolated desk dining toward intentional moments of rest and social connection. While remote work offers flexibility, it's equally important to make sure daily, informal interactions like sharing a meal with colleagues is encouraged when people are in the office. These shared interactions play a vital role in fostering workplace camaraderie and mental wellbeing. This simple yet powerful ritual remains a key ingredient in building stronger teams and boosting overall job satisfaction.”

Jackson Boxer’s Dove enters Michelin Guide seven months after conversion from Orasay: Jackson Boxer’s Dove restaurant in Notting Hill has entered the Michelin Guide seven months after the chef converted the site from his former Orasay venue. “Bright, relaxed and simply decorated, it specialises in seasonal and high-quality produce across a menu that’s ideal for sharing,” the entry reads. “Dishes vary in size, from whole grilled fish and half a roasted chicken to snacks like fried potato pizzette with bonito, burrata and mortadella. The wine list offers something for everyone, with almost every choice available by the glass.” Dove was one of 16 new entries to the Guide in July, including seven from London. Among these are Fowl from the team behind Fallow, the Prince Arthur pub in Belgravia and Claro in St James’s. The other new entries in the capital are La Palombe in Kensington, Supawan in King’s Cross and The Lavery in South Kensington. New entries from elsewhere in the UK include Knepp Wilding Kitchen in Horsham, The Swan Inn in Fittleworth, Emba in Leeds and Hide in Newcastle. Also included are Farmgate Lismore in Lismore, Piccalilli in Nottingham, The Brasserie at Saltmoore in Whitby, The Grain Store in Weybourne and The Millbrook Inn in South Pool.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is currently recruiting for an F&B manager to join a new luxury hotel located in London. The client is looking for an experienced individual from a hotel background to join their team. They successful candidate will oversee the management of the F&B outlets along with developing and motivating the team; be responsible for a smooth running of all the F&B outlets along with the private events; manage and train staff to the highest level; manage inventory, budgets, and financials to meet and exceed profit targets; work closely with the executive chef and all departments to ensure the best results are met; but also assume responsibility of the operations and stock takes. This great opportunity offers a salary of up to £55,000 and is based in London. For more information, please contact ed@corecruitment.com

 

Starbucks CEO – we continue to see momentum in the UK: Brian Niccol, chief executive of Starbucks, has said that the global coffee chain has continued to see momentum across its UK business, with improving comparable sales performance. Earlier this week, Starbucks reported its sixth straight quarter of same-store sales decline as the company implements a turnaround strategy, but cheered investors with better-than-expected quarterly revenue. Speaking on the brand’s second quarter earning’s call. Niccol said: “In the UK, we see continued momentum, with improving comparable sales performance in the low single digits, driven by a focus on connection, beverage consistency, food innovation and labour investments to support peak operating hours. The momentum stretches across EMEA as well, with overall third quarter revenue and comparable sales up year-over-year. Our business in Turkey, for example, is performing strongly, despite a challenging economic environment, and we opened our 750th store in the market. This quarter, our international business posted more than $2bn in quarterly revenue for the first time ever. Many of the changes we are driving in the US like lower-cost store builds and renovations can scale around the world, creating opportunities to grow the business faster.” Starbucks chief financial officer Cathy Smith said: “Outside the US, the international segment again delivered strong performance, with seven out of the top ten markets comping positively, with particular strength in the UK and Mexico.” On the company’s turnaround programme, Niccol said: “Customers are liking our marketing and noticing that our speed, hospitality and accuracy are improving. Customer connection scores are up, and customer complaints are down, both quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year. Customer value perceptions are near two-year highs, driven by gains among Generation Z and Millennials, who make up over half our customer base. We saw the percentage of company-operated coffeehouses with positive full-day transaction comps and positive morning transactions improve for the third straight quarter. Non-rewards customers delivered transaction growth year-over-year for the first time since the post-pandemic recovery. Our college and university license business saw year-over-year comparable sales growth in the low double digits, showing renewed brand love from younger customers.”

