Strongarm Hospitality Group – we want to be a global, 360-degree operator in the next ten years: London luxury upmarket company Strongarm Hospitality Group has told Propel it has ambitions to be a global, 360-degree operator in the next ten years. The group, owned by Garry Caprani and Asher Grant, was launched in 2017 with the opening of The London Reign show club in Mayfair, and subsequently added nightlife venues Tabu London, featuring upstairs cocktail bar Clubhouse, and Tabu Mykonos, which is currently in its fifth year of operation on the Greek island. Having launched their first restaurant, Piraña, a Nikkei-inspired concept in Mayfair in July last year, the duo plan to expand the concept globally. Although the group’s ultra-high net worth customer base meant the company itself had escaped the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, Grant said its effects, and that of covid on the late-night sector in the capital, had shown the need to diversify the business. While the group will continue to focus on Mayfair in the short-term for expansion, Caprani said there may be an opportunity to push into other parts of Central London. In the next ten years, the group aims to have a global portfolio spanning hotels, restaurants and nightclubs. Caprani and Grant said they may look at taking on investment to support their growth ambitions. While the duo would not be drawn on what cities they were targeting, they said they would be strategic in their expansion. Grant, who has 16 years’ experience in the industry, said: “We’ve got an idea of what we can achieve in the next 12 months, in three years and then in ten years. We are laying the foundations for growth, and now we’ve got Piraña, we’re starting to build that growth.” Caprani added: “We want to open more restaurants, and eventually, we want to have hotels. We want our guests to be able to tap into all those dayparts and be that all-encompassing 360-degree operator on a global scale. London is an ultra-competitive market, and our success here gives us confidence to expand further internationally.”

 

Propel’s International Brands report showcasing 100 top global hospitality operators in the UK is available to pre-order now: Propel’s highly anticipated International Brands report, featuring the 100 leading international brands in UK hospitality, launches this March and is available to pre-order now. This in-depth report explores company histories, leadership structures, site numbers and turnover figures – an essential tool for industry professionals navigating the UK hospitality market. The top 100 will include expanding brands from markets such as the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. The guide will be sent out as two files – an introductory PDF featuring deep dives into international brands from Propel’s writers, and a fully searchable Excel sheet for easy access to key data. The analysis includes Matteo Frigeri, founder of Seeds Consulting, on the challenges of recruiting the right UK franchisee, Michael Ingemann, director of Think Hospitality, on why European brands chose the UK for expansion, and Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vanifatova examining the UK market for quick service restaurant operators. The International Brands report will be available from 9am on Friday, 28 March for £595 plus VAT, with existing Premium Club members able to purchase at a discounted rate of £395 plus VAT. Premium Club members will receive it free on Friday, 9 May at 9am. Pre-order your copy today by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium Club members to receive two updated databases this week: Premium Club members will receive two updated databases this week. The latest Propel UK Food & Beverage Franchisee Databasewill be sent today (Wednesday, 12 February) at 12pm. The database will feature ten new additions plus updates to existing entries. It now has 190 entries and more than 80,000 words of copy. Among the new entries are ChicKing franchisee FoodFixx, Papa John’s franchisee MKD Holdings, Domino’s franchisee Sodha & Company and Black Sheep Coffee franchisee SUR Coffee Group. Premium Club members will then receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday (14 February), at 12pm. The database will feature 79 updated accounts and ten new companies, taking the total to 1,066. A total of 655 companies are making a profit while 401 are making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club members also receive access to four other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor 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 and International Brands report. 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.

 

Government makes key changes to apprenticeships: The Department for Education has announced two key changes to apprenticeships, delivering on longstanding asks from UKHospitality. Businesses will be able to decide whether adult learners over the age of 19 will need to complete Level 2 English and maths qualifications in order to pass. Meanwhile, the minimum duration of an apprenticeship will be reduced to eight months, down from the current minimum of 12. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “Introducing more flexibility into apprenticeships is something UKHospitality has long been calling for and I’m pleased the government has acted on this. I’m confident that these changes can help us drive more apprenticeships in hospitality, a sector with huge growth potential. Giving businesses more control over the apprenticeship requirements so they are relevant to the role is critical and will remove a significant barrier for both the employer and the apprentice. Reducing the minimum duration for apprenticeships can deliver more targeted training, get people fully trained even quicker and give employees the chance to move up the hospitality career ladder.” Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, said: “We are proud to have supported nearly 18,000 apprenticeships since 2011, and this announcement will enable even more people to access fulfilling training in key sectors.” Butlin’s chief executive Jon Hendry Pickup added: “As a society, we have an obligation to provide diverse opportunities for those who are not just predisposed to academia. I’ve seen first-hand in the areas surrounding Butlin’s resorts – Bognor Regis, Skegness and Minehead – the importance of the traditional apprenticeship route to social mobility in typically under-invested parts of the country.”

