The UK’s top 25 sector companies for profit growth, featuring in the inaugural Profit Growth Tracker, revealed: The top 25 food and beverage companies in the UK hospitality sector in terms of profit growth in the past three years have been revealed in the inaugural Profit Growth Tracker, with the exact order to be unveiled at Propel’s summer conference next week. Propel has partnered with leading sector advisory firm AlixPartners to launch the new industry benchmarking initiative that measures profitability growth across the broad church of the UK’s hospitality sector – more than 3,500 companies are listed in Propel’s Multi-Site Database. The Profit Growth Tracker is based on Ebitda growth across the last three sets of Companies House-filed annual accounts. It tracks eligible financial periods, starting post-July 2021, to ensure the effects of covid-19 restrictions do not impact the results. The top 25 companies in the inaugural Profit Growth Tracker are (in alphabetical order): Big Mamma Group, Bettys & Taylors Group, Camerons, Domino’s Pizza, Everards, Flat Iron, Fuller’s, Gastronomy Restaurants (KFC franchisee), Gail’s, Greggs, Indigo Pub Company, JD Wetherspoon, Lola’s Cupcakes, Marston’s, Mitchells & Butlers, Mission Mars, McMullens, OCO Westend (Starbucks franchisee), St Austell Brewery, The Ivy Collection, The Light, Tortilla, Wadworth, Wells & Co, and Young’s. The final order of the top 25 will be unveiled at the Propel Multi-Club summer conference and party on Thursday, 4 September at the Oxford Belfry, which is attended by around 500 of the sector’s leading operators and suppliers. The unveiling of the inaugural growth list will take place as the culmination of the conference at 5pm. Propel managing director Paul Charity said: “It is a remarkable achievement to be featured in the inaugural Profit Growth Tracker top 25 – these companies have outperformed their peers in terms of profit growth over the last three years. The list highlights the breadth and depth of the industry, and that growth is not confined to one segment or type of operating model.” The Profit Growth Tracker is based on a rigorous set of credentials. For companies to be eligible, they must be primarily food and beverage-focused or competitive socialising-focused businesses and not be a subsidiary of another operating business (the data will be picked up as part of the data for its group), show active filed audited accounts at Companies House within the required legal filing date, and must not have been involved in any formal restructuring process over the relevant period. Ebitda is determined as reported statutory Ebitda per Companies House filing, with directors’ emoluments added back to reflect differences in remuneration structures for privately-owned businesses. Qualifying companies must report Ebitda of at least £1m in the first accounting period and report positive Ebitda across all three sets of accounts (which will be pro-rated to 12 months in the event of short or long accounting periods). There are now 500 booked for the unmissable Propel Multi-Club summer conference and party, taking place in less than a week on Thursday, 4 September at the Oxford Belfry. A waiting list is now in operation. Operators that are Premium subscribers can claim up to four free places on the waiting list. Operators who are not Premium operators can claim two free places. This year sees the usual fantastic conference with the addition of great entertainment throughout the evening. The conference and party places are free (bedrooms have a cost attached). Book on to the waiting list by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com. For the full speaker schedule, click here.

Premium Club subscribers to receive updated Multi-Site Database with 3,451 operators and 25 new companies today: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database today (Friday, 29 August), at noon. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,451 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 1,003 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 801 (23%) pub and bar operators, 600 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 483 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 283 (8%) hotel operators, 227 (7%) experiential leisure operators and 53 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 25 new companies. The database includes new companies in the casual dining sector such as Asian concept Huo, the Imposter Restaurant Group, led by Ed Shawcross, and Shree Krishna Vada Pav (SKVP), the fast-growing Indian quick service restaurant concept. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five additional databases: the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who's Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers 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.

