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Thursday 31st December 2020
Opinion Special: Level with us or you will level us

Level with us or you will level us by Mark Wingett

“I promise to do whatever it takes to support our economy through this crisis – and if the situation changes, I will not hesitate to take further action.” A line from earlier this … view
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Wednesday 30th December 2020
Update: Sector ‘bloodbath’ warning, Mojo boss’ industry message, Kate Nicholls gets OBE et al
UKHospitality warns of sector ‘bloodbath’ without urgent support: UKHospitality has warned the government that without urgent action to support the sector there will be an industry “bloodbath”. From midnight on Thursday (31 Decemb … view
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Thursday 24th December 2020
Propel Thursday News Briefing
This is the last Propel newsletter of 2020. We would like to take this opportunity to wish our readers a happy, safe and healthy Christmas and new year

Story of the Day:

‘Urgent restrictive actions re … view
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Wednesday 23rd December 2020
Pubs and restaurants to shut across swathes of south as government imposes new restrictions
Pubs and restaurants to shut across swathes of south as government imposes new restrictions: Pubs and restaurants are to shut across swathes of the south of the country after the government moved more of England into the highest level of restr … view
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Wednesday 23rd December 2020
Marston’s to take on SA Brain pub estate, pre-Christmas sector sales plunge, Whitbread and Tasty
Marston’s to take on SA Brain pub estate: Marston’s has exchanged on a deal to take over the operation of Welsh brewer and retailer SA Brain’s 156-strong pub estate. The deal will see the Ralph Findlay-led Marston’s operate 141 fr … view
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Wednesday 23rd December 2020
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Trade bodies join forces to make final pre-Christmas plea for urgent comprehensive pub support package: Sector trade bodies have joined forces to make a final pre-Christmas plea to the government for an urgent comprehensive pub support pa … view
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Tuesday 22nd December 2020
Update: Deliveroo, Applegreen and Center Parcs
Deliveroo now profitable at operating level after seeing losses jump to £320m in 2019: Deliveroo has said it has been profitable at an operating level for more than six months after racking up losses of £320m in the previous financial y … view
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Tuesday 22nd December 2020
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Des Gunewardena – government must consider covid tax to help struggling restaurants: Des Gunewardena, chief executive and co-founder of restaurant group D&D London, has asked the government to consider a covid tax to help struggling res … view
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Monday 21st December 2020
Update: UKHospitality letter to PM and Escape Hunt
UKHospitality urges PM for more financial help for sector following tightening of restrictions and ‘clear exit strategy’ from crisis: UKHospitality has written to prime minister Boris Johnson to urge for more help for the industry fol … view
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Monday 21st December 2020
Propel Monday News Briefing
Giggling Squid trading ahead of budget, lines up four new openings: Giggling Squid, the Thai restaurant brand founded by Andy and Pranee Laurillard, is trading ahead of budget for the year to date, as the 36-strong business has benefited … view
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Sunday 20th December 2020
Pistachio Holdings acquires majority stake in Creams
Pistachio Holdings acquires majority stake in Creams: Pistachio Holdings has acquired a majority stake in Creams, the 93-strong dessert parlour operator. Creams founders Adam Mani and Balal Aqil will remain fully involved in the business and w … view
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Friday 18th December 2020
Leon receives CVA approval, Star Pubs & Bars appeals £2m fine, German Doner Kebab hits 50
Leon receives CVA approval: Creditors of natural fast food brand Leon have approved a plan to restructure the firm’s finances through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), preserving 670 jobs. A total of 90% of creditors approved propo … view
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Friday 18th December 2020
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Anti-alcohol lobby maintains influence, we are on our own, a kick in the baubles
Authors: Glynn Davis, Ann Elliott, Ted Schama, Nick Weir, Duncan Lillie and Victoria Oates
 

