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M&B CEO – I see Ego and Pesto growing to up to 80 sites over the next few years; Pesto founder – M&B can grow business into ‘national brand it deserves to be’: Phil Urban, chief executive of Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), has told Propel he believes that the group’s Ego and Pesto brands could grow to up to 80 sites combined over the next few years. It comes after M&B announced it had acquired the ten-strong Pesto, which was founded by Neil and Sara Gatt. It said the consideration for Pesto will be determined over two payments and is partly contingent on its future performance but will be no more than £15m. M&B currently operates 31 Ego sites. Urban told Propel: “It will help us to further diversify and premiumise our brand portfolio. I think over the next few years, we’ll have a Mediterranean stream to our portfolio, and I see Ego and Pesto happily trading alongside each other. If one does better than the other, then we will prioritise that one. In terms of conversions, they will predominantly come, as with Ego, from our Harvester, Ember Inns and Vintage Inns estates. I think for Ego and Pesto combined, I could see us having up to 80 sites over the next few years. I have no feel yet as to how many will be Pestos and how many will be Egos.” Neil Gatt told Propel that M&B has the credentials, property and motivation to grow the business into the “national brand it deserves to be”. Gatt, who also founded La Tasca, also revealed a quote in Propel got the ball rolling on the acquisition. Gatt said it was the opportunity “I have been waiting for” to grow the group, having become frustrated about the lack of suitable properties. “While Sara and I have done a lot of travelling over the last seven years, we have continued to run the business from afar,” he added. “We’ve not had the chance to relax fully away from the business, and now is the right time to hang the boots up. I started in this industry as a silver service waiter at the age of 15 and I’m now 61. It’s been really difficult to grow the business because all the best sites are locked in by companies such as M&B and Greene King. We’ve not opened a new site since 2018 and it’s been very frustrating. We have been offered sites on a daily basis, but they just don’t make the grade for what Pesto requires. The bit about being in business that I really love is being able to grow, and that’s been hard to deliver. There’s only a couple of companies out there that we feel could Pesto justice. They need to understand foodservice properly in order to be able to do that. I’ve seen La Tasca go through various different periods of ownership and look what’s happened to that – there’s nothing left. I don’t want to see Pesto go the same way and I think M&B has the credentials, property and motivation to develop the business into the national brand that it deserves to be. You can’t take risks these days with big amounts of money – you’ve got to make the sites work that you invest in. We’ve got 18 months now where we will work with M&B and it’s great, we will have some sites to open and we’re looking at a list of conversions of existing M&B sites.” In terms of how the deal came about, Gatt said: “I read a quote in Propel from Phil Urban after M&B completed the acquisition of the remaining stake in Ego, having been rolling it out in its sites, which said he would look at other opportunities to do the same thing. Instead of knocking on closed doors, here was one that was slightly ajar, so I knocked on it and that started the process. There was no need for us to talk to anyone else.” Toby Carvery and Nicholson’s ‘leading the way’ – see Company News

Industry News:

Next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality to feature 42 updated entries and 11 new companies, released tomorrow: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will feature 42 updated entries and 11 new companies when it is released to Premium Club members tomorrow (Friday, 24 May), at midday. This month’s edition includes 872 companies and more than 236,000 words of content. 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 Andy Spencer, chief operating officer, and Robin Belither, managing director at Punch Pubs & Co, talking about building the company’s managed partnerships division from scratch, the journey the division has been on, its successes, learnings and what comes next. Meanwhile, James Brown, chief executive of BrewDog Bars, discusses the company’s growth so far in the UK and internationally, and its plans for the future. 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.

UKHospitality – ‘time for interest rates to come down’ after inflation falls to lowest level in three years: UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has said it is time for interest rates to come down after inflation fell to its lowest level in almost three years. Prices rose at 2.3% in the year to April, down from 3.2% the month before, the Office for National Statistics said. In response, Nicholls said: “Hospitality has weathered unprecedented costs, including from government policy. This inflation data continues 18 months of improvement, and we are now at a normal level of inflation. The trend is clear, and the Bank of England can now act with confidence. It’s time for interest rates to come down to support businesses investing in their growth. We should be ahead of the curve not behind it.” Meanwhile, Nicholls urged all political parties to recognise the importance of hospitality, following the announcement that the next general election will take place on 4 July. “We need to see all political parties working hard on behalf of our members to ensure manifestos from across the political spectrum reflect the strategic importance of our sector,” she added. “We need to see evidence of measures that can unlock the potential of our sector to do even more. These include promises of action to lower the tax burden on our industry, initiatives that give us greater access to workers, and other measures that will support us in creating more jobs and further upskilling the workforce.”

