We Do Play seeking franchisees for new concept ahead of potential rollout: We Do Play – the Flip Out, Activate and Putt Putt Social operator – is seeking franchisees for its new experiential concept ahead of a potential UK rollout. Propel revealed in December that We Do Play had launched Rumble Rooms in the former Brewhouse & Kitchen site in Milton Keynes’ 12th Street. The launch was deliberately low-key, as Propel understands We Do Play is testing the water in Milton Keynes, and trade so far is in line with expectations. We Do Play had a stand at last month’s British & International Franchise Exhibition at London’s Olympia, promoting Rumble Rooms to potential franchisees. Described as “a social jungle like no other” offering “games, drinks and gorilla-sized fun”, Rumble Rooms features axe throwing, shuffleboard, pool, augmented darts, beer pong, arcades and cocktails. The franchise prospectus said a Rumble Rooms franchise would offer “the potential of a great return” with the average UK centre expected to turn over in excess of £1.5m per annum – with the return on investment rate depending on the property deal, how the project is financed and how the centre is operated. We Do Play said potential franchisees need a minimum of £150,000 in available capital, while build costs are expected to be between £650,000 and £900,000, with help available through company investment or finance partners. A map of potential locations shows a spread from Edinburgh to Bournemouth, taking in London and major cities such as Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. In a busy period for the company, We Do Play also launched the debut site for Canadian experiential brand Activate in December, at London’s O2 Arena, and it plans to open four more UK locations by June, with London’s Oxford Street next up. Longer term, We Do Play is planning to launch 30 UK Activate sites by early 2028, in a multimillion-pound rollout across the country.

 

Sponsored message – market-leading brands generating new revenue within week of going live with Guestwise: Market-leading brands are generating new revenue within a week of going live with Guestwise. This fast-growing technology entrant in the sector is driving real results across paid social, web conversions and email marketing for some of the industry’s biggest brands. Guestwise revealed some of the innovative ways it is unlocking untapped revenue: capturing contact details and marketing consent from nearly 4,000 web visitors last week for a casual dining brand, and using CRM-synced audiences with Meta to generate covers for £0.80 for a 150-site family dining brand. Guestwise also helped recover 4% of guests who abandoned their booking journey, using automated emails – that’s 103 covers that almost didn’t happen last week – for one premium steak brand; and through a refer a friend programme, achieved a 44% sign up rate for a premium pub brand with 180 venues – with more than 800 visits from referred friends redeeming their reward. Brands like Ego, Miller & Carter, Toby Carvery, Harvester, Vintage Inns, All Bar One and Browns are using Guestwise to drive more table bookings, sign-ups and marketing consent. Guestwise is offering a free three-month trial for ten multi-site operators to use its revolutionary software. Three of these spaces have already been taken. Click here or email Guestwise chief executive Carey Benn on carey@guestwise.tech. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium Club members to receive next Turnover & Profits Blue Book tomorrow featuring 1,066 companies: Premium Club members will receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book tomorrow (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 665 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 five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, 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 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.

Putting less calorific meals first on menus makes teenagers more likely to order them: New research has found that putting lower calorie meal choices at the top of a restaurant menu, and reducing the availability of high calorie options, makes teenagers more likely to order the healthier options. With childhood obesity rates increasing year-on-year, a study from the University of Birmingham and Aston University has found the positioning of main course options on restaurant menus can help with the battle. The study, which involved 432 teenagers, showed the average number of calories for a selected meal reduced from 2,099.78 to 1,992.13 when the items were ordered from least to highest calorie content. Dr Katie Edwards, research fellow in psychology, who led the study, said: “A key period for targeting dietary intervention is adolescence, when young people become more independent, making their own decisions about diet and socialising with friends more. Interventions have targeted healthy eating at home and at school, but we wanted to see how altering restaurant menus can impact the choices teenagers make.” Dr James Reynolds, senior lecturer in psychology at Aston University, added: “People tend to consume higher calorie meals when they eat out, so restaurants provide an important location for implementing low-cost and high-reach interventions that can encourage healthier eating in teenagers. Many restaurants are already required to display calorie information on their menus, but our research has shown that tactics like altering the position or availability of high calorie options on menus could also be a useful tool in trying to reduce obesity and help young people make healthier choices.”

