Creams to return to expansion trail with up to a dozen openings over summer months, led by further roll out of Tesco partnership and new venue types: Everett Fieldgate, chief executive of Creams, has told Propel the fast-growing dessert parlour operator will return to the expansion trail with up to a dozen openings over the summer months, led by a further roll out of its partnership with Tesco and going into new types of venue. The operator of circa 100 UK stores said in January that it planned to add 25 more in 2024 but has so far not made any opening this year. However, Fieldgate said all that is set to change in the coming months, with a particular focus on growing the partnership with Tesco it launched in 2022. “We’re still planning on a similar number – what I can say is we have five to six stores either opening or reopening in the next ten weeks, and we have a further pipeline of a similar number for the ten weeks following, and plans for the remainder,” he said. “To get that kind of number requires a certain amount of flexibility. We’re talking to some more institutional type franchisees to take a very flexible format of Creams into their locations – places like university and college campuses. The Tesco partnership has gone very well – we tested three different types of business model with Tesco and we’re moving forward very confidently with two of them. We haven’t done a lot previously with kiosks and grab and go, but we’ve recruited in a business development role that’s looking to move those areas forward.” Another area for future growth, but not immediately, is the garage forecourt concept Creams launched in 2023 when it partnered with Park Garage Group. “We’ll be looking to build on that a bit more with a similar type of partner – not in the immediate pipeline as we only recently pivoted to driving that area.” Fieldgate said. “Garage forecourts are never going to do the same volume as a high street store but the opportunity for us with that type of outlet is driving scale. It’s meeting expectations, and now we understand a bit more about consumer expectations in that type of outlet – where we can limit the menu and where we can’t – I think we’re now in a position where we can scale and scale at pace. We made some investment in people and that role is now focused on driving these types of opportunity. It’s at the very early stages but the important thing is we have those learnings so we can drive it with confidence.” In terms of target areas, Fieldgate said Creams still has “a strong desire” to expand in the north and has approved a franchisee in Scotland while speaking to four or five potential partners from Manchester. “We are very fortunate that a large amount of our existing franchisees have a strong appetite for growth, which shows the confidence the franchise community has in the brand, and while things in the industry are quite tough, we see a very strong future,” he added. “One of our focuses has been driving multi-site franchisees, and certainly anyone we bring in needs to prove they have the capability to be multi-site. We’re also working closely with those in the system at the moment and had a lot of single store franchisees tap us on the shoulder and say we’re ready for the next one, which is really encouraging.” Creams features in the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, an exhaustive guide to the companies offering a food and beverage franchise in the UK available exclusively to Premium Club members. The database is updated every two months, and the next version, which will be sent to Premium subscribers on Wednesday, 12 June, will feature 260 businesses. 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.

 

Premium Club members to receive next Multi-Site Database and videos from Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference tomorrow: Premium Club members are to receive the next Multi-Site Database and all the videos from the Excellence in Pub Retailing Conference tomorrow (Friday, 31 May). The next Propel Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate, provides details of 3,123 multi-site operators and is now searchable in seven main segments. The database features 915 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 766 (25%) pub and bar operators, 516 (16%) cafe bakery operators, 428 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 250 (8%) hotel operators, 194 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month and this edition includes 25 new companies. Premium Club members will also receive all the videos from the Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference. They include 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, highlighting 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. 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 additional databases: the New Openings Database; the Turnover & Profits Blue Book; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who's Who of UK Hospitality. 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.

 

