Creams sees ‘strong potential’ in new formats as it explores travel hubs, cinemas and education campuses, 2025 trading ‘encouraging’ so far: Fast-growing dessert parlour operator Creams has told Propel it sees “strong potential” in new formats as it explores travel hubs, cinemas and education campuses. Creams – which has circa 100 UK locations, the majority of which are franchised – first branched out into new formats in 2023 when it entered the garage forecourt sector via a partnership with Park Garage Group. Creams followed this by signing a retail franchise deal later that same year to open in Tesco stores across the country. “We are steadfast in our ambition to expand our locations and offer Creams to customers across the UK,” chief executive Everett Fieldgate told Propel. “To celebrate the launch of our new store design, we recently launched a special three-year fee-free incentive for new and existing franchisees for the first ten locations built in 2025 – further accelerating growth. Our new design has an elevated ambience that will support our expansion into new dayparts while remaining a fan favourite location for an evening get-together. We are also pivoting slightly and actively exploring opportunities with institutional partners like travel, cinema groups and education, in new formats we believe hold strong potential. We are continuously and actively seeking appropriate sites within the Tesco estate to further expand our partnership and also exploring smaller footprint formats to be based within the Tesco estate. The Parks Garage Group partnership is also a prime example of the type of institutional partners we are in discussions with.” Fieldgate said the company’s recent move into savoury hot meal menu items has been “a big success” and has led to higher footfall in the morning and lunchtime periods. Its summer range is also performing well, with a new hot “trend-based” product range launching this week and a collaboration with Pepsi coming later this month. In terms of current trading, Fieldgate said: “Early indicators for 2025 have been encouraging – especially over the past month as warm sunny weather swept the country and sales of our summer range increased. We have been performing in line with the rest of the restaurant sector, but like many others, we’re keeping a close eye on cost pressures. Our digital transformation continues at pace, with almost 50% of our estate now offering table ordering via our app. Further upgrades enhancing the customer ordering experience, loyalty and delivery will be launched later this year.” It comes as Creams reported turnover of £10,722,072 for the year ending 31 March 2024, in line with the £10,716,739 in 2023 despite an 18% decrease in equity store revenue due to the resale or closure of three stores. Adjusted Ebitda dropped from £920,022 to £599,553 following a £144,348 loss on sites closed or sold during the year (2023: nil) and a £632,878 loss on sites closed or sold post year end (2023: £200,721). The company said this reflected significant investments in infrastructure, brand development and manufacturing capabilities, which are “essential to support Creams’ growth trajectory in the UK and abroad. Its pre-tax loss widened from £1,448,402 to £1,891,403 as administration expenses rose by more than £1m. Creams features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, which is exclusive to Premium Club subscribers and currently features 350 companies. 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.

Restaurateur and entrepreneur Matthew Kirby to speak at Operational Excellence Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club subscribers: Restaurateur and entrepreneur Matthew Kirby 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. Kirby, who oversaw the sale of quick service business Chozen Noodle to Chopstix and who operates US foodservice businesses, will talk about the pros and cons of operations in the UK and the US. 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 tomorrow: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database tomorrow (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 pub and bar sector such as Sophy, a bar concept primarily aimed at giving women a “safe space, and Lune Brew Co, the Lancashire independent brewery. Before that, at 9am, Premium subscribers will receive all the videos from this month’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Conference. The 13 videos include Gavin George, founder and former chief executive of Laine Pub Company, and Martin Wolstencroft, chief executive, and Laura Lewis, marketing director, of Arc Inspirations. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five additional databases: the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who's Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including the Operational Excellence Conference in July and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers will be sent a dedicated monthly newsletter that will highlight key updates in the sector and direct subscribers to all the vital content their membership offers. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Chick ‘n’ Sours co-founder says ‘casual dining restaurant model is broken’ as business shutters its two standalone London restaurants: Chick ‘n’ Sours co-founder David Wolanski has said the “casual dining restaurant model is broken” as the business shuttered its two standalone restaurants in London. The concept closed its restaurants in Haggerston, which opened in 2015, and Seven Dials, which followed a year later, on Sunday (25 May). Chick ‘n’ Sours continues to trade at its recently opened site at the Corner Corner food hall in Canary Wharf and its Roof East residency in Stratford, while its food truck will still have a presence at festivals. A post on Instagram by Chick ‘n’ Sours said: “The restaurants may both be permanently closed but the brand lives on.” Wolanski, who founded the business with Carl Clarke, said on Instagram: “We do what we do because we love it, fuelled by passion and a desire to provide guests with awesome food and memorable dining experiences. But that’s no longer enough these days. We hung in there as long as we could but I’m afraid we’ve now reached the point where operating the two restaurants just isn’t viable anymore and it makes no commercial sense to continue. The casual dining restaurant model is broken, but that’s for another post.” Chick ‘n’ Sours began as a pop-up and at one point grew to four physical London restaurants, with sites also in Spitalfields and Islington. In April, Chick ‘n’ Sours became the first business to benefit from a new partnership between Deliveroo and Sessions, the growth platform for food brands. It saw Chick ‘n’ Sours being served from Sessions delivery kitchens in key London trade zones, with future plans to expand nationally across Sessions’ broader network of kitchens. Clarke stepped away from operations with Chick ‘n’ Sours four years ago but remains a shareholder.

