Arc Inspirations CEO – ‘London opening opens up other opportunities for the business’, ‘there could be some sector consolidation’: Martin Wolstencroft, chief executive of Arc Inspirations, the premium bar operator, has told Propel that the company’s upcoming debut opening in London “opens up other opportunities for the business such as rolling out in other areas of London, in Europe, or partnering with hotels”. The 21-strong company, which is backed by BGF, is investing £4m to open a site under its Box format in Piccadilly Circus on Friday (24 October). Speaking on Propel’s podcast series, In Conversation, Wolstencroft said: “We've been looking for opportunities like this for the past couple of years. We really accelerated all our plans to acquire it, because we had to move fast – with our backers, investors and the bank. I believe we've got a fantastic brand in the Box, and this is a fantastic opportunity to make some serious profit. It's probably the biggest business decision I've made, and probably the one that I'm most excited about. There's a lot resting on it, and I think it also opens up to other opportunities for the business – rolling out in other areas of London, in Europe, or partnering with hotels, etc. I think it's in a great growing area of London, and it's something that's going to be a great flagship for ourselves, for future investors. Christmas is also vital for us. It's a huge part of our annual profit. The good thing is where we stand now, we're already 40% up on Christmas bookings compared with last year. And then we really want to land London, because if we get it right then it could be the equivalent of two, three or four site openings. So, our focus is delivering a fantastic Christmas, driving our core and delivering a superb opening with London.” With The Alchemist and Albert’s Schloss-owner Mission Mars both exploring their funding options, Wolstencroft believes there could be some consolidation in the bar sector. He said: “There's some savings there to be had in terms of head office functions. We've done a very good job in terms of averaging more than £500,000 Ebitda per site. We've done a very good job in the last ten to 15 years of shedding our tail. I've looked at a lot of the businesses out there, and what I don't want to be doing is partnering with somebody who gives us a headache in terms of having to sort out their tail. If there is an opportunity there to work with another business that will add value, increase the value for Arc, we will look at all opportunities, but we're not chasing anything fast. It's about carrying on with caution.” 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.

 

Deadline extended to enter Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards and Rising Stars: The deadline to enter the Restaurant Marketer & Innovator (RMI) Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements in marketing, technology and innovation across the food and beverage sector, and the Rising Stars programme has been extended to Friday, 31 October. Finalists will be honoured at a grand awards ceremony at Pergola on the Wharf in London on Wednesday, 21 January – the finale of the three-day Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. The awards are open to any eating or drinking-out brand across Europe, with 14 categories. The categories are: Best new product development; best new website; best new/improved visual identity; best digital engagement; best use of technology; best use of data, insight or research; best use of artificial intelligence; best community or charitable initiative; launch campaign of the year; campaign of the year; agency of the year; innovator of the year; marketer of the year; and chief technology officer/chief information officer of the year. In addition to the main awards, the Rising Stars programme is also returning, recognising talented future leaders under 30 in marketing, technology, innovation and strategy roles. This programme is open to young professionals from anywhere in Europe, offering a platform for emerging talent in the sector. James Hacon, co-founder of the awards, said: “The RMI Awards celebrate the extraordinary creativity and forward-thinking that drives our sector. It’s a chance to stand out and be recognised among the industry’s best, whether you’re a start-up with bold ambitions or an established brand evolving to meet the demands of tomorrow’s market.” For more information and to enter the RMI awards, click here, and to nominate for the Rising Stars programme, click here.

Karen Turton to co-host final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, open for bookings: Karen Turton, the founder of Purple Story and former operations director and regional director of Turtle Bay and Nando’s UK, will co-host the final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025. The all-day conference, also hosted by Propel group editor Mark Wingett, 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 next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality on Friday: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club subscribers on Friday (24 October), at midday. Another 99 companies have been added to the database, which now features 1,208 companies. This month’s edition will also include 181 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent developments reported as well as results, broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. 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.

