Mission Mars CEO – we’ve got our staff turnover close to 55%, we think there is room for ten Albert’s Schloss in the UK: Roy Ellis, chief executive of Mission Mars, the Business Growth Fund-backed operator of Albert’s Schloss and Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, has said the business has got staff turnover close to 55% and that stability across its teams is helping it deliver strong performances across both brands. The business, which operates four Albert’s Schloss bars and 26 Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, saw Albert’s Schloss deliver like-for-like sales up 5% and Rudy’s up 17% in the first half of this year. Ellis told Propel: “Obviously, we work really hard at the key elements. We are trying to improve the guest experience, and that’s something we discuss on a daily basis at every venue, and with our teams on a weekly basis, looking for trends. Then there’s a lot of work gone on into reducing our team turnover, because stability and team engagement is what drives the guest experience. We’ve got our staff turnover close to 55%. In all my time in the industry, both working in and running businesses in our sector, I’ve never known staff turnover as low as that. The team being stable and knowledgeable because you know they’re not in and out of the door every three or four months is very helpful for delivering good standards. That always has an effect on your guests and is hopefully driving some of this loyalty that we’re seeing around the two businesses.” The business previously targeted opening one Schloss a year to half a dozen Rudy’s, but Ellis admits that has now been tweaked. He said: “We’ve got four of the big locations covered and we think there’s probably only room for, say, ten Schloss in the UK. We’ve filled 40% of the slots, and it becomes increasingly difficult to find the right sites. At the same time, alongside the strength of the performance of Rudy’s, we think we can find eight to ten great sites a year for that brand. We feel we’ve got the capacity with the team we’ve built and the infrastructure around the pizza academy we launched last year. We’re feeling confident about our ability to staff those restaurants.” The Albert’s Schloss debut site in London’s Shaftesbury Avenue opened last week, and Ellis said early signs are it is performing as well as its successful Manchester site. “We’ve only had a few days trading since, but we’ve got some really good feedback that people were amazed and impressed with the space, the layout, the finish and the details,” he added. “If London turns out to be anything like the success Manchester is, then we’ll be very happy, and they’ve started off on a similar note.”

 

Propel to release new 35,000-word report on experiential leisure market on Thursday, 1 August: A new report produced by Propel on the fast-growing experiential leisure sector will be available to purchase on Thursday, 1 August. The report profiles the current shape of the experiential leisure market – including brands, estate size, trading type and geographical location and future trends. It provides a detailed list of UK experiential leisure companies including key staff and Companies House information. The report includes more than 190 companies, 3,500 sites and a 35,000-word report. Paul Charity, Propel’s managing director, said: “Experiential leisure concepts are expanding rapidly within the UK hospitality industry and, in a number of cases, growing into key overseas markets. The sector is proving relatively attractive, not least because it offers quite high barriers to entry in a number of cases, and strong margins. This report delivers an exhaustive overview to all those interested in this exciting sector.” The report will be released on Thursday, 1 August at 9am and is available for £595 plus VAT. Existing Premium Club members can receive it on Thursday, 1 August for £395 plus VAT. The report will be made available for free to existing Premium members on Tuesday, 10 September at 9am. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to order a copy. 

 

Roxy Leisure co-founder and MDs to speak at Propel summer conference and party, three free places per company for operators: Roxy Leisure co-founder Matt Jones, and managing directors Ben Warren and Colin Sadler, 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. Jones, Warren and Sadler will discuss how the business is standing out in the increasingly crowded competitive socialising market, how the group’s King Pins concept is looking to redefine family entertainment and how they see the category evolving. 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.

 

Premium Club members to receive two updated databases this week: Premium Club members are to receive two updated databases this week. The updated UK Food & Beverage Franchisee Database will be sent to Premium subscribers tomorrow (Wednesday, 10 July) at midday, featuring ten new entries. The database now has 150 entries and more than 66,000 words of content. Among the new entries are Domino’s franchisees Arham Bros and Monte Laguna, and McDonald’s franchisees Bright Arches and HSL Restaurants. Premium Club members will also receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday (12 July), at midday. It will feature 44 updated accounts and 21 new companies for a total of 947. Of these, 591 are in profit and 349 have reported a loss. Premium Club members also receive access to four other databases: the Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database; the New Openings Database; and the Who's Who of UK Hospitality. Plus, 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.

