Retro gaming concept looking to expand to 80 locations over next five years, eyeing third site after successful launch of second: Retro gaming concept Continue Arcade has told Propel it is eyeing a third site after the successful launch of its second, as it looks to expand to 80 locations over the next five years. The first Continue Arcade was opened by founder Austin Wood in Plymouth in 2023, offering retro classics and consoles, pinball machines and shooting, racing and table games. A second site opened at the start of April, in the former Suite Dreams site in East Street in Taunton, and it has so far exceeded expectations by welcoming 5,000 guests and taking almost £70,000 in its first month. The business, which allows “unlimited free play” after a one-off payment of £10 for kids and £13 for adults, is hoping to open a third site, in Exeter, in the coming months. It has also launched a franchise opportunity and is working with Joel Bissett, of Franchise UK, on its rollout. Bissett said: “The team has created a franchise opportunity and plans to open 80 stores over the next five years. The franchise recently launched at the International Franchise Show in London and has received hundreds of enquiries, many from experienced multi-unit operators attracted by the simple model, low capital investment and fast return on investment. This is a fantastic business model in my opinion; low capex, great cashflow and fast return on investment. What I love about it is that is such as straightforward business to run. No kitchens and no food preparation other than handing out free popcorn. Low staff requirements and great profits.” Following Continue Arcade’s launch in Taunton, Wood told the Somerset County Gazette: “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from grandparents who feel like it's a great place to bring their grandkids and do something with them that they can relate to, going back to when they were younger, by getting them off their game consoles at home. Guitar Hero is very popular, so it won’t go anywhere, but as the games are leased, they will change every month or so.” Continue Arcade franchisees will pay an initial franchise fee of £25,000, while total investment will be around £75,000, depending on the premises and other variations. In return, they will get a turnkey launch package including funding assistance, finding premises, operational support, pre-launch training and ongoing support. All gaming machines are supplied and maintained on a fixed rental basis.

 

Sponsored message – convert seasonal interest into long-term revenue with Propeller’s digital summer strategy: As operators look to maximise bookings and make summer 2025 a huge success, Propeller’s digital summer strategy is designed to deliver meaningful results and revenue. Propeller has two decades of experience driving millions in revenue for hospitality brands including Young’s, Marston’s, St Austell Brewery, Incipio Group, All Star Lanes and Inception. A Propeller spokesperson said: “Taking an e-commerce mindset to hospitality venues, Propeller is an expert in optimising user experiences and boosting search visibility, transforming offers into discoverable, bookable experiences. Propeller’s tailored strategies are built to deliver meaningful results to the bottom line.” To find out more, click here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

Propel launches Operational Excellence Conference, former Buns from Home CEO and Leon MD Shereen Ritchie to speak, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club subscribers: Propel has launched the Operational Excellence Conference in partnership with Purple Story and is open for bookings. The conference, which takes place on Wednesday, 9 July at One Moorgate Place in London, is designed for operations directors, managers, area managers, site managers and chief executives who wants to maximise performance. Among the speakers will be Shereen Ritchie, former chief executive of Buns from Home and Leon managing director, who will talk about how operations need to be aligned to create superior performance. 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. 

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive next UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database tomorrow: Premium Club subscribers will receive the next UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database tomorrow (Friday, 16 May), at 12pm. The database will feature ten new entries, for a total of 350 companies either franchising in the UK or looking to franchise here. The new entries include Indian street food concept Karak Chaii, which has grown to 22 locations, and said it is on track to grow to 40 stores by the end of 2025. They also include Mayyil, the Lebanese street food concept owned by Zataro Group, which is set to open its first overseas site and has plans to grow to 20 UK locations over the next five years. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the UK Food and Beverage 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 the Operational Excellence Conference in July and discounts on specialist sector reports. 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 growing multi-entity business operating across leisure, accommodation and professional services that is seeking an experienced head of finance. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This is a critical leadership role offering the opportunity to influence strategy, drive performance and improve systems during an exciting period of expansion. The individual will be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), with a background in a senior finance role, ideally within multi-site operations in the leisure, hospitality, property or service-led sectors.” This is a site-based position in Carlingford, County Louth, in the Republic of Ireland, offering a salary of up to €70,000. For more information, email fabian@corecruitment.com.

