Flight Club operator targeting 84 sites by 2030 as full-year revenue increases to record £77.1m: Red Engine, the Flight Club and Electric Shuffle operator, and its franchise partners are aiming to open 45 venues over the next five years as it targets an estate of 84 sites by 2030. It comes as Red Engine reported revenue increased 15% to a record £77.1m for the year ending 31 December 2024 compared with £66.8m the previous year. Red Engine’s sales combined with its franchise partners’ reached £118.3m.  The company expects to see Ebitda growth for 2024 versus 2023. Ebitda for 2023 was £12m. Red Engine chief financial officer Ross Shepley-Smith said: “Despite a year of pressures on the hospitality sector, we are really pleased with these results, particularly the last quarter, which delivered new records for every Red Engine-owned site. This performance is a direct result of our strong partnerships and the dedication of our entire team, which has worked tirelessly to deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. It also highlights the resilience and strength of our brands, which continue to resonate with diverse audiences globally.” Since the beginning of 2025, Red Engine’s franchise partners have opened Flight Club venues in Dublin, Washington DC and St Louis, taking the total number of Flight Club and Electric Shuffle sites to 34 worldwide. Flight Club Philadelphia and a second Sydney venue are slated to open later in the year. With the support of its franchise partners, Red Engine is aiming to increase its portfolio of venues to 39 in 2025 with six new Flight Club locations and two new Electric Shuffle venues. The Electric Shuffle venues will be in London’s King’s Cross and Chicago’s North River, taking the total to nine. In addition to the Electric Shuffle sites, by year-end, Red Engine will also open Flight Club Newcastle. Red Engine aims to open three or four owner-operated venues each year and its partners have a goal of opening at least four or five Flight Club venues per year. Chief executive Steve Moore said: “We still have to pinch ourselves daily when we think about the success that our brands have had over the past decade. The upcoming launch of Electric Shuffle Chicago and King’s Cross will take the number of Red Engine-owned venues to 23. Both King’s Cross and North River were obvious choices as the next locations for us – they’re a hotbed of awesome brands and nightlife.” Moore stressed he believes being mindful, data-driven, and selective about growth is the key to long-term success. “Expanding our footprint is about more than just opening new doors, it’s about considered, strategic growth and ensuring every new market is the right fit for that community and our brands,” he said. “With each new location, we’re watching the global presence of our brands strengthen. We’re excited to see what’s next as we continue this journey towards making Flight Club and Electric Shuffle household names across the globe.”

 

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 updated segmented Multi-Site Database with 3,360 operators and 27 new companies on Friday: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database on Friday (28 March), at noon. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,360 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 981 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 792 (24%) pub and bar operators, 571 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 472 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 276 (8%) hotel operators, 214 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 27 new companies. The database includes new additions to the cafe bakery sector such as East Midlands cake cafe concept The Cake Solution, Nottingham bagel concept The Bagel Project, and Filipino bakery and cafe concept Panadera. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five additional databases: the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who's Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium 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.

 

Industry leaders demand immediate intervention ahead of spring statement ‘to prevent further economic decline and business closures’: A coalition of industry leaders have demanded immediate intervention from the government ahead of tomorrow’s (Wednesday, 26 March) spring statement “to prevent further economic decline and business closures”. They have sent a letter to chancellor Rachel Reeves, signed by more than 20 industry associations representing in excess of 100,000 businesses across the UK’s night-time economy, cultural sector and small-to-medium enterprises in hospitality, events, supply and entertainment. The letter outlines the severe challenges facing the sector and calls for an immediate reduction of VAT to 15% for the hospitality, events, and cultural sectors, and the reversal of the national insurance contribution increase. The letter said from April, additional cost increases of up to £100,000 per business are projected to push many beyond breaking point. The letter also points to international precedents, stating that Ireland’s hospitality VAT cut in 2011 led to a 30% increase in employment within five years, while Germany has opted to maintain a lower VAT rate to sustain its hospitality sector. Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), said: “Our industry is at breaking point. Without urgent intervention, the UK risks losing vital cultural institutions and creative spaces. We implore the chancellor to act swiftly to avert this crisis.” NTIA chair Sacha Lord, former night-time economy adviser for Manchester, said: “Since 2019, more than 23,000 businesses have collapsed, stripping the economy of more than £95bn. Yet, instead of offering relief, the government continues to pile on pressure with tax hikes and rising costs.” Stephen Montgomery, chief executive of the Scottish Hospitality Group, said: “The chancellor now has two choices. Either respect the contribution the sector makes to the economy, work with us to help it to survive and grow by cutting VAT and reversing the employers’ national insurance contribution hike, or see the sector fade away, with businesses closing, costing thousands of jobs, leading to less tax take, and vacant buildings across our villages, towns and cities.” Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, added: “If the UK government is dependent on industry to grow the economy, then our problems are its problems, and it cannot simply wring its hands and ignore the challenges we face.”

