Propel Newsletter Archive Page

Fuller’s CEO – we’ve found solution to £8m hit from Budget but government sees us as a cash machine and doesn’t really care: Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny has told Propel his company has found solutions to the £8m hit it has taken from last October’s Budget but said the government “sees us as a cash machine and doesn’t really care”. Emeny said the fact there are only five listed pub companies left in the UK highlights the cumulative negative effect that seven years of government policies has had of the sector, despite the quality of the estates and people of those business being better than ever. Speaking at Propel’s Excellence in Pub and Bar Retailing Conference, Emeny said: “If you go back to 2017, we’re now eight years down the line with everything that’s happened with governments. It's not one specific new tax or new policy they’ve introduced; it’s a cumulative effect. We now only have in this country, as listed pub companies, just five businesses left. If you spoke to someone like Tim Martin (JD Wetherspoon chair), Phil Urban (Mitchells & Butlers chief executive) or myself about where our businesses are in terms of the quality of the estate and the quality of our people, I would argue we've never been better – we’ve had to really be adaptive to what we’ve had to do. But if you look at the earnings per share of every one of those five listed businesses, it’s still lower than it was in 2017. Clearly covid accounted for an awful lot of that, and in our case, it cost us about £100m, and it’s been a journey back to recover from that. But the impact of everything that the governments have done – whether it’s the policy around business rates, the apprenticeship levy, the national insurance hikes, the significant political influences and the increases in the national living wage – it’s presented an enormous challenge as to how to then deliver good enough returns to shareholders. I guess ultimately, the judge of that is that we’ve only got five listed businesses left in the UK, and they have struggled to generate good shareholder returns. In terms of the government, I just feel we are a cash machine, and they don’t really care. They tend to think that irrespective of what they pile on us, we’ll still be there and we’ll still employ the number of people, and therefore they can keep raiding us for tax. The most annoying part of my job over my tenure has been the way that successive governments have damaged the sector. If I look at Fuller’s and the £8m hit that came to us in October, I think we found solutions, to some extent, for dealing with it.” Emeny added that this year has so far been “pretty good”, with the good weather helping “some of the longer-term problems go away.” Emeny was one of the speakers at Propel's Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference. Propel Premium Club members will receive all the videos from the event on Friday, 30 May at 9am. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Industry News:

Propel launches Operational Excellence Conference, Marston’s operations director Claire Robertson 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 Claire Robertson, operations director of premium pubs and bars within Marston’s, who will talk about getting the best out of multiple teams. 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.

Next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality to be released tomorrow featuring 922 companies: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club members tomorrow (Friday, 23 May), at midday. Another 21 companies have been added to the database, which now features 922 companies. This month’s edition will also include 58 updated entries and more than 246,000 words of content. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. 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 Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. 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.

UKHospitality – government must look to bring down costs for businesses following inflation hike: UKHospitality has said the government must look to bring down costs for businesses following the hike in inflation. Inflation was 3.5% in April, up from 2.6% in March – its highest rate in more than a year. Inflation was also higher than economists had expected, with the pace of price rises forecast to be around 3.3% for April. The Bank of England has previously said it expects inflation to spike at 3.7% between July and September before dropping back to its 2% target. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “This significant increase in inflation is unsurprising given the £3.4bn in annual cost increases that hit hospitality in April. It’s clear that, on top of continuing hikes in utility prices, the raft of additional costs from the Budget, which came into force in April, is putting unsustainable cost pressure on already strapped businesses. Regrettably, that forces up prices and so fuels inflation. This strengthens the need to tackle the ongoing cost of doing business crisis. The government must look to bring down costs for businesses and it’s critical that the Bank of England meets market expectations to lower interest rates in the coming months.” Meanwhile, UKHospitality Cymru has said the Welsh government’s proposals to omit hospitality from its business rates reform will dramatically increase costs. David Chapman, executive director of UKHospitality Cymru, added: “The Welsh government claims it recognises the unique challenges faced by bricks and mortar businesses, yet it has simply ignored and overlooked hospitality as one of the sectors most impacted long-term by the broken business rates system. It will make Wales a significantly worse place to do business and see investment in hospitality diverted to the other side of the border to England. I urge the Welsh government to recognise the catastrophic damage these proposals would wreak and take them back to the drawing board for wholesale revision.”

