Neos Hospitality – ‘trading ahead of expectations’, secures Brighton site: Neos Hospitality, the bar and nightclub operator, has told Propel its trading levels in the first half of 2025 have been “ahead of expectations”, as it looks set to build on its growth trajectory with a new site in Brighton. The business has acquired the former Walkabout site in West Street in a £1.5m investment, marking its second acquisition of 2025. The opening will bring Neos’ total venue count to 20 across the UK, following the opening of Bonnie Rogues and Circuit in Kingston in September as part of a £3m investment. The Brighton site will be transformed into the group's fifth Barbara's Bier Haus, the après ski inspired party bar concept that continues to fuel the company’s rapid expansion. The investment supports Neos’ ongoing cluster strategy, strengthening its presence in Brighton. Since its launch in 2024, Neos said it has been carving out a new space in the hospitality market. The company’s investment strategy this year also includes a £500,000 revamp in Southampton and a £3.5m repositioning of its Bristol Pryzm venue – which transformed to a split Barbara’s Bier Haus & Circuit – “with more to follow in 2025 and beyond”. The company said with investments propelling its growth, “innovative experiential concepts, and a keen eye on how social spaces evolve, is seeing Neos is reimagine what a night out can look like”. Chief executive Russell Quelch said: “Neos’ current momentum reflects our ambition and belief in the resilience of hospitality venues and their ever evolving patterns. Towns and cities always evolve and grow – not only with pubs and bars, but with restaurants, shops and other high-street staples. We believe in staying relevant, adapting to what people want and creating places that feel exciting to visit again and again. We continually analyse guest feedback and shape our business around their habits and preferences.” Quelch said he was upbeat about what’s next for Neos. “Acquiring the former Walkabout site is another important move for Neos and will be a strong addition to our Brighton cluster,” he said. “We see Brighton as a key market and have plans to further develop our key concepts in the city. Trading levels in the first half of 2025 have been ahead of expectations and we have a strong pipeline in place to further develop the portfolio over the next 12 months. Our mission is simple: create unforgettable experiences and keep raising the bar for nights out across the UK.” At a time when much of the sector is undergoing change, Quelch said Neos is positioning this as opportunity. He said: “By investing, innovating and creating destination venues designed around experiences, the company is future-proofing its venues, responding to demand for social spaces that go beyond a drink at the bar. Far from being in decline, nightlife is evolving, and Neos is leading the change.”

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database tomorrow: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers tomorrow (Friday, 5 September), at 12pm. The database will show the details of 174 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. The database will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis and Premium Club subscribers will also receive a 11,126-word report on the 174 new additions to the database. It is segmented into seven categories – cafe bakery, casual dining, experiential leisure, fine dining, hotels, pubs and bars, and quick service restaurants – making it even easier for users to search. The database includes new openings in the cafe bakery sector such as Manchester cafe concept Federal Café opening in Leeds, The Doughter launching in Nottinghamshire, and Lockdown Bakehouse opening a fifth site in London. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, 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. 

 

Leading hospitality figures sign open letter to Rachel Reeves calling for urgent sector support, Budget to be held on 26 November: UKHospitality and a number of leading hospitality figures have launched a new campaign, calling on the government for urgent support for the hospitality industry – a sector that is “under increasing and unsustainable pressure”. In an open letter to chancellor Rachel Reeves signed by some of the country's leading chefs, operators, and media figures, they explain that “restaurants, bars, pubs, and cafés in London – and across the rest of the UK – are being squeezed out of existence”. A perfect storm of “rising rent and energy costs, hefty tax burdens, a customer base grappling with a cost-of-living crisis and higher wage bills – as a result of the increased national insurance contributions introduced in the last Budget”, have already led to a number of closures this year, “with many other hospitality businesses barely scraping by”. The letter also backs the three key demands of UKHospitality's #TaxedOut campaign: Cut the rate of VAT down from 20%, fix national insurance contributions to boost jobs and reduce business rates to give long term support to the high street. The letter is signed by more than 50 leading figures such as MeatLiquor founder Scott Collins and Vivek Singh, the owner of the Cinnamon Kitchen restaurant group. The letter states: “We understand the government is trying to plug a hole in public finances but the policies currently applied to hospitality are suffocating it. A healthy hospitality industry can contribute so much to the economy, but as things stand, the outlook is bleak – more closures and more job losses. We’re calling on everyone who works in the industry, everyone who wants to see their local pub with pints stacked on the bar rather than windows boarded up, and their favourite restaurant filled with hungry diners rather than posting closure announcements on Instagram, to help amplify our call to the government and secure meaningful relief.” Meanwhile, Reeves has announced she will present her autumn Budget on Wednesday, 26 November. The Office for Budget Responsibility will be given the required ten weeks’ notice to provide an independent forecast. Worries are mounting over the UK’s finances before the Budget, with concerns Reeves will be forced to hike taxes and slash spending to balance the books. 

