Hong Kong street food brand Mammy Pancake to make UK debut, plans ten sites over next three years: Hong Kong’s street food brand Mammy Pancake will launch its first international franchise in London this May, opening in Portobello Road. Known for its award-winning bubble waffles and six consecutive years of Michelin street food recognition in Hong Kong, the business, which was founded in 2009, has more than 20 branches in Asia. The UK launch is led by franchise partners Brendan Ho and Donald Lai – long-time friends with complementary business backgrounds and a shared commitment to “bringing authentic Hong Kong flavours to a broader audience”. Donald, who previously worked as a consultant on campaigns for brands such as Costa Coffee and Wagamama, left a six-figure role in March 2024 to commit full-time to Mammy Pancake. Ho was previously in investment banking and has grown up in a family that runs multiple restaurants in Hong Kong and mainland China. Ho told Propel that the company plans to open ten-plus sites in the UK over the next three years. He said: “We want to give Londoners and the wider UK market access to genuine Hong Kong street food, executed with the same quality and heart that made it a staple of our childhood.” The UK flagship will feature signature products such as Earl Grey bubble waffles, alongside UK exclusives including crème brulee, sticky toffee pudding and pistachio. Seasonal specials and drinks like strawberries and cream special and Hong Kong-style milk tea will round out the offering. Where possible, core ingredients will be sourced directly from Asia to maintain authenticity, while select UK produce will be used to develop regionally exclusive flavours. The pair said they see high potential for Hong Kong street food in the UK market, especially among younger consumers seeking unique, globally inspired food experiences. “We’re not just bringing a product over — we’re bringing a culture and a legacy, and this is just the beginning,” said Lai. “We hope to open additional locations and make Mammy Pancake a household name across the UK.”

 

Propel launches Operational Excellence Conference, Thorley Taverns MD Phil Thorley 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 want to maximise performance. Among the speakers will be Phil Thorley, managing director of Thorley Taverns, who will talk about what he has learnt about optimising operations over the decades and how you keep yourself and your staff motivated as the years pass and the challenges mount. 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 today: Premium Club subscribers will receive the next UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database at 12pm today (Friday, 16 May). 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 bakery brand The Steamhouse, which has ten stores trading and has targeted a 30-store estate within the next three years. The new entries also include east Asian-inspired fast-food brand Itsu, which started franchising in 2021 and says it sees a pathway to 500 sites within the next ten 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.

In Conversation: Propel talks to board director and operating partner for Evolv Collection (formerly D&D London) and TGI Fridays Simon Wilkinson: In the latest In Conversation podcast, Propel group editor Mark Wingett and Mark Stretton, chief executive of leading sector public relations firm Fleet Street Communications, talk to Simon Wilkinson, former chief executive of Byron and La Tasca, and current board director and operating partner for Evolv Collection (formerly D&D London) and TGI Fridays. Available today (Friday, 15 May) at 3pm to Premium subscribers, Wilkinson discusses his career, the turnaround at Evolv Collection and what comes next for the business, and the plans for TGI Fridays “comeback”. 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.

 

