San Carlo Group CEO – ‘the government is not giving us anything to make us want to grow in the UK’: Marcello Distefano, chief executive of San Carlo Group, has told Propel that the company’s immediate focus is expanding overseas, with four new international openings planned for the next six months, as the “government is not giving us anything to make us want to grow in the UK”. The company, which was founded in Birmingham 33 years ago, currently operates 25 sites across the UK and ten under franchise internationally. The group plans to open restaurants in Miami, Morocco, Cairo and Bahrain in the next six months. Speaking on Propel’s podcast series, In Conversation, Distefano said: “This government is not giving anything to us to make us really want to grow too much in the UK. It’s the percentage of the margins we’ve been seeing reduce over recent years in restaurants. It’s getting harder and harder. And therefore, you start looking at the modelling. You’re looking at what we’re investing in restaurants, and you’re seeing the payback taking longer, especially at the premium end of the market. So, it does put you off (opening new sites here). Don’t get me wrong, we still want to grow, and there are cities we still want to go into. We still want to go to Scotland; we want to go to Ireland. There are cities in the UK we're not in yet, like Newcastle and Cardiff, and we were looking at sites. We were very close to agreeing on sites, but we started to see the market change. We saw the sentiment change, and as a family business, we don't have to answer to anybody else, so we decided, let’s not take the risk. Do we really need to do this right now? No, let’s sit back. We are lucky that we have brands that are in demand internationally. It is a franchise model, which is great for us, because there’s no capex requirement from us. So, why not focus on that for the next couple of years? We’ve got three brands – Signor Sassi, San Carlo and San Carlo Cicchetti – and we are getting demand internationally for all of them. We have a nice pipeline in place. It gives something for the business to focus on while we see what happens in the UK.” As for trading this year, Distefano said it was “a real mixed bag” He said: “Internally, there’s a really good feeling in the business. We’ve been working really hard, improving efficiencies and improving teams, so there’s a real feelgood factor in the company. The environment out there is not great and it has been a hard few years. The summer was good for our outside spaces, but like a lot of businesses, we’ve been spending the whole year mitigating the rise in national insurance contributions, and other increasing cost factors. It feels like we’ve been fighting all year, so the current mood is mixed.” In Conversation is a series of fortnightly podcasts, exclusive for Propel Premium Club subscribers, featuring industry leaders and sector players talking about their businesses and issues impacting the UK’s hospitality market. 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.

Sponsored message – unlock the future of hospitality finance with Opsyte’s Profit Lab: Operating profit is becoming harder to achieve for a lot of operators in this tough market. Margins are being squeezed across the board, and the last few years have been difficult for a large number of restaurants. There are a growing number of tools and techniques out there to help increase profitability, prompting the launch of Profit Lab from Opsyte. Opsyte is at the leading edge of artificial intelligence (AI) innovation for hospitality, as the bridge between finance and operations gets rapidly smaller with the use of technology. By combining automation with real-time P&L insights, Opsyte empowers managers to optimise labour, control costs and unlock growth potential across single sites, franchises or multi-site groups, all in one connected platform. Matt Taylor, chief executive of Opsyte, said: “Now, we’re taking things further. With AI-powered P&Ls, operators will soon be able to access even deeper insights into performance, spot opportunities faster and make smarter decisions that directly impact the bottom line. It’s all about giving leaders the tools they need: real operators, real numbers and real quick wins to grow sales, protect margins and build a stronger, more resilient future for hospitality. Efficiency, innovation and profitability all in one place.” Discover how Opsyte can transform your operations, deliver expert-driven insights and prepare your business for what’s next here. For more information, email: steph@opsyte.com. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

Loungers chairman Alex Reilley to speak at final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, open for bookings: Alex Reilley, chairman of Loungers, will be among the speakers at the final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, which is open for bookings. Reilley will talk to Propel group editor Mark Wingett about the company’s return to the private world, maintaining consistency of offer, what the expansion runway looks like for the business and saving the high street. 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 updated Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday now featuring 1,177 companies: Premium Club subscribers will receive the updated Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday (10 October), at noon. The database will feature 17 new companies and 81 updated accounts. The database now features a total of 1,177 companies, with 743 in profit and 434 making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the New Openings Database, 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.

