New Park Chinois owner paid £5.8m to acquire company in pre-pack administration, seeking to retain brand name and restructure and reposition business, confident of breaking even in next four to six months: The investment group which is the new owner of Park Chinois paid £5.8m to acquire the company in a pre-pack administration, Propel has learnt. It is now seeking to retain the brand name and restructure and reposition business – and said it is confident of breaking even in the next four to six months. The company behind the Chinese restaurant in London’s Mayfair – which opened in 2015 after being designed and originated by Wagamama founder Alan Yau – was placed into administration last week. Yau is no longer involved in Park Chinois, which continues to trade at 17 Berkeley Street. A statement of administrator’s proposal from FRP Advisory shows that the new owner Le Soleil Enterprises paid £200,000 cash on completion but will also take on secured liabilities of £5.5m owed to Luxembourg based investment firm PCDS Lux Sarl – alongside other secured facilities – bringing the total transaction to £5.8m. The report said: “Park Chinois has been operating at approximately 50% capacity due to ongoing environmental and regulatory constraints. These challenges have significantly impacted footfall and limited trading potential across the business. La Soleil recognises these issues and is committed to implementing targeted operational, financial and strategic improvements to ensure the long-term sustainability of the business. We will seek to negotiate an agreement with the brand owner to retain the ‘Park Chinois’ name. Securing this iconic brand presence in the UK will allow for continuity, customer retention and brand equity leverage. The business will be restructured under the leadership of a newly appointed CEO and COO – Mr llir Caushi and Mr Erkan Toslak – both of whom bring extensive experience from the globally successful Zuma Group. Their proven track record in high-end hospitality will inject new energy, vision and discipline into the organisation. A comprehensive labour efficiency review will be undertaken. This will include targeted redundancies where necessary to reduce fixed costs. The aim is to create a leaner and more agile workforce that can respond to fluctuating demand. As part of our cost management plan, the entertainment offering within Club Chinois will be restructured to reduce high fixed costs associated with live acts and performances. The customer experience will remain consistent with the brand’s luxury positioning, while operating more flexibly to preserve margins. Strategic pricing and menu engineering initiatives will be introduced to enhance gross profit margins. Particular focus will be placed on high-margin items and upselling strategies. We will initiate discussions with the landlord to negotiate reduced rental obligations over the next five years. Given the reduced capacity and difficult trading environment, we believe a revised rent structure is necessary to ensure long-term sustainability. Our aim is to align rent payments more closely with actual revenue. We are very confident that, with the implementation of the measures outlined above, the business will achieve breakeven within the next four to six months.” The report went on to say that the business was “severely impacted by the covid pandemic” while high competition in the Mayfair area depressed sales (down 50% like-for-like in early 2025 versus 2023) and it generated a negative Ebitda of circa £2.6m in FY25. As a result, it had experienced “significant pressure from creditors” and “significant arrears” were owed to HMRC, landlords and other creditors/suppliers. In fact, county court judgement claims had been lodged and there was imminent threat that a winding up petition would be filed. FRP invited 445 parties to submit an expression of interest and 20 agreed, but at the deadline set, only two expressions of interest had been received, both connected to the company. It is currently expected that no distribution will be made to unsecured creditors.

 

Propel’s Culture, Talent & Training Conference open for bookings, Brother Marcus co-founder Alex Large 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 Brother Marcus co-founder Alex Large. Abi Dunn, founder at Sixty Eight People, talks to Large about the role he plays as a founder in creating culture, how he sees this changing as they grow and what his people strategy is at this stage in their journey. 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 subscribers to receive updated Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday: Premium Club subscribers will receive the updated Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday (8 August), at noon. The database will feature 13 new entries, with six in profit and seven making a loss. This means of a total of 1,151 entries, 725 are in profit and 436 are making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the New Openings Database, 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.

