Market Halls appoints advisors to aid fundraise, secures Paddington Square site: Market Halls, the London food market hall operator, has appointed advisors to help it secure new funding as it looks to aid its expansion plans, Propel has learned. Market Halls is also lining up a fourth opening in the capital, in Paddington. The Andy Lewis-Pratt-led business, which currently operates sites in London’s Oxford Street, Canary Wharf and Victoria, is understood to be working with Ashcombe Advisers on its options. Market Halls has been backed by Gees Court Partners since 2021, while Bridgepoint Growth is also believed to have a stake in the business. Market Halls’ revenue increased 155% to £22m in the 12 months to July 2023 compared with £8.6m the year before. It comes as the business has secured its fourth site in London, as part of Paddington Square – the new mixed-use development at the former Royal Mail sorting office site, which overlooks Paddington station. Set to open in the final quarter of this year, the new Market Halls site will be spread over 11,000 square feet. It will house eight food traders, two bars and 500 covers. The company also hopes to announce its first regional site this year, and then it has two or three sites in the pipeline for next year. Last summer, the company said it planned to open an average of two or three new sites per year over the next five years, in major UK cities and regional hubs, with target cities including Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds, Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Last week, Propel revealed that Market Halls had hired Olivia Reid as its new head of food. Reid joined Market Halls after more than three years at Sessions, the growth platform for original food brands, including the past 16 months as its director of food and beverage. Previous to that, she spent two years as general operations manager at Black Rock Restaurants.

Next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality to be released on Friday, 24 May featuring 872 companies: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club members on Friday, 24 May, at midday. Another 11 companies have been added to the database, which now features 872 companies. This month’s edition will also include 42 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; the New Openings Database; the Turnover & Profits Blue Book; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. All Premium Clubs members will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including 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 wages rose by year-on-year average of 7.9% but increases helps bring vacancies down: Sector wages rose by a year-on-year average of 7.9% between February 2023 and February 2024 but these increases have helped bring vacancies down, CGA by NIQ’s latest Business Confidence Survey reveals. The survey shows business confidence has been weakened by pressure on wage costs, and nearly all leaders polled said these had significantly (73%) or slightly (24%) increased over the last 12 months. Wages rose by an average of 7.9% between February 2023 and February 2024, and by a further 8.9% in April following increases to the national living wage. However, higher pay has helped to cut vacancies, with only 6% of roles now open, down from 10% in February. The number of leaders reporting decreases in energy costs has also more than quadrupled quarter-on-quarter, from 9% to 38%, while those facing significant increases in food and drink costs have fallen from 50% to 31%. Half (51%) of leaders said they plan to increase investment over the next year, more than double the number (20%) who will reduce it. Two thirds (65%) of leaders said revenue in the first quarter of 2024 was higher than in the first three months of 2023, while only 14% said it was lower. Well over a third (39%) said consumers’ average spend per visit has increased over the last six months, though only a quarter (24%) report growth in footfall and two thirds (66%) report consumers cutting back on the number of drinks they order while out. However, the poll shows only 34% of leaders feel confident about prospects for the hospitality market over the next 12 months, down by seven percentage points from February’s figure of 41%. The proportion who feel optimistic about prospects for their own business in the next year has also fallen by four percentage points, from 57% in February to 53%. It is the second quarter-on-quarter drop in leaders’ confidence in a row, following four successive quarters of growth. Karl Chessell, CGA by NIQ’s director, said: “While confidence levels in hospitality have fallen slightly since strong Christmas trading, it’s encouraging to see that revenue, consumer spending and some cost pressures are generally moving in the right directions. Increasing investment is another welcome sign that leaders are upbeat about long-term prospects in hospitality. Costs remain very high in key inputs like pay, and there is some way to go before people’s spending confidence is back to pre-covid levels. But these figures give us cause for cautious optimism that trading will continue to pick up over the rest of 2024.”

