Chicken Shop CEO – we’re aiming for 70 UK sites and thinking about Europe: Chicken Shop chief executive John Nelson has said the business is aiming for 70 UK sites long-term and thinking about European expansion. The Sir Charles Dunstone-backed business, which was previously known as Chik’n, currently has six locations spread across London. Speaking at the launch of Just Eat’s report on its contribution to the UK economy, Nelson outlined a longer-term target for Chicken Shop, which last year received a further £8.275m investment from Dunstone, its main shareholder. “We have plans to do four more [stores] this year and ten next year, and longer-term, we’ll be looking at 70 in the UK and thinking about going into Europe,” Nelson said. “60% of our volume comes from dine-in and 40% from delivery, so they are both super important channels for us, but delivery is part of our landscape now and is only going to get bigger. A lot of businesses would have folded during covid without delivery, and I would probably lose 40% of my team without it. Ten years ago, my parents wouldn’t have a clue about it (ordering for delivery online) but now even they can order! We have plans to expand in the north, and as we do, Just Eat will become more important as it has more of a presence in the north.” Founded in 2015 by Carl Clarke and David Wolanski who met at Latitude Festival in 2010, the business rebranded in 2022 after entering into a partnership with Soho House Group. In October last year, Propel revealed that Chicken Shop was looking to grow off the back of a strong trading performance and further backing from Dunstone, who also backs Five Guys here. The £8.275m loan was a second from Dunstone, who previously loaned the business £3.25m. Last month, Nelson told Propel that Chicken Shop continued to benefit from strong trading momentum as consumers increasingly look to trade up to premium chicken offers. It came as the company strengthened its management team with the hires of a head of acquisitions and a head of sales and marketing. Chris Pashley, formerly of McDonald’s and Starbucks, joins as head of acquisitions, while David Souter joins as its new head of sales and marketing.

Liberation Group chief executive Jonathan Lawson to speak at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club members: Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of Liberation Group, will be among the speakers at the Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference. The all-day conference takes place on Tuesday, 14 May at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. Lawson will discuss how the award-winning business has maintained its high standards while continuing to grow its mainland estate, the development of its bedrooms business as it targets a 700-bedrooms division, and the integration of the Cirrus Inns business, including its entry into the London market. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £395 plus VAT for suppliers. There is a 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club members. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

Variety of pub and bar operators to feature in next New Openings Database being released to Premium Club members on Friday: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club members on Friday (3 May). The database will show the details of 130 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. It 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 members will also receive a 6,700-word report on the 130 new additions to the database. The database includes new openings in the pub and bar sector such as New World Trading Company opening The Botanist in Lichfield, Staffordshire; Marylebone Leisure Group launching its 11th site called the Lock Inn located in Jamestown Road, Camden; and Mitchells & Butlers adding to its 26-strong Browns Brasserie & Bar brand with an opening in Exeter. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, in association with Virgate; 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. Plus, all members will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to five Propel paid-for events – The Excellence in Pub Retailing Conference (14 May), Social Media for Profit (18 July), the Talent and Training Conference (1 October) and Restaurant Marketer and Innovator (two days in January 2025). Operators will also be able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club members 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 members will be sent a dedicated monthly newsletter that will highlight key updates in the sector and direct subscribers to all the vital content their membership offers. Premium Club members 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 a supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Consumers are ‘cautiously increasing’ their sector visits and spend: Consumers are cautiously increasing their visits and spending in pubs, bars and restaurants, CGA by NIQ's latest Cost of Living Pulse reveals. The research shows more than 43% of consumers went out to eat or drink at least weekly in March – two percentage points more than in February, and the joint highest figure since early 2023. More than a third (37%) of consumers said they spent more money on eating and drinking out than they did in February – a month-on-month increase of eight percentage points. Younger adults and regular visitors are driving the increase in visits, according to the research. Nearly half (48%) of those aged 18 to 34 are going out more often than usual. Among consumers who typically go out weekly, two in five (40%) are visiting more frequently. CGA by NIQ said: “The figures raise hopes that consumers are increasingly confident about their spending as inflation and cost pressures ease. There are signs that momentum will build further in 2024, as nearly a third (31%) anticipate allocating more money to eating and drinking out over the next month – five percentage points more than those who will spend less (26%). Optimism has been lifted further by the latest CGA Hospitality Business Tracker, which reported above-inflation year-on-year sales growth of 5.2% for managed hospitality groups in March. However, well over half (57%) of all respondents said they are still severely or moderately impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. Two thirds (69%) of those who are going out less often than usual said it is because of cost-of-living increases, and nearly half cite menu price increases (48%). The majority of older consumers, rural residents and infrequent users continue to visit pubs, bars and restaurants less often than usual.”