 

Heineken sells more beer but warns pubs and bars in parts of Europe seeing less demand: Heineken said it sold more beer around the world last year, with demand for premium brands growing, but warned that pubs and bars in parts of Europe were seeing less demand. Heineken reported a 1.6% increase in the volume of beer sold across its global markets during 2024 compared with 2023. This was partly driven by growth for brands it labels as premium, including a 9% jump in volumes of Heineken, with Birra Moretti also selling well. The company’s Heineken 0.0% non-alcoholic beer also saw volumes grow by a tenth year-on-year. Operating profit rose by about 8% to €3.5bn (£2.9bn), with the company benefiting from making productivity savings worth €600m (£500m), which helped it inject more cash into marketing and selling initiatives. Heineken said it is expecting profits to grow further over 2025, by between 4% and 8%. Total revenue nonetheless dipped 1.2% year-on-year to €36bn (£30bn), with the value of sales impacted by the weakening of currencies in Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico. The group, which has some 85,000 employees, hailed the success of launching Spanish lager brand Cruzcampo into UK supermarkets, as well as a more than 40% jump in the volume of Inch cider sales. Nevertheless, Heineken said pubs and bars in parts of Europe were seeing less demand, following price hikes and weaker consumer confidence. This sentiment, as well as ongoing inflationary pressures and wider “geopolitical fluctuations”, could create challenges into 2025, according to the group.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a business that is seeking an experienced internal communications and engagement manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This role will be responsible for developing and executing communication strategies that enhance employee engagement, support change initiatives and strengthen company culture. Working closely with senior stakeholders, the internal communications and engagement manager will ensure that key messages are delivered effectively through multiple channels, driving alignment and engagement across a multi-site, multi-brand and multi-functional business.” The salary is up to £65,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email gemma@corecruitment.com.

 

Greene King Pub Partners to expand Hive and Nest Pubs into Scotland: Greene King Pub Partners – the leased, tenanted and franchise division of Greene King – is set to bring its Hive and Nest franchise pub formats to Scotland for the first time. Both formats will be rolled out in Scotland under the umbrella of Belhaven Pub Partners, building on their successes in England, where Greene King currently operates more than 70 franchise pubs. Belhaven Pub Partners expects to open its first franchise pub in Scotland by April, with plans for more openings across the country throughout 2025. The company is recruiting people with the relevant experience to sign up as partners. A franchisee in Scotland can take over their own pub from £3,000 ingoing cost, which covers agreement fees, induction and on-site training. Earnings are based on a percentage of food and drink sales, with additional opportunities for profit-sharing and performance-based bonuses. Hive Pubs are community-based local pubs with a range of drinks and food, while Nest Pubs are wet-led pubs predominantly located on busy high streets with a simple pizza food offer. All new Belhaven Pub Partners franchise pubs will benefit from six-figure investments, plus Sky Sports and TNT Sports and a budget to provide entertainment for customers. Dan Robinson, managing director of Greene King Pub Partners, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing our franchise pub concepts to Scotland, which is a major step forward for our business. Our aim is to support our franchisees every step of the way as they build thriving pubs at the heart of their local communities, and we look forward to working with talented operators in Scotland to achieve this.” Alasdair Lindsay, business development manager for Belhaven Pub Partners, added: “We have a pipeline of openings, and I am actively looking for any prospective franchisees who are keen to run their own pub business with a full suite of support from Belhaven Pub Partners.”

