Boparan Restaurant Group plans 50 new Slim Chickens UK sites in 2026 and 30 new Giraffe locations over next four years: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has said Slim Chickens UK is “primed for rapid growth”, with a pipeline of 50 sites across the UK, Ireland and Europe confirmed for 2026, including three new drive-thrus opening in the first quarter. BRG, which currently operates circa 75 sites under the US brand, said it had invested the past 18 months in laying the groundwork for sustainable expansion – developing product specifications, establishing supplier partnerships and building scalable infrastructure. BRG said test drive-thru sites in Ireland and Berlin have been instrumental in refining the model, “ensuring a smooth transition into continental Europe”. Propel understands the three new drive-thrus will open in Sheffield, Teesside and Chester. BRG said from next year, Slim Chickens will partner with “world-class operators” to launch in Germany, France, Poland and Spain, marking a “significant milestone in its international journey”. At the same time, BRG said its Giraffe brand “continues to thrive in the international travel sector”. BRG said: “With a strong airport presence already established, the next phase of growth includes imminent openings in Tenerife and Edinburgh, followed by an ambitious pipeline of 30 new global sites over the next four years. Working alongside leading international airport partners, Giraffe is extending its reach and cementing its position as a trusted global name in travel dining, bringing vibrant, family-friendly experiences to millions of passengers worldwide.” BRG said its success is powered by its people and partnerships. Earlier this year, the group was recognised with a The Sunday Times Best Places To Work accolade. Satnam Leihal, chief executive of BRG, said: “While we are still in the foothills of the brands’ potential, we are moving Slim Chickens into Europe with confidence, supported by a strong pipeline and world-class partnerships. At the same time, Giraffe is extending its global airport footprint, building on its reputation as an international success. The strength of our people, the calibre of our partners and our dedication to operational excellence are what set BRG apart and they are the foundation for our continued growth.” It comes as the parent company of Slim Chickens UK, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Carluccio’s posted turnover of £125m for the year to the end of 2024 (2023: £96.2m). During the year, the company acquired 23 Carluccio’s sites. The system sales represent the sum of all sales made by both franchised and corporate stores to consumers in the UK, Europe, UAE and Asia of £266m. These are excluding VAT and are unaudited. The company has recorded an underlying adjusted Ebitda of £22.3m (2023: £8.4m).

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Founders of north west New York-style pizza business Nell’s to speak at final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, open for bookings: Jonny and Charlotte Heyes, founders of Nell’s, the north west New York-style pizza business, will be among the speakers at the final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025. The Heyes’ will discuss the concept’s three-year growth strategy, including becoming a regional standout performer, and how it is looking to spread its wings in new territories. The all-day conference takes place on Wednesday, 5 November, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London’s Kensington. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Operators can book up to three free places per company while Premium subscribers who are operators can book up to four free places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database on Friday: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers on Friday (3 October). The database will show the details of 152 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. The database will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis and Premium Club subscribers will also receive a 10,029-word report on the 152 new additions to the database. It is segmented into seven categories – cafe bakery, casual dining, experiential leisure, fine dining, hotels, pubs and bars and quick service restaurants – making it even easier for users to search. The database includes new openings in the experiential leisure sector such as indoor climbing operator Freeklime, opening in Lincoln, PureGym, with openings in Manchester and Essex, and S3 Padel, with openings in Romford and Bangor. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium 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 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.

