KFC UK MD – after several years of stabilising the business it’s about getting back to growth: Meg Farren, managing director of KFC UK & Ireland, has said after years of trying to stabilise and recover the foundations of the business, the brand is getting back to “the things we love to do”. Farren said the amount of change that the 1,032-strong business has been through has been “immense” and it is really “thinking about step change growth”. Speaking at this month’s Propel Multi-Club Conference, Farren said: “We added, through the acquisition of circa 220 restaurants from our biggest franchisee, 7,000 people to our team, so there’s been a lot of movement in our franchise base. We’ve been making a lot of investment in technology and in certain innovations that take a few years, and we’re starting to roll it out. The pace of change in the business has been immense, but it’s very exciting. The biggest challenge over the last few years has been how to balance the triangle of what’s right for the team member, the consumer, the P&L, our franchise partners and also ourselves, in terms of our own equity restaurants. That’s been a fine line to walk over the last few years but it’s getting a little bit easier this year. The other thing we’ve been really working on this year, as we stabilised the P&L, is starting to make our restaurants easier to operate. If you think about the amount of change that happened with the advent of delivery right before covid, and then it really shot up during covid, and with a change in channel mix in a base of 1,000 restaurants, you’re trying to keep pace and give consumers what they want. Our operations didn’t really keep up, and so now we’ve pretty methodically making it easier for our team members to deliver across all of these channels, so putting in place the right structures, processes and technology so that we can be more consistent for the consumer.” The company hopes to add 500 new stores by the end of 2030 and Farren said it saw opportunities across all its formats. She said: “We’ve grown a lot in the small box format over the last three to five years. We think there’s a big opportunity in some of the more captive-type markets, like transport hubs, and then there’s geographic regions where we’re simply under penetrated – for example, Ireland. There’s opportunity in drive-thru, drive-to, in high street restaurants, all of them. The big focus now is making sure we’ve got the right format and proposition in that format for the consumer occasion, because obviously that changes over time.” Farren was among the speakers at this month’s Propel Multi-Club Conference. Her video and the 12 others from the conference will be made available to Premium Club members on Friday, 27 September, at 9am. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2024 open for bookings with free places for operators, Insomnia Cookies UK MD Ben Lacey to speak: The final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2024 has opened for bookings. The full-day conference – titled “new directions, new ideas” – takes place on Wednesday, 30 October at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London Kensington. Speakers will include Ben Lacey, managing director of Insomnia Cookies UK. He will discuss the late-night bakery brand’s entry into the UK market, creating a highly engaged community on social media – especially with Generation Z consumers, and its ambition to build a nationwide presence. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Operators can book up to three free places per company while Premium Club members who are operators can book up to four free places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality to feature 42 updated entries and seven new companies, released on Friday: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will feature 42 updated entries and seven new companies when it is released to Premium Club members on Friday (20 September), at midday. The database now features 878 companies, and this month’s edition includes more than 237,000 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, 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.

 

NTIA warns long-term reforms without immediate support in autumn Budget will ‘decimate sector in early 2025’: The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned the government that long-term reforms without immediate support in the autumn Budget “will decimate the sector in early 2025”. The trade body has submitted a letter to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, outlining a series of critical measures “to prevent widespread closures and further damage to the sector”. It has called for an extension of the business rates relief scheme beyond 31 March 2025, a short-term VAT reduction and a freeze on alcohol duty as well as support with energy costs. It also warned the slow pace of reform “will not come quickly enough for many businesses”. NTIA chief executive Michael Kill said: “We are at a critical juncture for the UK’s night-time economy and independent businesses. The impact of inflation, rising energy costs, and business rates is crushing operators, many of whom are facing the very real prospect of closure in the coming months. Independent venues and cultural businesses are the lifeblood of our cities and communities, but without urgent government intervention, we risk losing them forever.” The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is also calling on the government to use the Budget to cut beer duty, reform business rates, and pledge to keep the 75% business rates relief so that pubs and brewers can keep people in work and support more jobs. It said a 5% cut in beer duty would result in up to 12,000 additional jobs, mainly in pubs. BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “Our brewers and pubs are helping people around the country earn money, gain skills and experience, and support both the local and national economy. But for the job market to flourish – and for us to keep supporting those jobs – it’s vital our sector is given the support it needs to continue. We are urging the government to protect the Great British brewing and pub sector to ensure it can remain a driving force for growth, jobs, investment and social value.”

