Hospitality market stability under threat from new costs with 20 net closures per week in first quarter of 2025: Britain’s pub, restaurant and hotel market has achieved marginal growth in outlets over the last 12 months, the new Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners shows – but significant new costs may now jeopardise stability. The report indicates a total of 98,866 sites operating in March 2025 – 0.1% more than 12 months ago. However, the latest quarter (January to March 2025) saw numbers fall 0.3%, from the end of 2024, which is equivalent to 20 net closures per week. The contraction in the number of licensed venues reflects concerns among operators and investors about soft consumer confidence, weak sales growth in pubs, bars and restaurants and the general economic outlook, as well as the burden of increased employers’ national insurance contributions and national minimum wage from April. There has been greater solidity on the managed side of hospitality than in the independent sector, with the two gaining and losing 0.3% of sites respectively in the first quarter of 2025. There has been similar churn in venue types, as food-led licensed premises shrank 1.1% while drink-led ones grew 0.3%. The monitor also showed there are now 2.8% more bars powered by competitive socialising concepts than in March 2020 – the only segment to have grown in size since the start of the covid-19 pandemic. The “themed bars” segment of CGA’s outlet data – into which dedicated competitive socialising venues fall – has grown 24.3% in the last 12 months, and is now nearly treble the size it was in March 2020. Karl Chessell, CGA by NIQ’s director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA, said: “There are encouraging pockets of vibrancy, and we can be optimistic that spending may pick up later in the year, but it is likely to be a difficult second quarter for businesses that have already been weakened by sustained high inflation.” Graeme Smith, a senior partner at AlixPartners, said: “In the context of what has happened to market site numbers in the recent past, the last 12 months represent a period of relative calm and stability. However, this belies a sense that the market is on the cusp of further, possibly accelerated, change. Consolidation-driven M&A, refinancings and restructurings are likely to play a role in helping operators unlock a profitable path, and while closures feel inevitable, it is also a time when the strongest – those thriving hospitality brands and businesses, of which there remains many – will get stronger. And they will emerge in prime position to best access the market opportunities that will inevitably arise in the next 12 months. This data also shows how important it is to look at the facts and not just the perceptions. Following recent commentary, it would have been easy to assume that the UK consumer had stopped going out and the night-time economy was dead. However, the data shows that while tastes might be changing, the UK consumer still wants to go out and socialise, with bar numbers increasing by more than 7% compared with a year ago – the highest growth of all categories.” UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “The loss of 20 venues a week so far this year shows the real-life impact of the increasing cost burden on hospitality. These are livelihoods, jobs and cherished community venues that have been lost for good, and that is hugely damaging to our economy, society, culture and well-being.”

 

Public House Group founder Olivier van Themsche and finance director Tom McMahon to speak at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club subscribers: Public House Group founder Olivier van Themsche and finance director Tom McMahon 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. Van Themsche – who owns the Pelican in Notting Hill, The Hero in Maida Vale and the Bull in Charlbury in the Cotswolds – and McMahon will discuss the evolution of the business, the strategy behind its growth, and how two endangered British industries – pubs and farming – can survive by helping each other. 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 Multi-Site Database with 3,386 operators and 30 new companies tomorrow: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database tomorrow (Friday, 25 April), at noon. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,386 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 989 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 794 (23%) pub and bar operators, 576 (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 30 new companies. The database includes new companies in the casual dining sector such as Berkshire pizza concept Knead Neapolitan Pizza, restaurant concept Enish, and Josephine, the French bistro concept from Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi and wife Lucy. 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.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a multi-faceted London venue spread across two floors, featuring multiple restaurants and bars, which is seeking an experienced general manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The individual will have a strong background in high-volume venues. This role oversees multiple concepts under one roof, requiring exceptional leadership and operational expertise. The general manager will be responsible for maintaining high trading standards – conducting audits and ensuring best-in-class operations, leading a team of up to 100, in a venue generating more than £200,000 in weekly revenue, driving bar and floor operations, ensuring outstanding service and efficiency.” The salary is £70,000. For more information, email kate@corecruitment.com.

