Exclusive – Ex-Bel and The Dragon owner and Loch Fyne founder partner to launch new steak and seafood concept: Gareth Lloyd-Jones, the former owner of Bel and The Dragon, and Ian Glyn, the co-founder of Loch Fyne Restaurants, have partnered to launch a new concept called North Star Restaurant, Propel has learned. Billed as “the home of steak and seafood”, the concept has secured its first two sites. The Small & Friendly Pub Company, of which Lloyd-Jones is a majority shareholder, has acquired the former Loch Fyne Restaurants in Cambridge and Canford Cliffs in Poole, Dorset, to launch the concept. The company said the two sites will undergo a transformation to “embrace the North Star Restaurant concept”. The new focus will be on serving the “world’s finest steaks and exceptional seafood, bringing together the best of both worlds to create a modern dining destination that showcases the quality of the food and customer service”. Propel understands North Star Restaurant is targeting a net spend per head of circa £45, with starters ranging from £8-£15, and main courses starting at £17. The business said guests can expect an “informal yet comfortable dining experience”. Lloyd-Jones, who is also chief executive of High Road Restaurants Group, the owner of the Buenos Aires steak restaurants business and the former owner of Madisons Coffee, told Propel: “I am excited to introduce North Star Restaurant as a destination for the world’s finest steak and exceptional seafood. With my background in the hospitality sector and with the support of Ian Glyn, we will blend the traditions of quality seafood with premium steaks.” Glyn co-founded Loch Fyne Restaurants in 1998 with Mark Derry. Greene King, the brewer and pub operator, acquired Loch Fyne Restaurants for £68.1m in the summer of 2007 after it had grown to 36 sites. Glyn said: “Cambridge was our very first Loch Fyne restaurant, so the location has good memories, and I am confident that Gareth and his team will bring this new concept to life, despite the challenges facing the sector.” Both restaurant locations are set to reopen in the coming months, with exact dates to be confirmed shortly. Richard Negus, of AG&G, acted on the Poole and Cambridge deals.

 

Propel launches Operational Excellence Conference, panel about what operating standards and metrics investors look for, 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. The conference will include a panel hosted by Propel group editor Mark Wingett, who will talk to Robin Rowland, operating partner at TriSpan, investor in Mowgli, Rosa's Thai, Thunderbird Kitchen and Pho; Lizzie Ryan, partner at Imbiba, investor in Pizza Pilgrims, Farmer J and Clays; and Chris Miller, of White Rabbit Fund, investor in Lina Stores and Kricket, about the operating standards and metrics they look for in an investment – and how these have changed over the last few years. 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 today featuring 922 companies: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club members today (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. In this week’s Propel Premium, Wingett looks back at an interesting week for The Restaurant Group as it begins building out its strategies for both Wagamama and its pubs business Brunning & Price. 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 – SWAPS will save sector around £6m each year: UKHospitality has said Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) will save sector around £6m each year. The Government-backed scheme is being launched in 26 areas across England, and is being rolled out by UKHospitality, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions. The programme trains jobseekers with hospitality skills in a working environment and provides them with both work experience and a guaranteed interview with a choice of employers. Writing In Propel’s Friday Opinion, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said the trade body, which came into being seven years ago, is “significantly developing our services when it comes to people, skills and professional development”. She said: “The SWAPs we’re rolling out is a big part of that. This is just the start of a programme that we envision being rolled out across the country, the sector and businesses. When it reaches its potential, we believe it could save the hospitality sector around £6m million each year. That’s because this training is government-funded and has the ability to replace existing onboarding training programmes run by businesses, currently out of their own pocket. This will deliver real, tangible benefit for operators and save money.” Nicholls will share more of her thoughts in today’s (Friday, 23 May) Friday Opinion, which will be sent out at 11am.

