Chickpea Group exploring ‘different fundraising options’, strengthens leadership team ahead of tenth pub launch this summer: Chickpea Group, the hospitality business founded by siblings Ethan and Jordan Davids along with Tommy Tullis, is exploring “different fundraising options” and has strengthened its leadership team ahead of launching a tenth pub this summer. The group’s recent expansion has been focused on pubs with rooms, of which it has seven, with planning submitted to add rooms to the other two. Ethan Davids also operates four wet-led pubs under the Great Boozers vehicle he founded with Max Halley in 2022, and which he credits with providing the capital with which to expand Chickpea. Speaking at Propel’s Excellence in Pub and Bar Retailing Conference, Davids said: “Three months ago, we raised our first proper bank debt, through NatWest, and this allowed us to buy three of our four freeholds pubs. It wasn’t engineered in a particularly calculated way, but what I’ve realised is creating this wet-led business model quietly alongside Chickpea has allowed us to grow quite a capital-intensive pubs with rooms model with relatively little debt, and without diluting any equity or weaking the Chickpea business. Our wet-led pub business is tied tenanted agreements, while Chickpea comprises four freeholds and five long leaseholds, all free of tie. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without our trusty little boozers on the side, generating cash to help Chickpea grow. Beyond capital, we are exploring different fundraising options. In the last three years, we’ve grown the business by 30% year on year, and this financial year we will turn over £60m, which we hope to convert, after central costs, at 14%. We want to continue growing at a similar pace; we’re geared for it. We need more sites, and there is plenty of opportunity around the south west, but the bigger sites with plenty of rooms, or potential for plenty of rooms, don’t crop up very often.” Pub number ten will be the group’s second in Dorset – The Fleur de Lis in Cranborne, which comes with nine bedrooms. Davids said the group has also recently appointed a finance director (James Underhill), operations director (Harry Russell) and hospitality director (Guy Hughes), as well as recruiting its first non-executive director, Stephen Oxley, who has a background in employment law. “We have a very strong leadership team now and we’re all motivated by growth,” Davids said. “We also have a knack of attracting the best people locally, some of which is down to pay, and some of which is down to the fact we’re growing quickly, and they want to be a part of the dynamic atmosphere that creates. We also took the decision early on to be totally honest with our teams, which has created strong retention, and we’re now starting to see strong progression within the business too. We will also soon be launching a leadership programme with the aim of helping young people progress in our industry.” Davids 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.

 

Incipio Group chief executive Ed Devenport to speak at Operational Excellence Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club subscribers: Ed Devenport, chief executive of Incipio Group, will be among the speakers at Propel’s Operational Excellence Conference, which is being held in partnership with Purple Story. The conference, which takes place on Wednesday, 9 July at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings, is designed for operations directors, managers, area managers, site managers and chief executives who want to maximise performance. Devenport – who entered the sector in 2016 and has turned the company into one of the UK’s most innovative and varied pub, restaurant and event space operators – will talk about the ten key operations lessons he has learned. 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 members to receive updated segmented Multi-Site Database with 3,401 operators and 18 new companies on Friday: Premium Club members are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database on Friday (30 May), at 12pm. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,401 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 994 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 797 (23%) pub and bar operators, 578 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 474 (14%) quick service restaurant (QSR) operators, 288 (8%) hotel operators, 221 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 18 new companies. The database includes new companies in the QSR sector such as Drip Chicken, the hot chicken concept, and Catch Fish and Chips, from the founder of Lucky B’s. 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.