Soho Coffee seeing ‘strong’ performance in regional and travel locations, to make north west debut with opening at Liverpool John Lennon airport: Soho Coffee has told Propel the business is seeing “strong” performance in its regional and travel locations and has “several more prospective sites” in the pipeline. It comes as Soho Coffee revealed it will make its debut in the north west of England with an opening at Liverpool John Lennon airport. The café format store in the departure lounge, which will open next month, will further expand the brand’s presence in travel hubs, marking its 13th airport location in total. The outlet will have a seating for 100 in addition to a “grab and go” offer. Fiona Nuttall, head of proposition at Soho Coffee, said: “We’re proud to be opening our very first store in Liverpool, and Liverpool John Lennon airport is the perfect place to do it. This opening marks an exciting step in our growth journey, bringing our crafted coffee and handcrafted food to even more customers across the UK.” In terms of current trading, a spokesperson told Propel: “We have a strong performance in our regional and travel locations. We are making improvements in our London stores, and we’re looking to build a stronger presence in the city.” Soho Coffee operates across 44 locations – 30 in the UK and 14 overseas. In March, Soho Coffee said it will continue to expand its geographical footprint, with a pipeline of stores confirmed to open within UK travel locations this year, and through a UK franchise model that is due to launch. The spokesperson added: “The development of our franchise programme is moving forwards behind the scenes. We are currently working on ensuring we have strong brand foundations in place before officially launching the project, to ensure its success. We have several more prospective sites that we are looking into, including international franchise locations.”

 

Chef and restaurateur Sam Elliott secures second site for new Prime by Pasture concept as it prepares to make debut: Chef and restaurateur Sam Elliott has told Propel he has secured a second site for his new Prime by Pasture concept as it prepares to make its debut. The new all-day dining restaurant will open in St Thomas Street in the Redcliffe Quarter of Bristol on Monday, 9 June. Building on his steakhouse and late-night bar concept Pasture, Prime by Pasture “will bring a fresh take on everyday dining” – from coffee and breakfast first thing to “indulgent” burgers, sticky wings and thick shakes throughout the day. Prime by Pasture will also feature an on-site butchery and deli. The restaurant will be Elliott’s third Bristol site following Pasture, which opened in 2018, and Radius, which launched in 2022. In Cardiff, he also operates Pasture, which opened in 2020, along with Parallel and Nightshade, which both opened in 2023. Last year, he opened a Pasture site in Birmingham, the group’s biggest site to date. Elliott first announced he would be bringing Prime by Pasture to Bristol at the beginning of last year – but with the Birmingham opening to manage, the plans got delayed. Elliott said the Prime by Pasture concept is set for further expansion. He told Propel: “We cannot announce the location yet. However, we have found a location in Cardiff which should open later this year. It’s only a short walk from our Pasture restaurant. We are on the look-out in Birmingham also.” Elliott said trading has remained “strong” in 2025 but continued rising costs of goods, wages, and overheads “present significant challenges across the board”. He added: “Despite these pressures, we remain committed to delivering the highest quality experience for our guests. We continue to procure the best ingredients, maintain high standards and offer some of the best wages in the industry – ensuring both our team and our customers remain at the heart of everything we do.”

 

Whitbread secures Carlisle city centre site for Premier Inn: Whitbread has secured a new site in Carlisle city centre for a Premier Inn hotel. The company has agreed to acquire the Central Plaza site from Cumberland Council, which will see the land redeveloped into a Premier Inn. Working with property consultant CBRE, the council sought proposals to redevelop the land. Whitbread intends to lead the construction of the new hotel, subject to planning permission from Cumberland Council, and own and operate the completed property. Whitbread acquisition manager, Jill Anderson, said: “We’re excited to bring Premier Inn to the heart of Carlisle, providing high-quality, affordable hotel accommodation in a prime and accessible location. This development underscores our commitment to expanding Premier Inn across the north of England.” Whitbread intends to submit a planning application for the new hotel this summer and is targeting an opening date before the end of 2028.

