Banana Tree MD – the brand could grow to 75 sites and ‘maybe beyond’, Cardiff site is Big Table Group’s single biggest investment project: Kate Wilton, managing director of the Big Table Group-owned Banana Tree, has said the south east Asian-inspired brand has “got some serious legs in it from a scale perspective” and could grow to 75 sites and “maybe beyond”. Propel revealed in February that the 21-strong brand will make its debut in Wales with the opening of a site in Cardiff’s Mill Lane, in June. Banana Tree in Cardiff will comprise 290 covers split across two floors and an outside dining area. Speaking at the Propel Multi-Club Conference, Wilton said: “I absolutely believe that Banana Tree has got some serious legs in it from a scale perspective. We've got 21 sites, predominantly southern based, which as a proud northerner kills me. I am on a mission to get some more sites up north, to go with our one in Salford Quays. We've got big ambitions for the future. I definitely think we can grow to 50, 75 sites, maybe beyond. It's not going to happen quickly. We've got some really clear criteria for our site selection. The further north we go, the brand awareness is not as strong so we need sites that are really visible – great pitch, high footfall, big windows. I am out pounding the streets with my acquisitions manager looking at where the opportunities lie. Mill Lane in Cardiff is a perfect location for us, opposite our Las Iguanas site. This is the single biggest investment project we have undertaken, not just in Banana Tree, but in Big Table Group, and I think it's a huge statement of intent around our commitment to grow the brand. This is going to be a site where every single element of our brand proposition is brought to life. We have built it from the bottom up.” Wilton said while “we've had a little challenge on the volumes for the start of the year”, there have been “some really encouraging growth signs” that need to be built on. She said: “Our investment conversion programme over the last 18 months is delivering strong post investment growth. Last year, we delivered some of the best like-for-like growth in the Asian food delivery market as a result of our exclusive partnership with Deliveroo. Our social media platforms, which we know are a huge sales driver, are ever growing. We have doubled our followers in the last 12 months and grown organically by more than 400%.” Wilton was among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference. Her video and the 13 others from the conference will be made available to Premium Club members on Wednesday, 9 April, at 9am. 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.

Chickpea Group founder Ethan Davids to speak at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club subscribers: Chickpea Group founder Ethan Davids 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. Davids will discuss balancing growing a wet-led vehicle, Great Boozers, which he founded with TV sandwich chef Max Halley in 2021, and expanding the company’s pubs with room concept. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £345 plus VAT for suppliers. There is a 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club subscribers. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

Premium Club subscribers to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database tomorrow: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers tomorrow (Friday, 4 April), at noon. The database will show the details of 187 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. The database will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis and Premium Club subscribers will also receive a 11,039-word report on the 187 new additions to the database. The database is segmented into seven categories – cafe bakery, casual dining, experiential leisure, fine dining, hotels, pubs and bars, and quick service restaurants – making it even easier for users to search. The database includes new openings in the experiential leisure sector such as Flukes, the gaming hall opening in London’s Walthamstow, immersive retro arcade bar concept NQ64 with a new site in Nottingham, and Flip Out, the trampolining brand from We Do Play, launching its debut Welsh site. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including Excellence in Pub Retail (May 2025) and discounts on specialist sector reports such as the International Brands report. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers will be sent a dedicated monthly newsletter that will highlight key updates in the sector and direct subscribers to all the vital content their membership offers. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

UKHospitality Cymru – ‘Welsh government’s decision to only partially exempt under-18s from visitor levy is blinkered’: A decision by the Welsh government to only partially exempt under-18s from its visitor levy has been described as “blinkered” by UKHospitality Cymru. Finance secretary Mark Drakeford has announced under-18s staying in hostels, campsites or outdoor centres would be exempt from paying a visitor levy. This partial exemption will still see children staying in hotels and B&Bs taxed. UKHospitality Cymru said the decision that will continue to disincentivise families – many who live in Wales – from holidaying in Wales and called for the Welsh government to go one step further and implement a total exemption for under-18s being charged the levy. David Chapman, executive director of UKHospitality Cymru, said: “Families across the UK spend many months saving up their hard-earned money to take their families on a summer holiday, with Wales one of the top choices for those staying in the UK. Very many of these families will prefer to do so in a hotel, B&B or self-catering, with campsites or hostels simply impractical for many with young children. It is a blinkered decision to retain the visitor levy’s child tax on hotel stays. The total cost of the levy for a family of four could be the equivalent of a night’s stay in a hotel. That’s either unaffordable for many, or enough to put them off visiting Wales. I have no doubt that the Welsh government is trying to do the right thing though this partial exemption, but it’s revenue-driven and ends up creating a two-tier holiday offer in Wales, which punishes families and businesses alike.”

