CGA by NIQ director – ‘having a clear authentic offer is critical in what is a crowded market’: Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, has said having a clear authentic offer is “critical” for operators in what is a crowded market. Chessell also said the proportion of consumers eating out weekly has begun to increase, although spend per head is plateauing and quality is prioritised over quantity. Speaking at the Propel Multi-Club Conference, he said: “This [quality] is non-negotiable for consumers now when they go out. Pretty much every driver – about return visits, about spend, about likelihood to recommend – quality comes out at the top. When people are talking about value, and clearly consumers are value conscious, it's much more closely correlated with quality, than it is around price. People are looking for premiumisation, people are looking for quality – 51% of consumers say luxury drinks offer good value for money. The other thing quality is really linked with is authenticity. So as consumers, we can try and make a dish at home, but when we go out, we want the quality to be high, we want the ingredients to be right, but also we want the staff to be knowledgeable about the dish. But as brands scale, it can become harder and harder to still be seen as authentic by consumers. But why is it important? Well, ultimately half of consumers will visit venues they consider to be authentic more frequently. So it's a driver of footfall. Nearly two thirds are happy to spend more at venues considered to be authentic and nearly one in four will spend more on a dish that's authentic.” Chessell also said operators must continue to innovate – something that is becoming harder to do in the face of rising costs. “As consumers, we look to the out-of-home to try new things,” he said. “Two thirds of consumers visit venues more frequently and three quarters are happy to spend more in venues they consider to be innovative.” Chessell said three quarters of consumers stated they also visit venues for an “elevated experience”. “That can be tasting menus, games, quizzes, bottomless brunch, a surprise – it doesn't have to be something off the scale, but something that kind of delights and makes you feel good when you leave the venue,” he added. Chessell said while the market has started to flatten a little bit, it's still shrinking. He added net growth was around drink-led venues – community pubs, high street pubs and bars. Chessell was among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference. All videos from the conference were released to Premium subscribers on Friday (19 September). 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.

Former Ratner’s CEO Gerald Ratner to speak at final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, open for bookings: Gerald Ratner, former chief executive of jewellery firm Ratner’s, will be among the speakers at the final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, which is open for bookings. Ratner, whose business had 2,500 stores during his tenure, described an item it sold for an affordable price as “rubbish” – it cost him his job. He will talk about the mistakes he has made, the role of resilience and overcoming adversity to find success again. 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 updated Multi-Site Database with 3,458 operators and 11 new companies on Friday: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database on Friday (26 September), at 12pm. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,458 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 1,002 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 800 (23%) pub and bar operators, 603 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 487 (14%) quick service restaurant (QSR) operators, 283 (8%) hotel operators, 229 (7%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 11 new companies. The database includes new companies in the QSR sector such as Mexican restaurant concept Mucho Picante, better burger business Beef King and London spice bag specialist Scaldy. 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.

Sales warm up for pub groups in August as restaurants fade in heat: Warm weather helped Britain’s leading managed pub groups to solid sales growth in August, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. Pubs’ like-for-like sales were 2.8% ahead of August 2024, making it their best month since April. Sustained sunshine in many areas attracted consumers to pubs with gardens or terraces, and CGA by NIQ data shows it was a particularly strong period for sales of beer and cider. However, the heat also reduced some people’s levels of eating-out, and restaurant groups recorded a 1.6% dip in sales in August. Bars’ sales were down by 5.0% from August 2024, and the on-the-go segment was 4.5% behind. With all channels combined, the tracker shows like-for-like growth of 0.5% for hospitality operators in August. It is the tracker’s first positive month since April and only the third of the year so far. Total sales, including at venues opened by groups in the last 12 months, were up by 3.9%, fractionally ahead of the UK’s current rate of inflation. For the sixth month out of eight, hospitality operators in London were outperformed by groups further afield. Sales within the M25 were 0.3% up on August 2024, but they were ahead by 0.6% outside of the M25. Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said: “August’s figures complete a challenging summer for hospitality. Ongoing price rises are making consumers cautious, and while the sunshine loosened some people’s spending in pubs, many restaurants have found it hard to generate the sustained real-terms growth that is needed to mitigate sharp increases in costs. The future remains bright for well-run, good-value and guest-focused hospitality groups, but the outlook remains difficult for some businesses as we move into the crucial final months of the year.”

