Fuller's CEO – disappointing autumn statement 'will fuel inflation and influence future investment in sector': Fuller's chief executive Simon Emeny said a “disappointing” autumn statement will “fuel inflation” next year and “influence future investment in the sector”. Business rates for the sector will remain frozen for another year, while all alcohol duty will be frozen until August 2024. This following the announcement that the National Living Wage will increase from April next year. Emeny said: “While the extension of the 75% business rates relief is good news for single site operators, this is a very disappointing autumn statement. The government should have frozen the business rates multiplier for pubs of all sizes. This will fuel inflation further in early 2024, and no doubt influence future investment in the sector.” Sector investor Hugh Osmond tweeted: “I am big fan of jobs in hospitality being recognised for their true value with higher wages. But short term, this will hurt an industry still reeling from covid damage, food inflation, and cost pressures on all sides. It will also mean higher prices for consumers.” Adnams chief executive Andy Wood said: “I very much welcome the news that alcohol duties are to be frozen until next August, but the potential for beer and spirit duties to rise was deeply concerning.” Nick Mackenzie, chief executive at brewer and retailer Greene King, said: “The decision to freeze alcohol duty is a welcome lifeline for many pubs and breweries. The extension to the retail, leisure and hospitality business rates relief scheme, and freezing the small business rates multiplier, are also both welcome. However, these will offer little support to businesses like Greene King that manage and invest in pubs in communities.” Clive Chesser, Punch Pubs & Co chief executive, said: “The welcome announcements on alcohol duty and business rates will provide a positive stimulus as we continue to bring communities together, drive investment in jobs, and strengthen our status as a creator of real growth throughout the nation.” Stonegate Group chief executive David McDowall said: “As we enter the busy festive trading period, this announcement will provide some respite and comfort to the hospitality sector which has battled against a triple threat of soaring energy costs, rampant inflation and cost of living pressures over the past year.” Jay Rahman, owner of Cheltenham independent restaurant Prithvi, said: “The autumn statement is a step in the right direction, yet falls short of the support needed for businesses like ours. Without the anticipated support, we’re facing an uphill battle to balance these escalating costs while maintaining the quality and integrity of our business.” Isabelle Shepherd, director at haysmacintyre, said: “Though these measures are helpful, they basically maintain the status quo rather than providing any additional relief – meaning the net effect remains an overall cost increase for hospitality businesses this year.” Boudewijn Haarsma, managing director of Heineken UK, said: “We can now look to plan our investments in 2024 with more certainty. The moves made today mean publicans and pubgoers will be raising a glass.” Stephen Montgomery, director of the Scottish Hospitality Group, added: “The decision to extend 75% business rates relief for hospitality businesses in England must be at least matched by the Scottish government at the Scottish Budget. There are just four weeks to save Scottish hospitality.”

 

Premium subscribers to receive updated Propel Multi-Site Database and Mark Wingett’s 2023 video picks tomorrow: Premium subscribers will receive the updated Propel Multi-Site Database tomorrow (Friday, 24 November). The Propel Multi-Site Database, which is produced in association with Virgate, has now grown to include 3,060 businesses that operate 71,189 sites. An additional 37 companies, which operate 246 sites between them, have been added. Premium subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the New Openings Database; the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database; and the Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage. Premium subscribers will also receive at 9am tomorrow, for the first time, the 12 best videos from Propel conferences in 2023. Selected by group editor Mark Wingett, they will feature a selection of talks and interviews that resonated with delegates from across the breadth of the hospitality sector. Premium subscribers are also to receive all the videos from this month’s Propel Multi-Club Conference on Friday, 1 December. They will be sent 12 videos at 9am. Premium subscribers receive all the videos from Propel conferences each year – around 100 in total. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription. Premium subscribers also receive their morning newsletter 11 hours early, at 7pm the evening before; regular video content and regular exclusive columns from Mark Wingett.