Chocoberry launching new format to drive growth towards 100-plus sites, set to enter two new international markets this year: Dessert brand Chocoberry has told Propel it is launching a new format to help drive its growth towards 100-plus sites, and that it is set to enter two new international markets this year. Propel revealed earlier this year that the 18-strong business is aiming for “100 establishments both domestically and across international frontiers” in the long term, and it has now targeted having 50 of these open by the end of 2026. In order to push this roll out, Chocoberry is launching a new kiosk format with a smaller menu – and will debut this with a forthcoming opening at Highcross shopping centre, in its home town of Leicester. Ameer Nurmahomed, UK general manager at Chocoberry, told Propel: “We’ve got Coventry, Highcross, Ealing, Bristol, Wolverhampton, Newbury, Milton Keynes, Slough and Rotherham all signed and ready to go. We already cover a large part of the UK but we’d like to perhaps get more exposure in London and up north. We also see Manchester as a massive market. We opened there last month, and we believe we can open another seven or so stores there. We’re already getting a lot of enquiries, so hopefully we’ll have another three or four there in the next six months. We go into a combination of locations but we’re getting into shopping malls and looking at kiosks and express models – we want to tap into all the markets. Kiosks will be 500 square feet with a streamlined menu of grab and go items. Highcross in Leicester will be our first shopping mall location, opening in next three to four months. We’re also looking at train stations and airports too for the model – kiosk will be a big one for us.” Chocoberry already has overseas locations in Dubai and Sharjah, and Propel revealed earlier this year that it is also looking to enter Canada and Turkey. “Dubai is doing fantastic, and Sharjah is doing even better,” Nurmahomed said. “Canada is in build as we speak and we’re hoping to open our first site there in September. Istanbul is done and just going through the legals, and that should hopefully be ready to go this year as well. We have a lot of enquiries coming in from Saudi Arabia, but that’s not 100% yet, we will be focusing on Dubai and Sharjah. A lot of the ideas we get are from the Middle East.” One example of this is kunafa (or Dubai chocolate) which Chocoberry has incorporated into an entire range, and which Nurmahomed credits with helping the company to 53% year-on-year revenue growth in the first six months of 2025. “As well as new store openings and better marketing, we’d put it down to launching new products which are hoping viral in the Middle East market,” he said. “A good example of the kunafa range, which has exploded and driven a lot of growth for us and rocketed our franchise enquiries. There is a huge market for it out there and we were one of the first to launch it, which saw sales rocket in all our franchise stores.” The company said its growth will be “driven by franchising” and that is it seeking mainly multi-site operators that will take four or five sites. It currently has a mix of about 70% franchised store to 30% company ones and will look to maintain that going forwards. 

M&B eyes second site for Orleans Smokehouse concept: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is eyeing a second site for its fledgling Orleans Smokehouse concept, in south London. The company launched the first site under its Orleans Smokehouse concept near Solihull, in the West Midlands, last February. Propel understands that the business hopes to convert its Harvester site in Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, to the smokehouse concept by the end of year. Last December, Phil Urban, chief executive of M&B, told Propel the company wouldn’t make a call on its fledgling Orleans Smokehouse concept after one opening. Urban told Propel: “We don't want to make a call on one site, so we are desperately trying to find a second and third site. A site in Ruislip was looking promising but we couldn’t get planning permission to convert it the way we wanted. We’ve got a few others being briefed, and we hope to have two more signed off, but given timescales, they probably won’t start until the fourth quarter of this financial year. So, we're going to have to just bide our time on Orleans.”

The White Horse Pub Company secures third London site: The White Horse Pub Company, the Peter Millington-led company, has secured its third site in central London. The business has secured the former El Vino site in Masons Avenue, in the heart of the City of London. The White Horse Pub Company, which operates two other pubs in the City, including The Lion in Houndsditch, plans to reopen the site in time to benefit from “the strong summer trade along the bustling alleyway location”. Charlie Craig from AG&G, which acted on the deal, said: “We are delighted to have completed this underletting on behalf of our client. It is encouraging to see continued demand for quality sites in the City, and we wish The White Horse Pub Company every success in their new venue.”

