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Monday 30th June 2014
JDW to open first Irish Republic pub next week
JDW to open first Irish Republic pub next week: JD Wetherspoon is to open its first pub in the Irish Republic, in the Dublin suburb of Blackrock, next Tuesday (8 July), with the creation of 60 new jobs. The company has spent €2.38m (£1.9m) … view
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Monday 30th June 2014
Propel Monday News Briefing
BrewDog sets out plans for the next 12 months and apologises to 4,000 plus AGM attendees: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has set out its plans for 2014 and apologised to the more than 4,000 attendees of its fourth Annual General Mee … view
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Sunday 29th June 2014
Breaking News - Draft House invests in ‘underground lab’
Draft House invests £100,000 in ‘underground lab’ – eyes sixth site: Draft House, the five-strong craft beer operator led by Charlie McVeigh and backed by Luke Johnson, is investing £100,000 in the development of the Bump Caves in almo … view
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Saturday 28th June 2014
Breaking News - Chilango burrito bond raises £1,000,000
Chilango burrito bond raises £1,000,000: The Chilango mini-bond, paying 8% interest, has reached it target with £1,005,500 raised from 293 investors through crowdfunding website Crowdcube. The largest single investment was £50,000. The offe … view
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Friday 27th June 2014
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Growth areas in the market, Camra’s failings and changing of the health lobby guard
Authors: Darren Tristano, Martyn Cornell and Paul Chase
   

Growth areas in the market by Darren Tristan … view

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Friday 27th June 2014
Propel Friday News Briefing
Harry Ramsden’s signs first international franchisee in a decade: Fish and chip brand Harry Ramsden’s has signed its first international franchisee in a decade. The new franchisee is Ahmed Hassan Bilal Trading and Contracting Company … view
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Thursday 26th June 2014
Breaking News - Punch Taverns reports restructuring progress
Punch Taverns reports restructuring progress: Punch Taverns has reported progress on debt restructuring proposals with support from a broad range of bondholders – but still hurdles to overcome. Junior notes would be exchanged for a combinati … view
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Thursday 26th June 2014
Breaking News - Wadworth reports profit boost in consolidation year
Wadworth reports profit boost in consolidation year: Devized-based brewer and retailer Wadworth has reported a rise in pre-tax profit to £3,987,000 in the year to 30 September 2013, up from £3,438,000 the year before. Turnover climbed £880, … view
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Thursday 26th June 2014
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Gastro-pub collective launches fund-raising on Crowdcube: A gastro-pub collective, The Confederacy, has launched a fund-raising pitch on Crowdcube and is looking to raise £150,000 in return for 8% of its equity. The Confederacy is led by Pete … view
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Wednesday 25th June 2014
Breaking News - Daniel Thwaites secures new brewery site
Daniel Thwaites secures new brewery site: North west brewer and retailer Daniel Thwaites has secured the purchase of a site in Mellor Brook, Lancashire, to house its new brewery and head office, and will be looking to secure planning consent o … view
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Wednesday 25th June 2014
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker shows May decline: The Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker has found that the average British household spent £192 on out-of-home leisure in May, a fall of £23, or 11%, against April and only £1 higher t … view
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Tuesday 24th June 2014
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Deutsche Bank – new Greene King 2020 strategy goals should extend outperformance: Deutsche Bank leisure analyst Geof Collyer has argued that Greene King’s new expansion strategy, unveiled to analysts last month, should extend the company … view
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Monday 23rd June 2014
Propel Monday News Briefing
Details emerge of Tragus CVA: The details of new Tragus rent agreements with its landlords under its Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVA) have emerged. The new arrangements won the backing of 85 to 90% of landlords on Friday, paying the w … view
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Friday 20th June 2014
UK’s leading management company reports profit boost
