Ellen Chew open to rolling out smaller cafe versions of her new Singaporean restaurant, third Shan Shui set to be new concept: Singaporean restaurateur Ellen Chew has told Propel she is open to rolling out smaller café versions of her new Singaporean restaurant, and that her third Shan Shui location will be a new concept. Chew, who is behind the 11-strong Chew on This restaurant group, launched Singapulah in February, in London’s Chinatown – with the support of Singaporean government agency, Enterprise Singapore. As well as showcasing Singaporean cuisine, it also uses the restaurant to highlight everything from ingredients to crockery from the country. “It was intended to be a one off as it comes from a place close to the heart, but we’ve had a lot of enquiries and may consider a smaller version of Singapulah in the future, a café style format,” Chew said. “When we went with the idea to Enterprise Singapore, the person in charge there was due to retire but was so excited by the project they delayed their retirement so they could see this through. They said they were always interested in doing something like this but didn’t know how to approach the market – it showcases Singapore as a whole. We’ve also seen a change in customer demographic in the restaurant from being purely Singaporean at first – we’ve seen a big spike in Hong Kong customers, for example.” As well as Singapulah and Rasa Sayang in Chinatown, Chew on This has three Mrs Chew’s and two Shan Shui sites, as well as two each with partners brands Arome and Lobos. Chew told Propel last year that she was planning a third Shan Shui site, in London’s Victoria, and is also looking to expand Mrs Chew’s. “In the spring, we will be launching the Shan Shui Social concept, to cater for the Central London market – a younger crowd, a bit more down to earth and a lot more fun,” she said. “We launched Shan Shui in Bicester because I like to shop there but struggled to find somewhere to eat, so it was a no-brainer. That was our first site outside London, and Shan Shui Heathrow was our first travel hub site. We want to do more of them – they could be a quick service restaurant or cafe – and we’re looking at more regional locations. We’re looking to expand Mrs Chew’s by opening in smaller spaces and have had enquiries from the Middle East too. We have plans to expand Arome and Lobos as well – the team is ready to go to the next step. Having a central kitchen makes it easier to expand outside of London and de-skills complicated processes like creating proper Cantonese roasted duck.” 

 

Sponsored message – ensure financial resilience before April’s cost pressures hit: The autumn Budget has created significant financial pressures for the hospitality sector, with cost increases set to take effect in April. Rising payroll expenses, increased contributions and reduced financial relief are set to compound existing challenges, such as energy price hikes and supplier fee increases. For many hospitality businesses, these changes will leave already-tight margins under even greater strain. Samantha Vassallo, Entegra’s restaurant sector lead, said: “To stay ahead of these challenges, taking proactive steps to uncover hidden savings is essential. The SpendSmart Audit, powered by Entegra, the world’s largest food group purchasing organisation, is designed to do just that. This complimentary one-day session goes beyond food and beverage costs, identifying overlooked efficiencies across your entire operations – not just your bar and kitchen. On average, hospitality businesses save up to 10% across indirect expenditure such as utilities, cleaning and hygiene supplies, waste management and uniforms and textiles. We offer tailored, data-driven recommendations that ensure businesses are financially robust and prepared for April and beyond. With rising costs imminent, ensuring financial resilience has never been more critical. The SpendSmart Audit is free, with no commitments – just actionable insights tailored to your business and your supply chain.” To find out more, register here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Propel 500 report – 2025 could see a flurry of M&A activity, argues Propel group editor Mark Wingett: There are many companies at the higher end of the Propel 500 list that will be in a position to acquire smaller businesses facing financing challenges this year, writes Propel group editor Mark Wingett in the introduction to the Propel 500 report – which showcases the UK’s 500 leading hospitality operators ranked by turnover. This is just one article in a report that is delivered in two parts: an introductory PDF, featuring deep dives into the top 25 companies and 6,500 words of insight from Propel’s expert writers, and a fully searchable Excel sheet, offering easy access to all the data. Together, the Propel 500 companies generate more than £30bn in turnover across 51,000 sites, and the report spans seven key segments: pubs and bars, hotels, quick service restaurants (QSR), casual dining, cafe and bakery, experiential leisure and fine dining. A list of these operators can be discovered now by visiting the Propel 500 page on Propel’s website. This comprehensive report provides more than 90,000 words of analysis, delving into company histories, leadership structures, site numbers and financial performance, making it an essential resource for industry professionals. Further analysis includes Tim Street’s view of the UK’s franchise market and Phil Pemberton’s insights into experiential leisure as a hospitality cornerstone. Katherine Doggrell examines developments in UK hotels, while Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, identifies emerging growth sectors, and Maria Vanifatova, founder of Meaningful Vision, analyses trends in QSRs. Propel 500 is available now for £595 plus VAT. Existing Premium Club members can purchase it for £395 plus VAT. Premium Club members will receive the report for free on Friday, 28 February at 9am. Order the Propel 500 report today by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com. 