 

KAM – usage of weight-loss drugs will only grow and hospitality businesses need to sit up and take notice: The usage of weight-loss drugs will only grow and hospitality businesses need to sit up and take notice, according to sector research consultancy KAM. Katie Jenkins, KAM’s marketing and partnerships director, said the growing usage among the UK’s population will increasingly affect the way people eat and drink out, and businesses must adapt to stay ahead of the curve. KAM research showed 4%-7% of UK adults are currently using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, which works out as between 2.1 million and 3.7 million people, and has doubled in the past year. Jenkins said this is a “not insignificant number” when taking into account 7% of the UK population is vegetarian and 3% vegan – “and the time and effort businesses put into catering for those audiences”. Of those not already using the drugs, 24% are likely to consider doing so in the future. The increase in usage means people are increasingly looking for venues offering smaller plates and sharing plates, as well as the ability to customise dishes, KAM said. Venues that are transparent on nutrition and offer healthy menu options are increasingly being sought, with people using weight-loss drugs happy to pay a premium for this. Further statistics show 32% of users are eating and drinking out less and 57% are doing so for special occasions only, while 23% are drinking less alcohol when out. Speaking at UKHospitality’s The Future of Food seminar, Jenkins said: “People are already changing and evolving their menus to be aware of this (most notably in the US). Usage of diet drugs in the UK is rising and hospitality has to be very aware of the trend. We really need to sit up and take notice and accept this is a part of where we are today, but also that it will continue to grow. The numbers of users is only going to grow, and it’s going to grow quite fast, so I’m confident it will impact on our industry – and in the need to understand it and put it into our food menu strategies going forward.”

  

Burger King CFO – government needs to look at everyday items like cappuccinos when defining junk food as well as occasional treats like burgers: Burger King chief financial officer Tim Doubleday has said the government’s food strategy needs to look at everyday items like cappuccinos when defining junk food as well as occasional treats like burgers. Downing Street earlier this year established the Food Strategy Advisory Board (FSAB) to help develop a new cross-government food strategy – to promote public health, among other aims. Discussing the strategy at UKHospitality’s The Future of Food seminar, Doubleday said: “When we talk about the health agenda and high fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) foods, the key point for me is if you look at junk food definitions, people automatically looks at businesses like ours, but our main products are not HFSS. We need to think about products specifically, and we need to think about what is an everyday product versus a treat. On average, people will come to a Burger King five times a year, or a McDonald’s seven times a year. How can this be responsible for the obesity problem in the UK if you have such an infrequent visit? But if you look at daily products – if you have two cappuccinos a day – the government needs to look at these regular items and treat them accordingly.” Doubleday also hopes to see more representation from hospitality in the strategy going forwards. He added: “You would expect hospitality to be a significant part of a food strategy, but the data that was presented at the start of all this didn’t include hospitality, and what that does in my mind is significantly understate the importance of the strategy. Getting hospitality into that is something which is happening now, but also, the strategy’s advisory board doesn’t include anyone from hospitality, which is a point I made to the secretary of state. So, hopefully, in the not too distant future, we will have a representative on that board. Previous food strategies have not worked, and hospitality is uniquely positioned to help this one work. We also need to steer away from taxes and levies and look at encouraging consumer behaviour.” Meanwhile, UKHospitality has warned business the next deadline for new food advertising standards regulations will be the final one, and to check in with their teams now. The government’s new HFSS advertising standards will become law from January 2026 – having been put back several times over the last few years – with voluntary implementation from October this year. Speaking at the trade body’s The Future of Food seminar, UKHospitality policy director Jim Cathcart said: “Businesses should check in with their advertising agencies, marketing teams, social media teams and any influencers or streamers they work with now.”