UK’s leading management company reports profit boost: The UK’s leading out-sourced pub, restaurant and leisure management company, LT Pub Management PLC, has reported an increase in sales and profits for its most recent financial year. The … view
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Friday 20th June 2014
Breaking News - Tragus creditors accept CVA proposals
Tragus creditors accept CVA proposals: Café Rouge operator Tragus Group has reported the Company Voluntary Arrangements (“CVA”) initiated on 4 June 2014 have been approved by the required majority of creditors. There was strong support fr … view
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Friday 20th June 2014
Breaking News - McMullen's reports £7.5m PBT, up 15%
McMullen’s reports £7.5m PBT, up 15%: Hertford-based brewer and retailer McMullen and Sons has reported profit before tax and exceptional items up 15.4% to £7,561,000 in the year to 28 September 2013. Turnover rose 5.9% to £67,516,000. … view
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Friday 20th June 2014
Friday Opinion
Subjects: The acquisitions landscape, Tesco as champion of the pub and academics in pursuit of the blindingly obvious
Authors: Paul Charity, Martyn Cornell and Ann Elliott
   

The acquisitions landsca … view

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Friday 20th June 2014
Propel Friday News Briefing
New Inventive reveals results of £10m evolution programme: New Inventive Bar Company, led by Mark McQuater, has completed its £10m evolution programme at 35 of its key Revolution vodka bar sites, producing a double-digit improvement in … view
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Thursday 19th June 2014
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Marston’s trials stone-baked pizza kitchens at Two for One pubs: Marston’s is trialing stone-baked pizza kitchens at sites within its Two for One estate. The company has previously fitted front-of-house stone-baked pizza ovens within … view
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Wednesday 18th June 2014
Breaking News - Spirit sells single pub for £27m
Spirit sells single pub for £27m: Spirit has sold a freehold pub, The Black Lion, on Bayswater Road in central London, to 123 Bayswater Road Limited for a total cash consideration of £27m, which will be reinvested in the retained Spirit … view
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Wednesday 18th June 2014
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Coffer Peach Tracker: Pubs and restaurant saw 0.2% rise in May like-for-likes: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant operators saw sales growth slow in May after a strong start to 2014, with collective like-for-like sales up just 0.2% co … view
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Tuesday 17th June 2014
Breaking News - Whitbread trading update and SSP to float
Whitbread reports 6.9% like-for-like sales growth: Whitbread has reported a 6.9% increase in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to 29 May. The sales growth was led by Premier Inn with a 9.5% increase, followed by Costa where like-for-lik … view
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Tuesday 17th June 2014
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
CGA Brand Track names UK’s top brands: Loch Fyne is the brand delivering the highest levels of customer satisfaction in eating out, with Mitchells & Butlers’ Crown Carveries best for value and Jamie’s Italian for service. Those are … view
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Monday 16th June 2014
Breaking News - River Cottage Canteen launches £1m mini-bond
River Cottage Canteen launches £1m mini-bond: River Cottage Canteen has issued a £1m mini-bond, paying 7% interest, through crowd-funding website Crowdcube to enable expansion of the brand to large footfall sites in prime locations. Launched … view
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Monday 16th June 2014
Breaking News - M&B buys 173 Orchid pubs for £266m
M&B buys 173 Orchid pubs for £266m: Mitchells & Butlers has acquired 173 Orchid Group sites and the Orchid head office for £266 million - of the 173 pubs, 158 are freehold or long leasehold. M&B stated: “(It) expands Mitchells & Butle … view
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Monday 16th June 2014
Propel Monday News Briefing
US pizza chain Project Pie to launch first European outlet in Dundee: The American pizza restaurant chain Project Pie, recently recognised by Yelp as the number one emerging brand in the United States, is looking to launch its first Europ … view
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Friday 13th June 2014
Friday Opinion
Subjects: making history, the rise and rise of the craft beer festival, the landlord’s role in the London restaurant boom, and the big lie
Authors: Martyn Cornell, Jean-Paul Russek, Richard Negus and Paul Chase
view
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Friday 13th June 2014
Breaking News - Red Hot World Buffet to open £2m restaurant
