Exclusive – Wahaca swings into profit and looks to expand, ceases trading at DF Tacos sub-brand, receives £3.4m covid insurance payment: Wahaca has reported that the year to 30 June 2024 saw a rise in turnover to £40,480,000 (2023: £39,718,000) with a profit before tax of £725,000 compared to a loss of £720,000 the year before. It reported an adjusted operating profit of £2.4m (2023: £3.1m), which does not include a £3.4m insurance pay-our linked to business interruption during covid. Co-founder Mark Selby told Propel: “We are 100% looking for more sites for Wahaca off the back of our success with Paddington, which opened in April 2024 and has growing like-for-like sales pretty much every week, and our ‘Wahaca Reimagined’ roll-out. We just lost out on one last month, which was disappointing. The biggest challenge is keeping on top of costs and pricing. Covers growth is going in a very positive direction, and we still feel we are great value for money versus anyone else cooking fresh food like we do and making cocktails to order with excellent ingredients and innovation, but we have to keep our eye on pricing and customers average spend. It feels like we are managing this really well though.” The company stated it has refinanced and repaid £9,422,000 of bank borrowings and took out a new revolving credit facility.” It added: “Following the year-end, two banking covenants were breached (in January 2025) and subsequently waived, along with covenants for the next two test quarterly test dates. The covenant breaches were due to increased costs and weaker trade within the two restaurants under the DF Tacos brand, which has subsequently ceased trading. If those covenants had been tested on the Wahaca brand alone, the company would have passed in January 2025.” The group repaid in full a £4.7m loan to its majority shareholder and took a took a new loan of £4.6m as of May 2025. DF Tacos, which aimed to serve Mexican food at affordable prices, had sites in Shoreditch and Tottenham Court Road in London.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality on Friday featuring 1,035 companies: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club subscribers on 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.

 

Gaucho CEO calls for national insurance contributions to be restored to previous level: Baton Berisha, chief executive of Gaucho Restaurants, has called for national insurance contributions (NICs) to be restored to the level they were before April’s increase and warned Rachel Reeves ahead of the autumn Budget: “Your taxes are curtailing growth.” Berisha highlighted 84,000 jobs have been lost in the hospitality sector since the NICs hike took effect in April 2025 – equating to roughly 13,000 jobs disappearing per month since then. As a result, Berisha has opted to speak out “to highlight the critical issues that the hospitality industry in the UK is facing.” They are, he says, largely “due to Reeves’ punitive taxes which are curtailing rather than encouraging or supporting growth”. Berisha told The Independent: “I and other leaders in our sector want VAT reduced to 15% and for the government to restore NICs to where it was before the budget, so we can continue growth. Over the 12 months to May 2025, the accommodation and food services sector shed 124,376 employees, a 5.6% year-on-year decline. Between January and March of this year, operating hospitality venues saw the equivalent of around 20 restaurant closures per week, around 240 closures in that quarter. Additionally, over the past three months in the UK, there were hundreds of restaurant closures from independents and smaller chains, plus major chains downsizing. Combined with a 6.7% rise in the national living wage, changes to business rates relief and other employment cost pressures, critical margins have come under extreme strain. Employers across hospitality have limited ability to pass on costs to customers, leading instead to reduced staff, frozen hiring and, in loads of cases, closures.”

 

Las Vegas sees visitor numbers decline: New figures show that tourist-dependent Las Vegas is feeling the squeeze after June saw 11.3% fewer visitors compared with last year. Canadians, traditionally some of its most loyal customers, have turned their backs, while inflation and rising costs are also driving away American visitors. In May, the World Travel and Tourism Council warned that the US stands to lose $12bn in international visitor spending this year. It would be the only economy among the 186 analysed by the council to see such a decline in 2025. The council’s president, Julia Simpson, said this was a wake-up call for the country. She added: “The world’s biggest travel and tourism economy is heading in the wrong direction, not because of a lack of demand, but because of a failure to act. While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the US government is putting up the ‘closed’ sign.” In June 2024, nearly 3.5 million people visited Las Vegas. This year, the number is down to approximately 3.1 million. Figures from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority show hotel occupancy was down by nearly a tenth year-on-year in June. As hotels cut prices, revenues per room fell by an even steeper 13.8%.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working a premium drink wholesaler that is seeking a sales manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role involves managing key high-end accounts while identifying and securing new business opportunities. The sales manager will play a pivotal role in executing the company’s commercial strategy and ensuring sustained growth in this influential sector of the business. This role requires energy, talent and a drive for sales and business relationships.” The salary is up to £55,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email mark@corecruitment.com.

