WatchHouse MD – ‘in three years we plan to have 100 sites’, set to made Middle East debut: Caroline Ottoy, managing director of specialty coffee brand WatchHouse, has said the business plans to grow to 100 sites within the next three years, including expanding its fledgling US estate to 25 outlets and having circa 40 franchised venues. Speaking at Propel’s Multi-Club Conference, Ottoy said the business, which acquired five former Orée Boulangerie sites in London earlier this year, is set to make its debut in the Middle East next month after signing its first franchisee for the region. The business currently operates 19 sites in London, one in Bath and two in the US. She said: “By the end of July next year, we will have 35 WatchHouses, and that will be a combination of 27 in the UK, three in the US, and there’ll be five franchises. But in three years, there’ll be 100 WatchHouses, and that will be 25 in the US, 35 in the UK, and the rest will be made up of franchises. The US is our biggest growth opportunity for company-owned sites. We are about to open our first franchise in the UAE, in Dubai, in October. So that’s our first franchise partner, and we’ve got three houses opening with it in the next three months. There are other markets we’re looking at, such as Singapore and Qatar. We are getting one or two emails a day from prospective franchisees. We’re in heads of terms with a couple of other franchise partners. It is about making sure we’re picking the right partner for us. The most successful thing we’ve done is build a culture throughout business. We will make sure our franchise partners are living those core values as well.” With regards to the UK, the business is set to open a new site near the Millennium Bridge and at the Battersea Power Station development in London. WatchHouse has also got a third US site, in Park Avenue South in New York, in the pipeline. Ottoy said the launch in the US gave the business the chance to reset its food offer. She said: “Food plays a huge role in our business. The US has been a really interesting test bed for us. It gave us a chance to reset, to test a new menu, test a new technology stack. But particularly with food, it gave us the opportunity to completely strip it all back. I think it’s really hard when you’re trading and you’re doing good sales, and your like-for-like sales are strong, to suddenly strip the menu right back and then test. So, we were able to do that in the US, and what we’ve seen is by creating a best-in-class food offer alongside our best-in-class coffee offer, it has proven successful, and that is something we’re going to bring back into the UK and globally with our franchise partners.” Ottoy was among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference. All videos from the conference will be released to Premium subscribers today (Friday, 19 September), at 9am. Premium subscribers receive all the videos from Propel conferences each year – around 100 in total. 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.

 

Founders of north west New York-style pizza business Nell’s to speak at final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, open for bookings: Jonny and Charlotte Heyes, founders of Nell’s, the north west New York-style pizza business, will be among the speakers at the final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025. The Heyes’ will discuss the concept’s three-year growth strategy, including becoming a regional standout performer and how it is looking to spread its wings in new territories. The all-day conference takes place on Wednesday, 5 November, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London’s Kensington. Operators can book up to three free places per company while Premium subscribers who are operators can book up to four free places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality and videos from this month’s Propel Multi-Club Conference today: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club subscribers today (Friday, 19 September), at midday. Another 80 companies have been added to the database, which now features 1,113 companies. This month’s edition will also include 114 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club subscribers will also receive all the videos from this month’s Propel Multi-Club Conference today, at 9am. They include Richard Lewis, group chief executive of RedCat Hospitality, the operator of Coaching Inn Group and RedCat Independent Pubs, talking about building on a transitional year for the business, growing a company-wide culture, how its investment programme is gaining momentum and returning to the expansion trail. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers 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. This week’s Premium Opinion features Ben Fordham, the founder of Benito’s Hat and now a Texas-based hospitality consultant, who takes a look at the fundamental role of service in hospitality and how that has come to the fore in the US when communities are impacted by natural disasters. Meanwhile, sector consultant Flo Graham-Dixon explores why more sector operators should provide further transparency around their pricing. 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.

In Conversation – Propel talks to Dishoom CEO Brian Trollip: In the latest In Conversation podcast, Propel group editor Mark Wingett and Mark Stretton, chief executive of leading sector public relations firm Fleet Street Communications, talk to Brian Trollip, chief executive of Dishoom, the award-winning Indian restaurant group. Available today (Friday, 18 September) at 3pm to Premium subscribers, Trollip discusses his career, further plans for the business both nationally and internationally, what new investment will mean for the company and the challenges of “scaling with soul”. 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.

