TRG Concessions partners with Russel Joffe to launch California-inspired concept: The Restaurant Group (TRG) Concessions has partnered with Giraffe founder Russel Joffe to launch casual dining concept Sonoma. The table service concept, ba … view

Junkyard Golf reviews its options: Crazy golf operator Junkyard Golf has appointed advisors to review options for its next stage of growth, which could include a sale of the five-strong business, Propel has learned. It is understood the c … view

BrewBroker to launch in US: BrewBroker, an online market place for the global brewing industry, is set to launch its platform in the US. BrewBroker, which currently works with 400-plus traders in Britain and Europe, will begin rolling out … view

Tasty focuses on restructuring business and improving profitability, no new sites in 2019: Wildwood operator Tasty has said it does not intend to open any restaurants in 2019 as it continues to focus on restructuring the business and imp … view

PPL’s new SFE tariff to ‘cost sector £49m’: Music licensing company PPL’s new specially featured entertainment (SFE) tariff, which comes into effect on 1 July, could be the final straw for the UK’s hard-pressed music venues, tr … view

Bruce Pubs eyes rapid growth on back of £20m bond offer: Edinburgh-based Bruce Pubs is targeting acquisitions across the Central Belt on the back on a £20m bond offer. The company, which owns 19 pubs and live music venues in the capital … view

Leon pilots deposit return scheme, set for Switzerland debut: Natural fast food brand Leon has teamed up with recycling specialist Veolia to trial a deposit return scheme near King’s Cross station in London. The initiative features a ne … view

Patisserie Valerie administrators face legal challenge over fraud report: Patisserie Valerie shareholders are threatening to take the collapsed chain’s administrators KPMG to court to get hold of a report alleged to show how the company … view

Average spend on late-night out increases 15.5% to almost £70 while frequency and duration also rise: The average spend on a late-night out increased 15.5% to £68.68, according to the latest Deltic Night Index, compared with £59.49 for … view

Average spend on late-night out up 15.5% to almost £70 while frequency and duration also rise: The average spend on a late-night out increased 15.5% to £68.68, according to the latest Deltic Night Index, compared with £59.49 for the sa … view

 

Current trading: Like-for-like sales for the six weeks to 10 March 2019 were up 9.6 … view

Does anyone remember … view

Wetherspoon reports like-for-likes up 6.3%, profits down: JD Wetherspoon has reported revenue rose 7.1% to £889.6m (2018: £830.4m) in the 26 weeks to 27 January. Like-for-like sales rose 6.3%. Profit before tax dropped 10.5% to £48.6m … view

Eataly to operate new £250m food and leisure attraction near Harrogate: Eataly, the largest Italian food hall chain in the world, is to operate a £250m food and leisure attraction that is set to be built near Harrogate in Yorkshire. Dev … view

Zizzi ends Sainsbury’s in-store concession as supermarket customers remain in ‘grocery mode’: Azzurri Group-owned Zizzi has ended its partnership with Sainsbury’s in which it piloted an in-store concession. The company launched th … view

Costa Coffee trials delivery with Deliveroo: Costa Coffee, now owned by Coca-Cola, is trialling a delivery service in partnership with Deliveroo. Handcrafted coffee, selected menu items and bundle offers are available for delivery from si … view

Everyman Group becomes fifth largest UK cinema operator with 26 sites: Cinema company Everyman Media Group has reported revenue for the 53 weeks ended 3 January 2019 was up 27.7% on last year to £51,880,000 (2017: £40,620,000). The grou … view

JD Wetherspoon to put 16 pubs on the market: JD Wetherspoon is to put 16 pubs on the market, Propel has learned. The sites will all be available on an individual basis and marketed through joint agents Savills and CBRE. The pubs are The B … view

Domino’s Pizza UK – ‘we can resolve current differences with franchisees’: Domino’s Pizza UK has reported group system sales of £1,259.5m, up 9.0% on a 52 week basis – and insisted that it can resolve tensions with franchisee … view

Teddy Sagi weighs up Supper bid: Billionaire Teddy Sagi, who owns Camden Market in north London, is looking at a potential route into the delivery arena with an outright purchase or substantial investment in premium London delivery servic … view

Sector like-for-likes up 0.3% in February but restaurants continue to struggle: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw collective like-for-like sales increase 0.3% in February compared with last year, with pubs trading strongly … view

Sector like-for-likes up 0.3% in February but restaurants continue to struggle: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw collective like-for-like sales increase 0.3% in February compared with last year, with pubs trading strongly … view