 

UKHospitality – planning reform desperately needed: UKHospitality has welcomed the new chancellor’s plans to reform the “antiquated” planning system, saying such a move is desperately needed. Rachel Reeves said her first move will be to reform the National Planning Policy Framework, consulting on a new growth-focused approach to the planning system before the end of the month. UKHospitality said it has consistently called for a faster, streamlined approach to planning, to drive business expansion and growth. “It was encouraging to hear from the chancellor that the government intends to put growth at the centre of the planning system,” said chief executive Kate Nicholls. “Planning approvals are in freefall, with the level of applications decided within statutory time limits falling every year since 2013. Too many hospitality businesses with ambitions to expand and grow are held back and frustrated by the current system. Planning reform is desperately needed, to unlock business ambitions and develop local infrastructure. The two go hand-in-hand, with many hospitality businesses often finding recruitment challenging due to the lack of housing available, particularly in rural areas. Putting growth as a central aim of the planning system can allow hospitality businesses to create new jobs, drive economic growth and contribute to the regeneration and renewal of our towns and cities.” 

KAM – people will increasingly turn away from alcohol and find different ways to relax while socialising: A new study by KAM and health and wellness movement High and Dry has said people will increasingly turn away from alcohol and find different ways to relax while socialising. It comes after 40% of respondents said their alcohol intake reduces when they take other mood-altering substances such as cannabidiol (CBD) infused drinks. The report investigates UK adults’ evolving relationship with cannabis, alcohol and other mood-altering substances and looks at how this might impact the hospitality industry. The feedback from almost 1,000 adults found that nearly a fifth have tried a CBD infused drink, while a further 28% said they haven’t but would be interested to in the future. Of those who take CBD, one in three take it on a weekly basis, with 70% saying it helps them relax and 60% saying it gives them relief from anxiety. Other main drivers include socialising with friends (58%) and to unwind after a busy day (57%). They are most likely to be consumed at home (77%), although 64% said people are likely to use them at events and 31% in pubs and bars. Generation Z are much more likely to have tried CBD infused drinks, with 38% having tried them and 10% consuming them regularly, compared with 4% of the national average. Blake Gladman, strategy and insights director at KAM, said: “The way that Brits are socialising, including their relationship with alcohol, is changing. We know from recent research in partnership with Lucky Saint that UK adults are drinking less alcohol, less frequently and that although there are financial drivers, 47% of people said that ‘mental wellness’ is a significant driver. With global alcohol consumption in decline, this research looks at what the future alternatives are likely to be and how they’ll impact the food, drink and hospitality industry and will help businesses navigate this transformative era.”

 

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.

 

Burgerism reports 16% first-half lfl growth, continues to consider idea of QSR format: Burgerism, the fast-growing, north west smash burger concept, has reported a 16% increase in like-for-like sales for the six months to the end of June 2024 versus the same period last year. It has also told Propel it is “being actively approached by large mall/retail park operators” and continues to consider the idea of a quick service restaurant (QSR) format. The company, which opened its sixth site in April, in Denton, Greater Manchester, said its top line revenue for the first half of the year was at record levels, and up 23% year-on-year in the last 12 months. It said both its openings this year – Denton and a site in Liverpool opened in the second quarter – reached profitability in month one. The company said FY24 store Ebitda is on track to come in well in excess of the £1m milestone, reflecting a more than 50% increase on FY23. The company said: “Profit expansion is driven by strong store P&L management, with the team delivering a four-percentage point increase in store margin in the period, alongside successful new openings. In the second quarter of 2024, Burgerism broke through two other milestones; the team has now smashed more than 2.5 million patties since it first started and sold more than one million burgers. Equally, customer loyalty remains robust; the average customer is ordering for delivery 15.6 times per year compared with 15.0 times at the start of this year. Expansion remains a key focus, with the business expecting to announce two new sites in the coming months – and all expansion continues to be funded from cash flow. Interestingly, the brand is being actively approached by large mall/retail park operators and continues to consider the idea of a Burgerism QSR format.” The company said it was “steering clear of big bold long-term numbers” when it comes to its expansion targets but believes it will be at ten sites by the end of 2025. Co-founder Mark Murphy said: “We’re excited to explore high footfall real estate and our operation is well versed in handling volume, with our more mature sites regularly serving up in excess of 1,000 burgers per day. We feel QSR will help translate our brand from a regional icon to national favourite more effectively; this format would work alongside the continued success we enjoy in our suburban delivery and collection format and provide an opportunity to connect with our fans through more food occasions.” Murphy told Propel this business paused investment conversations at the back end of last year but may open up an opportunity “for more rapid growth, and capital fuelled growth.”

