The Coconut Tree set to be wound up after defaulting on CVA over unpaid £1.6m tax bill: Sri Lankan street food operator The Coconut Tree is set to be wound up after defaulting on its company voluntary arrangement (CVA), Propel has learned. A notice from joint supervisors Mark Boughey and Michal Field, of Forvis Mazars, showed the seven-strong The Coconut Tree owed HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) 1,360,837 in VAT and £239,799 in PAYE and national insurance contributions. HMRC has been paid £207,115 in relation to its secondary preferential claim, which was agreed in the amount of £1,600,636. Unsecured creditors, who are owed an estimated £1,357,555, will receive nothing as a result of the CVA failure. The notice showed in February this year, The Coconut Tree failed to make payments relating to outstanding VAT and other tax, therefore breaching the terms of the arrangement. In March, the company requested a payment holiday for one month to enable recovery from missed sales projections for the months of January and February 2025. The holiday was granted and the company was granted an additional month to rectify the breach. However, even with the extension, the company was unable to pay the arrears of VAT and other tax, which amounted to £510,323, and it was therefore considered the company was in default. Under the terms of the arrangement, put in place in June 2024, The Coconut Tree was required to pay £27,000 per month for the initial three months of the arrangement, followed by £45,000 per month for 12 months, followed by £50,000 per month for ten months, increasing to £55,000 per month until April 2028. Total contributions received from the company were £376,000. The notice also revealed under the proposals, the company would sell its freehold site in Cheltenham and lease it back. It was anticipated in the arrangement proposals that the freehold would have been sold by October 2024. However, the company was unable to find a suitable purchaser. The notice added: “Further to this, the director was seeking finance in order to buy the property himself through a newly formed company. However, given the failure of the arrangement this transaction was put on hold and the property remains in the name of the company and will be available to be realised in the subsequent insolvency process.” An offer to operate a franchise from the company's premises in Bournemouth under The Coconut Tree also formed part of the company's proposals but the transaction has not completed. The joint supervisors have subsequently petitioned for the company to be wound up, with the hearing scheduled for Wednesday, 16 July. The Coconut Tree was founded in 2016 by five Sri Lankan friends living in Cheltenham – Mithra Fernando, Rashinthe Rodrigo, Dhanushka Fernando, Praveen Thangiah and Shamil Fernando. As well as Cheltenham and Bournemouth, the business also operates two leasehold restaurants in Bristol and one in each of Bath, Reading and Oxford.

Sponsored message – introducing SetMenu – the smarter way to manage group dining: Big news in hospitality technology – SetMenu has officially launched. Already trusted by brands like Côte Brasserie, Bill’s and Comptoir Libanais, SetMenu is built to “take the chaos out of group dining”. A spokesperson said: “Whether it’s lost preorders, missed allergens or not knowing who’s actually dining, SetMenu fixes the frustrations that come with large bookings. This includes: guest invites via shareable links or social; automated follow-ups and easy pre-ordering full integration with OpenTable, SevenRooms and more; guest-level data capture (not just the booker); and built-in allergen handling for safer service. Operators save time, teams prep smarter and guests arrive to a seamless, premium experience. It’s group dining, sorted.” Travis Fish, former operations director at Comptoir Libanais, said: “SetMenu played a crucial role in delivering a brilliant festive period at Comptoir Libanais. We achieved three weeks of record sales and maintained excellent guest satisfaction. Operationally, it was a game-changer.” To learn more or book a demo, click here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

Imbiba investment manager Nick Birdi to speak at Propel summer conference and party, open for bookings: Nick Birdi, investment manager at Imbiba, 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. Birdi will talk about how the company will deliver a new 65,000 square-foot hospitality and leisure venue in London’s Canary Wharf, which will house a number of the brands it backs. 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 be sent latest UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database and videos from Multi-Club Conference this week: Premium Club subscribers will be sent the latest UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database and all the videos from the Multi-Club Conference this week. The next UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database will be sent at midday on Wednesday (9 July), featuring ten new entries plus updates to existing ones. This brings the total to 360 featured companies and more than 205,000 words of copy. Among the new additions are pub company JD Wetherspoon, Turkish smoked meat brand Meat Moot and Drip Chicken, the hot chicken concept from Boo Burger co-founder Mohammed Suleman. Premium Club subscribers will also receive all the videos from the Propel Multi-Club Conference – female leaders and entrepreneurs on Friday (11 July), at 9am. They include Carol Campbell, managing director of Stonegate Group, talking about her “squiggly journey” of 28 years working across retailers in three continents, and Kate Eastwood, managing director of Lounges, and Lucy Knowles, managing director of Cosy Club, jointly presenting their key learning advice, hacks, and tips to becoming a managing director. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings 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 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. 

