Exclusive – Cote recent lfls up 5%, cover growth returning: Côte, the French brasserie brand backed by the Partners Group, has said it is “excited by current trading”, with like-for-like sales performance ahead 5% across its last trading quarter, Propel has learned. Propel understands that the circa 80-strong group has seen cover growth returning and is selling more drinks. It comes as Cote filed its accounts for the year ended 24 September 2023 revealing turnover of £147.6m and like-for-like growth of 1.3%. Executive chair Jane Holbrook told Propel: “The UK restaurant sector faced well-known challenging conditions in 2023, and our results reflect both continued caution in consumer spending and significant cost inflation, including enormous energy bills. Looking forward, we are excited by our current trading, now regularly beating our competitors as we rejuvenate our brand, aiming to be the best place to go for delicious French food served with heart and soul. We’ve seen very positive results from our updated food and drinks offer, our new-look restaurants and more contemporary service style, with great feedback from our guests and fabulous teams. We have enthusiastic support from our investors as we roll this out across our estate over the next two years, as well as very actively looking for new, bigger sites. We are really delighted to have inspirational and expert leaders join us for this roll-out phase of our journey – Ash Hamilton, our managing director; Sarah Broadhead, head of brand; Amanda Underwood, people director; and marketing industry expert Phil Rumbol as a non-executive director. I love working with them and the rest of our amazing team.” Since the start of the year, the company has chosen not to renew the leases of three restaurants (Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham) and is actively looking for larger, more prominent sites in those cities. It is also understood to be reviewing a small number of sites that are no longer profitable following market shifts. Where it expects these changes to be permanent, it will look to exit the site, as it did recently in Harrogate. At the same time, Propel understands that Sarah Hills, who was previously managing director of Bill’s, Wagamama and Megan’s, has stepped down as the company’s chief operating officer. Hills, who had also been leading the development of Brightside, the new roadside concept from Loungers, joined Cote last spring. The company said: “Sarah joined the team in April last year to help the business with refreshing the brand and the changes we were making to our leadership team. She helped us find four members of our newly formed leadership team. Now that the team is in place and settled, it's time for Sarah to do what she does best; supporting growing businesses to get the right team and cultures in place. She moved on with our thanks and very best wishes.”

 

Azzurri Group CEO Steve Holmes to speak at Propel summer conference and party, three free places per company for operators: Steve Holmes, chief executive of the Azzurri Group, will be among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference and summer party on Thursday, 5 September, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry. The all-day conference will focus on “new ideas and directions in an era of strong headwinds” and will be followed in the evening by the summer party, with a barbecue and four hours of live music, including the UK’s best Ed Sheeran Tribute Act, The Ed Sheeran Experience; the UK’s top Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow tribute acts joining forces, Scott Borley and Daniel Hadfield; and the famous house band at Piano Works. Holmes will discuss the group’s evolution into a hospitality investment platform, the continued growth of its core brands ASK Italian and Zizzi, the next stage in Coco di Mama’s journey and the potential of Boojum. For the full speaker schedule, click here. There are up to three free places per company for operators, but Premium subscribers can have up to four places. To book, email jo.charity@propelinfo.com. A room can also be booked for the evening. For more details, email jo.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Propel’s next Multi-Site Database to be released today with seven category segmentation including 433 operators from the quick service restaurant sector: Premium Club members are to receive the next Multi-Site Database today (Friday, 28 June) at midday. The next Propel Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate, provides details of 3,161 multi-site operators and is now searchable in seven main segments. The database features 927 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 771 (24%) pub and bar operators, 524 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 433 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 254 (8%) hotel operators, 198 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month and this edition includes 40 new companies. 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 Club 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.

 

M&B to feature in Zero Carbon Forum webinar series helping business on their journey to net zero: Propel has partnered with the Zero Carbon Forum for a webinar series designed to help business on their journey to net zero. In the fifth webinar in the series, Nick Young, director of estate strategy and acquisitions at Mitchells & Butlers, talks about how the business is building a sustainable future. The webinar will be sent to all Propel subscribers at 9am today (Friday, 28 June).

