Flat September for hospitality sales but pubs continue outperformance as crucial final quarter starts: Britain’s top managed restaurant, pub and bar groups delivered like-for-like sales growth of 0.2% in September, according to the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker. It is a second period of fractional growth in a row after a 0.5% increase in August, and only the fourth positive month since the start of 2025. But while the figures suggest many consumers remain cautious with their spending ahead of the run-up to Christmas and new year, there are grounds for cautious optimism as the festive season nears. Total sales, including at venues opened by groups in the last 12 months, were up by 3.4%, which is only marginally below the UK’s current rate of inflation. Meanwhile, the Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ indicates stability in Britain’s number of licensed premises after a sustained run of post-covid closures. The latest Hospitality Business Tracker, produced by CGA by NIQ in association with RSM, also highlights positive trends in Britain’s managed pub sector. Like-for-like pub sales in September were 1.9% ahead of the same month in 2024, while restaurants were down 0.7%. It means pubs have outperformed the sector as a whole in every month of 2025 so far – partly because some consumers are opting for drinks out rather than meals. Pubs’ beer and cider sales were also boosted by dry and bright weather in many parts of the country in September, as well as the start of university terms. In other tracker segments, bars’ sales were down by 6.8% from September 2024, while the on-the-go segment was 3.7% behind. For only the third month this year, hospitality operators achieved stronger growth in London than elsewhere in the country. Like-for-like sales within the M25 were 0.7% ahead year-on-year, compared with 0.1% outside of the M25. This modest revival may reflect the steady return of office workers to the capital after a sustained period of working from home during the covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Since the end of September, trading in many parts of the country has been weakened by Storm Amy. Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said: “September’s sales were nothing to write home about, but they do at least represent stability after a turbulent year for hospitality. Conditions are currently significantly better for pub groups, which can look ahead to Christmas and new year trading with some confidence, but restaurant and bar trends give more cause for concern. Whatever their sector, business leaders and investors will be able to look forward with much more confidence if they get the targeted and sustained support they deserve in the November Budget.”

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality today: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club subscribers today (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. In this week’s Premium Opinion, Wingett looks at the Karali Group’s deal for Cote, how it got to a solvent deal when the odds seemed against it, the other suitors, actions taken already to inject momentum into the business, and where it goes from here. He also looks at the cult of nostalgia and its impact on the continued demise of Pizza Hut. 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.

 

Sainsbury's launches new ‘premium tier’ restaurant-quality meal range: Supermarket company Sainsbury’s has launched a new “premium tier” ready meal range, named Taste the Difference Discovery. The new range features 50 curated products with a focus on restaurant-quality food, and it has been launched to celebrate 25 years of the brand’s Taste the Difference range. The Yorkshire Post repors the Taste the Difference Discovery will include the likes of British wagyu, Aberdeen Angus steaks, modern classics, modern Indian ready meals, artisanal meat and cheese, as well as a selection of wine and spirits. Sainsbury’s is offering a deal within the new range, which is named the Discovery Dine in Deal with Nectar Prices. The deal offers a main and a side for two people, priced at £10 for modern classics or £15 for modern Indian. James Campbell, Sainsbury’s director of product and innovation, said: “Elevating every meal with delicious, quality produce and dishes at great value has been at the heart of Taste the Difference for 25 years. That's why our new Discovery ranges are designed to effortlessly level up at-home dining.” Earlier this month, entrepreneur Charlie Bigham launched a range of ready meals priced at under £30, which he said had been motivated by the rising cost of eating in restaurants. The entrepreneur’s new “Brasserie” range is in certain Waitrose branches and offers shoppers the chance to pay £29.95 for pre-prepared beef wellington, £19.95 for a salmon wellington and £16.95 for Coq au Vin, duck confit and venison bourguignon.