 

The Sushi Co co-founder – we’re aiming for ten new sites a year but will do so much more when we get franchisees on board: Sushi brand The Sushi Co, which is led by former large-scale Papa John’s franchisee Raheel Choudhary, has told Propel he is aiming for ten new sites a year but will do so much more when its first out-of-company franchisees come on board. The Sushi Co, which Choudhary founded with Varanand Reddy in 2022 after selling his own 61-strong Papa John’s franchise to Drake Food Service International the previous year, currently has 22 stores. Of these, three are owned by franchisees who have come within the company’s own ranks. The company recently launched a franchise programme which will see it bring in partners from outside, as it works towards a previously stated target of 100 locations. “Our internal target is ten new company stores a year, and when we get some new franchisees on board, we will see further acceleration of that,” Choudhary said. “We eventually see a one-to-three ratio of company to franchise stores, and we could even dilute some of the equity stores. We have Walthamstow, Basildon, Sidcup, Worthing, Redhill, Hendon, Cambridge, Dalston and Islington all confirmed – so we’ll pass 30 sites this year and should be on 40 by the end of next year – and that’s just ones we’re opening as a company. We’ve had enquiries from further afield in the UK, and even Dubai and Saudi Arabia. But we want to cover the white space in London and the south east first, and then slowly move north – we’re careful with our geography being such a young business, we need to grow our structure first. The overseas interest is exciting, but we need to make sure we have a solid proposition in the UK first.” Choudhary said he moved from pizzas so sushi as he saw a gap in the market for a fast casual sushi concept which he felt other operators in the space weren’t catering to. Delivery currently makes up 60% of its sales, and the company is currently developing its own web ordering service and loyalty programme. “It is live sushi made to order rather than refrigerated, and we want to get across to customers that these are rolls made just for you,” Choudhary said. “Sales are growing year on year and we’re investigating a hole-in-the-wall or kiosk style model. We would also like to go into areas like service stations and travel hubs eventually.” The Sushi Co has opened stores in Brighton and in London’s Tower Bridge over the past fortnight, with Walthamstow up next.

 

Lola’s Cupcakes sells majority stake to Finsbury Food Group: Lola’s Cupcakes has sold a majority stake in the business to speciality bakery manufacturer, Finsbury Food Group. Finsbury has acquired a 70% stake in Lola’s Cupcakes, which has a network of 45 kiosks and collection lockers in high-footfall locations, including major London transport hubs. The business, which generates annual revenues of £25m and employs around 400 people, will continue to be led by managing director Asher Budwig, while benefitting from Finsbury’s manufacturing expertise, scale and commercial reach. Finsbury supplies a range of bread, cake and morning goods products to multiple retailers, foodservice and export customers across the UK and Europe. The acquisition is part of its long-term growth strategy, which includes targeted investments in innovative, high-growth segments of the bakery market. John Duffy, chief executive of Finsbury Food Group, said: “Today represents another step forward in Finsbury’s acquisition journey as a buy-and-build business, allowing us to enter the direct-to-consumer market for the first time. Lola’s is an entrepreneurial and much-loved UK brand with a strong digital presence, and together, we see significant potential for growth and innovation across both Finsbury and Lola’s.” Asher Budwig, managing director of Lola’s, added: “I’m thrilled to be working with the Finsbury team on the next chapter of Lola’s story. With Finsbury’s expertise in manufacturing, and the broader support of the group, I’m confident we can take Lola’s to exciting new heights by building on what we’ve already achieved and exploring new opportunities together.” In the year to 31 December 2024, Lola’s Cupcakes’ 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.