Hospitality Apprenticeship Showcase to return for its ninth year today: The Hospitality Apprenticeship Showcase (HAS) will return for its ninth year today (Wednesday, 12 February) – taking place at the Terrace Pavilion in the House of Commons to mark National Apprenticeship Week. The event will again highlight the vital contributions of apprentices across the hospitality industry. It will bring together apprentices from across the sector, providing them with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and engage with their local MPs. Set to be attended by more than 80 MPs and ministers, the showcase will promote the huge amount of career pathways available within the industry and celebrate the achievements of the apprentices. Since its beginning, HAS has welcomed more than 2,000 apprentices. Companies attending this year’s showcase include Nando’s, Fuller’s, Mitchells and Butlers, Budweiser, Greene King, HIT Training, Marston’s, Lifetime Training and Stonegate Group. Leisure PR’s managing director, Maureen Heffernan, who created the event nine years ago, said: “This event continues to inspire year after year. It’s a real testament to the dedication of businesses in the hospitality industry that so many apprentices go on to have successful and fulfilling careers.” Jill Whittaker OBE, managing director of HIT Training, which has been an integral part of HAS over the years, added: “Apprenticeships provide a fantastic way to learn while gaining practical experience, and this event highlights the incredible opportunities available. I’m excited to hear from this year’s apprentices and see how they are shaping the future of hospitality.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a specialist data business that operates within the wholesale and foodservice sectors that is seeking a head of client support services. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will be responsible for overseeing and developing the client support team, ensuring the highest levels of customer satisfaction. The head of client support services will drive operational efficiency, implement best-in-class support strategies and work closely with internal teams to continuously improve services.” The salary is up to £55,000 and the position is based in Bedfordshire. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com.

 

Deliveroo plots route to naming successor to founding CEO Shu: Will Shu, who masterminded Deliveroo’s evolution into one of Britain’s biggest consumer technology businesses, is preparing to hand over the reins to a new chief executive. Sky News reports that Shu, who set the company up in 2013 and participated in its delivery service himself, is contemplating stepping back as chief executive as soon as this year. Under one scenario being discussed by Deliveroo’s board, chaired by Claudia Arney, Shu could leave the role in the autumn. Carlo Mocci, the company’s chief business officer, is said to be the leading internal candidate to replace Shu, although sources insist that no decisions about a replacement had been taken. Other succession planning scenarios are also said to be under consideration, including a number which could mean Shu remaining in place for longer. At least one executive search firm is said to be engaged by Deliveroo on the project. Deliveroo was privately held for most of its first decade in existence, attracting big-name technology investors before, in 2019, Amazon acquired a sizeable minority stake in the company. That was widely expected to be the prelude to a full takeover bid, but such an offer never materialised. Instead, Deliveroo opted to go public in 2021 in London, leading to what critics dubbed the worst such public share sale in history. Initially priced at 390p-a-share, which gave Deliveroo a valuation of £7.6bn, the stock tumbled on its debut, ending its first day of trading at 284p. In recent months, there has been growing speculation that Deliveroo will attract a takeover offer from an international suitor. On Tuesday afternoon (11 February), Deliveroo shares were trading at around 138.5p, giving the company a market capitalisation of about £2.13bn.

 

Aviary Hospitality Group reports full-year sales exceeding £7m, 2025 ‘starts strongly’: Aviary Hospitality Group, owners of the Chicken & Blues and Flamingo Café Bar concepts and led by Joshua Simons and Steve Crawford, saw sales for the year ending 31 January 2025 exceed £7m, with like-for-like sales up 14%, Propel has learned. It comes as the group’s new Flamingo Café Bar, which launched in Ashley Cross, Poole, in December, beat company records in its first month of trading. Both Flamingo Café Bar and Chicken & Blues beat multiple records over the last 12 months, with a record day, record week and record four-week period being achieved. Simons said: “2024 was an encouraging year. The launch of Flamingo Café Bar in a prime location in Poole was a notable milestone, and seeing record-breaking guest numbers and sentiment across the group is rewarding. 2025 has already started strongly and is shaping up to be another progressive year. We intend to build on this momentum.” Simons and Crawford first launched the now three-strong Chicken & Blues together in Bournemouth in 2013 and also operate two Flamingo Café Bar sites. Propel understands that Aviary Hospitality Group plans to open further sites for both concepts through 2025 and 2026.