 

Heartstone Inns lfl sales up 3.8% in first six months of 2024 following highest ever full-year average pub revenue: Heartstone Inns, the eight-strong, managed pub operator, has told Propel that like-for-like sales are up 3.8% in first six months of 2024, following its highest ever full-year average pub revenue. The positive trading this year follows a successful 2023 for the business, with sales of £9.7m, up 11% on the previous year and up 22% on pre-pandemic levels. An average of £1.2m per pub is the highest yet for the second successive year (2022: £1.1m). Pub Ebitda of £1.8m was achieved, representing a margin of 18.5%, compared with £1.9m and 21% last year, while company Ebitda was £1.0m, representing a margin of 10.4%, compared with £1.2m and 13.5% last year. The company said this was a “strong performance” considering it had to absorb huge increases to input costs, with utility costs alone £0.25m (59%) higher than in 2022. The company has a strong balance sheet with net debt of £3.7m and gearing of 17.1% at the year end. It continues to look for suitable acquisition opportunities and has invested £0.8m into the estate during the last two years. Future projects include adding two shepherd huts to the Butchers Arms in the Cotswolds. Over the last two years, the company has returned £0.6m to shareholders via a combination of dividends and share buy backs. James Birch, managing director of Heartstone Inns, said: “We were delighted to see our sales improve so strongly last year, and it is equally pleasing to see growth continuing this year, despite the wet weather. The cost base remains a challenge, but despite the cost increases, we were able to deliver cash profits broadly in line with the year before. We continue to look forward with opportunities to develop our existing estate, to selectively make acquisitions and to provide returns for our shareholders. Alongside our great pubs, we are grateful to our dedicated team of licensees and staff who all make such a positive contribution to our business.”

 

BVC Group plans new restaurant in London’s Mayfair: The BVC Group, the company behind London’s Mayfair restaurant North Audley Cantine and dessert shop concept Crème, is planning to launch a new restaurant in the capital. The business, which was founded in 2013 by Jeremy Coste, David Bellaiche and Gabriel Cohen-Elia, is understood to be planning to launch Le Duke on the former Spaghetti House site at 72-76 Duke Street, in Mayfair. Last year, BVC launched a burger takeaway concept Supernova on the former Absurd Bird site in Peter Street, Soho. Earlier in 2023, BVC, which sold its Ahi Poke business to Poke House in 2021, expanded North Audley Cantine to the Middle East with a double opening. The business launched its first overseas North Audley Cantine sites, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Doha, Qatar. This was followed last autumn by a further site in Dubai, situated within the new Huna Residence development in Jumeirah. The Dubai site was the largest Middle Eastern opening for the brand and comprises a vast indoor seating area and exterior terrace. At the same time, the business operates two Crème sites in London, three in Bahrain, three in Saudi Arabia and one in Paris. 