 

Social and cultural activities ‘remain integral to consumers’ but financial constraints and inadequate late-night transport ‘significant barriers’: Social and cultural activities “remain integral to consumers”, particularly among younger demographics, but financial constraints and inadequate late-night transport are “significant barriers”, according to new research. The survey by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) in collaboration with the Adam Smith Institute and Obsurvant, showed 56% of respondents participate in social activities out of the home several times a week or more. This rises to 68% for 18 to 24-year-olds and drops to 44% for those aged 50 and above. Meanwhile, 43% attended cultural events at least once a month over the past six months. But 52% of respondents cited changes in financial circumstances as impacting how often they go out, highlighting the effect of the UK’s cost-of-living crisis on nightlife. More than a third (37%) indicated that lower drink prices would encourage them to go out more frequently, with better late-night transport cited by 23%. Dining out is the most popular activity (55%), especially among those over 30 (65%). Younger respondents favour going to the cinema, playing sports and attending nightclubs. Michael Kill, chief executive of the NTIA, said: “The data debunks the narrative around shifting consumer habits. Instead, it highlights the significant impact of current economic conditions, particularly the reduced disposable income among young people. The findings vividly underscore the essential role of nightlife and cultural activities in our communities, especially for younger generations. Financial constraints and inadequate late-night transport are major barriers preventing full enjoyment of these enriching experiences.”

Scotland’s Euro 2024 games boosted sector sales in the country by a third: Scotland’s Euro 2024 games boosted hospitality sales in the country by a third, new data has revealed. Venues saw an average 33% sales increase during Scotland’s three group games, the data, collected by CGA by NIQ, revealed. The day of the game versus Switzerland generated the biggest boost in sales, with an increase of 38% on last year, while the games against Germany and Hungary saw daily increases of 36% and 28% respectively. High street pubs benefited the most from Scotland games, enjoying an average 74% increase to sales. Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHospitality Scotland, said: “A 33% increase in sales shows the pull of sport to consumers and reinforces that the pub really is the best place to watch sport, outside of being in the stadium itself. At a challenging time for hospitality, venues will now be raising a glass to the Scotland fans that delivered a vital boost to sales with their passionate support of the national team.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a company that is seeking an IT manager that is required to be in its Cardiff office two days a week. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The company would love to speak to IT managers who have a background in hospitality and therefore understand EPOS, stock, workforce management platforms and payment systems. You will support the business with daily issues, regular projects and work closely with third party suppliers. This is a new role for the company so it will enable you to run the team autonomously with support from the financial director.” The salary is up to £60,000. For more information, email hayley@corecruitment.com.

 

Exclusive – Karali Group acquires 46 Taco Bell sites out of administration: Karali Group, which earlier this month acquired Crosstown, the artisan doughnut and specialty coffee brand, has acquired 46 Taco Bell sites out of administration which were previously operated by the Caskade Group, Propel has learned. The deal makes Karali, which previously operated 74 Burger King restaurants, one of the biggest Taco Bell franchisees in the UK. The brand currently operates circa 135 sites here. A spokesperson for administrators Begbies Traynor told Propel: “We can confirm the successful sale of 46 branches previously operated by a single Taco Bell franchisee to the Karali Group. Working closely alongside Taco Bell, Kirstie Provan, Gary Shankland and Robert Ferne, of Begbies Traynor, together with Anthony Wright, of FRP Advisory, the joint administrators, in respect of T Bello Group and T Bello UK, secured the sale through a pre-packaged administration process. Karali Group is a first-rate operator and successful family-owned business with more than four decades of experience in the quick services restaurant and hospitality space. We are excited to continue creating excellent guest and employee experiences along with craveable food Taco Bell fans know and love across the UK.” Karali Group is led by Salim Janmohamed and Karim Janmohamed and is a diversified, multinational hospitality and real estate platform operating franchises in the fast-food, casual dining and hospitality sectors. The company previously operated 74 Burger King restaurants, which were acquired by Burger King UK in October 2022. It also has the rights to operate concepts including El Taco Loco, Dirty Dog Shack, Roosters, Sticky Sisters and Cafe Italiano. Earlier this month, Crosstown was acquired by Karali Snacks, part of Karali Group, via a pre-pack administration, for a total consideration of £500,000. The transaction included the acquisition of 27 operating locations, including the majority of the stores, market units, kiosks, concessions and trucks, as well as the transfer of 140 staff, including the leadership team of the business.