JD Wetherspoon named among Europe’s best employers: JD Wetherspoon has been named among Europe’s best employers in an interactive ranking from The Financial Times and Statista. Company evaluations were collected in an independent process and formulated into a top 1,000 across a variety of sectors. Wetherspoon came in at number 941. The company’s head of people, Tom Ball, said: “We are delighted to be named in the report. Our staff are vitally important to the overall success of the individual pubs and the company. We strive to offer each of our employees the opportunity to progress within the company.” Top hospitality business was Hilton Hotels & Resorts (number 22), followed by Wagamama (131), Nando’s (287), Merlin Entertainments (295), Costa Coffee (351), Marriott International (352), PizzaExpress (568) and Starbucks (575). Then came Raddison (585), KFC (789), Hyatt Hotels (801), Pret A Manger (815), Whitbread (930), Mitchells & Butlers (959) and Travelodge (976).

GSG set to take inspiration from Denmark as it looks to replicate ‘one of the best food cultures for children in the world’: Matt Farrell, co-founder of north west operator GSG Hospitality, has said the company is set to take inspiration from Denmark as it looks to replicate “one of the best food cultures for children in the world”. GSG operates five Bold Street Coffee locations across Liverpool and Manchester, as well as Salt Dog Slims bars in both cities. It is also behind speakeasy cocktail bar 81, tequila bar El Bandito, Nordic-inspired all-day restaurant Nord, Caribbean cocktail bar Manolo, the Duke Street Food & Drink Market and The Hightown pub – all in Liverpool. Farrell said: “It was a pleasure to return to Copenhagen last week, the first time visiting with my children. Denmark has one of the best food cultures for children in the world. Over the next few years, myself and GSG Hospitality will be getting involved in some exciting new initiatives that mirror this ethos and seeing regenerative farming ideas at the forefront of the conversation for the north. Educating children on processed foods and the importance of quality ingredients has never been so important. It also harder than ever; the last 40 years has seen a dramatic change in how we eat and how ultimately food is marketed towards our children. We must push for a change in the narrative of organic and local quality produce being elitest, inaccessible and unaffordable in the UK. Growing food and being able to access quality ingredients should be a right for all. We owe this to ourselves and the next generation. It literally starts from the ground up.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a national contract catering and soft facilities management provider that is looking to bring in a project manager with a focus on labour efficiency. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This role will require an experienced project manager who has experience in driving workforce efficiency and developing continuous improvement. The project manager will partner with the operational and finance leadership team to effectively drive and deliver labour solutions. The project manager’s expertise around labour systems and initiatives will help equip onsite teams to consistently succeed. Data will help drive this role, but an operational understanding will be fundamental in succeeding. As the go-to expert for labour planning, experience in this niche area will be required.” This is a remote working role with a national remit. Travel for contract mobilisations and contract development will be required. The salary is up to £60,000 per year. For more information, email dan@corecruitment.com.

Company News:

Tortilla CEO – we saw a 35% decrease in employee turnover last year, more levers to pull: Andy Naylor, chief executive of Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has told Propel the company saw a 35% decrease in employee turnover last year, as it looks to make further strides in building its people culture. It comes as the business reported that its first-quarter 2025 UK like-for-like sales increased 5.9%. Naylor said: “There’s a lot of levers that we’ve barely called on so far. We definitely called on a lot of tech and food levers last year, but on the marketing front, there’s loads more we can do, and the same culturally. We’re trying to build a business where people are really proud to work. People always talk about restaurants being food businesses, and they obviously are, but they’re definitely people businesses as well. We’ve got circa 1,300 employees, and getting them excited and engaged makes a massive difference to the customer journey. We saw a 35% decrease in employee turnover last year, so we’ve made big inroads already.” Naylor said the business was tracking significantly above CGA numbers so far this year, helped by its loyalty app launched last August. He said: “We’re providing value through loyalty and trying to drive that repeat business. We are seeing quite sticky customer behaviour from our loyal customers.” He said the company increased prices by 4.5% during 2024, and while this is less than labour inflation, “we were keen to go a bit lower than others, because we felt that could buy us some volume”. He added: “We don’t plan to take more price this year, we’re where we want to be. It’s all about driving increased visitation from those loyal customers and trying to access new customers through an enhanced marketing plan.” The focus for growth will be on its fledgling business in France and further expansion of its franchise estate, with SSP and Eathos, in the Middle East. On the latter, the business reported 23.5% like-for-like sales growth last year and has two openings lined up in Abu Dhabi for later this year. On further company-owned site growth in the UK, Naylor said: “Our immediate focus is on growing the franchise estate and commencing the refurbishment programme in France. With the UK performing a lot better now, clearly if there’s good opportunities that come up for new company-owned locations, we’ll definitely look at them.”