 

Portobello Pub Company hires Mayuri Vachhani as new CFO: Portobello Pub Company, the pub and restaurant operator backed by private equity firm Zetland Capital, has hired Mayuri Vachhani, formerly of Tasty and ASK Italian, as its new chief financial officer, Propel has learned. The 27-strong company said that Vachhani brings a wealth of financial and commercial experience from across the hospitality sector. She has held a number of senior financial positions with businesses including Tasty, ASK, Ed’s Easy Diner and Big Easy. She replaces Sharon Hayward, who left the business after two and a half years. Portobello, which is chaired by Mark Crowther, said that Vachhani joins the business at an exciting stage, with the company targeting further growth opportunities while experiencing strong trading from its existing business. In April, Portobello Starboard, its holding company, acquired the seven-strong Darwin & Wallace business.

Bundobust to close Birmingham site: Bundobust, the Indian street food and craft beer concept, is to close its site in Birmingham later this month, Propel has learned. The 120-cover outlet at 38 Bennetts Hill, which launched last June, was the latest to be opened by Bradford entrepreneurs, chef Mayur Patel and craft beer bar owner Marko Husak, who founded Bundobust in 2014. The company said: “This is our tenth year as Bundobust and we’ve had some incredible milestone moments as our small group. Unfortunately, we’ve also reached a less pleasant milestone, one that we hoped we’d never have to do. We have taken the difficult decision to close Bundobust Birmingham, with our last day being Sunday, 14 July. Birmingham was the furthest from home we’ve ever ventured. Unfortunately, despite support and enthusiasm from a great community, the consistent trade just hasn’t been there for us in our little part of the city centre. We are gutted, humbled and there will be lessons to take from it in due course, but first and foremost, our priority is to provide support for our Birmingham team; relocating a third of our staff, as well as reassuring the teams in Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool that their jobs are safe and unaffected. We love Brum and our brilliant team there, so this is not a decision we’ve taken lightly, but closing Birmingham will allow us to focus on making the Bundobust experience as good as possible across all of our other sites and on other exciting future plans. Thank you to everyone who has supported us, from local businesses to customers.”

 

Mother Mercy co-founder – we’re aiming to open at least one more site this year followed by ‘multiple’ venues in 2025: Neil Donachie, co-founder of north east cocktail bar concept Mother Mercy, has told Propel the business is aiming to open at least one further site this year followed by “multiple” venues in 2025. Last week, Mother Mercy secured its fourth site, at the Sheepfolds Stables development in Sunderland. The bar will open in one of two specially built “cabin” buildings overlooking the main courtyard at the historic grade II-listed development. The venue will join Mother Mercy’s original venue in Newcastle’s Cloth Market, its Fenwick venue and its Mediterranean cocktail bar, Café Mercy, in Newcastle’s Grey Street that opened in August last year. Donachie, who founded the business in 2019 with Luke Comer, told Propel: “We have plans for at least one further site this year, followed by ambitious plans for multiple further venues in 2025, all focused within the north east. We feel there is a significant opportunity within this region of the country to offer a differentiated and unique cocktail offering that people love. Given the fragility of the market and the cost-of-living crisis, trading for the first half of 2024 has been ahead of our expectations. Against 2023, we are delivering like-for-like growth, with our best periods of the year (summer and Christmas) yet to come. Cafe Mercy is performing well, and we are excited to see how it grows over the remainder of 2024.” Meanwhile, Mother Mercy has been awarded “Great Place To Work UK” certification. The two-step process includes an anonymous survey for employees to freely express their opinions about their workplace, highlighting areas where they feel supported and identifying opportunities for improvement.

 

EL&N to launch in Cambodia: Cafe and lifestyle brand EL&N is to make its debut in Cambodia next year. Travel concession operator Lagardère Travel Retail is set to launch EL&N in the south east Asian country as part of a new 12-year contract at Techo International airport, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open in the first half of 2025. Lagardère Travel Retail was appointed EL&N’s exclusive franchise partner for travel locations in February last year. Last month, EL&N announced it was to open in Malta after signing a partnership with the Db Group, while in May, Propel revealed EL&N was looking to ramp up its international expansion plans and had begun the process of securing new partners across the globe. The business currently operates circa 40 sites across 12 countries. New territories under consideration are thought to include the US, Japan, India and further parts of Europe. The business is also further increasing its presence in the UK with openings in Westfield London and a debut EL&N Deli & Bakery in Covent Garden.

