Honi Poké – the idea is to grow Island Poké side by side, exploring other European territories: Vladimir Martynov, co-founder of Hawaiian poké specialist Honi Poké, has told Propel that the business plans to grow its eponymous brand and the recently acquired Island Poké “side by side”, and that it is looking for partners “to help us grow in new markets”. Last week, Propel revealed that Honi Poké had cemented its position as the UK’s leading poké operator with the acquisition of rival Island Poké, for an undisclosed sum. The deal added 18 Island Poké sites to Honi Poke’s portfolio – nine in London and nine in France – significantly expanding its geographic footprint. Honi Poké currently operates 24 UK sites and three in Cyprus, bringing the new combined total to 45 sites across the UK and Europe. Honi Poké, which was founded by Martynov and Kosta Varesko in 2017, said that the integration of Island Poké sites into the Honi Poké network will begin immediately, with Honi Poké continuing to operate them under the Island Poke brand. The business said it was projecting annualised revenue of more than £20m in the UK alone, and that its ambition was to reach 50 sites within the next year. Martynov told Propel: “The idea is to grow two brands side by side. We are planning to convert some units into Honi Poké but others will remain where we have sites overlapping/too close to each other. Nationwide, we are planning to grow Honi Poké,, but where possible Island Poké will be available on delivery platforms as well. We would love to grow the French business for sure – we feel that there are still opportunities. As for other European countries we will be looking for partners to help us get into new markets. Spain and Italy are particularly interesting for us.” Island Poke previously operated several locations under franchise and Propel understands that the brand will continue to franchise under Honi Poké’s leadership.

 

Sponsored message – dessert is now sipped with Pepsi and Creams Cafe: Pepsi and UK dessert parlour, Creams Café, have come together to form a partnership, serving Pepsi’s new treat-inspired flavours across the summer – strawberries ‘n’ cream and cream soda. The partnership brings together two sweet icons and helps to create memorable experiences in-outlet. To celebrate this, a takeover was hosted at Creams’ flagship Croydon store with a fully wrapped interior, featuring the pink, cream and brown colours of the products across its booths and dessert counter. Customers were greeted with a sample of the indulgent duo – as well as merchandise giveaways. Mixologist experts, Hedonist, were on hand to create a range of signature serves including the Pepsi strawberries ‘n’ cream float – served over ice and slices of strawberry, topped with Creams’ signature vanilla soft serve and a shower of rainbow sprinkles. Creams chief marketing officer Simran Sablok said: “We embody exactly what Pepsi stands for – delicious taste, innovative products and being able to deliver that wow-factor experience for our customers. It’s so important that brands like Pepsi engage with outlets within hospitality, especially with big launches like this, to help us stand out and create experiences that drive people into venues. Pepsi strawberries ‘n’ cream and cream soda flavours pair perfectly with our selection of mouth-watering desserts and savoury bites. It was a match made in dessert heaven, and it has already proved incredibly popular with our customers.” To find out more, click here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Bill’s MD Tom James to speak at Propel summer conference and party, open for bookings: Tom James, managing director of the Richard Caring-backed Bill’s, 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. James will talk to Charlotte Kemp, managing director of Sixty Eight People, about the cultural change he has led at Bill’s, which has resulted in a doubling of sales and a return to the expansion trail. 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 tomorrow (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 Go Crispy, the Qatar fried chicken brand from Ajwan Hospitality Group, north east better burger business Craft Burger, and West Sussex pizza brand The Real Pizza Company. 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 Ellen Chew, the celebrated UK-based Singaporean restaurateur with 15 venues, talking about her journey to success, and Zoe Bowley, managing director of Greene King Pubs, sharing insights on how the landscape has changed in terms of business, leadership, and female presence.

 

BBPA calls for extension of pub opening hours during Women’s Rugby World Cup: The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has called on the government to extend pub opening hours during this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup. The trade body called the relaxation of licensing hours for the forthcoming UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 semi-finals and final a “pragmatic, proportionate step” that “supports the hospitality sector” and wants to see the same for the rugby – especially if the home nations reach the final stages. The tournament is scheduled to take place in England between 22 August and 27 September. BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “As the national home of live sport, pubs will play a central role in uniting communities and supporting the tournament’s success. Extending licensing hours will ensure this landmark tournament receives the recognition it deserves, promote inclusivity in sport and score points for the economy and country’s mood.”

