London restaurant group Maginhawa aiming to grow its Mamasons concept up to 15 UK sites, having international conversations and exploring London neighbourhoods for further growth: London restaurant group Maginhawa is aiming to grow its Mamasons Filipino ice cream parlour concept to 15 UK sites alongside international expansion. The group, led by Omar Shah, already operates three Mamasons sites across the capital – in Chinatown, Camden and Westfield White City – as well as Donia in Carnaby Street and six further concepts in Camden – Guanabana, Ramo, Bintang, Belly, Hoodwood and Café Mama & Sons. Shah told Propel: “Long term, we see real expansion potential. Each concept serves a different market, and many formats are scalable, but Mamasons stands out as our most exportable. We believe Mamasons can grow to ten-15 UK sites over the next five to seven years, and we see serious international opportunity – especially in the Middle East and south east Asia, where demand for culturally rich, premium dessert concepts is rising fast. We've already had interest from partners in Dubai and Singapore. Mamasons is rooted in nostalgia, Filipino flavours and bold design – it travels well. Its strong social media presence also makes it a perfect candidate for franchising or joint ventures. Across the group Belly, Ramo and Guanabana have legs as neighbourhood bistros in major cities, while Hoodwood and Café Mama & Sons work well in high-footfall or travel-friendly locations. We've had ongoing interest from international franchise and partner requests, particularly in the Middle East. Things aren’t getting easier for business owners in the UK, and at some point, international expansion may go from ambition to necessity.” Back home, Shah is currently working on a new concept in the group’s north London heartland. “There’s something new in the pipeline, hopefully a more community-focused space in Camden,” he said. “I’m really excited about this one. The model we’re developing could allow us to give back, pass on some knowledge and build something meaningful for the local area. Most of the early opportunities came in Camden, which I call home, and it’s been a great testing ground for new concepts – close enough that I can jump in quickly and get things moving fast. More and more, it makes sense to stay local. We're now looking seriously at neighbourhood areas. London is full of villages – you just have to find the right one.” Shah said he has seen a slight uptick in footfall across central and neighbourhood sites and current trading is positive. He added: “People are trading down on the big things but trading up on the small ones. They might not book a holiday, but they’ll buy a beautifully made matcha or dessert. These are the new affordable luxuries, and that’s where we operate best. You’d think these would be the first to suffer in a downturn, but they’ve held strong. Slower days are still slow, but we're seeing more predictable patterns compared with the post-covid rollercoaster. People are more deliberate now. They choose their moments, and when they do, they spend on joy.”

 

Sponsored message – Hooch turns back the clock as it re-releases limited-edition iconic 1990s can to celebrate 30th anniversary: Hooch marks 30 years of zesty spirit with a bold blast from the past, relaunching its iconic 1995 can in a limited-edition throwback. Featuring the unforgettable lemon character that caused a stir in the 1990s, the anniversary can is a nod to Hooch’s rebellious roots and pop culture legacy. This milestone year has also seen the launch of Cherry Hooch and the nationwide rollout of Hooch on draught, celebrating both heritage and evolution. To mark the anniversary, Hooch has unleashed a £1.8m marketing campaign across the UK, lighting up the streets with vibrant taxi wraps, towering billboards, flyposting and geo-targeted digital six-sheets. The campaign aims to connect with local audiences in a fun and relevant way. In Manchester, Hooch leans into its northern roots with witty slogans like, “When Ancoats had Sankeys, not sourdough”, highlighting its connection to the city’s cultural identity and history. A standout Oasis-inspired mural in Manchester’s Northern Quarter honours the city that helped shape Hooch’s legacy during the band’s iconic rise. A Hooch spokesperson said: “With nostalgia high and performance strong for the brand, Hooch remains the original icon of alcoholic rebellion.” 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, Wagamama head of people experience Becky Galligan to speak: Propel’s Culture, Talent & Training Conference is open for bookings. The conference takes place on Thursday, 9 October at One Moorgate Place in London. Among the speakers will be Wagamama head of people experience Becky Galligan, who will talk about how a people experience can drive not just engagement but also operational efficiency/effectiveness, and how that continues to be a huge focus for the brand, especially with its multi-generational workforce. 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 new UK Food & Beverage Franchisee Database today: Premium Club subscribers will receive the latest Propel Food & Beverage Franchisee Database today (Wednesday, 13 August), at 12pm. The database will feature ten new entries, plus updates to existing entries, to take the total number to 260 and more than 106,000 words. The new entries include 92 Degrees franchisee Ketch & Co, Black Sheep Coffee franchisee MDM Group, Doner Shack franchisee MTA Scotland and multi-brand franchisee SSP Group. 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 Turnover & Profits Blue Book 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.