 

Immersive entertainment concept The Lost Estate looking to expand on global scale over next ten years: Immersive entertainment concept The Lost Estate, which combines high-end hospitality with live performance and theatrical storytelling, has told Propel it is aiming to expand on a global scale in the next ten years. Since launching in 2017, The Lost Estate has welcomed more than 200,000 guests to productions at its London venues in Peckham and West Kensington. The business recently appointed Mark Fisher, former chief development officer of Merlin Entertainments, as a non-executive director to support The Lost Estate’s ambition to further develop its experiential model and strengthen its leadership team. Co-founder Eddy Hackett has a 20-year background as a classical musician, playing at venues such as the Royal Opera House. He told Propel that The Lost Estate’s offer goes beyond theatre to offer a fully experiential night out, blending narrative, live music, dance and multi-sensory dining. The company is aiming to open a site in Manchester towards the end of next year before taking its first steps internationally in 2027. “We’re looking at the US in that respect,” said Hackett. “We think cities such as Pittsburgh and Austin initially, and then we’ll look to the likes of New York and Los Angeles. Beyond that, we think we can grow to Australia, Japan and China. We’ve got a detailed five-year plan in place to expand from the UK to the US and expect to formalise the next five-year growth phase in 2028-29 that would see us expand on a global scale.” He added: “Theatre and its use of hospitality is evolving. Guests used to go for something to eat or drink before or after the show or during the interval. Now they want to be able to enjoy that while watching the performance. That’s what we offer, alongside a fantastic food menu and environment – and that’s why we stand out in the space.” Hackett said the business offers various price points – starting at £60 for a performance-only ticket up to £250 for the “VIP experience” – meaning it’s able to attract a range of customers including families. “We’re really popular when it comes to date nights,” he added. “When you think if you go to a West End show you can spend £70 on a ticket, £50 on a meal and then drinks as well, we think we offer great value as well as a quality performance.” The West Kensington venue is now hosting Paradise Under The Stars, a 1950s “Cuban cabaret spectacular” that is running until October. The Peckham site is running 58th Street, a “1930s New York jazz club experience”. Hackett said the production was originally going to run until the end of the year, but due to its success, “should now run for a couple of years”.

Haven Holidays CEO – we’re keen to go a little faster on JD Wetherspoon partnership: Simon Palethorpe, chief executive of Haven Holidays, has set his sights on opening more on-site JD Wetherspoon pubs and rival takeovers. The holiday park company’s tie-up with Wetherspoon has now seen five of its pubs at Haven sites. Speaking to The Sun about Haven’s customers, Palethorpe said: “They like brands they know. They like certainty over what they’ll spend, and Wetherspoon brings that in spades. Everybody’s seeing the results we’ve had and we would be keen to go a little bit faster.” Overall, 400,000 people visited Haven’s 39 UK camps over Easter, with 3.6 million this year. Palethorpe said: “I’d definitely love us to have more parks.” Asked about acquiring rival Away Resorts, he replied: “We’re open to discussion on individual parks or groups of parks.” Haven is investing £10m in a new swimming pool and flume in Kent, which will create more jobs, but the company faces a “significant” rise in staff costs due to national insurance changes. There is also a fear Labour’s looming Employment Rights Bill will make it harder to hire the 8,000 seasonal workers the business relies on. Palethorpe said: “We will have to see if the government actually listens to what the hospitality industry is saying.”

 

Burger King UK hires Craig Smith as head of acquisitions: Burger King UK has hired Craig Smith as its new head of acquisitions. Smith joins Burger King UK, which operates circa 560 restaurants, 285 of which are directly owned, after two and a half years as an acquisitions manager at Asda. He also spent more than 30 years at the Co-op, including ten years as its business acquisitions manager. Smith said: “I am excited to be joining such a committed and dynamic team that is committed to delivering top-class restaurants and drive-thrus.” Last week, Burger King UK opened its new flagship restaurant in London’s Strand, which marked the brand’s first opening in the capital’s city centre for more than a decade. In a UK first for the brand, the 4,500 square-foot site features a “family experience” area on the first floor with interactive tables. The initiative will also be launched in other new openings this year. The brand is looking to open circa 30 sites this year and carry out around 40 remodels across its existing estate. Burger King features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, the next edition of which will be sent to Premium subscribers on Wednesday, 14 May and feature a total of 350 companies. 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.

