Tortilla promotes Brandon Stephens to group CEO and hires former Leon MD as UK CEO: Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has promoted Brandon Stephens to group chief executive and hired former Leon managing d … view

Domino’s to roll out chicken concept to all UK stores after ‘outperforming expectations’: Domino’s Pizza Group is to roll out its Chick ‘n’ Dip across all its circa 1,400 stores in the UK & Republic of Ireland following a succ … view

Exclusive – Australian bakery brand Brooki Bakehouse plans UK launch after securing new investment: Brooki Bakehouse, the Australian bakery brand, which is famed for its viral social media following, is planning to make its UK debut lat … view

Pubs and restaurants suffer longest period of job losses since financial crisis: A fall in pub and restaurant hiring has contributed to the longest period of job losses since the financial crisis, according to new figures. Staff numbers i … view

Pitch co-founder – ‘opportunity for 200 sites globally with 20 opening in UK over next five years’, ‘next launch here to be an important test with smaller scalable format’: Chris Ingham, co-founder of golf club concept Pitch, ha … view

Mayfair Chippy founders – ‘Saudi Arabia deal only the start of overseas growth’, ‘potential to expand in the UK through smaller QSR format’: Mayfair Chippy, the London fish and chip shop concept, has told Propel that its franchi … view

Punch acquires 30 pubs from McMullen’s: Punch Pubs & Co, the Fortress-backed operator of circa 1,300 community pubs, has completed the acquisition of a 30-strong package of pubs from family-owned brewer and pub operator McMullen's, for … view

Greggs overtakes Costa to become largest overall operator as UK branded coffee shop market grows 3.5% in 2025: The UK branded coffee shop market grew 3.5% in 2025, with Greggs overtaking Costa to become its largest overall operator. Alleg … view

AG Barr acquires Fentimans and Frobishers for combined £51m: Drinks firm AG Barr has acquired soft drinks brands Fentimans for £38m and Frobishers for £13m. AG Barr stated: “Both brands operate in the attractive adult soft drinks ma … view

Thesleff Group founder – ‘our next £40m-£50m of investment will go outside the country’, builds US pipeline: Thesleff Group founder Markus Thesleff has said the group’s next £40m-£50m of investment will go outside the UK, beca … view

Cornish Bakery CEO says ‘instability and uncertainty’ from government is ‘killing off hospitality’ as it reports another record year, unveils new concept: Steve Grocutt, founder and chief executive of fast-growing independent bra … view

Neos Hospitality CEO – we will review every Revolution bar and make the right decision to ensure longevity: Russell Quelch, chief executive of Neos Hospitality, which last week acquired 20 Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba sites out of … view

Soho House completes $2.7bn deal to go private: Soho House has completed its $2.7bn deal to go private, with chief executive Andrew Carnie calling it a “positive step” for the international members club business. The international hos … view

Foodservice price inflation accelerates in December as festive demand peaks: Food and drink prices in the hospitality sector rose by 1.1% in December, according to the latest edition of the Foodservice Price Index from Prestige Purchasing … view

Starbucks reports increased like-for-like sales for the first time in almost two years: Starbucks has reported increased like-for-like sales for the first time in almost two years, after refurbished cafés and a revamped menu, including … view

Toca Social president – ambitions for ‘hundreds’ of venues worldwide, confirms Americas expansion and sees huge potential in ‘under-served’ European leisure market: Alex Harman, president of interactive football bar concept Toc … view

Marston’s – performance tracking in line with prior year, festive like-for-like sales up 4%: Marston’s said it saw a strong trading performance over the festive period where like-for-like sales increased by 4%, while like-for-like … view

Exclusive – Côte parts company with CEO: Côte, the French brasserie brand, is understood to have parted company with chief executive Emma Dinnis – less than a year after the former managing director of the DFS-owned Sofology joined … view

Neos Hospitality acquires 20 bar sites from The Revel Collective estate: Neos Hospitality, formerly Rekom, has doubled the size of its estate after acquiring Revolution Bars Group, Revolución de Cuba and Founders & Co, via a pre-pack adm … view