UKHospitality – government should consider sector as part of its skills reform: UKHospitality has said the government should consider the sector being a part of its planned skills reform. Downing Street this week said young people are set to benefit from 120,000 new training opportunities as part of a “radical skills revolution”, giving them the chance to “develop the skills to rebuild Britain”. However, the announcement focused on trades such as brickies, carpenters and healthcare support workers. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “It was positive to see the government’s skills announcement this week, helping to create more opportunities for young people getting into work and increase investment in the skills system. However, we urge the government to consider the hospitality industry as part of the plans. It’s a key sector that can deliver change at both pace and scale, unlike many of the current priority sectors. We demonstrated this recently with the successful launch of Hospitality Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), created in collaboration with the Department for Work and Pensions. UKHospitality has already had training solutions in development for some time now, all of which are ready to be launched as soon as the required backing and support is confirmed.” Nicholls said these include a foundation apprenticeship for hospitality ready to be delivered from August 2025; a hospitality graduate apprenticeship scheme at Level 7 ready to launch in September 2025; hospitality and catering courses ready to go live for adult learners; and hospitality skills bootcamps that have already received initial interest from several locations. She added: “It’s imperative that the government recognises and backs the dedicated work the hospitality sector is doing to provide best-in-class training for those entering and already working in the industry.”

Michelin Guide adds seven new restaurants and a pub: Seven new restaurants and a pub have been added to the Michelin Guide. Half of the new additions are in London – Italian restaurant Dear Jackie inside the Broadwick Soho hotel, Greek-inspired Krokodilos in Kensington, modern cuisine Silva in Mayfair and Mediterranean-focused Toklas in The Strand. They are joined by modern British restaurant Farm Caff in Somerset, modern cuisine restaurant Hiræth in Cardiff and Indian restaurant Jai Ho in Bishop's Cleeve – the sibling to Cheltenham restaurants Prithvi and Bhoomi Kitchen. Also added to the guide is The Rum Fox pub in Grindleton, in the Ribble Valley.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment has been retained by a hospitality group that is looking for a construction project manager to lead the delivery of new-build and refurbishment projects across a growing portfolio of restaurant sites. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will be responsible for managing the full project lifecycle.” The salary is up to £75,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email joe@corecruitment.com.

 