Ex-Market Halls COO – ‘the UK's food hall industry continues to grow at pace’, ‘next year will see a continued regional shift’: Despite the intense pressures facing the wider hospitality sector, the UK's food hall industry continues to grow at pace, and while traditional restaurants and bars struggle to adapt to shifting consumer habits, food halls align perfectly with how people now socialise, eat and spend, according to Simon Anderson, co-founder of Next Phase and a leading expert in food halls. Writing in Premium Opinion, Hall said as of September 2025, there were 94 food halls operating across the UK, up from 73 last year, a 26% year-on-year increase. Across all multi-vendor operations, the total now stands at 139, up from 114 in 2024, a rise of 22%. A further 58 sites are currently in development, compared with 52 last year. He said: “This growth has come during one of the most turbulent periods for hospitality in living memory. Rising energy costs, wage inflation and an unsustainable tax burden have forced thousands of restaurants, pubs and bars to close. Yet food halls, once dismissed as a fad, have not only held their ground but continued to expand. In fact, only one food hall has closed in the past year, the Department in Sheffield (formerly Kommune). When set against the hundreds of restaurant and pub closures every month, that represents a remarkable level of resilience. While traditional restaurants and bars struggle to adapt to shifting consumer habits, food halls align perfectly with how people now socialise, eat and spend. Flexibility – vendors can rotate, test and adapt without huge capital investment. Community – shared, inclusive spaces that cut across generations and demographics. Experience – part meal, part event, part social hub. Efficiency – shared infrastructure lowers costs and spreads risk. Resilience – turnover-based rents align incentives and reward performance. What's particularly exciting is where this growth is happening. The first wave centred on London and major cities like Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds. The next is regional, regeneration-led and locally grounded. We're now seeing food halls embedded in mixed-use masterplans, heritage conversions and town-centre renewal projects. Developers are using hospitality as a regeneration tool, not an afterthought, recognising its ability to deliver both commercial viability and social value. The next year will see a continued regional shift, with new openings in smaller cities and market towns, greater collaboration between developers, councils and operators, and more hybrid venues that blend food, culture and community. The message from this year's data is clear: food halls are no longer the disruptors, they are the infrastructure.” 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.

Labour MPs call on government to do more for hospitality sector: A letter signed by 50 Labour MPs has called on the government to do more to help the hospitality sector, including a 5% cut in VAT, which they say would help with “stimulating demand, encouraging investment, and helping venues remain open”. The letter, which was organised by Emma Lewell MP, said the industry is facing a “stark” situation due to higher costs, including those foisted on firms under chancellor Rachel Reeves’ last Budget. MPs expressed concerns over 84,000 jobs lost in pubs and restaurants since the last Budget, writing that hospitality is “under acute pressure”. And they asked the chancellor to “scrap the proposed surcharge for larger venues”, which would see bills for large properties, including warehouses, big shops and hotels, increase. They also urged the chancellor to cut national insurance contributions to protect entry-level jobs, following the increase in last year’s Budget. The hospitality industry was hit by a £500m increase in business rates in April. Before the Budget, small businesses had called for a covid-era discount of 75% to be extended to give them some breathing space. But Labour reduced this to a 40% discount, capped at £110,000 per pub. Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, told the Daily Mail: “I'm pleased to see so many Labour MPs throw their weight behind our calls for action at the Budget, and I hope the government acts on our joint concerns. Lowering business rates through the maximum possible discount for smaller hospitality businesses and exempting larger properties from the surcharge should be a priority at the Budget, alongside fixing national insurance contributions and cutting VAT for hospitality.”

 

Rural pubs across UK to benefit from £440,000 of government funding to provide extra services: Rural pubs across the UK will benefit from new government funding of £440,000 to help them provide extra services for local communities. Projects will include creating community cafes, village stores, and play areas. The projects have been identified by Pub is The Hub – a non-profit organisation supporting local pubs to diversify their services. Its social value report spotlit more than 40 projects currently stuck in limbo due to a lack of funding. In response, the Department for Business and Trade has committed the funds to help Pub is The Hub deliver these projects. Pub is The Hub chief executive John Longden said: “Publicans with their individual pub businesses have a vital social role in supporting local communities and helping people to overcome social isolation and alleviate feelings of loneliness. They have a significant social value that is beyond economic impact.” Kate Dearden, minister for employment rights and consumer protection, said: “Rural pubs are hubs of their communities, and this government wants to support these vital community assets, creating jobs, supporting local economies, and providing residents with a place to socialise and come together.” Research by Pub is The Hub showed for every £1 invested in the provision of new services or activities, there is a return in social value of more than £8. So far, the organisation has supported hundreds of diversification projects and aims to help 1,000 more pubs over the next three years, creating 2,500 jobs and 1,600 services for more than one million residents. Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King and co-chair of the Licensing Taskforce, said: “Our pubs are more than bricks and mortar where people eat and drink – they are places where people come together for all occasions and celebrations, they offer local employment and careers for people of all ages and can help in tackling loneliness. Additional access to funding and less red tape is some welcome news.”