Mitchells & Butlers brand All Bar One, Greene King and Marston’s scoop honours at Footprint & C&C Group Drinks Sustainability Awards: Mitchells & Butlers brand All Bar One, Greene King and Marston’s were among the winners at the Drinks Sustainability Awards. All Bar One picked up the C&C Group on-trade operator of the year accolade, with Bow Bar at Hilton London Metropole highly commended. Greene King was victorious in the stakeholder engagement award and Avani Solutions – Waste Watchers was highly commended. The waste prevention and management accolade was won by Marstons, with Grupo Avinea highly commended. Marston’s was also highly commended in the packaging innovation award category, which was won by Sustainable Wine Solutions for the second year running. Nemi Teas came top in the social impact award, while Heineken UK was highly commended. The sustainable use of raw materials accolade went to Nc’Nean Distillery, with Hogs Back Brewery highly commended. Nc’Nean Distillery also took home the sustainable use of water award, where Coca-Cola Europacific Partners was highly commended. Pubinno picked up the C&C Group on-trade supplier of the year award, while EcoPure Waters was highly commended. Asahi was victorious in the energy efficiency award category. Meanwhile, Hugh Anderson, founder of Downton Distillery, won the special achievement award, and Nick Hargrave, chief executive of EcoPure Waters, was highly commended. Now in its seventh year, the Drinks Sustainability Awards is the barometer for sustainability and responsible business practice for the drinks industry – and celebrates businesses and individuals making a difference to sustainability in the on-trade drinks sector and its supply chain.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a fast-growing, private equity-backed hospitality group based in Central London that is seeking a chief financial officer. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This hands-on leadership role is ideal for a seasoned finance professional who thrives in dynamic environments and wants to help shape the future of an ambitious, international business. The chief financial officer will take full ownership of the finance function, leading, inspiring and developing a talented team, while driving financial planning and analysis to deliver actionable insights that inform strategic decisions. Partnering closely with founders, managing directors and private equity investors, the chief financial officer will ensure reporting is not only accurate but truly influential.” The salary is up to £200,000. For more information, email oliwia@corecruitment.com

 

Caffe Nero aiming to open 75 new stores in the coming year after reporting record sales: Premium coffee house brand Caffè Nero has said it is aiming to open 75 new stores in the coming year after reporting record sales for the year ending 31 May 2025. The group, which operates 1,150 stores across 11 countries with more than 11,000 employees, posted sales of £626.4m for the period. The group delivered like-for-like sales growth of 7%, with overall sales up by 12%. In the UK, Caffè Nero achieved like-for-like sales of 7% and grew overall sales by 10%. The group said that in a year when the coffee category has been lacklustre for much of the industry, it has “thrived”, gaining market share across all territories. During the year, the group added 94 stores, opening 62 new locations and adding 32 through the acquisition of the 200 Degrees and FCB brands in the UK. Founder and group chief executive Gerry Ford said: “I’m hugely encouraged by the group’s performance during the last financial year. Despite tough trading conditions and a challenging financial climate, we have continued to outperform the market and have grown our customer numbers. It’s a testament to the hard work of our store teams and the strength of our brand. I’m really proud of what all our people have delivered over the last 12 months. We enter the current financial year with strong momentum and have set ourselves up well for another successful year.”

 

JKS Restaurants global CEO – ‘our focus for the immediate future is North America and the Middle East’: Pavan Pardasani – the newly appointed global chief executive of JKS Restaurants’ Indian restaurants including Trishna, Gymkhana, Brigadiers and Ambassadors Clubhouse – has said the company’s immediate future focus will be on expansion in North America and the Middle East. This autumn, the company’s first US location of Ambassadors Clubhouse will open at 1,245 Broadway, bringing the brand to Manhattan’s NoMad neighbourhood. Later this year, JKS will launch its second US Indian restaurant with the opening of Gymkhana at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Pardasani told Bloomberg he sees opportunity around the US for the restaurant group’s concepts as well as around the globe, particularly in the Middle East. Gymkhana will be JKS’ primary vehicle for expansion. He predicts by the end of 2026, there will be three, if not more, Gymkhanas in the US, including one potentially in New York. “Maybe the West Village or Soho, Tribeca or west Chelsea,” he said. More broadly, there will be more JKS Indian brands internationally by the end of 2026. Beyond New York, Pardasani is especially optimistic about Las Vegas, but has no plans to stop there. He said: “San Francisco is on our list. Dallas and Texas as a whole. Boston, Miami, Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles. They’re not just hopes and dreams; they’re markets where we’re doing due diligence, evaluating sites and talking to potential partners. If you look at Texas, we might decide Gymkhana goes to Dallas and Brigadiers should be in Houston and Ambassador Clubhouse in Austin.” Beyond that, JKS is focused on the Middle East. “It's natural to assume we seek out markets where there’s a strong Indian population, and certainly there is one in Dubai,” said Pardasani. “Data points to people spending money in Dubai, and Indians are right up there near number one. It is such a global tourism hub, and we can play into that really well.” He’s also already scouting sites in Abu Dhabi. “Our focus for the immediate future is North America and the Middle East,” said Pardasani. “But we do see opportunities to expand our brands in select markets across Europe and Asia.”

