Wagamama launches first-ever loyalty programme: Wagamama, The Restaurant Group-owned brand, has launched ‘soul club’, its first-ever loyalty programme. The business said that soul club is a unique platform where members can redeem free menu items, exclusive content and engage with a new line up of ambassadors. For every visit to the programme’s app, guests receive a stamp in their digital stamp-book, inspired by the Japanese tradition of hanko stamps. At the same time, content is brought to you by a line-up of senior Wagamama chefs and introduces its founding members: social media star and podcaster, GK Barry, culinary expert and vegan blogger, Alfie Steiner and food entrepreneur and supper club sensation, Rahel Stephanie. These ambassadors will support in hosting supper clubs, recipe and cooking videos on how to make Wagamama classics and other content series which will appear in the soul feed. As guests level up, members gain access to exclusive supper clubs and cooking classes hosted by Wagamama’s long-standing executive head chef, Steven Mangleshot and soul club collaborators. The company said: “Wagamama VIPs are given VIP treatment, as level three members also enter a draw to win premium monthly merch drops. Little gifts are set to surprise and delight members along the way, including the £1,000 big birthday draw and secret menu items, accessible only through membership.” Chief marketing officer at Wagamama, Kay Bartlett said: “Launching soul club is an opportunity to thank our guests through Wagamama’s ultimate love language, food. We are enamoured by the love and support we receive from guests and relish the chance to reward our benches’ biggest fans, as well as connecting with guests in a totally new and more personal way. We have creatively challenged ourselves to launch a world, which invites Wagamama into the pockets of members in the most valuable way possible. Working with exceptional talent and creators to showcase delicious recipes so that even if you can’t visit Wagamama as often as you like, you can still enjoy food that hits your soul with a bang at home.” From today (17 July), Wagamama will offer its first brunch menu out of 22 of its sites across the UK.
Next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality to feature 60 updated entries and 14 new companies, released on Friday: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will feature 60 updated entries and 14 new companies 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 more than 236,000 words of content. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club members 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), Restaurant Marketer and Innovator (two days in January 2025) and Excellence in Pub Retail (May 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.
Stack gets licensing green light for Northampton site, work to start this autumn: Leisure venue concept Stack has been given the go-ahead for its new site in Northampton. Having been granted planning permission in March to transform the former Market Walk shopping centre into an entertainment hub with independent street food outlets, bars and an events space, it has now had its licensing application granted. Work is set to start on-site in late October. “We’re very pleased to announce that Stack Leisure’s licensing application has been granted and it’s now all systems go on its plans to transform the former Market Walk shopping centre,” a spokesman for West Northamptonshire Council said. “Town centres across the country are evolving, and Northampton is no different in that respect. We are seeing a shift away from purely retail-led high streets towards a more experience-led offering and this development is a perfect example of the kind of venue people are flocking to in their droves, as you can see from Stack’s recent successful launch in Lincoln.” The venue is one of a number of Stacks that is currently creating around the country, including two new sites in Newcastle and further venues in Durham, Bishop Auckland, Whitley Bay, Carlisle, Manchester, Wigan, Leeds, Middlesbrough and Sheffield.
Cardiff restaurant group launches second venue for its all-day brunch brand: Cardiff restaurant group Fire & Wine has launched a second venue in the city for its all-day brunch brand, Park Side. Park Side was originally founded by Sophie Pascoe and her mother, Sian, in Cardiff’s Heath Park in 2021, serving coffees and sweet treats. Having become part of the Fire & Wine group of restaurants, Park Side has now opened a second site, a 100-cover venue at Cardiff’s Amber Vista development. It will offer all-day dining, catering for up to 60 covers inside and an additional 40 on a covered, heated terrace. “There are some fantastic brunch options in Cardiff but we felt that there was a gap in the market for somewhere where you could go for brunch that felt a little bit elevated; where you could enjoy a glass or a bottle of something alongside and that wasn’t limited to just typical brunch hours,” Sophie told Wales Online. “We have spent a lot of time in Dubai, where brunch is an all-day event, and that’s a bit of what we’re trying to do here.” Sophie, with partner Benito Martinez, also operates the Bodega and Ballers restaurants in Cardiff, and the Priory Hotel & Restaurant in Caerleon. Last year, they launched a second Ballers pizzeria, next to the Park Side site in Heath Park, but it is listed as temporarily closed.