The best dishes in London are old favourites finds poll of top chefs: Bone marrow, chocolate cake and clams have been named among some of the top dishes in London in a celebration of the capital’s evolving food scene that transcends social media trends. The Times reported six of the city’s top chefs gathered to determine its 25 best food offerings. Each was asked to nominate ten dishes before discussions in June. No panellist’s dish could appear on the list and cocktails were ruled out. The chefs making up the panel, part of the T 25 series in The New York Times, were: Jeremy Lee, of Quo Vadis restaurant and members’ club in Soho; Claire Ptak, of the east London bakery Violet Cakes; Adejoké Bakare, the owner of Chishuru in Fitzrovia; Cynthia Shanmugalingam, of Rambutan in Borough Market; James Lowe, who recently closed Lyle’s; and Max Rocha, of Café Cecilia in Hackney. Topping the list is Fergus Henderson’s bone marrow and parsley salad, a starter first served at the St John restaurant, Smithfield, on its opening menu about 30 years ago. A close second was the deceptively simple chocolate nemesis cake, made famous by the River Café in Thames Wharf, west London. Described as a decadent chocolate cake with a fudgy texture, it is typically made with dark chocolate, sugar, butter, eggs and a small amount of flour (or not). The cake’s unusual name is said to reflect that it is irresistible yet challenging for even top chefs to master. The stir-fried clams at Singburi, a signature dish of the family-run Thai restaurant in Leytonstone, east London, which opened in 1999, was one of the most popular choices. The clams are balanced with browned garlic, the fragrance of sweet basil and the chef Sirichai Kularbwong’s nam prik pao, or roasted chilli jam. 

Starbucks employees sue the company over new dress code: Starbucks workers in Illinois, Colorado and California have sued the company, claiming its new dress code policy is unlawful because they were not reimbursed for required clothing purchases. The class action suits allege companies are required to reimburse employees for expenses that “primarily benefit the employer”. This follows an organised strike at more than a dozen stores in May, in which unionised baristas protested the dress code’s enforcement without collective bargaining. The changes to the dress code policy were rolled out on 12 May, requiring baristas to wear “any solid black short and long-sleeved crewneck, collared, or button-up shirts and any shade of khaki, black or blue denim bottoms”, to pivot the visual focus to the green apron all baristas wear. The updated dress code is part of a broader list of initiatives put into place by chief executive Brian Niccol, who came on board a year ago with the task of turning around negative sales and traffic. Those initiatives also include menu simplification, enhanced customer experience and adding more staff to ensure speed of service during peak times. A Starbucks spokesperson told Nation's Restaurant News: “The facts show Back to Starbucks is making the experience better for both customers and partners. Retail partner turnover is at record lows and about half the industry average. More partners are getting the shifts they want. And more partners than ever recommend Starbucks as a great place to work. As a part of Back to Starbucks, we simplified our dress code earlier this year to deliver a more consistent coffee house experience to our customers and provide our partners with simpler and clearer dress code guidance. As part of this change, and to ensure our partners were prepared, partners received two shirts at no cost.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a high-end institute in Berkshire that is seeking a head of membership. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will be responsible for managing all aspects of membership, from marketing the offering, ensuring members receive the highest level of service and satisfaction starting at initial interaction through to stepping through the door for the first time as a member. This role requires exceptional interpersonal skills, a keen attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the high-end market.” The salary is up to £70,000 plus package. For more information, email dan@corecruitment.com