BBPA – Pub Code ‘must remain fit for purpose’: The British Beer Beer and Pub Association has said the Pub Code “must remain fit for purpose”. Introduced in 2016, the Code is a set of regulations designed to protect tied pub tenants, who are under contract to sell products provided by their landlord (tied tenants), are not worse off than if they were free to serve what they chose (free-of-tie tenants). It is currently undergoing a statutory review to assess its performance, operation and regulations, with a consultation open until 14 August. It will consider the Code’s impact since it came into force, the extent to which it is working, if the policy has achieved its objectives, whether it is the most appropriate approach and if intervention and regulation is still required. A BBPA spokesperson said: “It’s heartening that this review recognises the government’s desire to reduce red tape and the acute cost burden on our sector. The partnership pub model and a successful relationship between pub operating companies and publicans is a vital cog in the sector and the Pubs Code has played an important role in embedding improvements. However, it is essential that the statutory review and post-implementation review ensure the Code remains fit for purpose. They must also focus on reducing the Code’s cost burdens and ensure its approach accurately reflects the current pub landscape. This will enable all parties to continue investing with confidence and help keep vibrant pubs at the heart of their communities.”

Marston’s, Subway and SSP among winners at Footprint Awards: Marston’s, Subway and SSP, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, were among the winners at the Footprint Awards 2025 – an annual celebration of sustainability and responsible business practice in the foodservice sector. Marston’s landed the innovations in packaging award, with Notpla highly commended. Meanwhile, Subway won the stakeholder engagement award where Lexington Catering was highly commended and SSP UK & Ireland took home the economic sustainability award, where Oil Chef was highly commended. The waste management and reduction award was won by Nestlé Professional while McDonalds UK with FareShare was highly commended. Grassroots Farming claimed the sustainable supplier award, with Nestlé Professional highly commended. Apetito/Wiltshire Farm Foods won the environmentally efficient logistics award, with Nestlé UK highly commended. Chartwells at the University of Sussex was the winner of the sustainability in education award, with Argyll & Bute Council highly commended. Lexington Catering celebrated taking the sustainable health in hospitality award, where Restaurant Associates was highly commended. The sustainable catering equipment manufacturer award was won by Wexiodisk, with Oil Chef highly commended, while Foodbuy Group clinched the social impact and diversity award, where Elior UK was highly commended. The winner of the sustainable use of water award was Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, with Brita Professional highly commended. A special achievement award went to Claire Atkins Morris, sustainability director at Sodexo UK & Ireland.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a national beer brand that is seeking a head of sales. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The business is looking for a dynamic sales leader with a passion for the drinks industry. They will have a proven track record of driving growth, managing key accounts and leading high-performing teams. Ideally, the individual will come from a beer background in the drinks fast moving consumer goods space, along with a start-up or challenger brand mentality.” The salary is up to £90,000 and the role is based in London. For more information, email mark@corecruitment.com.

 

Urban – Ego and Pesto present opportunity to grow a sector, making ‘donor’ brands raise their games: Phil Urban, chief executive of Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), has told Propel that the development of the group’s Mediterranean-focused concepts – Ego and Pesto – present an “opportunity to grow a sector” and that they have made the company’s “donor” brands raise their games. It comes after M&B reported like-for-like sales were up 4.3% for the 28 weeks ended 12 April 2025. For the ten weeks since the period ended, the business delivered like-for-like sales growth of 6.0%. The company operates 31 sites under the Ego concept and 11 under Pesto, which it acquired last year. Urban told Propel: “With Ego, it has been months since James Horler stepped away from the business, and I am pleased that the momentum in that business has continued. We are running it separately at the moment from Pesto, which is still being overseen by founders Neil and Sarah Gatt. In our view, in time, we’re going to be delighted to be in that Mediterranean space, because consumers continue to look for something different, and it’s also got that fresh and healthy angle. When we first got involved with Ego, it was because James Horler had come to me and said he’d taken a Vintage Inns site years ago, and we’re doing really well with it, and asked if we had any more sites? One of the positive by-products of bringing Ego in is that it makes everyone sharpen their pencils. All the other brands are now doing very well. When we come to convert to another brand, say a Vintage Inns, we don’t have to do it, but we will do it where there’s the opportunity. I think Ego and Pesto present an opportunity to grow a sector there. How quickly they grow will probably depend on how well the donor brands are doing.” Urban said the company’s Ignite programme of work remains a key focus for the business and is at the core of its long-term value creation. We currently have around 40 initiatives underway across a range of areas, all focused on driving sales and delivering cost efficiencies. Our initiatives focus on enhancing guest experience in a variety of ways and continue to reap rewards, reflected in sustained like-for-like sales growth as well as continued market outperformance on guest review scores, which averaged 4.6 out of five over the first half. If at the beginning of the year someone said to me, this is where we’d be at the half year, I would have signed on the dotted line. The financial results are good, but it’s the underlying key performance indicators like our guest scores, our team turnover scores and our engagement scores, which are all at record highs, that underpins those results and gives me much more sort of positivity looking forward.”