 

Just Eat launches new membership service Just Eat+: Delivery platform Just Eat has launched a new membership service, Just Eat+, which it said is designed to make “everyday ordering that bit easier and more rewarding”. To take part in the new service, there is a one-off £5.99 payment for 90 days. The company said: “It’s not just free delivery the membership unlocks; Just Eat+ members can also access a range of exclusive deals, including free items from the likes of Greggs, Co-op and Shake Shack, special discounts from Leon, Island Poke, The Breakfast Club and Busaba, and two-for-one offers from Patty & Bun and PizzaExpress.” Claire Pointon, UK & Ireland managing director at Just Eat, said: “We’re thrilled to be launching Just Eat+, which is designed to make every day ordering that bit easier and more rewarding. Our new membership gives customers more flexibility, with greater value and access to exclusive perks, all with no delivery fees.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an established and growing premium UK soft drink business that is seeking a head of wholesale to lead the account management with multiple large-scale foodservice wholesalers. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will be instrumental in delivering business growth with existing accounts and optimising on sales strategies.” The role is hybrid, with three days per week in the London office, and offers a salary of up to £60,000. For more information, email mark@corecruitment.com.

 

92 Degrees signs up Midlands franchisee, starts international conversations: Independent coffee roaster 92 Degrees has signed up a franchisee for the Midlands, who plans to open ten to 15 sites across the region, Propel has learned. Propel revealed exclusively in January that the 20-strong business had launched a franchise programme after receiving more than 1,000 enquiries. It has now signed a deal with Simon and Sue Hedaux, founder of the ReThink Productivity consultancy. The husband-and-wife duo plan to open multiple 92 Degrees locations across the Midlands, leveraging their “proven track record in optimising business performance to create thriving community hubs”. 92 Degrees told Propel that the couple are looking to open between ten and 15 locations over the coming years. “We are excited to bring the 92 Degrees experience to the Midlands and beyond,” said Simon Hedaux. “Our careers have focused on helping businesses maximise their potential, and we see immense potential in the 92 Degrees brand. We’re eager to apply our insights into efficiency and customer satisfaction to create welcoming and high-performing coffee shops that become an asset to the local communities.” Sue Hedaux said: “Joining the 92 Degrees family is a natural next step for us. We believe in building strong, efficient operations that deliver exceptional value, and we’re looking forward to replicating that success in the dynamic world of coffee. Our goal is to establish a strong presence throughout the Midlands and beyond, creating favourite, local spots for coffee lovers.” 92 Degrees co-founder Jack Brewitt said: “The Hedauxs’ extensive experience in optimising operations and driving growth for businesses, ranging from small chains to multinational corporations, positions them uniquely to scale their 92 Degrees franchise effectively. Their commitment to strategic management and customer-centric operations aligns perfectly with the ethos of 92 Degrees, promising a fresh and exciting chapter for coffee enthusiasts across the Midlands.” At the same time, the company said it had started early conversations around international franchising – with initial interest coming from both Europe and the US. 

 

Ex-Epic Bars & Clubs marketing manager plans further growth for new bar venture: Nick Martindale, former marketing manager at Epic Bars & Clubs, and fellow Gloucestershire entrepreneur Oli Monks are looking to buck the trend of late-night site closures with the growth of their fledgling venture, Oliver’s Bar Group. Monks founded the company in late 2023 with Gloucester Quays waterside site, Oliver’s Bar, taking over the former Tank site in the town. Martindale became a shareholder in the business and the company’s operations director in May. The business currently owns and manages six venues across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, including Cheltenham’s 21 Club, now named Always 21, in the town’s Regent Street. The business told Propel it is actively looking to add to the portfolio to help growing and struggling businesses, through acquisitions and consultancy services. It is believed to be in advanced talks on three sites, which it hopes to have operating by the end of the year. Martindale, who was with Epic for five years, and prior to that, Fever Bars, said he and Monks have a combined industry experience of 25 years, with a track record of taking multiple businesses from six to seven-figure operations within 18 months while “implementing and maintaining exceptional standards and profitability”. Martindale also co-owns Not Your Average Entertainment with Gareth Rees-Jones, an entertainment business supplying Belters Bingo, Oktoberfests and Duelling Pianos events across the country, with national clients including Haven and Holiday Inn. Monks started running events in 2016 with school discos and went on to high-profile celebrity client parties, including an event for the Beckhams. Martindale said: “I’ve been passionate about hospitality since I was 18, and despite all the recent doom and gloom, I honestly don’t think there’s ever been a more exciting time for the industry. Yes, it comes with its share of challenges. Staying in with Netflix is a really good offering, but I believe more than ever everyone wants to have fun. They just need us to give them a nudge in the right direction. We’re committed to rolling up our sleeves and putting in the hard work to create experiences and locations that are not just enjoyable but also offer great value, because at the end of the day, seeing our customers’ smiles is the best reward we could ask for.”