KellyDeli reports growth of kiosk network, purchase of entire Spanish business: KellyDeli, the UK-based sushi brand founded by Kelly Choi, who partnered with sushi master Yamamoto-San to create “better sushi” at her Sushi Daily kiosk brand, has reported it added 100 new kiosks in retail locations in the year to 31 December 2024, bringing the total to 1,147 kiosks by the year-end. Sales were €453,736,000 (2023: €441,727,000) while profit for the year was €12,397,122, up from €5,185,403 the year before. Ebitda rose 5% to €25,300,000. KellyDeli trades across Europe, the Middle East and Mexico, adding Finiper Group in Italy, Walmart Group and Condis Group to its retail network during the year. KellyDeli was the first in Europe to introduce a sushi kiosk inside a grocery retail space, popularising fresh supermarket sushi. The kiosk business produced total retail sales of €416,000,000, up 2% versus 2023. The group returned to positive like-for-like growth of 0.5% for the year, with the second half showing 1.5% like-for-like growth. KellyDeli reported producing the highest quality sushi is “critically important”, so it “strategically exited the Danish market, continued to optimise its network in Germany and close its last central kitchen location in the Netherlands”. KellyDeli reported particularly strong performance in the Netherlands (up 7% like-for-like), Iberia (up 7% like-for-like) and the Nordics (up 11%). Directly operated stores saw costs 13% lower than the year before due to closure of central kitchen operations. The business operates under the Sushi Daily, Happy Tokyo, Kelly’s Market, Ban Tuk and Tuk Tuk brands. KellyDeli acquired full ownership of the Tuk Tuk business in Spain during the year. “We look forward to growing this business both in Spain and more broadly across Europe,” the group stated. Sales in the UK were €72,625,426 (2023: €67,649,936), sales in the rest of Europe were €380,090,768 (2023: €373,171,919) and in the rest of the world they were €1,019,968 (2023: €905,759). 

 

Young’s CEO – targeting 1,500 bedrooms in medium term, to launch loyalty scheme in fourth quarter: Simon Dodd, chief executive of Young’s, has said the company has a medium-term goal of adding 500 bedrooms to its estate to take it to circa 1,500 bedrooms, and is on track to launch a new loyalty scheme called You & Young’s in the fourth quarter of its financial year. The company currently has 1,063 bedrooms across its 277-strong estate, with a medium-term target of reaching 350 pubs. Speaking about competition in the overnight stay pub market at Propel’s Multi-Club Conference, Dodd said: “It's getting harder. There's a few good operators out there that have caught us up. Some have actually overtaken us. I would love to have around 1,500 bedrooms in the medium term. It’s a huge and important part of our business, around 10% of our sales. We talk about pubs and rooms, and we launched Young's rooms, because there's a very different consumer mindset. When you think of a hotel, you think of a formulaic reception. It's quite branded, whereas if you talk about rooms, you can talk about pubs and the quirky nature of pubs. We want the room to be as good as the pub, or the pub to be as good as the room. Because if you're checking into a bedroom and the pub's a bit horrible, then it defeats the object. We're always trying to evolve the offer in our bedrooms. One thing that we look at in detail is our reputation. Our next step on the journey is we're launching You and Young's, and that's our loyalty platform for bedrooms.” The company said 35% of its bedroom stays are made up of corporate bookings, with leisure the remainder, with 42% pre-booking food and beverage. Revpar across its bedroom estate is £92, with combined rooms and food and beverage spend of £45m. Last year, the company acquired the 55-strong City Pub Group business, and Dodd said more than £8m of synergies had been unlocked to date from the deal. He said: “The culture of Young’s and City Pubs’ businesses are closely aligned, and are now operating as one coherent business.” Dodd was among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference. All videos from the conference were released to Premium subscribers on Friday (19 September). 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.

 

Notto, Sandwich Sandwich and Sushinoya set to open at London’s Broadgate Central: Pasta bar concept Notto, Sandwich Sandwich, and Sushinoya – the new sushi concept from Wasabi founder Dong Hyun Kim – have all signed up to open sites at Broadgate Central, in the City. Propel revealed in June that Michelin-starred London chef Phil Howard was planning to open a site under his pasta bar concept Notto, in the City of London. Howard – who is behind Elystan Street, Church Road, and Kitchen W8 – launched Notto in London’s Piccadilly in November 2022, having changed its name from Otto following a legal issue. The venture, with business partner Julian Dyer, of Pots & Co, was the first bricks-and-mortar site for the concept, having initially launched as an online delivery service in May 2021. In 2023, Howard opened a second Notto site at 4 Henrietta Street in Covent Garden. He will now open a smaller, more grab-and-go version of the concept called Notto to Go at 1 Broadgate. The venue will feature a “signature burrata bar and a no-compromise approach to takeaway, with a handful of seats for those who want to eat in”. Sushinoya, which offers sushi, hot dishes, and rice bowls made fresh daily, will open its second site, in Broadgate Circle, after launching earlier this year in Paddington. Sandwich Sandwich will open a fourth site in the capital, at 1 Broadgate, after recently securing a site in Tottenham Court Road. Maison Ladurée, the world-renowned Parisian patisserie, has also taken space at the scheme. Broadgate Central will span the ground and lower ground floors of 1 Broadgate and 100 Liverpool Street, linking Liverpool Street station to Finsbury Avenue Square with 120,000 square foot of retail and hospitality space.