Britvic CEO – alcohol moderation paving the way for soft drinks, premium serves continue to gain relevance: Britvic chief executive Paul Davies has said that alcohol moderation is paving the way for soft drinks, while premium serves continue to gain relevance. Davies identified the trends in Britvic’s annual Soft Drinks Review 2025 – his first as chief executive and the company’s first since being acquired by Carlsberg. Davies said the company’s soft drinks sales up were 2.2% in 2024 versus 2023 to £21.2bn, of which the licensed trade was up 0.7% to £4.7bn, while foodservice was down 2.1% to £3bn. “We are getting a greater share of people’s pockets, which is pretty staggering growth considering the cost challenges,” Davies said. “Soft drinks are outperforming the beer category in most markets around Europe, and certainly here. We’re showing great agility with some of the challenges we have faced, and we’re seeing a high speed of innovation in the category. Dairy drinks, iced coffee, tea, flavoured water and syrups all continue to grow and expand, and we have achieved this after significant cost hikes. We’re seeing strong growth despite energy, raw materials and packing cost hikes, and last year being the coolest year since 2015. Despite the challenges, there is cause to be optimistic. There is real headroom for growth among young consumers, while premiumisation continues to grow in relevance. The trend for alcohol moderation continues, and without doubt, the younger generation is more body-conscious and conscious of what they put in their bodies. This is both an opportunity for us as a soft drink provider, and also an opportunity for our beer side, where lowering ABVs has been very successful. We think soft drinks can gain an increasing share of growth. We also think in terms of hospitality in particular, while we talk about the opportunity for low and no-alcohol beer, I think there is also the opportunity to provide more excitement in the soft drink category, stealing from the cocktail generation and enabling slightly lower tempo social occasions.” Speaking about the company’s acquisition by Carlsberg, which completed in January, Davies added: “From day one, we’ve had a vision to become a dynamic, multi-beverage powerhouse in the UK. This will be a challenger business which has benefits of scale.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a fast-growing leisure and lifestyle community brand that is seeking a chief operating officer. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “With a well-established presence and a clear vision for scale, this business is now looking for a chief operating officer to drive operational performance, support the founders and build the infrastructure for sustainable growth across the UK.” The role is based in Manchester and offers a salary of up to £150,000. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com.

 

Butcombe Group CEO – we’ve seen an acceleration in consumer desire across all dayparts, the team’s relentlessness is being rewarded: Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of Butcombe Group, has told Propel that the company’s focus and investment in stretching dayparts is paying off. It comes after the company reported a 7.8% increase in like-for-like revenue across its managed pubs in the year to 25 January 2025, with like-for-like sales up 11.1% in its first quarter to 26 April 2025. Lawson said: “We're investing in stretching dayparts. We're investing in amenities and rooms and event spaces. It is a daily, weekly, monthly relentless focus on those dayparts, those occasions, those categories, those offers completely. And we’ve seen an acceleration in the desire from consumers across all dayparts and all-day food. One of the reasons we're pushing so hard on mornings and all-day trading on food, etc, is because those elements still aren't worth the same amount as our evenings are worth in cash terms, but they are growing faster, and I fully expect that trend to accelerate. So, we are seeing people coming out earlier and going home earlier. By putting in those mornings, the breakfast, the brunch, the sandwiches at lunchtime, the light bites, we're just encouraging people to feel comfortable coming out at other times. Everybody, for a while, has been saying about people being prepared to trade up for quality and spend looking okay. What we really need, the Holy Grail, is frequency. We want people to come out more often and by broadening the breadth of choice we can look to encourage that. So, if you want to come out for some destination dining, great, but if you want to come out for a sausage bap and some fries, you can do that as well. What we are seeing is a resounding thumbs up from our customers towards that, and that means, we can convince existing customers to potentially come more often, and new customers who might not use us for some of the other occasions actually coming in now.” During the year, the business rolled out Butcombe Boutique Inns, its premium room offering, to ten sites, with a further site added since the year end. Lawson said: “We've got the next two or three sites identified. We think we can get it to 20 over the course of the next year or so. We're taking quite a lot of learnings from them and they are going really well. All the research that we did to support putting that proposition in place is coming through in the feedback and the results that we're seeing, which we're really pleased with. The overall managed like-for-likes are strong for the first quarter, and the Boutique Inns are a little bit ahead of that.”

