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Bread Ahead focusing on international growth as it eyes long-term estate of 1,000 sites globally, reports record-breaking Christmas: Independent bakery and baking school business Bread Ahead has told Propel it is focusing on international growth as it eyes a long-term estate of 1,000 sites globally. Founded in 2013 in London’s Borough Market by Matthew Jones, Bread Ahead grew to eight London locations (now six) and three in the Middle East, and at the end of last year, signed a franchise agreement to open an initial 15 bakeries and a bakery school in the Philippines. Jones is currently in the Middle East ahead of planned expansion there, where the initial growth will be focused. “Our partnership is now in full flow and growing at pace in Dubai, Jeddah and Riyadh – and I’m also doing some teaching when I’m out there as I still very much love teaching,” Jones told Propel. “The Middle East has been a game changer. It’s really enabled us to look forward and break out of our native markets, and we’re getting a lot of interest now from Asia. Having the exposure in prime locations like the Mall of the Emirates really does elevate the brand. We are standing toe to toe with other global brands like Arabica. We’re still actively looking for partners in Oman and Jordan, and globally, our focus for 2025 is on developing partnerships in Asia and India, with select European markets in the mix. In the UK, we’re very comfortable with the six we have, but we're always on the lookout for little hot spots. We do get a lot of inquiries but we’re taking our time to find the right locations. We’ve got a lot more focus at the moment on the international growth – we are looking at 35 sites in total in the Middle East over the next three to five years. We are actively in talks in South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. As a global operation, I’d like to see us with 1,000 locations long-term, which might seem crazy right now, but there are 200 cities that we could operate in – each, say, with five bakeries. So, do the math, as they say. It’s out there. It’s ready for us. We have the audience and we’re ready!” It comes on the back of a record Christmas for Bread Ahead, with sales 40% up on the previous year. Jones added. “We broke all records. It really was incredible.” Bread Ahead is also now taking in the second cohort for its academy, launched last May as a comprehensive six-month apprenticeship-style baking course. Jones added: “We are delighted with the success of the academy so far and we look forward to attracting more and more upcoming bakers to the fold. I’m very proud to be at the forefront of the baking movement in the UK. For me, it is important for us to represent the UK as a serious player on the global scene, a disrupter here to shake things up.” Bread Ahead 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. 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.

Industry News:

Dishoom co-founder to speak at first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, open for bookings: Dishoom co-founder Shamil Thakrar will be among the speakers at the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, which is open for bookings. Thakrar will talk to Propel group editor Mark Wingett about 15 years of the brand, how the business and his leadership has evolved, how it has kept the connection with employees and consumers relevant and strong, and how it plans to keep the “secret sauce” in the company as it looks to take it first steps internationally. The conference takes place on Thursday, 20 March, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London’s Kensington, and is open for bookings. Operators can book up to three free places per company while Premium subscribers who are operators can book up to four free places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

Premium Club members to receive updated Multi-Site Database this week, videos from Restaurant Marketer & Innovator on Friday, 7 February: Premium Club members are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database on Friday (31 January). The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,313 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 968 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 790 (23%) pub and bar operators, 566 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 460 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 271 (8%) hotel operators, 209 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 55 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 33 new companies. New additions to the pub and bar sector include East Street Pub Company, operating in south Devon, The Cat & Wickets Pub Company, founded by England cricketers Stuart Broad and Harry Gurney, and WH Pubs, with gastropubs in Kent. Premium Club members are to be given access to the entire recording of the 2025 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit Conference. Members will be sent 26 separate video presentations, featuring more than 60 speakers on Friday, 7 February, at 9am. Premium Club members also receive access to five additional databases: the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Clubs members will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including Excellence in Pub Retail (May 2025) and discounts on specialist sector reports such as the Propel 500. 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.