 

BrewDog loses one-third of its UK pub distribution: BrewDog’s beers have been dropped by almost 2,000 pubs across Britain, according to confidential industry data quoted in the Daily Telegraph. The company’s range of draught beers have disappeared entirely from approximately 1,860 pubs in the last two years – cutting its UK distribution by more than a third. These figures also show that BrewDog’s best-known beer, Punk IPA, has suffered the worst loss after being removed from 1,980 pubs over the same period – a 52.3% decline in distribution. An industry source said BrewDog was “losing taps in the [pub and bar trade] like you wouldn’t believe” as pubs opt for rival beers such as Camden Town and Beavertown instead. According to the industry insider, the pub retrenchment is likely to make BrewDog ever more reliant on JD Wetherspoon, whose 794 pubs now make up a significant chunk of its remaining distribution. “If they ever lost the JD Wetherspoon deal, then that’s Punk IPA done as a [pub trade] product,” they said. Lauren Caroll, BrewDog’s chief operating officer, said: “Independent brewers across the board have felt the squeeze from the economic pressures hitting the pub trade. With costs rising and consumers watching their spend, pub groups have been narrowing their ranges, and brewery-owned pubs are putting more emphasis on their own brands. It’s not just us – every independent brewer has been affected. We saw the trend coming, which is why we’ve shifted focus to high-impact channels like festivals, stadiums and independent [pubs].”

Former Fat Duck Group head chef to launch new restaurant: Matt Larcombe, formerly of The Victoria, Oxshott and The Fat Duck Group, is to open a new restaurant called Wild in October, in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. Larcombe, who was previously head chef at The Crown in Bray, said the new restaurant will celebrate British produce, regenerative farming and zero-waste principles. Just up the road, Wild’s own farm provides the namesake for the restaurant and grows ingredients that will shape the restaurant's menus. Sitting at the heart of its closed-loop system, the farm grows the produce from seed and takes back any leftovers, returning them to the soil as compost. Wines will be overseen by sommelier Rémi Cousin, formerly of The Fat Duck and Le Gavroche. Charlie Hitchcock is the new restaurant’s head chef, having honed his skills under Larcombe at The Victoria. Laeticia Valentini joins as general manager, having previously worked front and back of house at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons. Larcombe said: “I cannot wait to get started at Wild. The space is beautiful, and Berkhamsted is beguilingly quaint yet classy. It feels like the right location for what I'm ready to cook next in my career.”

 

Wetherspoon manager wins employment tribunal over food discount: A former manager at a JD Wetherspoon pub has won an employment tribunal after the company sacked him for allowing a colleague a 50% food discount. Peter Castagna-Davies was dismissed from his role as a shift leader at the Pontlottyn pub in Abertillery, despite 22 years of unblemished service. Castagna-Davies had put the items – two portions of halloumi fries, two portions of chicken breast bites and two cans of Monster energy drink – through the till for kitchen worker Noah Gardiner and applied a half-off discount for shift staff. An internal investigation found he had breached policy by allowing Mr Gardiner to buy “excessive products” at the 50% rate and to take the food home. The Cardiff employment tribunal heard Castagna-Davies had not been aware that two minutes before he approved the items, Gardiner had used a different manager’s till key to process another free meal for himself – chicken breast bites and a can of Monster Punch. Wetherspoon’s disciplinary chairman Chris Jenkins decided to sack Mr Castagna-Davies, telling him: “Shortly before you processed Noah’s 50% on-shift discount he had processed through the till his own staff meal, some two hours after his break when he had consumed it, which you had no knowledge of him doing so, or even going on his break. I find this both worrying and surprising that, as the duty manager with so few staff to manage on the shift in question, you had no knowledge or control over what was going on.” In the tribunal, Wetherspoon’s witnesses said there had been “a crackdown on the 50% discount because staff had been caught taking food home to feed their whole family”. They claimed the business had suffered “significant” costs, which led it to adopt a “corporate zero-tolerance attitude towards abuse of the staff discount”. At the tribunal, Judge Rachel Harfield noted “the staff discount system is one built on trust” and that regular abuse would be costly to Wetherspoon. But she concluded it was not reasonable for the company to conclude this was a case of “gross incompetence or gross negligence, as opposed to being simple negligence that falls within the misconduct category of the respondent’s policy”. A payout is yet to be decided. Judge Harfield encouraged the parties to attempt a settlement before a remedy hearing takes place.