 

SSP becomes main F&B operator at Southampton airport: SSP, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has struck a deal to become the main food and beverage operator at Southampton airport. Having assumed operations of the existing landside and airside bars, over the next 12 months SSP will introduce two modernised bar kitchen concepts alongside a new Starbucks. Cathy Granby, business development director of SSP UK & Ireland, said: “We’re excited to be adding Southampton airport to our portfolio of UK airports as we continue to grow our operations into locations where our customers need us. As we prepare for the peak summer trade, we’re sure that our new units will quickly become the best part of the journey from Southampton airport and make grabbing a bite to eat or drink an essential pitstop when passing through.” It comes a month after SSP secured a similar deal to become the main food and beverage partner at nearby Bournemouth airport.

 

Rank to boost number of slot machines in Grosvenor casinos after gambling laws relaxed: Rank Group, the company behind Grosvenor casinos in the UK, is poised to increase its gaming machine offering following the government’s indication that it will ease gambling regulations. With plans to introduce an additional 882 gaming machines to its Grosvenor estate, which currently hosts 1,367 machines, the total count could exceed 3,112 post-reform, according to the company. This expansion, which Rank anticipates completing gradually over the next two to three years, represents a significant investment for the business. Rank said it also intends to liaise with Scottish officials to replicate the benefits of England’s deregulatory reforms in Scotland. The move comes as part of a broader deregulation drive by the Labour government, aimed at spurring economic growth. Introduced and enacted by Labour in 2005, the UK’s Gambling Act is now under revision, with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport publishing draft secondary legislation on Monday (12 May) to alter the regulatory landscape for land-based casinos. Rank chief executive John O’Reilly said: “The modernisations will enable us to improve the Grosvenor customer proposition, helping to grow jobs and generating investment in local communities. We have a detailed roadmap of investments which we will now accelerate as we begin to roll out these reforms over the coming months.”

 

Bottomless pizza business set to expand to Norfolk for fourth site: Bottomless pizza business Moto Pizza is set to expand to Norfolk for its fourth site. The company has submitted plans to Norwich City Council to take over the vacant 23 St Benedicts Street, reports the Evening News. The site was previously owned by Michelin-listed restaurant Farmyard, which closed in June last year. Farmyard was co-owned by couple Andrew Jones and Hannah Springham, who made the decision to close after seven years, amid the cost-of-living crisis. Moto Pizza was founded by Georgie Collins in 2018 and works on a light system for when customers are ready for another slice. The company’s website says: “Hit the green light at your table, and the Moto waiters will bring a slice straight over. When your eyes start getting bigger than your belly, switch it off to have a break or to signal you are bailing out.” Moto Pizza has locations in Chelmsford and Colchester, and earlier this year moved out of Essex for the first time when it opened in the former Takayama Japanese and Korean restaurant in Fore Street in Ipswich, Suffolk.

 

Diner and takeaway concept set to expand outside of Greater Manchester for third site: Diner and takeaway concept Luckys is set to expand out of Greater Manchester for the first time for its third site. Luckys was established in 2018 by Hasan Habib and currently operates a diner in Oldham and a Stockport restaurant. Luckys will next month open a new location, in the former Bell Passi Italian restaurant unit at 70 Ocean Road in South Shields, Tyne and Wear. The store will be operated by a new franchisee. Luckys is looking to expand across the UK through franchising and is signed to Paul Tough, of Franchise Options, a former operations and projects manager at Whitbread.

