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RedCat CEO – business ready to return to the acquisition trail: Richard Lewis, group chief executive of RedCat Hospitality, the recently rebranded operator of Coaching Inn Group and RedCat Independent Pubs, has told Propel that after a period of stabilisation, the circa 100-strong business is ready to return to the acquisition trail, with further additions to its room stock a particular focus. Founded and chaired by Rooney Anand, the business completed a £61m refinancing last year, giving “the stability required to invest for growth”. The refinancing of its current debt facilities comprised debt funding from Barclays Bank and further equity from the group’s existing investors, including funds managed by Oaktree Capital. Last September, the company, which was built across a number of multi-site and single site acquisitions, said it was rolling out an £8m capital investment programme across its RedCat Independent Pubs and Coaching Inn Group portfolio over the next six to 12 months. Lewis, who took up the leadership of RedCat Hospitality in October 2023, told Propel: “Having acquired a number of businesses and having to deal with the challenges that faced the whole of the sector over the past few years, there was always going to be the need to a period of stabilisation. We have done a lot of work on the foundations of the business, with both parts of the business learning from each other. It is time for a new chapter of the business, which will include investing in the existing estate but also looking at making additions – whether that is single site or packages. We have the support of our backers to be able to look at both.” The rebrand of the business is part of the group’s next chapter, which will include its biggest single investment to date of £3m in the development and reopening of The Castle of Brecon Hotel – the oldest hotel in Wales – under the 35-strong Coaching Inn Group. The hotel has been closed since late 2024 to allow for an extensive refurbishment to take place. The 43-room site will reopen this April, with a 100-plus cover restaurant and 100-cover lounge area. Lewis said the business was in “early conversations on a couple of further sites we would look to add to Coaching Inn Group”. The business currently also runs 38 managed sites, now operating under the RedCat Independent Pubs umbrella, plus 22 leased & tenanted sites. Lewis said: “We want to harness that entrepreneurial spirit in these sites, dial up their independent nature and get them ‘acting local’. We will continue to invest in them, as we think there are more opportunities across this estate to build further momentum.” RedCat Pub Company features in the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, which is available exclusively to Premium Club subscribers and features 1,066 companies. Its turnover of £120,488,826 for the year ending 2 April 2023 is the 97th highest in the database. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Industry News:

Premium Club subscribers to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database tomorrow: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers tomorrow (Friday, 7 March), at noon. The database will show the details of 169 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. The database will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis and Premium Club subscribers will also receive a 10,264-word report on the 146 new additions. The database is segmented into seven categories – cafe bakery, casual dining, experiential leisure, fine dining, hotels, pubs and bars, and quick service restaurants – making it even easier for users to search. The database includes new openings in the experiential leisure sector such as Race Across the World, opening in London, Australian gym franchise Jetts Fitness, opening in Leeds, and King Pins, the state-of-the-art bowling and leisure complex opening in Manchester. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site 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 Club 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.

Delivery sales fall in January for first time in 18 months after post-Christmas squeeze on spending: Restaurants’ delivery sales have slipped year-on-year after consumers reined in their spending after Christmas, CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker reveals. January delivery sales at Britain’s leading restaurant groups were down 1.0% from the same month in 2024. It is the tracker’s first negative number since June 2023, and well short of the UK’s general monthly rate of inflation of 3.0%, as measured by the consumer price index. By contrast, the tracker shows modest growth of 2.1% in revenue from takeaway and click-and-collect orders. These sales have now been in year-on-year growth for six months in a row, a turnaround from 11 consecutive months of decline. January’s delivery trends are in line with wider seasonal spending patterns. The latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, based on a separate cohort of managed groups, recorded a 1.3% fall in sales year-on-year. This was an abrupt reversal of 3.2% growth in December, when consumers headed out to restaurants, pubs and bars to celebrate Christmas rather than ordering in. The Hospitality at Home Tracker shows that combined delivery and takeaway sales were 0.6% behind January 2024. Total sales, including from new sites opened in the last 12 months, rose 6.6%. Karl Chessell, CGA by NIQ’s director hospitality operators and food EMEA, said: “After some consumers splurged on meals and drinks out over Christmas, it is little surprise to see a levelling-off in January. Nevertheless, it is a disappointing start to what will be another challenging year for restaurants, especially with key costs like labour and energy set to rise. More positively, the premium paid for the convenience of deliveries may now be tilting people towards takeaways and click-and-collect orders. With so many consumers still feeling the pinch on disposable incomes, we can expect to see this trend continue through 2025.”

