Funstation – ‘there’s no reason why we can’t grow our new concept just as big’, ‘we’re really leaning into giving guests multiple things to do’: The team behind arcade games and VR experience concept Funstation, which has grown to ten locations over the past two decades, has told Propel there’s no reason why it can’t grow its new concept just as big. As well as ten Funstations, the group also operates three Volcano Falls adventure golf venues, three Laser Station laser tag experiences and a Breakout escape room. The team is currently preparing to launch a new concept, Carnival Golf & Games – which combines the golf and arcade elements of its other concepts “with a modern take on the charm of the carnival and all the fun of the fair” – with the first site launching in High Wycombe’s Eden Centre. Towards the end of the year, a flagship Carnival Golf & Games location will launch at the Merry Hill shopping centre in the West Midlands, which has the size and scope to “introduce the best parts of all that we do across all of our brands”, including the possibility of an escape room or laser tag. Chris Alexander, Funstation’s head of marketing and customer, said: “Carnival Golf & Games is a strong concept and there is definitely potential to roll it out. It’s an all-encompassing destination venue where we envisage families spending a good few hours. This is a family-owned business that has always grown organically without outside investment, with a real focus on customer service and quality, and that’s allowed us to grow organically. I can see it really growing and building out to different areas. Last year was 20 years of Funstation, and you could argue that this new concept has been brewing and evolving all that time. You mention arcades and people think of seaside arcades in the traditional sense, which of course we all love. What we try to do is take some of the charm of that and modernise it into an all-ages destination. At the same time, we have grown our golf concept and got better at it with each location we’ve opened and added more elements.” In terms of where Funstation goes next, Alexander said the group is “looking at a few places” and has “already covered a large portion of the UK”. He said locations will be chosen sensibly rather than “saying we want to be in London because it’s London”, adding that some of its most popular locations are in smaller towns like Castleford. “We’ve had opportunity, but you have to go with what works with the concept,” he said. “A lot of what goes into the city centres is wet-led and they want that 5pm to midnight trade. We have cocktail bars and a food offer, but we’re activity-first. We want people to come and enjoy the game, and they might have a pint on the side. Geographically, that’s important when it comes to the concept of what your business is.” In terms of experiential trends, Alexander said the group is tapping into health-focused youngsters who are no longer interested in just going to the pub and are “looking for other things to do”. He added: “We found experiential venues have kept a consistent level of turnover as people are looking for multiple things to do. We’re really leaning into that as not only do they get to come and do the activities, they get to have some food and drink too. Speaking to other operators, that seems to be where people are moving into – certainly less the wet-led side of things.” The 2025 Experiential Leisure Report, the second year of Propel’s exhaustive report on the market, is now available. The report profiles the current shape of the experiential leisure market – including brands, estate size, trading type and geographical location and future trends. It also provides a detailed list of UK experiential leisure companies including key staff and Companies House information. The report includes 197 companies, marking a 10% growth in the sector since last year’s study, with 3,700 sites. The report is available for £595 plus VAT. Existing Premium Club subscribers can receive it for £395 plus VAT. The report will be made available for free to existing Premium subscribers on Wednesday, 10 September at 9am. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to order a copy.

 

Propel’s Culture, Talent & Training Conference open for bookings, panel to be held about creating industry leading internal progression: Propel’s Culture, Talent & Training Conference is open for bookings. The conference takes place on Thursday, 9 October at One Moorgate Place in London. The conference will include a panel where Abi Dunn, founder at Sixty Eight People, talks to a panel of Pineapple’s top “internal progression” performers including Anna-Maria Tsili, head of HR and talent at Itsu, Gina Knight, head of people at Flat Iron, and Chris Morgan, learning and development manager at Parogon Group, as they delve into the benefits of internal progression, how these top performers have ensured their talent is ready for the next step and what is the optimum percentage. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £345 plus VAT for suppliers. Premium Club subscribers get a 20% discount. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

Premium Club 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, the 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. In this week’s Premium Opinion, Wingett looks at Pizza Pilgrims’ acquisition by German restaurant group L’Osteria. 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.

