Managed like-for-likes up 4.2% in April as pub sales soar but restaurants and bars flag: Britain’s managed groups saw like-for-likes grow 4.2% in April as sunshine and Easter boosted pub sales but restaurants and bars flagged, according to the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker. Following a month of warm weather, pubs saw like-for-like sales growth of 9.1%. However, some of the growth was at the expense of restaurants, where sales fell 0.9% year-on-year. Bars continued a long run of negative numbers, with trading down 4.5%. The 4.2% overall growth – comfortably beating the UK’s recent rates of inflation, as measured by the consumer prices index – represented a strong start to the second quarter of 2025 after year-on-year drops of 1.3% and 0.6% in January and March and growth of just 0.1% in February. April’s comparison was slightly inflated by the long Easter weekend, which fell in March last year. Total sales – including at venues opened by groups in the last 12 months – were 6.8% ahead of April 2024.The tracker, produced by CGA by NIQ in partnership with RSM UK, shows trading outside the M25 was significantly better than in London. Groups’ sales inside the M25 were ahead by 0.9% year-on-year, but further afield they rose by 5.5%. Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said: “After a tough few months for hospitality, the warm weather has given managed pubs a very bright start to the second quarter. It is hopefully a sign that some consumers are spending a little more freely, though a disappointing month for restaurants suggests others were simply switching from eating out to drinking out. Ongoing high costs for operators, including through heavy new labour bills from April, continue to pile pressure on margins – but while the sun continues to shine, pubs with outdoor spaces can expect trade to remain strong.”

 

Burger King chief executive Alasdair Murdoch to speak at Operational Excellence Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club subscribers: Alasdair Murdoch, chief executive of Burger King, 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. Murdoch will talk about how operational standards are improved and maintained in a company that runs directly managed sites and franchised sites. He will also speak about leading, coaching and developing a high-performance team. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £345 plus VAT for suppliers. There is a 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club subscribers. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive updated segmented Multi-Site Database and videos from Excellence in Pub & Bar Conference on Friday: Premium Club subscribers 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 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 cafe bakery sector such as Solihull coffee shop business Brew Twenty Three, Cardiff coffee shop business Brodies’s Coffee Co and London coffee operator Kat Coffee. Before that, at 9am, Premium subscribers will receive all the videos from this month’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Conference. The 13 videos include Chris Hill, managing director of Urban Pubs & Bars, and Sir Tim Martin, founder and chair of JD Wetherspoon. 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.

Tresind Studio becomes first Indian restaurant to receive three Michelin stars: Tresind Studio in Dubai has become the first Indian restaurant to be awarded three Michelin stars. The fine-dining venue, led by chef Himanshu Saini, has a multi-course tasting menu highlighting seasonal ingredients and regional Indian flavours. Originally launched in 2018 as an experimental offshoot of Tresind, the venue now operates from an exclusive 20-seat rooftop location at The Palm Jumeirah. The restaurant received its second Michelin star in 2023. Tresind Studio is part of Passion F&B, which also operates brands such as Avatara and Carnival by Tresind in the UAE and India. The Michelin Guide celebrated the achievement in a post on Instagram, saying: “Tresind Studio makes history by becoming the first Indian restaurant to earn three stars, showcasing chef Himanshu Saini’s deep knowledge of Indian cuisine with re-imagined and superbly crafted, eye-catching, and flavoursome creations.” Speaking about the award, Saini said, “We are deeply humbled to receive this extraordinary recognition. To be awarded three Michelin stars is a testament to our team’s unrelenting passion and belief in the power of storytelling through food. Our goal has always been to present Indian cuisine not just as nostalgic but as progressive and worthy of the world’s highest culinary accolades.” Tresind Studio is one of only two restaurants in Dubai with three Michelin stars. The other is FZN by Bjorn Frantzen.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a London restaurant group that is searching for a head of operations to support its new opening. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This is a strategic, cross-functional role working closely with the managing director and founding team. The head of operations will thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy having a hand in every part of the business. As a key member of the team, the head of operations will lead critical projects across multiple departments, including procurement, marketing, IT and operations. From driving system and process improvements to supporting creative menu launches, the position will play a central role in the growth of the brand.” The salary is up to £80,000. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com.

