Mammy Pancakes UK founder – prime time for launching Hong Kong concepts here, planning to expand outside of London: The UK franchisee for Mammy Pancakes has told Propel now is the prime time for launching Hong Kong concepts here, and that he is planning to expand the brand outside of London. Donald Lai and business partner Brendan Ho last month launched the first UK site for the Hong Kong street food brand, which has more than 30 sites across its home country and Taiwan, in London’s Notting Hill. Lai said opening day went “beyond expectations”, with more than 1,000 pancakes sold and all of its first weeks’ worth of supplies gone in a single day. Lai and Ho both grew up in Hong Kong but met at university in the UK before embarking on careers in business consulting and investment banking. They took the plunge into hospitality after coming across Mammy on trips back to Hong Kong and deciding the concept was worth taking back to the UK. “We tried it every time we went home, and we knew the team was looking to franchise the brand and expand overseas,” Lai said. “Because a lot of people have moved from there to the UK, it’s the perfect time to be launching Hong Kong brands into the UK. There’s also been more of a general internationalisation of the UK palate, whereas ten years ago, we may not have got the reception we’ve had. Nostalgia has been a key word for us, with people coming in and saying it reminds them of being in Hong Kong – a sentiment that speaks to the very reason we began this journey. Somewhat surprisingly though, although 70% of customers so far have been from Hong Kong, with 15% locals and the rest tourists and passers-by, the most repeat custom has come from Brits.” Before launching their debut site, Lai and Ho said they plan to open ten-plus sites in the UK over the next three years. “We’re looking to open two or three more in London next, and we see real value in opening a flagship store in Soho or Chinatown,” Lai said. “We deliberately chose a culturally rich area of London to launch in, and we hope to take the concept to other cities with a big international mix, like Manchester and Birmingham.” Mammy Pancakes features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, which is exclusive to Premium Club subscribers and currently features 360 companies. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Propel’s Culture, Talent & Training Conference open for bookings, panel to be held about challenges the industry faces around working with debilitating diseases in the workplace: 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 COREcruitment founder Krishnan Doyle talks to Clare Lawson, commercial excellence director at Merlin Entertainments, and Alyson Hancock, group people director at The Wonderfield Group, about the challenges the industry faces around working with debilitating diseases in the workplace. 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 next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality next Friday featuring 1,035 companies: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club subscribers next Friday (22 August), at midday. Another 87 companies have been added to the database, which now features 1,035 companies. This month’s edition will also include 108 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers will be sent a dedicated monthly newsletter that will highlight key updates in the sector and direct subscribers to all the vital content their membership offers. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

McDonald’s launches direct ordering on website for US customers: McDonald’s has launched a new online ordering system that allows its US customers to order delivery directly through its website. The new DoorDash-powered site is accessible from McDonald’s own website as the two companies extend their partnership. “With millions of customers visiting the McDonald’s website each month, this channel extends our reach, offering a seamless and convenient way to have their McDonald’s favourites delivered,” said Tim Snyder, head of delivery at McDonald’s USA. The move represents an expansion of McDonald’s relationship with DoorDash, which along with its affiliated brand Wolt, now supports McDonald’s delivery operations in 29 countries including Canada, Germany, Australia, Finland and Japan. The integration allows McDonald’s to leverage DoorDash’s fulfilment network while maintaining customer relationships through its own digital channels. The companies said the move is part of their shared commitment to expanding delivery options and improving accessibility for customers.

 

Oasis and Wimbledon helped London hotel room rates reach record highs in July: The Oasis concerts at Wembley and tennis championships at Wimbledon helped London hotel room rates reach record highs in July, according to new data from CoStar – provider of online real estate marketplaces and property market analytics. The capital’s hotel industry saw its highest average daily rate and revpar on record during the month, the data said. average daily rate was £234.58 (up 2.4% year on year) and revpar was £207.93 (up 3.3% year on year). Occupancy was also 88.6% (up 0.9% year on year), the highest level since July 2018. Wimbledon pushed London performance levels to monthly highs on the night of the women’s finals (Saturday, 12 July), when occupancy was 94.7%, average daily rate was £276.72 and revpar was £262.01. The night was also boosted by the men’s finals being held the following day. Overall, the market’s occupancy came in above the 90% mark on all but three nights of the championships. For the nights of the three Oasis concerts at Wembley (25, 26 and 30 July), performance levels peaked on the night of the second performance, when occupancy was 91.6%, average daily rate was £239.33 and revpar was £219.15. London’s occupancy levels remained above the 80% mark throughout the month on all but two days.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is seeking a dedicated and results-driven cleaning operations professional to join a forward-thinking team in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This role involves working closely with cross-functional teams to drive key initiatives that support the organisation’s continued growth and innovation. The position will be responsible for developing and executing strategies to meet business goals and KPIs, ensuring alignment across internal teams and using data to inform decisions and improve processes. The ideal candidate will have at least three years of industry experience, strong analytical and organisational skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.” The salary is up to £55,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email joe@corecruitment.com.

