BrewDog Bars CEO – we are working on a global deal with SSP, I’m hopeful history is much kinder to James Watt: James Brown, chief executive of BrewDog Bars, has said the business is working on a global deal with SSP to open in more transport hubs. Speaking at Propel’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, Brown also said that the company, which operates circa 100 sites globally, would like to do more sites the size of its 27,500 square-foot venue in London’s Waterloo. He said: “We love the big box model, and that size of site definitely works better in this environment. But we’re really conscious that we’re not going to rush at it. It’s so special to us. If we want to open 20, number two has got to be right. If we don't get number two right, we’ll never open any more. So, we are really cautious, but really keen to do more. We’ve got a plan in place to do 25 locations in India. We have a partner who wants to open 100 but we keep talking him down and saying you are not going to deliver that, so let’s talk about the first 20 first. We’ve got a plan to do ten locations in Australia. We’ve just opened number five, in Perth, which is trading really well. And you’re going to see a lot more in airports – we’ve opened an airport site in Columbus, Ohio. With airports and travel, we’ve got some great partners – we are with TRG in one location and with HMSHost in the US, but our preferred partner, and probably the one we’ll expand with most, is SSP, and we are working on a global deal with those guys at the moment.” Last year, the business opened at London Gatwick’s North Terminal and Amsterdam Centraal station in partnership with SSP. The two companies also announced last December plans to open at Edinburgh Waverley station and a BrewDog pub at London Waterloo. On James Watt, who co-founded BrewDog with Martin Dickie, and who announced he was stepping down as the company’s chief executive earlier this month, Brown said: “I don't think anyone could underestimate the drive and determination, and often doggedness, it takes to take a business from a garage to where it is today, turning over £330m in revenue. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing that internally and how it’s changed people’s lives – the chap who runs Asia and Australia for us as a region was a bartender in Newcastle five years ago. The stories are endless of people whose lives have been changed for the positive by what these two guys did in starting their business. You don’t see the energy James brought to the teams in the sites when he visited. I think he is often unfairly portrayed in the present, and I hope history is much kinder to him. A big thing that James brought to the business was this kind of feeling we were taking on the world, almost trench warfare type mentality, and it really galvanised us as a team.” Propel Premium Club members will receive all the videos from the Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference on Friday, 31 May at 9am. 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. 

 

Next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality to feature more than 236,000 words of content: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will feature more than 236,000 words of content when it is released to Premium Club members on Friday (24 May), at midday. The database now features 872 companies, and this month’s edition includes 11 new additions and 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 will also receive all the videos from this month’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference on Friday, 31 May at 9am. They will include Peter Borg-Neal, founder of the Oakman Group, talking about how to maintain the company’s award-winning standards against the backdrop of a volatile trading environment, his return as chief executive and how the sector must remain agile and respond quickly to the extraneous pressures it is facing. Meanwhile, Susan Chappell, divisional director at Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), who is responsible for the All Bar One, Browns, Nicholson’s and Castle estates, which have an annual turnover of £500m, highlights how M&B is evolving its business to stay abreast of trends in digital and premiumisation, and how its business transformational programme, Ignite, is delivering ongoing improvements. 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 sales fall for first time in 18 months: Britain’s managed groups saw sales drop 1.7% year-on-year in April 2024 after widespread wet weather, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. It is the first year-on-year drop in monthly sales since September 2022 and a sharp contrast with March, when groups achieved 5.2% growth thanks to drier weather and an early Easter. Last month faced tough comparatives with April 2023, which included the full Easter holiday. Slightly weaker sales may also suggest that some consumers remain hesitant about their spending despite an easing of inflation in recent months, the tracker – produced by CGA by NIQ in partnership with RSM UK – said. The tracker shows the impact of the weather on pubs, where sales were 1.5% down. Restaurants, which sometimes benefit from wetter weather, achieved modest like-for-like growth of 1.2%. Bars were hit hardest, with sales dropping 15.1% below the levels of April 2023. The on-the-go segment was 4.2% down. Hospitality groups performed better in London than elsewhere, the tracker shows. April sales inside the M25 were 0.3% ahead of last year, but down by 2.2% beyond the M25. Karl Chessell, director, CGA by NIQ, said: “After 18 consecutive months of year-on-year growth, the hospitality sector had a challenging April. It’s a reminder of the very close correlation between the weather and sales, and a sign that some consumers have been saving their eating and drinking out for special occasions and holidays like Easter. Brighter weather in May should help to encourage more people out to eat and drink, and the medium to long term outlook for hospitality remains good – but it’s clear that businesses and consumers alike continue to face some severe cost pressures.”