 

French smash burger concept set for London debut ahead of planned further expansion here: French smash burger concept Dumbo is set to make its London debut ahead of planned further expansion here, Propel has learned. Dumbo is preparing to open in Bethnal Green Road, in Shoreditch, having just completed on a site there, and is looking for more sites to open here in the coming months. Founded by Charles Ganem and Samuel Nataf, Dumbo first launched in 2019 at 64 Rue Jean-Baptiste Pigalle in Paris. A second site in the French capital opened in 2022, at 14 Rue des Petites Ecuries, followed by a third, at 6 Rue de Poitou, in June 2024, and a fourth, in November 2024, at 121 Rue Oberkampf. In 2021, it also operated a pop-up location at the foot of the Musee D’Art Moderne, which has since closed. Taylor Gershon, of TCPW, and Guy Marks, of Park Lord Commercial, acted on the Shoreditch deal.

 

Mollie’s MD – we can prove that purposeful, lifestyle brands can operate successfully at scale: Matt Bell, the new managing director of budget motel concept Mollie’s, has told Propel the business can prove that “purposeful, lifestyle brands can operate successfully at scale”. Bell recently joined Mollie’s, which currently operates roadside sites in Oxfordshire and near Bristol, from CitizenM, where he was chief hotel operating officer as the group grew to more than 30 hotels across Europe, the US and Asia during his tenure. He told Propel: “I’m excited to bring my experience of scaling a purpose-led brand in the affordable luxury segment. Like CitizenM, Mollie’s is an end-to-end owner, developer and operator. Both brands place a strong emphasis on striking design, seeking to maximise perceived customer value at every touch point, creating a culture of empowerment within the teams to deliver exceptional guest experience, the adoption of technology to remove friction from the customer journey, a centralised business model and delivering premium returns to stakeholders. As we grow, we remain focused on consistently delivering the experience that has resonated so strongly with our guests and inspired such great advocacy. With growth, the sense of purpose and culture of an organisation can start to dilute. In order to maintain consistency, growing levels of control and process are often required. I’ve experienced first-hand how powerful it is when you have driven and motivated people with a common sense of purpose. I’ve also seen how quickly it can be lost. By creating an incredible sense of togetherness behind a common vision through our organisational design, with critical thinking, in adopting an agile mindset, by staying disciplined, by believing in partnership and collaboration and always staying humble, Mollie’s can prove that purposeful, lifestyle brands can operate successfully at scale.”

 

Bids due for axe-throwing operator Whistle Punks: Best and final offers to acquire the business and assets of axe-throwing operator Whistle Punks need to be submitted by 5pm next Wednesday (19 February), Propel has learned. FRP Advisory, which has been lined up as administrator for Whistle Punks, is currently overseeing an accelerated sale process for the business that operates four sites across the country – in Leeds, Bristol, Manchester and London’s Eastcastle Street. Propel revealed earlier this week that Whistle Punks has filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator, as it looks to explore a rescue deal for the business. Whistle Punks was formed in 2016 by John Nimmons and Jools Whitehorn.  

 

Market Halls reveals trader line-up for opening in London’s Paddington including Farm Girl and Breddos Tacos: Market Halls, the London food market hall operator, has revealed the trader line-up for its forthcoming opening in Paddington. As reported by Propel in May last year, Market Halls is opening its fourth site as part of Paddington Square – the new mixed-use development at the former Royal Mail sorting office site that overlooks Paddington station. Set to open on Tuesday, 4 March, the venue will be spread over 11,000 square feet with communal seating for up to 355 guests inside and 130 outside. The site will feature eight food traders, two bars and an outside terrace. The trader line-up will include the food hall debut for Farm Girl, the London healthy eating cafe concept. Breddos Tacos, founded by Nud Dudhia and Chris Whitney, will also open a site, along with Souvlaki by Opso, which will serve up souvlaki wraps and gyros bowls. There will also be a new concept, From the Ashes Parrilla, by the From the Ashes team, serving a menu of grilled meat and vegetables. Bao – which was founded by Shing Tat Chung, Erchen Chang and Wai Ting Chung and is backed by JKS Restaurants – will also be bringing its Bao Night Market concept to Paddington, having launched it last year at Market Halls Victoria. Gopal’s Corner, the Malaysian Tamil concept from Roti King founder Sugen Gopal, has also secured a spot. Also joining is 20ft Fried Chicken, which operates a site in Holles Street in the capital and has been created by husband-and-wife team Liz and Stew Down, who are behind the six-strong Black Bear Burger, which is also opening at Market Halls Paddington. 