 

Soaring operational costs pile pressure on capex in hospitality: Rapid rises in operational costs are damaging hospitality’s capital expenditure programmes, the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA by NIQ and Sona has revealed. The survey of industry leaders showed nearly two thirds (63%) have increased their operational expenditure over the last 12 months, following inflationary pressures on the costs of labour, food and drink and other key inputs. However, only a third (34%) have increased their capital expenditure. Close to half (45%) have been forced to cut their capex – more than double the 20% who have reduced their operational expenditure. The survey highlighted a growing split in hospitality, with 25% of hospitality leaders currently able to increase both their operational and capital expenditure, but 14% forced to reduce both. Meanwhile, 9% of leaders reported they now have no cash reserves to draw on, while 53% have fewer than six months of reserves. Just 22% of independents have increased their capital expenditure year-on-year, while 60% have been forced to cut it – 15 percentage points more than the sector average. However, leaders recognised the value of capex in sustaining sales and keeping pace with competitors. Two thirds (65%) said site refurbishments are a high or medium priority for investment, while 55% said the same about workforce management technology. Half (50%) identified both customer-facing technology and site acquisitions as high or medium priorities. While three in five (61%) leaders said the economic environment is currently a barrier to their capital expenditure, only 27% cited consumer sentiment – an indication Britain’s underlying demand for hospitality remains strong. Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said: “April’s increases in pay levels and national insurance contributions have added yet more weight to the heavy cost burdens on hospitality businesses. They have further polarised the sector, between successful and efficient businesses that are able to invest across the board, and weaker ones that are struggling to keep up with day-to-day costs and are scaling back capital projects.” Paul Watson, vice-president of hospitality at Sona, said: “For smaller and independent businesses especially, targeted technology investment isn’t just a cost, it’s a strategic lever to unlock resilience, agility and long-term competitiveness in a volatile market.”

 

Conservatives to scrap business rates on high street pubs and shops if elected: The Conservatives have promised to scrap business rates for a quarter of a million pubs, restaurants and other smaller businesses if they are elected. Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride announced the measure in his Conservative conference speech, framing it as an attempt to reinvigorate high streets. The 100% relief would apply to hospitality, retail and leisure companies that pay £110,000 a year or less in business rates. The move would cost £4bn a year. Sir Mel had already outlined plans to save £47bn a year through spending cuts, including welfare reforms. Sir Mel said: “Under Labour, many have seen their business rates double. We need to get business rates down. In fact, we need to go further. Much, much further. So, I can announce that, as a direct result of getting public spending under control, a future Conservative government will completely abolish business rates for shops and pubs on our high streets. End of, finished, gone.” In response, UKHospitlaity chair Kate Nicholls said: “The business rates system is completely broken, with hospitality paying billions more than its fair share for decades. This is welcome recognition from the shadow chancellor of the need to reform the business rates system, as well as the need to prioritise and back our high streets to drive growth, attract investment and support our communities. Reducing the tax burden on hospitality is urgent, and that needs to start at the Budget, with the maximum possible business rates discount applied to all hospitality properties under £500,000 rateable value. This maximum discount should be implemented alongside a commitment that no hospitality property above £500,000 rateable value pays more in rates.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a UK brand that is looking for a HR director. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This hands-on role will be heading an established HR structure. The position will focus on the operations as well as all head office functions to allow the UK team to provide the best possible quality of service to its customers. This is a large team the HR director will be managing – from training to recruitment, HR and employee relations.” The salary is up to £120,000 and the position is based in Bristol. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com.

 