Shepherd Neame MD – decline in alcohol drinking ‘not as marked as commentators would lead us to believe’ but pubs must evolve to remain relevant: Shepherd Neame managing director Jonathan Swaine has argued that the decline in alcohol drinking is “not as marked as commentators would perhaps lead us to believe” but insisted pubs must still evolve to remain relevant. Speaking at Propel’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, on a panel discussing how the sector can maximise the performance of its pub assets in an era of declining alcohol sales, Swaine said: “Moderation is more significant, and health and wellness is part of that long term trend – we’re all perhaps trying to lead healthier lives than our parents did. But I’ve seen spikes in consumption before, in the late 1990s and 2000s. I think we’re seeing a gradual decline over 30-40 years; I don’t think we’re seeing something as marked as commentators would perhaps lead us to believe. Health and wellness are pretty baked in, so it’s making sure our offer is reflective of what people want. The pub model is 1,000 years old and baked into the British psyche. It has survived lots of things in the last few centuries and it will keep surviving, because intrinsically, it’s a model that is reflective of its community – and if we’re doing that, then we’re relevant.” Sector investor Luke Johnson agreed, adding: “I do think pubs have to keep evolving. They started as shops to sell beer, but they have to keep moving and keep getting better at food, rooms, entertainment and giving people of all ages a reason to go. Pubs are better at that than they used to be but there is still further effort to be applied. Historically, the licensed trade relied too much on heavy drinkers, and I think the industry needs to adjust its offering and migrate away from that end of the market to become a broader offering in every sense.” Propel Premium Club members will receive all the videos from the Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference tomorrow (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. 

 

Hospitality sales grew 2.2% year-on-year in the latest 12 weeks, ‘delivering value for experience is more important than ever’: Hospitality sales grew 2.2% year-on-year in the latest 12 weeks, according to analysis from HDI, provider of card spending insight and pricing data to the UK hospitality sector. Coffee and sandwich, fast food and takeaway and delivery continue to be the best performing sectors, all performing ahead of the market over the 12 weeks ending 14 May 2024. Pubs and restaurants saw modest growth over the period, with casual dining sales declining by 3.9%, according to analysis of HDI’s panel of 10.2 million unique customers. Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, said: “Headline inflation continues to ease, but prices for consumers are still increasing. When we look at the scale of inflation over recent years, such as the average cost of a main course in managed pubs and bars increasing by £1.76 over the last two years, it’s clear that delivering value for experience is more important than ever for the hospitality sector.” HDI’s panel tracks over 150,000 individually identifiable hospitality venues including over 350 different brands and formats, with their pricing data covering circa16,000 hospitality venues and all major grocers.

Restaurant groups’ at-home sales climbed 4.5% year-on-year in April: Britain’s top managed restaurant groups achieved year-on-year growth of 4.5% in delivery and takeaway sales in April 2024, CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker reveals. The strong like-for-like trading is nearly double the country’s 2.3% rate of inflation in the year to April, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. It is also the 11th consecutive month of year-on-year growth in the tracker, and its highest figure of 2024 so far. The rate is also well above the separate CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, which records sales across all channels for a different cohort of managed restaurant, pub and bar groups. This tracker reported a year-on-year drop in sales of 1.7% in April. Continuing a long-term trend, deliveries increased their share of restaurants' at-home sales at the expense of takeaways and click-and-collect orders in April, the Hospitality at Home Tracker shows. Deliveries saw like-for-like growth of 8.9% last month, while the value of takeaway and click-and-collect orders dropped by 2.5%. Deliveries attracted 57.9% of all at-home orders by volume in April. Karl Chessell, CGA’s director of hospitality operators and food, EMEA, said: “After a modest first quarter for deliveries and takeaways, April’s above-inflation growth is a welcome boost for restaurant operators. It also contrasts with a tougher month for eat-in trading and may reflect the impact of April’s wet weather, which led some people to stay at home rather than go out. Across the board, consumers’ confidence clearly remains cautious, but relief of inflation and some household bills should help to unlock more spending with restaurants as we move into the key summer months.”

 

NTIA welcomes reinstatement of drug testing at festivals: The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has welcomed the reinstatement of drug testing at festivals by the Home Office for the 2024 season. Last year, onsite drug testing providers such as The Loop said they were told they had to apply for a Controlled Drugs Licence, which costs more than £3,000 and takes three months to process. The Home Office has now said it will allow licences for drug tests at festivals this summer. NTIA chief executive Michael Kill said: “The reinstatement of back of house drug testing facilities is a significant step in the harm reduction strategy for festivals across the UK. These facilities play a vital role in safeguarding attendees and proactively informing them of potential harms.” Sacha Lord, the Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester and long-time campaigner for drug testing, added: “Drug testing at festivals is undeniably critical, and I am extremely pleased that the Home Office has approved their ongoing use. There is no safe way to take drugs, and so testing quite literally saves lives, and can help uncover new and potentially lethal drugs which may be new to the market.”

