UKHospitality partners with government to roll out sector-based training programme in ‘incredibly significant development for hospitality businesses’: UKHospitality will partner with The Department for Work and Pensions to roll out hospitality Sector Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) to 26 new areas in need of jobs, in what the trade body said is an “incredibly significant development for hospitality businesses”. The announcement follows a hugely successful pilot of the scheme in 2024, run by UKHospitality, which delivered an 85% completion rate. Of those who completed the course, 80% secured employment in hospitality. The hospitality SWAP delivers bespoke training to people looking for work, trains them with relevant skills, provides a work placement and a guaranteed interview. Alison McGovern MP, minister for employment, will today (Wednesday, 25 February) address delegates at UKHospitality’s Workforce and Skills event today to discuss the announcement and roll out of the schemes. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “UKHospitality’s SWAP pilot proved to be a brilliant way to provide high quality, entry-level training for both new starters and those looking to get back into work. I’m delighted that the government is rolling out our pilot to 26 new areas and using it as the model for its exciting plans to deliver at least 100,000 SWAP participants next year. This announcement gives us the impetus to expand our work across the country, help more people find rewarding jobs in hospitality, boost growth, tackle economic inactivity and continue to develop our hospitality skills passport.” Included within the scheme will include the development of hospitality skills passports – a transferrable tool that team members can use to demonstrate their competence and qualifications. “This is an incredibly significant development for hospitality businesses, and one that UKHospitality has been working on for a number of years,” Nicholls added. “I am incredibly excited to see the tangible benefit this will deliver for the sector. There will be a number of ways to get involved and I would urge businesses to register their interest with UKHospitality.”

 

Propel’s International Brands report showcasing the 100 top global hospitality operators in the UK 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 comprehensive 30,000-word report covers company histories, leadership structures, site numbers and turnover figures – an essential resource for industry professionals. The top 100 features fast-growing brands from major international markets, including the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. The guide will be delivered in two formats: an introductory PDF featuring expert analysis on international brands and a fully searchable Excel sheet for quick access to key data. This data will be categorised into the key sectors of pubs and bars, hotels, quick-service restaurants (QSR), casual dining, cafés and bakeries, experiential leisure and fine dining. Industry experts sharing their insights in the report include Keith Bird, former chief executive of Marugame Udon, on the challenges of introducing an international brand into the UK; Simon Chaplin, senior director of pubs, restaurants and franchise at Christie & Co, on why London remains a prime entry point for international brands; 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 choose the UK for expansion; and Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vanifatova on the UK market for QSR operators. The International Brands report will be available from 9am on Friday, 28 March, priced at £595 plus VAT. Existing Premium Club subscribers can purchase at a discounted rate of £395 plus VAT. Premium Club subscribers will also receive the report free of charge on Friday, 9 May at 9am. Secure your copy now – pre-order today by emailing kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive updated Multi-Site Database with 3,335 operators and 24 new companies on Friday: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database on Friday (28 February). The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,335 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 972 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 790 (24%) pub and bar operators, 569 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 466 (14%) quick service restaurant (QSR) operators, 273 (8%) hotel operators, 210 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 55 (2%) fine dining operators. It is updated each month, and this edition includes 24 new companies. New additions to the QSR sector include Dave’s Hot Chicken, the fast-growing US brand, McDonald’s franchisee PGL Enterprises, and Brgr Lab, the smash burger business. Premium Club subscribers 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 subscribers 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 International Brands report. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers 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 subscribers 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 subscribers 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.

 

Restaurant operator bosses join Deliveroo’s call to protect delivery drivers in upcoming Crime & Policing Bill: Bosses from more than 30 leading UK restaurants and supermarkets have written to home secretary Yvette Cooper calling for greater protections for delivery drivers in the upcoming Crime & Policing Bill. The joint letter forms part of Deliveroo’s “Right to Ride Safely” campaign, which launched in November 2024 and is backed by GMB, one of the UK’s largest unions, and the British Retail Consortium. The government has committed to creating a stand-alone offence of assaulting or threatening a retail worker when they’re at their place of work in the upcoming Crime & Policing Bill. But bosses of restaurant operators – including PizzaExpress, Big Table Group, Wingstop and Dishoom – and the other signatories, who combined operate more than 3,000 sites, say this stops short of protecting delivery riders when they are on a delivery. The group is calling on the government to protect delivery riders for the entire duration of their delivery. Deliveroo’s “Right to Ride Safely” campaign was launched after figures revealed there had been a 28% increase in the total number of abusive incidents towards riders when compared with the six months prior. The letter stated: “There are real people behind these numbers – people who face physical and verbal assault, racism, sexism and theft. It’s time for the government to act and send a clear message: abuse against delivery riders will not be tolerated. The UK hospitality and retail industries play a vital role in the UK’s economy and delivery riders are integral to that. Protecting them must be a priority for us all.”