 

SA Brain sees turnover halve after continuing property disposal strategy but substantially reduces losses: Welsh brewer and retailer SA Brain saw its turnover halve in the year to 31 March 2024 after continuing its property disposal strategy but substantially reduced its losses. At the end of 2023, the then chief executive, Jon Bridge, said the business had been brought back from the brink of collapse following three years of repaying loans and attempting to turn it around. Bridge stepped down post year end, in December 2024, and has since been replaced by Nick Payne. The company’s turnover for the year was £4,738,000, down from £9,369,000 in 2023. Pre-tax losses reduced to £137,000 from £22,261,000 in 2023, although the latter figure was driven by one-off events such as impairments of £2,237,000, a revaluation loss of £1,063,000, a loss on disposal of assets of £6,825,000 and an increase in provisions in respect of vacant properties of £7,131,000. “In the period, the directors continued to execute the remainder of the property disposal strategy, which facilitated the repayment of the term loan in full during the year,” Bridge said. “The directors are mindful of a number of key focus arrears that will positively impact the growth of the business into the future. The pension buy-out process is due to be concluded within the next 12 months. This will remove any future pension obligations for the company/group. The company continues to positively engage with its remaining landlords to discuss the most commercial options for all parties into the future. New product development will continue to play a critical role in the growth of the brewery. It will evolve its offer to target a new generation of consumers through social media marketing, complementing the heritage of the brand, but building for the future.” Bridge added: “Since the end of the financial period for which these financial statements have been drawn, the cost-of-living crisis have continued to impact the macroeconomic climate and the group. Despite these headwinds, the group has made significant progress. Some final freehold assets and leasehold have been sold or surrendered.” The group has also undertaken an impairment review of its investment properties, resulting in a revaluation loss in the period of £232,000 (2023: £1,603,000). No dividends were paid (2023: nil).

 

Cosy Club launches reimagined look and feel: Cosy Club, the Loungers-owned, 36-strong brand, has unveiled a new, reimagined look and feel at its site in Manchester, which it said is “exciting new chapter” for the brand. The business launched the new look at its site in Manchester’s Corn Exchange and will incorporate it at its new site in Reading, which will open in The Oracle scheme in Minster Street next month. Lucy Knowles, managing director at Cosy Club, told Propel: “Cosy Club Manchester has unveiled a stunning transformation, becoming the first in our group to showcase a new, reimagined look and feel. We’ve taken glamour and opulence to the next level, introducing warmer, softer and more elegant interiors, inspired by the timeless aesthetics of the 1970s and 1980s. To complement the new surroundings, we’re proud to launch an exciting menu of elevated British classics, created with the finest ingredients from some wonderfully creative suppliers. Next up is Cosy Club Reading, opening this May with the same look, with more Cosy Clubs following suit as we roll out this exciting new chapter across the brand.” Loungers will also open a new Cosy Club in Swansea’s Exchange Buildings later this year. The company believes that in time, it can double the current Cosy Club estate.

 

Knoops looks to open second Leeds site: Luxury hot chocolate shop brand Knoops is looking to double its presence in Leeds. The 25-strong business already operates a site in the city’s Albion Street. Propel understands that Knoops has now applied to open a site in the city’s King Edward Street. The business also has openings lined up in Cardiff and Colchester, and at the Scotch Corner Designer Village. Knoops, which plans to open sites in the US and China this year, expects its footprint in Britain to grow to around 40 sites by the end of this year. Last month, the company strengthened its leadership team with four new appointments, as it looks to accelerate its expansion plans here and abroad. These included Jo Brett, formerly of Pret A Manger and Starbucks, as chief operating officer, and Kai Hepworth, previously of Marston’s and Costa Coffee, as UK managing director.