BBPA welcomes new legislation to make it easier for pubs to choose to stay open longer during major national events: The British Beer & Pub Association has welcomed new legislation to make it easier for pubs to choose to stay open longer during major national events. The Licensing Hours Extensions Bill has gone through its final Commons stage and has cross party support. The Bill will mean licensing hours can be changed by the government at times of national significance when parliament isn't sitting, something it is currently unable to do. The Bill was led through the Commons by MP Andrew Ranger, and, responding in the Commons, Home Office minister Seema Malhotra said the government was backing the legislation. The BBPA said this change will unlock opportunities for the sector to drive economic growth and stay open at times of national significance. BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “This Bill has been long overdue and we're delighted the government has acted to boost growth and make it easier for pubs to do what they do best – being at the heart of moments of national significance.” The Bill will now be passed to the House of Lords to be scrutinised and voted on.

BII appoints new chair elect: The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has appointed Clive Price, managing director of Barons Pub Company, as its new chair elect. The position will be formalised at the BII annual general meeting on Tuesday, 9 September, when Price will officially take over from Mark Robson, who is managing director of New Dawn Pubs. Price established Barons Pub Company in 2000 and has grown the business to 11 sites across Surrey, Berkshire and West Sussex. BII chief executive Steve Alton said: “As an award-winning operator, Clive’s breadth of experience in the pub sector provides an excellent grounding for this role. I would also like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Mark Robson, who has given me invaluable support since I came on board as chief executive.” Robson added: “I have no doubt that Clive will be an excellent chair, providing Steve and the whole team at the BII with support and vital insight as an experienced multiple operator. It has been a real privilege to be part of the BII over my terms as chair and I wish Clive all the best as he takes the role on.”

Vittoria Group welcomes new outside seating trial in Edinburgh, latest openings trading well: Edinburgh operator Vittoria Group has welcomed new outside seating rules being trialled by the city. Director Tony Crolla said Edinburgh’s rules on street seating were out of step with other major cities in the UK and Europe, limiting service until after 9am and requiring furniture to be packed way every night. Following meetings with Edinburgh Council, it has since been agreed that, from this month, cafés and restaurants across the city can apply for a trial of serving outside from 7:30am. “Just a 12-month trial for now, but a helpful one,” Crolla told Scottish LTN. “It means more time for breakfast outside, late dinners in the summer light, and opportunities to enjoy our city without rushing. There is also an agreement on a case-by-case review for furniture left safely outside. That’s another win for us, as bringing them in and out daily is a real hassle.” Crolla also said the two new sites the group opened last year, Brunswick Book Club and Landy’s, have been a success. He said since opening Brunswick Book Club a year ago on the site of the group’s very first restaurant (Vittoria opened in 1970), it has served up 21,221 lattes, 16,807 aperol spritzes, 11,892 margaritas, 9,201 smoothies, 16,807 fish and chip dishes, and 13,094 tacos. “It’s amazing to think this same building has been part of our family for more than 50 years, and we’re proud to keep its legacy alive in a new way,” said Crolla. Since launching Landy’s in December, it has served more than 113,000 portions of fish and chips – an average of 722 a day. “No gimmicks, no tourist trap rubbish, just good, local, honest food,” said Crolla. “Sometimes, the best ideas are right under your nose.” The group also operates Vittoria on the Bridge on the George IV Bridge, Bertie’s Fish & Chips in Victoria Street, wine bar and restaurant Divino Enoteca in Merchant Street, and cafe-takeaway Taste of Italy in Baxters Place.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a contract caterer that is looking to add to its sales team focusing on national care contracts. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role is to contribute to the overall growth of the company with a combination of retention/add on value service and new business development. The individual will be tasked with targeting new business opportunities through internal lead generation and relationship building. The role would suit an established seller with experience with contract catering sales.” This role is a remote position that offers a salary of up to £65,000. For more information, email dan@corecruitment.com. 