 

Merlin Entertainments abandons plans to sell some of its Sea Life centres after failing to attract acceptable bids: Merlin Entertainments has abandoned plans to sell some of its British aquariums after failing to attract acceptable bids. The owner of Legoland and Madame Tussauds has decided to call off an auction of more than half a dozen Sea Life visitor attractions in locations including Blackpool, Brighton, Loch Lomond and Scarborough, reports Sky News. Sources said that private equity firms such as Epiris and Platinum Equity had expressed an interest in the venues but added that none of the offers had been at a level that persuaded Merlin Entertainments to pursue a deal. A spokesperson told Sky News: “Like any well-run business, Merlin Entertainments regularly reviews its estate, in line with the company's long-term growth strategy. We continue to invest in our Sea Life aquariums, to ensure they provide wonderful experiences for guests and inspire a love for the ocean and its creatures.” One person close to the group, which is the world’s biggest theme park operator and counts Chessington World of Adventures and Alton Towers among its British assets, told Sky News the operator it would be open to considering compelling offers for the aquarium assets in future. Merlin Entertainments owns more than 40 aquariums globally, many of which trade under the Sea Life brand. In the UK, there are 11 such attractions, including in London, Birmingham and Manchester. One source told Sky News that Merlin Entertainments had been open to expanding the sale perimeter to include one or more of the Sea Life venues in major English cities in order to entice more lucrative offers. Merlin Entertainments is jointly owned by the private equity giant Blackstone and the investment vehicle of the family behind the Lego dynasty, having been a publicly traded company on the London stock market for several years.

 

Dave’s Hot Chicken planning further openings across north of England before end of year: Dave’s Hot Chicken, which is being rolled out here by Azzurri Group – the ASK Italian, Coco di Mama, Boojum and Zizzi owner – has said it is planning further openings across the north of England before the end of the year. The third UK Dave’s Hot Chicken opened last week at Manchester Printworks, following launches in London in December and Birmingham last month. Occupying a newly refurbished 8,248 square-foot unit, the restaurant has created more than 100 jobs and offers seating for more than 90 guests. Keyana Mohammadi, head of marketing at Dave's Hot Chicken UK & Ireland, said: “We’re delighted to bring Dave’s Hot Chicken to Printworks, an iconic location that matches our bold flavours and energetic vibe. This is just the beginning – we have big plans to expand across Greater Manchester and the north of England before the end of the year.” The opening of the store also saw footfall soar 37% at Printworks Manchester in its opening week. Dan Davis, centre manager at Printworks, added: “Dave’s Hot Chicken’s arrival marks another exciting milestone for Printworks as we continue to strengthen our reputation as one of Manchester’s leading leisure destinations. Its bold, experiential launch has clearly captured the attention of our visitors, delivering one of the biggest single week uplifts we’ve seen since our £27m refurbishment.” Metis Real Estate Advisors and Stärka acted for Printworks. Dave’s Hot Chicken has also lined up its first leisure park site here, which will see Azzurri Group convert its ASK Italian site in Stevenage to a Dave’s Hot Chicken, due to open next month.