Majority of consumers spending £15-£30 when going out and only a third typically spending £30-plus: The majority of consumers are spending £15-£30 when going out and only a third are typically spending £30-plus, according to new research from consumer insight business Feed It Back. Its annual Pulse report, taken from an analysis of 54,000 consumer surveys, found that those going out as part of a social or hobby group are prepared to spend more, as well as those aged 55-plus. Families with young children, meanwhile, are after “low cost, high value” options and are more likely to spend £15-£20 per person. However, families are willing to spend more as their kids get older. “Groups of friends, colleagues and hobby groups have similar spending profiles,” the report said. “As with couples going out, 14% of social/hobby groups are spending £50-plus, so there is an opportunity to capitalise on these less price sensitive consumers. In addition to the big spend at hotels, it was surprising to see that those going out for a special occasion are typically spending less than those going to a late-night venue or taking part in an activity with drinks. With today’s high cost of living, set menus and fixed-price deals like bottomless brunches are attractive to those looking for great experiences with a reasonable price tag.” When it comes to choosing a venue, almost two thirds (62%) look for a location’s convenience, followed by menu variety (50%), word-of-mouth recommendations (48%) and good online reviews (43%). Google is the most important platform for facilitating this, as chosen by 68% of consumers of all ages, followed by TripAdvisor with 44%, especially among older age groups and for those researching accommodation and hotel dining options. TikTok and Instagram, meanwhile, are driving visits for activity and drink-based experiences, plus late-night and bottomless brunch occasions. Almost three-quarters of respondents (75%) said special deals incentivise bookings the most, although hobby groups and work colleagues seek out experience-led occasions more. Of those having taken up offers in the last six months, 37% said it had come through an email or local marketing, and 22% through a brand’s loyalty scheme. And while loyalty or discount vouchers are the most widely used offer (64%), just under a quarter of consumers have used a gift card in the sector in the last six months.

 

Liverpool tops poll to find best large city break: Liverpool’s “buzzing atmosphere” has led to it being named the UK’s best large city break in a survey. The city topped a Which? poll which asked its members about their visits to UK cities and towns in the last two years. The destinations were scored on accommodation, food and drink, cultural sights and value for money, the consumer brand said. Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said Liverpool also stood out for its “fantastic cultural scene” in its survey of almost 4,000 members. Liverpool took top spot in the large cities category with a city score of 84%, beating Manchester (71%) and capital cities Belfast (77%), London (76%) and Cardiff (72%). Boland said: “Whether you’re after vibrant nightlife, world class museums or a first-rate dining experience, our survey shows that the UK has a wealth of fantastic cities just waiting to be explored. Liverpool stood out among the UK’s large cities for its fantastic cultural scene and buzzing atmosphere, beating London and the UK’s other capital cities to take first place.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a UK hotel group that is seeking a refit product manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “You will require extensive expertise in food and beverage operations, restaurant outlet refits, marketing and costing. This role entails national and international travel, with one office day near London. The ideal candidate will have a background in hospitality operations, specifically overseeing new store openings, refits, and refurbishments, while collaborating closely with the marketing team.” This is a 12-month fixed-term contract role, with the possibility of extension. The salary is up to £60,000. For more information, email ben@corecruitment.com.

