Restaurants return to growth in March but hospitality's cost fears mount: Britain’s restaurant groups finished a difficult first quarter with modest like-for-like growth in March, the new NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. Th … view

Young’s reports 4.7% like-for-like sales increase: Young’s has reported a 4.7% increase in like-for-like sales for the 52 weeks ended 30 March 2026, with total managed house revenue up 4.6%. The company said that its trading for the f … view

Exclusive – Starbucks EMEA promotes Darren King to UK managing director: Starbucks EMEA has promoted Darren King to UK managing director, effective from Monday, 18 May, Propel has learned. King currently leads store development for Star … view

Exclusive – Starbucks EMEA promotes Darren King to UK managing director: Starbucks EMEA has promoted Darren King to UK managing director, effective from Monday, 18 May, Propel has learned. King currently leads store development for Star … view

Kuvi Hospitality CEO – ‘we will look to test three Coyo Taco models in the UK, 60 locations pinpointed’: Shereen Ritchie, chief executive of Kuvi Hospitality, the London-based hospitality investment platform which is set to rollout … view

Comptoir Group reports “modest sales growth” in year of “reset and rebuilding”: Comptoir Group, the owner of the Comptoir Libanais and Shawa brands, has reported “modest sales growth” on a like-for-like sales basis of 0.2% in … view

The Beefy Boys launches international franchise programme, Exeter and Cambridge sites in pipeline: The Beefy Boys, the better burger business backed by Manjit Dale, founding partner of TDR Capital, has launched an international franchise … view

Exclusive – Chris Stagg stands down as MD of Peach Pubs, to be replaced by Richard Littman: Chris Stagg has stepped down as managing director of Peach Pubs after 11 years with the business, Propel has learned. Stagg, who led the 21-stro … view

Neos Hospitality CEO – ‘people are still going out but location is more important than ever before’: People are still going out, but location is more important than ever before, Neos Hospitality chief executive Russell Quelch has ar … view

Britain preparing for food shortages as Iran war bites: Britain could face shortages of chicken, pork and other food industry goods this summer if the war in Iran continues, a secret government analysis has found. Officials have drawn up … view

Bow Street Group – close to a couple of acquisitions, not ruling out further closures, expects price increases this year and next year to be profitable: Bow Street Group – formerly Tasty, the owner and operator of the Wildwood and Dim … view

For many operators, the World Cup is not simply about footfall. Major tournaments bring longer dwell times, higher spend and the kind of atmosphere that is difficult to replicate at … view

Tilray – ‘we expect BrewDog to be cash flow positive in 2027’, sees clear path to rebuilding towards its prior valuation of more than $1bn: New York-based brewer and cannabis producer Tilray – which paid £33m to buy BrewDog’s g … view

Bow Street Group – improved trading in 2026 with like-for-like sales up 6.1% in March, new brand acquisition talks ongoing, closes three restaurants: Bow Street Group – formerly Tasty, the owner and operator of the Wildwood and Dim T … view

Ole & Steen UK MD – ‘data from retail partnerships will help shape expansion plans, as trading momentum builds’: Ole & Steen UK managing director Graham Hollinshead has told Propel that the data from the Danish bakery brand’s reta … view

Puttshack raises more than £65m to help significantly pay down debt facility, refinancing options being ‘actively discussed’ to ‘reset financial covenants to an achievable level’: Indoor mini golf experience Puttshack, which oper … view

Jeremy King – ‘the restaurant sector is becoming homogenised’, ‘we’re losing confidence in intuition’: Restaurateur Jeremy King has said the sector is becoming increasingly “homogenised”, with operators relying too heavily … view

Burger King UK to open more than 30 new stores in 2026, current trading ‘robust’ with ‘continued sales growth’: Burger King UK, which is backed by Bridgepoint, has said it is to open more than 30 new stores in 2026, and that curre … view

Richard Caring – ‘I am confident we will continue to elevate our vision for hospitality to exciting new heights’: Serial sector investor Richard Caring has said that off the back of selling a majority stake in the bulk of his restau … view

Richard Caring sells The Ivy Collection, Annabel’s and Scott’s for £1.4bn: Serial sector investor Richard Caring has sold a majority stake in The Ivy Collection, Annabel’s, Scott’s and the rest of his high-end restaurants and pri … view

Leon CEO – ‘market looks a lot like it did in 2004’, ‘our biggest opponent is ourselves’: John Vincent has told Propel that despite the hospitality industry’s evolution, he believes consumer needs are circling back to the same … view

Neos Hospitality CEO – ‘we would never say no to further opportunities but need to ensure we set up former Revel Collective sites to succeed’: Neos Hospitality would “never say no” to further acquisition opportunities but needs … view

Exclusive – Wells & Co reports 5% EBITDA increase to £10.3m as pub partners division delivers fourth consecutive year of growth: Brewer and retailer Wells & Co has reported a 5% EBITDA increase to £10.3m in the year to 29 September 20 … view