Thorley Taverns director – the last Budget has cost us £8,000 a week since April and led to job cuts: Phil Thorley, director of Thorley Taverns, has said that last October’s Budget has cost his business £8,000 a week since April and has led to the company cutting part-time jobs “so less young people have been working this summer”. Thorley told the Daily Express that keeping the company, which operates 18 sites and employs 400 people, going is more difficult now than at any stage in his 40 years in the industry and blames Labour’s tax raids for the crisis. Thorley said: “When the national insurance hike came in, it was financially worse than covid. I have been in the industry for more than 40 years and (last year’s autumn statement) was the worst Budget for hospitality and high street retail. The Budget was bad for young people, bad for people looking for part-time jobs, and bad for small businesses. Since April, it has cost us £8,000 a week, which is an astronomical amount of money, and meant we have had to cut part-time jobs so less young people have been working this summer. Going forward, it will mean a lack of investment in new venues, so no new jobs and pressure on existing jobs. Our teams work very hard, we enjoy what we do, and live in a lovely part of the world. But business is business and high street hospitality is a sitting duck for the government to take pot shots and it’s one tsunami wave after another. This is impacting young people because there are nowhere near as many part-time jobs and as we come towards autumn and the clocks change we are going to feel the effect even more. We have been very fortunate in that this sunny summer has been the best since covid, but we know we are steering into choppy waters. It means we are going to have to make cutbacks somewhere because if we don’t it would mean we would go bust. It’s a hairy time. The strength of our company is the 400 people working with us. We need to look after them but it seems we are the whipping boys for the government. We just keep getting battered and I don’t think we have seen the worse. Sadly, I think there’s more to come.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an ambitious, founder-led education business that is seeking a chair to help guide a period of growth. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The ideal candidate will be a current or former senior leader, governor, or chair within the childcare, pre-prep, or private school sector, combining strategic thinking with practical experience and a strong understanding of the independent education landscape, while being comfortable constructively challenging an entrepreneurial founder. The role will involve chairing monthly board meetings, providing strategic guidance to the founder and senior team, shaping the pre-prep launch strategy and growth roadmap, and bringing sector knowledge of independent schools, nurseries, and funding. Additionally, the chair will act as a sounding board on key decisions and hires, while leveraging their local network within the area and parent demographic.” This role offers a compensation of £20,000 per year plus potential equity. For more information, email emma@corecruitment.com.

Stonegate CEO – we are becoming a partnership-led pub business, reaches 200th managed to leased and tenanted conversion: David McDowall, chief executive of Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, has told Propel the business is becoming a “partnership led pub portfolio” as it marked its 200th managed to leased and tenanted conversion. He said the strategic shift from managed to entrepreneur-led, pub partner and Craft Union models was setting the group’s 4,300-strong estate up for long-term success. The business said the conversion strategy is underpinned by extensive data, insights and local market knowledge, enabling Stonegate to match each pub with the most effective operating model. Stonegate said the strategy is delivering an average profit uplift of £110,000 per pub. McDowall told Propel: “This strategic pivot not only strengthens individual pubs but also creates a leaner, more focused managed estate, which now stands at 550 from 800 sites two years ago. Therefore, the shift will see a materially smaller managed estate, but still one of the largest managed estates in the UK with a very strong portfolio of sites. But really what Stonegate is becoming is a partnership led pub portfolio. We see that as a very exciting pathway to continue to create value for shareholders and create opportunities for great operators, general managers and publicans all over the UK, and we're doing it at pace. Customers increasingly value the people behind the bar over the brand name above the door. By partnering with entrepreneurial operators, we’re building pubs that are more resilient, community-driven, and adaptable to evolving guest habits.” McDowall said a standout example of this is the Cutting Room in Melton Mowbray, Stonegate’s 200th converted pub, now thriving under its pub partners model. By offering a range of flexible agreements and a low barrier to entry, Stonegate said it has seen a material rise in individual pub enquiries. McDowall said the managed estate, though smaller than in prior years, remains a key part of the group’s portfolio “The managed business continues to be an important part of our overall group, and we remain very proud of our core managed estate of successful pubs, run by outstanding general managers,” said McDowall. “The success of our conversion programme demonstrates the importance of placing the right pub in the right model and highlights the power of entrepreneurial operators in driving community engagement.” A wide-ranging interview with McDowall forms part of today’s (Friday, 29 August) Premium Opinion, which will be sent to Premium Club subscribers at 5pm. Propel group editor Mark Wingett also looks at the week’s key sector events. 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.