 

Myles Doran – Tesla Diner is an interesting blend of design and novelty that has brand pull, but whether it has appeal outside the US remains to be seen: Myles Doran has said Elon Musk’s new Tesla Diner is an “interesting blend of design and novelty” that has brand pull, but whether it has appeal outside the US remains to be seen. Doran, founder and managing director of Hospitality Inc, which specialises in delivering international hospitality tours, dropped in on the opening of the first restaurant under the concept, in Los Angeles. Musk has already said he plans to now establish restaurants in major cities around the world. Doran said after massive queues and huge waits for customers, the menu was pared back and dayparts adjusted. Writing in Propel’s Friday Opinion, Doran said: “So teething problems, yes, but unsurprising given the size of menu and insane demand day and night from a near unwavering fanatical following of Tesla advocates. Musk has ambitions to roll out his diner across the US, and maybe globally. Whether it has appeal outside of the US remains to be seen. However, you can’t deny the brand pull, and love him or loathe him, everything he does is box office material.” Doran will share more of his thoughts in Friday Opinion, which will be sent today (Friday, 15 August) at 11am. He is also hosting the next Propel Study Tour, which takes place in Bangkok from 13-17 November 2025, with bookings closing for final places on Friday, 26 September. The price, with flights, is £3,500 per person, or alternatively, £2,700 without flights for attendees who wish to explore the region further. Also included is three nights’ accommodation, three hosted dinners, a welcome drinks reception and all tours. For further information, please contact myles@hospitality-inc.co.uk or 07710 783485.

 

New hospitality graduate apprenticeship programme set to launch: A new hospitality graduate apprenticeship programme is set to launch. The sector-wide initiative from UKHospitality and HIT Training will begin in September. The five-year, work-based programme is designed to create a pipeline of future hospitality leaders, offering an alternative to the traditional graduate route. The programme includes Level 3, Level 5 and Level 7 apprenticeships – tailored to different career entry points and fully fundable via the apprenticeship levy, or 95% government co-investment. UKHospitality chair Kate Nicholls said: “With the launch of this new scheme, we are changing the culture of the hospitality industry. We are unashamedly seeking bright, focused, ambitious 18-year-olds to join our diverse and vibrant workforce. Via this programme, they will be able to quickly progress and find their place in leadership roles, unlocking significant earnings, responsibility and opportunities across the globe.”

 

Airbnb planning ‘aggressive’ expansion into hotel market: Airbnb is planning to expand into the hotel market. During an analyst call, Airbnb chief executive Brian Chesky said the company will “aggressively” target further expansion into hotels. Chesky said: “We are going to be going significantly more aggressively into hotels. We have spent a lot of time looking at hotels as a business. We think it is really compelling, and we think that there is going to be a lot more to do with hotels on Airbnb.” He also confirmed that Airbnb has been in conversations with hotels “around the world”, including Europe, where a “huge percentage of hotels are independent”. Earlier this year, Airbnb revamped its ‘services and experiences’ feature to mimic luxury hotel offerings. The site now offers users the chance to book services such as a private chef or personal trainer alongside their stay, as well as offering bookable experiences such as sightseeing tours and classes. 

 

Maison François and Café François executive chef partner Matthew Ryle to release debut cookbook: Matthew Ryle, executive chef partner of Maison François and Café François in London, is to release his debut cookbook. “French Classics: Easy and Elevated Dishes to Cook at Home” will be available from Thursday, 28 August. Ryle, who was a finalist in MasterChef: The Professionals in 2018, said the book is filled with dishes “that have stood the test of time, empowering readers to cook and master timeless French classics at home”. Last year, Ryle started making a few short videos on Instagram, showing viewers how to make simple French dishes at home, and it suddenly began to grow. Soon, he was launching his series, and in the space of about three months, he had one million followers – which has now grown to two million. Ryle trained at The Dorchester before becoming head chef at Mayfair’s Isabel at the age of 22. He joined Maison François when restaurateur François O’Neill opened the Mayfair venue in 2020. Café François launched in Borough Market in September last year.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a business and industry site in Central London that is looking for an executive chef to lead the kitchen team in creating fresh, seasonal menus across executive dining, client hospitality, working lunches and café services. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “With a Monday to Friday schedule, this role offers the perfect blend of culinary challenge and work-life balance, right in the heart of London. The executive chef will drive innovation and can manage a high-volume turnover.” The salary is up to £60,000 per year. For more information, email yas@corecruitment.com.