 

Mowgli enters delivery space with Uber Eats partnership: Mowgli, the Nisha Katona-led, TriSpan-backed business, has made its first venture into delivery through an exclusive national partnership with Uber Eats. The 27-strong Mowgli, which last month opened in Norwich, said for the first time its signature street food dishes like gunpowder chicken, angry bird and tamarind treacle fries and house curries such as mother butter chicken and temple dahl “can be delivered to homes across the UK at the tap of a button”. Earlier this summer, the company hired Tom Hatcher as its new business development director, to oversee the brand’s first steps into the delivery market. Mowgli chief executive Lucy Worth said: “Mowgli is about more than just food – it's about togetherness, generosity, and the joy of sharing dishes that feel alive with flavour and soul. For years, our guests have asked when Mowgli would be available for delivery. Thanks to our exclusive partnership with Uber Eats, we can finally bring that experience home. I am so proud that our guests across the UK will now be able to enjoy Mowgli wherever they are.” Matthew Price, regional general manager of UK & Ireland and northern Europe at Uber Eats, said: “We're thrilled to welcome Mowgli exclusively to Uber Eats. This much-loved national brand underscores our momentum, and we're focused on helping it grow its business and reach new customers. At the same time, consumers continue to turn to us for the unrivalled selection, real value and reliability we offer. As the UK's leading and fastest-growing delivery platform, we're proud to be the first choice for restaurants and customers alike.”

 

Blend Family to open Birmingham site: Blend Family, the team behind Liverpool’s GPO food market and Kargo MKT in Salford’s Media City, is to open a site in Birmingham’s Digbeth area. The business, which will make its London debut later this year, with the launch of the Tower Bridge Collective, will open a new food hall, Alfred Works, on the ex-Custard Factory site. Named after Alfred Bird, the chemist and inventor behind custard powder, the new space will pay tribute to Birmingham’s industrial legacy while carving out space for contemporary culture, food, and fashion. Alfred Works will span more than 17,500 square foot of indoor space, featuring an indoor food hall with 15 kitchens, a large outdoor courtyard, immersive social gaming, and a kids’ area with a sandpit. The site will also house Blend Family’s second Blend Culinary Foundation Kitchen, continuing its mission to battle growing food poverty. Matt Bigland, founder of Blend Family, said: “Alfred Works is built for Birmingham by the people, for the people. It’s a space where kids can play, friends can gather, and stories can be shared over a pint or a plate. We’re building more than a food hall – we’re building a home.”

 

Wendy’s franchisee Khidmat to launch brand’s first site in south west: Wendy’s franchisee Khidmat is set to launch the brand’s first site in the south west. The restaurant will open on the upper level of Plymouth’s Drake Circus shopping centre, as part of a “thoughtful regional expansion”. The new restaurant will be led by Khidmat’s managing director Farhat Abbas – whose portfolio includes Subway, EE and Vodafone – supported by director of operations Isa Naeem. “Plymouth offers a unique blend of energy and diversity,” Abbas said. “From students and a thriving local population to shoppers from Cornwall and Torquay, the city centre is undergoing a powerful regeneration that aligns with our vision for elevated hospitality. We’re proud to be part of this next chapter and look forward to bringing Wendy’s fresh food to fans across the south west region.” The new restaurant will feature Wendy’s latest global next generation design, which includes digital-first features like self-order kiosks. Guests can expect a full breakfast menu alongside Wendy’s signature offerings, and the opening will also create 40 jobs. Khidmat signed up as a Wendy’s franchisee in November 2024, agreeing a deal that will see six restaurants opened across the south west of England.

Ever So Sensible Restaurants to open two more sites this year, lands prestigious people management and workplace culture award: East Midlands independent restaurant group Ever So Sensible Restaurants has told Propel it will open two more sites this year. Ever So Sensible Restaurants currently operates ten locations across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. It comes as the company has landed a prestigious people management and workplace culture award. The group has been awarded Investors in People platinum accreditation. Since its first Investors in People accreditation in 2019 (silver), Ever So Sensible Restaurants has progressed through gold in 2022 to platinum in 2025, consistently outperforming benchmarks across workplace engagement and leadership. Chris Bulaitis, chair of Ever So Sensible Restaurants, said: “We’re incredibly proud to receive platinum. Our philosophy has always been ‘people first, all the way.’ This award recognises the care, pride, and recognition shown by every member of our team, and it reflects our belief that by making work better for our people, we deliver exceptional experiences for our guests.” Amanda Ryalls, Investors in People practitioner, added: “Ever So Sensible Restaurants is a shining example of how putting people first leads to long-term success. Its platinum status is richly deserved and is now the leading benchmark for the wider hospitality sector.”