 

Only A Pavement Away places more than 600 people into work over six years: Only A Pavement Away, the sector charity supporting people facing homelessness and those wanting to rebuild their lives through employment in hospitality, has said it has found more than 600 people jobs since being founded six years ago. The charity’s latest annual impact report revealed it has placed a total of 661 people into employment, which it said has been worth £25.1m to the UK economy through reduced government support, financial independence and increased household expenditure. Only A Pavement Away has also provided significant financial support to its beneficiaries, awarding more than £58,000 to help them start and sustain employment since 2018. A further 2,850 people have been supported through the charity’s learning and development programmes. Only A Pavement Away founder Greg Mangham said: “Our charity is built on a simple yet powerful concept – equipping people with new skills and life-changing opportunities while addressing a critical recruitment need in the hospitality industry. Over the last six years, we’ve seen first-hand that this process works for our candidates, employer partners and the wider economy, and the numbers speak for themselves.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a London boutique hotel that is seeking a general manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will oversee the entire operation, ensuring smooth day-to-day management and delivering an exceptional guest experience. The hotel is looking for an inspirational leader who is dedicated to developing their team and fostering a culture of excellence. The general manager will be responsible for managing the hotel’s profitability, meeting key performance targets and implementing a five-star service strategy. They will lead and support the team effectively, ensuring high standards across all departments. Additionally, they will be responsible for creating and delivering achievable budgets while developing a long-term strategic plan for the hotel’s success. Working closely with the owners, the general manager will play a crucial role in driving the hotel’s growth and reputation.” The salary is up to £65,000. For more information, email ed@corecruitment.com.

 

US Greek grill concept seeking master franchisee in the UK as it sees potential for 400 locations here: US Greek grill concept, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, has told Propel it is seeking a master franchisee in the UK as it sees the potential for 400 locations here. The original The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill was opened in 2011, in a small community on the outskirts of Las Vegas, by a Greek-Armenian family, serving family dishes passed down through the generations. When the family put the restaurant up for sale in 2015, it was acquired by neighbours Nick Della Penna and Trent Jones, who took over the running of the restaurant the following year. Having opened second and third locations, the duo decided to partner with the United Franchise Group, and by the end of 2024, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill had more than 70 locations in the US and Canada. The brand was one of the international exhibitors at last year’s London International Franchising Expo, as it seeks the right partner here to expand with. Bob Andersen, president of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, told Propel: “We believe the potential across the UK is to have 400 locations. The brand’s expansion into the UK is already underway as we actively seek a master franchise partner to support this growth. In the UK, our growth will be driven through a master franchise partner, with ongoing corporate support from our global team. This approach combines the strengths of partnering with an experienced UK-based restaurant development and operations partner, while benefiting from the expertise and resources of our global team. The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is part of United Franchise Group, a recognised leader in the franchising industry with nearly 40 years of experience in supporting entrepreneurs.” Simpson said The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill specialises in healthy fast food using fresh ingredients, offering salads and bowls, gyros, burgers, wraps, pitas, souvlaki, mezze, sides and desserts. He added: “Our point of difference is our authentic recipes passed down through the generations, offering the fresh taste of Greece and the Mediterranean, all made in house daily and offering a great selection of choices for everyone. We focus on a culture to deliver a quality service experience in a fine fast casual environment, and ultimately, guest value and satisfaction.” The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, the latest edition of which has 330 entries. The next edition will be sent to Premium Club subscribers on Wednesday, 12 March, with updates to existing entries plus ten new entries.  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.