 

Greene King CEO Nick Mackenzie – ‘cafes and food delivery apps are pubs’ new rivals’: People swapping cask ales for cappuccinos or ordering a burger and a beer via Deliveroo rather than at their local are a new threat to pubs, according to Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of brewer and retailer Greene King. Mackenzie agreed there were other businesses fighting for consumers' money as a growing share of the population was not drinking alcohol. Speaking to the BBC's Big Boss Interview ahead of chancellor Rachel Reeves' Budget, he said: “People are choosing to go into coffee shops. They are part of that competitor set, as are delivery [apps].” But Mackenzie, whose business operates 2,700 sites, was quick to reiterate the special status that pubs hold in the UK, emphasising that “community” was as much a selling point as the beer, wine and spirits they sold. He added: “My experience – and certainly from my own family – I know young people are still out going to pubs and drinking, but we are also having to adapt to trends around well-being, trends towards low-and-no alcohol.” Mackenzie said the “coffee offer now is credible” across Greene King's venues as the industry as a whole adapts to an environment where customers come in to have just a coffee or a meal. He added: “Pubs are creating environments that now are much more comfortable rather than feeling like [being] sat in a dingy pub. Not all pubs are like that, I know.” Mackenzie said some of the company’s pubs were expanding into competitive socialising using electronic dart boards and shuffleboards to attract and maintain customers who are after an “elevated experience”. Mackenzie again said he was hoping for “no surprises” from the Budget and urged the government to follow through on its manifesto pledge to reform the “disproportionate” business rates system. “This industry pays more tax than others,” he added. A government spokesperson said: “We're cutting the cost of licensing, lowering business rates and helping more hospitality businesses offer pavement drinks and alfresco dining.” Last week, Mackenzie won the most inclusive group chief executive accolade at the WiHTL Inclusion In Awards while Unity, the company’s employee-led inclusion group that represents ethnic minorities and their allies, was awarded most impactful employee resource group. Unity chair Jasveer Banning was also recognised with a highly commended award for inclusion hero in hospitality, travel and leisure.

 

Fish and chips now seen as an ‘unaffordable luxury’: The price of takeaway fish and chips rose by 52% between July 2019 (when the average cost was £6.48) and July 2024 (£9.88), according to the Office for National Statistics – meaning they are now seen for many as an “unaffordable luxury”. The Telegraph reported a 2024 survey by KFE, a company selling frying ranges to chip shops across the country, found prices even higher – putting the average price across the country at £10.88 for a “regular” portion. The highest prices were, unsurprisingly, in London, where customers pay an average £22.50 for a 7oz-8oz piece of fish and 12oz of chips, while the cheapest were in West Yorkshire – £6.70 for a 6oz-7oz piece of fish and a “scoop” of chips. There are no figures yet for 2025, but every chip shop owner The Telegraph spoke to said they had increased their prices over the past 12 months. When asked about the biggest challenges they were currently facing, the business owners surveyed by KFE named rising costs as the top concern (36%), followed by difficulties in staff recruitment (25%) and the impact of VAT (21%). Nikki Williams, KFE’s sales director, argued customers need to be more realistic. “A lot of people feel nostalgic for the pocket-money prices they paid as kids,” he said. “They’re happy to pay £4.50 for a fancy coffee in a chain store. Add in a fancy flavoured syrup and a pastry and they’ll hand over a tenner without thinking about it. That’s because those things weren’t around when they were kids.” 

