Bibi’s gearing up for major expansion with UK investor search, exploring overseas growth: Bibi’s, the London café concept founded by Turkish-born chef Bilur Yapici – nicknamed Bibi – has told Propel it is gearing up for its next big growth phase and is seeking investors both in the UK and abroad. The business was founded in 2019 by Yapici and her partner, Tansel Turna, three years after they moved to the UK from Istanbul. They opened the first Bibi’s – offering Turkish heritage and Mediterranean flavours through “wholesome homemade recipes filled with bold flavours and nourishing ingredients” – in Smith Court, Soho. This has been followed by six further locations across the capital – the latest opening this month at 16 Cullum Street in Fenchurch, its second franchise location. Turna said Bibi’s is now looking beyond London for its next stage of expansion. “We opened three stores and one franchise location last year and we are looking to open more this year if we find the right investors,” he said. “We think we can be up to 20 locations by this time next year, and we’re open to more franchising in London and different cities. We’re focused on our big future plans and are looking for investors from the UK to support our growth.” Turna also revealed that the team is heading to New York soon to explore potential opportunities in the US as part of the expansion plans. For potential partners, opening their own Bibi’s store involves low start-up costs – “hundreds rather than thousands,” according to Turna. He also highlighted the concept’s evolving menu, with hot dishes added last year that have already become the company’s best sellers. As well as the recent opening in Fenchurch, Bibi’s operates two sites in Soho and one each in Covent Garden, Mayfair, Liverpool Street and Bankside. The company also operates a catering business and will soon be launching Bibi’s at Home, which will offer salads in vacuum-sealed bags, with a shelf life of up to four days.

 

Sponsored message – tamper-proof bags for food delivery now available from CCS McLays: Food tampering is a crime in some parts of the USA so CCS McLays has brought America’s most effective tamper-evident takeaway delivery packaging across the Atlantic to become the UK’s exclusive supplier of Seal2Go Tab Lok bags. Chief executive Ian Hall said: “Our recent YouGov survey of approximately 2,000 British adults revealed that 86% believe it is a food outlet’s responsibility to protect their deliveries from being tampered with, while 84% would expect food outlets to use a product that guaranteed this, if such a product was available. Now it is. Exclusively available from CCS McLays, Seal2Go tamper-evident food delivery bags are designed to keep contents safe and improve customer experience. If you do nothing, your reputation is really at risk – nobody likes bad reviews, and the consequences of poor food delivery are significant – almost half (44%) of Brits wouldn’t re-order, 66% say they would complain to the brand directly, 38% would warn friends and 17% would leave a negative review on social media. Act now to give your food deliveries a guarantee and stop your customers relying on luck.” For more information, click here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Propel’s Top 500 UK hospitality companies deliver £30bn in turnover across 51,000 sites: Propel’s Top 500 report reveals the UK hospitality sector’s top 500 companies by turnover generate more than £30bn in revenue across in excess of 51,000 sites. Propel’s report is searchable in seven main segments. Hotels lead the way with 125 companies (25.0%), followed by quick service restaurants (QSR) at 123 (24.6%), pubs and bars at 77 (15.4%), experiential leisure at 65 (13.0%), casual dining with 60 (12.0%), cafe bakery at 45 (9.0%), and fine dining at five (1.0%). A list of these operators can be discovered now by visiting the Propel 500 page on Propel’s website. With more than 90,000 words of analysis, the report delves into company histories, leadership structures, site numbers and turnover figures, offering an essential resource for industry professionals. The guide will be sent out as two files – an introductory PDF featuring deep dives into the top 25 companies and including 6,500 words of insight from Propel’s writers, and a fully searchable excel sheet where all the data can be easily accessed. The analysis includes Mark Wingett examining the mergers and acquisitions shaping the future of the Top 500, while Tim Street dissects the UK’s rapidly developing franchise market. As the experiential leisure sector becomes a cornerstone of modern hospitality, Phil Pemberton assesses how innovative experiences are attracting customers, while Katherine Doggrell examines the key developments in UK hotels. Data expert Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, looks at emerging growth sectors, and Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vanifatova analyses the latest trends in the QSR market. Propel 500 is available now for £595 plus VAT. Existing Premium Club members can purchase it for £395 plus VAT. Premium Club members will receive the report for free on Friday, 28 February at 9am. Order the Propel 500 report today by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality to be released tomorrow featuring 876 companies: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club members tomorrow (Friday, 24 January), at midday. Another 18 companies have been added to the database, which now features 876 companies. This month’s edition will also include 129 updated entries and more than 237,000 words of content. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club members 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 Clubs members will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including Excellence in Pub Retail (May 2025) and discounts on specialist sector reports such as the Propel 500. Operators that are Premium Club members are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club members 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 members 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 members 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.