Pubs to get £100m a year support package after business rates U-turn: The Treasury is to hand the struggling pub sector a new support package worth around £100m a year after being warned of mass closures and job losses unless relief is … view

State of Play Hospitality CEO – Flight Club has great momentum in the US, 90% of group revenue over next year will come from stateside operations: Toby Harris, chief executive of State of Play Hospitality, the international experiential … view

Prezzo Italian owner reports turnover increases to £100.2m and Ebitda up 300% following ‘robust turnaround’ of brand: Prezzo Italian, part of Brava Hospitality Group, has reported turnover increased to £100.2m for the year ending 31 … view

The Revel Collective to file notice to appoint administrators: The Revel Collective – the operator of 65 venues trading predominantly under the Revolution, Revolución de Cuba and Peach Pubs brands, has filed a notice of intention to ap … view

Hospitality closures accelerated in fourth quarter as costs rose again: Britain’s number of licensed premises fell by 0.4% in the last three months of 2025, according to the latest Hospitality Market Monitor from NIQ. The country had 9 … view

WatchHouse founder – ‘we can see the US becoming our biggest market’, planning smaller espresso-format, seeing market-leading like-for-like sales: Roland Horne, founder and chief executive of specialty coffee business WatchHouse, wh … view

Exclusive – James Watt considering bid to buy back BrewDog: James Watt, who co-founded BrewDog with Martin Dickie in 2007, is considering launching a bid to buy back the Scottish brewer and retailer, Propel has learned. Propel understan … view

Young’s CEO – ‘business rates change should be for whole of the sector’, ‘we need long-term meaningful reform’: Simon Dodd, chief executive of Young’s, has told Propel that any changes made by the government to business rate … view

Exclusive – Satnam Leihal steps down as CEO of Boparan Restaurant Group: Satnam Leihal has stepped down as chief executive of Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), the Slim Chickens UK, Ed’s Easy Diner and Carluccio’s operator, after six … view

Sir Tim Martin – JD Wetherspoon franchise operations producing ‘high sales’ and had ‘several’ overseas enquiries, ‘government would give tax equality with supermarkets if it really values pubs’: JD Wetherspoon chair Sir Tim … view

Exclusive – Inception Group to open Covent Garden Market Building flagship site: Inception Group, the London hospitality group known for its immersive venues, is to open a new flagship site in Covent Garden’s historic Market Building. … view

UKHospitality warns government it ‘only has one chance to get this right’ as restaurants and hotels set to miss out on business rates relief: UKHospitality has warned the government it “only has one chance to get this right” after … view

Pubs strong and restaurants flat in mixed December for hospitality: Festive celebrations helped Britain’s managed pub groups to end 2025 on a high, the latest NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. The Tracker – produced by NIQ … view

6 of 1 Hospitality Group co-founder – ‘we’ve got international ambitions but taking it one step at a time’: Abhinav Malde, co-founder of 6 of 1 Hospitality Group, the team behind Mr Bao, Master Bao, Daddy Bao and Wonton Charlie's, … view

Pubs strong and restaurants flat in mixed December for hospitality: Festive celebrations helped Britain’s managed pub groups to end 2025 on a high, the latest NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. The Tracker – produced by NIQ … view

Tim Hortons UK&I CEO – confident we now have strong foundations in place to deliver sustainable, long-term success: Deepinder Batth, chief executive of Tim Hortons UK and Ireland, has told Propel that he is “confident we now have stro … view

Doughnut business Dum Dum Donutteries founder – ‘scope to grow to 100-plus sites across the UK and re-establish international presence’: Paul Hurley, founder of Doughnut business Dum Dum Donutteries, has told Propel he believes ther … view

Authors: Alastair Scott, Amber Staynings, Roger Protz< … view

Exclusive – RedCat to focus on premium inns with exit from managed pub operations: RedCat Hospitality, founded and chaired by Rooney Anand, is to become a focused pub-with-rooms operator and exit its circa 20-strong managed pub division … view

Bounce co-founder raising funds to launch ‘Topgolf/Flight Club’ experience for padel: Entrepreneur Dov Penzik, who co-founded Bounce with Adam Breeden, has launched a fundraising round to back the launch of what he said will be the � … view

