Buzzworks aiming to become £100m-plus company within five years and open its first accommodation venue this year, planning expansion into England: Scottish independent restaurant and bar operator Buzzworks Holdings has told Propel it is aiming to become a £100m-plus company within five years and open its first accommodation venue this year – and is planning expansion into the north of England. Propel exclusively revealed yesterday (Wednesday, 25 June) that the company had completed a family management buyout which saw Kenny Blair, co-founder and managing director, take control of the business, while siblings Colin and Alison move to advisory roles. Terms of the deal were not disclosed and funding was raised through Alchemy Partners. Kenny Blair told Propel that the company would turn over in the region of £40m this year and that its “mission to become a £100m-plus company” would be reached “certainly within five years”. He added: “It’s been a long-held ambition of ours to build a significant Scottish hospitality business, and this helps accelerate that.” Founded in Ayrshire in 1978, Buzzworks currently operates 22 venues across Scotland under concepts including Scotts, Lido, Vic’s & The Vine and Herringbone, employing more than 800 staff. Eventually, however, Kenny sees opportunity in expanding over the border. “We’ve always seen ourselves as a Scottish business, but we definitely see opportunity in going into the north of England,” he said. “Not for a couple of years though, we will build out our estate in Scotland a bit more first.” In the shorter term, the group should soon be adding its first rooms, and Kenny sees opportunity both in adding them to existing venues and seeking new ones with rooms – or with the opportunity for them. “We’ve had accommodation in the past and it’s something we’re keen to get back to,” he said. “It plays into our key strengths of finding great properties and developing them, and it compliments everything we already do. We have a couple of sites we’re building out with rooms, and we’re actively looking for sites which have – or could have – accommodation. Hopefully we’ll have the first open this calendar year.” Buzzworks features in the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, which is available exclusively to Premium Club subscribers and features 1,125 companies. Buzzworks’ turnover of £34.4m is the 355th highest in the database. 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.

Fatto a Mano co-founder Dav Sahota to speak at Propel summer conference and party, open for bookings: Dav Sahota, co-founder of Fatto a Mano, the independent pizza concept, 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. Sahota will talk about standing out in a highly competitive market, and give his take on steady and sustainable growth. 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 3,421 operators and 22 new companies tomorrow: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database tomorrow (Friday, 27 June), at noon. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,421 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, 586 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 475 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 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 22 new companies. The database includes new companies in the cafe bakery sector include London pan-Asian restaurant and juice bar concept Jusu Brothers, London Lebanese bakery concept Ta’mini Lebanese Bakery, and London Italian café concept Amaro Dolce. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five additional databases: the New Openings Database, the 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 Hospitality. 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.

 

Study identifies new flexible drinking trend among Brits: A new report from KAM Insight, in partnership with Lucky Saint, has identified a more flexible drinking culture emerging in the UK, with consumers taking a more fluid approach to alcohol. This includes swapping, mixing and pacing their choices, depending on the occasion. According to Drinking Differently: Low & No 2025, nearly 36 million UK adults are actively moderating their alcohol intake (76% of those who drink alcohol) – but not in a rigid or restrictive way. Instead, Brits are weaving together full-strength, mid-strength and alcohol-free options to suit the moment. In fact, less than two in three drinks consumed in hospitality venues are now full-strength. After last year’s report identified a growing consumer trend towards ‘zebra striping’ – alternating between alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks within a single occasion – this has increased, with 34% of UK adults now saying they do this regularly (up from 28% last year.) This year’s research highlights different moderation tactics are being embraced, including one in five people opting for mid-strength options throughout an occasion – referred to as ‘coasting’. The research also showed that 31% of Brits will now choose a low or no-alcohol beer when visiting a hospitality venue – up from just 9% five years ago – meaning it has jumped from seventh to second most popular drink choice. It also revealed that 37% of UK adults have left a venue early or felt disappointed due to poor low and no options, and that 24% of customers still default to tap water when not drinking. Katy Moses, managing director at KAM Insight, said: “Forget all-or-nothing approaches to alcohol. The UK’s drinking habits are undergoing a transformation not defined by strict abstinence or even a linear reduction, but by flexibility. Moderation today doesn’t mean giving up alcohol; it means drinking more intentionally, more flexibly. This new blended approach to booze is changing how people drink, and more importantly, how they want to be served.”

