Loungers chairman – we're more confident about Lounge as a brand, looking at ways in which we could leverage that: Alex Reilley, chairman of the Fortress-backed café bar operator Loungers, has told Propel that the business is more confident about its 247-strong Lounge business being a brand and is looking at ways to leverage that, including hiring the company’s first chief marketing officer. Speaking on Propel’s new In Conversation podcast, Reilley said: “The question around the leveraging of the Lounge ‘brand’ has been an interesting conundrum for us, and I think potentially represents an interesting opportunity. There’s always been this incredible nervousness around allowing people to realise that we are a big business. When we set the brand up, particularly being a Bristol-based business, Bristol has always had a real sense of being an anti-brand city. We very deliberately said we don't need to go down that route. People can join the dots, but we don't need to shove it down people's faces. Saying that we've got more branded over the years, including being a plc and having a degree of a much more public profile, has meant that way more people know that we’re a big business than they would have done probably five, six years ago. But that doesn't seem to have altered the way that people feel about us. They still love what we're doing. And I think actually lots of people, when they find out, they actually really respect the fact that we’ve created a big business but there is still a sense of when walk into a Lounge there is an air of independence about it, and a sense of it being something that is not controlled by some big head office. I think we're more confident about Lounge as a brand, and we are looking at ways in which we should and could leverage that. The first part of that is we are in the process of recruiting a chief marketing officer, which we've never had in the organisation. I think people would be genuinely gobsmacked by the size of our marketing department. It's on the small side. There's a sense that there's an opportunity there, but we're also constantly reminding ourselves that we're quite successful in what we do. What we don't want is to settle with what makes us successful, because somebody thinks that actually we're missing a trick. My gut feeling is that I think we are missing a trick, and that that gives us opportunity, but I think we'd be very careful and very deliberate in how we potentially express Lounge as a brand and use more generic messaging than what we currently do, specifically at site level, which is very much, ‘this is your local Lounge’, which is how we want people to feel and think about it. It’s something which has given us a lot of cause for thought, and we're beginning to explore that and think about how we do it.” In Conversation is a new series of fortnightly podcasts, exclusive for Propel Premium Club subscribers featuring industry leaders and sector players talking about their businesses and issues impacting the UK’s hospitality market. 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.

Parogon Group co-founder Richard Colclough to speak at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club subscribers: Richard Colclough, co-founder of Parogon Group, the award-winning premium gastropub 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. Colclough will talk about operating across multiple formats, and the development and potential of the company’s Mediterranean all-day dining concept, Willow. 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 two updated databases this week: Premium Club subscribers will receive two updated databases this week. The latest Propel UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database will be sent on Wednesday (12 March), at 12pm. The database will feature ten new additions plus updates to existing entries. It now has 340 entries and more than 189,000 words of copy. Among the new entries are overseas concepts 7th Heaven and Big Chicken, as they look to break into the UK market, and sweet treat brands CA Japanese Pancakes and Dum Dum Donutterie. Premium Club subscribers will then receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday (14 March), at 12pm. The database will feature 54 updated accounts and 29 new companies, taking the total to 1,092. A total of 684 companies are making a profit while 408 are making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to four other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings 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. 

More than half of operators don’t know their post-April costs, survey reveals: More than a half of operators do not know their post-April costs, according to a survey by labour management company, S4labour. A total of 51% of respondents admitted they had not yet calculated the additional staffing costs their businesses will incur due to the national living wage increases and changes to national insurance thresholds next month. The survey also questioned hospitality leaders on how they plan to offset these increases in their business. Increasing menu prices and improving productivity were the two most popular options, receiving 32% and 30% of votes respectively. Reducing staff hours came in as the third most popular solution, with 23% of votes. Meanwhile, 12% of respondents indicated they would pause recruitment or lay off staff and the remaining 4% revealed they are not sure on what measures they will be taking in April. S4labour chief executive Alastair Scott said: “This gap shows that operators need to review their labour spend and plan for these additional costs, which we estimate will be around 8.3%. However, this increase is just the starting point, to retain talent and ensure fairness, many operators will feel pressure to raise wages across the board, not just for those on the national living wage. This could lead to a significant overall increase in labour costs, closer to 10%. It is crucial for businesses to be aware of the impact that these changes have on their bottom line and to take steps to mitigate any potential financial strain. By proactively planning for these additional costs, businesses can better position themselves to navigate the challenges and ensure the continued success of their operations.”