  

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a foodservice business that is seeking a buying director. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The buying director will take a hands-on approach to lead and develop the buying function, while shaping the overall strategy and building strong supplier partnerships. The role will be instrumental in defining the product offering, securing a competitive advantage, and driving sustainable growth across all categories.” The salary is up to £100,000 and the position is based in Gloucester. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com

 

McDonald's confirms Patrick Gerber as new chief restaurant officer for UK & Ireland, Zoe Hamburger becomes Netherlands MD: McDonald’s has confirmed Patrick Gerber has been made chief restaurant officer of its UK & Ireland business, where he will be responsible for leading operations across its 1,450-strong estate. Gerber brings more than 25 years of experience within the McDonald’s system, having started his career in 1999 as a crew member in Switzerland. He joins the UK & Ireland leadership team from McDonald's Canada, where he served as senior director of national operations from 2021, and most recently as field vice-president east since 2023. The company said: “Patrick's global perspective, extensive experience and expertise across franchising and operations, and his passion for people and restaurant performance make this an exciting appointment for the UK & Ireland business. His leadership has consistently driven excellence, strengthened partnerships with franchisees and championed talent development across the McDonald's business.” Gerber said: “I'm excited to be joining the UK and Ireland business and deliver on the opportunities this market offers. With an ambitious growth plan already in motion, it's a great time to be taking on a role leading our restaurants to build on a legacy of success – driving innovation and enhancing operational excellence. I'm looking forward to working with our talented team and franchisees to continue delivering an outstanding experience to customers in every restaurant, every day.” Gerber’s predecessor, Zoe Hamburger, has been promoted to managing director of McDonald's Netherlands. Hamburger was chief restaurant officer for McDonald’s UK & Ireland for a year and a half. McDonald’s UK & Ireland chief executive Alistair Macrow will leave at the end of this month after a period of transition with his successor, Lauren Schultz, joining from the US side of the McDonald’s business. 

 

F1 Arcade to make debut in mainland Europe with Madrid opening: F1 Arcade, the Formula 1-licensed experiential brand, has signed a master franchise agreement with Top Racing Iberia, which will see it open its debut venue in mainland Europe, in Madrid, Spain, by 2027. The new master franchise agreement will see Top Racing Iberia take on the master franchising rights for the entire Iberian Peninsula, with Madrid marked as its debut location. Top Racing Iberia chief executive Pablo Juantegui is a seasoned executive best known for leading Grupo Telepizza through its international expansion, initial public offering and digital transformation, establishing it as the world's largest master franchisee for Pizza Hut. The announcement follows a period of rapid growth for the UK-born F1 Arcade, which first opened in London in late 2022 and now operates a second UK site in Birmingham and three sites in the US, with more in development. The business said the scope for further UK and international growth continues to strengthen as the sport continues to expand its audience around the world. A new site in West Midtown, Atlanta, is planned to open later this year. Jonathan Peters, F1 Arcade's global president, said: “The signing of this master franchise agreement represents a milestone in expansion plans for the brand, both at home and internationally. We firmly believe in the potential of the Iberian Peninsula – a market with a deep-rooted passion for Formula 1, and home to Spain's very own Grand Prix.” Juantegui added: “Joining the F1 Arcade universe is much more than a business decision: it's an exciting opportunity to bring a unique entertainment experience to Spain and Portugal. This partnership links us to a world-class brand and inspires us to open a new chapter in experiential leisure.” Last year, F1 Arcade announced plans to open 30 locations globally within the next five years, and last month, the company launched a smaller format called F1 Box in London. The company said the new immersive racing experience, which opened at Westfield Stratford City, offers “significant global growth potential”. 