Olives & Mezze team launches smash burger concept: The team behind Olives & Mezze has launched a new Asian-inspired smash burger concept called Hanbaagaasuuteeki in London’s Victoria. Propel revealed in January that the business, which operates two Olives & Mezze sites in London, had secured the former Neat Burger site at 36 Buckingham Palace Road, for what was first called Foxy Mamma. The lease was sold for a premium exceeding the asking price. The 1,545 square-foot site, located adjacent to Pizza Pilgrims and opposite the sought-after Nova development, attracted significant interest, receiving multiple strong offers. Olives & Mezze currently operates sites in Soho and Clapham. Marc Rogers at MKR Property and Salvatore Di Natale of CDG Leisure acted on the Victoria deal.

200 Degrees lines up Harborne site: 200 Degrees, the Nero Group-owned brand, has lined up an opening in Harborne, in the West Midlands. The 22-strong company, which will soon open its most southerly location this summer at the Cotswolds Designer Outlet in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, is replacing the former Cod’s Scallops site on Harborne High Street. The group’s site in Tewkesbury will be the brand’s 23rd in total and first opening this year, with “more to follow”. The 2,280 square-foot site will feature 102 indoor seats and 24 outside. Founded in 2012 in Nottingham by Rob Darby and Tom Vincent, 200 Degrees also has its own roastery and operates an online e-commerce channel selling directly to customers at home, including a subscription offering. 200 Degrees also operates a wholesale arm, serving more than 500 wholesale customers. Last October, Propel revealed that 200 Degrees had been acquired by Caffe Nero operator, the Nero Group.

BVC Hospitality opens second Supernova site: BVC Hospitality, the company behind North Audley Cantine, has opened a second site under its Supernova smashburger concept, in London’s South Kensington. The company, which opened the first Supernova in London’s Soho in autumn 2023, has opened on the former Big Fernand site at 39 Thurloe Place. The business has also lined up an opening under the smashburger concept in North Audley Street, taking 2,971 square feet of space. As Propel previously reported, BVC Hospitality recently opened 74 Duke, a Parisian brasserie offering all-day dining in the 3,250 square-foot former Spaghetti House site in Duke Street. Adam Bowers, of onepoint2, acted on the Supernova deals.

Roti King plans to open Scotland debut site: Malaysian restaurant business Roti King, which made its regional debut earlier this summer in Brighton, is planning its first opening in Scotland. Propel understands that the business, which is chaired and backed by Ganan Kanagathurai, former chief executive of Itsu, is planning to open at 8-10 South St Andrew Street in the Scottish capital. Earlier this summer it opened a site in Brighton’s Ship Street. Roti King, which was founded by Malaysian chef Sugen Gopal, opened its first permanent eponymous site in London, in Doric Way, near Euston, in 2014, following its original location inside the Oriental City food hall (now Bang Bang Oriental) in Colindale. Roti King subsequently launched sites in Lower Marsh in Waterloo and in the Circus West Village, part of the Battersea Power Station development. The company opened a fourth site last year, and its first in the City, in Artillery Lane, just off Bishopsgate. The company also operates the Gopal’s Corner concept. Last year, the company opened its first stand-alone site under the concept, on the former Dirty Vegan site in Westfield London. The company also currently operates four sites under the Gopal’s Corner name in the Market Halls in Victoria, Oxford Street, Canary Wharf and Paddington.