Burger & Lobster co-founders’ restaurant in London’s Mayfair among 12 new additions to Michelin Guide: Sardinian-focused restaurant Pinna in London’s Mayfair, which is the brainchild of George Bukhov-Weinstein and Ilya Demichev, the co-founders of surf and turf restaurant group Burger & Lobster and Mediterranean restaurant Wild Tavern, is among the new additions to the Michelin Guide. There are 12 new additions this month, including two more in London – Goodbye Horses in Islington and Japanese restaurant concept Himi in Mayfair. Also added are two restaurants in East Sussex – Harry’s at The Gallivant hotel in Camber Sands, which opened in February, and the Union Rye, in neighbouring Rye. They are joined by the six-table Allt Yr Afon restaurant in the Welsh village of Wolf’s Castle and Edinburgh farm-to-table concept Moss, which Henry Dobson, who trained at the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Cork and three Michelin-star restaurant Noma in Copenhagen, opened in January. The Beckford Canteen in Bath, operated by Beckford Group, Kynd at the historic Hampton House estate in the West Midlands, and The Gallery in the Derbyshire village of Baslow have all joined the guide too. Two gastropubs are also now listed – The Bat & Ball in Cuddesdon, near Oxford, and The Martins Arms in Colston Bassett, near Nottingham.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an exclusive Bali-inspired social club known for its holistic approach to wellness and with a discerning expat membership of more than 600 that is seeking an executive chef to redefine plant-forward dining while mentoring a talented local team. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The club features globally influenced seasonal menus and integrated wellness amenities including co-working, spa and fitness facilities. The role includes live-in accommodation for the first month and a flight allowance. Ideally, candidates will have five-plus years of experience leading kitchens in resorts, hotels or social clubs, a proven ability to mentor diverse teams, a passion for wellness cuisine and sustainable sourcing, strong financial acumen, and the calm authority to lead with cultural sensitivity.” The salary is up to £80,000 per year and the position is based in London. For more information, email olly@corecruitment.com.

 

Exclusive – Mowgli promotes Lucy Worth to CEO: Mowgli, the Nisha Katona-led, TriSpan-backed business, has promoted Lucy Worth, who has been the company’s chief operating officer for the past three and a half years, to chief executive, Propel has learned. Worth joined Mowgli in August 2019 as operations director before stepping up to chief operating officer in the summer of 2021. She previously spent time as an operations director at Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group and Byron. She also previously worked at PizzaExpress. Katona, who founded the 26-strong Mowgli in 2014, moves to the role of founder director. She told Propel: “Yesterday, it was 11 years to the day that I started Mowgli on a hope and a prayer, and what Mowgli has become was beyond my wildest dreams. For her trajectory and success, I am indebted beyond words to my executive siblings, Lucy Worth and Matt Peck (chief financial officer) and my extraordinary teams, who are the grafting face and hands of Mowgli. We have weathered many storms in the restaurant industry and it’s the challenge that the three of us love best; it’s what makes the work interesting and makes us build Mowgli better. My right arm for many years has been my chief operating officer, Lucy Worth, and after 11 years as founder chief executive, it was obvious, and with great pride, when looking for a successor, I was able choose to hand the role of chief executive to my business sister, Lucy herself. Mowgli was born with one aim in mind – to enrich lives in the cities we go to, starting with our people. We have a maternal management model and Lucy’s lengthy tenure in the boot rooms and board rooms of the hospitality industry means she will become that most excellent and practical of matriarchs. A wise woman once told me that as chief executive one has two jobs – to protect and to promote your business. Lucy has worked shoulder to shoulder with me for six years. She leads with gravity, clarity and from the heart. We share the same vision, and I have no doubt in her ability to protect and promote all that Mowgli stands for. It is an exciting new era for Mowgli as we grow steadily, innovate excitedly and begin our international journey with Mowgli Dublin. I will remain founder director and executive chef, brand and design lead for restaurants. I am beyond thrilled for the next phase of Mowgli’s growth, and to be handing the role of chief executive to one who has, for so long, proved to be so worthy, so invaluable and, frankly, so dear to me.” Earlier this month, Mowgli enhanced its leadership team after hiring Emily Weston as its new marketing director and Tom Hatcher as its new business development director. Propel revealed in April that Mowgli is to make its international debut with an opening in Dublin. The business has secured a site in the Irish capital’s South Great George’s Street for an opening this autumn. This summer, the business plans to open in the former Superdry clothing store,in Norwich’s Chantry Place, and make its debut in Northern Ireland, in Belfast’s Victoria Square. Propel understands Mowgli is also in talks on a second site in Edinburgh.