Company News:

Exclusive – Clive Watson joins Inda Pubs as chairman as business looks to double in size: Clive Watson, the co-founder and ex-chairman of City Pub Group, which Young’s acquired earlier this year for £162m, has joined London operator Inda Pubs as its new non-executive chairman as it gears up for its next stage of growth, Propel has learned. Founded by James Corbett in 2007, Inda currently operates eight pubs in the capital, including The Chamberlayne in Kensal Green, The Mitre in Fulham and The Selkirk in Tooting. Corbett is the son of the legendary late Hugh Corbett, the original founder of The Slug & Lettuce and TUP Inns. Watson, who is also a small shareholder in Inda, worked with Hugh Corbett to build the TUP chain of ten London pubs before selling the group in 1999. Indas said its annual turnover is now running at circa £12m and it hopes with Watson’s help to increase this to above £20m in next few years, as it also looks to double its estate in the capital in that time. James Corbett told Propel: “I am delighted that Clive is going to help Inda on the next stage of its journey. We have been trading since 2007, and lots of the team has been with me from the start. We believe that Clive will be able to help us – the business and the teams – on every level, including raising some funds so we are ready for any opportunities that come up, but also making us a little bit more professional and efficient.” Watson said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for me to come back and help James grow Inda. I love the pubs and the way James operates them. I will hopefully help James take the business through the next stage of its growth. He has built a great foundation, and though there is no dash for growth, we will probably look to double the size of the business over the next three years. James and his family own most of the business, they control their destiny, so there’s no pressure to go out and grow for growth’s sake. But if the right opportunities come along then we would be mad to not consider those. The first port of call will be making sure the existing business is firing on all cylinders and then seeing what funding option works best.”

M&B CEO – Toby Carvery and Nicholson’s leading the way, Orleans Smokehouse debut site’s weekly sales more than £70,000: Phil Urban, chief executive of Mitchells & Butlers, the All Bar One, O’Neills and Harvester operator, has said that in terms of performance this year, the company’s Nicholson’s and Toby Carvery brands have led the way. It comes after the business said it had continued to outperform the market, with all its brands in like-for-like sales growth in the 28 weeks ended 13 April 2024. Urban said: “Nicholson’s is certainly benefiting from a return to office working and a return of tourists being in and around city centres. Toby is just in the sweet spot for a cost-of-living crisis. It’s got a fresh and healthy offering, and it’s good value. Guests can serve themselves and eat as much as they want. It ticks all the boxes. At the other end of the scale, the brands with the lowest growth are Miller & Carter and Premium Country Pubs, which is purely because they are premium food offers, and I think the cost of living has squeezed frequency, not what people spend, but we do think that’s temporary and cyclical. We know people still love them because the guest scores have never been higher. To put it in perspective, they’ve both had like-for-like growth of more than 4%. So, we’re happy with both of those brands and they are in good shape.” The business launched the first site under its new Orleans Smokehouse concept near Solihull in February. Urban said: “It is currently generating average weekly sales of more than £70,000 a week, which is ahead of appraisal. It is a case of so far, so good, but it is still early days and we need to see how it trades over a longer period. But we are delighted with the start and the job the team has done on it. We are not far off knowing what sites number two and number three under the concept will be, we are down to the last five and currently deciding which ones to go with. The rollout speed of these smaller concepts – Ego, Pesto, Orleans Smokehouse – it’s not just about confidence and capital but more about the teams that’s running them and their ability to do them. When you’re a small brand, if you suddenly say do five schemes, what you’ll find is that the existing business goes through the floor. We’ll go slowly at first and just build up until we’re ready to do more.”