Arepa & Co – we aim to be the leading casual dining brand for Venezuelan cuisine in the UK: Ernesto Moreno, co-founder of Arepa & Co, has told Propel that the business aims “to be the leading casual dining brand for Venezuelan cuisine in the UK”, with a short-term goal of doubling its presence in London. The business, which was founded in Haggerston in 2014 by Moreno and Kathe Cunin, recently opened a new flagship site in Elephant & Castle. Arepa & Co also operates sites in Brixton and Bethnal Green. Moreno told Propel: “Our vision is clear: we aim to be the leading casual dining brand for Venezuelan cuisine in the UK. Venezuelan food is still relatively unknown in the UK, and we see that as an exciting opportunity to share something fresh and meaningful with a wider audience. Our key priority is to build a strong, recognisable brand across London. Once we’ve achieved that, we’ll consider regional expansion. Over the next two years, we plan to double our footprint in London. Having started in neighbourhood locations, we’re now targeting more high-footfall areas to expand our reach. We’re particularly interested in hubs like London Bridge, Waterloo, Soho, Covent Garden and King’s Cross – places that align with our vision and target audience and offer access to a broader customer base.” Although it’s only been a couple of weeks since the company opened in Elephant Park, Moreno said the company has been “pleasantly surprised by how well things are going”. He said: “Trading has exceeded our initial forecasts. It’s especially encouraging to see a growing number of regular customers already forming in such a short time. Elephant & Castle has long been a hub for the Latin American community, so it always felt like a natural home for us. Coupled with the influx of young professionals moving into the new Elephant Park development, it’s proven to be a perfect fit. We’re all aware of the challenges currently facing the industry, particularly around rising costs following the Budget and the broader economic climate. Naturally, we’re seeing some of this reflected in our east London locations, where we’ve been most established. These sites continue to trade steadily, but like-for-like growth has slowed compared with previous years. That said, this is not unexpected – after 12 years in Haggerston and eight years in Bethnal Green, these locations have matured, and that longevity inevitably influences the pace of growth. That’s why we see expansion into different locations as the key growth strategy.”

Little Dessert Shop opens first dark kitchen: Dessert franchise Little Dessert Shop has opened its first dark kitchen site. The company, which has grown to more than 50 locations since being founded in 2014 by Mu’azzam Ali, has opened the site in Preston. Propel understands Little Dessert Shop will look at how the Preston dark kitchen performs before deciding whether to extend the model further. “This launch marks an exciting step forward as Little Dessert Shop begins to strategically expand into the dark kitchen market,” said marketing manager Josh Allen. “We’ve seen a huge rise in demand for our products across the UK and this new model allows us to extend our reach, enhance brand accessibility and fulfil consumer demand importantly. We’re excited to be launching into this new market and hope it marks just the start of an exciting move in Little Dessert Shop’s growth especially in new markets.” The delivery-only model builds on initiatives like Little Dessert Shop Postals, which the company said has extended the brand’s reach across the UK. Little Dessert Shop opened a new store in Oldham last week and is also set to launch an outlet in Doncaster this year. Ali told Propel in December that he is aiming to double the brand’s estate by the end of 2027 as it focuses on new areas of the UK. He is also looking to roll out more of his four-strong X model locations – which sees Little Dessert Shop and sister brand Betsy’s, which offers premium burgers, sit under one roof.