TRG Concessions opens new pub concept in London Luton airport: The Restaurant Group (TRG) Concessions has opened a new pub concept in London Luton airport. It has opened The Fletton, a landside pub, representing a brand-new proprietary brand for the company. The Fletton is rich in local history and will be serving up traditional British pub fare. TRG Concessions will be enhancing the site further in the coming months with the construction of a new terrace. This opening is the latest in TRG Concession’s strong pipeline of developments and follows the launch of American diner concept Sanfords at Luton airport earlier this year, which marked the company’s largest single investment and the most extensive restaurant within any UK airport.

 

Global ramen restaurant group Ippudo secures fifth London restaurant for first opening in capital since covid pandemic: Global ramen restaurant group Ippudo has secured its fifth London restaurant. The company has acquired the premises previously occupied by Japanese restaurant Akari in Essex Road, Islington, reports Hot Dinners. The opening marks the first by Ippudo in the capital since the pandemic, having opened in Goodge Street in Fitzrovia in 2019. Ippudo, founded in Fukuoka, Japan, by Shigemi Kawahara as an independent ramen restaurant in 1985, now operates more than 240 restaurants in 13 countries. The brand also already operates sites in London in St Giles, Canary Wharf and Villiers Street. The menu includes the Shiromaru Classic – original creamy tonkotsu pork broth ramen, and Tori-Shoyu – a whole chicken broth ramen. There are also hirata buns, donburi rice dishes and curry rice dishes.

 

Hall & Woodhouse launches experiential concept at former JD Wetherspoon site: Brewer and pub operator Hall & Woodhouse has launched a new experiential concept. The concept has opened at The Quay in Poole, Dorset, which is a former JD Wetherspoon pub that Hall & Woodhouse bought earlier this year for an undisclosed sum. The rear room at the pub now offers a games experience offering games such as shuffleboard, digital darts and table football.  The sociable games concept is a first for Hall & Woodhouse and brings a new experiential space to Poole Quay. Keeping the name The Quay, the 12,500 square-foot pub is split over two floors and provides more than 200 covers inside. Additional outdoor seating is available, with views across Poole Harbour. Hall & Woodhouse operates circa 150 sites.

 

Black Sheep Coffee agrees nine-store development deal for Tyne & Wear: Speciality coffee operator Black Sheep Coffee has agreed a nine-store development deal for Tyne & Wear, marking a significant milestone in its northern expansion. The stores have been secured under an exclusive franchise agreement with Mindy Kaur and Bal Singh, operating through their entity Dhesi Food & Beverages. The duo will lead the rollout of Black Sheep Coffee across the region – from Newcastle to Sunderland and all points in between. “We’re thrilled to bring Black Sheep Coffee’s signature flavours and rebellious Robusta blend to Tyne & Wear,” said Black Sheep Coffee co-founder Eirik Holth. “These new stores will be places for everyone to enjoy our speciality Robusta blend, signature Norwegian Waffles, 100% ceremonial grade matcha and much more.” Last month, Black Sheep Coffee’s first London franchisee, Imran Raja, revealed he is expanding his footprint in the capital after signed up to additional store commitments and exclusive development rights across the boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea, Islington, Lambeth and the City of Westminster. Fellow franchisees Namrata Pandya (Barnet, Harrow, Camden and Southwark) and Satar Wahid and Mgdad Alim (Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Wandsworth and Kingston-upon-Thames) have also signed development deals for London this year. In May, Black Sheep Coffee completed its franchise coverage in Scotland after signing new ten-plus store deal with MDM Group Enterprises, led by David Moore, and also secured an 11-store franchise deal for Lancashire with an unnamed franchisee.