 

Halal butcher to launch smoked meat takeaway as part of planned new drive-thru estate: A halal butcher with more than 30 UK branches is set to launch a smoked meat takeaway as part of its planned new drive-thru estate, Propel has learned. As part of its new franchise programme, Tariq Halal is introducing what it said will be the world’s first drive-thru butchery into the UK and Dubai markets. Propel understands that as part of this, smoked meat such as tomahawk steaks and barbecue beef briskets will be available for consumers to take away. Tariq Halal has been operating in the UK for more than three decades and is available on Uber Eats and Deliveroo and in Ocado and Sainsbury’s, as well as its own stores. Kunal Patel, chief executive of franchise at Tariq Halal, said: “This concept was born from the unparalleled success we’ve had with our stores and the growing demand from Uber Eats and Deliveroo. With consumer buying habits evolving, a new model was required to keep up with the fast pace of modern life, and we’re thrilled to pioneer this drive-thru service.” Tariq Halal owner Tariq Sheikh added: “We have always aimed to lead the way in the halal meat industry by embracing innovation without sacrificing quality. Launching the world’s first drive-thru halal butcher in both the UK and Dubai is a reflection of our commitment to meeting the needs of today’s consumers, and we believe this initiative will change the way people buy halal meat.”

 

UKHospitality writes to government highlighting issues with new packaging rules: UKHospitality has written to Steve Reed, secretary of state for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, highlighting issues with its forthcoming packaging rules. Extended producer responsibility (EPR), which comes into being in October 2025, intends to hold businesses responsible for packaging ending up in household waste streams. However, in many hospitality businesses, packaging deemed as household waste will never make it out of a venue and will be disposed of commercially. This means firms will be paying both a commercial waste fee and incurring an EPR charge, UKHospitality said. Its letter calls for a clear and simple route for demonstrating packaging is exempt from EPR charges – such as beer or wine bottles sold for consumption on premise but collected and disposed of commercially. It also called for the supply chain to be allowed to calculate the proportion of packaging provided to hospitality customers. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “We understand that tracking packaging is complex, but there needs to be a clear and simple route for both wholesalers and hospitality businesses to demonstrate when packaging is non-household. It’s unfair to expect hospitality businesses to pick up the bill twice, just because an issue is complicated.” Meanwhile, UKHospitality Scotland has welcomed the potential benefit to sector businesses in Scotland after Glasgow agreed to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026. Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHospitality Scotland, said: “The games will deliver an economic boost to Glasgow, as well as creating opportunities to promote the city’s attractions over the next few years as it prepares to welcome visitors from across the world. Hospitality businesses can benefit from these opportunities, and the increased footfall the event will deliver, helping them invest and create more jobs.”

 

Wells & Co joins Zero Carbon Forum: Brewer and retailer Wells & Co, which operates 200 pubs across England and France, is the latest company to join the Zero Carbon Forum, the not-for-profit organisation that supports the brewing and hospitality industry on its net zero journey. Wells & Co said it has made substantial changes across its estate to reduce emissions, reviewing and transforming the key areas of waste and energy. Initiatives have included food waste audits and partnerships with Refood, producers of renewable energy from food waste; Too Good to Go, the surplus food marketplace; and its own “Beepoint” project at its Bedford headquarters, Brewpoint, to transform land around the brewery into a biodiverse space featuring several beehives. Most recently the grain from Brewpoint has been sent to anaerobic digestion. Ed Robinson, who is responsible for heading up the brand’s evolution towards net zero as the organisation’s first sustainability manager, said: “We are fully invested in decarbonising operations on our course to net zero. Our goal is to understand more about where we are on our net zero journey.”

 

Teams sought for 2025 Drinks Trade Regatta: Teams are being sought for the brewing industry’s annual sailing event, the Drinks Trade Regatta. The regatta sees operators and suppliers in the industry battling it out in a series of races on the Solent. Next year’s event will take place between 5 and 7 May. Over the past eight years, the event has raised more than £125,000 for various charities, and the regatta is open to experienced sailors as well as novice crews. Full racing support and kit are included, and the event also includes the opportunity to have dinner at the Royal Ocean Racing Club in Cowes. Up to 20 teams can look forward to two days of competitive sailing, where boat crews of up to ten people will face off on the Solent, as well as the opportunity to network with top industry professionals and strengthen teamwork. To see the full schedule and find out more, click here. For booking enquiries, email Terry Hunt at thunt@prometneus-sailing.co.uk.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a retailer with an international presence that is looking for senior IT service delivery managers, or service delivery managers that are heads of department. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The successful applicant will be working closely with the chief technology officer to ensure seamless service and running of the business from a technical standpoint. There is potential for this role to develop into a head of IT role for the right person. For this reason, the company would love to find someone for this role with broad service delivery skills, particularly in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector.” The salary is up to £85,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email hayley@corecruitment.com.