 

Plans revealed for Chester ‘tourist tax’: Plans have been revealed for a visitor levy in Chester, which could generate more than £1m a year. This fund would be reinvested into new events and festivals, enhanced services and promoting the city as a tourist hotspot for both business and leisure travellers, domestically and internationally. The scheme, similar to others that have been described as “tourist taxes”, would require guests at 27 hotels in Chester to pay an additional charge of £2 plus VAT per room, per night. Tourism and business leaders behind the initiative argue that visitor numbers have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, and public funding for tourism promotion has also seen a decrease. Chester hotel owners are set to cast their votes on the proposed visitor charge, detailed in a five-year business plan, between Friday, 14 June and Thursday, 11 July. Should the majority back the proposal, an Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) would be established, introducing the charge from January 2025. The Chester ABID blueprint is taking its cue from a similar scheme rolled out in Manchester. Taking charge of the ABID proposal is Destination Chester – a network comprising city attractions and businesses – alongside the current Chester City Centre Business Improvement District and the Chester Hospitality Association. Chair of Destination Chester, Colin Potts, told Business Live: “This offers the potential for a game-changing investment in our city's visitor economy, which would allow us to build on and improve the incredible tourism offer we already provide.” Carl Critchlow, chief executive of the Chester Business Improvement District, added: “Many UK cities are working on similar plans and will soon have extra money to spend on promoting and supporting tourism, so it is vital that Chester does not get left behind.”

 

Sector charity cycle rides’ fundraising exceeds £1m: Pedalling for Pubs and Pedalling 2 Pubs, the industry-coordinated bike treks raising money for Only A Pavement Away and the Licensed Trade Charity, have raised more than £1m. Pedalling for Pubs’ debut ride took place in Jordan two years ago, followed by last year’s journey in Sri Lanka, and this year, 28 riders from across the sector tackled a 400km cycle across rugged terrain in Kenya, between 17-21 March. The 2024 ride has raised £320,000 thanks to riders, donors, supporting partners and sponsors including KAM, Punch Pubs, Greene King, Avani Solutions, Fleet Street, Lucky Saint and Play it Green. This month, 50 leaders from the hospitality industry also took on the Pedalling 2 Pubs challenge for its second year, conquering 230km across North Devon’s rolling hills from 16-18 May. Supporting partners and sponsors including the British Institute of Innkeeping, Polaris Elements, Greene King, Lucky Saint and Punch Pubs have all helped to add £85,000 to the fundraising pot, to date. Ride founder, Katy Moses, managing director of KAM, said: “I could never have imaged the impact this fundraising challenge would have when we started the initiative. I am overwhelmed by the support we have received for the ride from across the sector. Reaching this £1m fundraising milestone is truly amazing, and I want to extend my gratitude to all those who have taken part, donated, sponsored and supported our initiative. Together, we really are changing lives – here’s to the next million!”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a catering brand that is seeking a finance business partner. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role reports to the head of commercial finance and is part of the wider commercial finance team. The role will predominantly be field based, supporting the operations teams to drive performance across their contract portfolio. The key to being successful in this role is providing actionable management information and delivering on added value initiatives. You will ideally be a qualified accountant and you must have previous commercial experience within a relevant sector. You will be a confident communicator, have experience managing senior stakeholder relationships and can develop and drive initiatives.” The role is based in Dublin with a salary of up to €60,000. For more information, email fabian@corecruitment.com.

 