 

UKHospitality calls for CMA investigation into business energy market: A formal investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the only way to address “entrenched competition problems” in the non-domestic energy market, UKHospitality has said. In a letter to CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell, the trade body said the criteria for a market investigation reference (MIR) had been “undoubtedly met”. Such an investigation would consider whether the features of a market – the non-domestic energy market, in this instance – have an adverse effect on competition and, if so, what remedies are available. Despite previous commitments from regulator Ofgem, hospitality businesses continue to report issues with the energy market, including being treated as high risk and charged premiums or denied supply. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “The business energy market remains one of the biggest millstones around hospitality’s neck. Over decades, it has been proven that it is not fit-for-purpose. It has unscrupulously excluded businesses from accessing energy, charged them extortionately when they do offer contracts and treated operators with contempt when they come to suppliers for help. All of the conditions have been met to justify a thorough investigation. With the government rightly looking at how regulators operate, a swift investigation into the non-domestic energy market would be a prime example of a good regulator acting to the benefit of the market and investment.”

 

Family-owned businesses cutting jobs and investment on back of inheritance tax changes: Family-owned businesses and farms across the UK are cutting jobs, halting investment and selling assets to stay afloat in response to sweeping tax changes. City AM reported that according to research by CBI-Economics, commissioned by Family Business UK, the government’s move to cap business property relief (BPR) and reform agricultural property relief (APR) has triggered a wave of uncertainty. The research found the tax overhaul is expected to result in more than 208,000 job losses by the end of this parliament. The research has also projected a net fiscal loss to the Treasury of £1.9bn, undermining its own revenue expectations. Unveiled as part of the government’s broader effort to raise revenue, the tax changes place new restrictions on inheritance tax relief for agricultural land and property, and family-run businesses. Under this move, BPR, which is a tax relief allowing family businesses to pass assets down generations without restrictive tax burdens, will now be capped at £1m. Meanwhile, the new rules have placed APR, which has long supported generational continuity within the farming sector, under reforms. These will further limit tax exemptions on agricultural assets. The study found nearly a quarter of businesses (23%) and 17% of family farms have already cut their headcount since the Budget. Meanwhile, more than half of family-owned organisations and almost half of family farms have either paused or cancelled planned investments, citing financial uncertainty. More than one in ten (12%) of family businesses have planned to sell up their entire organisations to cover the future burden, with 9% having already done so.

 

Operators attracting stay-at-home office workers with help of fledgling app: Operators are attracting stay-at-home office workers to use their venues with the help of a fledgling app. The Reef App, founded by entrepreneur James Coughlan, has rapidly signed up 5,000 UK venues and now has 15,000 individual business users registered and actively engaging with the platform. Hospitality companies using the app include Arc Inspirations, Bill’s, BrewDog and Stonegate Group. Users are enticed with special offers and promotions, such as discounted food and beverage or a free first coffee, with an average spend of £17.50. David McDowall, chief executive of Stonegate Group, which has onboarded its managed sites on the Reef platform, said: “The Reef App is a game-changer for the hospitality industry. It allows us to make better use of our spaces during quieter periods and introduces our venues to a new demographic of customers who are highly engaged and willing to spend. It’s a strategic move that aligns perfectly with the evolving needs of the modern workforce.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a hospitality and leisure destination that is seeking an experienced general manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will be responsible for managing the team and overall business targets to deliver an excellent customer and member experience. Specifically, the general manager will be responsible for managing the profitability of the complex, ensuring revenue and customer satisfaction targets are met and exceeded, providing effective leadership to all team members, complying with and exceeding all brand service standards and ensuring costs are controlled and revenue opportunities are effectively sourced and delivered.” The salary is up to £80,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email lara@corecruitment.com.