 

Exclusive – The Entourage Group opens first UK Toni Loco and second The Butcher, plans to expand both concepts here: The Entourage Group has opened its first Toni Loco pizzeria in the UK and second The Butcher gourmet burger bar, and plans to expand both concepts here, Propel has learned. The group, based in the Netherlands and led by Yossi Eliyahoo, is behind several concepts, mainly centred in and around Amsterdam. The Butcher has five locations within the Dutch capital plus further sites in The Hague and Ibiza, and made its UK debut in 2022 with a launch in Manchester’s Arndale Centre. The Butcher has now also launched in London within Canary Wharf’s The Cube immersive live gaming experience, alongside a UK debut for its Toni Loco concept, which has locations in The Hague and in Amsterdam. “The Butcher in Manchester is going very well, with plans to expand it into a bigger part of the mall it resides in already in progress, with the aim to improve the visibility of the restaurant and make it more obvious as to where it is,” Eliyahoo told Propel. “All The Butcher sites are doing fantastically and there is an aim of expanding it across the UK, already being done with a new opening in Canary Wharf this week and another opening soon in Birmingham. Toni Loco is opening next to The Butcher site in Canary Wharf, operating together and opening next week. Like The Butcher, there are plans to expand Toni Loco and its delicious pizza across the UK, as the British audience would be perfect to appreciate the restaurant.” It comes after the group earlier this month announced it would also be launching its Mr Porter Steakhouse, Bar & Lounge brand in the UK, with an opening at The Park Lane Hilton Hotel in Mayfair this September. “As the Mr Porter concept is a very specific and curated one, franchising the restaurants around the UK would be difficult as it would take the perfect person to run it,” Eliyahoo said. “There are a number of new Mr Porter restaurants popping up as time goes on however, with the flagship restaurant in Amsterdam, a second in Barcelona and pop-ups in Ibiza, and there is a hope to spread it further around Europe as well.” Eliyahoo said the group will also next year launch The Butcher and Toni Locos alongside each other within Amsterdam airport and will also launch a new Mexican concept in the Dutch capital. “We have been working for a bit of time now on a contemporary Mexican concept, using non-traditional culinary ideas but with old ingredients integral to Mexican dishes,” he added. “The Mexican cuisine has such an amazing vocabulary of ingredients that are very playful, and we would love to bring that in the contemporary world.”

 

Exclusive – immersive entertainment business Otherworld ceases trading: Otherworld, the Edge-backed immersive entertainment business, has closed its three sites and ceased trading, Propel has learned. Founded in 2017 by Ed Wardle and Chris Adams, the business had opened sites in Hackney and Victoria in London, and in Birmingham. Otherworld had also been in talks to open in Manchester and London’s Piccadilly, and had set out an ambition to launch in the US. It had also previously raised £6.4m in venture capital. Adams told Propel: “Otherworld was at the forefront of multi-sensory virtual reality but was unable to navigate through the combined pressures of weakened consumer sentiment, increasing competitive intensity, rising cost pressures and a tight growth funding environment. We are deeply grateful to our 370,000 guests; our immensely talented team; our investors, suppliers and partners; and the thousands of repeat visitors who made Otherworld such a special place.”

