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Friday 30th August 2024
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Value for money challenges in the food-to-go market, the threat of ongoing incursions from retailers, the challenge of youth 
Authors: Paul Langston, Glynn Davis, Alastair Scott

Value fo … view

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Friday 30th August 2024
Exclusive: Urban Pubs & Bars acquires 11 sites from ex-Antic Pubs portfolio
Exclusive – Urban Pubs & Bars acquires 11 sites from ex-Antic Pubs portfolio: Urban Pubs & Bars, the London pub operator founded by Malc Heap and Nick Pring and backed by Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual, has acquired 11 sites from the por … view
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Friday 30th August 2024
Update: New outdoor smoking rules will force 'three pubs a week to close'
New outdoor smoking rules will force ‘three pubs a week to close’: Three pubs a week will close in a blow to the industry if Sir Keir Starmer bans outdoor smoking, trade bosses have warned. Labour Party government leader Sir Keir is … view
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Friday 30th August 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
Delivery gains ground as Euros and summer heat shape spending habits: Britain’s leading managed restaurant groups have seen a year-on-year (YOY) increase of 9.4% for delivery sales, CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker reve … view
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Friday 30th August 2024
Delivery gains ground as Euros and summer heat shape spending habits
Delivery gains ground as Euros and summer heat shape spending habits: Britain’s leading managed restaurant groups have seen a year-on-year (YOY) increase of 9.4% for delivery sales, CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker reve … view
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Thursday 29th August 2024
Update: Government plans smoking ban for pub gardens, Revolution, foodservice inflation, Barkby Pubs
Smoking could be banned in pub gardens and outdoor restaurants: Smoking in pub gardens could be banned under plans being considered by ministers. Leaked documents seen by The Sun suggest the government is also looking at extending the ban … view
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Thursday 29th August 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Professionals at Play to consider funding options next year: Professionals at Play, the operator of Roxy Lanes, Roxy Ball Room and King Pins, has told Propel it is currently in talks with advisors on a potential investment process next ye … view
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Wednesday 28th August 2024
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Greencore CEO – meal deals are getting posher as supermarkets take on Pret a Manger: Meal deals are getting posher as supermarkets take on Pret a Manger, according to the boss of Britain’s biggest sandwich maker. Dalton Philips, the … view
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Tuesday 27th August 2024
Update: Prezzo returns to profit, Heineken, fish & chips, wages
Prezzo returns to FY profit after restructure, says future outlook of the business is positive: Prezzo, the Cain International-backed Italian dining group, has said that it returned to profitability in 2023, after the completion of its r … view
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Tuesday 27th August 2024
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Sushisamba owner linked to Hawksmoor process: Dubai-based investment firm Shamal Holding, which late last year completed the acquisition of Sushisamba Group, taking full controlling interest in the award-winning fusion restaurant brand Su … view
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Sunday 25th August 2024
PizzaExpress reports UK & Ireland lfls up 8.3% as group revenue increases to £454.6m
PizzaExpress reports UK & Ireland lfls up 8.3% as group revenue increases to £454.6m: PizzaExpress has reported group revenue increased to £454,566,000 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £422,057,000 the previous year. … view
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Saturday 24th August 2024
Exclusive: Brakspear, Rocco Forte Hotels and Beavertown results
Brakspear reports record turnover of £38.6m: Pub operator Brakspear has reported turnover increased 9% to £38,641,816 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £35,407,477 the previous year. Revenue at its ten-strong Honeycomb … view
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Friday 23rd August 2024
Exclusive: Bill’s returns to expansion trail as H1 lfl sales climb 3.4%
Exclusive – Bill’s returns to expansion trail as H1 lfl sales climb 3.4%: Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed group, is to return to the expansion trail with a new iteration of its restaurant format, Propel has learned. Following the … view
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Friday 23rd August 2024
Friday Opinion
Subjects: How big is too big, in defence of post-work drinks, a long way to go on race
Authors: James Hacon, Glynn Davis, Phil Mellows