Urban Pubs & Bars MD – we have ring fenced the customer experience: Chris Hill, managing director of Urban Pubs & Bars, the London pub operator founded by Malc Heap and Nick Pring and backed by Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual, has told Propel that the 55-strong business has, in the face of looking to mitigate increased costs, made sure it has “ring fenced the customer experience”. Speaking at Propel’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, Hill said: “Like everyone, we monitor our retail pricing on food and drink and everything else. We look at what everyone in this room is doing, and we test and check that we think our customer can take a bit more. We have tickled up some prices recently, but not enough to solve the lump sum impact. Our general view is this will play out over time. This isn’t the first time we’ve been lumped with cost. Over time, the best businesses ride it out because they give the best customer experience. So, we’re more focused on our Google scores and our reputation scores than we probably are about the pounds and pence impact of are we doing to solve that national insurance increase. Ultimately, if we can grow participation and give customers a better time, we’ll be fine, and it will be at the expense of other operators, but ultimately, that’s the game. So yes, it’s not nice to get that sort of announcement or do the quick maths after a Budget announcement, but at the same time, very quickly, you say what is the most important thing here? If we make all our businesses start to charge £8.20 a pint because mathematically, it solves the issue, we’ll quickly have fewer customers. So, its guest experience, hold true to our values, and we will be fine. This has been a well-oiled machine for a long time and this a lean business for a very long time. It’s constant fine tuning; it’s marginal gains everywhere we can. But ultimately, if we can keep our customers as happy as they have been for a long time, we know we'll be fine.” Hill 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.

 

Korean café brand eyes UK expansion: Korean café brand Compose Coffee is looking to expand into the UK. Compose Coffee was founded in South Korea in 2014 and has grown to circa 2,800 stores. It launched into its first overseas market in 2023, in Singapore, and in 2024, was acquired by the Phillipines’ Jollibee Group. Compose Coffee exhibited at last month’s International Franchise Show at London’s ExCel, as it seeks partners with which to expand into the UK. A Compose Coffee store did open in the summer of 2024 at 15 Whitcomb Street in London, describing itself as the first Korean café in the capital, but this is not listed on the main company’s website and is believed to be a separate business. Compose Coffee said: “As a takeout-specialised brand, we are committed to producing high quality coffee at reasonable prices. With a high turnover rate and stable operational system, we have earned the trust of our franchisees. By leading the culture of affordable and quality coffee, we achieved the number one franchise growth rate in South Korea. As of 2025, we operate more than 2,800 stores, and since opening our first store in Singapore in 2023, we have been actively expanding into global markets.”

 

Tortilla hires Paddy Fields as new property director: Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has hired Paddy Fields, formerly of SSP and Costa Coffee, as its new property director, Propel has learned. Fields joins the Andy Naylor-led Tortilla after 15 months at SSP, where he was group head of capital cost and programme management. He spent nearly seven years at C&A, including two years as head of store concept delivery and store planning. He also spent five and a half years at Costa, including three and a half years as its head of construction and store planning in the UK. He takes over from Rob Lucy, who spent more than 12 years with Tortilla, helping it grow to in excess of 75 sites in the UK. On Fields’ appointment, Naylor told Propel: “The focus for him is to help us optimise our spend on the existing estate more than anything, in terms of repairs and maintenance. I think there’s an opportunity for us to be more efficient on cost with the existing estate, and we want to do some refurbishments of some of our sites that look a bit tired. Our cash is generally focused on our existing business at the moment. Our immediate focus is on growing the franchise estate and commencing the refurbishment programme in France. With the UK performing a lot better now, if there’s good opportunities that come up for new company-owned locations, we’ll definitely look at them.” Earlier this week, the business reported that its first-quarter 2025 UK like-for-like sales increased 5.9%. The business said 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.