 

Remainder of Caskade Group’s KFC estate closed after majority of business acquired out of administration: The remainder of the Caskade Group’s 53-strong KFC business has been closed after the majority were acquired out of administration. Propel revealed earlier this week that KFC franchisee Adil Group had acquired 40 former Caskade restaurants, adding to its portfolio of 73 existing KFC restaurants across the country. It is understood that the Caskade business, which was founded in 1984, has been experiencing challenges. Last October, the business reported a “reasonable” trading performance as turnover increased, but profit dropped in the year to 31 December 2022. Propel understands that the 13 remaining sites in the south of England, including those in London’s Fleet Street, Dover, Maidstone, Bournemouth’s Westover Road, Christchurch and New Milton, have been closed. A spokesperson for administrator Begbies Traynor told Propel: “We can confirm the successful sale of 40 branches previously operated by a single KFC franchisee to Adil Group. Working closely alongside KFC, Kirstie Provan, Gary Shankland and Robert Ferne, of Begbies Traynor, together with Anthony Wright, of FRP Advisory, joint administrators in respect of Caskade Caterers, Castlebarn, Caskade 2020 and Grovemaze, secured the sale through a pre-packaged administration process, retaining more than 900 dedicated staff. The sale to the new owners is a positive outcome for the majority of branches and employees within the portfolio.” Adil Group has been a KFC franchisee since 2004, when it acquired 11 restaurants from an existing franchisee. Adil Group currently operates 73 KFC restaurants across the UK, including the largest KFC drive-thru in the UK, and has played an important role in the fast-food brand’s growth over the last 20 years. It is thought that Adil Group has acquired some strong performing sites in the south of England with real growth potential.

 

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants to launch in India: Gordon Ramsay Restaurants is to launch into India after signing a partnership with Travel Food Services (TFS), one of India’s leading food and beverage operators. The new agreement marks the beginning of a three-year opening programme which will see six restaurant concepts unveiled across multiple Indian travel hubs by 2027, with the first two due to launch in the final quarter of 2024. The openings will come under the group’s Street Pizza, Street Burger and Gordon Ramsay Plane Food brands. TFS currently operates more than 350 eateries across 19 cities in India. Varun Kapur, executive director of TFS, said: “With this partnership, we are building on the food revolution in Indian airports that TFS has been passionately driving. Gordon Ramsay’s iconic brands will deliver an unprecedented fusion of flavour and finesse, further adding excitement to the Indian travellers’ journey and making their dining experience unforgettable.” Gordon Ramsay Restaurant’s chief executive Andy Wenlock added: “India’s rich culinary heritage and its reputation for hospitality make it the perfect landscape for our brands. With TFS, Indian airports are the new stage for our culinary journey, and we are excited to see how travellers embrace these vibrant, flavour-intense dining experiences.”

 

Burhill Group CEO to step down: Colin Mayes, group chief executive of golf and leisure operator Burhill Group, is to step down after 19 years in the role. Mayes, who will leave his position by 31 March 2025, has overseen the transformation of the Guinness family-owned business, which has grown from eight golf facilities in 2006 to 29 leisure sites today, with a further two to be opened later this year – in Guildford and Hemel Hempstead. Mayes expanded the business into the experiential leisure market with the Mulligans and Bunkers concepts, and there are now 14 businesses in operation. Alongside the expansion into the young family activity market with the development of five Ninja UK venues, this growth “has turned the group into a year-round leisure business, protected from the seasonal challenges often found within traditional golf operations”. Chairman Edward Clive said: “Colin has had a long and distinguished career within the hospitality sector, and as a family, we are very grateful for his significant contribution to the group. He has transformed the business from being purely golf to a broader leisure business, while delivering higher returns to support reinvestment into ongoing group environmental, social and governance initiatives and our team. The group is in a very strong position as it enters the next phase of development and growth.” Mayes added: “It has been a huge privilege to lead the group since 2006 and see both our business and our wonderful team of people grow and develop. I am confident that there is still significant opportunity for further growth, and I want to thank everybody involved and wish them all continued success for the next stage of development. I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and taking part in my various sporting activities as well as staying active within business.” The board has begun a formal process to find a successor, considering both internal and external candidates. Mayes will continue as chief executive during this process “and ensure a smooth and orderly transition”.