UKHospitality – new allergen guidance ‘strikes the right balance’: UKHospitality has said new allergen guidance “offers businesses flexibility and will ensure information remains readily available for customers”. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued best practice guidance on providing allergen information to consumers. The guidance said written allergen information should always be available, supported by dialogue between servers and customers about their allergen requirements. In engagement and consultation with the FSA, UKHospitality highlighted the need for a flexible approach that accounts for the wide variety of operating models across the hospitality sector. Chef executive Kate Nicholls said these calls have been reflected in the FSA’s new guidance. “Allergen management remains one of the biggest priorities for hospitality businesses,” she added. “As a sector, we go to great lengths to ensure our teams are trained and information is available to ensure that every customer with an allergy feels comfortable and safe eating out. Flexibility is critical to that, as is a common-sense approach to implementing the guidance. Businesses will already have written allergen information available, but some may prefer a digital format, for example, and those decisions are best made by venues that know what will work for them. I’m pleased the FSA has reflected that in its guidance, as well as recognising the importance of a conversation between hospitality staff and the customer. Being able to manage allergens safely in a way that works for each business is absolutely essential and was one of the key pillars of our engagement in this process.”

Company News:

Activate’s debut UK site is brand’s best performing in the world, with more than 50,000 guests since December: Activate’s first UK site is the brand’s best performing in the world right now and has welcomed more than 50,000 guests since launching in December, Propel has learned. The games-based experiential brand, which originates in Canada, has more than 60 locations across the globe. Activate was introduced into the UK market a week before Christmas by We Do Play – the Flip Out and Putt Putt Social operator – with an opening at The O2 in London. Rich Beese, co-founder of We Do Play, said: “The launch of Activate at The O2 has been a huge success. We knew it was going to be popular, but we have been overwhelmed by its success in only the first couple of months. We Do Play has been leading the way in the world of competitive socialising for many years and we have been keen to maintain our position as a pioneer. By bringing Activate straight from North America to London shows how dedicated we are to be constantly evolving the experiences that we are creating in the world of competitive socialising and entertainment. Our rollout of Activate across the UK is going to be huge. We want to bring this incredible experience to as many places as possible in the country. 2025 is going to be a big year for Activate.” In October, Beese told Propel that We Do Play is investing in a multimillion-pound roll out that will see 30 UK sites built in 42 months. It is set to begin this with four new locations here by June, with a site in London’s Oxford Street up next.

Blacklock – foundations in place to open two restaurants a year but focus on long-term, sustainable growth: Gordon Ker, the founder of chophouse group Blacklock, which secured investment from BGF last October, has told Propel the business is focused on “sustainable, organic growth and always the long term” and has the foundations in place to open two restaurants a year if the right opportunities come up. Blacklock, which launched in Soho in 2015 before opening four further London restaurants, made its regional debut at the end of last year, in a grade-II listed building in the heart of Manchester in Peter Street. Blacklock is now planning to open a 100-seat restaurant and bar in Birmingham’s St Philip’s Place this autumn. Ker told Propel that the business had had a great start to the year after a busy 2024. He said: “The restaurants are all in like-for-like growth, and most importantly, positive cover growth. No doubt it is a difficult environment for everyone at the moment, but we’re focused as ever on the long term and how we can continue to get better and improve what we do for our team and our guests as our principal and most important job. If we can do that, then good growth will hopefully follow. We have good foundations in place to be able to open more than one restaurant a year now, and Manchester, which we’re so happy with, has given us confidence to look more outside of London too. But we’re in no rush. We are focused on growing sustainably, always deepening the experience and at the moment, are putting everything into Birmingham and opening a fantastic restaurant in a city we love.”

