US interactive museum and social gaming experience makes its UK debut: US interactive museum and social gaming experience Skyscape has made its UK debut. The 25,000 square-foot site has opened at 45 Wellington Street in London’s Covent Garden, using “the world of secrets as a lens to explore human psychology and performance”. Two distinct ticketed experiences blend history, psychology and cutting-edge technology. Spyscape is developed by MI6 trainers and top psychologists to reveal visitors’ strengths and personality through challenges in risk tolerance, empathy, perception, pattern recognition and decision-making. Spygames is a team-based proving ground, created with CIA and special ops operatives to test collaboration, agility and communication across high-adrenaline, field-inspired missions. Founder and chief executive John Hunt said: “Skyscape has already helped a million people in New York City to see themselves differently – we’re excited to bring our mission to Covent Garden and help a million more.” William Oliver, director of retail and restaurant leasing at landlord Shaftesbury Capital added: “Skyscape’s arrival in Covent Garden adds another experience to our line-up of innovative operators and introduces an entirely new dimension to London’s leisure landscape. This debut flagship perfectly complements the district’s vibrant all-day entertainment scene and aligns well with our host of unique brand-first concepts.” Skyscape launched in New York in 2018, and London will be the first of a rollout across major cities globally. Founder Hunt is a serial entrepreneur who started out as a brand manager with Proctor & Gamble in the 1980s before a spell as marketing director for the Kraft Heinz Company. He then co-founded Seattle Coffee Co, which was later acquired by Starbucks, and founded web agency Syzygy, which floated on the German stock market. Most recently, he founded entrepreneurial mentoring business Expert Impact, and Archimedia, which invests in exceptional entrepreneurs and helps them build premium quality businesses. Hunt originally planned to launch Skyscape in a 50,000 square-foot site at the Trocadero in London’s Piccadilly Circus ten years ago, according to press reports at the time. The 2025 Experiential Leisure Report, the second year of Propel's exhaustive report on the fast-growing experiential leisure market, will be published on Friday, 1 August at 9am. The report profiles the current shape of the experiential leisure market – including brands, estate size, trading type and geographical location and future trends. It includes opinion from leading players Juliette Keyte, marketing director at Red Engine, Richard Beese, co-founder of We Do Play, and investor Lisa Boden, partner at investor Edition Capital, and provides a detailed list of UK experiential leisure companies including key staff and Companies House information. The report includes 197 companies, marking a 10% growth in the sector since last year's study, with 3,700 sites. The report is available for £595 plus VAT to pre-order now. Existing Premium Club subscribers can receive it on Friday, 1 August for £395 plus VAT. The report will be made available for free to existing Premium subscribers on Wednesday, 10 September at 9am. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to order a copy.

Incipio co-founder Ed Devenport to speak at Propel summer conference and party, open for bookings: Ed Devenport, co-founder and chief executive of the Incipio Group, will be among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference and summer party on Thursday, 4 September, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry. The all-day conference will focus on “moving ahead with evolved thinking” and will be followed in the evening by the summer party, with a barbecue and more than four hours of live music. There are up to two free places per company for operators and Premium operator subscribers can book up to four places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com. A room can also be booked for the evening at an additional cost. For more details, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com. Devenport will discuss the company’s ability to curate different food and beverage offers across large spaces in high-profile locations, including its biggest project to date, across 40,000 square feet in London’s Olympia (set to open October 2025), plus the challenges and opportunities provided from continually evolving its offering and guest experience to remain at the top of its game. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Meanwhile, the evening entertainment includes the return by popular demand of the UK’s top Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow tribute acts as Scott Borley and Daniel Hadfield again join forces. Pure Mercury, the UK’s foremost Freddie Mercury tribute act, will also be performing along with The Greek Street Live House Band, which will be playing guests’ requests. The evening will also feature a music quiz with PubQuiz. 