Peel Hunt – Fuller’s ‘sensible’ disposal of 37 pubs to Admiral Taverns for £18.3m leaves it with ‘plenty of firepower’ for acquisitions as net debt falls: Peel Hunt analyst Douglas Jack has argued Fuller’s decision to sell 37 pubs to Admiral Taverns for £18.3m was a “sensible disposal” and leaves it with “plenty of firepower” for acquisitions as its net debt falls. The cash sale includes a premium of £1.6m added to the gross asset value of £16.7m. Jack said the pubs – 36 leased and one managed – generated £1.3m of profit before tax (£35,000 per pub) in the year to March 2024, and £1.6m before depreciation (Ebitda, IAS 17) with the deal representing 11 times Ebitda. Reiterating his “Hold” rating on the shares with a target price of 725p, Jack said after this deal and the disposal of The Mad Hatter in Southwark, south London, he forecasts net debt at Fuller’s falling £34m to £105m in 2025E, “leaving plenty of firepower”. He added: “This transaction is on a multiple similar to the director’s estate valuation, but the pubs were from the tail, where there is a larger property component in the value. The 9.7 times EV/Ebitda (IAS 17) is the highest in the sector, but at sub-two times net debt/Ebita (2025E), Fuller’s is one of the best placed operators to be acquisitive if opportunities arise. With final results due on 13 June, we forecast like-for-like sales to be up 10.5% over the full year, in comparison to which they were up 12.7% in the first half, against a comparative of minus 4% versus pre-pandemic. In the third quarter, like-for-like sales slowed to 9% against a comparative of minus 3% versus pre­-pandemic, and in the fourth quarter the comparative toughened to 0% versus pre-pandemic. We forecast them slowing to 4.5% in the year to March 2025E, due to like-for-like comparatives normalising. Profit before tax should have recovered by circa £7m in 2024E, driven by higher like-for-like sales and slowing cost inflation. Offsetting this, April’s 10% increase in the national living wage and 6% increase in business rates are headwinds for 2025E, so although we believe there is a good chance of our 2024E profit before tax forecast being beaten, we expect to hold our 2025E profit before tax forecast after the final results.”

 

Leon launches ‘UK high street’s cheapest coffee subscription’: Natural fast food brand Leon has launched what it claims to be the UK high street’s cheapest coffee subscription. Roast Rewards allows users to unlock a daily dose of barista-made drinks (up to five a day), along with a 20% discount on Leon’s breakfast and all-day food menu (excluding meal deals) for £25 a month. Leon stated: “As coffee enthusiasts continue to seek convenience and quality in their daily brew, Leon is answering the call by offering unparalleled value with the UK’s cheapest coffee subscription. For Roast Rewards members, the perks extend beyond drinks and food discounts. Loyal fans can rack up bonus loyalty points, which are awarded upon subscribing, and on each renewal. It’s time to indulge guilt-free in some blends with benefits. Leon believes in doing good with every brew, which is why all its beans are triple certified: organic, Fairtrade, and rainforest friendly. Sourced from trailblazers Puro, Leon not only aims for the very best flavour but also supports farmers and protects precious habitats. Every cup counts towards preserving the planet – so, drink up and make a difference.” Mac Plumpton, managing director at Leon, said: “We’re so excited to unveil the UK’s most affordable coffee subscription. Get ready for a service packed with flavour, value and great coffee. At Leon, we’re all about providing exceptional experiences at an unbeatable value.” Supermarket operator Asda took full ownership of the circa 80-strong Leon last November after completing the acquisition of EG Group’s UK business for an enterprise value of £2.07bn.

 

EasyHotel secures £42.5m loan as it seeks to triple European estate by 2026: EasyHotel has secured a £42.5m loan to support its growth, as its development team works across more new hotel deals than “ever before”, according to chief financial officer Charles Persello. The new loan from Santander UK will finance low-carbon investments across Britain, such as the installation of heat pumps and smart metering systems as well as a full refurbishment of EasyHotel’s Glasgow site. It comes as the group plans to boost its growth of low carbon and value hotels across Europe over the coming years, with the aim to triple its European estate by 2026. Similar low-carbon works will also take place across nine hotels in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Spain. The loan commitment comes from shareholders Ivanhoé Cambridge and Icamap. Additionally, EasyHotel has secured £6m from French co-operative bank Bred to finance a new 110-bedroom hotel in Marseille, representing the group’s fourth property in France. The hotel, which is set to open this autumn, will feature the brand’s latest low-carbon room design. EasyHotel will also open its fourth hotel in Zurich later this year, while further refinancing deals in Spain are expected to be announced soon for hotels in Alicante, Barcelona, Meridiana and Valencia. The group said it is “experiencing strong demand and has a robust pipeline” for owned and franchised developments into 2024 and beyond, with the potential to grow by 120 hotels over the next four years. According to the group, the new refinancing agreements stem from its growth and a successful trading year, with hotel revenue climbing by 35% last year compared with 2022. Recent openings in Paris and Dublin have outperformed budget, and with continued expansion into mainland Europe, two thirds of sales now come from continental Europe. Persello said: “2023 was a record year for revenue at EasyHotel, driven by our great value product and leading easy brand awareness in travel.”