Black Sheep Coffee eyes drive-thru market: Speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee, which opened its 100th site earlier this month, is targeting the drive-thru market to aid its continued expansion in the UK. The company has retained property advisory firm Edgerley Simpson Howe LLP to acquire drive-thru sites throughout the UK in stand-alone and retail park locations. Black Sheep is seeking leasehold sites of 1,800 to 2,000 square feet. The company this month reached the 100-site milestone with an opening at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi. The launch was the fourth in the space of three months by franchise partner Al Farran Investment, which has plans to open 250 outlets in the Middle East in its initial 15-year term. Propel revealed exclusively in March that Black Sheep Coffee is raising £15m of new funding as it looks to step up its international expansion plans, while it gears up to explore an initial public offering in the US.

Freshly Chopped acquired by private equity group: Dublin-based, healthy fast-food brand Freshly Chopped has been acquired by private equity firm KnightBridge Group. Founded in 2012, Freshly Chopped has more than 60 outlets across the island of Ireland, the Netherlands, Cyprus and the UK. Co-founder Brian Lee will have a minority shareholding in the new structure and act as an advisor and brand ambassador. KnightBridge Group, which recently launched a hospitality division, will retain the existing Freshly Chopped senior management and head office team. Existing franchisees and the day-to-day operation of the company owned stores will not be affected, reports RTE. KnightBridge said it will inject a “significant investment” into Freshly Chopped to rejuvenate its branding and devise a new menu offering. Lee said: “Today is a significant milestone for Freshly Chopped and, on a personal level, it’s the beginning of a new chapter that allows me the opportunity to explore new entrepreneurial avenues and passions.” Kent Lim, a founding partner of KnightBridge Group who is spearheading the new division, previously worked with Freshly Chopped and will become its new chief executive. “By leveraging our international network and our expertise in investment and franchising, we see a very bright future for Freshly Chopped,” he said. Freshly Chopped business development director Jonathan Parkhill will remain in his role and join the board of KnightBridge Hospitality. Bock Liang, group chairman of KnightBridge, said its hospitality division has ambitious plans and is in active acquisition mode.

Heavitree ‘performs well’ in first half with turnover up 2.1%: South west tenanted pub operator Heavitree Brewery has said it “performed well” in the six months ended 30 April 2024 against the same period last year despite the combination of weeks of cold and wet weather conditions and a very early Easter weekend. Turnover during the period increased by 2.1% to £3,396,000 (2023: £3,326,000). The company said: “As reported in recent years, the turnover figure for this period was again reduced by the IFRS 16 lease accounting unwind. This equated to a reduction of £39,500. The group has returned an operating profit of £540,000 (2023: operating profit of £523,000), a 3% improvement on the previous year. In turn, profit before tax is £761,000 (2023: £947,000), which includes the book profit of £300,000 realised on the sale of non-core assets (2023 non-core assets: £503,000). The reduction in profit before tax reflects greater non-core asset sales for the corresponding period of 2023.” The business said that in accordance with the disposal programme of non-core assets, The Exeter Inn in Honiton Clyst was sold, while its new accommodation block at The Ley Arms in Kenn is finished, offering “quality bedrooms at this very popular pub”. The company said: “The directors recommend the payment of an increased interim dividend at a rate of 2.25p (2023: 2.0p) to those shareholders on the register on 12 July 2024.” Chairman Nicholas Tucker said: “A retirement planned for the end of this year of one of our longstanding tenants has meant that we have just one pub under notice with no further vacancies within the estate. This should position us well for the second half of the year and we hope for a boost in sales from the Euros football competition and the summer Olympics, both of which will be broadcast at times favourable to licenced hours. The board’s confidence for the second half of the year is reflected in the increase to the interim dividend.”