TGI Fridays CEO – phase two of reset will focus on segmentation of our estate and the next reiteration of what the brand looks like: Julie McEwan, chief executive of TGI Fridays, the Calveton and Breal-backed business, has told Propel that phase two of the company’s reset will focus on the segmentation of its 49-strong estate and the next reiteration of what the brand looks like. On Friday (4 July), TGI Fridays launched a “full brand reset that reinforces everything people have always loved about us”, with a re-energised menu and guest experience. The business debuted its biggest menu refresh to date, with 50% of dishes updated and 70% of grill items reworked. McEwan said the relaunch marks a pivotal moment in TGI Fridays’ evolution under a leaner, more agile business model. She told Propel: “In terms of phase two, what we want to be able to do is really focus on the segmentation of our restaurants – into hero bars, party venues and family destinations. So, our site at Wembley will lend itself more to a celebration, experiential, live music-type format, whereas Trafford Centre might be a family destination, and then we might even look at drive-thrus. We want to be back in Central London. It'd be great to go into airports. We are also hoping to have the next reiteration of what TGI Fridays looks like. Part of the phase two plans could also include sports coverage and shuffleboard tables introduced into restaurants. We also plan to invest in the company's technology stack, to help deliver a seamless guest and customer experience. We've gone through such a difficult time, and hospitality still is. Consumer confidence came back a little bit in May, but it's not restored. We are in that middle box, and we've got quick service restaurants there taking some of the casual dining share, and we've got premium business that can take the price down and pick up more volume. But that middle box will come back, and that return will be based on quality, simplicity and relevance. So, if we make sure that we follow those three basic principles, we should be good with the consumers of the future as well.” McEwan said even before the relaunch, the business has been improving its like-for-like sales quarter on quarter. She said: "We've got a stronger balance sheet, and we've significantly reduced our debt. We've had to focus on those cost efficiencies. We've got a more efficient labour base. We've had to rationalise our central overheads to fit the new size of the business, and we did that before April as well, before the national insurance contribution hit. We didn't want to have to go through that again. But because we've looked after our people, we're seeing stronger retention. So, even though we're attracting new talent, we've got fill rates of nearly 80%. So, in terms of the future, as always, I'm optimistic, and I think this relaunch is basically a launchpad to move us forward. It's going to be hard, but we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Admiral Taverns hires Nathan Wall as MD of Proper Pubs: Admiral Taverns has hired Nathan Wall, formerly of Ei Group and JD Wetherspoon, as the new managing director of Proper Pubs, the company’s circa 200-strong operator-managed division. Wall has spent the past four years as chief operating officer of Tiny Cloud Kitchens, the operator of virtual restaurant brands. Previous to that he was operations director of Ei Group Managed Investments, where he operated a dozen joint ventures in partnership with businesses such as Oakman Inns, Laine Pub Company and Urban Pubs & Bars. Previously, Wall was the managing director for UK and Ireland airports for SSP and also served as operations director of JD Wetherspoon. He replaces Mark Brookes, who earlier this year left Admiral to join wet-led, community pub operator Amber Taverns, which is backed by Epiris, as its new chief executive. Brooke will take up his role with the 182-strong Admiral in mid-August. Wall said: “It’s a privilege to be joining a business with such a strong community focus, great people, and huge potential. I’m looking forward to getting out across the estate, listening to our teams and partners, and helping shape the next chapter of growth. Here’s to the journey ahead.”

Jerry Marks steps down as Davy’s MD: Jerry Marks has stepped down as managing director of Davy’s of London, after seven years in the role. Propel understands that Marks has retired after 40 years in the hospitality industry. In October 2018, Davy’s promoted Marks from operations director to managing director of all its bars and restaurants across the capital. Marks joined the business in 2015 and has been in the sector since 1986, when he started working for TGI Fridays across its first two UK sites in Hagley Road, Birmingham, and Covent Garden. During his time in the industry, Marks spent almost nine years at Wagamama, six years at Giraffe, five years at Smollenskys and 17 months at Center Parcs. At the same time, Mark Carrick, formerly of Comptoir Group and Ten Entertainment Group, who joined Davy’s, as its new chief financial officer, in November 2020, has been promoted to chief financial and operations officer. Carrick was formerly director of operational finance with Ten Entertainment Group and started his career in hospitality at JD Wetherspoon in 1999. He joined Davy’s after spending two and a half years as chief financial officer at Comptoir. 