Just Eat MD – growth in grocery on platform is good news for our restaurant partners: Just Eat managing director Claire Pointon has said the growth in grocery on the platform is good news for its restaurant partners. Speaking at the launch of a report detailing Just Eat’s contribution to the UK economy, Pointon said: “Prior to covid, you very much had delivery based around evenings and dinner time, or sometimes as a treat, but it is absolutely becoming an everyday essential. What we’re seeing is, just in the restaurant business, people trading in more moments like breakfast and lunch. We’ve seen a real growth in volume in those key day occasions, which really highlights that the consumer sees the need and the opportunity – that it can be delivered and is convenient – and they opt into that. What we’ve seen with grocery is it’s bringing more customers to the platform, as well as existing customers switching into it, and one of the interesting things around grocery is frequency. The younger consumer is also coming into grocery, the 18 to 24-year-olds, especially late at night. I think what it means for restaurant partners is it’s bringing that sort of customer on to our platform, and they can therefore see your brand.” Pointon added that Just Eat is seeing 40% more frequency in customers coming back, and that she sees the business as “digital supporting the lifeblood of the high street”. She added: “The role we play is reducing the cost of entry into a digital platform, as independent businesses have to be very careful about where they put their capital – we can do the heavy lifting.” The report, commissioned by Just Eat, found that the platform and its partners contribute £3.5bn to the UK economy, with 21,000 full-time equivalent jobs supported across the economy. Just Eat has 88,000 restaurant and retail partners across the UK and serves 97% of UK postcodes. According to the report, for every £1 in GDP directly generated by Just Eat, a further £5.85 is supported across the economy, and for every job created, a further 12 are supported across the economy.

Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats agree to tackle illegal working in the UK: Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats have committed to make extra security checks on their British riders, the government said, as it steps up efforts to make it harder for people to work illegally. Reuters reported that the government said a “small minority” of riders, who the companies check can work legally, have taken advantage of the system to avoid ensuring their substitutes had the same right to work in Britain. In response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by Reuters last year, the government's interior ministry said 42% of riders stopped by an enforcement team over six days in April 2023 were found to be working illegally. “Illegal working puts their customers at risk, drives down wages and defrauds the taxpayer,” said illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson after he met the three companies that dominate the market. “It is vital that we shut down any loophole that allows it to happen.” The companies had committed to now bring in “enhanced security checks”, the government said. Deliveroo was the first to roll out a new substitute registration feature, including right to work checks, earlier this month.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a specialist catering and events business that is seeking a director of sales. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will be responsible for leading the sales team, helping plan the sales strategy, as well as managing your own portfolio of venues and clients.” The salary is up to £60,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email marlene@corecruitment.com.

McDonald’s CEO – consumers continue to be even more discriminating with their spend, which is putting pressure on the QSR industry: Chris Kempczinski, chief executive of McDonald’s, has said that “industry traffic is slowing” across all of the brand’s major markets. He added consumers continue to be “even more discriminating with every dollar that they spend as they face elevated prices in their day-to-day spending”, which is putting pressure on the quick service restaurant industry. Kempczinski was speaking after McDonald's reported global like-for-likes were up 1.9% in its first quarter ending 31 March 2024 – with the UK seeing growth. He said: “As I reflect on the first quarter of the year, it is clear that broad based consumer pressures persist around the world. Consumers continue to be even more discriminating with every dollar that they spend as they face elevated prices in their day-to-day spending, which is putting pressure on the quick service restaurant industry. It is worth noting that in the first quarter industry traffic was flat to declining in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, and the UK. And across almost all major markets industry traffic is slowing. In the context of a difficult macroenvironment for the industry, we know our customers are looking for reliable everyday value now more than ever. That has always been our promise to deliver delicious feel-good moments at an affordable price each and every day.” He said it was too early to draw any conclusion from the launch of CosMc’s, the group’s new, small-format, beverage-led restaurant concept, which debuted in two sites In Texas last December. Chief financial officer Ian Borden said that across the brand’s top markets, digital penetration is growing as “evidenced by our increased loyalty sales and record mobile app orders, leading to greater frequency and increased spend by loyalty customers”. He said: “We're also growing digital share as we leverage learnings from across markets in areas like gamification. The UK market also drove strong loyalty results with the return of its Winning Sips digital experience, encouraging customers to add a drink to their order with a chance to win on every cup. Customer engagement in the mobile app increased with digitally redeemed game pieces, and we drove record growth in 90-day active users in the market. Because of unique digital experiences like Winning Sips, our loyalty members continue to engage more frequently with nearly 75% of our total loyalty user base in the UK active during the last quarter.”