 

Discover tactics to transform marketing strategies so they gain national impact at Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Discover tactics to transform marketing strategies so they gain national impact at the Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Andrew Gallagher, brand and marketing director at Greene King, will discuss its shift from local to national marketing strategies, uncovering essential tactics to enhance a brand’s visibility and effectiveness on a larger scale. Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit is returning for its seventh edition, and tickets are now on sale. The event is a partnership between Propel and Think Hospitality, aiming to build a community, promote the sharing of ideas, recognise talent and define the future of eating out. Bookings are now open for the two-day conference as the centrepiece of the January event series, taking place on 21 and 22 January at One Moorgate Place in London. The conference will focus on technology, marcomms strategies, proposition, brand building, the latest market insights, digital developments and diversification of revenue streams. It is designed for customer-focused chief executives, marketers, technology and innovation teams, as well as investors wanting to better understand the latest marketing, innovation and development opportunities to build market share and grow. For the full speaker schedule, click here. A one-day ticket for operators is £320 plus VAT while a two-day ticket is £575 plus VAT. Supplier tickets are £420 plus VAT for one day and £725 plus VAT for two. Propel Premium Club members receive a 20% discount. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

CAMRA calls for new government fund for community groups looking to take over local pub ownership: The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has called for a new government fund for community groups looking to take over ownership of their local pub. A previous such arrangement, The Community Ownership Fund, came to an end just before Christmas, when Downing Street announced that a final round of money had been awarded to successful bidders, including eight community pubs. These were The Old Neighbourhood in Chalford Hill, Gloucestershire; The Rectory in Chesterfield; The Fox Inn in Little Ryton, Shropshire; The Crown Inn in Newcastle on Clun, Shropshire; The Kings Arms in Cleeve Prior, Worcestershire; The Punch Bowl Inn in Burton in Lonsdale, North Yorkshire; Tafarn y Plu in Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd; and The Swan on the Green in West Peckham, Kent. The fund will be replaced by a new Community Right to Buy (CrtB), but CAMRA wants to see this accompanied by access to funding and guidance. Paul Ainsworth, chair of CAMRA’s planning advisory group, said: “There are now more than 200 community-owned pubs in the country, and this has proved to be a remarkably successful model. A CRtB for local assets like pubs that are under threat of closure or conversion is very welcome and set to be a gamechanger for local people wanting to save their pub. However, it is vital that groups of local people can also access advice, support and funding, to help make sure bids to take over pubs as community-owned businesses can be successful.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a private members’ club in London that is seeking an experienced head of investment with strong family office relationships to lead its fundraising efforts. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This is an opportunity to work with high net-worth individuals and family offices across the UK, US, Europe and the Middle East, raising capital for a growing business. The right head of investment candidate will have experience and proven track record in successfully raising capital and fostering relationships.” The salary is up to £165,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email cemma@corecruitment.com.

 

Yorkshire dessert bar concept sets target of 50 sites by 2027: Yorkshire dessert bar operator Rassams Creamery has set a target of 50 sites by the end of 2027. The seven-strong business, founded in 2012 by Rassam Ali, currently has five sites within Sheffield plus one each in Wakefield and Beeston. Rassams is seeking leasehold only locations, with a ground floor size of 3,000 to 5,000 square feet, on major arterial roads, stand-alones or on retail parks, on the edges of cities and towns. Target areas include Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Barnsley, Doncaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Glossop, Rotherham, Chesterfield, Mansfield and Leicester. Ali said: “Since 2012, Rassams has opened several vibrant stores, catering to a wide range of customer demographics. With seven units already trading across Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, Rassams is now looking to expand its successful property profile. Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to expand Rassams Creamery further across the UK and beyond. Our goal is to reach 50 branches by the end of 2027, all while maintaining the exceptional quality our customers expect.” Last month, Propel revealed that Rassams is lining up its overseas debut with a site in Nairobi, Kenya. Rassams features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, the latest edition of which was sent to Premium Club members last month, featuring 50 new entries and now has a total of 330. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