Poolhouse CEO – London has become the Silicon Valley of competitive socialising: Andrew O’Brien, chief executive of Poolhouse, the new concept from the founders of Topgolf and World Golf Systems which will launch in London early next year, has said the capital has become the Silicon Valley of competitive socialising – and “that makes it tremendously exciting”. Propel revealed last September that the Jolliffe brothers, who also co-founded Puttshack with Adam Breeden – co-founder of Flight Club, AceBounce and All Star Lanes – had lined up a site in the City of London for the first site under the new concept, comprising 21,000 square feet across the ground and first floor of 90 Liverpool Street. The first US locations are expected to open in late 2026, with four or five opening every year after that. O’Brien said: “There are many great concepts in this competitive socialising space. We’re taking inspiration from some of the best, and we believe that the dominant upside can be found in the US through subsequent expansion. We had 28 investors, and three of them put in their biggest ever tickets, because it’s just such a compelling game.” O’Brien said the design inspiration for the sites will be vintage Vegas, juxtaposed against an American dive bar. He said: “This is in line with the evolving taste of the consumer, and we’re trying to tailor the experience such that you don’t need to necessarily pre book – you can go in and play on a whim. The quality of the beverages and the food is really important, to try and make people feel like this is a place that they should just visit regularly, not just once or twice a year. I think that’s an opportunity within this space. Guests will become more discerning, and they will seek out the best opportunities and the best experiences. I’d call us an affordable luxury – you go in and you feel special, and you should remember the first time you walked into a Poolhouse. I don't think anyone is going to be matching the level that we’re spending, at least from what I've seen. This venue must stand on its own, even if you took the technology out, and if it passes that litmus test, then I think you’ve got a very successful competitive socialising activity or concept.”

 

Thai Express UK founders to found new parent company as they look to expand all three of their brands: The founders of Thai Express in the UK have told Propel they are set to found a new parent company as they look to expand all three of their brands. Uzma and Sachin Pattani took on the UK master franchise of the Canadian brand, which has a global footprint of more than 300 locations, 13 years ago and have since opened nine locations here. They have also broken new ground for the brand by introducing a full-service restaurant concept called Thai Express Kitchen and introduced their own Japanese cuisine concept called Japami. As they prepare to open their first Thai Express Kitchen in England this summer, in Bristol’s Cabot Circus, the husband-and-wife team will also bring all three brands under the new banner of Supa Group. In today’s (Friday, 16 May) Propel Premium, which will be sent to subscribers at 5pm, the duo share their growth plans for all three brands, explain why their innovations are making the Thai Express owners in Canada sit up and take notice, and discuss the challenges they have overcome along the way. This week’s Premium Opinion also features Katherine Doggrell, Propel’s editorial advisor, looking at this week’s Propel Excellence in Pub & Bar Conference, and examining why franchising was the expansion hope for an industry under pressure. Meanwhile, Propel group editor Mark Wingett gives his take on the leading news stories – from the return of Turtle Bay founder Ajith Jayawickrema to a possible hotel portfolio deal between Greene King and RedCat. 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.

 

ETM paid £4.6m to acquire key trading assets of Maven Leisure: ETM Group paid a total consideration of £4.6m to acquire the key trading assets of Maven Leisure out of administration, Propel has learned. Propel revealed last week that ETM Group had purchased from Maven the leasehold and operational key assets of the London-based Wagtail, Goldwood and Beechwood sites, securing 176 jobs in the process. Propel revealed in February that Maven had appointed advisors at Interpath to review the funding requirements of the business and identify appropriate funding sources. Maven said that after a significant marketing process for the business by Interpath, an equity funded solution could not be found and Maven has agreed individual asset sales and been placed into administration. The company said: “ETM has also retained the employees of all Maven sites and therefore has ensured that no jobs are lost as a result of the administration process. The board of ETM is conscious that this is a disappointing outcome for Maven shareholders and accordingly, as part of its offer, there is a separate opportunity for Maven shareholders to acquire shares in ETM for nominal value, so as to be part of the future for the key Maven assets and to hopefully recover value in due course. ETM will make available up to 10% of its share capital for Maven shareholders.” The administrators report stated: “The group had been impacted by the underperformance of Kitty Hawk (a rooftop venue that was opened in October 2024) and Northwood, one of the sports bar venues. In addition, the group had committed to opening a new site that required significant additional funding to undertake a fit-out. Alongside this, the wider business had been impacted by challenging trading conditions characterised by high inflation, driving suppressed consumer demand and margin pressure. As a result of this, the group generated losses of £800,000 in FY25. The group required additional funding by the end of April 2025, with a peak requirement of £4.2m by September 2025.”

