Itsu founder – this will be our best year ever, we always knew franchising would take time: Julian Metcalfe, founder of Itsu, the healthy Asian food brand, has told Propel the business is on track to report its best year ever, and the circa 85-strong company was seeing “really good like-for-like sales in its restaurants”. Speaking on Propel's new podcast series, In Conversation, he said: “For a great many of us in hospitality 2025 looks difficult, like the last three to four years. There are many headwinds, but Itsu is unusual as we have a very successful, very fast-growing grocery business. It started with sales of around £1m and will hit almost £100m this year. We've got some incredible leaders. Clive Schlee (the former chief executive of Pret A Manger) joined us last year to oversee our restaurants and he is making huge headway. We're seeing really good like-for-likes in the restaurants. Healthy eating is what Itsu does, and we're lucky to be in that sector. We're very focused. We've been learning for a couple of decades now. Often it takes 50 or 60 restaurants before you know what you're doing. Getting to your first ten is very different to 30, very different to 70, and very different to 100. So, we've matured, we've learned. But on the whole, it's pretty great. It'll be our best year ever, and that is the result of tons of hard work, lot of vision by the leaders and the senior leadership teams of both companies.” Metcalfe said some of the most successful Itsu sites have opened outside London. He said: “As long as you keep your price point affordable, people appreciate good food at good prices. We've never had a problem charging £6, £7, £8 for good food in the regions. In fact, some of the most successful Itsus are in the regions. There's huge growth potential in what we call the regions outside London, particularly with more development in the evening business, let alone the grocery business. I mean, the grocery business is better known in the north than in the south.” Metcalfe said the business always knew franchising “would take time”. He said: “The secret of franchising is you need to have a very simple, immensely profitable formula, ideally with addictive food. Healthy, freshly made food is not necessarily addictive, and the Itsu restaurants are quite complicated. Our managers, operations managers and our academy operate a complex, pretty beautiful system, and it's not perfect for handing over a modest sum of money expecting to return huge profits. It takes huge passion and experience and learning. But we're seeing real potential, but I think some of us always knew it would take time.” In Conversation is a new series of fortnightly podcasts, exclusive for Propel Premium Club subscribers, featuring industry leaders and sector players talking about their businesses and issues impacting the UK’s hospitality market. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Fuller’s CEO Simon Emeny to speak at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club subscribers: Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller’s, will be among the speakers at the Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference. The all-day conference, the best-attended pub and bar conference in the sector, takes place on Wednesday, 14 May at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. Emeny talks to Propel group editor Mark Wingett about how Fuller’s is facing the challenge of appealing to an evolving consumer base, without comprising on its premium ethos. Propel is also launching “parallel sessions” at this year’s conference, which offer the chance to deep-dive into specialist subjects. There will be a chance for teams attending the conference to break away and absorb the parallel sessions. There will be ten parallel sessions in total, which will run alongside the main conference. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £345 plus VAT for suppliers. There is a 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club subscribers. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday featuring 1,109 companies: Premium Club subscribers will receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday (9 May), at noon. The database will feature 67 updated accounts and 14 new companies, taking the total to 1,109. A total of 704 companies are making a profit while 405 are making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who's Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Clubs subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including Excellence in Pub Retail this month and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers will be sent a dedicated monthly newsletter that will highlight key updates in the sector and direct subscribers to all the vital content their membership offers. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Loungers chairman – Labour risks ‘taxing high streets out of existence’: Labour is at risk of taxing British high streets “out of existence”, Rachel Reeves has been warned. Alex Reilley, the chairman and co-founder of Loungers, said the chancellor’s raid on employers was harming job creation and risked triggering more closures of shops and restaurants. Reilley told The Telegraph there was an “acute danger of taxing our high streets out of existence” after the government raised employers’ national insurance contributions and lowered the threshold at which it is paid. A rise in the minimum wage and a cut to business rates relief for smaller businesses has only added to the pressure on shops and restaurants. Reilley said: “I get that the public services are in need of additional funding. I get that the NHS is this sacred cow in the UK, but at some stage there has to be a conversation about how much value we place on our high streets and town centres. They are not just somewhere where you go and transact and shop and dwell, there are undeniable social benefits to a healthy high street and town centre. Frankly, the private sector is in a better place to understand how to help and assist high streets. What the public sector needs to realise is the only way that we’re going to enjoy any kind of success is through collaboration. The cost of creating an extra 1,000 jobs, which we are effectively doing by opening an extra 35 sites a year, has increased by £500,000. The thing that I can’t really get my head around is that the prime minister and the chancellor and every Tom, Dick and Harry in government talk really enthusiastically about having attracted billions of pounds of investment from foreign businesses. Why are they making it so difficult for British businesses to thrive? Why are we not trying to encourage British success?”