 

German coffee brand The Barn makes its UK debut: The Barn, the German coffee brand, has made its debut in the UK, in London’s Fitzrovia. The business, which was founded in Berlin in 2010 by Ralf Rüller, has opened at 36 Charlotte Street. Ruller previously lived in London and returned to Berlin to launch The Barn. The UK site is the group’s 20th in total. The brand operates the majority of its sites in Germany, across Berlin and Munich. The Barn also operates sites in South Korea, Dubai and Mallorca. The company said: “The Barn is a leading coffee roaster in Europe and represents the specialty coffee movement at the highest level since 2010. Our beans are served by many coffee shops and home brewers across the globe. Our vision has been very clear from the start: we focus on making our coffee better and better. No compromise – just great coffee. We never blend our coffee in order to showcase specific flavour profiles and to present each farm we work with. This makes our farmers proud and the product fully traceable.”

 

Bear co-founder – like-for-like sales up 16% in first five months of 2025 with all sites profitable: Craig Bunting, co-founder of coffee house, kitchen and bar business Bear, has told Propel that like-for-like sales are up 16% in the first five months of 2025, with all sites profitable. The business, which was founded by Bunting and Michael Thorley and backed by Clark Group and founding investor Chris Price, is looking at new outlets having opened its eighth venue in October, in Wimborne, Dorset, having raised almost £1m through crowdfunding. Bunting said: “Our like-for-like sales from January to May are 16% up. Like many in the sector, we’re trading against strong headwinds – rising costs, fragile consumer confidence and pressure on the high street. But we remain focused on what we can control: building a brand we’re proud to own, investing wisely and staying true to our purpose. All our stores are profitable and contributing positively to the group. We’ve continued to invest behind the growth plans we shared during our crowdfunding campaign and our central team is now in place and strong enough to deliver that growth in the right way. For us, it’s not about maximising short-term profit at all costs or waiting until it’s too late to invest. We choose to go early, invest ahead of the curve and build well. We’re actively looking at new sites, and if the location is right and the commercials stack up, you can expect to see new Bear stores open. We also still have a small amount of direct equity available for the right partners.” Meanwhile, Bear has been named a finalist in the 2025 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards, shortlisted in the equity-backed entrepreneur of the year category. The winners will be revealed on Monday, 17 November at London’s Grosvenor House.

 

SSP opens IPO offer for travel hub concept in India: SSP Group, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has opened the bidding for the initial public offering (IPO) of one of its travel hub concepts in India. In December, SSP said that in conjunction with K Hospitality, its joint venture partner in India, it was planning to IPO Travel Food Services (TFS), a leading player in the country’s fast-growing airport quick service restaurant and lounge sectors. The company was targeting the spring of 2025 for the pricing and completion of the IPO. Giving an update on the process, the company said: “SSP notes the IPO of TFS has opened for bidding by the public and will close on Wednesday (9 July). SSP also notes that TFS has finalised the allocation of 5,443,635 equity shares to Anchor Investors at an Anchor Investor allocation price of 1,100 Indian rupees per equity share, which is at the top of the previously indicated IPO price band. The final IPO price will be determined through the book build process.” SSP acquired an initial stake in TFS in 2016 and currently holds 49% of it, for which it paid a net consideration of £57.9m. SSP has said it will shortly purchase additional shares in TFS (representing 1.01% of TFS’ issued share capital) for approximately £12.5m, and that following completion, SSP will hold 50.01% of TFS’ issued share capital. SSP added that commencement of listing and trading of the shares of TFS on the Indian Stock Exchanges is planned for Monday, 14 July.