 

Bill’s MD – there is a gap in the Middle East for a quality, value driven, family-friendly brand: Tom James, managing director of Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant group, has told Propel that the brand’s adaptability, and what it sees as a gap in the market for a family-friendly concept, are the reasons behind the company exploring an international launch. Propel revealed earlier this month that the 47-strong brand was actively seeking international franchise partnerships and was looking at opportunities in the Middle East (Dubai and Riyadh), south east Asia and India. It is understood that Dubai is set to be the brand’s main initial focus. Asked on Propel’s new podcast series, In Conversation, why the business thinks it could work overseas, especially in the Middle East, James said: “One of the most exciting things about being part of the brand is it’s incredibly adaptable in terms of menu, look and feel. Our menu ethos is that everyone who comes in should be able to find something that they want to eat in a Bill’s at any time of day. That’s challenging for the food development team, but that opens up some really interesting possibilities when you look at the international market. You can adapt the look and feel and the menu without losing your brand identity for different markets, depending on local tastes and what they might need. Also, if you look at the Middle East, there is a whole host of quick service restaurant and fixed service, grab and go operators, and then you jump up to the premium market. It feels like there is a new restaurant opening every two weeks, and they’re all competing in the premium dining category. In the middle market, while there are some good brands, I think there is a gap. Our pivot into the family market over the last two years has been really successful for us, and we’re definitely known now as a family-friendly brand. And that’s a market that hasn’t really been tapped into – that quality, value driven, family-friendly brand. There’s a gap in all those territories for something we can provide. We’ve been following these markets for around 15 months, seeing what’s going on, and had some really exciting talks with potential partners since the beginning of the new year. I think we’re all on the same page that there is a gap in that market. If you look at the education data for Dubai, there is such a demand for schools and education, with millions of Brits moving over there. So that family market is something we’d love to step into, since it’s currently uncatered for, in a really competitive market.” 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.

Wendy’s plans to add more than 150 new restaurants across the UK and Europe by 2028: Wendy’s, the second-largest quick service restaurant brand in the US, has said that it plans to add more than 150 new restaurants across the UK and Europe by 2028. The brand, which made its return to these shores in 2021, currently operates 38 restaurants across the UK. Wendy’s said it is on track to open its 50th UK restaurant in 2025, a year that will also see the company also establish its presence in Scotland, Ireland and Romania for the first time. The global brand aims to reach 2,000 international restaurants by 2028. Michael Clarke, managing director Europe for Wendy’s, said: “We see huge potential in the UK market, with plans to add more than 150 new restaurants across the UK and surrounding countries by 2028. This year, we will focus on accelerating our expansion efforts so more people across the UK can enjoy Wendy’s craveable menu and exceptional customer hospitality. We have a solid foundation in the market and believe we are well-positioned to accelerate our growth trajectory even further.” New Wendy's restaurants will open in Blackpool, Glasgow, Lakeside, Watford and York in the coming months, creating more than 150 jobs. Wendy’s is also investing approximately $70m in its “build-to-suit” programme in 2025 to accelerate restaurant expansion in the US, Canada and the UK. “Wendy’s franchisees are at the heart of the brand’s expansion plans, both in the UK and internationally, and strong franchise partnerships enable us to grow at scale,” said Clarke. “We’re deeply committed to supporting our UK franchisees and making co-investments through our build-to-suit programme, which is a key incentive for them to grow with us.” The latest UK pipeline is part of Wendy’s broader international growth strategy, which will see 70% of Wendy’s expansion occur outside the US. Wendy’s features in Propel’s highly anticipated International Brands report, featuring the 100 leading international brands in UK hospitality, 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.