Hospitality food and drink prices rise for fifth month in a row as pressures mount: Food and drink prices in the hospitality sector rose by 0.4% in the month to August, the latest Foodservice Price Index from CGA by NIQ and Prestige Purchasing reveals. It represents a fifth consecutive month of price increases as hospitality businesses continue to navigate widespread inflationary pressures. Persistent inflation is being driven by a complex mix of global factors, including geopolitical volatility, adverse weather conditions and sustained high input costs. Pressures have been particularly acute in key categories including oils and fats, where a significant uptick was driven by higher international prices for palm, sunflower and rapeseed oils amid robust global import demand and tightening supplies. The coffee, tea and cocoa category saw the most substantial year-on-year increase, with prices surging as a result of global supply constraints and weather concerns in major producing regions. The meat and poultry category recorded a further price rise, with high inflation in beef and lamb lifting the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Meat Price Index to an all-time high. This was in contrast to poultry prices, which declined slightly due to ample supplies from abroad. Costs also rose in the milk, cheese and eggs category, and increased production and labour costs may sustain upward price trends here. Shaun Allen, chief executive of Prestige Purchasing, said: “The August report reflects a difficult and ongoing reality for the hospitality sector. While some prices have stabilised or even slightly reduced, the overall trend is one of persistent increases driven by a mix of climate variability, geopolitical issues and enduring pressures on energy and logistics.” Reuben Pullan, senior insight consultant at CGA by NIQ, added: “Yet another increase in food and drink prices is cause for concern as hospitality begins the long run-in to Christmas and new year. Relentless inflation is tightening the squeeze on consumers’ spending in discretionary areas, and sapping the confidence of hard-pressed restaurants, pubs and bars.”

 

Blank Street UK co-founder – coffee industry is ‘waking up’ to competition: Ignacio Llado, UK president and co-founder of US coffee brand Blank Street, which made its debut in the UK in 2022 and now operates circa 40 sites here, has said coffee brands have been part of a “sleeping industry” that is starting to wake up as new rivals and innovative drinks shake up the scene. Llado said competition was intensifying as businesses work harder to attract customers. “It’s definitely becoming more competitive, that is one of the things we’ve seen,” Llado told the PA. “It is almost like we’ve seen the waking-up of a bit of a sleeping industry. This is actually positive for us too, because we thrive off innovation and we innovate better when we feel that we now need to raise the bar a notch higher.” Blank Street, which was founded in New York five years ago, reported its first pre-tax profit in the UK of £1.3m in 2024, from a loss of £4.2m the previous year. Turnover increased threefold to £35.8m year on year. Llado said: “2024 was definitely the year with a tonne of novelty. That doesn’t mean we’re only going to be relying on new flavours consistently coming out.” He said the business does not “sleep on” coffee shop staple drinks, which it continues to invest in, alongside innovative flavour launches and seasonal menus. Llado said Blank Street was enjoying “more demand than ever before” both from consumers and landlords in the UK who want to see a shop opened in their local area. This is being driven by consumers prioritising “accessible luxuries” that they can enjoy with friends amid cost-of-living pressures. “People are more ready than ever to spend on a product or an experience that involves stepping out of their home,” he said. In August, Propel reported that Blank Street was looking to increase its presence in London “villages” with an opening in Richmond, having applied to take on the premises previously occupied by Oree Boulangerie in George Street, and it is also lining up a former Starbucks at 48 Albion Street in Leeds.

 

UKHospitality and HIT Training launch new sector graduate apprenticeship programme: UKHospitality and HIT Training, a specialist apprenticeship and training provider for the sector, have launched a new hospitality graduate apprenticeship programme. The five-year Hospitality Graduate Apprenticeship programme aims to provide a pathway into leadership and offer a sustainable solution for attracting, developing and retaining high-calibre talent into the sector. The programme will see participants progress through three apprenticeships: level 3 supervising hospitality, level 5 hospitality operations manager and level 7 senior hospitality leader. Fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy, apprentices graduate with a Masters-level qualification and chartered manager status. UKHospitality chief executive Allen Simpson said: “Hospitality offers fantastic career opportunities and pathways into leadership, and this new programme is an incredible opportunity for ambitious people who want an exciting career in hospitality. There is significant value for employers too, who will benefit from its cost-saving potential, given the programme is funded through the Apprenticeship Levy, and improved staff retention.” Jill Whittaker, executive chair at HIT Training, added: “We’ve worked closely with UKHospitality and employers across the sector to design a programme that responds to real business needs. This pathway is about creating long-term leaders who understand the industry from the ground up. It’s a win-win for apprentices and employers alike.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a business that buys and sells pubs across the UK, with offices in London, Manchester and Glasgow, which is seeking an operations director. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The operations director will have deep expertise in the pub sector, ideally someone with experience in large pub groups and a strong network of industry contacts. With continued investment and ambitious growth plans, the business is looking for an experienced leader to head the London office and drive the next phase of development. This is not a typical hands-on operations role; it is commercially focused, emphasising opportunity identification, partnership development and supporting the acquisition and sales process. The role is ideal for someone who has progressed through pub or hospitality operations. The business is well-backed and highly ambitious, with significant expansion planned over the next 12–18 months. The operations director will work closely with a small, dedicated team and the wider group to ensure smooth deal execution, strong regional communication and strategic input from a true hospitality perspective.” The salary is up to £120,000. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com