 

Flight Club co-founder – ‘landlords and banks now putting emphasis on sustainability’, releases inaugural impact report: Paul Barham, co-founder of Red Engine, the Flight Club and Electric Shuffle operator, has told Propel that landlords and banks have joined guests and employees in putting an emphasis on sustainability. It comes as Red Engine releases its inaugural impact report and launched its charitable foundation. This follows the establishment of the group’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, Yellow Ball, in 2024, and as the group marks its tenth anniversary. Structured around B-Corp principles, Yellow Ball focuses on three key pillars: people, environment, and community. The programme – which is named after a bright yellow cricket ball that co-founder Steve Moore took on a fundraising world record journey in 2010 to circumnavigate the globe in a fire engine – is powered by “Yellow Ballers”, a committee of 40 team members representing every Flight Club and Electric Shuffle venue across the UK and the Red Engine central team. Barham told Propel that the journey was “just beginning” and while a spirit of giving back “has always been part of Red Engine’s DNA”, this was an opportunity to demonstrate it further. He said: “Sustainability has become such an important thing not only to guests and employees, but also now to landlords and the banks. When we were doing our refinancing recently, the bank wanted to know about our sustainability credentials as well as our numbers. CSR is also becoming key when it comes to landlords choosing their tenants.” The report revealed there were 72,000 applications to work at Red Engine’s brands last year while 200 people graduated from PowerUp – the group’s internal management development programme. This year, targets include expanding the company’s apprenticeship programme. Among its environment milestones was the introduction of a gaming software shutdown across its venues, saving 417kWh per month – equivalent to an electric oven being on full blast for 8.5 days. This year, the group will continue to work through the Zero Carbon Forum climate action plan, focusing on purchased goods and services and new venues and capital goods – two areas that account for 67% of Red Engine’s total emissions. Red Engine will also raise funds for the Yellow Ball Foundation through a variety of avenues, including optional donations added to guests’ bills. There will also be a fundraising tour in October that will see the original fire engine come out of retirement and visit every Flight Club venue in the UK.

 

Double delight for Wingstop as hospitality and leisure business dominate best places to work list: Hospitality and leisure business have dominated the latest Sunday Times best places to work list. Half of the companies in the top ten very big organisations (2,000-plus employees) were from the sector. These were David Lloyd Clubs, Moto Hospitality, Thomas Franks, Valor Hospitality Europe and Wingstop. It was a similar story in the top ten big organisations (250-1,999 employees), which included Champneys, Culinera, Dakota Hotels, Dorchester Collection UK Hotels and Savoy Hotel. Wingstop was also highly commended in the spotlight award for best places to work for ethnic minorities, as was Dakota Hotels in the 16 to 34-year-olds section, and Hollywood Bowl in the disabled employees section. Wingstop said its 90-day retention rates are consistently above 90% and there is an average happiness score of 82% across its 65-plus UK locations. Faye Ryder-Humphries, head of people at Wingstop UK, said: “We are incredibly proud to be included in the best places to work list two years running. Creating a workplace where people feel empowered to grow and be their boldest selves continues to be one of our biggest passions.” Other sector businesses that made the lists outside of the top tens include Butcombe Group, Hall & Woodhouse, Popeyes and Slim Chickens, which is being rolled out in the UK by Boparan Restaurant Group. Matt Hudson, people director at Popeyes UK, added: “As we continue to grow, we remain committed to maintaining our inclusive culture and living the Popeyes brand values that have been so integral to the successful growth we have achieved so far.” Cat Moseley, Butcombe Group people director, said: “By staying closely connected with our teams and listening to their feedback, we’ve been able to make meaningful improvements across the business that help us build our culture and recognise and reward our brilliant teams.” Dean Livesey, director of great place to work at Hall & Woodhouse, said: “We have built on the foundations we laid out in the previous year to become an even better employer, and I’m delighted to have achieved this goal.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a hospitality business that is seeking a bakery production manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The bakery production manager will take ownership of the entire bakery production process, working closely with the culinary and operations teams to ensure smooth day-to-day production while driving efficiency, consistency, and product excellence”. The salary is up to £55,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com.