Azzurri Group-owned digital platform Openr secures investment from Imbiba: Serial sector investor Imbiba is to invest £3m into Openr, the digital platform owned by the Azzurri Group, which is designed for operators in the hospitality industry, to aid its growth. Imbiba will invest the £3m in the business, alongside majority shareholder Azzurri Group. At the same time, Octopus Ventures will provide part of this investment as an additional minority partner. The new funding will accelerate Openr’s expansion, product development, and market reach. Founded in 2022, Openr’s technology enables operators to centrally manage and optimise their pricing, products, menus and digital assets in real time, “ensuring seamless distribution across all platforms”. The business won its first external customer, Stonegate, in 2024. Openr said the new funding will accelerate product development and go to market, introducing two major new modules in the coming months: Order Manager – a central hub for managing all incoming orders and product availability across multiple channels; and Performance Optimiser – an artificial intelligence-driven engine that enables operators to optimise their pricing and menu strategy across all brands, locations and sales channels. Joel Robinson, founder of Openr, said: “This funding is a real game changer for Openr, which is built by operators, for operators, so Imbiba, and its extensive sector experience, really is the perfect partner. We’re excited to ramp up our product development and help more operators unleash growth, efficiency and innovation using our innovative technology.” Andrew Maxwell, operating partner at Imbiba, said: “The hospitality industry thrives on seamless operations, and Openr is revolutionising how data flows across systems. With this new investment it can accelerate product development, empowering operators with real-time insights, automation, and efficiency like never before. We believe this technology will redefine hospitality management and set a new industry standard.”

Chinese bubble brand moves to global stores numbers top-spot: McDonald’s is no longer the largest restaurant brand in the world. Mixue Bingcheng is a Chinese bubble tea and ice cream brand with more than 45,000 restaurants worldwide as of September 2024, while the number of McDonald’s restaurants all over the world is around 41,800, according to Statista via Chowhound. The Asia-based business is known for selling soft serve ice cream for one yuan (15 cents) and drinks ranging from between two to eight yuan (30 cents to $1.20). Some 90% of them are in China. There are also outlets in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. There isn’t a single location in the United States. Mixue Bingcheng was founded in 1997 by Zhang Hongchao, and originally started out as a store selling shaved ice and cold drinks. More than 99% of the bubble tea brand’s stores are franchised, with most of their revenue coming from selling food materials, equipment, and packaging to its franchisees. Its growth is rapid, though. According to its prospectus, Mixue’s net profit jumped 42% to 3.49 billion yuan ($479m) in the first nine months of 2024 from the same period in the previous year. The company’ revenue increased 21% to 18.7 billion yuan ($2.6bn) in the first nine months of 2024.

BII launches campaign to rally backing for it calls for pubs to secure critical government support: The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has launched its Our Pub campaign, to rally backing for it calls for pubs to secure critical government support. From next month, pubs across the country are facing a mountain of tax increases. Recent survey data from the BII reveals that if they make no changes, more than 80% will be unprofitable, putting their futures at risk. BII chief executive Steve Alton said: “The rises planned for April are a hammer blow to pubs across the UK. In order to survive, operators are having to cut costs wherever they can, and the only option for many will be to cut jobs, open fewer hours or leave their businesses altogether. The government’s short-sighted approach to taxing small businesses to fill the black hole in the Budget will mean rising inflation, unemployment, lost investment in communities and a heavier burden on the welfare and healthcare systems, which are already overstretched. As importantly though, our communities stand to lose a place to connect, a place to celebrate, a place to commiserate and a place to share vital human contact. We want every pub in the UK to share the message with their teams, customers and suppliers that our pub is too important to lose. We want a flood of emails to local MPs, forcing them to take the plight of every single local pub to Westminster, to show the huge importance the British people place on their pubs at the heart of their communities.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a hospitality venue that is looking for an assistant general manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will involve playing a pivotal role in enhancing the overall service experience and leading the team to deliver fantastic guest experiences. Reporting directly to the general manager, their responsibilities will include overseeing front-of-house operations, including hosting and order of service, leading and mentoring a substantial team, focusing on their development and inspiration, prioritising both guests and team members to foster a collaborative working environment, gaining valuable exposure to P&L management and the intricacies of running a successful and commercially thriving restaurant. At its core, this role is about spreading happiness through exceptional service.” The salary is up to £60,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email kate@corecruitment.com.