Slurp – we’ve taken a risk but offering authentic Thai food an opportunity that is paying off, planning to grow concept: Slurp Noodles – the concept from Rosa’s Thai co-founder Saiphin Moore, chef Neil Wager and Richard Poole – has said while it has taken a risk and won’t be serving dishes considered Thai staples, offering authentic Thai food “is an opportunity that is paying off”. The concept launched in London’s Wapping in 2019, in a site currently being refurbished and that will reopen this spring. A pop-up in Soho has come and gone, with a Central London replacement in the pipeline, while Shoreditch, which opened last May, has become its flagship location. The concept’s success has been helped by hiring Kanatip Soonthornrak as social media manager – a Thai influencer who has more than a million followers on Instagram. Soonthornrak said Thai people who follow him on social media initially came to Slurp “because of me” but “kept coming back because of the authenticity of the food”. He said: “When you open a Thai restaurant, the first thing you want is to get approval from Thai people. Thais can be quite brutal when it comes to food. It’s part of our culture to be direct, and if they don’t like something, they will say so. To get the approval of the vast majority of Thai people residing in the UK is a big win, and we were then confident it was going to work. We would not sell red curry, green curry or Pad Thai – Thai people are fanatical about food, and some dishes are only eaten on certain days or at certain times, so there’s a few that are not heard of in the western world. We’ve tried to change that, especially when it comes to noodle soups. The plan is to grow Slurp and open a few more branches over the rest of this year or next year. It would be great to expand outside of London, but the problem with these dishes is finding the right kind of chef who can make them and perfect them. Most Thai restaurants abroad don’t sell these dishes as it’s a gamble – you’re selling dishes that westerners have never heard of. You have to compete with Pad Thai! I think it will take a while for people to understand what we are trying to do. If you want to try authentic Thai noodle soup, this is it, but being authentic is a risk. It’s an opportunity and it’s our strength.” The company also last year launched Dang’s – a fried chicken and cocktail bar that sits in the basement below Slurp in Shoreditch. “At this stage, Dang’s is a relatively new concept with significant potential,” Wager said. “We’re exploring whether it will operate as an independent site or collaborate with Slurp as a speakeasy concept attached to other locations.”

Pitch opens Canary Wharf flagship, excited for what future holds both in London and globally: Golf club concept Pitch, which is the brainchild of friends and golf professionals Elliot Godfrey and Chris Ingham, has opened its new 15,000 square-foot flagship site in Canary Wharf and said it is “excited for what the future holds both in London and globally” for the business. Opened in Churchill Place, Pitch Wharf is laid out across two levels, with 11 state-of-the-art golf simulator bays loaded with Trackman technology. The site also provides an extensive Asian-inspired food offering called JIYŪ, complemented by two bars. Godfrey said: “With a vibrant atmosphere and so many busy professionals living and working in the area, Canary Wharf is the perfect place to open what we consider to be the new flagship venue. We are pushing the boundaries as we strive to disrupt and deliver new dynamic spaces in cities across the UK and around the world.” Ingham said: “The Canary Wharf project has been a labour of love for us. To be bestowed with a location like this one is testament to the success of our other venues and our outstanding team. We’re excited for what the future holds both in London and globally.” After opening its first two venues in London, Pitch opened its first overseas location in Dublin last year and will continue to expand with venues in Manchester and Birmingham later this year. The business has previously announced plans to grow further internationally, with cities as far away as Melbourne among the locations touted as future destinations. Pitch, which launched in London’s Bishopsgate more than four years ago, also plans to add a franchise location in Brighton.

German Doner Kebab expands service station presence: German Doner Kebab (GDK), owned by Hero Brands, has expanded its presence in service stations and strengthened its partnership with Extra MSA with an opening at Cambridge Services. Visitors to the outlet on the M11 are able to choose from the brand’s breakfast menu alongside the main offering, which includes GDK’s new doner rice bowl. Simon Wallis, GDK chief executive, said: “As a prime stopover point for travellers along the M11, Cambridge Services is a key location to reach a range of customers seeking a quick and tasty meal while they’re on the move. This opening takes us even closer to our 150th site opening, which we’re very excited about.” Tom Dobson, chief executive at Extra MSA, said: “Our partnership with GDK has been fantastic so far, with the brand having already opened at our Baldock and Peterborough sites, and we’re excited to further support its meteoric rise.” Last month, Wallis told the Mail on Sunday that GDK has “the opportunity to do with kebabs what McDonald’s did to burgers, what KFC did to chicken, what Domino’s did to pizza or Subway did to sandwiches”. In January, GDK launched its first train station site, at London Victoria.