Cat & Wickets co-founder – we’ve built a team capable of operating a ten-strong portfolio, third site set to open this summer: Harry Gurney, co-founder of premium gastropub business Cat & Wickets Pub Company, has said the business has built a team capable of operating a ten-strong portfolio as he revealed a third site is set to open this summer. Gurney and fellow ex-England cricketer Stuart Broad launched their first pub – the Tap & Run in Upper Broughton, Nottinghamshire – in 2018 before adding The Griffin Inn in Swithland, Leicestershire, which is owned by Everards, in 2022. Now, Gurney and Broad are close to completing on a third site. Gurney told Propel: “It’s in the Midlands, it’s got 150 internal seats, a large riverside garden and a car park with 70 spaces.” Speaking at Propel’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, Gurney, who played 12 times for England, said the business turned over £4m in 2024, including a newly refurbished The Griffin Inn. This year, Gurney hopes the sites will turn over £4.7m, “plus additional revenue from the new site”. He said: “We are looking for more and aiming to open another pub in each of the next two years. We are potentially going to be looking for external funding in the future. I’m really keen to grow this business – nothing is off the table. I’ve got a big vision for the business and for the team, taking it along for the ride and having a load of fun. We’ve got a team ready to go [capable of operating ten sites]. I was taught by one of the best coaches I had, Peter Moores, that international cricketers tend to start behaving like international cricketers long before they become them. So, we’re trying to behave like a ten-pub business before we become one.” In 2022, the Tap & Run was gutted by fire and took 54 weeks to rebuild. Asked if he felt like giving up at that point, Gurney said: “In sport, there are so many highs but so many lows as well. You have to learn to deal with it and not get too emotional, and in the pub game, that’s exactly the same. The ability to roll with the punches is crucial.” Gurney admitted it had taken a lot of work to get the business to where it is now, admitting that when the Tap & Run first opened, it was “not very good”. He added: “I knew nothing about pubs. I was still a full-time professional cricketer, and we had no systems and no processes, and we were basically running out of money and going bust. I assumed that having Broady as a partner would guarantee success, and we discovered quite quickly that wasn’t the case. You’ve still got to be good at what you do.” Gurney was one of the speakers at Propel’s Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference. Propel Premium Club subscribers will receive all the videos from the event tomorrow (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.

 

Prezzo Italian revamps rewards programme with exclusive deals on new record-breaking app: Prezzo Italian, the Cain International-backed Italian dining group led by James Brown formerly known as Prezzo, has revamped its rewards programme, with new exclusive deals for customers available via its new record-breaking app. The company said its “Club Prezzo” app secured number one spot in the Apple app charts just hours after its release, with its app partner, Pepper, reporting a record day for downloads in its history of creating app experiences for leading hospitality companies. Through the app,Prezzo customers can sign up to instantly access member-only pricing on select menu items such as tomato bruschetta, discounted to £6.75 from £8.25, and pepperoni pizza, reduced to £15 from £16.50. New members can also claim a free portion of triple-cooked Nutella doughballs. With each visit, more rewards become available, including free birthday cake, surprise gifts and exclusive offers. Customers using the app can also get one of Prezzo Italian’s classic Italian dishes for just 99p on Monday, 2 June, across any of its 95 sites. It follows the company’s rebrand and relaunch earlier this month, with Kensington High Street the first site to receive the fresh new look and several other refurbishments planned throughout the rest of the year. Brown said: “Loyalty card programmes have proven to be extremely successful in the retail space, so we wanted to create our own take on this. The app has already been a huge success, with our partner Pepper reporting that Club Prezzo’s launch day saw the highest number of first-day downloads in its history.”

Trejo’s Tacos UK launches £625,000 fundraise to support expansion, receives backing from Slim Chickens CEO: Trejo’s Tacos UK, which holds the licence here for the US taco brand from actor Danny Trejo, is embarking on a £625,000 fundraise to support its expansion. The UK company, which is led by Jerome Armit and Sean O’Kelly, opened the debut site here for the brand last year, in London’s Notting Hill. Now, Trejo’s Tacos UK is aiming to raise the funds to support its expansion. The company has already secured £600,000 from prominent investors including Tom Gordon, chief executive and founder of US brand Slim Chickens, and Julian Mylchreest, executive vice-chairman of Bank of America. Trejo’s Tacos UK is offering 13.8% equity in return for the investment, giving the company a pre-money valuation of £3.9m. The pitch states: “Based on our own restaurant in Notting Hill and Danny Trejo’s celebrity support, we aim to establish franchise restaurants after opening a second location, focusing on ethnic cuisine. Leveraging the brand, the Notting Hill site has more than £1m turnover in the last 12 months, with the unique ‘Cal-Mex’ twist setting us apart, increasing our appeal in a competitive market. Funds will be used for new sites, design, fit-out costs, franchise support, tech systems and strengthening head office operations to boost expansion.” Armit is former chief operating officer of food and beverage consultancy firm Truffle Hunting and advisor to Shiva Hotels, Bourne Capital and InterContinental Hotels Group, while O’Kelly is a film producer and financier. Trejo’s Tacos operates seven restaurants in the US, including Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts. Trejo’s Tacos UK hold exclusive UK rights to the brand, recipes, marketing and ambassador involvement. The ten-year licence includes renewable terms, with 7.5% royalty on gross sales.