TGI Fridays global president – delivering clearer value is central to our vision for the UK: Phil Broad, global president of TGI Fridays, has told Propel that delivering clearer value is central to its vision for the UK – with a new m … view

We had our annual meeting with our bank manager this week, during which I was asked what I thought the coming year might hold for both our business as licensing … view

Rachel Reeves insists ‘more temporary support’ for pubs coming, recognises how important hospitality sector is for UK: Chancellor Rachel Reeves has insisted she will support the UK's pubs amid growing calls for the government to rever … view

Coca-Cola scraps plans to sell Costa after bids fall short: Coca-Cola has ditched plans to sell Costa Coffee after bids from private equity suitors fell short of its expectations. Firms in the latter rounds of negotiations included Asda o … view

Caprinos to launch new pizza style to help it expand into shopping centres and travel destinations: Fast growing pizza brand Caprinos has told Propel it is to launch new a pizza style which it believes will help it expand into shopping ce … view

Majority of TGI Friday restaurants across the UK acquired via pre-pack deal, 16 sites to close: The business and assets of Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group Limited, the company which manages the operations of TGI Friday’s UK restaurants … view

Turtle Bay reports £10m loss in year before being bought back by founder, impacted by Labour's ‘unhelpful raid on employers' national insurance’: Turtle Bay, the 50-strong Caribbean restaurant brand, posted a pre-tax loss of £10.1m … view

Stonegate appoints advisers to help it streamline structure: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company has appointed advisers to help it to streamline its structure. The company, which has more than 4,300 sites in the UK, has appoi … view

Exclusive – Megan’s undertakes leadership reshuffle, Bridget Lambert promoted to MD: Megan’s, the all-day, neighbourhood restaurant concept, has reshuffled its senior leadership team, with Bridget Lambert promoted to managing direct … view

Jersey Mike’s signs franchise agreement to open 400 sites in the UK: Jersey Mike’s, the second-largest sub-sandwich brand in the US behind Subway, has signed a franchise agreement with JM Submarines UK, led by the brand’s founder Pe … view

Eight days to go until Restaurant Marketer & Innovator 2026, book now: There are eight days to go until Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit 2026, which is returning for its eighth edition. The conference has doubled in size th … view

Pubs urge ministers to call time on unfair business rates system: A pledge to provide a £300m support package for pubs hit by a surge in property tax has led to demands for an overhaul of the “flawed” way the industry’s bills are … view

Exclusive – The Salad Project secures £9m of new investment, backers include Nick Jones and Active Partners: The Salad Project, which launched in London in 2021, has secured £9m of new investment to aid its next stage of growth, inclu … view

Exclusive – Bill’s passes £100m revenue mark, cover growth up 5.1%, strengthens management team: Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant group, passed the £100m revenue mark in 2025 on the back of a 5.1% increase in cover gro … view

Exclusive – Loungers’ turnover passes a record £400m, confident of improving profitability in medium term, reiterates belief in growing Lounges to 600 sites: Café bar operator Loungers has reported its turnover passed a record £400 … view

Reeves under pressure to extend tax relief to rest of hospitality sector: Rachel Reeves is under growing pressure from restaurants, shops, cafés, hotels and music venues to rethink an impending rise in business rates as the chancellor pr … view

Loungers chairman – ‘I suspect the climb down over business rates will be tokenistic’: Alex Reilley, chairman of café bar operator Loungers, has said that he suspects the “climb down” over business rates will be “tokenistic a … view

Government to water down business rate rise for pubs: The government is poised to announce a climbdown on forthcoming increases to the business rates bill faced by pubs. BBC News reports that in the coming days, the government is expected … view

Less than two weeks to go until Restaurant Marketer & Innovator 2026, book now: There are less than two weeks to go until Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit 2026, which is returning for its eighth edition. The conference has … view

Ministers look at concessions for UK pubs as business rate backlash grows: Ministers are exploring options for concessions to defuse a growing row with pub landlords over rising business rates. The FT reports that in the strongest signal … view

Festive flurry brings happy Christmas for pubs but restaurants and bars slip: Festive celebrations helped Britain’s top managed pub operators to sales growth in the week of Christmas but trade was challenging for the rest of the sector, … view