Brother Marcus reports full-year like-for-likes up 27.2% as sales hit £10m, secures biggest site yet in London’s Canary Wharf: Brother Marcus, the five-strong eastern Mediterranean restaurant concept led by Tas Gaitanos and Alex Large, saw sales growth in its latest financial year of 42.4% to £10m, with like-for-like sales up 27.2%, Propel has learned. It comes as Brother Marcus, which launched its latest site in London’s Covent Garden last September, has secured its biggest site yet in the YY London building at the foot of One Canada Square, Canary Wharf. The company said its restaurant Ebitda was converting well at 20.1% group level over the last 12 months. It said that Christmas was very positive, with the business recording £1m in sales from its five sites during December, with like-for-like sales up 33% during the month. This all came despite the company reducing its Christmas menu price by 4.7%. The Covent Garden site traded 15% above budget and expectation. The new Canary Wharf site, which will open this summer and be the group's biggest investment so far, will comprising 174 covers – a combination of indoor and outdoor seating. The interior will offer 90 covers and the exterior 84, including a huge outdoor bar area, with retractable roof. Breakfast will be served from 8am until 12pm on weekdays, before moving on to Brother Marcus' all-day mezze sharing dishes for lunch and dinner. On weekends brunch will be served until 4pm. Gaitanos said: “We are excited to be bringing a slice of the eastern Mediterranean to Canary Wharf. As we grow, we are always looking at ways to improve the guest experience and our connection to the eastern Mediterranean with our menu and drinks list – particularly on the wine side with this new site.” Large added: “For years, we've been drawn to the idea of opening a restaurant in Canary Wharf. The energy of Billingsgate Market and the vibrant mix of professionals and residents in the area make it one of London's most unique communities; but it never quite felt right when we viewed units before. Fast forward to today, and Canary Wharf has become one of the most exciting parts of London for dining out, and our business has developed to where we want it to be. Now feels like the perfect moment to bring Brother Marcus to the area, just in time for summer, and to be a key part of the amazing development planned for the area in the coming months.” Propel understands Brother Marcus hopes to open a further site later this year, and two or three more in 2026.

Sponsored message – use Opsyte’s daily profit and loss calculator to preserve the bottom line: April’s cost pressures are coming, but they don’t have to hit the bottom line, thanks to Opsyte’s daily profit and loss calculator. Matt Taylor, chief executive of Hospitality Solutions Group, said: “This is the solution hospitality operators have been waiting for. With instant, accurate data at your fingertips, you’ll identify savings and avoid surprises as real-time data and cost savings become more important. Manually crunching numbers every Monday morning? That’s time you could spend running your business or analysing your cost base. Opsyte automates your financial control, saving you hours each week and giving you the insights you need to cut waste and maximise profits. April’s national insurance and wage challenges are around the corner, and staying in control of your numbers has never been more important. Opsyte helps operators like you save thousands and take back control.” See how it works today – book a demo or email matt@opsyte.com for more information. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Wingstop UK chief executive Chris Sherriff to speak at first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, open for bookings: Wingstop UK chief executive Chris Sherriff will be among the speakers at the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, which is open for bookings. Sherriff will discuss the rise of the US chicken brand in the UK, how it has tapped into the needs of the Generation Z consumer, its marketing strategy and plans for further growth. The all-day conference takes place on Thursday, 20 March, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London’s Kensington. 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 today, videos from Restaurant Marketer & Innovator on Friday, 7 February: Premium Club members are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database today (Friday, 31 January), at midday. 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 in the experiential leisure sector include The Potions Cauldron Group, with its Harry Potter-inspired mini-golf, and padel concept Padel Hub. 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.

