Tigermilk – we want to open three more London sites over the next 12 months and see long-term potential for meaningful footprint in UK: The team behind French Latin American dining concept Tigermilk has told Propel it wants to open three more London sites over the next 12 months and sees the “long-term potential for a meaningful footprint in the UK”. The brand made it UK debut in June by opening a 138-cover restaurant will at 127 Charing Cross Road. Founded in Paris in 2019 by Nina and Alexis Melikov, Tigermilk already has six restaurants in France and one in Brussels, Belgium. “The London launch has been incredibly exciting for us,” they told Propel. “It’s always nerve-wracking bringing a concept into a new country, but seeing Londoners respond so positively to what we do has been hugely encouraging. Early trading has been strong, and we’re confident we’ve found an audience here that loves the energy and personality of Tigermilk – early performance gives us real confidence in the growth potential here. The UK, and London in particular, has been on our radar for some time, and after establishing Tigermilk in France and Belgium, we felt ready to take this next step. We wanted to make sure we had the operational strength and the team in place to do it properly, and now felt like the right moment. Being in Paris, where we now have four sites, and Brussels, we’ve developed a strong understanding of how to create spaces that feel welcoming in big, cosmopolitan cities. These markets taught us the importance of adapting to local tastes while staying true to Tigermilk’s DNA. We know London has its own pace and expectations, and the dining scene here is incredibly dynamic and competitive. But in many ways, it shares the same urban energy as Paris and Brussels, so we feel very comfortable operating in that context. Right now, our focus is on making sure our first London site thrives, but we absolutely see scope for expansion. London still has plenty of room for us to grow, and we’re also exploring opportunities in other major UK cities where we think Tigermilk would resonate. Our short-term goal is to open three sites in London over the next 12 months, as we see real long-term potential for a meaningful footprint in the UK, while also exploring opportunities in key regional cities. London is our priority, and we want to give it the attention it deserves, but we’re always curious about new opportunities and keeping an eye on where Tigermilk might work next.”

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality today featuring 1,035 companies: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be sent to Premium Club subscribers today (Friday, 22 August), at midday. The database features 87 new companies and 108 updated entries, and this month’s edition includes more than 272,000 words of content. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent developments 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. In this week’s Premium Opinion, Propel group editor looks back at the week’s news, including the imminent deals for Flat Iron and Soho House, and a change at the top at McDonald’s UK.

 

London drives hospitality sales growth in July: Hospitality sales across the UK rose by 2.2% in July compared with the previous year, with London significantly outperforming the rest of the country, the latest data from labour management company S4labour has revealed. The capital saw a 9.8% increase in like-for-like sales, while non-London regions experienced a slight decline of 0.2%. Food-led venues in London were up 9.5%, compared with just 0.5% growth outside the capital. Wet-led sites also saw a strong uplift in London, rising 10.2%, while non-London wet-led venues fell by 2.1%. Richard Hartley, chief growth officer at S4labour, said “London’s hospitality boom this July could be due to a number of factors, including above average temperatures and return to office culture, with operators well-positioned to capitalise on increased demand. Inflationary pressures continue to pose challenges for all operators across the country, likely dampening performance outside of London in particular.” S4labour chief executive Alastair Scott discusses the benefits of central kitchens in today’s Friday Opinion, which will be sent out at 11am.

London mayor wants alfresco dining to become permanent feature for capital as new analysis shows licensing changes could boost economy by £2bn a year: Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has said he wants alfresco dining to become a permanent feature for the capital as new analysis shows government changes to licensing in London could help boost the economy by around £2bn a year. The mayor is set to receive new licensing powers from the government in the coming months that could allow Sir Sadiq to “call in” powers to decide licensing applications of strategic importance such as for key nightlife venues, supporting more alfresco dining and cutting bureaucratic red tape. The mayor has already shown his commitment to increasing outdoor dining and extending opening hours to offer more choice to Londoners and help support businesses, and earlier this year launched his £300,000 Summer Streets Fund. From today (Friday, 22 August), a wide range of restaurants, pubs and cafes in St Martin’s Lane in Westminster are offering outdoor tables for food and drinks across the street, thanks to the funding. The road will be car-free from 11am-11pm daily until the end of October and follows other programmes in Brixton, Leyton and Shoreditch. Sir Sadiq said: “I’m delighted alfresco dining and drinking has returned to St Martin’s Lane in the heart of the West End. I’m determined that our fantastic Summer Streets schemes are just the start of what’s to come for our capital and want to see alfresco dining become a permanent feature of our nightlife across London. Our new analysis shows that changes to licensing can boost our economy by billions each year and I’m committed to working with councils to support our restaurants, bars and cafes and unlock the full potential of our capital’s nightlife, as we build a better London for everyone.” Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said: “A fit-for-purpose licensing regime that supports and incentivises businesses to invest and innovate is crucial to a thriving hospitality scene in the capital, and I'm pleased the mayor is taking the lead on this through his backing of alfresco dining.”