 

Fast-growing Indian quick service restaurant concept Shree Krishna Vada Pav opens ‘most iconic location yet’ and first since receiving investment: Shree Krishna Vada Pav (SKVP), the fast-growing Indian quick service restaurant concept, has opened what it has described as its “most iconic location yet”. SKVP has launched at 38 Eastcastle Street, near Oxford Circus, in Central London, just months after securing a landmark investment from Haldiram’s, India’s largest unlisted food brand, valued at £6.0bn. The backing from Haldiram’s has accelerated SKVP’s expansion plans, positioning it to double its store count by the end of 2026 and bring authentic Mumbai street food to prime locations across the UK and beyond. In terms of current trading, a spokesperson told Propel: “The group is set to achieve turnover of £10m this year, up from £8m in 2024. Performance across the estate has been strong, with high-footfall sites driving growth and continued demand across both in-store and delivery channels. We expect to be operating 24 stores by the end of this year. We have a strong line-up of new openings for the remainder of 2025, including Merry Hill shopping centre, Cardiff high street and Manchester Arndale. These locations are in line with our strategy of securing high-profile sites in busy shopping, retail and travel hubs.” Since opening its first UK outlet, SKVP has rapidly grown to 18 locations, supported by its flagship dish – the Vada Pav – alongside a wide range of Mumbai Street food classics. Of the Eastcastle Street opening, co-founder Sujay Sohani said: “This is more than just a store opening – it’s our statement to the world. Oxford Circus is one of the busiest and most recognisable areas in the UK, and we are proud to bring authentic Indian street food to the millions who pass through here every year. This has been made possible thanks to the trust and backing of our partners at Haldiram’s, whose expertise and belief in our vision are invaluable.” In March, SKVP told Propel the business was looking to reach 100 sites by 2030 after securing the new investment.

Lola’s Cupcakes in advanced £25m sale talks: Lola’s Cupcakes is in advanced talks about a sale valuing it at more than £25m. Sky News reports that Finsbury Food, the speciality bakery business which was listed on the London Stock Exchange until being taken over in 2023, is within days of signing a deal to buy Lola’s. City sources said Finsbury Food was expected to acquire a 70% stake in the cupcake chain, which trades from circa 45 outlets and vending machines. Lola’s Cupcakes was founded in 2006 by Victoria Jossel and Romy Lewis, who opened concessions in Selfridges and Topshop as well as flagship store in London’s Mayfair. The brand has grown significantly in recent years and now has a presence in rail stations such as Waterloo and Kings Cross. The company, which is now owned by Mario and Asher Budwig, employs more than 400 people and has a franchise operation in Japan. In May, Sir Harry Solomon, the tycoon behind Mr Kipling owner Premier Foods, which controls up to half of the Lola’s Cupcakes, said he is looking to sell his stake in the company. The previous month, Asher Budwig told Propel that he believes there is room to add “ten more or so” to its 22 outlets already in London. He also plans to expand north and said this will probably be in 2026 or 2027. It has focused on travel hub openings in recent months, with launches at Paddington and Clapham Junction. In the year to 31 December 2024, the company’s pre-tax profit shot up from £774,848 in 2023 to £2,107,528. Its turnover grew from £24,869,985 in 2023 to £26,168,834.

 

Paris Society to bring Italian restaurant brand Il Bambini Club to London for second UK venue: Paris Society, the French restaurant group led by Laurent de Gourcuff, is to bring its Italian restaurant brand Il Bambini Club to London for its second UK venue. The restaurant will open next month on the ground floor of The Hoxton in Shoreditch, operated by Rikas Group, in the space previously occupied by Hoxton Grill. Following in the footsteps of the Il Bambini Club restaurants in Paris and Megève, the all-day menu will feature the brand’s signature dishes of house-made pasta, pizza, seasonal antipasti and desserts, alongside a robust Italian wine list and cocktail menu that nods to 1960s Rome. The venue will include an open kitchen, bar and midweek live music performances. Paris Society, which was founded in 2008 by De Gourcuff, made its UK debut in autumn 2020 with the opening of Louie on the ex-L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon site in Covent Garden. Paris Society has a portfolio of circa 50 venues globally.

 

Village Hotels acquires Sheffield venue: Village Hotels, which owns and operates 34 hotels and leisure clubs across the UK, has acquired a new venue in Sheffield. Village Hotels has added the former DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park in Chesterfield Road South, Sheffield, to its portfolio. The deal marks Village Hotels’ first location in Sheffield and follows its recent acquisition of the former Crowne Plaza hotel at Caversham Bridge, Reading, which will open in December. Village Hotels will undertake a multimillion-pound renovation, of the Sheffield site, which will remain closed while this takes place. Once open in 2026, the property will offer a range of modern leisure facilities, including a health and wellness club, a pub and grill and an on-site Starbucks. Village Hotels also has extension work underway at several of its existing sites, including Village Hotel Ashton and Solihull, both of which will see an additional 48 bedrooms added. Work is also due to begin at Village Hotel Leeds South imminently – all part of the group’s £82m refurbishment programme. Chief executive Gary Davis said: “We’re thrilled to bring our unique hotel and leisure club offering to Sheffield. The deal forms part of our ambitious growth plans, as we continue to invest in the guest experience and add more quality hotels for customers to enjoy across the UK.” The sale was managed by Christie & Co. Last summer, Village Hotels was acquired by Blackstone, which also backs Merlin Entertainments and Little House Group. Village Hotels last month reported turnover of £278,114,000 for the year to 31 December 2024, up from £260,860,000 in 2023, while a pre-tax profit of £8,444,000 turned into a loss of £23,583,000 following £31,314,000 in exceptional administration expenses.