 

Tonkotsu hires Polly Barnes as new operations director, hopes to add three sites this year: Tonkotsu, which is backed by YFM Equity Partners and chaired by Sarah Willingham, has hired Polly Barnes as its new operations director, as it hopes to add three more sites to its 18-strong estate this year. Barnes joins Tonkotsu with more than two decades of experience in the hospitality industry. She spent seven years as operations director at Darwin & Wallace and also spent five years as head of training with The Restaurant Group-owned Wagamama, before she moved on to Canteen and then Byron as a regional operations manager. Tonkotsu said: “Polly is well-known in the industry for her exceptional leadership and results-driven approach. With a successful track record in developing high-performing teams and delivering operational excellence, Polly’s role will focus on enhancing Tonkotsu’s customer experience and supporting the company’s ambitious expansion plans.” The company told Propel that it hoped to add three more openings to its estate in 2025, “if we can get the right locations”, and that it had seen “strong like-for-likes” across festive trading, “which continues into January”. Emma Reynolds, co-founder of Tonkotsu, said: “We are very happy indeed to welcome Polly to the Tonkotsu family. Her experience and genuine passion for hospitality will be instrumental in helping us grow as we look to grow our presence and share our love of ramen even further across the UK.” Last September, the company opened in Bristol’s Baldwin Street for what was the brand’s third restaurant outside of London, joining locations at Selfridges Birmingham and Brighton. 

 

Amber Taverns set to open most southerly site: Wet-led, community pub operator Amber Taverns, which is backed by Epiris, is set to open its most southerly site, in the Hampshire town of Gosport. Amber, which operates circa 180 freehold, wet-led pubs, predominantly in the north of England, the Midlands, Scotland and Wales, has secured planning permission to change the use of the former Conservative Club at 2 Walpole Road into a pub. Last October, James Baer, chief executive of Amber Taverns, told Propel the company would look to expand its geographical reach after being acquired by Epiris, the private equity backer of Big Table Group, for an undisclosed sum. He said: “We’re still looking to open between 15 and 20 sites a year because it’s about finding the right sites. What we will look to do is expand geographically, and we’ve made an offer for a site on the south coast.” 

 

Caprinos launches its largest site yet for third overseas location: Pizza franchise Caprinos has opened its largest site yet for its third overseas location. The site, in the Johar Town region of Lahore in Pakistan, is also the 104th Caprinos location globally. The company’s first overseas site launched in October 2023, in the DHA Lahore development in Lahore, and it returned to the Pubjabi capital in September 2024 for an opening in the city’s Gulberg region. “We’re thrilled to announce the opening of our first branch of the new year, in Lahore, Pakistan,” said co-founder Khalil Rehman. “This marks our third branch in Pakistan and proudly stands as our largest outlet to date. A huge congratulations to our incredible team in Pakistan for making this remarkable milestone possible.” Rehman founded the business with Gul Mawaz in Didcot, Oxfordshire, in 2014.

 

Boparan Restaurant Group to bring Slim Chickens to Bridgend for first opening of 2025: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), the owner of the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Carluccio’s and Giraffe brands, is to bring US brand Slim Chickens to Bridgend, in South Wales, for its first opening of 2025. The restaurant, which will seat more than 145 guests, will open at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet next month for the brand’s 62nd UK site. BRG first introduced Slim Chickens into the UK in 2018 with an opening in St James Street in London’s Marylebone.

 

Heavenly Desserts to kick off ‘strong pipeline’ of openings in 2025 with Middlesbrough and West Midlands launches: Artisan dessert restaurant Heavenly Desserts is set to kick off a “strong pipeline” of openings in 2025 with launches in Middlesbrough and Merry Hill in the West Midlands. The exact locations have not yet been revealed, but both stores are currently in build with a view to opening in the coming months. Heavenly Desserts currently has 58 UK locations plus a single overseas site in Mississauga, Canada. “We have a strong pipeline planned for 2025, with two stores currently in build,” said co-founder Mohammed Imran. “Heavenly Desserts Middlesbrough will be opening in February, followed by Merry Hill.” Heavenly Desserts has set a long-term target of up to 250 UK sites and is aiming to grow to 100 locations by the end of 2026. The brand is also lining up further international openings – in Pakistan, Indian and Germany – alongside further expansion in Canada.

