Boparan Restaurant Group plans to triple Giraffe estate with global airports focus: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), the owner of the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Carluccio’s and Fishworks brands, is planning to more than triple its 15-strong Giraffe estate over the next three years, with a focus on openings in global airports, Propel has learned. The brand currently operates eight sites in the UK, including sites at Birmingham, Heathrow and Manchester airports. Giraffe also operates in seven international airports, including Bangalore, Malaga, Dubai and Barcelona. Satnam Leihal, chief executive of BRG, said: “Giraffe is set for a number of international airports with confirmed openings both in India and across global airports, for example Frankfurt, to bring the total to 54 sites by 2026. Giraffe is thriving in airports and fast becoming a travel hub specialist brand serving all dayparts.” The company is also set to carry out work on its UK flagship restaurant site on London’s South Bank. Leihal said: “Giraffe South Bank is earmarked for a total transformation with the outdoor area getting done this year and a full internal refresh to bring the brand in line with the global airport sites’ fresh look set for January 2025.” It comes after BRG last month partnered with FranGlobal to lead its expansion in India, where it first opened in 2022. “As part of its expansion strategy, Giraffe will focus on establishing a robust presence in key cities across India, leveraging strategic partnerships and local expertise to ensure seamless operation and customer satisfaction,” the business told The Times of India. It added that Giraffe’s menu will be “meticulously tailored to resonate with Indian audiences, from inventive fusion creations to beloved classics with a twist”. Last week, Propel revealed that BRG had signed a deal to launch the Slim Chickens brand in Germany. The company signed a 20-site development plan for the country with The Foodelity Group, which BRG said was a significant step forward for both companies and “a significant milestone” in the Slim Chickens brand’s international expansion. The two businesses will open the first location under the new partnership in Berlin. BRG said that The Foodelity Group already has the first five sites in legal processes, with a plan to have all five locations open within the first 12 months.

 

Next edition of Premium Club Turnover & Profits Blue Book released tomorrow shows sector companies’ profit outstripping losses by £1.68bn, down from £1.81bn last month: The next edition of the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, which will be sent to Premium Club members tomorrow (Friday, 10 May), at midday, shows the profit being made by sector companies is now outstripping losses by £1.68bn, a drop on the £1.81bn last month. The Blue Book shows the total profit of the 912 companies in the list is £4,005,581,244 and losses are £2,322,211,757. The Blue Book shows 579 companies in profit and 333 reporting losses. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; the New Openings Database; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Clubs 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 that are Premium Club members are also 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 supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Sector applauds move to extend opening hours if England or Scotland reach Euro 2024 semi-finals: Pubs will be able to extend their opening hours to 1am if England or Scotland make it to the Euro 2024 semi-finals this summer – a move that has been hailed as “essential” by the sector. Venues will be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours on match days if either or both teams reach the last four or the final, the government said. Most pubs shut by 11pm but ministers can make an order to relax licensing hours to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”. Home secretary James Cleverly said the move will “allow friends, families and communities to come together for longer to watch their nation hopefully bring it home”. The decision covers venues in England and Wales, with Scotland and Northern Ireland in charge of their own licensing rules. Germany is hosting Euro 2024, with the semi-finals taking place on Tuesday, 9 July and Wednesday, 10 July, and the final is on Sunday, 14 July. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said the extended hours were “essential to allow venues and fans to take full advantage”. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, added by “cutting red tape, doing business will be that much easier”. Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said the move was “a game-changer for businesses in hospitality and nightlife”. The legislation to enact the change was laid in parliament yesterday (Wednesday, 8 May) to ensure there is enough time for it to be debated and passed before the tournament begins. A Scottish government spokesperson said it was up to local licensing boards whether or not to allow pubs to extend their opening hours. Propel is staging the Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference on Tuesday, 14 May. The all-day conference, one theme of which is about how the pub sector is making the most of trading opportunities, takes place at One Moorgate Place in London and this week is the last chance to book. 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.