 

Competitive socialising sector grows by nearly 40% in five years: The competitive socialising sector has grown at unparalleled levels over the past five years, with a 38% increase in competitive socialising venues since 2018, according to new research by Savills. The research found renewed appetite for in-person experiences and interactions following the covid-19 pandemic has fuelled demand for the sector, with it today representing the “biggest development the leisure sector has seen in decades”. It was in its relative infancy in 2018, and while the market has grown as a whole, Savills found some sub-sectors have accelerated at a faster rate than others. Many brands have opted for a more blended offering as the competition becomes fierce, with the likes of Boom Battle Bar and Lane7 contributing to the 455% uptick in “combo” attractions over the past five years. “Solo” competitive socialising, which defines venues marketing one singular activity such as darts, axe-throwing and ping-pong, has grown by 162%. The research found mini golf has seen an increase of 96%. In comparison, bowling, which already has a big presence in the market, has increased by 10%, with its biggest growth seen largely within the “combo” rather than “solo” market. Standalone virtual reality is the only sector to have declined, by 5%. When analysing regional change, Savills found Birmingham experienced the fastest growth in the sector over the past five years, with a net change of 14 units over the period, and more planned for the Bullring and Grand Central estates in 2024. This is closely followed by Liverpool at nine units and Leicester at six units. In Grosvenor’s Liverpool ONE shopping centre, there are five brands alone, with Flight Club set to join the line up in 2024. London, comparatively, has seen a smaller proportionate rise in openings at five units, which the property firm said is likely due to a lack of affordable supply and the city being a more mature market for the sector compared with other regions. Carlene Hughes, head of UK restaurants and leisure at Savills, said: “Our research suggests that there will be a number of football-based simulation activities, with Ballerz, a concept backed by ex-professional footballers, due to open in Bluewater next year. There is also likely going to be more food and beverage brands thinking carefully about how to incorporate immersive entertainment, with companies from Boxpark to Butlin’s including competitive socialising in their venues. We expect that our world-class UK brands will also begin looking internationally to grow their business, with the likes of F1 Arcade opening in Boston next year.”

 

Consumers ‘ready to spend on hot beverages in 2024’: A new CGA by NIQ report shows many on-premise visitors are happy to spend more money on hot beverages in 2024 – but only if the quality and value are right. The Hot Beverages Spotlight Report shows more than a quarter (28%) of consumers expect to spend more on hot beverages in the next 12 months, while more than half (54%) said they are likely to pay extra for a better-quality drink – a figure that rises even higher to 62% of adults aged 18 to 34. There is a particularly strong appetite for trading up in coffee, where the quality of beans has become integral to marketing campaigns. While some drinkers are happy to upgrade, the report indicates others will be seeking more value in 2024. Andy Hodgson, CGA by NIQ’s senior business development manager, said: “Hot beverages are an increasingly valuable part of on-premise drinks menus and they can unlock incremental sales in new dayparts. But with competition so fierce and consumers more knowledgeable about their drinks than ever, it’s crucial to understand exactly where, when and why these drinks are bought. With spending likely to fluctuate widely between premium and value offerings, crafting the right ranges and hitting the pricing sweet spots will be the keys to success in 2024.”

 

Meaningful Vision to host free webinar helping hospitality operators understand why consumer traffic ‘is your ultimate performance metric’: Market intelligence platform Meaningful Vision is to host a free webinar helping hospitality operators understand why consumer traffic “is your ultimate performance metric”. Chief executive Maria Vanifatova will share key insights on the UK foodservice industry in 2023 compared with last year, and while the industry is reporting 6% growth in turnover, she will explain why these numbers might be misleading operators. Vanifatova will share why consumer traffic is the most reliable factor to measure industry performance and which formats, areas and segments are demonstrating the highest growth rates. The webinar will be sent out at 11am today (Thursday, 23 November).