 

MPs support move for deposit return scheme for England and Northern Ireland: A proposed law to establish a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in England and Northern Ireland from 2027 has been supported by MPs. DRS involves people being charged a deposit when buying a single-use container and receiving the money back when they hand it in for recycling at a designated return point. Environment minister Mary Creagh said the DRS will reduce littering, boost recycling, help protect wildlife and “begin to turn back the plastic tide”. But the Conservatives, who initiated moves towards a DRS in 2017, opposed the measure and raised concerns over the cost implications on businesses. The House of Commons voted 352 to 75, majority 277, in favour of the statutory instrument, which paves the way for the scheme to be introduced in England and Northern Ireland from October 2027. The Scottish government is expected to align its DRS to match the one backed by MPs. The Welsh government pulled out of the UK-wide approach last year and has always maintained that glass would be part of its scheme. Materials included in the Westminster scheme would be single-use plastic, steel and aluminium drinks containers.

 

Almost half of Generation Z workers turning down jobs over ‘ethical’ concerns: Generation Z workers are considering quitting their job or refusing roles with prospective employers because they are not “ethical” enough, a survey has found. More than four in ten workers aged between 18 and 27 have turned down a job or even decided not to apply at all because they have deemed an employer to be “unethical”, according to Co-operatives UK, which represents the UK’s 7,000 independent co-operative businesses. Almost two-thirds of Generation Z said their employers’ values – including green credentials, honesty and social responsibility – are as important as the pay packets on offer. The younger generation’s attachment to ethics is so strong that 42% have considered quitting because they fret about their employer’s lack of social purpose. Meanwhile, nine in ten respondents said they “feel like a cog in a wheel of a faceless organisation”. Rose Marley, chief executive of Co-operatives UK, told The Telegraph: “Generation Z wants to reshape the future of work, demanding that businesses prioritise people, planet and purpose over pure profit.”

 

Sir Tim Martin – breakfast trade has returned while guest ale sales are ‘rocking’: JD Wetherspoon chairman Sir Tim Martin has told Propel that the breakfast trade has returned while guest ale sales are “rocking”. Wetherspoon reported like-for-like sales were up 5.1% in the first half of its financial year and 6.1% over the Christmas period. Asked what the stand-out performers during the period had been, Sir Tim said: “Guest real ales from around the country are rocking. Breakfasts, slow post-pandemic, are shooting the lights out. Coffee is doing well. Au Vodka is a big hit and XiX vodka from the Sidemen has them queuing in the aisles. Anything with chicken is also really flying.” Sir Tim said removing VAT on food sales would allow most pubs or pub companies to afford to sell one beer and one lager at £1.99 and still retain their current gross profit percentage, “thereby becoming far more competitive vis a vis with supermarkets”. While Wetherspoon is facing an additional £60m in costs per annum, and Sir Tim has previously said the industry “will definitely have to increase prices to cover tax increases”, Wetherspoon had not done so at this point. He added: “Legislation from ‘dinner party goers’ in parliament is our biggest challenge but we are confident of a reasonable outcome for the full year.” 

 

Homeslice founders vow to save business after it fell into liquidation owing £2.5m: Alan and Mark Wogan, founders of London better pizza concept Homeslice, have vowed to save the remainder of the business after it fell into liquidation owing £2.5m. Propel revealed last month that Begbies Traynor had been appointed as administrators to Homeslice, which operates three sites – in the City, Marylebone and Neal’s Yard. Homeslice’s 70-cover site in James Street is currently being marketed by joint agents AG&G and Gordon Brothers. Homeslice Holdings was placed into liquidation last month owing £2.5m, with key creditors including HM Revenue & Customs, which is owed £485,000, and Lloyds Bank, which is owed £517,000. Mark Wogan told The Mail that he and his brother, who is owed £470,000 by Homeslice, are intent on saving the remaining three sites. He said: “We’re sorting out a restructure that the business can afford and keep going. The cost of production has gone up dramatically.” He said that profitability is probably “half of what it was pre-2019”, with the amount of diners prepared to spend remorselessly declining. The brothers are adamant they will not bid farewell to the business, leaving staff and small creditors to count the cost. Mark Wogan said: “Rents are significant, but people are more significant. We have good people who rely on Homeslice for their living. We have a lot of staff who’ve been with us seven years-plus. It’s really important that, as an owner, I provide them with a living going forward. It’s very important to honour the creditors – it’s not who I am otherwise.”