 

Taiwanese restaurant group ‘exploring opportunities for expansion within UK’ following London launch, could bring more concepts over: Taiwanese restaurant group, Kanpai Group, has told Propel it is “actively exploring opportunities for expansion within the UK” following its London launch last year, and could bring more of its brands over. Kanpai Group originated in Taiwan in 2005 and has developed into a multi-brand Wagyu company with nine distinct hospitality brands in Taiwan – and two in mainland China – with a total of more than 60 restaurants across both markets. It made its UK debut last summer with the launch of Michelin-starred yakiniku brand Kanpai Classic, at 147-149 Wardour Street in London’s Soho. “Launching in London has been an exciting journey and a valuable learning experience,” a group spokesman told Propel. “Bringing a unique Wagyu cuisine concept to such a diverse and sophisticated dining market has given us the opportunity to introduce a distinctive dining culture that blends premium ingredients with authentic hospitality. We are dedicated to deepening local awareness and appreciation for Wagyu cuisine, and London’s global influence makes it the perfect place to establish this vision. Our ultimate goal is to build a successful case here that will allow us to expand and share this exceptional dining experience with guests around the world. We are actively exploring opportunities for expansion within the UK. London remains a priority due to its international profile and vibrant dining scene, and we are currently focusing on developing additional brands, different from Kanpai Classic, as our second or third brand to establish in this market first. While London is our main focus for now, we are also keeping an eye on other major UK or EU cities, where we believe our brands could resonate well with local audiences.” The spokesman said Kanpai Classic stands apart from other steak concepts by “fusing premium steak cuts with Japanese culinary traditions and hospitality”, and it positions itself as a “new-school Japanese steakhouse, innovating beyond the traditional steakhouse model”. He added: “The UK market, especially London, comes with unique pressures, but thanks to our international experience and strong supplier relationships, we’ve been able to maintain high standards while adapting flexibly. Innovation and efficiency remain central to our approach as we address these challenges.”

Parogon founder – investing in teams is super important right now: Parogon Group founder Richard Colclough has said despite the temptation for businesses to make cuts in the face of economic headwinds, investing in teams is actually “super important right now”. Speaking at Propel’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, Colclough said: “We’re under pressure, there’s no doubt about it. Sales have softened in the midweek, but we’re responding. If you’ve got a well-run business, it’s difficult to find extra productivity and cost savings because it’s the kind of thing you look at the whole time. So, I’m doubling down on investing in the team. We’ve got a new sales and marketing director, and that sort of investment is not what we should be ducking out of right now. As a sector, we’re working harder than ever to stay still, but ultimately, that extra investment in the team is super important.” The group operates several stand-alone concepts across the Midlands, Cheshire and Staffordshire but has focused in recent times on rolling out its Willow concept – opening its third earlier this year in Mere Green. “We’re focusing heavily on Willow as we’ve had really good traction with it,” Colclough said. “The beauty of the big destination sites is where in the early parts of the week we’re seeing a softening in demand and at lunchtimes, they can really stretch their legs on a Saturday and Sunday. Willow, on the flip side, is much smaller but it’s an all-day proposition. Our original Willow site will take £3,000 for breakfast most days – and making sure you then get that all day transition really works. Willow is definitely a vehicle we like as it’s very difficult to find those large gastro sites, but there’s a few more Willows knocking around at the moment. It’s only in the last few years that we’ve also presented Parogon Group as a brand in its own right. The concepts have all got an independent feel, and I’m quite keen to keep that, but what we now find is people will go to one site and realise it’s part of a group and go and try other sites. They’ve all got different occasionality and there’s a good balance.” Colclough added Parogon has resisted doing offers so far but is able to “push the bookings around a bit” due to excess demand. He said the group, which has just reopened its Orange Tree site in Newcastle-under-Lyme following a £300,000-plus refurbishment, also doesn’t currently have a loyalty mechanism, “although it is something we’ve considered”, and it instead uses regular email campaigns “to let people know what’s going on at the sites”. Colclough 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.