Anti-alcohol lobb … view

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Friday 18th December 2020
Update: Fulham Shore and The Restaurant Group
Franco Manca operator ‘well positioned’ to capitalise on opportunities ‘as normality resumes’, targeting higher return on capital than historically achieved: Franco Manca operator Fulham Shore has said it is “well positioned” … view
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Friday 18th December 2020
Propel Friday News Briefing
Alex Reilley – we need to win the hearts and minds of the good people of the UK: Loungers chairman Alex Reilley has said if the hospitality stands any chance of avoiding a government-sanctioned Armageddon it needs “to win the hearts a … view
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Thursday 17th December 2020
Deltic bought out of administration by Rekom, 42 sites included in deal
Deltic bought out of administration by Rekom, 42 sites included in deal: The Deltic Group, the UK’s biggest nightclub operator, has been bought out of administration by Rekom UK. The undisclosed deal sees Rekom UK take over 42 bars and … view
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Thursday 17th December 2020
Industry bosses blast decision to keep north in tier three as more parts of south east see highest restrictions
Industry bosses blast decision to keep north of England in tier three as more parts of south east see highest restrictions: Industry bosses have blasted the decision to keep the north of England in tier three as further parts of the south east … view
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Thursday 17th December 2020
Update: Revolution and SSP results, Wetherspoon, Inn Collection Group
Revolution Bars Group ‘well positioned to emerge strongly’ as boss says government actions towards industry ‘nothing short of scandalous’: Revolution Bars Group, the operator of premium bars trading across the UK under the Revolut … view
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Thursday 17th December 2020
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Abokado acquired out of administration for circa £70,000: London-based healthy eating chain Abokado, which was sold in a pre-pack administration in October, was acquired for circa £70,000, Propel has learned. The 19-strong business, fou … view
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Wednesday 16th December 2020
Opinion Special: Capital punishment

Capital punishment by Mark Wingett

It is one of the most famous goal celebrations in Premier League history. Attention-grabbing, enfant terrible, Italian striker Mario Balotelli had just scored the first goal for the blue half of Manches … view
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Wednesday 16th December 2020
Update: Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Mowgli, hospitality support, JD Wetherspoon and airline refunds
Boparan acquired bulk of Gourmet Burger Kitchen for £6m: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), which earlier this year acquired Carluccio’s out of administration, acquired the bulk of the Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) business through a pre-p … view
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Wednesday 16th December 2020
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Burger & Lobster promotes Dino Sura to MD, eyes expansion opportunities: Burger & Lobster has appointed Dino Sura as its new managing director, as it looks at opportunities for expansion both in the UK and internationally in 2021. The com … view
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Tuesday 15th December 2020
Update: Boxpark, pub landlords, Roganic and Shaftesbury
Boxpark to reduce rent for food traders staying open, cancels charges for operators that shut: Boxpark will reduce rent for food traders that wish to stay open during the tier three restrictions in London from Wednesday (16 December) – … view
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Tuesday 15th December 2020
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Nightcap to pay £7.5m for London Cocktail Club, Edwards to chair: Nightcap, a new company led by hospitality entrepreneur and ex-Dragons’ Den investor Sarah Willingham that, over the weekend, announced an intention to float on AIM in t … view