 

Immersive Gamebox confirms acquisition, promotes Lisa Paton to CEO: Immersive Gamebox, which operates the Electric Gamebox brand, has confirmed its acquisition and recapitalisation by funds controlled by Harlan Capital Partners, which it said marked “a pivotal new chapter in the company’s growth story”. Propel revealed earlier this month that Harlan Capital Partners, the debt provider to the parent company of Immersive Gamebox, had acquired the business out of administration. Launched in 2019, Immersive Gamebox was co-founded by Will Dean, its chief executive, and David Spindler, who serves as the company’s chief financial officer. Dean was the founder and former chief executive of endurance event Tough Mudder. The gaming platform expanded to 32 locations across Europe and the US, including London, New York and Berlin. The company operates eight sites in the UK – four with Gravity Max, plus stand-alone sites in Lakeside in Essex, the Arndale Centre in Manchester, and in London’s Southbank and Shoreditch. The company said its acquisition by Harlan seeks to secure Immersive Gamebox’s “position as a leader in the global social gaming industry”. The company said: “The recapitalisation builds on Immersive Gamebox’s record-breaking performance in December 2024 and January 2025, when the company achieved unprecedented revenue milestones and opened two new franchise locations in France and Canada, demonstrating robust customer demand and a highly scalable business model. With its cutting-edge group gaming experiences and growing global footprint, the company is well-positioned to expand its presence and redefine immersive entertainment.” Immersive Gamebox has also promoted Lisa Paton, the company’s current president, to chief executive. Paton, the former Pizza Hut and BrewDog executive, originally joined Immersive Gamebox as its chief operating officer in summer 2022. She said: “Securing the support of Harlan gives us the foundation to continue an expansion of our global footprint while consistently delivering exceptional experiences for our players.” The company’s board will also be bolstered by the addition of several high-profile industry leaders, including Dan Donahue, former chief operating officer of literary and talent agency ICM Partners; Stephen Colvin, former global chief commercial officer of Bloomberg; and Brook Land, a London attorney with extensive media experience.

 

Brighton Pier Group CEO – doubling pier admission charge ‘critical in helping meet rise in maintenance costs and maintaining it as all-year-round attraction’: Brighton Pier Group is to double the admission charge to Brighton Pier to £2, which chief executive Anne Ackord told Propel will be “critical in helping meet a rise in maintenance costs and maintaining it as an all-year-round attraction”. A £1 charge was introduced in May last year, with an exemption for Brighton residents living in the BN postcode area. The charge was initially applied at weekends only through the month of June, then daily from July onwards, with the fee having remained in place until the October half term. Ackord previously told Propel that the charge would be introduced full time from March 2025, but it has now been revealed the price will rise to £2. Ackord told Propel Brighton residents will continue to be exempt on production of a residents’ card, with an additional 20,000 people welcomed to the residents’ club last year. She said: “Not only can they have free entry, but also receive various offers, especially for them, throughout the year. For example, next Friday (21 February), during half term, all rides will be £2 for resident card holders, a significant discount.” Ackord said for non-residents, charging will start on Saturday, 8 March, and the £2 entry fee will include a £1 voucher to spend on the pier. Charging will be from March until the end of September with weekends only in March and September. Ackord added: “We will continue to invest in the maintenance of what is the finest of all piers and an integral part of the Brighton & Hove landscape. Teams are already working on this year’s sub-structure programme, and half a mile of new decking is already completed. The pier is a substantial structure, and in recent years, maintenance costs have risen by more than a third. The admission fee is critical in helping to meet the unique challenges and costs of preserving the pier’s structural integrity as well as continuing to remain as an all-year-round attraction.”

KFC to open flagship restaurant at London’s The O2, first in a series of new openings: KFC, which operates more than 1,000 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, is to open a new flagship site on Monday (17 February) at London’s The O2. The company, which is aiming to open 500 new restaurants across the country over the next decade and create more than 20,000 jobs, said the opening at The O2 is the first in a series of new KFC openings in 2025, as the “UK’s original fried chicken brand ramps up its expansion across the country”. With more than 180 covers spread across two floors, the restaurant in The O2’s Entertainment District will create 50 jobs. James Whitehorn, chief development officer at KFC UK & Ireland, said: “As one of the capital’s most iconic entertainment venues, The O2 is the perfect home for KFC. We’re thrilled to be expanding our London footprint with this flagship opening.” The new restaurant will join KFC’s portfolio of more than 160 London restaurants. KFC will feature in Propel’s highly anticipated International Brands report. Featuring the 100 leading international brands in UK hospitality, the report 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.