 

PizzaExpress eyes second Pod site: PizzaExpress, the Paula MacKenzie-led business, has lined up a second site for its new Pod format, in Wales. Propel understands that PizzaExpress will open a Pod site at the Tesco Superstore in Swansea Marina. PizzaExpress launched its first Pod format site, in the car park of the Tesco Extra in Southampton, last November. PizzaExpress said the new concept marked a “milestone in the brand’s mission of reaching its pizza fans no matter where they are, this time – on the go”. Positioned outside the Tesco Extra’s main entrance, the Pod allows consumers to order and collect when on the move, ordering from an open kitchen and collection window. Pod also features a £9.95 pizza and soft drink lunch offer, with Tesco Clubcard members able to redeem their points at the Pod. A PizzaExpress spokesperson told Propel: “While we have almost 360 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, innovating and thinking outside the Pod is in our DNA. In November 2024, we started offering our iconic dough balls and firm favourites to our pizza fans through a new concept, the PizzaExpress Pod, outside Southampton’s Tesco. We are all about bringing showtime to dinner time in its variety of forms so with more to come, watch this space!”

 

Sessions reveals location for next six SoBe Burger openings, to launch over next two months: Sessions, the growth platform for original food brands, has revealed the locations for its next six SoBe Burger openings, to launch over the next two months. Sessions only began the roll-out of bricks-and-mortar sites for the concept, which also has 200-plus delivery locations, last summer, and it ended the year with 12 stores. Sessions, which last year raised £3m in funding to aid its growth plans – including the launch of a franchising arm – first started working with the smash burger business in 2021. “We started 2024 with zero dine-in franchises for our smash burger brand, SoBe Burger,” the company posted to social media. “By May, we had one. By December, we had 12. In 2025, we're growing even faster. January has been spent donning our hard hats and touring new locations. In the next two months, you'll find SoBe in: Farnborough, Harrow, Hemel Hempstead, Edinburgh, Plymouth and Portsmouth. Chances are, there’s about to be a SoBe near you – if not in the next two months, definitely by the end of 2025!” SoBe Burger currently has locations in Dunstable, Walthamstow, Nottingham, Tunbridge Wells, Dalkeith, West Byfleet,Wokingham, Sheen, Maidenhead, Ealing, Hounslow and Luton. Propel revealed last year that Sessions will also be bringing the Ivan Ramen concept, founded by world renowned ramen chef Ivan Orkin, from New York to the UK and rolling it out nationally to more than 50 locations. Sessions, which also works with brands such as Little Bao Boy and Patty Guy, has a roster of more than 300 kitchens and has delivered more than 3.5 million orders across its digital and physical platforms.

 

Rudy’s lines up Leamington Spa opening: Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, the Mission Mars-owned brand, is lining up an opening in Leamington Spa. The 30-strong brand is set to open on the former Bodega Cantina site at 108 Parade in the Warwickshire town. The brand is also eyeing an opening in Cambridge. Rudy’s is looking to open in the former TSB bank between the entrances to Lion Yard and Grand Arcade in the city. At the end of last year, the brand opened in the former Barclays Bank building in Bury New Road, in Prestwich, and in the ex-Royal Bank of Scotland site in Newcastle’s Grey Street. Last July, Rudy’s said it was targeting opening nine sites in FY24, with the aim of opening a similar number of pizzerias in FY25. 

 

McDonald’s extends partnership with AI company to help streamline its finance and HR functions: McDonald’s has extended its partnership with AI company Cognizant to help streamline its finance and HR functions. McDonald’s partnership with Cognizant was initially struck in 2017 via Riyadh International Catering Corporation, which owns and operates nearly 200 restaurants in Saudi Arabia. The extension comes a little over a year after McDonald’s executives shared plans to modernise the brand, with global chief information officer Brian Rice saying the company’s technology platforms have become more fragmented, complex and inconsistent. In response, McDonald’s has been building three new platforms – one for customers, one for restaurants and one for the company. The extension of the partnership includes adding Google Cloud into restaurants, which the company said would “unlock cost savings opportunities, drive more consistent customer experiences and reduce complexity for crew members”. McDonald’s vice-president of global technology enterprise products and platforms, JT Scott, added: “Cognizant has been an invaluable partner in helping us streamline our enterprise applications across major markets and further our journey to the cloud. The next several years will undoubtedly bring exciting advancements as we continue working together to embrace new technologies and innovation.”