Chaiiwala – aiming to open 20-plus UK stores next year and make US debut, growth will be driven by drive-thru, travel hub and retail park locations: Indian street food and café brand Chaiiwala has told Propel that it is aiming to open 20 more UK stores next year and make its US debut in the first quarter. Chief financial officer Abdul Piranie also said the growth of the circa 130-strong brand, which will open eight more sites before the end of this year, will be driven by opening more drive-thru, travel hubs and retail park locations. Chaiiwala has a long-stated ambition of 500 UK sites, with the potential for double that in the US – building on an overseas estate of 23 in Canada and three in the UAE. “I’ve been with the business for five years, from when we were 25 stores in and on the cusp of a growth spurt – we’re at about 130 stores globally and I like to think we’re in that second growth spurt,” Piranie said. “There’s a lot of untouched territory in the UK that we can enter into. We’re looking at a further 20-plus openings next year in the UK alone, and the idea is to grow that number in the years that follow, but to do it right as we have a responsibility to our franchisees. We’re on the cusp of entering the US – we’re hoping to have something signed up by the end of this year and to be trading on the east coast next year. We have a roadmap and know what we want to do but have to be very meticulous in how we enter it. Canada is an exciting market, and the pipeline is very strong there as well. We are also in the GCC, but we don’t want to spread ourselves too thinly, so the focus is to continue our growth in the UK and Canada and successfully enter the US.” In recent years, Chaiiwala has become the first Indian street food brand to launch into drive-thrus, airports and motorway service areas – and Piranie sees huge opportunity in all these areas. “Luton airport has been a phenomenal success,” he said. “To staff an airport site is different to any other site – they have to go through security as if they’re going on holiday every single day. It’s about making sure you have the right proposition and can deliver on time as people have a flight to catch. We then opened at Birmingham, and on the back of that, we have more airports wanting to work with us because we’ve proven the concept. We’ve got conversations already happening in the UK and abroad as well. We’ve also got a new container-style proposition with Roadchef at Watford Gap, and that has been well received and is something we can potentially roll out into travel hubs. We’ve had conversations about railway stations too and see real opportunity there. Drive-thrus and retail parks give us the accessibility to showcase the brand to new audiences beyond those initial core demographics and we’ve got a few more drive-thrus in the pipeline, but it’s a competitive landscape as all brands are seeking drive-thrus at the moment.” It comes after Chaiiwala reported global system sales were up 35% to £89.4m in the year to 31 December 2023 (2023: £66.4m), driven by strong growth across all markets. The company said it has continued its strong momentum into 2025, with system sales in the year-to-date up 16%.

  

Patisserie Valerie launches new grab-and-go model: Patisserie Valerie, which is backed by Irish private equity firm Causeway Capital, has launched a new grab-and-go model. The new location has opened at 63a High Street in Uxbridge, north west London, offering “freshly brewed coffee, matcha and a delicious selection of handcrafted patisserie, cakes and baked goods” but “with a focus on quality, speed and exceptional service”. The site is a second London store and sixth overall for a brand which once had a 200-strong estate before collapsing into administration in 2019. Patisserie Valerie also has stores at Fenwicks in Brent Cross, north west London, and in Bromley, Southend, Bristol and Glasgow. Nicole Randall, group head of partnerships at Patisserie Valerie and Bakers & Baristas, said: “We’re proud to announce that Patisserie Valerie Uxbridge High Street is now open. This is our first grab-and-go model, designed to make it even easier for customers to enjoy our freshly prepared, lovingly handmade cakes and quality coffee. This opening marks the beginning of our 100-year celebrations, continuing our tradition of quality, integrity, and joy that has been at the heart of Patisserie Valerie since 1926. Thank you to everyone involved in bringing this concept to life. Here’s to many more moments of joy ahead!” In October 2024, Propel revealed that Patisserie Valerie had turned to franchising for the first time to help rebuild its estate. In May, the company reported a pre-tax loss of £3,594,694 for the year to 2 April 2023, including a £4,173,054 loss from continuing operations and a £578,360 from discontinued operations. In the previous year, the company made a pre-tax profit of £614,222, including a £348,043 loss from continuing operations and a £962,265 profit from continuing operations. The company’s turnover for the year was £25,286,614. This included a £22,953,308 from continuing operations and £2,333,306 from discontinued operations. In the previous year, the group reported turnover of £25,369,380. This included £17,791,675 from continuing operations and £7,577,705 from discontinued operations.