 

Urban Pubs & Bars paid £1.25m for ex-East London Pub Co site: Urban Pubs & Bars, the London pub operator founded by Malc Heap and Nick Pring and backed by Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual, paid £1.25m to acquire The Gun in London’s Spitalfields out of administration, Propel has learned. East London Pub Company, which was founded by Patrick Frawley with the launch of its first pub, the Ten Bells in Spitalfields Market, in 2014, was placed into administration in 2023, with Sarah Rayment and Janet Burt, of Kroll Advisory, appointed as joint administrators. Savills, on behalf of the joint administrators of East London Pub Company and Lock Tavern, was marketing the disposals of its four London properties: the freeholds of The Lock Tavern in Camden and The Saxon in Clapham, as well as the leaseholds of The Gun and The Ten Bells, which is also in Spitalfields Market. Last summer, Propel revealed that McMullens had acquired the Lock Tavern in Chalk Farm Road for £6,278,694. The owners of the Rose & Crown in Clapham, Polygon Pub, acquired The Saxon for £2m. South London craft beer brewer London Beer Factory acquired The Ten Bells for £900,000. At the start of this year, Propel revealed that Albion & East, the Imbiba-backed London bar group led by Sarah Weir, had sold Martello Hall in Mare Street, Hackney, to Urban, which currently operates 52 sites across the capital. Last month, Urban reopened the Clapton Hart in London’s Hackney – one of the former Antic Pubs sites it acquired in August.

 

US coffee brand Blank Street confirms debut site in Scotland: US coffee brand Blank Street Coffee has confirmed it will make its debut in Scotland, in Edinburgh. As revealed by Propel last autumn, the brand, which is closing in on the 40-site mark in the UK, will open at 5 India Buildings, in Victoria Street, in the city’s Old Town. In October, Propel revealed that Blank Street had lined up two sites in Edinburgh, with the company also set to open on the former Ernest Jones jewellery shop on the corner of Princes Street. Blank Street has also lined up a site in Glasgow, as it looks to build its opening pipeline in Scotland. The brand plans to open on the former Black & Lizars site at 42 Gordon Street, near Glasgow Central station. Last year, Issam Freiha, co-founder of Blank Street Coffee, said the UK market was a driving force of the company’s overall growth strategy. Freiha founded the business in New York in 2020 with Vinay Menda. The brand currently operates circa 50 sites in New York City plus outposts in Boston and Washington DC. Blank Street launched in the UK in 2022, in London, and now operates 31 sites in the capital, three in Manchester and two in Birmingham. Propel understands Cardiff and Leeds are also on Blank Street’s radar for future openings.

 

Camberwell Arms and Adventure Bar Group founders to launch new venue at London’s Somerset House: James Dye, founder of Franks Café and the Camberwell Arms, along with Thomas Kidd, co-founder of the Adventure Bar Group, and Paul Smyth, co-founder of Mission Kitchen, are to open a new venue at London’s Somerset House. Setlist 1547 will be a new food, music and arts venue that will launch this spring. Projected to turnover in excess of £2.5m per annum, the venue, which is understood to have already secured investment from “a number of industry veterans”, will feature interactive art installations, a bar and kitchen and live entertainment programme.

 

Cycas Hospitality names chief operating officer for the UK, Ireland, Netherlands and Portugal: European hotel operator Cycas Hospitality has promoted Philip Steiner to chief operating officer for the UK, Ireland, Netherlands and Portugal. Steiner, who joined Cycas in 2018, brings a wealth of experience from roles including general manager at London's Bankside Hotel, part of the Marriott Autograph Collection. He said: “Stepping into this new executive leadership role presents an exciting opportunity to support Cycas' continued growth and success across the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Portugal. My journey with Cycas has been incredibly rewarding, and I am excited to work with our talented teams to deliver exceptional experiences for our guests and partners.” Chief executive Matt Luscombe added: “Philip has delivered outstanding results at every stage of his career, demonstrating a remarkable talent for navigating diverse challenges and consistently finding ways to succeed. I’m looking forward to seeing him apply his exceptional energy, experience, creativity, and leadership skills to an even broader portfolio of our hotels in this new role.” Cycas operates 18 hotels in the UK.