BII and Licensed Trade Charity join forces to boost business and well-being of pub operators: The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) and the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) have joined forces to help more businesses in the hospitality sector thrive, by supporting the well-being of the people who run them. The new strategic partnership, announced on Wednesday (2 April) at the inaugural LTC Wellbeing Conference, “will provide those in the pub sector with easy access to expert help, whenever it is needed”. From practical business guidance to personal well-being support, the two charities are formally working together “to ensure no one in the trade has to face challenges alone”. The BII and LTC stated: “Pub operators, managers, and colleagues will have greater opportunity to get confidential, professional advice on issues such as managing finances, coping with stress, and handling difficult business decisions. A key objective for the new partnership is to ensure people seek help before an issue develops, or people find themselves in crisis and unable to cope.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a central London venue that is on the hunt for a general manager to take the reins of its on-site restaurant. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “With an incredible location and a solid foundation, including a talented head chef and exciting refurbishment plans, this is an opportunity for someone to put their mark on one of London’s most iconic dining spaces.” The salary is up to £60,000. For more information, email marlene@corecruitment.com. 

Brighton Pier Group shares fall more than 60% after announcing plans to go private: Shares in Brighton Pier Group plunged more than 60% on Wednesday (2 April) after the company revealed plans to delist from London’s AIM market and go private, citing rising costs, a tough trading environment and limited investor interest. The group – which operates Brighton Pier alongside five bars, adventure golf business Paradise Island and the Lightwater Valley adventure park in North Yorkshire – said staying listed no longer made financial sense. The move, if approved by shareholders at a general meeting on Tuesday, 22 April, would see trading in its shares cease on Thursday, 1 May, with the company officially re-registering as a private limited firm shortly after. Chief among the reasons was costs, and the board expects to save up to £300,000 a year in regulatory and advisory fees. Management also flagged limited trading liquidity, market volatility and the difficulty of raising fresh capital as a micro-cap company. The group said trading had been “in line with expectations” over the past year, but its bars and mini-golf businesses had experienced a slow start to 2025. While warm weather gave a small sales boost at the pier itself, overall group revenue in the first 12 weeks of the year dipped to £4.2m, slightly down from £4.3m in the same period in 2024. The company blamed a combination of factors for the increasingly tough environment: higher wage and energy costs, interest rates, changes in consumer spending and further cost pressures stemming from the rise in employers’ national insurance contributions. Brighton Pier Group will offer shareholders a “matched bargain facility” to trade shares after the delisting but warned that selling stock may become more difficult. The share price fell 10.40p (60.6%) to 6.75p, valuing the business at just under £2.3m.

 

Treetop Golf co-founder – we’re focused on measured, consistent, self-funded growth of one or two sites per year: Elizabeth Stanway, co-founder of Treetop Golf, has said the business, which opened its sixth site at the end of 2024, is focused on “measured, consistent, self-funded growth of one or two sites per year”. The business opened its first site, in the St David's scheme in Cardiff, in 2015, and most recently opened at Cabot Circus in Bristol in December. Speaking at the Propel Multi-Club Conference, Stanway said: “We are majority family-owned and have a small supportive group of close shareholders as well. Our core plan is for measured, consistent, self-funded growth of one or two sites per year. We are constantly refining our mini-golf and guest experience and set high returns hurdles for new sites. In the medium term, we plan to explore potential adjacent opportunities, such as outdoor and international. Our real focus is on creating excellence in every area of the business, and through this, building long-term value. Our current focus is on tier one city centre or prime regional mixed-use schemes. We want to be in the highest footfall destinations near retail, food and beverage and other leisure tenants. Our average dwell time is less than two hours. We have found we have really brilliant synergy with our surrounding tenants – more than 80% of our guests are doing something else as well in the scheme when they visit us. A cornerstone of Treetop is that we create destinations that bring wonder for everyone. Just over 40% of our guests are spending time with family when they visit us, and at the same time, more than 50% of our guests are spending time at treetop for other reasons – 25% are on a date, 20% are hanging out with friends, about 15% of our guests are students.” Treetop Golf features two immersive indoor 18-hole mini golf courses, as well as the bonus 19th hole – offering all players the chance to win a free round. The group also operates Treetop Golf sites in Gateshead, Manchester, Leicester and Birmingham. Stanway was among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference. Her video and the 13 others from the conference will be made available to Premium Club members on Wednesday, 9 April, at 9am. 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.