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive updated Multi-Site Database with 3,442 operators and 23 new companies on Friday: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database on Friday (27 June), at noon. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,442 multi-site operators and is now searchable in seven main segments. The database features, 1,004 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 798 (23%) pub and bar operators, 587 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 475 (14%) quick service restaurant operators (QSR), 283 (8%) hotel operators, 221 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 23 new companies. The database includes new companies in the QSR sector such Scottish Starbucks franchisee The Explorer Group, Wendy’s franchisee Blank Table, and Northern Ireland McDonald’s franchisee Dunluce Restaurants. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including the Operational Excellence Conference in July 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.

UKHospitality – further taxes would undermine ambitions of Westminster night-time strategy: UKHospitality warned against the potential implementation of a late-night levy in its response to a consultation on Westminster City Council’s ‘Westminster After Dark’ strategy. Chief executive Kate Nicholls said imposing further costs on hospitality businesses would threaten the success of the strategy and the council should abandon plans to consult on introducing a levy. She also said it supported the principle of proposed late-night entertainment zones but said this must not result in businesses outside those zones being penalised by its exclusion. For example, Soho and Leicester Square are not in the proposed zones but are the biggest night-life areas of Westminster. UKHospitality also signalled support for proposals to expand night buses and tubes, significantly increase CCTV, pursue a unified licensing policy framework, embed the agent of change principle and improve digital connectivity across Westminster. “Much of what Westminster City Council has proposed is positive for the night-time economy, but these initiatives would be undermined if further, unnecessary costs are forced on hospitality businesses,” Nicholls added. “Venues are already battling with the additional £3.4bn annual increase imposed upon them in April and implementing further taxes in some of London’s most well-known and vibrant areas would be a huge mistake. I hope Westminster City Council abandons its proposal to consult on implementing a late-night levy and changes course, because there is much else to support in this strategy. My overriding message to the council would be to work with the sector collaboratively to make this a success, and recognise that its own ambitions could be jeopardised by simultaneously imposing unnecessary costs on the sector.”

 

Pub groups launching or revamping loyalty programmes in an attempt to lure back customers: Several major UK pub groups are launching or revamping loyalty programmes in an attempt to lure back customers, as the industry contends with declining alcohol consumption and intense cost pressure. The FT reports that Greene King is developing an app-based loyalty programme for the first time, which could offer customers discounts on food, drink and accommodation, according to people familiar with the plans. Greene King, which operates more than 2,700 UK pubs, expects the scheme to be a key growth driver, the report said. Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of Butcombe, which is upgrading its loyalty programme this year, said the declining frequency of customer visits is the biggest worry for pub executives. He said improving that trend had become “kind of the holy grail” in the industry. Butcombe, which operates more than 120 pubs, is introducing a 20% discount on drinks bought on Friday evenings, historically the busiest time of the week for pubs. The pub group also runs “beer clubs”, where customers receive a free pint for every five pints of Butcombe beer purchased. Purchases with loyalty cards equated to 22% of Butcombe’s sales in the first quarter of this year, Lawson said. Mitchells & Butlers has told investors that one of its priorities this year is to trial a points-based loyalty scheme, while Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny told the FT the pub group was testing a loyalty scheme at 30 of its “destination” pubs outside London. Fuller’s, which operates roughly 400 pubs mainly in London and south-east England, is planning to focus its trial loyalty scheme on rewards — such as two-for-one meal deals or a free glass of Mirabeau rosé wine — and personalised offers. Stonegate, the UK’s largest pub group with about 4,500 pubs and venues, has spent roughly £2m on its loyalty app, which was released in November 2023 and features a game where customers can “spin to win” a free pint. The flurry of investment highlights how pubs are having to rethink their strategies to attract and retain customers. Many older drinkers have either been cutting down or opting to buy cheaper alcoholic drinks from supermarkets, while increasingly health-conscious young consumers are drinking less than previous generations. Pub groups have also been hit hard by the increase to employers’ national insurance contributions and significant increases to the national minimum wage.  But Greg Johnson, an analyst at Shore Capital, said loyalty schemes were unlikely to be as successful for the pub industry, which is more fragmented than the supermarket industry. JD Wetherspoon said it had no plans to introduce a loyalty scheme.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a group that operates a portfolio of pubs and restaurants across Kent and East Sussex that is seeking a head of operations. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This is a highly visible, strategic and hands-on role, reporting directly to the chief operating officer. The head of operations will work alongside the group executive chef and senior leadership team to influence every aspect of service delivery, training, menu development and customer experience — while ensuring commercial success and consistency. The group is looking for candidates with proven experience in a senior multi-site food and beverage operations role, with pub background as a must and someone with previous experience as area manager. The head of operations will have a deep knowledge of gastropub management with strong leadership and communication skills, able to inspire teams at all levels.” The salary is up to £95,000 and the role is based in Kent. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com.