Red Hot World Buffet to open £2m restaurant: Red Hot World Buffet, owned by Luke Johnson’s Risk Capital Partners, is to open a 420-cover restaurant in Leicester after a £2m investment – thought to be the highest single restaurant investm … view
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Friday 13th June 2014
Propel Friday News Briefing
East London street food traders move south of the Thames: East London’s top street food traders are moving south of the Thames to reopen a market that has been derelict for a decade, The London Evening Standard has reported. The Street … view
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Thursday 12th June 2014
Breaking News - Loungers reports 52% rise in EBITDA, eyes 350 sites
Loungers reports 52% rise in EBITDA, eyes 350 sites: Loungers, the Bristol-based café bar group, has reported a 52% rise in EBITDA before central overheads to £6.7m in the year to 27 April as it invested £6.9m opening 12 sites in the period … view
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Thursday 12th June 2014
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Technomic – top UK chains grow sales circa 15% in two years: The 100 largest restaurant chains in the UK turned in a 6.4% annual sales increase in 2013 after a 7.1% rise the year before, a total of around 15% over two years, according t … view
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Wednesday 11th June 2014
Breaking News - Geronimo founders to open new brand this month
Geronimo founders to open new brand this month: The founders of Geronimo Inns, Rupert and Jo Clevely, are set to open the doors to their brand new venture, The Cyclist Refreshment Room, on Wednesday 25 June 2014 in Brighton train station. … view
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Wednesday 11th June 2014
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Big-name investors rush to back £1m Chilango ‘burrito bond’: Big-name investors behind Chilango, the award-winning Mexican food chain, including Simon Kossoff, chief executive of Carluccio’s and Chris Moore, former chief executive … view
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Tuesday 10th June 2014
Breaking News - Fuller’s – The Stable has southern roll-out potential
Fuller’s – The Stable has southern roll-out potential: Fuller’s has reported that it believes that The Stable cider and artisan pizza concept, led by entrepreneurs Richard and Nikki Cooper, has roll-out potential across the southern coun … view
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Tuesday 10th June 2014
Breaking News - Fuller’s buys 51% stake in cider and pizza concept
Fuller’s buys 51% stake in cider and pizza concept: Fuller, Smith & Turner, the London brewer and premium pub company, has acquired a 51% share in The Stable – a craft cider and pizza restaurant business - for £7.3m. Led by entrepren … view
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Tuesday 10th June 2014
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
UK sales push Europe ahead by 0.4% for McDonald’s: Sales in the UK and France at McDonald’s offset weaker sales in Germany to push the company’s like-for-likes ahead by 0.4% in Europe in May. However, it continued to suffer weak sal … view
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Monday 9th June 2014
Breaking News - SSP reports profit up 28% year-on-year
SSP reports profit up 28% year-on-year: SSP Group, the UK-based operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has reported strong operating profit growth of +28.2% on a constant currency basis to £19.7m (up 16.6% at act … view
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Monday 9th June 2014
Propel Monday News Briefing
Simon Emeny – Fuller’s now selling one million cups of coffee a year: Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny has told Propel that coffee sales at the company have now hit almost one million cups a year, a four times increase in the f … view
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Friday 6th June 2014
Friday Opinion
Subjects: The issues that would make a difference, four outstanding experiences, foodservice in Chicago versus New York and youth unemployment and the sector
Authors: Kate Nicholls, Ann Elliott, Chris Gerard and Alastair Scot … view
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Friday 6th June 2014
Fuller’s reports 10% rise in full-year profits
Fuller’s reports 10% rise in full-year profits: London brewer and retailer Fuller, Smith and Turner has reported a 6% rise in sales to £288m in the 52 weeks ended 29 March, with managed like-for-likes up 8.3%. Food sales and accommodation s … view
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Friday 6th June 2014
Propel Friday News Briefing
Carluccio’s to trial three different locations in Washington DC: Carluccio’s will trial three varied locations in Washington DC as part of its US debut. Carluccio’s said last month it would open its first American outlet in Alexandr … view