Former The Lucky Onion Group duo to open fifth Cotswolds pub: Peter Creed and Tom Noest, who formerly worked at The Lucky Onion Group, are set to open their fifth Cotswolds pub. Opening in Cheltenham on Friday, 26 July, The Tivoli marks the first foray into “a slightly more urban domain” for the pair, with the new venue opening in the Gloucestershire town’s Andover Road. The restored and renovated pub will have a large bar area and two floors for dining, including two private rooms, with 120 covers throughout. The new seasonal menu will offer dishes inspired by local produce and a nose-to-tail philosophy, with “innovative twists on pub classics”. There will also be pub snacks and daily lunch specials, as well as regular chicken and steak nights, while the beer selection will include draught pours from Cheltenham’s Deya Brewery. The Tivoli joins The Bell Inn in Langford, The Fox Inn in Broadwell, The Lamb Inn in Shipton-under-Wychwood and The Sherborne Arms in Northleach in creed and Noest’s Publican Pubs portfolio. “We’ve been lucky enough to take on and restore some great buildings so far, and we’re excited to be stretching our wings a bit with The Tivoli,” they said. “It’s a legendary spot to those who’ve been in Cheltenham for a while, or grew up around here, so it felt like a natural fit for us. We welcome lots of the urban crowd who drive out to our rural pubs, so we’re looking forward to bringing our own slice of the countryside to their doorsteps.”

Gong Cha unveils new store concept designed for flexible formats: Gong Cha, the fast-growing bubble tea brand headquartered in the UK, has unveiled its new store concept – “Gong Cha 2.0” – as part of its ambitious international expansion strategy to reach 10,000 stores by 2032. Gong Cha 2.0 offers a “consumer-centric” layout as well as digital screens to highlight the steps taken to harvest, dry and roast the tea picked from its exclusive tea gardens. The concept has been launched in Gong Cha’s new flagship store in Gangnam, South Korea, as well as its first site in the Middle East, which was opened in Riyadh last week. From here, the group will quickly roll out the updated store layout in Asia and the Middle East. Meanwhile, new store openings in the US and Europe – including the UK – will also use the layout, which the brand said can be adapted for different formats and environments, which will provide more opportunities for franchisees to expand their Gong Cha store estate. Paul Reynish, global chief executive of Gong Cha, said: “The launch of Gong Cha 2.0 is a milestone moment for our brand. With a flexible footprint – scalable from nine square-metres to 200 square-metres – our new stores will help our franchisees create a unique and differentiated experience for our customers around the world. Each store will leverage the latest innovative technology, enabling our customers to be served faster, and our kitchens to be more efficient in the process. Gong Cha 2.0 is a cost-effective capital investment and has been designed to provide strong returns for our franchise partners.”

 

Illycaffè opens first Scottish site: Premium Italian coffee company Illycaffè has opened its first site in Scotland. It has opened at Edinburgh food hall Bonnie & Wild, which at 16,700 square feet and seating for almost 400 guests, is one of Scotland’s biggest indoor food and drink venues and home to a dozen independent food stalls and retailers. Mel Hunter, manager of the new cafe, said it opens from 9am to 9pm, and as well as coffee and hot chocolate, offers a curated selection of speciality tea alongside pastries and cakes. “Illy produce some of the world’s best coffee and I’m delighted to be working with it in delivering this new coffee concept, while also working with bakeries in and around Edinburgh to provide a captivating counter of artisanal pastries and cakes,” she added. Bonnie & Wild’s managing director, Ryan Barrie, said: “Illy is rightly renowned for its premium coffee, which will perfectly complement the locally sourced pastries and cakes that will also be on offer in the new café at Bonnie & Wild.” There are also six Illycaffès in London. Launched in 2021, Bonnie & Wild is also home to operators such as Creel Caught by Gary Maclean, Salt & Chilli by Jimmy Lee, Chooks, El Perro Negro, East Pizzas, Kochchi, Joelato, Leith Woks, Stack & Still and Soup & Caboodle.