 

Two Magpies exploring rollout of stand-alone macaron venues, paving the way for possible future investment with group restructure: East Anglia bakery Two Magpies has told Propel it is exploring a rollout of standalone macaron venues, and is paving the way for possible future investment with a group restructure. Last October, the group acquired Love a Taste – which trades as Hilton Macarons – for an undisclosed sum. Hilton Macarons, which was founded in 2019 by James Hilton and Andrea O’Keeffe, has operated as a wholesale business, but Two Magpies chief executive Steve Magnall is planning a change of direction. “Hilton Macarons has given us an online presence, but we are planning a small, stand-alone venue – and we should be able to roll that out as well,” he said. As well as the Hilton headquarters, a central bakery and bakery school, Two Magpies currently has ten cafes, including four Mini Magpies sites. Magnall said any future café rollout – he has previously talked of growing the brand to 50 locations – will be a mixture of full-size cafes and Mini Magpies. “We can do another site as we have a revolving credit facility available,” said Magnall. “But we’re holding fire at the moment and waiting to see what happens in the autumn statement.” Magnall first said in 2022 that the business is looking to raise private investment to fund its expansion plans, and he remains hopeful of attracting outside funding. “We’ve not given up on third party investment,” he said. “To make it easier, we will be operating as a group structure from next year rather than limited companies. We will smash £10m in top line growth and £1m Ebitda this year. If we got a couple of million dropped in, we could open eight or so straight away and roll out pretty quickly, but it is about doing it sensibly and with caution. There’s still a lot of drive in the team, and 50 sites is still a realistic target.” Magnall said other experiments had seen the business try informal dining for a year but pull the plug after it made a loss, and said while hosting supper clubs “worked really well”, it ultimately “didn’t bring a lot to the table”. He added: “But you have to try these things.” Earlier this month, operations director Yasmin Wyatt said Two Magpies had remained in profit by streamlining the business “after the government’s Budget left us with a shortfall of £800,000 that we needed to cover”.

Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue operator set to reach 100 UK stores by end of 2025: FoodCo, which operates the Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue brands in the UK, has said it is set to reach 100 UK stores by the end of 2025. The company has just launched its 71st Muffin Break location here, at Watford’s Atria Centre. It already operates 20 Jamaica Blue locations, and as previously reported, is set to open six new stores over both brands over June and July. Michael Johnson, franchise development officer for FoodCo UK, said: “FoodCo opened its 71st Muffin Break store today in Watford’s Atria Centre. A visually stunning 1,800 square-foot corner site which will complement the Jamaica Blue already operating in the Atria centre. This follows our recent openings of Muffin Break Worcester, a cafe in Bangor NI, a full upgrade of our Muffin Break Metro Centre store and is the first of six new store openings over the coming six weeks. Further upcoming openings will be Muffin Break Newbury, Jamaica Blue Ipswich, Jamaica Blue Bracknell, Jamaica Blue Maidstone and Jamaica Blue Tunbridge Wells, and with two further stores in the design stage, should see FoodCo hit 100 stores before the end of 2025!” The group launched here in 2001 as the UK arm of the Australian FoodCo business, which was founded in 1989 and has more than 550 locations across eight countries.