EasyHotel slashes losses: EasyHotel slashed its losses in the year to 31 December 2024, reducing them to their lowest level since before the covid pandemic. The company reported a pre-tax loss of €1,863,000 for the period, down from a loss of €10,560,000 in 2023. The group last made a profit in 2018, when it reported a pre-tax profit of £872,162. EasyHotel’s revenue grew from €77,339,000 to €80,086,000 and adjusted Ebitda was up from €26,332,000 to €27,072,000. Of the 2024 revenue, €78,053,000 came from owned hotels (2023: €75,398,000) and €1,858,000 from franchised (2023: €1,775,00). Furthermore, €32,816,000 came from the UK (2023: €32,398,000) and €47,270,000from the rest of the world (2023: €44,941,000). Total average occupancy for all owned hotels stood at 78.4% (2023: 79.0%), with an average daily rate per room of €85.80 (2023: €79.90). The group refinanced a £35.2m loan during the year, replaced by a new facility of £42.5m, of which €30m (£25.4m) was drawn at year end. Further facilities totalling €64.5m were entered into during the year, of which €11m was drawn at year end. Other existing facilities totalling €124m were fully drawn at year end. Director Kalim Malak said: “The brand’s simple and affordable offering is well aligned to the needs of today’s discerning and value conscious traveller. The strong performance of the new 2024 and 2023 openings confirms this and gives confidence in the growth potential of the group. Our expectation is that in the medium and long term, our business will continue to grow and outperform the overall market, as it did in previous years. The newest hotels in our estate have traded positively.” The group has strengthened its presence in Spain by adding sites in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia and will next year open in Alicante. EasyHotel is also opening next to Geneva airport in 2027. The group added: “Further development opportunities in Spain, France and in the UK are under consideration.”

Italian gelato brand Amorino set to open ten more stores this year, secures Wimbledon location: Italian gelato brand Amorino set to open ten more stores this year and has secured a location in Wimbledon. The company is preparing to open its 35th UK site this summer, in London’s Tottenham Court Road. It has also secured a new location in Wimbledon, at Unit 307 in Wimbledon Quarter, in Queen’s Road. The store will be operated by franchisee Sailesh Lakhiani, who last year signed a three-store development agreement for south west London and Surrey. Amorino currently has 34 locations here, the majority of which are in Greater London. Hubert Attali, the UK master franchisee for the brand, posted on social media: “Hello London, new Amorino shop opening this summer on Tottenham Court Road! We will reach 45 shops before end of 2025!” In a separate post, he added: “In 2025, after the opening of West Hampstead, Brunswick Centre, Knightsbridge, Lakeside (in construction), Tottenham Court Road (in construction), we’re delighted to announce that a new Amorino Gelato shop is officially signed and coming soon to Wimbledon. Congrats to our new franchise partner Sailesh Lakhiani, who signed a new area development agreement for three units.”

London Chinese brand China Tang set to open in Dubai: London Chinese brand China Tang is set to open in Dubai. The restaurant, which was the brainchild of the late Sir David Tang, will launch this weekend, at Dorchester Collection’s The Lana. The original China Tang is housed within London’s The Dorchester, in Mayfair. The new China Tang will include a cocktail bar with a drinks menu designed to pair with the restaurants dim sum and small plates. Chef Li Zhenjun, who brings more than 25 years of experience in Cantonese fine dining, will lead a menu featuring China Tang classics such as Sir David’s hot and sour soup and the China Tang signature Beijing duck, carved tableside. These dishes are joined by exclusive new creations for the Dubai outpost, including honey-glazed beef char siu, and poached spotted coral grouper in spicy Sichuan oil. Spanning two floors with covers for 180 guests, the restaurant will also have two private dining rooms. “We are proud to introduce China Tang to Dubai, a city that continues to push the boundaries of global dining,” said Nathalie Ford, vice-president Europe and Middle East for China Tang. “This opening marks an exciting new chapter for the brand, and we are thrilled to bring our signature blend of Cantonese culinary tradition and elevated design to one of the world’s most dynamic gastronomic destinations.” In September 2024, China Tang branched out in the UK for the first time with the opening of a dim sum counter in the Harrods Dining Hall. Following Sir David’s passing in 2017, China Tang has been led by Lai Sun Dining as operating shareholder. A leading Hong Kong-based hospitality group and part of the Lai Sun Group, Lai Sun Dining is chaired by Dr Peter Lam and operates more than 20 brands across 25 venues worldwide, including eight Michelin stars.

Aramark launches partnership with chef Judy Joo: Foodservice company Aramark has launched a culinary partnership with chef Judy Joo, to provide modern Korean cuisine across three lines of businesses including Collegiate Hospitality, Healthcare+, and Workplace Experience Group. Last year, Aramark Sports + Entertainment and partner Citi Field announced a collaboration with Joo to serve cuisine from her restaurant, Seoul Bird, at the home of the New York Mets. “Aramark continuously seeks to enhance the culinary experience across its varied lines of business,” said Aramark culinary development director Marion Gibson. “We are thrilled to partner with Chef Judy Joo as her unique approach to modern Korean cuisine will provide our customers with an authentic, flavourful culinary journey.” Joo said: “Food has always been a big part of my life, and I am so honoured to join the Aramark family, bringing vibrant Korean flavours across the country through Aramark’s corporate and business dining facilities, healthcare facilities and hospitals, colleges and universities and more.”