Speed of service and hot food being served cold are the biggest points of friction for consumers: Speed of service and hot food being served cold are the biggest points of friction for pub, bar and restaurant customers, new research from Zonal’s latest GO Technology report in partnership with CGA by NIQ, shows. The survey of more than 5,000 British adults found that the biggest five bugbears for customers are a long wait for food and drink (91%), hot food served cold (91%), broken promises on a special deal/loyalty discount (88%), food served at different times (87%), and waiting for their table to become available (86%). Other frustrations mentioned as part of the research include items being out of stock (82%), menus being difficult to use (82%) and staff not having enough knowledge (80%). Respondents also find having to wait to receive and settle the bill (77%) or not being able to split the bill (64%) frustrating. The survey also highlights customer’s top pre-visit frustrations. More than four in five find poor information, such as out-of-date or missing menus online, frustrating. Booking platforms are also a point of annoyance, with more than three-quarters saying not being able to cancel or amend a booking is their biggest bugbear (77%). Alarmingly, three in five (61%) of those who found it difficult to amend a booking online said it would cause them to find somewhere else to go or think twice about visiting the venue in the future. Tim Chapman, chief commercial officer at Zonal, said: “Consumers are becoming more expectant of the venues they visit and demand an even higher level of service, so it’s vital that operators deliver on this.” Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA, CGA by NIQ, added: “No operator is able to get everything right all of the time, but the best ones turn problems into solutions and negatives into positives.”

 

SIBA – more consumers saying they now drink local craft beer, but only 30% of 18 to 24-year-olds ever drink beer: More than 50% (55%) of beer consumers have said they now drink local craft beer, up from 47% who said they drank it in 2023, placing it on level-pegging with global lager, according to the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) Independent Beer Report 2024. The research also found that average beer production volumes among independent breweries have risen by 14% compared with 2023, returning to pre-pandemic levels for the first time in four years. Cask beer has also seen a big increase, with volumes up 10% year on year. However, the report also found that just 30% of 18 to 24-year-olds ever drink beer, falling behind wine and spirits, and almost a quarter of consumers (24%) said they never visit their local pub. The SIBA Independent Beer Report highlights 43% of independent brewers citing “survival” as their top priority, though this is significantly down from 2023, where a majority of 63% were just trying to survive. SIBA said that “despite reported doom and gloom, and some high-profile casualties, there is only 1% fewer brewers in the UK today than a year ago”. It also highlighted that distribution of independent British beer in tied pubs falls “woefully behind the latent demand for it”, and that access to finance remains a challenge and is “stifling further growth”. It said that the average selling price for keg beer into the on-trade has risen only 6% since 2019, and some routes, such as wholesale, have actually seen prices fall. Andy Slee, chief executive of SIBA, said: “The short-term issue for small independent breweries isn’t demand; it’s profitability, rising costs and financial pressures such as lingering covid debt. Far too many breweries are simply trying to survive rather than thrive, so while there are many positive signs highlighted in the report, for now it’s cautious optimism.” The report also tracks brewing trends, such as which beer styles breweries are producing. Most notably, lager has continued its rise up the charts to number four this year, with 56% of independent brewers now producing a craft lager, up 5% on the 2023 survey and the biggest growth category for 2024. Also on the up is non-alcoholic beer, with a 2% growth taking the number of breweries now making an alcohol-free beer to 8%. 

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a hospitality business that is seeking a dual-site general manager to take the reins of two venues in central Newcastle. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will oversee a high-volume late-night bar and a small intimate cocktail bar. This is an excellent opportunity to take your career to the next level and oversee multiple sites. The company is looking for a charismatic and resilient general manager, ideally with a mixture of both branded and independent pubs/bars experience. This site gets exceptionally busy on the weekends and requires someone who likes creating structure. You will be the face of the venue and seize all fruitful business opportunities. People culture will be a great part of your responsibilities as you will foster a great way of working among your teams and create memorable experiences for your guests.” The salary is up to £60,000. For more information, email max@corecruitment.com. 

 