 

Sector leaders join sleepout and help raise £228,000 for homeless charities: More than 140 chief executives and business leaders, including many from the hospitality industry, slept outdoors at Lord’s Cricket Ground for CEO Sleepout London and raised £228,000 for local charities supporting people facing homelessness this winter. Henrik Muehle, managing director of Flemings Mayfair Hotel, topped the fundraising leader board, securing more than £22,500 in donations. Many other prominent hospitality figures also took part including Martin Williams, chief executive of Rare Restaurants; Edoardo Minoli, chief operating officer of The Birley Clubs; Vijay Sana, general manager of Hutong; and a number of leaders at Caprice Holdings including Dylan Ramsay (commercial finance director), George Jones (group executive director), Jon Davis (chief technology officer), and Una O’Reilly (group chief of people). Since CEO Sleepout was founded in 2013, events across the UK have raised £4.2m for charities across the UK.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a multifaceted hospitality concept in London that is seeking a head of bars. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This new role in this innovative venue oversees all bar-related aspects. With a 65/35 split, your expertise in beverages aligning with food dynamics is crucial. You will be responsible for best practices, ordering, menus, partnerships, collaborations, training, and stock. You’ll manage diverse offerings – from restaurants and pubs to pop-ups. An encyclopaedia of beverages with a knack for food, you’ll lead multiple general managers and report to the operations director. The business is seeking someone with eclectic experience across venue, hotels, bars, and restaurants. Your hands-on, adaptable approach across various operations is key, all while leading, training, and developing a versatile team.” The salary is up to £60,000. For more information, email kate@corecruitment.com.

 

Pret UK MD – we’re looking to double the number of UK franchised sites next year: Clare Clough, managing director UK & Ireland at Pret A Manger, has said the business plans to double its franchised store estate in the UK next year, and that growth in this category has “been based on a small number of divestments”. The business currently has 88 franchised sites in the UK, spread across seven high street franchisees and three roadside partners. Speaking at this month’s Propel Multi-Club Conference, Clough said: “We’re now really starting to fill the map in the UK, and we are doing that with the support of franchise partners. We’ve got 88 shops that are operated by franchise partners, and by the end of next year, we’re looking to double that number and to really sort of spread out. There’s a huge benefit in working with operators that really understand where they are, and we’re certainly privileged to work with some partners who really understand the locations they’re helping us grow in and are able to find sites that really are great Pret sites as well. But choosing the right partners has been an important consideration. In the UK, we’ve chosen people that we think are really aligned to our values, people that really understand what we stand for and want to grow with us in that way. Our growth has been based on a small number of divestments. We have divested a couple of shops to each of the partners, coupled with a growth agreement for that territory, and often we’ve transferred talent as well. We’ve got some really talented experienced people across our business who franchising also gives a great next step in their own personal career development. Some of our operations managers have left the equity business and joined some of our franchise partners and are progressing fantastically, starting to become leaders within the franchising business as well.” Clough also touched on the potential for further international growth for the brand, which is currently in 15 markets and opened its first site in Spain earlier this month. She shared a map of where the business plans to grow by 2026, with new territories for the business set to include Brazil, Algeria, Kenya, Scandinavia and South Africa. She added: “Most of that international growth is also in partnership. We have recently announced a joint venture with Dallas Holdings, which is also one of our franchise partners in the UK, for our US business, and we think it'll really drive that forward. And then we’ve got some exciting partnerships in other parts of the world. Those are all conversations that are either in progress or already committed.” Clough will provide further insight in her video from the Propel Multi-Club Conference. Premium subscribers will receive access to all 12 videos from the event on Friday, 1 December at 9am. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

 