Be At One has ambitions to expand across more cities as it looks to build on ‘strong’ 2024: Andy Palfreyman, operations director at Be At One, has told Propel there are ambitions to expand the cocktail bar brand as it looks to build on a “strong” 2024. The 40-strong brand, owned by Stonegate Group, reopened its flagship site in London’s Beak Street last week following a £500,000 investment. Described as the “jewel in the crown” of the Be At One estate, the revamp included the addition of a “chef’s table-style” bar, a photobooth, a new bookable speakeasy-style room (that can only be accessed by code) and a new VIP raised area. The venue has also seen its capacity grow from 548 to 580. Last year, Stonegate converted two of its sites to Be At One venues – in Liverpool and Chester – and while Palfreyman said there were no immediate plans for further conversions, the company is very much looking to expand the brand and continue to build on its success. “We’re ambitious, and we see opportunity to bring Be At One to the likes of Glasgow, Edinburgh and York,” he added. “Last year was a strong year for the brand – we delivered both sales and profit growth with performance ahead of the market. The market has been difficult for everyone since Christmas, not helped by the weather and guests continuing to be cautious with spend, but we are confident we will have another good year. We are ambitious and see opportunities to grow the brand further.” Palfreyman also believes the government needs to do more to help the sector as it continues to face significant headwinds and costs pressures, especially with the upcoming Budget in April. “This support is crucial for us to navigate these challenges and continue to thrive,” said Palfreyman.

Doner Shack signs up franchisees for US launch: Doner Shack, the Berlin fast casual kebab business, has signed up its first three franchisees for a launch in the US. In December, the company said it was set to relocate to the US, to operate in what it said was a “more supportive business environment” following October’s UK Budget. Founded in Glasgow in 2018 by Sanjeev Sanghera and Laura Bruce, Doner Shack grew to five stores before last year buying back three restaurants and several territories from its franchisees due to cost pressures. Currently operating three UK restaurants, the business spent some time in the US last autumn, attending franchise expos as it geared up to launch in the States. Doner Shack said it had decided to relocate its headquarters from Glasgow to Miami, where it believes there is “an environment where the business can thrive”. The company has now signed deals to open multiple sites in Texas and Vegas. For the latter, the business has signed up Sumeet Kainth, who relocated to Las Vegas from the UK three years ago. He said: “Coming from the UK and being a longtime customer of Doner Shack, I’ve been eagerly waiting for them to franchise in the US. The business model, and most importantly, the product Doner Shack offers, is going to become a household name here.” At the same time, the business has awarded franchise rights in the Dallas-Fort Worth market to Hassan Uzzaman, a seasoned business professional and franchise operator with a strong background in IT project management and multi-unit operations. Doner Shack has also signed a three-site deal with a Mr Zaman, who’s “gearing up to bring the Doner Shack experience to Dallas, Texas”. The company said the new deals came after a successful debut at the Franchise Expo South in Fort Lauderdale last September, where the brand generated strong interest from potential franchisees. Sanghera said: “This is just the beginning of an exciting journey as we bring our unrivalled, crave-worthy kebabs to American diners. Momentum is everything. Off the back of our recent Dallas, Texas announcement, we’re thrilled to welcome another franchise partner (Sumeet Kainth) to the Doner Shack family and it’s another three-store development deal. Our growth in the US is accelerating because ambitious operators see what we’re building: a brand designed for speed, quality, and scale. With our robotic kebab cutting technology, precision-engineered operations, and an unwavering focus on customer experience, Doner Shack is setting the standards in our sector.” 

 

Former Soho Club boss eyes Bournemouth nightclub opening: Jeremy Gordeno, who was previously chief executive of Soho Clubs and Bars, plans to launch Sanctum The Church in Bournemouth’s Exeter Road on Friday, 2 May. On social media, the town's newest club described itself as “Bournemouth's ultimate nightlife experience, with cutting-edge sound, visuals, and world-class DJs where the party never stops”. Gordeno previously acquired ten leasehold nightclubs across the UK, including in Nottingham, Essex, and Cornwall, through his company Summit Clubs. The venue was formerly Halo nightclub, owned by Ty Temel, which closed last year due to cashflow problems. Temel cited a combination of factors, including a changed student drinking culture, the cost-of-living crisis, and Brexit, as contributing to its closure. At the time of the closure, Triangle Bars, the company behind Halo, owed almost £400,000, including more than £85,000 to HM Revenue & Customs.

