JD Wetherspoon ‘exploring other opportunities’ in the franchise market: JD Wetherspoon has told Propel it is “exploring other opportunities” in the franchise market – adding to its current handful of holiday park and university campus partnership locations. The company currently has franchises with Hull and Newcastle universities for student union bars and has one franchise site with Haven at its Primrose Valley site in Yorkshire – with four more in the pipeline. Owner Sir Tim Martin told The Sun in January that he is considering franchising overseas, and the company will now be exhibiting at the London International Franchise Show, at the ExCel Centre from April 11-12, as it looks to promote its franchise programme and attract more partners. Asked by Propel if it would be expanding the programme to take in other locations it operates in, like high street and travel hubs, a Wetherspoons spokesman said: “We are looking at other opportunities in the franchise market, and attending the International Franchise Show is part of that process.” Propel understands that Wetherspoon has not signed with any franchise consultancy and is handling the process in-house. The company’s first franchise site opened at Hull University in January 2022 following a £300,000 conversion of the student union’s former bar and nightclub. “As part of the franchise, the bar adopted the Wetherspoon business model, supported by training, operating procedures, prices, products, marketing and the Wetherspoon customer app,” the company said. “In the first year of trading as a Wetherspoon, sales across the bar, restaurant and late-night venue grew by 75%. Trade has become more even, not only across the different parts of the day, but also throughout the year, with students and customers from the local community visiting more frequently at weekends and during non-term time. Since adopting Wetherspoon’s selling prices and cost prices, which have provided a more competitive offer for students and customers, gross margins have improved by around 6%. Overall profits for the first year were up by more than £100,000, or 65%, compared with trading before the franchise was introduced. Operating statistics, measured against Wetherspoon’s standards, have performed very well – comparable with, or ahead of, averages for the Wetherspoon managed estate. Also, footfall to the entire students’ union building has increased by an estimated 200%, with sales increases seen in other retail units as a result. The franchise has been well received by students, staff and the local community, with positive reviews and comments, along with a 4.1-star average score on Google reviews.”

 

Arc Inspirations CEO Martin Wolstencroft to speak at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club subscribers: Martin Wolstencroft, chief executive of Arc Inspirations, the premium bar operator, will be among the speakers at the Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference. The all-day conference takes place on Wednesday, 14 May at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. Wolstencroft will talk about how the award-winning company strives to deliver an elevated experience across all areas of its business and how it plans to almost double its estate over the next five years. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £345 plus VAT for suppliers. There is a 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club subscribers. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database today: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers today (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 quick service restaurant sector such as This is Doner, from the co-founder of Burger Drop, Southern Fried Chicken, with a new location in Dorset, and Glasgow hot chicken concept Lucky B’s, gearing up to launch its first store in England. 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.

 

In Conversation: Propel talks to Loungers chairman Alex Reilley: In the first of our new series of fortnightly podcasts, exclusive for Propel Premium Club subscribers, Propel group editor Mark Wingett and Mark Stretton, managing director of leading sector public relations firm Fleet Street Communications, talk to Alex Reilley, chairman of Loungers, the Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside operator. Available today (Friday, 7 March) at 3pm, Reilley discusses, among other things, the group’s recent £354.4m deal to go private, how the deal played out, interest from other parties, whether he contemplated walking away from the business after some shareholders rejected initial offers, if Loungers could have been founded in the current environment, the conundrum around whether to harness the power of Lounge as a brand, and who he admires in 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.

 

Ann Elliott – we’re making progress on appointing women to board positions but it’s still too slow: Ann Elliott has said the hospitality industry is making progress on appointing women to board positions, but it’s still too slow. Writing in Propel’s International Women’s Day Friday Opinion, Elliott – chair of Family Adventures Group and non-executive director of Hall & Woodhouse, Gusto Italian, Tossed and TipJar – said: “It’s so brilliant and inspiring seeing a number of women appointed to board positions within hospitality, and in a variety of roles, over the last few weeks. It does mean more role models for those women with the ambition to be appointed on to boards. I do feel as if we are making progress, albeit it’s still far, far too slow for my liking.” Elliott also shares her concern over the impact of US president Donald Trump on the diminution of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives in the States. But she added: “Hospitality is one sector where balanced boards make complete sense. I hope that women are now so well established on UK hospitality boards that it’s a no brainer to continue progress in that direction.” Elliott shares more of her thoughts in Propel’s International Women’s Day Friday Opinion, which will be sent at 11am today (Friday, 7 March). There are also pieces from UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls; Trudi Parr, head of people and development at Mollie’s; Natasha Waterfield, chief operating officer at Oxygen Activeplay; Simran Sablok, chief marketing officer at Creams Café; and Natasha Levy, a senior marketing manager in the hospitality industry.