 

Greene King opens two more Nest Pubs: Greene King Pub Partners, the leased, tenanted and franchise business unit of Greene King, has opened its second and third Nest Pubs. The franchise concept launched earlier this year, as revealed exclusively by Propel, with the opening of The Palmer Tavern in Reading, Berkshire. Greene King has now added The Highwood in Solihull and The Wellington in Bebington, near Birkenhead, to the format. Each pub has received a £285,000 investment by Greene King to transform them into Nest Pubs including new decorations, fixtures and fittings. Paul Shakespeare, a former worker at The Highwood, and Hayley Towner will operate The Highwood as franchisees. Michael and Michelle Yates, who previously operated a pub in nearby Rock Ferry, will become the franchisees of The Wellington. Nest Pubs is the second franchise concept from Greene King Pub Partners following the Hive Pubs, which launched in 2021 and now operates more than 50 sites. Nest Pubs are wet-led pubs, predominantly located on busy high streets and in communities. The concept is aimed at those with hospitality management experience who want to take the step up and run their own business. Each pub shows Sky Sports and TNT Sports, as well as providing a pizza food offer, and franchisees can get the keys to their own Nest Pub for £3,000. Greene King said as wet-led pub businesses with a simple food offer, Nest Pubs have lower staffing costs. Franchisees earn through a percentage of the net weekly turnover alongside a quarterly percentage of business profits and annual bonuses. Dan Robinson, managing director of Greene King Pub Partners, said: “Its brilliant to be opening not just one, but two more Nest Pubs. This brings us up to three Nest Pubs overall in what is quite a short space of time. We are really excited about the potential of Nest Pubs and will continue with more openings in the coming months.”

 

Adventure Leisure acquires Guildford site, ‘scope to acquire a further four venues in 2025’: Adventure Leisure, a subsidiary of Burhill Group (BGL), has acquired a site in Guildford site for its 14th Mulligans venue and said it has “scope to acquire a further four venues in 2025”. The Guildford site, spread across 18,000 square feet, will offer crazy golf, a sports bar and a wide gaming selection, including electro-darts, virtual reality, pool and shuffleboard. Due to open late 2024, it will be located on the Surrey city’s North Street, next to Turtle Bay. BGL chief executive Colin Mayes said: “Guildford is set to become one of our most impressive venues to date. Having a venue open a short distance from where BGL began at Burhill Golf Club also brings home how far we’ve truly come.” Adventure Leisure chief operating officer Stephen Brown said: “Building on the momentum of opening shortly in Hemel Hempstead, we will be pulling out all the stops to make this venue our most incredible experience to date.” Mulligans Guildford will become BGL’s 31st venue overall and 21st competitive leisure site from brands also including Bunkers, Ninja Warrior UK and Total Ninja. Meanwhile, the soon-to-open Mulligans in Hemel is taking over the former Jarman Square sites of Frankie & Benny’s, Chiquito and Bella Italia, and will cover 15,000 square feet. It will offer the group’s biggest arcade zone to date alongside electro-darts, ping pong, pool, virtual reality games and 18-hole crazy golf course designed with a gaming theme. The holes will reference games like Monopoly, Lego and Hot Wheels, as well as holes themed around superheroes, dreams and toy shops. It will also have a cocktail bar and restaurant and create 25 new jobs, for which Adventure Leisure is currently recruiting staff.

 

Blackstone enters £850m auction for Village Hotels: Private equity firm Blackstone has entered into the £850m auction of Village Hotels. Sky News reported that Blackstone, which owns property assets in Britain worth billions of pounds, has tabled an offer to buy Village Hotels. City sources said that Sixth Street, another US-based investment firm, was also in contention for the deal. Earlier this month, Sky News revealed that Aermont, the majority backer of Pinewood Studios, was among the suitors vying to buy Village Hotels. The company operates more than 30 sites and is owned by KSL Capital Partners. KSL is said to be seeking offers worth in the region of £850m, with bankers at Morgan Stanley handling the auction. Village Hotels comprises a portfolio of properties from Aberdeen to Bournemouth, with rooms available at budget prices. Founded in 1995 as Village Urban Resorts, the hotels feature pub-style restaurants and gyms. KSL was reported to have paid £485m for the business when it bought it in 2014 from De Vere Group. KSL has also owned other UK hotel brands, including Hotel du Vin and Malmaison. Blackstone and Sixth Street declined to comment.