 

First 3D-printed Starbucks location to open, one-fifth of stores globally now verified as sustainable: Starbucks’ first cafe constructed completely from 3D printed materials will open on Monday (28 April), in Texas. Local media site Brownsville Today said construction began on the new location in December, and the off-premises-only location will open next week. Starbucks said the new location will be the company’s first 3D printed build in partnership with Peri 3D Construction. The 1,400 square-foot site will offer drive-thru and mobile order pick-up services only. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation stated the cost of the building’s construction was about $1.98m, although the completed store is much smaller than a typical Starbucks location since there is no seating inside. Meanwhile, one fifth of all Starbucks stores globally – or 9,396 in total – have been verified as sustainable. This represents a 50% increase on last year and brings the company closer to its 10,000-store sustainability goal. The company said each of what it calls “Starbucks Greener” stores have been evaluated by an external auditor across eight external impact areas. Together, they save Starbucks more than $60m in annual operating costs, including a 30% reduction in water usage and a 30% decrease in energy consumption, reports Nation’s Restaurant News.

 

The Entourage Group launches Mr Porter brand in the UK: The Entourage Group, owner of gourmet burger bar The Butcher, has launched a site in the UK under its Mr Porter Steakhouse, Bar & Lounge brand. The brand has made its UK debut at The Park Lane Hilton Hotel in Mayfair, in the former Trader Vic space. Headed by co-owner and co-founder Yossi Eliyahoo, this is the fourth Mr Porter site, with locations in Amsterdam, Barcelona and a pop-up in Ibiza. Dishes include the roast beef carpaccio and avocado carpaccio with beluga caviar, while the bar offers a range of cocktails. Eliyahoo said: “The opening of Mr Porter Park Lane is a significant milestone for the Mr Porter brand. We are thrilled to be bringing the restaurant to London, whose glamorous and vibrant energy is the perfect location for the next venue.” Las summer, Entourage Group opened its first Toni Loco pizzeria in the UK and second The Butcher site – and told Propel it has plans to expand both brands here.

 

Canadian pancake brand Fluffy Fluffy lining up Birmingham launch for 16th UK site: Canadian pancake brand Fluffy Fluffy is lining up a launch in Birmingham for its 16th UK site. The exact location has not yet been revealed, but it understood to be in the “heart of the city”. Fluffy Fluffy has so far this year opened new stores in Brighton, Windsor, Newcastle and the East Midlands Designer Outlet in Alfreton to take its estate here to 15. The brand plans to open at least ten new UK stores this year as it works towards a long-term goal of 100 locations here.

 

Wingers invests in new production unit as it looks to support up to 75-strong restaurant portfolio: Buttermilk fried chicken restaurant concept Wingers has invested £200,000 in equipment and a new production unit to support its continued franchised expansion. The additional premises and new transport are in addition to a further £150,000 investment in new refrigeration and state-of-the-art equipment over the next three years, to provide the infrastructure to support up to 75 Wingers restaurants across the UK. Dylan Sunner, co-founder and head of procurement, said: “Wingers is growing rapidly, and we now have 15 restaurants trading successfully, with ambitions to secure 30 sites by the end of 2025. But our expansion will not stop there. To be ready, we have invested ahead of the curve to facilitate growth and ensure our new franchisees are fully supported.” The new production unit, which will support increased production, is on the same industrial park in Aldridge in the West Midlands as Wingers’ current base, which will be retained for training and office space. Wingers was founded during covid by Sunner, his brother Amran and dad Bill.

 

Coyote Ugly lines up debut site in Scotland: Bar concept Coyote Ugly is planning to make its debut in Scotland by the end of the year, in Edinburgh. The brand, which currently operates eight sites in the UK, has applied to open on the former Shandwick’s site in South Charlotte Street, in Edinburgh’s New Town. Shandwick’s closed last summer. Steve Lewis holds the franchise rights for Coyote Ugly in the UK through his Breaking Brands business. He told Propel last August: “We plan a large expansion in major cities up north and in Scotland over the next six months, subject to finding the right sites. We have a few under offer. Trading has been in line with expectations.” The US brand, which inspired the film of the same name, was founded in the early 1990s by Liliana Lovell. Coyote Ugly has more than 20 bars globally and opened its last UK site in December 2023, on Bristol Waterfront. The brand also has two London locations plus further sites in Cardiff, Birmingham, Swansea, Blackpool and Liverpool. Lewis told Propel that he was looking to open six more UK bars by 2026 as he prepared to take the brand to Europe and the Middle East.