 

UKHospitality – ‘hospitality and retail continue to bear the brunt of job losses’: UKHospitality has said that hospitality and retail “continue to bear the brunt of job losses” following the latest employment figures. Job openings fell by 5.8% to 718,000 between May to July across nearly all industries, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Average wage growth remained at 5%, while the unemployment rate was unmoved at 4.7% and there was an estimated drop in people on payrolls – down 8,000 between June and July. Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said: “Today’s employment figures show that hospitality and retail – the sectors most heavily impacted by changes to employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) – continue to bear the brunt of job losses. The biggest fall in employment is among younger workers, those seeking their first roles, in entry level jobs or holiday jobs. A group that is now losing out on opportunities to gain vital experience and essential skills. The hospitality sector is a key provider of these valuable roles yet, since the announcement of the changes to employer NICs – which are set to cost the sector £3.4bn per year – 84,000 jobs have been lost in the sector. Hospitality businesses are being taxed out by rising costs and policy decisions that make it harder for businesses to hire and invest. If the government is serious about supporting growth and tackling youth unemployment, it must urgently rethink the pressure it’s placing on hospitality businesses.” Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, added: “Our sector, which is millions of people’s first step on the career ladder, provides significant employment opportunities for people and those seeking flexible work. However, given the Budget’s rise in NICs and increased wage costs, brewers and pubs may have to make tough decisions in order to weather the many new costs they face.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a growing contract catering business that is looking for a senior operations manager to lead a large team and oversee a portfolio of education contracts. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This pivotal role requires a senior operator with extensive experience in state education catering. The position involves managing a team of five operations managers, driving contract mobilisation, retention and growth, and playing a key role in tenders as the company expands. Responsibilities will include mentoring, onboarding and training your senior team, while also building strong client relationships. The ideal candidate will bring high-level contract catering experience, outstanding leadership and communication skills, strong financial acumen and a passion for delivering exceptional service and standards in a demanding, client-focused environment.” The salary is up to £65,000 and the position is based in Northamptonshire. For more information, email dan@corecruitment.com.

 

Wenzel’s makes move into franchising with Southern Co-op deal: Wenzel’s, which operates more than 100 bakery stores in southern England and the Midlands, has signed its first franchise agreement. The company has partnered with Southern Co-op in a deal brokered by Seeds Consulting. Wenzel’s said the partnership will enable the brand to expand into new regions across the UK through Southern Co-op’s established retail network. Southern Co-op said the deal underscores its strategic focus on meeting the growing demand for food-to-go by introducing fresh, on-the-go bakery offerings to high-footfall locations, “delivered with speed, quality and convenience”. The first store under the new franchise model is set to open in Guildford on Wednesday, 10 September, with further locations in the pipeline. Wenzel’s chief executive Sarah Wenzel said: “We’re delighted Southern Co-op has chosen to be our franchise partner and are confident that our collaborative partnership will be mutually beneficial and rewarding in the coming years. Southern Co-op is a business that has consistently put the community first, and with our shared vision of offering high-quality food for all, we’re in a strong position to bring delicious, freshly baked goods at accessible prices to even more customers across the UK.” Nick Smith, central services director at Southern Co-op, said: “We’re excited to partner with Wenzel’s as it takes its first step into franchising. This partnership represents a powerful alignment of values – great food, great service, and a great opportunity to grow. We’re confident that this is only the beginning of a successful journey together.” Matteo Frigeri, managing director of Seeds Consulting, said: “By aligning Wenzel’s brand strength with Southern Co-op’s operational expertise and retail footprint, we have created a scalable franchise model that delivers real value to both parties and meets growing consumer demand in the food-to-go sector.” Founded in 1975 by Peter Wenzel, Wenzel’s marks its 50th anniversary on the British high street this year. 