Staycity secures £77m loan as it looks to triple in size by 2029: Aparthotel operator Staycity Group, operator of the Staycity and Wilde brands, has secured a new £77m loan, which the 36-strong business said will help it triple in size over the next five years. The company said the loan capital secured from OakNorth will support future growth as it looks to expand to 18,000 rooms by 2029. Staycity, founded in Dublin in 2004, currently operates 6,000 keys across 36 aparthotels in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the UK. Staycity recently announced the acquisition of a 74.9% stake in the Munich-based Felix Group, giving it properties in Leipzig, Dresden and another site under construction in Vienna. This year, it will open Wilde sites in Amsterdam, Cambridge, Lisbon, Porto and Vienna, with further London locations, a site in Bordeaux and another in Oxford under development. Expansion of the Staycity brand includes the recent addition of 124 apartments in Dalston, east London, and the acquisition of a 98-apartment site in the centre of Belfast. Over the past 12 months, the business has also strengthened its senior executive team, with several key hires including Andrew Fowler as its chief development officer, as well as the consolidation of its acquisitions team. Tom Walsh, chief executive and co-founder of Staycity Group, said: “Staycity has been operating for 20 years, and throughout that time, we’ve expanded and developed as an organisation, but always remained focused on ensuring our customers have a great experience with us.”

 

Rocket Padel founder – the UK has the ‘perfect ingredients’ for the sport to grow here, lines up two new sites: Sebastian Gordon, the founder of Scandinavian padel operator Rocket Padel, has said the UK has the “perfect ingredients” for the sport to grow here, “with its racket heritage from tennis, squash and badminton, and a big mix of people”. It comes as the business gears up to open its fourth site here, in Beckton, east London, in April. This will be the brand’s seventh club worldwide. The company’s branch in Ilford, east London, is so popular it was fully booked on Christmas Day, while the number of players nationwide has mushroomed from 6,000 in 2019 to 129,000 at the last count. Gordon told City AM: “The UK has the perfect ingredients, with its racket heritage from tennis, squash and badminton, and a big mix of people. To some extent, we might not ever reach over-saturation in London, especially on premium indoor [facilities]. London is a high population density city, so there’s a lot of growth to be made, but we are really focusing on where to do that growth and how to help build the sport. We’re taking it step by step. There’s no hurry. I think that the growth happening in the UK now is quite sound, especially in London.” The business, which also operates sites in Battersea Power Station in London and Bristol, plans to open a fifth site later this year, in Croydon, south London. “We’re looking mainly to cover most of London within the next two years,” Gordon said. Rocket Padel’s expansion has seen its turnover grow 250% year-on-year, while it also has designs on a flagship site on the Costa del Sol. The UK government’s pledge to remove red tape around planning and construction, meanwhile, has encouraged Rocket Padel that it can build more purpose-built clubs from scratch. “Within one to three years, we will focus a lot on greenfield projects, building our own clubs like we’ve done in Denmark,” said Gordon.

 

Deliveroo COO Eric French to step down: Former Amazon executive Eric French, who has been Deliveroo’s chief operating officer since January 2021, is to leave the company later this year. Sky News reported that French has told colleagues he will step down. His departure has yet to be announced internally. French joined Deliveroo having spent 15 years at Amazon in a number of senior roles. Sources said his plan to leave Deliveroo was unconnected to ongoing discussions in the company’s boardroom about succession planning for chief executive Will Shu. Sky News revealed earlier this week that Deliveroo’s directors had begun actively debating the prospective timing of Shu’s exit, with one scenario under consideration that he would leave towards the end of this year. Carlo Mocci, Deliveroo’s chief business officer, is regarded as the internal favourite to replace Shu when he stands down. Deliveroo responded to the story by saying there were “no plans for Will to step down”. “Will remains relentlessly focused on the long-term future of Deliveroo and delivering for consumers, merchants and riders,” it said. Insiders labelled the statement “a non-denial denial” and confirmed that headhunters were engaged in chief executive succession planning at the company, which counts PizzaExpress and Waitrose among its delivery partners.