 

Licensing update: John Gaunt & Partners licensing solicitors has just published its latest licensing update. It includes a call for evidence on alcohol licensing reform. The window to provide evidence ends at midday on Thursday, 6 November. The full update can be accessed here.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a wholesale organisation that is seeking an operations manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will have overall responsibility for the smooth running of day-to-day operations, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and excellent customer service. The operations manager will manage a team across warehouse, transport, and logistics, across two multi-temperature warehouse sites.” The role is based in Blackburn, Lancashire, and offers a salary of up to £65,000. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com

 

Funbox Entertainment Invests £4m in new multi-level urban fun concept launching in south west London: Funbox Entertainment is to unveil its new Urban Fun concept in Kingston-upon-Thames, south west London, in December. Representing a £4m investment and the creation of 25 jobs, Urban Fun will see the transformation of a former Wilko site in Clarence Street. The venue will deliver a multi-experiential, cashless social playground designed for all ages, “a first-of-its-kind venue where guests can eat, drink, play and win under one roof”. The site will feature an extensive line-up of attractions including duck-pin bowling, augmented reality darts, nine-hole themed mini golf, Subsoccer football, axe throwing, curling lanes, American pool, and Neo shuffleboard. Guests will also be able to enjoy a 12-person private karaoke room and arcade. Urban Fun’s digital redemption system will allow players to win tickets, choose prizes online, and have them delivered directly to their door, which the company said was a world-first innovation in leisure entertainment. There will also be two bars, a premium food offering, and live sports shown across multiple screens. “Urban Fun Kingston is all about creating unforgettable moments for everyone,” said Matthew Deith, managing director of Funbox Entertainment. “There’s nowhere else like it where you’ll find this mix of entertainment, technology and hospitality all in one place. Kingston is just the start of our journey to bring next-level leisure experiences to town centres across the UK.”

 

Exclusive – Burger Boi signs deal with Morrisons to open sites within its stores: Premium smashed burger business Burger Boi has signed a deal with supermarket company Morrisons to open sites within its stores, Propel has learned. Burger Boi, which is inspired by California’s street food scene, said the move will bring the 15-strong business to a wider audience, experience and significantly expand its reach. The first store shall open later this year in Morrisons Manchester Piccadilly, followed by London openings including Morrisons Stratford. Burger Boi founder Surj Bassi said: “These new Burger Boi store launches within such a respected national retailer in Morrisons, marks a major milestone for us and we are very excited for our next phase of growth.” In June, Bassi told Propel that Burger Boi is eyeing the north next as it looks to accelerate its nationwide expansion. Burger Boi’s stores are mostly based mainly around the Midlands but it has moved south this year, making its London debut, in Dalston, and also opening in Luton. The business has so far not gone further north than Derby, but Bassi said Burger Boi was seeking franchise partners to grow across the north. Propel’s inaugural Franchisor Showcase, which will put the spotlight on ten up-and-coming food and beverage franchisors, takes place on Tuesday, 25 November at One Moorgate Place in London. This is a unique chance to explore exciting franchise opportunities. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Free places for operators and investors only are available by emailing kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com

 

The Papas Group acquires five-strong Whitbread package to kickstart JD Wetherspoon franchise partnership: The Papas Group, which last month signed a franchise agreement with JD Wetherspoon, has acquired a five-strong package of pubs from Whitbread to kickstart its plans to open 15 new Wetherspoon pubs, Propel has learned. The first pub opened under the new deal was The Hykeham Manor, located in Gateway Park, Lincoln, on the site of a former Brewers Fayre. A further four sites are set to open – The New Moor Farm in Annitsford, The Hollybush Seam in Emersons Green in Bristol, plus sites in Stockton-on-Tees and Barnsley. All five are ex-Beefeater or Brewers Fayre sites. At the same time, Propel understands The Papas Group has formed a new umbrella company – The Great British Pub Co – for the new venture. Wetherspoon currently has five pubs under franchise with holiday park company Haven, as well as franchise agreements with Newcastle and Hull universities, with a pub operating at each university. Wetherspoon also has a franchise agreement with Thompson Holdings, which operates a pub in the Isle of Man. The Papas Group was founded in 1966 and remains a family-owned business. It operates a number of casual dining and quick service restaurants in England and Scotland including the five-strong Papa’s Fish & Chips and was one of the first franchisees to open a Wendy’s when it returned to the UK in 2021. The Papas Group operates Wendy’s locations in Blackpool, Sheffield, Lincoln, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Hull and Newcastle. Last week, Whitbread said it had now sold 41 of its pub restaurant sites for a total consideration of £42m. At the end of April 2024, Whitbread, which operates the Beefeater, Bar + Block and Brewers Fayre brands, set out plans to exit 126 of its lower-returning branded restaurants as it seeks to optimise its food and beverage offer. The revamp, costing £500m over four years, also includes the conversion of 112 restaurants to 3,500 new hotel bedrooms. Noel Moffitt, of Christie & Co, is advising Whitbread on its pub restaurants disposal programme.