 

Evolv Collection partners with pan-Asian concept Freak Scene for pop-up as it looks to appeal to wider audience: Evolv Collection, formerly D&D London, is joining forces with pan-Asian concept Freak Scene to launch an exclusive pop-up residency at its 100 Wardour Street venue in London. The pop-up with Freak Scene, created by former Nobu head chef Scott Hallsworth, will run at the Soho venue from Tuesday, 22 July until the end of November. The partnership is the first strategic collaboration since chief executive Martin Williams took the helm of Evolv Collection, as he looks to modernise the company’s portfolio of brands and appeal to a broader demographic. Elsewhere, Williams has created Pont Plage – a beach on the side of the Thames – opened Bluebird in the South Place Hotel, grown the brand to participate at Polo in the Park and the British Grand Prix and created the Bluebird Club – two private members clubs in the City and Chelsea. Williams said: “I’ve been a fan of Scott’s restaurants and food since his Kurobuta days. His creativity, edge and attention to flavour have always set him apart. We’re proud to be hosting Freak Scene at 100 Wardour Street as the only Asian concept in our group. It’s a partnership that makes fantastic sense and promises a great future.” Hallsworth first made his name leading kitchens at Nobu London and Nobu Melbourne before launching Kurobuta with three locations in Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Marble Arch respectively. He said: “This is possibly the most exciting news I’ve been able to share since founding Freak Scene all those years ago. Not only are we heading back to our Soho roots, but we get to team up with the brilliant Evolv Collection at its iconic 100 Wardour Street. I can barely wait.”

 

John Fowler acquires north Devon holiday park from Parkdean Resorts: West Country holiday park operator John Fowler has acquired the Ruda holiday park in Croyde Bay, north Devon, from Parkdean Resorts, the UK’s largest holiday park operator, in a multimillion-pound deal. The acquisition of the 300-acre holiday park takes John Fowler’s portfolio to 14 sites. Managing director Martyn Fowler said: “This is a landmark day for our business. To acquire one of the most iconic holiday parks in the country is a real achievement. Holidays are all about location, and it doesn’t get much better than this. Ruda will play a big part in the future of our development. We are looking forward to the challenge of building on its considerable success while being committed to ensuring the park remains a cherished destination for new and returning visitors for years to come.”  Ruda has 817 pitches for static lodges and caravans, touring and tenting, as well as a glamping village. The park has recently added a new Cascades tropical pool and flume, and facilities including several bars, six catering outlets and a supermarket.   Parkdean Resorts will also pass ownership of Croyde’s blue flag beach to John Fowler. Parkdean Resorts, which has owned the surfing beach and holiday park for the past 23 years. has ambitious plans to invest in its wider 65-strong park estate to develop pitches and upgrade accommodation and activity facilities. Chief executive Steve Richards said:  “We are pleased to have agreed a sale to John Fowler, with whom we have been in discussions for some time. The sale aligns with our long-term strategy, by enabling us to reinvest the proceeds into enhancing our existing parks and supporting future growth at a time when the UK staycation market is strengthening.” Ruda spans the land between Croyde and The National Trust’s Baggy Point. Established more than 70 years ago. John Fowler expects annual turnover to hit £50m and currently employs 800 people across the south west of England and Wales. 

 

Daisy Green Collection to open Clapham site: Australian restaurant group Daisy Green Collection will further enhance its presence in London with an opening in Clapham next week. Propel understands that the business will open its latest site, and its 19th overall, on the former 1883 site at 34-36 Old Town, under the name Margot Green. In February, the business reported that its pre-tax losses narrowed in the year to 21 April 2024, as its turnover climbed 27% to £22,691,906. The company saw its pre-tax losses narrow from £1,195,238 in 2023 to £373,955, while adjusted Ebitda stood at £2,406,148 (2023: £2,075,317). The business said it believed its performance was in line with “best-in-class comparable operators in the UK” and demonstrated the strength of both the mature portfolio and the new site openings. The company also hinted at a future international play. It said: “The company’s strategy is to continue to invest in new sites in the UK and internationally while investing in the required teams, infrastructure and processes to support this growth. Additionally, the company seeks to maintain, improve and grow like for like performances in existing sites as well as grow its direct-to-consumer businesses.”