Northern Ireland takeaway settles disability discrimination case with former employee: A chip shop worker with autism has settled his disability discrimination case against a County Armagh takeaway for £8,000. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland supported the complaint brought forward by Oisín McKerr, who had declared his autism on his application form, against Mak’s Plaice. In January 2023, a few months into his role, McKerr was told it was a quiet time for the shop but he might see more hours by March. However, the following week, he received a text instructing him to collect his final paycheck and return his uniform, reports Belfast Live. The youngster said he had not been made aware of any issues and didn’t know he had been dismissed – and was upset when he realised the takeaway was recruiting new people. Mary Kitson, senior legal officer for the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, said: “Employees with autism have protections under the Disability Discrimination Act. Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to remove barriers to the recruitment and employment of people with disabilities. Good support from any employer is key to successful employment for a person with autism and effective communication is central to this support.” The case was settled without admission of liability and the company affirmed its commitment to the principle of equality of opportunity in employment and agreed to liaise with the commission to review its equal opportunities policies, procedures and practices. The company said it regrets any injury to feelings, distress or upset felt by McKerr.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an established retail and hospitality business that is seeking a retail commercial manager to join its team. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will be responsible for managing the strategic relationships of two major brands, overseeing all aspects of their retail operations across their sites, managing inventory and vendor relationships to implementing sales strategies and analysing performance metrics, to help drive revenue and enhance the overall customer experience. The salary is up to £60,000 and the position is based in Birmingham. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com.

 

F1 Arcade working on debt raise to help aid expansion: F1 Arcade, the Formula 1-licensed experiential concept from Kindred Concepts, is working on a new debt raise as it looks up its international expansion plans. Propel understands that F1 Arcade, which recently opened its debut US site in Boston Seaport, is working with advisors Houlihan Lokey on the debt raise as it looks to open 30 locations globally by the end of 2027 – including further openings in the US and UK, as well as in Australia, Europe, the Far East and the Middle East. The concept, from Puttshack and Flight Club co-founder Adam Breeden, launched in London’s St Paul’s in November 2022, followed by a second site, in Birmingham’s Paradise Estate, in November 2023. A second US site is due to open in Washington DC’s Union Market District this autumn. In June last year, Kindred Concepts secured £30m of new funding to fuel its next phase of its international growth. It has also recently partnered with York-based consultancy The Franchising Centre to find potential international partners. Last year’s fundraising was led by Liberty Media and Formula 1, with participation from sector-focused investment firm Imbiba. There was also support from names across the F1 paddock, including McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown and Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris and Logan Sargeant.

 

Incipio Group sees first-quarter trading surpass expectations: Incipio Group – operator of venues including Pergola on the Wharf, The Libertine and The Prince – has reported a strong first quarter of trading for 2024, which it said surpassed expectations and sets “a strong trajectory for the year ahead”. During the quarter, the business saw like-for-like sales increase by 24% to £4.6m, and like-for-like site adjusted Ebitda climb by 110%. Ed Devenport, chief executive of Incipio Group, said: “The exceptional results achieved in the first quarter underscore the resilience and dedication of our team, as well as the enduring appeal of our venues. We are thrilled to have exceeded our projections and after a promising start are looking forward with excitement to the rest of the year.” Last month, the company revealed it is to bring an “elevated food and beverage offer” to the new Olympia development in west London, opening several concepts of “premium dining and drinking experiences”. Set to open in summer 2025, the £1.3bn Olympia development promises to transform the historic site into a “world-class cultural and entertainment hub”. Incipio Group has been selected to spearhead several premium food and beverage offerings across the development, “leveraging its expertise in crafting unforgettable dining and drinking experiences”. The company has also been chosen as the food and beverage partner for the redevelopment of the Saville Theatre in partnership with Cirque du Soleil and Citizen M Hotels, which it said further solidifies “its reputation as a leader in destination dining experiences”.