Scoffs Group narrows full-year loss, Itsu opening a ‘significant milestone’: Scoffs Group, the largest Costa Coffee franchisee in the UK with 109 stores, saw its pre-tax losses narrow in the year to 31 December 2024, while its adjusted Ebitda increased from £2.1m to £4.1m, “showing strong underlying operational performance” and the benefit of the company’s “strategic focus on profitability over unit growth”. Turnover for the year increased by 1.6% to £54,626,352 (2023: £53,790,066) despite the net closure of one store, which the business said demonstrated “improved productivity across our existing estate and the contribution from new store openings during the year”. Pre-tax loss for the year stood at £1,811,381 (2023: £4,460,992). It said that gross profit margin improved from 31.5% to 34.3%, reflecting “better cost management, pricing optimisation, and operational efficiencies”. The company said: “The year to 31 December 2024 continued to present operational challenges. The business faced additional pressure in the last quarter of the year as a result of supply chain disruption, which resulted in significant disruption to our food sales during this period and into early 2025. Despite these headwinds, we have worked closely with our brand partners to improve operational efficiency and enhance customer experience. During 2024, the group strategically opened four new stores, including our first Itsu store. demonstrating our commitment to diversifying our brand portfolio beyond Costa Coffee. However, we also took the difficult but necessary decision to close five underperforming stores that were loss-making, as part of our ongoing portfolio optimisation strategy. The inaugural Itsu location serves as a foundation for potential future growth in this premium fast-casual dining segment. The group continues to build on the successful integration of the 20 Costa company-owned stores acquired in 2022. The group maintains its robust financial infrastructure following the successful re-banking exercise completed in 2024, involving migration of the term loan from HSBC to Barclays Bank and the establishment of a £4m capital facility. This facility has already been partially deployed to support new store openings and remains available for future growth opportunities, including potential acquisitions. Post year-end, in February 2025, the group successfully completed the acquisition of all four Costa Coffee stores in the Channel Islands, marking a significant milestone as our first expansion outside the UK mainland. This strategic acquisition demonstrates the group’s ability to identify and capitalise on growth opportunities while extending our geographical reach into new markets with strong tourism and local customer bases.”

Three Cheers co-owner – ‘trading has been pretty good’, ‘we’ll go where the opportunity is but will stay in London now’: Three Cheers Pubs Co co-owner Tom Peake has told Propel that trading has been “pretty good”, and in terms of growth plans, the company will “go where the opportunity is” but “will stay in London now”. The company, led by Peake alongside schoolfriends Mark Reynolds and Nick Fox, operates ten pubs spread across south and west London. Site number ten, The Trafalgar, will open later this month – the first new pub in the Kings Road in London’s Chelsea in more than 100 years. “I’m glad to say, trading has been pretty good,” Peake said. “There’s been quite a lot of fear through the Budget, the cost of living before that and covid before that, but I think we’re fortunate in our locations by and large. We’ve got a very mixed little group of pubs, so some trade better than others at certain times, and they tend to balance out. But overall, I’d say we’re in a good place. I’m quite relieved when the numbers come in on a Monday and you see the like-for-likes, and we seem to be resilient despite all the headwinds. We all thought post covid that things were never going to be the same again, and it’s remarkable how things returned to how they were – although there’s a lot less formal eating, and we do more offers than we did 15 years ago just to stay on a level playing field with our competitors.” In terms of where the company goes next, Peake said: “We have always looked in a broad area of London, although going too far north or east would create a logistical headache. We don’t have a strategy in that respect, we just look at where the opportunity is. We’re very open minded when it comes to that. We’ve looked at a few things outside of London, but we’ve come to the realisation that as you grow, logistically, it would present challenges, and we also don’t feel the need. I think we know we’re going to stay in London now. We’ve been approached over the years, but for me, we’d rather stay local. If it got to a point where we’re thinking in three or five years we would look to sell, that’s when you might get some advice in and look at acquiring other small groups and crank it up before selling. Who knows if that will ever happen for us – we don’t have a number in mind, and that is quite a luxury, not to be tied in like that.” The company has invested £2.4m in the King’s Road site, which was a former bank. Peake said: “It’s an extraordinary project, given the nature of the building and its location, but very exciting. The old banking hall gave us some fantastic materials to work with like ornate plasterwork and an amazing ceiling, so it’s doing justice to all of that. But at the same time, you don’t want to walk and think ‘oh they’ve converted a bank’ – it needs to feel like a pub and be a warm and welcoming space.”

 

Dutch smash burger brand opens second UK site, lining up more London locations in 2026: Dutch smash burger brand Fat Phill’s has opened its second UK site and is lining up more London locations in 2026. The company, which is expanding here in partnership with Seeds Consulting, has opened at 194 High Road in Wood Green, north London, next to Wood Green tube station. The site joins the brand’s debut UK site, which opened at 16 St John’s Hill in Clapham, south London, in December 2024. Robert Wols, franchise manager at Fat Phill’s, which has 19 locations in the Netherlands, said: “The time has finally come: the newest restaurant of Fat Phill’s has opened its doors in Wood Green, London. After a careful permit process, it was successful – and the result is impressive. From now on, our guests can enjoy our famous Philly cheesesteaks, smashed burgers and legendary shakes. With this opening, we are taking another great step in the international expansion of Fat Phill’s. There are certainly more London locations planned for 2026 – and this one in Wood Green is already proudly on the list of milestones in 2025.” Fat Phill’s is being rolled in the UK by Freshly Baked, which is also the UK master franchisee for US pretzel brand Auntie Anne’s. In May, Fat Phill’s also signed a development agreement for Ireland, partnering with a local operator and making its debut there in the former Leon unit in Temple Bar, Dublin.