 

Business representatives across the UK launch policy recommendations in response to business rates reform: High Streets UK, a pro-growth partnership of more than 5,000 businesses across the country, has released a series of policy recommendations in response to the government’s business rates discussion paper. The group’s asks are informed by insights from its hundreds of member businesses operating on flagship high streets nationwide. Under the government’s proposed business rates reform, properties with a rateable value of more than £500,000 could be subject to a business rates multiplier up to 10p higher than the current levy. This would place a disproportionate burden on physical flagship high street locations risking the viability of properties in areas like Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool and London, the group warned. It added the upcoming 2026 revaluation adds further uncertainty, disincentivising near-term investment. High Streets UK is calling on the government to take urgent action to avoid unintended consequences such as store closures and job losses. Key recommendations include conducting a full impact assessment of proposed multiplier increases, freezing any hike in the higher multiplier until 2027-28 to provide greater certainty, and extending empty property relief from three months to six months, followed by a 50% discount thereafter. Dee Corsi, chair of High Streets UK and chief executive of founding member, New West End Company, said: “Flagship high streets are the economic and social anchors of our cities – they create jobs, drive local and national growth, and serve as vital hubs for communities. Moreover, within a high street ecosystem, it is often the larger retail, leisure and hospitality units that drive footfall and spend in smaller neighbouring businesses. If you put these larger stores at risk, the impact will be felt across the entire high street.”

BBPA calls for change to low/no-alcohol definition: The British Beer & Pub Association is calling for a change in UK no/low-alcohol definitions, claiming current rules penalise British brewers. The trade body said a slight change in the threshold to 0.5% ABV would lead to brewers being able to create many more no/low-alcohol beers, “which would help people choose moderation if they want to”. Currently, “alcohol-free” beer in the UK must be 0.05% ABV or below, whereas non-alcoholic beer from many other European nations and international markets is allowed up to 0.5% ABV. The BBPA pointed out many products can contain more alcohol than a 0.05% beer such as bread, fruit juice and yogurt while the previous government highlighted an individual would need to drink eight pints of 0.5% ABV in an hour to reach the same blood alcohol content as if they consumed one 4% ABV pint of beer. BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “Changing current highly restrictive ABV thresholds to match international neighbours will help brewers create more products and give consumers more options when choosing moderation, all of which will help public health goals.”

Just Eat launches first drone-operated food deliveries: Just Eat has launched its first drone-operated food deliveries, in Dublin. Just Eat has partnered with drone company Manna on the service that allows customers ordering from participating restaurants to opt for drone delivery and receive their meals in as little as three minutes. The service aims to improve efficiency and reduce delivery times during peak hours and is expected to expand across Just Eat’s international markets. Jessica Hall, chief product officer at Just Eat, said: “We’re excited to be working with Manna to offer an alternative form of delivery, ensuring customers receive what they want, when they want it. This partnership is the latest in our commitment to testing innovative solutions that enhance convenience and improve user experience.” Last March, Manna began a trial in Dublin with Mexican fast-casual brand Boojum, which is owned by Azzurri Group.