Peel Hunt – there is now an opportunity for JD Wetherspoon to grow market share: Sector analyst Peel Hunt has said there is now an opportunity for JD Wetherspoon to grow market share by maintaining its operational model, “while smaller pub and restaurant operators cut back following April's tax rate increases”. Wetherspoon will update the market with its interim results on Friday, 21 March. Ahead of the update Peel Hunt produced a note under the heading “Taxing Times”. In it, the analyst forecasts that Wetherspoon’s first-half pre-tax profit will be up 10% to £39.6m driven by a 5.1% increase in like-for-like sales. On taxation, Peel Hunt said that last year, Wetherspoon paid £961,000/pub of total taxation, 16 times its £59,000 net income/pub, but that from next month, it should exceed £1m/pub. The note goes on to state that the Budget will cost the business £60m per annum from April. Peel Hunt said: “The budget adjustment to pre-tax profit forecasts was ahead of Wetherspoon saying how its pricing would respond. As our in-house survey indicates a circa 3% rise in pricing early in the second half of the financial year, we expect the downside risk to forecasts to be limited, unless volumes have been impacted or the government plans more tax rises. We forecast margins to be up slightly in the first half and then fall slightly in the second half, owing to added cost pressure in the fourth quarter. We estimate that recent circa 3% price increases equate to the impact of the Budget, before any effect on footfall and other sources of cost inflation. Like-for-like sales, and their composition (with pricing and machine income being the most profitable) are the key to profit progression. Expansion should pick up. In the first half, the company opened two sites and sold six for £4.1m. The company expects to open seven pubs in the second half. In our view, there is now an opportunity for Wetherspoon to grow market share by maintaining its operational model, while smaller pub and restaurant operators cut back following April's tax rate increases.” Meanwhile, Wetherspoon should not have been made to pay £71,000 to a man whose hip was dislocated as he was restrained by two security guards, the High Court has heard. Stephanus Bernardus Burger needed emergency surgery after the incident at The Rodboro Buildings in Guildford, Surrey, in August 2018. In September 2023, a judge awarded Burger damages after finding the company “vicariously liable” despite the security guards being employed by Risk Solutions BG. Wetherspoon is challenging the ruling.

Bubble CiTea looking to ramp up its franchise expansion as it seeks to grow beyond predominantly shopping centre locations: Bubble tea brand Bubble CiTea is looking to ramp up its franchise expansion as it seeks to grow beyond predominantly shopping centre locations. The business, founded by Suneet Sachdeva in 2013, has grown to an estate of 55 stores. It has now signed with food and beverage specialist Krishma Vaghela, of Franchise Futures, who is also working with Soho Coffee, YouMeSushi and Side Street Burgers on their expansion plans. “Bubble CiTea is ripe for success!” Vaghela told Propel. “It is the only bubble tea brand in the UK that is wholly grown and for its next stage of expansion, we are seeking multi-unit partners or ambitious single-unit partners who are looking at the opportunity to develop beyond one site. We’re looking to open it out and widen things it in terms of where Bubble CiTea can go. We’re looking to go beyond just shopping centres, but they must be high footfall locations. The company has grown via footfall as delivery is only a small percentage of its operations. The infrastructure is in place, it has 1.8 million followers on TikTok and strong brand partnerships. We are being presented with some prime locations, but we are looking to streamline its operations and ensure some consistency in its store design.” Bubble CiTea has previously said it has ambitions to grow to 300 UK locations through franchising and has rolled out self-service screens across its estate. Although the company has big-city shopping centre locations at places like Birmingham’s Bullring, London’s Brent Cross and West One, Essex’s Lakeside, Manchester’s Arndale, Newcastle’s Metrocentre and Sheffield’s Meadowhall, it also has a very strong regional presence. The brand’s estate stretches from Plymouth in the south west to Norwich in the east, and several locations on the south coast to a sprinkling across Scotland and Wales – and many more in between in places such as Basingstoke and Bath, Derby and Doncaster, and Warrington and Watford. 