Hospitality leaders’ confidence nudges up, but new costs hit profits and jobs: The optimism of Britain’s hospitality leaders rose in the second quarter of 2025 despite the arrival of new labour costs, the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA by NIQ and Sona reveals. The exclusive poll shows 41% of leaders feel optimistic about prospects for their business over the next 12 months – up by seven percentage points from the first quarter, and a second successive increase. The proportion of leaders feeling confident about the future of hospitality in general is lower at 18%, but rose by three percentage points quarter-on-quarter. Despite the recent uptick, leaders’ confidence remains at historically low levels. Their optimism for their own businesses is 15 percentage points down on the second quarter of 2024, and 29 percentage points below the levels of August 2021. Cautious confidence has been fuelled by stable spending in pubs, bars and restaurants in 2025. Just over half (53%) of leaders said revenue increased year-on-year over the second quarter – nearly double the 28% who said it dropped. However, increases are largely the result of higher menu prices and new openings, and the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker has indicated broadly flat spending on a like-for-like basis in the first half of 2025. Meanwhile, higher costs have hurt the margins of many operators. More than a third (37%) of leaders said their second-quarter profits were down year-on-year, while only 27% said they rose. This has left 9% of leaders with no cash reserves to draw on, while 53% have fewer than six months of reserves. More than four in five (84%) leaders said extra operating expenses have forced them to raise prices since April, while nearly half (48%) have reduced their staffing levels, 61% have cut hours available to their teams, and 34% have deferred pay increases. Two in five (41%) have cancelled investment plans.

 

UKHospitality warns Welsh government that deposit return scheme plans ‘will reduce consumer choice’: UKHospitality Cymru has warned the Welsh government its plans to diverge from a UK-wide deposit return scheme (DRS) could hit businesses and consumers with reduced choice and higher prices. The Welsh government’s is proposing to create a unique DRS, which will include glass beverage containers. In response, David Chapman, executive director of UKHospitality Cymru, said: “While we recognise the Welsh government’s economic and environmental goals for its planned DRS, its insistence on going ahead with a scheme that includes glass and is not fully aligned to the rest of the UK remains a significant concern. It’s fundamental that there is alignment when DRS is introduced – whether that it through our preferred approach of Wales rejoining a UK-wide scheme or the Welsh government taking a pragmatic approach of full alignment with the UK as part of a transitional period for two years. Such a transitional period would allow it to undertake a full, independent economic analysis to understand the costs to business from divergence. If the Welsh government chooses not to heed the concerns of businesses and presses ahead with a scheme it intends to go live in two years, with extremely limited detail, it will be Welsh consumers that suffer. We know a divergent scheme in Wales will lead to reduced choice in pubs, restaurants, hotels and cafes, as some suppliers choose to no longer supply the Welsh market. Working together across the UK is the most surefire way to reach our recycling and sustainability goals together.”

 