We Do Play CEO – partnership with Frasers Group allows us to sharpen our focus on franchising and scaling our brands globally: Richard Beese, chief executive of We Do Play – the multi-concept experiential leisure operator – has told Propel the new investment in the business from Frasers Group will allow the business “to sharpen our focus on franchising and scaling our brands globally”. Beese also said We Do Play was “open to exploring ways to bring complementary brands and experiences into the portfolio”. Earlier this week, Frasers Group, formerly Sports Direct International, made a minority investment in We Do Play, which operates Flip Out, Activate, Putt Putt Social and Rumble Rooms. Beese told Propel: “All of our brands will continue to grow organically, but this partnership allows us to sharpen our focus on franchising and scaling them globally. Flip Out, Putt Putt Social, and Rumble Rooms already have strong brand equity, and this investment enables us to support franchise partners more effectively while rolling out new sites at pace. Further Flip Out openings are coming in Leeds, Livingston and Cwmbran and there will be further sites announced in the future. We are also actively exploring new Rumble Room and Putt Putt Social site opportunities. Each concept offers a distinct experience, but they share the common DNA of active fun, innovation, and high repeatability. Frasers’ support allows us to ensure that as Activate scales, our other brands also continue to thrive, creating a diverse and resilient portfolio of leisure concepts.” Building on the success of openings in London and Newcastle, Frasers plans to launch more than 40 Activate locations nationwide in the coming years. Beese said: “Activate is gaining traction because it delivers something fresh to the market, which is popular with both children (eight-plus) and adults. Guests aren’t just playing – they're fully immersed in experiences that are social, replayable, and addictive in the best sense. Operationally, the relatively small footprint of an Activate venue allows for efficient use of space, while still generating high levels of income and strong returns.” In terms of sector consolidation, Beese said: “Our focus right now is organic growth and we have ambitious targets to roll out the current concepts. However, the leisure and competitive socialising sector is still relatively fragmented, and we believe there will be opportunities to consolidate and professionalise the market. With the backing of Frasers and its deep expertise, we are open to exploring ways to bring complementary brands and experiences into the portfolio if they enhance our customer offering and align with our strategy.” On current trading, he said: “Trading across the group has been outperforming forecasts, with sustained demand for active entertainment experiences. Customers are increasingly prioritising social experiences over material purchases, and our venues are directly benefiting from this trend. Activate, in particular, has been trading significantly higher than expected, with venues exceeding revenue and attendance projections from the outset. This performance not only validates the concept but also strengthens our confidence in the roll-out strategy. The results give us real momentum going into the next phase of growth.”

Matt Grech-Smith to step down from Swingers: Matt Grech-Smith, co-chief executive of crazy golf brand Swingers, is to step down from the business next February, “to pursue my next entrepreneurial adventure”. Grech-Smith founded Swingers in 2014 with Jeremy Simmonds in London, a competitive socialising concept that combines crazy golf with street food and cocktails in a nightclub-style setting. After a successful pop-up in Shoreditch, they opened permanent venues in London and later expanded to the US, including locations in New York and Washington DC. At the end of 2024, the business opened a third site in the US, in Las Vegas, in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, which Grech-Smith said had put the company “on the map as a global entertainment brand”. A fourth US location will open in Boston later this year. In February, the company made its debut in the Middle East with the opening of its first franchise site, in Dubai’s Bluewaters Island. Cain International, owner of the Prezzo restaurant brand, has been a backer of Swingers since 2018. Last September, Swingers reported turnover increased to a record £43,335,136 for the year to 24 December 2023, up from £36,160,072 in 2022. Of this, £15,197,955 came from the UK (2022: £17,203,242) and £28,137,181 from the rest of the world (2022: £18,956,830). Grech-Smith said: “In 2014, my co-founder Jeremy and I had an idea and launched Swingers as a pop-up. Over the last decade, we've built a proven model that's captivated people in major cities across three continents as a pioneer in the global ‘competitive socialising’ space and the wider experience economy. Reflecting on our journey, I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved including our successful launches in New York and Las Vegas and this year being recognised as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies 2025 for live events and experiences. Swingers is now an international brand that is firmly established, scaled, and has demonstrated its resilience. I have decided the time is now right for me to move on to pursue my next entrepreneurial adventure and so I will be stepping down at the end of February 2026. I leave the business in the hands of an exceptional team, and I have no doubt it will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Canadian restaurant group plans UK debut for 'brasserie sportive' brand: Grandio Group, the Canadian restaurant group, is planning to make its debut in the UK, with an opening of its sports-led brasserie brand, La Cage – Brasserie Sportive, in London’s Kensington, Propel has learned. Grandio Group, which is based in Quebec and has circa 60 restaurants in Canada, has applied to open a site at 201 Kensington High Street. The application states: “La Cage – Brasserie Sportive is a well-established brand originating from Québec, and renowned for its high-quality comfort food. The business places strong emphasis on the brasserie element and quality of the food, first and foremost operating as a restaurant offering substantial meals throughout service. Live sporting events will be shown as a complementary aspect of the dining experience, contributing to a welcoming and convivial atmosphere. The proposed Kensington High Street location will be the brand's first European venue, designed to accommodate approximately 250 covers across two floors.” Grandio Group has more than 4,000 employees in circa 60 locations under the following banners: La Cage – Brasserie Sportive, Cochon Dingue, Lapin Sauté, Ciel!, Paris Grill, Café du Monde, Madame Chose, Chez Lionel – Brasserie Française, Iru Izakaya, Moishes, Gibbys, and Crémy Pâtisserie et Brasseur du Monde.