Boparan Restaurant Group expands Slim Chickens footprint in London with St Paul’s opening: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), the owner of the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Carluccio’s and Giraffe brands, has opened a new site for its Slim Chickens brand, in London’s St Paul’s. The outlet has launched at Condor House in St Paul’s Churchyard. BRG, which first introduced the US brand Slim Chickens into the UK in 2018 with an opening in St James Street, Marylebone, will add to its presence in the capital with a 90-cover site in Edgware Road set to launch on Tuesday, 18 March. Slim Chickens’ UK estate now stands at 67 sites. Last month, BRG told Propel it has up to 16 sites in build for Slim Chickens, and plans further growth in Europe in the second half of this year, including more transport hub sites after winning a series of airport tenders. Slim Chickens features in Propel’s highly anticipated International Brands report, featuring the 100 leading international brands in UK hospitality, which launches this month and is available to pre-order now. This in-depth report explores company histories, leadership structures, site numbers and turnover figures – an essential tool for industry professionals navigating the UK hospitality market. The top 100 will include expanding brands from markets such as the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. The guide will be sent out as two files – an introductory PDF featuring deep dives into international brands from Propel’s writers, and a fully searchable Excel sheet for easy access to key data. The analysis includes Matteo Frigeri, founder of Seeds Consulting, on the challenges of recruiting the right UK franchisee, Michael Ingemann, director of Think Hospitality, on why European brands chose the UK for expansion, and Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vanifatova examining the UK market for quick service restaurant operators. The International Brands report will be available from 9am on Friday, 28 March for £595 plus VAT, with existing Premium Club members able to purchase at a discounted rate of £395 plus VAT. Premium Club members will receive it free on Friday, 9 May at 9am. Pre-order your copy today by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com. 

Canadian pancake brand Fluffy Fluffy set for East Midlands debut: Canadian pancake brand Fluffy Fluffy is set to make its East Midlands debut. Fluffy Fluffy is preparing to open at the East Midlands Designer Outlet, which is located in South Normanton, Alfreton. The brand, which launched in the UK in Manchester in 2022, currently has 12 locations here. Fluffy Fluffy has so far this year launched in Newcastle for its north east debut, and is lining up a site in Brighton for its first south coast location, as well as a store in Windsor. In January, Propel revealed that Fluffy Fluffy is aiming to open at least ten new stores this year, as it works towards an eventual target here of 100-plus locations.

East Devon bakery ceases trading with immediate effect and closes all nine stores: East Devon bakery The Crusty Cob has ceases trading with immediate effect and closed all nine of its stores. The family-run business has been based in Exeter for 55 years and run by four generations of the Tubbs family. The current directors are Neil Tubbs, Howard Tubbs and Trudy Tubbs. The family said the reason for the closure is the current state of bakery manufacturing, a shrinking customer base in the high street, inflation, energy costs and wage and national insurance increases. In a statement posted on social media, Neil Tubbs said: “Our industry has been in a constant downturn, making it increasingly difficult to sustain our business. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our workforce of more than 100 employees for their tireless effort and work. Many have been with us for more than 30 years, and we are very grateful for their loyalty and commitment to our company. We could not have traded for this long without their hard work and dedication. We would also like to express our appreciation to our customers for their loyalty and support over the years. While we are saddened by the closure of The Crusty Cob, we are grateful for the memories, relationships, and experiences we have gained throughout the years. We will cherish these. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey.”

Mowchi set to expand London footprint with double opening: Bubble tea franchise Mowchi is set to expand its London footprint with a double opening. Mowchi, founded in 2022 by Afrikana brand and marketing director Syeda Kayanath, made its debut in the capital last year by opening a 40-seater flagship at 450 Mile End Road, followed by a store at 5 Market Street in East Ham. Mowchi is now turning its focus to north west London, lining up openings in both Wembley and Kingsbury through a partnership with the Franchise With Us consultancy. Mowchi also has locations in Bradford – its first franchise, operated by Sumera Hussain – and in the Lakeside shopping centre in Essex. Mowchi has also secured a site in Canterbury for its Kent debut. Mowchi’s original site, in Birmingham’s Ladypool Road, has now closed.