Hero Brands sees FY turnover top £37m, brands well placed for growth: Hero Brands – the backer of German Doner Kebab (GDK), salad bar concept Choppaluna and Sides – saw turnover top £37m in the year ended 31 December 2022 as it said that its brands were well placed for “significant future growth”. The company reported full-year turnover of £37,876,545 (2021: £34,831,966) but posted a pre-tax loss of £1.598,603 versus a pre-tax profit of £2,526,334 in the previous 12 months. The company said: “The GDK brand continues to grow as the most developed brand within the group and in the year has grown from 112 restaurants at the end of 2021 to 146 restaurants at the end of 2022 and has now passed more than 150 restaurants in 2023. This covers restaurants in the UK, Sweden, Dubai, USA and Canada. In 2022, GDK sold the master franchisee license for UAE and negotiations are also underway in setting up franchise operations in other countries. In 2022 significant work was undertaken in other Hero Brands companies in the food and beverage category, notably Choppaluna and Hero Sidz (the parent company of Sides), both of which are now placed well for significant future growth. The group plans to continue its expansion of new store numbers and grow the business substantially, in the UK, the USA and other international markets.” It comes as Sides, the chicken restaurant created by the YouTube group, The Sidemen, confirmed it will open a site in Manchester after agreeing to take a 1,222 square-foot unit at Manchester Arndale on a ten-year lease. Robin Mehta, Sides chief executive, said: “Opening a location in Manchester is definitely a massive step for us and we are proud to be opening in the Arndale. Sides continues to grow with high street and shopping centre locations popping up around the country.” Sides is also set to open a restaurant within the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent. It comes after The Sidemen opened its first high street Sides locations, in London’s Dalston and at the Merry Hill shopping centre in the West Midlands. Founded in 2021, Sides grew initially as a delivery-only brand but intends to expand across the country, with as many as 200 sites over the next decade.

 

Reilley – if we’d been dealing with this 15 years ago, I doubt we’d have made it through: Alex Reilley, co-founder of cafe bar operator Loungers, said if the business had been dealing 15 years ago with the cost pressures it is facing now and going into 2024, then “I doubt we’d have made it through”. After the chancellor’s autumn statement, which saw business rates and alcohol duty freezes follow the government’s national living wage (NLW) increase announcement, Reilley said: “Business rates support is a continuation of existing support (and is vital to many). A beer duty freeze is just that, a ‘freeze’, and is worth absolute buttons. The cost of inflation busting NLW is being picked up by business not the government (along with the employers’ national insurance on the increase). At the very least, the chancellor could have cut employers’ NI in line with the cut to employees’ NI to go some way to helping SMEs being able to afford their payroll costs from April ‘24 and stay afloat. All of this on top of being forced to take out covid loans (that are now subject to higher interest rates). There are some fabulously talented hospitality entrepreneurs out there who have put it all on the line, invested their savings and, through hard work and ambition, created brilliant businesses. But really, how are they going to survive? If I was dealing with this 15 years ago when Loungers was an SME, I doubt we’d have made it through. How many businesses that could, in years to come, be creating nearly 1,000 new jobs a year and investing more than £30m in new sites (like Loungers is now) will fail?”

Conrad Patterson to step down as Comptoir Group COO: Conrad Patterson is to step down as chief operating officer of Comptoir Group, the Comptoir Libanais and Shawa operator, Propel has learned. It is understood that Patterson, who has been with Comptoir Group since summer 2017, is stepping down in the new year to take up another role outside the sector. He was previously operations director at Ignite Group, and held operations managers roles prior to that at Comptoir and Ping Pong. The company said that recruitment is underway and it expects to make an announcement on Patterson’s replacement in the coming weeks. Nick Ayerst, chief executive, said: "Conrad has played an important part in the development of Comptoir Libanais over the last seven years, not least during covid where he successfully led our teams through the difficulties and complexities the pandemic presented. I would like to thank Conrad for the last 12 months of support for me personally and wish him all the best in his new exciting new start up adventure.” Last month, Comptoir Group announced that Michael Toon was to step down as its financial director. Toon will remain with the business until 12 January 2024 “to ensure an orderly handover”. The group said it has started its search for Toon’s replacement and a further announcement will be made once a successor has been identified. In September, the business reported a profit decline in the six months to 2 July 2023, as it said its trading continued to be impacted by “significant events outside of our direct control” such as the ongoing public transport industrial action. The business, which owns and operates 26 Lebanese restaurants, six of which are franchised, based predominantly in the UK, reported total revenue for the half-year was £14.8m (2022: £14.5m) and adjusted Ebitda profit was £1.0m (2022: £3.8m). Like-for-like sales stood at 6% (VAT adjusted) with like-for-like dine in sales growing by 8.1% (VAT adjusted). Last month, it returned to the expansion trail, after opening on the former Bread Street Café site in London's Ealing Broadway. It is understood to be in advanced talks on a further site in the capital.