Liberation Group CEO – there is an outstanding opportunity for us to get involved in the morning daypart market: Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of brewer and retailer Liberation Group, has said that there is an “outstanding opportunity” for the group’s managed pub business “to get involved in the breakfast, brunch and morning daypart market”. Speaking at Propel’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, Lawson said: “We have a very, very small share of this daypart at the moment. If you exclude the sales that are connected with our residents, about 2.8% of our sales come before midday. If you break it down into simple numbers – take something like The Swan Inn, in Rowberrow, Somerset – it would do on an average Tuesday, maybe £4,000. If they could do 10% of that before midday, that only needs probably 26 covers before midday of non-residents. That seems like a reasonable opportunity for us. If we could extrapolate that across the estate, we think we’ve got a great opportunity. The fact that a lower spend de-risks a visit to a pub for a customer, and that for some people the lack of an alcohol occasion is a positive thing is something we should recognise and see as an opportunity, not necessarily a threat. We know we currently have customers of ours or customers that are not yet coming to us driving past our pubs in the morning going elsewhere. Now, there are alternatives for breakfast. Some of you who have had breakfast, you went to the convenient fuel option this morning, didn't you? You could do that. We think from a quality perspective, we've got a bit of a lead on that, but I recognise that for some people that works. We’re also going to take a prudent view on pricing. And I think that's important and think it’s an opportunity. This is not our economic engine. This is not currently where we make money. But we’ve already got an amenity that lends itself brilliantly to a fantastic breakfast experience. We’ve got chefs already serving our residents. We’ve got overhead and we’ve got the kit. So, we will stay pretty prudent on pricing. We are going for market share within our local areas. A phrase that sums us up pretty well is that we run local pubs with a destination quality offer.” 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.

South west multiple operator adds fifth Bristol pub to portfolio: South west multiple operator Sam Gregory has taken on his fifth Bristol pub and second with Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars. Gregory has acquired the lease for The Rose of Denmark in Hotwells, joining fellow Star pub The Sugar Loaf in Easton in his portfolio. He also operates The Bank Tavern in Bristol city centre, The Bell in Stokes Croft and The Crown in St Judes. A joint investment of £405,000 between Gregory and Star Pubs will see The Rose of Denmark reopen at the end of July as a “top-quality” neighbourhood local with a pop-up kitchen. It will offer a three-monthly change of food style – such as Korean, Mexican or burgers – while morning coffee and baked goods will also be introduced. “It’s very important when we identify a pub that we see potential in an area that is not being served,” Gregory said. “We don’t have a business model that’s based on replication – we research the area and what the community wants. There’s no point in establishing a trendy wine bar if there is no interest. Avoiding the one-size-fits-all approach means we’re better able to ride out turbulent times as we ensure the community support us. The pub market is tough, but in my experience, as long as you’re authentic and have a solid offering, people will respond. For now, it will be a case of bedding in the two latest pubs, but if the right area and pub comes up, we’ll have a look. Hotwells had been crying out for a decent pub for a long time, and we have a good relationship with Star Pubs and Heineken, so felt it was the right time to take on The Rose of Denmark.” Gregory added that he will tackle the sector’s recruitment challenge by ensuring his staff have a proper work-life balance. “The biggest challenge we face is recruitment – in Bristol there are 800 kitchen staff vacancies,” he added. “You have to pay a decent wage and ensure staff have a decent work-life balance. Our staff don’t work more than 48 hours, have one weekend off in four and get two days off together.”

Kerb helps 49 operators into bricks-and-mortar sites as it gears up to open first international food halls: Street food collective Kerb has revealed a total of 49 operators now own their own bricks-and-mortar sites having worked with the business, which is gearing up to open its first international sites. The company, which is set to launch food halls in San Francisco, Berlin and Copenhagen this year, has released its 2024 impact report. It showed that Kerb, which has nurtured more than 500 businesses including Pizza Pilgrims and Club Mexicana, has given more than 5,500 trading opportunities to its membership of 150 independent operators, generating more than £23.5m in revenue over the past 12 months. Kerb has seen 37 new graduates of its Inkerbator programme in the past 12 months and almost £150,000 in start-up capital has been invested into 19 new food businesses. Kerb chief executive Simon Mitchell said: “Our social enterprise, Kerb+, was launched a little over 12 months ago and has enabled us to fully commit to delivering support to individuals and businesses through Kerb’s unique ecosystem. This year Kerb goes global. As we expand into Europe and the US, our goal is to replicate the impact we can have locally, and double down on our efforts. With the right partners and our team’s unfaltering desire to make a difference, the sky’s the limit!” Founded in 2012 as a single pop-up market on a King’s Cross building site, Kerb has grown into a community of more than 150 street food businesses, a flagship food hall at Seven Dials Market, events business and Kerb+. Kerb is to collaborate on Saluhall, a “plant-forward food hall” that is launching in San Francisco. Ingka Centres, the company behind Ikea’s new shopping centres, is collaborating with Kerb and Claus Meyer, one of the founders of the new Nordic cuisine, on the venture. The first Saluhall will launch at Ingka Centres’ upcoming meeting place at 945 Market Street, San Francisco. It is thought the Kerb Copenhagen site could also come under this format. Last year, Kerb announced it will open a site in Berlin. It is converting the IMAX cinema at the Sony Centre am Potsdamer Platz in the German capital into a two-storey food and drink venue inspired by the building’s cinematic heritage.