 

Chopstix opens fifth site of 2025 as it makes Brighton debut: Chinese-inspired quick service restaurant brand Chopstix has continued its rapid national expansion with its fifth opening this year – its debut site in Brighton. The site in North Street follows a number of equity site openings for the brand in 2025, including in Leeds and the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in South Normaton, Derbyshire. This is the latest step in a busy period of growth for Chopstix following investment from European quick service restaurant operator QSRP last October. Alongside investment in new locations, Chopstix, which operates more than 150 sites, has also kicked off a visual identity upgrade for its stores. Following the opening at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Bridgend in Wales last month, the first new store for the brand to open with this fresh in-store identity, Brighton is the next site to follow suit. Sam Elia, co-founder and director of Chopstix, said: “In recent years, we have recognised huge headroom for expansion across the UK for the brand, particularly in high footfall areas, as consumers increasingly seek out our bold, Chinese flavours over other high street staples. The location of the Brighton site is fantastic and given how well the Chopstix brand typically performs on UK high streets, I have no doubt we’ll have huge success with this site.” 

Caprinos opens in Watford: Pizza franchise Caprinos has opened in Watford for its 108th location. It has opened at 99 Vicarage Road, as it works through a target of 20 new locations this year. Caprinos has 105 sites in the UK and three in Pakistan, and has a longer-term ambition of doubling its estate by 2030. Co-founders Gul Nawaz and Khalil Rehman said: “We can’t wait to welcome our first customers through the doors and serve our delicious pizzas to a new audience. With our local franchisee, the new store is poised to become a vital part of the local community, showcasing our commitment to innovative flavours, quality, and affordability. We can’t wait to introduce Caprinos to local consumers and are confident it will soon become the go-to spot for pizza lovers in Watford.” In March, Propel revealed that Caprinos is targeting London for its next phase of expansion, and is set to launch in the Middle East this year. The company went on to tell Propel that it is looking to make its motorway services and airport debuts this year and is also seeking to grow its company-owned estate.

 

Stick‘n’Sushi to launch retail range: Danish-Japanese premium restaurant group Sticks‘n’Sushi is launching a limited-edition retail range of its signature sauces. The five-strong range includes miso dip, spicy miso, chili dip, Goma dressing and truffle Goma, with the latter available only in the restaurants. Starting from £6 per bottle, the rest of the 250ml sauce range will be available to purchase in the 15 UK restaurants in London, Oxford and Cambridge, via the website for delivery within a two-mile radius, and via Deliveroo. The range launches on Monday, 9 June. Sticks‘n’Sushi chief executive Andreas Karlsson said: “Our sauces have built a loyal following over the years, with guests constantly asking to take them home, so we’re delighted to make that possible. This retail launch is an exciting step for us – a chance to meet demand and bring a little bit of Sticks'n'Sushi into home kitchens.” Last month, Fernando Alonso, the two-time F1 world drivers’ champion, acquired a stake in Sticks‘n’Sushi. Alonso co-invested alongside McWin Food Ecosystem Fund as a long-term investor in the 30-strong business, which operates 15 sites in the UK. Founded in Denmark in 1994 by Thor Andersen, Kim Rahbek Hansen and Jens Rahbek Hansen, Sticks‘n’Sushi currently also operates three restaurants in Germany, 12 in Denmark and three catering and delivery kitchens.

Sessions opens 15th SoBe Burger location: Sessions, the growth platform for original food brands, has opened its 15th SoBe Burger location. It has opene d at 46 London Street in Norwich, in the former Duck Sifu site. Managing director Gavin Graham said: “We’ve had SoBe available for delivery in Norwich for a while and the appetite was amazing. But there’s nothing like having a burger fresh off the grill and we want people to be able to enjoy the full SoBe experience. Something we're really proud of is that each of our sites is different, we don’t do cookie-cutter.” Launched in 2020, Sessions has scaled brands including Little Bao Boy, Chick ‘n’ Sours and Patty Guy through a partner network of more than 350 licensee kitchens. Sessions announced plans last year to bring over ramen brand Ivan Ramen from New York and roll it out to more than 50 UK locations. In March, Sessions sold Shelter Hall in Brighton to London food market hall operator Market Halls in a multimillion-pound deal as it focuses on franchising, both in delivery and high street locations.