Punch CEO – there is a shift going on in how new generations view and use the pub: Andy Spencer, who took over as chief executive of the Fortress-backed, circa 1,350-strong Punch Pubs & Co in September, has told Propel there is “a shift going on” in how new generations view and use the pub, but its role in connecting people is ever more important. Spencer said: “We see people behaving differently. They still want to have a really great time, but they need a convincing reason to visit. They want experience. They want to feel engaged. They want to belong. We’re thinking about day parts, and we’re also thinking about no and low, as you’d expect. We are also absolutely clear the role of the community pub will continue to evolve, and in a world where loneliness is an issue and people seek physical connectivity, then the role of the pub is ever more important. Our job is to ensure we’re inspiring those moments where people feel a level of connection, involvement and belonging. And while they’re there, they may drink a pint of beer, a glass of lemonade or a zero-alcohol beer. That is all great, but the most important thing is we inspire those special moments and strive to delight every guest.” Spencer also said the company is seeing guests being more selective on when and how they spend their money. He said: “You see the shape of sales through the pay cycle changing as guests become more concerned about spending. They are spending on occasions; they’re spending around sport or entertainment or an activity. Amplifying those reasons is massively important. I am more focused on considering how we can win market share than where we can take price. The biggest opportunity is really thinking about how we can be the standout partnership business in the UK. What is it we can do differently to ensure that the very best people want to partner with us? We know to win, we need the best people, so our focus needs to be on what we can do differently now, or in 12-18 months’ time, which will ensure we are a brilliant partner and really enable the people we’re working with to succeed or flourish. That’s the big ticket.”

Company News:

German Doner Kebab launches first train station location: German Doner Kebab (GDK), owned by Hero Brands, has launched its first train station location. It has opened within the food terrace in London Victoria’s Victoria Place shopping centre, with takeaway via the GDK app and delivery. The outlet is the group’s 144th opening overall, and the 55th site in London, and is one of 28 restaurants it is planning to open in the UK this year. The site also serves GDK’s breakfast menu, including the Doner Egg Brioche and the Big Breakfast Wrap. GDK chief executive Simon Wallis said: “As one of London’s busiest stations, this is the perfect spot to reach a diverse group of customers who are looking for a quick and delicious meal while on the go. We’re immensely proud of the brand we have created and want to give a special thanks to our hard-working team across the country, and especially our franchise partners, as we gear up to celebrating our 150th opening.”

Fulham Shore hires Colin Berry as new CFO: Fulham Shore, the Toridoll and Capdesia-backed group behind Franco Manca and The Real Greek, has hired Colin Berry as its new chief financial officer, Propel has learned. Fulham Shore, which currently operates circa 70 Franco Manca and circa 30 The Real Greek sites, said that Berry brings extensive financial expertise, having held senior roles at Tesco, Prezzo, Bill's Restaurants, and most recently at URBN, the parent company of Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. Berry spent two and half years at Prezzo as its group financial controller, before just over a year and a half at Bill’s as its chief financial officer. He was most recently finance director – Europe at URBN for just over five years. Fulham Shore said his appointment marks the latest step in its ongoing leadership restructuring, positioning the business for a “new phase of growth and operational excellence”. Marcel Khan, chief executive of Fulham Shore, said: “Colin’s skills and experience are sure to be a key part as we continue our mission to bring brand love back to both Franco Manca and The Real Greek. This appointment takes our leadership team to a new level of strength as we drive the business forward.” Last month, Fulham Shore launched a new concept – Super Club Roma, which features crispy Roman-style pizza – in the former The Real Greek site in Westfield Stratford in London.

Vagabond reports record-breaking festive season with like-for-likes up 16.3%: Vagabond Wines, which was acquired out of administration by Majestic last year, has reported a record-breaking festive period, with like-for-like sales increasing 16.3% for the six weeks to 23 December 2024. The business said all nine of its locations across London and Birmingham reported strong growth in sales and visitor numbers as it hosted more corporate Christmas events than ever before. Sales for Vagabond’s Urban Winery doubled year-on-year during the period while food sales also grew strongly, rising 26.2%, buoyed by the addition of a new cheese fondue sharing platter to its winter menu. Vagabond served up more than 1,000 fondues every week throughout December alone and has kicked off 2025 by unveiling plans for an extensive refurbishment of its Battersea Power Station bar. The revamp forms part of Vagabond’s broader growth strategy to open new wine bars and invest in its existing estate. Vagabond Battersea will retain its open kitchen as well as its signature wine machines. The renovations will include the removal of Vagabond’s Urban Winery, which will be relocated to a new site in London later this year. The move allows Vagabond to increase covers in its Battersea venue from 112 to 156. The bar has closed and will reopen on Friday, 28 February. Vagabond managing director Christobell Giles said: “I am incredibly proud of the entire Vagabond team for delivering a record-breaking Christmas. We took more Christmas party bookings than ever before in a challenging hospitality market and introduced hundreds of new guests to our eclectic mix of wine and expert teams for the first time. We’re taking strong trading momentum and exciting growth plans into 2025, starting with the refurbishment of Vagabond Battersea. This is a significant investment in one of our most popular bars, underlining the confidence that we and our owners Majestic have in the future of experiential hospitality venues.” Propel revealed in May last year that Majestic paid a total consideration of £6.5m for Vagabond. The sites in London’s Battersea Power Station, Charlotte Street, Fulham, Monument, Northcote Road, Paddington, Shoreditch and Victoria, as well as its Birmingham outlet, were all included. Of the remaining sites, the two at Gatwick airport were sold to Airport Retail Enterprises in June, while the outlet in London’s Canary Wharf was closed.