Loyalty platform Embargo raises £2.6m to accelerate growth: Embargo, the loyalty platform and CRM system for hospitality businesses, has raised $3.5m (£2.6m) to accelerate its growth. The investment round included participation from prominent investors in the UK, the US and Europe including Paul Statham, founder of global worktech company Condeco; the food industry-focused fund Hampton Finance that was created by the Chantler family and which also founded Meadow Foods; and fashion brand Oh Polly with its founder Mike Branney. Founded by Frederick Szydlowski and Tsewang Wangkang, Embargo aims to help hospitality businesses boost customer retention and digital sales across every revenue. Embargo is currently used by nearly 3,000 venues, with a strong footprint in the UK, Poland and western Europe. The company has processed more than 13 million transactions and digital stamps. The funding will support further development of Embargo’s proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning engine, which powers personalised marketing and retention strategies. The funds will also enable a significantly increased spend on business-to-business sales and marketing compared with previous years, focused primarily on existing markets before then assessing opportunities to expand into new markets from next year. Embargo said it has seen rapid growth in recent years, with revenue almost tripling since mid-2023 despite its team remaining the same size. Total app transactions and digital stamps have nearly doubled in the last 12 months.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a growing food-led brand that is looking for a compliance manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The business is seeking an experienced compliance manager to oversee all aspects of the group’s compliance, auditing and training programmes. This critical role will work closely with senior operational leaders to ensure that all sites consistently meet and uphold the highest standards in food safety, health and safety, customer service and legal compliance. The compliance manager will also support new restaurant openings by embedding a strong culture of safety and compliance throughout the business.” The salary is up to £50,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email sheila@corecruitment.com.

 

Outgoing McDonald’s UK CEO – now is the right moment for the business to transition to new leadership: Alistair Macrow, who will step down as chief executive of McDonald’s UK and Ireland business next month after four years in the role, has said it that is “the right moment for the business to transition to new leadership”. Macrow, who has been with McDonald’s for 18 years, will leave at the end of September after a period of transition with his successor Lauren Schultz, who joins from the US side of the McDonald’s business, where she has been in charge of 1,200 restaurants and 180 franchisees. McDonald’s currently operates 1,450 restaurants in Britain and Ireland and employs more than 135,000 people. Macrow said: “It’s a decision that has been thoughtfully considered over time, and I’m confident that now is the right moment for the business to transition to new leadership. The past 18 years with the Golden Arches have been outstanding, and teenage me could never have imagined the career I’d have with this company, what we’d achieve together as a system, or the valuable friendships I’d make along the way. As UK & Ireland chief marketing officer, I had the privilege of leading some of our most iconic and beloved campaigns. Food innovation was also a passion, and I’m proud to have helped bring lasting menu favourites like the Wrap of the Day and the Breakfast Wrap to life. In my global chief marketing officer role, I worked with an incredible team to build a talent programme that nurtured a sustainable community of world-class marketers. And most recently, as chief executive of McDonald’s UK & Ireland, I’ve had the honour of leading through a post-covid world, rising costs and evolving customer expectations. I’ve seen first-hand the resilience of our people and the strength of our market. I’m so proud that over the past five years, our growth has been three times that of our nearest competitor, which is a true testament to the dedication of our teams and franchisees. Whether it’s launching new iconic menu items like the Big Arch, investing in new restaurants and refurbishments, or welcoming new franchisees into the system, I know the UK and Ireland business will continue to achieve great things and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

US fast-casual seafood brand Captain D’s secures UK debut site: US fast-casual seafood brand Captain D’s has secured its debut site in the UK, in Thanet, Kent. The brand, which was founded in Tennessee in 1969 and has grown to some 530 restaurants across the US, will open a site in the Westwood Cross scheme, located near Hollywood Bowl, this autumn. Further Captain D’s sites are set to follow in Sussex and Hampshire. Propel revealed in January that Captain D’s was preparing to enter the UK market after signing a 20-store multi-unit franchise agreement with CD’s UK Holdings. “We have been looking for the right brand to introduce to the UK market, which is exciting and healthy,” said Naveed Chattha, operations director of CD’s UK Holdings. “There is a large fish and chips market in the UK, but no one has tried to apply discipline, standards and quality to such a level here before. With our experience, we feel Captain D’s is the right choice.” Captain D’s said it is currently looking for more multi-unit franchisees to open additional locations in the UK. “This is an exciting time in the growth of our brand,” said Hair Parra, senior vice-president of international operations and development for Captain D’s. “Our master franchisees are committed to making a sustainable impact in the UK, and we are committed to working alongside them and offering new opportunities to other entrepreneurs as we expand into new international markets.” Captain D’s serves a variety of seafood that includes the company’s signature batter dipped fish. The restaurants also offer grilled items such as shrimp, tilapia and salmon, as well as desserts and freshly brewed, Southern-style sweet tea.