 

Evolv Collection CEO – I don’t see why we wouldn’t have a dozen Bluebirds in the UK or one in every major European city: Martin William, the recently appointed chief executive of the Evolv Collection, formerly D&D London, has said that he doesn’t see why the company wouldn’t have a dozen sites under the its Bluebird brand in the UK, or “one in every major city in Europe”. Bluebird, the iconic Chelsea restaurant, recently opened a sister venue on the ground floor of Evolv’s South Place Hotel. Williams told City AM: “It’s such an amazing brand with phenomenal British heritage behind it, I don’t see why you wouldn’t have a dozen of them in the UK, or one in every major city in Europe. Sartoria is another amazing brand. The food is much better than Cecconi’s, so why would you not have one everywhere you’ve got a Cecconi’s, which is pretty much every city in America and Europe?” Another brand he said could be rolled out across the country is Chop House. “We have two already, including Paternoster Chop House in the City, with a third coming to what used to be the New Street Grill at Liverpool Street. There’s a huge opportunity to take the brand back to what was: a Victorian Chop House. I want a modern interpretation of things like suet puddings, pies, devilled eggs, chops and steaks. I have a vision for a very British take on the gastropub.” Williams also has half an eye on international expansion, saying: “We have two great restaurants in New York already and our investors have got a lot of experience internationally.” Calveton and Breal Capital acquired the then D&D London in October 2023. Last month, the business, which operates circa 20 restaurants and a hotel across the UK and internationally, changed its name to the Evolv Collection and hired Williams, formerly of Rare Restaurants, as its new chief executive. Asked whether he was tempted to bring M, which he founded, into the Evolv Collection, Williams added: “They asked me if I wanted to and I said no.” He said he’s more interested in reinventing Evolv’s existing brands than introducing new ones into the mix.

McDonald’s pulling the plug on CosMc’s spinoff: McDonald’s is pulling the plug on its CosMc’s spinoff just two years after the spinoff took off. The company has announced that it’s closing all five locations next month. CosMc’s, named after a little-known alien McDonald’s character, opened in 2023 in response to fast-growing specialty coffee and beverage chains that have become popular with Generation Z consumers. Its menu consisted of sweet drinks and light snacks. A spinoff was launched because executives thought the customisable drinks would be too much of a strain on its McDonald’s employees, but fewer people customised their drinks than the company thought, reports CNN. McDonald’s said in a statement that CosMc’s was created because the chain “had the right to win in the fast-growing beverage space” and allowed it to “test new, bold flavours and different technologies and processes – without impacting the existing McDonald’s experience for customers and crew.” Although the CosMc’s locations will disappear, some of the menu items won’t. Chief executive Chris Kempczinski said in its earnings call this month that the chain is testing new customisable drinks inspired by CosMc’s with some franchisees later this year. CosMc’s locations – four in Texas and one in Illinois – will close at the end of June, with its standalone app and loyalty programme also being discontinued, the company said.

Urban Pubs & Bars MD – ex-Antic sites have had a monumental effect on our business, a lot more expansion opportunities in London: 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 deal for 11 former Antic sites the 55-strong company secured last summer has had a “monumental effect on our business”. Speaking at Propel’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, Hill said: “Three of them were vacant freeholds that we’ve since moved on, so it was the eight trading leaseholds that have had a pretty monumental effect on our business. We worked extraordinarily hard to be in pole position to get them, and then since then, we have refurbed six of the eight. One is closed for refurb now, and the next one will be in a few weeks’ time. They were always going to be in our sweet spot. The impact on the business has already been monumental, but that’s only part of the year. If you now at what we’ve managed to do in terms of how they trade and their profitability, they are going to be huge contributors to our business going forward.” On further acquisition opportunities, Hill said: “We can move extraordinarily quickly. We’ve got a very healthy balance sheet, and we’ve got brilliant backers, both at private equity level and bank level. There are 3,276 pubs in London, a whole bunch of which we’d never get our hands on, but we’ve identified a whole number that we would love to – and we will just quietly and tactically go about trying to see which we can. But there is a lot of opportunity here.” 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.

Qatar fried chicken brand seeking UK entry: Qatar fried chicken brand Go Crispy is seeking an entry into the UK market. Go Crispy was founded in 2019 by chef Hissa Al Sulati, specialising in fried chicken sandwiches seasoned with natural Qatari spices. The company exhibited at last month’s International Franchise Show at London’s ExCel, as it seeks partners with which to expand into the UK. “What started with just one branch in Gharaffa has rapidly grown to over nine locations across Qatar, making Go Crispy a trusted name among families, students and professionals,” a company spokesman said. “Its unique approach to fast food has set a new industry standard, proving that fast food can be both flavourful and high-quality. With unstoppable growth, Go Crispy is now expanding beyond Qatar and setting its sights on the international market. Soon, Go Crispy will have branches in cities around the world, sharing its signature flavours and premium fast-food experience globally.” The Go Crispy franchise offers container van, food court, drive-thru and standalone formats. Sulati is also the founder of Ajwan Hospitality Group, which encompasses ten brands including Tbakh Al Waldah and Bayt Al Waldah.