 

St Austell CEO Kevin Georgel to become non-executive director at Thwaites: North west brewer and retailer Daniel Thwaites has announced that Kevin Georgel is to join the company as a non-executive director, with effect from 1 June. Georgel is chief executive of St Austell Brewery and was previously chairman of the British Beer & Pub Association and former chief executive of Admiral Taverns. Thwaites executive chairman Rick Bailey said: “We are delighted we have been able to persuade Kevin to join us and help us to shape the future of the company and its success. Thwaites has built the most diversified portfolio of hospitality assets in the UK, with a fantastic collection of pubs, inns, hotels and spas, and Kevin’s huge experience will be invaluable to us as we continue to refine and grow the business and look for new opportunities.” Georgel said: “I share the board’s vision that strong companies bold enough to invest for the future and who have real attention to detail in their offering will prevail. I have watched with interest recent developments at Thwaites and look forward to helping it make the decisions over the next few years that will underpin the long-term success of the company.”

 

Turkish smoked meat brand seeking partners for first UK sites: Turkish smoked meat brand Meat Moot is seeking partners to open its first UK sites with. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Istanbul, Meat Moot has grown to 43 locations across 14 countries and is seeking “driven entrepreneurs ready to grow with us”. The company exhibited at last month’s International Franchise Show at London’s ExCel, as it seeks partners with which to expand to the UK. These must have previous experience in hospitality or food experience – five to ten years preferred – with multi-unit or franchise experience “a plus”. A company spokesman said: “Meat Moot is currently offering franchise opportunities in international markets to qualified franchisees. Meat Moot has successfully established 43 locations across 14 countries, and we continue to diligently pursue the execution of our growth strategy, aiming to penetrate new markets. Meat Moot is an exciting, newly established restaurant brand that expands very successfully and rapidly internationally. We are introducing a whole new concept of great smoked meat to the market and combining casual dining with great and fast service.” Franchise agreements are for five years, and sites should be a minimum of 4,400 square feet.

 

Team behind L’Eto confirms double opening plans under new vehicle: Artem Login, the entrepreneur behind L’Eto, the upscale international restaurant and cafe brand, has confirmed he is set to open two new concepts in London this year under new vehicle MAD Restaurants. As previously revealed by Propel, the new entity will open Moi in Soho’s Wardour Street, and Mediterranean concept Alta in part of the former Rum Kitchen site in Kingly Court, Soho. Moi will offer “an inventive fusion of Japanese flavours with a modern, elevated twist” and will be led by executive chef Andy Cook. The business said that Moi, which will open in July, is the first in “a series of innovative restaurants from the Login family, which is a collaboration between a father-and-son duo celebrated for establishing the globally renowned patisseries, L’Eto”. Moi, literally translated as a ‘bowl’, presents a neo-Japanese dining experience “in a relaxed, stylish space where guests can savour the atmosphere as much as the food”. Alta, which will open in August, will be headed by Rob Roy Cameron and inspired by open fire cooking and northern Spain. Named after the Alta Navarra peninsula, which spans from Pamplona to Donostia and incorporates the Basque region, the restaurant will “draw on the area’s rich culinary heritage, through an informal menu of sharing plates and dishes from the grill”. The restaurant will seat more than 100 guests across two floors and private dining rooms, including an outdoor terrace. L’Eto’s global portfolio spans 40 restaurants in seven countries. The company, which launched in the UK in 2011, operates ten L’Eto sites in the capital, along with My & Sanne in Brompton Road, Knightsbridge.