 

Sides hires Fiona Richards as marketing director: Sides, the food business from YouTube collective Sidemen, which made its international debut earlier this year, has hired Fiona Richards, formerly of BP and Lidl, as its new marketing director. Richards joins Sides after 14 months as director of brand and marketing communications for Europe at BP. She also spent two and a half years as head of marketing at floor supplier Altro, and 20 months as head of brand and strategy at Lidl GB. Earlier this month, Propel revealed that Sides is looking to expand into the UAE, Australia and New Zealand. The brand, which earlier this summer opened in Singapore, is looking to open up to 15 sites across the UAE but has yet to put a figure on its expansion plans for Australasia. The company is working with Charlie Mander at franchise consultants Presman & Colard on its growth plans. The brand’s debut international site opened in Bugis+, a ten-storey shopping centre in the Bugis district of Singapore, with the Sides site spanning 114 square metres, offering around 50 covers. The site was the sixth Sides store in total.

 

JD Wetherspoon criticises online article that negatively reviewed one of its Leeds pubs: JD Wetherspoon has released a correction regarding an online article that negatively reviewed its Scribbling Mill pub in Leeds. The company said that in the article, Leeds Live, an on-line publication, referred to a visit made to the pub at the city’s White Rose Centre by one its journalists, in the context of a very small number of negative reviews on the TripAdvisor website. It said: “The Scribbling Mill has a TripAdvisor rating of 3.2 out of five based on 26 customer reviews, nine of which rate the pub as excellent. This compares to the far more widely used Google Reviews, which gave a rating of 4.2 out of five based on 874 visits. Every Wetherspoon pub is subject to regular mystery visits to monitor and assess standards of quality, cleanliness, service, maintenance, atmosphere and delivery times. In Wetherspoon’s financial year to 27 July 2025, The Scribbling Mill scored an average of 97.6% for visits conducted by independent external mystery visitors, which is above the company average of 93.2%. Twelve visitors gave the pub a 100% rating. The Scribbling Mill is also currently rated 5 out of 5 for the ‘scores on the doors’ scheme operated by environmental health officers at Leeds City Council, in respect of food and other hygiene standards. Wetherspoon pubs have an average food hygiene rating of 4.99% (out of five). Out of 741 Wetherspoon pubs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that have been assessed under the scheme, 732 have been awarded a maximum five-star rating.” JD Wetherspoon chairman Sir Tim Martin said: “Reviews on TripAdvisor are based on a very small sample, 26 in this case. The Google Review rating, based on a sample of 874, has been ignored. Describing the Scribbling Mill as ‘total garbage’ in a headline, by taking one unverified negative review, is irresponsible and malicious journalism – and is also unfair to the very hard-working team at the pub.”

 

Wendy’s franchisee Blank Table opens ninth site with brand: Wendy’s franchisee Blank Table, which launched the brand’s debut UK drive-thru restaurant, has opened its ninth site with the brand. The 3,069 square-foot restaurant has launched at the Touchwood shopping centre in Solihull in the West Midlands. Blank Table agreed a new 15-year lease for the space in the Jubilee Walk dining area with Touchwood owner The Ardent Companies and asset manager Sovereign Centros. Blank Table also has two Wendy’s locations in Peterborough and one each in Huntingdon, Wisbech, Derby, Cambridge, Oakham and Spalding. Blank Table is also set to open a Wendy’s in Norwich – a drive-thru in the city’s Broadway Enterprise Park. Wendy’s, which currently has circa 50 UK locations, has just reported turnover increased to £33,962,708 for the year ending 31 December 2024 compared with £31,916,991 the previous year.