Coya COO – many new concepts don’t succeed in the long run because they’re not [built on] a solid foundation: Yannis Stanisiere, chief operating officer of Coya, the Peruvian restaurant and members’ club brand, has argued many new concepts “don’t succeed in the long run because they’re not [built on] a solid foundation”, and “there’s no emotional connection”. Coya, which is owned by D.ream, the hospitality arm of the Turkish conglomerate Dogus Group, operates ten sites globally, including two in London, in the City and Mayfair. “We’re not trying to copy what the others are doing,” Stanisiere told The Times ,referring to the recent trend for viral TikTok restaurants in the capital. “Many new concepts hit the market and people say, ‘Oh, that brand is really cool’, but they don’t succeed in the long run because they’re not [built on] a solid foundation. There’s no emotional connection. We go where our guests go. We know that there are a lot of [people from the] Middle East going back and forth between London and Dubai. And in the summer many of our guests head to the south of France, so we opened in Monaco.” The company is opening in Milan at the end of the year, then Ibiza and Barcelona will follow. “We’re also currently looking at the US market,” Stanisiere said. “We’re fortunate that our guests look for us when they’re away.” While Stanisiere acknowledges that “it is difficult right now”, he reckons businesses can keep their heads above water by looking beyond bums on seats. “Restaurants need to continually reassess where [they] stand and not just assume what worked five years ago will continue to work,” he said. “It’s not just the cost-of-living crisis that has caused this change. People now just expect more. Today, people want to feel secure about the value they get [when dining out]. Making sure you stay relevant means adapting to your customer. What was happening ten years ago is no longer the same [as] the competition now. Back then, having a large menu was almost a must. Now, guests want to come back regularly, but with new dishes each time. So, we have a smaller menu, which also helps with kitchen efficiency.”

UKHospitality urges Scottish government to resist adding further cost increases to sector in next parliamentary year: The Scottish government has been urged not to add further cost increases to the hospitality sector in its Programme for Government, which will be unveiled today (Tuesday, 6 May), and includes the legislative programme for the next parliamentary year. In a letter to first minister John Swinney, UKHospitality Scotland called for policies like the incoming single-use cup tax – or “latte levy” – and alcohol marketing proposals to be indefinitely paused, to reflect the challenges facing both businesses and consumers. The cumulative impact of increasing costs, looming visitor levies and a raft of proposed red tape is already forcing businesses to reduce employment levels, cut investment and increase prices, the trade body warned. UKHospitality Scotland said the Programme for Government should be an opportunity to “offer stability and certainty” for the sector. The trade body added immediate financial challenges should be addressed through an extension of business rates relief to all hospitality businesses. Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHospitality Scotland, said: “Hospitality businesses across Scotland are still grappling with the £1bn in additional employment costs, introduced by the UK government. Now would be the worst time to add further costs, which is why this Programme for Government should be one that supports our businesses and helps the Scottish government deliver its growth agenda. Hospitality is already the most socially productive sector in the UK – delivering economic and social impact, equitably across the UK. There is more we can do if the Scottish government works with us to unlock our potential.”