Cornish Bakery reports 9.7% lfl sales growth in second half of 2024, six new bakeries in legals: Fast-growing independent brand Cornish Bakery has reported 9.7% like-for-like sales growth in second half of 2024 and said it has six new bakeries in legals. It also reported a 26% growth in total sales in the period, during which it opened new stores in Nottingham, Taunton, Winchester, Chelmsford, Milton Keynes and Cirencester to bring its total to 66. The company said having had its most successful ever opening with its Milton Keynes launch, its latest opening, in Cirencester’s Market Place, is “performing significantly ahead of its target figures within the first few weeks of operation”. Cornish Bakery currently has six more properties in legals, with the locations to be announced in the near future, and is currently refurbishing its bakeries in Totnes, Swanage, Bude, Fowey and Sidmouth. Managing director Mat Finch said: “With a flurry of new openings, five major refurbishments and another six new bakery locations lined up – alongside our constantly rising sales and team engagement figures – 2025 is going to be an exciting year for us. I am also delighted to announce we have just paid another dividend to all qualifying colleagues. This is additional to their half year bonus, and we really believe this strengthens our relationships and gives the team a real sense of ownership. All of our growth is driven first and foremost by our people-first culture, and 69% of our vacancies being filled internally shows our dedication to internal progression and reward.” The company has also launched pistachio croissants, apple crumble scones, feta and pea tortilla and sticky toffee pastries into its menu. Earlier this month, Cornish Bakery reported turnover rose to £29,357,900 in the 52 weeks to 30 May 2024 (2023: £23,671,769), while profit before tax was down to £1,140,900 from £1,379,056 the year before. It is aiming to open ten new locations this year as it works towards an estate of “at least” 100 locations.

 

Shiko Group approaches £10m turnover, predicts biggest year to date: North West bar and kitchen operator Shiko Group is predicting its biggest year to date when it publishes its annual figures next month, projecting a turnover of £9.2m this year – just six years after acquiring its first venue, The Lawn Club in Manchester. Collaborating with its funding partner, Universal Hospitality, Shiko Group said it is forecasting an even bigger 2025-26, with a predicted turnover of £14m with the addition of proposed new sites in Manchester and beyond. Since 2019, when its turnover was just £300,000, the company said it has gone from strength to strength, spanning Manchester and Leeds with eight venues – Side Street, Courts Club, The Lawn Club, The Dome, The Stables and Foley’s in Manchester, alongside its two Leeds locations, Fearns and The Canary. Co-founder Anthony Ellis, who named the business after his late mother Yoshiko, said: “From the offset, [co-founder] Jonathan [Ware] and I have looked to create unique venues and unforgettable experiences, and much of the success is not only down to our fantastic collection of venues, but the hard work of our agile and adaptable team, without whom none of this would be possible. The future’s certainly very bright.” The company was born out of its sister company, events firm WePop.

 

Gail’s plans Bath opening: Fast-growing bakery brand Gail’s plans to further increase its presence in the south west with an opening in Bath. Gail’s made its debut in the south west last year with an opening in Bristol. The business opened its second site in the city last Friday (21 February) in Whiteladies Road, and will follow this with a third, in Bristol College Green, on Thursday, 27 March. Gail’s has now lined up an opening on the former Soho Coffee site on the corner of Upper Borough Walls and Union Street in Bath. Last week, co-founder Tom Molnar said the Gail’s uses a self-built computer algorithm to select the location of new sites. He said the algorithm is a less-advanced form of artificial intelligence that helps the circa 155-strong business decide what makes a “good place” to open a store. The brand plans to open between 30 to 40 new bakeries this year. 

 

Scottish family bakery opens landmark 70th store after reporting record profit and turnover: Scottish family bakery Bayne's has opened its landmark 70th store after reporting record profit and turnover. The company, which is this year celebrating its 70th anniversary, this week opened its 70th store, at Perth’s Inveralmond Retail Park. Joint managing director John Bayne said: “A decade ago, we had 490 colleagues supporting 52 shops. Today, we’ve nearly doubled our workforce to 960, ensuring we continue to bring fresh, quality baking to communities across Scotland. Looking ahead, we plan to open three or four new shops annually over the next decade while continuing to invest in product innovation and digital transformation to meet evolving customer needs.” It comes as the business reported a record profit for the year to 31 March 2024. The group made a pre-tax profit of £3,416,522 – up from £2,189,928 and its highest since 2021, when its profit of £3,025,132 was boosted by government grants totalling £1,311,438. Grant income in 2024 was £6,524 (2023: £6,528). The company also reported a third successive year of record turnover, which grew from £35,157,187 in 2023 to £44,488,018. Of this, £43,286,884 came from retail bakery (2023: £33,993,432) and £1,201,134 from its farm (2023: £1,163,755). Store count at the year-end was 65, up from 63 in 2023. Dividends of £160,000 were paid (2023: £100,000). 