 

Hugh Osmond – Pizza Hut closures ‘a bellwether for what’s happening in the restaurant industry’: Serial sector investor Hugh Osmond has said that the problems at Pizza Hut, which this week closed 68 restaurant sites after being put into administration, was “a bellwether for what’s happening in the restaurant industry”. DC London Pie, the company running Pizza Hut’s UK restaurants under a franchise deal, appointed administrators from FTI earlier this week. The US company Yum! Brands, which owns the global Pizza Hut business as well as KFC and Taco Bell, subsequently bought the UK restaurant operation in a pre-pack administration deal, saving 64 sites and securing the future of 1,276 workers. Those sites will be owned directly by Yum. Osmond told The Telegraph that Labour’s tax raid on businesses has not made things easier. He said Pizza Hut was not a “canary in the coal mine”. He said: “It’s beyond that – Pizza Hut is really a bellwether for what’s happening in the restaurant industry. If you just walk along the high street, you can see the number of places going out of business.” Fellow serial sector investor Luke Johnson, who was once a suitor for Pizza Hut in 2011, said that what the brand is selling is simply “not what people’s tastes are any more”, and “that’s been apparent for a very long time”. He said: “I think the product is out of date and the offering is tired. People are eating more pizza than ever, but I think they want a better product, better ingredients – arguably a more authentic pizza.” Former PizzaExpress chief executive David Page said the market is very different to the one Pizza Hut entered in the 1970s. He said: “Customers are going to Wingstop, they’re buying chicken and burgers, all those things that weren’t around when Pizza Hut started.” Page said PizzaExpress never really saw Pizza Hut as a true threat. “For us, Pizza Hut was not the competition,” he said. “We didn’t think its product was as good. We thought its lighting was too bright, its interior all plastic, and its stores were in high street shops.”

YouGov – dining out ‘under pressure’ as Britons cut back due to price rises: Rising prices are the main reason British diners are eating out less, according to new YouGov data. According to the poll of 2,000 people, 38% said they are visiting restaurants and other eateries less often than a year ago. Among those cutting back, 63% cited higher costs as the main reason to dine out less frequently. Despite this downturn, more than two in five are still choosing to eat out at least once a month, while 8% of people said they never do. Nearly half said they have altered their dining preferences with a view to saving money. Of these, three in five said they are choosing cheaper restaurants, while 52% said they order fewer items. Sarika Rana, the director of consumer research at the polling and market research company, said dining out was “under pressure”. She told The Guardian: “This represents an opportunity for more economic dining options – 59% of those surveyed who have altered their dining preferences said they are opting for cheaper restaurants.” The survey also found social media is the leading way consumers find restaurant deals, particularly among younger restaurant-goers, with 36% of people hearing about restaurant promotions this way.

 

New proposals to pedestrianise London’s Soho unveiled: Architects John Lacey and Russell Potter have put forward proposals to close key streets in London’s Soho off to cars for good, in a move to prioritise people. The Standard reports that under the plans, which are currently in consultation with Westminster Council, some of Soho’s key streets would be permanently closed to cars, with essential services given time-based vehicle access. Old Compton Street would be the starting point, with deliveries, services and street cleaning to take place between 7am and 11am, as with Kingly Street. Greek Street is another street earmarked for pedestrianisation. The plans also propose introducing shared surfaces – where pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles are integrated without traditional separation – and improved street lighting. As shown during the pandemic, the architects argued that Soho’s businesses will benefit from increased footfall, helping to preserve the shops, restaurants and nightlife that have created the area’s rich cultural heritage. Rupert Power, owner of Sophie’s Steakhouse, said: “This is a positive step forward for Soho. Giving the streets to pedestrians will not only benefit the residents and visitors, but a much needed boost for the many independent businesses that make Soho unique and special. Soho has constantly evolved and could be a leading example of future urban living and working.”