Exclusive – Red Engine to invite guests to design its next game as it gears up for tenth birthday celebrations: Red Engine, the Flight Club and Electric Shuffle operator, is inviting its guests to design its next game as it gears up for its tenth birthday celebrations. Visitors to the 14 Flight Clubs in the UK – plus eight in the US and four in Australia through franchise partners – can already play six different interactive darts games, with its last new game being 2021’s Donkey Derby. Red Engine is now inviting ideas from guests for its seventh game, with the winning design to be developed by the in-house team and rolled out across all Flight Club venues globally. “It’s a blank canvas,” Ben Morris, Red Engine’s digital director, told Propel. “As long as it’s simple enough to understand and not too similar to what we have already. The competition runs to the end of next month and we’re hoping the game will land by the end of the year. People always come to us with ideas for games and we want to embrace that by collaborating with the Flight Club community to create something that they can all enjoy together. This isn’t just about designing a game; it’s about celebrating the incredible guests that have made Flight Club what it is today. We can't wait to see the entries that come in and ultimately bring one of them to life.” It comes as Red Engine, founded after Steve Moore and Paul Barham witnessed a group of youngsters going wild over a game of darts in a pub in Devon, marks “ten years of joy” since opening its first site, in London’s Shoreditch. “Reaching this ten-year milestone is a truly special moment for us,” said Moore. “It’s incredible to reflect on how far we’ve come since that initial spark of an idea in a Devon pub. We’re immensely proud of the impact Flight Club has had on the hospitality industry and the unexpected, ridiculous, joy it has brought to so many people. We look forward to continuing our journey of innovation, creating unforgettable experiences for our guests for many years to come.” The combined number of Flight Club and Electric Shuffle venues globally now stands at 32. Red Engine posted system sales of more than £100m in 2023, up 40% compared with 2022. Excluding franchise venues, Red Engine's sales reached £68.6m in 2023, up 27% on 2022, with like-for-like sales increasing 10%.

Bagel Factory opens site in London’s Kensington: Bagel Factory, which is owned by Cremonini Group, has opened a site in Kensington, west London. The company has launched the 502 square-foot site at Kensington Arcade, having agreed a deal with landlord AshbyCapital. Bagel Factory, which operates 34 sites, has joined Crussh, the food-to-go and juice bar business, which opened a 414 square-foot outlet last year. Meanwhile, at the nearby Wrights Arcade, coffee shop concept Treelogy has completed on a 143 square-foot kiosk for its second venue in the capital, adding to its outlet in Eastbourne Terrace in Paddington. Treelogy will join Bancone, the all-day fresh pasta concept led by Will Ellner and backed by David Ramsey and Jason Myers, which is opening a flagship 2,565 square-foot flagship restaurant for its fourth site. AshbyCapital was represented by Distrkt for the Bancone letting and Savills for the Treelogy, Bagel Factory and Crussh lettings.

Boparan Restaurant Group confirms its 21 ‘The Restaurant Hub’ outlets in Sainsbury’s supermarkets will remain open: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has confirmed its The Restaurant Hub outlets in Sainsbury’s supermarkets will remain open. Sainsbury’s last week said it plans to close its 61 remaining in-store cafes as part of a major restructure. It comes almost three years after Sainsbury’s shut 200 in-store cafes amid waning demand from shoppers. BRG has now said its The Restaurant Hub concept – which launched in July 2021 at Sainsbury’s Selly Oak and has since expanded to 20 other locations – is unaffected by the closures. The Restaurant Hub outlets feature the menus of BRG brands such as Caffè Carluccio’s, Slim Chickens, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Ed’s Easy Diner as well as Harry Ramsden’s, which is owned by Deep Blue Restaurants. BRG said the concept remains a key part of Sainsbury’s in-store offerings and continues to perform well across all sites. “Our collaboration with Sainsbury's is stronger than ever, and we are delighted to continue our operations of The Restaurant Hub concept,” said BRG chief executive Satnam Leihal. “Customers can still enjoy their favourite meals from our leading restaurant brands, whether they choose to dine in or take away.”