 

Badiani set to launch crowdfunding campaign: Italian gelato brand Badiani – which has 14 UK sites as well as six in Spain, four in Italy and one in France – is set to launch a crowdfunding campaign. The campaign has not yet gone live but will be launched on the Crowdcube platform. The company posted to social media: “At Badiani, we’ve been crafting artisan gelato since 1932, bringing a taste of Firenze to the world.We’re now entering an exciting new chapter with the launch of our crowdfunding campaign, designed to support the global expansion of our signature flavours. With €10m invested to date, our ambition is to scale internationally while staying true to the artisanal quality and heritage that define us. We're proud to open this opportunity to those who believe in building brands rooted in tradition, innovation and excellence.” Badiani expanded to the UK in 2016, with the majority of its sites here being in London – plus one in Brighton.

 

Mowchi set to launch in London’s Camden as it explores overseas play: Bubble tea franchise Mowchi is set to launch in Camden, north London, as it also explores expanding overseas. Mowchi, founded in 2022 by Afrikana brand and marketing director Syeda Kayanath, first launched in Birmingham’s Ladypool Road, in a site which has now closed. It has since added locations in Bradford, Lakeside in Essex and Mile End and East Ham in London, as well as securing a site in Canterbury. The new Camden site will be located beneath the Hub by Premier Inn, which sits at 115-119 Camden High Street. “We’re excited to announce that a brand new Mowchi cafe is coming soon to Camden!” Kayanath said. “Located right on the high street, just beneath HUB Premier Inn, our newest space has been thoughtfully designed with the same calm, warm atmosphere that our guests know and love. Rooted in Japanese-inspired simplicity, our Camden cafe brings together neutral tones, soft textures, and a welcoming space to pause, connect, and enjoy your favourite sandos, bao buns, matcha, coffee, and boba. This opening is part of our wider expansion as we continue to grow Mowchi across the UK – and we’re looking for passionate franchise partners to join us on this journey.” It comes as Mowchi partners with Gulf Franchise Group, which has a portfolio of brands it looks to expand in the GCC, Middle East, Turkey and CIS (former Soviet) markets. “Introducing Mowchi as they join the Gulf Franchise Group portfolio,” a spokesman for the group said. “Franchise opportunities are now open across the GCC, MENA, South Asia and Europe Visionary F&B operators: this is your chance to bring a café culture with global appeal to your market.”

 

Chef Luke Farrell to open Speedboat Bar at Soho House’s The Electric for second location: Chef Luke Farrell to open a second Speedboat Bar location, in Notting Hill. Farrell opened the original at 30 Rupert Street in London’s Soho in 2022, in partnership with JKS Restaurants, offering Thai cuisine, cocktails and beers. He will next month launch a second site for the concept at Soho House Group’s The Electric at 191 Portobello Road, once again in partnership with JKS Restaurants. “A Thai speedboat racing team isn’t driven by one person; it’s the whole crew – tight, fearless, and tuned to perfection,” Farrell said. “From the meticulous mechanics squeezing every last drop from their engines to the traditional boat builders, the gleaming livery and bold paintwork down the sides, these machines are a craft. A melding of classic and contemporary, and quintessentially Thai. That spirit defines Speedboat Bar. From sourcing ingredients directly from Thailand to growing the seasonal herbs in my tropical greenhouses, to building a team that can faithfully recreate everything from Bangkok’s Chinatown and beyond. Recipes entrusted to us – some from the racers themselves.” Farrell is also behind Plaza Khao Gaeng, Viet Populaire and Bebek! Bebek!

 

North west bakery and retailer Waterfield’s sees turnover increase to record £15.5m but falls to loss: North west bakery and retailer Waterfield’s has reported turnover increased to a record £15,539,825 for the year ending 5 April 2024 compared with £13,588,428 the previous year. The group, which completed a company voluntary arrangement in June 2022, posted a pre-tax loss of £259,409 compared with a profit of £52,340 the year before. Gross profit decreased slightly from 46.6% to 46.4% due to increases in labour and ingredient costs. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “Both retail and wholesale sales continue to grow strongly. Wage costs suffered inflationary pressure, with the national minimum wage increasing 9.7% in a tight labour market. Energy and vehicle fuel costs have also increased in line with global trends, with significant increases where long-term contracts have expired, but the company has maintained tight control over its other overhead costs. Capital investment during the year has been significant, mainly on plant and equipment.” No dividend was paid (2023: nil). As previously reported, in March 2025, the family-run business, which has traded since 1926, acquired seven sites from Lancashire baker and retailer Oodles, taking Waterfield’s total number of outlets to 45.