Drayton Manor owner acquires Staffordshire leisure attraction Waterworld in multimillion-pound deal: Staffordshire leisure attraction Waterworld, where a four-year-old girl died earlier this month, has been sold in a multimillion-pound deal. The attraction in Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, has been sold by entrepreneur Mo Chaudry to Looping Group, which operates 21 leisure parks across Europe, including West Midlands Safari Park and Drayton Manor. The deal was finalised on 31 July and, according to Companies House, Chaudry stepped down as director of Waterworld on 31 July, four days before the death of the girl. A multi-agency investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding her death. Stoke-on-Trent City Council confirmed its environmental health team was working with the police and venue to “undertake a full health and safety investigation”. Laurent Bruloy, executive chairman and co-founder of the Looping Group, said: “The deal was finalised on 31 July, and although Looping Group has been pleased to welcome the park into the Looping family, we have all been saddened by the recent tragic accident and extend our deepest thoughts and sympathy to the family of the young girl involved and stand by the Waterworld teams.” While the value of the deal has not been disclosed, Chaudry’s family investment company now has a net worth of more than £170m in the wake of the sale. Chaudry said: “Waterworld has been a huge part of my life and business journey, and I am proud of everything we have achieved as a team. I am now handing over the baton to Looping, a world-class operator with the vision and expertise to take Waterworld even further, ensuring the resort has an exciting future.” Latest accounts for Waterworld, which opened in 1989, show turnover increased to £10,649,066 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £9,810,210 the year before. Adjusted Ebitda was up from £6.4m to £6.9m while pre-tax profit dropped from £25,402,660 to £6,330,818.

Chaiiwala partners with Roadchef for first shipping container site: Indian street food franchise Chaiiwala has partnered with Roadchef for its first shipping container site. Propel revealed in June that Chaiiwala had designed a new kiosk concept built out of shipping containers. Co-founder Sohail Ali said the design, which has now launched at Watford Gap services on the M1, would be “great for busy areas with limited space”. The company posted to social media: “We're thrilled to announce the opening of our Chaiiwala pop-up at Roadchef Services Northbound, Watford Gap! This unique concept, crafted from a shipping container, offers a compact and innovative way to enjoy our beloved Indian street food and chai.Why is this exciting? Efficiency: Quick setup and eco-friendly design. Mobility: Easily relocatable to bring chai closer to you. Experience: Nothing screams street food like a food truck type setup. This is the first of its kind and we can’t wait to see where we can take this!” Chaiiwala made history in 2023 by launching the UK’s first Indian street food drive-thru. Last year, the brand followed this by launching its first airport and university campus locations. It is also gearing up for US expansion – having already launched in Canada and the Middle East – and told Propel it sees the potential for more than 1,000 stores there, “complemented with a fully-fledged UK potential of 400-plus stores”. Chaiiwala currently has a worldwide estate of 126 stories, including 106 in the UK.