 

Locke – the real difference for us is our pizza, hopes to open third site next summer: Steve Locke, co-founder of Be At One, the cocktail bar chain acquired by Stonegate in 2018 for circa £50m, has told Propel that the elevated offer of his new venture, Lockes, is creating a point of difference in the marketplace, as he looks to open a third site next summer. Propel revealed earlier this week that Locke, who founded Be At One with Rhys Oldfield and Leigh Miller, has secured the former BrewDog site situated at the top of Battersea Rise by Clapham Common for his second Lockes site, with an opening planned for January. The site is a few doors down from where Locke opened his first Be At One bar in 1998. He launched the first Lockes in Covent Garden in September 2019. Locke said: “We are opening a second site after coming off 18 months of strong trading in Covent Garden. The fact that we are a bar that does some food has really benefited us, especially as people are coming out earlier and may be not staying out as late. It will be interesting going back to Battersea Rise. When we opened the Be At One site, it was seen to be at the wrong end of the road, but it soon turned around, and I hope to do something similar with Lockes. We want to build the business and we hope to open a third site next summer. We are focusing on London, and I expect more opportunities will arise in terms of new locations as the next 12 months plays out. We have good momentum. We’ve really dialled up the quality of the cocktails. The real difference for us is our pizza. It’s Roman-style, sourdough pizza. Most of my chefs, almost all my team are Italian. There’s lots of great pizza, but I think we can go toe to toe with most pizzerias. I think the difference is, and I think a lot of bar operators will probably suffer from this, is that they do a bit/dabble with it but don’t really commit to it. Whereas we have committed to our pizza, which is as good as our cocktails. Lots of people come to our place just for the pizza. We’ve only gone public on Battersea in the last three days, but the feedback we’ve had through social media has been amazing. It’s nice to be back there after 20 years and been away for five. I’m really looking forward to bringing it back home.”

 

Acquisitions help Surrey Domino’s franchisee ‘maintain market share’ following decline in revenue, opens 62nd restaurant: Surrey Domino’s franchisee Full House Restaurants said acquisitions had helped it “maintain market share” following a decline in revenue in the year to 25 December 2022. The business, based in Staines-on-Thames, saw revenue drop from £64,789,624 in 2021 to £62,704,143 during the period “due to the end to the temporary reduced rate of VAT introduced by the government during the pandemic and slow down in consumer spending”. Its pre-tax profit also fell from £12,084,617 to £7,527,870, as costs rose by almost £2m. “The group continued its existing strategy of identifying and investing in new stores where there is potential for growth, to supplement its current sites,” director Bradley Shedden said. “It is pleased to report nine new sites were opened in 2022. Seven of these sites were based in Wales and part of the strategic acquisition of JJE Enterprises, with the other sites being at Crowborough and Bracknell Birch Hill. It was recognised in 2022 across the sector revenues declined. However, the acquisitions towards the end of the financial year helped the business maintain its market share and recognise smaller falls from the highs of 2021 than seen elsewhere. Plans are in place to open two further stores in 2023, which combined with the acquisitions at the end of 2022, should see a return to growth next year.” The business this week took its portfolio to 62 restaurants when it opened in the former Davey Lamp pub in Wryley, south Staffordshire. Net assets at the year-end were £19.4m (2021: £18m), which included a cash position of £9.9m (2021: £10.9m). Based on results, dividends of £4.5m were paid to shareholders during the year (2021: £4.5m). Full House Restaurants, which has also branched out into operating gym franchises with Snap Fitness, was founded by Bradley’s father, John, who remains chairman. Bradley began working for his father in 1996 at a branch of Domino’s in Teddington, south west London. Starting out as a part-time driver, he soon quit his job and started working full time as the assistant manager, and then store manager, area manager, operations director and, finally, managing director.