 

McDonald’s expands late-night hours across vast majority of its US sites: McDonald’s is expanding its late-night hours at a “vast majority” of its circa 13,570 restaurants in the US. McDonald’s said most of its menu will be available during those late-night hours, with some variability based on individual franchisee decisions. According to a spokesperson, restaurants will now be open until midnight or later throughout the year. Exceptions include McDonald’s restaurants in non-traditional locations such as airports and shopping centres. A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “Our fans know there’s no better way to end an unforgettable night than by feasting on your favourite McDonald’s order. That’s why, as the summer season kicks off, we’re excited to offer up more ways for customers to satisfy their late-night cravings with more choices and expanded hours at more restaurants.” The expansion of McDonald’s operating hours into late night comes after the company reported more softness at breakfast amid a broader consumer pullback. Earlier this month, chief executive officer Chris Kempczinski said: “We are seeing that people are just being more judicious about cutting back on visits. What you’re seeing is a decline in frequency where perhaps morning, which is usually, I think, a bellwether daypart occasion, now is a place that you’re seeing people are choosing either to skip breakfast or they’re choosing to eat at home for breakfast. And I think that’s more to explain what’s going on in the US versus any kind of segment shift.”

 

Lina Stores MD – Manchester opening has given us confidence the concept will be well received in other UK cities: Eadaoin McDonagh, managing director of Lina Stores, has told Propel that the success of the company’s recent regional debut in Manchester has given the business confidence the business “would be well received in other UK cities”. Lina Stores, which will open its 11th site in total in London’s Canary Wharf next month, opened in Manchester’s Quay Street this spring. McDonagh told Propel: “Following our successful opening in Manchester, we have gained a lot of confidence that Lina Stores would be well received in other UK cities. While we do not currently have any other regional sites signed, we are keen to explore additional opportunities outside London. We have a large online grocery presence in the regions, and we are regularly asked by our restaurant patrons from outside London when we might consider opening in other cities. While Manchester has exceeded our expectations, we will continue to engage in opportunities that allow us to deliver high-quality Italian food accessibly.” The company is working with advisory firm Etch on finding new sites in London and major UK city centres between 2,000 and 7,000 square feet in size. Propel revealed in January that Lina Stores had secured the former The Breakfast Club site at 1 Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf. The new 100-cover site will open on Monday, 9 June, and feature an adjacent Bar Lina. 

 

Travelodge reports revenue and profit drop amid softer UK market rates, particularly in Greater London: Travelodge has reported a drop in first-quarter revenue and profit and said it has been “impacted by softer UK market rates, particularly in Greater London”. The company reported revenue of £198.4m for the three months ending 31 March 2025, compared with £205.5m the previous year, but said its occupancy levels were “ahead of the market”. Group Ebitda showed a loss of £8.4m (2024: profit of £4.9m), impacted by inflationary cost pressures and weaker UK market conditions, but partially offset by new hotels and strong cost control and efficiency measures. The business said its profits were impacted by circa £8m in inflationary cost increases, including the national living wage increase from April 2024 and inflation linked rent reviews. From April 2025, further national living wage increases are expected to result in a cost increase of circa £12m for the year, while the rise in employers’ national insurance contributions and reduction in the threshold for national insurance are expected to increase costs by circa £9m in 2025. Travelodge said its Spanish business continues to perform strongly, delivering good revenue and profit growth, while food and beverage revenue showed growth of 3% compared with 2024, driven by upgrades to bar cafés and menu enhancements. The company said it has a strong liquidity position, with £202.9m in cash at the quarter-end. Travelodge also said future demand indicators are “encouraging”. The company said while second-quarter trading is being impacted by softer rates, reduced corporate demand and events schedules – again, particularly in Greater London – second-half booked revenue is ahead of 2024, “supported by a robust events programme and early signs of improving demand from the construction industry”. Chief executive Jo Boydell said: “Travelodge has made good strategic progress in the first quarter, with our investments in growth and quality driving good occupancy levels ahead of the market. However, our performance in the traditionally most quiet quarter reflects challenging external market conditions, particularly in Greater London, where softer rates and reduced business travel impacted trading. We are well-positioned for the future and excited about the growth opportunities ahead of us.”