 

Lebanese street food concept set to open first ‘neighbourhood’ location as it targets ten-strong estate by end of 2025: Lebanese street food concept Mayyil is set to open its first “neighbourhood” location as it targets a ten-strong estate by the end of 2025. Through a new franchisee, it is lining up a site in Kingston-upon-Thames, south west London, for its first location outside of Central London. Owned by Zataro Group, Mayyil was founded in 2022 by Ayman Assi as a sister concept to the two-strong Beit El Zaytoun Lebanese restaurants in west London. Charlie Mander, group chief operating officer of Presman & Colard franchise consultancy, which acts for Mayyil, said: “It is great to see Mayyil grow from strength to strength, with the next site under development in central Kingston-upon-Thames. From one location in September 2022 to seven in 2025 including Knightsbridge, Notting Hill, Angel and the UAE, Mayyil has become a well-known and recognised Lebanese street food brand. With a number of targeted territories across the UK, Mayyil is aiming to hit ten sites by the end of 2025.” Longer-term, Assi has targeted 20 Mayyil sites over the next five years.

 

Northern Monk to open York site: Northern Monk, the Active Partners-backed Leeds brewer, is set to open a new venue in York. The company, which currently operates three bars, plans to open a new site in the Forage building in the city’s Little Stonegate. The venue will follow a similar model to the company’s existing Refectory locations in both Leeds and Manchester. Alex Minett, commercial director at Northern Monk, told The Press: “The concept in York is going to be very food based. We’ve partnered with a well-known food operator. The venue is very much about our company values – we want to have a community focus.” Minett said Northern Monk has more venues on the horizon. Last October, the company exceeded its £1m crowdfunding target as it aimed “to become Europe’s largest craft brewery by 2035”. The company was seeking to raise the funds to invest in three key initiatives – a flagship Northern Monk venue in London, an expansion of its brewery to meet demand and become carbon zero by 2030, and to turn its original brewery site in Leeds into the “best brewery visitor experience in the UK”. 

 

Alex Proud to open new all-day restaurant and café and cabaret bar in London’s Hoxton: Entrepreneur Alex Proud is set to open a new all-day restaurant and café and cabaret bar in London’s Shoreditch. Proud, who is behind cabaret venues Proud Camden (which closed in 2018), Proud Embankment and Haus of Cabaret, will launch Sinners in Great Eastern Street on Thursday, 1 May. The venue will encompass The Eden Lounge on the ground floor, which will be an all-day dining lounge and a hub for remote workers, plus cocktails and cabaret restaurant Sinners in the basement. The Eden Lounge menu will include green papaya, wholesome grain and roasted chickpea kale salads, as well as a quartered roasted poussin or roasted lamb rump cooked over an open fire.

 

YO! launches retail range into Morrisons: Wonderfield Group, formerly Snowfox Group, the multi-channel and international Japanese food business that owns brands including YO!, Panku, Bento and Taiko, has partnered with Samworth Brothers to launch a new retail range into Morrisons supermarkets. Samworth Brothers said: “Our meals team has been working closely with YO! and The Wonderfield Group to bring some of the brand’s best-loved dishes to supermarket shelves. Think chicken katsu curry, firecracker chicken rice, miso aubergine and loads more. The range is all about making bold, high-quality meals more convenient and accessible for everyone.” The range will initially be available at a promotional price of £4 per meal, down from £4.80, and features five mains and three sides. Head of grocery at YO!, Charlotte Crowther, said: “We’re thrilled to expand our grocery range with meals inspired by our restaurant favourites. Our goal is to bring high-quality Japanese and Asian cuisine straight to shoppers, making it easier than ever to enjoy bold, flavourful dishes from the comfort of home.”