 

Lebanese bakehouse concept to launch debut site in London’s Victoria: Common Breads, a Lebanese bakehouse concept, is to open its debut site next year, in London’s Victoria, Propel has learned. The business, which has been founded by Abbas Fawaz, Kamal El Zein and Abbas Zein, will open a site on Buckingham Palace Road as part of Grosvenor’s new development, that includes Joe & The Juice (already open) and Buns at Home (opening in January). The concept said it will offer “freshly baked artisanal Lebanese street bread filled or topped with a rich innovative assortment of fine ingredients reflecting new and localised presentations of the Lebanese food palette”. Jamie Harvie-Austin at Austin Commercial acted on the Common Breads deal.

 

Ole & Steen parent company appoints Joachim Knudsen as new group CEO: Lagkagehuset, the parent company of Danish bakery brand Ole & Steen, has appointed Joachim Knudsen, former managing director of McDonald’s Sweden and Denmark, as its new group chief executive. A Danish native Knudsen will take on his new role on 1 January 2024. Propel revealed last month that Propel that the business had begun the search for a new group chief executive after the departure of Jason Cotta, who has been in the role since summer 2019. Knudsen was previously managing director of Food Folk AB, the company operating McDonald’s in Sweden. Before that, he was managing director of McDonald’s Denmark for five years. David Campbell, chairman of Lagkagehuset, said: “Joachim brings more than 25 years of industry experience and has delivered impressive results at McDonald’s. At the same time, he is a strong and seasoned leader with an operational focus who will fit well with the company in this next phase. Lagkagehuset has a strong position in Denmark, and has established itself in London and New York, and we are now entering a new phase where we need to continue driving strong organic growth and focus on improved profitability through general optimization of the company. The board of directors is convinced that Joachim is the right profile for the next chapter of Lagkagehuset.” The company operates 140 bakery stores, including 26 under the Ole & Steen brand in the UK. Knudsen said: “I am excited to join Lagkagehuset on the next step of its journey. It is a fantastic brand with great locations in Denmark, London, and New York. I am convinced that the company is well-positioned for its next phase of operational excellence and I look forward to developing the company further in cooperation with the entire team.” 

 

KFC UK & Ireland promotes Kate Wall to marketing director: KFC UK & Ireland has promoted Kate Wall to marketing director. Wall, who is currently strategy and innovation director, will take up her new position on Friday, 1 December. Wall has been with the business for almost five years. Kick starting her KFC UK & Ireland journey as head of advertising and retail in 2019, Wall was later promoted to strategy and innovation director in 2021. The business stated: “During this time, Wall has championed the development of the KFC customer value proposition to bring clarity to growth, and she has developed a consumer centric three-year innovation pipeline tackling new growth occasions such as lunch as well as fame building product launches such as The Stuffing Stacker Burger and the Irish Chicken Fillet Roll Mor, as well remastered the controversial fries. Kate will be adding to KFC’s already strong female leadership team, working under the newly appointed chief marketing officer, Monica Pool, who returned to the brand this autumn.” Wall said: “We have the most brilliant team of marketers – full of bold creativity and explosive insights – alongside dedicated agency partners, and I am confident that together, we will launch our much-loved brand into its defining next chapter.” Monica Pool, chief marketing officer at KFC UK & Ireland, added: “We’re excited for this next chapter for our marketing team, with Kate pushing boundaries and unleashing unparalleled experiences that will not just connect,  but will captivate our customers like never before.”