 

Six by Nico sees crowdfunding campaign exceed £2m: Six By Nico has seen its crowdfunding campaign exceed £2m – so far raising £2,031,379 from 4,460 investors. Six by Nico, which was founded by chef Nick Simeone in 2017, opened the fundraise to the public last week having raised more than £1.5m from early investors. Six by Nico has grown from ten locations in 2023 to 17 restaurants across 11 cities in the UK and Ireland this year. The company has a £50m pre-money valuation. The company stated: “We’re growing with purpose. Revenue has risen from £28m to £43m in just two years – a 54% increase – with a further 47% projected growth between 2026 and 2028. We served more than 685,000 customers in the last 12 months. In our longer established locations, up to 47% of our diners are repeat visitors, which we believe is a powerful indicator of customer loyalty and long-term brand connection. Next up: our flagship opening in London’s Covent Garden (fourth quarter of 2025), international expansion, and the launch of Six by You – a new community app offering shareholders exclusive rewards, behind-the-scenes access, and real ownership in our journey.”

 

Punk Royale opens London site next month: The theatrical Swedish restaurant Punk Royale is opening a site In Mayfair’s Sackville Street next month. Five years after hosting a sell-out residency at incubator space Carousel, the Stockholm-born restaurant’s London opening is its first location outside Scandinavia. The restaurant was founded by Jokke Almqvist and Katherine Bont in 2015 and it quickly became a cult classic. Expansion to Copenhagen and Oslo followed. Almqvist and Bont promised that the London outpost will be just as “outrageous” as the others, with a theatrical 20-course (or thereabouts) tasting menu and “opulent” drinks pairing. The London restaurant is said to be the team's most ambitious project to date.  “We’ve always done things our way, and with all the love and very positive response from our patrons to a couple of pop-ups in London throughout the years, this just seems like the natural and exciting next step in our journey,” said Almqvist.  He and Bont said the Mayfair space, like the other three, will be “part performance, part dinner party,” with Nordic techniques adapted for a London crowd.

 

Bella pubs opens fourth site: Bella Pubs, the family-run pub group, has opened its fourth site – the Cock Horse in Lavenham. Owners Rebecca and Kevin Swales and husband Keven also run The Bunbury Arms in Great Barton, The Linden Tree in Bury St Edmunds and The Three Kings in Fornham All Saints. Their pub group got its name from their four-year-old daughter, Bella. Out of the four pubs they now manage, Rebecca said: “This has been the busiest soft launch we have had, with lots of locals coming to visit.” Rebecca said one of the keys to their success was that they also run a construction business, which helped them get the work completed without relying on contractors. They also helped with the garden, working alongside the group’s resident gardeners.

Tamp & Grind doubles up: Tamp & Grind, which opened its first store in Lancing in 2023, has now opened its second site, this time at 133 London Road, Burgess Hill. The shop will be run by co-owners Adam Moseley, 38, formerly a firefighter, and Max Filleul, 33, formerly a soldier in the Parachute Regiment. Max said: “I met Adam through my cousin a few years ago and we got on really well. Then Adam gave me the opportunity to come onboard to the Burgess Hill shop. I think the stars just aligned with me leaving the military and Adam wanting to open the new place at the same time. We’re very much of a similar mindset and standards.”

 

Insomnia Cookies UK opens in Birmingham for seventh site: Insomnia Cookies UK, the late-night bakery business, has opened a site in Birmingham. The store in Bennetts Hill, in the former Bodega premises that closed in March, is Insomnia Cookies’, seventh in the UK. The brand made its UK debut in Manchester in 2023 and has since opened three sites in the city, along with outlets in Leeds, Nottingham and Sheffield. Talking to Propel last summer, Ben Lacey, managing director of Insomnia Cookies UK, said the business still had an ambition to build a nationwide presence and had an appetite to have up to ten new sites over the next 12-18 months. Last year, Krispy Kreme sold its majority stake in Insomnia Cookies, which has circa 250 locations worldwide, to investment firms Verlinvest and Mistral Equity Partners, in a deal that valued the late-night bakery brand at $350m (£271.1m). Insomnia Cookies has circa 250 locations worldwide.