Manchester Indian and Pakistani restaurant concept preparing to franchise, with interest from overseas already: Manchester Indian and Pakistani restaurant concept Zouk Tea Bar & Grill is preparing to franchise and is already gaining interest from overseas. Zouk Tea Bar & Grill was founded by brothers Tayub and Mudassar Amjad in 2005 and initially opened in Leeds Road, Bradford, the following year. This was followed by a 300-seater restaurant in Manchester’s Chester Street, which opened in 2009. The business has now partnered with consultants Presman & Colard to develop a franchise strategy, with the ultimate aims for international expansion. “With interest already coming from UAE, Egypt and Sri Lanka, Zouk is on the cusp for global growth,” said Presman & Colard chief operating officer Charlie Mander. “Zouk has built a strong reputation for combining authentic Indian and Pakistani cuisine with a modern dining experience and is now looking to take its brand global through franchising. With a loyal customer base, diverse offerings including cooking classes and product ranges, and a vibrant identity, Zouk is well positioned for expansion. Presman & Colard will guide them in structuring franchise models, identifying international partners and managing market entry strategies. This collaboration aims to help Zouk maintain its quality and brand identity while tapping into growing global demand for authentic, experiential dining, paving the way for international growth.”

Heavenly Desserts gearing up for Manchester and Rotherham launches: Artisan dessert restaurant Heavenly Desserts is gearing to launch in Manchester and Rotherham in the coming weeks. The brand will open at Unit 2, Cheetham Hill shopping centre in Bury Old Road, Manchester, on Saturday 11 October. This will be followed by a launch at Unit 5, Forge Island in Rotherham on Saturday, 1 November. A company spokesman said: “We felt the north deserved a little more love, so we’re excited to share our next UK stops are Cheetham Hill and Rotherham. Both restaurants are being opened by existing partners, who are stepping into another venture with us, a real testament to their belief in the brand and our shared vision for growth.” The two openings will bring the brand’s UK estate to 63 sites. Heavenly Desserts also had two overseas locations, in Mississauga and Pickering in Canada, with two more coming soon, in Edmonton and Victoria. In June, Heavenly Desserts signed a 50-plus store development deal for India, partnering with Bhatia Group for a roll out that will include flagship and franchise outlets across 20-plus Indian cities, starting with Delhi.

Scotsman Hospitality hires new director of food: Scotsman Hospitality, which operates more than 50 venues in Scotland, has hired Victoria Copley as its new director of food. The group said Copley brings a wealth of culinary expertise, operational leadership, and a proven record of innovation across the hospitality sector. Her diverse background also includes senior roles with BaxterStorey and Homegrown Hospitality alongside running her own private dining company. In her remit at Scotsman Hospitality, Copley will oversee the food strategy across the group’s diverse portfolio, focusing on innovation and championing guest experience. Lesley Welsh, chief operating officer at Scotsman Group, said: “Victoria’s depth of experience, creativity, and passion for food strategy will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and elevate our culinary offering across Scotland. Victoria’s contribution will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our dining experiences, and we are excited about the journey ahead.”

Staycity secures planning permission for new aparthotel in London’s Vauxhall: Aparthotel operator Staycity Group, operator of the Staycity and Wilde brands, has been given the go-ahead for a 185-room Wilde Aparthotel in London’s Vauxhall. The company and its development manager Citygrove have achieved resolution with Lambeth Council for the scheme at Wyvil Court. Located at 10 Wyvil Road, the development will include a bar, co-working space, cafe and pantry shop and create 140 jobs. “This is an exciting milestone for Staycity Group to secure planning permission for its own development south of the Thames and in bringing a new Wilde to Vauxhall,” said Barry Hickey, managing director of Staycity’s real estate arm. “The design team on this project has created a beautiful, sustainable concept that will deliver a unique hospitality offering, will generate jobs and deliver lasting economic benefits for the area.” Construction is expected to begin in summer 2026, with the new Wilde scheduled to open in early 2028. Staycity, founded in Dublin in 2004, currently operates 6,000 keys across 36 aparthotels in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the UK. In February, the then 36-strong business secured a new £77m loan from OakNorth to support its future growth as it looks to expand to 18,000 rooms by 2029.