 

Tortilla CEO – ‘UK estate is looking good, you don’t need to add new sites to generate growth when there’s growth in the existing estate’: Andy Naylor, chief executive of Tortilla – the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand – has said the company’s UK UK estate is “looking good”, and that “you don’t need to add new sites to generate growth when there’s growth in the existing estate”. It comes after the business said it expects 2025 to be its “most profitable year ever” in the UK, with first half like-for-like sales up 5%. The UK business delivered a profit of £2.4m, an increase of 33% on the prior year, offset by a £1.2m loss in France as the group invests in site conversions and brand-building across the continent. Naylor told Propel: “It's been a great year for us. The first half was really strong, with 5% like-for-like sales, against CGA’s figure, which was minus 3% for the first half. Performance accelerated in the third quarter as well. We ran a really strong campaign on delivery, and although June was the quieter month, over the quarter as a whole, like-for-like sales grew by about 7%. It’s looking good in the UK at the moment, which is great, because France is a bit of a challenge. But I think investors will look at the UK as the cash generating engine room of the business. And that happens when you prioritise food quality, which is the main thing that we’ve really run hard at over the last 12 months. We’ve seen some really good growth at the sites, including new products on the menu, which have generated quite a lot of incremental sales. It just goes to show that you don’t need to add new sites to generate growth. When there’s growth in the existing estate, it’s a cheaper, less capital-intensive way of growing. We’ve been pushing hard on a lot of different initiatives, and one of the things we’ve become obsessive about is volume growth. If you think about the minus 3% that CGA reported for the first half of this year, there’s probably 4% or 5% pricing in there as well. There’s a lot of volume loss in the industry; we just want to create a habit for people to come back to Tortilla. We’ve seen some good increases in loyalty and we’re trying to reward people through our app. It’s a market where you have to fight hard, and that’s why we are obsessive about food quality, because people are very value for money conscious and want to just get the tastiest, most healthy product at the best price.” Naylor said a lot of the investment has already happened with France, “so it’s just about cracking on with it”. He said: “The central kitchen built in Lille is three times the size of the UK one, so we’ve got the infrastructure now to go hard at European expansion, and that’s the plan – to hit those countries with some franchising growth. We’re in early-stage conversations with some interesting businesses.”

 