Brighton Pier Group CEO – pier admission charge comes with costs having increased 31% over the past five years to more than £11m annually: Brighton Pier Group chief executive Anne Ackord has told Propel that it has decided to trail a “modest” £1 admission charge to the pier because the business cannot continue to absorb cost increases, which have now risen to more than £11m a year. Ackord said the move would “help us preserve our heritage” and that local residents who apply for a residents card would be exempt from the charge. Speaking following the company’s full-year results, Ackord said: “Pier costs have increased by 31% over the past five years, rising now to more than £11m per year. We cannot continue to just absorb cost increases. To give you one example, we have 17 miles of wooden decking on the pier and replace a mile or more every year. Input costs have tripled in the past five years. We genuinely believe that we are custodians of this pier, and as such want to see it maintained for future generations, and the modest £1 entry will help us preserve our heritage. As the charge is modest, I do not expect it to have a negative impact, but we will, of course, monitor the situation. Charges will be for the end of May holidays, weekends in June and all of July and August. We cannot quantify how much revenue this will generate as we do not currently know the split between locally based visitors and those from afar.” The group is also disposing of three more bars – with sites in Brighton and Cambridge already sold and its Manchester venue also set to be disposed of this year. That would leave the division with five bars and Ackord said she does not expect any further consolidation of the estate. She added: “We are seeing a change in habits among the younger members of society, with less drinking and with more experience-based entertainment favoured. This obviously has an effect on late night in particular and has led us to look at additional types of activities within our bars, such as daytime/early evening parties for older age groups, which is a trend that is spreading. Household disposable incomes remain under pressure – of particular concern to our typical bar customer is the struggle to buy/rent property and the need to save more.” Ackord said there was an opportunity to expand its eight-strong adventure golf business but it has been very difficult to find the right sites. She added: “While there is evidence that visits to shopping centres is falling, our sites are near other leisure activities that attract visits and so we benefit. Such sites are harder to find.” Looking ahead, Ackord said: “With the general world situation and the need for the economic headwinds from high inflation and interest rates to abate, I believe we are right to be cautious, but with the pier charge and the plans for accommodation at Lightwater, we have the potential to successfully navigate the challenges.”

 

Sir Tim Martin – trade at weekends and in big cities ‘very good’ but getting back to pre-covid levels of profitability proving ‘more difficult’: JD Wetherspoon chairman Sir Tim Martin has told Propel that trade at the weekends and in big cities is “very good”, and while sales have significantly surpassed pre-covid levels, getting back to that level of profitability is proving “more difficult”. While profit for the full year is expected to be around the top end of market expectations at circa £70m, it is still below the £102.5m posted in 2019. Speaking following the company’s third quarter trading update, where it reported like-for-likes sales for the 13-week period to 28 April 2024 increased by 5.2% and are up 8.3% year to date, Sir Tim said cost inflation was now edging back but was still proving challenging. He added that breakfast sales were increasing as more people return to the office, while all the main food categories were “doing well”. He said: “There’s probably room for growth in terms of trade earlier in the week, but maybe it has ever been thus.” Wetherspoon has also introduced a new Fiesta brunch this week, and in terms of menu innovation, Sir Tim said: “I’ve always tried to concentrate on improving longstanding dishes rather than introducing new ones, but sometimes there are new dishes, as there are new beers. Hopefully they’ll provide something extra.” Meanwhile, analysts said Wetherspoon’s upbeat update reflects improving conditions across the UK’s pub sector. “Encouragingly, trading conditions appear broadly stable,” Shore Capital analysts said. Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, the direct-to-consumer investment platform, also highlighted “resilient demand” across the sector, even though cost pressures from wages and energy remain. Wetherspoon, in particular, “has proven that customers still enjoy visiting its pubs and remain willing to spend despite cost-of-living pressures”, she said. Meanwhile, Wetherspoon’s generally lower pricing could still see the brand gain market share, Jefferies analysts said, as higher prices continue to prompt some to trade down. Wetherspoon shares climbed 2.6% to 746.45p on Wednesday.

 

Clive Consterdine joins Big Fang Collective as chairman: Big Fang Collective, the Imbiba-backed entertainment venue operator that owns the Golf Fang brand, has hired Clive Consterdine, formerly of Zonal and Wireless Social, as its new non-executive chairman. Consterdine stood down as chairman of Wireless Social at the start of this year after five and a half years on the company’s board. He was previously sales and marketing director at hospitality management solutions company Zonal, where he spent eight years. Last month, Big Fang Collective announced it plans to make its debut in London later this year with an opening in Waterloo. The company, which earlier this year secured £5.5m in funding from alternative lender ThinCats for further UK expansion, will open the new 30,000 square-foot space later this year. It will be one of three openings the business has lined up for 2024. Big Fang Collective already operates six sites around the UK, employing more than 260 people, with each of the venues offering a combination of crazy golf, DJs and signature cocktails inside a “cathedral of graffiti”.  The collective recently launched its first Big Fang Arcade in Sheffield, which has since been rolled out into its Cardiff site.