 

William Grant & Sons’ planned buyout of whisky brand Famous Grouse cleared by CMA: William Grant & Sons’ planned buyout of Famous Grouse, Naked Malt and affiliated whisky brands has been cleared by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Drinks business Edrington sold Famous Grouse, which was owned by its 1887 Company, to William Grant & Sons in September last year for an undisclosed sum. William Grant & Sons is owned by Scottish billionaire Glenn Gordon and produces whisky including The Balvenie, Glenfiddich as well as Hendrick’s gin. Edrington still owns the Macallan, Highland Park and Glenrothes brands. The CMA launched a formal investigation into the deal in January but has now given it the go-ahead. William Grant & Sons chief executive Søren Hagh said: “This is an important moment for William Grant & Sons. The acquisition of The Famous Grouse, when completed, will further demonstrate our significant commitment to building category momentum in Scotch whisky in the UK and in our markets globally.” William Grant & Sons reported turnover of £1.96bn for the year ending 31 December 2023, up from the £1.72bn it achieved in 2022. Pre-tax profit jumped from £397.5m to £554m over the same period. As well as Glenfiddich and Hendricks gin, William Grant & Sons’ brands include Monkey Shoulder, Sailor Jerry and Drambuie. In the year to 31 March 2024, Edrington reported revenue of £1.33bn, up from £1.27bn, while its pre-tax profit increased from £405.1m to £406.9m.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a pub company that is seeking an area manager as the business expands. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The individual will possess a deep understanding of the pub industry. Additionally, they will have significant experience in premier dining, focusing on fresh, meticulous table service knowledge and exposure to high-end culinary standards.” The salary is up to £65,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com. 

 

Indian QSR business Shree Krishna Vada Pav plans 100 sites by 2030: Indian quick service restaurant business Shree Krishna Vada Pav (SKVP), which currently operates 18 sites across the south east and the Midlands, has told Propel that its plans to reach 100 sites by 2030 after securing new investment. The company, which was founded in 2010 by Sujay Sohani and Subodh Joshi, has secured investment from Haldiram’s, India’s largest snack brand, to fuel its expansion. SKVP aims to have 30 sites by the end of this year, with its next opening lined up in Ruislip, west London. SKVP said: “With this partnership, SKVP aims to scale its operations across the UK and other international markets, bringing the taste of India to a global audience. The business currently has 18 stores and is on track to reach 30 locations by the end of this year, with a projected turnover of £12m.” The company told Propel: “We have 15 SKVP sites that are all equity owned. We currently also have three franchise sites that were set up in the past. However, we have no plans to franchise in the foreseeable future. We aim to reach 45 locations by 2026 and 100 locations by 2030.” Sohani and Joshi said: “We have always aimed to bring the authentic taste of India to the world, and with Haldiram’s backing, we are confident that we can achieve this goal on a much larger scale. Haldiram’s is a brand that resonates with quality and trust, and its investment is a testament to the potential it sees in SKVP. Together, we will work towards our shared vision of making Indian cuisine a global phenomenon.”

 

St Austell CFO to step down: St Austell Brewery has announced that Colin Stratton will step down as chief financial officer. Stratton, who joined the company in 1996, will continue in his current role until the end of September this year, when he will remain with the business for a further two years as company secretary. Chief executive Kevin Georgel said: “Over the last 29 years, Colin has made a significant contribution to the success and growth we have achieved, and we are very grateful for his dedication. Through Colin’s tenure as our chief financial officer, we have navigated many complex industry changes, achieved significant growth milestones and built a strong financial foundation for the future. Beyond September, Colin’s new part-time role will ensure we are able to retain his extensive knowledge, experience and understanding of St Austell Brewery. Looking ahead, our focus is now on finding a talented successor who can build on Colin’s legacy and play a key role in delivering the company’s strategic goals and growth ambitions. We are confident that we can attract and select the very best candidate who will take on the baton from Colin in supporting our finance team and play a significant role on our board while also supporting me to lead the delivery of our exciting plans for the future.” St Austell Brewery owns more than 160 pubs, inns, and hotels across the West Country.