NTIA questions police’s role in defining culture after Blue Note Jazz Cafe granted late licence for London site on appeal: The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has expressed concern over the growing influence of policing in cultural matters after Blue Note Entertainment Group, the owner of the Blue Note Jazz Café, was granted a late licence for a site in London following a highly contested process. Westminster City Council initially turned down the application for the jazz café to remain open until 1am serving alcohol after the Met Police raised fears it could cause an “uptick in crime”. But a premises licence for the requested hours has now been granted on appeal after the council said the venue’s management “engaged with residents to improve its application and addressed the concerns that were raised by the police”. The site, at a former gym in St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, is set to become the bar’s flagship European site. However, the case has sparked concern from the NTIA over the growing influence of policing in cultural matters, “highlighting tensions between public safety narratives and the protection of the UK’s cultural spaces”. NTIA chief executive Michael Kill said: “This wasn’t a question of the operator’s ability or compliance; it was about exerting control over the space surrounding the venue. The police objection even challenged whether music and dance should be considered culture – a stark reminder of how reductive and narrow our official definitions have become. We have to ask: are the police really the right authority to define culture? If we’re not careful, we won’t just lose venues – we’ll lose the cultural vibrancy that gives our cities their soul.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a fast-growing pub group in the south of England that is seeking a hands-on area manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The company currently has 24 sites with four to open in the next year. The area manager will help roll out new standards, support new openings, drive business growth, and build an amazing people culture. The position won’t get involved with the kitchen side – that’s handled separately.” The salary is up to £75,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com.

Wimpy UK GM – ‘it’s about maximising opportunities in this climate, hoping not to put prices up this year’: Chris Woolfenden, general manager of Wimpy UK & Ireland, has told Propel “it’s about maximising opportunities in this climate”, as the sector assesses the damage from the new Budgetary headwinds. Woolfenden said one example of this is the brand’s new menu, which has been launched across its 58 table service restaurants – in a move is designed to appeal to a wider audience. Among the new items, which can be served in American diner-style baskets as well as the traditional Wimpy china crockery, are a hot n loaded burger, a meat-free spicy bean and slaw burger, an ultimate griddle platter, loaded cheesy chips, a Wimpy club toasted sandwich and a range of churro-based desserts. The company has also introduced its first morning promotion, the Sunrise Sunday offering, complete with hot drink refills, and added a coffee thick shake to its drinks menu. “The restaurant industry is a really tough place to be at the moment, so it’s about maximising opportunities,” Woolfenden told Propel. “The new menu innovation is a big part of that, as is the Sunday morning offer and the sharing platter option. We were forced to innovate post-covid, and this time we decided to go completely different. We look at what’s popular in the market, and as a wholly franchised business, we get a lot of feedback from our franchisees about what customers want to see.” Woolfenden said the new cost pressures taking hold from last month have not dampened the company’s appetite for expansion and shouldn’t lead to any immediate price increases. “We’re hoping we don’t have to change the pricing this year, but then none of us have a crystal ball,” he said. “We’re growing from within and we’re still looking for new franchisees. They are having to give a lot more due consideration at the moment, but we have some good discussions going on. We have a new store in build in Birchington-on-Sea, in Kent, and more in planning and discussions.” Last year, the company said it was especially looking to expand into areas such as the Midlands, the north and Scotland. Woolfenden added: “We’re speaking to people in those areas, and while nothing has come to fruition yet, we see big opportunity in those areas.”