 

M&B to open new Browns site next week after converting Vintage Inns site in north London: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) will open the latest site for its Browns Brasserie & Bar brand next Thursday (3 April). The company is converting the Ye Olde Cherry Tree pub in Southgate, north London, which previously operated under its Vintage Inns format. The reopening will create 35 additional jobs and see the venue become the 28 to operate under the Browns brand. The launch will include Browns’ new seasonal menu, with dishes such as coronation cauliflower alongside pea and asparagus risotto and pulled lamb shepherd’s pie. The first Browns opened in Brighton more than 50 years ago. Over the past few years, M&B has been opening its Browns brand in suburbia, stretching it beyond its usual high street location.

 

Riding House Café – we have more to offer in London, would also relish the opportunity to go beyond the capital: Adam White, founder and chief executive of Riding House Cafe, has told Propel that the restaurant and bar concept has more to offer in London in terms of expansion, and would “relish the opportunity to go beyond” the capital. Last week, Propel revealed that the business, which operates Riding House Fitzrovia, Rail House Victoria and Riding House Bloomsbury at The Brunswick Centre, is working with Gerald Edelman and One Voice Hospitality on options to aid further growth, including taking on new investment. White told Propel: “We have seen strong performance over the past few years, despite challenges in our industry. We believe Riding House Cafe has even more to offer in London. With only three venues already established, there is clear potential for expansion. Riding House Cafe is popular with both landlords and their communities, being a nucleus within their postcode. A hive of activity from early to late, standing the test of time and competition. We are looking towards west and south London, where we have no presence – namely, but not limited to, Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith and Borough. We would also relish the opportunity to go beyond London, where we can really make a difference – cities such as Guildford, Exeter, Winchester and Chichester, even Paris! Though our three venues are geographically close, the demographics are incredibly different. Riding House Cafe is a versatile and accessible, yet discerning offering. We feel our market is broader than most. While we are proud to have grown organically so far, we are now seeking investment to accelerate our growth and provide opportunities for our talented team to progress. We are working with Gerald Edelman and One Voice Hospitality to facilitate that.” White said that he feels the future of hospitality “is still strong”. He said: “Our philosophy has always been to create local institutions, and we feel we’ve gone even further, with our restaurants being cherished well beyond their immediate communities. Longevity is central to an institution, and to everything we do. The restaurants remain strong, up to 15 years later. The operational team has been with me for a very long time now, some more than 20 years before Riding House Cafe, as far back as the Garrison in 2003. We have finely tuned all aspects of our operation; we just need locations to implement.”

 

Punch Pubs & Co adds Loughborough freehold to its estate: Punch Pubs & Co, the Fortress-backed group, has added the freehold of The Swan in the Rushes, in Loughborough, Leicestershire, to its estate. The pub, which was acquired off market, features a three-room layout with a traditionally designed lounge and a bar. Last month, Punch reported “encouraging” current trading, with profitability ahead of the prior year, and said its new acquisitions are forecast to help it deliver adjusted run-rate Ebitda of almost £100m. Warren Drake, at Drake & Company, acted on the Loughborough deal. 

 

Various Eateries hires James Thomas as new FD: Various Eateries, the Hugh Osmond-backed business that operates the Coppa Club and Noci concepts, has hired James Thomas, formerly of Gaucho and Novus Leisure, as its new finance director, Propel has learned. Thomas joins Various Eateries after five years at Gaucho, including just over three years as its financial controller. He also spent almost four years at Novus, including just under 12 months as its financial controller. He replaces Connie Salmon, who left Various Eateries earlier this year to join D&D London, the Breal Capital and Calveton-backed operator, as its new finance director. Last month, Various Eateries told Propel that although it has been a tough few years for UK hospitality “there’s a sense that some of the well-publicised inflationary pressures are easing and things are beginning to stabilise”. It came after the company reported it had a “solid” start to its new financial year and said the group is “steadily regaining momentum”.

