Wasabi founder to launch UK’s first all-Asian food court next year, believes Sushinoya can grow to 80 sites: Wasabi founder Dong Hyun Kim is to launch the UK’s first all-Asian food court next year that will see all his concepts open under one roof. The One will launch in March next to Kim’s Kineya Mugimaru restaurant in Cambridge. Kim has acquired the neighbouring unit for the food court that will house five different concepts. They are his Japanese udon concept Kineya Mugimaru, premium sushi concept Sushinoya and Korean restaurant Kimchee, alongside a new Korean-Japanese bakery cafe concept Soboro, and a Korean street food concept – Kimsijang – that will make its debut in January, in London’s Chinatown. Kim told Propel he will look to grow The One outside of London. “This multi-brand format will allow us to showcase a range of Asian culinary experiences while maintaining a consistent focus on quality, authenticity, and operational excellence,” he said. “Kimsijang will be a kiosk-style format. In terms of stand-alone sites, Chinatown will be a one-off at the moment. Our focus will be on growing The One and Sushinoya.” Kim launched Sushinoya, which offers sushi, hot dishes and rice bowls made fresh daily, earlier this year, in London’s St Pancras station, and earlier this month added to that with an opening in Chinatown, which Kim said had started “very well”. Sushinoya will open in Charing Cross Road on Saturday, 15 November and Moorgate in spring 2026. The concept has also secured a site at Broadgate Central, in the City, as it aims to open 20 locations across the UK by 2030. But Kim is setting his sights higher and believes Sushinoya can grow to be as big as Wasabi – the business he founded in 2003 and exited in 2021 – and even Itsu. “I certainly think we can get to 70 or 80 sites,” Kim said. “Our point of difference with Sushinoya is that everything is made fresh and not from a production kitchen. We display all our fish, and the customer sees it being prepared. We also have a lot of variety – tuna, sea bass, prawn for example – and not just salmon. We’re seeing the benefits of that with people coming back and we are seeing large growth in revenue and profit across the group.” Asked whether he was looking at outside investment to support growth, Kim said: “No – I’ve learned from my mistakes. We are focused on quality over profit.”

 