 

Chopstix signs up new franchisee for south of England: Fast-growing, quick service restaurant brand Chopstix has signed a long-term agreement with established franchise operators, Darren Godfrey and Naomi Godfrey, Propel has learned. The multi-unit deal will see the pair look to develop a pipeline of Choptsix sites across the south of England. The pair, who already have significant experience operating foodservice businesses through the franchise model, working with international brands such as Pizza Hut, are set to open their first Chopstix site in Guildford this month, with a second site launch planned in Portsmouth later this year. The Guildford site will be located at the food court The Friary Shopping Centre, in the city’s North Street. Aaron Moore-Saxton, Chopstix franchise director, said: “Darren, Naomi and their team have a wealth of experience operating quick service restaurant and casual dining sites, so I’m delighted they’ve come on board as our latest franchisees. The passion they have for the brand and their vision for growth aligns perfectly with our own. I’m excited to see how the team do with the Guildford site launch and with Portsmouth later this year. I’m confident they will have long term success with the brand.” Darren Godfrey said: “It’s clear there’s huge momentum behind the Chopstix brand, so we’re thrilled to be opening this site in Guildford. We see great opportunity to build a strong pipeline of new Chopstix locations and this is in no small part due to the breadth of site formats the brand can work in and the strong return on investment Chopstix has consistently delivered.” The opening of the Guildford site comes as the brand said it “continues to deliver strong sales across its portfolio”. The Chopstix Group currently consists of more than 100 Chopstix sites, in addition to ten sites operating as Yangtze, and 27 sites under the Chozen Noodle brand.

 

Rare Restaurants CEO – appointment of David Campbell as chair will help launch our next phase of growth: Martin Williams, the chief executive of Rare Restaurants, the Gaucho and M Restaurants owner, has told Propel that the appointment of David Campbell as the group’s new chairman, will help launch its next phase of growth. Campbell, who stepped down from leading PizzaExpress in October 2021, is also currently chair of Ole and Steen. He takes over from Jamie Mitchell, who had been non-executive chairman of Rare since July 2019. Williams said: “Our shareholders (Investec and SC Lowy) and I take this opportunity to thank Jamie Mitchell for outstanding support and guidance as chair for the past five years – a period that has taken the business from strength to strength leaving us with incredible results and focus in terms of people, the planet and profit. As we look to have another growth phase, acting on the pipeline of sites we have identified and other opportunities, to have David’s experience on board is invaluable. With a pipeline of 30 UK locations, we will continue to grow our brands in a sustainable manner, which echoes our commitment to continue to offer our best-in-class menus (including carbon neutral beef). We will remain aspirational but accessible, with an increasingly broad demographic appeal, and will continue to have a lot of fun with our guests and our people along the way.” Propel understands that Campbell will also help the business look at ways to grow outside the roll out of Gaucho. The business currently operates in 22 sites and is entering its 30th year of trading. In February, the company hailed 2023 as an “outstanding year” for the business with revenue reaching £75.3m. The group reported double-digit turnover growth in 2023, with full group restaurant Ebitda of 19%, which included three new openings in Newcastle, Covent Garden and Cardiff. Williams said: “Current trading is pretty much flat in terms of like-for-likes, outside of London we are seeing good growth. Central London is getting better and better in terms of Piccadilly and Covent Garden, but the City is still struggling with the exception of our M Restaurant, which is actually in the best growth for the company for the last five months on a like-for-like basis. Canary Wharf and the Square Mile are tough environments where there is increasing competition and a decrease in consumer confidence, which is impacting trade during the week, with Wednesdays not as strong as last year. We were obviously hoping that interest rates would come down, and as soon as that does happen, there’ll be more disposable income and consumers will spend more.” In terms of the group’s pipeline, the company is in legals on a site in York and Williams said it has identified “six hotspots around the UK, which are priority A on our target list”. 