 

Church’s Texas Chicken and Texas Chicken to expand global footprint into Europe, sets sights on the UK: Church’s Texas Chicken and Texas Chicken, one of the largest quick-service chicken restaurant brands in the world, is to expand its global footprint into Europe and said it had set its sights on opening in the UK. The company, which has more than 1,400 locations in 22 countries and global markets and system-wide sales of more than $1.5bn, has recently signed multiple development agreements, including one in Germany. The company said with additional deals in other parts of Europe, this “marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth strategy”. Building on this momentum, the company said it is setting its sights on the UK, France, Italy, and Spain. Roland Gonzalez, chief executive of Church’s Texas Chicken and Texas Chicken, which was founded in San Antonio in 1952, said: “We are experiencing tremendous growth both domestically and internationally, with Europe playing a key role in our expansion strategy. The European quick service restaurant market is evolving rapidly, driven by a growing demand for convenience and quick-service restaurant options. We see huge potential to bring the Texas Chicken experience to new guests across the continent, and this is just the beginning.” Over the past year, Church’s Texas Chicken and Texas Chicken has opened 60 new locations in 14 markets worldwide. The latest new development agreements will extend Texas Chicken’s footprint into five new countries, including Germany, Hungary, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Morocco, with more than 900 new restaurants planned over the coming years. The company said with many additional deals in the pipeline, it is on track to grow its international presence by more than 50% in the next four years and increase system sales to $2bn by 2028. Eric Hanson, vice-president of international development, said: “We have been strategic in our approach around entering new international markets, thoroughly assessing both the needs and benefits that Texas Chicken can provide to potential franchisees and guests. Through our research, we discovered an under-served segment of the marketplace that craves affordable, high-quality chicken. We are proud to fill that gap, offering exceptional taste and value in every meal while continuing to elevate our one-of-a-kind experience to more guests around the world.”

 

Ex-Le Pain Quotidien executive brings German café and bakery brand to the UK: Ian Zilberkweit, the co-founder of Le Pain Quotidien Russia and former chief financial officer of Le Pain Quotidien UK, has brought Zeit für Brot, the German café and bakery brand, to the UK, Propel has learned. Founded in 2009, Zeit für Brot, which translates as Time for Bread, currently operates 16 sites in Germany and one in Tel Aviv, Israel. The brand has launched in the UK with an opening at 1 Islington High Street and is understood to be looking at further expansion in the capital. The company said: “Our goal is not only to revive the traditional bread culture, but to make it innovative and contemporary. In doing so, quality and sustainability are our daily incentives. We bake directly on site in all our bakeries – with the best organic ingredients and a strong team spirit.” Zilberkweit was previously chief financial officer of Le Pain Quotidien UK between July 2004 and January 2007, co-founding the UK operation with Philippe Le Roux. Zilberkweit was also understood to be a board member at Farmer J. In summer 2020, he was believed to be one of the bidders for the Le Pain Quotidien UK business, which had been placed into administration. The bulk of the Le Pain Quotidien UK business – 16 out of 26 sites – was subsequently acquired through a pre-pack administration by a new vehicle BrunchCo, which was a subsidiary of Cobepa, a Belgian-based investment firm that was the brand’s existing backer. BrunchCo exited several unprofitable restaurants, and in 2023, it was placed into administration, closing nine further locations. The site in London’s St Pancras International station continued to trade as it is run by a separate company, and it remains the only Le Pain Quotidien site currently trading in the UK. Propel revealed last month that Le Pain Quotidien had revealed a list of target locations as it seeks franchise partners to start building back its UK estate.

 

Bagatelle founder plans London launch for new bistro: Aymeric Clemente, founder and chief executive of international bistro brand Bagatelle, is planning to open a new bistro called Chez Lui in London’s Notting Hill. Propel understands the new restaurant will open at 184a Kensington Park Road. Clemente told Propel last November that he had wider plans for the UK, starting in west London. Bagatelle, which was founded in New York, currently trades from 14 venues globally, including Mykonos, St Tropez, Coucheval and Mexico City. The business opened its debut UK site, and its only outlet here to date, in London’s Mayfair in the summer of 2018. Last February, Propel revealed that Bagatelle is planning a Manchester opening after hiring property advisory firm Starka to seek sites between 3,500 and 5,500 square feet in the city. 