 

Debut opening for Latvian bakery concept is ‘just the beginning in UK’: Latvian bakery concept Cruffins has made its UK debut with the opening of a flagship site in London’s Covent Garden. The new site at 181 Drury Lane offers the brand’s signature sweet cruffins, and a new product for London, the Cruffin Burger, which sees the business use its flaky laminated dough to create “rich, layered savoury sandwiches packed with delicious fillings”. The site has 50 covers for dine-in and a handful of outdoor tables. Also launching is the Cruffins Club, a loyalty scheme offering regulars the chance to unlock secret flavours, rewards and surprise gifts through repeat visits and creative interaction. Cruffins was founded in Riga, Latvia, in 2023. “London has one of the most exciting, creative and highly discerning food scenes in the world,” said Janis Vilisons, director of Cruffins. “We know we have to earn our place here — and that's exactly what we intend to do. We've built a brand around craft, quality and imagination, and this opening is just the beginning for Cruffins in the UK.”

 

Black Sheep Coffee promotes Isobel Childs to EMEA growth director and chief of staff: Speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee has promoted Isobel Childs from UK managing director to the new role of EMEA growth director and chief of staff. Childs joined the business as its financial controller in 2018 before becoming head of finance and then its finance director. She was named its UK managing director in April 2023. Previous to joining Black Sheep Coffee, she was at London Bridge Hospital and Ernst & Young. Propel understands Black Sheep Coffee has no plans to hire into the UK managing director role. Childs told Propel: “We’ve evolved the way our teams are structured to scale more effectively across multiple markets, shifting from country-led roles to function-led leadership.” Last month, Black Sheep Coffee said it had hit a major milestone in its franchising journey, with more than 150 new store commitments across the UK under multi-unit development agreements. The business, which was founded in 2013 and has sites in the US and the Middle East, said its latest agreement provides the franchise partner with the exclusive development rights for Surrey against a commitment to open a minimum of 17 new stores in the territory. Last month, the company also opened its first store in Florida. The site opened at 2,750 SW 27th Terrace in Miami for the brand’s fourth US location overall. As well as more than 100 locations in the UK, Black Sheep Coffee also has four in the UAE and one in France. 

 

JWD Lamian Noodle Bar opens second London site: JWD Lamian Noodle Bar, part of a restaurant company that originated in south west China’s Guizhou province, has opened its second site in the UK, in London’s Canary Wharf. JWD Lamian Noodle Bar has launched at 40 Bank Street. The brand made its debut in the UK with an opening near Liverpool Street station, in the City. The company said: “We are delighted to open in the heart of Canary Wharf. As a brand dedicated to bringing authentic flavours and a truly memorable dining experience, we are excited to welcome our first customers with an exclusive opening promotion. At JWD, we believe that food is not only about taste, but also about connection, culture and joy. Our dishes are carefully crafted with fresh ingredients and a passion for culinary excellence, ensuring every guest enjoys both tradition and innovation on the plate.”

 

Subway to expand jacket potatoes offer across entire UK estate: Subway has moved to launch new loaded jacket potatoes across its 2,132-strong UK estate after a successful trial of the new menu range earlier this year. Called “Spudway”, 170 branches of the brand began a jacket potato trial, which originally ran from February until mid-April before being extended to September, with fillings such as cheese and beans, tuna mayo, chicken tikka and taco beef. The company said since its launch, Spudway has outperformed expectations, increasing both like-for-like sales and visits across the 170 trial locations. Cathy Goodwin, interim director of culinary and innovation Subway EMEA, said: “The nation's love of jacket potatoes is unparalleled. The enthusiasm we’ve seen on social media and the strong demand from our guests throughout the trial made it clear that Spudway deserved a permanent place on our menu.” The company said Spudway is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to “enhance the overall guest experience, drive more traffic to restaurants and help increase profitability for franchisees”.