 

Meaningful Vision – data trends show declining footfall but rise in morning diners and promotions: The latest hospitality data trends show declining footfall but a rise in morning diners and promotions, according to Meaningful Vision. A new report from the market intelligence platform showed the total number of stores belonging to brands grew by 0.5% last year, while fast-food outlets saw a rise of 5% and pubs and restaurants declined by 4%. In terms of overall footfall, market traffic across the industry declined slightly by 0.2% compared with 2023. Restaurants experienced the largest drop, down 4.2% overall, while quick service bakeries saw a 4.7% rise and pubs increased by 2.7%. December footfall was 1.4% higher than the same month in 2023, driven by fast-food outlets, while restaurants and pubs lagged 2% behind. Overall, the industry saw traffic down 12.3% for evening visitors, with footfall significantly declining post afternoon. Morning visitors (between 6am and 9am) saw the biggest increase at 13.8%, up by 6.6% between 9am and 12pm. The rate of price increases slowed to 5% in both restaurants and fast-food outlets in December 2024 compared with December 2023, while restaurants boosted the number of their promotional offers by 25% in 2024. The depth of the discount also increased by 1.5 percentage points compared with 2023, with meal deals continuing to dominate, accounting for 40% of all promotions. Breakfast and lunch promotions showed significant growth, while special price promotions were the most popular tactic in restaurants, rising from 66% in 2023 to 71% in 2024. Limited-time offers grew by 13%, with nearly 70% offered as special price deals, while their average price decreased by 19%. Apps were responsible for 20% of all promotional offers, while 40% were reward-based. Meaningful Vision chief executive Maria Vanifatova said: “Although the total hospitality market has seen an overall decline in 2024, the second half of the year rebounded slightly. For 2025, there is a forecasted drop of a further 0.4%. Inflation slowed in 2024, which helped stabilise food prices, and we’ve seen notable growth in footfall for pubs and quick service bakeries, thanks to the success of brands like Greggs, Pret A Manger and Gail’s. As higher inflation rates return in April 2025 due to government tax changes, we expect consumers to be more cautious in their spending. January footfall typically drops 15% compared with December, but this year, that gap could be even larger as the market contracts further. Despite these challenges, the growth we’re seeing in targeted promotional strategies shows great signs of resilience and adaptability in the industry.”

London’s Clapham to get its first private members’ club: London’s Clapham is to get its first private members’ club, in the former Arding & Hobbs department store. The £120 a month Arding Rooms venue near Clapham Junction is aimed at professionals and families in the area and due to open by May. A restaurant, bar, event spaces and co-working spaces will occupy the third floor of the grade II-listed retail landmark that has been closed since 2020. Other facilities in the building include a Third Space gym and a roof terrace. Rupert Dean, chief executive of operators x+why, told The Evening Standard many people in the local area were still working from home much of the time and needed an escape from “sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by the dog and the cat”. He said: “I really like the idea that if you come back from a later meeting in Central London, you can just walk in and you should know at least one person directly or by one degree of separation. It will be a place where you can network to get to know people in your area.” The space is currently undergoing a fit-out costing in the “low single digit millions”. The club will be open from breakfast to late-night drinks though the exact licence hours have not yet been decided. Events will include DJ nights and whisky tastings. Dean said it planned to open with around 350 members in a mix of age groups rising to a maximum of 600.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a three-strong artisanal bakery group in London that is seeking an executive baker. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “They will bring passion, creativity and leadership to the role, ensuring exceptional product quality while inspiring and developing a talented team.” The salary is up to £50,000. For more information, email olly@corecruitment.com.

 

Mission Mars revenue reaches £31.6m in final quarter of 2024, festive like-for-like sales up 13%: Mission Mars, the Business Growth Fund-backed operator of Albert’s Schloss and Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, has reported a strong performance for the three-month trading period ending 29 December 2024, with total revenue of £31.6m, reflecting a 43% increase compared with the same period in the previous year. Growth was supported by the addition of 11 new Rudy's Pizza Napoletana locations and the opening of Albert's Schloss, Soho, with the group reporting many site records broken. The group recorded a 13% increase in like-for-like sales for the festive trading period from 2 December 2024 to 5 January 2025, compared with the same five-week period in 2023. Mission Mars said Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana achieved 48% revenue growth over the period, driven by a combination of organic expansion and the steady performance of new venues. The 24 like-for-like pizzerias posted a 18% revenue increase. The company’s four Albert's Schloss venues reported a 45% revenue increase, reaching £7.1m over the festive period. The three like-for-like venues experienced 8% revenue growth. Roy Ellis, chief executive of Mission Mars, said: “We are pleased with the trading results for the past quarter, particularly the Christmas period, where both our established and newer venues performed well. These results reflect the commitment and effort of our colleagues. Team engagement is a key focus for us, and we were pleased to receive a world-class three-star rating in the latest Best Companies survey. Like-for-like covers at Albert’s Schloss increased by 6%, contributing to a guest experience score of 79.6%. Albert's Schloss, Soho, has continued to grow since launching in summer 2024 and performed well over the festive period. Two new Rudy’s locations opened in Prestwich and Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the first quarter of FY25, both seeing positive early performance.” Propel understands Mission Mars is in talks on sites in Leamington Spa, Cambridge and Brighton for Rudy’s. 