How big is too big by James Hacon

The Evening Standar … view
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Friday 23rd August 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
The Fat Pizza aiming for 180 UK sites by the end of 2026 plus 50 across GCC, trialling dark kitchen pub model: Fast-growing pizza franchise The Fat Pizza has told Propel it is aiming for 180 UK sites by the end of 2026 plus 50 across the … view
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Thursday 22nd August 2024
Soft drinks surge as Generation Z drives moderation revolution
Soft drinks surge as Generation Z drives moderation revolution: The on premise is witnessing a marked decrease in alcohol consumption across the globe, a shift evident in the UK, with a -23pp net decrease, resulting in a growing appetite for s … view
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Thursday 22nd August 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Pizza Hut Restaurants UK operator seeing return to ‘more normalised trading’, FY lfl sales up 7.7%, becomes master franchisee for Ireland: Heart with Smart Group, which operates Pizza Hut Restaurants and is an Itsu franchisee, saw lik … view
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Wednesday 21st August 2024
Clive Chesser to step down as Punch CEO, Andy Spencer to lead next stage of company’s growth
Clive Chesser to step down as Punch CEO, Andy Spencer to lead next stage of company’s growth: Clive Chesser is stepping down as chief executive of the Fortress Investment Group-backed Punch Pubs & Co after six years in the role to becom … view
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Wednesday 21st August 2024
Update: McDonald’s to open more than 200 new UK restaurants over next four years with focus on high street
McDonald’s to open more than 200 new UK restaurants over the next four years with a focus on the high street: McDonald’s plans to opens more than 200 restaurants in the UK and the Republic of Ireland over the next four years, creating … view
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Wednesday 21st August 2024
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Weather cools hospitality group performance as sector sees 1.5% sales growth in July: Britain’s managed hospitality groups reported year-on-year growth of 1.5% in July 2024, down from June’s rate of 2.9%, the latest CGA RSM Hospitalit … view
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Wednesday 21st August 2024
Weather cools hospitality group performance as sector sees 1.5% sales growth in July
Weather cools hospitality group performance as sector sees 1.5% sales growth in July: Britain’s managed hospitality groups reported year-on-year growth of 1.5% in July 2024, down from June’s rate of 2.9%, the latest CGA RSM Hospitalit … view
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Tuesday 20th August 2024
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Farmer J founder – the vision is to hit a minimum of 50 sites in the UK: Jonathan Recanati, founder of all-day market concept Farmer J, has said the vision for the business is to hit a “minimum of 50 sites in the UK”, and that it ha … view
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Monday 19th August 2024
Rick Stein exploring expansion opportunities, Nordic coffee brand hires Thomas Kelly as group CEO
Rick Stein exploring expansion opportunities, seeking central London site: Rick Stein’s restaurant business has said that it is looking to expand its restaurant portfolio and is actively seeking a site in central London. It comes as the … view
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Monday 19th August 2024
Hospitality returns to outlet growth after solid first half of 2024
Hospitality returns to outlet growth after solid first half of 2024: Britain’s hospitality sector has recorded its first quarter-on-quarter growth in outlets in two years, the new Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartn … view
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Monday 19th August 2024
Propel Monday News Briefing
Individual Restaurants CEO – open to consolidation opportunities, current trading ‘a little bit behind my expectations’: Andrew Garton, chief executive of Individual Restaurants – which comprises 32 venues across its Restaurant Ba … view
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Friday 16th August 2024
Friday Opinion
Subjects: It’s not easy being green, UK versus the US, being guided
Authors: Katherine Doggrell, Katy Moses, Glynn Davis

It’s not easy being green by Katherine Doggrell 

In hotel land … view
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Friday 16th August 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
The Light set to raise investment to support accelerated growth plan and recapitalise balance sheet: Cinema and entertainment operator The Light is set to raise investment to support its accelerated growth plan and recapitalise its balanc … view
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Thursday 15th August 2024
WHSmith opens first own-brand cafe in food-to-go push, plans rollout
WHSmith opens first own-brand cafe in food-to-go push, plans rollout: Retailer WHSmith has launched its first own-brand café, Smith’s Kitchen – with plans to roll it out to travel locations in the UK in the near future. The retailer opene … view
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Thursday 15th August 2024
Update: Breakthrough in train driver talks welcomed, Starbucks, C&C, workers’ rights
Breakthrough in negotiations between the government and train drivers is “crucial step forward for sector”: Two years of rail strikes appeared to be nearing an end last night after ministers offered drivers a 15% pay rise, a move that … view
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Thursday 15th August 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Body Text Here … view
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Thursday 15th August 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Trio of sites from ex-East London Pub Co business change hands for just over £9m: A trio of pubs that were part of the East London Pub Co business, which was placed into administration last November, were sold for a combined figure of ju … view
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Wednesday 14th August 2024
Legal Briefing