Wendy’s set to open in Blackpool and Southampton: Wendy’s, the second-largest quick service restaurant brand in the US, is set to open new restaurants in Blackpool and Southampton. Franchisee Papas Hospitality Group has applied to open in the former Viva Vegas Diner in Blackpool’s Promenade, close to Blackpool Tower, reports the Blackpool Gazette. Papas Hospitality Group, which was one of the first franchisees to open a Wendy’s when it returned to the UK in 2021, already operate a Papas Fish and Chips next door to the site, on the corner of Church Street. Papas Hospitality Group also operates Wendy’s locations in Sheffield, Lincoln, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Hull and Newcastle. The new site would be only the second Wendy’s in Lancashire, joining its Preston location. Meanwhile, The Daily Echo reports that Wendy’s is planning an opening in the former John Anthony clothes shop at 17 Above Bar Street in Southampton. The restaurant would take over the ground floor of the unit, with Chinese restaurant Shanghai Bay, positioned on the first floor of the building, unaffected. The new site would be only the second Wendy’s in Hampshire, joining its Portsmouth location. Wendy’s operates circa 50 sites in the UK.

 

Buns from Home secures London’s St Paul’s site: Buns from Home, the independent London bakery brand, has added a site in London’s St Paul’s to its 2025 opening pipeline. The 21-strong brand has secured the former Kaleido Rolls site by St Paul’s Station on a five-year lease. Buns from Home kicked off its 2025 pipeline last month with a double opening, including its first train station location. It opened within a railway arch at Kings Cross station and at 15 Water Road in Hawley Wharf, Camden. The company followed this up with an opening at The Cut, in Waterloo. Matthew Englender, associate at Cushman & Wakefield, acted on behalf of the landlord of the St Paul’s site (Places for London), while Sophie Street, of Street Property Consultants, acted on behalf of Buns from Home. Englender said: “We received eight formal proposals for the site, and there were plenty of viewings during the time of marketing. It’s a great indicator that the City of London is still alive and kicking.”

 

Hakkasan to close original site: Hakkasan has announced it will close its original site, in London’s Fitzrovia, after 24 years of trading. The site in Hanway Place, near Tottenham Court Road, will close on Friday (28 February). The restaurant was launched in 2001 by Alan Yau, founder of Wagamama. A spokesperson for Hakkasan said: “After 24 years of culinary excellence and unparalleled service, the original Hakkasan in Hanway Place will bid farewell with its final service on Friday. Fortunately, our cherished guests can continue to savour signature dishes — such as our iconic Peking duck with caviar — at 11 locations worldwide, including our flagship Mayfair London restaurant near Berkeley Square.” Last November, Hakkasan saw its revenue climb to $87m and losses widen to $6.9m in its first year under new ownership. The global restaurant group was sold, together with other intermediary holding companies under parent group Tao Group, to Mohari Hospitality in May 2023, in a deal that valued the whole business at $550m.

 

Dubai-based café concept opens UK debut site: Dubai-based café concept BLK Cab (Coffee & People) has opened its first international site, in London. The business, which was founded in 2017, has opened at 1 Barrett Street, St Christopher’s Place. The company currently operates 11 sites across Dubai, including at City Walk and Dubai Marina. BLK Cab was founded by Kareem Samir and Kaniz Mostaffa, who when they first moved to the UAE to start the business, wanted to “bring a taste and a touch of their home city, London”.