 

Chopstix launches new ‘small box’ concept: Fast-growing, quick service restaurant brand Chopstix has launched a new “small box” concept, with the first unit at Butlin’s Skegness. Chopstix said the new modular format, which operates with a smaller square footage than its traditional bricks and mortar store, offers increased versatility in terms of space and location. The roll out of the small box format aligns with Chopstix’s overall strategy to further strengthen its position in markets such as holiday parks and travel hubs, where the brand said it has consistently performed very well, while also allowing for Chopstix to open in spaces where a full-sized unit may not fit. The first small box unit is located in the Butlin’s Skegness food court and is just over 20 square metres in size. Jon Lake, managing director at Chopstix, said: “The small box format is a significant innovation for Chopstix and allows us to deliver an even more versatile offer. The operations for this format are slightly simplified, the upfront investment is lower than a traditional store and does not require an existing bricks and mortar unit to occupy, so we believe it really opens the door for the brand to expand into regions and spaces where we have previously been under-represented. Butlin’s has already had significant success with the Chopstix brand at other resorts, so it made perfect sense to launch the first small box store at Butlin’s Skegness.” Andrew Leivers, Butlin’s resort director, added: “We’re delighted to be the first place to operate the new small box concept for Chopstix. We’ve been keen to add a Chopstix to our Skegness resort following the success at our Bognor Regis and Minehead sites. The small box unit has allowed us to accelerate our timeline to bring the brand to Skegness.” As with the Chopstix restaurants at Bognor Regis and Minehead, full management of the Skegness site is overseen by Butlin’s, with all team members undergoing a full Chopstix induction. Chopstix, which received investment from European quick service restaurant operator QSRP last October, operates more than 150 sites. Chopstix said it has a strong pipeline of new sites, through both company operated and franchise ownership models.

 

Chocoberry signs multi-unit deal to expand in the Midlands: Dessert brand Chocoberry has signed a new multi-unit deal to expand in the Midlands, Propel has learned. The new franchisee has committed to opening an initial two locations in Birmingham and one in Walsall in the coming months. So far this year, the brand has signed 11 new store agreements, including six in the last two months – all currently in build or legals and expected to open within the next six months. Currently with 18 stores in the UK and a handful overseas, Chocoberry is aiming to grow to 50 UK locations by the end of 2026 and has a long-term target of 100 stores globally. Ameer Nurmahomed, Chocoberry’s UK general manager, said: “We are delighted to sign a deal for three new stores in the Midlands. Chocoberry is synonymous with the region. Here, we have built an incredibly strong reputation for high quality, unique desserts that are unmatched anywhere else on the high street today. We have full confidence that these stores will not only be a huge success in Birmingham and Walsall but will also offer us opportunities to introduce more customers to our brand and support our broader UK expansion efforts.” Founded in Leicester in 2018, Chocoberry already has overseas locations in Dubai and Sharjah and is also looking to enter Canada and Turkey this year. Closer to home, Chocoberry has openings in Coventry, Highcross, Ealing, Bristol, Wolverhampton, Newbury, Milton Keynes, Slough and Rotherham in the pipeline. Last month, Nurmahomed told Propel that the brand is launching a new kiosk format with a smaller menu in order to help it expand faster. Chocoberry features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, which is exclusive to Premium Club subscribers and currently features 360 companies.