 

Bingo club operator says 2024 has started positively as it reports revenue exceeds pre-pandemic levels to hit £35.3m: Bingo club operator Castle Leisure has said 2024 has started positively, with visit patterns and profitability ahead of a “strong” 2023 for the group. It comes as the company reported turnover increased to £35,291,470 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £30,647,275 the previous year. Revenue also exceeded the £33,216,851 reported for the year ending 31 December 2019 – the last full year before the covid pandemic. Pre-tax profit was down to £4,300,436 from £8,700,173 the year before when the group received £7,537,788, including a £6.9m VAT refund related to gaming machine income on which VAT had been paid in previous years. During 2023, the company incurred capital expenditure of £5.5m, inclusive of a major project in Newport, installing solar panels at two sites and building and plant enhancements. The year-end fixed asset valuation was £53.5m. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “2024 has started positively, with visit patterns and profitability ahead of the strong comparative 2023 trading period. Inflationary pressures are expected to ease through 2024 although remain ahead of historic levels. This will continue to impact on operating expenses, particularly wages and utility costs. Customer spends are expected to benefit from a real term increase in wages. We continue to reinvest in our clubs and implement new innovations and technologies to generate cost efficiencies and drive long-term revenue growth. This has led to a substantive outperformance of the UK bingo market with an underlying profit before tax 39% ahead of last year, highlighted by seven of our clubs attaining an all-time high in profit contribution. Customer visits recovered further through the year to reach 88% of pre-pandemic levels. Inflationary pressures continued to impact on business expenses, particularly energy and wage costs. The company remains cash generative. The directors anticipate further consolidation and contraction within the bingo market in the near term, which the company will assess for potential expansion opportunities.” A dividend of £870,280 was paid (2022: £554,270). The company, which was formed in 1856 and constructed the UK’s first purpose-built bingo hall, now operates nine of them – predominantly in Wales but also in Birmingham.

 

Former Geronimo Inns MD Ed Turner sells lease of Newbury pub to former The Breakfast Club chef de partie: Ed Turner, the former Geronimo Inns managing director and current Brakspear non-executive director, has sold the lease of The Dolphin pub in Newbury, Berkshire. The new leaseholder is Auror Kalivaci, former chef de partie at all-day dining concept The Breakfast Club, who alongside his team, is set to usher in “a new era of culinary excellence and community spirit”. The deal leaves Turner operating the Old Ale and Coffee House in Salisbury and the Haven House Inn and Cafe in Christchurch under his Neighbourhood Pubs & Bars vehicle. Turner, who acquired The Dolphin in 2018, said: “It has been an honour to serve the Newbury community, and I am confident that Auror and his team will continue to uphold the traditions of warmth and hospitality that define this beloved pub.” Kalivaci added: “The decision to leave the bustling city life behind and establish roots in Newbury was driven by our collective desire to create something truly special. We envision The Dolphin not just as a pub, but as a culinary haven where every dish tells a story, and every patron feels like family. I will lean into my Italian roots to help create a new menu which we know the local community will love.” Christie & Co acted on the deal.

 