 

Sandwich and deli owner and nightclub operator Robin Birley opens new chocolate shop and cafe: Sandwich and deli owner and nightclub operator Robin Birley has opened a new chocolate shop and cafe. Birley has opened The Birley Chocolate Shop at 24 Cale Street in London’s Chelsea, just two doors down from the Birley Bakery he opened at 28-30 Cale Street last year. As well as selling high-class chocolate, it offers a dine-in breakfast and lunch menu alongside takeaway options, while its ice cream window serves up ice creams in the summer and waffles in the winter, reports Hot Dinners. In November 2020, Propel revealed that Birley had placed his sandwich and deli business, Birley’s, on the market as it prepared to file for administration. Two months later, he bought the business back for £580,000 via a pre-pack administration process, and it currently operates eight sites across the City and the capital’s financial district. Birley, son of late London nightclub and restaurant owner Mark Birley, is also the owner of private members’ clubs 5 Hertford Street and Oswald’s, both in the capital.

 

Wagamama to open in Dundee for tenth Scottish restaurant: Wagamama, the Restaurant Group-owned brand, is to open a site in Dundee. The 128-cover restaurant in Whitehall Street will welcome customers on Monday, 19 August, creating 60 jobs. It will be the brand’s tenth site in Scotland and 167th in the UK. Milly Pearson, regional marketing manager at Wagamama, said: “We are excited to open our latest restaurant in Scotland, and we can’t wait to serve up some of our newest dishes and fresh favourites.” Wagamama has opened restaurants in Chatham, Epsom, Glasgow, Walton-on-Thames, Watford and Wolverhampton already this year. The brand has targeted ten new openings in 2024.

 

TriSpan-backed chicken and steak concept begins roll out: L’atelier Entrecôte & Volaille, the steak and chicken concept backed by TriSpan – the global private equity firm that backs Pho, Mowgli and Rosa’s Thai Café – has begun its roll out in France,with the launch of a second site. L’atelier Entrecôte & Volaille, which opened its debut site, in Paris, this spring, has now opened a site in Drouet D'Erlon, Reims. Propel revealed last May that TriSpan had invested in the concept, which has been developed by chief executive Hubert Lansac through Rising Stars, its dedicated restaurant programme. The company will focus on a European roll out “capitalising on Hubert’s 30 years of experience in the sector”. L’atelier Entrecôte & Volaille marked TriSpan’s 11th restaurant investment globally and its fifth in Europe. It is understood that the business plans four to five new openings this year and is targeting a roll out in France, Luxembourg and Belgium. The concept said it offers “meticulously selected French beef or free-range chicken and perfect French fries, all served with our famous irresistible secret sauce”.

 

Christian Louboutin acquires stake in Experimental Group: Designer Christian Louboutin has acquired a stake in the Experimental Group, the Paris-based hospitality group that owns Cowley Manor Experimental in the Cotswolds and the Henrietta hotel in London’s Covent Garden. Alexis Dyèvre, who is associated with Louboutin in Maison Gatti, is also taking a minority stake in Experimental Group. The company said that the designer will support the continued development of the group’s hotel, restaurant and bar portfolio. Experimental Group co-founder Olivier Bon said: “Christian Louboutin’s entrepreneurial spirit matches the values of Experimental Group. His international reputation, multidisciplinary artistic collaborations, creativity and intuition will be invaluable assets in supporting our development.” Experimental Group was founded by Bon, Pierre-Charles Cros and Romée De Goriainoff in 2007 and joined by Xavier Padovani in 2010. The group operates more than 20 hotels, restaurants and bars across Europe, including in London, Paris, Ibiza, Menorca and Biarritz, and in 2021, secured a £300m investment from Brookfield Asset Management, which remains a shareholder in the business. Experimental Group, which recently launched Henri restaurant in London’s Covent Garden with chef-partner Jackson Boxer, has planned openings for next year in Val d’Isère, Rome and Paris. 