 

Comptoir Group CEO – it is a whole new cost structure world that we’re in, no more new openings in 2024: Nick Ayerst, chief executive of Comptoir Group, the owner of the Comptoir Libanais brand, has said that the sector is in a “whole new cost structure world”, which is not only impacting pricing decisions but opening plans. Following the group reporting a 1.3% increase in like-for-like revenue growth to £31.5m for 2023, Ayerst told Propel that after a “little growth spurt” which saw openings in Ealing and on London’s Southbank, there would be no further openings for the business in 2024. He said: “We’ve also taken on the responsibility of directly managing our site in Cheshire Oaks. As a relatively small company we’ve taken on a number of new sites, so certainly for the time being, we need to digest those and really get those working, so there won’t be any other new openings in 2024. But we’ll be keeping our eyes certainly on the horizon of 2025 and 2026, and wanting to tactically make the right decision. So, that’s understanding where we trade well, where this sort of new world of F&B in terms of sales versus cost ratios is, which is different than it was three, four or five years ago. Where does that mean you can successfully trade and get the required levels of returns? I think there’s a little bit more science and a little bit more thought perhaps needed from us all, not just Comptoir, but the whole industry, in terms of assessing future sites and locations. Pricing will the take some time before that matches the cost pricing, and of course, to do that, we’re still going to keep on investing in the environments and give people the service levels they expect. The pricing isn’t just sticking something on your menu, it’s properly thinking through, what is it, what’s the overall experience that people want, how much are they prepared to pay for it and how can we deliver on that experience in order to be able to charge the sorts of sums that are required. It is a whole new cost structure world that we’re in and navigating day by day.” Ayerst said there was still the opportunity for Comptoir to be the national Middle Eastern brand. He said: “We’ve got a fairly unique marketplace. There is no one else. There’s lots of eastern Mediterranean, individual, one-off restaurants or adjacent cuisines. What we need to do is really protect that position and build on the authenticity.”

Urban Pubs & Bars aiming to double size of business over next five years as it marks tenth anniversary with drinks at 2014 prices: Urban Pubs & Bars, the London pub operator founded by Malc Heap and Nick Pring and backed by Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual, is looking to double in size over the next four to five years as it marks its tenth anniversary. The group, which operates 42 pubs, bars and restaurants and employs more than 1,000 people, opened its first site, The Whippet in Kensal Rise, in May 2014. Earlier this year, Urban Pubs & Bars reported group Ebitda of £6.4m for the financial year ended 30 April 2023, an improvement of 11% versus the prior year. Like-for-like sales increased 17% and turnover increased almost 60% to £52.2m. To celebrate the company’s milestone success, today (Wednesday, 22 May), drinks will be reduced to prices from ten years ago, approximately half price. All sites will also be throwing all-day parties with music, fashion and games from 2014. Chris Hill, who joined the group as managing director in May 2023 to help spearhead the future growth of the fast-expanding business and oversee new acquisitions, said: “The past ten years for Urban Pubs & Bars have seen exceptional growth. The estate has doubled in size since covid, and as we now look to the future, we want to double again over the next four to five years. We have built a great team so that we are able to move quickly to open new sites as soon as they become available.” Heap added: “We are so proud of the incredible success of Urban Pubs & Bars. It is a real London success story and has been driven by focusing on the needs of local consumers. Urban Pubs & Bars is the biggest independent pub company in London, each site has an empowered management team running the venue like they own it, which ensures individual pubs are loved by customers and never feel like faceless pub chains. We raise a glass, at 2014 prices, to the next decade of success.”