 

Anglian Country Inns MD – good weather has masked the challenges, our big fear is what happens when the summer ends: Anglian Country Inns managing director James Nye has said good weather has masked the challenges the sector is facing and that his biggest fear is what happens when the summer ends. Nye says his business, like many others, has been unable to absorb all the extra costs facing sector businesses and passed some on to customers. Anglian Country Inns employs about 100 people at the White Horse in Brancaster Staithe, a third of whom are seasonal staff, and a further 400 across the rest of the business. Nye said he has worked hard to retain staff by treating them well but is trying to make teams more efficient in a bid to cut costs. The business has 5% fewer full-time staff than last year and have hired fewer seasonal workers than in the past. “This is our Christmas,” Nye, whose business owns ten venues across Norfolk and Hertfordshire, told The Guardian. “We’ve had a strong start to the year with three months of sunshine. But I think that has masked the challenges the sector is facing. When the rain comes, you can see how overheads have gone up. Since April, we have had a lot of increase in overheads, pretty much across the board. We’ve got food price inflation, the big one is labour, with the national insurance contributions and national minimum wage, and everything is getting more expensive. Our big fear is what happens when trade dies down, when the season gets a bit quieter. Carrying those extra overheads is going to really hurt us.” Meanwhile, Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of Butcombe Group, which runs 120 pubs and inns across the UK and Channel Islands, called Labour’s move to overhauling planning and licensing rules – to make it easier for new hospitality venues to open in empty premises, as well as for restaurants and pubs to get permission to allow customers to dine alfresco – “galling”. “Most in the industry would say, because of the pain the government inflicted on the hospitality sector, why would new businesses choose to actually be starting up in some of those locations?” he said. “In hospitality, our job is to provide what customers want. Hospitality is the third-highest employer in the UK, it can drive growth, it wants to invest. It’s almost in spite of the government, rather than because of it.”

Elon Musk – Tesla will look to establish restaurants in major cities around the world: Elon Musk, co-founder and chief executive of Tesla, has said he plans to establish restaurants in major cities around the world after launching the first Tesla restaurant in Los Angeles, in the US. The new diner on Santa Monica Boulevard operates as the world’s largest urban Supercharger station, featuring 250-plus dining chairs and 80 V4 super charging parking spaces that can be used by NACS-compliant electric vehicles. The two-storey restaurant offers 24-hour dining services. While charging, drivers and passengers can enjoy the city view on the Skypad upstairs or through the big screen. Able to order food in advance through each vehicle’s touch screen, diners can enjoy their meal inside the Skypad, or order from their vehicles, and have the meal dropped off at their driver’s side window. Movies and specials play via two 20-metre LED screens and in each Tesla through the Tesla Diner app. The “retro-futuristic menu” is inspired by American diner classics, offering a full menu of quick bites and full meals. Options include milkshakes, house-baked cinnamon rolls, breakfast tacos, Tesla burgers and fried chicken and waffles. “If our retro-futuristic diner turns out well, which I think it will, Tesla will establish these in major cities around the world, as well as at Supercharger sites on long distance routes,” said Musk on X. “An island of good food, good vibes and entertainment, all while supercharging!”

Shoreditch becomes new al fresco dining hotspot: Independent bars and restaurants in Shoreditch will be offering al fresco dining and drinking for the first time following funding from the Mayor of London. Visitors will be able to enjoy outside dinner and drinks every Friday and Saturday until the end of the year, with the roads closed to traffic from 6pm to midnight. The new outdoor eating and drinking area is one of four new schemes funded through the £300,000 Summer Streets Fund. In Shoreditch, a wide range of businesses are taking part in the new al fresco dining, including De Nada and Callooh Callay on Rivington Street, Nancy Spain on Curtain Street, Smoking Goat on Shoreditch High Street and BAO on Redchurch Street. Other sites being supported by the Fund include schemes across Lambeth, Waltham Forest and Westminster. In Leyton, Francis Road is extending car free hours, with outdoor dining in Leyton Midland Road, and in Brixton, there are more car free days on Atlantic Road and a “Brixton Summer Zone”, with outdoor seating and live performances. Soon, bars and restaurants on St Martin’s Lane in the heart of the West End will also be able to provide open air dining and drinking. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “Through my Summer Streets Fund we are helping to put outdoor dining back on the menu, supporting businesses and helping Londoners and visitors to make the most of the summer. I’m determined to do all I can to support London’s fantastic restaurants, cafes and bars, and these schemes are just the beginning of what’s to come as we continue to work with partners across the capital to revitalise our nightlife and build a better London for everyone.”