Polpo gets approval for CVA: Polpo, the holding company behind restaurant brands Polpo and Spuntino, has had its restructuring proposals under a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) approved after receiving 98% support. Managing director R … view

Today is International Women’s Day 2019. A day in which we celeb … view

Deliveroo ramps up own ‘virtual’ brands: Deliveroo has gone live with a bunch of its own “virtual” brands in its Editions site in Crouch End, north London, Propel has learned. It is thought to be the first time the delivery firm h … view

Greggs reports profit jump as turnover passes £1bn for first time: Food-to-go retailer Greggs has reported pre-tax profit, excluding exceptional items, was up to £89.8m for the year ending 29 December 2018, compared with £81.8m the pre … view

Gaucho administrators distribute £11.5m but secured creditor faces £37.5m shortfall: Gaucho’s administrators have so far raised and distributed £11.5m to its secured creditor to date but it faces a shortfall of up to £37.5m, a new r … view

Giraffe & Ed’s experienced “consistent decline in profitability”: Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner, the Boparan Restaurant Group-owned brands, which are set to undergo a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), have been experiencing a con … view

Grind targeting 36 sites by 2022, reveals six new central London venues: Grind, the independent coffee and cocktail bar, is looking to grow to 36 sites by 2022 through a mixture of equity raised from its forthcoming crowdfunding campaign, … view

Ian Banks departs We Are Bar as Simon Vardigans takes full control and brings in Enhanced Hospitality: Ian Banks has left his position as chief executive of We Are Bar Group after chairman Simon Vardigans took full control of the company, … view

Steve Richards to step down as CDG chief executive: Casual Dining Group (CDG), the operator of circa 290 mid-market restaurant brands including Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge, has announced chief executive Steve Richards will le … view

Honest Burgers breaks £30m turnover mark with like-for-likes up 7.9%: Honest Burgers, the Active Partners-backed chain, has passed through the £30m-turnover mark in its latest set of accounts, Propel has learned. The group saw an increa … view

Revolution boss – next 12 to 18 months about focusing ‘all efforts’ on turning core brand around: Revolution Bars Group chief executive Rob Pitcher has told Propel he expects it be 12 to 18 months before the company returns to the e … view

F … view

Revolution Bars Group reports like-for-likes down 7.3% post-Christmas, new site opening programme halted: Revolution Bars Group, the operator of 79 premium bars trading across the UK under the Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands has … view

Grind returns to Crowdcube as it eyes £2.7m for next stage of expansion: Grind, the independent coffee and cocktail bar, is returning to crowdfunding platform Crowdcube to fund its next stage of expansion. Propel understands Grind is aim … view

Casual Dining awards winners are named: The nation’s best casual dining restaurants and pubs were revealed last night (Wednesday, 27 February) at the Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards 2019. The event took place at the London Marriot … view

Megan’s looks to raise £6m for expansion to 17 sites by end of 2021, appoints managing director: Megan’s, the London-based cafe and deli concept owned by Tossed founder Vincent McKevitt, has begun fund-raising as it seeks to raise ci … view

Future of Patisserie Valerie management team thrown into doubt: The future of Patisserie Valerie’s management team led by Steve Francis, which was expected to take the troubled business forward after the majority of the brand’s estate … view

Fishworks returns to expansion trail by securing Loch Fyne site: Fishworks, the Boparan Restaurant Group-owned brand, is to return to the expansion trail, Propel has learned. The company is understood to have secured the Loch Fyne restaur … view

Hotel Chocolat reports “encouraging start’ in New York and Japan: Hotel Chocolat, the premium British chocolatier, has reported revenue up 13% to £80.7m for the 26 weeks ended 30 December 2018. Excluding its new US and Japan start-up … view

Live&Loud, backed by former Punch boss, launches £500,000 crowdfunding campaign: Live music specialist Live&Loud has launched a £500,000 fund-raise on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube for expansion. The company, whose backers include for … view

Rufus Hall becomes chairman of Epic, Jo Probert become managing director: Rockpool Investments, the private equity investment firm, has appointed a new chairman and managing director for its Epic Pubs, Heroic Pubs and Aspley Pubs business … view

UK’s casual dining restaurant numbers drop for first time in nine years while drink-led venue closure rate slows substantially: Britain’s supply of casual dining restaurants dipped for the first time in nine years in 2018 as a sustain … view