 

Krispy Kreme UK opens its first drive-thru pod: Krispy Kreme UK has opened its first drive-thru pod. The US company, which operates circa 140 stores in the UK, has opened the pod at the A57 Retail Park in Warrington. Luke Forde, central operations manager for Krispy Kreme UK, said: “A proud moment for Krispy Kreme UK & Ireland – we’ve opened our new drive-thru pod in Warrington, which is the first of its kind in our market. This innovative format has been years in the making and shaped by so many amazing people. We are now proudly serving made fresh daily doughnuts and coffee to the north west. For our customers, this shop offers choice and convenience with drive-thru, click-and-collect and third-party delivery – bringing the Krispy Kreme experience to more people, in more ways, than before. A massive thank you to everyone who played a part in turning this concept into reality.” Last month, Propel exclusively revealed Krispy Kreme UK had begun a multi-year turnaround plan “to drive more sustainable, profitable growth” as it reported a pre-tax loss of £6,465,000 for the year ending 31 December 2024 compared with a profit of £6,128,000 the previous year. Revenue grew to a record £119,909,000 compared with £119,751,000 the year before, while adjusted Ebitda more than halved to £7,532,000 from £15,982,000, “due to reduced margins driven by higher cost of sales and labour costs”.

Gavin George joins Market Halls as non-executive director: Former Laine Pub Company chief executive Gavin George has joined Market Halls as a non-executive director. George, who stood down as Laine’s chief executive last year after almost 30 years at the helm of the business he co-founded, joins at a time of significant growth for Market Halls and follows the opening earlier this year of a new site in Paddington and the acquisition of Shelter Hall in Brighton. This took Market Halls to an estate of five sites, which also includes food halls in Oxford Street, Canary Wharf and Victoria. George said: “The founder, Andy Lewis-Pratt, and his team have built an exceptional business, and I’m delighted to be invited to join at a pivotal moment to provide support and guidance as the business sees significant growth and expansion. The discovery, choice and accessibility that Market Halls offers its customers and the potential that the food hall environment brings to the supercharging of that experience, is a very exciting proposition to me.” In July, as part of its growth plan to double its estate and grow annual sales to more than £100m, Market Halls appointed former Laine managing director Dan Hills to the role of managing director and chief executive designate. Hills said: “I had the good fortune to work with Gavin for 25 years, so I know how much value he can add in helping shape our strategy and in supporting our team in the decisions that significantly impact the direction of the business. I’m very much looking forward to working with him again.” George also holds non-executive and board advisory roles with Punch Pubs & Co and The Revel Collective and is a council member at UK Hospitality and the British Beer & Pub Association.

 

Vagabond – ‘2025 has been positive, with like-for-like customer numbers showing double-digit growth across estate’: Vagabond Wines has told Propel that 2025 has been “positive” for the business, with like-for-like customer numbers showing double-digit growth across the estate. It comes as Vagabond opened its first site since being acquired out of administration by Majestic last year. The opening, at Paternoster Square in St Paul’s, Central London, comes as Vagabond marks its 15th anniversary. The site, which was previously the filming location of Channel 4’s First Dates restaurant, offers more than 110 wine varieties by the glass – the most of any Vagabond site – together with a seasonal menu of shareable small plates. A spokesperson told Propel: “We’re pleased to say 2025 has been positive for Vagabond, with like-for-like customer numbers showing double-digit growth across the estate. That said, we remain mindful of the well-documented headwinds around cost inflation and pressure on consumer spending, which continue to shape the trading environment. It’s been a year of both challenge and opportunity, but with our 15th anniversary, the St Paul’s opening, and two more sites due before Christmas, we’re cautiously optimistic about building momentum into the pivotal festive quarter.” Since being acquired by Majestic, Vagabond has relaunched its food programme, expanded its wine academy and is preparing to reopen its Urban Winery at Canada Water later this autumn. The St Paul’s flagship is the first of several new sites planned over the next 12 months, including the next opening, at Liverpool Street in October. In June, Vagabond, which operates nine other sites in London and Birmingham, said it was aiming to double its estate over the next three years.