Hook Norton Brewery reopens following fire, makes £154,000 profit from site disposal and repays three bank loans: Oxfordshire’s Hook Norton Brewery has reopened following a fire at its grounds and visitor centre. It said its brewery shop and Malthouse Kitchen are open once more following the blaze last Monday (20 May), and while the brewhouse was untouched, the top floor of its stable block, which was leased to contract caterer Thomas Franks, had been totally gutted. Director James Clarke said: “A huge thanks to everybody who has helped mitigate the damage as far as possible. Suffered a bit of damage, but onwards and upwards. In our 175th year, this won’t stop us.” It comes after the business made a £154,000 profit from a site disposal and repaid three bank loans, as reported in the post balance sheet events in the company’s accounts for the year to 30 September 2023. “The company disposed of a freehold property with a net book value of £201,000 for consideration of £355,000,” it said. “This resulted in an increase of cash of £355,000, a reduction in tangible fixed assets, and a profit and loss on disposal of £154,000. The company also repaid three bank loans in full. This resulted in a reduction of cash at bank and bank loans by £1,000,000.” During the year, the company made a further £464,050 profit on disposal of a freehold property (2022: £28,000). Its pre-tax profit more than doubled from £278,675 in 2022 to £581,099, while its turnover grew slightly from £8,666,028 to £8,997,559. Dividends of £51,174 were paid (2022: £729). Clarke said the business decided not to pass on the “extraordinary cost increases we were experiencing” and would instead to try recover them over the medium term while investing in becoming more efficient. “Consequently, this year’s profit is significantly less than they would have been otherwise, but our long-term competitive position has been enhanced,” he said. “Our pub estate is in good shape, and we continue to see the benefits of our support during the covid and post covid periods, with a stable tenant base and strong relationships. The traditional tenancy model continues to show its strength in smaller well-run businesses, where there is a dynamic relationship between landlord and tenant. Our managed houses performed well overall, but there is still work to do. It became clear that we had a number of pubs that did not have a future with us, so during the year we disposed of The Gate Hangs High and The Cherington Arms. Funds from these sales were used to pay down debt so that the company now has net cash in the bank, and so reduce our interest costs. We have two more sites for disposal in the next financial year, the funds from which will be used to invest in the growth and energy efficiency of the business. We remain robust, confident, well-funded and planning for the future. The 175th year is approached with great anticipation.”

 

Roxy Leisure opens second King Pins site: Roxy Leisure has open the second site for its King Pins family bowling concept. The operator of Roxy Lanes and Roxy Ball Room opened its debut site under the King Pins concept in Manchester’s Trafford Palazzo last summer, offering 15 lanes of ten-pin bowling and four lanes of duck-pin bowling alongside shuffleboard, ice-free curling, a batting cage, karaoke and arcade games. It has now opened a new flagship site in the former Sports Direct unit on the ground floor of Manchester’s Arndale. The site features 12 lanes of ten-pin and eight lanes of duck-pin bowling, two karaoke party rooms, arcade games, American pool, shuffleboard, batting cages and ice-free curling, as well as King Pins debuts for mini golf, tech darts and Wild West shooting. The food offering comes from Manchester concepts PLY (straight from the oven pizza), Wings of Power (chicken and cauliflower wings, burgers and tenders) and Royal Treats (soft serve ice cream, doughnuts, brownies and Tango Ice Blasts). The venue also offers a selection of frozen cocktails, and draught beer as well as alcohol-free options.

 

Ex-firefighter set to open artisan food and drink market in Derby for second site: Ex-firefighter Steve Wardle is set to open an artisan food and drink market in Derby for his second site. Wardle, who worked for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service for 19 years until 2022, also owns The Trinity – a co-working space, cafe, bar and events venue housed in a former Methodist Church in Burton-on-Trent. He has now had plans approved for The Yard Derby at the third time of asking, having been rejected twice by Derby City Council’s planning committee. The project includes ten retail units located away from the grade II-listed St Peter’s Church and the grade II-listed Old Grammar School, with a capacity for up to 100 people. Burton Abbey Developments will now build on the vacant plot of land in St Peter’s Churchyard. Wardle said: “After more than three years and three planning applications, we are delighted to finally have planning approved for our development of an outdoor street food market on St Peter’s Churchyard in Derby city centre. We are ready to start on site this summer, with completion expected next summer to tie in with the other exciting projects opening in Derby in 2025.”

 

Former restaurant GM to launch three concepts over two sites in London’s Islington for first solo venture: Former restaurant general manager George De Vos is set to launch three concepts over two sites in London’s Islington for his first solo venture. Originally from Rotterdam, De Vos has worked with Nuno Mendes at Taberna do Mercado as well as holding general manager positions at London venues Ropewalk – a cocktail bar and restaurant in Bermondsey’s Maltby Street Market, and Brilliant Corners – a Japanese restaurant and music venue in Dalston. He has partnered with “entrepreneur and avid traveller” Alex Young for Goodbye Horses, Day Trip and The Dreamery, which are all set to open in Halliford Street across July and August. Opening first, in early July, will be speciality coffee bar Day Trip, located on the corner of Halliford Street and Elizabeth Avenue, focusing on the art of pour-over coffee and led by head of coffee, Douglas Conde. Opening in the same building in mid-July will be wine bar and restaurant Goodbye Horses, offering 55 covers. Head chef Jack Coggins will prepare small plates influenced by seasonality and sustainability, while wine director Nathalie Nelles will curate a wine list celebrating producers that are “at least organic, if not biodynamic”. Completing the trio will be gelato shop The Dreamery in early August, located opposite the other two venues. With bar seats and standing space for 20, it will serve a selection of unique gelato flavours made in-house by Coggins.