 

PCA launches consultation on simplifying handling of disputes: The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is calling on the pub industry to respond to its new consultation on the rules for handling disputes. It aims to understand whether there is a need to create a simpler and more accessible set of rules for Pubs Code arbitrations. Currently, any disputes must follow the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Arbitration Rules. The PCA is considering whether new rules, suited to the tied model and Pubs Code specifically, might simplify the process for tenants and potentially improve its efficiency and cost effectiveness. PCA Fiona Dickie said: “The number of arbitrations that are referred to the PCA is relatively low. This might indicate good levels of compliance by the pub companies, but I recognise that the complexity of the arbitration process may deter tied tenants from exercising their rights. It is critical that for the Pubs Code to be effective, the arbitration process should be accessible and efficient for all concerned. The PCA is considering whether to introduce bespoke arbitration rules for use in Pubs Code arbitrations and the consultation is an opportunity for the everyone involved in the industry to feed into our thinking.” The PCA will use the responses from its consultation to inform its next steps. If the need for bespoke rules for Pubs Code arbitrations is agreed, the PCA will work with partners to develop these and anticipates a second consultation to give the industry the opportunity to shape the rules. The consultation will run for 12 weeks, closing on 23 October 2025.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a dynamic and fast-growing leisure hospitality brand that’s making a real impact across London and the UK. With a strong operational base and ambitious growth plans, it is now looking to bring on board an operations director to support its next phase of expansion. The client is looking for candidates with a background in hospitality-style environments, including hotels, large-scale conference venues, sports stadiums, horse racing venues, theme parks and similar high-volume, guest-facing operations. A blend of commercial awareness and hands-on, people-led management is essential. This role offers a salary up to £95,000 per year and is based in Surrey. For more information, please contact stuart@corecruitment.com

 

Oxygen – dry weather in 2025 has hit footfall but customer spend per visit has grown year-on-year, new Manchester site trading beyond expectations: Indoor family activity brand Oxygen has said dry weather in 2025 has hit its footfall, but that customer spend per visit has grown seen year-on-year. The company also said its new site at Quayside MediaCity in Manchester, which opened in February for its 13th site, is “trading beyond expectations”. Director Philip Jones said: “In 2025, the business experienced challenging trading conditions due to abnormally dry and warm weather during the key trading months of March through May, deviating significantly from historical averages. Despite the impact in footfall, the company achieved year-on-year growth in customer spend per visit. This was driven by targeted strategic initiatives and a continued focus on delivering a high-quality customer experience, as evidenced by consistently improving customer feedback scores. The adverse weather conditions led to a decline in customer volumes, and as a result, the business is currently forecasting flat revenue performance for the year following the reporting period. In response, management is actively developing further initiatives to protect revenue during periods of sustained unfavourable weather. The group’s activity after June 2024 supports the directors’ confidence. In the following period, the group has opened its second new build site in Manchester, completed two refurbishments and has built a strong pipeline of future new openings. The group’s banking facilites were successful refinanced with Mero Bank in April 2025 to provide a suitable capital structure for the business to grow and expand.” It comes as the company reported its turnover grew from £14,285,263 in 2023 to £21,587,447 in the year to 30 June 2024. Of this, £16,925,005 came from jump revenue (2023: £11,411,399), £3,506,618 from food and beverage (2023: £2,091,325) and £1,155,824 from merchandise (2023: £782,539). The company’s pre-tax loss widened from £5,661,410 in 2023 to £8,945,098 as costs rose by more than £3m and administrative expenses soared by almost £5m. It also reported a loss on disposal of £153,556 (2023: £360,436). Jones added that the group “exceeded trading expectations during the year”, with footfall, spend, dwell time and customer satisfaction levels all growing. He said refurbishments at Rayleigh and Romford totalling £2.5m “generated significant improvements across all topline KPIs”, with one venue post refurbishment seeing revenue from jumpers increase 25%. A site in Northampton was closed post year end, in July 2024. Jones added: “The earnings and profitability of the group’s activity parks increased in the year. However, the acquisitive nature of the group, the planned closures relating to site refurbishments, and significant investment in the central support function to build a platform for growth have led to an increase in the loss before taxation.”