‘What is wrong with this country’ by Chris Grunert

British TV audiences likely found it fitting when they heard John Cleese and Connie Booth’s American tourist character, Mr Hamilton, say to Basil Fawlty: “What’s wrong with thi … view
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Wednesday 14th August 2024
Update: Thomas Kelly to move to chair at Honest Burgers
Thomas Kelly to move to chair at Honest Burgers: Honest Burgers, the Active Partners-backed business, has announced that Thomas Kelly, who joined the business at the start of this year as its chief executive, is to step up to become its c … view
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Wednesday 14th August 2024
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Burger King UK CEO – there remains a lot to go after, pretty confident with where the business is at present, hires new COO: Alasdair Murdoch, chief executive of Burger King UK, has told Propel that there remains “a lot to go after” … view
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Tuesday 13th August 2024
Starbucks replaces CEO with Chipotle CEO after coming under activist investor pressure
Starbucks replaces CEO with Chipotle CEO after coming under activist investor pressure: Starbucks has hired Chipotle chief executive Brian Niccol to replace Laxman Narasimhan, who leaves the business with immediate effect. Narasimhan took over … view
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Tuesday 13th August 2024
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
We Do Play secures UK debut site for Canadian interactive gaming concept Activate: We Do Play, which is behind trampoline brand Flip Out and crazy golf concept Putt Putt Social in the UK, has secured a UK debut site for Canadian interacti … view
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Tuesday 13th August 2024
Trof Group founders’ new concept, Honest Burgers sees record delivery, Greene King hires 250th prison leaver
Trof Group founders to launch new quick-service pizza restaurant concept and aims to roll out nationwide: Joel Wilkinson, Adelaide Winter and Dan Mullen, founders of the Trof Group, are to launch a new quick-service pizza restaurant conce … view
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Monday 12th August 2024
Update: Burger King FY lfls sales up 3%, Rhubarb, business rates, junk food
Burger King UK reports 3% rise in FY lfl sales, H1 24 trading has been resilient: Burger King UK, which operates 561 restaurants, 285 of which are directly owned, has reported a 30% rise in revenue to £381.8m in the year to 31 December 2 … view
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Monday 12th August 2024
Propel Monday News Briefing
The Athenian set to pass 100-site mark this year, rapid growth led by dark kitchen openings but also keen to launch further physical stores: Greek street food restaurant group The Athenian has told Propel it is set to pass the 100-site ma … view
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Friday 9th August 2024
Soho House reports losses increase to $33.9m in second quarter, UK membership up 33% since January 2022
Soho House reports losses increase to $33.9m in second quarter, UK membership numbers up 33% in two-and-a-half years: Members’ club group Soho House has reported its net loss in the 13 weeks to 30 June 2024 increased to $33.9m from $2.6 … view
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Friday 9th August 2024
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Not gaining an advantage, the growing opportunities of breakfast offers, iPad tills
Authors: David Roberts, Glynn Davis, Alastair Scott