Bill’s to make return to Leicester: Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant group, is to make its return to Leicester, three years after leaving the city. The business is again set to operate a site at the Highcross shopping scheme, in Shires Lane. In the spring, Caring said he was “excited for what is next for the business” after Bill’s saw profits double in the past two years and set out plans to explore several growth opportunities this year, including an overseas launch. The 47-strong business said it had seen a “remarkable turnaround” in sales, guest metrics and Ebitda over the past 24 months, with group Ebitda doubling to £11.2m in 2024 from £5.5m in 2022 on a like-for-like basis. The group reported sales of £96.4m in 2024, a like-for-like increase of 4% compared with 2023. Propel revealed last July that Bill’s was to return to the expansion trail with a new iteration of its restaurant format, following the trial of two new cafe bar concepts in early 2024. In November, the company opened its first new site in six years, in Milton Keynes, on the former Café Rouge site in the Buckinghamshire city’s Queens Court. A further opening followed before the end of last year, on the ex-Frankie & Benny's site in the Clarks Village shopping outlet in Street, Somerset.

Wendy’s franchisee plans Nottingham launch: Square Burgers, which became the first traditional franchise partner to open a Wendy’s restaurant in the UK on the brand’s return to these shores, when it opened in Sheffield in 2022, is eyeing an opening in Nottingham. Square Burgers has submitted plans to take over the former Nottingham Building Society site in Nottingham’s Upper Parliament Street. In June, Wendy’s, the second-largest quick service restaurant brand in the US, launched in York through franchisee Square Burgers. It opened at 3 St Sampson Square in the centre of the city. Square Burgers initially focused on expanding Wendy’s into South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire before expanding further out into places such as Newcastle and Blackpool, and signing a development agreement to open restaurants under the brand in Scotland. Square Burgers’ opening in Blackpool earlier this year broke the company’s UK opening day sales record for an inline restaurant. It went on to set new company record inline restaurant trading days for the two days following its launch too. Since relaunching here three years ago, Wendy’s has grown to circa 45 sites, the majority of these split between five franchisees.

Greene King to revert debut HighTales format site to Flaming Grill brand: Brewer and retailer Greene King, the operator of circa 2,600 pubs, is to revert the debut site under its experience-led dining concept called HighTales back to its Flaming Grill brand. Propel reported last September that Greene King was to launch the pilot site for the format on the former Hem Heath pub, in Trentham Lakes. HighTales offered a series of experiential zones to cater for all day, everyday occasions, with an extensive programme of events including table football, comedy gigs, pop-up cinemas and live music. The all-day menu featured pub classics from burgers and toasties to foot-long pizzas, as well as items more suited to specific times of the day and days of the week. The company said at the time of its launch that HighTales has a “future pipeline of multiple sites across the UK”. But now it has been confirmed the venue will revert to its old name of the Hem Heath and will be rebranded as a Flaming Grill. In an update released to Stoke-on-Trent Live, the pub said: "Hem Heath will be back in October, and part of the Flaming Grill family!” Earlier this week, Propel reported Greene King had also ended the trial of its Seared pub concept. Propel revealed at the end of 2023 the Nick Mackenzie-led Greene King was to begin trialling Seared – a pub concept with a “freshly grilled, globally-inspired menu”. The first Seared site subsequently opened at The Castle in Droitwich, Worcestershire, last spring, after a seven-figure refurbishment. Seared was positioned “slightly higher than Hungry Horse”. However, 14 months later, Greene King ended the trial and reverted the pub back to its Flaming Grill brand.