 

Fireaway makes Portugal debut, new kiosk express format to launch this week: Fast pizza brand Fireaway, the Mario Aleppo-led business, has opened its first site in Portugal, with an opening in Turkey set to soon follow. The business, which operates circa 175 sites, including in Holland and Northern Ireland, opened its first site in Portugal earlier this week, in Lisbon. Fireaway is set to increase its international presence with an opening in Turkey later this month, and also has plans to launch in the Middle East, in Dubai, later this year. It comes as the business gears up to enter the petrol forecourt market with a new kiosk express format. The business will open a site this weekend on a petrol forecourt near Gravesend, in Kent, as it looks to make a concerted push into the forecourt sector. Fireaway is opening with a Londis convenience store at the petrol station with dual signage. In January, Fireaway overfunded on its £500,000 crowdfunding campaign to expand its central operations and brand reach and enhance its technology platform. It raised circa £510,000 from more than 800 investors offered 2.47% equity in return, giving the business a pre-money valuation of £20,049,056. Propel understands that Fireaway, which was launched in south London in 2017, plans to open a further 30 sites this year. The brand secured investment from six new backers in October 2022 and plans to have 500 sites within the next five years.

 

McManus pays off £1.5m of debt following sale of four pubs but makes near-£900,000 impairment loss, further sales of underperforming pubs being considered: McManus Pub Company has paid off £1.5m of its bank debt following the sale of four pubs but also made an impairment loss of £898,068 on the disposals. The four pubs, all based around Northampton, were sold to Valiant Pub Co in December, leaving McManus, which said further sales of underperforming sites are being considered, with an estate of 18 pubs. In its accounts for the year to 29 July 2023, the group said net proceeds from the post year-end transactions were used to reduce the group’s bank debt by £1,500,432. “These four pubs made minimal contribution to operating profit,” director Chris Wright said. “Further sales of underperforming pubs assets are being considered to further reduce unhedged debt.” This followed a drop in the group’s net debt during the year by £411,767 to £7,889,652. Post year end, the group also agreed amendments to its HSBC banking terms, with a 12-month capital repayment moratorium and revised banking covenants agreed on £3,000,634 of unhedged term debt. In exchange, the group agreed for the financial year to July 2024 to reduce dividends to £300,000 and capital expenditure spending to £152,000. For 2023, dividends of £608,000 were paid (2022: £718,000) while £741,189 was invested into the existing pub estate. The post year-end refinancing follows an agreement in September 2022 for a new 10.5-year term £750,000 revolving credit facility with HSBC. Also during the year, in February 2023, the group’s former Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme loan was converted into a ten-year term HSBC loan of £720,000. A further £274,509 loss on disposal was recognised on the sale of the freehold interest in the Shipmans pub in Northampton to the McManus Family Pension Trust. It comes as the group reported an increase in turnover to £15,681,974 (2022: £14,586,593) as a £1,750,060 pre-tax profit in 2022 turned into a loss of £134,579. It said pub and head office payroll cost increased by £579,403 (32%) due to inflationary pay costs and higher turnover, while energy costs rose by £272,247 (52.0%) and business rates by £150,632 (60.1%). The group received a VAT refund of £85,591, while the 2022 figures included an insurance payout of £88,667. “Trade within the group pub estate has been challenging as inflationary cost pressures have had a negative impact on pubs’ profitability,” Wright added. “In financial period July 2024, with stabilised trading levels, lower energy prices and reduced debt servicing costs, the directors expect the declining profitability to reverse.”

 

Lane7 hires new ops director, secures Altrincham site: Boutique bowling company Lane7 has hired Lucy Sontae, formerly of Everyman, as its new operations director, as it secures a new site in Altrincham. Sontae joins Lane7 after eight years at Everyman, including most recently as the cinema group’s head of operations. Lane7 said that Sontae brings with her a proven track record of “operational excellence and a passion for delivering unparalleled guest experiences”. Sontae’s appointment comes as the business has secured a site in Altrincham for an opening this summer. The new site will open in July, making this the brand’s 15th venue in total and following just behind Lane7’s first European site, in Berlin. Located within The Foundation, Lane7 Altrincham will feature nine state-of-the-art bowling lanes and a selection of arcade games and gaming experiences. Gavin Hughes, Lane7 managing director, said: “With our venue in Manchester performing so well, we have been looking for more opportunities in the area, and with the support from Will Biggart of Torridon and James Tootle of Bruntwood, we are incredibly excited to bring Lane7’s brand of hospitality and entertainment to Altrincham.” Last month, Propel revealed that Lane7 is to open two new sites in its home town of Newcastle, including a new concept for the business, and in March, Propel revealed that Lane7 will open its largest site to date later this year, in Milton Keynes’ Midsummer Place, spanning 38,000 square feet. Lane7, which is due to open a second European site in Dublin later this year, is understood to have a further four sites in its pipeline for 2024. 