 

Cow & Sow reports 44% rise in sales at its Bristol sites over last ten months, Birmingham location trading beyond expectations: Entrepreneur Mark Warburton has said sales at his two Cow & Sow sites in Bristol have risen 44% over the past ten months, while the steakhouse restaurant concept’s new Birmingham site is trading beyond expectations. Warburton launched Cow & Sow in the former Graze restaurant site in Bristol’s Queens Square in 2023 and followed that with an opening in the former Cowshed premises in Whiteladies Road in the city. A first site outside of Bristol followed in December 2024, in the Paradise development in Birmingham. The company said its sales growth at the Bristol sites is for the ten months from July 2024, and the Birmingham site is achieving profitability month on month. Warburton said Ebitda has surged by 58% compared with the same period in the previous financial year, while spend per head rose by 10% in the same period. The company achieved B Corp certification last year. “The incredible growth is a direct return on our investment in our people and our processes,” said Warburton. “Becoming a B Corp wasn’t about a badge; it was a fundamental realignment of our business to put our team and our community first. The performance data shows this approach is delivering sustainable, profitable growth. Our commitment to the planet and our people isn't just a mission; it’s part of our business strategy. Our sustainable programmes, from waste reduction to energy efficiency, have led to tangible cost savings, directly improving margins. This commitment is also what attracts and retains our incredible staff, who want to work for a business that aligns with their values. High staff retention reduces recruitment and training costs, proving that people and planet directly support the bottom line.” The company has also launched a loyalty programme, The Butchers Club, which acquired more than 1,000 members in its first two weeks. “This membership initiative is designed to keep sales on their current upward trajectory by fostering a loyal, engaged community that drives repeat business and organic marketing,” Warburton added.

 

North east McDonald’s franchisee ceases trading: North east McDonald’s franchisee A Khan Restaurants, which operated three restaurants in and around Newcastle, has ceased trading. The company was founded in 2012 by Ahmed Khan, who had been working for the company since 1986. In the company’s accounts for the year to 31 August 2024, it said post year end, the company “sold its restaurants to another operator and therefore ceased trading”. Khan added: “I intend to invest the surplus cash in future business interests and am currently assessing options.” In the year before ceasing to trade, A Khan Restaurants saw a pre-tax profit of £287,847 in 2023 turn into a loss of £179,748. Turnover dropped from £12,893,049 in 2023 to £12,132,146 and Ebitda was down from £992,505 to £579,395. Dividends of £151,000 were paid (2023: £394,000). In terms of the 12 months leading up to his company ceasing to trade, Khan said: “Difficult economic conditions have resulted in inflationary rises in food, packaging, energy and labour costs. This ongoing cost of living crisis coupled with other challenges in the hospitality sector has led to a decrease in turnover, net profit and Ebitda.”

 

Taco Bell confirms September launch for its first site in Ireland: Mexican restaurant brand Taco Bell has confirmed its first site in Ireland will open in September. Taco Bell, the Yum! Brands owned brand that currently operates circa 140 sites in the UK and has more than 8,700 restaurants worldwide, announced in May it had partnered with Applegreen to open further Taco Bell sites in its Irish locations over the next five years. The first of the Irish locations will now be at Applegreen’s site in Dunshaughlin, in County Meath, near Dublin. “We’ll be opening Ireland’s first Taco Bell restaurant in our new Dunshaughlin site, opening in September,” an Applegreen spokesman said. “This will be the first of several Applegreen sites planned to house the Mexican-inspired restaurant over the next five years. We’ll be investing €15m into our new Dunshaughlin site, which alongside Taco Bell, will also include an M&S Food shop, a new Braeburn Coffee Café, a Burger King restaurant and Crafted – Applegreen’s bespoke new deli offering.” Matthew Johnson, new market lead for Taco Bell Europe, added: “The partnership with Applegreen will enhance Taco Bell’s presence in Europe, solidifying our regional footprint but also propelling our global growth ambitions.” In the UK, Applegreen’s Welcome Break business operates 60 sites, including 36 motorway service areas and 31 hotels. Taco Bell opened its first motorway site in February 2024, in partnership with Welcome Break, at the South Mimms services at junction 23 on the M25.

 

Cornish Bakery opens new café in Suffolk: Fast-growing independent brand Cornish Bakery has opened a new café in Woodbridge, Suffolk. The 67-strong business, which was founded in 1994 by Steve Grocutt, has opened in the former HSBC bank in the town’s Throughfare. The 45-cover store also offers outdoor seating. Matt Finch, managing director of Cornish Bakery, said: “The moment we set foot in Woodbridge, we knew it was the perfect fit for our Cornish Bakery family. Woodbridge is a true gem in Suffolk’s crown, and the area has so many interesting stories to tell.” In June, Propel revealed exclusively that Cornish Bakery had reported a 9% increase in like-for-like sales since the start of 2025, bolstered by record-breaking trading over Easter and the May bank holiday weekends. At the same time, Cornish Bakery hired Arnaud Kaziewicz, who will spearhead the rollout of new product launches across its estate, as its new head of proposition and product innovation. Cornish Bakery, which has said it sees scope for a 400-strong estate, appointed advisors to oversee a sale of the company earlier this year and is understood to be working with sector specialist advisory firm Tamweel.