 

SushiDog secures debut regional site in Birmingham, seeing ‘incredible like-for-like sales growth’: Quick service sushi roll concept SushiDog is to open three new sites by the end of January, including its first regional opening, in Birmingham, with plans for three more sites by the end of next year, Propel has learned. The ten-strong SushiDog, which earlier this year secured a further £1.3m of funding from backer Middleton Enterprises, with plans to reach 40 sites in the next five years and build a national presence, will open in Brent Cross shopping centre, north west London, this week, King’s Cross in the capital in November, and Bullring Birmingham in January. The new Bullring Birmingham venue, located on the upper level of the shopping centre, will feature seating for up to 20 guests and a takeaway counter. Greg Ilsen, co-founder of SushiDog, said: “We've experienced incredible like-for-like sales growth across our estate in our most recent financial year, and that performance has continued along the same trajectory over the last two months. This is all while maintaining record customer net promoter scores and feedback scores, which is testament to the hard work and passion of our teams in-store. We look forward to our new site at Brent Cross shopping centre opening this week, which will mark the beginning of a string of new openings over the coming months.” Last month, the business told Propel that it was in the process of finalising negotiations on its first regional site with “details to be confirmed later in the year”. SushiDog said: “We’re looking to build out from London with satellite cities such as Cambridge, Oxford and Birmingham before expanding further afield. We still see significant expansion opportunities in London.” The company recently hired Charlie Warren as its new head of operations. Warren previously spent more than eight and a half years at Pizza Pilgrims, including three years as head of operations. 

 

Little Lion Entertainment signs deal to take Crystal Maze Live Experiences concept international: Little Lion Entertainment – the Edition Capital-backed business behind the Chaos Karts and Pac-Man Live Experience – is to take its Crystal Maze Live Experiences concept overseas, starting with a flagship site in Dubai. It follows the signing of a ten-year international rights extension with Banijay, the global content platform behind The Crystal Maze IP, with the company saying it “represents one of the most significant collaborations in the immersive entertainment industry”. The company said: “Little Lion Entertainment’s UK venues in London and Manchester have attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors. Its expansion into the UAE builds on this success and positions The Crystal Maze at the forefront of the Middle East's rapidly growing entertainment industry.” Tom Lionetti-Maguire, founder and chief executive of Little Lion Entertainment, said: “Since opening in April 2016, the Crystal Maze Live Experience has been a phenomenon in the UK, and the energy and passion from our guests has been nothing short of extraordinary. Now, we're thrilled to bring the magic, mayhem, and unforgettable excitement of the Crystal Maze to new audiences in Dubai and beyond. This isn't just an expansion – it's the beginning of a global adventure. Our new flagship venue will capture everything fans love about the original show while pushing the boundaries of what's possible in immersive entertainment. We're reimagining the Crystal Maze experience for the next generation.” In August, the company announced plans to open three new Arcade Arenas across the UK in the next 12 months after securing a “substantial” new funding package. Little Lion Entertainment said the multimillion-pound loan facility from HSBC will enable it to accelerate its UK expansion plans. Two of the new Arcade Arenas will be based in London, with one in west London set to open later in 2025, and a flagship site scheduled to open in 2026 in a prime central location. A third venue is planned for northern England. For the year ending 31 December 2024, the group saw turnover increase 7.3% to £6,512,872 for the year ending 31 December 2024 compared with £6,070,004 the previous year while pre-tax losses grew to £762,707 from £336,353 the year before.