 

Carlsberg affirms commitment to long-term brand investment despite ‘difficult half year’: Carlsberg has affirmed its commitment to long-term brand investment despite a “difficult half year”. The company reported “solid development in a challenging environment” during the six months ending 30 June 2025. Despite missing its profit and volume forecasts, Carlsberg reported revenue growth of 18.2% to 45,885m DKK (£5.3bn), mainly driven by Britvic – the acquisition of which was completed in January – and reported operating profit growth of 15.1% to 7,233m DKK (£837m). In his report accompanying the results, chief executive Jacob Aarup-Andersen recognised the half year was difficult due to the consumer environment. However, he confirmed the group is continuing its “long-term investments in key brands and capabilities” – the goal being to “create an even stronger Carlsberg”. The group completed its £3.3bn takeover of Britvic in January. In both the UK and Ireland, the intention is to increase sales and marketing investments “as planned” to support the long-term growth. The group noted market share gains for Britvic brands Pepsi Max, 7UP, Tango and Jimmy’s Iced Coffee. Based on the “good performance” year-to-date in the UK and Ireland, coupled with “good progress” made on the integration and “higher commercial investments”, Britvic is expected to achieve a full-year operating profit of £250m. Elsewhere, the group’s premium portfolio, excluding the impact of San Miguel volumes in the UK, grew organically by 5%, “supported by increased marketing investments”. The company stopped selling the San Miguel brand in January after losing its licence to Budweiser. Premium Carlsberg volumes grew by 16%, in part due to the company’s biggest brand activation ever in China for the Chinese New Year, which reached 560 million impressions.

 

Noble Hospitality Group to open third site for pizza concept today: Noble Hospitality Group – the group behind Japanese brand Chotto Matte, Angus Steakhouse and Steak and Company – will open a third site for its pizza concept today (Friday, 15 August). Propel revealed earlier this year that Noble Hospitality Group was eyeing up an opening on the former Verderame site in Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, for Alley Cats. It will now open at 84 Westbourne Grove, offering its “signature southern Italian ingredients and bold Manhattan influence”. Head chef Francesco Macri has added some Americana-inspired dishes to the menu, including a new spicy/smoky maple barbecue chicken pizza, a new take on the classic Caesar salad and a new pizza fritta dough “pillow” with cheesy spinach. New cocktails include The Dark Alley (negroni infused for 48 hours with rich Arabica coffee), the bergamot and elderflower Bloom Spritz and a house take on the iconic negroni, The Cat’s Classics. Macri said: “We love finding spots that feel full of energy and character. Westbourne Grove has a strong local community and just the right kind of edge – it reminds me of neighbourhoods back home in Italy but has that lively city buzz.” Noble Hospitality Group previously told Propel it has targeted 15 sites by 2029 for Alley Cats and was also looking at international opportunities for the concept. Noble Hospitality Group also said earlier this year that it is planning to expand Chotte Matte to Georgia and is returning Angus Steakhouse to the expansion trail.

 

Hotel management group reports increase in turnover and drop in profit, assessing new opportunities around the UK and overseas: RBH Hotels UK – part of RBH Hotel Group – reported an increase in turnover and drop in profit for the year to 31 August 2024 and said it is assessing new opportunities around the UK and overseas. The company – which operates hotels across the UK for brands including Accor, Hilton and Marriott – saw pre-tax profit drop from £2,609,000 in 2023 to £2,440,000 as administrative expenses rose by almost £3m. Turnover was up from £26,698,000 in 2023 to £29,490,000, with £24,374,000 of this coming from hotel management (2023: £21,544,000) and £5,116,000 from hotel operations (2023: £5,154,000). A dividend of £2,454,000 was paid (2023: £2,300,000). Director Andrew Robb said: “The results were driven by higher management fees due to the continued strong performance of the UK hotel market, offset by higher payroll costs. The group will continue to operate in the hotel management sector, with further expansion already secured as a result of a number of signed contracts being in place for new hotels. The group is constantly assessing new opportunities around the UK and overseas.” This week also sees the company celebrate its 25th anniversary. A LinkedIn post stated: “This week marks 25 years since we started operating our first hotel! We’ve survived the highs and lows, and we couldn’t be prouder of how far we’ve come. This first hotel was led by our founders and industry legends, Louis Woodcock, Stuart McCaffer and David Thompson. It was the beginning of our partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts, as the first of 77 IHG-branded hotels that we have gone on to manage (so far), as well as the first of 54 new build hotels we would go on to develop.”