 

South east England Domino’s franchisee reports record turnover and returns to profit: South east England Domino’s franchisee Monte Laguna has reported record turnover for the year to 31 August 2024 and returned to profit. The company’s turnover was up from £14,851,514 in 2023 to £15,572,514. A pre-tax loss of £172,116 in 2023 turned into a profit of £261,801. Director Kalvir Gosal said: “The company continued to trade consistently during the 12 months to 31 August 2024. Trading conditions remained highly competitive, and the leadership team focused on key performance metrics in order to drive operational efficiency. Investment in infrastructure, operations, HR and training remained a priority. The leadership team continued to exploit opportunities to grow the business both organically, as well as develop the team in order to maximise the value provided to their customers across the company. During the year, two new stores were successfully built and opened for trade. Gross profit margin has dipped from 24.33%to 24.29%. This is due to continued cost pressure on raw materials and direct cost due to the current economic environment in the UK. The company continues to achieve growth by exploring new ways to increase the revenue and reduce costs. This includes marketing initiatives, cost reduction exercises and identifying new opportunities to increase the store count. Since the year end, one additional store has been successfully built and opened.” The new store, in Storrington, West Sussex, opened in December 2024 – the company’s 24th location.

 

Pizza Pilgrims to open in Manchester next week for first launch since L’Osteria takeover: Pizza Pilgrims, the pizzeria brand acquired this week by McWin-backed German pizza and pasta restaurant business L’Osteria, will open in Manchester next week. The flagship venue will open on Monday (18 August) in the former La Vine site at 105-107 Deansgate. The new pizzeria features 140 covers across a ground-floor and mezzanine dining space, as well as a “Fiat Panda Pop” bar offering classic cocktails. The venue will offer Pizza Pilgrims' new summer menu, with dishes such as the Amalfi Coast pizza (Cetaran anchovies, Piennolo tomatoes, Fior di Latte mozzarella, olives, capers and basil), the Principessa pizza (Prosciutto di Parma, Piennolo di Vesuvio tomatoes, 24-month Parmigiano-Reggiano, Mozzarella di Bufala and extra virgin olive oil) and the Burrata & Pesto pizza (creamy Puglian burrata, Genovese basil pesto and sweet Piennolo tomatoes). Propel revealed exclusively this week that Pizza Pilgrims, which currently operates 26 pizzerias across the UK and recently opened inaugural sites in Wales (Cardiff) and Scotland (Edinburgh), has been acquired by L'Osteria, which operates more than 200 restaurants across ten European countries. L'Osteria will partner with Pizza Pilgrims as it explores international opportunities, as well as further measured expansion in the UK. New pizzerias are also due to open in Birmingham and Bristol, as well as London’s King’s Cross, in the near future.

 

Plan Burrito adds more sites to openings pipeline as it spreads further across the UK: Burrito franchise Plan Burrito has added more sites to its openings pipeline as it spreads further across the UK. The brand, founded by Stephen Hopper in 2015, opens its 15th location tomorrow (Friday, 15 August), at 1 Queen’s Road in Nuneaton. Former Heavenly Desserts and Oodles Wok operations chief Simon Robinson, who joined Plan Burrito as its first managing director in March, said a site in Lincoln is also “coming soon”. He said: “We’re pleased to share Plan Burrito will soon be opening a new location in the heart of Lincoln. As we continue to grow our footprint across the UK, Lincoln represents an exciting step forward for Plan Burrito. This opening reflects not only the strength of our franchise model, but also the dedication of our exceptional team and partners who continue to bring our vision to life in new communities throughout the UK. We look forward to welcoming customers in Lincoln with our signature Tex-Mex menu and commitment to quality, speed, and service.” Following Nuneaton and Lincoln, Propel understands Plan Burrito will follow that with openings in Stevenage, Battersea, Twickenham and a second Central London location. Plan Burrito has already confirmed two launches in Wales – Swansea and Pontypridd – and one in Sheffield later this year. Plan Burrito also last month launched its first breakfast offer, initially just at its store in London’s Holborn, at 156 Southampton Row.