Auntie Anne’s set to open its first converted shipping container store for its Cheshire debut: Pretzel brand Auntie Anne’s is set to open its first store in a converted shipping container for its Cheshire debut. The site will open on Saturday (15 February) at the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet shopping centre in Ellesmere Port. “New store drop – with a twist,” the company posted to social media. “Our first Auntie Anne’s opening of 2025 is here. This Saturday, we’re rolling into Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, the UK’s largest designer outlet, with something special – our first store in a converted shipping container. This marks a major milestone as we keep growing, with plans to hit 50 stores across the UK and Ireland in 2025. Big things are coming.” The US brand, which is operated here by master franchisee Freshly Baked, closed 2024 with 41 UK stores and also last year made its travel hub debut, with a launch at Brighton station. In December, Auntie Anne’s reported a record year of growth in the UK, with like-for-like sales continuously trending upwards more than 10%. Freshly Baked is also the UK master franchisee for Dutch smash burger brand Fat Phill’s, which opened its first site here in December, in Clapham, south London.

 

West Midlands McDonald’s franchisee sees turnover pass £100m for first time: West Midlands McDonald’s franchisee Wright Restaurants’ turnover passed £100m for the first time in the year to 31 December 2023. The company, which is owned by Doug Wright and operates 26 sites, saw turnover increase from £89,517,366 in 2022 to £104,730,859. Pre-tax profit rose from £91,033 in 2022 to £1,420,517. Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £1m (2022: £596,000) and Wright recommended payment of a final dividend amounting to £300,000 (2022: £200,000). Wright, who founded the business in 2002, said: “The year has seen an increase in turnover of 17% (2022: increase of 8%), the gross margin has increased this year to 42% (2022: 40%). As for many businesses, we believe the trading environment that we operate in to be challenging and 2023 proved to be a hard year, with a lot of money being spent on electricity and food costs increases.” Wright, who is also high sheriff of the West Midlands, started at McDonald’s as a cleaner at its Bedford restaurant at the age of 16. He rose through the ranks and was managing his first McDonald’s restaurant, in Oxford, at just 20 – the youngest in the UK to do so.

 

Press Up Hospitality Group renamed as Eclective after restructuring: Irish hospitality group Press Up has been rebranded and changed its name to Eclective, as part of a restructuring of the business. Last year, Press Up was taken over by Cheyne Capital, a London-based asset management firm, when it acquired Press Up’s debts in exchange for equity in the company. Eclective currently employs more than 850 people across 24 sites in Dublin. The group said the new identity “signals the next stage for the group while preserving its legacy of innovation”. Eclective chief commercial officer Tristan Jacob said: “Although not a word in the dictionary, it captures the essence of our group that celebrates different experiences in unique venues for people from all walks of life.” Last year, the business appointed KPMG’s Shane McCarthy and Cormac O’Connor as receivers to four businesses that control 12 venues under its Elephant & Castle, Wagamama and Wowburger operations. In December, Eclective opened a new Asian restaurant, Kaldero, on the site of the Wagamama restaurant in King Street South beside St Stephen’s Green. 

 

Scottish operator Di Maggio’s Restaurant Group plans Richmond opening for London debut: Scottish operator Di Maggio’s Restaurant Group (DRG) is set to make its London debut, with its Café Andaluz concept, in Richmond, Propel has learned. Propel understands that DRG, which last week revealed plans for several new restaurants, including its London debut, as part of a major expansion push, is set to open a site in The Gosling, the new mixed-use development in Richmond. Last week, DRG said it was currently in “advanced discussions” to open its first diner in London as part of its plans to expand its Café Andaluz concept. It is thought the business had also run the rule over the former Iberica site in Farringdon, which was subsequently acquired out of administration by Camino. It comes after Café Andaluz branches opened in Newcastle – its first in England – and in Stockbridge, in Edinburgh, taking the company’s estate of sites under the concept to seven. Last year, the group acquired the Glasgow-based Paesano Pizza and Sugo Pasta businesses for an eight-figure sum from restaurateur Paul Stevenson, with both concepts set to be expanded. One of the Paesano locations is set to be in Pollokshaws Road in Shawlands, on the south side of Glasgow, where it will take over the group’s former Di Maggio’s premises this summer. DRG, which is owned by Mario Gizzi and Tony Conetta, said further rollouts are expected over the next 12 months. Earlier this month, Propel reported DRG, which operates 21 sites, saw pre-tax profit grow to £5,168,430 for the year ended 28 April 2024 from £4,906,554 in 2023, off turnover of £49,520,159, up from £45,837,615 in 2023.