Retail and hospitality wage growth hit as UK employers offset tax rise: UK workers’ pay in retail and hospitality grew more slowly than in other sectors last year as employers sought to offset big increases in payroll taxes and the hourly minimum wage. The FT reports that weekly full-time earnings were 3.8% higher in the retail sector in April 2025 than in the same month of 2024, and 3.9% higher in accommodation and foodservice, data published by the Office for National Statistics showed. Across all sectors, median weekly earnings of £766.60 for full-time employees were 5.3% higher than a year earlier, and 1.1% higher after accounting for inflation. The minimum wage rose 6.7% in April, and at an even faster pace for employees under 21. The data suggests employers in retail and hospitality, which were among the sectors hardest hit by April’s rise in employers’ national insurance contributions, took tough action to contain labour costs before the tax rise took effect – not only by cutting headcount, as separate jobs data has already shown, but also by reducing workers’ hours and squeezing pay for staff higher up the scale. Weekly hours fell 2% in retail and accommodation between 2024 and 2025, and by 3.8% in foodservice.

 

Chaiiwala – investment partnership has been ‘phenomenal’, seen good momentum in breakfast and lunch, opens new Birmingham site: Indian street food brand Chaiiwala has told Propel its partnership with family investment firm Lote Global has been “phenomenal” for the business. Chaiiwala partnered with Lote in October 2023 as part of a plan to accelerate its domestic and international expansion to 500 stores – which has since been revised to 500 in the UK alone and many more overseas. Chaiiwala chief financial officer Abdul Piranie said: “We’re well capitalised in terms of cashflow and being able to invest so we’re not currently looking for any further investment. It’s been a phenomenal partnership with Lote and enhanced our ability to do more business. We don’t take on debt, so it can sometimes take longer to get to where we want to be, but we have a good balance sheet and cashflow.” Piranie said Chaiiwala is showing growth across all dayparts. He said: “Because we have an average transaction value that’s not going to break the bank, it allows people to use us at multiple times during the day. We’ve seen good momentum and strength in our breakfast and lunch offer, and in the evenings, we’ve elevated our dessert offer. The ambience and price point means we’ve become more and more accessible.” Chaiiwala’s growth to circa 130 sites globally has been through many different formats – and the last few years has seen it launch into drive-thrus, airports and university campuses – but Piranie said there are still opportunities to tread new ground. He said: “We have a prototype for what we would do in hospitals, and we are in conversations at the moment to look at that proposal.” Piranie also said Chaiiwala is also open to launching new company-owned sites. He said: “We currently own about 10% of the estate. What we like to do, ideally, is when we have a new channel, try to do it ourselves first, get a feel for it on the ground and get immediate feedback. We’re always looking at growing our equity portion too, there’s no hard and fast 10% rule. If it's good for the business, we’ll always do it.” As for his hopes from next month’s Budget, Piranie added: “It's got to be business-friendly, especially for growing brands like ours. When we go abroad, we’re always shouting about being a British brand growing out of Leicester, and we’re proud of our heritage. I think it’s important that the Budget facilitates growth for business that have grown here and are growing abroad.” It comes as Chaiiwala this week opened a new café in Birmingham – at 46 Cape Hill in Smethwick.

Exclusive – Urban Village Pubs commences strategic review: Urban Village Pubs has begun a strategic review of its business, as it looks to secure a “liquidity event” for investors in the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). The business, led by founders Gavin Drew and Ian Grundy, supported by non-executive chairman Rufus Hall and backed by Rockpool Investments LLP, currently has ten sites – in Abingdon, Leytonstone, Oxford (two sites), Portsmouth, Southsea, Walton-on-Thames, Southampton, Towcester and Walthamstow. The company, which was founded in 2017, returned to the expansion trail last November with the acquisition of two pubs in Oxford. It acquired The Victoria, where the company took a new free-of-tie lease from Red Oak Taverns, and the Big Society in the city’s Cowley Road, an assignment of a long free-of-tie lease, from Oxford’s Oriel College. Ed Sandall, director in the licensed leisure team at Savills, which is advising Urban Village on its strategic review, said: “The Urban Village platform is well-positioned to deal with the current sector challenges, with more than 74% of sales being drawn from wet sales, a controlled labour model, and a well-invested estate. We are very much looking forward to working with Urban Village Pub Company on this instruction, which represents an exciting opportunity for an investor to participate in a profitable platform, with a proven concept and an experienced team to roll out into other similar catchments.”