Travelodge planning to roll out ‘contactless’ self-serve hotels, cost pressures hit half-year profits: Travelodge has said it is looking at rolling out self-serve hotels. The firm opened its first “hybrid” hotel last month, where guests don’t need to have any face-to-face contact with staff. Instead, they can check-in and get a digital room key, plus other services, through an app. It follows a fully “contactless” Travelodge that opened in St Albans, Hertfordshire, last month. Travelodge chief executive Jo Boydell said the self-serve option had proved to be a success, saying “On average, more than two thirds (of guests) are using it.” She said part of the reason was that customers “don’t expect to stand in a queue to check in”. Boydell said the early success meant it was “definitely” considering opening more but would not be drawn on staffing numbers at the new-style hotels. It comes as Travelodge looks to cut costs after profits nearly halved in the six months to the end of June, from £82.1mi to £47.3m. The company blamed a £20m surge in costs, fuelled by April’s increase in national insurance contributions and the national minimum wage and inflationary linked rent rises. The chain also suffered from a lack of crowd-pulling events such as last year’s Taylor Swift tour. However, recent months have been boosted by Ozzy Osbourne’s final gig in Birmingham at, along with the Oasis and Coldplay gigs. Revenue over the half year fell from £486.7m to £471.3m, driven by fewer big events as well as “softer demand”, particularly in Greater London. Travelodge said it had recently launched ‘buy now, pay later’ payment options for customers, with “encouraging initial results”. It comes as the company presses ahead with its biggest expansion for more than a decade, with 11 new hotels opened in the UK in the first half of this year, and at least another nine planned by the end of 2025.

 

Morgan Pub Collective acquires Jolly Fine Pubs: Morgan Pub Collective, the multi-site operator led by Richard Morgan, has further added to its estate with the acquisition of the two-strong Jolly Fine Pubs business, Propel has learned. Jolly Fine Pubs comprises The Victoria in East Sheen and the Fox & Grapes on the edge of Wimbledon Common. The Victoria has six letting rooms and the Fox & Grapes has three. The business was founded by Tim Woodcock, former director at Punch Taverns and ex-non-executive of Clapham House. He said: “I’ve sold my pubs, and it feels all a bit sad – I am hanging up my hospitality boots and bringing an end to a 30-year connection with an industry that has been maddening, frustrating, exasperating but ultimately both exciting and incredibly rewarding. From the Orange Balloon in the 1990s (anyone remember that short lived venture?) through to Punch pubs, Tootsies Restaurants, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Hibiscus and, finally, Jolly Fine Pubs. There have been other (more lucrative) businesses on the way but none that have been as much fun. So, thank you to all the friends and colleagues that I have worked with along the way. And good luck to Richard Morgan and his team at The Morgan Pub Collective with their new purchase. Look after it! I’ll just be a customer from now on and will instead focus on the lock up garages business! Unless someone/something comes along and persuades me otherwise.” Morgan Pub Collective operates 23 sites across London, the south east and Oxford. Earlier this year, Mosaic Pub Company sublet Arthur’s in Twickenham, south west London, to Morgan Pub Collective, which is operating the site as Arthur’s Pizza.

 

Popeyes hires Stuart McNamara as FD: Popeyes UK, the US fried chicken quick service restaurant brand backed here by TDR Capital, has hired Stuart McNamara, formerly of Buns from Home, Cote and Byron, as its new finance director, Propel has learned. McNamara joins Popeyes from Buns from Home, the independent London bakery brand, where he has been its finance director since last February. McNamara joined Buns from Home from Flat Iron, where he spent five years as finance director, having also held the same position at Cote for two and half years. Popeyes launched in the UK in November 2021 and has already grown to circa 70 sites. In 2024, the business opened 33 new sites and plans to open 45-plus new restaurants in 2025.

 

Di Maggio’s Restaurant Group plans second Edinburgh site for Sugo concept: Scottish operator Di Maggio’s Restaurant Group (DRG) has lined up a second site in Glasgow for the Sugo Pasta concept it acquired last year. The company is set to take the former Zizzi site in the city’s West End, in Cresswell Lane. Zizzi closed its doors earlier this week after 15 years in business. Sugo currently operates a site in Glasgow’s Mitchell Street. Propel reported in June that DRG was planning the first opening outside Glasgow for the Paesano concept it acquired last year. The company has submitted plans to open a new restaurant in the former Cass Art building at 77a George Street in the Scottish capital. The concept currently operates three sites in Glasgow – in the city’s Miller Street, Great Western Road and Pollokshaws Road. Last year, the group acquired the then two-strong Paesano and sister business Sugo Pasta for an eight-figure sum from restaurateur Paul Stevenson – with plans to expand both concepts. A new Paesano opened in DRG’s former Di Maggio’s restaurant in Pollokshaws Road in Glasgow’s Shawlands in May. In February, Propel revealed DRG was planning to make its London debut by opening a site under its Café Andaluz concept in The Gosling, the new mixed-use development in Richmond. 