 

Brother Marcus opens Soho site, complete with new bar concept: London eastern Mediterranean restaurant concept Brother Marcus has opened its latest site, in London’s Soho. Propel revealed in August that the business, which was founded by Tasos Gaitanos and Alex Large, was to open an 84-cover restaurant on the former Social Eating House site in Poland Street. The company said consumers can expect “mezze style sharing plates, contemporary design, free flowing Greek wine and a generous touch of East-Med warmth in central London”. Upstairs, taking over the space of speakeasy The Blind Pig, is Kamara, the founders’ first cocktail bar and a stand-alone destination. Brother Marcus, which now operates seven sites across the capital, told Propel in August that it was still targeting two to three openings in 2026, with a first regional site “under consideration” and expected to open in early 2026. He also said the plan is to open further Kamara bars alongside new Brother Marcus sites “where the opportunity fits” and that “if the concept proves strong enough, stand-alone Kamara sites are very much on the table”.

 

Wagamama shakes up kids’ menu with new customisable bento box: Wagamama, The Restaurant Group-owned brand, is shaking up its kids menu with a new customisable bento box. The bento box, available for children under 12 and priced at £7.50, lets kids build their own meal using separate compartments to choose a main, rice or noodles, fresh vegetables and a sauce. Served with gyoza and prawn crackers, Wagamama said it offers more than 1,000 combinations and encourages children to discover new flavours. Wagamama chief marketing and commercial officer Emma Colquhoun said: “We asked families what they wanted from a kids’ meal and the answer was clear. More choice and flexibility. Too often, kids’ menus can feel limited, so we wanted to create something that works for both children and parents. Our new bento box balances variety, flavour and nutrition, giving children meals they enjoy, and parents peace of mind.”

 

Humble Group experiences ‘very strong’ third quarter as it secures seventh Humble Grape site, another to open ‘in near future’: Humble Group, which operates wine bar and shop concept Humble Grape and South African-inspired Vivat Bacchus in London, has told Propel it has experienced a “very strong” third quarter of 2025 as it secured its seventh Humble Grape site, in Bow Lane. The outlet will be tucked beneath the Bow Bells, in the 11th-century crypt of St Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside. The venue, which will open next month, will accommodate 60 guests inside and 40 on the terrace. The wine bar, restaurant and wine shop will serve a curated list of more than 500 bottles alongside a menu of European-inspired sharing plates, steaks and artisan cheese and charcuterie boards. “Opening our doors within such an extraordinary setting is both humbling and inspiring.” said founder James Dawson. “St Mary-le-Bow has stood for centuries as a place of gathering and community – values that resonate deeply with Humble Grape. We want Bow Lane to be more than a wine bar; it’s a place where people can connect, discover wine made with integrity, and feel part of something timeless." Founded in 2009, Humble Grape directly imports wine from 26 countries, working with independent producers who follow organic, biodynamic and sustainable practices. A spokesperson told Propel: “It has been a very strong third quarter for the group, and it is excited to open the Bow Lane branch and another branch (location TBC) in the near future.”

 

The Beefy Boys opens in Oxford for fifth site: The Beefy Boys, the better burger business backed by Manjit Dale, founding partner of TDR Capital, has opened its fifth site, in Oxford. The Beefy Boys, which was founded in 2011 by four childhood friends – Anthony Murphy, Daniel Mayo-Evans, Christian Williams and Lee Symonds – has opened the restaurant on the roof terrace in the Westgate scheme in the city. The 100-cover venue features an open kitchen that serves up burgers such as The Dirty Boy and The Oklahoma Onion Boy, along with loaded fries, chicken wings and tenders – plus vegetarian options. There are also cocktails, mocktails, cider, spirits, beer and alcoholic milkshakes available. The Beefy Boys also has locations in Hereford, Shrewsbury, Cheltenham and Bath. Murphy said: “The response from our visitors in Oxford has been incredible so far. The support from Westgate Oxford has been amazing, and we’re excited to finally open and welcome the people of Oxfordshire in for burgers, beer and good times.”

 

The Big Table Group to open third Amalfi Ristorante site: The Big Table Group – the Epiris-backed operator of Las Iguanas, Bella Italia, Frankie & Benny’s and Banana Tree – is to open a second site in Central London under its Amalfi Ristorante concept later this month – and third in total. Propel revealed last summer that Big Table Group was to convert its existing Café Rouge site in St Paul’s to the premium Italian restaurant concept. Accommodating up to 170 guests, with a private dining room for more intimate gatherings, the St Paul’s restaurant will offer a menu inspired by the food of Italy’s coast, created with the finest seasonal produce. An Amalfi Ristorante spokesperson said: “St Paul’s is one of London’s most iconic and historic locations, and we wanted to create a restaurant worthy of its surroundings. Amalfi St Paul’s captures the glamour of the Italian Riviera while celebrating the spirit of the City.” The Alan Morgan-led business began a trial of Amalfi at the Center Parcs in Woburn Forest in summer 2021 after converting its Strada site in the Buckinghamshire resort. This was followed with an opening in March 2022 on its Bella Italia restaurant in Argyll Street, near Oxford Street in London. Speaking about Amalfi last August, Morgan told Propel: “It’s not going to be a big roll out, but as we’ve always said, if there’s a site that makes sense, we will look at it.”