Urban Pubs & Bars to begin expanding competitive socialising concept Bat & Ball: Urban Pubs & Bars, the London pub operator founded by Malc Heap and Nick Pring and backed by Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual, is to begin expanding its competitive socialising concept Bat & Ball. The 53-strong group will open the 12,000 square-foot venue in Covent Garden in mid-March for the concept’s second site. Guests will be able to play games such as ping pong, beer and prosecco pong, interactive dartboards and pool. There will also be a neon-lit nine-hole crazy golf course, shuffleboard and karaoke rooms. The 450-cover venue in Earlham Street will also show live sport and offer a menu of shareable plates and mains such as hand-stretched sourdough pizza and loaded smash burgers. Bat & Ball began as a pop-up in 2015 at Westfield Stratford before moving to a permanent site at the scheme in January 2022. Earlier this week, Urban Pubs & Bars revealed it has secured additional funds to “accelerate” its ambitious expansion plans having refinanced with Barclays, increasing its available facilities from £16m to £30m. It came as Urban Pubs & Bars posted record-breaking Ebitda of £8.7m for the year ending 28 April 2024 – a 26% increase compared with the previous year (2023: £6.4m). The company also reported a 16% rise in turnover to a record £60.5m (2023: £52.2m) and a 4% increase in like-for-like sales in the period. The company said it has a “strong pipeline” of openings for 2025, including The George & Dragon in Wanstead and The London Fields in Hackney.

 

Tequila Mockingbird co-founder set to open new south London rooftop bar after exiting business: Jacque Narcisse-Brennan, co-founder of Tequila Mockingbird, is set to open a new rooftop bar after exiting the south London bar operator he helped found nine years ago. He is preparing to open And Then in the former The Corin cocktail bar and restaurant at 54a Tooting High Street. The new venue has also partnered with Honest Burgers, the 39-strong business that this week hired Kevin Styles as its new chief executive, to deliver “a high-quality, accessible food offering that aligns with our ethos – casual, fun and built for the way people actually eat and drink today”. Brennan told Propel: “In a time when social behaviours are shifting, And Then is designed to meet evolving consumer demands for more meaningful, real-life interactions. More than just a bar, it’s an ‘in real life’ social space where connection, spontaneity and shared experiences come first. With a mix of social seating, interactive gaming and breakout areas, the venue adapts to different energies throughout the day and night. And while we’re rethinking the traditional night out, we haven’t forgotten the essence of a great party – our weekend programming brings the energy up with DJs and curated events that keep guests coming back. And Then is a response to changing consumer habits, offering a fresh take on what a modern hospitality space can be.” Brennan founded Tequila Mockingbird with his cousin, Jonathan Bas, in 2015 and helped grow the concept to seven (now five) sites across the capital. He added: “After nine great years it was time for a change, and I exited last year. Regarding expansion, I'm going to take it one step at a time. The concept of your local ‘in real life’ social bar is something I’ll look to expand on, but how that looks, I’m not fully there yet. I’ve always felt as venues and brands expand, and naturally become a chain, they lose their authenticity and become a copy and paste, which I plan to avoid at all costs. I am sure there will be an appetite to expand, it’s just a matter of how that looks and comes across to guests.”

LPM Restaurant & Bar set to open two new US locations, plans to add five more in next five years: LPM Restaurant & Bar – which opened its first La Petite Maison site in London in 2007 before adding restaurants in Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, Miami, Riyadh, Dubai, Limasson, Doha, Mynokos and Las Vegas – is set to open two new US locations. Its third and fourth sites in the country will be located in Boston and New York, with plans to add five more there over the next five years. LPM chief executive Nicolas Budzynski said: “We are excited to be expanding further into the US market. Our first US location in Miami allowed us to bring our French-Riviera inspired vision to the US, and we have been approached by many cities to open up additional properties. The team is taking time to ensure that the quality is reflected in our food and cocktails before embarking on new locations.”