 

PureGym to open new site in Northumberland: PureGym, Britain’s biggest health and fitness club operator, is to open a new site in Northumberland. PureGym is opening the 10,000 square-foot venue at Westmorland Retail Park, in Cramlington, in October, after agreeing a deal with landlord Advance Northumberland. The facility will offer a range of cardio, strength and functional training equipment. A PureGym spokesperson said: “There is huge appetite for flexible, affordable fitness in Northumberland, and we are delighted to be opening a club in Cramlington.” The company, which operates around 700 sites, is aiming to open circa 70 new gyms globally in 2025.

 

London sushi concept expands regional footprint: London sushi concept Iro Sushi has expanded its regional footprint with an opening in Tonbridge. Iro Sushi has opened at 68 High Street in the Kent town, adding to its regional locations in Canterbury, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Brighton, Newbury and Reading. The rest of the company’s 30-strong estate in scattered around Greater London. Sultan Thakar, operations director at Iro Sushi, said: “What started as a single small sushi takeaway has now grown into 30 Iro Sushi locations across London and beyond. This week we officially opened in Tonbridge, marking another step in our journey. But this is not the end. The vision is clear. The journey continues. The best is yet to come.” Iro Sushi, which was founded in 2014 by Chhong Sherpa, has previously said it is targeting having 50-plus stores by 2027. Starting this year, Sherpa also plans to expand Iro Sushi into America and Europe.

 

Manchester brunch and bakery concept to make transport hub debut: Manchester brunch and bakery concept Gooey is set to make its transport hub debut later this year. The business is set to open a space in Terminal 2 at Manchester airport. The company said: “March 2020, only two weeks after launching Gooey, and everything came to a halt. We had to move out of our kitchen and close our little kiosk in Stevenson Square. It’s been some journey looking back on it all. We’re into our third year at the cafe and we’ve just had our busiest summer yet. Knowing at some point you’ll be able to go through Manchester airport and see our bakery there is mental. We’ve got a big end to this year, with a few more very exciting announcements to come.” Propel reported last week that Gooey is set to open a new city centre location there. The business 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, will be moving into the Circle Square neighbourhood, just off Oxford Road, where Onda is situated. 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.

 

Hotel operator AG Hotels adds Coventry property to portfolio for 20th site: Hotel operator AG Hotels has added a property in Coventry to its portfolio. The company has acquired the former Premiere Classe hotel for its 20th site, reports Coventry Live. The property in Wigston Road in Walsgrave will be re-named The Crossway, Coventry. AG Hotels promises customers will “experience premium accommodation without the premium price tag”. According to the website, bookings at The Crossway are available from Monday, 1 September. The venue was listed for sale in 2020 as a 48-room hotel with a guide price of £1.75m.

 

Snowflake Gelato set to make its Scottish debut: London premium gelato brand Snowflake is set to open its first site in Scotland. Snowflake is preparing to open a kiosk at the Braehead shopping centre in Glasgow for its 13th UK location and 15th overall. It comes as Braehead, which opened in 1999, said it welcomed more visitors than ever in the year ending June 2025, with an increase in footfall and spend by 4% and 3%, respectively, when compared to the same period in 2024. Snowflake has six sites in London, two in Manchester and one each in Sheffield, Oxford, Newcastle and Bluewater in Dartford – as well as international locations in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

 