 

92 Degrees gears up to make transport hub debut: Independent coffee roaster 92 Degrees is to make its transport hub debut this week, the first of three openings in train stations the company will make over the next couple of months. 92 Degrees, which was founded in 2014, will open this week in Liverpool’s Lime Street station. The company will follow this with an opening in Glasgow’s Queen Street station, with building work on the site starting next week. Next month, it will open a further site in Liverpool, in the city’s Central station. In February, co-founder and chief executive Jack Brewitt told Propel that the 14-strong business plans to reach the 20-site-mark by the end of this year. He said that the business, which is privately funded, was looking at opportunities in Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow for further openings. The business opened its first site in Scotland last summer at 92 Hanover Street, Edinburgh. Brewitt said that the group’s most recent opening, in Leeds Boar Lane, had started well, and the business overall had just had its best January since it was founded. In terms of funding, he said the group’s current investors continue to be supportive and that he couldn’t see the company seeking external financing until after 2025.

 

Essex operator acquires seventh pub, aims to add up to four more over next four years: Essex operator Steve Haslam has acquired his seventh pub and said he aims to add up to four more over the next four years. Haslam will reopen The Bread & Cheese in Benfleet this weekend following a £500,000 joint investment with Heineken-owned Star Pubs, creating 15 jobs. It is a second lease with Star for Haslam and his family, who also operate the award-winning pub with rooms Victory, in Mersea. Haslam initially took on The Bread & Cheese in 2020 on a temporary agreement to prevent the pub from closing and turned around its fortunes. “I hadn’t intended to take it on, but when a friend told me it was about to be boarded up, I felt I had to step in,” he said. “I don’t make emotional business decisions, but this was the exception as I first visited The Bread & Cheese aged 14 when my father was the cleaner. Having run it on a temporary basis for the last three years, I realised that it was actually a sleeping giant and had real potential – 25,000 cars pass it every day, but it looked tired. We have worked hard to give it a fresh look and feel to match the level of the service we provide. With the pandemic over, energy prices coming down and inflation easing off, we’re ready to start thinking about growth again. Come the end of the summer, I believe we’ll see improvements in trade, and then in 2025, we’ll see a return to more normal trading for the first time in years. Our intention is to add a further three or four pubs with potential over the next four years in the Essex/East Anglia corridor as that is manageable for a family run business.” The investment at The Bread & Cheese includes the addition of an outdoor cinema on raised decking with seating for 120, while in the restaurant, a purpose-built carvery has been fitted. The pub will now be open for cooked breakfast and morning coffee and cake and a new £100,000 kitchen has been created to enable it to offer a wider menu. Alongside world dishes and pub classics, there will be a bar and garden menu with lighter bites and sharing platters, and dogs will have their own menu of pre-made dishes.

 

Imbiba-backed operator Leisure TV Rights set to open north east’s first Ninja Warrior site: Leisure TV Rights (LTR), the Imbiba-backed experiential leisure operator, is set to open the north east’s first Ninja Warrior site. The 28,570 square-foot, 365-capacity venue will open in Teesside Park in July, featuring a mix of courses and inflatable runs inspired by the TV programme. These will include a “warped wall”, two fixed obstacle courses, a giant inflatable course with tunnels, battle towers and an obstacle course to race through. There will also be a dedicated inflatable course for under fours as well as a gaming zone, six party rooms, a viewing mezzanine and a cafe. The venue will also be offering Ninja Lates, a monthly event for over-18s only. Dawid Kaminski, who was appointed as managing director at LTR in November last year, said: “It’s fantastic to announce the opening of the Ninja Warrior UK experience to the north east this summer, right in time for the summer holidays. We will be bringing an action-packed experience to this massive venue, which offers activities for the whole family to enjoy, as well as our Ninja Lates for those who prefer to visit the venue during adult-only sessions. We cannot wait to deliver this famous experience to Teesside, which welcomes everyone to enjoy fitness challenges whether with groups of friends and family or solo training.” LTR also operates Ninja Warrior UK sites in Leeds, Walsall, Liverpool and Bristol and is also behind an experience based on ITV’s The Chase, which is set to launch this year in London.