Swingers festive trading up more than $2m, driven by Las Vegas launch: Crazy golf brand Swingers has said festive trading across its global estate was up more than $2m, driven by the launch of its Las Vegas location in November. Founder Jeremy Simmonds told Propel last month that the launch, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, had put Swingers on the map as a global entertainment brand. It was the brand’s third US venue and fifth overall. The company said December 2024 revenues totalled $8m, up from $5.9m in December 2023, with the new Vegas site contributing sales of $450,000 per week during the month, climbing to $600,000 per week in January 2025. Simmonds and co-chief executive Matt Grech-Smith, said: “We are delighted by the launch of Swingers Las Vegas, which has exceeded expectations in its first few months of trading and is on course for an excellent year. Despite inflationary headwinds and cost pressures, it was great to deliver robust trading across the rest of the Swingers estate in December.” Set over 40,000 square feet and three floors of former nightclub space, the Vegas site is, by some distance, the largest Swingers location to date. Swingers is set to soon make its debut in the Middle East, with the opening of its first franchise site in Dubai’s Bluewaters Island, and will then return to the US to open a site in Boston. In September, Swingers’ parent company, Competitive Socialising Group, said it had completed a further growth capital raise of $10m, adding to the Series-C $52m growth capital raise it completed in 2023, to fund its expansion through to 2026. Swingers reported turnover increased to a record £43,335,136 for the year to 24 December 2023, up from £36,160,072 in 2022. Of this, £15,197,955 came from the UK (2022: £17,203,242) and £28,137,181 from the rest of the world (2022: £18,956,830).

Chick-fil-A makes Northern Ireland debut: US brand Chick-fil-A has opened its debut site in Northern Ireland, as it begins its return to the UK. Earlier this month, the brand entered a new licensing partnership for Northern Ireland with service station operator Applegreen. The first of two Northern Irish Chick-Fil-A locations has opened at Applegreen’s Lisburn South motorway service area on the M1. A second location, at Applegreen Templepatrick on the M2, will open in March. The new restaurants will create 70 jobs. Applegreen already has a partnership with Chick-Fil-A in the US, operating 14 restaurants at its motorway service areas. Last September, Chick-fil-A revealed it had lined up the first five locations for its debut in the UK. The brand will also open single sites in Leeds, Liverpool and London. The sites will open over two years, and Chick-fil-A has opened applications for those wishing to take on a franchise. Propel understands that Chick-Fil-A, which operates more than 3,000 sites across the US, Puerto Rico and Canada, has secured the former Clarks unit in Commercial Street in Leeds for an opening this year. Propel revealed last April that Chick-fil-A had secured a site in Kingston-upon-Thames in south west London, as it started building its opening pipeline here, acquiring the freehold of the HSBC site in Eden Street/Clarence Street.

 

Hawksmoor – culture isn’t stuck like a poster on the wall or ‘how we’ve always done it’, it’s living and breathing in people: Ceri Gott, chief growth and culture officer at Hawksmoor, has said culture “isn't stuck like a poster on the wall or ‘how we've always done it’, it's living and breathing in people”. When it comes to keeping the culture and staying special as you grow, Gott said: “When I joined, Hawksmoor was small enough that culture could be transmitted over morning coffee or a short bike ride across London. Fast forward 13 years, and Hawksmoor is an award-winning international brand with 13 restaurants, 1,250 people and 13 consecutive years as a Top 100 Best Company to work for in the UK, so I get asked this a lot! We know who we are and what makes Hawksmoor special – it is the values. They stay the same, and we have worked hard to find new solutions for nurturing them as we scale. Will Beckett, Hawksmoor co-founder, taught me that a brand is a ‘promise’ and it's what people experience, not what you tell them. As an employer, we make five ‘people promises’ based on what we know matters to people at Hawksmoor and measure their experiences to make sure we live up to them. We look at responses by gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity and disability to make sure we're keeping our promises to everyone. Data is more than a quick check for peace of mind – we use it to pinpoint areas to improve, do it and check it's worked. Even when you are small, you don't know how people feel unless you ask and listen, and data is critical for having visibility when you grow. Our people stats sit alongside our financial and operational ones. Culture isn't stuck like a poster on the wall or ‘how we've always done it’, it’s living and breathing in people. What's special changes over time and differs between countries. We protect our values, but not how things are done. There’s freedom for them to show up differently in London, Dublin and New York. Culture needs permission to evolve to stay healthy and inclusive. 97% of people who work here agree that Hawksmoor welcomes everyone, whatever their background and characteristics. It's good for people, culture and the business. A total of 50,000 people applied to work here in the 12 months after we reopened from lockdown, during the recruitment crisis. People wanting to join us is what has enabled business growth – I'm really proud to be part of a community that is so welcoming.”