 

Gong Cha to make Northern Ireland debut this month: Gong Cha, the fast-growing bubble tea brand headquartered in the UK, will open its first store in Northern Ireland later this month. The brand, which operates more than 2,000 stores across the globe, currently has 14 UK locations, including four in Manchester and two in London. Gong Cha will add to this on Friday, 28 January with a launch at 66-68 Botanic Avenue in Belfast. Gong Cha has a long-term ambition for 10,000 stores worldwide, including 500 in the UK. Last year, Gong Cha’s UK & Ireland development director, Justin Goes, told Propel it was relaunching its franchise programme and looking to bring more franchisees on board to help it realise its ambitious expansion plans here. He said its current master franchisee had a “ceiling of about 20” and was so Gong Cha was looking to “continue our development through a direct franchising model with other multi-site operators”. The brand has since opened new locations in Bristol and Birmingham.

 

Franchisee who operates the UK’s first McDonald’s sees turnover increase and losses narrow: A franchisee who operates the UK’s first McDonald’s restaurant saw his company’s turnover increase and losses narrow in the year to 31 December 2023. Taimoor Sheikh is the current franchisee of the restaurant at 56-58 Powis Street in Woolwich, south east London, which made history when it opened in November 1974. The site is one of nine McDonald’s restaurants Sheikh operates in south east London under his Milestone Restaurants business, which he founded in 2008. During the year, the company’s turnover grew 13.7% from £37,170,575 to £42,277,508, while pre-tax losses narrowed from £1,661,989 to £349,526. Sheikh said. “The growth in sales is predominantly due to the incremental price rises made during the year. The gross profit margin is 65.12% compared with 64.02% in 2022 and is in line with expectations. As a result of the 2023 menu and marketing strategy, alongside the execution of incremental price rises, the company has seen increased sales growth as the company continues to operate against the backdrop of significant macroeconomic challenges. Despite the net current liabilities position, and a fall in net assets from £519,000 in 2022 to £75,000 in 2023, the strength of the business remains strong.” Post year-end, in November 2024, the Woolwich restaurant celebrated its 50th anniversary. “We are incredibly proud to celebrate 50 years of McDonald’s Woolwich,” Sheikh said at the time. “This milestone is a testament to the loyalty and support of our customers, as well as the hard work and dedication of our team in what was the UK’s very first McDonald’s restaurant, and we look forward to many more years of creating memorable experiences together.”

 

Molo Hotels sees 18% increase in Ebitda, ‘providing some relief from increased costs of finance’: Hotel owner and developer Molo Hotels saw an 18% increase in Ebitda in the year to 31 December 2023, “providing some relief from the increased costs of finance”. The group, which operates seven hotels across the UK as well as two overseas, reported turnover of £22,786,000 for the year, up from £19,107,027 (all reported revenue is from UK operations). Pre-tax lossesalmost doubled from £357,619 in 2022 to £709,971. Government grants of £4,191 were received (2022: nil). No dividends were paid (2022: nil). “As with the rest of the hospitality industry, the recovery from the covid-19 pandemic continues, though other challenges have arisen in the year, including the impact of rises in interest rates and power costs,” said director Alwyn Richard Whitehead. “Despite this, group Ebitda has increased by 18%, providing some relief from the increased costs of finance.” Post year-end, Molo launched The Reach at Piccadilly in Manchester, a Marriott Tribute hotel, and signed for a deal for three resorts in the Turks & Caicos Islands, due to open in 2026 and 2027.

 

Golf club concept Pitch confirms Birmingham and Manchester sites: Golf club concept Pitch, which is the brainchild of friends and golf professionals Elliot Godfrey and Chris Ingham, has confirmed that it will open new sites in Birmingham and Manchester this year. Last October, Propel revealed that Pitch had entered a joint venture with England and Manchester United footballers Luke Shaw and Mason Mount to open a site in Manchester. This site will open in March in the city’s Goods Yard development and feature ten state-of-the-art simulator bays, a custom club-fitting bay, a “Trendygolf concept store” and shuffleboards. Pitch Manchester will be the home of the second “Trendygolf concept store” – which will open six days a week and will follow the first such store at Pitch’s new Canary Wharf location – set to open later this month. Godfrey said: “When we began the process of expanding beyond London, Manchester was one of the first places we set our sights on, and it’s fitting to open our innovative concept somewhere that has always striven to be at the forefront of development and progress.” The company will follow this up with an opening in Birmingham’s Colmore Square in April. The Birmingham site will feature eight state-of-the-art simulator bays and a custom club-fitting bay. The venue will also incorporate an academy, in partnership with Adidas, to help women get into the sport, and a premium space reserved exclusively for use by members and their guests. Last November, the company opened its first international site and first franchise site, in Dublin’s Dawson Street. Pitch, which launched in London’s Bishopsgate more than four years ago, plans to add another franchise location in Brighton and expand internationally from this year, with Australia and the US on its radar.