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Thursday 5th June 2014
Breaking News - Pint Shop plans southern cities roll-out
Pint Shop plans southern cities roll-out: Pint Shop, the highly regarded Cambridge-based operator that specialises in British meat and beer, has announced plans to expand to a second UK site. Off the back of a successful first six months … view
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Thursday 5th June 2014
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Tragus landlords and creditors given 20 June deadline for vote on CVAs: Tragus has confirmed that it is to sell Strada and has launched a renegotiation of rents and debts with landlords and creditors through company voluntary arrangement … view
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Wednesday 4th June 2014
James Horler's La Sala secures first site
Spanish upmarket restaurant chain La Sala anounces Essex venue: La Sala, the Spanish restaurant chain hugely popular with celebrities holidaying on the Costa del Sol, has secured its first UK site. The first La Sala in the UK will be a promine … view
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Wednesday 4th June 2014
Breaking News - Charles Wells and Yummy add third pub
Charles Wells and Yummy add third pub: Bedford brewer and pub operator, Charles Wells has announced it’s extending its partnership with multiple operators Yummy Pub Co to refurbish and revitalise a London pub with a prime location. The Victo … view
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Wednesday 4th June 2014
Breaking News - Tim Martin - it's time to face the brutal pub facts
Tim Martin – time to face the brutal facts: JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin has called on the industry to face the brutal facts of its position, criticising a recent Deutsche Bank report on the sector. In an opinion piece article, he write … view
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Wednesday 4th June 2014
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
ALMR launches jobs and growth manifesto for licensed hospitality: Coinciding with the state opening of Parliament, the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has published its 2014 Manifesto to promote jobs and growth in licens … view
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Tuesday 3rd June 2014
Breaking News - Tragus looks to shed 50 sites and sell Strada in restructure
Tragus looks to shed 50 sites and sell Strada in restructure: Tragus, the owner of the Café Rouge and Strada chains, is preparing a financial restructuring that will reduce debt and off-load its tail. The restructure would see around 50 sites … view
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Tuesday 3rd June 2014
Breaking News - Hawthorn Leisure buys 88 more pubs
Hawthorn Leisure buys 88 more pubs: Hawthorn Leisure, the pub company established to acquire and invest in tenanted pubs across the UK, has bought a portfolio of 88 tenanted and leased public houses from R&L. Hawthorn Leisure has also com … view
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Tuesday 3rd June 2014
Breaking News - Punch earns £5.3m book value profit on five pubs
Punch earns £5.3m book value profit on five pubs: Punch Taverns is to sell five London pubs to Manica Properties Limited for £9.7 million, a £5.3m profit on book value of £4.4m. The pubs to be sold are freehold outlets located in cent … view
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Tuesday 3rd June 2014
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Downing launches second tranche of EIS pub investment fund: Investment fund Downing has launched a second tranche of its pub EIS investment fund. Downing invested a total of £18.8m in three pub businesses under the first tranche of the D … view
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Monday 2nd June 2014
Breaking News - OLIM buys £28m portfolio of Stonegate pubs
OLIM buys £28m portfolio of Stonegate pubs: Agent Coffer Corporate Leisure, on behalf of vendor PFA Acquisitions, has completed the sale of a portfolio of 15 freehold pubs let to Stonegate Pub Company Limited or subsidiaries benefiting from a … view
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Monday 2nd June 2014
Breaking News - Hotcha launches franchise, hires Andy Emmerson as non-exec
Hotcha launches franchise, hires Andy Emmerson as non-exec: Chinese takeaway chain Hotcha has unveiled plans to open over 100 stores within the next five years through the launch of a new franchise scheme. The chain, which serves freshly-made … view
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Monday 2nd June 2014
Propel Monday News Briefing
JD Wetherspoon looks at four-strong Dublin portfolio: JD Wetherspoon is poised to buy four of Dublin’s most famous pubs, The Irish Independent has reported. The four pubs are part of the former Capital Bars Group, which entered a mixed … view
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