Broadwick Group acquires Camm & Hooper following restructure: Events and hospitality group Camm & Hooper has been acquired by the Broadwick Group, the music, arts and space management company, after undergoing a restructure. Propel revealed earlier this year that Camm & Hooper, which operates seven sites across London, Manchester and Glasgow, was undertaking a strategic review and had engaged restructuring specialists. Last year, the business exited its lease arrangement for Tanner & Co in London’s Bermondsey, as part of a strategic review of underperforming assets, and to move away from its bars and restaurants to focus on “our core strengths of delivering exclusive events”. As part of the acquisition, Banking Hall, OXO2, 26 Leake Street and The Victorian Bath House, which are all in London, will now operate under Broadwick, which said the integration brings “fresh potential for these venues and their teams, aligning with Broadwick’s expertise in venue management and operations”. It said the move strengthens Broadwick’s position in the events industry and “unlocks new opportunities for growth”. Simon Tracey, chief executive of Broadwick, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Camm & Hooper to Broadwick. Its venues and expertise align with our vision, and together, we’ll build on their success to deliver outstanding events. This acquisition marks a new chapter for Camm & Hooper, ensuring its venues remain leading destinations in London’s event scene.” Derick Martin, chief executive of Camm & Hooper, which was previously backed by serial sector investor Imbiba, said: “Joining Broadwick Group is a game-changer for Camm & Hooper. Its expertise and ambition perfectly complement our own, and together, we’re set to elevate what’s possible in the events industry. This isn’t just about continuity – it’s about pushing boundaries, creating new opportunities, and ensuring our venues continue to thrive as some of the most exciting spaces in London.” 

 

Sponsored message – two weeks’ notice for people and talent teams to join Candid pilot scheme at trial price: Candid Hospitality, the anonymous matchmaking platform for hospitality careers, opened its doors at the start of this month, with 60-plus hospitality brands already taking part – including the likes of Big Table Group, Honest Burgers, Bill’s, Popeyes, The Alchemist, Punch Pubs, New World Trading Company and Turtle Bay. Co-founder Sam Brown said: “We’ve been pretty overwhelmed by the initial uptake of our pilot scheme, not just from operators and suppliers looking to hire, but also from candidates. We’re approaching 2,000 hospitality professionals with live profiles, more than 40% of whom are ‘passive’. It wasn’t a big part of the original plan, but we’ve accidentally created hospitality’s largest pool of passive candidates. We haven’t shared this publicly yet, as we wanted to ensure early adopters were bought into the concept rather than the commercials, but all brands taking part are receiving a 75% reduction in costs for the full duration of their agreement with us – as a thank you for being part of our origin story and providing feedback. The window for this reduction in pricing will be closing on 31 March, so any remaining brands who wish to be included, while also saving a significant amount of money on their recruitment costs over the next 12 months, have two weeks to get in touch.” With a unique approach to hospitality hiring, all candidates are kept anonymous – removing risk and bias. Instead, matching candidates with roles using an algorithm based on skills and values. To learn more, email hello@candidhospitality.co.uk or click here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Christie & Co’s Stephen Owens to speak at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club subscribers: Stephen Owens, managing director – pubs and restaurants at Christie & Co, 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. Owens will set the scene for the market, with an update on sector valuations, price expectations, market sentiment, who the buyers and sellers are, and what’s in store for the year ahead. 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.

 

Next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality to be released on Friday featuring more than 240,000 words of content: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will feature more than 240,000 words of content when it is released to Premium Club members on Friday (21 March), at midday. The database now features 894 companies, and this month’s edition includes seven new additions and 52 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector.  Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. 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.

UKHospitality – ‘focus deregulation on most over-burdened sectors such as hospitality’: Government efforts to cut red tape should be targeted at sectors most over-taxed and over-regulated, like hospitality, UKHospitality has said. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled an action plan that she says delivers on the pledge to cut the administrative cost of regulation on business by a quarter, “making Britain the best place to do business and drive economic growth”. In response, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “A plan to cut red tape and reduce the burden on businesses is long overdue. In sectors like hospitality, businesses have been struggling with too much cost and too many regulations for decades, and it has held back growth. If we want to kickstart the economy, deregulating those already over-stretched sectors should be the focus. This should include a review of upcoming legislation, like the ill-thought through Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. Rewiring the nation’s regulators to perform more effectively is critical, and this should include a pivot to help businesses reduce costs, ensure proportionate competition in the market and taking a more common-sense approach to assessment and enforcement of regulation.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a national beer brand with a strong presence across both the on and off-trade that is seeking a head of sales. The salary is between £70,000 and £90,000, depending on experience, plus bonus and travel and the position is based in London. For more information, email mark@corecruitment.com.