 

Midlands Nashville hot chicken concept launches franchise programme and targets 100-plus locations in key locations across the UK: Midlands Nashville hot chicken concept Hotville has launched a franchise programme and targeted 100-plus locations in key locations across the UK. Hotville was founded in 2021 by two sets of brothers – Usman and Umair Ganny and Mohamed and Naushadali Rajani – and has grown to three locations in Leicester and one each in Birmingham and Nottingham. The company has partnered with whichfranchise to seek single and multi-unit partners for packages, which range from £80,000 to £300,000 in start-up costs depending on model. These are kiosk/food truck, small takeaway/food court, small restaurant/takeaway and XL dine in. “Hotville was the first Nashville halal concept that specialised in Nashville style chicken in the UK,” Usman Ganny told whichfranchise. “It is our aim to develop Hotville nationally and internationally by creating a fun, friendly service with great tasting fresh flavours to bring people together from all cultures, ages and backgrounds. Hotville is poised for significant expansion, with plans to open new stores across the Midlands and beyond. We are focusing on key locations throughout the UK, including major cities, towns, shopping centres, food courts, street food vendors, airports and train stations. Our ambition is to drive the brand’s growth without limitations, with the goal of reaching 100-plus locations across the UK. Our franchise model offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to be part of a rapidly growing brand with a proven track record of success. A key factor in Hotville’s growth has been the establishment of strong partnerships with third-party delivery platform providers. We work closely with these partners to optimise sales and build a loyal customer base.” 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.

State of Play Hospitality hires new CFO and CMO: State of Play Hospitality, the international experiential leisure operator, has strengthened its management team after hiring Sergey Zinger as its new chief financial officer and Meg Parker as chief marketing officer. The business, which operates Hijingo and the three-strong Bounce in London, and Flight Club in North America under licence, said the new appointments come as it looks to “step up the pace of growth in North America”. Zinger spent five years at Tatte Bakery & Café, including two and a half years as its chief financial officer. He also spent four years at Panera Bread, including 20 months as its director of financial planning. Parker previously served as Area15’s chief marketing and communications officer for five and a half years. She also previously worked for Hollywood Public Relations, Puma and Estee Lauder. State of Play Hospitality chief executive Toby Harris said: “State of Play is beginning an exciting new chapter as we step up the pace of growth in North America, and I’m delighted that Meg and Sergey have joined the team. They are both outstanding leaders with a wealth of relevant experience, and their arrival is a testament to the quality of the business and the size of the opportunity for us. While we continue to plot our growth thoughtfully, I have no doubt that Meg and Sergey’s arrival will enable us both to optimise the experience for our guests and the journey ahead for the State of Play platform.” In partnership with Red Engine, Flight Club’s brand owner, State of Play launched the first US Flight Club in Chicago in 2018. Since then, State of Play has taken the concept to Boston, Houston, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Denver, Washington DC, St Louis and Philadelphia, with venues set to open in Cincinnati, New York, Dallas, and Seattle before mid-2026. In June, Harris told Propel that State of Play continued to see strong trading in the US, but the UK market remained “tough” and, in his view, could lead to some consolidation in the sector. It came after the business secured a new $32.5m (£24.1m) debt facility to support its further growth and reported group revenue for the year to March 2025 neared $60m.