 

London Italian café concept closes crowdfunding campaign after raising almost £835,000 to support expansion: London Italian café concept Amaro Dolce has closed its crowdfunding campaign after raising almost £835,000 to support its expansion plans. Amaro Dolce was founded in 2023 by home baking enthusiast Yuliya Bliss – starting out by supplying other cafes before launching its first own café, in York Road, Battersea, in January 2024. The company initially launched an £800,000 campaign on crowdfunding platform Republic Europe in April, to help it open a new site in Canary Wharf. The campaign has now closed, having raised £834,072 from 216 investors. Offering equity of 16.89%, the company has a pre-money valuation of £4m. Earlier this month, Bliss revealed the business was on track to launch five locations by the end of 2025. Having acquired the Canary Wharf site, Amaro Dolce has signed for a third venue – a profitable, operating Italian restaurant in Clapham High Street “with a proven track record – £1.2m turnover in 2024 from evening trade alone”. Bliss said she plans to introduce Amaro Dolce’s central production unit model, providing morning trading for the first time. The company said it achieved positive Ebitda at its York Road café in November 2024, as well as £20,000-plus in gross profit the following month, and reported £30,000-plus gross profit at its central production unit in December 2024. “Amaro Dolce is redefining the café industry with our central production model,” the company said in its pitch. “Our profitable York Road café and business-to-business operations prove the model works – it enables us to launch new sites faster, at lower cost, and achieve positive Ebitda sooner.”

 

Insomnia Cookies opens in Leeds, seventh site to follow soon: Insomnia Cookies UK, the late-night bakery business, has opened in Leeds for its sixth location, and will follow that soon with a seventh. The brand, which made its UK debut in Manchester in 2023, has opened in the former Vape Social e-cigarette shop in Leeds’ St John’s shopping centre. The business also operates three sites in and around Manchester, plus sites in Sheffield and Nottingham. “Delighted to have opened Insomnia Cookies UK bakery #6 this past weekend in Leeds,” said managing director Ben Lacey. “It was scorching in more ways than one with well over 1,000 customers visiting us on opening day (in spite of the uniquely British weather blessing us with the hottest day of the year and heavy rain simultaneously!) There was a huge amount of customer love for the brand from the local crowd, as well as some relocated Philly Insomniacs, who had made the journey to celebrate a taste of home landing in Leeds! Bakery #7 will be opening in a little over a month – location to be revealed very soon! Lacey told Propel last summer that the business still has an ambition to build a nationwide presence. Insomnia Cookies has circa 250 locations worldwide.

Plans approved to turn former Barnsley nightclub into a Pepe’s Piri Piri: Plans to turn a former nightclub in Barnsley into a branch of Pepe’s Piri Piri have been given the go-ahead. NASA Design Studio submitted a planning application to turn the former Truth 32 venue at 32 Peel Street into a branch of the fried chicken franchise in May. The approved plans will see the creation of a restaurant with space for 70 seated customers, reports Insider Media. The upper floors of the building are set to be converted into apartments, with the works to be the subject of a separate application. A planning officer’s report accompanying the decision said: “The proposal will bring back into use a building that is vacant and looks to be in poor condition, to the benefit of the street scene and the vitality of the town centre.” The brand operates circa 220 restaurants in the UK and also had a presence in Morocco, Pakistan and the UAE.

 

M&B to reopen Browns in London’s Victoria next month: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) will reopen its Browns Brasserie & Bar site in London’s Victoria next month. The restaurant, in Cardinal Walk, will reopen on Thursday, 10 July, following a full-scale refurbishment over both its floors. Its menus will continue to showcase the best of seasonal British dining, with standout dishes such as sea bass and Devon Crab cake, pea and asparagus risotto and fresh lobster. The Sunday roasts will see guests choose from roast Sirloin of beef with horseradish crème fraîche, a trio of roasts to share or a root vegetable, walnut, almond and cranberry nut roast. Also available will be Browns’ afternoon tea – a spread of scones, savouries, Victoria sponge and mini cakes, served with a choice of teas, Champagne or Pimm’s throughout the summer. M&B operates 28 restaurants under its Browns brand across the UK.