Travelodge set to build new hotel in Hertfordshire as it builds south east footprint: Travelodge has exchanged contracts to develop a new 89-room hotel at the Goods Yard development in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire. The new-build hotel will feature Travelodge’s latest premium look and feel design, including a contemporary reception area and next-generation rooms, reports Insider Media. Steve Bennett, Travelodge’s chief property and development officer, said: “Travelodge now operates more than 610 hotels across the UK, and we are actively targeting a further 300 new locations, with 95 of these in the south east region.”

 

Gym operator set to expand outside of Bristol for third site: Gym operator Luxe Fitness is set to expand outside of Bristol for its third site. Luxe Fitness was co-founded by former Olympian Allyn Condon, who competed for Great Britain in both the summer (4x100m relay) and winter (bobsleigh) Games. Luxe Fitness currently has two Bristol locations – in the city centre and in Bedminster – and has now revealed plans to open a new venue at the £1.2bn Paradise Birmingham development. Luxe Fitness will be bringing a 13,800 square-foot health and fitness club to the lower and upper ground floors of One Centenary Way. Condon said: “Paradise Birmingham is an exciting next move for us, as we open our latest venue in the very heart of the city in late 2025. We’re confident our Birmingham venue will be hugely successful and find a switched on, motivated audience ready to take their fitness goals to the next level.” Luxe Fitness also announced plans last year to open within Manchester’s Royal Exchange, but the site is no longer listed on the company’s website.

 

Padel concept set to expand to Nottingham and Dorset: Padel concept Advantage Padel is set to expand to Nottingham and Dorset. The company, which currently has a single site at Kingsley Tennis Centre in Kingsley, Hampshire, has had plans approved to turn vacant industrial premises in Daleside Road, Nottingham, into its second location. The venue will feature seven indoor and two outdoor padel courts, a pickle tennis court, a café, a gym and changing rooms. According to the company’s website, it also has a venue “coming soon” in south Dorset. The Kingsley site opened in February. One of its major shareholders is Lewis Deyong, who is reported to have played on the world’s first padel court – built by English aristocrats in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1974. He is joined in the new venture by head of operations Steve Summers, Olly Burry, operations director of Smash Padel Tennis, and Steve Matthews, former sales and operations director at David Lloyd Leisure and founder of Virtus Leisure Management, reports The Padel Paper.

 

Bahraini operators set to open in London’s Marylebone for UK debut: A new Middle Eastern restaurant opening in London’s Marylebone next month will be the first UK site from Bahraini operators. The owners, who wish to remain anonymous, will launch Noreen in St Christopher’s Place in June, offering an “authentic Middle Eastern culinary experience” that “draws inspiration from across the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant”. This will include flatbread and slow-cooked dishes to share, alongside Middle Eastern confectionery such as pistachio, dates and kunafa. There will be a bar menu of alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails created in collaboration with bar entrepreneur Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan, while the wine list focuses on lesser-known regions from across Lebanon, Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean. The restaurant will have 60 covers inside and a further 20 on an outdoors terrace. Restaurant Property acted on the deal.

 

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

 

Welsh multi-site operator launches debut pub, plans further openings: Bali Kaur and Sabhi Singh, of SBJJ Group, which has successfully operated various businesses in Wales for more than 20 years, are to open their debut pub in Anglesey, with plans to launch more. The pair secured a £1.1m deal funded by Bathgate Business Finance to refurbish The Crown in Bodedern and turn it into a contemporary gastropub. Project manager Dipa Somal, who brought the innovative “Pind and Pint” concept to The Crown, which will open tomorrow (Friday, 16 May), led the transformation. The property is now a modern gastropub and will be a flagship site for what will be a nationwide rollout. SBJJ Group is already actively looking to secure its next location to build on momentum and meet growing interest. Singh said: “Each future site will be shaped by its surroundings but will remain firmly rooted in our ethos: exceptional food, authentic experiences, and a strong connection to the local community. Our focus is on thoughtful expansion. We’re building something lasting—where quality, culture and hospitality come together in a setting that feels familiar yet exciting.”