Blank Street Coffee planning to increase presence in London ‘villages’ with Richmond opening: US coffee brand Blank Street, which made its debut in the UK in 2022, is looking to increase its presence in London “villages”, with an opening in Richmond. The company, which operates 45 sites in the UK, has applied to take on the premises previously occupied by Oree Boulangerie in George Street. Propel revealed earlier this year that French artisan patisserie concept Orée, which operated nine sites across Central London, had been placed on the market ahead of a possible restructure. The business, which launched its first UK site in 2016 in Fulham Road, was working with BTG Advisory on its options, including a sale on an accelerated basis. In May, WatchHouse acquired five Orée sites after the business entered administration a month earlier. Last week, Propel reported Blank Street was lining up a first opening in Leeds. The company is set to take over a former Starbucks in the city centre, at 48 Albion Street. At the same time, Propel understands Blank Street is lining up a third site in Birmingham. The business has applied to open on the former Caffe Nero site in the city’s Waterloo Street. Last year, Issam Freiha, who co-founded Blank Street Coffee in New York in 2020 with Vinay Menda, said the UK market was a driving force of the company’s overall growth strategy.

Neos launches latest Circuit venue: Nightclub and bar operator Neos Hospitality, formerly Rekom UK, has opened the latest site under its fledgling Circuit format, in Kingston, south west London. The business has invested £3m in converting its former Pryzm site, which closed last year. The ground floor will be home to new “party bar” concept Bonnie Rogues, which will open next month, while its “modern late-night venue” Circuit has opened on the first and second floors. It is the fourth Circuit venue opened by Neos, and follows an opening under the format earlier this year in York. Circuit is one of three core formats for the business joining Bonnie Rogues and Barbara’s Bier Haus. Earlier this year, the company opened Barbara’s Bier Haus après-ski style bars in Bournemouth and Bristol, which combine a chalet-style environment with ski lift photo booths, live music and themed nights. The upcoming Bonnie Rogues opening in Kingston will be the third under the concept, after sites in Cardiff and Swansea. Neos operates 19 venues in 12 towns and cities across the country.

Team behind Michelin-starred Dorian to open ramen restaurant, ex-Be At One CFO joins business: The team behind the Michelin-starred Dorian in London’s Notting Hill, is planning to open a new ramen restaurant. The business, which is led by Chris D'Sylva, is set to open Robin’s Ramen at 7 Kensington Mall. Earlier this year, the company – which also operates Notting Hill Fish + Meat, Supermarket of Dreams, and Japanese bistro Urchin – opened sushi bar Eel in Talbot Road, in Notting Hill. At the same time, Propel understands that Toby Rolph, formerly chief financial officer at Nightcap and Be At One, has joined the business as a director. Rolph has stepped down as chief financial officer at Nightcap – owner of the Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group, Dirty Martini and the Barrio Familia group of bars – at the end of 2023.

LXA Hospitality MD launches new pizza concept: Pete Warden, managing director of LXA Hospitality, the London-based consultancy firm, has launched a new Detroit-style pizza concept called Slab Shop. The concept has launched in Newcastle’s Bellingham Drive, with an opening in Edinburgh set to follow later this month. Slab Shop, which serves pizza slabs in the thick-crusted Detroit fashion, will open at 41a Frederick Street in the Scottish capital, offering collection and delivery. The business said it is a “neighbourhood slice shop serving Detroit-style pizza pies with springy, aerated biga dough bases with crispy, caramelised frico crown edges, piled high with flavour”. Warden is also a co-founder of business-to-business service Hospitality Titans, and director of Happy Bar & Grill and Maria G’s restaurants.