 

Chaiiwala franchisee signs multi-site agreement to further expand Black Sheep Coffee in Scotland: Chaiiwala franchisee Usman Riaz has signed a multi-site agreement to further expand Black Sheep Coffee in Scotland. Riaz, who owns Chaiiwala stores in cities such as Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dundee, earlier this month opened his first Black Sheep Coffee store, in Lothian Road, Edinburgh. He has now extended his partnership with the speciality coffee shop operator, with a deal to open multiple locations across the east of Scotland. “Big plans in the pipeline with Black Sheep Coffee!” Riaz said. “We are proud to be a part of the Black Sheep Coffee family and look forward to opening many more stores in the future. Our pursuit for working with industry leaders is always at the forefront, and we are committed to helping the Black Sheep Coffee family continue to grow.” It comes after fellow franchisees Suhail Rehman and Tariq Din, who currently operate three Black Sheep Coffee stores in Glasgow, signed a 14-site deal in December to expand the brand across the west of Scotland. Black Sheep Coffee currently has 17 Scottish locations among its UK estate of circa 90 stores. It has also this year made its Northern Ireland debut and outlined plans to ramp up its overseas expansion in 2025, with a particular focus on the US and UAE.

 

Park Chinois to make Middle East debut: Park Chinois, the Chinese restaurant in London’s Mayfair formerly headed up by Wagamama founder Alan Yau, is to make its international debut, with an opening in the Middle East. The company behind Park Chinois has partnered with Island Hospitality to bring the restaurant to the Gran Meliá Jumeirah hotel, in Dubai. Park Chinois will take over the rooftop of Gran Meliá Jumeirah, a prime seafront location on Port de La Mer island, where it will have Zuma Beach House as a neighbour. Park Chinois, which extended the lease on its 17 Berkeley Street principal place of business by 20 years to June 2044, said last year it was looking at opportunities to expand overseas. Director Imtiaz Haque said: “The focus of the business is now on consolidating the UK business as well as looking at a number of opportunities internationally, and there are plans for growth to further take the Park Chinois concept to prominent cities globally.”

 

The Fat Pizza exploring Spanish expansion: Fast-growing pizza franchise The Fat Pizza is exploring expanding into Spain. Founder Sunny Chhina attended the recent FranquiShop expo in Seville and is understood to be looking at master franchise opportunities in the country. The company made its international debut at the end of last year, in Dubai, as revealed by Propel. Chhina told Propel last August that he is aiming for 180 The Fat Pizza UK sites by the end of 2026 plus 50 across the GCC, and is trialling a dark kitchen pub model. Chhina, who was previously a franchisee with Perfect Pizza and Papa John’s, founded the business in 2017 and began franchising in 2021. The Fat Pizza now has circa 35 UK locations.

 

Starbucks CEO – we’re working hard to ensure our coffee houses have the right vibe: Starbucks chief executive Brian Niccol has reaffirmed his commitment to improving the experience for both the brand’s customers and staff, especially during peak operating hours, as the company looks to ensure its coffee houses have the “right vibe”. Addressing the coffee brand’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, Niccol revealed that amid the sweeping updates he’s already announced, he has even more modifications to stores that he has yet to implement on a wide scale. “From bean to cup, it’s the people at Starbucks that make us special,” Niccol said, explaining that his upcoming plans are solely to enhance the customer experience. “As we take our next steps ‘Back to Starbucks’, we’ll continue to enhance the health of our store portfolio. We’re working hard to ensure our coffee houses have the right vibe. We want to invite customers in, showcase our great coffee, provide a comfortable place to stay, and make them feel like their visit was time well spent.” Niccol said he is already testing out a few ideas that could help “re-establish Starbucks as the community coffee house” at select sites across the US. A few of the updates include a new staffing model and a totally redesigned storefront that features expanded seating options, power outlets and abundant food displays. Stores have also begun to offer more separation between the cafe and mobile-ordering experience, adding new risers and dedicated pick-up shelves in select locations to create an “intuitive handoff”. Some cafes also now feature a redesigned espresso bar that “adds a sense of theatre to the experience”. The move follows other initiatives introduced by Niccol, including a slimmed-down menu, the return of handwriting on cups and a new refill policy. 