 

Dishoom confirms plans to open a third Permit Room: Indian restaurant group Dishoom has confirmed it plans to open a third site under its fledgling all-day bar-café concept Permit Room, in Oxford, later this year. As revealed by Propel in February, Dishoom, which launched the first stand-alone Permit Room in Brighton last November, will open a Permit Room on the ground floor of North Bailey House in New Inn Hall Street in Oxford this October. Dishoom will open the second Permit Room, on the former Strada/Blue Boar pub site in Cambridge’s Trinity Street, on Thursday, 20 June. The Oxford site will have 126 covers and the Cambridge site will have 156 covers. Shamil Thakrar, co-founder of Permit Room and Dishoom, said: “I’ve had quite a few friends living in Cambridge over the years. When I think back to my early 20s, Cambridge pub crawls and gate-crashing the odd college party are a happy feature. I have rosy memories of hanging out there, and I'm very excited for the chance to return with our own Permit Room. I’m also looking forward to hosting our own pub crawls this time around.” Talking to Propel earlier this year, Brian Trollip, managing director of Dishoom, said the business would not open a site under its eponymous brand this year but focus on perfecting Permit Room.

 

Merlin Entertainments gets permission to retain London Eye on South Bank permanently: Merlin Entertainments has been given permission to retain the London Eye on the South Bank permanently. Lambeth Council’s planning committee has voted unanimously to support a recommendation from officers to discharge a condition attached to the 2003 permission that required the local planning authority to decide whether the attraction could be retained beyond 2028. This followed the submission of a report by Merlin Entertainments, which assessed the continued acceptability of the London Eye in this location. The council agreed with current arrangements continuing beyond 2028. This includes a requirement for 1% of the attraction’s annual turnover to be paid towards the maintenance and management of the public area surrounding the site. These monies are invested in partnership with South Bank Employers’ Group and South Bank Business Improvement District. Merlin Entertainments chief executive Scott O’Neil said: “A landmark decision for a landmark attraction. The London Eye is both the centrepiece of Merlin’s central London offering and visitors’ itineraries, drawing millions to the South Bank each year to enjoy unrivalled views of the capital. It is impossible to imagine the London skyline without the iconic structure of the London Eye, and with its long-term future secure, we will continue to invest and expand Merlin’s presence in this great city, which is one of our key gateway clusters.”

GigPig raises £1.3m to support growth: Live music marketplace GigPig has announced a £1.3m seed investment round led by Haatch Ventures and Notion Capital. GigPig said the funds will be used to create thousands of new gigging opportunities in towns and cities across the UK, “helping more pubs and bars boost their revenues with live music”. GigPig said it is also planning to launch new data-led products and services, as well as an app for artists and market insights for venues. Investors in the seed round include Chris Tottman, of Notion Capital, and Mark Bennett, of Haatch. Angel investors and music industry experts Chris Meehan, Richard Flint, Wolfgang Alistat and Andrea Mihalovits are among a syndicate of individuals also backing the firm to drive forward its next phase of growth. Michael Forster, chief executive of GigPig, said: “With the hospitality sector facing unprecedented challenges, we believe our mission to help every pub and bar maximise their potential with live music is more important than ever. Our platform has already helped hundreds of venues improve customer satisfaction, drive footfall and increase sales while giving thousands of artists an easier way to earn money gigging. We’re just getting started and the investment will help bring the benefits of live music to more communities in towns and cities across the UK.” GigPig launched in 2022 and currently operates in more than 22 cities across the country.

 

Bella Italia launches £7.99 lunchtime deal: Bella Italia, the Big Table Group-owned brand, has launched a new £7.99 lunchtime deal across a select number of its 70 sites. The company said that the offer of any one pasta or pizza for £7.99 is valid between restaurant opening and 4pm on Mondays to Thursdays inclusive. It is available at Bella Italia restaurants in Bristol Baldwin, Uxbridge, Brighton, Lancaster, Bristol Abbey Wood, Oxford, Southampton, Milton Keynes Stadium, Lakeside, Plymouth, Walsall, Coventry, Hempstead Valley, Reading, Inverness, York, York Clifton Moor, Dudley, Peterborough and Sheffield St Pauls. A Bella Italia spokesperson said: “We know our guests are excitedly saving for the approaching summer holidays but still need to grab a tasty and filling lunch. To help, we’re thrilled to bring our great quality pasta and pizza options for even better value to keep the national moving.”