Young’s opens new landmark pub overlooking Surrey’s Epsom racecourse: Young’s has opened its new landmark pub – Tattenham Corner in Epsom Downs, Surrey – following an extensive refurbishment. Overlooking Epsom racecourse, the two-storey, 8,000 square-foot, freehold pub, which was acquired from Whitbread in 2023 having operated under the Beefeater brand, has been transformed to create a premium, destination pub and dining room. The pub features a new garden room along with a conservatory. Upstairs is home to a first-floor terrace facing the Downs and two new spaces, The Paddock and The Oaks, both available for private hire. Outdoors, the garden has undergone a full transformation to add an additional 400 covers, which is serviced by its own outdoor bar and kitchen. Tattenham Corner joins Young’s collection of premium pubs in Surrey including The Bear in Cobham and Chequers in Walton on the Hill. In September, Young’s chief executive Simon Dodd told Propel that Tattenham Corner will turn out to be “our biggest taking pub outside of London” – especially with a number of rooms set to be added.

Black Sheep Coffee secures site for Bristol debut: Speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee has secured a site for its first café in Bristol. The group has agreed a 15-year lease for the ground floor and basement of the former Vodafone unit at 60 Queens Road, covering 2,724 square feet. Landlord Urban Creation, a serviced apartments and student accommodation provider, completed a freehold purchase of the entirety of the building in 2024. “We're thrilled to welcome Black Sheep Coffee to 60 Queens Road,” said Jonathan Brecknell, founder of Urban Creation. “The brand aligns perfectly with our vision for the area, and we’re excited to see the positive impact it will have on the local community.” Black Sheep Coffee was linked with an opening in the former The Crazy Fox coffee shop at The Arcade in Bristol’s Broadmeads last year, but the site has not opened and is no longer listed on the company’s website as “coming soon”. Black Sheep Coffee operates circa 90 sites in the UK and more than 100 worldwide. Co-founder Gabriel Shohet this week told Propel that the aim is to have 250 shops in the US by the end of 2027, having signed seven new franchise partnerships Stateside. Meanwhile, Jess Bouscarle has stepped down as Black Sheep Coffee’s head of franchising, after five years with the business, to take on a new role as head of international business development with luxury nail salon brand Townhouse.

 

Keystone adds Magic Rock and Fourpure to its growing portfolio: Keystone Brewing Group, the brewing operation backed by investment firm Breal Group, has acquired the Magic Rock and Fourpure brewing businesses out of administration. Magic Rock Brewing was founded in 2011, while Fourpure was founded in London in 2013. Since 2022, the holding company In Good Company Brewing has owned both brands, but in recent months, it has fallen into financial difficulties. Earlier this month, Propel reported that the future of Magic Rock Brewing had been placed in doubt after the business filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators. Last year, In Good Company consolidated the brewing operations of Fourpure Brewing Co by moving it from Bermondsey in London to its sister brewery in Huddersfield. The move included the closure of Fourpure’s taproom on the Bermondsey Beer Mile. Magic Rock and Fourpure now join Keystone's growing beer brand and cider portfolio including Black Sheep, Purity, Big Drop, Brick, Brew by Numbers, Wolf Pack and premium cider brand Maison Sassy. Mark Williams, chief executive of Keystone Brewing Group, said: “Keystone Brewing Group has secured an exclusive licence with the brand owners to take these fantastic brands forward in the UK and worldwide. The Magic Rock brewery has unfortunately closed, and we are naturally saddened at the loss of the Magic Rock site, and the employees and their families directly affected by this. The Magic Rock brewery had ceased brewing due to cash issues, several weeks prior to agreeing the deal. As such there was no viable business left. We have managed to save two iconic beer brands for future generations of beer lovers, following Keystone's strategy of building an impressive portfolio of high-quality and distinctive beverages.”