 

Junk Burger secures second London site: Junk Group, the French-based business that operates four concepts across France, has secured the second site in London for its smash burger concept, Junk Burger. The company, which told Propel last year that it could bring more of its formats here, was founded by Wissem Ben Ammar and Majed Mansour in 2013. Last September, they brought Junk Burger to the UK, having launched it in 2022 and grown it to seven sites in France. Propel understands that Junk Group has now secured the ex-Marugame Udon site in St Christopher’s Place for a further Junk Burger opening. Mansour told Propel last month: “Our ambition for Junk remains the same: around ten locations by mid-2026.” The company is working with Marc Rogers, of MKR Property, on its expansion plans for Junk Burger and its cookie concept, Puffy. For Junk Burger, it is seeking sites of 800 to 2,500 square feet with full kitchen extraction in high-footfall London locations, including: South Kensington/Knightsbridge, King’s Cross, Covent Garden, Victoria and the City (Spitalfields, Bank). Propel revealed earlier this month that Junk Group had secured a UK debut site for Puffy and is set to take the Orée Boulangerie site in Old Compton Street, in London’s Soho, next to its debut Junk Burger site. 

 

Radisson Blu London launches new dining concept: Radisson Blu London, which operates nine hotels in the capital and is part of Raddison Group, has launched a new dining concept. The Lounges has been launched in its Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street hotels and is open to both hotel guests and the public. Offering an “elevated all-day dining experience showcasing the best of British cuisine”, dishes include freshly battered haddock and chips and homemade shepherd’s pie, alongside lighter choices such as salads and sandwiches. Raddison Blu also has hotels in South Kensington, Marble Arch, Bloomsbury, Mercer Street, Euston Square, Leicester Square and Canary Wharf East – all operated by hotel management company Axiom Hospitality Group. Emma Figge, head of marketing and brand at Axiom, said: “Our goal with The Lounges is to create a space where guests and locals can enjoy quality British cuisine in a relaxed, welcoming environment. The concept reflects the growing demand for convenience without compromising on exceptional dining and is perfectly suited to our Central London locations.” The wider Radisson Hotel Group has more than 1,430 hotels in operation and under development in 95 countries, across brands including Radisson Collection, art’otel, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson and Prize by Radisson.

Vietnamese Kitchen Group opens fourth Kêu site: The Vietnamese Kitchen Group has opened the fourth site under its Saigon street food-inspired Kêu concept, its seventh site overall. The new Kêu site has opened on the former Patty & Bun site at 19 London Bridge Road, Borough, joining its other locations at 9 Poland Street in Soho, 332 Old Street in Shoreditch and 169 London Wall in the City. An expanded menu features a wider variety of noodles and rice dishes, including the business’ signature banh mi, and extended hours. There is noodle house style seating with tables and stools upstairs, while the downstairs includes a long table that can accommodate up to 12 diners. The group also operates two Cay Tre restaurants, in Soho and Hoxton, as well as a single Vite Grill site, in Hoxton. Vietnamese Kitchen Group was founded by Hieu Bui in 2003.

 

Padel concept opens in Reading for fifth site: Padel concept The Padel Hub has opened in Reading for its fifth site. The Padel Club has leased a 24,954 square-foot space at B1- B3 Kenavon Drive from ViridisReal Estate to launch the first dedicated indoor padel club serving the Reading area, offering five courts, a bar and café area and a fully equipped gym. The new location joins The Padel Hub’s clubs in Slough, Crawley, north London and Epsom, with more in the planning stage set to open throughout 2025. “We are thrilled to bring The Padel Hub to such a fantastic location in Reading,” said Charles Winterton, The Padel Hub’s chief executive and founder. “Our goal is to create a welcoming environment where people can enjoy padel, improve their skills and connect with fellow padel enthusiasts.” At the end of last year, The Padel Hub completed a £1,539,937 fundraise on Crowdcube to support its expansion plans, having overfunded on its original £1.35m target. A total of 231 investors were offered equity of 5.8%, giving the company a pre-money valuation of £25m. Viridis Real Estate was advised by Knight Frank and Haslams Surveyors LLP. 