Munchies founder – aiming to grow to 50 sites, delivery data leads us to where we open next: Munchies founder Shafkat Khan has said he is aiming to grow his business to 50 sites and that delivery data leads him to where he opens next. Khan formed the burger and milkshake concept just months after graduating from Sheffield Hallam University in 2017 and has since grown the business to three sites in the city. Munchies was also named best takeaway both in Yorkshire and in the UK as a whole at the Just Eat Restaurant Awards 2023. Speaking at the launch of Just Eat’s report on its contribution to the UK economy, Khan revealed his long-term target for Munchies. “Covid was the most important time for the growth of our business,” he said. “Our sales tripled during lockdown thanks to delivery. We started covid with one site and came out of it with three, all of which was fully funded by sales. We have three more stores planned for this year and more next year as we work towards a target of 50 sites. We look at it through the lens of delivery – we look at the data on areas that perform well and those that don’t, and that’s how we see our foreseeable future. That delivery data is making those decisions for us – we ended up turning down a site in a town we had been looking at due to the data and went to another town where the data was better. It’s about making sure we’re data-led to reach the number [of sites] we want to in a timely manner. We take the data from several different sources, but Just Eat is the main one as 35% to 40% of our sales are through Just Eat, and we look at what has worked for us before. It has allowed us to be more accessible and visible – ours would have been a very different story without the partnership.”

Pizza Hut Restaurants plans to ‘reignite new unit growth in 2025’ after completing balance sheet restructuring: Heart with Smart Group, which operates Pizza Hut Restaurants and is an Itsu franchisee, has told Propel it plans to “reignite new unit growth in 2025” after restructuring its balance sheet, which includes a new £5m working capital facility. The Jens Hofma-led business, which is franchise operator of 146 Pizza Hut Restaurants in the UK, has also secured a three-and-a-half-year extension to the term of its senior debt until September 2027 and secured a new management equity incentive plan. Hofma said: “We have always had full confidence that this process would be successfully completed during the first half of 2024 in partnership with Pricoa, our current lenders. Apart from ensuring an extension of our senior debt, we have also strengthened our balance sheet in other areas, providing a strong foundation for future growth.” In terms of performance, the company will not be filing its 2023 accounts until the summer, but Hofma said that there will be some encouraging trends reported including a return to profitability for Pizza Hut Restaurants and like-for-like sales in growth. On current trading, he told Propel: “Generally the market is challenging as consumers are cutting back on out of home spend. Casual dining appears to be more affected than quick service restaurants. We are seeing stronger trading during weekends and school holidays. Our lunchtime buffet offer continues to be very popular and buck the general weekday lunch trends – because it offers great value, choice and time control. Weekday evenings (particularly early week) are more challenging reflective of the now more permanent working patterns to counter the trend we are launching new meal bundles and focusing on our off-premise offers to grow these dayparts.” He said the business is not planning to open new outlets this year but is aiming to reignite new unit growth in 2025. He said: “In terms of organic growth, we have an exciting pipeline of new products coming this summer and we are building our off-premise trade so each restaurant can maximise sales all week. We have invested heavily in our estate in the recent past and so our focus this year is investment into our menu and brand marketing.” Hofma said that the business is “always on the lookout for interesting opportunities” but this year is “strongly focusing on our core Pizza Hut and Itsu businesses and exploring various growth opportunities within these brands”. At the same time, the company has announced a change of chief financial officer with Andy Platt stepping into semi-retirement and replaced by Steve Packer, the company’s current chief infrastructure officer. Hofma said: “It is testimony to our development culture and long-term career planning that Andy will be replaced by Steve, who has a breadth of experience including finance, supply chain management, IT, and, going further back, front-line service in our Huts. I am also delighted that Andy will be remaining with Heart with Smart for at least the next year providing strategic and transitional support, helping us to build on our positive performance momentum and growth opportunities.”