F1 Arcade hires Rebecca Di Mambro as vice-president of global marketing: F1 Arcade, the Formula 1-licensed experiential brand, has hired Rebecca Di Mambro, formerly of Leon and Popeyes UK, as its new vice-president of global marketing. Di Mambro joins F1 Arcade after 16 months as marketing director of Popeyes UK. She has also had stints at Vagabond Wines and Pret A Manger. Di Mambro stepped down as marketing director at Leon in summer 2021 after six and a half years with the then EG Group-owned business. Prior to that, she worked at Nestle and Polpo. Earlier this week, Propel revealed F1 Arcade is to launch a smaller format called F1 Box today (Friday, 22 August), in London. The company said the new immersive racing experience, which will open at Westfield Stratford City, offers “significant global growth potential”. F1 Arcade currently operates five sites across the UK and US, including London, Birmingham, Boston, Washington DC and, most recently, Philadelphia. A new site in West Midtown, Atlanta, is planned to open later this year. Last year, F1 Arcade announced plans to open 30 locations globally within the next five years. Backed by Formula 1 and Liberty Media, F1 Arcade opened its first venue in London in 2022, followed by Birmingham in November 2023.

 

Noble Rot team planning new drinks-led concept: The team behind the award-winning Noble Rot wine bar and restaurant business is looking to launch a new concept called Rotters. The new wine bar concept will have the goal of “making good quality wine more accessible to the mass market”. Propel understands that the Noble Rot team is working with advisor Restaurant Property to find Central London sites for the new concept. It is looking for sites between 1,000-1,500 square feet in locations including Soho, Covent Garden, Piccadilly and Mayfair. Noble Rot was founded by Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew in 2013 as a quarterly wine and food magazine. The duo expanded their venture into a wine bar and restaurant near Holborn, which opened in 2015. A second Noble Rot site opened in Soho, inside the former home of the Gay Hussar in Greek Street, in September 2020. A third site opened in Mayfair in 2023. Andrew and Keeling also operate a wine shop opposite the original restaurant and bar in Lamb’s Conduit Street, called Shrine to the Vine. 

 

Former Mitchells & Butlers executive to open permanent site for Thai concept Khao Bird: Former Mitchells & Butlers executive Mike Palmer is to open a permanent site in London for his northern Thai barbecue concept, Khao Bird. Palmer has secured the former Chilango site in Brewer Street for an opening in October. The new two-floor, 80-cover restaurant and bar was previously home to the last standing adult film cinema in Soho. It comes after a successful year-long residency for Khao Bird above The Globe Tavern in Borough Market, which will close on Sunday, 14 September. Head chef Luke Larsson and his team have taken various research and work trips across northern Thailand and Burma over the years and will draw on what they have learned from the success of their year-long pop-up. Palmer said that this will be “an inclusive and affordable restaurant focusing on contemporary interpretations of traditional, hyper-regional techniques from Chiang Maiwith a focus on barbecue, coming from the open kitchen centred around live fire cooking”. He added: “Khao started out for us as a series of pop-ups in Brighton, inspired by our time studying and working in Thailand. Our philosophy is simple: to blend the bold flavours and techniques of Thailand with the best local ingredients from in and around Brighton, and in 2018, we opened our first permanent restaurant in Brighton's historic old post office – Lucky Khao. Now, with this exciting opportunity in Soho, we're diving further into the unique cuisine of Chiang Mai. The name ‘Khao Bird’ is a nod to our love for the city's famous barbecue chicken. The menu features northern Thai classics, particularly the flavours that light up the City's night markets, with some playful twists that reflect our journey from Brighton to Thailand.”

 

Family-owned Yorkshire restaurant group partner with Leeds operator for sixth site: Family-owned Yorkshire restaurant group The Capri Group has partnered with Leeds operator Toraj Dizchi for its sixth site. The Capri Group, owned by the Karimi family, already own five restaurants across Leeds and Wakefield – Capri Hornbury, Capri at The Vine, Capri Mirfield, Capri at The Container and Capri Newmillerdam. It has now partnered with Dizchi to launch Biya2, which offers a “blend of traditional Persian and Mediterranean dishes all reimagined with a contemporary twist”. The restaurant, which has opened in the 730 square-foot former TGI Fridays unit on Wellington Bridge Street, in Leeds, has seating for up to 200 covers. Dishes include skewers, grilled meats, mezze and freshly prepared salads, using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients wherever possible. Guests can also enjoy live entertainment, themed nights, and one-of-a-kind events. Dizchi, who has more than 40 years’ experience in the food and drink industry, was previously behind the Soosi restaurant in Roundhay, North Leeds. He said: “At Biya2, our aim is to create more than just a meal. We want every guest to experience authentic flavours, handcrafted cuisine, and hospitality that comes from the heart. We believe we’ve created a unique concept for Leeds and a dining experience that is built on tradition with a bit of extra flair, which will leave customers well entertained and well fed!” 