Not gaining an advantage by David Roberts

view
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Friday 9th August 2024
Revolution received six offers separate to Nightcap including £16m for Peach business
Revolution received six offers separate to Nightcap including £16m for Peach business, secures High Court approval for restructuring plan: Revolution Bars Group – the operator of the Revolution, Revolución de Cuba and Peach Pubs brand … view
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Friday 9th August 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
New owner paid £150,000 to acquire Island Poke out of administration: London health food business Island Poke was acquired out of administration for £150,000. Propel reported in June that Island Poke was bought by IP Topco, a subsidiary … view
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Thursday 8th August 2024
Deliveroo – consumer environment now stabilising, posts first profit as orders grow
Deliveroo – consumer environment now stabilising, posts first profit as orders grow: Deliveroo has said the consumer environment is now stabilising as it reported its first profit. The company said for the six months ending 30 June … view
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Thursday 8th August 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Australian-style sushi concept to make UK debut with scope for ‘hundreds’ of sites here: Australian-style sushi concept Rolled is to make its UK debut, with its founder confident that Britain can sustain “hundreds” of sites. The o … view
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Wednesday 7th August 2024
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Hollywood Bowl CFO – we’re forecasting a record year of revenue, bowling more affordable than it was pre-pandemic: Hollywood Bowl chief financial officer Laurence Keen has told Propel the business is forecasting a record year of reven … view
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Tuesday 6th August 2024
Fuller’s acquires Warwickshire operator Lovely Pubs for £22.5m
Fuller’s acquires Warwickshire operator Lovely Pubs for £22.5m: Fuller’s has purchased Lovely Pubs – a collection of seven sites in Warwickshire for a total consideration of £22.5m. The seven pubs, six of which are freehold, are all si … view
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Tuesday 6th August 2024
Domino’s CEO – £4 lunch deal is starting to change consumers’ perception about us being expensive
Domino’s CEO – £4 lunch deal is starting to change consumers’ perception about us being expensive, ‘more confident than ever’ about hitting 2,000 store target: Andrew Rennie, chief executive of Domino’s Pizza Group, has said the i … view
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Tuesday 6th August 2024
Update: TGI Fridays, Domino’s, The Breakfast Club
TGI Fridays operator reports Ebitda improvement but year-to-date lfls down 12%, reveals plans to transition to fully franchised model if acquisition of US brand owner completes: Hostmore, the parent company of TGI Fridays, has reported an … view
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Tuesday 6th August 2024
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Exclusive – RedCat completes £61m refinancing, giving business ‘stability required to invest for growth’: RedCat Pub Company, the investment vehicle founded and chaired by Rooney Anand, has completed a £61m refinancing, giving the … view
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Tuesday 6th August 2024
Exclusive – RedCat completes £61m refinancing, giving business ‘stability required to invest for growth’
Exclusive – RedCat completes £61m refinancing, giving business ‘stability required to invest for growth’: RedCat Pub Company, the investment vehicle founded and chaired by Rooney Anand, has completed a £61m refinancing, giving the busi … view
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Monday 5th August 2024
Roxy Leisure rebrands and launches new family-friendly concept, restructures management team
Roxy Leisure rebrands and launches new family-friendly concept, restructures management team: Roxy Leisure Holdings – the operator of Roxy Lanes, Roxy Ball Room and King Pins – has rebranded and launched a new family-friendly concept, as w … view
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Monday 5th August 2024
Update: Portobello Pub Company, Knoops, McDonald's, Hawksmoor
Portobello Pub Company sees ‘clear opportunity’ to maintain rate of growth: Portobello Pub Company, the pub and restaurant operator backed by private equity firm Zetland Capital, has said it sees a “clear opportunity” to maintain its r … view
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Monday 5th August 2024
Propel Monday News Briefing
Exclusive – Whitbread hires Nigel Sherwood as new MD for restaurants division: Nigel Sherwood is to step down as chief operating officer at The Restaurant Group-owned Wagamama to become managing director of Whitbread’s restaurants di … view
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Monday 5th August 2024
Liberation Group first half managed lfl sales up 6.4% driven by food offer and accommodation
Liberation Group first half managed lfl sales up 6.4% driven by food offer and accommodation: Brewer and retailer Liberation Group, has reported a 6.4% increase in like-for-like sales across its managed estate in the half year to 27 July … view
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Saturday 3rd August 2024
Clays subject to overseas interest, Wingstop UK eyes sale
Exclusive – Clays subject to overseas interest as lfl sales sitting at over 20%: Tom Snellock, founder of Clays, the Imbiba-backed, indoor interactive clay shooting experience concept, has told Propel business has seen “growth in all … view
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Friday 2nd August 2024
Clays secures new £6m investment, lines up regional debut site
Clays secures new £6m investment, lines up regional debut site: Clays, the Imbiba-backed, indoor interactive clay shooting experience concept, has secured £6m of new investment to aid its further expansion and lined up its first regional sit … view
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Friday 2nd August 2024
Friday Opinion
Subjects: A very different kind of family dining, are youngsters being priced out of eating and drinking out, driving home the point
Authors: James Hacon, Glynn Davis, Phil Mellows


A very different kind of family dining by … view

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Friday 2nd August 2024
Punch reports strong current trading including record sales day for management partnership division
Punch reports strong current trading including record sales day for management partnership division: Punch Pubs, the Clive Chesser-led business, has reported strong current trading, including a record sales day for its management partners … view
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Friday 2nd August 2024
Propel Friday News Briefing
Big Table Group CEO – I would rather buy a fast-casual business than open something new in that space: Alan Morgan, chief executive of The Big Table Group – the operator of Las Iguanas, Banana Tree, Frankie & Benny’s and Bella Italia – … view
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Thursday 1st August 2024
Propel Thursday News Briefing
JKS expands leadership team at Gymkhana Fine Foods as it looks to scale the business further: JKS Restaurants has strengthened the management team of its fast-growing retail brand, Gymkhana Fine Foods, with three new hires. The retail busine … view
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