Plan Burrito appoints advisors as it eyes national and international expansion, including 500 UK sites: Burrito franchise Plan Burrito has appointed advisors to assist with its next stage of growth as it eyes national and international expansion, including 500 UK sites. Founded in 2015, the award-winning business, which was voted best street food brand in England in 2022 and best commended in 2023, has grown to 12 locations across the UK. But with aspirations to become “the leading Tex-Mex brand in the UK”, it has appointed consultant Catesby to help it scale up both here and abroad. Plan Burrito founder Stephen Hopper said: “Our existing locations continue to see positive growth when compared to 2023, and with a number of our existing franchisees looking for second sites, we see it as the appropriate time to start concentrating on the next phase of growth for the brand. There is considerable white space for the business, and we feel there is the potential for at least 500 locations across the UK. While our existing franchisees have played a pivotal role in getting the brand to where it is today, by appointing Catesby, we are hoping to accelerate the growth of the brand by unlocking some of the leading multi-unit operators across the country.” Catesby chief executive James Rogers added: “We are thrilled to be working with the Plan Burrito team on the next phase of their growth. They have built a very solid brand with great economics and from the ongoing conversations we are having with established operators, we know that they have built a very attractive offering. We are focusing on securing strong multi-unit operators who can scale the brand quickly and in strong locations. Once Plan Burrito has a more established foothold across the UK, we will then start to explore international markets.” Plan Burrito experienced its biggest year of growth in 2023, starting it with three sites and ending it with ten. Since the turn of the year, it has added locations in Southend and Gillingham, with a Welsh debut in Treforrest, near Cardiff, on its way too. Plan Burrito 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 exclusive to Premium Club subscribers, the latest version of which features 260 businesses. 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.

 

KFC UK & Ireland chief people officer to speak at Propel’s Talent & Training Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club members: Kathryn York, chief people officer at KFC UK & Ireland, will be among the speakers at Propel’s Talent & Training Conference. The all-day conference takes place on Tuesday, 1 October at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. The conference will showcase examples of outstanding people culture among companies within the sector and how the industry is attracting talent. York will talk about the success of KFC’s “The Hatch” youth employment programme, which looks to help young people into their first job, and its “The Kentucky Club”, which hosts jobs-based pop-up events around the country for young people. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £345 plus VAT for operators and £395 plus VAT for suppliers. Premium Club members get a 20% discount. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

 

Next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality to feature more than 236,000 words of content, released on Friday: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will feature more than 236,000 words of content when it is released to Premium Club members on Friday (19 July), at midday. The database now features 880 companies, and this month’s edition includes 14 new additions and 60 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club members also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate; the New Openings Database; the Turnover & Profits Blue Book; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. All Premium Clubs members will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including 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.

JD Wetherspoon sets out comprehensive defence of its record as an employer following attack from trade union boss: JD Wetherspoon has set out a comprehensive defence of its record as an employer following an attack from trade union boss Paul Nowak. Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph about Labour’s New Deal for Working People, Trade Union Congress head Nowak said good employers “have nothing to worry about” but bad apples will “have to pay the price”. Pressed on which businesses are the so-called bad apples, Nowak listed Wetherspoon alongside Amazon, Sports Direct and P&O Ferries as “anti-union employers who have built their business models on low-paid, insecure employment”. In response, JD Wetherspoon called Nowak’s comments “completely inaccurate and unjustified” and said staff retention is at its highest ever level, with 11,066 of the company’s 42,854 staff having worked there for five years or more. Of those, 3,895 have worked for ten years and 632 for 20. Furthermore, it said 15,778 employees are shareholders of the company, and for the first six months of this year, £21.2m was paid to employees in bonus and shares – of which 99% was paid to staff below board level and 89.6% to staff working in pubs. Since 2007, £504m has been paid to employees in free shares and bonus (approximately 55% of company profits), and since the share scheme was introduced, 27.5 million shares have gone to employees (approximately 22% of all company shares in existence today). In addition, all staff are offered guaranteed minimum hours contracts, 96.9% of which have accepted them. JD Wetherspoon chairman Sir Tim Martin said: “If people in powerful positions, such as Paul Nowak, make serious allegations, which have absolutely no basis in fact, it will deter business investment in the UK. Investment is a primary generator of growth which, as the chancellor of the exchequer has recently said, is the number one objective of the government.”