Exclusive – Azzurri Group secures next two UK sites for Dave’s Hot Chicken: Azzurri Group, the ASK Italian, Coco di Mama, Boojum and Zizzi owner, has lined up the next two openings for US brand Dave’s Hot Chicken, in Birmingham and Manchester, Propel has learned. Propel revealed last July that the US brand had signed a franchise agreement with Azzurri Group to open 60 locations across the UK and Ireland. The Steve Holmes-led business opened in the former Fratelli La Bufala site in London’s Shaftesbury Avenue for the UK debut of Dave’s Hot Chicken last December. Propel understands Azzurri is set to convert its ASK Italian in Birmingham’s New Street for the second Dave’s Hot Chicken in the UK. This will be followed by an opening in Manchester’s The Printworks scheme. Holmes told Propel: “We wanted our second Dave’s in England’s second city in a flagship location. And then Manchester is in The Printworks next to Wagamama – another big flagship site in another big English city.” Talking last December, Holmes said Dave’s Hot Chicken represented “a huge opportunity for the group”. He said: “Our ambition is to open between 30 and 60 restaurants over the next seven years. The first site has had a phenomenal response and exceeded expectations.” The opening in London marked the 250th location for Dave’s Hot Chicken. Three childhood friends – chef Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan and Tommy Rubenyan – launched the business in a parking lot in Los Angeles in 2017 and opened an East Hollywood brick-and-mortar restaurant shortly after. In 2019, the team struck a deal with Wetzel’s Pretzels co-founder Bill Phelps to begin franchising the brand, with Drake investing alongside other celebrities such as Samuel L Jackson and Usher. In February, it was reported that Roark Capital, the private equity firm that owns Subway, was in advanced talks to acquire Dave’s Hot Chicken for approximately $1bn (£790m).

Papa John’s closes 13 stores in south west as it ends franchisee agreement: Papa John’s has closed 13 stores in the south west after ending its relationship with a franchisee who previously rescued nine of the stores after another franchisee went bust. In November 2023, Renz Restaurants, which had the franchise for Papa John’s in Devon and Cornwall, went into liquidation with debts of more than £400,000. The following month, Jabbar Mumtaz acquired the stores, before adding to his portfolio. However, Papa John’s has now confirmed that 13 stores in the region will close following a “thorough review” by the company. A Papa John’s spokesperson told North Devon Today: “We hold all our restaurants to the highest standards and expect our franchisees to operate with integrity and in line with our values. Following a thorough review, we have ended our relationship with this franchisee. While the stores are temporarily closed, we are working to secure new ownership and reopen as soon as possible. Our priority is delivering quality pizza and a great experience for our customers, while supporting our teams through this transition.” The 13 stores currently listed as temporarily closed are Barnstaple, Newquay, Torquay, Newton Abbot, Exmouth, Plymouth Mutley Plain, Plymouth St Budeaux, Plymouth Woolwell, Exeter St Thomas, Paignton, Bristol Filton, Stroud and Cirencester. At the time of acquiring the franchise in 2023, Mumtaz told Devon Live he left school at 16 and initially worked for RadioShack, and then in IT, but has been involved in franchising for about 20 years. This included a stint with Subway, where he ran successful stores and was named UK franchisee of the year on three occasions, as well as international franchisee of the year. He was also a brand ambassador for Subway, chair of its advertising board and the man who came up with the Sub of the Day promotional campaign. After leaving Subway, he said he carried out consultancy work and was involved in UK trade missions to the Middle East and Asia.