 

Team behind Allsopp’s Brewery and Draft House founder to open London pub: The team behind Allsopp’s Brewery is to return to operating pubs with an opening in London’s Kensington. The business, which is led by Jamie Allsopp, will open The Blue Stoops on the site of The Kensington Wine Rooms this September. Allsopp will open the pub in homage to the original Blue Stoops in Burton-upon-Trent, where his family brewed from 1730. His seven times great-grandfather, Samuel Allsopp, is revered as the inventor of the IPA style, which he first brewed in a teapot in 1822. The company is being assisted on the launch by Charlie McVeigh, the founder of the Draft House brand. Propel understands that McVeigh’s current role is a consultant to the business but will morph into a non-executive director role. Chef Lorcan Spiteri, formerly of Quo Vadis and Rochelle Canteen, and founder of Caravel, the barge-restaurant on the Regent’s Canal, will oversee the food offer at The Blue Stoops. Propel understands that if successful, Allsopp’s will look to open more sites, though under a simpler, more wet-led model. Its original Allsopp’s IPA will have pride of place on the pub’s bar. The Allsopp family found great success brewing and selling cask ale in the 19th century. The business said: “Cask ale sales plummeted during covid when pubs closed and have struggled since, alongside the pub industry as a whole. The Blue Stoops’ mission is to act as a beacon for this healthy, probiotic form of natural beer, helping conserve it for the next generation.” To that end, Allsopp has commissioned the manufacture of unique beer engines with high “swan necks”, allowing the pumping by hand of the ale from the cellar up to customers, in a theatrical manner. Allsopp said: “It has been a long-time ambition of mine to revive my family’s lost heritage and bring it back to the heart of London. As with any good pub, food is an integral part of the experience, and we are so thrilled to be working with Lorcan on the menu.” Allsop’s had 2,000 pubs at the turn of the 20th century. However, by the late 20th century, the Allsopp's name had largely disappeared from the marke, before the brewery was “re-founded” by Allsopp and recommenced brewing in 2020.

 

London nightclub operator makes restaurant debut: London nightclub operator, Strongarm Hospitality Group, has made its restaurant debut. It has opened Pirana at 7-9 St James’s Street – joining nightlife venues including The London Reign, Yuki and Tabu London in the Strongarm portfolio. The 110-cover venue offers Nikkei cuisine, paired with an extensive selection of signature cocktails and a dedicated espresso martini menu. There is also a well-curated wine and Champagne list, offering a diverse selection of both old and new world wine. The one-storey restaurant also features an immersive, floating 12-seat private dining room with views over the main restaurant. Asher Grant, the founder of Strongarm Hospitality Group, said: “With seven years of dedicated effort to establish ourselves at the forefront of London’s nightlife scene, we are ready to expand our horizons. Pirana will be a vibrant space for our guests to celebrate life’s moments, bringing a thrilling dining experience unlike anything we’ve seen in London before.” The group also operates a Tabu venue in Mikonos in Greece and is working on a project with American-Korean chef, Akira Back.

 

F1 Arcade to open flagship Las Vegas site: F1 Arcade, the Formula 1-licensed experiential concept from Kindred Concepts, is to open a US flagship site in Las Vegas next year, which will become its biggest site to date. The concept will open at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, which is attached to the destination’s Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Covering more than 21,000 square feet and spanning two floors, the site will feature a terrace offering views of the Las Vegas strip. The venue will also showcase a 41-foot-long bar and a 3,550 square-foot private room. The company said the Las Vegas opening will mark the next phase of an ambitious US roll-out plan following the opening of its first US location, in Boston Seaport, in April. F1 Arcade will open in Washington DC this autumn. Jon Gardner, US president of F1 Arcade, said: “We are incredibly excited to bring the F1 Arcade experience to the vibrant Las Vegas Strip following the successful launch of our first US location in Boston Seaport last month. The adrenaline-pumping experience of fans racing head-to-head on iconic circuits against their friends and family while overlooking the Las Vegas Strip will be truly exceptional.” Propel revealed last week that F1 Arcade is working on a new debt raise as it looks up its international expansion plans. Propel understands that F1 Arcade is working with advisors Houlihan Lokey on the debt raise, which could be as high as £100m, 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 Imbiba-backed 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. 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.