 

Solihull coffee shop business opens second site: Solihull coffee shop business Brew Twenty Three has opened its second site. Dayna Wainter, a former sales manager at Irish coffee brand Bewley’s Coffee, founded Brew Twenty Three in 2018, opening its debut site in the West Midlands town’s Cranmore Park. Brew Twenty Three has now launched a 1,000 square-foot unit at Blythe Valley Park in the town, reports Insider Media. “We’re excited to be in Blythe Valley and feel very welcomed by the community,” said Winter. “The space allows for more seating than our Cranmore location inside and out, as well as more space to host our seasonal bespoke events.”

 

Welsh independent coffee shop operator to shut Cardiff city centre site after succumbing to ‘economic pressures’: Welsh independent coffee shop operator The Little Man Coffee Co is closing one of its sites in Cardiff after succumbing to “economic pressures”. The site, in Bridge Street, will shut after almost 11 years. In a post announcing the closure on social media, the company said it would continue with its Little Man outlet at The Revel Collective’s Founders & Co site in Wind Street in Swansea, The Little Man Garage in Tudor Lane, Cardiff, and through its deliveries and sister wine company. Rob Cooper, founder of The Little Man Coffee Co, said: “After nearly 11 years in our little corner of the city, we are forced to submit to the economic pressures that are challenging so many businesses at present.”

 

Lancashire independent brewery Lune Brew Co secures third site: Lancashire independent brewery Lune Brew Co has secured its third site. The company has acquired the Clockworks Bar in Catterall, which will be rebranded as Two River Taps and reopen next month. The name gives a nod to its Lune Valley roots and the nearby River Wyre flowing right past the new venue. This marks the third site in under two years for the brewery, joining The Beer Hall in the village of Galgate and the newly opened Mini Beer Hall wedding venue. “The success of The Beer Hall Galgate has been incredible,” said Elliot Horner, founder of Lune Brew Co. “It’s become a true gathering place – the kind of spot people feel part of. That’s what we’re bringing to Catterall.”

 

Good Egg to expand London presence with Walthamstow opening: Good Egg Restaurants is to open a site in Walthamstow, east London. The all-day dining concept was launched by Joel Braham, Alex Coppard and Oded Mizrachi in Stoke Newington in 2015. A second site in Soho opened in 2017, and while both locations survived an administration process in 2019, the Soho venue later closed. Good Egg launched outside of London in 2023 when it opened in Margate, Kent, and returned to the capital later the same year to set up in Camden. Now, the group is expanding its presence in London with the Walthamstow site that opens today (Thursday, 15 May) in the former Eat17 premises in Orford Road, reports Hot Dinners. Good Egg also operates The God Bagel in Stoke Newington. Eat17 still has sites in Hackney in east London and Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire.

 

Bar concept primarily aimed at giving women a ‘safe space’ opens second site: Sophy, a bar concept primarily aimed at giving women a “safe space”, has opened its second site. The venue has launched in the Birmingham district of Digbeth, in the former Kilo Ziro premises at the Custard Factory, and is a sister bar to Sophy in Leicester. A spokesperson told Birmingham Live: “Sophy offers a lively, inclusive, and safe space primarily aimed at women, with cocktail parties, live music, and DJ events, including 1980s and 1990s nights, Spanish nights, and much more.” Kilo Ziro closed in February after the owners welcomed a new baby.

 

Nottingham bar operators to open second site: Nottingham bar operators Bryony Woodgates and Pete Russell are to open a second site in the city. The husband-and-wife team, who are behind Hopkinson in Station Street, are launching Neon in the Hockley area of the city. The new venue in a former art gallery in Fletcher Gate is described as “Hockley’s brightest cocktail bar”. Woodgates told Nottinghamshire Live: “It's all been possible to invest money into opening this place due to the incredible success of the Hopkinson bar.”