Sponsored message – level up your set-up with 50% off Square hardware: This Black Friday, take your business to the next level with 50% off Square hardware – available until 6 December. Square is the all-in-one restaurant technology platform built to streamline operations, simplify service, and help you focus on what matters most – growing your business. From payments and point of sale to reporting and inventory management, Square is big in restaurants, providing tools that keep service running smoothly and customers happy. Square’s purpose is economic empowerment, being the best digital partner it can be for hospitality businesses through intuitive, beautifully designed technology. The right POS system connects your front of house, back of house and back office seamlessly, giving you time back to focus on creating the best guest experience. Whether you’re running a single-location, managing multiple sites, a busy bar, or a multi-concept restaurant group, Square gives you everything you need to deliver seamless service, streamline orders and make smarter business decisions – all while keeping more profit in your pocket. Don’t miss your chance to upgrade your setup for less. To find out more, click here. Eligibility, terms and conditions apply. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Propel to showcase some of the most exciting and investable franchises in hospitality this month, free places for operators and investors only: Propel will showcase some of the most exciting and investable franchises in hospitality this month. The Propel Franchisor Showcase, sponsored by Seeds Consulting, will put the spotlight on ten up-and-coming food and beverage franchisors. The inaugural event will be held on Tuesday, 25 November at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. The franchisors presenting are: Lucky Voice, Paris Baguette UK, Plan Burrito, Urban Baristas, SpudBros Express, Japes, Wenzel’s, Fat Phill’s, Zocalo and West Cornwall Pasty. A spokesman for Seeds Consulting said: “We’re delighted to announce that Seeds Consulting is sponsoring the Propel Franchisor Showcase, taking place on Tuesday, 25 November 2025 at One Moorgate Place, London. The Showcase brings together some of the most exciting and investable franchises in hospitality – and we’re proud to say that the majority of brands presenting are Seeds Consulting clients. This means that each one has been vetted by us for scalability, ROI and long-term growth potential, representing the very best of what the franchise sector has to offer. Expect high-impact presentations, real-world success stories, and direct access to the founders shaping the future of franchising in the UK and beyond. Whether you’re an operator looking to diversify or an investor seeking a proven growth opportunity, this event is not to be missed. Our team will be there throughout the day — ready to discuss how we help franchisors and franchisees scale efficiently, strategically and profitably.” For the full speaker schedule, click here. Free places for operators and investors only are available by emailing kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database on Friday: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers on Friday (7 November), at 12pm. The database will show the details of 213 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. The database will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis and Premium Club members will also receive a 14,673-word report on the 213 new additions to the database. It is segmented into seven categories – cafe bakery, casual dining, experiential leisure, fine dining, hotels, pubs and bars and quick service restaurants – making it even easier for users to search. The database includes new openings in the casual dining sector such as Berkshire Indian restaurant Masakali, opening in London’s Camden, chef Bryn Williams with his new restaurant, Bryn Williams Theatr Clwyd, in North Wales, and Yorkshire tapas business Ambiente Tapas, with an opening in Beverley. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Geof Collyer – the ‘income value’ being protected by Yum! Brands in buying out Pizza Hut UK would be in excess of £15m per annum: Geof Collyer, founder of Lavender Bank Partners, has said the “income value” being protected by Yum! Brands in buying out Pizza Hut UK would be in excess of £15m per annum. Pizza Hut UK last month acquired Pizza Hut’s dine-in operations through a pre-packaged administration, which will see 68 restaurants close and the loss of more than 1,700 jobs. DC London Pie, the company formed a year ago to run Pizza Hut UK after a pre-pack deal, appointed FTI as administrators. Collyer said: “The number of company-operated stores peaked at 544 in 2006, with revenues peaking the year before at £395m and adjusted Ebitda of £50.4m. 2006 was the last year of Pizza Hut UK under the Whitbread/Yum! 50/50 joint venture. The business was bought out by Rutland Partners in 2012, which then sold to a management buyout in 2018. From the Whitbread/Yum! joint venture peak in 2006 to the end of the first full year of the Heart With Smart management buyout (2019), company-operated store numbers had dropped by 55% (282), sales had fallen by 46% (£184m), and adjusted Ebitda by 74% (£37m). Between 2019 and 2023, Pizza Hut UK exited a further 41% of its sites (107) and sales dropped £46m (22%). Adjusted Ebitda fell by £5.9m (45%) to £7.3m, despite a saving of £20m from lower labour costs, nearly £10m less rent and what should have been at least £5m from lower fees to the parent. In 1995, from when Pizza Hut UK first started to disclose the data, total payments to the parent were £30.8m, 17.6% of sales. In 2000, Pizza Hut UK split out the purchases from parent from the cost of goods sold data and the operating and franchise rights fees. The share of cost of goods sold bought from the parent started at 60% of total cost of goods sold, rising to 69.6% in 2006, when disclosure ended, following Whitbread’s sale of its stake in the joint venture to Yum! By this time, total payments to Yum! had risen to £74.1m, 19.6% of group sales. In 2006, these amounted to about £136,000 per site, up 49% from the level of the first disclosure. Total site growth was 61% over this period, total sales growth was up 117% versus total annual payments to Yum! (up 141%). We estimate average sales per site for the 146 sites open at end 2023 were 62% above the peak group sales level of 2006. If the payments to parent had kept pace with this sales growth, this would imply average payments per site in 2023 would have been around £220,000. This might help to explain why Pizza Hut UK’s other fixed and variable costs line was flat at around £60m across 2019-2023, on group sales down 22%. The history suggests that the growth in payments to the parent would have surpassed sales growth, which could imply that the “income value” being protected by Yum! Brands in buying out the 68 Pizza Hut UK sites would be in excess of £15m per annum. We will be closely tracking the pre-pack filings from FTI, the administrators of DC London Pie, the company that ‘rescued’ Pizza Hut UK in January 2025. It will make interesting reading to see what the brand owner actually pays for this rump estate.”