Vue opens second site under new ‘Epic by Vue’ format: Cinema operator Vue has opened its second site under its new “Epic by Vue” format, in West Yorkshire. The new larger format experience has opened at Xscape Yorkshire in Castleford, after Vue acquired the former Cineworld site earlier this year. Alongside Epic, Vue Castleford has 13 other screens, each featuring VIP seating. The first opening under the Epic format was in Nottingham at Vue’s new site in The Cornerhouse earlier this summer. Chris Musgrave, general manager of Vue Castleford, said: “We are delighted to open our doors and ensure locals have the best big screen experience during their visits.” Jason Warren, centre director at Xscape Yorkshire, said: “We’re pleased to welcome film lovers back to Xscape with the arrival of Vue. We know just how much the big screen has been missed in the area, and with Vue’s state-of-the-art facilities, including its new Epic by Vue experience and VIP seating, visitors can now enjoy the latest blockbusters in truly spectacular style. Vue’s opening is an exciting new chapter in our mission to make Xscape the go-to destination for family fun, thrills, and lasting memories, all under one roof.”

200 Degrees to strengthen Birmingham presence with Harborne opening next month: 200 Degrees, the Nero Group-owned brand, has confirmed it will open a site in the Birmingham suburb of Harborne next month. Located at 85 High Street, it marks the brand's third Birmingham location and fourth in the West Midlands, and its 24th coffee shop across the UK. Over the past 12 months alone, the company said it has sold more than 73,500 of its signature lattes to customers in Colmore Row and Lower Temple Street in Birmingham city centre. Building on this momentum, the new Harborne store – which opens on Saturday, 20 September – will sit in Harborne High Street, spanning 1,163 square foot, with 67 indoor seats and 16 outdoor. Marta Mieleszko, cluster manager at 200 Degrees, said: “After seeing queues out the door for our recent Cotswolds opening, we're excited to continue our expansion in Birmingham by bringing 200 Degrees to Harborne's high street next month. We're looking forward to welcoming the community, getting to recognise the same faces, learning their names and their order, and serving them our speciality drinks, with the first being on the house to celebrate the launch.” In July, the company opened at the Cotswolds Designer Outlet in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. The opening was the brand’s first this year, and it said there was “more to follow”.

North Wales holiday park operator reports turnover boost but profit dips: North Wales holiday park operator St David's Leisure has reported turnover increased to £7,467,524 for the year ending 31 December 2024 compared with £7,288,690 the previous year. The group – which owns St David's and Plas Uchaf in Anglesey, Coed Helen in Caernarfon and Berthlwyd Hall in Conwy – saw pre-tax profit drop to £1,449,080 from £2,006,358 the year before. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “Turnover has remained consistent with 2023 as holiday home sales continue to prove challenging across the industry. Other revenue streams remain strong, including the expansion of seasonal touring pitches at Plas Uchaf in 2024. Plans for upgrading of the shower block facilities at Plas Uchaf and expansion of the static caravan offering are currently registered with Isle Of Anglesey Council.” A dividend of £400,000 was paid (2023: nil). St David's Leisure is a family business with more than 20 years’ experience. The company began when Conwy builder Steve Davies retired and bought a small holiday park near his house as a passion project and to keep him busy. While Davies has now taken a step back from the day-to-day running of the business, the family still runs the company.

Indian restaurant business Noir to open new QSR concept Noir Street: Indian restaurant business Noir is set to open its first quick service restaurant concept under the name Noir Street, in north London. Noir Street will open at 379 Holloway Road later this year. The company said: “Noir Street is coming in bold, gritty, and unapologetic – where burgers smash harder, flavours hit louder, and our vibe speaks for itself. New location, new concept, same Noir energy.” Noir launched in east London at the end of 2022 with a site at 190 George Lane in South Woodford. The business, which is led by Ardy Ardakani, then last year opened a 350-cover site at 3rd Avenue, in Manchester’s Trafford Park. 

Lincolnshire holiday park operator Woodthorpe Leisure sells one of its two sites: Lincolnshire holiday park operator Woodthorpe Leisure has sold its Chapel Sands Caravan Park in the village of Chapel St Leonards for an undisclosed sum. The site has been acquired by an unnamed family business that is said to be a well-established regional operator. Woodthorpe Leisure continues to operate its eponymous site, based near Alford. Chapel Sands Caravan Park offers a mix of static holiday homes, seasonal touring pitches, and residential park homes. Phillippa Stubbs, company secretary of Woodthorpe Leisure Park, said: “Chapel Sands Caravan Park has been part of our group for many years, and while it was not an easy decision to sell, we are pleased to see the park in the hands of an experienced new owner.” Christie & Co acted on the deal.