Costa Coffee launches new store design: Costa Coffee has launched a new “fully modernised store designed to deliver an elevated coffee experience for every kind of visit”, at its Great Portland Street site, near London’s Oxford Street. The company said the redesigned store features a “fresh, contemporary layout, and a bold new interior design that blends comfort, warmth and style”. The company said: “A new open plan counter puts Costa Coffee’s expert baristas at the heart of the experience, offering customers a view of their handcrafted drinks being made with care. For added convenience, self-service digital kiosks have been introduced. The space has been thoughtfully laid out with a variety of seating options, catering to everything from quick visits to long, relaxed stays.” The company said this full store refresh is part of a “wider series of major investments” across Central London, following recent transformations at Costa’s New Oxford Street, Tooley Street, Argyll Street and Wigmore Street locations. Nick Ridley, property and store development director for UK & Ireland at Costa, said: “This transformation reflects our ongoing investment in Central London and our ambition to create modern and inviting spaces, where enjoying a coffee becomes a meaningful part of the day. We’re proud to offer an experience that’s as premium as the coffee we serve.”

Bill’s hires Lucy Craig as head of people and culture: Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant group, has hired Lucy Craig, formerly of Grind and Farmer J, as its new head of people and culture. Craig previously spent more than three years at Bill’s as its head of people development. Most recently she spent just over a year as director of people and culture at all-day market concept Farmer J. She was previously operations and culture director at pub operator, the Lionhearth Group, and spent more than three years as people and culture director at Grind. In the spring, Caring said he was “excited for what is next for the business” after Bill’s saw profits double in the past two years and set out plans to explore several growth opportunities this year, including an overseas launch. The 47-strong business said it had seen a “remarkable turnaround” in sales, guest metrics and Ebitda over the past 24 months, with group Ebitda doubling to £11.2m in 2024 from £5.5m in 2022 on a like-for-like basis. The group reported sales of £96.4m in 2024, a like-for-like increase of 4% compared with 2023.

Heartwood Collection acquires Hampshire site from Pebble Hotels: Heartwood Collection, the Alchemy Partners-backed business, is to significantly add to its room stock after acquiring the 53-room Potters Heron pub in Hampshire, from Pebble Hotels, for an undisclosed sum. The site in Ampfield will now undergo a multimillion-pound refurbishment with an opening scheduled for early 2026. Last month, Heartwood opened its sixth pub with rooms – The Ragged Robin in Godalming in Surrey, continuing its ambitious plans to grow its offering to more than 400 rooms by 2027. The opening took the Richard Ferrier-led group’s room offering to more than 190 bedrooms across six locations. The business now operates 31 pubs and 14 Brasserie Blanc restaurants. Its next opening will be the George & Dragon in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, later this month. Ferrier told Propel last month that the performance of the company’s pubs with rooms was exceeding expectations and the market for accommodation was still “massively under-served”. The disposal of the Potters Heron leaves the Ted Kennedy-chaired Pebble Hotels with one site, the White Swan in Arundel, West Sussex. On the sale of the Potters Heron, Kennedy told the Southern Daily Echo: “We've owned it for nearly 20 years, so we've put in a shift in with it. It's been quite emotional for everybody. It's been a big part of my life. The world changes and I'm certain the new owners will do a fantastic job with the place. They're investing very heavily and it will have a fantastic future. It's a great hotel.” Also, behind the sale was what Kennedy dubbed “government taxation policies”, as well as a “combination of factors”. He said: “The current environment is not the most positive for hospitality.”

Patty & Bun founder secures site in London’s Soho for second pub: Joe Grossmann, founder of better burger concept Patty & Bun, has secured his second pub, after acquiring the lease of The Shaston Arms in London’s Soho. In August 2023, Grossmann relaunched The Watermans Arms in Lonsdale Road, in Barnes. The Shaston Arms, which is in Ganton Street, was previously operated by Hall & Woodhouse. The pub’s name, a nod to the fictional town of “Shaston” in Thomas Hardy’s Wessex novels (based on Shaftesbury in Dorset), pays tribute to the literary and cultural heritage that echoes throughout the pub’s walls. The landlord, Shaftesbury Capital, was represented by Alex Mann, of Hanover Green. Ted Schama, founder of One Voice Hospitality, acted for Grossmann. Emma Matus, head of restaurantleasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “The Shaston Arms is an important part of Soho’s hospitality scene, so we wanted to secure its future by investing in it and making the offer in line with what visitors expect when they come here. Joe and his team are the perfect match for how we want it to evolve, using all their experience at The Waterman’s Arms to create something that is first and foremost a great pub, with a quality food offer in addition and a real independent feel.” Further details on the upcoming relaunch of the site under The Waterman Arms brand will be announced in due course.