 

Taro opens Brighton site, more to come across UK: Taro, the Japanese restaurant group, has opened a site in Brighton, the ninth in the group’s expansion plan, “with more to come across the UK”. The company, which opened its debut site in 1999, in Soho’s Brewer Street, has opened a 70-cover site at 60 Ship Street for what it called its “first major venture outside of London”. The company said: “Following launches in Brentwood and Catford, Brighton marks an exciting milestone in Taro’s UK expansion – a natural next step for the group. With its young, diverse community, rich cultural history and thriving food scene, Brighton offers the perfect setting for Taro's approachable and affordable take on traditional Japanese cuisine.” Inspired by the Japanese concept of “Taishu Shokudo” (an everyday dining room), Taro Brighton serves the signature dishes the brand is known for – from steaming bowls of ramen and udon noodles to sushi, sashimi, and tempura – all made fresh to order. Taro Kinura, founder of Taro, said: “We are proud to open Taro Brighton – our first major venture outside of London. Brighton is a city full of energy, creativity and diversity, with a rich sense of history and community spirit – it felt like the perfect home for Taro’s next chapter. We’re excited to bring our authentic Japanese flavours to the city, from fresh handmade sushi and our much-loved bento boxes to new special sushi rolls created just for Brighton by our chefs. As always, guests can expect warm, heartfelt hospitality – the kind Taro has become known for. We can’t wait to welcome the people of Brighton into our restaurant and share what we love most: great food made with care.” 

 

Go Ape sees footfall drop 14% due to ‘challenging economic environment and extreme weather’, differential pricing boosts average revenue per customer: The UK arm of high-ropes adventure course operator Go Ape saw its footfall drop 14% in 2024 due to a “challenging economic environment and sustained extreme weather”. Turnover dropped from £27,519,957 in 2023 to £26,509,368 while pre-tax profit fell from £3,548,991 to £2,228,161. In the company’s accounts for the year to 31 December 2024, director Darren Garden said: “The company’s visitor numbers decreased 14% against 2023 to 1,034,000 due to a challenging economic environment and sustained extreme weather in the first half of 2024. This extreme weather caused damage to activities at two of our locations in the Lake District, resulting in extended periods of closure that further negatively impacted visitor numbers. Turnover decreased by 4% on 2023 as our business interruption insurance offset some of the lost revenue from closed activities caused by weather damage, with revenue being further supported by the introduction of differential pricing. Changes to pricing have increased average revenue per customer by £2.78 compared with 2023 due to headline price increases as well as the introduction of differential pricing during peak holiday and weekend periods.” The company opened one new location and the second stand-alone Tree Top Adventure and Tree Top Adventure-Plus course in 2024, at Salcey Forest in Northamptonshire, and the group now operates 106 adventure activities in locations throughout the UK. No dividends were paid (2023: £300,100). During the year, the company made payments against the deferred consideration totalling £2,880,000, and in March 2025, the group made a further payment of £1,500,000 from the distributable reserves generated in the year.

 

German Doner Kebab to open 150th UK site: German Doner Kebab (GDK), which is backed by private equity group True, will open its 150th UK site next month, in Leeds. The milestone site, which will open in the city’s Boar Lane, follows the brand’s 100th UK opening in May 2022. Leeds will have three GDK restaurants, following locations at Cardigan Fields and the White Rose shopping centre, which the company said reinforced the brand’s strong regional presence and customer demand in the north. Simon Wallis, GDK chief executive, said: “Reaching 150 restaurants is an incredible milestone for GDK, and it’s only been possible thanks to the dedication of our hard-working team and the commitment of our franchise partners across the UK. A special mention goes to Strava Group, which is opening this landmark site. Leeds Boar Lane marks another exciting step in our journey, and we’re looking forward to building on this momentum together.” In May, True made a “strategic investment” in GDK, which also operates circa 20 sites outside the UK, to support its continued rollout in Britain and accelerate growth across existing and new markets.