 

South Africa-based Jimmy’s Killer Prawns opens in Nottingham, set to return to Leicester: South Africa-based Jimmy’s Killer Prawns has opened in Nottingham and is set to return to Leicester with a new location. The brand, which launched in 1991 and made its UK debut in 2021, has opened in a former Barclays Bank, which was most recently a shisha bar, at 235 Derby Road in Nottingham. The venue joins the Jimmy’s Killer Prawns locations at 13-25 Liverpool Road in Manchester and 262 Warwick Road in Birmingham. Franchisee Farhan Patel told the Nottingham Post: “Prawns are the core of Jimmy’s. They used to have three levels of spice, the original, spicy and extra spicy, but they have added two more spice levels. Extreme spice is trying to hit a different demographic, more south Asian. It’s naga sauce – it takes it to a different level. Seafood is like Marmite; those who love it absolutely love it, but some people never dare touch it. I’ve had a lady who has been here three days in a row. I was wanting to open this for a while.” Jimmy’s Killer Prawns’ original UK location, at 58a London Road in Leicester, has now permanently closed, but Propel understands a new location in the city will be opening soon.

 

Ma Pub Group to open fourth Liverpool site: Independent Liverpool bar operator Ma Pub Group is opening its fourth site in the city. Following a £150,000 investment, the group, which is headed by operator Iain Hoskins, will open Newington Temple, situated just off Bold Street. The venue will become the group’s fourth city-centre site, joining Nova Scotia (opened in 2022), Tempest on Tithebarn (2021), and Ma Boyle’s Alehouse & Eatery (2015). Ma Pub Group said it will return the centuries-old Newington Temple to a traditional wet-led-classic pub, with an emphasis on draught and cask ale and showing Premier League football. The site will be closed for refurbishment and is due to reopen in mid-March. Hoskins told the Liverpool Echo: “Having started with my first wet-led pub 13 years ago, Ma Egerton’s Stage Door, and since then opening food-led hospitality businesses, I feel like I’ve come full circle with Newington Temple. Pubs are back in a massive way, and Liverpool is leading the renaissance for not only all the new openings, but the diversity in the styles of pub-outlets – most of them independently owned and operated. Newington will definitely have that classic Victorian pub feel, but with an edge like you would see in some of our current sites like Ma Boyle’s and Nova Scotia, and like those, its appeal will be cross-generational. While the trading environment has been tough with huge ongoing challenges, I’m proud our existing sites continue to grow their sales and reputation amid these choppy times. Newington Temple is a great addition to our portfolio.” Ma Pub Group said its existing three sites have continued to trade strongly, with a “strong 2024 leading into hopes for a busy 2025”.

 

Signorelli opens fourth East London venue: East London bakery Signorelli has opened its fourth bakery in the area. It has struck a deal with landlord Lendlease for the opening of The Coffee House by Signorelli as the coffee operator within Stratford Cross’ recently completed Turing Building. The 229 square-foot coffee shop is Signorelli’s fourth location in Stratford and second within Stratford Cross, joining its Signorelli cafés at 15 Endeavour Square and 7 Victory Parade and its Bakehouse & Bakers Bar at 1 Fortunes Walk. The Coffee House said it brings “an elevated coffee experience, offering high-quality blends, plus artisan pastries, freshly baked in-house around the corner at Bakehouse by Signorelli”. Rebecca Rosmini, chief executive officer at The Coffee House, said: “Opening The Coffee House is a significant milestone for us. Inspired by the warmth and success of our first location, we are excited to bring our passion for authentic Italian coffee and artisan baking to the heart of the Turing Building. This space perfectly embodies our commitment to quality, craftsmanship and creating a welcoming community where people can connect over exceptional coffee and freshly baked pastries.” Savills, CF Commercial and Shelley Sandzer represented Lendlease, while RSR Properties represented The Coffee House.

Team behind The Baring in London’s Islington to open second site: The team behind The Baring in London’s Islington is heading south of the Thames for its second opening. Adam Symonds and Rob Tecwyn have acquired The Crooked Well in Camberwell, which closed at the end of last year, and will reopen it as The Kerfield Arms in April. The pub will have outside seating, and there will be a private space upstairs. The food menu will be based on “simple yet considered cooking, promoting humble ingredients and seasonal produce”, with dishes including grilled monkfish, hand rolled fregola and shrimp bisque; and ricotta and nettle dumplings, broad beans and wild garlic buttermilk. The drinks offer will include beer, a wine selection that will focus on old-world varieties from small producers, and cocktails. Symonds and Tecwyn launched The Baring in 2022 – ten years after they first met at the Bull and Last in Highgate. In between, Tecwyn worked as head chef at Dabbous and The Henrietta Hotel, as well as senior sous chef at Kerridge’s Bar and Grill. Symonds, meanwhile, spent five years at the helm at the Bull and Last, as well as time at Notting Hill restaurants Orasay and Six Portland Road. Restaurant Property acted on the Kerfield Arms deal.