 

Convenience store company 7-Eleven plans to open 1,100 new restaurants in its US stores by 2030: Convenience store company 7-Eleven has said it plans to open 1,100 new restaurants in its US stores by 2030. The “aggressive investment” in restaurants is part of an updated transformation plan released by the retailer’s Tokyo-based parent company Seven & i Holdings. The new roadmap comes less than a month after Alimentation Couche-Tard, the parent company of convenience brand Circle K, withdrew its $47.2bn takeover bid of Seven & i following a rollercoaster year. “Sustaining success requires constant reinvention and innovation,” 7-Eleven noted in its transformation plan. 7-Eleven noted that declining fuel demand and negative consumer perceptions around fresh food are among its key challenges. As such, it said it will invest in stores and equipment to create a “distinctive food offering”. The company did not provide further details on what types of food it would serve. In addition to adding more than 1,000 restaurants over the next five years, 7-Eleven said it intends to open a total of 1,300 new larger-format stores during that time frame, all with an enhanced focus on foodservice. This latest turnaround plan is a return to growth mode compared with the one announced last October, in which 7-Eleven said it planned to close 444 underperforming North American stores. In the months since, the business hired a new chief executive in Stephen Hayes Dacus, Seven & i’s first foreign-born chief executive. With more than 9,300 US stores under the 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes banners, the retailer is already a significant restaurant operator. It operates or franchises more than 600 Laredo Taco Company restaurants and about 60 Raise the Roost Chicken & Biscuits locations.

 

David Page steps down as non-executive director of Meatailer: Industry veteran David Page has stepped down as a non-executive director of Meatailer, the Scott Collins-led operator of the MeatLiquor concept, Propel has learned. Propel understands Page – the former chairman of Franco Manca-owner Fulham Shore and ex-chief executive of PizzaExpress, and who is set to become chair of Wildwood operator Tasty – remains a shareholder in Meatailer. The company operates seven sites across London, plus restaurants in Brighton and Leeds, along with The Dartmouth Arms in London’s Forest Hill. Earlier this month, Tasty announced Page was set to join as chair and planned to raise circa £10m. Tasty is also set to be renamed Bow Street Group on the London Stock Exchange. Tasty will acquire a cash shell owned by Page and associates as part of the deal. Tasty would then seek to acquire a number of brands, for which it would act as an incubator – possibly using the existing Tasty estate to remodel and refurbish some of the locations to accelerate the growth of the acquired businesses. In May, Propel revealed 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. He also co-founded Clapham House – which included Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Bombay Bicycle Club – before selling to Nando’s.

Loungers opens landmark 300th venue: Café lounge bar operator Loungers has opened its landmark 300th venue with a launch in Hampshire. Loungers has opened an Antico Lounge at 37-39 High Street in Alton for its 300th in total across its Loungers, Cosy Club and Brightside brands. Founded in Bristol in 2002 by Alex Reilley, Jake Bishop and Dave Reid, Loungers began with a single Lounge on North Street, Bristol. They introduced sister brands Cosy Club in 2010 and Brightside in 2022. Loungers has opened 21 new Lounges so far this year, contributing an average of nearly £1m investment to the local high street it serves and around 30 new jobs. Reilley said: “We when opened the first Lounge back in August 2002 we couldn’t have imagined that 23 years, on we would have 300 sites in the UK. It has been a remarkable journey so far, with a lot more still to come. We are so proud of the thousands of jobs we have created and the positive impact we have had on Britain’s high streets.” Alongside the new Lounges opened this year, the company opened a new Cosy Club in Reading in May – to be followed by Leeds in September and St Albans in October – while all four Brightside roadside diners have boasted record sales so far this summer.