 

Northern Ireland’s largest hotel operator gets go-ahead for new Belfast development: Northern Ireland’s largest hotel operator, Andras House, has been given the green light for a new development in Belfast. Permission has been granted by the city council for the 164-bedroom hotel, with ground floor bar and restaurant at the junction of Botanic Avenue and Donegall Pass. The site for the new hotel is currently used as a surface level car park and retail and office unit. Andras House was established in 1981, and the business has an extensive portfolio of office and leisure developments, as well as 12 hotels.

 

Provenance Inns and Hotels turnover dips, closes hotel for renovation: Yorkshire operator Provenance Inns and Hotels saw turnover dip slightly in the year to 25 August 2024 and has closed a hotel for renovation. The group – which operates five premium country inns, one town centre pub and two luxury boutique hotels – reported a pre-tax loss of £2,744,713 for the year compared with a loss of £2,753,926 the previous year. Turnover dipped from £7,243,645 to £7,156,088. Director Chris Blundell said: “Turnover for the group decreased by 1% compared with the previous year, primarily as a result of reduced trading days at one site. Nevertheless, gross profit increased by 12%, driven by improved cost control and efficiencies in operational processes. Operational trading losses were reduced by 17% due to lower administrative expenses, although interest charges rose by 40%. As a result, the overall loss for the financial year remained broadly in line with the previous year.” Post year end, in January 2025, the company closed The Cleveland Tontine hotel in Staddlebridge, North Yorkshire, for renovation. The group also owns The Oak Tree Inn (Helperby), The Punch Bowl Inn (Marton-Cum-Grafton), The Crown & Cushion (Welburn), The Carpenters Arms (Felixkirk), The Black Bull Inn (Moulton), The West Park Hotel (Harrogate) and The Coach & Horses (Harrogate).

 

Imposter Restaurant Group opens second site for its bao buns concept: Imposter Restaurant Group has opened a second site for its bao buns concept, Tiger Bites Pig. The second Tiger Bites Pig has opened at 2 Gloucester Street in Brighton. The group, led by Ed Shawcross, is also behind Tierra Tacos, Trentina, The Church and Txikiteo in Birmingham and The Prestonville Arms in Brighton. Shawcross said the group originally planned to grow Tiger Bites Pig sooner, but this was delayed when covid-19 hit, “forcing the team to focus on surviving the pandemic”. Having moved into a larger flagship site in Birmingham last November, the. group has now taken the concept to the south coast. “We’ve been dreaming about expanding for years, but covid changed everything,” he added. “We focused on keeping the doors open and looking after our team first. Last year’s move to a bigger Birmingham home gave us the space and confidence to finally take this next step – and Brighton feels like the perfect fit for our second home.” The new Brighton site is open from Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 9pm, serving bao buns, rice bowls and small plates. Guests can also enjoy a curated drinks menu featuring local craft beer, a draught Tiger Bites Pig Pilsner and natural wine. Takeaway orders are available via Deliveroo.

 

Wiltshire brewery owner planning to open fifth pub: Wiltshire brewery owner Jason Bayliffe is planning to open a fifth pub in the county. Bayliffe runs the Broad Town Brewery, which has its origins in Broad Town, just south of southern Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett. The brewery already runs The Pulpit pub in Devizes Road in Swindon, a taproom and bottle shop at its original location in Broad Town, The Three Crowns pub in Chippenham and a taproom at its new main brewery site, at the Porte Marsh industrial estate in Calne. He is now looking to set up a new bar in Rodbourne and has submitted a licence application for the premises at 163 Rodbourne Road. The site has been a shop, a hairdresser’s and a dog-grooming salon in recent years, but Bayliffe’s application said it now has the planning consent to be used as a taproom and bar. He has applied for a licence to sell alcohol on the premises and for takeaway between noon and midnight daily. He also wants to host live music events, or play recorded music, between 5-10pm on weekdays and noon to 10pm on Saturday and Sundays.