 

Former Soho House New York executive head chef to open second venue in London’s Stratford: Former Soho House New York executive head chef Glen Lee is set to open his second venue in London’s Stratford. Lee, who opened restaurant and cocktail bar Darkhorse in the Olympic Park’s East Village with Ian Goodman ten years ago, has once again partnered with Goodman for wine bar Templar in Stratford Cross. Located at 5 Redman Place, Templar will offer a menu of Italian-leaning sharing plates and a focus on low intervention wine. Dishes will include pig’s head croquette with fennel and Muscat grape salad; chargrilled monkfish tail with white wine sauce, sea herbs and pickled mushrooms; and sea bass crudo with Amalfi lemon, cucumber, wild fennel and coriander. Opening on Saturday (1 March), the venue will offer an open dining room and bar stocked with Italian spirits, and a roof-level mezzanine with a wine cave and a semi-private dining room overlooking the main restaurant. Glen – who worked at Soho House New York for just under a decade, first as head chef and then executive head chef – said: “After the success of Darkhorse, we’re thrilled to open Templar in nearby Stratford Cross. Come along for sharing plates and a glass of wine or join us for larger dishes and an evening of cocktails.” The bar’s name derives from the Knights Templar owning the land in the 1080s, where they built wooden watermills on the River Lea to grind the locals’ cereal crops.

 

Get Baked to open second site next month: Leeds cake shop Get Baked is set to open a second site, in Manchester, next month. Get Baked has gone viral on social media and had customers visit from across the UK for its 12-layered chocolate “Bruce” cake, which it said sells out within minutes both online and in store. Owner Rich Myers is now bringing his concept to Stevenson Square in Manchester, opening on Friday, 14 March, with a takeaway outlet rather than the dine-in offering it has in Leeds. Talking about the new site last year, Myers said: “Because we ship nationwide, we also know from our demographic just how many people are ordering from the Manchester area. As a city, Manchester, in my eyes, is becoming more and more of a real city on a world stage – it is full of amazing hospitality businesses, but I think that we offer something different. There are already good dessert places, but nowhere that does it quite like we do, so it feels the right fit. It will be a small site, so I don’t want people to expect it to be as big as Headingley in size. However, in Manchester, we will probably look to open earlier in the morning rather than from noon.”

 

Naples-born chef confirms second site for pizza concept: 081 Pizzeria, the pizza concept from Naples-born chef Andrea Ascuiti, has confirmed it will open its second London restaurant. Propel revealed in December that 081 Pizzeria had secured a site at 46 Great Eastern Street in Shoreditch. Ascuiti is now transforming the 2,000 square-foot venue, which will open in April and have 60 covers and a total capacity of 150 guests. They can expect 081 Pizzeria’s signature handcrafted Neapolitan pizza, Napoli-inspired tapas, and an extensive selection of Italian wine and cocktails. Asciuti said: “After four years of establishing 081 in the Neapolitan pizza world and crafting our own innovative dishes, we feel proud to announce the opening of our biggest location yet. We are excited about bringing our unique pizzeria concept to a vibrant and thriving hub like Shoreditch, where we can satisfy the needs of diners in the area and hopefully introduce them to some unusual and unexpected flavours. Our mission has always been to bring a fresh, bold, and authentic slice of Naples to London, and we’re excited to welcome everyone to experience what we’ve been working on.” Ascuiti opened the first bricks-and-mortar site for 081 Pizzeria in Peckham in 2023. The chef, who is also one of the founding members of Streatham pizzeria Bravi Ragazzi, opened the 20-cover outlet at 66 Peckham Rye. 081 Pizzeria launched during the pandemic in 2021 at Peckham Levels before taking up residencies at The Colonel Fawcett in Camden and The Smugglers Tavern in Fitzrovia. Oli Cohen, of Belcor, acted on the Shoreditch deal.