The Wolseley Hospitality Group reports like-for-like growth fuelled by increased visits and higher average spend per head: The Wolseley Hospitality Group, formerly Corbin & King, has said like-for-like growth in the year to 31 December 2024 was fuelled by increased visits and higher average spend per head. It comes as the company, which operates nine venues in London, reported turnover of £64,163,827 for the year, up from £59,492,469 in 2023, and reduced pre-tax losses from £8,714,484 in 2023 to £5,793,811. Adjusted Ebitda was down from £5,750,000 in 2023 to £2,758,000. The company’s costs rose by almost £4m and administrative expenses by almost £5m. However, exceptional items were down from £8,662,792 in 2023 to £1,586,930. In the current year, pre-opening costs of £572,911 were in relation to a non-trading property in Notting Hill. The prior year costs of £3,113,718 related to Manzi’s, Wolseley City and Notting Hill. Lease exit and associated costs in the prior year of £203,691 (2024: nil) related to the remaining fixed asset items of Cafe Wolseley, which closed in August 2022. The 2023 figure also included £4,682,792 impairment of fixed assets (2024: £157,092). Director Emmanuel Rajakarier said: “Like-for-like performance, for the restaurants which operated for the full 12-month period in both reporting periods, continued to see growth, fuelled by a combination of increased visits to the restaurants and higher average spend per head. The directors are grateful for the support of loyal guests and are proud of hard-working colleagues in what has been a positive trading year, despite the backdrop of external challenges the business has faced from the cost-of-living crisis impacting discretionary consumer spend, inflation on the supply side, geopolitical uncertainty and increased national minimum wage impacting labour margins. The directors believe our quality offering will enable us to remain highly competitive as we look to expand our footprint, both domestically and internationally.” Post year end, in July 2025, the group’s owner, Minor Hotels, announced the strategic expansion of its brand portfolio with the addition of four new hotel brands, including two relating to the heritage of the restaurants. Rajakarier added: “Wolseley Hospitality Group is excited to see the introduction of new hotel concepts The Wolseley and The Colbert Collection. These new brands are inspired by the emotional equity and enduring legacy of our iconic restaurants. Extending them into the hotel space is a natural progression that builds on the restaurants’ distinctive character and guest loyalty in a new format.”

 

Costa franchisee Sim Trava secures new £17m banking facility, planning further acquisitions: Sim Trava, which operates 80 Costa Coffee sites across the north west, has secured a new £16.9m overall loan facility to consolidate its existing loans, including a further £7.4m towards acquisitions and new store openings. This summer, the company acquired of 21 stores from QFM Group. In addition to this, Sim Trava opened two further stores, taking the total number of stores across the group and its associated companies to 80. It comes as turnover for its core 48-strong Costa business for the year to 31 December 2024 declined 1.9% to £25,427,000 (2023: £25,932,000), while Ebitda climbed 19.2% to £2,287,000, and pre-tax loss stood at £263,798 (2023: loss of £821,169).  The company said: “The core activity of the group has always been our Costa Coffee franchise. The accounts reflect the trading performance from our portfolio of 48 Costa Coffee stores across the north west. In addition to these, we operate nine stores through an associated company, Sim Trava (North East), taking the total number of stores operated by Sim Trava at the date of these accounts to 57. The ongoing continued close working relationship with our franchisor, Costa Coffee, has helped us achieve improvements in profitability in the current and previous year. This has been coupled with a continued focus on removing waste from the business operations at all levels. We again reviewed all our stores pricing levels and adjusted them appropriately to bring us closer to our main competitor pricing levels helping our turnover and profit percentage. There were various factors that limited our ability to further increase our profitability such as the increase to the national minimum wage coupled with a reduction in consumer confidence and footfall contributing to a reduction in turnover. Fortunately, this trend appears to have reversed in 2025. We continue to look at operational improvements to improve profitability and increase sales and entered 2025 in a positive position to continue improving the group's financial performance. We continue to look at opportunities for organic and acquisitional growth. We are considering options to expand or relocate existing stores at end of leases while looking at opening stores in new locations.” Founded by husband-and-wife Simon and Tracy Vardy in 2004, Sim Trava opened its debut Costa site in Northwich in October 2005.

 