Wadworth opens new £8m brewery: Independent brewer and pub company Wadworth has opened its new £8m brewery. The company, which has been based on Northgate Street in Devizes since 1885, has moved into a 25,000 square-foot brewhouse, which is just a five-minute drive away on Folly Road. Work on the new premises started in May 2022, to transform the former warehouse into a state-of-the-art brewery. The Folly Road site has an extensive range of sustainability-focused credentials, including an ultra-efficient steam generator capable of reducing brewery boiler-warming times from 4.5 hours to just seven minutes. Managing director Toby Bartholomew said: “Our 1885 Northgate brewery is a grade II-listed building, and much of the plant, equipment and main brewery building has come to the end of its useful life. Over the years, the beer market has changed, and Northgate brewery is too large, inefficient and inflexible for our needs moving forward. Our new Folly Road brewhouse allows us to diversify our beer offer and, in turn, support our pubs and customers more effectively.”

Team behind award-winning Medlar restaurant confirms July opening for first new site in 13 years: Joe Mercer Nairne and David O’Connor, who own the award-winning Medlar restaurant in London’s Chelsea, have confirmed their first new site in 13 years will open in July. Cornus, the second restaurant from the duo, will open at 27c Eccleston Place in Belgravia. Chef Gary Foulkes will lead the kitchen, joining from the Michelin-starred Angler to offer a regularly changing menu that will showcase the best of British seasonal produce. Cornus, which takes its name from the botanical appellation for the native dogwood shrub, will see O’Connor work alongside his wife, Monika, to oversee the front of house team. Foulkes’ à la carte menu will be grounded in the traditions and techniques of French cuisine while showcasing the best of the British and European produce. Melania Battiston will be responsible for a wine list of “unique and premium bottles, selected for their individual stories”, as well as a range of saké, classic cocktails and non-alcoholic options. The 70-cover restaurant will be located on the rooftop of Grosvenor’s The Ice Factory at Eccleston Yards, a repurposed warehouse originally built in 1830 for Shingleton’s Ice Company. O’Connor said: “Medlar has become embedded in the Chelsea neighbourhood since opening 13 years ago, and now we’re looking forward to bringing Cornus to the Belgravia community – building relationships with new visitors who we hope will soon become returning customers.”

SSP expands presence in Iceland: SSP Group, the operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has expanded its presence in Iceland. SSP has been awarded a contract to open two new Point convenience stores, a Snæland Deli delicatessen and 17 high-tech vending machines at Keflavik airport, following a competitive tender process. The new contract comes just over a year after SSP made its debut at the airport. The Point outlets will offer a number of products unique to the country including Icelandic confectionery and beverage brands, while hot food offerings will include pylsur, an Icelandic style hot dog. Snæland Deli is an entirely new concept created by SSP Iceland, showcasing Icelandic cuisine including artisan cheese, cured meat and seafood, local bread, gourmet condiments, chocolate, snacks, artisan beer, spirits and other beverages. The vending machines, meanwhile, will offer a range of fresh food, confectionary, coffee and pastries. Managing director of SSP Norway and Iceland, Stian Lund, said: “This new deal means we have now increased our size in the Icelandic market, enabling economies of scale and greater flexibility. To be expanding our presence at Keflavik airport less than a year after we were awarded our first contract is a testament to the hard work of the SSP team across our business.”