 

Yorkshire operator Crazy Rabbit Inns acquires third site, plans to add fourth this year: Yorkshire operator Crazy Rabbit Inns has added the Stapylton Arms in Wass to its portfolio for its third site. The company said it will invest in the gastropub to enhance its facilities and undertake a “sympathetic” refurbishment. The acquisition was supported with £416,000 funding from Fresh Thinking Capital in a move that secures the future of the historic pub. Crazy Rabbit Inns said it plans to open a fourth site this year. Director Collette Sunderland said: “The Stapylton Arms dates to 1620 and is a central part of village life in Wass. We are proud to be taking over the stewardship of this historic venue and will invest to enhance its facilities over the coming months. We have ambitious plans for the group that will see us acquire more sites over the coming years. Our team has a great track record of building the business of country pubs and supporting the communities they serve.” In January, Crazy Rabbit inns said it plans to create a portfolio of venues across the north of England. The former owner of the Stapylton Arms, Rob Thompson, is retiring.

 

DiningSix lines up a second UK site: Copenhagen-based business DiningSix, which made its UK debut with an opening under its Danish steakhouse concept KöD in London last year, has lined up a second opening in the capital. Propel understands that DiningSix has lined up an opening on the former Zelman Meats/Block restaurant site in St Anne's Court, Soho, but it is not yet known which brand it will open at the site. Last month, Morten Ortwed, co-founder of DiningSix, told Propel it hoped to open another site in London this year. DiningSix made its UK debut last March with an opening under KöD in Devonshire Square in the capital. DiningSix operates 22 sites across Europe under various brands that also include Basso, Klokken, Keyser Social and Feed Bistro, as well as the takeaway format Burger Shack. Ortwed, who moved to the UK last year with his family, said: “It’s going great – we are very happy with how KöD is performing here so far, but I didn’t move here just to open one restaurant. We are speaking with landlords, and we are hopeful of opening another site this year. What we’re not sure yet is whether it will be another KöD or one of our different brands. We think any of them could work in the UK.” Stephen Kane, of Stephen Kane and Co, acted for DiningSix on the Soho deal, while Brandon Elmon, of Genius1 Group, acted for the landlord Raymond Estate.

 

Viva Brazil business acquired out of administration: Steakhouse business Viva Brazil has been acquired out of administration by a new vehicle led by founder Andy Aldrich, Propel understands. It is believed that Aldrich has acquired the business’ two remaining sites in Cardiff and Liverpool back. It comes after the business underwent a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) last year and led to the closure of its site in Glasgow earlier this year. Under the terms of the proposals as approved by creditors, the CVA was to last for five years, and its purpose was to allow the company to continue trading to generate income to enable contributions to be paid into the voluntary arrangement from which distributions were to be paid to creditors. The company fully complied with the terms of the proposal during the first nine months of the CVA. However, as a consequence of poor trading performance, the fourth quarterly contribution was not received. A note by FRP Advisory, which handled the CVA, states: “We were also notified by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that the company had accrued post CVA liabilities, breaching the modifications set by HMRC. Consequently, a breach notice was issued to the company requiring the arrears be cleared immediately. The director took steps to reduce overheads in a bid to improve the overall trading performance. However, the exceptional closure costs of the Glasgow operation proved insurmountable. While the company was unable to meet the minimum contributions set out in the proposal, following its restructure, it does operate two profitable restaurants in prime city centre locations. It has therefore been agreed that the business and assets of the company be marketed for sale in an attempt to enhance asset values for the benefit of creditors. The director instructed Christie & Co to act as agent for the company to run an accelerated marketing campaign to determine whether there is interest in the restaurants on an individual or combined basis.” The deadline for bids was 24 April and it was anticipated that any sale would be completed via an administration.