Reel – admissions up 18% on pre-covid, attempting to make movies a more event-driven experience, receives final £1.5m business interruption payment: Independent cinema operator Reel has said its admissions are up 18% on pre-covid and it is attempting to further increase footfall by making movie-going “a more event-driven experience”. The operator of 16 venues across the UK also said it has received the final £1.5m of a business interruption claim – bringing its total compensation for the closure of cinemas during covid-19 to £4.5m. In the company’s accounts for the year to 28 December 2023, it also said its new cinema in Burnley – having relocated from its former site in the town – has contributed positively to its operations and customer reach. Director Suman Suri said: “The directors believe it is time to move beyond referencing pre-covid box office figures. However, it is noteworthy the group achieved 18% more admissions in this period compared with 2019, and the average revenue per admission is also higher than it was in 2019. Similar to other operators, the group continued to face significant cost challenges. To mitigate energy costs, the group actively renegotiated its contracts to unlock savings. Initial investments have been made to transition part of the estate from digital to laser projectors, which are substantially more energy efficient, and will have a positive impact on operational costs in future years.” Despite the increase in admissions, Suri said factors such as a decrease in the number of movies on wide release since covid-19, and strikes by writers and actors, have “disrupted cinema-going habits”. He added: “The group is actively investing in strategies to adapt and thrive in this evolving landscape. We have tailored pricing strategies to meet the needs of local markets and curate a diverse selection of movies and food and beverage options to appeal to local preferences. Significant investments are being made (and are planned) to transform movie-going into an event-driven experience, with the aim of diversifying our revenue streams and enhancing the overall customer experience.” Since the year end, the company has opened a new cinema in Farnham, Surrey. Suri said: “Other opportunities are being actively sought, reflecting the group’s confidence in the resilience of the exhibition industry – albeit rooted in the belief that evolution of the model is critical for long-term survival.” The company’s turnover for the year was £13,909,593, up from £13,314,020 in 2022. Of this, £7,415,510 came from cinema sales (2022: £6,749,277), £4,584,641 from concessions (2022: £4,747,345) and £1,114,431 from sundry sales (2022: £1,074,351). Pre-tax profit fell from £2,454,860 to £307,800, although the 2022 figure included £3m from business interruption proceeds (2023: £1.5m). Government grants of £123,240 were received, the same as in 2022. No dividends were paid (2022: nil).

Sixes and Boxpark to team up at London’s Wembley: Sixes, the cricket-based competitive socialising brand, is to team up with Boxpark to launch a site at the latter’s scheme in Wembley, north west London. Boxpark chief operating officer Ben McLaughlin said the new link up was “a natural evolution” for “the national home of sport and the home of the fan park”. Earlier this month, Boxpark announced it was to launch a new immersive social gaming experience called Playbox, at its site in Croydon, south London. Spanning approximately 3,500 square feet, the company said Playbox, which will launch next month, is set to create a “one-of-a-kind immersive experience”, with features including: digital shuffleboard and darts, interactive karaoke, traditional pool tables and retro arcade games, a signature bar and hosted experiences. Last month, the team behind Sixes launched a baseball-inspired concept called Moonshot. Launched at the company’s previous Sixes site in Westfield London, Moonshot combines batting cages with a live sports bar and restaurant. Both Sixes and Moonshot will be owned, operated and developed by the group’s parent company, Motherclub Hospitality.

Manorview to share £124,891 of profit with team: Independent Scottish hospitality group Manorview is sharing £124,891 of profit with team members across the business. Manorview’s “Heartcount” scheme sees the company annually share 10% of net profits with its team. Everyone who has been with the business for 12 months or more qualifies – and this year, 476 of the team (approximately 85%) will receive a profit share payment in early February. Individual amounts are calculated based on hours worked, not on job title or pay. Dani Fraser, head of people at Manorview, said: “Everyone, regardless of role, makes a positive contribution to Manorview and it’s only right that they then receive something in return.” The Heartcount profit share is the only monetary based bonus at Manorview, having moved away from performance or target related bonuses just for managers or the sales team several years ago. Although some of the team won’t qualify due to length of service, to ensure everyone receives thanks and recognition, all team members were invited to an all-expenses-paid event at Glasgow venue SWG3. Manorview operate 12 venues throughout central Scotland including Boclair House in Bearsden, Brisbane House in Largs and The Redhurst in Giffnock.