 

Singaporean street food brand set to open third UK location and first in six years: Singaporean street food brand Old Chang Kee is set to open its third UK location and first in six years, Propel has learned. Old Chang Kee, which dates to a humble street stall in Singapore in the 1950s, has since grown to more than 100 locations across Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and Malaysia, offering food influenced by Far Eastern cuisines, including its signature curry puffs. It first launched in the UK in 2018, opening at 15a New Row in London’s Covent Garden, before launching a second site, at 56 Goodge Street, in Fitzrovia, the following year. Sandra Leong, director at Old Chang Kee UK, which launched the brand here, told Propel: “Come April, we will open a new retail location in the City. Also, thanks to a big boom in office catering, we will be setting up a dedicated team and kitchen to service this need. Not only will we be able to create a larger corporate catering offering, but we will also be able to deliver across all of London.” Leong said working with Just Eat for Business on growing its office catering space means “our reach is so much greater for our retail locations – we often get walk-in customers in our stores who have received a meal delivery”. As the world celebrates International Women’s Day this weekend, Leong said for her, it is a day “to remember that while there’s so much more for me to work on, there’s also a lot that I have learnt and achieved”. She added: “I was born in Singapore but moved to London in my 20s. I started Old Chang Kee in London after seeing that authentic, quick-service Singaporean food was hard to come by. After years of extolling the wonders of curry puffs to anyone who would listen, I eventually jacked in my corporate job to start this business. I’m now on a mission to make curry puffs and all sorts of Singaporean street food famous! It’s still a male-dominated industry, so I seek out other female business owners to find support – there are more of us than you think, and everyone is always willing to help.”

 

Tap & Tandoor confirms fifth site featuring new concept, ‘pleased’ with trading performance this year: Indian gastropub operator Tap & Tandoor has told Propel it is “pleased” with its trading performance so far this year as it confirmed it will open a fifth site, in Bournemouth – that will feature a new concept. Propel revealed last month that Tap & Tandoor, which is led by husband-and-wife team Ajay and Shivani Kenth, was set to acquire the former Wildwood restaurant in the Dorset town’s Richmond Hill that closed at the start of this year. Now, Tap & Tandoor has confirmed the new venue will open next month. The venue will feature a casual dining and “pub-like” bar area downstairs plus a spacious upstairs bar and dining space to accommodate busier periods and private events. Unlike the current four restaurants, Bournemouth will feature a new concept to the customer experience that will be revealed nearer the time. “We are excited to bring Tap & Tandoor to Bournemouth,” a spokesperson said. “Our mission has always been to offer a unique experience that combines authentic Indian food with great drinks and a lively, welcoming atmosphere. We can’t wait to become part of this fantastic community and share what we have to offer.” In terms of current trading, the spokesperson told Propel: “We're pleased with our performance and we're continually exploring avenues to expand Tap & Tandoor.” Tap & Tandoor also operates sites in Portsmouth, Peterborough, Solihull and Southampton. David Muslin, of Ecliptic, acted on the Bournemouth deal.

 

Oodles Wok seeking prime high-footfall locations in Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham: Indo-Chinese brand Oodles Wok has said it is seeking prime high-footfall locations in Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham as it continues its northern expansion. The circa 50-strong business, founded in Leicester in 2010 by Mohammed and Ismail Umar, has a long-term plan to grow to 100 UK sites alongside international expansion. It rebranded from Oodles to Oodles Wok at the end of last year, to “reflect the core ethos of our brand”. A company spokesman said: “Oodles Wok is actively seeking prime high-footfall locations in the following city centres, with franchise partners ready to mobilise immediately: Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham. We’re looking for sites between 600–1,300 square feet to bring our award-winning, fast-growing Eastern-inspired concept to even more customers.”

 

Pepe’s Piri Piri opens third site of 2025 as it continues rapid growth: Flame-grilled piri piri chicken brand Pepe’s Piri Piri, which originally launched in London in 2004, has opened its third store of 2025 as it continues its rapid growth. The brand has opened at 52 Westgate in Mansfield for its 218th store overall. It follows two openings in as many months at the start of the year – at 299 Northolt Road in South Harrow, north east London, and in the former TSB Bank branch in Dundee’s Albert Street. “Normally a quieter time of the year, people tell us,” the company posted to social media. “Already three store openings, with more on the horizon. Building on the team structure to help support new developments, there have been two new appointments. We all hope this continues to keep us busy in 2025.” Pepe’s Piri Piri opened its landmark 200th store in September 2024, in Gilmerton, a suburb of Edinburgh. The brand, which also operates sites in Morocco, Pakistan and the UAE, offers a range of grilled food such as wraps, burgers, burritos, quesadillas, wings and platters. It has also received planning permission to open in an empty unit at 56 Lewes Road in Brighton, and in the former Emmaus Suffolk hardware store at 10 Dogs Head Street in Ipswich.