 

Morrisons to close 52 cafes, planning to work with third parties to replace them with ‘more relevant offer’: Supermarket company Morrisons is to close 52 of its cafes and is planning to work with third parties to replace them with a “more relevant offer”. In-store cafes will be shut in five London stores, with cafes in Leeds, Portsmouth and Glasgow also among those affected. It comes as part of a wider round of cuts that will see Morrisons shut 17 stores and close 18 market kitchens, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters and four pharmacies in the next few months. The changes put 396 Morrisons employees at risk of redundancy, the company said, but it stressed a significant majority of those affected will be deployed elsewhere in the company. Morrisons said these closures are a reaction to “significant cost increases” and those stores and services being cut were viewed as the least useful or valuable for customers. Rami Baitiéh, chief executive of Morrisons, said: “The changes are a necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate Morrisons and enable us to focus our investment into the areas that customers really value and that can play a full part in our growth. Morrisons Cafés are rightly famous for their great quality well-priced food, their place in the local community and their appealing mix of traditional favourites alongside exciting new dishes. In most locations, the Morrisons Café has a bright future, but a minority have specific local challenges, and in those locations, regrettably, closure and re-allocation of the space is the only sensible option. Market Street is a beacon of differentiation for Morrisons, and we remain committed to it. But as we modernise, we are making some necessary changes to the areas of the model that are simply uneconomic. In some stores where we are closing counters or cafés, we plan to work with third parties to provide a relevant specialist offer. Although these changes are relatively small in the context of the overall scale of the Morrisons business, we do not take lightly the disruption and uncertainty they will cause to some of our colleagues. We will of course take particular care to look after all of them well through the coming changes.”

 

Heavenly Desserts promotes Wesley Williams to global operations manager: Artisan dessert restaurant Heavenly Desserts has promoted Wesley Williams to global operations manager. The move comes only nine months after Williams, who joined the business in 2021, was promoted to national operations manager. Williams was initially hired as an area manager, responsible for a regional portfolio of 23 restaurants. Before joining Heavenly Desserts, Williams spent five and a half years in various roles with Caribbean restaurant brand Turtle Bay, including UK cluster manager and international cluster manager. Williams told Propel following his appointment as national operations manager last year that Heavenly Desserts had set a long-term target of up to 250 UK sites and was preparing to launch a second international site, as well as ramping up its kiosk roll-out. The brand currently has circa 60 UK locations plus a single overseas site in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Target international markets are thought to include Germany, Pakistan, India and Qatar. The brand’s most recent opening here was in the West Midlands’ Merry Hill shopping centre earlier this month.

 

Wingstop UK opens fourth Leeds site: Wingstop UK, which is backed by US private equity firm Sixth Street, has opened its fourth Leeds site. The restaurant, at Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, spans 4,000 square feet and can host 100-plus covers. The venue adds to Wingstop’s sites in the city, at the White Rose shopping centre and Boar Lane, along with a delivery kitchen. Since launching in the UK in 2018, Wingstop UK has expanded to 62 sites, employing more than 2,700 people. The Cardigan Fields site is one of more than 20 new locations set to launch by the end of this year. Chris Sherriff, chief executive at Wingstop UK, said: “We’ve seen the buzz around Wingstop UK in Leeds. To meet the growing demand, we’re delighted to open our fourth location, cementing our status as the number one flavour destination in the city.” In December, Propel revealed Sixth Street has agreed to acquire Wingstop UK’s parent company Lemon Pepper Holdings for a price that is believed to be in excess of £400m.

 

Oodles Wok to launch three new UK sites next month: Indo-Chinese brand Oodles Wok has said it will launch three new sites in the UK next month. The first of these will open on Thursday, 3 April at Unit 3 258 High Road in Loughton, Essex. Oodles Wok, which rebranded from Oodles at the end of last year, currently has circa 50 UK locations and opened its first international site in October, in Dubai’s Motor City. Propel revealed earlier this month that Oodles Wok is set to enter its second international market later this year after signing a 50-store agreement in Canada. The business, founded in Leicester in 2010 by Mohammed and Ismail Umar, also said this month that it is seeking prime high-footfall locations in Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham – between 600 and 1,300 square feet – as it continues its northern expansion.