Company behind Gino D’Acampo branded restaurants acquired out of administration for £5m: The company behind the five remaining Gino D’Acampo branded restaurants has been acquired out of administration for £5m. The deal for Upmarket Leisure has resulted in the jobs of all 400 of its employees being saved. Details of the buyer have not been revealed but administrators Dean Watson and Paul Stanley, of Begbies Traynor, said Upmarket Leisure has a turnover of circa £20m. The business operates Gino D’Acampo branded restaurants in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle and London. A pre-pack administration was completed to secure the future of the company after a winding up petition had been issued by HM Revenue & Customs. Latest accounts available for Upmarket Leisure show in the year to 31 March 2023 the business owed creditors £5,776,276. The company posted Ebitda, after exceptional items, of £251,265 compared with a loss of £97,654 the previous year. D’Acampo stepped down as a director of the company in July 2021. Watson said: “The UK’s leisure and hospitality sector continues to face significant headwinds as it drives towards success. The impact of rising labour, operational and food costs, labour shortages and changes in consumer behaviour are proving challenging for many businesses in the sector and some will need restructuring. Unfortunately, this company was unable to survive these challenges and the best course of action to preserve the company and jobs was a pre-pack administration. By securing the sale of the business and its assets, we are pleased to have preserved the jobs of all 400 employees and secured a future for the business. This very well-recognised group of restaurants will be able to continue, under their existing brand, and has the opportunity to thrive again.” D’Acampo’s My Pasta Bar restaurant business was wound up last year. The business, which had three sites in London, went into liquidation in January 2022 after owing £4,939,332 to creditors. D’Acampo launched My Pasta Bar in 2013.

Heineken UK to invest £40m this year upgrading and reopening pubs: Heineken UK is investing £40m in upgrading and reopening pubs in its Star Pubs’ estate in 2025. The company said the move demonstrates its confidence in the resilience of the Great British local in the face of global uncertainty and will create an estimated 1,000 jobs. A quarter (608) of Heineken UK’s 2,400 pubs are in line for improvement, with 104 of these earmarked for transformational revamps costing £120,000-plus. Star Pubs licensees are investing an estimated additional £2m in the schemes being carried out this year. Having spent £9.5m in 2024 reopening 62 long-term closed pubs, the company now has the lowest level of closures since 2019 – around 4% of its total estate. So far this year, work has been completed or is underway to reopen ten pubs. With 97% of the company’s pubs in rural and suburban locations, the 2025 investment programme will reflect this, concentrating on community locals. Property director Chris Moore told Propel despite the tough economic climate, trading has been “very good” so far this year. He added while the government has committed to cutting red tape to help speed up the planning process, “we are not seeing that on the ground yet”. Moore said the company continues to see “good levels” of interest from potential licensees. Since the start of 2020 and the end of 2024, Heineken UK has invested £194m into improving its pubs. Star Pubs’ managing director Lawson Mountstevens said: “Consistent investment – rather than a stop, start approach – and a strategy of creating great locals have been key to helping our pubs weather the storms of the last few years. Even with pressures on disposable income, people are still prioritising a trip to their local, but they want to be guaranteed a quality experience. In partnership with our licensees, our investment programme keeps alive the great British tradition of individual locals. Star Pubs’ licensees employ some 25,000 people, support thousands of local suppliers and raise millions for charity. Pubs are the lifeblood of their communities and growth engines for the UK economy. However, they are being penalised by a disproportionate tax burden. We urge the government to rectify this distortion when proposals to overhaul business rates are drawn up this year.” 

Punch Pubs & Co adds Norwich site to its estate: Punch Pubs & Co, the Fortress-backed group, has added to its growing portfolio with the acquisition of The Ribs of Beef pub in Norwich. The pub, which sits on the banks of the River Wensum, has been run by Roger and Anthea Cawdron for more than 40 years. The pub will be added to Punch's leased and tenanted estate, and will be taken over by existing manager Jon Power and his partner, Jo Dale, who have worked alongside the Cawdrons for eight years. Punch Pubs & Co head of acquisitions, Andrew Cannons, said: “We are thrilled to expand our portfolio with this fantastic pub. The Ribs of Beef is a hot spot in the community, thanks to Roger and Anthea's hard work and dedication over the last 40 years. I'm delighted that Jon and Jo will continue to run the pub, and I have no doubt they will continue to succeed with our industry-leading investment and support for many years to come.”