 

Flat Iron adds Newcastle to 2026 opening pipeline: Flat Iron, the affordable steak concept that is backed by McWin Capital Partners and TriSpan, is to open in Newcastle next year, Propel has learned. The 18-strong Flat Iron, which is led by Tom Byng, is understood to have secured the former Co-op bank site at 84 Grey Street. As previously revealed by Propel, Flat Iron has also secured the former Brown’s site in Brighton’s Ship Street for an opening later this autumn. This will be followed by an opening on the Four Wise Monkeys restaurant site in Bristol’s Clare Street early next year. Earlier this month, the company secured a new senior debt facility to support its expansion. The company, founded by Charlie Carroll in 2012 as a pop-up above the Owl & Pussycat pub in Shoreditch, east London, has been provided with the facility by OakNorth. Propel revealed last month that McWin and TriSpan had acquired Flat Iron. It is understood the deal, which is set to complete later this year, is set to value the business at circa £70m. Turnover for the business increased 38% to a record £49.6m in the 12 months to the end of August 2024, with underlying profits rising to £5.7m, from £3.8m in 2023.

 

We Do Play secures site in London’s Vauxhall for Activate concept: We Do Play, the multi-concept experiential leisure operator backed by the Frasers Group, has secured a landmark, 10,000 square-foot site in London’s Vauxhall for Canadian immersive game brand Activate. We Do Play has signed a 15-year lease at 61–62 Albert Embankment, next to Vauxhall station, which places Activate “at the heart of one of London's most connected and culturally vibrant districts”. The space spans two refurbished railway arches, formerly occupied by Metropolis Motorcycles. The site marks another milestone in Activate’s UK rollout, following recent acquisitions in Newcastle and London – in Oxford Street, Westfield White City – and its flagship at The O2, which opened at the end of 2024. Last month, Frasers Group, formerly Sports Direct International, made a minority investment in We Do Play, which also operates Flip Out, Putt Putt Social and Rumble Rooms. The group said it plans to launch more than 40 Activate locations nationwide in the coming years. Richard Beese, co-founder of We Do Play, said: “Vauxhall offers everything we look for – excellent transport links, a strong residential base, and a vibrant cultural scene. It's a perfect home for Activate, and we're excited to bring our experience to this community.” Colliers’ acted for landlord The Arch Company on the deal. 

 

Heron & Brearley launches new pub model, restructures pubs business: Isle of Man operator Heron & Brearley has launched “Okell’s Independent”, a new pub model that “enables talented individuals to own and operate their own businesses” within its 29-strong Okell’s Inns estate. The initiative forms part of a strategic restructuring of the company’s pubs into three distinct categories: independent, heritage and classic. The independent category will focus on pubs that benefit from individual operator creativity, while heritage pubs will maintain Okell’s flagship status with enhanced food offerings and accommodation, and classic pubs will continue as community venues under the traditional managed model. Under the new turnover rent model, Okell’s acts as an investor partner, providing financial support by covering stock, assets and most overheads, while partners establish their own operating businesses and receive a percentage of the site’s turnover rather than a traditional salary. Executive chairman of Heron & Brearley Group, Mark Crowther, said: “We’re bringing a proven UK model to the Isle of Man that empowers entrepreneurs to put their own stamp on their pub. This is different from franchising – it’s about genuine partnership where we provide the funding, building, supply chain and marketing support, while our partners bring the creativity and community knowledge that makes great pubs special. Pubs are people. So, our managed model can’t always be 29 different things and be at our best all the time. These partnerships will bring autonomy, flair and creativity to pubs that need that individual touch – whether they’re rural venues or night-time establishments that require special knowledge of what the local community wants.”

 

Jamie Oliver says his restaurant empire went bankrupt because he didn’t ‘get the basics right’: Chef Jamie Oliver believes his restaurant empire went under because he did not “get the basics right” and was “conceptually thick”. The chef saw his Jamie’s Italian restaurant business go into administration in 2019, and he has now explained the business crumbled because he “got the basics wrong”. When his restaurant business, which also included Barbecoa, went bankrupt in 2019, 1,000 jobs were lost and 22 of his 25 restaurants were closed. Speaking with Davina McCall on her Begin Again podcast, Oliver, who is dyslexic, said “pain and failure is all part of really shaping your peripheral vision and your senses”. He said: “I think, whatever it is that you’re trying to do, you might not have failed because you were wrong. Sometimes I’ve failed because I was too early, and people weren’t ready. Sometimes I’ve failed because I was too late. Sometimes I’ve failed and I got all the hard bits right and I got the basics wrong because I spent a lifetime refusing to accept any responsibility around numbers and maths, which goes back to school. It’s my issue, not the school’s issue. I was in the worst group for maths. I didn’t pass maths at school. Conceptually, within that, yeah, I’m thick. I have a negative view of myself when it comes to maths. So, when I lost my restaurants, you know, all the stuff that most people struggle getting right, we got right, but it was really the basics [we got wrong].”