 

Christie & Co – pub market activity improved in first half of 2024 with signs suggesting mid-market is returning: Sector property advisory firm Christie & Co has said it saw pub market activity improve in the first half of 2024, with signs suggesting the mid-market is returning. The company’s pubs and restaurants 2024 mid-year market insight report revealed its key transactional metrics have trended upwards since January this year, albeit off soft year-on-year comparatives. It said that while demand has been polarised towards bottom-end and premium assets, this has shifted over the past six months, with signs suggesting the mid-market is returning. Additionally, there has been increased M&A activity. signalling that investor confidence has improved. Christie & Co instructions increased by 46% compared with historic low levels. Viewings, offers, deals agreed and exchanges increased by 5%, 15%, 46% and 74% respectively. It found that the sub-£600,000 market remains strong but the freehold, freehouse market is returning as confidence improves. There is also an increased demand for closed sites, particularly within the restaurant sector. as buyers would prefer to buy the property and add value in the current environment. At the same time, the most active buyers are predominantly experienced operators or individuals already in the marketplace who understand value. The report said that pubcos have been notably active – looking to divest sites that no longer fit their portfolios, subsequently freeing up capital to acquire new sites. It said that operators are focusing on creating lean, consolidated businesses versus saturation. Stephen Owens, managing director of pubs and restaurants at Christie & Co, said: “The first half of 2024 has seen the forward momentum continue from the end of last year. What the sector now requires in order to ensure that the recovery continues is stability; the new government to keep its pledge to help the hospitality sector, particularly around business rate reform; interest rates starting to ease; improved consumer confidence; and, hopefully, for the sun to come out and play its part.”

 

Free drink refills could be banned in Wales: Free drink refills could be banned at restaurants and cafés as part of new proposals by the Welsh government. BBC News reported that the health secretary Eluned Morgan has launched a consultation to restrict “promotions of food products high in fat, sugar and salt”. It also proposes to restrict retailers from holding offers, such as buy-one-get-one-free, on unhealthy food. The Welsh government said it was “supporting people in Wales to make the healthy choice”. The consultation outlines proposed legislation that the Welsh government said were steps on “taking action to improve our food environment”. It includes a proposal to prohibit retailers from offering free drink refills, which many high street restaurant operators offer. Another proposal will prevent retailers offering promotions, including buy-one-get-one-free and three-for-two offers on unhealthy food products. A third proposal will prohibit retailers from placing high fat, sugar and salt food products in certain locations in store including entrances, end of aisles and checkout or queueing areas. It will also apply to online equivalents including website entry pages, shopping basket and payment pages.

 

Only A Pavement Away places landmark 500th member into work: Only A Pavement Away, the industry charity helping those facing or at risk of homelessness find employment in the hospitality sector, has placed its 500th member into work since its conception in 2018. The charity calculates that this has added £25.6m to the British economy through reduced government support, financial independence and increased household expenditure. Since being established by Greg and Gill Mangham, Only A Pavement Away has also supported more than 1,800 candidates at recruitment fairs and workshops, and supplied £50,000 in grants to help with everyday necessities. Recent figures from the charity have also shown a strong retention rate, with 60% of its members remaining in employment for more than a year, higher than the average tenure of a hospitality professional. It has also recently expanded its operations into Manchester and Scotland. Greg Mangham said: “We didn’t expect it to grow to this size so soon, and as our number of members grows, so too does awareness of our mission. We want to thank everyone who has made it possible for us to have this positive impact on these communities.” 

 