Chicken Cottage makes Iraq debut: Halal fast food company Chicken Cottage has entered another international territory by making its debut in Iraq. The company, which has its headquarters in Croydon, south London, has 63 locations with overseas sites in countries such as Ireland, Malaysia, Kenya, Nigeria, Belgium, Pakistan and now Iraq. A company spokeswoman said: “We’re excited to share the second major milestone in Chicken Cottage’s global journey this year – following our expansion into Pakistan, we are now proudly entering Iraq. At the heart of this landmark development is Zaid Zewin, founder of Lazord London, who joins us as the master franchisee for Iraq. With Zaid’s passion and our proven brand, we’re ready to make waves in a country rich in potential and full of flavour.” Zewin added: “At Lazord London Global Franchise Solutions, our mission is to introduce world-class franchise opportunities that meet the evolving tastes and needs of the Iraqi market. We have chosen Chicken Cottage as a key franchise to bring to Iraq because of its strong brand reputation, commitment to quality, and ability to deliver fresh, halal, and flavourful fried and grilled chicken that resonates with local consumer preferences. Through this partnership, we are not just opening restaurants, we are establishing a long-term brand presence that aligns with Iraq’s dynamic and fast-growing food industry. Our vision is to make Chicken Cottage a household name, offering delicious, affordable, and high-quality food while contributing to Iraq’s evolving restaurant landscape.” Chicken Cottage, which is owned by TGI Global Holdings, is building towards a target of 100 stores globally by 2027.

Mary Brown’s Chicken launches in Preston for fourth UK site: Canadian quick service restaurant brand Mary Brown’s Chicken, known as MB Chicken internationally, has launched in Preston for its fourth UK site. The brand, which has more than 280 locations in Canada, made its UK debut last year with the launch of a store in Lisburn Leisure Park in Northern Ireland. The brand followed that with a second Northern Ireland site, within the SSE Arena in Belfast, and then launched in England with an opening in Smithy Lane in Hounslow, west London. The brand has now opened at 5-6 Miller Arcade in Church Street, Preston. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating and has secured extended hours opening until 3am on selected nights. The restaurant is being operated by franchisees Pritpal Dhillon and Sohail Munwar. The brand’s next opening is due to be in the former Bangerz ‘n’ Burgerz unit in Above Bar Street in Southampton. Bangerz ‘n’ Burgerz closed all its units – which included sites in Southsea, Port Solent and Chichester – when it went into liquidation last year. Dylan Powell, MB Chicken’s vice-president of international development, told Propel in March 2024 that in the long term, the business sees “no reason why it can’t be bigger here than in Canada”.

Heavenly Desserts launches franchisee forum to help ‘shape the future of brand’, lines up next two Canadian openings: Artisan dessert restaurant Heavenly Desserts has launched a franchisee forum to help “shape the future of the brand” as it scales globally. The final finishing touches are being made to its Franchise Advisory Council, with regional representatives set to be announced shortly. “As Heavenly Desserts scales, so must the way we lead,” said co-founder Youssef Islam. “The council will act as a structured forum where franchisees and leadership collaborate to shape the future of our brand, champion operational excellence and share in the decision making that underpins sustainable growth.” Heavenly Desserts told Propel last month that it is to kickstart its international expansion this year with openings in Canada, Germany, Pakistan and India. The brand currently has two overseas locations, both in Canada, in addition to its circa 60-strong UK estate. Giving an update on social media, Islam added: “Here's a glimpse of what we have coming up. We’re opening two new locations in Canada, which will take us to four in total. We open a further three locations over the coming months, continuing our pipeline of openings here in the UK. We launch our new menu, which will unlock a new layer of innovation across both our dessert and brunch categories. We'll be announcing a major step in our international expansion strategy. It’s still hard in the hospitality sector, but the work to be the best continues.”