 

Costa Express to start serving tea nationwide following trial: Costa Coffee is to start serving tea nationwide through its Costa Express machines following a pilot. Propel revealed last April that Costa Express had begun trialling serving tea in ten Shell forecourt sites in the UK. Following this trial, tea will now be available as an option to order at more than 7,000 selected self-service Costa Express machines across high streets, petrol stations, travel hubs and other key locations. Andrew Miller, Express and corporate sales director UK & Ireland at Costa Coffee, said: “We know how much our customers value a great cup of coffee, and the same goes for tea – which is an integral part of daily life in the UK. We’re thrilled to expand our offering with the addition of tea to Costa Express machines nationwide, and its inclusion in our portfolio reflects our dedication to delivering the beverages our customers want, wherever they are.” Costa Express currently operates in 20 international markets, with more than 14,200 coffee machines in the UK and in excess of 1,600 globally.

 

Gaucho founder’s son to open neighbourhood restaurant, bar and bakery concept in London’s Chelsea: Café Linea, a new neighbourhood restaurant, bar and bakery concept, is to launch in London’s Chelsea this summer. Opening in the grade-II listed 19th century arcade overlooking Duke of York Square, Café Linea comes from husband-and-wife duo Greg and Felicity Godik. Greg is the son of Zeev Godik, the founder of the Gaucho restaurant business. Inspired by the cafés and bistros set in historic arcades across Europe, Cafe Linea will serve “produce-led, modern classics and elevated comfort food”. In addition to à la carte dining, it will also offer freshly baked morning pastries to accompany “artisan coffee, inventive bar snacks alongside evening drinks, and an exciting range of miniature cakes and patisserie, all produced by the onsite bakery and pastry kitchen”. Chef partner Carolina Ferpozzi, originally from Argentina, will oversee the menu, and she is joined by general manager and partner Steven Mason, previously of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and the three Michelin-starred Odette in Singapore.

 

Poke House hires Martin Brok as new chairman: Poke House, Europe’s largest poké restaurant brand, has hired Martin Brok as its new chairman, as it looks to further strengthen its international growth plans. Brok was previously president EMEA at Starbucks and spent almost six years at Burger King, including a stint as senior vice-president of franchising and strategic development EMEA. Brok, who has also worked at Nike and The Coca-Cola Company, will work alongside Poke House chief executive and co-founder Matteo Pichi to further strengthen the brand’s international growth, which is currently responsible for 60% of its global sales. The company said an increasingly important growth area is franchising and the concession sector. Among its new site openings is one in Schiphol Amsterdam, the fourth busiest airport in Europe. Last November, the company secured a new €5.5m (£4.61m) loan from Banca Ifigest to help expand its presence internationally. Pichi told Propel last October that Poke House’s next phase of growth involved refocusing on the UK market and expanding further in the US. Founded in November 2018 in Milan, the business has expanded across Europe and the UK, reaching 150 directly owned stores in nine countries, including ten in London. Additionally, Poke House has minority stakes in Sweetfin (California) and Poke Perfect (Netherlands), bringing its global footprint to around 190 stores.

 

Blank Street Coffee opens 40th UK site: US coffee brand Blank Street, which made its debut in the UK in 2022, has opened its 40th site here, in Edinburgh. The brand, which currently operates circa 50 sites in New York City plus outposts in Boston and Washington DC, has opened its second site in Edinburgh, on the corner of Princes Street and Hanover Street. Last month, the business made its debut in Scotland, with an opening at 5 India Buildings, in Edinburgh’s Old Town. Blank Street has also lined up a site in Glasgow, on the former Black & Lizars site at 42 Gordon Street. Last year, Issam Freiha, who co-founded Blank Street Coffee in New York in 2020 with Vinay Menda, said the UK market was a driving force of the company’s overall growth strategy.