Splendid Hospitality Group founder hands over the reins to his son and family trust, KFC business returns to positive Ebitda and secures new £25m facility: The founder of privately-owned Splendid Hospitality Group – which employs more than 2,500 people across its hotels, restaurants and care homes – has handed over the reins to his son and family trust. Shiraz Boghani, a qualified chartered accountant and entrepreneur from Kenya, arrived in the UK in 1969 with just £20 to his name. He founded Splendid Hospitality Group in 1986 and has since grown it into a diverse portfolio including 24 hotels, 38 KFC restaurants and three care homes. The KFC business, Splendid Restaurants Colonel, was founded in 2016 by Shiraz and his son, Nadeem Boghani, who is also a qualified chartered accountant. In Splendid Restaurants Colonel’s accounts for the year to 29 December 2024, under post balance sheet events, the company said: “On 2 September 2025, Shiraz Boghani gifted his ownership interests in the ultimate parent company to Nadeem Boghani and the Boghani Family Trust. From this date, the ultimate parent company is jointly controlled by Nadeem Boghani and the trustees of the Boghani Family Trust.” Also listed under post balance sheet events, the group added: “On 26 August 2025, the existing facility commitments were fully repaid, and a new three-year facility agreement was entered into by the parent company, Splendid Real Estate, with HSBC. The total facility amount was £24.9m, of which £19m was made available to and drawn down by the company. In addition to this, the company has access to a revolving credit facility of £7m.” It comes as Splendid Restaurants Colonel returned to positive Ebitda during the period. The company recorded Ebitda of £1,219,623 compared with a loss of £491,330 in 2023, while a pre-tax loss of £4,265,738 in 2023 was narrowed to £2,579,126. Turnover dropped from £32,018,760 in 2023 to £31,456,122 as average weekly sales fell from £34,282 in 2023 to £34,010. No dividends were paid (2023: nil). Nadeem Boghani said: “After a challenging couple of years, inflation has returned to more typical levels which has enabled the KFC stores to return to profitability in 2024. 2025 has seen strong sales performance and cost price inflation starting to stabilise.”

 

David Kaminsky to step down as MD of Leisure TV Rights: David Kaminsky is to step down as managing director of Ninja Warrior operator Leisure TV Rights (LTR) after three and a half years with the business to take up a “new opportunity”. Kaminsky, a former operations director at Côte Brasserie and Wagamama, was promoted to managing director in November 2023 after joining LTR in 2022 as people and operations director. He joined the business when it had one Ninja Warrior Adventure Park in Leeds. During his tenure, the company has grown to five Ninja sites in partnership with ITV, with the latest opening being in Teesside in July 2024 – the brand’s most successful opening to date. Along with the executive team, he also worked on The Chase Experience concept and proposition. He has been leading LTR since Lisa Buckley stepped down as chief executive last October. Kaminsky said: “I would like to thank the whole LTR team and board for all their hard work they have put in since I joined the company.  Not only have they been a delight to work with, their professional and focused nature has meant we have achieved some record sales over the last few years.”

 

Indoor multi-activity park operator SuperPark secures debut UK site: Indoor multi-activity park operator SuperPark has secured its debut UK site. The brand – which was founded in Finland more than a decade ago – will launch at the Braehead shopping centre in Scotland. SuperPark will open a 30,000 square-foot space early next year after agreeing a deal with SGS UK Retail. SuperPark operates 26 sites worldwide across Finland, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. At Braehead, the brand will offer visitors an “activity wonderland” with 40 attractions, including adventure challenges, sporting games and freestyle activities. Jonathan Doherty, director of SuperPark UK, said: “Our choice of Braehead to begin our UK roll-out is very deliberate. The centre already plays a broad role in consumer’s lives and enjoys very strong loyalty, and yet there is demand for even more experience-led concepts. This combination of consumer desire and consistently strong footfall are the ideal dynamics for our debut. We have the perfect space in the perfect place and are excited SuperPark is about to make its mark in the UK.” In March, Superpark said it was looking secure between 30 and 40 sites in the UK over the next five years, including a flagship in London. The business is looking for units ranging in size between 20,000 and 35,000 square feet, located within shopping centres, retail parks and high streets. Superpark appointed Savills to support its expansion across the UK. Braehead is asset managed by Pradera Lateral and its leasing agents are Lunson Mitchenall and Savills. SuperPark was represented by Savills.