 

Oodles Wok opens third Scottish site: Indo-Chinese brand Oodles Wok has opened its third Scottish site. It has opened at 17 Gateside Street in Hamilton, joining its locations at 249-257b Sauciehall Street in Glasgow and 206a Union Street in Aberdeen. The circa 50-strong business, founded in Leicester in 2010 by Mohammed and Ismail Umar, has a long-term target of 100 UK stores. In June, Oodles Wok launched in its second international market when it opened its first Canadian site – at 41 Lebovic Avenue in Scarborough, Ontario. The business, which launched in Dubai’s Motor City in October 2024, signed a 50-store agreement for Canada in March. 

 

Amorino reveals its next pipeline of openings after confirming launch in London’s Wembley: Italian gelato brand Amorino has revealed its next pipeline of openings after confirming a forthcoming launch in Wembley, north west London. Amorino this week made its Essex debut, at Lakeside shopping centre, and will follow that next month with its first store in the north east, in Newcastle’s Grainger Street. The brand, which has a long-term target of 100 UK sites by 2030, will then return to London, where the majority of its currently 37-strong estate lies. Hubert Attali, the UK master franchisee for Amorino, said: “Amorino UK will soon be opening its latest store in Wembley, located in the London Designer Outlet. This new addition to our growing portfolio will bring our artisanal gelato to a prime location. After the opening of Amorino Lakeside this week and Amorino Newcastle in September, Amorino Wembley will be our 39th UK store! Oxford, Bristol, Henley, Bromley, London Fulham Road, Cheltenham and Chelmsford, you are next!” 

 

Sales growth across overseas stores boosts Caffe Concerto revenue: Patisserie and café brand Caffe Concerto saw sales growth across its overseas stores boosts its revenue in the year to 31 August 2024. The company has 23 UK locations as well as three in Saudi Arabia and one each in France and Qatar. Revenue grew from £41,077,757 in 2023 to £42,470,423, despite its UK turnover dropping from £40,634,134 to £39,053,901. European revenue grew from £17,608 to £1,947,309 while Middle East turnover increased from £426,015 to £1,469,213. Pre-tax profit dropped from £5,424,895 to £4,822,626. Director Maher Al-Hajjar said: “During the year, the company recorded a 3% increase in turnover (2023: 45%) due to sales growth across overseas stores. Profit before tax decreased largely due to interest costs and the ongoing impact of wage and direct cost inflation across the sector. Despite the decrease in profitability, the company’s financial position strengthened, with net assets rising to £14,421,030 (2023: £10,545,809). This improvement reflects retained earnings growth and continued reinvestment into the business to support long-term expansion.” Post year end, Caffe Concerto opened in Leeds for its first northern outpost and only its second UK site outside of London.

 

Five Akhis lines up Manchester opening as it aims to make it 12 franchise openings in as many months: Gourmet burger concept Five Akhis, which has fast-pizza brand Fireaway founder Mario Aleppo as a backer, has lined up a Manchester opening as it aims to make it 12 franchise openings in as many months. Propel revealed earlier this month that the ten-strong business, which was founded in 2021 in Milton Keynes, had lined up openings in Bedford, Leicester and London's Whitechapel as it prepared to open five new stores in the next three months. It has now added Manchester and Wellingborough to that list, although the exact locations have not yet been confirmed. Franchise operations director Ravi Parmar said: “Eight stores in nine months of our first year of franchising – can we make it 12 in 12? Upcoming locations in kit out stage: Manchester, Leicester, Whitechapel, Wellingborough, Bedford.” Five Akhis also has two sites in Milton Keynes (full restaurant and express) and one each in Northampton, Oxford, Preston, Birmingham, Sheffield, Banbury, Nottingham and Luton.