Staffordshire McDonald’s franchisee completes acquisition of seven sites, makes key promotions: Staffordshire McDonald’s franchisee Aberrant Group has completed the acquisition of seven more restaurants to take its total to 16 with the brand, and said it had made some “key promotions” off the back of the deal. Aberrant Group was founded in 2016 by David Knight, who previously worked for a brand creation agency and in software solutions. Knight said: “This week marks a significant milestone for the Aberrant Group. We have successfully completed the acquisition of seven new restaurants, bringing our total portfolio to 16. This expansion is supported by a leadership team of 75 and a dedicated workforce of 2,000 people. I am filled with immense pride about the achievements we have accomplished since becoming a McDonald's Franchisee in 2016 and founding the Aberrant Group. My senior leadership team has been on an incredible journey with me, and as part of this expansion, I am pleased to announce several key promotions. These promotions are designed to enhance our leadership capacity, continue to drive business performance, and ensure the continued excellence of our restaurant operations.” The company has promoted Matt Westwood to commercial director, while Chris Weatherstone has been promoted to operations director. Knight said: “Matt has been with me on this journey from day one, working tirelessly and diligently at every step. His unwavering dedication and alignment with our core values have been instrumental to the Aberrant Group’s strategy since its inception. Since joining three years ago through a key acquisition, Chris has significantly improved our restaurant systems and operational approach. We are navigating an exciting period of growth at Aberrant Group, and we have a bright future to look forward to with this amazing brand McDonald’s. As a combined group of restaurants, we have the opportunity to pool our talent, resources, and experience to continue our journey to becoming one of the most progressive and flagship groups in the UK&I.” In the year to 31 December 2023, Aberrant Group saw its turnover grow from £25,566,219 in 2022 to £43,851,600. The company also turned a pre-tax loss of £140,688 in 2022 into a profit of £808,230. This was aided by the addition of a single restaurant during the year – in Leek.

Whitbread gets green light for South London Premier Inn: Whitbread has secured planning permission to convert an 11-storey office block in Vauxhall, South London, into a 180-bedroom Premier Inn. Lambeth Council has approved proposals to change the use of Phoenix House – which is currently 7,469 square metres of former office – with the council retaining the longer-term head lease. Whitbread will now turn it into a Premier Inn with the brand’s latest format bedrooms, as well as a restaurant on the mezzanine floor, creating around 27 new jobs on opening in 2027. Jonathan Langdon, senior acquisition manager for Whitbread, said: “We have been searching for a suitable location for a Premier Inn in the Vauxhall area for nearly a decade. The development is the latest example of how Whitbread can breathe fresh life into unused former offices and, in this case, also provide Lambeth Council with a secure, index-linked income stream. We are on the lookout for more opportunities like this as we continue to expand our market leading brands in London and elsewhere.” Whitbread currently operates more than 850 hotels across the UK and Ireland and sees the potential for a 45% growth in its current estate of 85,000 bedrooms in the region to a long-term potential of 125,000 rooms. JLL acted for Whitbread on the development.

Joule’s set to expand brewery after acquiring adjacent unit: Shropshire brewer and retailer Joule’s is set to expand its brewery after acquiring the adjacent unit in Market Drayton. It has bought the former Phoenix Garage site in Great Hales Street, which the company said will be used “exclusively for brewery purposes and will not form part of any future pub or retail development”. The space will be used for parking and brewery storage, allowing the company to make better use of existing brewery land by adding capacity and developing The Stag pub. Having acquired The Stag last year, the pub has since been developed and is now in full use as Joule’s primary brewery tap. The Red Lion, also located within the brewery yard, is currently being redeveloped and is set to reopen in the coming months before the Stag is repositioned as a private events space. Managing director Vicky Colclough said: “This is a really positive step for the brewery. It gives us the breathing space we need to plan ahead and to continue investing in the way we brew, store, and operate. We’ve created sustained growth over the last 15 years, and this land protects us enabling growth for the years ahead.” Joule’s last month opened the Waterside Tap in Birmingham city centre, as the company seeks to focus on suburban and town centre locations. The operator of 38 taphouses across Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Wales has previously said it is disposing of village locations where its taphouse model works less well. 