Neat Burger placed into liquidation: The Lewis Hamilton and Leonardo DiCaprio-backed plant-based concept Neat Burger, which closed its remaining UK sites earlier this year, has been placed into liquidation. Propel understands that the company’s shareholders approved the move into liquidation at general meeting late last month, and FRP Advisory has been appointed to liquidate the company via a Members Voluntary Liquidation process. Propel revealed last week that the company posted a £16.2m pre-tax loss in 2023 (2022: loss of £4.6m). Neat Burger closed its final UK sites, in London’s Camden and Wembley, in April. The chain was founded in 2019, and at one point grew to eight London restaurants, plus sites in New York, Dubai and Milan. It was valued at £51m after completing a multi-million-pound funding round in 2021 and announced plans to expand to 30 sites across the capital. However, progress stalled, and it closed four London restaurants at the end of 2023 due to a “decrease in footfall”.

Lane7 secures new debt facility, completes group organisation, turnover nears £30m: Boutique bowling company Lane7 has said it completed a larger debt facility with Barclays in June giving the group access to further funding should it be required to continue to support further expansion opportunities. At the same time, the company completed a group reorganization, bringing in its Level X and Gutterball businesses within a consolidated Lane7 Group under the new topco, Lane7 Holdings. It comes as the business reported turnover for the year to 31 October 2024 of £29,141,000 (2023: £22,333,000), with Ebitda of £12,996,000 (2023: £10,062,000). Pre-tax profit stood at £4,758,476 (2023: £5,269,196). The company said: “This financial year has been about consolidation and building the foundations for the next phase of growth. We have expanded our executive team, further strengthened our senior management team, developed our strategy around the new site expansion pipeline and continued to improve our commercial operations to drive organic growth. The director continues to have an optimistic view for the future based on a healthy pipeline for opening new sites across the UK and further afield across Western Europe.” The company has opened three new sites post year end to date, one in Milton Keynes and two in Dublin, with a further two sites targeted for openings in the next financial year, ending 31 October 2025, in Newcastle. The business is to open a new site under its eponymous core brand in Leeds next year. The group is to open a 23,000 square-foot site in the former Wilko’s unit in Trinity Leeds in the first quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, sister brand Gutterball is also set to open new locations in Lincoln and Ealing. Last week, the company confirmed it will open a site under its Gutterball concept, in Lincoln, later this year.

Azumi Restaurants hires Travis McKechnie as MD of The Oblix: Azumi Restaurants, which operates the Zuma and Roka high-end restaurant brands, has hired Travis McKechnie, formerly of Gaucho, as the new managing director of The Oblix at The Shard. McKechnie spent a total of almost nine years at Gaucho across two stints, the latter of which saw him spend six and a half years as the brand’s director of operations. He previously spent two and a half years as general manager of the Oblix, which is a restaurant, split across two different spaces at The Shard. Last week, Propel reported that Gaucho, the premium Argentinian steak restaurant group, had made a number of strategic leadership appointments, which it said would “further strengthen the business and streamline performance across the UK, as new chief executive Baton Berisha implements his next stage strategy for growth”. At the time, Propel also revealed that Ross Butler had stepped down as chief operating officer of the business after nearly seven years in the role, and a near 14-year association with the brand.

Hot pot-focused concept makes London debut: Hot pot-focused concept Yangguofu Malatang has made its London debut, at 47-49 Charing Cross Road. Originating from China’s Sichuan street food stalls, Yangguofu Malatang offers a twist on the traditional hot pot by allowing diners to customise their own bowls. Guests will be able to choose from a vast selection of meat, fish, and vegetable toppings, with further choices in noodle type and broth flavour, which includes the classic herbal beef bone broth, sweet and sour tomato broth and peanut butter spicy dry mix (malaban). Yangguofu Malatang currently operates circa 7,000 restaurants worldwide, making it the largest malatang brand globally and its new London store spans 3,200 square feet, offering more than 100 covers. Neil Ping, Europe general manager of Yangguofu Malatang, said: “While Yangguofu Malatang has already proved to be a hugely successful concept, the chance to weave Yangguofu Malatang into the fabric of Chinatown London marks a deeply significant moment for us. We are confident that our grounding in such a popular Sichuanese culinary trend means we can deliver an offer that aligns with the destination’s globally renowned and authentic lineup.” Emma Matus, head of restaurant leasing at landlord Shaftesbury Capital, added: “Set to bring an authentic taste of north east China, YGF Malatang is a great example of a proven concept in China choosing Chinatown at an early stage of its UK journey.”