 

Cameron Ventures Group – expecting economic downturn to impact turnover in the short term: Cameron Ventures Group, which owns and operates hotels in East Anglia, has said it is expecting the economic downturn to impact turnover in the short term. The company, which now operates four hotels, saw its turnover drop from £7,669,182 in 2023 to £5,638,061 in the year to 31 August 2024 after selling the Best Western Brome Grange Hotel, near Eye, to Instol Group in December 2022. While Cameron Ventures Group’s pre-tax profit dropped from £2,464,259 in 2023 to £942,750, the previous year’s figure included the £1,173,151 profit made on disposal of the hotel. Dividends of £130,000 were paid (2023: £135,000). Director Brian Keane said: “The group’s management continue to invest in maintaining and upgrading the facilities to further strengthen the market position of the hotels and their valuations. They are, however, of the view that the current economic uncertainty caused by inflationary pressures the economic downturn has had an effect on confidence, and that this in turn will impact turnover in the short term.” At the year end, the group had net assets of £5,079,503 (2023: £4,468,127).

 

London matcha café concept confirms October launch for second site: London matcha café concept How Matcha! will open its second site in October. Founder Rashique Siddique opened the first How Matcha! in 2024 at 47 Blandford Street, between Baker Street and Bond Street. The new site will open at 52 Ledbury Road in Notting Hill, spanning three floors and offering 30 covers, including a garden room with a courtyard. Menu items will include the wasabi matcha shot and the dirty matcha, alongside new Notting Hill exclusives such as matcha noir (made with black sesame, roasted chestnut, activated charcoal and matcha) and the sunburst (with matcha, strawberry jam, peach puree banana and turmeric milk and matcha). The site, led by Siddique and Callum Doherty, will also offer a new soft serve, in partnership with Wild Oats – available in unsweetened iced oat matcha latte and dirty matcha flavours.

 

PopCity confirms opening date for Society food hall site in Birmingham: PopCity, the venture from commercial property expert Nick Gregory and restaurateur Richard Sweet, has confirmed an opening date for the new site in Birmingham under its food hall concept, Society. Gregory and Sweet, who were also behind the former Assembly Underground site in Leeds, will open their second Society site, in Birmingham’s One Colmore Square, on Friday, 5 September. The first Society, which is circa 8,000 square feet and has capacity for 350 people, opened in Manchester in 2021 after a £1m investment. Society Birmingham will be home to five independent kitchens including Shokupan, which will serve up Japanese sandos and melts; Manzoku, which will provide pan-Asian street food style dishes; and Slap & Pickle, which will offer 40-day dry-aged smash burgers and loaded fries; while Birmingham operator Amore Pizza will set up a new home in Society. In addition, The Coffee Bar Collective will offer specialty coffee, pastries and small plates.

 

Padel concept Club de Padel to open in Sheffield next month: Padel concept Club de Padel will open a site in Sheffield next month. The company, which opened Manchester’s first padel club in 2023, secured permission from the city council to open the venue at Capital&Centric’s development of the former Cannon Brewery site in Sheffield earlier this year. The indoor padel club, which will feature five indoor competition grade courts alongside a club shop and coffee bar, will now open on Thursday, 4 September. Courts will be priced per hour, at £36 during off-peak hours and £44 during peak times, and balls are included with every booking. The club will also offer a full coaching programme, introductory sessions, club socials, tournaments and private coaching. Matt McKinlay, co-founder of Club de Padel, said: “We can’t wait to open our Cannon Brewery site – it’s been a real labour of love and it’s looking brilliant now. We’re here to create a unique and inclusive club that adds to all the exciting stuff that’s already going on in the city – everyone we’ve spoken to so far has been so welcoming and supportive and we can’t wait to get the doors open.”

 

Southampton FC set to open mixed-use leisure destination: Southampton Football Club is set to open a new mixed-use leisure destination at its St Mary’s Stadium in October. Located in the Chapel Stand, LEVEL1 will span 12,000 square feet, making it one of the largest entertainment venues of its kind on the south coast, the Championship club said. The space is set to offer a range of activities, including a nine-hole mini golf course, climbing walls and high ropes, racing and golf simulators, pool tables, virtual darts and clay target shooting and arcade machines. There will also be a bar, kitchen and screens for live sport. The club hopes the development will provide a new year-round revenue stream beyond matchday crowds by capitalising on an underutilised piece real estate at the stadium.