Alex Xu to open fourth site in London’s Chinatown with launch of new Chinese burger concept: Restaurateur Alex Xu is set to open his fourth site in London’s Chinatown with the launch of a new Chinese burger concept. Xu will soon be opening Kung Fu Burger at 104 Shaftesbury Avenue, offering a range of burgers featuring a sourdough Chinese-style bun and a variety of fillings – from shredded pork belly to chicken and vegetables. The 100 square-foot kiosk will join Kung Fu Noodle, bubble tea brand Happy Lemon and Taiwanese dessert parlour Meet Fresh in Xu’s Chinatown estate. “Chinatown London has proven time and time again to be the perfect location in the capital to launch a concept inspired by the ESEA region, and I have seen the destination evolve over the years into a cultural hub reflective of the Far East,” he said. “Kung Fu Burger brings the Chinese inspired burger trend to London, and given the ongoing success of Happy Lemon, Meet Fresh and Kung Fu Noodle, I have great confidence in this latest operation within the Chinatown London portfolio.”

 

Trust Inns acquires East Sussex village pub: Trust Inns, which is owned by the family interests of the late Trevor Hemmings, has acquired a pub in East Sussex. In a deal brokered by agent Fleurets, Trust Inns has bought the Cock Inn in the village of Wivelsfield Green for an undisclosed fee. The property was marketed at a guide price of £850,000. Ged Macken, business development manager at Trust Inns, said: “As part of Trust Inns ongoing acquisition programme for quality community and food pubs, we are delighted to welcome the Cock Inn to our portfolio in the knowledge that it will continue to be a great pub at the heart of the village.” Previous owners Andy Weskett and Sam Earl sold up to “start a new adventure” in Spain.

 

Six by Nico opens Oxford site: Six Company, the company behind the Six by Nico restaurant business, has opened a site under its core brand in Oxford. As revealed by Propel in February, Six Company has opened the site on the rooftop of the Westgate shopping centre. Six by Nico Oxford has capacity for 64 covers in the main dining area with a private dining space for 12 guests, plus a terrace in a space spanning nearly 4,300 square foot overall, and has created 50 jobs. Since opening in Finnieston in 2017, Six by Nico now has 15 locations including two in London, two in Manchester and three in Glasgow, as well as sites in Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Leeds and Cardiff. Last month, Propel revealed that Six Company had appointed advisors to assess its funding options as it looks to step up its expansion plans in the UK and overseas. It has begun working with advisors at Cavendish on its strategic options. Until now, Six Company’s growth has been funded out of cash flow and debt provided by ThinCats. Six Company will open two new sites in Edinburgh this summer. A Six by Nico site will launch in Queensferry Street, which will be its second site under the brand in the Scottish capital, while a site under its fledgling bar concept, Somewhere by Nico, will open alongside the new restaurant. Six Company launched the bar concept in Glasgow earlier this year.

 

North east McDonald’s franchisee returns to profit: North east McDonald’s franchisee Mavas Foods, owned by former military man Dean Fitzmaurice, returned to profit in the year to 31 December 2023. Fitzmaurice, who owns two restaurants in the Middlesbrough area, started franchising with McDonald’s in 2020 after two decades working in military security. His company turned a pre-tax loss of £58,626 in 2022 into a profit of £157,441 during the period. Its turnover rose slightly from £7,583,773 to £7,767,833. Dividends of £95,839 were paid (2022: £66,629). Fitzmaurice has also initiated a partnership between CEO Sleepout, which has been running events in aid of homelessness for the past ten years, and the Ronald McDonald House Charity, which provides free family accommodation close to children’s hospitals.