 

The Evolv Collection to open new skyline restaurants across UK as part of its new Stories brand, Birmingham site to rebrand next month: The Evolv Collection, formerly D&D London, has said it will open new skyline restaurants across the UK as part of its new Stories brand – “creating even more exceptional dining experiences accompanied by breathtaking views”. The company already operates Manchester’s 20 Stories and London’s 14 Stories within its Stories portfolio, and next month will see Birmingham skyline restaurant Orelle become the collection’s third venue, when it rebrands as 24 Stories. Reopening under its new name on Friday, 24 October, 24 Stories is perched on the 24th floor of 103 Colmore Row. The highest restaurant in the Midlands, it offers panoramic views of the city and beyond, alongside carefully curated seasonal menus and elevated cocktails. Chefs from the three restaurants will work collaboratively to curate these menus, alongside signature dishes that showcase local suppliers and draw inspiration from their unique location and heritage. The Evolv Collection chief executive, Martin Williams, said: “Orelle has been a cornerstone of The Evolv Collection’s success story, and we are confident 24 Stories will continue to go from strength to strength. Creating the Stories brand is a really exciting evolution and part of our strategic vision. By creating opportunities for all three Stories restaurants to work collaboratively, we are hoping to offer exciting new dining experiences that honour the past while embracing an ambitious future.”

 

Big Mamma Group to make Middle East debut later this year: Big Mamma Group, which is backed by McWin, is to make its debut in the Middle East later this year with an opening in Dubai. The business, which operates circa 30 sites across Europe, will open a site under its Gloria concept at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, in December. The company said: “Born in Milan’s Brera district, Gloria will transport guests to the bold and glamour of 1970s Milan, with velvet banquettes, monumental chandeliers, golden mirrors and vintage decor. There is also a terrace for those to enjoy the food alfresco. The menu is an ode to dolce vita, bold flavours and fine dressings, paying homage to authentic Italian recipes. Opening in Dubai marks Big Mamma’s debut in the Middle East.” Big Mamma Group is set to take its first step into Ireland with an opening in Dublin in November. The business, which operates seven restaurants in England, has signed a 20-year lease with John Malone’s MHL Hotel Collection for the old AIB bank branch at 41 Westmoreland Street. Renovations are underway and the restaurant will open under the group’s Gloria concept. The group has also submitted plans to turn part of the ground floor of the former Scottish Provident building at 1-6 Lombard Street in the City of London into a new restaurant.

 

Plaza Khao Gaeng to open in Borough Yards: Southern Thai restaurant concept Plaza Khao Gaeng will be launching in London’s Borough Yards this November, marking the second site from chef-founder Luke Farrell and JKS Restaurants. Following the success of the original Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurant in Tottenham Court Road, Farrell will bring southern Thailand’s coast-to-jungle cuisine to the arches of Stoney Street, with an opening in the former Vinoteca site. Plaza Khao Gaeng at Borough Yards will be the most recent addition from Chaiyo Restaurants, the Thai restaurant group from JKS Restaurants and Farrell. The group also includes Speedboat Bar, with two sites in Soho and Notting Hill. The company said: “Plaza Khao Gaeng’s second location sets braised soy and spiced pork hocks – traditionally served from Thailand’s famous wheeled carts – against the fiercely sour gaeng som curries of Phatthalung. This is southern Thai cooking at its boldest, a faithful take on khao gaeng, ‘curry over rice’, now tuned for big-city appetites. Hyper-seasonal produce from Luke’s Ryewater Nursery greenhouses shapes the menu, bringing freshness and intensity straight from garden to plate.”

 

Individual Restaurants launches corporate loyalty programme: Individual Restaurants, the Restaurant Bar & Grill and Piccolino operator, has launched Club Business – a new corporate loyalty programme. The company said Club Business was “a first-of-its-kind corporate loyalty programme, designed to give our business guests the most exclusive membership experience in hospitality right now”. The company said Club Business has been designed to meet a renewed demand in corporate spend, offering companies “not just a seamless booking experience but meaningful rewards with real impact”. Members of Club Business will receive 10% back on all qualifying spend over £500, credited directly into their Club Business balance, to reinvest in future dining and events, which the business said set it apart from traditional points-based schemes. The group said the new programme builds on the success of Club IR, Individual Restaurants’ consumer loyalty scheme, which attracted 150,000 members in its first year. Andrew Garton, chief executive of Individual Restaurants, said: “For business leaders and their teams, hospitality is no longer just about booking a table, it’s about creating moments that matter. With Club Business, we are rewarding those moments in a way that no one else in the industry is doing: giving businesses real value back, looking after the bookers behind the scenes, and ensuring every experience is effortless and elevated.”