 

New food and entertainment space set to open in London’s Vauxhall: Metropolis London, a new food and entertainment space for the capital, is set to open in Vauxhall. The venue will open at Albert Embankment’s Railway Arches at the end of May, offering global cuisine from 11 street food vendors – alongside a stand-alone bar and live events space – over 8,000 square feet across two arches. There will be space for 350 people seated through indoor areas and an additional 150 outdoors in a garden space. Trading seven days a week, the vendors will include Birria Taco (Mexican), Chipsy (barbecue), Fresco Trattoria Pizzeria (Italian), Karapincha (Sri Lankan), Lorenzo Kusina (Filipino) and O’Gosht (Turkish), alongside sushi from Asian Sekushi, sandwiches from Sexy Buns and Uzbekistan noodles and dumplings from Oshpaz. Additional offers come from The Ice Cream Union’s new concept Gelato Lab and plant-based milk tea and coffee from Nuttea. The bar will serve a wide range of wine, craft beer and signature cocktails. The entertainment arch will feature a curated programme of live music, film, comedy, cabaret, LGTBQ+ friendly events and family-orientated performances. Anna Yaqub, founder of Metropolis London, said: “Metropolis London is a melting pot of global cuisines, bringing the very best of London’s food, drink and entertainment scene together under one roof. We’re thrilled to be opening our doors this May and are confident the venue will attract diners and drinkers as well as those looking for great entertainment.”

 

Bunsik set to launch in Kensington next week for west London debut: Korean street food concept Bunsik, part of Maguro Group, will make its west London debut next week with the launch of its sixth site, in Kensington. Bunsik will open at 198-200 Earl’s Court Road on Thursday, 16 May. As previously reported, the 1,625 square-foot venue will offer 40 covers as well as takeaway options. Along with its traditional Korean street food, the site will offer new dishes such as fish and veggie burgers, kimmari fried seaweed roll and veg mandu dumplings. The opening comes after Bunsik launched its fifth site in December, in Westfield Stratford, which was the brand’s food court model debut. In September, Maguro Group director Jae Cho told Propel it is set to make Bunsik its first franchise, with an aim of 20 sites by 2026. Maguro Group also operates the Maguro Sushi, Gogi, Bullgogi, Itaewon Burger & Chicken and Pochawa Grill concepts.

 

PPHE Hotel Group opens new restaurant at London’s art’otel Hoxton: PPHE Hotel Group has opened a new restaurant at its recently launched art’otel in London’s Hoxton. The 70-cover Brush Grand Café is a restaurant, lounge and cocktail bar, open from breakfast through to coffee and cake and then dinner with cocktails. Offering “classic European cuisine”, at the heart of the ground-floor restaurant is The Counter, which has a daily selection of cakes and pastries alongside smaller dishes such as croque monsieur, beef tartare, prawn cocktail and French onion soup. Larger mains include wiener schnitzel with cucumber and dill salad and parsley potatoes; moules-frites with chilli and lemon thyme sauce; and grilled monkfish chop with clam velouté. Upstairs, on the first floor, the lounge and cocktail bar offers cocktails, snacks and live music by night, while an absinthe fountain is brought to guests on an special trolley and served table-side. There is also a 70-cover outdoor terrace. PPHE opened the Hoxton hotel last month, a second UK opening for the brand following the launch of art’otel London Battersea Power Station last year.

 

Irish whisky brand McConnell’s opens new distillery and visitor experience: Irish whisky brand McConnell’s has opened a new distillery in Belfast. Located at the A-wing of Crumlin Road Gaol, McConnell’s Distillery and Visitor Experience expects to welcome more than 100,000 visitors annually following a two-year renovation and restoration of the historic venue. Visitors will be introduced to the historic Belfast brand, while being taken on an immersive journey through the art of brewing, distilling and maturing McConnell’s signature Irish whiskies. John Kelly, chief executive of McConnell’s Belfast Distillery Company, said: “Following significant investment from our board and international investor community and support from the Northern Ireland government departments, we have put in place an experience that really will take the breath away.”