 

Signature Group hires Liam Finn as new ops director: Signature Group, the 23-strong Scottish hospitality business, has hired Liam Finn, formerly of BrewDog, as its new operations director. Finn was previously head of European operations at BrewDog for just under five years. He also previously worked at Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group and the Australia-based restaurant business Fonda Mexican. In December, Signature Group founder Nic Wood told Propel the group was considering expanding into England and had the structure in place for another four or five openings. 

 

Neos Hospitality confirms launch of new Barbara’s Bier Haus sites: Neos Hospitality, the bar and nightclub operator, has confirmed it will launch two new Barbara’s Bier Haus venues, in Bristol and Bournemouth. The company, which currently operates 19 venues across the UK, will open a Barbara’s Bier Haus on the former Revolution site in Bournemouth’s Christchurch Street later this month after a £1.5m investment. That will be followed with an opening in Bristol in April, below the recently launched Circuit nightclub. The company said that Barbara’s Bier Haus offers a “fun-filled take on the après ski culture, transforming traditional late-night venue vibes with energetic entertainment, interactive elements, and an electric party atmosphere, incorporating themed design elements that enhance the traditional bar experience”. Russell Quelch, chief executive of Neos Hospitality, said: “Our vision is to create experiences that cater to the emerging trends in the sector. The success of venues like Barbara’s highlights the growing demand for more than just a bar – people are seeking experiences. With our core venues like Barbara’s, guests can expect something more than the traditional bar experience. Expanding into two of the UK’s most vibrant destinations this spring is a testament to both our team’s hard work and the strength of our core brands.” Propel reported last month that Neos Hospitality is set to transform its Pryzm site in Kingston, south west London, into a “next generation split venue space”. The company is planning to invest £3m converting the site, which closed last year. The ground floor will be home to new “party bar” concept Bonnie Rogues, while its “modern late-night venue”, Circuit, will take up the first and second floors.

Fatto a Mano secures Tower Bridge site: Fatto a Mano, the independent pizza concept founded in Brighton in 2015 by Rupert Davidson and Dav Sahota, will open its fourth site in London, near Tower Bridge, next month, Propel has learned. The business has secured the former Ping Pong site at St Katharine Docks. The new site will comprise an 80-cover, open-plan ground floor dining area, an outdoor seating area and a counter-top dining area, surrounding the 500°c Neapolitan pizza oven and over-looking the pizzaiolo at work. Fatto a Mano first opened in Brighton in 2015, and this will be the company’s seventh pizzeria across the two cities. Davidson said: “We’re very excited to be opening in Tower Bridge. It’s an idyllic location, a special place where it’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of central London when the sun is shining. It’s hard to find a better spot in zone one than sitting by the marina, beer or spritz in hand with a pizza in front of you.” Last summer, Propel revealed that Fatto a Mano had secured new investment, including from Middleton Enterprises, which provides growth capital to established and profitable small and medium-sized businesses. Middleton Enterprises, which also backs quick service sushi roll concept SushiDog, said its investment would help Fatto a Mano grow its “commitment to Neapolitan pizza”, including in London.

 

Midlands McDonald’s franchisee returns to profit and grows turnover after opening seventh store: Midlands McDonald’s franchisee Jake Restaurants returned to profit and grew its turnover in the year to 31 March 2024 after opening its seventh store. Owner John Kiely opened his latest restaurant, in London Road in Whitley, Coventry, in March 2023, just before the start of his company’s new financial year. The company turned a pre-tax loss of £506,931 in 2023 into a profit of £879,328, off turnover of £35,413,181, up from £30,409,124 in 2023. Dividends of £434,600 were paid (2023: £429,100). Kiely, who was awarded an MBE in 2000 for his philanthropic work in Coventry, said: “Sales growth was driven by the first full year trading seven stores, alongside growth in revenue from digital channels.” Before founding Jake Restaurants in 2012 and pivoting to hospitality, Kiely held several commercial director roles in major building firms.