Adventure Leisure COO – scope to double size of business in medium term: Stephen Brown, chief operating officer of Adventure Leisure, has told Propel that there is scope to double the size of the business in the medium term. Last week, Adventure Leisure opened the 13th site under its Mulligans adventure golf brand, in Hemel Hempstead. Adventure Leisure also operates two venues under its Bunkers adventure golf concept, four Ninja UK venues and one venue under the Total Ninja name. Meanwhile, another Mulligans will launch in Guildford at the end of this year or start of 2025. Brown, who joined Adventure Leisure in April, said: “New sites are front and centre of our thinking and we’re working with Oli Marcroft, of KLM Real Estate, to identify opportunities and build the pipeline. We’d like to be opening, on average, four sites a year after 2025. Although the majority of our sites are in the south east, we do have venues in other parts of Britain, and we are searching for new sites nationwide. I think we can double the size of the business in the medium term and then we can take it from there. In terms of overseas expansion, never say never, but I know from experience the difficulty of building brand presence in some of these markets, so we have to make sure we get the location and timing spot on and adapt the product as necessary.” Last week, Adventure Leisure reported sales growth of more than 16% in the first six months of 2024 and Brown said the economic landscape “is becoming better to do business in”. He added: “Utility prices are starting to reduce. The recruitment landscape has been tough, but despite that, we’ve managed to recruit a really good team for Hemel, and we’ve worked on training opportunities to bring more people through and help us hold on to people. The competitive socialising market has become incredibly competitive. We are seeing a great desire from people wanting to do more than one activity under one roof, which is seeing them increase dwell time and allowing us to tap into that secondary spend.” As well as reviewing business rates and alcohol duty, Brown would like to see the new government support companies to achieve their net zero targets. He would also like to see the planning process “sped up and simplified”. He said: “For example, a change of use application can take four or five months to go through from pre-application stage.” Adventure Leisure has introduced contactless arcade games for the first time at Hemel Hempstead while the venue also features ping pong, interactive darts and pool.

Company behind The Cube concept plans international launch as FY turnover nears £4m: The Mellors Group, which created The Cube experience in partnership with Objective Media Group, has said it is planning to the launch the concept internationally, as it said its debut site in Manchester was “operating successfully and profitability”. The business, which also operates Fantasy Island in Skegness and Skegness Pier, opened the original Manchester site in 2022 in the Arndale Centre, which has already hosted 150,000 players. It plans to open a The Cube site in London’s Canary Wharf later this year, while Propel recently revealed The Mellors Group has applied to open The Cube & Carnival Club at The Cube scheme in Birmingham’s Wharfside Street. It comes as the business reported turnover of £3,916,000 for the year to 30 September 2023 (2022: £2,222,000), with a pre-tax profit of £2,638,000 (2022: £3,127,000). The company said: “As planned, the group has continued the development of its competitive socialising venues concept during the year. The group opened its first site during the previous year and have now secured a number of additional prominent city centre sites in the UK, which are planned to open over FY24 and FY25. The first site in Manchester is now operating successfully and profitability and it is anticipated the two new sites will add to profitability over the coming years. In particular, the board has been pleased with a 16% year-on-year improvement in mystery shopper scores at our business in Manchester. The group is also successfully winning new business in existing and new geographies and is planning to expand its competitive socialising venues business internationally, all of which will further diversify the group’s activities and deliver future growth and success. The board therefore looks forward to reporting continuing profitability in the years ahead.” The Cube’s food and beverage offer at Canary Wharf will comprise The Butcher, the award-winning burger bar concept from Amsterdam; and the UK’s first Toni Loco Pizzeria, which will feature authentic 20-inch Italian American pizzas. The Mellors Group is a fourth-generation entertainment business that has “ambitious plans for growth”. 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. Existing Premium Club members can receive the report 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.

 

Hooters set to open in Newcastle: US sports bar and grill brand Hooters is set to open in Newcastle for its third UK site, Propel has learned. Although the exact location and opening date has not yet been confirmed, it will be a fifth location for a franchisee who already operates several Hooters in the UK and Canada. Hooters currently has UK sites in Nottingham – owned by Johnny Goard and Julian Mills, and in Liverpool – owned by Rachael Moss. “Meanwhile, in Newcastle, UK, another thrilling development is taking place as one of our esteemed multi-unit franchisees, with more than 25 years of experience with Hooters of America, is bringing the brand to a new location,” a Hooters spokesman said. “This will mark the fifth venture for this seasoned franchisee, who already manages multiple locations throughout the UK and Canada.” In January, franchise consultant Paul Davies, who is working with Hooters on its expansion plans here, told Propel the brand is “confident of success this time” in the UK and has targeted up to 75 new openings. The Nottingham site, which has been open for 25 years, had long been the sole outpost for Hooters in the UK before being joined by Liverpool last year. Other sites in Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff have come and gone, while a Manchester site was granted planning permission in 2022, despite local objections, but is yet to open.