 

The Fat Duck Group confirms return of Simon King as new MD: The Fat Duck Group has confirmed Simon King has rejoined the business, where he was once an operations manager, as its new managing director. Propel revealed in December that King, who stepped down as operations director at The Wolseley Hospitality Group last summer after less than a year in the role, was set to return to The Fat Duck Group. King, who previously spent five years at The Fat Duck Group, has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years. He started his career at The Ritz in London and, following several senior roles at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, Fat Duck Group and JKS Restaurants, he acted as chief operating officer at The Birley Clubs group before joining The Wolseley Hospitality Group. In 2021, he opened The Victoria in Oxshott, Surrey, with former head chef at the Crown at Bray, Matt Larcombe. At the same time, The Fat Duck Group has promoted James “Jocky” Petrie, who has been with the business for 24 years, to global culinary director. The Fat Duck Group stated: “We are delighted to announce two key appointments. Jocky’s journey with The Fat Duck began 24 years ago as head of pastry, playing a vital role in the restaurant’s achievement of its third Michelin star. Since then, he has been instrumental in shaping our creative development, and we are thrilled to have him lead our culinary vision on a global scale. We are also delighted to welcome back Simon King, who was part of The Fat Duck team 15 years ago and played a pivotal role in opening Dinner by Heston London. His expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we move forward into this exciting new era.”

 

Company behind Wulf & Lamb placed into administration: The future of the London fast casual vegan concept Wulf & Lamb has been thrown into doubt after the company behind the business was placed into administration. Propel understands that Leonard Curtis has been appointed as administrators to Phyto Nourishment. The company, which was the brainchild of Rosanna Von Zweigbergk and Philip Ryan, opened its debut site, in Pavilion Road, Chelsea, in October 2017. In 2020, it opened a second site, in Chiltern Street, Marylebone. Both sites are currently closed. The all-day dining concept’s menu was previously overseen by former Vanilla Black head chef Franco Casolin. It is best known for its “indulgent mac ‘n’ cheese and burgers” but also offers healthy salads and whole-food plant-based dishes.

 

Independent coffee company Bean secures debut Leeds site for first outlet outside north west: Independent coffee company Bean has secured its debut Leeds site for its first outlet outside the north west. The company will open at 11 Wellington Place today (Thursday, 13 February) having agreed a deal with MEPC, the developer and asset manager behind the scheme. Jon Whyte, co-founder and managing director at Bean Coffee, said: “Wellington Place is a bustling, energetic district in the heart of the city. As our first store in Leeds, we knew we wanted to be part of this community.” Bean operates 13 sites across Liverpool and Greater Manchester.

 

Meatailer opens new bar concept: Meatailer, the Scott Collins-led operator of the MeatLiquor concept, has opened its new sports bar concept, BLOODsports, in London’s West End. Last September, Meatailer acquired the lease of the former Circus site at 27-29 Endell Street via a share purchase. The property extends to approximately 7,000 square feet, with the ground floor sales area extending to approximately 5,000 square feet. A spokesperson told Propel: “Covent Garden’s bar scene gets a thrilling upgrade with the launch of BLOODsports, a new sports bar from MeatLiquor founder Scott Collins. Situated in Endell Street, this ‘watching bar’ draws inspiration from iconic dive and sports bars across the US. Guests can enjoy live broadcasts of all major sports day and night, alongside late-night horror film screenings (from 9pm onwards). The drinks menu features slushies and highballs, while the food offering includes the classic MeatLiquor menu with exclusive new dishes.” The venue also incorporates a branch of Hideout, a coffee and doughnut concept from Portsmouth. MeatLiquor currently operates seven sites across the capital, plus restaurants in Brighton and Leeds. The company also operates The Dartmouth Arms in London’s Forest Hill.