 

Loungers opens first new Cosy Club site with reimagined look, confirms St Albans plans: Café bar operator Loungers has opened the first new Cosy Club site with a reimagined look and branding, in Reading. Propel reported last month that Cosy Club had unveiled the new look at its site in Manchester’s Corn Exchange, which it said marked an “exciting new chapter” for the brand. Lucy Knowles, managing director of the now 37-strong Cosy Club, said: “The new-look Cosy Club is quite a departure from what we have done before. We’ve really ramped up the glamour, sophistication and opulence, introducing warmer, softer and more elegant interiors inspired by the timeless aesthetics of the 1970s and 1980s. This is the most radical change to Cosy Club since it burst on to the scene in 2010.” Continuing the transformation in the kitchen is a new menu of modern British classics and Cosy Club specials created in collaboration with award-winning chef and TV personality, John Hooker. The brand has also introduced a new logo and “retro-infused” staff uniform. Propel revealed earlier this month that Cosy Club had lined up an opening in St Albans, at the Christopher Place shopping scheme. Knowles said: “Next up is Cosy Club St Albans, opening in October, and Swansea, which should launch early next year, both sporting the new look and branding. Other Cosy Clubs will follow suit as we roll out this exciting new chapter across the brand in time.”

Neos Hospitality transforms York nightclub to Circuit brand: Nightclub and bar operator Neos Hospitality, formerly Rekom UK, has opened a new Circuit club in York city centre. York is the latest location for Circuit, which is one of three core brands for the business joining Bonnie Rogues and Barbara’s Bier Haus. Neos has made a six-figure investment in its former Kuda site in Clifford Street, as part of its strategy to be present in key cities across the country. Chief executive Russell Quelch said: “As we look at our entire portfolio, it’s important for us to keep investing in our brands and venues. This is not only to meet evolving market trends but to ensure Neos embraces technology to enhance the guest experience so we remain at the forefront of the hospitality sector. We are focused on growing our brands in strategically important cities, such as York, and have a strong pipeline ahead.” Circuit York is the third opening for Neos in 2025, joining Barbara’s Bier Haus après-ski style bars in Bournemouth and Bristol, which combine a chalet-style environment with ski lift photo booths, live music and themed nights. Neos operates 19 venues in 12 towns and cities across the country.

 

Boo co-founder launches hot chicken concept, expanding rapidly with seven sites opened since February: Mohammed Suleman, co-founder of better burger brand Boo, has launched a hot chicken concept that is expanding rapidly, with seven sites opened since February. Drip Chicken was launched earlier this year by Suleman, who co-founded Boo with his sister, Zainab, in 2017 and has grown it to ten UK locations and one overseas in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Mall. His latest venture is Drip Chicken, which offers “Nashville-style” hot chicken and already has sites in Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Birmingham, Batley and Huddersfield. Suleman is looking to expand Drip Chicken further through franchising and is offering packages from £50,000 equipment, set-up and build, and a £15,000 franchise fee. Drip Chicken offers a “simple menu with meal options based on level of heat: country, mild, medium, hot and extra hot”. Boo secured a site at Merry Hill shopping centre, in the West Midlands, last year and also has a site in Manchester’s Circle Square “coming soon”.

 

Thai Square to open 11th site next month: London restaurant group Thai Square is to open its 11th site next month, in Bayswater. The company will open the venue in Bayswater Road on Thursday, 12 June. The 40-cover restaurant will be led by head chef “Kied” Paralak Burasit, from the Buriram province in north eastern Thailand. The menu will include Buriram Chicken – a dish that pays homage to Burasit’s hometown – comprising grilled chicken marinated with mixed herbs served with Isan-style papaya salad in home-made fermented sauce. Managing director Haim Danous said: “This location holds a special significance to me due to its deep ties to both my professional and artistic journey. During my time as an artist, I used to sell my artworks by the Hyde Park fences, just across the road. Over the years, this address has never been home to a restaurant, making my passion for expanding Thai Square align perfectly with the opportunity to establish ourselves in an area we have never catered before.” Thai Square opened its first site in 1996 in The Strand.