Heartwood opens 30th pub: Heartwood Collection, the Alchemy Partners-backed business that also operates 14 Brasserie Blanc restaurants across the UK, has opened its 30th pub. It has opened The White Hart in Lymington following a refurbishment including an extension to the rear to create more than 150 internal dining seats, together with an additional 50 seats outside. Inside, there are several fireplaces together a dining room and semi-private spaces for private dining. There will be a “seasonally changing, sustainably sourced” menu and a “carefully curated” drinks list, while a programme of activities have been put together to celebrate the opening of the pub. Heartwood Collection chief executive Richard Ferrier said: “We are very excited to have been able to restore this much-loved pub back to the heart of the community. It is a beautiful building with so much history and Lymington is a wonderful town that we are delighted to have become a part of.”

 

Chop Wok Express set for Scottish debut: Chop Wok Express, the wrap and noodle brand formerly known as Chop & Wok, is set to make its Scottish debut. The brand has submitted plans to transform the current Metro Barber shop at 14 South Clerk Street in Edinburgh’s southside. The restaurant would include some bar seating at the window, reports Edinburgh Live. Customers can start by picking their choice of noodles or rice then add in meat and vegetarian options, as well as an extensive option of sauces and flavourings. Sides, wings, loaded fries and Chinese burgers are also included in the menu. This will be an eight site for Chop Wok Express, with its website listing seven more “coming soon” in places such as Coventry, Leicester, Hampshire, Westminster, Battersea, Sutton and Abbey Wood. In December, the company said it had secured a 75-plus site master franchise deal in India.

 

South Devon operator set to open tenth site: South Devon operator East Street Pub Company is set to open a new Torquay restaurant for its tenth site. The Steve Narvidge-led business, founded in Newton Abbott in 2014, is preparing to open The Yacht in Victoria Parade in Torquay. The owners have spent the best part of £1m creating the nautically themed business overlooking the marina, reports Devon Live. Highlights include an art deco-style champagne bar, a gin lounge complete with hanging chandelier, its own gin distillery and a yacht-themed bar. The venue will open all day, offering “a blend of local and global dishes celebrating seasonal ingredients”. The building was previously known as The Yacht for many years before morphing into Cinnabar in 2015. Narvidge said: “With the name, we wanted to bring back a bit of history. The harbour is a great place to be. It might have taken a while, but Torquay seems to be a lot more pro-active.” East Street Pub Company, which also operates Viva in Torquay, started out as a small collection of bars and restaurants in Newton Abbott’s East Street. The group also operates The King William and Ye Olde Jolly Sailor in Teignmouth, The Bell Inn and Twelve Twenty in Newton Abbott, and Queen Victoria, Harbour Inn, Street Golf and The Hyde Dendy in Paignton.

 

Wendy’s franchisee opens eighth site: Wendy’s franchisee Blank Table, which launched the brand’s debut UK drive-thru restaurant, has opened in Spalding, Lincolnshire, for its eighth site with the brand. The outlet has opened at the Lincs Gateway Park near Applegreen, creating 35 jobs. Blank Table head of operations Ellie Weston said: “Spalding has been crying out for something that’s a bit more premium but is still affordable.” Managing director Carl Morris added the location offers the “next generation of drive-thru, facilitating efficiency and maximising customer experience”. Blank Table also has two Wendy’s locations in Peterborough and one each in Huntingdon, Wisbech, Derby, Cambridge and Oakham. In February, Propel revealed that Blank Table is seeking to expand its footprint across the Midlands and is seeking locations in areas such as Stafford, Coventry, Walsall, Oldbury, Wolverhampton, Halesowen and Birmingham to develop drive-thrus. Wendy’s now has 44 UK locations.