BVC Hospitality launches international debut site for Supernova concept, opens third UK site: BVC Hospitality, the company behind North Audley Cantine, Crème and 74 Duke, has opened a debut site for its Supernova smashburger concept, in Saudi Arabia. The company has opened a site in Riyadh Hub, An Nakheel. It comes as the business has opened a third Supernova site in London, in Mayfair. The business has opened on the former Saltie Girl site in North Audley Street, for what is the concept’s biggest site to date. The company opened the first Supernova in London’s Soho in autumn 2023. Earlier this year, it opened a further location, on the former Big Fernand site at 39 Thurloe Place, in South Kensington. Earlier this summer, BVC Hospitality opened 74 Duke, a Parisian brasserie offering all-day dining in the 3,250 square-foot former Spaghetti House site in Duke Street. Adam Bowers, of onepoint2, acted on the Supernova deals.

 

Chinese noodle concept Liu Xiaomian seeking further permanent locations and planning expansion outside of London: Liu Xiaomian, the concept from Charlene and Linda Liu, has told Propel it is seeking further permanent locations and is also planning expansion outside of London. After moving to London in 2014, the duo founded Liu Xiaomian in 2017, first through a stall at Brick Lane market, and then a pop-up at The Jackalope pub in Marylebone. A first permanent location, in Soho, followed last year, and next month, Liu Xiaomian will begin another residency, at The Stranded pub in The Strand. “We definitely want to open more permanent sites with larger capacities to showcase more of unique Chongqing cuisine, in addition to our noodle and wonton offers, and be able to accommodate larger groups,” the Lius said. “We want to be closer to our customers. We want to open in other parts of London and even outside London or the UK. Since opening our first stand-alone site in Carnaby, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Carnaby’s central location makes it a convenient destination for both locals and visitors. We’ve welcomed a diverse mix of customers – from local office workers discovering us on their lunch breaks to international tourists eager to explore authentic Chongqing flavours. It’s been a joy to introduce Chongqing cuisine to a wider audience, and the strong customer feedback has reaffirmed our belief that there’s a real appetite for genuine regional Chinese food in London. Our only regret is that our space is quite limited, which means we’re unable to accommodate large groups or parties, but the intimate setting adds to the charm and authenticity of the experience.” The Lius said Liu Xiaomian stands apart from other noodle concepts through its deep roots in the culinary heritage of Chongqing, with its dramatic, multi-layered landscape. “The city’s cuisine mirrors its geography: bold, complex and full of surprises,” they added. “Our noodles embody that same spirit, capturing the essence of Chongqing’s street food culture. In addition, we’ve introduced our handmade JiangRou Bao, a unique sweet–savoury bun rarely found outside the region.” 

 

Amber Taverns secures Black Country Ales site, opens in Taunton: Wet-led, community pub operator Amber Taverns, which is backed by Epiris, is to add to its estate in the West Midlands after acquiring a site from brewer and retailer Black Country Ales. The James Baer-chaired, circa 185-strong Amber has acquired The Midland in Bearwood, which it is set to be refurbished and reopen early next year. At the same time, the business has opened The Winchester, in Taunton, Somerset. The company said: “The Winchester is no ordinary pub. Housed in a stunning listed building, this venue has been carefully refurbished to the highest standard, combining historic character with modern features.” Last week, Baer told Propel that if the business wants to become a national company it must establish a good presence in the south. Last month, it opened its most southerly site to date, the Erasmus Wolfe in Gosport, Hampshire, and also recently secured sites in Salisbury and Weymouth. Propel also understands Amber is also close to securing its first site in Devon. Earlier this week, Black Country Ales acquired a further pub in the West Midlands, the Nursery Tavern in Coventry becoming the company’s 54th site.

 

Davenports adds Lewis Partnership site to estate: West Midlands brewer and retailer Davenports has added The Red Lion near Stafford to its estate after acquiring the site from the Lewis Partnership. Davenports said it had added the site in Bradley to its “boutique collection”. Davenports was established in Birmingham in 1829 and operates a portfolio of pubs across the West Midlands and also brews ale at its Smethwick site. The sale of the Red Lion leaves the Staffordshire-based Lewis Partnership with the Dog and Doublet pub in Sandon and The Moat House in Acton Trussel. Matthew Phillips Surveyors acted on the Red Lion deal.

