Hundreds of operators sign up for Culture, Talent & Training Conference: Hundreds of operators are attending this year’s Culture, Talent & Training Conference, which offers the chance to learn about the company cultures and training strategies of some of the sector’s best companies. Propel managing director Paul Charity said: “It’s a chance to hear from some of the sector’s best operators about how they are motivating, rewarding and retaining their teams in what is such a challenging labour and economic environment. We already have many hundreds of people registered for the event – it’s a unique chance to health-check and strengthen your company culture.” The Culture, Talent & Training Conference is on Thursday, 9 October (click here for full schedule). Tickets for the conference are £295 plus VAT for operators and £345 plus VAT for suppliers. There is a 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club subscribers. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places. Among the companies and brands attending are: Brindisa Kitchens, Pizza Pilgrims, Honest Burgers, Troo Hospitality, Wagamama, Signature Group, Merlin Entertainment, Timothy Taylors, SW16 Bar & Kitchen, The Cheese Bar, McManus Pubs, The Wonderfield Group, WatchHouse, Parogon Group, St John Group, Fair Shot Cafe, Fuller's, Wells & Co, San Carlo, Allara Global UK, Bill's, McMullen & Sons, Treetop Golf, Open House London, Brother Marcus, Sticks‘n’Sushi, Clays, The Coaching Inn Group, Camino, Anglian Country Inns, Azumi Restaurant Group, Silverstone, Individual Restaurants, Scoffs Group, Boxpark, Insomnia Cookies, Cosmo Restaurants, Incipio Group, PizzaExpress, Burgerism, ETM, Itsu, Daniel Thwaites, The Lost Estate, D3 Collective, Barworks, Cornish Bakery, Kerb, Chilled Pubs, Hickory's, The Chesterford Group, Mother Mercy, Harts Group, VR Entertainment, Fitzbillies, Black Sheep Coffee, Electric Star Group, Nightcap, Wingstop, The Big Table Group, The Culpeper Family Hospitality Group, The Alchemist, Tomahawk Restaurant Group, Bubala, Mowgli, Urban Leisure Group, Big Fang Collective, Almond Pubs, True North Brew Co, Dishoom, Wenzel's, Knoops, Ruckus, Professionals at Play, ETM, Heartwood Collection, The Other House, Buzzworks Holdings, Flat Iron, Red Engine, Burger King, Marston’s, Ruckus, Green & Fortune, Tonkotsu, Rose Pubs and Butcombe Group.

The Dice Box opens in King’s Lynn for seventh site: Board game cafe concept The Dice Box has opened in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, for its seventh site. The concept was launched by husband-and-wife team Trevor and Stephanie Davies in Leamington Spa in 2018, and a franchise offer was launched in 2021. The company’s latest opening, in Tower Street in King’s Lynn, is run by franchisees Chris Larwood and Stuart Walkley. Customers are able to choose from hundreds of board games for an entry fee of £2.50 per person per hour, with discounts on offer for children. They can also enjoy pizza, burgers, light bites and locally baked cakes while they play, plus Italian roasted coffee and The Dice Box’s own beer. “We’ve met lots of people who didn't know board game cafes existed, which is what we are all about,” Larwood told the Eastern Daily Press. “We want people who might not have visited before to come and enjoy our space. In just three days we have already had returning customers. and there has been a real buzz for it. Games bring people together as they hold the rules. There are no outside opinions, noise or prejudice; people can just enjoy the good atmosphere.” As well as its debut site in Leamington Spa and the new one in King’s Lynn, The Dice Box also has locations in Peterborough, Worcester, Stockport, Eastbourne and Sheffield.