 

Angela Hartnett set to open fourth Café Murano site: Chef Angela Hartnett is set to open her fourth Café Murano site, in Dorset Street in London’s Marylebone, this summer. Inspired by the regional varieties of Italian cuisine, the menu will be presented in a typically Italian format of cichetti, primi, secondi and dolce – featuring hand-rolled pasta, large sharing plates, seasonal specials and new dishes exclusive to the Marylebone site. The first Cafe Murano opened in St James Street in 2013, as the more casual sibling to Hartnett’s Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant, Murano. This was followed in 2015 by the opening of a larger, two-storey site in Tavistock Street, in Covent Garden, and then a site in Bermondsey Street in 2019. Hartnett last week told the ipaper that despite rising costs, she has no intention in following fellow celebrity chefs like Marcus Wareing, Michel Roux Jr and Monica Galetti in shuttering restaurants. “I’ve had a Michelin star for 17 years now and I’m determined to keep it,” she said. “For some chefs, restaurants are sort of a fallback, or maybe secondary to other things, but for me, they’re everything. I’m not in this to be a celebrity – my restaurant comes first, and protecting it is my priority. I’ve been a chef for a long time, and for me, that work justifies me doing everything else.”

 

Liverpool operators set out plans for Almost Famous having acquired burger business out of administration: The company behind Pins Social Club in Liverpool, D2, has set out its plans for Almost Famous, having acquired the burger business out of administration last month. Almost Famous was originally established by Beau Myers, in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, in 2012. At the time of its closure, it had two sites in Manchester – in the Northern Quarter and at Great Northern – as well as in Liverpool and Leeds. Last month, D2 acquired the Almost Famous sites in Liverpool’s Parr Street and Manchester’s Northern Quarter, which have now reopened. D2 co-founder Daniel Gillbanks said it was “never on his radar” to buy a restaurant business but added the opportunity “aligned with our growth plans within the business as a whole”. The new managing director of D2, Daniel Kelly, had previously worked at Almost Famous as operations manager. Gillbanks told Insider Media: “We used the experience Dan has to understand what sites were profitable, but also what has been lost a little bit. The customers there seem to really know what they want, and you can tell by their comments on social media. Our longer-term vision is to give the brand a little bit of a refresh. We will stick to the same brand principles and guidelines but give it a slightly different identity.” Kelly said there was “huge demand” in Leeds for Almost Famous and hinted at a return to the city for the concept. In December, D2 told Propel it is aiming to open ten sites for Pins Social Club in ten years, including a venue in Manchester. Expanding on those plans, Kelly told Insider Media that cities such as Edinburgh, Cardiff and Brighton could also be a target for sites, as well as Europe. D2 recently opened The Dog & Collar pub in Liverpool, which Kelly said was “doing very well”.

 

London bakehouse business set to open third site: London bakehouse business e5 Bakehouse is set to open a third site. Ben McKinnon founded e5 Bakehouse in 2010 after taking a course in sourdough bread making at the School of Artisan Food. He opened the original e5 Bakehouse in Hackney, at Arch 395 in Mentmore Terrace, before adding a second location, in Poplar Union, at 2 Costall Street in Poplar. The business is now set to open at the V&A East Storehouse at the end of May, offering pastries, sandwiches, sourdough loaves and in-house roasted coffee, reports Hot Dinners.

East Midlands Indian tapas concept to open third site: A Nottingham restauranteur is set to open his first Derbyshire location, combining Indian cuisine with a tapas-style dining experience. Suraj Pathak, who already runs two Lagan Indian Tapas branches in Nottingham, is bringing his concept to the village of Findern, alongside his son, Raman. The new venue, located by the Trent and Merseyside Canal, is currently home to the Nadee restaurant but will undergo a full refurbishment to become the third Lagan Indian Tapas. Suraj Pathak said: “It’s always been my ambition to open a restaurant here, where my family has grown up. We already have customers from Derby who travel to our Nottingham sites, and we’re confident they’ll enjoy our small plate concept.” The venue will offer 100 covers, with most of the seating outdoors to take advantage of the waterside location. There will also be weekly barbecues, live entertainment and a diverse menu of food and cocktails. Raman Pathak added: “People often associate tapas with Spanish food, but the idea of sharing small dishes is common in Indian culture too. We want a laid-back atmosphere where customers can drop by for a drink or snack or stay for a full meal.” The restaurant will open in April.