Ex-Enterprise Inns MD launches all-day dining concept in Hove: Kim Francis, ex-managing director at Enterprise Inns, is one of the directors behind the launch of Babble, a new all-day dining concept which has launched in Hove, East Sussex. More than £1m has been invested in the new venue, which is part of the £15m transformation of Hove Beach Park, featuring 150 covers inside and a further 250-plus covers across the three deck areas. The company said: “Babble opens its doors from sun-up to sundown, serving an all-day menu that starts with fresh breakfasts and lazy brunches before flowing into BBQs on the terrace and evening plates inside. The thoughtfully curated drinks list spans from coffee to creative cocktails, championing locally brewed craft beers and Sussex sparkling wines. Throughout every step, Babble places a strong focus on celebrating regional talent. Downstairs, the takeaway offering from the Cabin has expanded – building on its initial coffee and juice offering to now include draught beers, wines and spritzes alongside freshly baked pastries and snacks from local favourites Bayon and Caccia & Tails. Upstairs, Babble’s triple-aspect sea views from the east, south and west terraces take centre stage.” There will also be DJs playing at weekends, as well as yoga and pilates sessions. The team behind Babble includes directors from local businesses Bison Beer, Everflyht Vineyard and Bar 42, joined by chef Sam Lambert, whose CV includes Brighton-based restaurants, such as Due South, 64 Degrees and Murmur. Francis is joined by Jack Cregan and Nick Vardy from Bison Beer, and Ben Ellis owner of Everflyht Vineyard, as directors of Babble.

US fast-casual seafood brand Captain D’s appoints UK MD ahead of launch of first site here: US fast-casual seafood brand Captain D’s has appointed a UK managing director ahead of launching its first site here. Mudassar Ali shared on social media that he had started a new position as managing director of Captain D’s UK. He is a director of CD’s UK Holdings, which earlier this year signed a 20-store multi-unit franchise agreement for the UK with Captain D’s. He is also the chief executive of Kent burger business Dr Burger Lab and managing director of security business HK9 Security Services. Propel first revealed in April 2024 that Captain D’s, which was founded in 1969 and has grown to just under 550 locations in the US, was eyeing a UK launch as part of its global expansion plans. The company signed the franchise agreement in January, and in March, said it will make its UK debut this summer. Its first UK site will be in Kent, with further locations lined up in Hampshire and Sussex.

Chestnut Group acquires North Norfolk pub with rooms: East Anglian pub company Chestnut Group has acquired The White Horse pub with rooms in the North Norfolk village of Blakeney. The pub, at 4 High Street, was previously operated by Adnams. Philip Turner, founder and chief executive of Chestnut, said: “My earliest memory of a holiday was at a cottage in Blakeney. Many years later, it is now a privilege to take The White Horse on the next stage of its journey. It is a unique pub with rooms, and we will ensure it stays that way.”

 

Panda Mami opens in Coventry for fourth site, plans to build 30 restaurants over next five years: World buffet restaurant company Panda Mami has opened in Coventry for its fifth site and is planning to build 30 restaurants over the next five years. It has opened within the Warwick Arts Centre, offering “continental dishes that celebrate culinary diversity”, reports Coventry Live. Panda Mama opened its first UK restaurant in November 2016 in Chester and has since added locations in Manchester, Nottingham and York. Its chefs prepare around 120 dishes from around the world daily, and the restaurant includes live cooking stations. As well as cuisines from various regions of China, there is also a ‘tasting kitchen’ of Asia's most popular dishes and desserts, including a chocolate fountain. Panda Mami also offers a delivery service.