Gaucho cuts waiters’ share of service charge: Gaucho has cut the share of the service charge its waiters receive, using some of the funds to bump up the pay package of head office workers. A letter to workers seen by the Guardian said existing waiters would now receive between 25.45% and 29.4% of the service charge collected at tables they have served, depending on length of service, down from 37% previously – already a reduction from 45% early last year. Bar staff will get 17% of the service charge, down from 20%. Newly employed waiters will receive 17%, according to a letter from Gaucho’s troncmaster. Staff said they feared all waiters’ shares of the service charge would drop to that level in the new year, placing every worker on a similar level. Gaucho’s troncmaster, a company called WMT Troncmaster, wrote in a letter to employees the service charge would now be shared with “staff located at non-public places of business such as head office and central production units”. This may also include staff working at Gaucho restaurants who are provided by an agency but who are not directly employed. The letter said: “The Troncmaster strongly believes service charges are paid by customers in respect of their whole experience, and all team members who play a part and impact on that experience should participate in, and receive a share of, the tronc funds.” A Gaucho spokesperson said: “The new tronc distribution has been set by the independent troncmaster following industry benchmarking across our Gaucho employees. The new distribution takes into consideration all our front and back-of-house colleagues. It is an equitable solution. The employee costs borne by the Gaucho business remain as before and the business itself does not benefit in any way from the amended tronc system.” Gaucho said its new system is fully compliant with the law.

 

Big Easy hires Jaclyn Evans as COO: Big Easy, the London barbecue concept, has hired Jacyln Evans as its new chief operating officer. Evans joins the five-strong company after a year as director of business development at Levy, the sports and entertainment caterer. Previous to that she spent just over two years as director of business development at Entegra Europe, the business performance and procurement services company. This summer, Big Easy reported its turnover increased to a record £26,800,000 for the year ending 28 July 2024 compared with £18,566,312 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was up to £976,655 from £43,618 the year before. Big Easy operates four sites in London and one at the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent and employs circa 400 staff.

 

The Restaurant Group defends cutting the number of vegan dishes at Wagamama: Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group (TRG), has defended the decision to cut a number of vegan dishes from the menu of its Wagamama business. Chief Dishes removed include the “Vegatsu”, a vegan version of the Wagamama Katsu curry, which launched in 2018, made from soya protein and tofu instead of chicken. Wagamama’s new menu places a greater emphasis on customers being able to build their own meals by selecting different ingredients. The Sunday Times reported that Andy Hornby, chief executive of TRG, has defended the move, arguing the dishes simply didn’t tempt enough diners. “There’s no strategic change,” he insisted, saying the brand was “following customer behaviour”. Hornby claimed the menu had kept its vegan credentials. “I don’t think you will find another classic quality casual dining brand with a vegan range as broad as this,” he said. “In each core category we have tried to make sure we have not just got a vegan option but a leading vegan option, so the amount of vegan sales goes up rather than down.” In October 2021, Wagamama was the first mainstream restaurant in the UK to make half its menu “plant based”. Wagamama confirmed 39% of the menu is now vegan. A Wagamama spokesperson said: “All of our most popular vegan dishes remain on the menu, with our top five vegan dishes accounting for 78% of all vegan sales, and we’ll keep developing new and exciting plant-based dishes as part of future menu updates.”

Japanese souffle pancake concept Fuwa Fuwa closes both regional sites: Fuwa Fuwa, which serves up Japanese souffle pancake with a variety of sweet toppings, has shuttered both its regional sites. The company, which operates four sites in London, has closed its sites in Windsor’s Windsor Royal shopping centre and in the Golden Cross shopping centre in Oxford. The Windsor site was the business’ debut regional launch when it opened last June. The Oxford site opened last October. Fuwa Fuwa opened its debut site in 2017 in London’s Bloomsbury, which has since closed, but has launched outlets in Soho, Kingston, Westfield Stratford and Ealing Broadway in the capital. Earlier this year it was announced that the business would open a further site in Spitalfields, but as yet that site hasn’t opened. Fuwa Fuwa, meaning “light and fluffy” in Japanese, also sells iced milk tea, matcha latte and a variety of tea alongside the pancakes.