 

Knoops planning to open up to 20 UK sites next year, engaging in franchise conversations in overseas territories: Luxury hot chocolate shop concept Knoops has told Propel it plans to open between ten and 20 stores in the UK next year and is engaging in franchise conversations in territories like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Turkey. Knoops, which currently has 21 shops, with a target of 300 in the UK “within a few years”, is currently raising £5m to aid its expansion plans as it bids to open up to 5,000 stores worldwide in the next decade. Chief executive William Gordon-Harris told Propel: “We are planning to open between ten and 20 stores in the UK next year. We have three progressing nicely – in Newcastle, York and Belfast. To date, we are not making plans to franchise in the UK. All our UK stores are profitable.” The brand’s first international site, Knoops Dubai, opens in Mirdif Mall next month with local partners, NDS Group. Gordon-Harris said: “NDS has extensive experience in scaling outlets as well as understanding of brand building in a multi-channel environment. We aim to open many stores in the Middle East, with this joint venture in Dubai being an initial showcase for the brand and our direct-to-consumer (online retail) business. We’re also engaging in franchise conversations in territories like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Turkey under the joint venture jurisdiction.” Knoops’ revenue more than doubled in the year to April 2024, from £4.3m to £9.3m. Sales at stores open for more than a year rose 29%m while underlying earnings were up 131% on a like-for-like basis, to £979,000.

 

French-based Junk Group planning regional UK expansion after making debut, could bring other concepts here: Junk Group, the French-based business that operates four concepts across France, has told Propel it is planning regional expansion after making its UK debut and could bring more of its formats here. Propel revealed in April that the group, founded by Wissem Ben Ammar and Majed Mansour in 2013, had secured the Wonderland site in Old Compton Street, Soho, for its entry into the UK market. It last week opened a Junk Burger – the smash burger concept it launched in 2022 and which has grown to seven sites in France – at the location. “After opening in London, we do indeed plan to open several more locations in other trendy neighbourhoods across the city,” the founders told Propel. “If London performs well, the idea would be to expand into other major UK cities like Birmingham and Manchester. For now, our priority is to establish Junk in the UK. However, the idea of bringing its little sibling Puffy (the group’s cookie concept – a selection of which will be available at Junk Burger) is definitely tempting, but we’re taking it one step at a time This crossover allows us to introduce our customers to Puffy, but in a way that complements rather than overshadows the core Junk experience.” The founders said the group is also considering taking Junk Burger to cities like Copenhagen, Barcelona, Berlin and Tokyo and is also targeting expansion in the US and Middle East. However, it specifically targeted the UK for its first international venture. “The UK has always been a market that inspires and excites,” they said. “After establishing ourselves successfully in France, the first country that naturally comes to mind is England. The UK is a dynamic and diverse country with a rich food culture, and its vibrant cities offer endless opportunities for growth. The British market is known for embracing new and innovative concepts, making it an ideal environment for expanding our business. We believe the UK is the perfect next step for us, and we’re excited about the possibilities it holds.”

 

Greene King to pilot new experience-led dining concept called HighTales: Brewer and retailer Greene King is to pilot a new experience-led dining concept called HighTales later this autumn, which is part of the company’s long-term investment strategy to create a balanced portfolio of brands. The pilot site is set to launch on a former Hungry Horse site in Stoke-on-Trent, offering a series of experiential zones to cater for all day, everyday occasions, with an extensive programme of events including table football, comedy gigs, pop-up cinemas and live music. The new all-day menu will feature pub classics from burgers and toasties to foot-long pizzas, as well as items more suited to specific times of the day and days of the week. The company said HighTales has a “future pipeline of multiple sites across the UK”. Nuala Gallagher, brand director at HighTales, added: “We’re excited to have officially started our journey in bringing what we believe will be an exciting new brand, unique to anything we have offered before, to our customers. We pride ourselves in delivering the very best experience-led dining concept. Whether that’s memorable family meal times or enjoying food and drinks with friends, HighTales will go that one step further to provide everyday escapism and guarantee an experience that ticks every box.” A new report has been produced by Propel on the fast-growing experiential leisure sector. 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 180 companies, 3,500 sites and a 35,000-word report. The report was made available last week to Premium Club members. 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.