Sayers & Poundbakery makes first profit, set to move unprofitable shops into better locations, increasing breakfast range and extending opening hours: Sayers & Poundbakery – the new company formed when north west independent retail bakery Sayers and sister brand Poundbakery were bought out of administration in 2019 – has made its first profit since it started trading in 2020. The business, which has more than 100 stores, reported a pre-tax profit of £463,261 for the year to 27 May 2023, following a loss of £530,445 in 2022. The company’s turnover increased from £36,370,235 to £42,988,777. The group received no government grants (2022: £272,952) and no dividends were paid (2022: nil). In her report accompanying the accounts, director Karen Wood stated: “Following covid, the retail high street has changed, and the company has identified a small number of sites, in particular with high rents that are no longer profitable. The company will relocate from these shops into more profitable locations during the next two years. Breakfast continues to be a growth area for the business and to capitalise on this opportunity we are extending opening hours and increasing our range to help maintain the growth of sales during the morning. Building on the strength of its related company supply of savoury products, it will be rolling out an extended pies and pasty range to its top 20 shops. This will be combined with improvements to its coffee offer, merchandising and price communication via TV screens in the shops to drive customer spend. During the period, the company underwent significant restructuring, dividing into seven separate entities, to give us a greater understanding of the changes being faced with our products through regionality.” The company statement had net liabilities of £484,000 (2022: £947,000) and cash at bank and in hand of £266,000 (2022: £275,000) at the year-end.

Hollywood Bowl to open site in London’s Uxbridge in June following £4.2m investment: Hollywood Bowl is to open its new site in Uxbridge, west London, in June. The company is investing £4.2m in the 22-lane centre at The Chimes shopping centre, which will create 45 jobs. The venue will also offer duck pin bowling, an arcade area and diner serving a range of American food and drink options. Chief executive Stephen Burns said: “The launch of our Uxbridge centre marks another significant milestone in our ambitious growth strategy. This new centre is a testament to our dedication to investing in local communities and enhancing the leisure landscape nationwide.” Darren Harman, centre director at The Chimes, added: “This exciting addition marks the next step in our transformational period, and we're delighted to be expanding our leisure offering for our customers.” Last month, Hollywood Bowl, which operates 73 sites in the UK, reported trading over the three months to 12 January 2025 has been strong, including a record revenue month in both the UK and Canada in December.

Professionals at Play confirms plans to bring King Pins to Scotland: Professionals at Play – the Foresight-backed, parent company of the Roxy Lanes and Roxy Ball Room concepts – has confirmed it is bringing its King Pins concept to Scotland. The 21,000 square-foot venue will open at Silverburn in Glasgow this summer and is set to be followed by sites in Belfast and Leeds. King Pins Glasgow will be home to a variety of family-friendly games and activities including ten-pin bowling, duck pin bowling, tech darts, American pool, shuffleboard, ice-free curling and an arcade. Since launching the first two sites in Manchester in summer 2023 and May 2024, Kings Pins has expanded recently to Bristol’s Cabot Circus. James Travis, brand manager at King Pins, said: “Glasgow is the perfect location for our first venue in Scotland, and we are eager to be part of such a vibrant and dynamic community.” In January, Professionals at Play told Propel it plans to open at least six new venues across its brands in 2025 to deliver more than £50m of revenue and further Ebitda growth. Founded by Matt and Ben Jones in 2013, the group has since grown to 11 Roxy Ball Rooms, eight Roxy Lanes, three King Pins and a Star Pins site in Coventry.

Starbucks hires Cathy Smith as new CFO: Starbucks has hired Cathy Smith as its new chief financial officer, to aid chief executive Brian Niccol’s efforts to revive sales at the global coffee brand. Smith will replace Rachel Ruggeri, a 20-year company veteran who became the chief financial officer in 2021. Smith will join Starbucks next month after leading the finance operations at the department store company Nordstrom. Prior to that, Smith was the chief financial officer at retailer Target and Walmart's international division. Smith’s appointment is the latest in a shake-up of Starbucks’ management team under Niccol. Earlier this year, Starbucks said its North America president and chief supply chain officer would leave. Niccol, hired from Chipotle last year, has put in place a “Back to Starbucks” plan focused on streamlining the business by improving customer experience at its US stores. Some 1,100 job cuts were also announced last month, alongside plans to simplify menu offerings and reduce waiting times.