Haute Dolci set to open third Scottish site: Premium dessert and gourmet burger concept Haute Dolci is set to open its third Scottish site. The business already has locations in Perth and Edinburgh among its circa 20-strong estate and is now preparing to open in the former Creams site in Glasgow’s Springfield Quay. “Haute Dolci’s new site opening soon in Glasgow,” said head of operations Tahir Mahmood. “The signs are up, and we can't wait to welcome you all to our latest location. This will be our third store in Scotland, marking another significant milestone for our brand. We have some great neighbours, like Chaiiwala. Coincidentally, this will be our fifth site where we are situated alongside each other. People of Glasgow can now combine the love of karak chaii and gourmet desserts in one stop. Stay tuned for more updates on our grand opening date. We look forward to serving you and making sweet memories together at our new location.” Propel revealed last month that Haute Dolci, founded in 2017 by Heavenly Desserts founder Nizam Mohamed, is gearing up to launch in its second overseas location, in Kuwait. Mohamed, who sold his rights to Heavenly Desserts in 2021, is also behind gourmet burger brand IceBurg.

 

Wraps & Wings opens in Oxhey: Burgers, chicken wraps and churros chain Wraps & Wings has opened a new site in Oxhey, Hertfordshire. Wraps & Wings has opened at 81 Chalk Hill, joining 32 other locations across London, the Midlands and south east. Co-owner Aminul Islam “We are getting positive feedback from the neighbours and local people and business is getting better.” Founded in 2015, Wraps & Wings’ directors are Mohammad Shaikh and Omar Farook. It also offers a franchise programme.

 

Lina Stores confirms opening plans in London’s Shoreditch: Lina Stores, the deli and restaurant brand backed by White Rabbit Projects, has confirmed it will open a site in London’s Shoreditch this September. As revealed by Propel last September, Lina Stores will occupy a historical grade II-listed building, originally built in 1868 as a bank, in Shoreditch High Street. The ground-floor restaurant will have 87 covers while the basement will see the second iteration of Bar Lina, Lina Stores’ aperitivo bar, land in east London for the first time. Masha Rener, head chef of Lina Stores, said: “Very much like Soho, Shoreditch has a rich food history, and the East End welcomed many Italian immigrants over the years. Combined with the stunning architecture of this former banking building, it really did confirm to us that Shoreditch is a perfect home for Lina Stores.” Propel revealed last month that Lina Stores is set to make its regional debut with a Lina Stores and Bar Lina on the ground floor of the 17 Quay Street development in Manchester. The business, led by Éadaoin McDonagh, is targeting opening two or three sites a year, having opened its seventh site in London, in South Kensington, in April. Propel understands Lina Stores is also currently in advanced talks on a further site in the capital, which will open next year. McDonagh will be among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference and summer party on Thursday, 5 September, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry. There are up to three free places per company for operators but Premium subscribers can have up to four places. To book, email jo.charity@propelinfo.com. A room can also be booked for the evening. For more details, email jo.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Tandoori chai concept opens seventh site: Tandoori chai concept Chaiiology, founded in Birmingham in 2019, has opened its seventh site. Chaiiology has opened at 367 Station Road in Harrow, north west London – joining its two sites in Birmingham and one each in Cambridge, Cardiff, Slough and Southall. Chaiiology’s owner is Raja Khan. Specialising in pink chai, karak, dhood patti, and its “iconic tandoor chai”, Chaiiology also serve a healthy variety of Indian sweet and savoury food items. These include butter chicken roll, chaat, sweet chilli chips and milkcake desserts.

 