Time Out opens market in Budapest: Time Out Group, the global media and hospitality business, has opened its Time Out Market in Budapest. The 27,000 square-foot venue in the Hungarian capital is the group’s first to open in central and eastern Europe. Time Out Market Budapest offers 11 kitchens, three bars, five event spaces and around 540 seats. Opened in partnership with Corvin Food Market Kft, the market is located in Corvin Palace. Time Out Market Budapest is the company’s 12th food and cultural market and sixth management agreement. A further four management agreements are signed – Vancouver, Abu Dhabi, Prague and Riyadh – along with one owned and operated site – New York Union Square, which is set to open on Friday (26 September). The group said it has more sites in advanced negotiations. Last month, Time Out Group reported its markets revenue grew 10% to £47m for the year ending 30 June 2025 compared with £42m the previous year, but said trading performance in the final quarter was below management expectations.

London padel concept set to make Welsh debut: London padel concept S3 Padel is set to make its Welsh debut. The company is due to open in late 2025 at the redeveloped Ferranti site in Bangor, owned by Bearmont Group. The facility will feature eight premium padel courts alongside shuffleboard, table tennis and pickleball. Tom Rooney, chief executive at S3 Padel, said: “Launching in Bangor marks an exciting milestone as we expand into Wales. This venue has been designed to bring people together. We want S3 Padel Bangor to be a place where the community feels at home.” Propel reported last week that S3 Padel, which currently has sites in Wembley and Brent, was to launch a third London location, at Redical’s The Liberty Romford. The company also has sites in Sutton, Derby and Manchester due to open this autumn, with multiple new venues planned to open across the UK in 2025 and 2026.

Husband and wife team launch Veeno in Durham: Husband and wife team Dan and Donna Lewis have launched a franchise site for Italian wine bar business Veeno in Durham. The pair, who previously operated the clubhouse at Bishop Auckland Rugby Club, have taken a 15-year lease on a 3,130 square-foot space at The Riverside. The site is a sixth for Veeno, which also has locations in Bristol, Chester, Edinburgh, Leeds and Leicester. Dan Lewis said: “We cannot wait to bring a slice of Sicily to Durham city. Every bottle tells a story of sun-drenched vineyards, family heritage, and a deep respect for the land.” Donna Lewis said: “We fell in love with the Veeno story, the authenticity of the wine, the tradition and innovation. You’ll not find any of the wine served here in another venue in the city, and the experiences are a really fun way of exploring the wine.” A Veeno spokesman added: “We’re thrilled to announce the opening of our new Veeno in Durham. At the heart of this story are Dan and Donna, a passionate and motivated couple who turned their love for hospitality into something bigger: becoming Veeno franchise owners. Their energy, vision, and dedication to creating a welcoming space for people to connect over wine and food is exactly what Veeno stands for.”

Dakota gets go-ahead for York hotel: Boutique hotel brand Dakota has been given the go-ahead for a site in York. The company has been granted permission by the city council to demolish the Northern House building that will form part of the ongoing regeneration of Rougier Street in the city centre and replace it with the hotel. The hotel will include around 140 rooms, a bar, dining areas and top-floor room terraces. Dual access will be provided from Rougier Street and Tanner’s Moat. Dakota operates six sites across the UK.

 

North London McDonald’s franchisee acquires two more branches: A north London McDonald’s franchisee who has been with the business for more than 40 years has acquired two more branches. Hamid Darbandi joined McDonald’s in 1983 and initially spent 17 years as a business manager before starting out as a franchisee in 2001. Through his Zed1 Enterprises business, he operated restaurants in Tottenham, Archway and Edmonton. Darbandi has now added further sites in Seven Sisters and Camden Town to his portfolio. He said: “I’m delighted to announce two exciting new additions to Zed1 Enterprises – Seven Sisters and Camden Town. This achievement would not have been possible without the hard work, dedication, and commitment of both past and present members of my team.” In the year to 31 March 2024, Zed1 Enterprises grew turnover to £12,249,441, up from £10,726,034 in 2023. Pre-tax profit also increased from £4,577 in 2023 to £392,508. Dividends of £180,549 were paid (2023: £52,447).