 

Nightcap to trial new La Familia concept in London’s Soho: Nightcap – the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and the Barrio Familia group of bars, is to trial a new taqueria and cocktail bar concept in London’s Soho. The Sarah Willingham-led business is to trial the concept called La Familia, on its Barrio Bar site in Poland Street, with an opening set for next month. The company said: “La Familia is where Soho comes to eat, drink, and let loose. Upstairs, we will serve a rustic, fast-casual taqueria experience – a small but mighty menu of tacos, quesadillas, elotes, and fresh chips and guacamole. Drinks are all about authentic Mexican flavours – from Mexican Coke and Jarritos to freshly made aguas frescas and laid-back margaritas. Hidden beneath the taqueria will be a Latin-inspired speakeasy cocktail bar offering elevated cocktails, mezcals, and a soundtrack of Latin disco and hip-hop. La Familia blends Mexican modernism, bold colours, and street-party vibes.” Nightcap acquired the Barrio Familia bar group for £4.9m in November 2021. The deal includes four Latin American-inspired cocktail bars in London trading under the Barrio concept, and the 1960s themed cocktail bar Disrepute in Soho’s Kingly Court. Nightcap said at the time that the Barrio concept had “significant UK rollout potential” and the deal was based on a growing demand for tequila-based drinks. A regional debut site opened in Watford in 2022, but closed nine months later, while Barrio sites in Angel and Brixton were also subsequently closed. The business currently operates a further Barrio site in Shoreditch.

 

Brew York hires new chairman, plans further openings next year: Brew York, the York craft brewer and operator, has hired Geoff Hodgson as its new chairman, which is said underlined its ambitions to expand the geographical reach of its beer and extend its growing portfolio of sites. The company, which recently announced several major UK supermarket listings including Asda, Morrisons and Co-op, has a portfolio of nine locations in Yorkshire, representing both its Brew York and Brew+ concepts. Brew York has already opened four new venues in 2025: the Old Grey Mare in Clifton, York; Brew+Bao in Chapel Allerton; Brew+Bao in Scarborough; and Towers Tap Room in Carlton – and said it had “a few more venues to launch in early 2026”. The company said Hodgson brings decades of executive and non-executive level experience with businesses including The Inn Collection, Federation Brewery, Newcastle Breweries, Northumbria Taverns and Wear Inns. He will work with Brew York founders Wayne Smith and Lee Grabham, as well as the senior management team, as the company approaches its ten-year anniversary. Smith said: “To have someone of Geoff’s calibre on the Brew York team – with the years of experience and success he brings – is immense. We’re excited to welcome him and are already enjoying the new dynamic we have.” Hodgson said: “Brew York are in a great position in the market due to the hard work and dedication of Lee and Wayne and I’m relishing the challenge of helping them maximise the opportunities they’ve created as they move into their next phase of growth.” Last year the business acquired three pubs from Market Town Taverns.

 

Starbucks opens coffee house in Cambridge featuring new design: Starbucks has opened a new coffee house in Cambridge featuring the brand’s updated design. The 2,000 square-foot outlet has launched at the entrance to Cambridge Retail Park in Newmarket Road after the brand agreed a deal with landlord Railpen. The outlet also includes a landscaped café garden with a children’s play area. In July, Starbucks unveiled its new coffee house design and last month, the brand said early results show customers are “staying longer, visiting more often, and sharing positive feedback”. The new look coffee houses are one of a series of initiatives introduced by chief executive Brian Niccol to help turnaround the business, including a slimmed-down menu, the return of handwriting on cups and a new refill policy.

 

Sushi bar concept Little Lotus to open in Manchester for seventh site: Sushi bar concept Little Lotus is to open its seventh site. The company will open in the former Vegan Shack unit at One Piccadilly Gardens, in Manchester, before the end of the year. This spring, the business, which is led by Gemma Booth, opened at the Merrion Centre in Leeds. Little Lotus currently also operates sites in Bradford, Chelmsford, Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield. The company said: “We are proud that all our food is freshly prepared in our own kitchen each morning. Our trained sushi chef starts early and you will see him there each morning preparing for lunch. We use local suppliers for meat, fish and veggies and specialist Japanese importers for some ingredients to ensure our food is authentic.”