North east operator set to open in Durham and Sunderland: North east operator Howard Eggleston, who owns the Tomahawk Steakhouse brand and co-owns the Rio Brazilian brand, is set to open new locations in Durham and Sunderland. A new Rio Brazilian Steakhouse will open at The Riverwalk in Durham, replacing the brand’s current site in the city, at Walkergate. Rio’s new site will double its seating capacity and will include riverside and cathedral views. At the same time, work has started on a new Rio Brazilian Steakhouse in Sunderland. Grassi and Eggleston have invested £500,000 into the former Halo site on Low Row. The 10,000 square-foot is expected to open in September. Eggleston said: “The time is most definitely now in Sunderland, as we’ve awaited the green light to start the works, we’ve had all eyes on Sunderland and its developing food scene.” Grassi added: “With an ever-expanding appetite for bold flavours and fresh ideas in Sunderland, we can’t wait to bring the remarkable Rio Brazilian Steakhouse experience to the city.” Eggleston currently operates 11 Tomahawk Steakhouse venues and The Hawk pub, as well as eight Rio Brazilians with Grassi. The Hawk, which opened in a former Tomahawk Steakhouse in Ponteland last year, is Eggleston’s first pub. His latest Tomahawk Steakhouse opening, in Gateshead’s Metrocentre, features a new hot stone concept, while in January, Eggleston said he would be reintroducing a takeaway concept for Tomahawk, at its Thornaby site.

Sushi brand The Sushi Co grows regional footprint by opening Brighton site: Sushi brand The Sushi Co, which is led by former large-scale Papa John’s franchisee Raheel Choudhary, has grown its regional footprint by opening a site in Brighton. The Sushi Co’s 21st location, it has opened at 65 Western Road in the city. It joins the company’s other regional locations in Brentwood and Colchester, plus 18 sites in London. It also last month secured a site for a flagship location in Cambridge, at 1-2 Bridge Street in the city. “The Sushi Co has officially opened its 21st store – this time in Brighton,” said head of operations Somasekaram Thushiharan. “We’re thrilled to bring our fresh, handcrafted sushi to the Brighton community and look forward to serving you soon. Thank you to everyone who’s supported us on this journey – here’s to continued growth and great food.” Choudhary co-founded The Sushi Co in 2022 with Sama Varanand Reddy, a former Pizza Hut franchisee operations manager, after selling his own 61-strong Papa John’s franchise to Drake Food Service International the previous year. 

John Fowler – we are expecting consumer demand to weaken but advance booking levels compare favourably with previous years: West Country holiday park operator John Fowler it is expecting consumer demand to weaken but advance booking levels compare favourably with previous years. The company’s pre-tax profit grew from £2,622,123 to £3,965,433 in the year to 31 October 2024. It reported turnover of £36,284,244 for the year compared to £35,655,818 in 2023. Of this, £15,384,535 came from accommodation (2023: £15,314,551), £7,471,126 from owners’ income (2023: £7,373,844), £6,148,890 from holiday home sales (2023: £5,929,062), £4,647,240 from bars and restaurants (2023: £4,490,806) and £742,901 from machine takings and sundries (2023: £706,008). A £1,076 gain was made on disposal of assets compared to £127,685 in 2023. Director John Steer-Folwer said: “Results for the year fall much in line with forecast, a little stronger than the previous year despite significant rises in energy and labour costs. In part, this is attributed to the settlement of a covid business interruption claim, but excluding such exceptionals profits are posted 23% up for the period. Following their success, additional micro-lodges with hot tubs were added at St Ives over the winter, and we plan to develop and improve the quality and product further in the coming year. Our technology team has been strengthened to provide additional web and app development, social media coordination, pay-per-click supervision, and graphic design, to keep abreast of our competitors in terms of digital marketing and management. A new arcade has been built at South Bay as part of a token-only trial being conducted at the park. If successful, we expect further parks to become cashless in the years ahead. Improvements have also continued at Llanrhidian, with the addition of an infant sensory play area to bring together an entertainment facility for all age groups within the Purple Badger venue. Looking ahead we are expecting consumer demand to weaken, and the impact of rising wages and taxes continue to grow. However, demand for holidays remains strong, and advance booking levels compare favourably with those of previous years. It is evident that the British holiday park market continues to be a robust and successful business sector, and we continually seek opportunities to expand our business and add new locations.” Post year end, in June 2025, John Fowler acquired the Ruda holiday park in Croyde Bay, north Devon, from Parkdean Resorts in a multimillion-pound deal. The acquisition of the 300-acre holiday park took John Fowler’s portfolio to 14 sites. 