Phat Buns opens three new sites within a month: Better burger business Phat Buns has opened three new sites within the space of a month and now has 16 locations. The company was founded in 2019 by Hussein Sacranie and Ahtesham Moosa and currently has a pipeline that will take it to 20 sites in the UK. Phat Buns is also set to make its international debut this year, having secured a site in Sharjah, in the UAE. Sacranie said: “The sun’s shining in Liverpool and I’m standing in front of what will be our third Phat Buns site in just 30 days, and it honestly feels surreal. This site already looks like it belongs here; like it’s meant to be part of the city. Every time I see a new store come to life, it’s more than just bricks and mortar; it’s proof that what we’re building matters. We opened in Palmers Green, north London. Then Forest Gate, east London. Now Liverpool’s ready, and just like that, three different places are about to feel the Phat Buns effect.” Sacranie and Ahtesham Moosa are also behind sister concept Doorstep Desserts, which has four sites across Leicester and Nottingham.

McDonald’s to incorporate menu items from CosMc’s trial: McDonald’s is to launch a beverage test in the US in some of its existing McDonald’s restaurants to incorporate menu items inspired by its CosMc’s trial format. At the end of December 2023, McDonald’s launched the first trial site under its beverage-led concept CosMc’s in Bolingbrook, Illinois. McDonald’s chief executive Chris Kempczinski, speaking after the brand’s first-quarter earnings call, said the business had discovered some “interesting learnings” through CosMc’s rollout thus far (there are currently five, including four in Texas to go along with the original Bolingbrook site). He said those findings better informed McDonald’s understanding of consumers’ customisation preferences and interests in emerging beverage categories. So, later this year, in partnership with franchisees, the company will launch a beverage test in the US in some of its existing McDonald’s restaurants to incorporate menu items inspired by CosMc’s. More details are forthcoming, Kempczinski said, as the company continues to test, learn, and position itself for growth in the space.

Vagabond Wines eyes opening in London’s St Paul’s: Vagabond Wines, which was acquired out of administration by Majestic last year, is looking to get back on the expansion trail and has been linked with an opening in London’s St Paul’s. In February, the business announced four senior hires as it bolstered its leadership team to position the nine-strong business for future growth. The company said that the changes, a combination of promotions and new appointments, were designed to help Vagabond secure properties for new bars, successfully launch in new locations and attract new customers. Propel understands the first of those new bars could open up close to London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, with the business linked to a site in Paternoster Square. A Vagabond spokesperson told Propel: “Vagabond is currently exploring a range of potential new sites across Central London and beyond, as part of a renewed growth strategy backed by Majestic. While we're not in a position to confirm specific locations just yet, we're actively identifying opportunities where Vagabond's unique mix of wine, education and experience would be a strong fit. This expansion reflects Majestic's ongoing commitment to investing in Vagabond and supporting its long-term development through strategic, sustainable growth.”

Deliveroo staff in line to receive £65m payout from sale: Deliveroo staff are in line for a £65m pay day from the potential £2.7bn sale of the company to its US rival DoorDash. Last month, Deliveroo received a proposal from DoorDash to take over its competitor at 180p per share. If the deal proceeds, the takeover would leave current and former Deliveroo staff members who have shares in the business with a multimillion-pound windfall, according to filings. Staff currently hold in the region of 36 million shares in the business, reports The Telegraph. As previously reported, Deliveroo founder Will Shu, meanwhile, could make more than £170m, based on his current shareholding. He owns around 6% of the business. He could also be set to receive tens of millions of pounds more, depending on the terms of the final deal, thanks to his 15 million restricted stock units. Deliveroo has said its board is “minded to recommend such an offer to Deliveroo shareholders” if it receives a firm offer. DoorDash, which is listed in the US, has until Friday, 23 May to confirm the deal. Analysts have speculated that Amazon, which is a major shareholder in Deliveroo, could emerge as counter bidder, as well as China’s Meituan and Germany’s Delivery Hero. Should Amazon back the DoorDash takeover, it is in line for a windfall of around £387m from its 14% stake. Founded in 2013 by Shu, Deliveroo has expanded to ten markets and now has 3,800 staff and 150,000 freelance couriers. Under his tenure the company has broadened its offering from takeaways into groceries and non-food items. The company’s shares were trading at around 171p as markets closed on Friday (2 May).