Zetter Group reports turnover and Ebitda boost, bought new site in London’s Bloomsbury for £31m: Central London hotel and townhouse operator Zetter Group has reported turnover increased to £8,634,576 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £8,098,594 the previous year. The company, which operates Marrables Hotel and Zetter townhouses in Clerkenwell and Marylebone, saw Ebitda grow to £2,797,233 from £2,560,235 the year before. Of the 2023 turnover, £6,864,544 came from accommodation (2022: £6,325,691), £1,597,886 from food and beverage (2022: £1,635,895) and £172,146 from other income (2022: £137,008). The group made a pre-tax loss of £2,511,705 compared with a profit of £3,228,160 the previous year. In May 2023, the company acquired two adjacent properties in Bloomsbury that are being converted into a Zetter townhouse and is due to open in late 2025 and have 72 bedrooms. The accounts revealed the group paid £31m for the properties and has so far spent £1,671,566 on the refurbishment. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “Despite UK economic pressures, especially for the hospitality industry, both the Zetter townhouses and Marrables continued to outperform the market. The company’s strategic and operational vision remains firmly focused on solidifying, improving and enabling future growth of the broader concept. Whether it is expansion within the UK market or outside, the company’s mission remains focused on organic, thoughtful and clear evolution.” No dividend was paid (2022: nil). The group employs around 100 staff.

Bristol restaurant changes name after clash with London restaurant: Mark and Karen Chapman have changed the name of their proposed second Bristol restaurant from Luca, due to open in April, to Ragu after a clash with the London restaurant called Luca. The couple’s son is called Luca – and the restaurant was named after him. The Chapmans say they scrapped the original name after the London restaurant with the same name threatened them with legal proceedings. A spokesperson told Bristol 24/7: “We would like to mention that we were very disappointed to receive threatening legal proceedings from a London restaurant that has a similar name to the one we wanted to name after our son. Luca’ is a popular Italian name and as such variations of ‘Luca’ have been used as the name of Italian restaurants all over the world. In the UK alone, there is a ‘Luca’s Kitchen’, ‘Luca’s Bistro’, ‘Di Luca’, ‘Luca’s Pizza’, ‘Da Luca Restaurant’, ‘Luca Mio’, ‘De Luca’, ‘Luca Dsq’, a ‘Luca’s’, ‘Enoteca da Luca’ and ‘La Luna di Luca’, among others. There is even a restaurant ‘Luca’ in Liverpool, using an identical name. We are certain that the average customer would easily distinguish the two – let alone different cities of the UK – and so cannot see the reason why a London restaurant is concerned or why we in particular have been targeted.” The Chapmans first restaurant, COR, has been recognised with a Bib Gourmand for three consecutive years.

 

Yorkshire restaurateur to open second site for Mediterranean tapas concept: Yorkshire restaurateur Masud Rana is set to open a second site for his Mediterranean tapas concept La Fiesta. The restaurant will launch at The Merrion Centre in Leeds this summer after Rana agreed a deal with landlord Town Centre Securities. The 4,555 square-foot flagship restaurant will seat up to 120 guests, and include a dedicated bar area and churros station. La Fiesta offers a blend of flavours from Spain, Greece and Italy. Rana said: “The Arena Quarter and Merrion Centre have been of interest to us for many years, and now feels like the perfect time to join this thriving area. Leeds is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the UK, and we are excited to showcase our unique Mediterranean vibe here.” Rana operates a La Fiesta site in Doncaster along with two other sites in the town – Italian restaurant La Rustica and Argentinian-inspired steakhouse La Boca.

North London pub operators to open second site: The team behind the Southampton Arms in London’s Kentish Town is opening a second site. The Pocket in Islington, which is launching in the former Four Sisters site in Canonbury Lane, is described as a traditional ale and cider house focusing exclusively on beer and cider from small independent UK breweries and cideries. Owners Jo and Pete Holt said they intend to build on the current revival of independent ale and cider. “The beer scene in the UK is more exciting than it's ever been, the quality bar raising ever higher,” said Pete Holt. “There’s a huge selection of fantastic beer, cider and perry without having to drink the tasteless mass produced stuff. We’re embracing what’s out there in a relaxed environment that tips it’s hat to old London.” Food will also be available in the form of a hot pie counter along with scotch eggs and home-made sausage rolls. The three-storey Victorian building has undergone a full renovation and is set to open on Thursday, 20 March.