 

Indoor go-karting concept Capital Karts acquired by US group: Indoor go-karting concept Capital Karts has been acquired by US group K1 Speed. Capital Karts specialises in professionally designed go-kart race tracks and a fleet of karts that offers go-karting sessions along with video recording and time tracking systems. Currently, Capital Karts has one venue in central London (Canary Wharf) and three additional venues under development across Central London (Vauxhall), Birmingham and Glasgow, set to open by the end of 2024. K1 Speed was founded by David and Susan Danglard in 2003. The company operates 92 racing centres across 30 states and eight countries. David Danglard said: “We have been focused on aggressive growth for K1 Speed in the last year, and Susan and I are proud of the milestones the business has achieved across the US thus far. We’re thrilled to expand our business into the UK and Europe and to achieve the dream of becoming a global motorsports powerhouse.”

 

New BrewDog CEO – ‘I see a fantastic opportunity to build on our foundations’: James Arrow, the new chief executive of Scottish retailer and brewer BrewDog, has said he sees “a fantastic opportunity to build on our foundations”, and that he has “a clear view about how fast-growing businesses can endure and thrive”. Arrow was promoted from chief financial officer to chief executive of BrewDog last week after James Watt, who co-founded the business with Martin Dickie, announced he was stepping down. Arrow joined the business as its chief operating officer last summer, from Boots Opticians, where he was managing director. Prior to joining Boots in 2019, he spent more than a decade at Dixons Carphone in a variety of senior roles including e-commerce, trading, operations, sales and transformation. During the merger of Dixons and Carphone Warehouse, Arrow was part of the senior leadership integration team. He said: “I’m honoured to be asked to lead this company, and I’m immensely excited for what we will deliver. This is a truly pioneering business; one that has disrupted a sluggish market and created a powerful global movement. James, together with Martin, deserves huge credit for all that he has achieved over the past 17 years. Looking forward, I see a fantastic opportunity to build on our foundations, working with the brilliant BrewDog team to grow this business with purpose and discipline. I am committed to our mission – to make other people as passionate about great beer as we are. My priorities are simple; deliver great experiences for the people who drink our beer, come to our bars and work for our company, and I have a clear view about how fast-growing businesses can endure and thrive.”

 

Adnams still exploring options to fund future growth plans as it reports sales up 11% in first quarter: Suffolk brewer and retailer Adnams has said it is still exploring a range of options to fund its future growth plans as it reported sales up 11% in the three months to 31 March 2024. The business said: “While multiple factors continue to challenge the brewing, distilling and hospitality sectors, total sales increased 11% year-on-year in the period, supported by growing volumes in beer and spirits, with a notably strong contribution from our on-trade and off-trade business. Falling inflation is improving demand in both the on-trade and off-trade, as well as softening some of the company's cost increases. The company is continuing to explore a range of options to fund its future growth plans with the support of its advisors and has received an encouraging response to the process. The board's preferred option remains the raising of additional capital from another party and/or the sale of freehold assets to return capital to the company. However, no decision has yet been taken. The company will continue to keep shareholders appraised of developments at the appropriate time.” Adnams said it intends to file full-year accounts for the period ending 31 December 2023 in late May ahead of its planned annual general meeting on Thursday, 27 June.

 

Liberation Group to launch premium rooms concept Butcombe Boutique Inns: Butcombe Boutique Inns (BBI), part of Liberation Group, will launch at the end of May with the objective of becoming “the leading operator of premium rooms in the south of England”. The new concept, which Liberation said will provide guests with a “unique, personalised and home-from-home stay in some of the most desirable locations in the UK”, will launch with The George Inn, Norton St Philip; and The Swan Inn, Rowberrow, both in Somerset. The BBI offering will be initially rolled out across eight Butcombe Pubs & Inns, including The Castle Inn, Lulworth, on the Jurassic Coast to the High Corner Inn in the New Forest, with the expectation that 25 inns will eventually be part of the BBI brand. The company said: “BBI was created as a result of extensive research and speaking to lots of guests and Butcombe Pubs & Inns loyalty club members, where the team gained invaluable insight and learnings helping to reinforce a lot of things it already believes in – guests staying in hotels and pubs often book because of habitual reasons and what they’re really looking for are memorable experiences at sites located in the most beautiful locations. They expect an excellent customer journey from the moment they make their booking to entering a beautifully designed, styled and furnished room, with fantastic locally sourced food and drink on tap throughout the day.” Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of Liberation Group, said: “All our BBI sites are set in some of the best locations in the south of England, where guests will know from the very start that their experience will be unique and extra special, a real home from home. With a truly personalised experience, our guests will be able to get the most from their stays with us, whether it is enjoying our award-winning hospitality or embracing local attractions and activities that these unique locations bring, our BBI sites are the perfect place to create lifelong memories with family and friends.”