Knoops adds Bristol and York to opening pipeline: Luxury hot chocolate shop concept Knoops has added sites in Bristol and York to its opening pipeline for this year. The 18-strong business, which plans to have 40 sites open by this time next year and 200 sites by the end of 2027, plans to open in Queens Road, just off the Clifton Triangle, in Bristol, and in Parliament Street, in York. The company, which recently opened in Nottingham, also has an opening lined up in the Trinity scheme in Leeds. At the start of April, William Gordon-Harris, executive chairman and chief executive of Knoops, said the company is “just touching the surface of a huge market as we establish a new category”. The company is set to launch in the Middle East and is in advanced talks to open in China and the US. Speaking at Propel’s Multi-Club Conference, Gordon-Harris said: “When we opened the first site in London, we discovered 89% of purchases were chocolate drinks. That was a light bulb moment for me and I shelved other projects because it was clear we had found a new category. The extraordinary thing is that we're just touching the real surface of what is a large addressable market. I think one of the most important things we found with Knoops and trying to create a new category is that chocolate has been seen in some ways as a slightly infantile drink, and that’s where the marketing has been. With our instore board and the choice of chocolates/blends, we can talk about specific brands in detail and we are presenting them to you rather like a wine list and we’ve got various price points. We have a sommelier approach, showcasing the quality.”

Subway’s $9.5bn sale to Roark Capital completes after being cleared by regulators: Global sandwich brand Subway has been bought by private equity firm Roark Capital for circa $9.5bn (£7.52bn) after the deal was cleared by regulators. “The entire Subway system is excited that our sale to Roark is complete,” Subway chief executive John Chidsey said in a statement. “As we look to our future, our growth journey is far from over. With a continued strategic focus on delivering better food and a better guest experience, our next chapter will be the most exciting yet.” Subway said there were no anticipated changes to the company’s leadership team, strategic focus, or operating plants following the deal, which was agreed in August last year. The company is the world’s largest quick service sandwich brand with nearly 37,000 franchised restaurants globally. Roark is a long-time investor in the restaurant sector. The company backs Inspire Brands, which owns Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In, Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins, and Jimmy John’s, as well as GoTo Foods (formerly Focus Brands), which owns and franchises Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlister’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky’s. Roark also backs CKE, parent company of Carl’s Jr and Hardee’s, as well as Miller’s Ale House and the franchisor of Seattle’s Best Coffee. There had been suggestion that Roark’s ownership of other sandwich brands, most notably Jimmy John’s, might cause regulators to scupper the deal, but authorities have cleared the way for the acquisition to be completed. This is the first change in ownership of Subway since it was founded by the late Fred DeLuca in 1965 as Pete’s Super Submarines. It was renamed Subway in 1972 and began franchising in 1974.

Nusa Kitchen returns to the expansion trail with St Paul’s opening: Nusa Kitchen, the south east Asian takeaway concept, has returned to the expansion trail with an opening in London’s St Paul’s. The business, which underwent a restructure in autumn 2021, has acquired the former Chop’d site at 6 Queens Head Passage, Paternoster Square, for what is its seventh site in the capital. Nusa Kitchen underwent a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in 2021, which allowed it to hold on to all of its sites and its central production unit. It is thought the CVA allowed the business to overcome its rent arrears and to move to a turnover-based rent. The business currently also has sites in Moorgate, Queen Victoria Street, Plough Place, Old Street, Adams Court and Cannon Street.

Popeyes UK to launch in Leeds with delivery kitchen opening: Popeyes UK, the US fried chicken quick service restaurant brand backed here by TDR Capital, is to make its debut in Leeds next Wednesday (8 May), with the opening of a delivery kitchen site. The brand will be available for delivery throughout Leeds city centre via ordering directly through the Popeyes website, on Uber Eats or Just Eat. Popeyes will open the delivery kitchen in Wortley Moor Road, and will mark the brand's fourth delivery kitchen opening in 2024, and the brand’s 48th location since landing in the UK in November 2021. Tom Crowley, chief executive at Popeyes UK, said: “We are thrilled to announce that a new Popeyes delivery kitchen will be opening in Leeds, bringing the taste of New Orleans to this vibrant city. Our most recent openings have been some of the biggest to date, not just in the UK but for Popeyes globally. After many requests for a Popeyes UK in Leeds, we are confident that our new delivery kitchen will be just as popular. This is just the beginning for us in the region, and we're looking forward to announcing further plans of upcoming openings in Leeds very soon.” Earlier this week, Propel reported that Popeyes UK had reached £100m-plus annual sales since its launch here in November 2021. The business plans to double its estate in 2024, opening more than 30 new locations by the end of the year.