 

Hotel Chocolat to open two new Velvetiser Cafés in North Yorkshire: Hotel Chocolat, the premium British chocolatier, is to launch new Velvetiser Cafés in North Yorkshire this month. The first will launch on Thursday, 27 March in the Vangarde shopping centre in York. The 3,500 square-foot unit will have space for 39 guests. A store in Skipton High Street will then launch the following day. The store will be one of the few to hold Hotel Chocolat's Café Collection, featuring recipes created in-house by development chef David Demaison. The Skipton store will occupy a 3,082 square-foot unit and offer space for 67 guests. Hotel Chocolat's omnichannel director Frankie Haynes said: “We’re thrilled to bring the Hotel Chocolat experience to North Yorkshire. Our new Velvetiser Café is designed to offer a relaxing space where people can enjoy our signature drinks and treats at a leisurely pace. The Yorkshire stores mark another step in our expansion, and we’re excited to continue offering more of these delightful, out-of-town experiences across the country in the coming years.” Hotel Chocolat currently has 147 stores and 68 cafes across the UK.

Urban Baristas to open second north London store: Aussie-inspired coffee concept Urban Baristas is set to open its second north London store. The business, led by Huw Wardrope, currently has 16 locations across the capital, but its only in north London is in Bounds Green. This will soon be joined by a new location in Highgate, through franchisee Alphaz Coffee. Urban Baristas last month opened a central London location, in St James’s Dacre Street, and is also preparing to launch in Croydon, Wimbledon, Chelsea and Fulham. The company has targeted 11 further openings this year as it works towards an ambition of 40 stores by the end of 2026.

 

Elle R Leisure reports £1m profit boost: North west hospitality company Elle R Leisure saw its profit boosted by more than £1m in the year to 31 March 2024. The company’s pre-tax profit rose from £745,843 in 2023 to £1,847,807. Turnover was up from £20,705,755 to £21,365,166. Listed separately under other revenue, the company said it made £50,525 from New Year’s Eve tickets (2023: £45,441). It also reported an £85,490 loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets (2023: nil). Director Beth Adams said: “Revenue has increased in the period, as has the gross profit margin despite the difficult trading conditions. The directors recognise the conditions in the current operating environment and how this has had an impact on the period’s performance and are satisfied with the performance achieved. The results for the year ended 31 March 2025 are expected to show a strong result.” No dividends were paid (2023: nil). The group, established in 1991, comprises four Albert’s restaurants around Greater Manchester – named after owner Jim Ramsbottom’s uncle, who led the conversion of a canalside stable block into the group’s original Dukes 92 restaurant in Manchester’s Castle Street. As well as the Albert restaurants and Dukes 92, the company also operates Woodlands Hotel in Leeds, Soughton Hall Hotel in North Wales and Hello Hotel in Salford. Post year-end, in November 2024, Elle R Leisure acquired the Ferrari’s Country House Hotel in Preston. In January 2025, the group also secured approval for a fifth Albert’s restaurant – in chef Andrew Nutter’s former Nutters restaurant in Rochdale.

 

Global operator Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA adds seventh UK airport hotel to portfolio: Global hotel operator Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA has added a seventh airport hotel to its UK portfolio. The company is now operating the Hilton Garden Inn at Birmingham airport. The 178-room property in Concorde Road features a fitness centre, business centre and an on-site restaurant and bar. Some rooms at the property overlook the runway at the airport. David Anderson, divisional president at Aimbridge EMEA, said: “The signing marks another milestone in our strategic growth plan and we are excited to bring our operational expertise to this property, which includes a wealth of experience managing airport hotels across the UK. As ever, our focus will be on delivering exceptional guest experiences and driving strong performance for the hotel.” The signing follows the addition of the 120-room Hampton by Hilton St Helen’s in Merseyside to the Aimbridge portfolio, as well as the recent opening of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ghent – a 126-room property on the outskirts of the Belgian city.