 

Superbowl UK opens in Wolverhampton for 15th site following £2.4m investment: Superbowl UK has opened a site in Wolverhampton for its 15th location following a £2.4m investment. The company is the anchor tenant of a new leisure hub in the city. The 17,000 square feet of vacant retail space in the Mander Centre has been transformed across Victoria Arcade and Victoria Street. Superbowl UK has delivered a mixed-use concept venue featuring 12 bowling lanes, a Crazy Club soft play area, interactive darts, a bar and diner and an arcade. Kate Quaintance, acquisitions director for Superbowl UK, said: “The opening of Wolverhampton as our 15th branch is part of our significant growth in the last five years. Superbowl UK Wolverhampton brings the company's distinctive brand of family entertainment and competitive socialising to Wolverhampton, and we are delighted we can now start welcoming people to enjoy our fantastic offer.” City of Wolverhampton Council leader, Cllr Stephen Simkins, said: “Superbowl UK's development has brought empty retail units back to life, further delivering on our ambitions for the city centre and illustrating how high streets up and down the country must change and adapt.”

 

Vine Hotels returns to profit, recovering financially from covid: Vine Hotels, which is co-owned by former BBC boss Greg Dyke, returned to profit in the year to 31 March 2024 and said it is recovering financially from the challenges posed by the covid pandemic. The company, which operates eight hotels and a catering and events business, turned a £58,985 pre-tax loss in 2023 into a profit of £870,470. Turnover increased from £8,101.410 in 2023 to £8,825,289. Director Gerin Davies said: “As a result of the extended periods of lockdown in 2020 and 2021 in particular, the group suffered financially but is now recovering very positively. Subsequent global events have created further challenges for the group. Despite further increased interest costs, the group converted the prior year pre-tax loss of £59,000 to a profit, in this latest year, of £870,000. Despite the inevitable and global negative impact of the pandemic and other subsequent challenges and macro events, the directors are now of the view that there is a significant potential for very positive trading in the re-emerging markets. The company has a very strong market presence in the specialist functions market, particularly in relation to weddings. In addition, the so-called staycation market continues to create further demand, as does the short-stay market within the UK.” Dividends of £881,644 were paid (2023: £781,022).

 

Exclusive Collection’s parent profit takes £5m hit: The Manor House Hotel (Castle Combe), the parent company of Exclusive Collection, saw its profit take a £5m hit in the year to 31 March 2024. The group operates a portfolio of hotel, spa and golf facilities including Pennyhill Park, South Lodge, Lainston House, The Manor House Hotel, Royal Berkshire Hotel, Fanhams Hall Hotel and The Castle Inn. In February 2023, the group added Anstey Hall in Warwickshire to its portfolio. The company’s pre-tax profit of £7,192,734 in 2023 was reduced to £2,248,533, as administration expenses rose by almost £4m. Turnover grew from £62,916,417 to £64,227,743, while Ebitda was down from £10.9m to £8.0m. Director Daniel Pecorellli said: “Across all hotels, the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions market were strong, with demand generated from companies wishing to physically get together after the pandemic. Wedding receptions were strong, helped by the final covid backlog.” Pecorellli said facilities and leisure offering such as spas, a golf course and a cookery school are helping the group develop membership models. “Membership has been extremely strong again this year, with both golf and our wellness offering at our two spas showing very positive growth,” he added. Pecorellli said the fact the group owns the freehold of all seven of its hotels gives it a strong balance sheet position. Dividends of £500,000 were paid (2023: 450,000). During the year, subsidiary South Lodge drew down £3.5m on its revolving credit facility.

