US-based private investor backs JKS Pubs buyout, rebrands as Ardent Pub Group: A US-based private investor has backed the management buyout of JKS Pubs, the vehicle launched four years ago by JKS Restaurants and Dominic Jacobs, Propel has learned. The transaction for the three-strong, London-based business marks a successful exit for JKS and the pub group's seed investors who backed the business in 2021 through an Enterprise Investment Scheme. The group, led by Jacobs, will move forward under a new name, Ardent Pub Group, and will enable the group to accelerate growth, targeting eight new openings across London and beyond in the next three to five years. It said the new international investment “underscores strong confidence in both the British pub sector and the strategic direction of Ardent”. Established in 2021 as a partnership between Jacobs and JKS Restaurants, the pub portfolio comprises The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea, The George in Fitzrovia and The Hound in Chiswick. It comes as Ardent reports 20% year-on-year sales growth and more than 40% year-on-year uplift in group level Ebitda, which it said demonstrated “strong performance despite industry-wide cost pressures and regulatory changes”. Jacobs said: “This is a hugely proud moment for me and for the Ardent team. I want to say a heartfelt thank you to [JKS founders] Jyo, Karam and Sue [Sethi] for their belief, guidance and friendship over the past few years – we simply wouldn't be here without them. I'm delighted that we can take forward the pubs we built together under a new banner: Ardent Pub Group.” Jyotin Sethi said: “Partnering with Dom and the team over the past four years has been an incredible journey, and this transaction represents a great outcome for all JKS Pubs stakeholders. Together, we've shaped what we believe a true modern British pub can be, and we're immensely proud of what we have created – three brilliant pubs that are beacons of warmth and hospitality, with a brilliant team behind them. As Ardent embarks on this exciting new chapter, we look forward to watching its continued success and growth, and we have every confidence it will set new benchmarks for the industry.” This summer, JKS Restaurants sold its stake in Bao London to The Lo & Behold Group (TLBG), a Singaporean hospitality group. TLBG acquired JKS’ position in the company and will support Bao in its next phase of growth. Tamweel Capital advised on the JKS Pubs deal.

Harden’s – London sees sharp jump in number of restaurants charging £250-plus per head, quality of openings ‘better than ever’: London has seen a sharp jump in the number of restaurants charging £250-plus per head, the new Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2026 has revealed. Published today (Thursday, 4 December), the guide said the increase from 14 to 24 establishments probably reflected “the relative robustness of the power to spend in the capital compared with elsewhere in the country”. The guide also noted the high number of new openings going straight into the top 100, which it said suggested the quality of restaurant openings is “better than ever”. Harden’s co-founder Peter Harden said: “Our survey results and data-crunching from across the sector shows the remarkable resilience at work from those in the trade: our number of entries remains very steady and strong newcomers are emerging in each area of a quality that is probably better than ever. What is challenging for suppliers can be good for consumers. Customer expectations are so high now, restaurants have to work ever-harder to cut through and we’re seeing a number of new openings from across the UK going straight into the top 100. This really is testament to the rigorous standards, hard work and innovation being put in by front and back-of-house teams throughout the nation who are impressively determined to find a way in difficult circumstances and continue to raise the bar to bring diners high quality experiences.” The new guide also names Mark Birchall’s Moor Hall in Aughton, Lancashire, as the UK’s best restaurant in its annual poll, rising from last year’s position of 74 and pipping Simon Rogan’s 2024 winner L’Enclume and Alain Roux’s Waterside Inn Bray to the top spot. The north west has 149 venues in the guide, 12 of which are in the top 100. Cumbria cemented its place as the county with the most top 100 listings outside of London (38), with seven placements in total compared with last year’s five. A total of 30,000 reports were submitted from a survey of 2,500 diners. Restaurants at all price levels are included: from street food vendors to the country’s most ambitious dining rooms, with 2,800 restaurants listed in total.