Second-generation restaurateur opens new Thai restaurant in London's Soho: Second-generation restaurateur Nam Parama Raiva has opened a new Thai restaurant in London's Soho. Raiva has taken over the reins of the Patara site in Greek Street from her aunt Khun Patara Sila-On, who launched the Patara group with head chef Phayom Phimkrua three decades ago, to launch Platapian. The menu draws on diverse regional influences of both northern and southern Thailand, featuring small snacks that include crispy chicken skin with garlic and kaffir lime and okra fritters. Mains include tiger prawn with “pla” chilli sauce and lemongrass, and beef short ribs in five spice “paloh”. The drinks menu includes the tom yum-tini made using Finlandia vodka, lime and bird’s eye chilli.

London hotel Beaumont Mayfair to launch new restaurant in October: London hotel The Beaumont Mayfair, owned by Ellerman Hotels, is set to launch its new restaurant in October. Rosi, which will offer “a spirited interpretation of modern British dining”, will be led by newly appointed culinary director Lisa Goodwin-Allen, who helped Northcote hold a Michelin star for more than two decades. There will be seasonal signature pies and steaks featuring standout cuts of English wagyu, Lake District beef and heritage Hereford herds. Rosi – which opens on Wednesday, 1 October – will take over from the current The Colony Grill restaurant at the hotel. Goodwin-Allen said: “Rosi is a restaurant where the menu is full of dishes you really want to eat, and the atmosphere is just as inviting. I hope Rosi will be embraced by Londoners, just as I have been.”

Company behind Shropshire hotel undergoes refinancing: The company behind the Lion Quays Hotel in Oswestry, Shropshire, has undergone a refinancing as it reported turnover dipped to £6,667,523 for the year ending 30 November 2023 compared with a record £6,756,409 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was up to £648,885 from £235,608 the year before. Of the 2023 revenue, £2,026,507 came from rooms (2022: £1,960,795), £2,502,175 from food and beverage (2022: £2,639,612), £1,920,606 from the health club and spa (2022: £1,936,303) and £218,235 in other income (2022: £219,699). In her report accompanying the accounts, director Paula Walker stated: “During the period, the hotel navigated several significant challenges while also making strategic improvements to enhance its long-term performance. The prior year's increase in utility costs continued to exert pressure on our financial outcomes. Additionally, the rise in interest rates, staffing issues, and supply chain disruptions further hampered profitability. Despite efforts, there was increased reliance on third-party agencies and, stable pricing was maintained to ensure affordability for customers. This approach has fostered customer loyalty and positioned the hotel for long-term growth as economic conditions improve. Although a new borehole was drilled in the winter of 2022, problems continued with the spa water supply until early summer, hampering the budgeted growth in revenue. Future developments include a continuing programme of refurbishment in order to maintain standards and increase revenue. In addition, there is an ongoing centralisation and restructure of resources for cost saving efficiencies. Subsequent to the year end, all bank loans were refinanced with a new lender. The new bank loan is repayable by instalments with a final repayment in March 2029.” No dividend was paid (2022: nil) The hotel, which employs around 160 staff, is owned by LQ Resorts, which also owns Langstone Quays in Hampshire and Ufford Park in Suffolk.

 

Future of historic Staffordshire hotel secured after being acquired by private investor: The future of a historic hotel in Staffordshire has been secured after being sold to a private investor who plans to refurbish and reopen the venue. The Castle Hotel, a grade II-listed property in Tamworth dating to the 17th century, closed in January and Watling Real Estate was instructed to sell the property with vacant possession on behalf of the joint liquidators, Kim Richards and Richard Tonks, of BK Plus. The hotel has 20 en-suite bedrooms, two wedding and conferencing suites, restaurant with seating for approximately 80 covers, and bar formerly known as The Bow Street Runner with independent access off Market Street. There is also a former nightclub that was granted planning consent in 2022 for change of use into two apartments. Amy Keogh and Will Golding, of Browne Jacobson, represented the joint liquidators, and Usman Javed, of Ahmad & Williams Solicitors, acted for the buyer.