 

Comptoir Group chair – we must ensure we have the right platform in place before we can accelerate growth: Jean-Michel Orieux, non-executive chair of Comptoir Group, the owner of the Comptoir Libanais and Shawa brands, has said the company must “solidify our business and ensure we have the right platform in place before we can accelerate our growth”. It comes after the 29-strong business reported a solid first half “against a backdrop of sector volatility”, with like-for-like revenue growth in its equity sites of 0.9% and an increase in gross profit. Orieux, who became the group’s chair in June, said: “The group maintains a cash balance of £4.9m at the half year after our significant investments, which provides us with a platform from which we can continue our ongoing work to solidify the foundations of the business before moving on to revisiting our growth plans. Following these investments, we remain focused on protecting and growing our cash position through improved profitability from our restaurants and careful cost management. The half-year outturn is set against a backdrop of wider uncontrollable and adverse factors, which continued through the first half year of 2024, namely the ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty caused by the cost-of-living crisis, its impact on people’s disposable income and the recent years of national minimum wage growth. We continue to address underperforming restaurants and will take the appropriate action with these, and our cost base overall. We remain optimistic about the longer-term prospects of the group, given our unique offering, our teams, the balance of our portfolio, our brands, the mix of equity and franchised stores and obsession with creating a casual relaxed family orientated dining experience. However, we must solidify our business and ensure we have the right platform in place before we can accelerate our growth.”

 

Soul Foods opens first Taco Bell in east Lancashire: Large scale franchisee Soul Foods has opened the first Taco Bell in east Lancashire. The business, which operates more than 400 KFC, Starbucks and Taco Bell sites globally, has opened the store at the Pioneer Place development in Burnley. “Hundreds through the door! Long may it continue for one of our UK franchise partners, Soul Foods Group, as it opens Burnley to huge crowds,” Taco Bell UK posted to social media. Soul Foods is among the top three largest franchisees of KFC and Starbucks in its chosen markets, and its recent expansion has focused on Canada. In May, it opened Taco Bell’s first fully digital restaurant, in the Canadian city of Toronto.

 

Odeon reports slight footfall drop in 2023 as turnover increases to £210.2m, average ticket price down and F&B spend per person up: AMC-owned Odeon Cinemas Group, Europe’s largest cinema operator, has reported a slight drop in footfall in 2023, with average ticket price down and food and beverage spend per person up. In a UK market attendance of 123.6 million across the year (up from 117 million in 2022), Odeon had 14,777,706 people attend its 105 cinemas, compared with 14,968,245 in 2022. The company said the whole industry was impacted by the Writers Guild strike towards the end of 2023, leading to delays in several major film releases. Average ticket price was down from £7.95 in 2022 to £7.89, while average food and beverage spend per person was up from £3.46 to £4.11. Turnover for the year ending 31 December 2023 was up from £202,851,000 in 2022 to £210,213,000. However, revenue was still down on the £246,425,000 for the year ending 31 December 2019 – the last full year before the pandemic. Of the 2023 turnover, £124,404,000 came from admissions (2022: £119,007,000), £61,155,000 from food and drink (2022: £53,944,000) and £9,827,000 from screen advertising (2022: £8,975,000). Pre-tax losses widened from £30,769,000 in 2022 to £47,590,000. The company reported an exceptional items loss of £26,855,000 (2022: £7,407,000). These included a net charge relating to the impairment of assets (£18,737,00) and a revised onerous lease provision (£5,817,000). Shareholders’ funds at year end were £31.6m (2022: £90.7m). “As business volumes and revenues in 2023 responded to improving market conditions, the business continued investment in the estate,” director Neil Williams said. “In terms of asset additions, £11.8m was invested in existing sites, other revenue-generating projects and in capital maintenance of the estate. Cinema remains relatively inexpensive compared with other out-of-home leisure options. Indeed, in the post-pandemic period, audiences have returned to cinemas in large numbers when significant films have been released; and they continue to do so, despite these cost-of-living pressures. The UK group will continue to invest in its existing portfolio of sites and seek new opportunities.” No dividend was paid (2022: nil). 

 

Boparan to bring Slim Chickens to London’s The O2: Boparan Restaurant Group, the owner of the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Carluccio’s and Giraffe brands, is to bring Slim Chickens to The O2 in London. The restaurant, the brand’s 54th in the UK, will open tomorrow (Thursday, 19 September). The restaurant will be able to accommodate more than 90 diners and will create 70 jobs.