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Monday 14th December 2020
Sector brands London’s move to tier three from Wednesday as ‘disaster’
Sector brands London’s move to tier three from Wednesday as ‘disaster’: London and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire will move into the highest level of coronavirus restrictions from one minute past midnight on Wednesday (16 December), MP … view
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Monday 14th December 2020
Ex-Cote boss Alex Scrimgeour named new Everyman CEO
Ex-Cote boss Alex Scrimgeour named new Everyman CEO: Cinema operator Everyman has appointed Alex Scrimgeour, formerly chief executive of Cote, as its new chief executive. Scrimgeour, who left Cote in October after 12 years of leading the circa … view
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Monday 14th December 2020
Propel Monday News Briefing
SA Brain sale talk resurfaces: Speculation that Welsh brewer and retailer SA Brain was considering its options has resurfaced. The Sunday Times reported the Alistair Darby-led business, which has been owned by the same family since it was … view
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Sunday 13th December 2020
New bar group Nightcap to IPO on AIM with first acquisition
New bar group Nightcap to IPO on AIM with first acquisition: Nightcap, a new company led by hospitality entrepreneur and ex-Dragons’ Den investor Sarah Willingham, has announced an intention to float on AIM in two weeks’ time and that … view
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Friday 11th December 2020
Friday Opinion
Subjects: How to be clever and wrong, retailing skills will be vital for the future of hospitality, no brand wants to be ‘normal’, a diatribe of displeasure
Authors: Paul Chase, Glynn Davis, Andrew Fishwick, Neale Chandle … view
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Friday 11th December 2020
Propel Friday News Briefing
Total sales across hospitality sector plummet by 79% during November: Total sales at Britain’s pubs, pub-restaurants, restaurants and bars fell by 79% during November versus November 2019 as lockdown hit in England and tough trading res … view
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Friday 11th December 2020
Total sales across hospitality sector plummet by 79% during November
Total sales across hospitality sector plummet by 79% during November: Total sales at Britain’s pubs, pub-restaurants, restaurants and bars fell by 79% during November versus November 2019 as lockdown hit in England and tough trading res … view
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Thursday 10th December 2020
Oakman Inns looks to customer base to raise £4.5m toward next phase of growth
Oakman Inns looks to customer base to raise £4.5m toward next phase of growth: Oakman Inns, the Dermot King-led pub-restaurant operator, is set to tap into its customer base as it looks to raise £4.5m toward its next phase of growth, with an … view
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Thursday 10th December 2020
Deltic files notice to appoint administrators as Scandinavia’s largest nightlife group takes lead in race
Deltic files notice to appoint administrators as Scandinavia’s largest nightlife group takes lead in race: Rekom, Scandinavia’s largest nightlife group, has taken the lead in the battle to acquire The Deltic Group, the UK’s biggest night … view
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Thursday 10th December 2020
Update: Marston's, Starbucks, Applegreen and Pub of the Year
Marston's – ‘we are singularly focused on operating a great pub business’: Marston's has reported its pubs traded at 90% of 2019 levels in its fourth quarter of a 53-week period that ended on 3 October – this was 7% ahead of the o … view
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Thursday 10th December 2020
Propel Thursday News Briefing
TGI Friday’s sees like-for-likes outperform market by 9.5%, plans to open circa five sites a year as it estimates market capacity will shrink up to 30% post-covid: TGI Friday’s saw like-for-like sales outperform the market by 9.5% on … view
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Wednesday 9th December 2020
Legal Briefing