Team behind north London cafe concept Fink’s to launch biggest project to date for fifth site: The team behind cafe concept Fink’s in north London is launching its biggest project to date for its fifth site. The team has taken over the café space at Clissold House in Clissold Park, Stoke Newington. The former café in the grade II-listed property, which dates to the 1800s, went into administration last year. Opening on Wednesday, 1 October, the venue will have three spaces – the kiosk, the Pink Room and the dining room. The kiosk, which will be accessed through the park’s rose garden, will have a service counter serving coffee and speciality beverages, breakfast bakes to-go and confectionaries, as well as a selection of snacks. The Pink Room – the main cafe space – will offer house-made cakes, sandwiches, seasonal salad pots and a range of hot and cold dishes to grab and go. The dining room will have space for up to 45 covers, with room for a further 18 diners under the adjoining portico outside. Co-founders Jess Blackstone and Mat Appleton said: “This is such an exciting new chapter for us and our team. Clissold Park has been a home from home for us and it feels almost surreal that we’re in the house and we’ve transformed it into a Fink’s haven of colour and deliciousness from the second you step through the double doors.” Blackstone and Appleton launched Fink’s Salt & Sweet in Mountgrove Road in 2014 before adding Fink’s Gillespie in Gillespie Road, Fink’s Chats in Chatsworth Road and Fink’s Pump House in Clissold Park. 

Travelodge to open new 182-room hotel on site of new national arena in Cardiff: Travelodge is to open a new 182-room hotel on the site of a new national arena in Cardiff. The Travelodge will be located on the same site as the 16,500-seat arena, which will be operated by Live Nation. The hotel will also be a modern reception area and “next generation” rooms, along with an 85 Bar Café. Tony O’Brien, Travelodge’s UK development director, said: “We’re excited to begin construction on our new hotel at the national arena in Cardiff. Once finished, the arena will hold world class events, making it a prime location for visitors, and the 182-room Travelodge will be one of our flagship assets, providing a well-connected, great-value base for business and leisure customers attending events at the new arena or visiting Cardiff and the surrounding area. We’re delighted to see work now underway at this fantastic development and look forward to welcoming guests when the hotel opens.”

Scottish bakery business shuts after struggling with rising costs and falling footfall: Scottish bakery business Kilted Donuts has shut all its operations after struggling with rising costs and falling footfall. The Edinburgh bakery was founded in 2017 by Mark Anderson, from Glasgow, and his wife Lena Wollan, from Minnesota, and began as a stall in Leith Market before opening its first shop in 2018. Known for its American-style doughnuts with Scottish twists, the business later expanded to three city locations. Earlier this year, the company shut its Morningside Road branch just eight months after opening due to rising costs and lower than expected turnover, and despite efforts to consolidate, the couple have now decided to close completely. Posting on social media, they wrote: “After a lot of soul-searching and with heavy hearts, we’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to close Kilted Donut. The mix of ongoing economic uncertainty and family health challenges has made it impossible for us to keep going the way we’d hoped.” The couple were inspired to start their bakery after visiting District Donuts in New Orleans on their honeymoon.

New food hall in Birmingham reveals operator line-up ahead of opening this week: A new food hall in Birmingham has revealed its operator line-up ahead of opening this week. St Paul’s Market, which is the brainchild of Independent Birmingham, Liverpool’s Baltic Market and Thai street food vendor Buddha Belly, will launch in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter on Friday (26 September). Independent Birmingham signed a 15-year lease on a 10,000 square-foot warehouse in Mary Ann Street, which will house the food and entertainment hub over two floors and have 500 covers. Buddha Belly's Stirchley restaurant Soi 1268 will have one of the seven spots in the hall, serving up its massaman and dishes that took owner Sai Deethwa to MasterChef. The other traders have been confirmed as fellow Stirchley operator Chancer's, which will be serving fried chicken and beignets, bao specialist Tiger Bites Pig, Colbeh, which specialises in Persian meat and small plates cooked over fire, La-Pop, which offers customisable gelato ice cream and cheesecake pops, and Indian restaurant Zindiya. Corner Shop is the final operator, serving its Detroit-style pizza.