 

Zip World ‘boosted Welsh economy by £941m over last decade’: Private equity-backed outdoor adventure specialist Zip World has boosted the Welsh economy by £941m over the last decade, according to a new report. An independent report from North Wales Tourism revealed the figure as Zip World’s ten-year contribution to the country’s economy. Zip World said the milestone highlights a “remarkable surge” compared with the previous figure of £251m reported in 2018, reports Insider Media. Andrew Hudson, chief executive at Zip World, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our contribution to economic regeneration in Wales, and this report underscores the impact we’ve had and will continue to have. Our ambition has always been to create long-term jobs and to support the wider economy of our local communities.” Zip World operates four sites in Wales, primarily focused on zip lines and outdoor adventure activity courses. The business last year secured £6.2m worth of matched funding to boost its growth plans and has since submitted plans for a new site in the Lake District. Jim Jones, chief executive of North Wales Tourism, added: “Zip World has been the catalyst to the branding of North Wales as the Adventure Capital of Europe, and the company remains steadfast in its mission to not only thrill visitors but also to enrich and empower our Welsh communities.” Zip World’s turnover increased 23% to £28,664,738 for the year ending 31 December 2022 compared with £23,542,833 the year before. But Ebitda before exceptional items decreased by £600,000 to £10.2m and pre-tax profit was down to £109,299 from £1,868,367. 

 

Greek coffee shop brand opens third UK store: Greek coffee shop brand Coffee Island has opened its third UK store. The brand, founded in 1999 and with a global presence of more than 500 stores, has opened at 254 Edgware Road in London. The property features an English Heritage blue plaque dedicated to musical hall artist Austin Rudd, who lived there between 1869 and 1929. “Number three is fortunate, and we are delighted to announce the opening of our third Coffee Island store in London,” the company posted to social media. “We welcome you to Edgware Road, near Hyde Park. The journey of the aroma and flavour of our specialty coffee in London continues.” Coffee Island launched its first UK site, at 5 Upper St Martin’s Lane in Covent Garden, in 2016, and opened a second, at 4 Ashfield Parade in Southgate, north London, last summer.

 

Lease of historic south London LGBTQ+ venue bought to market: The lease of the historic south London LGBTQ+ venue, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, has been bought to market. Agent Christie & Co has been instructed to secure a new tenant for the grade II-listed cabaret and nightclub venue, which was built in the 1860s. It has established a reputation as a vibrant and diverse entertainment venue, playing host to resident drag and cabaret performers including Lily Savage, The Dame Edna Experience, Hinge & Brackett, Diana Dors, Regina Fong, Adrella, The Trollettes, Lola Lasagne and Myra DuBois. Since 2014, the venue has been solely operated by James Lindsay and has now come to market on a leasehold basis as he is looking to retire. New operators are now being sought for the “highly profitable business”, with a turnover of circa £1.7m and 30%-plus Ebitda. “The Royal Vauxhall Tavern has an incredible history and offers a diverse cultural calendar of events, with a healthy 12-month line-up of confirmed cabaret, performance and club nights,” Lindsay said. “While I’ve loved every minute of operating the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, the time has come to retire.” David Wilson, associate director – London pubs and restaurants at Christie & Co, added: “With an annual turnover in the region of £1.7m, this highly profitable venue is sure to attract interest from a variety of operators looking to add a famous London pub business to their portfolio.” Last week, Propel reported RVT Enterprises UK has sold the freehold investment of the Royal Vauxhall Tavern for £2.2m, to a private buyer.

 

Two more operators join Gloucester Food Dock line-up: Two more operators have joined the line-up at Gloucester Food Dock. Strip Steak Bar, which offers “premium quality, rapidly served steak in a street food style”, is from Ross Sanders and chef Arthur Knights, who have worked together for more than a decade and are the masterminds behind the steakhouse The Lazy Cow in Stroud. Now they come together again to showcase their skills, built up from the newly opened The Stroud hotel to Gloucester Docks. The menu includes Black Angus strip steak “served to your liking”, “cluckin” good garlic buttered chicken wrap and beef dripping fries along with signature strip doughnuts. Meanwhile, all-day Mexican dining concept Elote will open tomorrow (Thursday, 23 May). Local chef Lewis Spencer will introduce an “authentic Mexican menu” featuring dishes created from ingredients sourced directly from Mexican grocers, including crisp, fresh en salada and Mexican street corn, also known as “elote”. 