 

Little Dessert Shop opens in Doncaster: Dessert franchise Little Dessert Shop has opened in Doncaster. It has opened at Unit 2 in Sir Nigel Gresley Way, in Waterdale, for the brand’s 55th location overall. Co-founder Mu’Azzam Ali said: “We’re proud to be a part of the ever-growing food scene in Doncaster. The town is steeped in history, and we can’t wait to be part of the next chapter. It really is the perfect backdrop for our newest store and we’re looking forward to properly introducing ourselves to the community!” It follows launches this summer in the former Mother Hubbard’s fish and chip shop in Nottingham’s Beechdale Retail Park in June, and at 79 Sydenham Road in Sydenham, south London, in July. In May, the company opened its first ever dark kitchen, in Preston. Ali told Propel in December that he is aiming to double the brand’s then 50-strong estate by the end of 2027 as it focuses on new areas of the UK. He is also looking to roll out more of his four-strong X model locations – which sees Little Dessert Shop and sister brand Betsy’s, which offers premium burgers, sit under one roof.

 

Geek Retreat to expand Hobbycraft partnership: Geek Retreat – a cafe that offers free-to-play consoles and board games alongside a food offering – is set to expand its partnership with Hobbycraft. The first site under the partnership launched in June, when a Geek Retreat opened inside the Hobbycraft store in Chester Retail Park. Founded in 2013, Geek Retreat has circa 22 locations across the country. “Two months ago, we proudly launched our new retail partnership with Hobbycraft, opening our first pilot store in Chester,” a company spokesman said. “This collaboration brings together two brands with shared values around creativity and community. At Geek Retreat, we’re known for our nationwide network of inclusive spaces where people of all ages can play trading card games, board games, and RPGs like D&D. By partnering with Hobbycraft, we’re creating spaces where customers can explore the full range of craft products and take part in family-friendly events, learn-to-play sessions, and both casual and organised gameplay. We’re excited to continue growing this partnership, with more Geek Retreat spaces set to open in Hobbycraft stores across the UK in the months ahead.”

 

Maki & Ramen opens in Aberdeen for fifth new site this year: Japanese restaurant concept Maki & Ramen has opened in Aberdeen for its fifth new site this year. The restaurant in Guild Street, Union Square, is a 13th overall for the brand. In June, Maki & Ramen outlined plans to grow to 50 sites in five years following the launch of its franchise programme. Its first franchise location opened in March, in Byers Road, Glasgow. The Aberdeen location is one of five company-owned sites the business said it would launch this year.

 

North east operators to open latest Marco Pierre White franchise restaurant: North east operators Craig and Sarah Shelmerdine will open the latest Marco Pierre White franchise restaurant in October. The Shelmerdines, who own pizza concept The Log Fire Pizza Co in South Shields, will open a new 50-cover Mr White’s by Marco Pierre White restaurant in the Mill Dam area of the town. The opening is in partnership with Black & White Hospitality (B&W), which which owns and manages the franchise rights to eight Marco Pierre White branded restaurant concepts. Craig Shelmerdine said: “We originally met Marco a few years back when he was visiting his restaurant in Durham. We then got talking about our pizza operation, and with his Italian heritage, was naturally interested and has given us some fantastic advice.” Darren Coslett-Blaize, brand director for Marco Pierre White Restaurants, added: “We’re naturally delighted to announce the news of a new opening especially at such a challenging time in our industry. It’s exciting for us to be bucking the industry trend and it’s also great news for the area which has undergone significant regeneration in recent years.” In all, B&W operates 24 restaurants and last year launched its latest concept, Marco Pierre White Ale House, with the opening of The Queen’s Head in Felixstowe, Suffolk.