 

Bruce Group in dispute with insurers over Edinburgh pub gutted by fire, nightclub sale falls through but new deals being negotiated: Scottish pub group Bruce Group, which operates 15 managed and four tenanted sites around Edinburgh and Fife, has said it is in dispute with its insurers over one of its Edinburgh pubs gutted by fire, and while the sale of a nightclub in Stirling has fallen through, new deals are being negotiated. The company reopened The Royal Mile Tavern in Edinburgh’s High Street in January, two years after a fire in the kitchen caused its closure. In the company’s accounts for the year ending 30 June 2024, director Kevan Fullerton said a dispute with the insurers “remains unresolved” with the costs of the refurbishment currently being borne by the group, with a contribution from the property landlord. He added a planning issue around Dusk nightclub in Stirling was resolved post year end, “but unfortunately not in time to save the sale that was originally on the table”. The group still plans to sell the site, “and negotiations with potential buyers are ongoing”. It comes as the company reported turnover of £17,874,989 for the year, up slightly from £17,152,133 in 2023. Pre-tax profit dropped from £1,393,647 in 2023 to £776,272, while Ebitda, excluding the impact of investment property revaluations, fell to £1,858,751 from £2,258,011. Fullerton said turnover was boosted by a first full year of trading for McKays on the Mile in Edinburgh, which helped offset the loss of income from the Royal Mile Tavern. He said the decline in profit was driven by increased overheads, particularly in rates and repairs. Debt decreased from £8,664,914 to £8,540,256 while dividends of £164,600 were paid (2023: £143,600). Fullerton said the group was able to increase prices “without any noticeable impact on demand” to offset some of the cost increases, but overall margins were under pressure. He added: “The Scottish government opted not to provide the same meaningful support in rates reductions as the Westminster government, adding to the inflationary pressures on our cost base. The directors anticipate trading conditions to remain challenging. There has been some shift to return to offices, although a hybrid working model is still order of the day for many businesses. We have adapted our daytime provision in line with new patterns of demand. Our night-time provision remains largely based around live music, which has helped maintain demand.”

 

PizzaExpress, Pret A Manger and Slim Chickens among operators to sign for sites at new North Yorkshire outlet scheme: PizzaExpress, Pret A Manger and US brand Slim Chickens, which is being rolled out here by Boparan Restaurant Group, are among the latest operators to have signed for sites at the forthcoming Scotch Corner Designer Village in Richmond, North Yorkshire. They will join The Restaurant Group-owned Wagamama, better burger brand Five Guys and luxury hot chocolate shop brand Knoops, which have already agreed deals to open at the complex. Scotch Corner Designer Village is set to open in spring 2027. In total, there will be 73 stores in phase one of the complex, which is now 50% built. The scheme is currently 82% let.

 

Clermont Hotel Group returns to profit and declares dividend of £10m, parent company ‘cautiously optimistic’ about London market: Clermont Hotel Group returned to profit and declared a dividend of £10m in the year to 30 June 2024. The group – the largest hotel owner-operator in London with 5,000-plus bedrooms across brands as The Royal Horseguards Hotel, The Clermont and Thistle – turned a pre-tax loss of £10,000 in 2023 into a profit of £9,989,000. The company declared a dividend of £10m (2023: nil) after performing a capital reduction of the same amount and cancelling its share premium. The group did not report any turnover after claiming exemption for companies included in non-UK group accounts. Parent company Guoco Group is headquartered in Hong Kong and also owns 56.2% of The Rank Group alongside property development and financial services interests. Guoco Group’s interim report for the 2024-25 financial year said: “Clermont Hotel Group delivered another year of strong performance. Despite the deceleration of room rate growth across London due to the easing of post-pandemic pent- up demand, the group achieved an occupancy rate of 85% by implementing a volume-oriented strategy that fuelled revenue growth. During the year, stabilisation of interest rates and inflation levels have provided some relief from cost pressures. Nevertheless, management remained committed to effective cost control measures and utilised scale efficiencies due to higher occupancy levels to enhance profitability, resulting in another year of double-digit growth in underlying post-tax profit. Increased cash generation enabled further investment in estate infrastructure upgrades, boosting higher returns from refurbished food and beverage facilities and improved room rates. Despite inflation receding in the second half of the financial year, interest rates remain high. However, strong cash generation has allowed the business to reduce its debt by more than a third in less than 12 months. This has been achieved at the same time as stepping up investment in capital expenditure to repair and refurbish the estate. Looking ahead, the group’s improved financial footing, cautious optimism about the London market, and a highly engaged and motivated team has laid a solid foundation for the future growth of the business.”