 

First UK Starbucks franchisee to open drive-thru looking to expand as it closes in on 50 sites: The first UK Starbucks franchisee to open a drive-thru is looking to expand as it closes in on 50 sites here. The Magic Bean Company, which was founded in 2014 and operates 42 sites across West Wales, the Midlands and Oxfordshire, has applied to open a further drive-thru in Pembrokeshire. The application, which concerns Days Garage car dealership in Fishguard Road in Haverfordwest, has been recommended for approval. As well as the coffee shop, Magic Bean plans to build an EV charging station with eight charging points and 13 further parking spaces. The site would provide 20 full-time jobs. Magic Bean has previously said it is aiming for a 200-strong UK estate by the end of 2027. It secured a £10m funding package from HSBC in 2022 to help fund its growth and has since almost doubled its then 24-strong estate.

Abandoned Lincolnshire theme park could become hotel and casino in £65m revamp: An abandoned Lincolnshire theme park could become a hotel and casino in a £65m revamp nearly a decade after closing. A private consortium has submitted plans to redevelop the Pleasure Island Theme Park, near Cleethorpes, which shut in 2016 due to falling visitor numbers. The park had been open since 1993 and was a subsidiary of Flamingo Land when it was acquired by Robert Gibb, Flamingo Land’s managing director. Gibb’s sister, Melanie Wood, took over the running of the amusement park in 2010. The redevelopment plans include two hotels, with around 222 rooms and an on-site casino, reports The Sun. There will also be 272 holiday lodges, as well as shops including a Costa drive-thru. Objections from the Environment Agency regarding flooding have been withdrawn after developers added flood measures to their plan. However, surveys undertaken by OS Ecology have revealed that the site is home to several bird species, while Natural England is still against the development going ahead. The plan remains listed as “pending consideration” on the North East Lincolnshire Council website.

Leeds Vietnamese street food concept to open second site: Leeds Vietnamese street food concept Pho 37 is to open its second site, at the Merrion Centre in the city. Owned and operated by Chi Dang, a third-generation expert in Vietnamese cuisine, Pho 37 has agreed a deal with Merrion Centre owner Town Centre Securities, adding to its existing venue in Headingly. The new restaurant, due to open in July, will feature 50 seats and create 20 jobs. There will also be two VIP function rooms on the upper level where guests can enjoy karaoke with a selection of specialist Vietnamese beer. A spokesperson said: “We are incredibly excited to bring truly authentic Vietnamese cuisine to the Merrion Centre. Our mission is to offer an unforgettable dining experience that transports our guests to the bustling streets of Vietnam, right here in the heart of Leeds.”

North west gin distiller ceases trading: North west gin distiller Four Sis4ers has ceased trading, with its assets to be sold at auction. The Salford-based brand was launched in 2018 by sisters Kerry Collins, Hayley Robinson, Kate Haslam and Lucy McAvoy. Asset advisory firm Walker Singleton, which is hosting the online auction, has invited bids on the company’s distilling plant equipment, stock and operational equipment, pending the appointment of liquidators. A notice on the company’s website has said it is closed for business but directs customers to the website for 11 Central, a venue in Salford’s Quayside Media City it shares with sister company, Seven Bro7hers, which is owned by yet more of their siblings. McAvoy brothers Guy, Keith, Luke, Daniel, Nathan, Kit and Greg started their brewery in 2014, inspired by their dad’s home-brewing efforts. “Hi everyone, our journey as Four Sis4ers Distillery has reached its end and our store is now closed,” the statement said. “Keep a look out for a new exciting spirits range by our seven brothers on Seven Bro7hers, coming soon! If you would like to sample our spirits, do a gin tour or make your very own gin, you can still do so at our new site, 11 Central. Thank you for your custom and support over the years, it’s been a thrilling adventure!”