 

North east New York-style brasserie concept opens second site: North east New York-style brasserie concept Babucho has opened its second site. Robby Scott opened the original Babucho in 2011, in Lower Dean Street in Newcastle. He has now launched a second venue, in a converted United Reformed Church in West Avenue in Gosforth. The venue was formerly a Barluga restaurant operated by Vaulkhard Leisure Group, which last year put the leasehold for the premises up for sale for £100,000. Scott told Chronicle Live he’d had his eye on the building for several years, and had previously planned to expand before the pandemic. That had to be put on hold, but when the leasehold went up for sale, he “jumped straight in”. The former church, which has also housed a Loch Fyne restaurant, has undergone an extensive refit, including booths, a high dining counter and private dining rooms. “In terms of the decor, we’re just taking advantage of the beauty of the building,” Scott added. “It’s a total contrast to the building we already have in Newcastle, and we’re doing a lot of things to show off the beauty of the design.”

 

Bristol leisure group acquires second golf course: Golf & Leisure Group, based in Bristol, has acquired its second golf course. The group has added the 3 Hammers golf complex in Wolverhampton to its portfolio having acquired the Bristol Golf Centre in 2020. The group has invested approximately £2m in improvements at the Bristol site and plans to take a similar approach with 3 Hammers by introducing upgraded practice facilities and interactive technology. James Rogers, who co-owns Golf & Leisure Group with his wife Candice, said: “3 Hammers has always impressed us. The facilities, personnel and services here combine to create the perfect golf experience for users of all ages and abilities.” Previous owner Ian Bosner took over 3 Hammers in 1986, having learnt to play golf there as a youngster. Bonser said: “James and [managing director] Carl [Tomlin] are passionate about making golf accessible and fun, which makes them the perfect people to take 3 Hammers to the next level.”

Former Pied a Terre executive chef opens debut solo restaurant: Asimakis Chaniotis, former executive chef of Michelin-starred Pied a Terre, has opened his first solo restaurant. Chaniotis, who was also formerly head chef at Pied a Terre’s sister restaurant, L’Autre Pied, has launched Myrtos at 260-262 Brompton Road in London’s South Kensington. Myrtos is influenced by Chaniotis’ Grecian heritage, championing ingredients and recipes from across Greece, and is named after a beach on the island of Kefalonia. The 80-cover restaurant offers mezze-style small plates alongside Taverna-style, larger dishes, designed for sharing, such as lobster giouvetsi with orzo, tomatoes, mussels, lemon and basil; and pink bream, pan-fried and served with a five-herb, lettuce and lemon sauce. A range of skewers include lamb belly and pickled turnip; savoy cabbage and tzatziki; and whole squid, lightly fried and served with a Greek herb chimichurri and squid ink. There are also Mediterranean-inspired cocktails. Chaniotis said. “Opening my first restaurant is an amazing feeling, bringing to life the flavours I grew up with and the dishes that shaped my journey as a chef. South Kensington felt like the perfect location as it was my first home in London and a neighbourhood I have always loved. I hope Myrtos transports guests to Greece, evoking the nostalgia of being there without leaving London.”

 

Devon farm evolves into luxury retreat under experienced luxury hospitality owner: Fowlescombe Farm, a regenerative organic farm in Dartmoor, is now hosting guests for luxury rural retreats in the Devon countryside. The retreat, led by Caitlin Owens and Paul Glade, features ten luxury suites, a farm-to-table restaurant and a selection of on and off-site activities. Owens’ family owns both Fowlescombe Farm and The Millbrook Inn pub in South Pool, near Kingsbridge. Owens has experience in the luxury hospitality sector, including previous roles at the Four Seasons in London and Relais & Châteaux’s Hotel Schönegg in Zermatt, as well as managing The Millbrook. Fowlescombe Farm, established in 1537, has ten new suites and the Refectory restaurant – an all-day dining space, offering an open kitchen with a communal table and dining area where guests can watch chefs at work, explore the gardens with them, and select their own ingredients. The four-course daily changing dinner menu uses locally sourced produce and ingredients from the farm. The onsite activities involve wildlife walks, history tours, bread-making workshops, floristry and preserving sessions. Beyond the farm itself, the team arranges bespoke experiences such as paddle boarding to a local pub and stargazing on Dartmoor.