 

David Lloyd set to open new Buckinghamshire health club: Health and leisure business David Lloyd is set to open a new health club in Buckinghamshire. Plans have been lodged for the new facility at the Newland Park development in Chalfont St Peter. The centrepiece will be the 100-plus station gym, alongside four group exercise studios, a hi-tech indoor cycling studio, a high energy studio and a mind and body studio. There will also be indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, and indoor spa and spa garden with outdoor hydrotherapy pools, heated relaxation beds, a Himalayan salt sauna, a fire and ice experience room and rainforest experience shower. The proposals also include The Clubroom social space and a business area, reports Insider Media. Stuart Caswell, new clubs acquisitions director at David Lloyd Clubs, said: “We have submitted the application and are optimistic about delivering an exceptional health and wellness facility within the stunning Newland Park development. The club will feature the very best from the David Lloyd Club products.”

 

Mak Halal reports 17% increase in like-for-like sales in 2024: Mak Halal, the burger concept, has reported a 17% increase in like-for-like sales across its stores over the past 12 months. The business, founded in 2016 by Abdulwahab Omar, currently has 13 shops in the UK. Mak Halal plans to expand through franchising and said earlier this month that it is planning to open ten new stores in 2025. “The growth from 2023 to 2024 is excellent, particularly in a tough economic climate,” Omar said. “The quality of our food, menu innovation and great customer service offers brilliant value for our customers. However, our ambitions don’t stop here. We now offer a proven business model for potential franchise investors looking to join us on our journey of expansion through running their own successful takeaway and delivery Mak Halal store in locations across the UK. There’s also the opportunity to grow a multi-unit operation, as two of our existing franchisees have already achieved successfully.”

  

Bristol operator Hyde & Co closes its sourdough pizza concept, new openings ‘on the horizon’: Bristol operator Hyde & Co has closed its sourdough pizza concept, Flour & Ash. Founded in 2014 by Steve Gale, Flour & Ash was an award-winning Bristol institution in Cheltenham Road until it closed in 2020. The concept was taken on by Nathan Lee, Jason Mead and Kevin Stokes, founders of Hyde & Co, who have now announced they will be closing the venue next month in order to focus on other projects. Lee told Bristol Live: “It’s never an easy decision to close a venue, and after four years we’ve decided to make the tough call to close Flour & Ash. The past few years have been an incredibly difficult time for the entire hospitality industry, and after a lot of reflection, we’ve made this decision so we can focus on growing our existing bars and restaurants and doing more of what we do best. Flour & Ash has been a wonderful part of our Hyde & Co journey, allowing us to bring a new offering to our customers, and while we’ll miss it dearly, we’ll now be able to focus on making our existing Bristol venues even bigger and better. We’ll continue to offer Flour & Ash’s signature pizzas on delivery. We’ve got some really exciting plans in the pipeline for improvements across our group, as well as some new openings on the horizon, and we’ll be bringing our team from Flour & Ash along for the next chapter.” Hyde & Co opened Seven Lucky Gods Sushi Bar last year, joining its Seven Lucky Gods Japanese restaurants in Bristol and Newport. The group is also behind Bristol venues Four Wise Monkeys, Bambalan, The Milk Thistle, The Ox, Death Disco and The Raven. The company also last year sold its eponymous original venue, prohibition-era speakeasy bar Hyde & Co, to unnamed new owners.