 

Joule’s acquires Birmingham city centre pub: Shropshire brewer and retailer Joule’s has completed the purchase of a canalside pub in Gas Street in the centre of Birmingham – its third site in the city. The Waterside Tap adds to the Red Lion in the Jewellery Quarter and the New Inn in Harborne, both of which the company acquired in 2024. For now, the pub will remain open as it is, with Joule’s beer on the bar, with future plans to “restore and reimagine” the site as a Joule’s Taphouse. It will offer the “quintessential pub experience of real fires, great pub food, live music, proper cask ale, good dogs and even better conversation”. The pub will be operated by the landlords of the New Inn in Harborne – Adrian Walsh and Bernadette Quigley. Joule’s development director Anna Brakel said: “This is an ambitious site for us, but we do not undertake this challenge lightly. Waterside Tap, in the next year, will turn into a Joule’s Taphouse. Just like with our previous projects, we recognise the importance of preserving the history and unique features that make each pub special.” In March, Propel revealed Joule’s had secured a new bank loan to fund future acquisitions and is seeking to dispose of village locations where its taphouse model works less well. The operator of 38 taphouses across Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Wales has previously said it now focusing on suburban and town centre locations.

 

Mission Mars confirms Rudy’s to open in Bristol for south west debut: Mission Mars, which is backed by the Business Growth Fund, has confirmed it will open a site for its Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana in Bristol – marking its debut in the south west. Propel revealed in March that Mission Mars planned to open a Rudy’s in the former Royal Bank of Scotland site in Baldwin Street. Mission Mars has now confirmed the site will open this summer, creating 35 jobs. The 3,000 square-foot venue will offer 120 indoor covers and plans also include an outdoor seating area with 35 additional covers. The restaurant will mark the brand’s 34th opening across the UK. Neal Bates, managing director of Rudy’s, said: “With its energetic city centre, rich culture, and thriving food scene, Bristol feels like a perfect fit for us. We’re excited to join the incredible restaurants and bars already here and become part of what makes this city so special.” Earlier this week, Mission Mars, which also operates the four-strong Albert’s Schloss concept, said it has six new Rudy’s sites in legals. It came as the company reported Albert’s Schloss delivered record revenue of £25.3m in the first half of its current financial year (2024: £18.9m) with Rudy’s also delivering record first-half revenue of £29.0m (2024: £19.9m). For the year ending September 2024, group revenue totalled a record £92.9m (2023: £71.1m) with Albert’s Schloss contributing £37.5m (2023: £32.3m) and Rudy’s £46.4m (2023: £29.3m).

 

Urban Baristas founder – City ‘booming again’ as first-quarter sales up 41% versus 2024: Urban Baristas founder Huw Wardrope has said the City of London is “booming again” as he reported rocketing first-quarter sales compared with the same period in 2024. The business has 18 locations across the capital, most recently opening its sixth franchise store, at 374 Old York Road in Wandsworth. Wardrope posted to social media: “Sales in our ‘Square Mile’ locations are up 41% in the first quarter versus the same period last year. Is work from home over? The City’s finally booming again.” Urban Baristas is also preparing to open within Mosaic East in Addiscombe Road, Croydon, and in the new Wimbledon Quarter development in Queen’s Road, Wimbledon, for its first shopping centre location. Other locations in the pipeline including Chelsea, Fulham and Highgate as the company aims to open 12 new stores this year and works towards a long-term target of more than 40 stores by the end of 2026.

 