 

Manchester operator ready to expand his gourmet burger concept: Manchester operator Samir Makin is ready to expand his gourmet burger concept, Shakedown. Makin, who is also behind Detroit pizza business Dough Club in the city, founded Shakedown in 2018. After growing it to three Greater Manchester locations – in Withington, Wythenshawe and Cheadle Hulme – he expanded it outside the city for the first time in 2023 with a launch in St John’s Road, in the Corstorphine area of Edinburgh. Makin is now gearing up to open a second site in the Scottish capital, in the former Sam’s Fry fish and chip shop in Milton Road West. Makin said: “It’s time for the next Shakedown. We’ve built it; now we’re ready to scale it. Our Edinburgh store proved that when you focus on creating an in-store experience people can’t get from delivery apps, they keep coming back. Now we’re looking for our next homes: shopping centres, malls and retail parks; high-footfall locations where Shakedown can thrive. Six years of refining the product, the team and the concept have brought us here. The next chapter starts now.” Makin also founded Dough Club in 2024 and has grown it to three locations in Greater Manchester. Propel revealed earlier this month that Dough Club has developed a new kiosk concept as it plans “serious growth” and is eyeing expansion into the Middle East, after signing with consultants Gulf Franchise Group.

 

Boss Pizza launches in Glasgow: Franchise pizza concept Boss Pizza, founded during the pandemic by Ajmal Mushtaq, has launched in Glasgow for its third site in Scotland and sixth overall. Mushtaq, who previously operated acclaimed Indian restaurant Mushtaqs in Hamilton, launched Boss Pizza with two stores in Scotland – in Hamilton and Larkhall. The concept made its English debut last year with a launch in Acton, west London, which has since closed, and in February, the business opened a franchise store in Walsall, in partnership with HLN Group. Boss Pizza then opened in Colchester and Bradford, but has now returned north of the border to launch at 279 Gallowgate in Glasgow. Boss Pizza’s immediate pipeline includes locations in Oldham, Nottingham and Milton Keynes – all due to open this summer. The company also has a further site in Glasgow secured, along with units in Sheffield, Luton, Clydebank, Rochdale, Bletchley and Hemel Hempstead.

 

Burger concept Smoke & Pepper opens in Milton Keynes, lines up Southampton launch: Burger concept Smoke & Pepper has opened in Milton Keynes. The business, which was founded in London by Sara Ibrahim and Suhail Mala, launched in 2022, with openings in Leyton and Bow. Smoke & Pepper then made its regional debut at Transmission House, in Manchester’s Tib Street, before adding a second regional location, at 686b Stratford Road in Birmingham. Having returned to London to launch at 37 Ripple Road in Barking and 545 Cranbrook Road in Dalston, Smoke & Pepper has now returned to building outside of the capital with an opening at Milton Keynes’ Midsummer Place shopping centre. Smoke & Pepper is next set to further expand its footprint by opening in the former Bangers & Burgers site in Above Bar Street in Southampton. Smoke & Pepper also has three more locations in London – in Hounslow, Dalston and Wembley – as well as Lakeside in Essex in the pipeline.

 

Cumbria McDonald’s franchisee adds two restaurants to estate: Cumbria McDonald’s franchisee Fenko Restaurants has added two restaurants to its estate. Fenko Restaurants was founded in 2023 by Henry Terefemko, who was previously a managing director of a Manchester-based housing association and a director of communities with responsibility for homeless prevention and social housing across west Cheshire and Chester. Terefenko opened his first restaurant in April 2023, in Carlisle, followed by a second, in Hexham, at the end of 2024. Terefemko said: “Fenko Restaurants has successfully acquired two more McDonald’s restaurants in Carlisle, the newly refurbished Kingstown restaurant and the ever-popular Scotch Street restaurant in the town centre. This brings our portfolio to four restaurants and our amazing team to more than 500 dedicated crew members. This achievement is a celebration not just of the growth of Fenko Restaurants, but of the incredible dedication of our salaried teams and crew, who work tirelessly to create restaurants that are safe, respectful and inclusive. Here’s to the next chapter of growth, opportunity and great experiences for our customers and our people.”