 

Tom Kitchin to close Kora restaurant in Edinburgh due to ‘current economic climate’: Tom Kitchin, Scotland’s youngest Michelin star winner, is to close his Kora by Tom Kitchin restaurant in Edinburgh, with the chef saying the current economic climate contributed to “this difficult decision”. The restaurant will close at the end of this month after two and a half years of trading, leaving the chef with his three other Scottish sites – Bonnie Badger, The Scran & Scallie and The Kitchin, which holds a Michelin star. Kitchin said: “We have made the very tough decision to wrap Kora up at the end of this month. Kora by Tom Kitchin has always been a restaurant that we felt really passionate about, and we are proud of the great food, service and experiences we have provided to our guests over the past few years. Our incredible team has really shown visitors to Edinburgh how incredible Scottish fare is and how proud we are to promote Scottish hospitality. We have every intention to bring the Kora concept back to Edinburgh one day, but there is no hiding that the current economic climate contribute to this difficult decision. We have no option but to exercise our lease break clause that is now due.”

 

South west restaurant operators to launch first accommodation offering: South west restaurant operators Tamara Costin and William Speed are set to launch their first accommodation offering. They will this spring open three en-suite bedrooms at Harbour House – the Michelin-listed venue they opened in the former Seven Stars pub in Flushing, Cornwall, in 2022. With views overlooking the Penryn River and port of Falmouth, the rooms will offer super king-size beds, large bathrooms and freshly baked treats. Meanwhile, Costin and Speed have revealed that the seaside restaurant in Falmouth they acquired last year, Hooked on the Rocks, will become their second Beach House. Opening in February on a clifftop site overlooking Swanpool Beach, Beach House Falmouth will offer sustainably sourced seafood such as crab and lobster caught just a few miles down the coast, plus Falmouth Bay scallops and daily fish specials from Newlyn market. DJs on the terrace are planned for the summer months, and there are further plans to extend the site, adding more covers including seating areas with floor-to-ceiling glass walls facing the beach. Costin and Speed opened the original Beach House in 2010, in South Milton Sands in Devon, and they also operate the School House restaurant in Mothecombe, also in Devon.

 

Liverpool bakery concept to expand to Manchester for third site: Liverpool bakery concept Pastille Bakery is set to expand to Manchester for its third site. The business, which has locations in Liverpool’s Gibraltar Row and Baltic Market, is gearing up to open in Manchester’s Trafford Centre. Founder Jamie Heffey opened both sites last year, having started the business from his kitchen. “This past year has been an incredible journey,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “The support from our community has been overwhelming and surpasses anything I could’ve ever had imagined. I’m excited to announce that we’ll soon be opening our third location, in the food court at Selfridges in the Trafford Centre. We look forward to what collaborations may lie ahead in the future.”

 

Kuro duo to convert third site into bagel shop: Julian Victoria and Jacob Van Nieuwkoop, the duo behind Kuro Coffee and Kuro Bakery in London’s Notting Hill, are converting their third site into a bagel shop. The former Kuro Eatery site at 5 Hillgate Street, also in Notting Hill, will reopen in late-January as Kuro Bagels, offering “high-quality artisan bagels to-go”, with delivery also available through Deliveroo. Focusing on seasonal, locally sourced and sustainable ingredients, its made-to-order and ready-filled bagels will include fillings such as The Smoked Salmon (smoked salmon with cream cheese, red onion, capers and dill), The Italian (mortadella, salami, provolone and zesty vinaigrette) and The Kuro Special (wasabi cream cheese, ikura, red onion and dil). Primarily a takeaway service, it will also have a 15-cover outdoor terrace open during warmer months. Van Nieuwkoop said: “Building on the success of the bakery, it made perfect sense to expand our range with the launch of bagels. We look forward to bringing a reimagined premium offering to our local community, with the Kuro twist that we are renowned for.” Kuro Coffee opened in 2021, followed by both Kuro Bakery and Kuro Eatery in 2022.