 

Auntie’s Annes opens two new sites alongside UK debut for new international store design, eight further launches planned over next four months: Pretzel business Auntie’s Annes has opened two new sites, alongside a UK debut for its new international store design, and said eight further launched are planned over the next four months. The two new openings, in Walthamstow and Bexleyheath, bring the UK and Ireland estate of the US brand, operated here by Freshly Baked, to 38. “We are delighted to announce two new store openings and two exciting remodels as part of our UK growth and expansion,” a spokesman for the brand said. “Walthamstow Post Office, managed by franchisee Saf Abdeen Shukry, marks our first venture into the vibrant community of Walthamstow. Bexleyheath Broadway Shopping Centre is led by long-time franchisees Suleiman and Ronke Shittu, who have successfully run our Bromley store since 2015. The grand reopening of our Watford store marked the debut of Auntie Anne’s new international store design in the UK, featuring a fresh, vibrant look. The Brent Cross store has also undergone a significant remodel, aligning with our brand’s updated image and commitment to an enhanced customer experience. These developments are part of our ambitious growth strategy over the next ten years, with plans to open 100 new stores across the UK and Ireland, with eight further openings planned over the next four months.” Freshly Baked managing director Max Burton told Propel in January that he saw “plenty of scope” for Auntie Anne’s in the UK. That same month, Propel revealed that Freshly Baked had also become UK master franchisee for Dutch better burger brand Fat Phill’s and plans 100 sites for it here over the next decade.

 

Loungers gears up to open ‘largest and most ambitious Lounge to date’, business opening on average a new site every ten days: Café bar operator Loungers will open its “largest and most ambitious Lounge to date” tomorrow (Wednesday, 17 July), in Bristol and the business is opening a site, on average, every ten days. Ritorno Lounge will open on the former Pitcher & Piano site in the city’s Harbourside. The site will have circa 250 covers internally and 100 externally, plus a private dining room complete with bar and a DJ area. The site will become the group’s 228th Lounge and 267th overall and follows the opening of its 36th Cosy Club, on the former Pitcher & Piano site in Sheffield on Monday (15 July), and the opening of Leo Lounge in Faversham in Kent last week. Speaking last week, Loungers chairman Alex Reilley said: “Following the success of Costero Lounge in Paignton in Devon, which was another large site (a former Harvester), we are particularly excited about the prospects for Ritorno and the opportunities that exist for us to open bigger Lounges in very high footfall locations.” Costero Lounge recently became the first Lounge to deliver weekly sales of more than £100,000. According to the business, most of its Lounge sites experience a honeymoon opening for the first six to 12 weeks, after which sales reduce to a normal level, then grow consistently year on year. All sites are profitable from day one, but margins begin to be optimised after six months of trading, then continue to grow as the sales level increases. Lounges typically generate 30%-plus return on capital in their third year and continue to increase from this point onwards. The company said landlord incentive terms remain attractive, and last year further increased from 24 months to 26 months. It said a typical lease length for a Lounge remains 15 years, while its rent to revenue ratio reduced to 4.7%. Its average net capex stood at £905,000, with an increased capex spend reflecting a larger average size of site, which saw a 6% increase in covers. FY24 sites year one gross average weekly sales (AWS) stood at £33,600, 9% higher than FY23 year one performance, and a marked increase compared with FY19 year one AWS of £22,000. 

Spaghetti House owner – 2023-24 was an extremely difficult year, posts FY pre-tax loss: Lavaal Group, owners of London restaurant group Spaghetti House, has said that the year to 31 March 2024 was “an extremely difficult year” due the current economic and political climate. The business said footfall has not gone back to pre-pandemic levels and inflation and wage costs have been the biggest challenges. Turnover for the year stood at £10,002,683 (2023: £9,800,997), with a pre-tax loss of £177,011 (2022: profit of £334,681). The company, which operates eight Spaghetti House sites across London, said: “Overall, the company finished with a loss of £93,331, compared with a profit of £334,681 last year. However, the 2023 results included one-off other income of more than £1m. Adjusted Ebitda was £52,483 for the year, compared with a negative adjusted Ebitda of £545,321 in 2023. Direct costs were thoroughly reviewed during the year to control wastage, returns, portions and stock together with the implementation of a central distribution process. These measures helped the company to achieve its best gross profit margin of 77% compared with 75% last year.” In March, the company opened a new restaurant in Earl’s Court under a new concept, A Braccetto, promising a modern take on traditional Italian cuisine, with pizza and pasta served at a communal central table.