 

Boston Tea Party closes one of its Bristol locations: All-day dining casual cafe brand Boston Tea Party (BTP) has closed one of its Bristol locations. Founded in 1995 and opening its first location in the city’s Park Street, the brand has since grown to 23 locations across the south west and Midlands. However, its site in Cheltenham Road, in Bristol’s Stokes Croft, traded for the final time this week, with the company blaming “challenges outside of our control”. The café had been open for 14 years, having previously been an Audi garage, and then storage space used by creative collective, The Invisible Circus. A Boston Tea Party statement said: “Across the industry, we continue to face challenges outside of our control. With our lease nearing its end, we’ve made the difficult decision to close BTP Stokes Croft. We’re now working with our team to find them new opportunities in other BTP cafes.” In October, BTP chief executive Sam Roberts told Propel that staff turnover hit a historic low for the year ending October 2024. He added: “While turnover for the financial year is set to be flat at £26m, with headwinds subsiding, we are set to double our profit to £1.2m at an Ebitda level.”

 

NQ64 lines up Nottingham opening: NQ64, the immersive retro arcade bar concept, has lined up an opening in Nottingham for later this spring. The company, which was founded by Andy Haygarth and Matt Robson, has started the fit out of the former Roxy Ballroom site in Thurland Street, with an opening planned for late March/early April. Haygarth told Propel last year that NQ64 expects to open two or three sites in 2025. The group currently operates 13 venues after opening in Leeds last summer, in the former Manahatta site in Merrion Street. In May 2023, NQ64 secured a new £10m facility from ThinCats to support its growth. Propel understands NQ64 secured a further £500,000 of funding through ThinCats last summer.

 

Principal Hotel Company reports improved trading performance in 2024: Principal Hotel Company has said its trading performance improved in 2024 following significant rises in revenue and Ebitda in 2023. The group, which operates nine hotels under the De Vere brand, reported revenue increased from £111,667,000 to £128,336,000 in the year to 31 December 2023, while Ebitda profit rose from £25,583,000 to £29,169,000. “Despite the UK economic climate with higher interest rates and consumer challenges, the directors can see that the trends reported in the 2023 results continue to be reflected in the 2024 trading results,” director James Burrell said. “The directors are optimistic about the group’s trading performance, which in 2024 has seen revenue and Ebitda improve compared with 2023.” As previously reported, the company made a £7,871,000 gain on disposal of the Selsdon Park Hotel in Surrey, which it sold to Aprirose in February 2022. This led to the company reporting £7,935,000 in exceptional items in 2022, contributing to a pre-tax profit of £375,000. In 2023, a year in which the company reported exceptional items of £77,000, this turned into a pre-tax loss of £15,487,000. This figure also includes a rise in costs of more than £8m and administrative expenses increasing by more than £12m. No government grants were received (2022: £42,000) but insurance payments of £41,000 were received (2022: nil). Burrell said the group’s independent hotel, The Grand Hotel Birmingham, continues to trade well during its second full year of operations. He added: “The legacy of the covid-19 pandemic continues to be reflected in the accumulated losses and shareholder loans, with the balance sheet remaining in a net liability position. The group’s net liability position has increased in 2023 due to the group’s increasing finance costs. However, the group continues to trade well and is able to comfortably service the finance costs with the working capital generated from increasing operating profits.”

 

Brains CEO – we need to be diverse in our approach, looking at non-alcohol: Nick Payne, the new chief executive of Welsh brewer SA Brain, has said the company will need to be “diverse in our approach, in our branding, and the liquid, and that’s looking at non-alcohol” as it aims to attract new consumers. Payne, who took the helm of the Welsh brewer this month, told Insider Media: “People’s repertoires have grown massively over the last 20 years, and even more so over the last few years. I’ve got three children aged between 19 and 24, and their drinking habits have changed.” Payne said non-alcohol products would be a key focus for Brains moving forward, as would product development. He added: “If we want to be around in another 140 years, we’ve got to move with the times, and we have always done that. For me, the exciting challenge is to review our current portfolio, look at innovation, and make sure we’re constantly evolving the brand. We’re moving with the times but we’re also bringing new people into ale and into the brands of Brains.” Payne said there had been a “decline” in standard lager and beer and that “people are drinking better”. He believes they are looking for “quality, local, regional and national brands”. In terms of profitability, Payne is confident the company will return a “healthy profit” this year, and with cash in the bank, it will be looking to invest across the business. 