 

Humble Grape and Vivat Bacchus set for growth, reports strong trading in first quarter: Humble Group, which operates wine bar and shop concept Humble Grape and South African-inspired Vivat Bacchus in London, has told Propel it is set for further growth as it reported strong trading in the first quarter of 2025. Humble Group is aiming to open two more Humble Grape sites and another Vivat Bacchus restaurant in the next 18 months. It comes as the group reported sales at its six-strong Humble Grape were up 14.3% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the previous year. The company’s Canary Wharf site led the way with sales up 42.4%, followed by Liverpool Street at 18.6%. Covers at Humble Grape were up 13.4% in the period, with Canary Wharf again being the star performer, up by 55.9%, followed by Battersea at 11.9%. Meanwhile, Vivat Bacchus, which has sites in Farringdon and London Bridge, has seen sales grow 3.2% and covers up 3.1% in the first quarter compared with last year. Across the group, sales were up 9.9% and covers 10.3% in the period. The group is also introducing “dynamic prices discounts” at Vivat Bacchus, which rewards guests who book at quieter times of day with up to 30% off their food. Diners who book via SevenRooms will enjoy 20%–30% off the full à la carte menu during off-peak hours at both locations. Vivat Bacchus is set to host a second charity dinner in support of the Africa College Foundation after raising more than £15,000 at its first in January – on Wednesday, 12 June at the Farringdon restaurant.

 

Leong Enterprises looking to expand Love Dumplings Legend concept further within Greater London and on lookout for debut regional site: Lucas Leong, co-founder of London restaurant group Leong Enterprises, has told Propel the business is looking to expand its Love Dumplings Legend concept further within Greater London and is also on the lookout for its debut regional site. The first Dumplings Legend was launched by Lucas Leong’s father in London’s Chinatown in 2010. Now, Leong and his brother Geoff have opened Love Dumplings’ Legend in Chancery Lane. Love Dumplings’ Legend is a reimagining of the original concept, offering a technology-led and fast-casual approach to dim sum and Chinese comfort food, and also opening for breakfast. In terms of further expansion, Lucas Leong said: “We are extremely interested in expanding to new locations within Greater London. The opening of Love Dumplings’ Legend has been extremely well received so we are looking for new locations. With the success of our launch, we have been told that people wish we were either near their neighbourhoods or outside London, in Brighton or Birmingham for example, and we are on the lookout for locations.” Lucas Leong said trading in 2025 has been “quiet for some period as the tariffs have spooked the general economy as a whole”. But he added: “With summer coming, we have seen more people back in the office and looking for dining options post-work, so we typically see an increase in sales for late dinners.” The family business first launched in the UK in 1995, with Japanese restaurant Koi in Kensington, which has now closed. The group’s other sites include Japanese á la carte and omakase concept Ine in Hampstead, Taku in Mayfair, Leong’s in Chinatown, Goldfish x Lan Kwai Fong in Camden and delivery platform Atla Foods.

 

London-based South American street food concept set to open tenth site: London-based South American street food concept Assenheims56 is set to open its tenth site after securing a new franchisee. The company, which was originally founded in 1989 and is now owned by Matthew Ashley, opened its first franchise location in December, at 8 London Bridge Street, followed by another earlier this year, at 22 Kingsland Road in Shoreditch. Assenheims56 now has nine locations and is set to hit double figures after securing a “prime central location”. Assenheims56 has partnered with franchise consultants Presman & Colard for its growth plans, which include spreading across the UK and long-term international expansion. Charlie Mander, group chief operating officer at Presman & Colard, said: “Assenheims56 has established itself as a lunchtime destination in the City of London, renowned for its South American chicken trays and sandwiches. We are thrilled with the last few months of growth for Assenheims56, not only in the City of London, but regionally. Last week, they secured their newest franchisee, with an exceptional prime location now under construction. Assenheims56 operates a portfolio of locations across London, and with the increasing interest in Assenheims56 from across London and university towns, the company anticipates a highly promising 12 months of growth.”