Maltese hospitality group set to launch Japanese dining brand in London: Maltese hospitality group, Lifestyle Group, is set to launch Aki, its Japanese dining brand, in London. Opening in September, Aki London will be the first international outpost for the group, marking the inception of its “ambitious global expansion plans”. Opening in Cavendish Square, Aki London will reflect the original Aki outpost in Malta, which opened in Valletta in 2020, offering “modern takes on classic Japanese cuisine with a focus on freshly sourced, quality ingredients and innovative flavour combinations”. This will include classic sushi, robata and Kushiyaki dishes alongside a cocktail menu of Japanese-influenced drinks and Maltese favourites. The building, a grade II-listed building at 1 Cavendish Square, is a former bank that has undergone a £15m renovation over the last two years. This has seen the banking hall transformed into an 80-cover central dining room and the vaults into a destination bar, while the mezzanine level will feature an undercover terrace and private dining space. “We’re proud to mark the roll-out of the Aki brand globally with our opening in London – a leading culinary capital of the world,” said Robert Debono, chief executive of db Group, Lifestyle Group’s parent company. “Aki represents our commitment to excellence, innovation, and the art of Japanese cuisine. This launch is a milestone for Lifestyle Group as we bring many refined dining experiences to one of the most dynamic food scenes on the planet.” Lifestyle Group's portfolio ranges from fine dining restaurants to casual eateries and beach clubs in Malta across a variety of cuisines. Parent company db Group has grown from a family-run business into Malta’s foremost player in the tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors. In its portfolio sits the Seabank Resort & Spa, the San Antonio Hotel & Spa, the Melior Boutique hotel and 11 independent restaurants – including Loa, Aki, Amami and Tora – as well as all the Maltese outposts of Hard Rock Cafe, Starbucks and Grom.

 

Subway hits milestone of 400 digital kiosks across Europe: Subway has hit a milestone of installing 400 digital kiosks across its estate in Europe. Subway launched its first UK self-serve kiosks in November 2023, at a Motor Fuel Group site in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The kiosks have been a feature of Subway restaurants across the US since 2017. “We’ve hit a major milestone in our digital journey!” Subway EMEA posted to social media. “More than 400 interactive self-serve kiosks are now live across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Finland and the Netherlands. These kiosks are more than just a technology upgrade, they’re part of a broader transformation in how we design restaurants, serve guests and help drive franchisee profitability. Together with our new Subway app and refreshed loyalty programme, kiosks are helping create an even more seamless and convenient guest experience. This is just one of the many ways we continue to innovate and improve on the Subway offering with both guests and franchisees in mind.”

 

Bleecker confirms launch in London’s Soho this summer: Bleecker, the burger concept founded by Zan Kaufman in 2012, has confirmed it will launch in London’s Soho this summer. Propel revealed last month that the seven-strong business was set to acquire the former Neat site in Old Compton Street for its eighth location. Kaufman has described the site, at 33 Old Compton Street, as the company’s “milestone location”. He said: “Opening in Old Compton Street is a full-circle moment for me. Long before I came to London, I knew about Soho – its energy, its history, its role as a haven for LGBTQ+ people. When I arrived, it became the place where I first discovered a vibrant LGBTQ+ community that I could be a part of. I met my wife just around the corner. This neighbourhood shaped who I am, and now Bleecker gets to be part of it. Old Compton Street is more than just a location; it’s a place of unity, pride, and passion – all the things Bleecker stands for.” Bleecker – which also operates sites in Spitalfields, Victoria, Bloomberg Arcade, Seven Dials, London Bridge and Baker Street – is named after the street in New York that connects the East Village to West Village. Zaufman added: “We’ve always run Bleecker with integrity and independence. We don’t have investors, so we had to take out a loan to secure this site because we believe in it. Soho is part of London’s soul, and Bleecker belongs here. For years, people have been asking us to open in Soho. We’re proud to bring Bleecker to this neighbourhood and do what we do best.”

 

Tom Kerridge Group to replace The Butchers Tap in Chelsea with new gastropub concept: The Tom Kerridge Group is set to replace its The Butchers Tap pub in London’s Chelsea with new gastropub concept. Propel reported last week the group would be closing the Tryon Street venue, with last service this Sunday (1 June). The company has now revealed opening in the same location, on Monday, 16 June, will be The Chalk Freehouse, which “plans to commemorate the beauty of traditional British gastropub dining”. The venue will be led by Tom De Keyser, who has worked alongside Tom Kerridge for 12 years and most recently was head chef at his The Hand and Flowers pub in Marlow – the first pub in the world to be awarded two Michelin stars. De Keyser also previously served as head chef at The Coach, another of Kerridge’s Marlow establishments, which holds one Michelin star. He will be succeeded at The Hand and Flowers by Sarah Hayward, crowned Michelin Young Chef of the Year in 2023, who will move from The Coach, where she is currently head chef. The Chalk Freehouse will offer a three-course menu, available for lunch and dinner, with mains including pork chop schnitzel with smoked bacon cabbage and a fried duck egg. For those dining at lunchtime, a set menu is also available, offering two courses for £18.50 or three for £25. The wine list will focus on both old world traditions and new world regions, alongside lager, IPA, stout, cider and non-alcoholics drinks. There will be a custom-built bar in the garden area, plus a 60-cover dining room, including a ten-seater private room. De Keyser said: “I’m excited to be taking on the next stage of my career within the Tom Kerridge Group and opening a new site. Tom has taught me so much about proper gastropub dining and what it is to create truly brilliant food within the context of a pub menu.” Kerridge added: “Since I met Tom13 years ago, I knew he’d go far within our group. He’s brought so much to both The Coach and The Hand and Flowers over the years, and I have full confidence that he’ll do the same with The Chalk.” Kerridge previously said he took the “difficult decision” to close The Butcher’s Tap due to “the challenging climate hospitality businesses now face”.