 

Yori relaunches site in London’s Piccadilly under new Korean-Chinese concept: Korean barbecue business Yori has relaunched its site in London’s Piccadilly, as what it describes as “the first Korean-Chinese restaurant In Central London”. The site, in Panton Street, has reopened under the name Yori Banjum and said it is the “hottest spot for Jjajangmyeon lovers”. Last year, Yori further increased its regional presence with an opening in Guildford, Surrey. The company, which made its regional debut at the start of 2022, in Cambridge, opened on the former Gourmet Burger Kitchen site in Guildford’s Friary Street. The company, which operates 13 Yori sites, also operates on the former Byron site at 33-35 George Street in Oxford. Yori, which means “cooked food” in Korean, was founded in 2016 by Jong Soon Kim, who is also behind Japanese restaurant Nori and Korean dessert cafe Cake & Bingsoo – both in New Malden, south west London – and Japanese dessert parlour Cafe Mori in nearby Wimbledon.

 

Boparan Restaurant Group to open debut UK site for Carl’s Jr today: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) will open the debut UK site for Carl’s Jr today (Thursday, 3 April). Propel revealed last year that BRG had signed a master licence agreement to launch Carl’s Jr here with CKE Restaurants Holdings, and that it had secured a site at the St David’s shopping scheme in Cardiff for the first location. This will open today next door to the Slim Chickens restaurant in the scheme, which BRG also operates in the UK. Founded in 1941, Carl’s Jr, the California-born restaurant brand, is accelerating plans for global expansion. CKE currently operates more than 1,100 international restaurants under the brand across 38 countries around the world. The first UK site will feature 50 covers and will be the first in a significant roll out, although no number has yet been put on it.

Kricket to bring all-day ‘kafé’, bar and restaurant concept to London’s Covent Garden: Indian restaurant group Kricket, which was founded by Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell, is to open a new site under its fledgling all-day kafé, bar and restaurant concept in London’s Covent Garden. Opening later this year in Neal's Yard, the new space will have room for more than 130 diners across 4,000 square foot. Emma Matus, head of restaurant leasing at landlord Shaftesbury Capital, said: “Covent Garden is already home to the city's best dining concepts, and the addition of Kricket, with its take on Indian cuisine that blends Indian flavours with London's culinary creativity, will complement this line-up.” In February, Kricket opened in London’s Shoreditch for its fifth site, featuring the business’ first breakfast menu and its new all-day “kafé” concept. Located at 36 Charlotte Road, the 80-cover restaurant sits alongside the new 50-cover “kafé”, which also includes a private dining and meeting room for up to 18 guests. A new breakfast menu, served from 8am, includes dishes such as fried eggs served with tomato chutney, smoked yoghurt and curry leaf brown butter; kedgeree featuring Andhra-spiced rice and lentils topped with smoked haddock and a soft-boiled egg; and The Full Kricket – a reimagined full English featuring smoked bacon chop, mushrooms, eggs, chole and tamarind brown sauce. 

Inamo reports sub-brand Inamo sukoshi trading up 40% year-on-year as it prepares for Boxhall City opening: London tech-restaurant group Inamo has told Propel that trading for its sushi and fusion street food sub-brand Inamo sukoshi, which was created for use in food hall operations, is up 40% year-on-year. It comes as Inamo sukoshi prepares to open at the new Liverpool Street Boxhall City on Thursday, 10 April. The opening will be Inamo sukoshi’s second with Boxpark after Wembley. Inamo, which operates restaurants in Soho and Covent Garden, has opened five sites in three years under Inamo sukoshi. The concept serves Inamo favourites such as dragon rolls and chicken karaage, alongside a selection of sushi and Asian tapas including ramen, katsu curry, poké and bubble tea. A new addition to the menu will be breakfast, including an egg and bacon breakfast bun, and a crispy chicken waffle with hot chilli honey. There’ll also be a playful spring seasonal special in the form of an Easter sushi chick, with a centre of premium Scottish salmon, which is available until Sunday, 27 April at all Inamo and Inamo sukoshi sites. Last year, Noel Hunwick, co-founder and marketing director of Inamo, told Propel the business believes the Greater London area could readily support 20-plus locations for Inamo sukoshi. Hunwick said he believes that is still possible, and the business “continues to regularly review opportunities”.