 

Punch puts Norfolk village pub on market: Punch Pubs & Co, the Andy Spencer-led pub company, has put The Falcon in the Norfolk village of Pulham Market up for sale at a guide price of £395,000 plus VAT. Fleurets has been instructed to market the grade-II listed pub, which is being offered as a corporate disposal on behalf of Punch, which owns and manages around 1,250 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales. The Falcon is a two-storey detached period building comprising an L-shaped bar and separate restaurant, a compact trade kitchen, beer cellar, and two to three-bedroom private accommodation. Inside, the bar seats 28–30, and the restaurant provides 18 covers. Externally, there is a trade patio garden. A separate lawned area offers further development potential for additional seating or play facilities. The freehold interest is available with vacant possession on completion. Last month, Punch said it was aiming to double its single-site acquisition run rate over the next 12 months after acquiring 35 community pubs during its 2024-25 financial year.

 

Auntie Anne’s to open 45th UK site with Sunderland launch: Pretzel brand Auntie Anne’s is to open its 45th UK site, in Sunderland. The US brand, which is being rolled out in the UK by master franchisee Freshly Baked, will launch at the Bridges shopping centre on Saturday (6 September). The kiosk will offer a range of the company's signature goods including baked pretzels and pretzel dogs. Auntie Anne's UK and Ireland's managing director Max Burton said: “We're so proud to be opening our 45th store at the Bridges. Our growth is on track, and it’s fantastic to be sharing Auntie Anne’s pretzels with even more people as we work towards our ambitious goals for 2025 and beyond.” Freshly Baked also holds the UK master franchise for Dutch smash burger brand Fat Phill’s, which launched in the UK in December 2024 and now has two sites in London.

Lyons Holiday Park adds further North Wales site to estate: Lyons Holiday Park, which has more than 20 sites across North Wales and Cumbria, has added Terfyn Pella Caravan Park in Denbighshire to its portfolio, for an undisclosed sum. Terfyn Pella Caravan Park, located between Rhyl and Prestatyn, expands to five acres with 108 single static caravan pitches, of which 106 are privately owned. The park also has planning permission for 115 caravans. Savills acted on the deal.

 

Fat Hippo opens in Leeds, promotes Nick Fountain to marketing director: Better burger concept Fat Hippo has opened its latest site, and its 18th in total, in Leeds. The business, which was founded by Michael Phillips, has opened in the grade II-listed building at 23 Boar Lane in the city centre. Phillips told Propel earlier this year that Fat Hippo planned to open up to five new sites by the end of next year, starting with an opening in Leeds. The business, which last year trialled a breakfast menu, currently also operates 13 restaurants and four concession sites – three with Lane7 and one in Kommune in Sheffield. At the same time, the company has promoted Nick Fountain to marketing and communications director. Fountain, who was previously marketing director at Ghetto Golf, joined the business as head of marketing and communications. Fountain said: “What started in 2019 as a leap into a brand I genuinely believed in has become the most rewarding journey of my career so far. I’ve had the chance to grow with the company, build a wildly talented team, and help shape a brand that doesn’t just serve burgers – it brings people together, creates experiences, and makes a proper impact. Can’t wait for what’s next as we continue growing the herd and spreading the good kind of gluttony across the UK.”

North east gym business set to open 13th site: North east gym business OneGym is set to open its 13th site. The company is launching the outlet in Consett, County Durham, following a £1.2m investment. The 17,000 square-foot venue, in Consett Business Park, will open on Saturday, 20 September. Director Paul Pearson said: “Consett has been on our radar for a long time, so it’s fantastic to finally bring OneGym here.” In October last year, OneGym secured growth funding from ThinCats, giving it the “firepower and confidence to scale at pace”. The funding will enable OneGym to acquire three or four sites per year.