 

Sushi bar concept Little Lotus to open in Leeds for sixth site: Sushi bar concept Little Lotus is to open its sixth site. The company will open at the Merrion Centre in Leeds this spring after agreeing a deal with landlord Town Centre Securities. The 2,518 square-foot restaurant will be spread across two floors and located in Merrion Way. An Chu, operations manager at Little Lotus, said: “Leeds has always been a city we’ve wanted to be in, and we are thrilled to finally have the opportunity to open at the Merrion Centre. The centre’s community focus and its vibrancy made it the ideal choice. We look forward to offering fresh, delicious meals and welcoming the people of Leeds into our restaurant for a unique dining experience.” Little Lotus currently operates sites in Bradford, Chelmsford, Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield.

Hidden Talents Group reports slight increase in turnover and drop in profit: Byfords of Holt operator Hidden Talents Group, which is Norfolk-based and led by Iain Wilson, has reported a slight increase in turnover and drop in profit in the year to 31 March 2024. The company’s turnover was up from £9,750,266 in 2023 to £10,021,399, of which £5,034,048 came from food and beverage (2023: £4,494,981) and £3,266,073 from rooms (2022: £3,239,119). Its pre-tax profit was down from £1,717,995 to £1,248,594, while gross profit margin stood at 40.3% (2023: 42.5%). The group also operates The Pigs in Edgefield, The Assembly House in Norwich and The Ffokes in Hillington, as well as self-catering apartments in Sheringham. The company said: “This year’s performance and position has been pleasing to the group and continued investment undertaken to enhance both current and future profitability and sustainability. Costs have been closely controlled, and although investment has continued, the group has continued to be profitable and remains in a healthy cash position.”

 

North London McDonald’s franchisee acquires fifth site: North London McDonald’s franchisee Hubs Bakshi has acquired his fifth site with the brand. The former IT director, through his Lansia business, has added the McDonald’s restaurant at Metropolitan House in Potters Bar. Bakshi, whose other restaurants are in Barnet, Bushey, Borehamwood and Stanmore, became a McDonald’s franchisee in 2018 after 13 years working in IT with the McArthurGlen Group. “Please join me in congratulating Hubs Bakshi on his well-deserved expansion with the handover of the Potters Bar restaurant,” said Ffion Williams, McDonald’s UK’s franchisee attraction partner. “This exciting growth further extends his presence in north west London and takes his organisation to five restaurants. Before becoming a McDonald’s franchisee in 2018, Hubs had a successful career as an IT director. Hubs had always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and operate his own business. He purchased his first store in Barnet, in late 2018 and then Borehamwood late the following year. Hubs then took the opportunity to double the size of his organisation, taking two more drive-thru restaurants.” Lansia returned to profit in the year to 31 December 2023, turning a pre-tax loss of £35,160 into a profit of £411,142. The company’s turnover increased from £12,563,645 to £21,683,679 “predominately due to the incremental price rises made during the year”.

GuestHouse reports turnover boost following launch of second hotel, fourth site now open: Boutique hotel group GuestHouse – owned by brothers Tristan, James, and Tom Guest – reported a turnover boost in the year ending 31 March 2024 following the opening of its second hotel. The period saw a first full year of trading for the group’s York hotel, which it opened in December 2022, adding to its debut site in Bath. Its third hotel, in Margate, opened in the summer of 2023, while its fourth, in Brighton, launched post year-end, in November 2024. The group’s turnover increased from £6,211,000 in 2023 to £8,199,000. Of this, £4,739,000 came from accommodation (2023: £3,924,000), £2,591,000 from food and drink (2023: £1,442,000) and £679,000 from spa facilities (2023: £627,000). The company’s pre-tax loss widened from £3,675,000 to £4,601,000. No dividends were paid, the same as in 2023. Tom Guest said: “Group turnover levels have increased, mostly as a result of the opening of a second hotel. Net losses have also increased to due to continued investment in the group. This includes significant investment in the operating entities as well as the ongoing development of new sites.Management is attentive to arising potential growth opportunities and is open to appropriate expansion.” The group’s Pearly Cow restaurant concept, initially trialled in its York and Margate sites, has now also opened in its Brighton hotel.