  

Pizza Hut franchisee narrows losses, acquires new store with more in pipeline: Pizza Hut franchisee Zaf Holdings narrowed its losses in the year to 31 December 2023 and acquired a new store post year end, with more in the pipeline. The company, which acquired the master franchise rights for US brand PF Chang’s in the UK in April 2023 and became French artisan bakery and patisserie brand Paul’s newest franchise partner in November 2024, saw pre-tax losses fall to 168,275 from £197,510 in 2022. Turnover increased from £19,243,237 in 2022 to £21,624,256. Dividends of £83,400 were paid, the same as in 2022. Director Arif Jivraj said: “Store count over England is 28 with multiple brands. With a number of new stores in the pipeline, the continued growth and success of the group will be sustained. The group has navigated the businesses through a challenging trading environment with increased competition in the delivery market, specifically the pizza delivery sector, driven by the accelerated growth of third-party aggregators like Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats. The group diversified its capital and expertise by investing in multiple brands and in the full-service restaurant sector, which helped mitigate the risk of investing in a single brand and just playing in the delivery space. Improvements in marketing, establishing a more frictionless customer journey, providing deals that offered a stronger value proposition and partnering with the third-party aggregators saw sales and profit rise significantly in the second half of the trading year. Furthermore, the business continued to position itself for sustained long-term growth by investing in the staffing structure and providing developmental training across the group. Post year end, the group has performed broadly in line with expectations and continues to grow despite increasing cost of sales and reducing margins. In addition, the group will have new income stream from next year from the purchase of new restaurant.”

 

Staycity to make Northern Ireland debut: Aparthotel operator Staycity Group, operator of the Staycity and Wilde brands, is expanding into Northern Ireland, where it will operate a 98-key property in Belfast city centre. Beaufort House, a 46,000 square-foot, nine storey office in Wellington Place, will be repurposed to accommodate a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments as well as a gym, reception, bar, restaurant and shop. The aparthotel is set to open in 2026 and will operate under the Staycity brand. Staycity Group chief development officer Andrew Fowler said: “This is a significant deal for us as it marks our entry into another European capital city while strengthening our partnership with Lotus Property, a key development partner with whom we are pursuing multiple UK projects.” Staycity Group, which was established in 2004 by chief executive Tom Walsh and his brother Ger, currently runs 6,000 aparthotel rooms in 36 aparthotels across 17 cities. Paddy Brennan, of McConnell Property, acted for Lotus Property in securing Staycity as tenant for the Belfast aparthotel.

 

McDonald’s franchisee returns to profit as turnover passes £70m for first time: McDonald’s franchisee White Rose, which operates a portfolio of circa 15 restaurants in the south west and West Midlands, returned to profit in the year to 31 December 2023 as its turnover passed £70m for the first time. The company, led by former McDonald’s worker David Wynne, turned a £1,009,280 pre-tax loss in 2022 into a profit of £865,482. It achieved this despite rises of more than £2m in both costs and administration expenses. The company’s turnover increased from £64,608,700 to £71,015,145. Dividends of £645,000 were paid (2022: £275,000). “Turnover for the year increased 9.9%, with an increase of 16% in gross profit compared with the previous year,” Wynne said. “In common with many other similar businesses and industries, food, labour and utility costs increased considerably during the year, along with other overheads. However, notwithstanding this, the company produced a net profit before tax of £865,482 during the year, compared with a loss of £1,009,280 in the previous year. The directors believe the trading environment in which the company operates will continue to be challenging but remain and are committed to continuing the company’s reinvestment programme.” Wynne, who in 1987, at the age of 21, became McDonald’s youngest UK restaurant manager, has been franchising with the company since 2008.

 

The Northern Collective acquires ninth site: The Northern Collective, which operates sites across Sheffield and the Peak District, has added a ninth venue to its portfolio. The company has acquired The Cross Scythes in the Sheffield suburb of Totley. The pub, which dates to 1818, when it was opened by local farmer and scythe maker Samuel Hopkinson, will relaunch after a refurbishment. Sam Bell, owner of The Northern Collective, said: “Adding a venue like The Cross Scythes to our hospitality family is a natural next step for us. As a venue, there is so much potential; there is lots of space, four huge rooms, and it is in a great location at the heart of the beautiful suburb of Totley, the gateway to the Peaks. Everything we’ve worked on as a team across our other venues has come together to create The Cross Scythes.” The group’s other venues include The Dore Bar and Grill in Sheffield and Peveril Stores and Bakery in Castleton.