French smash burger concept Dumbo confirms UK debut plans: French smash burger concept Dumbo has confirmed it will make its London debut, ahead of planned further expansion here, in London’s Shoreditch. Propel revealed in February that Dumbo was set to open in Bethnal Green Road. The company said the new site – which will open on Thursday, 12 June – will bring the “same signature quality and minimalist ethos that has earned a loyal following in Paris”. Founded by Charles Ganem and Samuel Nataf, Dumbo first launched in 2019 at 64 Rue Jean-Baptiste Pigalle in Paris. A second site in the French capital opened in 2022, at 14 Rue des Petites Ecuries, followed by a third, at 6 Rue de Poitou, in June 2024, and a fourth, in November 2024, at 121 Rue Oberkampf. In 2021, Dumbo also operated a pop-up location at the foot of the Musee D’Art Moderne, which has since closed. Dumbo is understood to be looking to secure more sites in the UK in the coming months. Ganem said: “Our philosophy has always been simple: great ingredients, no fuss, and food that brings people together. We’re excited to join the London food scene, especially at a time when smashburgers are experiencing such incredible momentum in the city.” Taylor Gershon, of TCPW, and Guy Marks, of Park Lord Commercial, acted on the Shoreditch deal.

 

Yorkshire Indian restaurant concept eyeing third site: Yorkshire Indian restaurant concept Jodhpur is eyeing a third site. Chefs and friends Jatinder Singh and Satender Singh opened the first Jodhpur in 2023, in Leeds’ Kirkstall Road. A second location has just opened in Station Road, Harrogate, and the duo have now set their sights on launching in York, reports the York Press. A spokesman for Jodhpur said: “We’re already exploring opportunities to expand further. York is certainly on our radar, and we would love to bring our concept there in the near future. We’re not a typical curry house – a term that often implies anglicised dishes made to order. Our kitchen follows time-honoured Indian recipes that have been passed down through generations. We aim to offer a full cultural experience, not just a meal. Each dish is prepared with care, using traditional methods that reflect the diversity of Indian cuisine – from the rich flavours of the north to the spices of the south.”

 

Cambridge operators whose debut restaurant was awarded a Michelin star to open second site next month: Cambridge operators Sam Carter and Alex Olivier, whose debut restaurant was awarded a Michelin star, will open their second site next month. Propel reported last summer that Carter, a former chef with Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, and wife Olivier would open Margaret’s at 18 Chesterton Road. The modern British bistro will now launch on Monday, 9 June, as the younger sibling to Restaurant 22, which sits a few doors away at 22 Chesterton Road, and for which the duo took on the lease in 2018. They said Margaret’s will be “dedicated to showcasing the same exemplary produce and refined cooking as Restaurant 22, but with a distinctly refreshing and laid-back approach to the set menu”. Dishes will include Norfolk salt marsh lamb rump with green sauce, roasted lemon sole with fermented peppercorns, and warm tart of baron bigod and Abington asparagus – each served with smoked Jersey Royals, flourish salad, fresh tomatoes with basil and English cold pressed rape seed oil. The drinks list will feature wine, beer and a cocktail menu which, like the food offer, is “designed to shift with the seasons”. Carter has previously worked within the Gordon Ramsay Restaurants Group at Maze and at Aaron Patterson’s Hambleton Hall, and under Claridge’s culinary director Simon Attridge as head chef of the United Bank of Switzerland.

 

Northern Ireland McDonald’s franchisee opens second restaurant: Northern Ireland McDonald’s franchisee Dunluce Restaurants has opened its second restaurant with the brand. Franchise owner Bruce Baillie has opened the 80-seater drive-thru next to Asda at 1a Ring Road in Coleraine. Baillie also owns the other McDonald’s in Coleraine, at Riverside Park East. The restaurant is the 35th McDonald’s in Northern Ireland, which are owned and managed by eight individual franchisees. Baillie said: “McDonald’s has been an important part of the Coleraine community over the last 30 years, and the opening of this second restaurant is an indication of our commitment to the communities in which we serve here. With many our restaurant crew hailing from the local area, we have a team that are passionate and looking forward to continuing our partnerships with neighbouring community groups, sports clubs and businesses.”