Croeso Pubs secures ninth site: South Wales operator Croeso Pubs has secured its ninth pub after taking over the lease of The Cricketers in Pontcanna. The acquisition of The Cricketers means that the company now runs venues in and around Cardiff, Penarth and Mermaid Quay. It runs two community pubs, The Bear’s Head in Penarth and The Discovery in Lakeside. Croeso also runs city centre venues The Philharmonic, Brewhouse, Blue Bell, Retro and gastro pub Daffodil, as well as The Dock in Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay. The Cricketers was run by the previous owners since 2010. Croeso Pubs will reopen it in a few weeks after carrying out £250,000 worth of improvements. Alongside the extensive refurbishment, there will be selected live sport from Sky and TNT Sports, as well as a new range of draught beers and traditional Welsh cask ales. The new menu will feature local favourites and daily specials. Croeso Pubs area director, Michael Haygarth, said: “We are thrilled to be adding The Cricketers to our ever-increasing list of venues. It is a pub that is synonymous with the west of Cardiff and attracts tourists, walkers and locals alike and so we want to offer something for everyone. It is a great location in a stunning Edwardian townhouse, just a stone’s throw away from Llandaff Fields and Sophia Gardens, and we can’t wait to welcome clients, old and new, to try out our special Croeso atmosphere when they visit.”

The After School Cookie Club to open West End flagship location for fifth site, exploring further opportunities across the capital: Plant-based cookie concept The After School Cookie Club, in which John Vincent, co-founder and former chief executive of Leon, is an investor, is set to open a West End flagship location for its fifth site. The company said the new store, at 1-2 Weighhouse Street in Mayfair, “marks a significant step for the brand as it extends its reach to one of London’s most prestigious neighbourhoods”. Founded in Shoreditch in 2020, The After School Cookie Club also operates bakeries in Shoreditch, Borough Yards, Victoria Arcade and Kings Cross. Opening on Monday, 4 August, the 500 square-foot Mayfair store will feature the brand’s full rotating menu of signature and seasonal cookie flavours, including its best-selling peanut butter-choc caramel, s’mores and limited-edition topped specials. The store will also serve the brand’s expanding drinks menu, including oat milk flat whites and ceremonial-grade matcha. “We’ve always believed there’s a place for cookies in every corner of London – but this Mayfair site is something special,” said founder Jesse Jenkins. “It’s a huge milestone for us to be opening in the heart of the West End, and we’re proud to be bringing joyfully indulgent, conscious baking to a whole new audience.” Jenkins added that the company is “actively exploring further high-profile locations and wholesale partnerships across the capital”. Vincent invested in The After School Cookie Club, which was originally called Humble Dough, in 2023 following the £100m sale of Leon to EG Group.

Team behind Edinburgh brewery and restaurant to open pub in joint venture: The team behind Edinburgh brewery Newbarns and The Palmerston restaurant in the Scottish capital are to open a pub together. Opening in early 2026, The Cooper’s Rest will be a joint venture between Gordon McKenzie and Emma McIntosh (co-owners of Newbarns) and Lloyd Morse and James Snowdon (co-owners of The Palmerston), reviving the pub of the same name on Easter Road in Leith, which has been closed since 2015. The menu will offer modern takes on classic comfort dishes, with the team working closely with farmers and producers to source local and seasonal produce. Beers will come from Newbarns and wines from The Palmerston’s cellar, while spirits will come from Leith brands including Woodrow’s of Edinburgh, Blind Summit, Electric Spirit Co and Fragrant Drops. James Snowdon said: “The seed for the pub was planted way back in 2022. Through getting to know Gordon and the team at Newbarns, we realised we’re all gagging for Edinburgh to have a proper pub which serves proper pub food. Edinburgh is a city full of great pubs, but every ‘gastropub’ in the city is really a restaurant – you can't go into them and sit at the bar all afternoon drinking pints.” McKenzie added: “At Newbarns, everything we do starts with that feeling you get around a pub table with friends – the easy camaraderie, the good conversation. So often those friendships, and those tables, have included the brilliant people from The Palmerston, so this collaboration at The Cooper’s just feels right.” The Palmerston launched in 2021 in Edinburgh’s West End while Newbarns, which also has a taproom in Leith, was established in 2019. 