 

Pachamama Group reveals details of new concept for restaurant in London’s Shoreditch: Restaurant operator Pachamama Group has revealed details of the new concept that will take the place of its Pachamama East site in London’s Shoreditch. Pachamama East is following the path taken by the group’s other restaurants – Zephyr, Bottarga and Nina – in focusing on Mediterranean food. Pachamama East in Great Eastern Street closed this month and is set to reopen as a Mediterranean restaurant “with a Greek influence”. The site is being reborn as Lagana, with the menu led by group executive chef Tzoulio Loulai. The menu will focus on the lagana, a puffed flatbread straight from the oven, served with bowls of seasonal spreads and dips, reports Hot Dinners. Elsewhere, dishes will include courgette tempura with a spiced red pepper sauce, loukoumades (Greek doughnuts) with melted Graviera cheese inside, and anthotiro cheese folded with thyme, truffle oil and honeycomb. There will also be skewers and dry-aged picanha from the grill and lamb kebab in oregano-tomato with cumin yoghurt and roasted fennel. Drinks will include a new frozen cocktail, a pomegranate pisco sour, which the group said pays homage “to new beginnings as well as our old roots”. Lagana is set to open on Monday, 15 September.

 

Independent burger business Burger Drop reveals location of new Middlesbrough restaurant: Independent burger business Burger Drop has revealed the location of its new Middlesbrough restaurant. Earlier this month, the company announced it is set to open its sixth restaurant and fifth franchise, in the North Yorkshire town. The 20-cover site is due to launch this autumn. Burger Drop has revealed the restaurant will be at 176 Linthorpe Road. Formerly home to 176 Bar & Kitchen, the property is currently undergoing a transformation. Burger Drop co-founder Hasan Hamid, said: “Linthorpe Road was an easy choice for us. It’s right in the centre of where Middlesbrough meets and eats. The town has a vibrant food scene and we’re here to add to it with burgers built with precision and packed with flavour. This is more than just a new restaurant, it’s about becoming part of the community, giving Middlesbrough the Burger Drop experience it deserves.” Earlier this month, Hamid told Propel the business is in a slower growth phase now as it prioritises ensuring franchisee stores are successful. Founded in Newcastle in 2020 by Hamid and Amer Qayyum, Burger Drop operates restaurants in Newcastle, Whitley Bay, Sunderland and Manchester, and in May made its Scottish debut, in Edinburgh.

 

Team behind London’s Dram and Milroy’s launch new dive bar concept in Bethnal Green: The team behind Dram and Milroy’s in London’s Soho have launched a new dive bar concept in Bethnal Green. All My Gods, in Paradise Row, is a collaboration between bartenders Chris Tanner, Martyn Simpson and Jack Wallis, and burlesque artist, painter and tattooist Roxy Velvet. All My Gods occupies a converted railway arch and has space for 60 covers. It features matte black walls, dark grey detailing and murals inspired by British rock and Velvet’s original tattoo art, while a pool table and 90s skater-style restrooms are also part of the design. Drinks include tapped cocktails and canned beer, as well as hard seltzers served from vending machines, while the venue hosts alternative events and programming geared towards “the weird and the wonderful”. Velvet, a former fine artist and burlesque performer who opened London’s first all-female tattoo parlour, said: “So many of London’s great dive bars have closed over the years, like Cro Bar and 12 Bar Club, and in my opinion, the city is worse off for it. I wanted to create a place where like-minded people can come together with loud music and banging drinks and just have a great time. And when the boys said they’d build it, everything just fell into place!” As well as Dram and Milroy’s, the team used to operate Silverleaf in Bishopsgate, but it closed in January.

 

Peterborough operator opens second bar: Peterborough operator Neil Treliving has opened his second bar in the city. Treliving, who opened the original Blind Tiger bar in the city centre four years ago, has now launched the Blind Tiger Taproom & Kitchen in Ham Lane, in a former bike shop next to Orton Meadows Golf Course. Blind Tiger Taproom & Kitchen offers craft beer, premium lager, a stout and some keg beer, as well as plenty of outdoor seating. Early opening sees coffee, pastries and breakfast ciabattas on offer from 9am and alcohol from 10am, while lunch ciabattas and sourdough Wildfarmed pizzas are available from midday. The opening followed a successful £20,000 crowdfunding exercise.