 

Caffe Nero owner launches new wholesale brand: The Nero Group, owner of Caffè Nero, has announced the launch of its “Aroma by The Nero Roasting Company” wholesale brand. The company said it had set up Aroma to allow selected partners to tap into its high-quality specialty coffee beans and vast experience in buying, roasting and blending coffee from the group’s roastery. It said: “Aroma will provide very high-quality coffee to those who wish to tap into specialty coffee maker Caffè Nero's extensive coffee expertise located at The Nero Roasting Company. Businesses and consumers now have a choice to buy high quality coffee from the Nero Roasting Company.” The Aroma brand will sit as a distinct part of The Nero Group alongside Caffè Nero, Coffee#1, Harris+Hoole and the Nero Roasting Company, which produces coffee for the entire group. Group founder and chief executive Gerry Ford said: “Launching Aroma by The Nero Roasting Company is a significant step for us. The Nero Roasting Company has developed a reputation for the very highest quality coffee and coffee expertise, and I've been approached many times over many years to provide that expertise for others. Going forward, Aroma by The Nero Roasting Company will enable selected third parties to be able to access that expertise and sell this high-quality specialty coffee. Our group is now trading strongly following the challenges of the pandemic. The launch of Aroma by The Nero Roasting Company is an attempt to fulfil long-standing demand that has been asking for a better wholesale coffee product for some time.” Aroma by The Nero Roasting Company is already established, being served in more than 100 outlets, and the Nero Group said it will utilise its strategic association with UCC Coffee to help facilitate the roll out of the new brand, with further Aroma locations expected to open throughout 2024 and beyond.

 

Jamie Oliver Restaurants opens debut site in Germany, seeks further partners: Jamie Oliver Restaurants has opened his first restaurant in Germany – Jamie Oliver Kitchen in Berlin’s Friedrichstraße – with other restaurants planned with partner BMB Group. Ed Loftus, global restaurant group director at Jamie Oliver Restaurants, said: “We are delighted to have opened Jamie Oliver Kitchen in Berlin. Jamie has a big fan base in Germany cultivated through his bestselling cookery books, award-winning TV series and his campaigning work. Once we had found the right partner in BMB Group, Jamie Oliver Kitchen felt like the right restaurant concept to open in Berlin. It's a beautiful space – bright and welcoming – serving delicious dishes inspired by Jamie’s travels, all sourced and cooked to his high standards. We are in an exciting expansion phase at Jamie Oliver Restaurants. We’ve recently opened a Jamie'’ Italian in Belgrade, and we have more restaurants planned for Germany, as well as additional franchises opening in India, Montenegro and the Middle East. I am keen to find partners to help us launch in Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Austria as we continue to grow our franchise footprint globally.” In March, the company opened its first site in the Balkans region, in Serbia. The business teamed up with franchise partner Kafeterija to open a site under its Jamie’s Italian brand in Belgrade. Jamie Oliver Restaurants currently has 15 international partners and is planning approximately 20 new openings this year. Its longer-term goal is to have more than 200 international sites by 2027.

 

McDonald’s working on a $5 value meal: McDonald’s is working on plans for a $5 (£3.98) value meal in its US sites to help offset an increasingly challenging environment for consumers. CNBC reported that the $5 meal could include four items: a McChicken or McDouble, four-piece chicken nuggets, fries and a drink. The potential new offering comes at a time when low-income consumers are beginning to pull back on spending, particularly at fast-food brands. McDonald’s recently reported a mixed first quarter, with US like-for-like sales slightly missing expectations. Higher prices helped grow average transaction value, but some consumers pulled back as a result of the steeper costs. Part of the solution, chief executive Chris Kempczinski told analysts, would be to focus even more on value offerings and work on a national platform. At the start of this month, Kempczinski 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.