 

Itsu opens ‘biggest and boldest site so far’: Itsu, the circa 85-strong, healthy Asian food chain, has opened its “biggest and boldest site so far”, in London’s Bishopsgate. The business has opened a 2,200 square-foot, 59-cover site at 150 Bishopsgate. Talking about the site earlier this summer, Itsu founder Julian Metcalfe told Propel: “This will be our biggest and boldest site so far. The most confident too, and now with our new menu and technology, a sure-fire win for our customers wanting healthier, nutritious affordable food, fast.” It has also signed on a site in Oxford Street, and Metcalfe said the brand has “about eight great sites in the pipeline but need ten more”. He added that the business had some “beauties next year” in its opening pipeline. 

 

LXi REIT confirms potential sale of 66 Travelodge hotels: Real estate investment company LXi REIT has confirmed it is currently under offer and in solicitors’ hands regarding the potential sale of 66 Travelodge hotels. Responding to recent news reports, the company said the proposed transaction carried a combined value of £210m, consistent with its current book value as of 30 September. If the sale is successfully concluded, the business said it intended to allocate a significant portion of the proceeds towards debt reduction. Such a move would decrease the group’s loan-to-value ratio from 38% to 34%. Additionally, it said the sale would significantly reduce the Travelodge segment’s contribution to its overall rent roll. As of 30 September, the Travelodge proportion represented 18% of LXi’s total rent roll, but post-sale, it was expected to be reduced to 11%. The company said: “The sale remains subject to contract and due diligence, and there is therefore no certainty that the sale will complete. A further announcement will be issued following an exchange of contracts.”

 

Two new operators join line-up at Cardiff Bay entertainment and leisure complex: Two new operators have joined the line-up at the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay. EasyThali has opened in the entertainment and leisure complex’s mall, offering world flavours including exotic tea, desserts and savoury snacks. Meanwhile, self-service restaurant Everytime will be opening inside the centre next month, aiming to bring Oriental cuisine “at a fast-food pace”. There will also be a separate bar. Emma Constantinou, marketing manager at Red Dragon Centre, said: “We're so excited to welcome EasyThali and Everytime to the centre. Each business brings a new, unique service and helps expand our offering to our visitors.”

 

Tom Sellers to reopen Restaurant Story in January: Two-Michelin starred chef Tom Sellers will reopen his Restaurant Story restaurant in London’s Bermondsey in January. The venue, housed in a former Victorian public toilet block, celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. It will open its doors once more on 12 January 2024, with reservations now open for tables from January through to March. Guests will be able to book to dine in the main restaurant, or in the brand-new dining area upstairs, which offers space for larger groups and private dining for the first time. Restaurant Story has been closed since February 2023 for an extensive refurbishment, including the construction of an upper level with an outdoor balcony. A spokesperson for the venue said: “This major refurbishment will mark a new chapter for the restaurant and, as Tom sees it, the start of ‘Story 3.0’. The new second floor will comprise an intimate lounge area, seating six to eight guests for an aperitif or nightcap, alongside a new open kitchen, Restaurant Story’s take on a chef’s table experience. Overlooking the kitchen will be the largest table in the restaurant, seating 14 guests for the first time in Restaurant Story’s history. This table will be available for public and private use. The second floor will also offer stunning views of The Shard and will facilitate the vast expansion of the restaurant’s wine programme.” Works on Restaurant Story have coincided with the launch of two new London venues for Sellers – Story Cellar in Neal’s Yard and Dovetale in Mayfair.

 

Doughnut brand Project D to launch third outlet, in Sheffield: Derbyshire doughnut concept Project D will next month open its third retail outlet, in Sheffield. The launch of a 500 square-foot flagship store in the city’s Meadowhall shopping centre follows the opening of Project D stores in York city centre and Nottingham’s Victoria Centre. Max Poynton, co-founder and marketing director, said: “We chose Meadowhall as the venue for this flagship store partly because out-of-town shopping centres are flourishing, and we’ve already built a loyal base of customers in the Sheffield area. Our aim is to make our doughnuts and coffee more accessible, so they can be enjoyed by even more people. We’ll also be selling Project D-branded clothing and really cool accessories, as well as a wide range of seasonal products.” Project D was founded in 2018 by Poynton and friends Matthew Bond and James Watts.