Neighbourhood workspaces concept Patch set to open fourth site in £2m investment, plans further expansion: Neighbourhood workspaces concept Patch is set to open its fourth site, in a £2m investment, and plans further expansion. The social impact start-up was founded by Freddie Fforde in 2020 and opened its first site in Chelmsford at the end of 2021. Further sites in High Wycombe and Twickenham followed last year for the company, which counts PureGym founder Peter Roberts and former Wagamama chief executive Emma Woods among its investors. It has now partnered with Bobby’s, a “multi-functional destination” in Bournemouth, for its latest site in a former Debenhams, set to open this autumn 2024. Fforde said: “Our aim is to create the best place for start-ups and small businesses to thrive on the south coast. As a local landmark, Patch at Bobby’s will serve as an iconic hub for entrepreneurs, creatives, and community builders, offering fantastic workspaces and a dynamic environment for work, collaboration and connection.” A 3,800 square-foot public space will feature multi-purpose event spaces, meeting rooms, a podcast studio, and a wellness studio. Patch also plans to establish partnerships with Bournemouth’s universities and offer scholarships to local students. Fforde aded the sites in High Wycombe and Twickenham are “now profitable” and Patch plans to “announce further expansion” soon as it works towards towards its mission of “creating opportunity on every UK high street”.

Michel Roux Jr opens Chez Roux at London’s The Langham: Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux Jr has opened a new restaurant in Palm Court at The Langham, London, called Chez Roux. The restaurant has been inspired by the chef’s childhood memories of life in rural Kent in the 1960s – being raised at the Fairlawne estate, where his father Albert Roux, worked as a private chef for the Cazalet family. It is also inspired by the first menus from Le Gavroche in 1967. Menus at Chez Roux showcase “historical British classics and traditional French cooking methods, presented in contemporary, refined dishes”. Main courses include Lamb Chops Reform, inspired by Alexis Soyer’s classic 1830s recipe, and consisting of herb-crusted lamb, faggot and Reform sauce, as well as grilled lobster with garlic butter, fries and béarnaise, one of Roux Jr’s all-time favourite dishes, and something he remembers enjoying at Le Gavroche as a child. There is also a tasting menu, featuring six courses of Roux Jr’s favourite dishes, with the option of a wine pairing. The drinks list at the restaurant also includes Champagne and a collection of cocktails. Last August, Roux Jr announced the closure of Le Gavroche at its Mayfair site, where the restaurant had operated for more than 55 years. The restaurant officially closed in January.

Immersive CBeebies experience coming to Westfield in London’s Shepherd’s Bush this summer: An Immersive theatrical experience based on children’s television channel CBeebies is coming to Westfield London in Shepherd’s Bush this summer. CBeebies Rainbow Adventure has been created and produced by Rainbow Experience, a company formed by EBP and Fiery Entertainment to present the experience under licence from BBC Studios. Founded by Emma Brünjes in 2013, entertainment company EBP is behind the Olivier award-nominated Alice’s Adventures Underground, which ran in London for two sell-out seasons before transferring to Shanghai. Its other notable immersive productions include Dinner at The Twits, Adventures in Wonderland, Secret Cinema 21: Millers Crossing, The El Train and The Game’s Afoot. CBeebies Rainbow Adventure will feature roleplay, live storytelling, music and immersive rooms with characters from Hey Duggee, Bluey, JoJo & Gran Gran and Mr Tumble. At the end of the experience, visitors will also have the opportunity to meet one of their favourite costume characters.

Holiday park operator Blue Anchor Leisure acquires new site: Holiday park operator Blue Anchor, which operates sites across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, has acquired Pine Trees Leisure Park in Skegness for its 18th venue. The 14.11-acre site comprises 77 static holiday caravan pitches and 100 grass touring and tent pitches. It also includes two fishing lakes, six holiday letting cottages, three apartments and a club building. Richard Prestwich, director for leisure and trading at Savills Chester, which acted on the deal, said: “Pine Trees Leisure Park is an established holiday park located on the outskirts of the popular tourist town of Skegness. It will fit naturally within Blue Anchor Leisure’s existing portfolio of Skegness holiday parks. We are excited to see how the park will improve and grow under the new branding and delighted to assist in this perfect pairing.” Earlier this month, Blue Anchor reported turnover fell to £29,248,000 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £30,365,000 the previous year. Pre-tax profit halved to £2,397,000 from £4,696,000 in what the group said were “difficult trading conditions”.