We Do Play to open in Newcastle this month for regional UK debut for Activate: We Do Play – the multi-concept experiential leisure operator – is set to open in Newcastle this month for the regional debut in the UK for Canadian immersive game brand Activate. We Do Play, which also operates Flip Out and Putt Putt Social here and founded Boom Battle Bar before selling the brand, first brought Activate to the UK last year, launching at The O2 in London. Activate will now open at Metrocentre on Saturday, 19 July. The venue will featuring 12 spaces and nine immersive game types – including laser, grid, hoops and portals – where groups of two to five can take on challenges across various difficulty levels. Further Activate sites are planned in Leicester and London’s Oxford Street later this year. In October 2024, co-founder Richard Beese told Propel that We Do Play is investing in a multimillion-pound roll out that will see 30 UK Activate sites built in 42 months, and it is talking to landlords in cities such as Bristol, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and several more London locations. Beese is one of several leading players in the sector who gives his opinion on the growing experiential leisure market in The 2025 Experiential Leisure Report. The second year of Propel’s exhaustive report on the market, it is 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 also 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 will be released on Friday, 1 August at 9am and 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.

Selfridges set to launch its own private members’ club: Luxury department store Selfridges is set to launch its own private members’ club. The company has been granted planning permission to open a club called 40 Duke, named after the store’s address in Duke Street, near London’s Oxford Street. Set to open in the spring of 2026, the club will include a private dining room, a bar and lounge with space for 80 guests. There will also be a terrace seating a further 64, plus a retractable canopy. 40 Duke will be open from 8am to 12.30am Sunday to Thursday, closing at 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. Guests will be able to enter either via a street level entrance or through Selfridges itself.

Merlin Entertainments opens first Legoland resort in China: Merlin Entertainments has opened its first Legoland resort in China. Spanning 318,000 square metres in Fengjing Town in the Jinshan district of Shanghai, the theme park and hotel destination features eight “lands”, filled with more than 75 interactive rides, shows and attractions. They include the world-first water-town style boat tour, where guests can cruise among the Shanghai cityscapes – all built from Lego bricks. Throughout the resort, there are six restaurants, food stands and ten retail stores providing a range of dining and shopping options. Merlin Entertainments chief executive Fiona Eastwood said: “Our purpose is to bring people together to create memorable experiences for families around the world. We are taking that to the next level, with the opening of Legoland Shanghai resort, our first Legoland resort in China, the second biggest theme park market in the world. This milestone represents a major step towards our ambition to be the global leader in branded entertainment destinations. The resort blends the tried and tested Legoland experience with rich Chinese cultural elements, creating a destination that is both globally recognisable and locally resonant, connecting children with their heritage through imaginative play.”

Wingstop UK set to open in Coventry: Wingstop UK, which is backed by US private equity firm Sixth Street, is set to open in Coventry. Posters have gone up in the city’s Upper Precinct destination, saying the franchise business will be opening there later this year, reports Coventry Live. Since launching in the UK in 2018, Wingstop UK has grown to 67 sites and employs more than 2,700 people nationwide. An official opening date is yet to be announced. Head of marketing at Wingstop UK, Malachy O'Keeffe, said: “We’re excited to be opening in Coventry city centre later this year. The new restaurant's lively, well-connected location makes it a perfect fit for Wingstop UK as we continue to expand across the country.”