 

Chaiiwala opens in Milton Keynes for 105th UK site: Indian street food franchise Chaiiwala has opened in Milton Keynes for its 105th UK site. The company, which has circa 125 sites in total globally, has opened at Unit 4F in thecentre:MK. Chaiiwala also has more than 20 locations in Canada and a handful in Dubai. Sohail Ali, co-founder of Chaiiwala, said: “We’re excited to open our latest store in Milton Keynes. As a leading retail destination with strong footfall, our opening in thecentre:MK will provide an opportunity for us to showcase the value of Chaiiwala’s unique and flavourful all-day street food menu as well as the unique flavour of chai to more consumers. This will help us introduce more consumers to the brand and support our strategic objective of transforming Chaiiwala into a household name.” Last month, Chaiiwala teased the launch of a new kiosk concept, made out of shipping containers, which Ali said are “great for busy areas with limited space”. Chaiiwala, which ambitions to grow to 500 global locations over the next ten years, made history in 2023 by launching the UK’s first Indian street food drive-thru. Last year, the brand followed this by launching its first airport and university campus locations.

 

Hollywood Bowl launches £5m share buyback programme: Hollywood Bowl has launched a £5m share buyback programme, which it said reflects the group’s “highly cash generative business model and strong balance sheet”. In a statement, the group said: “Hollywood Bowl has entered into non-discretionary agreements with Investec and Berenberg to purchase, in aggregate, up to £5m of the company’s ordinary shares of 1p each. The share buyback programme will end no later than 30 September 2025. The share buyback programme reflects the group’s highly cash generative business model and strong balance sheet. In line with group’s capital allocation policy, the board believes that a share buyback is an attractive way in which to return excess capital to shareholders while also continuing to invest in growing the business. It follows on from previous share buyback programmes completed over the past 18 months. The purpose of the share buyback programme is to reduce the share capital of the company. As such, the company will cancel any shares purchased.”

 

Wingstop opens second London Westfield site: Wingstop UK, which is backed by US private equity firm Sixth Street, has opened its second site in Westfield London’s leisure destinations. A year after launching a flagship site at Westfield Stratford City – the largest Wingstop in the world – the brand has now also opened at Westfield Shepherd’s Bush. Located on the Lower Mall, the new site spans 3,379 square feet and seats 136 covers. The site is one of 20 the 68-strong brand is set to launch in 2025. Chris Sherriff, chief executive at Wingstop UK, said: “Building on the success of our Westfield Stratford flagship, this opening marks the next step in our continued expansion across London. 2025 is shaping up to be an incredible year as we meet the unparalleled demand for our wings and flavours.”

 

Knoops lines up Cheltenham opening: Luxury hot chocolate shop brand Knoops is to add a site in Cheltenham to its opening pipeline for this year. The 28-strong business is set to open in the former Costa Coffee site in the Promenade in the town. Last month, the company opened its first store in Wales, at The Hayes, in the St David’s scheme in Cardiff, for its Welsh debut. It follows recent openings for Knoops in Colchester, Norwich, Belfast, York and Newcastle. A site at the Scotch Corner Designer Village has also been secured. Last month, Propel exclusively revealed that Knoops is set to make its debut in China next year after signing a joint venture agreement to launch in the country. Knoops has also signed a deal to make its US debut, in Utah, and said it plans to open 30 new international stores annually. The brand began its global expansion last year, opening its first Middle Eastern store in the UAE in November.

 

Rudy’s to open second Nottinghamshire restaurant this week: Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, the Mission Mars-owned brand, will open its new site in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, on Saturday (12 July). The brand is transforming the former Black Pearl Pub building in Bridgford Road, which has stood vacant since January 2023. The venue will offer 105 covers inside, plus a 70-seat outdoor seating area, and create 35 jobs. The venue will become the brand’s 32nd site and join its other site in the county, which opened in Nottingham in 2023. Neal Bates, managing director of Rudy’s, said: “Nottingham has welcomed us with open arms, and we're excited to bring a true taste of Naples to even more people across the area.” In May, Mission Mars, which is backed by the Business Growth Fund, said it had ten more Rudy’s opening or in legals, with further sites for its Albert’s Schloss concept also under negotiation.