Mission Mars delivers first half EBITDA growth of 46% as turnover increases to record £63.9m: Mission Mars, the owners of the Albert’s Schloss bar business and Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana brand, has reported revenue was up 12% to a recor … view

Young’s confirms Cubitt House deal: Young’s has confirmed the acquisition of London gastropub operator Cubitt House, which is backed by funds managed by TDR Capital, for circa £29m. Cubitt House comprises a collection of eight leaseh … view

Vagabond Wines MD – ‘brand can be taken nationwide and we will 100% be in new cities over the coming 12 months’, secures Soho site: Vagabond Wines, the Majestic-owned business, can be taken nationwide and will “100% be in new citi … view

Young’s secures £30m deal for Cubitt House: Young’s has agreed a £30m deal to acquire London premium pub operator, Cubitt House. Sky News reports that Young’s is set to announce it is buying the collection of eight central London … view

Giggling Squid co-founder – ‘delivery volumes have jumped dramatically’, ‘some sites are now effectively hybrid delivery hubs’: Delivery volumes at Giggling Squid have jumped dramatically over the last few months and the busi … view

TGI Fridays UK owner – ‘we are getting back to what people expect from us, a little over the top and fun’: Ray Blanchette, the owner of TGI Fridays UK, believes that a turnaround of the business is possible and that the brand is “ … view

Bids due for The Real Greek as Fulham Shore continues to consider options for Franco Manca: Bids are due later today (Thursday, 2 April) for The Real Greek, the 28-strong business owned by Fulham Shore, Propel has learned. Propel revealed … view

Exclusive – Punch acquires pub package from RedCat Hospitality: Punch Pubs & Co, the Fortress-backed operator of circa 1,300 community pubs, has acquired an eight-strong package of pubs from RedCat Hospitality, for an undisclosed sum, P … view

Blank Street in talks to raise more than $100m in fresh funding: US coffee brand Blank Street, which operates more than 50 sites in the UK, is in early discussions to raise $100m (£75.4m) or more in new funding to fuel expansion as it ca … view

Cost increases will see one in seven venues close and two thirds of businesses cut more jobs: Cost increases that come into force for the sector today (Wednesday, 1 April) will see one in seven (15%) venues forced to close and two thirds … view

Domino’s names Nicola Frampton as permanent CEO: Domino’s Pizza Group has announced the appointment of Nicola Frampton, currently its interim chief executive, as its permanent chief executive. It said that Frampton’s appointment com … view

Exclusive – Be At One co-founder agrees to take on trio of ex-BrewDog sites: Rhys Oldfield, the co-founder of the Be At One cocktail brand, has entered into an agreement with the administrators of Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, t … view

MeatLiquor closes sites to focus on three venues: MeatLiquor, the burger business that traded from 13 sites at its height, has shuttered four more venues following a restructure. Propel revealed exclusively last week that MeatLiquor had h … view

Exclusive – Wahaca seeks fresh growth capital as it looks to expand again, promotes Gemma Glasson to CEO: Mexican restaurant brand Wahaca has commenced a search for a new investor as it looks to return to the expansion trail, on the bac … view

Michelin-star chef puts the heat on sexism in the kitchen: Leading restaurants have signed up to a pledge to protect women in the industry. The Times reports that Sally Abé, who has worked under Gordon Ramsay and was head chef of the Har … view

Stonegate CEO – ‘we've grown profitability in more than 95% of the sites that we've transitioned’, expects positive outcome from talks with landlords: David McDowall, chief executive of Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub compan … view

Starbucks plans to open another 500 sites in UK: Starbucks plans to open another 500 sites in the UK over the next five years despite grappling with “reduced discretionary spending and increased competition”. The Times reported Starbu … view

Exclusive: Stonegate Group – ‘transformation strategy delivering results’, ‘on track for material profit growth in FY26’: Stonegate Group, the UK's largest pub company, saw its group profit grow 7.5% in the 16 weeks to 18 Januar … view

Exclusive – Giggling Squid reports record restaurant turnover of £77m and ‘significant Ebitda increase’ to £9.2m, set to refinance and looking to grow brand further: Giggling Squid, the Thai restaurant brand backed … view

Exclusive – Neos Hospitality to begin conversion of ex-Revel Collective estate with sites in Bristol and Southampton: Neos Hospitality is to begin the conversion of the 20 Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba sites it acquired out of admin … view

JD Wetherspoon to open two pubs at airport in Barcelona: JD Wetherspoon is to open two pubs at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona – El Prat airport. It follows on from the opening of the company’s first pub in Spain, at Alicante airport, las … view

Pret CEO – three more new format sites to open in coming months, second drive-thru to launch later this year: Pret A Manger chief executive Pano Christou has told Propel the brand will open three more new format sites in the coming mont … view