 

Loungers opens its furthest site north: Café bar operator Loungers, which is backed by Fortress Investment Group, has opened its most furtest site north, in Northumberland. The Nick Collins-led business has opened Alno Lounge in Alnwick, converting a former Barclays Bank. It comes after the company last week opened the Vicolo Lounge in Andover, in a grade-II listed former Barclays Bank in the town’s High Street. The Cosy Club and Brightside operator currently operates circa 305 sites in total, and circa 265 Lounge sites. The company will open a further Lounge in Bradley Stoke, near Bristol, at the start of December, while its latest Cosy Club site will open on Monday (27 October) in St Albans, Hertfordshire. Last year, to help it find the best sites, the business commissioned a piece of research from property consultants that identified 613 Lounge sites, including about 60 in Scotland, where Loungers has yet to open. Loungers chairman Alex Reilley said the company was also eyeing another 20 to 30 opportunities in Northern Ireland. James Property Consulting acted on the Alnwick site. Reilley 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.

 

Subway launches gift cards in UK: Subway has introduced digital and physical gift cards in the UK for the first time, which the company said marked “another major milestone” as part of the brand’s digital guest experience. Subway said the new offering reinforces its commitment to delivering “greater convenience, flexibility and new ways for guests to engage with the brand – whether in-app or in-restaurant”. Available ahead of the festive gifting season, physical gift cards are stocked at participating restaurants and digital cards can be purchased instantly via the Subway website. Nicola Hayden, director of EMEA digital experience at Subway, said: “We’re always exploring new ways to enhance the guest experience – whether through gift cards, self-serve kiosks or in-app offers for our Subway Rewards members – and to support franchisee profitability. With physical and digital gift cards, guests get more convenience and flexibility, making it easier than ever to enjoy their favourite Subway meal.” The launch builds on Subway’s broader digital expansion across the EMEA region, with more than 500 restaurants now digitally enabled. These locations feature self-serve kiosks, dynamic digital menu boards, mobile ordering and kitchen display systems.

Boswells Coffee more than doubles it profit, restructures after buying out minority shareholder: Boswells Coffee, which operates 19 sites across the south west, west country and Home Counties more than doubled its profit in the year to 27 October 2024 and restructured after buying out a minority shareholder. The company’s pre-tax profit grew from £280,146 in 2023 to £582,833. Its turnover increased from £13,718,286 to £14,722,589. Director Nicholas Burns said ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £1,250,855 (2023: nil), of which £950,855 was associated with restructuring to facilitate the buyout of a minority shareholder. He added: “A key part of the company's strategy is to increase the scale where appropriate. The key measure of this is the number of profitable new branches opened. We aim to only open new branches that will contribute financially to the company.”

Pizzarova to make London debut: Bristol sourdough pizza business Pizzarova is to make its debut in London next Thursday (30 October). The business, which operates four sites in Bristol, is opening at the community event space, Pop Brixton, in south London. The business said: “This is a huge milestone for the Pizzarova family. Our team has worked so hard behind the scenes, and this move could never have happened without it.” Pizzarova began life in 2013, operating out the back of a Land Rover fitted with a pizza oven, serving pizzas at festivals and in villages. Since then, co-founders Alex Corbett and Jack Lander have opened permanent bases in Park Street, Gloucester Road, North Street and Whiteladies Road in Bristol. Talking about growing the business, Lander said last month: “I think our overall ethos to growing the business is sustainability – not in an environmental sense, but in a sense of having a healthy level of ambition and kaizen (the Japanese concept of achieving significant results through cumulative small improvements) within the team and the product and the business. Evolution rather than revolution. You don’t have to reinvent yourself to stay relevant and to keep going.” 