 

Fireaway makes Spanish debut: Fast-growing pizza brand Fireaway has made its debut in Spain, in Barcelona. As previously revealed by Propel, Fireaway’s first site in the country has opened in the Sant Gervasi area of the Spanish city. The venue has seating for 16 people and offers takeaway and home delivery. Last year, the brand, which operates circa 165 sites in the UK, made its debuts in Turkey and Portugal. Fireaway also operates sites in the Netherlands and Northern Ireland. Talking earlier this year, founder Mario Aleppo said his ambition is to expand the business to 400 sites in the UK and to sign further agreements abroad. Franchise rights have been sold in Australia, India, France, Spain and the Cayman Islands.

 

London & Regional Hotels makes two strategic commercial hires as it looks to ‘maximise performance’ across portfolio: London & Regional Hotels – which owns and manages an extensive hotel portfolio across the UK, Europe, US and the Caribbean – has made two strategic commercial hires as it looks to “maximise performance” across its global portfolio of 112 hotels. The company – which has 16 UK locations including Cliveden House in Taplow, The Lensbury in Teddington and The Abbey Hotel in Redditch – has hired Amrita Makkar as director of commercial strategy and Philip D’Antoni as director of sales, North America. Makkar has spearheaded the successful UK debuts of three major international brands – Principal Hotels, Standard Hotels and Virgin Hotels – and brings nearly two decades of experience in revenue management and commercial leadership. She will lead the development and execution of commercial strategies across the group, supporting London & Regional Hotels’ continued growth and innovation. Joe Pettigrew, chief commercial officer at London & Regional Hotels, said: “Amrita’s appointment marks a significant moment for our commercial strategy at London & Regional Hotels. She brings not only deep expertise and a sharp strategic lens, but also the kind of leadership that inspires teams and drives transformation. We’re excited to have her on board and confident she’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the next chapter of our growth.” D’Antoni, meanwhile, has 20 years of luxury hospitality experience and was most recently vice-president of sales at Reuben Brothers’ in the hospitality asset management team of RB Capital. Ian and Richard Livingstone created London & Regional Hotels in 1990.

 

New artisan sandwich concept launches £250,000 fundraise for first permanent site: New artisan sandwich concept Primo Banjo has launched a £250,000 investment to help open its first permanent site. The company is currently operating as a pop-up within the Bone Idyll Distillery in Water Lane, Kingston-upon-Thames, south west London. Founder John Woodward is raising £250,000 in SEIS advanced assurance to secure its debut permanent site in Kingston and enhance its online ordering and delivery partnerships. The funding will also go towards developing new limited-edition menu lines and collaborations and furthering the company’s sustainability initiatives, including recyclable packaging. Woodward previously said the business  is “ready to scale” and that securing a first site will be followed by five further sites in year two and up to 50 within five years. “We’ve built something people genuinely love,” said Woodward. “Our SEIS raise will help us bring Primo Banjo to more communities, create jobs and continue delivering sandwiches that are as memorable as they are delicious.”

 

Caprinos opens three stores in a week as it extends its reach in London: Fast-growing pizza brand Caprinos has opened three stores in a week as it extends its reach in London. Within the last seven days, it has opened two new delivery-only sites in the capital, in Tottenham Hale and Kentish Town, as well as a new store in Macclesfield, Greater Manchester. Co-founder Khalil Rehman told Propel earlier this year that Caprinos was looking to build its presence in the capital after growing much of its estate of more than 100 stores around the UK’s regions. It currently has four other sites in the capital – in Limehouse, Upminster, Croydon and East Sheen. The new openings also bring the total of franchise locations the brand has opened over the last 12 months to 17. Caprinos, which Rehman co-founded with Gul Nawaz in 2014, has plans to scale up to operating 200 sites by 2030. They said: “Over recent years, we have grown to operate a really strong footprint across the UK but haven’t yet established ourselves in London. As we look ahead to the next 100 stores, we see significant opportunities to bring our high-quality, affordable proposition to consumers across the capital. Our new sites in Tottenham Hale and Kentish Town will allow us to introduce the brand to new consumers, test and learn, and build a strong foundation for long-term, sustainable growth. We have a strong pipeline of new openings to the end of the year, and with each new opening, we become even more confident in the relevance and scalability of our offer. We can’t wait to carry this momentum into 2026 and get one step closer to transforming Caprinos into a household name.”