 

Franchisee Square Burgers launches Wendy’s in York: Wendy’s, the second-largest quick service restaurant brand in the US, has launched in York through franchisee Square Burgers. It has opened at 3 St Sampson Square in the centre of the city. Square Burgers became the first traditional franchise partner to open a Wendy’s restaurant in the UK on the brand’s return to these shores, when it opened in Sheffield in 2022. It initially focused on expanding Wendy’s into South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire before expanding further out into places such as Newcastle and Blackpool, and signing a development agreement to open restaurants under the brand in Scotland. Its opening in Blackpool earlier this year broke the company’s UK opening day sales record for an inline restaurant. It went on to set new company record inline restaurant trading days for the two days following its launch too. Since relaunching here three years ago, Wendy’s has grown to circa 45 sites, the majority of these split between five franchisees.

 

Kent Domino’s franchisee reports increase in turnover but drop in profit, expands further into Germany: Kent Domino’s franchise ZaanGroup has reported an increase in turnover but a drop in profit in the year to 30 April 2023. The company’s turnover rose from £21,721,211 in 2023 to £22,529,081. Its pre-tax profit fell from £266,137 to £4,564 as administration expenses increased by almost £1m. Dividends of £120,000 were paid – the same as in the previous year. Director Babar Mumtaz said: “The company's turnover remained strong at £22.5m for the year ending 30 April 2024, reflecting a 3.72% increase from £21.7m in 2023. Sales remained steady across all franchise stores, demonstrating consistency in performance. Despite challenging market conditions, the company achieved its sales targets and maintained solid cash generation for another consecutive year. The company reported a cash inflow from operating activities of £1.02m (2023: £019m cash outflow), driven by a 4.32% increase in gross profit, largely due to inflationary rises in food costs. Net debt increased by £0.26m, while the company maintained a strong liquidity position, with net current assets of £1.17m and total net assets of £3.79m.” Founded in 2004, Zaan Group operates circa 17 Domino’s stores. In recent years, it has expanded into Germany, with an opening in Bonn, and post year end, the group extended its reach in Germany with a launch in Moenchengladbach.

 

London Lebanese bakery concept co-founder – we’re targeting a ten to 12-strong estate in the capital: Nermin Khamosia, co-founder of London Lebanese bakery concept Ta’mini Lebanese Bakery, has told Propel the business is targeting a total of ten to 12 sites in the capital and that trading has been “good” so far in 2025. Ta’mini Lebanese Bakery will open its third site – and largest to date – in Kensington. The 20-seat outlet in Kensington Church Street will launch next month. In terms of further expansion, Khamosia, who founded the business with husband Ali, said: “We are aiming to open around ten to 12 bakeries in London. Location wise, we are interested to open in Soho, Shoreditch and Wimbledon.” Khamosia said the business is seeing “good” trading this year and puts the increase in sales down to more people discovering the concept and becoming regulars. She added: “Also, Ta’mini Russell Square has a mix of crowds that range between students, office workers, tourists and those who are interested in eating there. This mix of customers has increased the footfall in our bakery.” The first Ta’mini Lebanese Bakery opened in Fulham during the first lockdown in 2020, with the Russell Square site arriving in 2023. Inspired by the flavours of Lebanon and occasionally delving into family recipes, the menu includes its signature Manakish – a Lebanese flatbread made with a vegan dough complete with a variety of toppings – and a variety of wraps.