 

Norfolk artisan bakery opens at historic manor house for tenth site: Norfolk artisan bakery Bread Source has opened at Wolterton Hall, an historic manor house near Aylesham, for its tenth site. The companyhas opened a café at the library of the country house, which has a history dating to the 1700s. James Ellis, one of the owners of Wolterton Hall, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Bread Source. It is a brilliant local business offering fantastic products and service and were an obvious partner for us to provide those visiting Wolterton with tea, coffee, cakes and pastries.” Lilly Girling, general manager at Bread Source, added: “Wolterton is such a special place to be with beautiful views from the library across to the lake. From the moment we first visited the estate, we knew that we could do something amazing here.” The site is the second the company has opened this year, with its Mannington Hall location near Holt opening in mid-May. Bread Source also has six locations in Norwich alongside sites in Aylesham Market Place and Dial House in Reepham.

 

Hotel group Distinct – we’re managing to maintain positive like-for-like sales, embarks on series of projects to enhance estate: Hotel group Distinct Group is managing to maintain positive like-for-like sales as it embarks on a series of projects to enhance its estate. The company is about to finish an extension at The Swan in Bedford, giving it an additional 24 rooms and a new fitness suite. Asset manager Gareth Leakey told Propel: “With the seven serviced apartments that opened up the road from the hotel last year, we will have a total of 144 rooms in Bedford, and we have now finished seven years of works there, and a total investment of circa £25m (including acquisition costs). It’s great timing with the Universal theme park announcement that will (hopefully) be 15 minutes from us.” The group has also received planning permission to add an orangery-style tearoom and function space to the Cromwell in Stevenage, and has just purchased an office block next to the hotel that will be used to house the head office team and, subject to planning, four serviced apartments. Brownsover Hall in Rugby, which the group bought last August, is still closed for refurbishment, with the main house with 28 bedrooms and food and beverage space including a tearoom/lounge and brasserie scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of this year. A second phase, scheduled for the second quarter of next year, will see the remaining 21 rooms open and the addition of a space for meetings and events. A third phase is still under wraps. Leakey said: “Overall, we’re maintaining positive like-for-like sales. Like everyone, the hardest thing at the moment is maintaining the bottom line. The changes to national insurance and national minimum wage were budgeted to cost us circa £400,000 over the next 12 months, and while we have had to increase prices to mitigate some of this, there will inevitably be a gap. We are fortunate as we continue to enjoy support from the parent company, and we continue to look for further opportunities to expand.” It comes as the group reported turnover increased to £9,969,409 for the year ending 31 May 2024 compared with £9,153,021 the year before. The company posted a pre-tax loss of £535,475 compared with a profit of £1,372,542 the previous year, which includes circa £2m interest to the parent company that has been accrued to allow continued investment.

  

Michelin-starred chef Mark Poynton to make Cambridgeshire return: Michelin-starred chef Mark Poynton is to make his return to Cambridgeshire. Poynton along with new business partners Gareth and Emma John, will launch The Ancient Shepherds in the village of Fen Ditton, three miles outside of Cambridge. The restaurant with rooms will open on Wednesday, 16 July on the site of Poynton’s former restaurant, MJP @ The Shepherds. Having lived in the village for more than 20 years, the Johns said they have been fans of Poynton’s cooking since he opened his then Cambridge restaurant, Alimentum, in 2009, and wanted to safeguard the future of MJP @ The Shepherds. Having won a Michelin star for his Norwich restaurant, Mark Poynton at Caistor Hall, earlier this year, Poynton will lead the kitchen alongside Chris Lee, whose experience includes holding three AA rosettes for more than a decade at multiple places around Suffolk, including the Bidleston Crown. The Ancient Shepherds will offer a tasting menu that will change on a regular basis “to ensure minimal waste and maximise the customer and employee experience”. Menus will come in options of three, five or seven courses each, including bread, snacks and amuse bouche. A lounge area will offer pre and post-dinner drinks and the entire space will be able to accommodate 34 covers in total.