 

Urban Pubs & Bars reopens former Juno Rooms in the City as The Wren Tavern: Urban Pubs & Bars, the London pub operator founded by Malc Heap and Nick Pring and backed by Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual, has reopened its former Juno Rooms site in the City of London as The Wren Tavern. The Watling Street pub also features an exclusive whiskey lounge and a speakeasy cocktail bar called 5cc in the basement. The whiskey vault room, in association with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, includes lockers so guests can purchase bottles of personalised whiskey, as well as book whiskey tastings and mixology masterclasses. An Urban Pubs & Bars spokesman said: “When Sir Christopher Wren designed St Paul’s Cathedral, his plans were made in Watling Street. His workers lived, ate and spent their time in this street too. In a tribute to the man himself, The Wren Tavern brings the best of traditions to a city pub environment.” The pub’s menu offers fresh sandwiches and bar snacks such as oysters with lemon during the day, and steak in the evening. Last month, Propel exclusively revealed Urban Pubs & Bars had acquired 11 sites from the portfolio of London pubs formerly operated by Antic, which was placed into administration in July.

 

Pizza Hut launches lunchtime meal deal starting at £3.99: Pizza Hut has launched a lunchtime meal deal, for delivery and collection from 11am-4pm Monday to Friday, starting at £3.99. It offers six different options, ranging in price up to £7.99, and can be upgraded with a 500ml drink for an additional £1. The Pizza Lunch Meal for One, starting from £3.99, offers a nine-inch pizza with two toppings and half a classic side. The Melts Lunch Meal for One, starting from £4.99, offers “filling-packed” melts plus half a classic side. And the Sides Lunch Meal for One, starting from £6.99, offers any two full-sized sides. The deals are available across UK Delivery Pizza Huts (excluding restaurants) for delivery and collection. Jana Ulaite, Pizza Hut’s chief marketing officer, said: “Lunch and pizza is a winning combination, so we are excited to offer these exclusive deals to make lunches both affordable and delicious.”

 

Singaporean hotel group secures £310m refinance of UK portfolio: Singaporean hotel owner ProsperCap has secured a £310m refinancing of its UK portfolio. The group, backed by DTGO Corporation, has a portfolio of 17 hotels across regional cities including Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Leeds and Bristol. Each is under the international hotel brands of either Hilton, IHG and Marriott. Arranged by Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, the new facilities comprise a term loan of up to £296.04m and a capex loan facility of up to £13.96m. The proceeds will be used to refinance the group’s existing facilities, pay for transaction costs, budgeted capital expenditure and general corporate purposes such as working capital requirements. ProsperCap said its UK properties are experiencing a robust demand coupled with an ongoing tourism recovery from overseas. Chief executive Iqbal Jumabhoy said: “With the new committed credit facilities, the group is now able to capitalise on opportunities made available by the current market momentum. Resources will be allocated to continue with our property improvement plans as agreed with our franchisors, as well as capacity expansion and room refurbishment to sustain hotel competitiveness and to meet the evolving expectations of our guests.”

 

Barons Pub Company FY turnover nears record £20m: Barons Pub Company, the Surrey operator, saw turnover in the 12 months to 30 September 2023 climb to a record £19,962,756 (2022: £18,364,961), in what it said was “another challenging but successful year”. The 11-strong company, which was named Greene King Pub Partners best multiple operator for the third year in a row earlier this year, saw pre-tax profit increase from £234,933 to £308,870. The company said: “There have been many cost price challenges with upward pressure most notably on labour, energy and food and drink. We have responded by passing on a fair amount of this cost on to the customer by way of increased prices for our food and drink, which has helped us maintain margin. Again, there has been significant increase to the government minimum wage, both during the financial year and beyond (in excess of 10%) meaning that wage costs have continued to increase. We continue to focus on rotas and labour control to manage this significant cost. Our teams remain focused on our goal of operational excellence and our continued success depends on our ability to give our customers excellent, consistent service. Our pubs and cafe are very well maintained and the investment we have made in improving our facilities over the years has helped us to reach a new record of net turnover of just under £20m in this financial year.”