Honi Poké to open second regional site, in Leeds: Hawaiian poké specialist Honi Poké is set to open its second regional site, in Leeds. The 19-strong business is set to open a site this summer in the Trinity Leeds scheme. It follows the business making its regional debut at the former EAT site in Manchester’s St Ann's Street last year, which marked its first bricks-and-mortar site outside of London. The business was founded by Vladimir Martynov and Kosta Varesko in 2017. It also operates 17 sites across London, and a site in Cyprus. The business opened its latest site in London, at 162-163 London Wall, in January. 

Wimpy keen to sign up new franchisees as it serves up 70th anniversary celebration menu: Wimpy UK, the Famous Brands-owned burger chain, has said it is keen to sign up new franchisees as it launched a new Legend menu to celebrate 70 years since its launch. The first Wimpy opened its doors in the Lyons Corner House in London in 1954, and to mark the occasion, today (Wednesday, 1 May) sees the company launch an exclusive and carefully curated Legends Menu, “taking a selection of fan favourites and recreating them with a modern twist”. Alongside a new Corner House Coffee Shake will be a variety of throwback dishes, including new takes on Wimpy’s original pure beef hamburger and chips, its grills and the brand’s ice cream desserts. Each month through to December will see a new Legends dish unveiled, “inviting customers to take their very own trip down memory lane”. Wimpy general manager Chris Woolfenden said: “We are absolutely thrilled and delighted to be celebrating our 70th anniversary and also incredibly proud of our place on the British high street. We know Wimpy holds special memories in the hearts of our customers, many of whom began visiting when they were children, and now bring their own children and grandchildren to enjoy our great-tasting food. We can’t wait to welcome them all through our doors as we celebrate being the ‘home of the hamburger’.” The business currently operates 63 Wimpys across England and Scotland – from Fraserburgh in the north to Swanage in the south, the majority of which are operated by franchisees. Woolfenden said: “Our franchisees do an amazing job, often supporting local charities and groups, and very much providing a home-from-home where customers know they will be greeted by a friendly face and can enjoy sitting at a table while their food is cooked to order. As we look to the future, we are always keen to engage with new franchisees who want to join our very Wimpy special family and be part of our continuing success story.”

Bristol Beer Factory to invest £2m in new brewery: Bristol Beer Factory is to invest £2m in a new state-of-the-art production facility. The company said: “Situated at the heart of south Bristol, BS3 has long been synonymous with Bristol Beer Factory. The new brewery location, just 1km away from our current home, will maintain the brewery's connection to its south Bristol roots while providing much-needed space for sustainable growth and innovation. By investing in state-of-the-art equipment and embracing modern practices, Bristol Beer Factory aims to reduce its environmental footprint on a per litre basis, aligning with its ambitious goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.” The company will move into the new brewing premises by the end of 2024, with its taproom and head office remaining on the current site. Within the £2m spend, the company said there is a significant investment in state-of-the-art equipment that directly reduces carbon emissions. Some highlights include carbon capture storage, vapour heat recovery, and rainwater capture, reflecting Bristol Beer Factory's “dedication to circular economy principles and self-sufficiency”. The business said: “Furthermore, the expanded capacity of the new site, capable of producing up to 30,000 hectolitres annually, will enable Bristol Beer Factory to create more job opportunities. Through the brewery's initiatives like Brewed to Give – Bristol Beer Factory's self-imposed tax of 2% on total brewery sales that are reinvested back into Bristol each year, Bristol Beer Factory continues to demonstrate its unwavering support for the city and its residents. Any increase in production will increase the funds allocated back to the brewery's home city and the people in it.” 