New World Trading Company shuts one of its The Botanist sites in Birmingham: New World Trading Company (NWTC) has shut on of its The Botanist site in Birmingham. The venue in Temple Street opened in April 2015. An NWTC spokesperson told Birmingham Live: “This decision has not been taken lightly, but we believe is in the best interests for the overall health of the business. We hope to welcome customers to our other Birmingham site, located at Gas Street Basin.” Propel revealed last October that NWTC intended to restructure its business to focus on its large Botanist-branded sites, and as part of the restructuring, it launched a company voluntary arrangement that saw the closure of three loss-making sites – The Florist in Liverpool, The Botanist in Knutsford and The Botanist in Alderley Edge. Earlier this year, NWTC also shut The Botanist venues in Coventry, Sheffield and Salford as well as North Light restaurant in Chester. As well as closing sites, the group has rebranded others and opened a new The Botanist site in Bournemouth in May. NWTC currently operates 24 sites under The Botanist brand.

Odeon flagship for sale at £12m: Leicester Square’s Odeon cinema has gone on the market for £12m. The Sunday Times reported the long-term leaseholder of the site, Harmsworth Pension Fund, a pension scheme of the Daily Mail owner, has appointed Portland Leisure Advisers to sell its interest. Odeon, which leases the property from Harmsworth Pension Fund, will remain in occupation after the deal, which industry sources said could be worth up to £12m. The property, 22-24 Leicester Square, was built by Odeon, which has operated there for more than 80 years. It remains the cinema chain’s flagship property. Criterion Capital, founded by the West End property investor Asif Aziz, has owned the freehold since 2009. 

Inception Group to relaunch Bunga Bunga site as ‘an immersive celebration of the 1990s’ venue: Inception Group, the London hospitality group, is to reopen Bunga Bunga, what was its immersive Italian restaurant and bar concept in Covent Garden, later this summer as Bunga 90, an “ambitious, immersive celebration of the 1990s”. Reopening on Thursday, 18 September, the Drury Lane venue is being reimagined as a “multi-sensory playground, offering retro cocktails and draft beer while keeping Bunga's signature karaoke and pizza”. The site’s ground-floor façade will be styled as a nostalgic video rental store with a kaleidoscope of 1990s references. The company said: “Guests can belt out karaoke favourites from cult 1990s films before stepping through the infamous 'adults only' curtain, revealing a mysterious, long-forgotten time-travel movie, Bunga 90 within the Pepsi time machine. The immersion is clear as memories of renting a film on a Friday night come flooding back. On exiting the back of the video store, guests will emerge into a lovingly recreated 1990s Anglo-American family home with chintzy furniture, family holiday snaps and the unmistakable drone of dial-up noises setting the scene. Descending into the basement, visitors pass through a teenager's bedroom filled with fairy lights, teen idol posters, and Tammy Girl fashion before reaching the main bar, the beating heart of the venue. Here, a wall of old-school TVs will play a non-stop loop of 1990s music videos, movie scenes, fashion TV and iconic adverts.” Every Saturday, Bunga 90 will be holding a bottomless 1990s brunch, with a live band providing a soundtrack of the decade. Inception Group co-founder Charlie Gilkes said: “We opened the original Bunga Bunga in 2011, and this is a complete reimagining of the brand – while still keeping the pizzas, karaoke, and sense of fun that people know and love. Bunga 90 is both a love letter to the 1990s and a bold new chapter.”

Kirkstall Brewery hires new group managing director: Brewer and retailer Kirkstall Brewery has hired Roger Tattersall as its new group managing director. The group comprises Kirkstall Brewery Co, Vertical Drinks, which operates the former North Brewing Company sites, and two retail companies: Kirkstall Bridge and Kirkstall Hop Co. Michael Epton, who has been financial controller for the past ten years, will also join the group board as financial director. Tattersall, formerly the chief financial officer and co-owner of Mash Gang, has a background in the financial sector, and has held several leadership roles in several industries. Kirkstall Brewery founder Steve Holt said: “It is now time to strengthen the management team to be equipped to achieve further growth, extend distribution and explore new markets. Roger joins us at an exciting phase. Our leadership team is now poised to take Kirkstall forward through all the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.” Tattersall added: “The brewing and hospitality industries are facing a number of headwinds, which are expected to continue into the foreseeable. However, Kirkstall is in a strong position. I fully expect us to continue our ascent, and I look forward to playing a major role in that.”

Scottish dessert business shuts all four of its sites: Scottish dessert business Pancake Place has shut all four of its sites after more than 50 years. The company’s locations in Dunfermline, Dundee, Pitlochry and Elgin have all closed, reports The Sun. Perth businessman Blain Ross acquired the business in 2024 – and the sale came with the original pancake recipe from 1973.