 

Chocoberry opens in Manchester: Dessert brand Chocoberry has opened in Manchester for its 16th UK location. It has opened in a former mobile phone repair shop at 555a Wilbraham Road in Chorlton-cum-Hardy. Chocoberry also has two overseas sites in the UAE and is launching this year in Canada and Turkey, with sites in Calgary and Istanbul. Included in its UK pipeline is locations in Rotherham, Coventry, London’s Whitechapel and Leicester’s Highcross shopping centre. In April, Propel revealed that Chocoberry, which was founded in 2018, “aspires to cultivate a network of 100 establishments both domestically and across international frontiers”.

 

Miss Millie’s confirms debut Kent site to open this autumn: Fried chicken operator Miss Millie’s has confirmed its debut site in Kent will open this autumn. Propel revealed in November that, having appointed Andy Purnell as its new chief executive, Miss Millie’s would next be opening in Canterbury. The company has now confirmed that it will be “opening soon” in the former Pavers shoe store at 35 High Street in the city centre. Miss Millie’s currently operates eight sites in Bristol and one each in Newquay, Southampton, Weston-super-Mare and Edinburgh. Further sites in Eastbourne and Wellington – its first two petrol station forecourt locations – have now closed. The company still has two forecourt sites – its Newquay and Edinburgh locations – in partnership with Motor Fuel Group. After hiring Purnell in November, Miss Millie’s rebranded and set out “exciting expansion plans”. Purnell, who joined the business from KFC, Starbucks and Taco Bell franchisee Soul Foods, said at the time: “Miss Millie’s has an amazing history and brand reputation in the south west, but with our new expansion plans, it was time for a new approach to ensure we have a wider appeal.”

 

Blend Family hires Gary Digby as operations director: Blend Family, the team behind Liverpool’s GPO food market and Kargo MKT in Salford’s Media City, has hired Gray Digby, formerly of Coppa Club and Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), as its new operations director. Digby spent three and a half years at the Various Eateries-owned Coppa Club, including two and a half years as its head of operations. He also spent three years at M&B as an operations manager. For the past three years, he has overseen his sector consultancy firm, Digby + Fox. Blend Family is to open its first food hall in London, called Tower Bridge Collective, later this year. The company has agreed a lease with developer Fore Partnership and TBC London’s majority owner, KKR, to occupy 16,000 square feet of ground-floor space in Tower Bridge Court. Tower Bridge Collective will host 13 food partners, serving a variety of authentic street food from across the globe. The Blend Family is also behind what is described as “Europe’s biggest purpose-built food hall”, Cambridge Street Collective, in Sheffield, as well as the Cutlery Works food court and the Milestone gastropub in the city. The business, which was formerly Milestone Group, was founded by Bigland alongside his wife and business partner, Nina Patel Bigland. Digby said: “I’m thrilled to be supporting the Blend Family as operations director. This collaboration brings together everything I care about in hospitality – incredible spaces, smart operations and community foundation support. Blend Family is growing fast, with bold plans ahead, and are trailblazers within the food hall sector.”

 

North west multiple operators secure third site: North west multiple operators Julie Panaro and George Catterall have secured their third site. The duo have acquired the lease of the Feilden’s Arms in Mellor Brook, Blackburn, which is part of the Heineken-owned Star Pubs estate. Panaro and Catterall’s other sites are also with Star Pubs – the Butler’s Arms in Pleasington and The Hospital Inn in Bamber Bridge. The couple and Star Pubs are undertaking a joint £465,000 refurbishment of the Feilden’s Arms, which will see it reopen in mid-August as a traditional village pub offering live sports and entertainment. The pub will provide seating for 96 inside. The games room is being kitted out with a new pool table, darts board and HDTVs. Outside improvements will include seating for 60. The pub’s six letting rooms are also being upgraded. Panaro said: “Location is key to our decision of which pub we take on. The Feilden’s Arms is the nearest pub to BAE Systems, which is creating thousands of new jobs. When we heard about its expansion plans and Star Pubs’ proposed refurbishment, it seemed an opportunity not to be missed. We’ll also be introducing a loyalty card like our other pubs, where they’re popular, and offering our ‘Club Menu’ Monday to Thursday. As for future expansion plans, we’re happy with three, though if an opportunity like this one came along again, we might be tempted.”