 

Rhubarb to launch two new quick service restaurant concepts at London Bridge student accommodation development: Rhubarb Hospitality Collection (RHC), the premium international hospitality group, will launch two new quick service restaurant (QSR) concepts at a London Bridge student accommodation development. RHC has partnered with rental business Greystar to open coffee shop Journal and salad and sandwich outlet The Chop at Chapter London Bridge, a new 950-bed purpose-built development beside The Shard. Opening later this month, the scalable concepts will be open to the public as well as the student community. Journal will open daily from 6:30am to 5pm, with the 74 square-metre site offering 30 indoor covers plus pavement seating and serving specialty coffee alongside pastries, cakes and bread from Lockdown Bakehouse. Opening next door, The Chop will offer made-to-order, grab-and-go chopped salads, served in bowls or layered into bread as deli sandwiches, from 11am to 4pm. Within Chapter London Bridge, RHC will also deliver a resident-only Sky Bar on the 37th floor. Tom Crocker, RHC vice-president of business development, said: “The launch of Journal and The Chop mark an important step in RHC’s strategy to develop scalable, standalone concepts alongside our established catering partnerships. These formats allow us to bring our expertise in quality food and operational delivery into the everyday QSR space, starting here at London Bridge.”

Fortnum & Mason to launch ‘on the go’ hospitality concept as part of its first UK store outside London: Fortnum & Mason is launching an “on the go” hospitality concept as part of its first UK store outside of London. A fixture in the capital since 1707, Fortnum & Mason is launching at Bicester Village in Oxfordshire. As well as the retail space showcasing the company’s range of products, just outside the store will be the first Fortnum & Mason On the Go – a hospitality kiosk offering a curated selection of sweet and savoury toasted sourdough crumpets alongside a selection of drinks. Fortnum & Mason has worked with chef Tom Moore, of Moore’ish Crumpets, to create the crumpets, which will feature flavour combinations created by Fortnum & Mason’s executive chef, Sam White, such as lobster and caviar cocktail and strawberry and champagne preserve with Ivy Farm butter. Fortnum & Mason’s chief executive Tom Athron said: “We’re delighted to be opening our first UK store and hospitality offering outside London, in Bicester Village. Our beautiful new location will allow visitors to the village to explore a curated edit of Fortnum’s extraordinary food and drink.”

 

Dogus launches Coya loyalty programme: Dogus International Group, the company behind Amazonico, Zuma and Coya, has launched a loyalty programme for its Coya brand of restaurants. The Peruvian restaurant and members’ club brand operates ten sites globally including two in London, in the City and Mayfair. Dogus has now launched Coya Rewards, offering four tiered privileges that range from complimentary Champagne welcomes and birthday surprises to priority bookings and exclusive event invitations. Clasico, which launches from a guest’s very first visit, sees them welcomed with a digital pass, while the silver tier (two to four visits) offers Veuve Clicquot Champagne or a crafted cocktail on arrival and birthday surprises. Gold tier (five to nine visits) comes with Prestige Champagne, booking priority and an exclusive seasonal gift, while platinum tier (ten-plus visits) sees guests personally welcomed by senior leadership and enjoy Dom Pérignon on arrival, dedicated concierge access and invitations to exclusive events across Coya’s global destinations. Coya Rewards is currently available in both London locations as well as Barcelona, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Marbella, Ramatuelle and Mykonos, with more locations to follow.