 

Tortilla hires Tamla Barazi as new group marketing director: Fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand Tortilla has hired Tamla Barazi as its new group marketing director, Propel has learned. Barazi spent almost nine years at designer Michael Kors, including five years as director of digital and brand marketing. She spent 16 months as senior marketing communications manager at Juicy Couture and 17 months as a senior marketing manager at the Arcadia Group. At the end of January, Tortilla announced it had secured a new investor – Auctor Group, the backer of Kaikaku, a London-based technology and restaurant start-up. Tortilla said the deal would help enhance its technological capabilities, including “exploring innovations such as robotics” and artificial intelligence-powered customer engagement tools that can further elevate its customer experience. Founded in 2007, Tortilla currently operates 81 UK sites (of which 13 are franchise stores), 28 in France (of which 15 are franchise stores) and 12 franchise stores in the Middle East.

 

Amorino to strengthen London presence with opening in Knightsbridge: Italian gelato brand Amorino is set to add to its London footprint with an opening in Knightsbridge. The launch, at the end of April, will be Amorino’s 34th location overall in the UK. Amorino is looking to reach 50 locations here by end of 2025 and is seeking multi-unit franchisees to help it grow. At the end of last year, it signed up Sailesh Lakhiani as a franchisee for south west London, with plans for an initial three openings, and Saleh Al-Omeri as a franchisee for the Birmingham region, with plans to open at least four stores.

 

Hayleigh Lupino to swap Marston’s for Aldi: Hayleigh Lupino, who is set to step down as chief financial officer at Marston’s later this year, is set to join Aldi as its UK & Ireland chief financial officer, a newly created role for the discount supermarket brand. Marston’s announced earlier this week that Lupino was leaving but will remain as chief financial officer for the remainder of the financial year, until October 2025, “to ensure a smooth transition while her successor is appointed”. Her appointment completes a board restructure at Aldi, which has also included the creation of two chief operating officer roles and a chief commercial officer role. Aldi UK & Ireland chief executive Giles Hurley said: “Hayleigh joins our national board as we deliver our £650m investment plan this year, opening new stores and further improving our operations to continue bringing great-quality products at unbeatable prices to millions of households across the UK. Her extensive experience will be invaluable as we continue to grow and invest in Britain.”

 

Liverpool McDonald’s franchisee reports increase in turnover and profit after opening new restaurant, acquires further site: Liverpool McDonald’s franchisee CJRach has reported an increase in turnover and profit for the year to 31 March 2024 after opening a new restaurant and has since acquired a further site. The now eight-strong business is owned by Tony Higdon, whose portfolio includes the Lord Street branch in the city where he started out as a crew member in 1986. His subsequent roles with the business included operations manager for the north west and operations consultant in charge of ten stores, before remortgaging his home to raise the £130,000 needed to buy his first franchise site. The company, which operated seven stores during the period, saw turnover grow 29.4% from £29,257,216 in 2024 to £37,867,158. Pre-tax profit increased from £34,226 to £695,272, despite costs rising by more than £4m and administrative expenses by more than £3m. Average staff numbers rose from 682 to 783. Dividends of £215,000 were paid, the same as in 2023. “Sales increased due to the acquisition of one additional restaurant during the year,” Higdon said. “Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased by 2.73% from 38.81% to 41.54%. The company has positive cashflows and the net assets of the company were £2.21m (2023: £1.95m) at the balance sheet date, reflecting the solid position of the company from a solvency and liquidity perspective. The strong balance sheet provides a foundation on which the company can continue to grow and prosper. The company is expected to be profitable in the next accounting period despite the impact of rises in food cost inflation. The company has acquired an additional restaurant post year end on a business facilities lease. The company also plans to acquire more restaurants should the opportunity arise.”