 

Lancashire operator Bowland Inns forecasts return to profit in 2026 after making a loss, margins affected by heavy reliance on agency staff: Lancashire hotel, pub and restaurant operator Bowland Inns & Hotels has said it is forecasting a return to profit in 2026 after making a loss in the year to 31 May 2024. The group saw a pre-tax profit of £547,832 in 2023 turn into a loss of £1,000,125, after paying out £528,290 in refinancing and administration costs (2023: £191,538) and £458,493 in pre-opening costs (2023: nil). Director Peter Warburton said the group launched its 14th site – Wennington Hall in Lancaster – in early 2025 and he believes the venue, which was acquired in late 2023, will help improve profitability. “We expect the group to have achieved a break-even position by May 2025 and then to return to profitability by May 2026,” Warburton said. “This will be achieved by the maturity of the Wennington Hall site, efficiencies across the group and a reduction in the Bank of England base rate.” The group’s turnover increased 12% from £22,019,893 in 2023 to £24,716,196 while Ebitda was up from £4,102,135 to £4,209,914. Warburton said. “Our businesses have continued to be impacted by staffing challenges, particularly a heavy reliance on agency staff, leading to an inflated payroll cost. This combined with higher costs, most notably food, have had an impact on margins, leading to a 16% increase in the administrative costs, reducing overall operating profit. We will continue to invest in our existing estate to improve our guest experience of our overall offering, with particular further investment opportunities at Wennington Hall. We will also continue to monitor the market, looking for opportunities to acquire sites that we feel compliment the offering of our other sites.” The group refinanced its loan facility with OakNorth during the year, and post year end, in October 2024, renegotiated the long-term loan following a breach of the covenants during the year.

 

South west McDonald’s franchisee opens his 11th restaurant, trialling new sustainability initiatives: South west McDonald’s franchisee David Shawyer has opened his 11th restaurant with the brand – and the branch is trialling some new sustainability initiatives. Shawyer has grown his franchise business, Orchestra, which he founded in 2013, to 11 restaurants by opening a new McDonald’s in Russell Way, Exeter. The 104-seater restaurant has created around 130 new full and part-time jobs and features table service, self-ordering kiosks, a large outside patio area and a drive-thru with smart digital menu boards. The branch will be exclusively trialling new sustainable infrastructure such as air windows, which help retain heat within the building which reducing the amount of energy it will use, and plastic kerbstones made from recycled materials, with built in internal drainage to reduce building materials. These will feature alongside other existing green initiatives such as roof mounted solar panels, timber window frames and partition walls and wall lettering from recycled material. Shawyer said: “We are delighted to be opening a brand-new McDonald’s restaurant in Exeter, and we can’t wait to see local customers, enjoy our services on offer.” In 2020, Shawyer opened the first ever McDonald’s at an MFG service station, with a drive-thru at Exter Winning Post Services. In December 2023, Shawyer acquired five stores from former franchisee David Hunt, who retired after running six restaurants in north Devon and Somerset. His portfolio stretches across Exeter, Exmouth, Ilminster, Barnstaple, Bideford, Taunton and Tiverton. Orchestra returned to profit in the year to 31 December 2023. The company turned a pre-tax loss of £83,677 in 2022 into a profit of £741,375 as turnover grew from £19,223,763 to £24,103,249.

 

North west dessert concept opens in Stoke for eighth location: North west dessert concept Cheat Daze has opened in Stoke for its eighth location. Cheat Daze, which was co-founded in 2022 by Muhammed Abdullah, started out as a Greater Manchester concept – initially opening sites at 197 Mauldeth Road in Burnage, 42 Woodford Road in Bramhall and 255 Bolton Road in Salford. It ventured outside of the area for the first time in December by opening at 174 Westgate in Bradford, and followed that in February with a launch at 67 Victoria Street in Blackburn. Last month, Cheat Daze opened two stores in a week – at 248 Smithdown Road in Liverpool and at 131 Union Street in Oldham. It has now also launched at 15 Queen Street in Stoke-on-Trent, reports Stoke Live. Franchisee Atta Ahmed said: “This is a great opportunity to bring Cheat Daze to the local Stoke-on-Trent communities, and we are excited to be part of the fast-growing dessert chain. The menu is legendary.” Founder Muhammad Abdullah added: “We are delighted to be bringing Cheat Daze to the Stoke-on-Trent area and we are confident of its success in the hands of our new franchisees.”