Timothy Taylor hires new operations director: Yorkshire brewer and retailer Timothy Taylor has hired Emma Gilleland as its new operations director, with effect from 15 September. Gilleland is currently director of production at Carlsberg Marston’s, prior to which she was brewing director for three years. Her career at Marston’s spans more than 25 years, during which time she held roles including director of brewing, director of supply chain and head brewer. Andrew Carter, chief executive of Timothy Taylor’s, said: “Emma will bring strong brewing and operational leadership capabilities into the business to build on the great work that has been done by Kevin Smithson during his time in the role. We wish him well on his impending retirement. Timothy Taylor’s will continue to invest in brewing quality; our £9m capital programme in the Knowle Spring brewery is well advanced and our business remains focused on growing our leadership position in the cask ale market and brewing the highest quality cask ale.” Gilleland added: “I am looking forward to leading the operational team to further build on the success of Landlord and the beer portfolio that is underpinned by the passion for exceptional quality.” Carter joined Timothy Taylor in September, replacing Tim Dewey.

Ennismore to open debut Greek hotel as it introduces new brand: Gleneagles and Hoxton hotels owner Ennismore is to make its debut in Greece. The company has signed a long-term partnership with Vivium, a single-family office specialising in luxury residential and hospitality investments, which will welcome Luura to Ennismore’s Morgans Originals arm, “a collection of one-of-a-kind, independent hotels with an iconic cultural story”. Two new hotels will open on the Greek island of Paros – Luura Cliff, with 39 keys, will open in April next year on the western side of the island, while Luura Sand, with its 45 keys, will open on the eastern side in 2027. Luura Cliff and Luura Sand will each feature a sunset cliff bar, private chapel, spa and fitness facilities, direct beach access and event spaces. The two properties will also feature four restaurants and bars curated by Ennismore’s food and beverage platform, with brands from the Rikas Hospitality Group and Paris Society, as well as a new concept created especially for Luura by PSC Hospitality, Ennismore’s food and beverage consultancy studio. Louis Abboud, brand chief operating officer of Morgans Originals, said: “In Vivium, we have found a partner that shares our values and vision in creating unique and authentic hotels, and we are thrilled to be opening Luura Cliff and Luura Sand, with several more to follow, welcoming more hotels to the Morgans Originals collection in iconic destinations.” The addition of Luura to Morgans Originals will follow Balfour in Miami Beach joining the collection this year, along with a Morgans Originals in Trojena, the mountain region of Neom in Saudi Arabia.

Irish-themed bar concept Katie O’Brien’s to open in York: Irish-themed bar concept Katie O’Brien’s is to further enhance its presence in Yorkshire with an opening in York. The company, which recently opened in Harrogate and Leeds, operates five other sites. Owned by the Newcastle-based Innvest Group, the business said: “We are looking forward to coming to York. We cannot share our location or opening date just yet.” Propel reported last month that Katie O’Brien’s plans to add to its growing estate with an opening in Lincoln. The seven-strong business has applied for a licence to open on the former TGI Fridays in High Street, which closed last October. Katie O’Brien’s also currently operates sites in Leicester, Nottingham, Newcastle, Sheffield and Durham. The concept “offers a taste of Ireland, right on your doorstep”, with live music and multi-screen sports. Innvest is led by Gordon and Jonathan Codona, who are also behind the Innspired Leisure business in the north east.

Hilton to open one of its first Motto hotels in UK after developer secures £15.7m funding deal: Hilton is to open one of its first Motto hotels in the UK, in Manchester. Developer Ancoats Manchester has secured a £15.7m loan from OakNorth to develop the 154-key Motto by Hilton hotel in the city’s East Village. The hotel will be operated under Hilton’s Motto brand, “designed for the modern, urban traveller seeking flexible, connected spaces in city-centre locations”. The opening comes as Hilton expands the brand’s international footprint following launches in cities like New York, Rotterdam and Tulum. The Manchester hotel will offer modern, technology-enabled bedrooms, along with the brand’s signature Motto Commons area, comprising a bar, café and co-working space. The project has already received planning approval and construction is expected to commence later this year, with completion anticipated by the third quarter of 2026.