 

London pizza concept Napoli on the Road secures Soho location for third site: Napoli on the Road, the London pizza concept founded by Michele Pascarella that was awarded first place at this year’s 50 Top Pizza Europa Awards for the second consecutive year, has secured its third site, Propel has learned. Napoli on the Road is opening within the newly refurbished 140 Wardour Street in Soho. Pascarella launched the first Napoli on the Road in 2019, in Chiswick, followed by a second site in 2023, in Richmond. Pascarella’s signature pizza, Ricordi d’Infanzia (slow-cooked ragu with beef, topped with Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, fondue and basil) was also crowned Pizza of the Year 2025. Dan Brown, of Restaurant Property, acted on behalf of Napoli On The Road while Dan Rogers, of Hanover Green, acted for the landlord. Brown said: “We’re ecstatic to have a secured a prime location in Soho for the next Napoli on the Road, the best pizza in Europe. The new concept in Soho is an exciting evolution of the business.”

 

Dubai operator Admo to open first London site for its rooftop bar and restaurant brand next month: Dubai operator Admo Lifestyle Holding will open the first site for its rooftop bar and restaurant brand, CeLa Vi, next month. Opening at Paddington Square on Friday, 12 September, it will also be a European debut for the brand, having launched in Singapore, Dubai, Taipei and Tokyo. A “bold and contemporary menu rooted in modern Asian cuisine” will offer dishes such as miso seabass with Szechuan green chilli sauce, crispy red snapper and Wagyu beef tataki with truffle ponzu. The venue will be spread across two levels, with an outdoor terrace for alfresco dining, plus a 17th floor restaurant, bar and lounge. There will also be an open central bar offering “craft cocktails with an Asian sensibility”, alongside a list of rare wine and seasonal sake. On the 18th floor will be a private dining room for up to 14 guests, offering floor-to-ceiling views over London’s skyline. A lounge bar on the same floor will feature live DJs and curated performances. Admo’s portfolio of brands also includes Nammos and Clap, which has a site in London. In April, the company launched Clap Ka-fe at the same building as Clap – 12-14 Basil Street in Knightsbridge. Based on the ground floor, Clap Ka-fe is a more casual concept than Clap, which is located on the top floor.

 

Raddison to launch new bar and restaurant linked to hotel in London’s Twickenham: Radisson is opening a new bar and restaurant linked to its Radisson Red London Twickenham Hotel. The Huddle, which is set to open later this summer, will offer all-day dining menu led by head chef Adil Shaikh. He has more than 15 years’ experience across different types of global cuisine, having honed his craft working within hotels during his time in Asia and the Middle East, as well as the UK. The drinks menu will include coffee, cocktails and beer.

 

Hotel Chocolat set to open Velvetiser Café in High Wycombe: Hotel Chocolat, the premium British chocolatier, is set to open a Velvetiser Café in High Wycombe. Opening on Monday, 25 August at the Buckinghamshire town’s Eden shopping centre, guests will be able to customise their drinks from 18 different flavours of Hotel Chocolat's Velvetised drinking chocolate – served hot, over ice or as a shake. The High Wycombe store will span 2,902 square feet, with space for 34 guests. Frankie Haynes, omnichannel director for Hotel Chocolat, said: “The new store marks another step in our expansion, and we're excited to continue offering more of these delightful, out-of-town experiences across the country in the coming years.”

Norwich operators set to open their second site: Norwich operators Ricardo Leguia and Vlad Vamesu are set to open their second site. The duo are preparing to launch Gozo in St Gregory’s Alley in the premises that were occupied by vegan cafe concept Tofurei until a year ago. Leguia was the head chef at independent Spanish restaurant Don Txoko in the city until last year, sharing his culinary skills from his time living in the Basque country in northern Spain. He told the Eastern Daily Press: “Gozo is a play on the Spanish word gozar, which means to enjoy yourself. We are keeping the concept a bit of a mystery for now, but we will be working a lot with dry-aged meat and there will be some Spanish influences in the menu.” The business partners are also behind On The Bone in the Yalm food court in the city. The all-day restaurant specialises in chops, steak, burgers and wings.