 

Swingers makes Middle East debut with first franchise site: Crazy golf brand Swingers has made its debut in the Middle East with the opening of its first franchise site, in Dubai’s Bluewaters Island. Swingers Dubai is spread over 22,000 square feet and two floors. The venue features three crazy golf courses and gourmet street food, with a menu including burgers from Patty & Bun, tacos from Burro Blanco and pizza from Mateo’s Pizzeria. The venue is also home to Swingers’ first speakeasy. Swingers operates five other sites – two in the UK and three in the US, where it will add to its portfolio with an opening in Boston later this year.

 

South west restaurant operator The Beach House Group opens fourth site: South west restaurant operator The Beach House Group has opened its fourth site. The company, owned by Tamara Costin and William Speed, has launched its second Beach House, overlooking Swanpool Beach and nature reserve on the outskirts of Falmouth, Cornwall. The group acquired the former Hooked on the Rocks seafood restaurant in October last year and has converted it to Beach House, with seating for 100 covers inside and a further 200 covers on the outdoor terrace. The Beach House menu has a Mediterranean influence along with seafood dishes sourced from Cornish waters. Costin and Speed had a connection to the site, with Speed’s grandmother and aunt both having worked at its former guises in the 1960s and 1990s. The original Beach House opened in 2010 at South Milton Sands, a National Trust-protected area of South Hams, Devon. Costin and Speed have opened two further sites – School House restaurant in Mothecombe, Devon, and Harbour House pub in Flushing, Cornwall. The latter will welcome three en-suite bedrooms later this year, marking the group’s first accommodation offering. 

 

Chef David Taylor set to open second venture at historic West Midlands estate: Chef David Taylor is set to open his second venture at the historic Hampton House estate in the West Midlands. Taylor, who trained under Glynn Purnell before moving to Norway, where he was part of the team that won three Michelin stars at Oslo’s Maaemo, opened his first solo restaurant, Grace & Savour, at Hampton Manor in 2022. With Grace & Savour having received a Michelin star just one year after opening, Taylor will open his second restaurant at Hampton Manor, Kynd, on Friday, 28 February. Here, the focus will be on more of a more “casual yet considered offering” while embracing a low-waste, farm-to-table ethos. The seasonal menu will champion local suppliers, plus produce from the estate’s Victorian Walled Garden, for dishes with French, British and Nordic influences. Wood-fired dishes will feature prominently, including ex-dairy flat iron with black garlic and onion miso butter, and line caught gurnard with lobster bisque and soppressata, with sides such as grilled carrots and their tops sat in a warming lacto chill butter emulsion, and crispy mushroom potato rosti. There will also be a bespoke wine list from Hampton Manor managing director, James Hill, available by the glass, carafe or bottle. Taylor said: “Cooking over fire, with flavours you want to gorge over, in a warm buzzy atmosphere while showcasing the wonderful farmers and growers that are working hard to leave our land in a better way. This restaurant is to be a love letter to the amazing work people do to take care of our planet while growing, fishing or crafting delicious produce.”

 

Padel operator whose backers include England cricketer Joe Root secures investment to open Sheffield’s first indoor venue: Padel operator Play Padel Group, whose backers include England cricket Joe Root, has secured investment and a venue to bring the first dedicated indoor padel venue to Sheffield. The courts are set to open at Abbeydale Tennis Club in the spring. A pay-and-play model will be adopted at the courts to ensure year-round play from 6am until 10pm. The venue will also feature a coffee bar and social seating area. Play Padel Group is led by project founder Alex Fleming and backed by RDM, a consortium of Root, current Rotherham United FC goalkeeper Cameron Dawson, well-being entrepreneur Harry Bliss and sports brand entrepreneur Chris Millard. Root said: “Sheffield has always been my home, and I’m so excited to help bring a sport as dynamic and social as padel to the city. Being part of a project in my hometown is something really special. Padel is for everyone, and I can’t wait to see people here getting involved.” Millard added: “As someone who has built communities in sport for the past decade, it only felt right that we should put a team together to bring the world’s fastest growing sport to the Steel City.”