 

Manchester distillery shuts city centre bar due to ‘perfect storm’ of challenges: The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, known for its Manchester Gin, has closed its city centre bar amid a “perfect storm” of rising costs, taxes and pressure on its customers' disposable incomes. The bar, located within arches beneath Manchester Central in Watson Street, had been running for six years. In a post on LinkedIn, Seb Heely, the co-founder and master distiller at The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, said after being hit by the covid pandemic, the obstacles to running a city centre hospitality business had “ultimately led to an unsustainable business model”. He added: “While this is the end for our experience centre site, Manchester Gin will continue to be made in the city and hopefully enjoyed for years to come. Obviously, this is a difficult time for all of us so please bear with us while we go through this transition.”

 

Plans lodged for new Premier Inn hotel at Edinburgh airport: Plans have been submitted for a new Premier Inn hotel at Edinburgh airport. Whitbread agreed terms with Riverstone Development in November last year for the 218-bedroom hotel. Now, an application has been lodged with City of Edinburgh Council for the hotel, which will include a licensed restaurant and bar. The hotel, which Premier Inn will occupy on a leasehold basis, will be on land south of Fairview Road. The application is recommended for approval by the council subject to a tram contribution of £333,716 and a transport contribution towards the West Edinburgh Contribution Zone of £251,147, reports Edinburgh Live.

 

New padel concept set to launch in Blackburn: A new padel concept is set to launch in Blackburn. BBN Leisure, trading as Nexo Padel, has applied for planning permission to turn Unit 10 at the Iron Business Park off Great Bolton Street into an indoor sports and health hub. The new 24-hour centre would have eight courts for the fast-growing sport, a mixture of tennis and squash, plus a prayer room and café, reports the Lancashire Telegraph. A supporting statement submitted with the new application to Blackburn with Darwen Council said: “The facility is intended to operate 24 hours a day, managed through secure digital booking systems, on-site staff presence and integrated security infrastructure, ensuring controlled and safe use at all times. While two other padel venues already operate in the borough, both are situated on the town’s outer edges and cater to a premium market. In contrast, Nexo Padel will be affordable, accessible and community oriented. The 24-hour operating model is based on growing demand for flexible access to health and sports facilities, particularly among shift workers, students and busy families.”

 

West coast of Scotland hotel bought out of administration for £3.05m: A hotel on the west coast of Scotland has been bought out of administration for £3.05m. The George Hotel in Inveraray, a 24-room boutique property on the western shore of Loch Fyne, has been acquired by Fyne Hospitality. The sale includes the hotel business, its contents and a residential dwelling. Fyne Hospitality co-owners Charlie Maclachlan and Sam Wignell, who have extensive experience in the sector, will take over operations from the Clark family, which owned the hotel for seven generations. Kevin Mapstone and Kenny Craig, of Begbies Traynor, were appointed as joint administrators to Inveraray Inn, which trades as the George Hotel, on 28 March 2025. All 43 full and part-time staff have transferred to the new owners. Maclachlan said: “The George Hotel is more than just a building, it’s the beating heart of Inveraray, steeped in character and beloved by locals and visitors alike. With deep personal ties to the area and decades of combined experience in hospitality, we’re proud to take stewardship of this iconic institution.” The business attracted interest from 51 parties during the marketing campaign. Following negotiations, Fyne Hospitality completed the purchase after a swift due diligence process.

 

New Japanese-inspired restaurant opens at five-star Durham hotel: A new restaurant has opened within the Serenity Spa at the five-star Seaham Hall in Durham. Geko has seen the former Ozone space reimagined as a hub of Japanese-inspired dining, wellness and “sensory indulgence”. The refurbished space also includes a terrace for outdoor dining. Damian Broom, executive chef at Seaham Hall, said: “Our vision for Geko was to create more than just a restaurant; we’ve created a new experience. Geko celebrates bold Japanese flavours while staying true to our ethos of indulgence and extraordinary hospitality. From the finest northern ingredients sourced from the region to the boldest flavours and twists, the menu at Geko is set to surprise and delight with something for everyone.” The menu includes karaage, kushiyaki, ramen and donburi, along with curated cocktails.