 

Wye Valley acquires Hereford pub and reports record year of trading: Herefordshire brewer and retailer Wye Valley Brewery acquired a pub in Hereford after reporting a record year of trading. The brewery has acquired The Barrels pub in St Owen Street, Hereford, where it was previously a tenant. The pub was put on the market earlier this year by agents Savills as a freehold opportunity. It was let to Erasmus Inns, which is owned by Wye Valley Brewery, on a lease which will was set to expire in 2033. Wye Valley Brewery has been involved with the pub since 1995 after brewery founder Peter Amor took over the premises, reports the Hereford Times. It comes after the company, which operates seven other pubs, increased its turnover from £17,544,926 in 2023 to £19,302,457 in the year to 30 April 2024. Of this, £19,927,319 came from the UK (2023: £17,539,242) and £5,138 from the rest of the world (2023: £5,684). Pre-tax profit was up from £2,282,224 in 2023 to £2,360,364. The company received interest income of £60,332 (2023: £12,349), feed-in-tariff income of £24,412 (2023: £24,818) and grants of £19,680 – the same as in 2023. Dividends of £243,000 were paid (2023: £88,000). Director Vernon Amor said: “Wye Valley Brewery enjoyed its busiest ever year of trading in the period. Turnover reached a new high of £19.3m, up from £17.5m in the previous year. Profits before taxation were £2.36m, up from £2.28m in the previous accounting period.” 

 

Big Mamma opens Barbarella in London’s Canary Wharf: Big Mamma Group, which is backed by McWin, has opened a new restaurant under its Barbarella brand in London’s Canary Wharf. The two-floor trattoria offers an open kitchen and a waterside terrace. Head chef Marco Rastelli will lead a menu which will include ultra-thin, extra-wide Ruota di Carretto pizzas, caramelised Italian tomato tatin with Parmigiano cream and homemade pasta like the metre-long spaghettone. Mains include Cornish lemon sole filleted table-side and Phillip Warren steaks, including a 1.2kg T-bone. Big Mamma’s biggest cocktail list ever will include new creations like pistachio espresso martini, alongside the group’s most extensive wine selection to date, with exclusive Italian magnums and vintage pours. The opening marks the company’s sixth site in the capital and seventh in the UK after making its north west debut, in Manchester, earlier this month. Big Mamma has also submitted plans to turn part of the ground floor of the former Scottish Provident building at 1-6 Lombard Street in the City of London into a new restaurant.

 

London hotel group reports record turnover of £141m as tourism recovers strongly: Hotel group Imperial London has reported turnover increased to a record £140,950,937 for the year ending 30 April 2024 compared with 119,906,173 the previous year as turnover recovered strongly in the capital. Of the 2024 figure, £128,284,674 came from hotel operations (2023: £105,255,508), £9,568,169 from property trading and investments (2023: £12,771,330) and £3,098,094 from other income (2023: £1,879,000). The company, which operates six hotels in London, saw pre-tax profit drop to £3,210,970 from £15,676,053 the year before as administration expenses more than doubled to £46,573,453 from £21,552,891. The group, which employs around 850 staff, continued its refurbishment programme, spending £27.3m (£2023: £15.5m). “Trading in London in the prior two years was difficult in the face of economic and travel restrictions that meaningfully impacted occupancy at the group’s hotels,” director Candida Walton said. “Business recovered strongly in the year, and the board sought to recruit staff to manage the demand and invest in the refurbishment of the hotels. The performance of the group's main divisions in the year benefited from this strong recovery in tourism in London.” 