 

Fundamental Hospitality’s Shanghai Me to replace closed Galvin Brothers restaurant at London Hilton this summer: Dubai hospitality group Fundamental Hospitality’s Shanghai Me brand will launch at London Hilton this summer, replacing the closed Galvin Brothers restaurant at the Park Lane hotel. Already established in Dubai and Doha, and soon to open in Monaco, the London opening will be a UK debut for the brand, offering “reimagined pan-Asian cuisine using fine and fresh ingredients”. The menu will be led by chefs Izu Ani, previously of Gaia and La Maison Ani – two of Fundamental Hospitality’s other brands – and Yukitaka Kitade, Shanghai Me’s global culinary ambassador. Dishes will include yellowtail carpaccio with black truffle, Cantonese style roast duck with foie gras and caviar, spicy bluefin tuna oshizushi, and braised beef short rib Shanghai style. Evgeny Kuzin, chairman and founder of Fundamental Hospitality, said: “Bringing Shanghai Me to London is a huge milestone for us. The London Hilton is an iconic location, and we’re excited to share our vision of vibrant pan-Asian dining and luxury hospitality with a new audience.” The restaurant will seat approximately 120 guests, with two private dining rooms offering “uninterrupted views of the city”. Alongside this, within the restaurant will be Bund, an exclusive bar where guests can book a table to enjoy signature cocktails and food while resident DJs play.

 

Burger Drop to open first Scottish site this week: North East burger business Burger Drop will open in Edinburgh this week for its first Scottish location. The new store, located at 74-78 South Clerk Street, Newington, will open on Friday (30 May), creating 25 jobs. Founded during lockdown, Burger Drop currently operates two sites in Newcastle and one each in Sunderland and Whitley Bay, with a Manchester location also in the pipeline. A Burger Drop spokesman said: “We're excited to launch in Edinburgh, a city known for its rich culinary culture and passionate foodies. This opening is a big step forward for us and is part of our wider plan to grow the Burger Drop experience across the UK. We can’t wait to serve the people of Edinburgh and be part of their community.” In February, Propel revealed that Burger Drop co-founder Hasan Hamad had launched a premium kebab concept, This Is Doner, in the former Westgate Fish & Grill unit at 183 Westgate Road in Newcastle.

 

Glasgow Japanese concept planning sixth site: Glasgow Japanese concept Okome is planning a sixth site. Okome has submitted a second planning application to take over an empty unit at 252 Dumbarton Road, previously occupied by Superdrug. Okome already has five branches, including in Glasgow's Byres Road and Paisley. Documents reveal the proposed restaurant would operate from 11am to 10pm, daily. Inside, two large seating areas are planned, along with a bar and function space. However, a previous plan to take over the same venue was rejected last month. The application states: “The proposed development will add a unique Japanese experience to Dumbarton Road. Okome is a healthy, delicious Japanese food place that offers sushi, ramen, rice bowl, yakisoba, bibimbap and more. Okome has been proudly serving the Glasgow and surrounding areas since October 2021. Since day one, our mission has been to provide high-quality Japanese food for those who seek skilful cooking and an extraordinary dining experience.”

 

Utopia Leisure sees profit and turnover drop following decrease in occupancy rates: Utopia Leisure saw its profit and turnover drop in the year to 31 March 2024 following a decrease in occupancy rates. The company, which owns and operates five luxury hotels across the south east of England, saw its record turnover of £30,373,090 in 2023 fall to £27,756,968. Pre-tax profit was down from £5,331,078 in 2023 to £3,102,382. The company sold 46,898 rooms compared with 48,945 in 2023, with an occupancy rate of 59% compared with 60% in 2023. Director Deborah Hinchcliffe said: “The directors are pleased with the performance. Turnover for the year was £28m and the company made a profit before tax of £3.1m, down on the previous year, but still a strong result in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. The decrease in turnover was driven by a decrease in occupancy rates across all five hotels from 60% in 2023 to 59% in 2024. The net profit margin decreased from 17.5% to 11.2% due to the increase in the minimum wage rates from April 2023 together with higher utility costs. Gross profit margin has been affected by the 9% increase in the minimum wage implemented by the UK government in April 2023 and net profit margin has been affected by the increase in the Bank of England base rate.” Dividends of £22,786 were paid (2023: nil). A bank loan of £6,050,000 is due for repayment in full in 2026.