Soho House accuses Next of copyright in new lawsuit over furniture: Soho House has accused retail company Next of copyright and design right infringements over selling furniture that “closely resembled” that of Soho Home. Launched in 2016, Soho Home is a retailer and interior design studio within Soho House. Soho Home sells furniture, artwork, and lighting, replicating those in Soho House. According to legal documents seen by City AM, Soho House alleged that it became aware in February that Next was “advertising, promoting and selling into the UK market interior design products that closely resemble [Soho] products”. The claim form showcased a range of furniture stated to be Soho’s “best-selling” or “best known”, including its Oxleydark emperador marble coffee table, priced at £2,795. The legal documents highlighted that both are in the home and interior design business, alleging Next “was well aware of the existence and commercial success of [Soho]’s products”. Soho’s lawyers outlined in its allegation for copyright infringement that Next Home featured a book in one of its promotional pictures with the Soho House logo visible on its spine. The claim asks the court for a declaration that Next infringed on Soho’s copyright and design rights and committed acts of passing off. The legal document also states that Soho’s lawyers are asking the court for an injunction against Next, costs, and an enquiry about damages. A spokesperson for Next told City AM: “Next is aware of the situation and has been in legal correspondence with the claimant’s solicitors for some time. As this is now a High Court matter, Next cannot comment further at this time but will defend itself vigorously.” 

Dubai operator Admo strengthens London presence with new café concept: Dubai operator Admo Lifestyle Holding has strengthened its presence in London with the opening of a café format. The company already operates its Japanese restaurant brand Clap from the top floor of 12-14 Basil Street in Knightsbridge. Now, the company has taken over the ground floor of the building with its newest venture, Clap Ka-fe, which is a more casual concept, reports Hot Dinners. The café offers sushi and Japanese pastries to eat in or take away alongside lunch options such as a bento set and a chicken and egg sando. The drinks offer includes matcha, sencha tea and artisan coffee. Admo’s portfolio of brands also includes Nammos and rooftop bar and restaurant brand CeLa Vi, the latter of which is opening in Paddington Square this year.

Pastry chef Nicolas Rouzaud plans new London opening as he launches new brand: Pastry chef Nicolas Rouzaud, who has held leading patisserie roles at The Lanesborough and The Connaught in London, has launched a new brand. He has opened Nicolas Rouzaud Maison de Haute Pâtisserie at The Connaught, with new locations coming in London and Paris. The debut site has opened in his former Nicolas Rouzaud at The Connaught location, while Rouzaud has also become chef partner at the Mayfair hotel. Rouzaud has already opened two new patisserie locations in Qatar this year. “I have always believed that patisserie is an art form, one that should be both luxurious and deeply rooted in craftsmanship,” he said. “Expanding into new markets allows me to share this vision with a global audience, while preserving the precision and artistry that define my work.”

 

Camberwell Arms and Adventure Bar Group founders confirm details for new Setlist venture: James Dye, founder of Franks Café and the Camberwell Arms, along with Thomas Kidd, co-founder of the Adventure Bar Group, and Paul Smyth, co-founder of Mission Kitchen, have revealed the details of their upcoming new venture Setlist. The venue will open next month and be situated on the rooftop terrace at London’s Somerset House. As revealed by Propel in January, Setlist is projected to turnover in excess of £2.5m per annum, and is understood to have already secured investment from “a number of industry veterans”. The concept has been designed to champion new and emerging creators, “celebrating the best of London culture, from DJs to art installations, poetry to chefs”. Rising star Opeoluwa Odutayo will serve dishes inspired by Nigeria, where she grew up, and Caribbean cuisine, with dishes such as jerk chicken skewers with scotch bonnet chutney, slow-cooked beef brisket with suya mayo, and a west African-style fried chicken burger. Author and pop-up chef Sophie Wyburd will create a series of pizzettes, Andrea Montes Renaud and Laura Copp, the duo behind the Mexican concept Masafina, will bring a collection of tacos, and Terri Mercieca, the founder of ice cream brand Happy Endings, is to offer a rotating selection of soft serve sundaes. At the bar, Setlist will offer local London beer, wine and summer cocktails. The venue will also offer what it claims will be “London's biggest non-alcoholic drinks menu”.

 

Z Hotels puts freehold interest of forthcoming London hotel on market for £42m: Z Hotels, owned by former Thistle Hotels chief operating officer Bev King, has put the freehold of its forthcoming hotel in London’s Leicester Square up for sale at a guide price of £42m. Avison Young UK and JLL have been jointly appointed by Z Hotels to market the property, with a guaranteed 35-year leaseback to Z Hotels. The hotel has 95 boutique bedrooms across four floors, with a basement restaurant. The proposed hotel lease is structured around a five-yearly reviewed rent, indexed to the consumer price index, and a separate ground floor restaurant lease to Steak & Co. Located at Garrick House, 3-5 Charing Cross Road, the site has undergone conversion from an office to reinstate the original use of the building as a hotel. The hotel will be fully operational by June. Z Hotels operates 14 other sites across the UK.