Bird & Blend Tea Co launches in Newcastle for 19th UK site: Independent tea business Bird & Blend Tea Co has launched a store in Newcastle, its 19th in the UK. The company has launched a site at 123 Grainger Street and offers an exclusive blend called Tea on the Tyne. The smoky flavour is inspired by the coal mine at the foot of the Angel of the North, with red peppercorns that call to mind the rusty red colour of the angel. Other flavours include Birthday Cake, Strawberry Lemonade, Chocolate Digestives and Earl Grey Crème. Bird & Blend Tea Co was founded by Krisi Smith and Mike Turner, launching on the UK high street in 2023. Turner said: “Customer experience is at the heart of everything we do. Alongside the fast growth of the digital side of our business, we’re proudly continuing to invest in local high streets too. We see our stores as not just retail spaces, but as community hubs where customers can come to make connections with one another and our team and enjoy interacting with our tea. For us, there will always be a place for magical in-person experiences, and we're delighted to arrive in Newcastle.”

Vittoria Group opens sixth site: Edinburgh operator Vittoria Group has opened its sixth site in the city. The group has opened gastropub and restaurant Brunswick Book Club at 113 Brunswick Street in the Scottish capital. The company has also reopened its newly renovated family Italian restaurant, Vittoria on the Walk, which has operated in Brunswick Street since 1970. The group, led by Tony Crolla, also operates Vittoria on the Bridge on the George IV Bridge, Bertie’s Fish & Chips in Victoria Street, wine bar and restaurant Divino Enoteca in Merchant Street, and cafe-takeaway Taste of Italy in Baxters Place. “What an exciting and busy time it has been, finally opening our new cafe bar Brunswick Book Club and reopening the newly renovated Vittoria on the Walk,” the company posted on social media. “We are truly blown away and thankful for all the support we have received. A big thanks to everyone involved and making us create two venues we are truly proud of.”

North east operator Sayturk Group to open boutique hotel in Newcastle: North east hospitality and leisure operator Sayturk Group is to transform a Newcastle city centre building into a boutique hotel, bar and restaurant after acquiring the lease from the new owners. Metropolitan House, at 19-21 Collingwood Street, was once used as offices but it has lain empty for a number of years. Hotel plans for the site were originally secured by the now defunct High Street Hospitality – part of the collapsed High Street Group – after it acquired the building in 2019. Those plans were revived last November when Kans and Kandy secured planning permission to reinvigorate the empty building. Now Sayturk Group has pledged to carry out significant refurbishment to bring it back to its former glory, with the 21-bedroom hotel reflecting the building’s history. The city centre property forms part of Sayturk Group’s fast-growing portfolio, which has been bolstered by a number of high profile lease acquisitions in Newcastle’s hospitality sector. The company now operates concept bars, late-night venues, pubs, cafes, and luxury holiday apartments around the region with recent acquisitions including the lease of the European-style café bar Société in Grey Street, Newcastle, as well as the former Chicken Coop restaurant adjoining Metropolitan House. The group also operates Liberty House – the former Union Rooms site in Newcastle, and Osborne’s in Jesmond, and Swarley’s – the former Blackie Boy – in Newcastle’s Bigg Market, having acquired the leases from Malhotra Group and Vaulkhard Group respectively. Sayturk Group also runs the Flower Café in Newcastle, a concept it is currently expanding by opening two more, at the redeveloped Louis restaurant in Osborne Road and in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, in a new unit next to Pantrinis.

Berkshire Indian restaurant set to open second site: Berkshire Indian restaurant The Biryani Lounge is set to open a second site. The restaurant, located at 89 Wokingham Road in Reading, was opened in August 2022 by former Domino’s worker Bhanuchandar Pathakamuri and three of his college friends. They have now applied to open in the former Stax and Snax takeaway unit in Swindon’s Regent Street, which closed in January this year having only opened in June 2023. The building was put up for lease in the same month but has remained empty and unused since, reports the Swindon Advertiser. The application seeks to allow the sale of alcohol daily from 9am to 11pm. “We are aware of the constant increase in the cost of living, and we want our clients to be able to enjoy our great food, which is why we have made sure our prices are not overwhelming,” the company said on its website. “We guarantee that eating from our menu will satisfy your appetite without breaking the bank.”

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