 

Burger concept Smoke & Pepper set to open in Milton Keynes for second regional location: Smoke & Pepper, the London burger concept, is set to open in Milton Keynes for its second regional location. The business, which was founded in London by Sara Ibrahim and Suhail Mala, launched in 2022, with openings in Leyton and Bow, both in east London. It then made its regional debut at Transmission House, in Manchester’s Tib Street. In March, Propel revealed the company had lined up further regional openings, in Birmingham and Milton Keynes – as well as more London locations in Hounslow, Gants Hill, Wembley and Dalston. The first of these, set to open this summer, will be in Milton Keynes’ Midsummer Place shopping centre.

 

Yorkshire better burger business set to expand outside of county soon, in talks on next locations: Yorkshire better burger business Urban Fresh Burgers & Fries has told Propel it is set to expand outside of the county soon and is in talks on its next locations. The six-strong business, which was founded in 2017 by husband-and-wife team Mehmet and Zerin Kent, opened its first franchise site in December, in Sheffield. It also has two sites in Doncaster, one in Rotherham, one in Barnsley and a delivery-only outlet in Leeds. “That move (outside of Yorkshire) is coming very soon,” Mehmet said. “We’ve already got plans in motion, and the next sites could launch this year. It’ll likely be a mix, both franchise and company-led, depending on the location and opportunity. We’re actively scouting locations and in discussions on a couple. The goal is to get something live in the second half of the year.” Earlier this year, the company reported a 24% month-on-month sales boost for its first franchise store, run by franchisee Meliha Candir. Zerin said: “The Sheffield site’s performing well, and they’ve built a great local following, so naturally they’re already thinking about what’s next. We’ll support them every step of the way when the time’s right to grow. Financially, they’re on track to see a full return on investment in under 20 months, which is a huge vote of confidence.” Last year, the business launched a ‘learn to earn scheme’, which rewards employees for completing training modules. “We’re proud to still be running the scheme, especially with rising cost pressures,” Zerin said. “It’s helped us build a strong talent pipeline and means we don’t just fill shifts, we grow people. It’s been a big factor in reducing staff turnover too.” In terms of combating those rising costs, Mehmet said the company has been “streamlining where we can without cutting corners” and “putting a lot of energy into loyalty, operations and delivery”. Zerin added: “We’re also investing in tech to help improve efficiency and reduce labour costs at key times, all of which ladders back to our goal of making the business easier to run and scale, whether you’re a franchisee or part of our company team. We are really excited to see the impact it’ll have, not just for us, but for every future franchisee too.”

 

Tom Kerridge to close his Chelsea pub: Chef Tom Kerridge will close his pub in London’s Chelsea, The Butcher’s Tap, next month. A statement from The Tom Kerridge Group said it has “made the difficult decision to close” after “thoughtful consideration” and that the pub’s final service will take place on Sunday, 1 June. “The team has worked hard to make the concept work, but nothing is a given in the challenging climate hospitality businesses now face,” the statement said. “Increasing costs demand a match in revenue and turnover that has not materialised at the site, providing an opportunity to regroup, rethink and rebuild. The group remains confident it can learn from experiences in Chelsea and adapt to create something great. Tom and colleagues are hugely appreciative of guests who have created brilliant memories since opening and an incredible team, whose future remains secure within the group in place for what’s next.” In London, Kerridge also operates Kerridge’s Bar & Grill in the Corinthia Hotel, near Charing Cross, and Kerridge’s Fish & Chips at Harrods. In Marlow, Buckinghamshire, he operates The Butcher’s Tap & Grill, The Coach, The Hand & Flowers and The Shed (a private dining room at The Hand & Flowers). Earlier this year, he launched The Beast Club at his Chelsea venue, exploring the more unusual and often-overlooked cuts of meat.