 

Lancashire operator Open Brewers secures 12th site: Lancashire multiple operator Open Brewers has secured its 12th site as it further extended its partnership with Heineken-owned Star Pubs. The company has added the Queens Arms, Kirkham, to its estate. The pub has closed for a £114,000 revamp and will reopen mid-August as a wet-led town centre local. Open Brewers was founded in 2017 by Daniel Alderson and its estate consists of a wide range of wet-led venues, ranging from a city centre cocktail bar to working men’s club. Alderson said: “We’ve grown our estate organically, driven by the individual potential of a pub rather than by expansion targets. The success of our business has been built around putting the right people in the right pubs to create something that works for each local community. We still have the same management in our first pubs because our choices are the right ones, and we look after staff. Business is unpredictable at the moment. It doesn’t mean there isn’t the trade, it’s just that you have to be the best you can be as people are more selective nowadays. It’s not a question of offering cheap drinks. You need to make people want to come out and socialise, to provide a great environment inside and out and to provide excellent service all the time.” The operator’s other Star Pubs consist of: Pear Tree, Penwortham; Red Lion, Longton; The Stanley Arms, Preston; The Fox & Lion, Leyland, and The Crofters Arms in Leyland.

 

Lola’s Cupcakes reports positive start to 2024 after more than doubling its profit: Lola’s Cupcakes has reported a positive start to 2024 after more than doubling its profit in the year to 31 December 2023. In 2021, the business reported its profit passed the £1m mark for the first time, and while this slipped back to £337,546 in 2022, it recovered to a pre-tax profit of £774,848 in 2023. Turnover also grew from £22,462,005 to £24,869,985. This whole figure came from sales of cakes and cupcakes, while the 2022 figure included £58,626 from the sale of groceries and £89,117 from the sale of flowers. “Following a satisfactory 2022 as the company returned to normal after covid lockdowns and an uncertain business environment, the company has had a successful 2023, with sales growing by 10.7%,” said director Asher Budwig. “And with careful control of input costs, gross profit increased to 61.3%, from 60.3% and Ebitda increased by 42% to £1,868,109, representing 7.5% of sales. The directors consider the performance and current growth of the business to be satisfactory, and after a positive start to 2024, as we see further growth in our online business and pre-covid activity levels in our stores, the directors look forward to another successful year. We continue to invest in innovative designs and products, promotional activity and web development to raise brand awareness and drive online sales. We also continue to extend our geographic coverage beyond our traditional south east market.” No government grant was received (2022: £5,054). Licence fees of £17,838 were received (2022: £58,472) along with an electric vehicle grant of £14,890 (2022: £4,945). Dividends of £200,000 were paid (2022: nil). Lola’s Cupcakes has 23 stores and 19 collection lockers/vending machines across London and the south east.

 

Dodo Pub Company secures ninth site: Dodo Pub Company has secured its ninth pub and fourth in Oxford. The company has acquired the White House in Abingdon Road, after taking on its lease from Brasenose College. The pub will reopen this September after a refurbishment. Dodo’s first pub was the Rusty Bicycle in Magdalen Road, east Oxford (formerly the Eagle Tavern) in 2009, followed by the Rickety Press in Jericho (formerly the Radcliffe Arms) in 2011. Both these pubs are owned by and tied to Swindon brewer and retailer Arkell’s, but the White House is free-of-tie like the Up in Arms (formerly the Somerset) in Marston Road, which Dodo reopened in 2019 after a long period of closure. The White House was previously operated by the Tap Social Movement. Dodo co-founder Leo Johnson said: “We’re excited to launch our fourth Oxford site in a new part of the city. In standard Dodo style, you can expect a full interior and exterior revamp, as well as a quirky name change that’ll nod to the history of the building and surrounding area. We’re looking forward to continuing where Tap Social left off.” Earlier this year, Dodo added The Sudeley Arms in Cheltenham to its portfolio, which has been renamed Airs & Graces in a nod to the nearby racecourse. Johnson told Propel at the time that current expansion plans are set at two pubs a year.

 

Korean concept CheeMC secures second site: CheeMC, the Korean restaurant concept from Lee Wooyung, has secured its second site in London, in Elephant & Castle. The business, which opened its debut site in Great Windmill Street, Soho, has acquired the former Tupi site at 2 Castle Square. Propel understands that Wooyung has earmarked King’s Cross as a target for a third location under the concept. Wooyung also operates GoGo Pocha in Waterloo and previously operated Unimini at 20 Eastcheap. Michael Macpherson, of Hay Hill Property Services, acted on the Elephant & Castle deal. 