  

Toby Rolph confirmed as new finance director of Dorian Restaurants: Toby Rolph, formerly chief financial officer at Nightcap and Be At One, has been confirmed as the new finance director of Dorian Restaurants, the business behind the Michelin-starred Dorian in London’s Notting Hill. Propel revealed last week that Rolph had joined Dorian Restaurants, which is led by Chris D'Sylva, and also operates Notting Hill Fish + Meat, Supermarket of Dreams, Japanese bistro Urchin and sushi bar Eel. Rolph 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. Dorian Restaurants is set to open Robin’s Ramen, at 7 Kensington Mall, later this year.

 

Former Nobu head chef Scott Hallsworth to launch new Japanese-inspired concept: Former Nobu head chef Scott Hallsworth is to open his latest venture, Japanese-inspired concept Kuroyoko, in Balham, south London, on Friday (5 September). A kushiyaki-style restaurant inspired by the neon-lit backstreets of Japan, Kuroyoko takes its name from the Japanese for “black alley” or “dark side”, which “captures the moody, atmospheric spirit of Tokyo’s after-hours dining scene”. The 30-seat restaurant will specialise in kushiyaki – skewered and flame-grilled dishes – with an opening menu that will include chicken tsukune with sweet soy glaze, octopus with scorched yellow chilli miso, and sticky soy short rib rice pot with ginger. The opening marks phase one of Kuroyoko, with phase two set to debut later this year – the transformation of the basement into two private karaoke rooms. Hallsworth said: “I’ve always been fascinated by Japan’s after-dark food culture – smoky alleyway joints, late-night izakayas, places that feel alive with energy and flavour. With Kuroyoko, I wanted to bottle that atmosphere and bring it to South London – not just the food, but the whole experience.” In July, Hallsworth joined forces with Evolv Collection, formerly D&D London, to bring his pan-Asian concept Freak Scene for an exclusive pop-up residency at Wardour Street venue in London’s Soho that will run until the end of November. Hallsworth first made his name leading kitchens at Nobu London and Nobu Melbourne before launching Kurobuta, with locations in Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Marble Arch.

 

Rhubarb owner hires director of sustainability: Oak View Group, which owns premium international hospitality group Rhubarb, has hired Clare Clark as its new director of sustainability. The company said Clark brings extensive experience in luxury hospitality and sustainability. She most recently served as head of sustainability at CH&Co and has also held roles at the Soil Association, the UK's leading organic certification and campaigning organisation. Clark also sits on the Royal Academy of Culinary Art's sustainability committee. In her new role, she will develop and implement strategies to integrate sustainability across all aspects of Oak View Group’s and Rhubarb’s hospitality operations, with a particular focus on food and beverage accounts through Co-Op Live, Rhubarb and other Oak View Group subsidiaries. PB Jacobse, chief executive of Rhubarb, said: “With Clare's leadership, clients and partners can expect deeper integration of sustainability across operations and enhanced transparency in environmental performance alongside innovative approaches to sustainable food, energy and waste management. Her leadership will help us embed sustainability into everything we do.”

North east bar and hotel group Ramside Estates reports record revenue of £37.2m as it makes ‘significant’ investment in leisure facilities: North east bar and hotel group Ramside Estates has seen record revenue in a year that it made “significant” investment in its leisure facilities. The company reported turnover increased to £37,159,024 for the year ending 30 November 2024 compared with £35,634,220 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was up to £2,629,374 from £2,238,355 the year before following a reversal of bad debt provision of £1,026,606. In his report accompanying the accounts, director John Adamson highlighted “significant” investment in the golf facilities at Ramside Hall near Durham, with total capital expenditure during the year reaching £3.7m as part of a project exceeding £6m. The development will include a golf entertainment centre, which represents a strategic diversification of the company’s leisure offering, and includes a 40-bay, two-floor driving range, a six-lane indoor bowling alley, and a sports bar offering interactive games, including darts, shuffleboards and pool tables. Adamson also outlined proposals for investment at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield, though those plans are on hold while a planning application for a nearby anaerobic digestion plant is considered by a planning inspector. The company is concerned that potential odours from the waste plant could affect hotel operations, including weddings and events. Adamson said of the 2024 results: “The revenue growth was primarily driven by improvements in room rates and food and beverage income. Continued investment across the estate has remained a core focus, ensuring the business meets evolving customer needs and maintains competitiveness within the hospitality sector.” Over the year, staff costs rose by more than £2m to just under £15m with the group employing around 650 staff. No dividend was paid (2023: nil). Ramside Estates also operates the Fed events space in Gateshead as well as bars in Newcastle and Sedgefield.