Former TRG duo’s Scottish hospitality group to launch fifth venue next month, sixth to follow later this year: Former The Restaurant Group (TRG) duo Derek Malley and Chris Thynne’s Scottish hospitality group, Lomond Leisure Group, is set to launch its fifth venue next month, with a sixth to follow later this year. The group – founded in 2021 and led by former TRG operations manager Thynne and brands managing director Mallon – will open Kirk O’The Lochs in the village of Tarbet in April. Set in a restored church in the heart of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, the venue will highlight the best of Scottish produce, sustainability and experiential dining. There will be signature Scottish dishes made from fresh local produce, and a carefully curated selection of Scottish ale and fine malt whiskie. Mallon said: “We are excited to bring our passion for Scottish cuisine and hospitality to this beautiful region. Kirk O’The Lochs will offer a unique dining experience that celebrates the rich culinary heritage of Scotland while providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere.” Lomond Leisure Group also operates two sites for its Kentucky barbecue-inspired concept Van Winkle – in Glasgow’s west end and east end – as well as Scottish restaurant and bar Mharsanta in Glasgow and the Tolbooth Tavern in Edinburgh. Also joining its portfolio soon will be Gael & Grain, a Scottish pub and kitchen in Glasgow’s west end. Mallon spent 14 years with TRG, from 2001 to 2015, in roles including operations manager, operations director, deputy manager director and managing director for brands such as Frankie & Benny’s, Coast to Coast, Filling Station and Joe’s Kitchen. Thynne spent 16 years with TRG, from 2004 to 2020, in roles including operations manager and director of operations small brands.

Wales’ largest theme park closes as owner ‘no longer sees sustainable way forward’: The largest theme park in Wales has closed, with the attraction’s owner saying it could “no longer see a sustainable way forward” in light of the “unrelenting economic challenges ahead”. Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire has been operational for almost 40 years. Following a strategic review of the business, owner and operator Aspro Parks said it had reached this difficult decision due to the “challenges presented by the current business environment”. In a statement, Aspro said that “all possible avenues have been explored to avoid the closure, and we fully recognise the impact of the closure on the local community and the loss that will be felt as a result”. Aspro added it has invested more than £25m since rescuing the park from being at risk of closure in 2008. Most recently, a major refurbishment of Megafobia, the wooden rollercoaster, was completed. Aspro said despite the ongoing investment, visitor numbers have declined and the financial performance of the park has suffered, making further investment unsustainable. The company added the “unrelenting economic challenges ahead”, increases in costs, affecting all areas of the operation from ride parts to electricity costs, food and beverage inflation, increases in national living wage and changes to national insurance thresholds have all impacted the decision. Aspro said: “In the entire history of Aspro, we have never closed any park or attraction. We, and our dedicated team of staff, have strived to overcome numerous challenges to continue to bring joy to families and visitors across the region and country. Unfortunately, we could no longer see a sustainable way forward and will seek to improve our other parks using the assets and where possible team elsewhere.”

Whitbread gets green light for largest Premier Inn in north of England, next to Manchester airport: Whitbread has got the go-ahead to build what will be the largest Premier Inn hotel in the north of England, next to Manchester airport. The company has been granted planning approval by the city council for a new 276-bedroom scheme at Mix Manchester, the city’s science, innovation and manufacturing campus. Whitbread currently operates three Premier Inn hotels in the area around Manchester airport, the newest of which opened in 2009. Jill Anderson, acquisition manager for Whitbread, said: “Securing planning consent for this major hotel just five months after announcing our partnership with Mix Manchester highlights our ability to work with developers to deliver at pace. With approval now granted, we’re excited to bring this fantastic new hotel to life and provide the much-needed accommodation for the growing number of passengers using Manchester airport.”

Orka Koncepts to add Mexican venue to growing Manchester estate: Orka Koncepts, the new vehicle launched earlier this year, is to add a new Mexican restaurant and bar to its growing Manchester estate. Ocasa, a new 150-capacity venue, with fully retractable roof terrace, will open in the city’s Spinningfields next month. In January, Orka Koncepts acquired the Manchester-based Australasia and Grand Pacific concepts from Living Ventures. The two sites were taken on by Orka Koncepts, which already operates the Dear Sailor bar and the Hessian events catering business in the city. The company said the new investment in the concepts will “drive strategic growth, innovation and expansion”. Orka Koncepts said the deal brings together seasoned investors and operating partners with deep-rooted ties to Manchester hospitality and pays tribute to the visionary work of the late Tim Bacon and co-founder of Living Ventures, Jeremy Roberts. A statement on behalf of Orka Koncepts, the managing agents for the investors, said: “The investment into the group facilitates enhanced working capital, intensified marketing initiatives, product refinement, and an elevated guest experience, affirming Australasia and Grand Pacific’s place among Manchester’s premier dining and social destinations.”