 

Northern Ireland McDonald’s franchisee reports profit boost after restaurant disposal as turnover hits record £38.1m: Northern Ireland McDonald’s franchisee North West Restaurants has reported turnover increased 13% to a record £38,123,433 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £33,816,145 the year before. The seven-strong business saw pre-tax profit rise to £4,652,077 from £795,925 after making a profit of £3,277,525 on the disposal of one of its restaurants. Ebitda was up to £1,926,000 from £1,591,000 the year before. At the year-end, the company had net assets of £10,308,900 (2022: £6,782,019). Gross profit margin was down slightly to 61.1% from 61.4%, which was “in line with expectations”. Director Annette McIvor said: “The directors consider the results to be in line with expectations. During the year the company disposed of the franchise rights for one of its restaurants, which contributed to the significant increase in operating profit when compared with 2022.” The company, which employs around 860 staff, did not receive any government grants (2022: £130,000). No dividend was paid (2022: £120,000).

 

Shoreditch Arts Club CEO to launch new hotels venture: Joel Williams, the former chief executive of Shoreditch Arts Club, is to launch a new hotels venture called Crafted, with the opening of a first site this summer in East Sussex. Williams, who led Shoreditch Arts Club for two years, has teamed up with Chris King, co-founder of the Birch, the members’ club and hotel business, to launch the new venture. The first site will be the PowderMills Hotel near Battle. Williams said: “I am excited to share, with the backing of an international hospitality investor, I’ve joined forces with Chris King to launch Crafted – a series of life-friendly hotels and spaces where guests and locals can be themselves and fill up on the good stuff: nature, food, well-being, craft, people and play. We’re deep into the development of our first site, the PowderMills Hotel in East Sussex. It’s a magnificent location, surrounded by ancient woodland, streams and a beautiful private lake – all just a short trip from London. I’m especially passionate about highlighting the incredible food and drink from the local area, and I can’t wait to showcase it.”

 

West Highlands and Isle of Skye hotel owner continues post-covid recovery but sees profit hit by ‘significant inflationary pressures’ and staff shortages: West Highlands and Isle of Skye hotel owner Perle Hotels has said the company’s post-covid recovery has continued but saw its profits hit by “significant inflationary pressures” and staff shortages. The company reported turnover increased 15.7% to £10,270,774 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £8,883,527 the previous year. Ebitda was down to £2.3m from £2.7m the year before. Pre-tax profit fell to £447,223 from £1,223,493 the previous year. In September 2023, the group acquired the Bracken Hide hotel in Skye, and post-year end, disposed of the Lochardil House Hotel in Inverness, leaving the group with five properties. In his report accompanying the accounts, director Fasih Rehman stated: “Recovery post-covid continued in 2023. This, however, did not translate into an increase in profitability, which declined in the year. This was largely due to significant inflationary pressures across almost all cost items, particularly staff costs. Energy costs increased with the expiry of lower rate fixed tariffs and food margins continued to decline. In addition to these cost increases, the business suffered from staff shortages, particularly in food and beverage, which has resulted in various business units operating below capacity. Interest rates increased sharply as a result of the Bank of England’s base rate changes. The company was able to mitigate this major cost increase by reducing external debt levels.” The group, which employs around 150 staff, received government grants of £123,331 (2022: £242,710). No dividend was paid (2022: nil). The company also owns the Perle in Oban, the Marmalade Hotel and Bosville Hotel in Skye and the Glencoe House Hotel in Glencoe.