 

Kent McDonald’s franchisee returns to profit as turnover rises to record £17.8m: McDonald's franchisee State 4 Restaurants, which operates four sites in Kent, has reported turnover increased to a record £17,845,217 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £15,942,967 the previous year. The company, which employs around 550 staff, posted a pre-tax profit of £546,722 compared with a loss of £173,085 the year before. Gross profit margin increased to 65.37% compared with 63.30% the year before, which was “in line with expectations”. In his report accompanying the accounts, franchisee Gian Chahal stated: “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. The growth in sales is predominately due to the continued growth in delivery sales and the acquisition of a new store within the year. On a like-for-like basis for the three stores trading in both financial years, sales increased by 9.30%. The financial position of the company is increasingly healthy with the balance sheet showing net assets of £891,000 compared with £547,000 in 2022.” A dividend of £135,000 was paid (2022: £133,000). Chahal became a McDonald’s franchisee in 2015, having previously been a police inspector.

 

Big Penny reports Christmas trading up 36% year-on-year as annual sales exceed £4m at its flagship venue: Big Penny, the London hospitality business born three years ago following the sale of the Truman’s Beer trademark, has reported Christmas trading was up 36% year-on-year at its flagship venue, Big Penny Social, with its annual sales exceeding £4m. The group said the Walthamstow venue, formerly Truman’s Social Club in Blackhorse Lane, is also averaging more than 6,000 visitors a week, and that its festive trading was driven by increased corporate bookings, including two sold-out New Year’s Eve shows and a curling experience that attracted more than 3,000 additional visitors. The company also recently completed a multimillion-pound investment raise, which will be used to increase capacity of the site from 1,400 to more than 2,000 in time for the summer. The company also operates Big Penny Brews in London City airport. Meanwhile, Adam Walker has joined Big Penny’s leadership team as head of sales, following previously sales roles with Bounce, Lucky Voice and Albion & East. Frank Maguire has moved from head of marketing into a new head of commercial role, while a recruitment process is underway to find a new head of brand and marketing. The Truman’s brand was renamed Big Penny in 2022 following the brand’s acquisition by the management team at its brewery. The former Truman’s Social Club was relaunched as a community-focused pub and arts centre at the same time.

 

John Burton-Race joins Cheltenham’s only rooftop restaurant as executive head chef: Michelin-starred chef John Burton-Race has joined The Nook on Five, Cheltenham’s only rooftop restaurant, as executive head chef. Over the last 35 years, Burton-Race has worked in some of the UK’s top restaurants and hotels including Hotel Meurice London, La Sorbonne and Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, where he worked under Raymond Blanc – who subsequently appointed him head chef of Le Petit Blanc in Oxford, where Burton-Race won his first Michelin star. The chef became a household name through his Channel 4 series French Leave and its sequel Return of the Chef, as well as ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Under his guidance, The Nook On Five, which is owned by Edward Surman, will be offering a twist on modern British classics, alongside some new dishes and seasonal specials. A new daytime menu, available from February, will feature dishes such as Nook smashed burger and Italian-style wild boar ragu, while an evening à la carte menu will include roasted brill, prawn and scallop ravioli and honey and citrus glazed duck. Burton-Race said: “The Nook is a family-run business with fine dining quality, and I think that really shines through when you visit, but it’s also evidenced by its reputation and unique rooftop setting. I will be working with the team to build on this success, putting The Nook On Five on the map as the best restaurant in Cheltenham.” Burton-Race will also lend his expertise to the offering at the Nook Deli, with the Parisian-style patisserie to include delicacies such as gateau and fruit tartlets. 

 

Hyatt set to launch new Latin American restaurant at Leeds hotel: Hotel company Hyatt is set to launch a new Latin American restaurant at its forthcoming Leeds hotel. Rooftop bar and restaurant Azotea will be on the 12th floor of the soon-to-open Hyatt hotel at 2 Sovereign Square, in the city centre. Set to open in March, Azotea will take inspiration from 33 countries across Latin America. Head chef Jared Webb said: “With the news of a number of restaurant closures over recent months, a vibrant new rooftop restaurant and bar with authentic Latin cuisine and entertainment is exactly what Leeds needs right now, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to Azotea.” Hyatt Place and Hyatt House are also set to open at Sovereign Square this spring. Hyatt Place will comprise 217 rooms, while Hyatt House will host a number of studios and one-bedroom suites. The hotel will also be home to another new restaurant, Zoom – located on the ground floor and offering an all-day menu inspired by global and local cuisine.