 

Byron introduces new customisable menu: Better burger brand Byron is set to launch a new customisable menu, allowing its guests to “Build Your Byron”. They can choose their own customisable protein, toppings and sauces to create their ultimate, bespoke burger. There is also a new “pick your patty” feature, offering a choice between a Byron signature patty or a double smash option. As well as the customisable options, the new menu also features ten specially crafted burgers including new options such as The Big Cheese, BBQ Chicken and Dirty Byron – with pulled beef, cheese, beef dripping mayo, burger relish, pickled red onions and bacon and onion crumb, served with a pot of gravy. It has also bought a new butcher on board, with Aldens, one of the oldest and most established butchers in the UK, producing new patties sourcing British West Country beef, alongside a return of its 2007 selected cuts. “Build Your Byron gives customers the power to choose to create their burger exactly to their preference and liking, inspiring both those who were there the first time around and a whole new generation of burger fans,” a company spokesman said.

 

Hotel operator launches new boutique serviced apartments business: Hotel operator Serena Von Der Heyde has launched a new boutique serviced apartments business. Von Der Heyde is the owner of the 45-bedroom, grade II-listed Georgian House Hotel in London’s Pimlico, which has been under the guardianship of her family since 1951 (Von Der Heyde took over the helm in 1987, aged just 19). She has now launched Chinnery House, a collection of new serviced apartments, with the first three now available to book and with a further two planned to launch in the first quarter of 2025. The apartments come under the umbrella of Your Place – a new independent collection of UK properties offering boutique accommodation – alongside the flagship Georgian House Hotel. Chinnery House, located in Alderney Street, offers three new apartments sleeping two to four people a piece. “I’ve been a hotelier in Pimlico since the 1980s, and to this day, our family-run business is continually striving to better our offering for the benefit of our communities,” Von Der Heyde said. “Chinnery House is an exciting new affordable and stylish accommodation offering and part of our continued investment into preserving properties via time-honoured techniques.” Breakfast hampers can be delivered daily and, like the hotel, a room service option is provided via a Papyon App, allowing guests to sample cuisine from a curated list of local business. Guests also have the option to have breakfast at Georgian House Hotel’s Pimlico Pantry. Your Place was launched by Von Der Heyde and husband Andy Miles in December 2022 after Miles took over the Rothay Garden Hotel in Ambleside. Von Der Heyde also acquired the Oak Bank Hotel in Grasmere in 2019 and relaunched it as the Victorian House Hotel the following year.

 

London hotel unveils new dining space: The Kimpton Fitzroy London has launched its new dining space, Fitz’s Russell Sq. It features three distinct areas – a brasserie, a parlour,and the existing Fitz’s Bar. Fitz’s Brasserie offers British cuisine with a modern twist with dishes such as rosemary Oxfordshire lamb ramp with spiced chickpea relish, smoked aubergine and tzatziki. There are also private dining rooms complete with a bespoke menu. Fitz’s Parlour is an “elegant retreat” that pays homage to the Bloomsbury hotel’s past. Meanwhile, Fitz’s Bar offers a crafted menu of 14 bespoke cocktails. Gareth Walsh, general manager of Kimpton Fitzroy London, said: “We’re delighted to unveil Fitz’s Russell Sq, a harmonious blend of timeless elegance and contemporary flair. It’s a testament to our commitment to providing guests with unforgettable experiences that capture the essence of Kimpton Fitzroy London’s heritage. From the inviting ambiance of our chic brasserie to the cosy charm of our parlour and the opulence of our bar, every corner of Fitz’s Russell Sq tells a story. We invite you to join us in celebrating the vibrant spirit of Bloomsbury with warmth, sophistication, and a touch of magic.”