 

Passyunk Avenue opens site in London’s Kensington: Passyunk Avenue, the Philadelphia-style bar and restaurant concept, has opened a further site in London, in Kensington. Propel revealed in February that Passyunk was set to launch at the former My Old Dutch site in Kensington Church Street. The venue has now opened. Passyunk, which is led by founder JP Teti, launched its debut site in Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, in 2018, which was followed by a quick-serve version of the concept, in Westfield Stratford City, in January 2019. Passyunk also operated the Home Run House at Westfield Stratford. The company continues to operate its original Fitzrovia site, plus Leake Street Arches and Passyunk Play in Waterloo, and a site in Nine Elms, Battersea. Pancake house concept My Old Dutch continues to operate sites in Chelsea and Holborn.

 

Elite Hotels reports Ebitda boost: Luxury hotel group Elite Hotels reported a boost in Ebitda in the year to 31 March 2024, rising to £1,009,744 from £665,066 the previous year. The group – which operates The Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club in East Sussex, The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne and Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens in Hampshire – also said it received £370,188 in grants and subsidies during the year (2023: nil). Turnover dropped slightly from £22,754,692 in 2023 to £22,691,287 while pre-tax losses widened from £1,298,347 to £1,677,939. Post year end, in May 2024, a banking facility of £15m was renewed for a further two-year term. Director Graeme Bateman said: “The year ending 31 March 2024 was demanding, with competition in our sector increasing as the leisure and corporate markets slowly returned after the hangover of covid-19. Pressures on all businesses meant the conference and event segment looked for increased value for money while expecting improved quality and service. On a more positive note, leisure and spa revenues grew as health and well-being offerings became even more important after the covid-19 epidemic. Inflationary pressures continue to affect our core costs of ingredients, labour and energy, making it a constant challenge to maintain profit margins. With good use of group-wide procurement initiatives, we have ensured that pricing benefits are achieved while maintaining quality and service. The total number or rooms sold grew 2.3%, while average rates and total revpar remained stable on an increased total room inventory as all rooms refurbished last year came back into inventory.”

Canadian pancake brand Fluffy Fluffy’s strategic advisor takes on his second store as franchisee: Bilal Saleem, strategic advisor for the UK business of Fluffy Fluffy, has taken on his second store as a franchisee of the Canadian pancake brand. Saleem joined Fluffy Fluffy in January 2024, shaping the brand’s marketing and growth strategy and supporting its franchisees in opening new stores. Last year, he became a franchisee for the brand himself by opening its store in Queen Street, Cardiff – its first in Wales. He has now acquired its Leeds store, at The Headrow, which initially opened at the end of 2023. “I’ve got the hospitality bug and super excited to announce we recently scooped up Fluffy Fluffy UK Leeds!” Saleem said. “Building a store from scratch versus acquiring an existing location is a different challenge, and we’re already knee deep into this new adventure of optimisation and marketing. It’s only been six months since our Cardiff store opened, however we just had to pounce on the opportunity and add our own flair to this amazing location. Leeds, we’re here to bring more smiles and delicious pancakes your way! Stay tuned, we’ve got some tasty things coming up and this is only the beginning.” Fluffy Fluffy launched in the UK in 2022, in Manchester, and currently has 12 locations. It has so far this year opened in Newcastle and lined up further locations in Windsor, Brighton and Alfreton.

 

Holy Carrot secures second site: Plant-based restaurant Holy Carrot, which is the brainchild of former Vogue producer Irina Linovich, is to open a second site later this year, in London’s Old Spitalfields Market. The concept started as a pop-up in Knightsbridge in May 2021. This was followed by the launch of a flagship restaurant in Notting Hill’s Portobello Road, last July, with chef owner Daniel Watkins at the helm. The pair said they are committed to minimising the restaurant’s environmental footprint, meaning vegetables are “celebrated and utilised in interesting ways, whether that be fire cookery or fermentation”. Holy Carrot said it prioritises working with small-scale producers, foragers and regenerative farmers to select the best organic and micro-seasonal produce for its menus. Linovich said: “I am thrilled to be bringing Holy Carrot to east London. I have always felt the energy and community there is aligned with our vision, bursting with creativity, culture and forward-thinkers. East London has always been about reinvention, and we’re excited to add our own chapter to the story.”