 

Manchester coffee specialist opens fifth site: Manchester coffee specialist Foundation Coffee, also known as FDN Coffee, has opened its fifth site. The company has opened a new city-centre coffee house at Bruntwood SciTech’s Bloc, serving up homemade sweet treats, a bespoke brunch and lunch menu and specialty coffee. A new bespoke menu called Mini FNDs has also been launched – “a celebration of nostalgic classics including triangle press cheese toasties and ploughman's wraps”. As well as specialty coffee, there is also smoothies, iced coffee and milkshakes. Founded in 2015, FDN Coffee also has locations in Manchester’s Portland Street, Whitworth Street, Lever Street and Meadowside. Hannah Mitchell, operations director at FDN Coffee, said: “It’s fantastic to be opening a new site at Bloc, and to be able to provide good coffee and great hospitality to even more visitors. Our arrival at Bloc marks an exciting new chapter for us, and an opportunity to grow our fantastic community even further.”

 

London operator Remedy Bars acquires fourth site: London operator Remedy Bars has acquired its fourth site. The company has added The Elmhurst in Tottenham, which belongs to Heineken-owned Star Pubs, to its portfolio. The pub, which has been closed for two years, will reopen in early August following a major £550,000 joint refurbishment. Run by Charles Bakker, Remedy Bars has two pubs – The Horse & Groom in Shoreditch and Horatia in Highbury – and a craft bar, No 26 Shoreditch. Bakker said: “I used to have 12 pubs and bars but downsized the business just before covid, which turned out to be good timing. I no longer have expansion targets. The business is growing organically, but only as and when something special comes along. The Elmhurst was too interesting to say no to. The biggest challenge for high street pubs and bars is that one week, you can be busy, and the next, not, due to working from home, holidays or train strikes. It makes staffing a challenge.” The plans for The Elmhurst are designed to broaden its appeal, attracting families and local residents as well as visitors to the nearby Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The layout will consist of a flexible lounge area at the front, a snug bar/function room and a games area to the rear with table football, shuffleboard, electronic darts and more than 30 different board games. There will be a large screen showing sport. The food offer will be a food hall-style concept with different menus offering a range of dishes from pizza and burgers to oriental plates, and in the winter, The Elmhurst will launch a Sunday roast. At the weekend, there will be street food stalls in the garden offering customers a further choice of food.

Scottish world buffet restaurant concept to open fourth site: Scottish world buffet restaurant concept Booffi is to open its fourth site. The business will launch in Carnegie Drive, Dunfermline, on Friday, 6 June. The all-you-can-eat venue will open in the premises previously occupied by Kinema, which was also a buffet restaurant that shut five years ago. Booffi promises “fresh food cooked every 30 minutes” and the chance to “dish up your plate from around the world”. Director Craig Laurie told the Press: “We do theme nights, Scottish nights, roasts, Indian tandoori nights, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, BFC (Booffi fried chicken) instead of KFC, and we change the menus too.” Booffi has two sites in Glasgow and one in Clydebank.

Cornish hotel operator grew turnover and profit ahead of acquiring third site: Cornish hotel operator The Cornwall Hotel Collection grew its turnover and profit in the year before acquiring its third site. The company, as previously reported, bought The Falmouth Hotel from Richardson Hotels in May 2024, adding to The Greenbank in Falmouth and The Alverton in Truro. In the year to 31 March 2024, when it was operating just two hotels, the company increased its turnover, from £8,775,114 in 2023 to £9,224,521, and pre-tax profit, from £1,190,567 in 2023 to £1,532,804. Dividends of £621,000 were paid (2023: £615,000). Director Aaron Pascoe said: “After two years of trading affected by the pandemic, the directors consider that the company's performance represents a significant return to form. Compared with the previous year, turnover has increased by 5.1%, gross profit by 13.8% and operating profit by 24.0%. The gross profit margin has increased from 34.3% to 37.2%. This is partly due to a reallocation on room hire income from other operating income this year. The many ongoing challenges in the year required an agile approach, and this remains a core strength in the hotel operations. The coming year will remain with its challenges. However, the company is in a very strong position.”