Stack unveils first set of traders for Newcastle site: Leisure venue concept Stack has unveiled the first set of street food traders for its upcoming opening in Strawberry Place, Newcastle, under its partnership with Newcastle United. The transformation of the St James' metro station car park is well underway to create a dedicated fan zone and all-round street food and entertainment venue, due to open this summer. Among those opening for the first time will be Tiptop, featuring a range of Asian-inspired noodle and rice dishes launched by Kevin Liu, who has owned numerous restaurants around the city and beyond for many years. Other newcomers to Stack are Soju & Gogi, which operates a Korean barbecue restaurant in Dean Street and an “express” outlet in Newcastle's Grainger Market, as well as sister restaurant Insa Korean BBQ in Jesmond. Also arriving at Stack is Dabbawal, which runs two restaurants – one in High Bridge in the city centre and the other in Jesmond. Other traders include Acropolis, which since its original residency at Stack Newcastle has gone on to expand across the north east and beyond and now operates ten venues. Another trader making a comeback is barbecue concept Texas Smoker. Several traders at Stack’s site in Seaburn will be taking a unit at the Newcastle site, including Brack Burger, which also has a number of outlets across Tyneside. It will be joined by Davey’s Mexicano, ZZA Pizzeria, Holy Duck and Yolo Coffee & Kitchen. Neill Winch, chief executive of Stack, said: “We pride ourselves on being loyal to existing and past traders so it's great to see a number of them coming back to Stack. However, we are always looking for good quality street food offerings that will delight our customers and offer a really eclectic and exciting mix of food, and that is certainly the case with these new Stack traders.”

 

Mercato Metropolitano set to open fourth market in London: London community food market Mercato Metropolitano is set to open its fourth market in the capital. Mercato Ilford, located at 114 Postway Mews, will join its sites in Elephant & Castle, Mayfair and Wood Wharf when it opens on Thursday, 11 July. Generating 100 jobs, the site will house 17 trading partners over a wide range of cuisines such as Ethiopian, Indian, Turkish and Jamaican. This includes Afuego by Yassir Chair, a graduate of the Mercato DreaMM campaign, which helps support young businesses by offering a three-month rent-free tenure in its food markets. Earlier this year, Mercato Metropolitano was awarded a Good Work Standard Achievement for its commitment to paying its employees the London Living Wage, and it has also signed the Women's Night Safety Charter, to help make the capital safer for women at night. Last month, Mercato Metropolitano started trialling a delivery service through its Wood Wharf market, where it offers deliveries by foot to offices and residents within a 200-metre radius. Andrea Rasca, Mercato’s founder and chief executive, told The Times he wants to “restructure” the UK’s food delivery industry, particularly in larger cities, as “delivering food from one side of London to another is not a good experience for anybody”.

Manchester operator set to open second site for hidden cocktail bar concept: Manchester operator Nick Parr is set to open a second site for his hidden cocktail bar concept, Behind Closed Doors. Parr, former general manager of Manchester bar Whiskey Jar, opened the first Behind Closed Doors in 2015, accessed through a hidden doorway at 93 Oldham Street. He has now acquired the former Wire nightclub venue in Leeds’ Call Lane for a second site. “Leeds has an enviable reputation for its nightlife, and it was the immediate choice as the location for our second venue,” Parr said. “When you visit Behind Closed Doors you enter a liberating, hedonistic atmosphere, where we want guests to release their inhibitions. From the scandalous décor and tempting drinks to the live DJs playing eclectic funk, soul and disco music, we’ve created a place where you can really show your wild side and indulge a few guilty pleasures. As someone who has partied in the city many times, I know that the people of Leeds are going to love what we have in store for them.”

Restaurant Associates launches new partnership with London’s Design Museum: Restaurant Associates, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has launched a new partnership with the Design Museum in London’s Kensington. Restaurant Associates will provide catering services for the museum’s restaurant and café spaces, as well as for a variety of events. Sustainability will be at the heart of the offer, aligning with its three-star Food Made Good accreditation and net zero by 2030 commitment. Dirk Talsma, managing director of Restaurant Associates Venues, said: “This partnership represents a unique opportunity for us to bring our extensive culinary, service, and events expertise to such a prestigious and recognisable destination.” Kirsty West, head of commercial at the Design Museum, added: “This partnership will not only enhance the visitor experience but also elevate the quality of our events with exquisite food that complements the creativity and innovation we celebrate.” Former MasterChef Professionals and National Chef of the Year winner Steve Groves will oversee the menu design. Restaurant Associates woks with heritage venues including Glyndebourne, Hatfield House and Hever Castle as well as operating high street brasseries including Dipna Anand in Milton Keynes and Maria G’s in Kensington.