 

North American comfort food concept Brewski to open in Liverpool: North American comfort food concept Brewski is to open a fourth site, in Liverpool. The business, which is led by James Daly and Steven Stockton-King, has secured a 5,000 square-foot space at the Liverpool One scheme for an opening in December. Brewski currently operates sites in Chorlton, Chester and Sheffield. Propel reported last month that Daly and Stockton-King, who are also behind Chicago-style pizza business American Pies, are to launch a new venture in Manchester. The duo are opening Big Tray BBQ at Quayside in Salford this autumn after agreeing a deal with landlord Peel Retail & Leisure. Spanning 5,235 square feet and inspired by Brewski’s ongoing culinary tour of the US, Big Tray BBQ will offer counter-service smokehouse, serving up barbecue by weight, homemade sides and sauces.

 

Great British Bake-Off contestant closes four-strong bakery business: Hertfordshire bakery The Pudding Stop, which was the brainchild of former Great British Bake Off contestant Johnny Shepherd, has announced the closure of its four branches across the county. After 14 years of business, The Pudding Stop announced “with a heavy heart” that it would be closing stores “until further notice”. The business operated locations in St Albans, Harpenden, Radlett and Redbourn. The company said: “It’s no secret that the past few years have brought significant challenges, and throughout that time, we’ve worked tirelessly to keep The Pudding Stop going. It is with a heavy heart that we have made the difficult decision to close the business.” The Pudding Stop first launched in 2011 with a “Pudmobile” van outside St Albans City station. Just two years later, Shepherd opened the first permanent shop thanks to support from loyal commuters.

 

Gizzi Erskine returning to Barworks’ Mare Street Market as chef creative director and launching all-new health concept: Chef, food writer and broadcaster Gizzi Erskine is returning to Barworks’ Mare Street Market concept as chef creative director and will also launch an all-new health concept. Her return follows from the launch of a second Mare Street Market last year in King’s Cross, situated behind the Coal Drops Yard development. Erskine is aiming to forge a new dining identity for both its King’s Cross and Hackney markets. She will revitalise the menu, introducing produce-led French-Americana brasseries to the dining halls while taking the reins at the delicatessen, featuring deep-filled focaccia sandwiches and salads. Marc Francis-Baum, owner of Mare Street Market, said: “Mare Street Market continues to grow as an emporium of talent. Alongside Gizzi’s return, we’re proud to be the home of Island, the latest restaurant from chefs Brad Carter and Tom Brown as well as an upcoming, first of its kind, pop-up shop and music hub from Sony RCA Records.” Erskine, who left Mare Street Market in 2018, said: “Mare Street Market is my home. It has my DNA in the walls, and it feels natural to come back. Marc and I have always been connected in its vision, and I look forward to being part of re-establishing King’s Cross and Hackney as some of the most important food and cultural spaces in London.” In March, Barworks told Propel there had been “a lot of interest” in its Mare Street Kitchen concept, both in the UK and internationally, and once its newer sites are bedded in and “contributing positively to the group, we’ll be looking for further growth opportunities”. Barworks also operates Two Floors in Soho and The Starman in Mayfair.

 

Bone Daddies co-founder opens new seafood restaurant in London’s Mayfair: Ross Shonhan, the former executive chef at Zuma and co-founder of Bone Daddies, has opened a new seafood restaurant in London’s Mayfair. Propel revealed last year that Shonhan was looking to launch the new venture at 17 Bruton Street – the same address Queen Elizabeth II was born at – and name it after her nickname. Lilibet’s marks Shonhan’s 12th opening, following projects such as Strawfire and Netsu, previous ventures like Bone Daddies Group and earlier executive chef roles at Nobu and Zuma. The 160-cover Lilibet’s is spread across a series of intimate rooms, from botanical salons and fire-lit dining rooms to a marble cocktail bar. The menu celebrates seasonal seafood through an Oyster Bar showcasing the daily catch, turbot pil pil from the Fireside Grill and a fish triptych served three ways. Under-represented British species, from gurnard and squat lobster to garfish, are also championed to spotlight sustainable choices. “With Lilibet’s, we wanted to create an enduring restaurant that will feel as relevant in 20 years as it does today,” said Shonhan. “It’s about great hospitality, British ingredients, Mediterranean influence and doing things properly, with personality.” Lilibet’s is already open for dinner, with lunch launching from today (Wednesday, 1 October).