 

Whitbread submits plans for new Leeds hotel: Whitbread has lodged plans to redevelop a Leeds office building into a Premier Inn hotel. The company has submitted an application to the city council to convert and extend Verity House – a 44,000 square-foot property – into a 131-bedroom hotel. Jill Anderson, acquisitions manager for Whitbread, said: “Submitting our planning application for Verity House marks an important milestone in our ambition to grow Premier Inn in Leeds city centre. The city continues to show strong demand for quality, affordable hotel accommodation, and we’re committed to meeting this need through the delivery of new hotel developments. Converting office buildings like Verity House into Premier Inns not only accelerates the delivery of new hotels in high-demand locations like Leeds city centre, but it also supports Whitbread’s sustainability goals by reducing the carbon emissions involved in the development process through the re-use of existing structures.” Whitbread acquired Verity House in October 2024 as part of its strategy of investing in its UK and Ireland hotel estate. The company currently operates more than 85,000 Premier Inn rooms across the UK and sees the long-term potential for 125,000 in its core market. The submitted application brings Whitbread’s secured development pipeline in Leeds city centre to more than 250 new bedrooms across two sites. The company currently operates three hotels in the city centre – at Leeds Arena, Wellington Street and Whitehall Road. To the east of the city centre, Whitbread is working with the council on plans for a 143-bedroom Premier Inn with an ancillary bar and restaurant at the Leeds Kirkgate redevelopment site, where planning permission was granted in December 2023.

 

Atis partners with Wahaca co-founder Thomasina Miers for menu collaboration: Atis, the London salad concept co-founded by former Noble Rot sommelier Eleanor Warder and Philip Honer, has partnered with Mexican restaurant brand Wahaca and its co-founder, Thomasina Miers, for a menu collaboration. The limited edition Wahaca x atis plate, The Wahaca Mexicana, lands on the menu at Atis’ 11 restaurants on Monday, 9 June. The dish will feature smoky mojo chicken, chipotle lime dressing and Miers’ Mexican chopped salad layered with baby spinach, pink ‘slaw and spring onion with coriander, all served with Blanco Niño chipotle tortillas. Warder said: “As a brand that shares our commitment to bold flavours, sustainable practices and celebrating seasonality, Wahaca is a natural fit for Atis. The Wahaca Mexicana plate brings together the strengths of both brands, combining vibrant, vegetable-packed ingredients with purpose-led thinking.” Miers added: “Teaming up with Atis has been so much fun – the Wahaca Mexicana brings the bold, vibrant spirit of Mexican flavours to the streets of London with full summer energy.”

 

Team behind London restaurant concept Uli set to open second HUŎ location: The team behind the Uli restaurants in London’s Notting Hill and Marylebone is set to open a second location for its HUŎ concept. Graham Rebak and Adam Wilkie will this July open a HUŎ in Belsize Village, joining its current location in Chelsea. Head chef Yam Gurung's menu will take in dishes from around China and south east Asia, with an emphasis on using the freshest and healthiest ingredients, all cooked from scratch using traditional recipes. These include Thai sea bass fillet steamed with chilli and lemongrass. The restaurant will be divided into three areas, including a dedicated bar area serving HUŎ’s signature Asian-inspired cocktail, carefully curated Japanese whisky, saké and on-tap beer. The back of the restaurant will house the main dining room and offers seating for up to 86 guests, while the private dining room downstairs will seat up to 18 guests, complete with its own bar. An outside terrace will also have seating for up to 16 guests.