 

Tom Brown to launch new restaurant in London’s Knightsbridge: Chef Tom Brown will this spring launch a new restaurant in London’s Knightsbridge. The Capital will be located within The Capital Hotel in Basil Street, part of the Warwick Hotels and Resorts Group. Brown was previously head chef at the same hotel’s celebrated Outlaw’s restaurant, operated by two-Michelin starred Nathan Outlaw, who he also worked for at the St Enodoc Hotel in Rock. After leaving Outlaw’s in 2018, Brown opened his own restaurant, Cornerstone in Hackney, where he was awarded a Michelin star. Cornerstone closed in June 2024, while in November 2023, Brown launched Pearly Queen, an oyster bar and seafood restaurant in Shoreditch. The menu at the new 28-cover The Capital “promises bold, fearless dishes showcasing exceptional quality and innovative techniques”. Brown said: “Returning to The Capital Hotel feels like coming full circle. This is where I developed my style and found the confidence to go on to open Cornerstone. It’s a privilege to have my name over the door of a restaurant where legends of my industry have worked, and I in turn hope to make my mark.” Founded in 1980 by Richard Chiu, Warwick Hotels and Resorts has a portfolio of more than 40 hotels on five continents.

 

Michelin-starred Birmingham restaurant Simpsons goes on the market: Simpsons, the Michelin-starred fine-dining destination in Edgbaston, Birmingham, has been put up for sale, with an asking price of offers in the region of £850,000. With chef-patron Andreas Antona at its helm, the restaurant has held a Michelin star since 1999, alongside a host of other industry awards and accolades. Set within a grade II-listed Georgian villa, and refurbished in 2015, Simpsons’ menu is a contemporary take on British cuisine, combining influences from around the world. Simpsons also operates the Eureka cookery school in a dedicated training kitchen. Antona said: “Last year, I marked 50 years as a chef and restaurateur, having started out at Ealing College in 1974. I feel lucky to have witnessed the boom and development of our industry into the wonderful profession it is now. Following a lot of soul searching, I’ve realised there is never a good time to retire, but when something from within is telling you to reevaluate and enjoy life, you need to listen. It is following this realisation that I have decided to sell Simpsons, the restaurant where my life as a chef-patron began. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not one for standing still, and I will continue, albeit on a part-time basis, with my other interests such as The Cross and Soko Patisserie for the near future. I’d also like to invest more time in projects close to my heart.” Christie & Co has been instructed to market the property.

 

Manchester Detroit pizza concept set for expansion: Manchester Detroit pizza concept Dough Club is set for expansion, with its second and third sites in build. The business opened last year as a hole-in-the-wall concept in Manchester’s Queen Street and launched a franchise programme after partnering with former Hero Brands, Chaiiwala and Doner Shack franchise director Nil Naik. Dough Club is now set to launch two further Manchester locations – in Cheadle Hulme and Oxford Road. “We’re thrilled to announce that Dough Club is taking the UK by storm, with two new sites in build at Manchester Cheadle Hulme and Oxford Road,” Naik said. “If you’re exploring franchise opportunities, Dough Club has to be your first choice. Build your store for just £100,000, including all equipment and franchise fees. It’s an incredible product, has insane demand and is a concept that’s got people buzzing, and has a proven, profitable and accessible model.”

 

Sutton Hotel Collection confirms spring opening for new restaurant in its Bath hotel: Sutton Hotel Collection has confirmed the new restaurant in its Bath hotel will open this spring. British townhouse brasserie Emberwood will open at the Francis Hotel in Queens Square, celebrating “locally grown and locally sourced produce” prepared in a feature open kitchen. Alongside the new restaurant, a fully refurbished bar will offer an extensive selection of fine wine and signature cocktails. General manager Shaun Bowles said: “Our building is one of the original Georgian buildings in Bath. We are at the heart of Bath’s history and want to invite everyone to experience our fantastic new menus and hospitality.” Emberwood is part of a multimillion-pound refurbishment of the hotel, which was once home to 18th century architect John Wood the Elder and was previously part of Accor’s MGallery luxury boutique hotel collection. Current owners Sutton Hotel Collection, founded in 2017 by the family of the late Sir Richard Sutton, also own The Queens Hotel in Cheltenham and The Castle Hotel in Windsor.

Hotel group returns to profit: Hotel group QN Hotels, owned by Qamar and Nabeel Ahmed, returned to profit in the year to 31 December 2023. The company, which operates Holiday Inns in Ashford in Kent and Newport in Wales, as well as a Ramada Plaza by Wyndham in Wrexham, turned a pre-tax loss of £817,769 in 2022 into a profit of £864,890. Turnover rose from £9,999,173 to £10,202,911. No dividends were paid (2022: nil). Qamar Ahmed said the company had “traded well” during 2023, and that “despite inflationary pressures, Ebitda has been positive”. The company is also planning to rebrand its Wrexham hotel from a Ramada Plaza to a Holiday Inn.