 

Greene King partners with Zero Carbon Forum to help its pub operators become more sustainable: Greene King Pub Partners, the leased, tenanted and franchise business unit of Greene King, is collaborating with the Zero Carbon Forum to help its pub operators become more sustainable. Greene King became a founding member of the Zero Carbon Forum in 2020 and has pledged to reach net zero by 2040 – with a shorter-term target of reducing its absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030. Franchisees fall into Greene King’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions and tenants and lessees its Scope 3 emissions. The support will begin by giving partners access to the forum’s carbon calculator, which they can use to calculate their carbon footprint and identify key sustainable changes to their businesses. Each Greene King Pub Partners business development manager, estates manager and property surveyor has also been educated by the forum on helping partners make their businesses more sustainable. Alongside this, a new initiative called “Partners For Good” will includes access to key supplier deals and offers that can help operators with their carbon reduction. Dan Robinson, managing director of Greene King Pub Partners, said: “Greene King is on a journey to net zero and we want to take our partners on that journey with us. That’s why we are collaborating with the Zero Carbon Forum to help our franchisees, tenants and lessees reduce their carbon while saving on costs as well.” Mark Chapman, founder of the Zero Carbon Forum, added: “The Zero Carbon Forum launched its free carbon calculator in 2022 and it’s already been used by 473 companies across 5,976 sites to measure more than 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. I’m excited to launch the corporate version of the calculator through this innovative partnership with Greene King Pub Partners.”

 

Sunday in Brooklyn to open second London site: Sunday in Brooklyn, the New York-inspired restaurant concept, is to open its second site in London, near Oxford Street. The new site in St Christopher’s Place will comprise 5,000 square feet spread across two floors, with additional alfresco seating. The new venue, which will open this summer, will boast multiple event spaces, private dining rooms and two vaults. The first UK site for Sunday in Brooklyn opened in London’s Notting Hill in July 2021, after the business took over the site previously occupied by French brasserie Cote in Westbourne Grove. Sunday in Brooklyn was founded by Todd Enany, Adam Landsman and chef Jaime Young in 2016 in the New York borough’s Williamsburg neighbourhood. The company said that the new St Christopher’s Place site will repeat Sunday in Brooklyn’s “inventive spin on American staples, playful cocktails, and exceptional hospitality”.

 

Black Sheep Coffee to open in Edinburgh today: Speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee will open its latest site, in Edinburgh, today (Tuesday, 14 May). The opening, in the Scottish capital’s Haymarket Square, means Black Sheep has opened more than 40 stores in the past year alone as it closes in on 100 stores worldwide. It is the company’s 88th opening in the UK and 92nd overall. It is also Black Sheep’s 11th site in Scotland and sixth in Edinburgh. Co-founders Gabriel Shohet and Eirik Holth said: “We’re so excited to be launching our newest Black Sheep Coffee site in Edinburgh and creating another coffee haven for those who dare to be different. With Edinburgh’s rich culture of creativity, we feel that this is a perfect new spot for us to open in.” Propel revealed exclusively in March that Black Sheep Coffee is raising £15m of new funding as it looks to step up its international expansion plans, while it gears up to explore an initial public offering in the US. Last month, the company opened its third Middle East store as part of a franchise deal with Al Farran Investment to expand into the region.

 

Manchester-based Chinese food hall concept set to make shopping centre debut: Manchester Chinese food hall concept Hello Oriental is set to make its shopping centre debut with its second site. The business, which offers east Asian food across three storeys – comprising a restaurant, bar, cafe and events space – off Oxford Road, has agreed a deal to open a new food hall within the city’s Trafford Centre. Opening in October, the food hall will offer more than 100 dishes including a wide selection of street food favourites and a full kid’s menu. Ricky Yip, co-owner of Hello Oriental alongside Azim Koura, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing our beloved street food concept to the heart of this vibrant destination. We’ll be introducing Trafford Centre to our flavourful world, embracing Manchester’s dynamic dining scene and catering to the growing demand for casual culinary experiences.”