Yotel to make Japanese debut next year: Yotel, the budget accommodation chain launched by YO! founder Simon Woodroffe, has partnered with Singapore-based Frasers Hospitality to open its first site in Japan in early 2025 – and plans further expansion in the country. Yotel Tokyo Ginza will feature 244 rooms. Yotel chief executive Hubert Viriot said: “Yotel Tokyo Ginza will stand as a flagship for our brand, and we are thrilled to collaborate with an investor that shares our dedication to innovation and excellence in hospitality.” Yotel’s wider strategy is to expand across key cities in Japan including Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo, Yokohama, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Kobe. The group is also working on opportunities to roll out YotelAir – the group’s transit hotel concept – at key gateway airports and train stations. Yotel Tokyo Ginza will be the first of several new openings in the region for Yotel, followed by properties in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in 2025-6. Joining Yotel Singapore Orchard Road and YotelAir Singapore Changi airport, the growth across Asia is a strategic part of the brand’s commitment to new markets and goal to reach 50 hotels opened and signed by 2025.

Burger King opens new drive-thru restaurant at Stansted airport: Burger King UK has opened a new drive-thru at Stansted airport – its first in partnership with SSP Group, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide. Burger King already operates two restaurants at the Essex airport. The new drive-thru is located in Thremhall Avenue, the main road approaching the terminal. The restaurant also seats 86 dine-in customers and is open daily. Alasdair Murdoch, chief executive of Burger King UK, said: “It’s great to see Burger King UK’s longstanding partnership with SSP continue to flourish, and we can’t wait to play an even bigger role in the experience our customers have at Stansted.” Cathy Granby, business development director of SSP UK & Ireland, added: “We know how well-loved Burger King is and it’s one of our core franchise brands. We’re delighted to be expanding this relationship and hope this will be the first drive-thru of many.”

Rhubarb introduces counter dining as part of refurbishment of London rooftop restaurant: Rhubarb Hospitality Collection, the premium international hospitality group, has introduced counter dining at its Fenchurch Restaurant, located on the 37th floor of the Sky Garden building in London, as part of a refurbishment. A lounge area has also been introduced at the rooftop restaurant to offer a more casual dining experience. The inaugural counter menu, designed for sharing, includes a variety of “pick and mix” small plates such as cured jerk salmon ceviche, fried plantain, whisky barbecue wings and chilli fries served with Scotch bonnet mayo. Larger sharing options come from the grill with choices of baby chicken, spiced lamb fillet and aged sirloin, alongside seafood options like sea bream, tiger prawns and glazed black cod. The refurbishment also marks the arrival of head chef Kerth Gumb’s spring tasting menu, inspired by the flavours of his childhood home, the Caribbean island of Anguilla. The nine course menu features dishes such as torched jerk salmon with spring onions and yuzu ponzu sauce; and seabass with salt fish, smoked oyster, and Scotch bonnet emulsion. PB Jacobse, chief executive of Rhubarb Hospitality Collection, said: “It’s been a year since we successfully partnered with Kerth and the refurbishment has been informed by his Caribbean roots, ebullient character and informal approach to fine dining. Rhubarb Hospitality Collection is committed to innovation and the introduction of accessible counter dining gives our guests more choices.”

Turkish chef and restaurateur Kemal Demirasal confirms opening date for second The Counter site: Turkish chef and restaurateur Kemal Demirasal, who made his UK debut last year with The Counter, a contemporary ocakbasi restaurant in London’s Notting Hill, has confirmed the opening date for his second site in the capital under the concept. The Counter Soho – the second London venture from Gees Court Partners and Demirasal – will open in Kingly Street, with a new listening and cocktail bar, Under The Counter, located beneath it, on Tuesday, 14 May. The restaurant will comprise 60-covers internally and a 20-cover terrace outside while the downstairs bar will have 30 covers. The menu at The Counter Soho will comprise a selection of hot and cold mezze to share, plus larger grilled and slow cooked dishes. Cold plates will include the likes of whipped tarama and fish roe, sea bass crudo and citrus zest with umami sauce, and Istanbul tomato salad and chives; while hot dishes will include cheese saganaki with pistachio and honey and grilled octopus with mashed fava. As with the food, the cocktails will draw inspiration from Greece, Turkey, the Mediterranean and Levant, including a selection of milk punch cocktails, while a curated list of predominantly Greek, Turkish and Levantine wine will be available alongside old-world European wine.