Coast & Country Pubs secures ex-JD Wetherspoon site for next opening: Scottish hospitality group Coast & Country Pubs is to open its 11th site after securing a former JD Wetherspoon pub in Peebles. The Rob Reeley-led business has secured the Cross Keys, which includes seven letting rooms. Reeley said: “After two years of trying, we have finally agreed a deal to add the Cross Keys in Peebles to the Coast & Country group. It’s a fantastic ex-Wetherspoon site with seven letting rooms and massive potential. Site number 11 takes us to 260 employees, which is a bit scary given the labour cost shockwave that arrives in April.” Last year, the company acquired another former Wetherspoon site, The Saltoun Inn in Fraserburgh, which has 11 bedrooms. Coast & Country Pubs operates pubs and hotels located between the Scottish Borders, Glasgow, Inverness, Fraserburgh and all the way up to Wick, Thurso and John O’ Groats.

South Yorkshire and Midlands McDonald’s franchisee reports profit and turnover boost after opening four new restaurants: South Yorkshire and Midlands McDonald’s franchisee Sherwood Restaurants has reported a profit and turnover boost for the year ending 31 December 2023 after opening four new restaurants. It now operates 11 restaurants, having acquired three new sites in September 2022 and a further location in May 2023. The company’s turnover grew from £33,299,849 in 2022 to £47,638,979 while pre-tax profit was up from £172,101 to £1,881,987. Dividends of £250,000 were paid (2022: £267,000) during the year, followed by a further £248,000 post year end (2022: £250,000). Director Mike Clapham said on a like-for-like basis for the stores open throughout both 2022 and 2023, sales increased by approximately 6.7% as the company experienced growth from digital channels, including delivery and the mobile app. “During 2023, the gross margin has decreased from 64.9% in 2022 to 64.7%, and is in line with expectations,” he added. “Operating profit increased by £1.7m to £2m. The financial position of the company remains healthy, with the balance sheet showing net assets of £4.1m at the year end, an increase of £1.2m. This is mainly as a result of profit generated in the year.” Clapham started his career with McDonald’s in the late 1980s and became a franchisee in 2008.

Salad bar concept Choppaluna set to make Scottish debut: Salad bar concept Choppaluna, which is owned by Hero Brands, is set to make its Scottish debut, in Glasgow. Choppaluna is preparing to launch a franchise location in a former Get gadget and technology shop at 182 Byers Road in the city. “Choppaluna is coming to Glasgow,” its franchise consultant, 2x Consulting, posted to social media. “We are pleased to announce the first Scottish Choppaluna location has been secured for a franchisee at 182 Byres Road, Glasgow. This prime location in the heart of Glasgow’s West End is set to bring the vibrant, fresh, and delicious Choppaluna experience to Scotland for the very first time.” According to its website, Choppaluna currently operates from four London locations – in Bloomsbury, Holborn, Wembley and within Gravity Wandsworth – as well as an overseas site in Berlin, Germany. Choppaluna also has a Notting Hill location listed as “coming soon”. The business was founded by Nikras Agha and Bijan Azadfard, specialising in salad bowls and wraps, and opened its first UK site in October 2020.

Humble Crumble set for regional debut: London crumble dessert concept Humble Crumble is set to make its regional debut this spring, in Oxfordshire. The artisan crumble bakery, led by Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur Kim Innes, is set to open a store at Bicester Village. Last summer, the business opened its fourth site in the capital, at Seven Dials Warehouse, located on the corner of Earlham Street and Neal Street and owned by CBRE Investment Management. The outlet joined its other locations in Camden Market, Borough Market and Spitalfields. Founded in 2018, Humble Crumble offers a variety of fruit crumbles such as apple and cinnamon, mixed berry and rhubarb, and raspberry and orange. Innes came up with the idea for Humble Crumble when standing outside a “normally buzzing” ice cream parlour on a damp and dreary day and pondering what they could do to attract customers when the sun is not out. She started out operating from a farmers’ market before opening her first permanent location in 2020. According to Forbes, Humble Crumble sells more than 1,750 crumbles per day and expected revenue to exceed £6m in 2024.