 

Arepa & Co opens new flagship site: Arepa & Co, the UK’s only casual dining Venezuelan concept, has opened its new flagship site in London’s Elephant & Castle. First opened in Haggerston in 2014, Arepa & Co, which is led by Ernesto Moreno and Kathe Cunin, also operates sites in Brixton and Bethnal Green. The menu focuses on arepas, a traditional flat corn bread that is toasted and cut open and filled with meat, pulses and dairy that originated from indigenous tribes on the continent. It also features Cachapas, which are traditional sweetcorn pancakes, and a selection of small plates, including yuca chips and its signature tequeños – a puff pastry snack filled with cheese and guava. The new site comprises a 70-cover restaurant and 20-foot bar. Moreno said: “We are excited to bring Arepa & Co to London's centre of Latin American culture, Elephant Park. This location feels like the perfect place to open our flagship restaurant.”

 

Chef Dom Taylor to open ‘playful reimagining of the Caribbean takeaway’: Chef Dom Taylor is to open Marvee'’ Food Shop, a new restaurant in London’s Ladbroke Grove which he said will be “a playful reimagining of the Caribbean takeaway”, next month. Named after Taylor’s mother Marveline, Marvee’s Food Shop follows Taylor’s first solo venture, The Good Front Room, a ten-month residency that brought elevated Caribbean dining to the Langham Hotel. It will be housed within music and events space UNDR, close to Portobello Road, and include 60 covers across an indoor dining space and outdoor terrace. Taylor said: “Marvee’s Food Shop is something I’ve been dreaming about for years. It’s the kind of place that brings together the food memories that shaped me – from childhood days in Jamaica to watching the women in my family work their magic in the kitchen, and of course, everything I've learned from my mum, Marvee. She’s the heart of this project, and she’ll always have a seat in the restaurant. Every project I've done has been rooted in love for Caribbean heritage and flavour – and this is no different. But this isn't The Good Front Room. That’s its own thing, and there’s more to come on that at a later date. Marvee’s is a different vibe – more relaxed, more every day.”

 

Chef Daisuke Shimoyama to launch new Japanese-inspired restaurant venture: Chef Daisuke Shimoyama is to launch a new Japanese-inspired restaurant venture in London. Following on from omakase restaurant Hannah in Southbank, the chef is opening Kokin. Launching on Thursday, 1 May on the seventh floor of The Stratford in east London – part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection – the 140-cover restaurant will feature two extensive terraces and dedicated sushi bar to complement the restaurant’s woodfire-inspired menu. Dishes will include “Woodfire x Charcoal Grilled Turbot” where the bones will be grilled to make the stock and sauce and combined with Kyoto white miso and served with the turbot. Kokin’s drinks offering will include a carefully curated selection of wine and saké alongside a diverse menu of refined Japanese inspired cocktails “with a Kokin interpretation”.

 

West Sussex operator secures second pub: West Sussex operator Charles New has acquired his second pub in the county – the Eight Bells in the village of Bolney. The Eight Bells was a closed asset of community value-listed freehold village pub. New is understood to have “some exciting plans” for the pub. He also operates the Windmill Inn, in the village of Littleworth, which is managed by David Lennon. Nick Earee, of Fleurets, acted on the Bolney deal.

Brothers launch new restaurant at their Somerset ‘regenerative food and farming project’: Brothers Giacomo and Matteo Grasso have launched a new restaurant at their “regenerative food and farming project” in Somerset. The duo have opened The Farm Caff in the former working barns at Higher Farm in Castle Cary, where guests receive a farm map with their menu and are encouraged to walk the land after their meal. The kitchen at the 35-cover restaurant is led by former River Cottage, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Kitty Fisher's alumni, George Barson, and uses produce grown, harvested and foraged from the farm’s grounds wherever possible. Dishes include beets with walnuts and goats curd, slip sole with curry butter, poached trout with potato salad, ham with mash and parsley sauce, and pork shoulder with celeriac and wild garlic. The restaurant will be joined next month by a summer bar, offering local drinks and bar snacks, while two outdoors tables overlook the farm’s lake. The farm also offers two “nature cabins” for overnight stays, and wild swimming will be introduced at the lake this summer. The brothers acquired the 50-acre farm in 2023 to “explore natural farming methods” and introduced a “agriwilding” model that blends rewilding with traditional agriculture. Matteo formerly operated a food truck and Italian street food business before starting to explore natural farming systems, while Giacomo previously worked in venture capital before quitting to join his brother.