 

Green & Fortune COO takes on new business development role focused on company’s expansion: Independent hospitality company Green & Fortune’s chief operating officer, Emma Williams, has taken on a new business development role focused on the company’s expansion. Williams, who has been with Green & Fortune since 2011, moves into a newly created director role which will play a key role in expanding the company’s footprint and client base. The company said Williams has been integral to its evolution from a single site in London to now operating five multi-faceted venues. “I’m delighted that the creation of this new role gives me the opportunity to continue my journey with Green & Fortune with a new challenge and remit,” Williams said. “We’re well placed to spread the word about the diversity of what we do and build upon our already strong position in the market.” It comes as Green & Fortune also hires Dan Rampant as its new chef director and follows the appointment earlier this year of Sarah Miller as the company’s new managing director. John Nugent, founder and chief of Green & Fortune, said: “This newly formed and focused senior team gives us renewed momentum as we look to the future. We are exceptionally well positioned to enter the next phase of our development.” Nugent – who is also co-owner and founder of Daffodil Mulligan and Gibney’s London, and most recently partnered with other hospitality entrepreneurs to open Patina Edinburgh – founded Green & Fortune in 2008. The company operates across five London venues including Rotunda Bar and Restaurant, Sea Containers Events, Rose Court Events, Kings Place Events and Green & Fortune Cafés.

 

Boxcar co-founder – we’re keen to explore expansion with new concepts: Boxcar co-founder Ankur Wishart has told Propel he is keen to explore expansion with new concepts. Wishart launched Boxcar with Cubitt House co-founder Barry Hirst in 2017, opening Boxcar in Marylebone, Boxcar Baker & Deli in Marble Arch and Boxcar Bread & Wine in Westminster. The original Boxcar site, as previously reported, will rebrand to a new concept next month called Boxcar Fire & Wine. Wishart said: “At this stage, we see Fire & Wine as a very site-specific concept, and one of our core values across all Boxcar venues is individuality. We do see potential for expanding them to new locations in the future, but any future iteration would never be a carbon copy. Boxcar Baker & Deli has developed a strong following thanks to its craft-led approach to baking, focus on seasonal ingredients and neighbourhood feel. Boxcar Bread & Wine has carved out its identity as a relaxed yet elevated destination with a focus on thoughtfully curated breakfast, brunch to lunch offering. We absolutely see potential for future openings through entirely new concepts too. When the right opportunity comes along, we’ll be ready to bring something new to the table.” He added: “We’re really pleased with how our concepts are performing. Boxcar Bread & Wine in particular has exceeded expectations. Our sister company, The Italian Greyhound, continues to evolve successfully. We recently introduced a breakfast offering, which has been extremely well received. We also have two larger-format sites, The Broadcaster in White City and The Lighterman in King’s Cross, which have both found their stride by leaning into their unique strengths.” In terms of where the business is positioned eight years in, Wishart said: “Naturally, there are always more ideas and concepts we’d love to have brought to life by now, but we’ve always taken a deliberately organic approach to growth. This measured pace has allowed us to build solid foundations, stay true to our values and focus on quality over quantity. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built over the past eight years, and even more excited about what’s to come. There’s a lot of energy and creativity within the team.”

 

Board games concept Draughts sees ‘strong’ start to trading in 2025, exploring options for launch outside London: Board games concept Draughts has told Propel it has seen a strong start to trading in 2025 and is exploring options for a launch outside of London. Earlier this month, Draughts, which was founded by Nick Curci in 2014, opened a site in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the capital for its third site. The 4,110 square-foot location, which offers more than 1,000 games, ranging from party favourites to strategic classics, joined the company’s venues in Dalston and Waterloo. In terms of trading, a spokeswoman told Propel: “Trading in the first quarter got off to a strong start, which was encouraging – both sales and footfall were up across the group. The launch of our new site has been a real highlight. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re excited about establishing it as a new go-to spot. It’s early days, but we’re confident this new venue will help build momentum as we move into the busier trading period later in the year.” In terms of potential further expansion, the spokesperson added: “We’re exploring opportunities in cities like Manchester and considering a few more unique locations outside of London. We believe there’s real potential to bring what we do to new audiences — places where Draughts could add something distinctive and meaningful to the local scene. We’re being thoughtful about how and where we grow, but we’re excited about what’s ahead and have some great momentum behind us.”