Operator behind Lurra and Donostia set to open third restaurant in London’s Marylebone: Melody Adams, who is behind long-standing Michelin Guide restaurants Lurra and Donostia in Seymour Place, is set to open third venue in London’s Marylebone. Adams will launch Maset, at 40-42 Chiltern Street, in September, an all-day restaurant offering a “vibrant Mediterranean dining experience”. Offering an “authentic take on cuisine from the Occitan and Provençal region from breakfast through to dinner”, the restaurant will showcase “top-tier, seasonal ingredients from both land and sea”. Adams opened both Donastia and Lurra with Nemanja Borjanovic in 2015, with both venues offering Basque cuisine. Elsewhere in The Portman Estate, Amgela Hartnett’s Cafe Murano Marylebone has now opened at 52- 55 Dorset Street, spanning 3,500 square feet. Hartnett’s fourth Café Murano site, it offers an Italian-inspired breakfast menu for the first time and exclusive dishes to the restaurant. Fire & Wine by Boxcar has also now opened at 23 New Quebec Street, repurposing the company’s original Boxcar site and joining its Boxcar Baker & Deli and Boxcar Bread & Wine locations. Head chef Zisis Gkalmpenis, has previously worked at Michelin-starred Pied à Terre, Cord by Le Cordon Bleu and The Greyhound in Beaconsfield.

Award-winning chef Nathan Davies launches Guernsey venture: Award-winning chef Nathan Davies has opened a restaurant in Guernsey. Davies, who is behind SY23 in Aberystwyth in Wales – which earned a Michelin star and was crowned “Opening of the Year” in the 2022 Michelin Guide – has launched Vraic on the island’s north shore. At the heart of the open kitchen is a Basque-inspired grill, featuring  a seasonal 10–12 course tasting menu (from £145). The menu is served in single sittings, at 1pm for lunch and 7:30pm for dinner. Guests are invited to enjoy pre-or post-dinner drinks either on the front terrace, complete with fire pits and sheepskin rugs, or upstairs, where they can take in panoramic views of Guernsey’s Chouet Bay. The experience can be complemented by an optional wine pairing (£95) or guests can choose from a carefully curated, low-intervention wine list – available by the bottle (from £50) or by the glass (from £9). The cocktail offering includes takes on the classics alongside original creations such as the Seaweed Martini, made with locally harvested kelp. Davies said: “The islands generosity has blown us away, meeting all the incredible local producers and cooking with their ingredients has been a true privilege. There's a real pride here in what’s grown and harvested locally, and that’s exactly what we want to celebrate at Vraic. It’s taken a lot of work to get here, and we’ve faced a few challenges along the way, but we’re now open, back in the game, and can’t wait to share what we’ve created.”

World renowned Blackpool drag cabaret show bar goes on the market as owner retires: World renowned Blackpool drag cabaret show bar Funny Girls has gone on the market after owner Basil Newby announced his retirement. Agent Christie & Co is marketing the sale of the venue, known for its drag and burlesque cabaret bar, comedy, music and dance performances. Set within the historic grade II-listed Odeon Cinema building, it has hosted the likes of Joan Collins, RuPaul and the Pet Shop Boys over the years. Newby, who was awarded an MBE in the 2014 for services to business and to the LGBTQIA+ community, opened his first club, Flamingo, in Blackpool in 1979. The Flamingo building was demolished in 2007, but not before Newby had launched Funny Girls in 1994. “It’s an incredibly emotional moment for me to take the decision to retire now, having bought my one and only beloved Flamingo in 1979 and then opened Funny Girls 31 years ago,” Newby said. “Next year, I will be 75, and after a lot of soul-searching and many sleepless nights, I know now is the time for me to bow out gracefully and retire. As of this Wednesday, the business will be up for sale, to give someone else the chance to love it and achieve what I have over the last 46 years. Nothing will change imminently – it’s business as usual. It could be three months or even three years before the right person comes along, someone I feel I can trust to take it over that rainbow I dreamed of so many years ago.”