 

Waterside Holiday Group outperforms expectations but finds it ‘tough to keep margins strong’ as profit falls: South west operator Waterside Holiday Group, which operates four holiday parks in Dorset and Cornwall, said it outperformed its expectations in the year to 31 December 2023 but found it “tough to keep margins strong” as profit fell. The group – which operates sites at Bowleaze Cove, Chesil Beach, Osmington Mills and Tregoad – saw its turnover rise from £29,239,226 in 2022 to £31,388,733. Pre-tax profit fell from £4,264,277 to £2,301,420 as costs rose by more than £2m and administration expenses increased by almost the same amount. Dividends of £1m were paid, the same as in 2022. “The group outperformed expectation for the period,” director Miranda Harris said. “It has been tough to keep our margins strong and still maintain our great holiday offering, with inflationary pressures and rising interest rates challenging the business to look for efficiencies, and maintaining pricing competitiveness versus our competitors who look to generate volume over value. In the second half of 2023 we completed the ‘Stables’ project, which created 31 new lodge bases on our Bowleaze site. As a result, we saw significant sales growth at Bowleaze, which has helped the business in terms of rising costs and owner growth. We continued our expansion at Tregoad, increasing our pitches by 35 for 2023. We started late in 2023 a further development of 29 bases, which took total pitches to 204 across the site in 2024. To support this growth, we have also invested in the infrastructure and are reviewing our leisure and facilities offerings to ensure its supports this growth.”

 

The Stafford Collection promotes John McLean to MD: The Stafford Collection, the luxury hospitality group that includes The Stafford London and Norma in the capital and boutique hotel Northcote in the Ribble Valley, has promoted John McLean to managing director. In his new role, McLean, who had been general manager at The Stafford London since May last year, will oversee the entire portfolio. He has more than two decades of experience in the luxury hospitality sector, including roles at The Cadogan Hotel and The Lanesborough in London. The company stated: “John’s vast industry knowledge, and leadership skills have made him a vital part of our team. In the short time he has been at The Stafford London, we have been impressed with his vision and commercial expertise.” McLean said: “My journey in London began more than 30 years ago, right here at The Stafford London, where I worked as a chef. Returning now, it has been truly heartwarming to reconnect with familiar faces from those early days, and I am excited and inspired by the road ahead.”

  

Pachamama Group to convert site in London’s Marylebone to Italian-inspired concept: Restaurant operator Pachamama Group is converting its site in London’s Marylebone to a new concept. Nina will follow the path taken by the group’s other restaurants, Zephyr and Bottarga, in focusing on Mediterranean food, with the new venue inspired by Italy and family-style feasts. Pasta will be the main focus, with dishes such as beef shin tagliatelle and Bottarga linguine with bluefin tuna tartare, reports Hot Dinners. Nina is due to launch on Saturday, 15 March.

 

Gloucester operator Herridge Group acquires second site: Gloucester operator Herridge Group has acquired its second pub. Led by David Herridge, the company has added the Linden Tree in the city to its portfolio. The pub is owned by Red Oak Taverns, the national pub operator founded by Aaron Brown and Mark Grunnell. Herridge Group also operates the Red Oak Taverns-owned The Tall Ship, also in Gloucester. 

 

London bar operators team up for new venture: Chris Tanner and Edwin Frost, who are behind London bars Dram and Oranj respectively, have partnered for a new venture. The duo are launching Câv in Paradise Row in Bethnal Green. Taking over the former The Japanese Canteen space, Câv is due to open on Saturday, 1 March. The venue is planned to be part cocktail bar, part residency, reports Hot Dinners. The food menu will see various operators showcase different cuisines around the world, kicking off with Tasca, with an offering is inspired by Portugal and Spain. There will also be a wine list that specifically showcases female winemakers.

 

Former The Fat Duck and Aubry chef Mary-Ellen McTague to launch Manchester restaurant next month: Former The Fat Duck and Aubry chef Mary-Ellen McTague will launch new restaurant Pip at the upcoming Treehouse Hotel in Manchester next month. Pip will be located on the ground floor of Treehouse Hotel Manchester and will offer a menu that “champions low-waste cooking and seasonal ingredients”. The restaurant will open on Wednesday, 19 March alongside the hotel. With more than 20 years of experience in hospitality and as a restaurateur, Manchester-born McTague has worked alongside Heston Blumenthal at his Michelin-starred restaurants, The Fat Duck and The Hinds Head. Meanwhile, opening later in 2025 will be Sister Moon by Sam Grainger, a south east Asian dining destination, and The Nest in Treehouse (both of the 14th floor), plus rooftop lounge and terrace The Hideout. Treehouse Hotel Manchester, by SH Hotels & Resorts, will be the second property for the Treehouse Hotels brand to open in the UK after an opening in London’s Marylebone.