 

GR Hotels acquires sixth site: GR Hotels, a subsidiary of luxury brand Group Retreats, has secured its sixth site. The company has acquired the lease of the Royal Oak Hotel in Hawkhurst, Kent. The grade-II listed building has 12 en-suite rooms, function rooms, a pub and restaurant, as well as car park and beer garden. GR Hotels is set to breathe new life into The Royal Oak Hotel, with a revamp of its letting rooms already underway. GR Hotels’ other sites are the Queens Head and The Castle in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland; Grassington Lodge in Skipton, North Yorkshire; Vines Black Bourton in Bampton, Oxfordshire; and Care Beris in Builth Wells, in Powys, Wales. Fleurets acted on the Hawkhurst deal.

MJMK opens new Portuguese restaurant to replace Lisboeta in London’s Fitzrovia: MJMK Restaurants has opened contemporary Portuguese restaurant Luso to replace Lisboeta at 30 Charlotte Street in London’s Fitzrovia. The menu begins with a selection of snacks and petiscos such as Algarvian-style pickled carrots, and homemade fish pate, followed by lighter dishes including brill crudo with apple and red pepper vinaigrette, and Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato (clams steamed gently with garlic, coriander and lemon). Larger sharing dishes feature grilled wild bream with corn migas, crispy Leitão (slow-roasted Ibérico suckling pig) and a mixed wild mushroom tart with mushroom caramel. The wine list champions Portugal’s “most exciting terroirs”, alongside select European varieties to complement the menu, alongside a focused cocktail offering. Luso has 90 covers, with the ground floor now converted to a dining area. MJMK co-founders Marco Mendes and Jake Kasumov said: “For us, opening Luso feels like coming home. It’s a true privilege to work with such a talented team. Together, we’ve built something that means a lot to us personally, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone in to share it with us now that the doors are finally open.”

 

Former Great British Menu contestant launches new Japanese tasting menu concept: Former Great British Menu contestant Nina Matsunaga has launched a new Japanese tasting menu concept. Matsunaga, who appeared on the BBC programme in 2024, is chef-owner of The Black Bull in Sedbergh, a 17th-century inn with rooms located on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. She has now launched a new restaurant concept at the pub called Tsuchi – the Japanese word for “earth” or “soil”. Underpinning her menu is “a commitment to eating well while treading lightly, showcasing the best of British produce, whether fresh in season or carefully preserved”. Dishes with British, Japanese and German influences include Hijiki salad, Lincolnshire smoked eel, Sunnybanks Farm courgette flower, Howgill Hereford beef, Niigata rice, cured egg yolk, Cumbrian samphire, Scottish strawberry purin and plack seasame. The tasting menu is priced at £85 per person for seven courses, with an additional £55 per person for a matched wine flight, and is served at dinner from Wednesday to Saturday and on Saturday lunchtimes. Matsunaga said: “I wanted Tsuchi to be more than just a restaurant; it’s a reflection of my belief that great food should nourish both people and planet. By combining the very best British seasonal ingredients with the flavours, techniques, and traditions of my Japanese and German background, I’m striving to create dishes that are both grounded and surprising.”

 

New independent pan-Asian restaurant to open in Nottingham next month: New independent pan-Asian restaurant Kinu will open in Nottingham next month. Offering guests an “endless flow of exquisitely crafted small plates” for a set price of £45 per head (excluding drinks and dessert), Kinu will open in the former Carluccio’s site at 12 Low Pavement on Friday, 17 October. The 4,400 square-foot restaurant will offer 120 covers plus three private dining rooms, each seating between 12 and 25 guests. Dishes will include yuzu miso glazed fish, smoked short rib rendang and signature xiao long bao. Owner Goz Kar said: “Kinu is my labour of love, created with the intention of being more than just a place to eat. Every detail has been designed exclusively for Kinu, with originality and authenticity at its core. This isn’t a concept borrowed from elsewhere, it is a one-of-a-kind experience created especially for Nottingham’s guests.”