 

Coffi Lab to make Bristol debut: Coffi Lab, the dog-friendly coffee shop concept that was launched in 2021 by Coffee#1 founder James Shapland, has secured its tenth site and first in Bristol. The company has acquired a site at 317 Gloucester Road, in the Horfield area of the city, for an opening later this year. In June, Shapland told Propel that its sites are busier than ever, with double digit comparable store sales growth, as it closed in on two additions to its opening pipeline. He said: “We have several exciting openings planned over the next 12 months. It’s nice to have ‘Labs’ ten and 11 in legals before we turn three years old.” Shapland, who previously founded Coffee#1 in 2000 before selling it 11 years later to SA Brain, also told Propel he has a long-term target of 50 Coffi Labs over the next five years. Owen Cahill, of EJ Hales, acts for Coffi Lab.

 

Simon Rimmer closes remaining Greens site: Chef Simon Rimmer’s remaining Greens restaurant in Sale has closed with “immediate effect”. The closure of the Stanley Square site comes just eight months after the original Greens vegetarian restaurant in West Didsbury shut. Greens has been trading in Greater Manchester for the past 33 years and was seen as a trailblazer in the food world for its vegan and vegetarian offerings. The business was the brainchild of Rimmer and his business partner, Simon Connolly. The duo opened Greens in West Didsbury in 1990 and in Sale in the summer of 2022. The company said: “It is with deep regret that the board of directors and shareholders have decided to close the doors permanently of Greens Sale with immediate effect. We’ve done everything possible to make this work, but it is now clear the business is untenable.”

 

Country Village Inns opens eighth site as it expands Robinsons partnership: Country Village Inns, which operates a collection of pubs in and around the Lake District, has opened its eighth site as it expands its partnership with north west brewer and retailer Robinsons. The Bridge End in Llangollen, owned by Robinsons and run by Country Village Inns, has reopened following a refurbishment, including an improved function room and eight newly designed dog friendly bedrooms. The Bridge End is Country Village Inns’ fifth pub partnership with Robinsons – joining the Pooley Bridge in Pooley Bridge, the Red Dragon in Kirkby Lonsdale, the Queen’s Head near Penrith and the newly acquired Royal Oak in Garston, Lancashire. It is also Country Village Inns’ second Welsh pub and first in North Wales. Mat Cooper, managing director of Country Village Inns, said: “When the opportunity at the Bridge End opened up, I jumped at the chance, particularly knowing it was due a refurbishment. It’s such a beautiful building and in a prime part of town. We love taking on pubs ready for a new lease of life and putting them back in the heart of their communities.” In May, Robinsons said it had made a “significant” increase in its investment spend with its business partners, supporting nine sites in the first three months of 2024 – with a £1.6m spend representing a three-fold increase on 2023 levels.

 

London co-living and guesthouse business set to open third site and largest yet, secures two further locations and eyes future growth beyond capital: London co-living and guesthouse business Mason & Fifth is set to open its third site and largest yet, Taxi House, on the Grand Union Canal in Westbourne Park. Owned by alternative investment manager Cheyne Capital, Taxi House is a mixed-use redevelopment of the former London Taxi Drivers’ Association headquarters. Works are due to be completed in June 2025, with bookings open from January 2025. It will consist of 332 private studios and will also feature a new canal-side all-day dining concept, a wellness studio and a tenth-floor lounge and terrace with a cinema and listening lounge, as well as a pop-up retail space. Mason & Fifth, which launched in 2020, is also lining up two more London openings and is eyeing future growth beyond the capital. Co-founder David Silver said: “We are thrilled to have been selected to operate this ‘jewel-in-the-crown’ project and bring our signature home-away-from-home ethos to Taxi House. This will be our third and largest site to date, with schemes in Belsize Park and east London to follow, as we continue to grow our London portfolio and explore opportunities further afield.”

 

Basque cheesecake operator secures second London site: Basque cheesecake operator La Maritxu has secured the site for a second London location. It has signed a deal with landlord Shaftesbury Capital for a 271 square-foot café at 10 Kingly Street, adjacent to the entrance of Soho food hub, Kingly Court. It joins the company’s other London location, at 12 Connaught Street. Originating in San Sebastian in 2021, La Maritxu specialises in Basque cheesecakes, which are baked at a high temperature “to produce a caramelised exterior and a rich, creamy centre”. The store will serve a menu of single slices as well as eight and ten-inch cakes, alongside coffee and brand merchandise. Founder Lucia Larragoiti Fisher said: “Our passion has always been focused on delivering a genuine and authentic Basque product, and this site provides an amazing opportunity to take La Maritxu’s brand story further, as we continue to build our presence in London, alongside the iconic Carnaby Street. We’ve nurtured a strong following across social media since opening our first location and are ready to replicate this success within Soho.”