 

Former Greene King FD Matt Ward joins Village Hotels: Matt Ward, formerly of Greene King and Hawthorn Leisure, has joined Village Hotels as its new chief financial officer. Ward left Greene King at the end of last year, after two and a half years, which included time as the company’s group M&A director and finance director of its partnerships and ventures division. Previous to that, he spent just under six years as chief financial officer of Hawthorn Leisure. Ward said: “Village Hotels is a fantastic business, offering a unique lifestyle hospitality experience where guests can enjoy everything under one roof. It’s an exciting time for the business, and I’m looking forward to contributing to its continued success.” In January, Village Hotels, which operates 33 sites and is owned by Blackstone, acquired a former Crown Plaza site in Reading, Berkshire. The company plans to convert the site, at Caversham Bridge, into a “full Village experience” featuring a pub and grill, meetings and events space, a Starbucks coffee shop and state-of-the-art health and wellness facilities.

 

Maki & Ramen to open first franchise site, in Glasgow: Japanese restaurant concept Maki & Ramen will open the first site under its new franchise arm, in Glasgow, today (Friday, 7 March). The eight-strong business, which was founded by Teddy Lee in 2015 and is led by Michael Salvador, will open at 130 Byres Road. The site will join the company’s two existing venues in Glasgow city centre, in Bath Street and Renfield Street. Propel revealed last week that Maki & Ramen had acquired the former 4,000 square-foot Disorder Bar at the ground floor and basement of The Landmark, at 78-88 High Street, in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, for what will be its second franchise site. At the end of last year, Maki & Ramen told Propel it planned to open seven new sites in 2025, including its first franchise locations, while an opening in London was on its radar for 2026. The group also said it planned to open five company-owned sites in 2025 – in Birmingham, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Leicester and Sheffield. 

 

Trio of US brands sign up to open in Lakeside: A trio of US brands are set to open new sites at the Lakeside shopping centre, part of SGS group, in Essex. Wingstop, Chipotle and Wendy’s will soon join the centre’s dining range of more than 50 brands along with desert operator Amorino. Rob Jewell, managing director, asset management at landlord Pradera Lateral, said: “Our vision at Lakeside is to continually evolve the food and beverage experience, ensuring we provide a vibrant mix of renowned brands that meet the needs of all our visitors. The additions of these new operators will strengthen the centre’s appeal through both grab-and-go and sit down options, ensuring that there really is something for every visitor, at any time of day.”

 

Whitbread agrees deal to convert former council offices in south east London to Premier Inn hotel: Whitbread has agreed a deal to turn former council offices in south east London into a Premier Inn hotel. Whitbread has reached an agreement with Lambeth Council to convert its ten-storey block of former local authority offices, subject to planning permission. The council will grant a lease on Phoenix House to Whitbread while keeping the longer-term head lease, which has the majority of its 999-years remaining. Jonathan Langdon, senior acquisition manager for Whitbread, said: “We have been actively seeking the right location for a Premier Inn in Vauxhall for nearly ten years. Phoenix House offers an ideal location for our customers. The first Premier Inn in Central London was an office-to-hotel conversion, at County Hall in north Lambeth in the late 1990s. Since then, we have successfully transformed former office buildings into thriving hotels across the capital. We look forward to bringing our expertise to the transformation of Phoenix House and, subject to planning permission, adding Vauxhall to the growing list of high-profile Premier Inn locations in Central London.” Whitbread currently has more than 85,500 Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn bedrooms in the UK and Ireland and sees the long-term potential for 125,000 bedrooms in these core markets.

 

Inception Group to revitalise Bunga Bunga site: Inception Group, the London hospitality group, has said that Bunga Bunga, its immersive Italian restaurant and bar concept in Covent Garden, will be completely reimagined as part of an extensive refurbishment. The venue, famed for its metro pizzas, karaoke brunches and live show, will continue trading in its current format until Saturday, 5 April before the curtain comes down on its current offering. The new Bunga Bunga will open in the autumn and will be “full of new surprises”. The company said there will be the addition of many more interactive elements. Charlie Gilkes, co-founder of Inception Group, said: “We have been open in this location for nearly ten years, and so now is the right time to revitalise this fantastic Covent Garden site. This is not just a substantial refurbishment though, as for the first time, we are taking one of our brands and giving all aspects of the product, design and narrative a complete overhaul. We cannot wait to open again later this year and to show our guests what we have created.” The business said further details on the new iteration of Bunga Bunga will be shared in due course.