Starbucks to open in Gloucester: Starbucks has secured a deal to open a new store in Gloucester. Starbucks will open a new 1,840 square-foot location within Gloucester Quays retail park, featuring a drive-thru and space for 64 covers inside and outside. The café will serve the full Starbucks drinks range, from coffees to frappuccinos and iced teas, as well as a variety of food. Bruce Edmondson, director retail parks and developments at landlord Peel Retail & Leisure, said: “Starbucks brings a firm-favourite coffee to our Gloucester Estate, offering added convenience for visitors to the likes of The Padel Club at the retail park.” Erika Apinyte, general manager at franchisee The Magic Bean Company, added: “This location offers us a fantastic opportunity to connect with a broad and diverse customer base in a prime setting.”

Poon’s London owner set to open her debut restaurant: Amy Poon, the owner of Chinese bistro, deli and grocery concept Poon’s London in Bermondsey, is set to open her debut restaurant. Poon’s at Somerset House will open in September at Somerset House in London’s Lancaster Gate, offering dishes “cooked and served in Chinese homes daily, yet often unfamiliar in the west”. Integral to this will be the use of steam as a cooking method, including signature claypot rice, first introduced to the UK by Amy’s father, Bill Poon, who owned the once seven-strong chain of Poon restaurants. Poon’s wind-dried meats, still produced to the recipe developed by Amy’s grandfather, will be a staple of both traditional and more experimental dishes. Amy said the restaurant will be “an evolution, and not a replication, of Poon’s” – a culmination of her pop-ups, residencies and retail range. “Since my first pop-up in 2018, I’ve been searching for a space to call home,” she added. “After various false starts, I could not have hoped for a more beautiful location than Somerset House. Five decades after my parents opened the first Poon’s Restaurant in Lisle Street, I can no longer deny the calling. This is a way of welcoming people to my table, where you come if you don’t have a nice Chinese friend who will cook for you at home.” The wine list will focus on cool-climate wines, championing family-owned producers and celebrating biodynamic practices and female winemakers. Housed within the New Wing of Somerset House, the restaurant’s 60-cover space offers an informal communal table in the first room, while an open kitchen is housed in the second. In addition, there is a private dining room which can seat up to 24 and which is available for hire. The first Poon’s opened on Lisle Street in Covent Garden in 1973, after Bill and his wife, Cecilia, emigrated from Hong Kong and found the capital to be blacking in authentic Chinese food.

Adventure Leisure to open Mulligans in Guildford next month: Adventure Leisure – which operates 23 experiential sites under its Mulligans, Ninja Warrior and Bunkers concepts – will open a new Mulligans in Guildford, Surrey, this summer. Opening on Monday, 14 July, the 14th Mulligans venue from group Adventure Leisure will be the first to offer state-of-the-art golf technology, which tracks each shot across the two, nine-hole courses, allowing players to win points boosters by attempting trick shots. The courses include themes such as disco (complete with glitter balls and a disco wall for photo opportunities), casino (featuring a working roulette wheel), and holes based on global destinations such as surfers’ paradise and the Golden Gate Bridge. The two-floor venue will also feature high-tech activities including electro-darts and electro-shuffleboard, as well as American pool tables and classic arcade games including air hockey, curved air hockey, skeeball and basketball. Among the food offering will be the Pizza Par-Tee package, starting from £22 per person, which includes a game of golf, pizza slices, chicken nuggets, fries, ice cream and drinks, served in your very own private area, with each guest also receiving a free return pass. The Teen Social offers two rounds of golf, plus sharing pizzas, fries and ice cream plus drinks, from £26 per person. Adventure Leisure’s chief operating officer, Stephen Brown, said: “It’s less than a month to go until we open the doors to Mulligans Guildford and we’re busy putting the finishing touches to the venue, to make sure we’re hosting the best summer possible.” Adventure Leisure is a subsidiary of Burhill Group, which also operates ten golf clubs and the BUNKERS! and Ninja Warrior UK brands.