 

Norfolk coffee shop business set to open third site: Norfolk coffee shop business Folks Coffee Co is set to open its third site. Folks Coffee Co will open in the former home of Star Plain Stores at 8 Fish Hill in Holt on Friday (30 May). Folks Coffee Co already has locations in Blakeney and Heydon. Star Plain Stores closed in February after four years of trading. Folks Coffee Co posted to social media: “We are excited to be opening our doors in Holt. By day, we’ll be serving up expertly brewed coffee, fresh pastries, bakes, cakes, delicious sandwiches and more. By evening, think cheese boards, charcuterie, and a carefully curated selection of wine. We’ve also created space in our unit for a rotating pop-up shop.”

 

Michelin-starred chef Graeme Cheevers opens second restaurant: Michelin-starred Scottish chef Graeme Cheevers has launched his second restaurant. Cheevers has opened Loma at the five-star Cameron House resort, on the banks of Loch Lomond. The opening follows Cheevers and his team launching his debut restaurant, Unalome, in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Street in 2021. The opening marks a homecoming for Cheevers, who previously worked at the resort under Martin Wishart more than a decade ago. Cheevers said: "Our goal is to offer guests an unforgettable dining experience, one that combines precision, creativity and warm Scottish hospitality. I hope Loma will become a must-visit for both locals and visitors alike.” The restaurant will offer a seasonal menu championing Scotland’s rich natural larder – from Loch Fyne langoustine to Argyle Estate red deer, Orkney gold beef and Perthshire strawberries. Will Oakley, managing director of Cameron House, added: “We look forward to enhancing our dining offering and creating distinctive, memorable moments for our guests. This addition reflects our commitment to innovation and showcasing the very best of Scotland’s rich culinary heritage.”

London Golds Gym franchisee and hotelier reports growing membership as it continues recovery, group restructured leading to ‘strong systems and efficient operations’: London Golds Gym franchisee and hotelier Vistastar has reported growing membership as it continues its recovery, and said a group restructure has led to “strong systems and efficient operations”. The company’s turnover grew from £6,824,440 in 2023 to £7,688,529 in the year to 31 March 2024. Of this, £2,405,638 was hotel income (2023: £2,352,818) and £5,282,891 health club income (2023: £4,471,622). Its pre-tax profit fell from £,1,204,436 in 2023 to £619,939. Director Kawaljit Sandhu said: “The financial year ended 31 March 2024 demonstrated the continued recovery from the covid-19 pandemic which resulted in a pre-tax profit of £619,939. I am pleased to report the strength of the recovery has and continues to exceed all our expectations, particularly across all of our gyms. We are very fortunate that our strong management and control systems have helped us minimise the losses. It was very pleasing to see the membership numbers increasing each month. Having committed to significant levels of re-investment in our product over the years, this has contributed to the strong recovery we are now seeing. I can confirm that our membership levels are increasing steadily, our attrition levels are lower than the levels set as the industry standard and our yield per member has grown significantly, currently at its highest level. As is common in this industry, leisure trends are continually evolving. We monitor this very closely by ensuring we continuously adapt to the needs of the business. With this mindset, I am confident that we have and will stay ahead of market trends. Furthermore, we give great thought to future strategies for the enhancement of our business as has been demonstrated in past years of trading. We have restructured the group internally with strong systems and efficient operations. This is clearly evident by the on-going rapid recovery of the business. The business has continued its recovery during 2024. The health club membership numbers are still rising, attrition is very steady, with the yield per member gradually increasing thus showing overall growth. The results for the year ended 31 March 2025 are forecast to continue to show good levels of profitability throughout the business. I am convinced and extremely confident that we are well positioned to take advantage of the upturn. I strongly believe that our immediate recovery is testimony to our organisation as a whole and can say with assurance that we remain very buoyant about the group's future prospects and growth potential in the medium and long term.” Founded in 1996 Vistastar Leisure, headed by Kawaljit and Ricky Sandhu, owns the Continental Hotel in Hounslow as well as Gold’s Gym.