Merchant Pubs & Bars adds iconic Glasgow pub to its estate: Glasgow independent hospitality group, Merchant Pubs & Bars, has acquired The Drake pub, in the city’s Woodlands area. The company, which includes the likes of BAaD (Barras Art & Design) and Blackfriars in the city in its portfolio, has quickly set about doing a mini refurbishment of the pub. Merchant’s area manager Graeme Moffat said: “We’ve had our eyes on The Drake for a while as it’s such an iconic pub in Glasgow. When the opportunity arose to acquire it, then it was a no brainer! We’ve refreshed the place, installed new HD TVs, got the sports back as well as an exciting new draught range and food menu.” The Drake also incorporated Rascal cocktail bar and Faim restaurant, but the company has yet to reveal its plans for these areas. Jonathan Clough, of Smith & Clough, acted on The Drake deal.

US luxury lifestyle brand submits plans for its debut London location, with more details of offering: US luxury lifestyle brand RH has submitted plans for its debut London location, revealing more details of its offering. RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, opened its first UK site in the summer of 2023 with the launch of a “culinary emporium” at Anyho Park in Banbury, Oxfordshire. At the time, Propel reported that a gallery/lifestyle store in London’s Mayfair was among the company’s pipeline of global openings, alongside Milan, Paris, Madrid, Brussels, Düsseldorf and Sydney. Planning permission has now been submitted to Westminster Council by the company’s architects, Foster & Partners, for the conversion of three grade II-listed buildings at 7 Burlington Gardens. The plans show there will be a restaurant, wine bar and barista bar on the ground floor, as well as another wine bar on the second floor with its own roof terrace, plus a basement Champagne and caviar bar, reports Hot Dinners. At the time of launching RH’s debut UK site in 2023, chairman and chief executive Gary Friedman said the company is “blurring the lines between home and hospitality”. As well as selling luxury furniture and homeware, the Anyho Park site features five separate food and beverage concepts. All of these feed into the brand’s retail concept of “a curated world of luxury living, travel, dining and design services”, developed around high-end “galleries”. At the time of the launch, Friedman was also understood to have been looking at properties in the Cotswolds for his next RH Guesthouse. He launched the company’s concept, featuring an exclusive hospitality offering where customers can also charter a luxury yacht or rent a private jet, in New York in September 2022. Friedman, a former president of home décor brand Pottery Barn, transformed the fortunes of Restoration Hardware after joining it in 2001, rebranding it RH in 2012, when it was floated on the New York Stock Exchange.

Team behind Leeds café acquires pub for second venture: The team behind Leeds’ Empire Cafe is expanding after acquiring the Highland pub, in the suburb of Burley. The pub, which has been renamed The Highland Laddie, has stood empty since April 2023. Empire Cafe founders, Sam Pullan and Nicole Deighton, along with their team, intend to provide a “refined food and drink offering”. Drawing on Empire’s success in serving “comfort food with a fine-dining approach”, Pullan said he intends to bring the pub back to life by adding a menu cooked over flame, supported by a host of small plates. He said: “We see no difference between running a pub or a café; both serve the community. Our goal is simply to do it better. We’re stepping into another heritage building in Leeds to refine and enhance it, much like we did with Empire Cafe. We want to embrace the heritage and pub tradition but make it our own.” The Highland Laddie will open this spring for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday.

Irish bar concept Molly Malone’s acquires former Revolution site in Derby for second venue: Irish bar concept Molly Malone’s is set to start expanding by opening its second site. Having made its debut in Sheffield in 2021, the concept is now heading to Derby. Molly Malone’s has acquired the former Revolution site in The Strand, which shut in January last year. The new Molly Malone’s is set to open on Thursday, 17 April, creating 40 jobs. Director David Henning told Derbyshire Live: “We’re going to start off by opening on Fridays, Saturdays and bank holidays only throughout the summer, and will extend to seven nights a week when students return in September. We wanted to expand the concept but stay within a couple of hours of Sheffield, and we thought the former Revolution building was a perfect fit to be a Molly’s. It’s a great city with a large university, which is great for when we start running midweek sessions. We can see that Derby has plenty to offer and we hope to add to that by carrying out a high-end revamp to attract more people and business into the city.”

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