 

UK’s first Caribindi venue joins Sheffield food hall line-up: Sheffield food hall Sheffield Plate has added the UK’s first Caribindi venue to its line-up of independent vendors. Established as a concept this year by partners and University of Sheffield alumni Sofiya and Jawwad Shah, Caribindi brings together their respective cultures of south Asian and Caribbean cuisine. Dishes on offer include: Caribindi soul bowls, jerk and tandoori wings, and Jamaican pumpkin pie. Jawwad Shah said: “Caribindi was born out of a desire to spread the fusion of two cultures and cuisines, disrupting the street food market yet fostering and driving a strong sense of community. Our journey began with a shared realisation of the cultural overlaps between south Asian and Caribbean dishes. As we learnt more, we discovered the rich history behind Indo-Caribbean culture rooted in the indentured labour system. Caribindi embodies years of cultural amalgamation, community bonds and historical significance with a modern twist.” Spanning two floors in Orchard Square, Sheffield Plate opened in 2021 and offers a range of food from around the world, with two full-service bars and a line-up of live entertainment. Manager Shay Murray said: “We are happy to welcome Jawwad and Sofiya and their unique Caribindi concept to our line-up of independent food vendors: a first for us, the city – and the UK.”

 

Tokyo Industries opens £2m venue in Hull: Bar and nightclub operator Tokyo Industries has opened its latest project, Iron Lilles, a late-night bar and restaurant, in Hull. The Aaron Mellor-led business invested circa £2m in the new venue. The business was a recipient of a £750,000 government-backed grant, courtesy of Hull City Council, last summer. The venue occupies the former Virgin Megastore on Level 2 of Princes Quay Shopping Centre, which has stood vacant for a decade. The 200-seat restaurant features a botanical theme, with water features and plants providing a greenhouse-like feel. Mellor told Hull Live: “Iron Lilies is a great addition to Hull and we’re looking forward to welcoming people. This space has been underused for about 15 years, and the first thing I noticed when we took over the shopping centre is what a great space this is. The huge glass feel to a centre lends itself to a greenhouse feel, which is what we’ve tried to do with the design, creating an orangery and also having botanical themed cocktails.” Tokyo Industries operates circa 50 bars, clubs and venues in the UK, plus several international sites.

 

Lima to open third site in London: Lima, the modern, award-winning Peruvian restaurant group, is to open a third site in London, in Shoreditch. The business, which operated the Michelin-starred Lima Fitzrovia and Lima Floral, will open its new restaurant in late September, in the boutique hotel Sun Street, located between the City and Shoreditch. Launched in 2012 by the Gonzalez brothers, Gabriel and José Luís, Lima offers a modern take on traditional Peruvian cooking, with references to Nikkei cooking as well as Chifa (the blending of Japanese and Chinese techniques respectively with native Peruvian ingredients) as well as traditional Peruvian plates. Gabriel Gonzalez said: “We are thrilled to be bringing Lima to east London – a long-term strategy of ours and also a personal dream. It feels like a real honour to be able to bring our unique style of cooking to the masses 12 years after we first opened our doors. Today, as I did back then, I am so proud of the exhilarating food scene in Peru, and now we get to show even more people what we do.” The Lima Shoreditch menu will be spearheaded by long-standing executive chef Roberto Sihuay.

 

Hollywood Bowl hires Piers Walker as new chief marketing technology officer: Hollywood Bowl Group, the UK’s largest ten-pin bowling operator, has hired Piers Walker, formerly of Bill’s and Caprice Holdings, as its new chief marketing technology officer. Walker was previously chief marketing officer at the Richard Caring-backed Caprice Holdings for two and a half years. Prior to that, he spent two years at Bill’s as its sales and marketing director. Walker was previously director of marketing and acquisitions at hospitality management company The Ghost Group and also spent three years as regional marketing director at Morgans Hotel Group. Last month, Stephen Burns, chief executive of Hollywood Bowl Group, said that the business remained confident in its ability to deliver on its plan of an average of at least three new UK openings a year. The business, which reported record first-half group revenue of £119.2m in the six months ended 31 March 2024 (2023: £110.2m), currently operates 71 sites in the UK and said it was well positioned to grow its group estate to more than 130 centres.