 

Belgian indoor electric karting brand lodges plans for second UK site: Belgian indoor electric karting brand BattleKart, which combines indoor karting and video games, has lodged plans for its second UK site. Founded in 2015, BattleKart has since grown to circa 30 sites in Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and the Middle East. The franchise has been brought to the UK by couple Paul Scriven and Carly Warner, who came across the idea on social media a few years ago. They are set to open the first site here in Sittingbourne, Kent. Now, they have submitted plans to convert a vacant warehouse unit in Gateshead into a BattleKart site. The proposals, lodged with Gateshead Council, involve Riverside House, Unit 4 at Metro Riverside Park, which was formerly occupied by WHP Engineering, reports Insider Media. BattleKart combines indoor karting and video games, enabling between two and 12 drivers to bump, dodge and race without crashing on their way to victory.

Japanese hand rolls concept launches debut restaurant: Japanese hand rolls concept Ukiyo has launched its debut restaurant, in London’s Covent Garden. It has taken a 1,636 square-foot space in Longmartin Properties’ The Yards, at 8 Slingsby Place. The two-level restaurant features an “ultra-minimal walk-in, sit-at-the-bar” experience, headed up by chef Konstantin Tskhay. It offers 16 covers, with a basement space set to open in September, which will feature an intimate dining space for up to 20 people. As well as rolls in flavours such as King Crab California, yellowtail and spicy tuna, there will be a tasting menu, nigiri and sashimi and desserts. There will also be an East-Asian inspired mixology menu with a variety of cocktails, whiskeys, wines and spirits. “We are delighted to have launched our debut Ukiyo concept within The Yards, Covent Garden, and bring our Japanese hand rolls to the West End,” the team behind the concept said. “The destination offers us the perfect location and space to open our first-ever site, and it is brilliant to have laid down roots within such an exciting dining hub in one of London’s most iconic areas.” Colliers and DCL acted for The Yards while Ukiyo represented itself.

JKS and Dominic Jacobs confirm opening date for third pub: JKS Restaurants and publican Dominic Jacobs have confirmed their third pub together will open later this month. As previously revealed by Propel, the venture, which already operates The George in Fitzrovia and The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea, will open The Hound in the former The Crown site in Chiswick High Road. Housed in the walls of a historic Victorian police station, it will reopen on Wednesday, 17 July, featuring two private dining rooms, a covered outdoor courtyard and a south-facing front terrace. The main private dining room seats up to 18 guests and feature an exposed brick ceiling from three combined former prison cells. Two wine cellars also housed in former cells sit alongside the room, with original jail bars and prison doors kept in place. In August, four boutique guest rooms situated above the pub will open. Executive chef John Sparks will work alongside culinary director James Knappett, of two Michelin-star Kitchen Table in Fitzrovia, for a menu inspired by British pub classics. These include grilled red prawns with chilli and garlic gremolata and focaccia; and Highland Wagyu hound dog with Ogleshield Cheese, sauerkraut and charcuterie sauce. The beer list features established breweries such as Sambrook’s and Harbour Brewing Co, while the cocktails will be made with fresh ingredients sourced daily from the local fruit and vegetable market and the wine list will include the pub’s own label tap wines, created in collaboration with Uncharted Wines. “We are excited to be taking over this historic site in Chiswick,” Jacobs said. “Both The Cadogan Arms and The George have embedded themselves in their respective local communities over the past three years and are thriving as a result. It is with the same ambition we hope to launch The Hound.”

Hertfordshire bakery opens second permanent site: Hertfordshire bakery business Leavened Bakery has opened its second permanent site. Leavened Bakery, run by Izabela Stuchlik, opened in Stevenage’s indoor market in 2020 before expanding to 42 Primett Road in Stevenage Old Town in May last year. The business has now opened a bakery at Lannock Manor Farm in Weston and closed its stall in the indoor market. “After years of baking in the indoor market, we have finally settled in our new home in Lannock Farm in Weston,” Stuchlik said. “We are now a proper bakery with unlimited access to our space, which will allow us to cover some events, organise our own events and potentially open to wholesale. We have created a beautiful and cosy space with a natural feel, thanks to the exposed wooden beams. We can now increase our production to meet the demand and get even more creative. We are planning to be open Thursday till Sunday, just like our Old Town shop.”