 

Hotel company returns to profit, sells Cheshire property off guide price of £4m: Hotel company Edgeman returned to profit in the year to 31 March 2024. The company turned a pre-tax loss of £318,776 in 2023 into a profit of £28,438. Turnover increased slightly from £19,302,896 to £19,979,670. Occupancy rates were down from 71.4% to 70.3%. No dividend was paid (2023: nil) and no government grants were received (2023: £16,660). Post year-end, in February 2025, the company sold Mere Court Hotel, in Knutsford, Cheshire, to Truffle Hotels off a guide price of £4m. Edgeman, led by the Chawla family, has a portfolio that includes the George Washington Hotel and Golf Club in Washington, Tyne and Wear, and the Craiglands Hotel in North Yorkshire.

 

Cardiff brewer and street food vendor partner to open new bar and restaurant: A Cardiff brewer and street food vendor have partnered to open a new bar and restaurant in the city. Flowerhorn Brewery and Mr Croquewich have joined forces to open Kegbelly, in Whitchurch, following a £30,000 loan from the Wales Flexible Investment Fund. The two businesses also share a site at The Bridge Studios in Western Avenue. Flowerhorn Brewery offers a range of craft beer while Mr Croquewich’s menu includes heavily stacked toasties and parmesan-fried sides. Andrew Traynor, a director at Flowerhorn and one of the joint directors of Kegbelly – alongside Flowerhorn partner Arran McHugh and Mr Croquewich owners Emma Carter and Darren Lewis – said: “We’d been looking for a space for a new bar, and Darren and Emma were looking for a new space for Mr Croquewich in a different part of Cardiff. One of the big plusses of this new venue was that it had a big kitchen space, and we were really lucky that it became available when it did. With their food and our beer, we’ve been able to fill a big gap in the market and offer something new and exciting in an area outside of the city centre.”

 

Former Roka group executive chef to launch new restaurant in London’s Marylebone: Hamish Brown, the former group executive chef of Roka Restaurants, is to launch a new venture in London’s Marylebone Village later this spring. Kauri will be a new restaurant and wine bar, which will merge “the flavours of Japan with great British produce, cooking on British charcoal and celebrating all things food and wine”. Brown spent 15 and a half years as group executive chef at Roka, which operates four sites in London and a further eight around the world. 

Scottish hotel company returns to profit following opening of new walled garden: Scottish hotel company Inverlochy Castle returned to profit in the year to 31 March 2024 following the opening of a new walled garden at the castle. The company, which comprises the Inverlochy Castle Hotel and Rocpool Reserve Hotel, both in Inverness, turned a pre-tax loss of £90,903 in 2023 into a profit of £312,720. Its turnover increased from £5,184,384 to £6,056,559. No government grants were received (2023: £18,561) and no dividends were paid (2023: £70,000). Director Jen Chai said: “Inverlochy Castle Hotel and Rocpool Reserve Hotel continued to uphold their reputation as two of Scotland's foremost luxury hotels. The company’s revenue has increased by 17% compared to last year, resulting in total revenue for the year of £6,056,559 compared to £5,184,384 in the prior year. The company reported a gross profit of £3,134,604, compared to £2,293,746 in the prior year. The company has reported a profit before tax of £312,720, compared to a loss before tax of £90,903 last year. This is primarily as a result of the opening of the Walled Garden development at Inverlochy Castle.” Parent company Inverlochy Castle Management International, which also manages venues including Crossbasket Castle, Greywalls, Isle of Eriska Hotel and Spa and the Glenfinnan Hotel, acquired the Knockendarroch Hotel in Pitlochry in December, for an undisclosed sum.