 

Scottish brewery launches legal action against BrewDog in beer name dispute: A non-alcoholic Scottish brewery has begun legal proceedings against brewer and retailer BrewDog in a bid to protect the name of one of its beers, reports The National. Jump Ship Brewing, run by Sonja Mitchell, launched a pale ale under the Shore Leave moniker in 2022, followed by a second version, a sour beer fermented, in May of this year. In July, Mitchell discovered BrewDog had shared an image of a soon-to-launch Shore Leave beer with the proposed tagline “it’s time to jump ship”. BrewDog has said it is the registered owner of the Shore Leave trademark and said Mitchell had failed to oppose the application. However, BrewDog said it had been unaware of Jump Ship and subsequently dropped the phrase “it’s time to jump ship” from any marketing of its Shore Leave pale ale. Mitchell said cease and desist letters were sent to BrewDog at the end of August but claimed she had received no response. “I am incredibly disappointed that despite contacting BrewDog directly, I have been forced down the legal route to defend all that I and my team have built,” she said. “We have put considerable investment into the development of our Shore Leave series of beers – we cannot afford to lose that. At the point where BrewDog launched its beer, Jump Ship was the only brewer in the UK market with a beer called Shore Leave in production. The basis of our claim is that BrewDog’s actions cause a risk of confusion among our stockists and drinkers, and this causes financial harm to our brand.” The claim is being heard by the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court. A spokesman for BrewDog told The Times: “As the registered owner of the Shore Leave trademark in the UK, we are obviously surprised at this action, but also disappointed. Ms Mitchell might have challenged our trademark application months ago as is standard practice, but chose not to. We’ve sought to settle this matter amicably and offered a range of fantastic collab ideas which would have had a huge boost for Ms Mitchell’s brewery. We even agreed not to use the phrase 'Jump Ship' in our advertising as a gesture of goodwill. We’d much rather work with the industry than against it. We regret Ms Mitchell has decided to take this action instead of working collaboratively with us to help her business grow.”

 

Shake Shack confirms December opening for second regional UK site: US better burger brand Shake Shack has confirmed a December opening for its second regional UK site, in Oxford. It will open in the former site of Pandora jewellers in the city’s Cornmarket on Monday, 18 December, reports The Oxford Mail. Set over three floors, the restaurant will offer burgers, fries, hot dogs, beer and shakes and will also feature a unique illustration from muralist Ellie Fryer on the building’s exterior. “Incorporating some of Shake Shack’s signature menu items with an ‘olden’ twist, the artworks focus on bringing to life the stories, legends and cultural heritage of an Oxford past,” the company said. Shake Shack began as a hot dog stand in New York City in 2001 and grew into a gourmet fast-casual restaurant with more than 370 locations worldwide. There are 15 Shake Shacks in London and another branch in Cardiff.

 

Cheese expert Mathew Carver opens first restaurant outside London: London cheese specialist Mathew Carver – who runs The Cheese Bar, Pick & Cheese and The Cheese Barge in London – has open pizzeria Rind next to award-winning cheese shop, The Courtyard Dairy, near Settle in North Yorkshire. His first restaurant outside of the capital, it offers wood-fired pizza, wine and British cheeseboards. Its menu revolves around a wood-fired oven situated at the heart of the 40-seater restaurant, with all pizzas championing the best of British cheese. These include the Half and Half, using half Lancashire and half Wensleydale, in a nod to its neighbouring counties. Carver has partnered with good friend and long-term supplier, Andy Swinscoe, founder of The Courtyard Dairy, for the venture. Carver said: “I’ve been a fan boy of Andy and The Courtyard Dairy since I got into British cheese nearly ten years ago. His ethos on promoting and championing farm-made cheese and supporting our rural economies is so in line with our own values, I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather have as our new neighbour! We aim to create restaurants that inspire us as a team, and the opportunity to open a pizza restaurant with the most incredible views imaginable certainly does that.”