Irish pub concept Nancy Spains set to open its first site outside of London: Irish pub concept Nancy Spains is set to open its first site outside of London. The concept, which is the brainchild of Peter, Nicholas and Seamus O’Halloran, launched last year with openings in London’s Shoreditch and Monument. It is now preparing to open at 21 Hilton Street in Manchester on Saturday, 15 March. Nancy Spains Manchester will feature a carefully curated selection of drinks, including an array of Irish whiskeys and Murphy’s Stout, plus live music performances and a lively late-night setting. Peter O’Halloran said: “We’re so excited to be launching in Manchester, bringing Nancy Spains to the heart of the Northern Quarter. After the success of our two venues in London, it was only right to bring Nancy Spains’ infectious spirit and Irish pride to Manchester.”

 

Boxpark to operate Grand National pop-up: Boxpark Liverpool and Aintree Racecourse have announced a new partnership that will see the former operate a bespoke container venue hosting up to 2,000 people, over the three days of the Randox Grand National Festival from 4-6 April. Set almost trackside behind the Mound area of the racecourse, Boxpark Liverpool will bring street food vendors serving a selection of dishes, including its own Yoki Social Table (Korean barbecue dishes), Rock n Rogue (pizza and pasta), Filthy Fries and ChicNWings. There will also be live entertainment with DJ sets. 

  

Michelin-starred chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho to open second site in partnership with JKS Restaurants: Michelin-starred chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho is to open her second site in partnership with JKS Restaurants. Mohacho will open Legado in London’s Shoreditch this summer – building on the launch of the Michelin-starred Sabor in 2018. With two decades at the helm of Spanish cuisine in London, Legado – meaning “legacy” – is a nod to Mohacho’s personal journey and a celebration of Spain’s diverse regional food cultures. Legado will explore ingredients, dishes and dining traditions from across the country, “drawing inspiration from the tabancos of Cádiz and Jerez, the whole-animal cookery of Castilla y León’s grand asadors, the seafood-rich restaurants along Galicia’s coastline, and the hearty stews of Asturias”. Legado will be Mohacho’s largest project to date. She said: “It has always been my greatest pleasure to cook food from my country, but there are still many more stories to tell about the dishes and flavours that I haven’t found outside of Spain. Legado is a kind of playground for me, and I am excited to share my memories and discoveries of food and drinks.”

 

Amber and Route founder set to open new site: The founder of Amber in Whitechapel and Route in Haggerston is set to open a new site in London. Murat Kilic will launch Ara on Thursday, 1 May at 1 New Drum Street in Shoreditch. The 76-cover restaurant, which will also have 20 outside covers, will offer all-day dining with “a melting pot of global flavours without borders” and influenced by Kilic’s “love of travel and experimentation”. Dishes will include grilled potato flatbread with homemade cultured butter, mussels skewers with roasted chicken wings in butter sauce, blackened leeks with muhammara and XO sauce, and slow-cooked short rib with date demi-glaze. The self-taught chef grew up in his native Turkey before moving to London to train as an electrical engineer and then moving into the food industry, opening Route in 2012 before later selling it, and Amber in 2018. Ara’s wine list has been created by general manager Wade Mundford, who was previously co-owner of seafood restaurant The Melusine in St Katharine Docks.

Norfolk leisure group reports drop in profit due to rising utility costs and general inflationary pressures: Norfolk leisure group Blue Sky Leisure, led by the Timewell family, reported a drop in profit in the year to 31 March 2024 due to “rising utility costs and general inflationary pressures”. The company, which operates the Woodhill Park and Kelling Heath holiday parks on the north Norfolk coast, saw its pre-tax profit fall from £1,049,883 to £484,571. Turnover was up slightly from £12,279,845 to £12,294,435. No dividends were paid (2023: nil).