Former Mnky Hse chef to launch smash burger concept in London: Mark Morrans, former chef at London venue Mnky Hse, is launching a smash burger concept in the capital. Morrans is opening Smsh BN in Charing Cross Road on Monday, 20 May. The menu will include the Wagyu Cheese Smsh BN with double Wagyu patties, potato bun, secret sauce, pickled cucumber, pickled jalapenos, grilled onions, crispy shallots, and American cheese. Smsh BN will also open for breakfast with options including a breakfast smash muffin and smashed croissants. Milkshakes will be among the drinks menu, reports Hot Dinners.

Gong Cha set to open in Bristol: Gong Cha, the fast-growing bubble tea brand headquartered in the UK, is set to open a new store in Bristol. The site is set to open at 34 Merchant Street in the Broadmead area of the city, according to a video clip posted to Gong Cha’s Instagram feed. “We have some tea to spill,” it added. “We have a new store opening in Bristol very soon. Keep your eyes peeled on social for more details coming up.” The unit was formerly a vape shop and was home to Shoe Zone prior to that, but it has been vacant for some time, reports The Bristol Post. Gong Cha made its Midlands debut last month with an opening in Birmingham’s New Street, for its 15th UK store overall. Founded in Taiwan in 2006, Gong Cha operates nearly 2,100 stores in 24 countries and has plans to scale up to 10,000 stores by 2032, including 500 in the UK. In February, Propel exclusively revealed that Gong Cha is relaunching its franchise programme and looking to bring more franchisees on board to help it realise its ambitious expansion plans here. Openings lined up for 2024 include Southampton and Norwich with its existing master franchisee, plus expected plans to open in Northern Ireland and South Yorkshire with new partners. Openings later in 2024 will also see the UK debut of Gong Cha’s new store design, which is due to be rolled out first in Saudi Arabia. 

Glee Club operator finds new permanent home for Nottingham venue: Comic Enterprises, which operates Glee Club live entertainment venues and is owned by founder Mark Tughan, looks to have found a new permanent home for its Nottingham operation. The comedy club is set to move into the Corn Exchange and Clinton Rooms at 10-12 Thurland Street in the heart of the city centre, reports The Business Desk. The grade II-listed building was last used by Roxy Ballroom and before that fellow comedy club Jongleurs. The plans outline the creation of a new auditorium on the first floor, with a backstage area alongside a new bar. There will also be a minor extension at mezzanine level so that the kitchen space can be relocated. The comedy venue had to move out of its British Waterways home last March after work started to redevelop it into a residential scheme. Glee Club also operates sites in Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow and Oxford.

Burrito franchise opens 12th site with 13th on its way for Welsh debut: Burrito franchise Plan Burrito has opened its 12th site with number 13 on its way – which will be its first in Wales. It has opened at 156 High Street in Gillingham, taking over a unit previously operated by Bagel Bros. The branch will be run by franchisee Jiya Barot and will offer seating for up to 20 customers. “I am proud to introduce Plan Burrito to our community,” he told Kent Online. “I am passionate about bringing quality food and exceptional service to our customers and I am excited to be a part of the Plan Burrito family.” Propel understands that Plan Burrito’s next opening will be in Trefforest, near Cardiff in South Wales. Founded by Stephen Hopper in 2015, Plan Burrito more than tripled in size from three sites to ten last year. The business opened in Hitchin, Guildford, Leamington Spa, Ramsgate, Norwich, Shrewsbury and Canterbury – adding to existing locations in Loughborough, Whitburn and London’s Southampton Row. Plan Burrito has also launched in Southend this year.

Kent microbrewery goes into administration and ceases trading: Kent microbrewery Cellar Head Brewing Company has gone into administration and ceased trading. The company, of Pillory Corner, Goudhurst, which also operates a taproom, said the financial climate and increased production costs led to the business being unviable. Directors Julia and Christopher McKenzie announced the news on the brewery’s Facebook page, saying: “Today was a day that I thought and hoped I would never have to face – I am utterly heartbroken to see the doors to Cellar Head brewery and taproom close after seven years. I would like to raise a glass (of Cellar Head, obviously) to thank each and every wonderful landlord and landlady the length and breadth of Britain who bought our beer and shared it with your customers. The past two years have been more than an uphill struggle due to the financial climate, huge increases in production costs and a stressed market, which have all lead to the business being unviable. Over the past few weeks, we have been trying to find a buyer for Cellar Head to take it onto its next chapter, but unfortunately, even with plenty of interest, no one was found to be willing to take that risk. Keep supporting small independent breweries as best you can, it’s tough out there.”