 

Northern Ireland hotel group McKeever acquires seventh site: Northern Ireland operator McKeever Hotel Group has added a city centre hotel in Armagh to its portfolio for its seventh site. The company has acquired the Armagh City Hotel from Kieran McAnallan, Felix Mooney, Brian McCormack and Ernie Fisher for an undisclosed sum. The property was brought to market by CBRE Hotels with a guide price of £9m and the hotel’s 160 staff have been retained by the new owner. McKeever Hotel Group managing director Eddie McKeever said: “We have always been clear about our strategy to expand our reach in the local hospitality sector by investing in hotels that are aligned with our ‘We Do More’ culture, and this is the case in the Armagh City Hotel, which has a strong history of service excellence, professionalism and community service.” The sellers added: “We are delighted that the McKeever team is now at the helm of the Armagh City Hotel. We are confident its combined experience, knowledge and family-focused approach will be fundamental in driving this great facility, and its loyal workforce, forward. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the past 23 years and deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey.” 

 

Gourmet burger concept that has Fireaway founder as a backer opens in Birmingham for sixth site: Gourmet burger concept Five Akhis, which has fast-pizza brand Fireaway founder Mario Aleppo as a backer, has opened in Birmingham for its sixth site. Five Akhis, which was founded in 2021 in Milton Keynes, has opened at 1,158 Stratford Road, in the Hall Green area of Birmingham. This adds to its two sites in Milton Keynes (full restaurant and express), Northampton, Oxford and Preston, with a Sheffield site also in the pipeline. Aleppo invested in the fledgling business in 2023, taking a 5% stake as well as lending his expertise.

 

Pettigrew Bakeries to open fourth site: Cardiff operator Pettigrew Bakeries is to open a fourth site in the Welsh capital. The site, in the heart of Rhiwbina Village, will open next month. The group’s second retail-only bakery shop will open at 15 Heol y Deri, taking over a former art supplies shop. Pettigrew Bakeries is a family-run business which opened its first site opposite Victoria Park nine years ago, and now operates from three outposts across the Welsh capital. The business also operates a retail-only bakery shop and café space in Cardiff’s Castle Arcade, and trades every week at Cardiff farmers’ markets. David Le Masurier, founder and co-owner at Pettigrew Bakery, said: “This marks a significant moment for us. For the past seven years, we’ve been a fixture at the Rhiwbina farmers’ market every Friday – come rain or shine – but now, thanks to the unwavering support of the local community, we’re making Rhiwbina our permanent home and joining a wonderful community of independent businesses that make this village so special. Throughout the lockdown, the people of CF14 welcomed us with open arms. Our deliveries became a regular part of life on these streets, and we’ve never forgotten that. We’ve been looking for the right spot ever since, and when this beautiful space became available, we knew the time was now. In the face of enormous headwinds for the indie hospitality and slow food sector, diversifying, innovating and growing is the only way we can navigate these difficult times – and help safeguard the incredible jobs of our team.”

Lease of historic pub-theatre in London acquired by actor family: The lease of Old Red Lion pub and theatre in London’s Islington has been acquired by the company Cowardly Lion, of which actor Janine Duvitski is a director. Dating to the 1400s, The Old Red Lion is a unique combination of historic pub and fringe theatre, and is widely acknowledged as being the site of one of the capital's oldest pubs. The Old Red Lion has been run as a family business since 1979, when the theatre opened, with long-standing proprietor Damien Devine at the helm since 2000. This sale marks just the fourth time the pub has changed hands in more than a century. Duvitski is best known for her role as Jacqueline Stewart in ITV show Benidorm as well as roles in the BBC’s One Foot In The Grave and Waiting For God. Her husband is actor and director Paul Bentall, who is best known for the TV series Gen Z as well as roles in Flash Gordon, The World's End and First Knight. The family plan to establish The Old Red Lion as a destination offering “innovative, affordable cuisine and dynamic theatre converging within a historic setting”. David Wilson, associate director at Christie & Co, who acted on the deal, said: “We believe the pub and theatre will flourish under the new leaseholder, Cowardly Lion, and are excited to see the new tenants of this Star Pubs lease thrive. The Old Red Lion Theatre sale is another example of the demand for leasehold pubs in and around London.”