 

Chef Thomas Straker opens second London site: Chef Thomas Straker has opened his second London site. Straker has launched restaurant and deli Acre in Notting Hill, a few doors from his OG Straker’s restaurant. Acre is “all about simple, quality cooking and putting seasonal ingredients on a pedestal”. While work on the space in Golbourne Road progresses, the casual dining restaurant is now welcoming guests. Eventually, there will be a deli on the ground floor while the all-day restaurant moves upstairs, reports Hot Dinners. Dishes on the launch menu include cod, asparagus, courgette and crème fraiche, and a chilli cheese smash burger. While OG Straker’s is cleared up following a kitchen fire earlier this month, it has relocated for the next three weeks to nearby Notting Hill spot Brasseria. The pop-up promises “all the essential ingredients: music, wine, cocktails, and a new menu featuring some old-time favourites”. Last month, Straker announced he was planning to open a restaurant in New York, having signed a lease for the former Keith McNally’s Lucky Strike premises at 59 Grand Street. Straker had a sold-out pop-up in New York in October in preparation for the opening. The name of the new restaurant has not yet been confirmed.

 

Two Michelin-starred London restaurant Trivet set to launch wine-focused restaurant at Mayfair hotel: Trivet – the two Michelin-starred neighbourhood restaurant in London’s Bermondsey from Isa Bal and Jonny Lake – is set to launch a wine-focused restaurant at a Mayfair hotel. Labombe by Trivet will launch this autumn at Como Metropolitan London – opening within the hotel but with its own dedicated entrance In Old Park Lane. Labombe by Trivet will be an “evolution of the original bar concept of the same name” created by Lake and Bal. A new food menu will see dishes designed around the grill, with a small number of signatures borrowed from Trivet, while the wine list will focus on an “essential by-the-glass selection”. Lake and Bal said: “We are excited to bring to life the full restaurant version of Labombe, particularly to such an iconic London location.” Rory Slater, managing director of Como Metropolitan London, added: “Como Group has an exceptional track record of collaborating with celebrated chefs, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Trivet. Labombe by Trivet promises to bring an exciting and distinctive experience to Mayfair through its unique and exemplary culinary offering.” Lake and Bal launched Labombe Wine Bar in May 2024 as a new concept that saw Trivet’s dedicated bar open on Monday evenings under a new guise.

 

Chef Stu Deeley to open restaurant at Warwickshire hotel: Chef Stu Deeley is to open a restaurant at the Eden Hotel Collection’s Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. The Warwick, which will focus on “refined British dining”, will launch on Wednesday, 18 June. The opening marks a homecoming for Deeley, who worked at Mallory Court and the Eden Hotel Collection early in his career. Deeley, who won BBC show MasterChef: The Professionals in 2019, later became chef director at Hampton Manor Estate in Solihull, which is also part of Eden Hotel Collection, and where Deeley founded the now closed Michelin-recommended restaurant Smoke, which had a focus on ingredient-led and open-fire cooking. His menu at The Warwick will be dictated by the seasons, using ingredients from the Mallory Court kitchen gardens. Deeley said: “Coming back to Mallory Court feels like a full-circle moment for me. It’s a place with deep roots, not just in its history and gardens, but in the people – many of whom have been here for decades. What really excites me is the potential. We have a bigger blueprint here than I’ve ever had before, and that opens the door to creating something special. My focus is on classical flavour combinations, ingredients that speak for themselves and food people genuinely want to eat – not just admire. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel, I just want to make it turn really, really well.” 

County Durham brewery bought by beer producer: County Durham brewery Castle Eden has been sold to beer producer Powder Monkey. Castle Eden, which will celebrate its 200th anniversary next year, was established by John Nimmo, originally operating under the name J Nimmo and Sons. At one stage, the brewery had an estate of 125 pubs. Following a number of ownership changes, including Whitbread until 1998, Castle Eden’s assets were acquired by Cliff Walker and David Travers in 2014. The business has now been acquired by Powder Monkey, which was founded in Hampshire in 2019 by Andy Burdon. Former England rugby player Steve Thompson is a director and brand ambassador for Powder Monkey. Walker said: “We are delighted to join Powder Monkey and look forward to the additional exciting opportunities for growth.” Burdon added: “We are constantly looking at great opportunities to expand the Powder Monkey portfolio and the attraction back to my heritage in Durham, coupled with a superb facility and great operation, makes great business sense and is fantastic for me on a personal level.”