 

Workspace provider opens new cafe-bar in London’s Holborn: Workspace provider Uncommon has opened a new cafe-bar in London’s Holborn. Pause, which is open both to members and non-members, is part of Uncommon Holborn – a ten-storey building in High Holborn offering 105,000 square feet of “flexible office solutions”. The venue champions fresh, seasonal and locally sourced produce, as well as artisanal products and suppliers, many of which, like Uncommon, are B Corp businesses. Drinks include special brews from carbon neutral coffee makers Assembly Coffee, mushroom drinks from Dirtea, Ashwagandha root lattes from Erbology and alternative milk choices from Rude Health. Dishes include avocado toast, yoghurt, focaccia sandwiches, salads, soup and toasties, while Wednesday and Thursday evenings will see charcuterie and cheese boards paired with toasted sourdough by Provisions, alongside international fine wine, craft beer and handcrafted signature cocktails. Holborn is Uncommon’s fifth site across the capital, following its Highbury & Islington, Borough, Fulham and Liverpool Street locations. It is based in Templar House, the former home of London Underground.

 

Scottish restaurant group set to open fourth site: Scottish restaurant group Scoop is set to open its fourth site. The group launched with the Ox and Finch restaurant in Glasgow’s Sauciehall Street a decade ago before introducing south east Asian concept Ka Pao to the city’s Vincombe Street in 2020. Scoop branched out to Edinburgh in 2022 with a second Ka Pao site, in the Scottish capital’s St James Quarter, and this September will return to Glasgow to open the 138-cover Margo at 68 Miller Street. The kitchen will be led by Robin Aitken, who first joined Scoop as a chef at Ox and Finch in 2014 before returning to Scoop as part of the senior team that landed Ka Pao Glasgow its first Michelin Bib Gourmand, and helped the Ox and Finch retain its Bib Gourmand for a tenth year. He will help deliver a menu of snacks, small plates and sharing dishes that highlight seasonal produce, with a focus on Scottish seafood, meat butchered in house and bread and pasta made from scratch. Dishes will include skate wing with kumquat kosho, trout roe and green peppercorns; and lamb faggot with seared liver, bonnet polenta and salsa verde. Among the drinks will be Aitken’s signature frozen martinis, yoghurt punch and a comprehensive list of classic fine wine alongside natural and biodynamic bottles from small, independent producers. Scoop managing director, Jonathan MacDonald, said: “Margo will be an evolution of our first restaurant, Ox and Finch, which has just celebrated its tenth birthday. While retaining lots of the features that have made Ox and Finch so popular for the last decade, Margo will be bigger and bolder. We’ll be pushing things further in the kitchen, and there’ll also be a larger, more adventurous wine list, which the team have been sourcing from a range of great suppliers.”

 

London pub operator acquires second site as he extends partnership with Greene King: London pub operator Paul Graham has acquired his second site after extending his partnership with brewer and retailer Greene King. Graham, who operates The Mayflower in Rotherhithe – thought to be the oldest pub on the Thames in London – with Greene King, has taken on The Three Stags in Kennington as a tenant with the pub company. Located at the intersection of Kennington Road and Lambeth Road, The Three Stags has received a £265,000 joint investment by Greene King and Graham ahead of its reopening. The pub has received a full refurbishment. Inside, the pub’s upper floors have been opened up to create a larger restaurant space and an all-new kitchen will deliver a food driven offer at the pub. The pub has a claim to fame as being frequented by Charlie Chaplin’s father, Charles Chaplin senior, and as such, the “Charlie Chaplin Corner” of the pub has been retained. The pub will offer British pub food with regular specials alongside premium drinks options. Graham said: “Like The Mayflower, The Three Stags is a pub rich in history, and so it is a great fit for me and the team.”

Greggs to launch new national distribution centre in the Midlands: Food-to-go retailer Greggs is to launch a new national distribution centre in the Midlands, in partnership with Tritax Symmetry. A planning application has been submitted for 311,551 square feet of space on a 25.1-acre plot at Symmetry Park in Kettering. The initiative is part of Greggs’ 2021 strategic growth plan, which set out ambitious expansion targets requiring investment in significant supply chain capacity. It currently has 2,500 shops and plans to eventually have significantly more than 3,000 in the UK. Tritax Symmetry is also seeking permission for an additional 100,000 square feet to enable Greggs to expand the site further. Subject to approval, Greggs the centre to be operational in the first half of 2027. Located at junction nine of the A14, the park is currently home to Iron Mountain, a US-based data centre storage provider. BNP, Cushman and Wakefield and DTRE acted for Tritax Symmetry, with Wright Silverwood representing Greggs.