 

Erpingham House founder passes £400,000 crowdfunding target to help open ‘UK’s first alcohol-free wellness hotel and members club’: Loui Blake, founder of vegan restaurant concept Erpingham House, has passed his £400,000 crowdfunding target to help open the “UK’s first alcohol-free wellness hotel and members club”. Long Lane will open in April 2026 in Midhurst in West Sussex, situated across 55 acres of South Downs National Park. Blake has partnered with former Wall Street trader Harrison Hide for the venture, with the duo having raised £3.5m to bring their vision to life. The money will go towards operational costs, marketing and brand growth, member and guest experience development, and contingency and miscellaneous expenses – and is part of an ongoing larger round of £6m. The round has so far raised £411,783 from 136 investors with four days left. The company is offering equity of 7.51%, giving it a pre-money valuation of £5m. The pitch stated: “Long Lane is the fusion of hospitality and wellness, set within 55 acres of British countryside, just one hour from south London. Now, we’re raising investment to bring this vision to life. We have secured a prime location and are progressing with the build-out of our wellness hotel and members club. Consumers still want to socialise, but they're prioritising health and wellbeing. Our financial model projects revenue generation through a mix of membership, rooms, wellness and F&B. Our business is currently in the pre-revenue stage, with strong indicators of demand: over 200,000 followers across social media platforms and growing email list, showing early customer enthusiasm.”

Derbyshire Indian and Nepalese restaurant concept looking to expand with third location: Derbyshire Indian and Nepalese restaurant concept Kathmandu Gurkha is looking to expand with a third location. The family-run business, which has been operating for 15 years, already has branches on High Street in Clay Cross and Church Street in Ripley. Owner Bishnu Chalise told the Derbyshire Times: “We’ve got two branches, at Clay Cross and Ripley, and we are also considering launching another Kathmandu Gurkha restaurant, somewhere between Chesterfield and Sheffield. We offer completely different food to a lot of Indian restaurants in the area. We’ve got a mix of Indian and Nepalese food, and we change the menus every year. We’re always cooking and serving fresh, good quality food at reasonable prices – we’re a local business and we want to help the local community.”

 

North east pizzeria owner set to open sandwich shop: North east pizzeria owner Alex Walker is set to open a new sandwich shop in the region. Walker, the co-founder of Scream for Pizza in Sandyford, Newcastle, is preparing to open Awesome Franks in Jesmond. The store, named after Walker’s son and his love for superheroes, is taking over the former Richard Granger Wines unit at West Jesmond Metro. It will initially open as a gourmet sandwich shop, with further plans to launch Frank’s Imaginarium in 2026 – an immersive play café and learning zone for families on the other side of the building. All bread will be freshly baked, and the offering will focus on adventurous sandwich combinations such as salt and pepper squid, Northumberland crab and shoestring fries, and scallops seared in bacon fat butter, served with black pudding and hollandaise sauce. Walker told Insider Media: “I have had my eye on this building for a long time, so I jumped at the opportunity to take over the space and bring my vision for Awesome Franks into reality. I’m really driven to create a space that serves the whole of the West Jesmond community, adding positively to what is already an exceptional hospitality scene.”

 

Nottingham operator set to open second site: Nottingham operator Ryon Ishfaq is set to open a new Italian trattoria, Pici, in Hockley’s Broad Street. Ishfaq, who is also behind pizza joint Slice ‘n’ Brew in the city, is one of three directors, along with Elliott Bech and head chef Dylan Dowling, who have taken over the former G.O.A.T bar. His new venture will offer 28 seats indoors, 12 downstairs and 16 outside, and is named after a Tuscan pasta that is like a thick spaghetti. All the pasta will be made in-house, and the signature dish will be pici cacio e pepe, where the al dente pasta is served with butter, pecorino cheese and toasted black pepper sauce. Ishfaq said it was always his plan to have a second place that would serve pasta. “I’m taken aback that we actually did it,” he told the Nottingham Post. “We want it to be accessible and for any occasion, so if you want to come in for a glass of wine and pasta, it’s a good price point, but also if you want to go all out and get steak or a piece of fish and bottles of wine.”