 

Coffee shop start-up aiming to open roll out AI-powered drive-thrus across the UK applies to open in Cheshire: A coffee shop start-up aiming to roll out AI-powered drive-thrus across the UK has applied to open in Cheshire. Bocca Felice aims to use conversational voice AI to take orders, using a system which the company said will allow for up to ten sites to be set up simultaneously. On launching the concept in February, founder Les Dyson said he expected to have 22 sites open this year, with a first launching this summer, rising to 80 in 2026. While no launches have yet surfaced, the Northwich Guardian reports that Cheshire West planners are set to rule on an application by property company WUKPG for a site off Chester Way. The plans show a Bocca Felice drive-thru as part of a £12m project which would also see a five-storey facility constructed incorporating self-storage areas and co-working space. The plans also confirmed the store would have indoor and outdoor areas for customers to eat and drink. Dyson has previously said that the inspiration for the concept came from the fact that “focus groups show consumers’ main bugbear is slow service in rush hour”. He said branches would have coffee machines capable of producing 350 drinks an hour, ensuring swift service even at peak times. He also claims the AI has an accuracy rate of 98%. “We are a nation of coffee drinkers,” he told AV Magazine. “But with a market nearing saturation point, any entrant must bring something new and different. We have considered how as a disruptor, we can innovate and make it fun.”

 

Bespoke Hotels to open Hotel Gotham in Newcastle in September: Bespoke Hotels, the UK’s largest independent hotel group, will open its new Hotel Gotham in Newcastle in September. The five-star, 1920s-inspired Art Deco destination is being built in Newcastle’s grade II-listed former fire and police station in Pilgrim Street. The first phase will see the launch of the former fire station with 57 bedrooms, including six suites, plus a new restaurant and bar named ‘Siren’ and ‘Fire’. Then, in early 2026, phase two will unveil the adjoining police station with a further 30 rooms, including Gotham Sanctum Suites. A corridor will connect the two buildings, which will also include an event space within the former court rooms, which can be used to host weddings and celebrations for up to 120 guests. Club Brass, Hotel Gotham’s private members’ club, will also be hidden behind a discreet door and spread across two floors. With access limited strictly to members, the lounge will offer velvet booths, signature cocktails and a calendar of private events. General manager Chris Thompson said: “Whether people are staying with us, dining at Siren or enjoying a drink at Fire, we want them to feel like they’re part of something special from the moment they walk through the door. Every corridor, every cocktail and every corner tells a story – and this one belongs to Newcastle.”

 

Derbyshire brewery co-founder set to launch new coffee shop, deli and wine bar: The co-founder of Derbyshire brewery Heist Brew Co is set to launch a new coffee shop, deli and wine bar. Adam France will open The Market Place in Bolsover town centre on Wednesday (25 June). For the first few months, it will be open during the day only, with an offering that includes barista-led coffee, bagels, bowls and small bites. Sharing boards, small plates and sides will be introduced to the menu when the business eventually opens in the evenings. France co-founded Heist Brew Co in 2018 with Dan Hunt, operating initially as a brewery, bar and bottle shop in Clowne before expanding to open a taproom in Sheffield in 2021. France has also recently been running The Yard pub at Langwith, which will be closing at the end of June after the owner of the site served notice. Of his new venture, France told the Mansfield & Ashfield Chad: “It’s not just about opening the doors and letting people eat and drink, it’s more about a community project – get people involved and invested in the site. The top floor is eventually going to be a library and a cinema, and we want to work with the local cinema group to do certain screenings. We want to do food and cinema pairings, so if you have a film such as Goodfellas, you’ve got an Italian dish. The ground floor is coffee shop-esque, quite chilled and still got lots of character and vintage about it.” The site previously housed a deli and wine business which shut down in November 2024. France added: “I used to come in with my wife for wine and tapas. I knew there was value to the business, but I don't think it had been exploited, so I’m just trying to expand on that.”

 

North west London steakhouse business which was set to open a third site closes its other two locations: A north west London steakhouse business which was set to open a third site has suddenly closed its other two locations. Boga Steakhouse took over the former Barclays Bank unit in Church Street, Rickmansworth, at the start of the year, and by the spring, had erected external signage and a new entrance. However, the restaurant has not yet opened, and the Watford Observer reports that its two other branches have now closed. The Boga site in Watford High Street is set to be replaced by a new halal Turkish steakhouse and cocktail bar called Platan. Meanwhile, the Boga site a 1 Charcot Road in Colindale is now listed as permanently closed.