Ennismore makes Australian debut: Gleneagles and Hoxton hotels owner Ennismore has made its debut in Australia. The company has acquired Melbourne Place in Melbourne, which has been reimagined and relaunched as Hyde Melbourne Place. The hotel adds to the Hyde brand’s sites in cities including Miami, Dubai, London, and Johannesburg. Hyde Melbourne Place will be joined by Ennismore’s trio of flagship openings in Australia this year – Hyde Perth, Mondrian Gold Coast, and 25hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia. “Melbourne’s creative spirit, bold energy, and cultural richness make it the perfect setting for Hyde’s Australian debut,” said Jodi Brown, newly appointed general manager of Hyde Melbourne Place. “With its bohemian aesthetic, playful spirit, and deep roots in music and design, Hyde Melbourne Place will offer guests more than just a stay, it will be a full sensory experience.”

Art Hospitality Group opens Maneki Ramen in Birmingham following fundraiser: Herefordshire-based Art Hospitality Group, which rebranded from A Rule of Tum in January, has opened a second site for its Maneki Ramen concept, in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. The Japanese-inspired restaurant has opened in Ludgate Hill after a fundraiser to assist in the opening of the location raised £96,784 in 31 days. The 2,000 square-foot restaurant has room for 70 diners upstairs, plus a garden for 30 and plans to expand into the downstairs area too, with the potential for private dining and tasting menus. Head chef Pete Dovaston said: “We’re thrilled to finally be opening the doors to our first Birmingham site. We’ve poured a lot of love into the space, it’s got a real warmth to it, with details that reflect both traditional Japanese design and modern city energy. I’ve always been passionate about crafting dishes that are bold, balanced and full of heart.” Founded in 2013, the group also operates The Bookshop in Hereford, Burger Shop locations in Worcester and Hereford, Dr Foster in Gloucester, Leaven Pizza in Hereford and catering and events business DishByArt.

Pins Social Club lines up Manchester opening: The company behind Pins Social Club in Liverpool, D2, has lined up an opening in Manchester for the competitive socialising concept. D2, which earlier this year acquired burger business Almost Famous out of administration, plans to open a Pins Social Club and Rocco's Bar in the former Bannatyne's unit in Quay Street. In December, the company told Propel it was aiming to open ten sites for the competitive socialising concept in ten years. Directors David Scowcroft, Dan Gillbanks and Dan Kelly – who joined the duo last year to lead the expansion of the business portfolio – opened the first Pins Social Club in Liverpool’s Duke Street in 2020. The business also recently launched The Dog & Collar pub at 60 Hope Street in the city.

Nottinghamshire operator Reddington Pub Company makes double opening following investment of more than £2m: Nottinghamshire operator Reddington Pub Company has opened two new venues following an investment of more than £2m. The company, owned by Sean Reddington, acquired The Anchor pub and neighbouring Tom Browns restaurant in the village of Gunthorpe in October last year. Both venues have now relaunched – The Anchor as a family-friendly destination, offering pub classics with a modern twist, alongside a café. The pub, which has been reborn after 16 years of dormancy, also features four en-suite guest rooms. Meanwhile, next door, adults-only Tom Browns delivers a “high-end dining experience” alongside live music and entertainment. Award-winning head chef Jack Pearce has curated a fresh steak and seafood menu. Reddington said: “The reopening of The Anchor and Tom Browns isn’t just about opening doors, but bringing a new level of culinary excellence to Gunthorpe and creating unforgettable experiences. Reddington Pub Company is committed to bringing the best in dining to The Midlands, and we’re thrilled to open these two new venues, alongside our already popular and award-winning pubs, The Old Vol and The Reindeer.” Reddington is also the founder of learning and skills platform Thrive, which turns over £70m a year.