North east fish and chip shop business Colmans to open third site: North east fish and chip shop business Colmans is to open a third site. Established in South Shields in 1905, Colmans operates a restaurant in Ocean Road as well as Colmans Seafood Temple in Sea Road in the town. Now, the business is venturing to Newcastle, where it will open in the Fenwick store on Thursday, 20 March. The restaurant, located on the first floor, will serve Colemans’ signature dishes alongside Fenwick’s food offering. Richard Coleman, director at Colmans Fish and Chips, said: “Just like fish and chips, Fenwick is associated with family, tradition and timeless experiences. We see so many generations enjoying priceless family time at Colmans – parents, children and grandchildren – and it’s always been the same at Fenwick.” Kieran McBride, store director at Fenwick, added: “We are delighted to partner with fellow north east-founded family business Colmans to launch Colmans Fish and Chips at Fenwick. The launch reinforces the Fenwick restaurant offer, which continues to evolve through unexpected collaborations, new Fenwick concepts and an all-round innovative customer experience.”

Cheltenham restaurant operator who previously worked for Gordon Ramsay acquires second site: Cheltenham restaurant operator Ram Jalustram, who has previously worked at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants and Gleneagles, has acquired a second site in the Gloucestershire town. The Gagan, a tandoor, brasserie and specialist bar, only arrived in London Road in late October of last year but will now be owned by Jalustram. He will open his new restaurant concept in early April. Previously Koloshi, and more recently, The Gagan, the site has closed after the change of management. Jalustram has experience as an executive head chef, including running the kitchen at four of Gordon Ramsay’s London restaurants, as well as being the executive chef for the five-star Gleneagles resort. His other Cheltenham restaurant, La Petite Brasserie, is situated at 51 High Street. He said: “I have always admired what Koloshi and then The Gagan did for the food culture of Cheltenham, but we are going to take it in a very different direction.”

East Midlands indoor golf simulator concept set to open second site: East Midlands indoor golf simulator concept The Bunker is set to open a second site. The company, which operates a site in Heanor, Derbyshire, has lodged plans to open a Nottingham branch at 4 Longden Street, Sneinton. The leisure facility will have “quality high tech” gaming equipment, providing five purpose-built bays for indoor golf, as well as interactive darts. The bays will include a TrackMan golf simulator that provides detailed data on parameters such as ball speed. This will create “a new and accessible indoor golfing experience for golf enthusiasts or just family entertainment”, the business said in a licensing document submitted to Nottingham City Council. If the plans are approved, the venue is set to open in April, according to a Facebook post. According to the business’ website, its prices for the Heanor venue start at £12.50 for an off-peak 55-minute session.

Hotel operator reports record turnover, set to undergo refinancing: Bloc Hotels, which operates hotels at Gatwick airport and in the St Paul’s area of Birmingham, has reported turnover increased to a record £12,333,225 for the year ending 31 March 2024 compared with £11,582,084 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was down to £2,007,203 from £2,194,702 the year before. The company, which employees around 100 staff, said direct costs relating to labour and cleaning increased 8% on a like-for-like basis. The company also received an insurance pay out of £8,414 (2023: £186,540). Director Robert Morgan said: “The group is due to refinance the current Bank of Ireland facilities in June 2025. The directors remain confident they will be able to refinance the facilities given the strong trading levels. During the period under review the Gatwick hotel reached occupancy levels of up to 98% and an average of 87% for the financial year. Total revenue exceeded the financial year by 7% (£9,920,191 compared with £9,246,407 in the prior period). Revpar for the financial year was 5% ahead of the prior year (£103.80 compared with £98.80 in the prior period). During the period under review, the Birmingham hotel reached occupancy levels of up to 90% and an average occupancy of 82% for the financial year. Total revenue exceeded the previous financial year by 3% (£2,434,532 compared with £2,369,107 the year before). Revpar for the financial year was 2% ahead of the prior year (£62.92 compared with £61.55 in the prior period).” No dividends were paid (2023: nil).

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