 

Cardiff accountants secure £1.8m loan to transform Welsh coastal hotel for first hospitality venture: Cardiff accountants Kashif Ahmed and Rushna Ghaznavi have secured a £1.8m loan to transform a Welsh coastal hotel for their first hospitality venture. The pair, who own and run Agnitio Accountants in the Welsh capital, have acquired Holm House Hotel on the Vale of Glamorgan coast, which closed last year. The iconic 1920s building, located in Penarth’s Marine Parade, has operated as a luxury hotel from 2004. However, having struggled to return to profitability after the covid-19 pandemic, it announced it was closing its doors. Ahmed and Ghaznavi will use the £1.8m loan, from Allica Bank, to bring the hotel back to life and transform it into a premier destination. “Our plan is to run things very differently to before,” said Ahmed. “Instead of operating as a stand-alone hotel, we are bringing together a collective of best-in-class operators to manage the rooms, the restaurant and the spa individually. Holm House is deeply rooted in Penarth’s rich history and we’re delighted to play a part in keeping it alive. Rushna and I have ambitious plans to further develop Holm House as a luxury destination perfectly positioned between nature and culture. For example, we are already actively exploring potential partners for a new wellness centre.” Earlier this year, it was revealed that Holm House was to become the second venue of Silures – a high-end restaurant and bar concept from A&M Hospitality Group, which is the brainchild of former Gordon Ramsay and Galvin Brothers alumni Andrei Maxim and Daf Andrews.

 

Dutch aparthotel company opens new all-day restaurant and deli at London property: Dutch aparthotel company The July Group has opened a new all-day restaurant and deli at its site in London’s Victoria. The Idler has a menu rooted in seasonal British ingredients with Mediterranean influences. Main dishes at the restaurant include Herdwick lamb rump with Jersey royals, baby carrots and rocket pesto; and Lake District bavette with heirloom tomatoes, Caesar foam and Madeira jus. The drinks menu features cocktails, wine and a selection of beer and low-alcohol options. Meanwhile, the deli offers sourdough focaccia sandwiches, brewed coffee and a selection of ingredients to cook with at home, or in the fully serviced apartments at The July. The group also operates three sites in Amsterdam.

 

Team behind first pub in London’s Camden Market to open cafe and deli turned wine bar and bistro in Shoreditch: George and Louise Hartshorn and Brian Cook, who were behind the first pub in London’s Camden Market, are launching a cafe and deli by day and wine bar and bistro by night in Shoreditch. The trio, who have collectively worked in the hospitality and music industries for more than 30 years, opened The Farrier in Camden Market in May 2021 as a neighbourhood pub and restaurant with a strong focus on natural and artisan wine. The pub shut in November last year. Now the Hartshorns and Cook are launching Clara’s in Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, on Friday, 17 October, reports Hot Dinners. The deli will offer charcuterie, cheese and butchery cuts and the team will also make its own mozzarella on-site. In the evening, the menu will be run by head chef Elie Fourcroy, previously of Artusi, who will be creating a Mediterranean-influenced menu. Dishes will include Conejo en Salmorejo (rabbit braised with pimentón, herbs, and Tenerife red wine vinegar) and Manchego Fritti (a fusion of Spanish manchego and French panisse batter, fried until golden and topped with Italian parmesan). Those will be served alongside a low-intervention European wine list.

 

International hospitality group acquires Welsh hotel for £6.55m: BLS UK Hotels, part of international hospitality group BLS International Services, has acquired the Trefeddian Hotel in Aberdyfi, Wales. Documentation from BLS International, shared on the Bombay Stock Exchange website, revealed a transaction value of £6.55m for a 100% stake in Trefeddian Hotel. The hotel had been in the Cave Browne Cave family since it opened in 1904. BLS International Services said the deal aims to diversify its business portfolio, strengthen its presence in the hospitality sector and enhance its long-term growth. Birmingham-based law firm Wilkes advised the Cave Browne Cave family on the sale.