 

Coventry brewery Dhillon’s unveils plans to open new venue in city amid further expansion plans: Coventry brewery Dhillon’s Brewery has unveiled plans to open a new venue in the city amid further expansion plans. Dhillon’s Brewery, owned by Dal Dhillon, opened in 2015 at Hales Industrial Estate in Longford. The company has expanded and now operates venues including Spire Bar and Sky Blue Tavern in the city centre, and three sites within the CBS Arena. The brewery itself employs more than 70 staff. Dhillon’s Brewery now plans to launch Elle's Foodhall, a venue at Coventry train station that will include food vendors, barista coffee, and a bar. Dhillon told Coventry Live: “As the brewery celebrates its tenth anniversary, we will be looking to take the business to the next level, and the opportunity at Elle’s Foodhall is a major part of that strategy. We're working with the city on the Friargate 2 project and will be opening at the end of the year. There are also other units opening outside of Coventry, with more details to follow early next year. We’re excited about what the future holds for the brewery. Our aim is to put Coventry firmly on the hospitality and leisure map through the work we're doing nationally and internationally.”

 

Reading café owners set to open coffee shop for third site: Reading café owners Sunny and Alex Mangat are set to open a new coffee shop in the town for their third site. The husband-and-wife team already operate Café Yolk in Erleigh Road and grab-and-go concept Baby Yolk at Cemetery junction. They are now preparing to launch 1650 Coffee on Friars Walk, part of the town’s Station Hill development. Sunny said: “Having spent the last decade at Café Yolk, I’ve always believed that great coffee and good food bring people together. 1650 Coffee Co is about more than just great coffee and food – it’s about community – and we’re proud to showcase a selection of locally made products and produce.” Also opening at the Station Hill development is Angelos, which has signed a 15-year lease for a unit on Friars Walk. The Italian-style Trattoria is a second site for owner Angelo Colao, who also owns the Ruchetta Italian restaurant in Wokingham. He said: “Our vision is to create a welcoming space where guests can enjoy the true essence of Italian dining – whether it’s a morning coffee, a leisurely meal or an evening of fine wine and great food pairings. We look forward to sharing our passion for authentic Italian cuisine and exceptional wines with Reading locals and visitors alike.”

 

Manchester brunch and bakery concept set to open new city centre location: Manchester brunch and bakery concept Gooey is set to open a new city centre location there. Gooey started life in 2020 as a delivery-only service during the pandemic before opening up kiosks at Ducie Street Warehouse and within the Selfridges store at the Trafford Centre. Gooey also has its permanent bakery and cafe base on High Street in the city’s Northern Quarter. The Gooey team, which is also behind pasta restaurant Onda, has now announced it will be opening another bakery in Manchester later this year. It has been confirmed that Gooey will be moving into the Circle Square neighbourhood, just off Oxford Road, where Onda is situated. In fact, the new location will see Gooey return to one of its founding locations – having had a presence at Hatch on Oxford Road from 2021 until 2023. Charlotte Wild, head of retail and leisure at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Gooey is an incredible local brand who continue to grow, evolve and innovate, with ever more exciting desserts. They will make a fantastic addition to the Circle Square community, and we look forward to seeing the impact they make in the coming months.” The bakery brand, which counts R&B star Lizzo among its biggest fans, was co-founded by Jake Ansbro, Sax Arshad and Paddy Brown in 2020. It has previously told Propel it sees the potential for 30-40 UK sites and has signed its first international partnership, in the UAE.

Former Kolamba executive chef to open new Indian restaurant in south west London: Imran Mansuri, former executive chef at two-strong Sri Lankan concept Kombala, is set to open a new Indian restaurant in south west London. Mansuri, who has also worked at Benares, Jamavar and Michelin-starred Tamarind, will this autumn open Raaz, meaning “secret” in Hindi, at 113 Lower Richmond Road in Putney. His menu of classic chaat, modern small plates, tandoori grills and punchy curries will include Cornish lamb chops with kadai mushrooms and quail egg, wild-garlic chicken chop with charred broccoli, and Malabar fish curry with wild seabass. The drinks menu will feature Indian-accented cocktails, such as turmeric gin and tonic and jalapeno-guava margaritas, alongside a curated wine list that ranges from accessible pours to special occasion bottles. Mansuri said: “At Raaz, we invite guests to explore India’s rich culinary roots through a modern lens, refined, balanced, and bright. Our goal is to deliver the kind of elevated, nuanced food you’d expect in Mayfair or Soho, right here in Putney.”