 

Yorkshire better burger business seeking to expand through franchising: Yorkshire better burger business Dope Burger is seeking to expand through franchising. Dope Burger was founded in Hull in 2011 by Oliver Johnson, and after opening its debut site in the city, has since added locations in Leeds and Doncaster and a further one in Hull. In 2022, it saw off competition from five other businesses to win a burger-themed episode of BBC Two's Britain's Top Takeaways, while that same year Dope Burger staff travelled to the Polish border with Ukraine to provide hot meals to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. Johnson is also behind delivery-only concepts Dope Dough, Wagwan Chicken and Boss Burritos. He was among the exhibitors at the recent International Franchise Show at ExCel London, as he sought partners to expand with. “Our recent success in BBC's Britain's Top Takeaways has bought us national recognition, boosting our popularity throughout the UK,” he said. “Our investment in our menu, our technology and staff mean we will continue to grow over the coming years, and we want franchisees to join us to share in this success. We need motivated franchisees who want to work in the food sector, who with our help and support will be very successful.” Total start-up costs for a Dope Burger franchise are £94,000, excluding VAT and working capital, with ongoing fees of £1,000 per month over the five-year franchise agreement.

 

Caring confirms Le Caprice is to return to London at £1bn Mayfair location: Serial sector investor Richard Caring has confirmed that Le Caprice is to return to the London dining scene at a new Mayfair location next summer five years after it closed down during the pandemic. Caring confirmed to the Evening Standard he has signed a deal to open at The Chancery Rosewood, the £1bn luxury hotel being created in Eero Saarinen’s former US Embassy building in Grosvenor Square. It is planned that the hotel and restaurant will launch in June 2025. The new Le Caprice will be sited on the south east corner of a building once surrounded by concrete bollards and seen as one of the world’s most secure diplomatic missions. It will be on two levels, with 120 seats in the main restaurant built around a large bar, a further 88 on an “all year round” terrace, and a private dining room that will seat 24. The venue will open daily from 7.30am until “late”, Caring said. Caring, who also owns The Ivy, J Sheekey, Scott’s and Annabel’s club, said the new location would “keep the essence” of the original Le Caprice – where stars such as Elton John, Madonna and Mick Jagger gathered in its 80s and 90s heyday – but in a modernised setting. He said: “My belief is that things have to move on, they have to move forward, it was the same at Annabel’s. Le Caprice opened in 1981 and that’s 43 years ago. I’m sure a lot of people will want to see Le Caprice as it was, but I believe it should be moved into the 2020s. I want it to be chic, comfortable and classic. I think it’s to mix the old and the new both in style, customers and in food.” Earlier this year, Jeremy King opened his own venue, Arlington, on the original site of Le Caprice at 20 Arlington Street. Carbone, an Italian-American celebrity haunt in New York, is also understood to be in talks to take space for its first London venue at The Chancery Rosewood. The group also has restaurants in Dallas, Miami, Las Vegas and Hong Kong. Earlier this year, Caring kicked off an auction for his stake in The Ivy and its sister restaurants, with his advisers slapping a £1bn price tag on the business. HSBC began sharing marketing documents with interested parties for the Covent Garden restaurant as well as the Ivy Collection and Ivy Asia sites, according to City sources. Caring owns the Ivy group in a 50/50 joint venture with former Qatari prime minister Sheikh Hamad Bin-Jassim Bin-Jaber Al Thani.