Brother Marcus to open site in London’s Soho this month: London eastern Mediterranean restaurant concept Brother Marcus will open its new site in London’s Soho later this month. Propel revealed in August that the business, which was founded by Tasos Gaitanos and Alex Large, would open an 84-cover restaurant on the former Social Eating House site in Poland Street this autumn. Brother Marcus has now confirmed the venue will open on Monday, 29 September, offering special set lunches and pre-theatre menus as well as a subterranean 14-seat private dining room. Brunch dishes will include smoky shakshuka (two poached eggs in a pepper and tomato sauce topped with labneh and feta with a side of toasted fluffy pita) and sweet potato fritters (sweet potato, courgette and feta fritters, avocado, crispy kale, turmeric yoghurt and a poached egg). Upstairs, taking over the space of speakeasy The Blind Pig, will be Kamara, the founders’ first cocktail bar and a stand-alone destination. Angelos Bafas, formerly of Kioku Sake Bar, Nipperkin and Soma, will offer cocktails drawing on his northern Greek heritage, alongside a mezze-style small plates menu. Brother Marcus currently has six locations across London – with Soho set to be number seven – and told Propel last month that a regional debut is “under consideration”.

Clays to open flagship site in London’s Soho this month: Clays, the Imbiba-backed, indoor interactive clay shooting experience operator, will open its new flagship site in London’s Soho on Wednesday, 24 September. Situated inside a grade II-listed, art deco building in Brewer Street, the new site, the company’s fourth, will span 20,000 square-foot across three floors. The site will also incorporate Clays Arcade – a space offering four open-play pegs where up to five shooters can enjoy “fast-paced, reimagined versions of Clays’ core games”. The site will also include The Hide, which offers a fully private sanctuary for up to 35 guests, complete with a self-service bar. Tom Snellock, founder of Clays, said: “Soho has always been the stage for London’s boldest ideas, so it’s the perfect home for our largest and most ambitious Clays yet. This flagship marks a defining moment for the business, bringing together our proprietary technology, premium food and drink, and a new late-night energy that takes competitive socialising to the next level. Clays Soho sets the standard for our future growth, as we continue to expand across the UK and into international markets.”

Salut! co-founder launches pop-up restaurant in London’s Islington ahead of plans for permanent location: Martin Lange, co-founder of Nordic and French fusion restaurant Salut! in London’s Islington, has launched a pop-up in the same area ahead of plans for permanent location. Oui Madame, has opened inside Islington brunch spot Sawyer & Grey, owned by Darren Chester, at 290 St Paul’s Road. The pop-up will run for a limited period, with plans to evolve into a permanent space in the local area following its initial phase. Lange, who opened Salut! at 412 Essex Road with his brother, Christoph, in 2016, said: “With Oui Madame, the goal is simple: to create a space where guests return not for one signature dish, but for the evolving conversation between kitchen and season. We want this to feel like a creative residency. Yes, it’s a pop-up, but the food, the training, the sourcing – it’s all treated with the same rigor as a bricks-and-mortar restaurant.” Head chef Matthaios Kollias, formerly of Mandarin Oriental Mayfair’s Michelin-starred Dosa by Akira Back, Café Royal Hotel and Pied à Terre, leads a menu of small and large plates “that balances modern European foundations with flashes of Mediterranean warmth and east Asian acidity”. Dishes include beef tartare with gochujang, nashi pear, sesame oil, pine nuts and sushi rice; red prawn carpaccio with orange-mint dressing, umami mayo and cucumber; and chicken heart skewer with a gochujang glaze and red pepper cheese sauce.