Plymouth better burger business owners launch new steak restaurant inspired by Hawksmoor: The owners of Plymouth better burger business Zephyr Burgers have launched a new steak restaurant in the city after being inspired by a trip to Hawksmoor. Oz Harbeth and partner Sheena Campbell have opened Nora’s in the former Manuka restaurant unit in North Hill – a few doors from their other venture. Nora’s is named after Harbeth’s grandmother, who as a “fantastic cook”, was one of his inspirations. Harbeth, who won Burger Chef of the Year at the 2022 National Burger Awards, told Plymouth Live: “When the site came up we thought you know what, we’ve had this other concept brewing in our minds for a little while. We thought it’s only up the road from Zephyr so it should be less challenging to run both spots on the same street than if it was a little bit further away. We’re kind of billing it as a modern steakhouse, buying in sub-primal, big cuts of beef that have been dry-aged for about four weeks. We’ve got a dry ager in the restaurant as well, so all of the meat is on display, then we’ll butcher it down into steaks. I lived in London for 12 years and remember two food experiences I had. The first, I went to Hawksmoor for a work Christmas party, and we had this selection of steaks. It was like nothing I had tried before, and I then became obsessed with trying to recreate the steak experience I had. For the last 15-16 years I’ve basically been trying to perfect the art of cooking a steak. The other one was when Bleecker Burger opened in London. I first had one of those in 2012, and I set up Zephyr off the back of that.”

 

Yorkshire African food shop owners set to open debut restaurant and hope it will be ‘first of many’: Yorkshire African food shop owners Dalu and Sibbs Sikhosana are set to open their debut restaurant. The siblings, who own the Sub Sahara African food shop in Rotherham’s Effingham Street, have secured a unit at the town’s Forge Island development. Sygnature Dish will serve lunch and dinner alongside a selection of cocktails, local and international beer when it opens in late spring. Dishes will include T-bone, sirloin and rib-eye steaks, beef ribs and burgers, salmon and prawns, fish of the day, chicken and pasta, plus vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Dalu said: “Sygnature Dish will offer something for everyone – it’s a unique offer for Rotherham where people will be able to sample the finest cuts of meat on the bone and fresh seafood, while getting good value for money.” Sibbs added: “We’re passionate about what we do, and when the opportunity was presented to us, we wanted to grab it with both hands. We hope our Forge Island site will be the first of many Sygnature Dish restaurants across the country.”

US golf-focused hotel business opens second UK site: US golf-focused hotel business Links Collection has opened a second UK site, in Northern Ireland. The five-star Dunluce Lodge has launched ahead of the Open Championship returning to Royal Portrush Golf Club this year. The £16.5m venue sits on the edge of Royal Portrush’s fourth fairway, offering 35 luxury suites, a private lodge, eight private suites, private dining and a fireside lounge space. A restaurant and bar also overlook the golf course and ocean, offering à la carte dining and tasting menus. There are also spa and fitness facilities, an on-site putting green and complimentary private transfers to the nearby helipad and to the clubhouses at Royal Portrush and other nearby courses. Dunluce Lodge is operated by Valor Hospitality Partners. The same partnership is also responsible for the five-star boutique hotel, Seaton House, in St Andrews, Scotland. Jonathan Harper and Robert Convington Jr are managing partners at Links Collection, which was founded in 2020.

Gloucestershire kitchen garden concept set to open second location: Gloucestershire kitchen garden concept Roots + Seeds is set to open a second location. Schoolfriends Toby Baggott and Sam Lawson-King launched the first Roots + Seeds in Cirencester Park, within the grounds of the Bathurst Estate in Cirencester in 2023. The duo, who previously operated Cotswolds socially distanced dining experience The Scenic Supper during lockdown, are now preparing to next month launch the second Roots + Seeds, with a 60-cover restaurant at Gloucester Dock. The brasserie-style menus of modern British dishes with influences from further afield will continue to offer Cotswolds-sourced produce and will serve coffee, breakfast, brunch and lunch daily, as well as dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. There will also be award-winning Roots + Seeds London Dry Gin, made by Lawson-King, plus a selection of wine curated by Cirencester company Talking Wines and beer by Gloucester Brewery and Cotswold Lakes Brew Co. “We are excited to be able to open our second restaurant at Gloucester Food Dock,” Baggott told The Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard. “Not only is this area a successful hub known for its superb independent food outlets, but it’s also a wonderful and historic location with fantastic views over Victoria Basin.”