 

London leisure management business agrees deal to operate Kent cinema after Picturehouse steps away from lease: London leisure management business The Big Picture has agreed a deal with Ashford Borough Council to operate the Kent town’s cinema. The Big Picture will manage the newly renamed The Ashford Cinema after the former operator Picturehouse – which runs circa 28 cinemas across the UK – stepped away from the lease. Following this, the venue, formerly known as Ashford Picturehouse, came under the ownership of a council subsidiary company, Ashford Cinema. The cinema is an anchor tenant in Ashford’s shopping and leisure hub, Elwick Place, and the council felt the loss of an important community asset, and more than 20 jobs, would have been hugely detrimental for the town. The Big Picture reviewed the options for the site recommended creating a new entity to allow the cinema to continue trading and prevent any job losses. In partnership with the council, it developed a strategy to restore the cinema’s commercial viability, and over the coming months, The Big Picture will provide an interim transitional management service. This will be focused on transforming the cinema with a variety of new offers and events to appeal to a larger audience, including a wider programme of films and a new range of food and drink. Cllr Noel Ovenden, leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “When Picturehouse informed us that it would be walking away from their long-term lease in early 2024, we felt it was important to take action. Rather than stand-by and do nothing, we decided we should step in for the benefit of the local community and do all we can to keep our town centre cinema and entertainment offer at Elwick Place open for business.” The Big Picture has worked with local authorities and cinema operators to launch and manage well-known leisure brands across the UK and in more than 30 countries globally.

 

Wendy’s to make north east debut this week: Wendy’s, the third-largest quick service restaurant brand in the US, will open its debut site in the north east on Thursday (16 May). The company’s franchise partner, Square Burgers, is launching the restaurant in the ex-Thomas the Baker unit in Captain Cook Square. Wendy’s made its UK return in the summer of 2021 and has since grown to 36 sites – including ten from franchisees GH Burgers, Square Burgers, Blank Table and JRK Restaurants. Square Burgers is also understood to be planning to open a site on the former Viet Cafe unit in Grainger Street, in Newcastle. Earlier this month, Wendy’s chief financial officer Gunther Plosch said the company expects to see up to UK 50 restaurants by the end of the year, and that it is making progress in profitability here. The group also reaffirmed its belief that the UK has a long-term potential for up to 400 Wendy’s restaurants.

 

Coffee#1 opens in Moseley: Coffee#1, the Caffe Nero-owned business, has opened a new store in an old Sainsbury’s in Moseley, more than two years after the supermarket closed. The large unit in Alcester Road has lain empty since the supermarket giant left the suburb in February 2022, reports Birmingham Live. After struggling to find a new tenant to occupy the huge unit, its owners sought permission to divide the space into three last year, with the hope to create a new bakery, a pizzeria and café. In November, Greggs showed interest in the site, but that failed to come to fruition. Coffee#1 has now opened there, occupying the space from 158 to 162 Alcester Road. A Coffee#1 spokeswoman said: “We are delighted to be opening our next coffee shop in Moseley. It’s in a great location with a warm community feel and I am sure Coffee#1 will fit right in. We pride ourselves on creating a cosy space where customers can relax and take their time where they are served great food, delicious cakes, and of course great coffee.” In February, Coffee#1 reported an 8% increase in like-for-like sales for the six months to November 2023, with sales of £29.5m, representing total sales growth of 18.8% over the prior year. The 118-strong company, which is the fourth largest coffee shop brand in the UK, said this had been underpinned by sustained customer growth of 1.2%.

 

Manjaros lines up Leicester opening: Manjaros, which combines Caribbean and African cuisine, is lining up a site in Leicester. The company has been granted permission by the city council to transform the former Al Rayan Bank building on the corner of London Road and Saxby Street into its newest restaurant. Plans show the Leicester restaurant would be able to accommodate 56 people, reports Leicestershire Live. Manjaros said in its application that expanding into the London Road premises would “revitalise an existing vacant building with a new lease of life”. Manjaros' most popular dish is parmesan chicken, with a number of other parmesan choices on the menu alongside grilled dishes, skewers, burgers, platters, pizza and wraps. Owned by Rafiq Ali, the business operates 18 sites across the UK including in Birmingham, London, Newcastle, Leeds and Preston.