Hospitality’s Christmas wish-list by Christopher Grunert

The hospitality industry and those working in the trade have endured several heavy setbacks this year. The titanic efforts made by operators across the country to clear every hur … view
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Wednesday 9th December 2020
Eviction moratorium extended until 31 March 2021
Eviction moratorium extended until 31 March 2021: The government has extended a ban on evictions of commercial property tenants until the end of March 2021. The moratorium, which was introduced in March and has been extended twice already, pre … view
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Wednesday 9th December 2020
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
SBPA brands the revised coronavirus restrictions ‘bitter-sweet’ as only 42% of pubs and bars allowed to open: Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) chief executive Emma McClarkin has branded the revised coronavirus restrictions annou … view
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Tuesday 8th December 2020
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Wasabi founder to launch Kineya Mugimaru brand in the UK: Dong Hyun Kim, founder of Wasabi Sushi & Bento, is to launch Kineya Mugimaru, the Japanese udon noodle brand, in the UK, Propel has learned. The first site under the venture is set … view
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Monday 7th December 2020
Ladhar Group confirms acquisition of Sir John Fitzgerald
Ladhar Group confirms acquisition of Sir John Fitzgerald: The north east-based Ladhar Group has confirmed it has acquired Sir John Fitzgerald, the Newcastle-based pub operator, in a multimillion-pound deal. Propel revealed last week the L … view
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Monday 7th December 2020
QC claims consumers are at risk in using Airbnb, sector calls for government action
QC claims consumers are at risk in using Airbnb, sector calls for government action: As the global accommodation business Airbnb prepares to issue shares within days, a leading lawyer has examined the consumer protections offered by the … view
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Monday 7th December 2020
Propel Monday News Briefing
Beds and Bars MD accuses government of ‘completely failing’ over business grant support as he highlights differences between UK and European schemes: Murray Roberts, managing director of pan-European hostel and bar operator Beds and B … view
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Saturday 5th December 2020
Exclusive: Nando’s raises £100m of new equity, invested £20m in making UK sites covid secure
Exclusive – Nando’s raises £100m of new equity, invested £20m in making UK sites covid secure: Nando’s has secured additional funding from its shareholders by raising £100m in new equity, as its latest accounts reveal the business inv … view
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Friday 4th December 2020
Friday Opinion
Subjects: The future of hospitality – we are part of the solution and not the problem, food supply after Brexit, is safety the new hospitality?, the financial impact of a positive test
Authors: Alastair Scott, David Read, G … view
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Friday 4th December 2020
Update: Barburrito, Tim Martin and Confidence Survey
Barburrito protects 14 sites with fresh investment: Barburrito chairman Graham Turner has led a new investment in the business, alongside other private investors, backing the existing management team of Morgan Davies, founder and chief ex … view
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Friday 4th December 2020
Propel Friday News Briefing
Birmingham operator Sam Morgan leads judicial review against government’s tier three hospitality closures: Sam Morgan, who operates Craft and 8 in Birmingham, will launch a judicial review in the High Court against the government, chall … view
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Thursday 3rd December 2020
Update: Jersey, Prezzo, Eddie Gershon, Vue, Prezzo, Sainsbury’s
Jersey announces hospitality sector circuit breaker: Pubs, bars and restaurants in Jersey are set to close from 00:01 GMT on Friday for up to a month in order to tackle a surge in covid cases. The “hospitality circuit breaker” announc … view
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Thursday 3rd December 2020
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Nick Collins – property market has never been better for opportunities to open higher revenue and Ebitda sites: Nick Collins, chief executive of cafe-bar operator Loungers, has told Propel the property market has never been better for o … view
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Wednesday 2nd December 2020
Exclusive: Ladhar Group in talks to acquire Sir John Fitzgerald, San Carlo to launch new concept
Exclusive – Ladhar Group in talks to acquire Sir John Fitzgerald: The north east-based Ladhar Group is in talks to acquire Sir John Fitzgerald, the Newcastle-based pub operator, Propel understands. Propel revealed last month that Sir Jo … view
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Wednesday 2nd December 2020
Cain International acquires Prezzo
Cain International acquires Prezzo: Cain International, the privately held investment firm led by Jonathan Goldstein, has acquired the Karen Jones-led Prezzo as a going concern. The investment, which includes co-financing by Prezzo’s managem … view
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Wednesday 2nd December 2020
Update: Loungers results, closed sites, Vikki O’Neill, nightclubs ‘sacrificed’
Loungers ‘confident about the future’, hires Eve Bugler as chief operating officer: Loungers has reported turnover down 33% to £53.49m in the 24 weeks ended 4 October compared to £79.82m the year before. Adjusted profit before tax w … view
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Wednesday 2nd December 2020
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Alex Moore – without landlord flexibility, restaurants can’t survive right now: Rosa’s Thai Cafe co-founder Alex Moore, who invested in vegan restaurant and bar concept Redemption in September, has told Propel that “without landlo … view
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Tuesday 1st December 2020
Exclusive: Greybull Capital leads race for Deltic
Exclusive – Greybull Capital leads the race for Deltic: Private equity group Greybull Capital is leading the race to acquire The Deltic Group, the UK’s biggest nightclub operator, Propel has learned. Propel understands Greybull has secured … view
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Tuesday 1st December 2020
Caffe Nero secures CVA approval, Leon sets out restructuring plan
Caffe Nero secures approval for CVA plans: Caffe Nero, the Gerry Ford-founded chain, has had its company voluntary arrangement (CVA) approved – but the proposal could yet face a legal challenge. In excess of 90% of creditors voted in fa … view
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Tuesday 1st December 2020
PM confirms £1,000 payment for wet-led pubs but bosses warn its ‘nowhere near enough’
PM confirms £1,000 payment for wet-led pubs and vows to work with sector but bosses warn its ‘nowhere near enough’: Prime minister Boris Johnson has confirmed a one-off £1,000 payment will be made to wet-led pubs in December and vowed to … view
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Tuesday 1st December 2020
Update: Wet-led pub support, Tim Martin, supply chain pressure
Wet-led pubs only to get more financial support: Wet–led pubs are to be given extra financial support, The Daily Mail has reported. The Sun has claimed though that pubs that can’t re-open in tier two or tier three will be given just … view
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Tuesday 1st December 2020
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
UKHospitality urges MPs to support sector ahead of tier vote as it warns industry is on verge of collapse: UKHospitality is calling on MPs from all parties to show their support for the sector, warning it is on the verge of collapse, and … view
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