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Mitchells & Butlers CFO to step down, to be replaced by Marks & Spencer’s Emma Harris: Tim Jones is to step down as chief financial officer of Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the Toby Carvery, All Bar One and Harvester operator. A company statement said that after 15 years of “outstanding service”, Jones, who is also an executive director, “indicated to the board earlier this year that he was contemplating retiring from full time work and stepping down from his role with the business”. Jones joined the company in 2010 and has “played a pivotal role in developing M&B into the sector leading business that it is today, while notably overseeing the strengthening of the balance sheet and navigating the severe challenges presented by the covid-19 pandemic and ensuing sector disruption and cost inflation”. The company said that following a rigorous search and selection process, Emma Harris, currently finance director – food at Marks and Spencer Group, has been selected to succeed him. It has not yet been confirmed when Harris will be formally appointed, but Jones has committed to remain in his current role until such time that a full and complete handover can be achieved. This is currently expected to take place in the early summer of 2026. Harris will bring extensive experience from working in a variety of senior roles in major consumer focused retail businesses in the UK, with a track record of creating shareholder value through partnering, commerciality and critical thinking. M&B chair Bob Ivell said: “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Tim for his exceptional contribution to the success of M&B over a 15-year period. His financial leadership, professionalism and engagement, particularly during the extremely challenging and volatile conditions the sector has experienced in the past few years, has been a key factor in positioning us strongly for future success. We wish him all the very best in his retirement. We are delighted that, after a wide-ranging thorough search, Emma will be succeeding Tim, and we look forward to welcoming her into the business. Emma has demonstrated a strong track record leading finance teams in a wide variety of roles within Asda, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Marks and Spencer, all very successful retail businesses, and we look forward to working with her to capitalise on our strong competitive and financial position to continue to build value into the future.” M&B chief executive Phil Urban added: “Tim has been a valued right-hand to me through the last ten years and I am very grateful for the support he has always given to me. Although I will be sorry to see him go, he has more than earned his retirement and leaves a business that is now in a very strong financial position. I now look forward to working with Emma, who I believe is a perfect cultural fit for M&B, and who will build on the foundations that Tim has created, bringing with her a wealth of retail expertise and experience which will add further value to our business.” Last month, M&B reported like-for-like sales were up 4.2% for the 51 weeks ending 20 September 2025 and said it has maintained its outperformance against the market. The company said it had seen “robust performances in mid-market pub and pub restaurants balanced against slightly weaker sales in London within the M25 and in more premium businesses”. It said total sales for the year to date are up 3.9%, with like-for-like food sales up 4.1% and drink sales by 4.0%. Like-for-like sales were up 3.1% in its fourth quarter compared with last year. Drink like-for-like sales were up 1.9% in the quarter, while food like-for-like sales rose 4.1%.

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality tomorrow: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club subscribers tomorrow (Friday, 24 October), at midday. Another 100 companies have been added to the database, which now features 1,209 companies. This month’s edition will also include 185 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.

MD of bubble tea brand Cupp to step down: The managing director of bubble tea brand Cupp, which has circa 40 locations across the UK, is to step down. Paul Tanner, who joined the business as head of franchise UK in May 2022, was promoted to managing director in September 2023. He was previously a franchise manager and an area manager for Warren Bakery, and an area manager with Hana Group. On being promoted two years ago, Cupp said as head of franchise, Tanner had overseen a period of rapid growth for the brand to circa 33 stores. Tanner said: “After an amazing four years with Cupp, I made the decision a few months ago that it was time for a new chapter. It’s been an unforgettable journey growing a brand, building teams, and launching new ideas. All of which I’m hugely proud of. Some might call it crazy, but I like to think of it as brave. I’m ready to step into something new, bringing my experience in brand growth, strategy, and leadership with me. Like Mary Poppins (minus the flying part), I’m looking forward to dropping into my next challenge to help a great business and team grow and succeed. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built at Cupp, the team around me, and the direction it’s heading. But I’m equally excited about what’s still to come in my own journey, the ideas, the risks and the unknowns that keep things exciting.” Cupp, which is aiming to grow to 50 locations by the end of 2025, launched a new Express format earlier this year. These will take the form of grab-and-go tea stations that fit into locations from service stations, gyms and convenience stores to restaurants, theme parks and holiday parks. The business also secured a deal for its first international locations in March, with a development deal in Hyderabad, India.

Nelson Hotels & Inns reports turnover and profit boost: Cheshire hotel and gastropub group Nelson Hotels & Inns has reported a turnover and profit boost for the year to 30 September 2024. The company, which operates five sites across the region, saw its turnover grow from £15,836,630 in 2023 to £16,982,341 in the period. Its pre-tax profit was up from £1,674,308 in 2023 to £2,008,737. Average monthly employee numbers rose from 259 to 343. Dividends of £250,000 were paid, the same as in 2023.

Zip World plans to build zipwire straddling London river: Adventure tourism operator Zip World, which was acquired at the start of the year by private equity firm Dolphin Capital in a deal worth £100m, is planning to build zipwire straddling a London river. Zip World took over operations of the ArcelorMittal Orbit, at London’s Olympic Park, last September, promising to transform it into a “European first-of-its-kind adventure”. It has now proposed attaching a zipwire to the structure, reports Time Out, with the planning application saying the new ride would be a switchback zipwire. The zipwire would span 440 metres and zoom over the main walkway that sports and music fans take into the London Stadium. At 114.5 metres, the Orbit is the tallest sculpture in the UK and is Britain's largest piece of public art. The new attraction will need permission from Tower Hamlets and Newham councils because the line will cross the River Lea and stretch across both boroughs – the Orbit is in Newham while the 39-metre return tower would be in Tower Hamlets. Plans from Zip World say the zipline would “offer a unique and exhilarating experience” and would bring in an estimated 60,000 extra visitors each year. Plans submitted to both councils also say that Zip World plans to install a “gravity descender” attraction on the tower. Earlier this month, Zip World reported that its turnover and Ebitda in the 12 months to 31 December 2024 declined by 17.6%, and 5% on the prior year, respectively, as the business was impacted by the “increasingly challenging economic landscape in the UK”. The company, which operates eight locations across Wales and England, saw revenue fall to £26,027,390 (2023: £27,412,371), while Ebitda before exceptional charges was £7,893,000 (2023: £9,579,000). Pre-tax loss for the period stood at £3,225,621 (2023: loss of £3,745,182). Zip World said rider numbers also decreased by 38,000 (8%) compared with the prior year, which is consistent with the decrease in turnover.