 

Anderbury reports ‘exceptional trading’ as it returns to profit: Hotel operator Anderbury, which operates three sites in the UK, has reported “exceptional trading” in the year to 30 September 2024 as it returned to profit. The company – which is behind St George’s Hotel in Llandudno, Rowton Hall in Chester and Hatherley Hall in Gloucester – turned a pre-tax loss of £159,251 in 2023 into a profit of £531,567. Turnover increased from £11,759,164 in 2023 to £12,781,871. Post year end, the group refinanced its existing external bank loans, which are now held with Lloyds Bank. Anderbury director Stephen Fish said: “Overall, the year saw an exceptional trading performance with all three properties exceeding their budgeted profit, despite ongoing cost increases and inflationary pressures. All areas of the business were reviewed to ensure that the operation was effectively managed. Tight controls and more flexible manning practices were put in place. The group also entered into central purchasing agreements for food and liquor to enable more cost-effective pricing. Sales performance was key to the business growth. The introduction of a dedicated head office sales and marketing function drove a group-wide sales strategy, backed heavily by strong marketing spend, to drive additional sales into the hotel units.” The instillation of solar panels at Hatherley Manor produced savings of circa £4,000 per month for the remainder of the year, while the renovation of the ballroom at Rowton Hall has been identified as key to improving its sales and profitability. The refurbishment of bathrooms and bedrooms at St Georges progressed, but the company said it recognises “more needs to be done to maintain the high standards in this hotel”.

 

Merseyside padel concept outlines plans to open 11 new courts across three venues: A Merseyside padel concept has outlined plans to open 11 new courts across three venues. Sefton Padel wants to develop the sites, some of which will feature covered courts to allow for year-round play, as part of a six-figure investment programme, subject to planning permission. They will be located at Victoria Park in Southport, Coronation Park in Crosby and at Formby’s Duke Street Park. Additionally, nine existing traditional tennis courts will be refurbished to improve facilities for existing and new tennis players, reports Insider Media. Paul McComb is behind Sefton Padel, which was chosen to work with Sefton Council after a procurement process. He said: “We’re thrilled to be working in partnership with Sefton Council and with local volunteers to bring this fantastic new offering to Sefton – providing high-quality padel facilities that everyone in the community can enjoy. Subject to planning approval, we're aiming to open our first site in spring 2026.” Sefton Council leader Cllr Marion Atkinson added: ”I am delighted we are working with a new Sefton-based business to deliver this exciting development, which will give people across the borough opportunity to take part in the fast-growing sport of padel.”

 

Yorkshire restaurateur to open second site for Mediterranean tapas concept next month: Yorkshire restaurateur Masud Rana will open a second site for his all-you-can-eat Mediterranean tapas concept La Fiesta next month. The restaurant will launch at The Merrion Centre in Leeds on Wednesday, 10 September. The 3,000 square-foot flagship restaurant will seat up to 100 guests. Menus are priced at £27.95 for lunch Monday to Thursday and £29.95 from Friday to Sunday. Evening dining is £34.95 Monday to Thursday and £37.95 from Friday to Sunday. Children under five eat for free and kids’ prices are £12.95 for lunch and £14.95 in the evening. Diners will begin their experience at a central salad bar with a wide choice of antipasti-style favourites, including pinchos, Italian and Spanish cheeses, charcuterie, artisan breads and Mediterranean-inspired salads. Tapas is then made fresh to order and served to the table in waves throughout the meal. Guests can order an initial three tapas dishes followed by two choices at a time from the menu, including seafood, grilled meats and rice and more. A dedicated churros station complete with a flowing chocolate fountain completes the experience. Rana said: “La Fiesta is a unique place where people can come together to enjoy a wide range of delicious Mediterranean food in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, whatever the occasion. We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to create a fantastic dining space and vibrant ambiance, and we are hugely excited to reveal all to customers in the coming weeks.” Rana operates a La Fiesta site in Doncaster along with two other sites in the town – Italian restaurant LaRustica and Argentinian-inspired steakhouse La Boca.