 

Former Etain head chef puts his Michelin-starred Fife restaurant on the market: Geoffrey Smeddle, who was previously head chef at Sir Terence Conran’s former Etain restaurant in Glasgow, has put his Michelin-starred Fife restaurant on the market. Agent Christie & Co has been instructed to market the freehold of The Peat Inn, a historic and award-winning restaurant with rooms built in the 18th century, with price on application. The business has been owned and operated by Smeddle and his wife, Katherine, since 2006, and the restaurant has held a Michelin star since 2010. The restaurant consists of three dining rooms, creating around 50 covers, alongside eight luxury letting suites and a four-bedroom owners’ home. The surrounding hamlet of Peat Inn takes its name from the restaurant. Simon Watson, business agent at Christie & Co, who is managing the sale, said: “The Peat Inn is one of the most established and celebrated venues in Scotland and can continue to be so in new hands. It has been a ‘go to’ restaurant for many from the area, and internationally, be it for celebrations or business.”

 

Two-time UK Barista Championship winner opens debut site: Paul Ross, two-time UK Barista Championship winner and former head of product at WatchHouse, has opened his dedicated coffee bar in London. He has opened Special Guests in a 650 square-foot unit in Ayrbrook Street, in Marylebone Village. Established in 2022, Special Guests aims to “push the boundaries of what’s possible within coffee and showcase the world’s best baristas and producers to deliver some of the highest scoring, competition-grade coffee”. As well as serving unique, rare and interesting coffee from around the world, the store also features a Brew Bar, “providing expertly guided tasting experiences of some of the most unusual and revered beans”. 

 

Family-owned Hertfordshire hotel and farm business opens new wine bar: Family-owned Hertfordshire hotel and farm business, Tewin Bury Farm, has opened a new wine bar. Currently owned by the third generation of the Williams family, the business operates 700 acres of farmland alongside the Tewin Bury Farm Hotel. The family has now opened The Stable Bar within its grounds – a wine bar featuring an exclusive selection of wine from London wine bar and tasting experience business, Humble Grape. The wine list spans fizz, white, red, rosé and even orange wine, featuring both old world classics and new world finds. It also offers a menu of small plates, alongside live jazz performances at the weekends. 

 

Plans submitted for Aberdeenshire distillery: A planning application to turn farm steadings and dwellings into a new whisky distillery has been submitted to Aberdeenshire Council. The 19th century buildings at Fetternear Stables in Kemnay could be turned it into a single estate whisky distillery, if plans are approved. Inverurie Distillery will be an “exciting and unusual” concept that features a cooperage, bottling line, restaurant, larder and events space on site, according to the project management architect. It’s also thought that the barley will be grown and malted on the estate, as well as all distilling, and maturation carried out on site. The historic steading building will be where the stills, visitor centre and events space are housed. Jonathan Dunne, who relaunched the Taunton Cider brand in 2016, is behind the project.

 

New operator being sought for UK’s first national park visitor centre: A new operator is being sought for the UK’s first national park visitor centre. The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) said the lease of its Brockhole-on-Windermere site would be put on the market as it expects funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ]to be cut by 9%. This would mean the site, which was the UK’s first national park visitor centre when it opened in 1969, has seen its budget more than halved in the past 15 years. The LDNPA said tenants operating from the site, including Zip World, would not be affected. Gavin Capstick, LDNPA’s chief executive, said Brockhole was forecast to make a “significant loss”. He added: “This is simply not sustainable and risks our ability to deliver other services across the national park.”

 

Pembrokeshire holiday park for sale at £1.85m: Llanteglos Holiday Park in Pembrokeshire has been put on the market for £1.85m, in a sale that is being managed by Colliers. The 3.5-hectare park is set within the original orchard and gardens of Llanteglos House and includes 24 single-storey chalets with mezzanine floors, leased to third parties under 99-year leases, with index-linked annual charges. There are also eight two-storey chalets, while Oak Lodge has been retained and is used for holiday lets. Llanteglos Cottage is currently used for residential lettings and presents an opportunity for holiday rental conversion, while Garden Lodge provides a ground floor business unit with a four-bedroom apartment used for holiday lettings on the first floor. The holiday park also features spacious grounds complete with a tennis court, children’s play area and gardens. The property also includes the Wanderer’s Rest Inn, the premises licence for which extends to the wider estate. The Baron family, which is now looking to retire, bought the estate 24 years ago after relocating from London.