Sussex McDonald’s franchisee grows his portfolio to 12 stores: Sussex McDonald’s franchisee Carel Venter has grown his portfolio with the brand to 12 stores with four new acquisitions. Venter became a McDonald’s franchisee in 2019 after working as head of IT and IT director at technology provider Landmark. His Principle Restaurants business operates McDonald’s locations across Sussex and has now increased its footprint. Ffion Williams, franchise attraction partner at McDonald’s, said: “We’re thrilled to announce that Carel Venter has officially expanded his franchise portfolio with the acquisition of Bexhill-On-Sea, Buck Barn, Hastings and St Leonards last week, marking his 12th store as a franchisee. This latest milestone is a testament to his passion for growth and the strength of our franchise network. Huge congratulations Carel, your journey continues to inspire us all.” In its total exemption full accounts for the year to 31 December 2023, Principle Restaurants reported fixed assets of £2,970,503 (2022: £461,850), current assets of £3,732,210 (2022: £775,543), net current liabilities of £4,017,324 (2022: assets of £17,097), total assets less current liabilities of £2,685,389 (2022: £478,947) and net assets of £441,084 (2022: £202,217).

Veeno set to open in Durham this month: Italian wine bar business Veeno is set to open a new site in Durham this month. Veeno, owned by Rodrigue Trouillet, has taken a 15-year lease on a 3,130 square-foot space at The Riverside for what will be its sixth location in the UK. The new venue will host wine-tasting events, with a menu including fresh pasta, pizza and cured meats. Veeno also had locations in Bristol, Chester, Edinburgh, Leeds and Leicester. It also previously operated locations in Banbury, Reading, Reigate, Stratford-upon-Avon and Milton Keynes. Veeno was founded in 2013 by Nino Caruso and takes inspiration from his family’s vineyard in Sicily. It was acquired out of administration by Trouillet in 2019. 

Surrey operator reports increase in turnover and profit: Surrey operator Bob Potter Leisure has reported an increase in turnover and profit for the year to 31 July 2024. The company operates The Lakeside International Hotel, The Lakeside Country Club and Grove Farm Caravan Park. Potters International Hotel and Lakeside Continental Hotel continue to operate under Home Office contracts on a rolling monthly basis, while Potters Steakhouse remains closed and is not envisaged to reopen for the foreseeable future. The company’s pre-tax profit rose from £1,603,904 in 2023 to £1,935,148. Its turnover was up from £5,048,955 in 2023 to £5,196,220. Of this, £5,156,903 came from the hotels and rent (2023: £5,009,377) and £39,317 from the caravan park (2023: £39,578). Director Bob Potter said: “Lakeside Country club continued to generate revenue from darts tournaments, Asian wedding events, graduations and corporate events. Potters International and Lakeside Continental have continued to successfully operate under Home Office contracts. Lakeside International Hotel continues to operate on a full-service basis, with renewed plans in place to improve performance. The principle commercial risk to the group is withdrawal of the ongoing Home Office contracts, although we do not see this being achievable in the short term. However, any capital expenditure requirement to reinstate these properties to full-service hotels in the event of the Home Office Contracts expiring would not be commercially viable. Commitment has been made to undertake a significant marketing campaign for both The Lakeside International Hotel and The Lakeside Country Club, and while tangible positive results of this work are highly likely, they are not guaranteed. The group continues to carefully monitor its turnover and margins, and full and detailed budgets are now in place for all ongoing operational assets. Improvement of annual occupancy of The Lakeside International remains absolute priority. Significant revenue generation and cost management activities are now underway. The directors have continued to invest in upgrading both the group’s hotels and leisure facilities and believe that they will continue to remain competitive in the leisure industry and will continue to attract new and repeat customers to their leisure facilities.” No dividends were paid (2023: nil).