 

Peak District concept The Bakewell Tart Shop eyeing five-strong estate as it prepares to undergo transformation: Peak District concept The Bakewell Tart Shop has told Propel it is eyeing a five-strong estate across the region as it prepares to transform its only site as part of ambitious growth plans. The 100-year-old café and shop in Bakewell will close for three weeks next month to undergo a complete refurbishment, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the business. Owner Duncan Kirk’s aim is to create a “modern, streamlined model that can be replicated in select locations across the Peak District”. As well as a new layout, there will be an evolved food and drink offering, including a limited selection of alcohol and additional features such as a customer-built interactive map – where visitors will be able to choose a coloured pin sticker, write their name and date on it and pin it to the part of the world they come from. Kirk said: “This transformation is about taking The Bakewell Tart Shop into the future. It’s not just about a fresh look, but a modernised service and a forward-thinking business model. This is just the beginning, and we are very excited about expanding the model throughout the Peak District in the years to come.” In terms of the expansion plans, a spokeswoman told Propel: “At this stage, Duncan is looking at four or five sites in similar locations to Bakewell. Obviously, this is all subject to planning and finding the right sites, but it would likely be towns like Buxton and Ashbourne.”

 

Windsor & Eton Brewery acquires Kingston pub: Brewer and retailer Windsor & Eton Brewery has acquired the leasehold of the Woody’s pub in Kingston-upon-Thames, south west London, for an undisclosed sum. The pub, which is located on the riverside on Rams Passage, will close for refurbishment. Former owner of Woody’s, Dominic Clarke, said: “After nearly 17 years living and breathing Woody’s on Kingston riverside, it was time to pass the guardianship on to someone else. I am thrilled that Windsor & Eton Brewery has taken on what has become a bit of a landmark in the area, and I am excited to see it put its stamp on it while continuing the vibrant, inclusive and ultimately fun nature of the bar.” Last August, Windsor & Eton, which operates four bars in Windsor and is a supplier to more than 350 pubs, bars and hotels, closed its latest crowdfunding campaign after raising more than £380,000. Jon Radford, managing director at Windsor & Eton Brewery, said: “Over the time we’ve been engaged in this transaction, it has been amazing to see how fond of Woody’s the local community is, and although we’ll be closed for refurbishment, when we open, the community can expect a continuation of the fun and engaging space that the previous owner had created for the last 16 years. It’s our first venue outside of Windsor and we can’t wait to get started.” David Wilson, associate director at Christie & Co, managed the sale of the Kingston site.

Board games concept Draughts opens in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for third site: Board games concept Draughts has opened in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for its third site. Propel revealed in June 2024 that the concept, which also has venues in Dalston and Waterloo, was set to open a further site in the capital before exploring wider expansion in the UK and, potentially, the US. The new Draughts location spans 4,110 square feet, with more than 1,000 games, ranging from party favourites to strategic classics. The venue has room for 150 guests indoors, spread across two floors. The new food menu features halloumi fries, burgers and baja fish tacos alongside drinks such as craft beer, cocktails and a curated list of low and no-alcohol serves. Nick Curci, who founded Draughts in 2014, said: “We’re proud to open our third venue in such an iconic part of the city. This is a place full of energy and creativity, the perfect fit for Draughts. From the beginning, Draughts was created to bring people together, to offer an antidote to modern-day loneliness through shared experiences and genuine human connection. We’ve built a space where everyone is welcome.”

Slim Chickens opens at Merry Hill: Boparan Restaurant Group, the owner of the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Carluccio’s and Giraffe brands, has opened its latest Slim Chickens location, at the Merry Hill shopping centre in the West Midlands. The 5,229 square-foot, two-floor restaurant has seating for 160 guests will serve the brand’s new chicken sandwich, The Big Dill. The site is the first of three new Slim Chickens restaurants launching this month – alongside locations in Chichester and Staines. Ben Blore, head of operations at Slim Chickens, said: “We’re excited to have opened at Merry Hill – it’s a buzzing location with a loyal shopper base and strong family footfall.” Nick Round, senior asset manager at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, on behalf of Merry Hill, added: “The opening of Slim Chickens’ underscores Merry Hill’s ongoing investment in its food and beverage options, complementing the vibrant line-up in the recently transformed leisure quarter.”