 

Merkur to open flagship location in Milton Keynes: Global casino operator Merkur is to open a flagship location in Milton Keynes, creating more than 100 jobs. The 22,000 square-foot venue at Landsec-owned destination Xscape Milton Keynes will house a 14,704 square-foot gaming floor with 72 slot machines, 26 electronic roulette terminals and 15 live gaming tables. The venue – which opens on Saturday 1 November – will also feature a 4,700 square-foot bar and event space. Mark Schertle, chief operating officer at Merkur Casino UK, said: “Our head office is based here in Milton Keynes, so this opening means a great deal to us. We wanted to create something that genuinely stands out and a venue that feels exciting and welcoming, where guests can enjoy premium gaming, live entertainment and a vibrant atmosphere.” Merkur Casino UK is part of the German-headquartered Merkur Group – formally the Gauselmann Group – one of Europe’s largest gaming and entertainment companies. The group operates circa 220 sites in the UK as well as venues in Spain, the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Serbia. For the year ending 31 December 2024, Merkur Casino UK saw turnover increase to £209,014,000 from £201,789,000 the previous year and generated a pre-tax profit of £15,172,000 compared with a loss of £2,009,000 the year before.

 

PizzaExpress to open Cribbs Causeway site: PizzaExpress is to open a new site at the Cribbs Causeway retail scheme, outside Bristol. The new restaurant – which opens on Thursday, 6 November – will be PizzaExpress’ eighth new restaurant opening in what is its milestone 60th year. Last month, PizzaExpress said it “continues to perform strongly in a challenging consumer environment”. It came after the group reported group revenue fell to £442,100,000 for the year ending 29 December 2024 compared with £454,566,000 the previous year. Like-for-like sales were down 2.7% in the UK and Ireland and 6.0% internationally.

 

BrewDog Distilling MD Steven Kersley steps down: Steven Kersley has stepped down as managing director of BrewDog Distilling Co after a decade with the company. Kersley joined the business on its inception in 2015, becoming managing director in December 2022. He said he had decided to leave the business, which produces brands such as Lonewolf Gin, “following mutual discussions”. Kersley’s resignation follows the departure of the co-founder of BrewDog and BrewDog Distilling chief executive Martin Dickie in August. BrewDog chief executive James Taylor said: “The board and I are hugely grateful for everything Steven has contributed, and we wish him every success for what he has planned next. Looking ahead, BrewDog Distilling will continue to closely align with the wider BrewDog business. This will allow us to build on the strong foundations Steven and the team have created, giving the Distilling business access to BrewDog’s full commercial capabilities and supporting our ambitious growth plans in the years ahead.” Kersley said: “It’s been an incredible journey helping to build BrewDog Distilling Co into what it is today. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together, the brands, the team, and the creativity that’s fuelled it all. I’ll always be grateful for the experience and the people I’ve worked alongside, and I’m excited for what comes next, both for the distillery and for me personally.”

 

Aparthotel operator Roomzzz sees profit soar as turnover hits record £22.4m: Aparthotel operator Roomzzz, which operates 11 sites across the UK, saw its profit soar in the year to 30 September 2024 as its turnover hits a record £22.4m. The company, founded in 2004, saw its pre-tax profit increase more than ten-fold, from £56,530 in 2023 to £589,684. Turnover grew from £18,807,735 in 2023 to £22,363,425. No dividends were paid (2023: nil). Director Nadeem Ahmed said: “Inflation, including wage pressures continue to be felt, but the business is managing them well. Roomzzz Edinburgh opened in May 2023 and has exceeded expectations in the first full year. The Ainscow, (Salford, Manchester) joined the portfolio in October 2023, becoming the 11th site operated directly by Roomzzz. The business continues to manage cost inflationary pressures through efficiency savings while maximising income through pricing and mix of stay. Furthermore, the business will continue to look for opportunities for additional sites.”