Former Blackrose Pubs MD launches new wine lounge in Jesmond: Former Blackrose Pubs managing director Daren Knipe has launched a new wine lounge in the Jesmond area of Newcastle. He and wife Kate have opened Angel’s Share in the former Boots building in St George’s Terrace. The venue offers wine, beer, spirits, non-alcoholic refreshments, small plates and sharing boards, with self-dispensing machines allowing guests to sample a range of rare and premium wine by the glass. The owners have repurposed existing shelving, mesh and prescription books from the 1930s and 1940s in its décor as a nod to its pharmaceutical predecessor, while artwork from north east artists adorns the walls – all of which is available to purchase. Knipe left Blackrose Pubs in January after six years as managing director, having acquired the company name and goodwill in December 2023 following its insolvency by its former owners.

Joyato concept opens second site: Japanese restaurant concept Joyato has opened its second site, in Colchester, Essex. The business has opened at the multi-million-pound Northern Gateway Leisure Park development. The concept, which is led by Alice Yi, opened its first site last year, in Swansea. That site houses 200 covers across three main dining areas over two floors. Joyato says it “prides itself on delivering authentic Japanese cuisine to its customers”. Dishes include tempura, yakitori, freshly prepared sushi and sashimi, bao buns, noodles, and gyoza. According to Joyato, it offers more than 100 dishes “made fresh to order” on its all-you-can-eat-style menu.

Kids Play Village to open second site: Children’s play space concept Kids Play Village is set to open its second site. The 11,168 square-foot site will open at Redical’s The Liberty Romford in October. It will feature 16 crafted roleplay areas including, a supermarket, police station, and beauty salon, as well as a café offering hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and more. Owner Jayde Piro said: “We have been on the lookout for the perfect space for our second Kids Play Village following the success of our debut location in Orpington. As an integral community hub, The Liberty Romford is the ideal destination, and we are eager to open the doors to our largest space ahead of the October half-term.”

UK’s first floating padel courts get the green light: Planning has been approved for the UK’s first floating padel courts, at a site in Liverpool. Set to open at Liverpool Waters in autumn 2025, the new floating facility places the city alongside global destinations such as Dubai, Miami and Helsinki. The development will feature three courts built on floating platforms and the world’s first floating padel clubhouse. Peel Waters, the team behind the Liverpool Waters regeneration scheme, has partnered with a roster of international experts in floating infrastructure and padel sport to bring the project to life. The facility, which was approved by Liverpool City Council, will sit within Princes Dock at Liverpool Waters and will have three floating Padel courts. The floating clubhouse will be able to host up to 100 guests and will include a bar, kitchen and decked seating area overlooking the water, as well as a retail hub, reports Insider Media. James Whittaker, managing director of Peel Waters, said: “Liverpool Waters is leading the way in bringing innovative, world-class experiences to the UK. This new floating Padel facility will become a flagship destination for the sport and for waterside leisure in Britain. As a padel enthusiast, I know first-hand how fun, accessible and social this sport is. This new floating padel facility will be a must-visit destination for players around the world whilst also providing a new amenity for residents and workers in Liverpool City Centre they have never had before. Whether they’re playing, spectating or socialising in the club, we look forward to our community discovering how much fun this sport is for all.”

Former Sosharu head chef to launch new restaurant in London’s Fitzrovia: Alex Craciun, former head chef at Jason Atherton’s Sosharu, is set to launch a new restaurant in London's Fitzrovia. Cracium, who has been working in Singapore and Marbella since Sosharu closed nine years ago, will this autumn open Aces Foodcraft at 8 Pearson Square. The new restaurant is a joint venture with wife Aleksandra Jazevica, who is a director of high-end greengrocer Primeur in Covent Garden market. “With her involved, I truly believe Aces will have one of the most seasonal and ingredient-driven menus in London,” Craciun told Hot Dinners. “It’s a deeply personal and produce-led restaurant where creativity meets seasonality, designed to bring a sense of home, theatre and innovation to the heart of London.” By day, the restaurant will be a casual affair, with a seasonal à la carte menu alongside daily specials and lunch deals. In the evening, it will be a more intimate and immersive concept, with a nine-seat kitchen counter where Cracium will cook and serve directly, creating a live tasting menu experience. Dishes include English baby lamb truffle souffle with fave beans and spring vegetables, Kagoshima wagyu asparagus and pickled himeji mushrooms, and Aji horse mackerel from Okinawa with crispy nori with fresh wasabi.