 

McDonald’s to add international range to menu: McDonald's is planning to make a major shake-up to its menu from Wednesday (22 October) as 17 new items come to sites, in a move the company has called its "boldest international menu yet”. McDonald’s has revealed it will be dropping a range of customers favourite items from across the globe in UK stores. As part of the change, McDonald's fans will be able to try iconic items from Canada, Japan, Australia, Malaysia and beyond in UK stores for a limited time. The brand’s “World Menu Heist” items will including the maple barbecue and bacon Double Quarter Pounder from Canada and garlic and black pepper McNuggets from Japan. Other items will include mac ‘n’ cheese triangles from the United Arab Emirates, sour cream and black pepper McShaker fries from Poland as well as the pineapple McSpicy from Australia.

 

New Pitcher & Piano to open in Harrogate this week – in unusual circumstances: A new Pitcher & Piano is to open this Wednesday (22 October) in slightly unusual circumstances. Pitcher & Piano is owned by Marston’s and currently operates four sites – Birmingham, Newcastle, Nottingham and London’s Cornhill. Some of the former Pitcher & Piano sites have been de-branded or sold off, with the likes of Loungers taking them on – a Cosy Club in Sheffield, and Ritorno Lounge in Bristol Harbourside. A new site will open in Harrogate. On Friday, Propel’s Premium service Diary noted: “The Justin Platt-led Marston’s is set to bring Pitcher & Piano back to the town’s John Street unit that was previously its home until it was closed in November 2023. The site was taken over by the Harewood Group and became Harrogate’s first Irish pub when it opened as The Four Leaf in March last year. Last month, the Four Leaf announced it would leave the site and had signed a ‘heads of agreement’ to take over the Foundry site in Ginnell, Harrogate.” Diary added: “So, can we expect more Pitcher & Piano openings? Diary understands this is very much a one off.” 

 

Norfolk brewer Woodforde’s hires new CEO: Norfolk brewer Woodforde’s has hired Paul Sullivan as its new chief executive. Woodforde’s said Sullivan brings extensive experience in the drinks industry, having held senior leadership roles across both beer and spirits. His career includes positions at Wadworth, Hopback Brewery, and most recently managing director at 6 O’clock Gin. Sullivan succeeds Joe Parks, who is stepping down following a tenure that included seeing Woodforde’s expand its product range with the launch of New World Brewing, the company’s craft-focused line. Sullivan said: “I look forward to working with the team to build on the company’s legacy, drive future growth, and continue to deliver great beer that reflects both tradition and innovation.”

 

Scottish operator Blue Lagoon plans first opening in England: Scottish fish and chip restaurant business Blue Lagoon is planning to launch its first site in England. Blue Lagoon is looking to convert a shop in Newcastle city centre, taking over part of 4 Newgate Street, specifically unused floorspace adjoining Chilliflames Afro-Portuguese restaurant, and 77 Grainger Street. A letter from Blue Lagoon director Simone Varese outlines how the third-generation family business was started by his grandfather Ersilio Varese in 1975 with the first branch opening in Glasgow city centre. Blue Lagoon marked 50 years of trading this year and now has 16 branches throughout West Central Scotland. Varese said: “It has been a long term ambition of ours to take the next big step and open our first branch within one of England’s most prominent and vibrant cities. Having personally carried out our due-diligence process in Newcastle over the last eight years, I firmly believe the city, and this location specifically, fits our requirements perfectly – not least because I believe there are so many similarities between our home city of Glasgow and Newcastle. Should we receive the required approval on our planning application, we would then proceed with the £2m project employing circa 30 employees whilst also in my opinion greatly enhancing the location from how it looks currently.”

 

Free-of-tie lease offered on Belvoir Castle estate pub: A new free-of-tie lease is being offered on The Manners Arms pub on the Belvoir Castle estate, in the Leicestershire village of Knipton. The Duchess of Rutland said: “This 1880s hunting lodge has been refurbished, preserving its historic charm, while introducing a modern bar, dining room, and ten en-suite bedrooms.” The sale process is being managed by Jonty Green and Matt Hill, of Christie & Co.