With Neil Morrissey Pub Company makes first acquisition since switching from operators to landlords, eyeing further sites: With Neil Morrissey Pub Company – led by actor Neil Morrissey, Richard Slingsby and John Sykes – has made its first acquisition since switching from operators to landlords and told Propel it is eyeing further sites. The company earlier this year handed back the keys to The Plume of Feathers in Barlaston, Staffordshire, to Punch Pubs & Co as it made the transition. The company has now acquired The Brickmakers Arms in Newton Solney, south Derbyshire, from Bruce Wilkinson and Geoff Mumford, previous owners of The Burton Bridge Brewing Partnership. Bruce Mackie, who was executive chef at The Plume of Feathers, is the tenant. The pub will close mid-June for just over a week while undergoing a light refurbishment and will reopen with an added food offering to complement its core real ale business. “With all the economic headwinds the sector is experiencing, we decided to move up the supply chain and work with tenants,” Slingsby told Propel. “The better they do, the better we do, and of course, we will support them that little bit extra by getting Neil down to draw people in. But that only works if there’s a real proposition behind it, otherwise they will only be one-off visitors rather than repeat customers. We are looking all the time at where our next pub will be, but it’s too early to be talking site numbers, and we will probably be sticking to the Derbyshire/Staffordshire region for now.” Morrissey and Slingsby also brew their own real ale and one of them is available at the location, Morrissey Blonde a 4.2% hoppy ale. Morrissey added: “We’re thrilled to welcome The Brickmakers Arms into our portfolio. It’s a beautiful pub with fantastic character, and we’re excited to continue its legacy as a great local, while also bringing some new ideas and energy into the space alongside selling my own real ale.”

Cambridge bakery planning fourth site: Cambridge bakery Fitzbillies is planning to open its fourth site. Owner Alison Wright has submitted a planning application to change 59 to 61 High Street in Harston into a bakery and café. The site is currently occupied by a Ducati motorbike garage, reports the Cambridge News. Fitzbillies also plans to hold occasional pizza nights for the local community to use the bakery ovens, likely to run at weekends during the summer months. Wright said in the application that the venture would be the “next natural development for the Fitzbillies business”, which has a 105-year history. She and Tim Hayward took over the business in 2011, taking it out of receivership after it closed due to bankruptcy. The duo immediately refurbished the Trumpington Street branch and reopened it, and in 2016, they opened a second branch, in Bridge Street. In 2018, they moved the bakery from the original Trumpington Street site to a new one in Clifton Road, and they then opened a third branch in 2023, in King’s Parade. The pair said they are now “ready to make the next move to secure the future of the business for Cambridge and its surrounding area”.

Nottingham street food venue to open new food hall: A street food venue in Nottingham is preparing to launch a new food hall that will look to “champion local independent street food kitchens”. Bustler Market is expanding its home in Nottingham's Sneinton Market Avenues with the opening of a food hall next month. The move will enable the street food venue to operate as a permanent hub and introduce three permanent independent kitchens – plus a fourth kitchen that will feature a rotation of traders. Olivia Pritchard, managing director of Bustler Market, said: “We have loved being part of the Sneinton Market community over the last few years. We’re really proud to be taking this next step and to champion local independent street food kitchens, giving them the space and support to grow their business.” The permanent kitchens will be: Banquet1415 (Argentinian barbecue), Dirty Chicken (fried chicken and stacked burgers) and Big Mouth Gyoza (handmade Japanese dumplings).

London-based international hotel and spa operator returns to profit: London-based international hotel and spa operator Shanti Hospitality, which manages a growing portfolio of properties across the globe including the UK, returned to profit in the year to 31 March 2024. The group – which also operates venues in the US, India, Mauritius and Switzerland – saw a pre-tax loss of £1,327,636 in 2023 turn into a profit of £3,238,801, while turnover rose from £23,307,192 to £24,583,345. Of this, a total of £1,587,534 came from its UK operations (2023: £1,388,490), which consists of the Edinburgh boutique hotel, Nira Caledonia. Group Ebitda was £2.8m (2023: £1.8m), while the UK business delivered Ebitda of £293,000 (2023: £208,000). The group’s net current liabilities for the year were £139.8m (2023: £150.8m), which includes a shareholders’ loan of £150.5m (2023: £150.7m). Cash at bank and in hand increased to £9.7m from £7.3m. No dividends were paid (2023: nil).

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