 

Ottolenghi – ‘the question isn’t whether London’s restaurant scene will survive; it’s what brilliant, unexpected form it will take next’: Chef and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi has said that is clear that “the restaurant world I’ve known for decades is radically changing”, but that the question isn’t whether London’s restaurant scene will survive – “it’s what brilliant, unexpected form it will take next”. Writing in The Observer, he said: “It has become clear to me that the restaurant world I’ve known for decades is radically changing through a combination of factors: people’s working patterns, health obsessions, the falling out of love with alcohol and the falling in love with pastries and bread, but, predominantly, the affordability of it all. The numbers are genuinely frightening: in my restaurants, utility costs are up more than 50% since 2019; chocolate prices have doubled; olive oil is up 121%; even spring onions are up 55% – spring onions! Meanwhile, customers are feeling the squeeze just as hard: 52% of UK consumers have cut non-essential spending, with 72% of those naming “eating out” as one of their cuts. With London renters now spending an average of 41.6% of their income on rent alone, something has to give. My first panicky instinct was: we’re all fighting to survive in an industry that’s eating itself. But step outside and you’ll notice something unexpected. Everyone’s facing the same brutal economics, but the responses are all over the place. Some solutions are radical, some simple, some totally bonkers – and some are really working. Rotisserie chicken is suddenly everywhere. The grocery shop-restaurant hybrid is another solution that’s spreading fast, particularly at the higher end. Places like Corner Shop 180, Honey & Spice and Leila’s Shop make the profit margins more manageable by hedging their bets and offering a new kind of dining alongside the shopping experience. It seems obvious when you say it like that, but it’s surprisingly hard to actually do. I think I’ve been looking at this all wrong. The frantic booking apps, the eye-watering costs, the constant pressure to innovate – these aren’t just signs of an industry in crisis, they are signs of an industry that’s more alive and creative than it has ever been. The spring onions will cost what they cost, but people who care about feeding others well keep finding new ways to do it. That’s what resilience looks like. The question isn’t whether London’s restaurant scene will survive – it’s what brilliant, unexpected form it will take next.”

Private capital zombie firms will pile up in the next decade: Some 80% of all private capital groups could be zombie firms within the next decade, according to one of the industry’s most senior executives, surviving only to manage existing investments because they cannot raise fresh capital. Only about 5,000 of the 15,000 or more private capital firms that exist today had successfully raised funds in the past seven years, Per Franzén, chief executive of Sweden’s EQT, told the FT. “How many of these firms will have a successful fundraising also in the next five to ten years? Probably less than half,” he said. “The number of zombie firms will increase by an additional couple of thousand.” Private equity groups have struggled to raise funds in recent years after finding it difficult to return cash to their backers because of a dealmaking drought. Instead, they have sought to increase the amount of fees they can generate from existing funds, as well as leaning more heavily on continuation vehicles, a tool that buyout firms use to hang on to some assets by selling them to themselves. Continuation vehicles have exploded in popularity in recent years and enable firms to generate new management fees on assets that they might have otherwise sold to outside buyers. These structures could help compensate for a lack of fees from new funds. However, Franzén said continuation vehicles were not a long-term solution. “It’s not a sustainable business model to squeeze out fees out of existing funds and to opportunistically raise continuation vehicles,” he said. “That’s not going to help you attract and retain the best people in the industry. At some point, these firms will cease to exist.” Just 50 to 100 globally diversified firms would capture around 90% of capital flowing into private markets in the next fundraising cycle, the Swedish executive predicted. But Rob Lucas, chief executive of private capital group CVC, said that despite the fundraising difficulties the industry faced, there was nonetheless likely to be an influx of capital. “If you look at the real headlines of the demand for private capital over the next decade or two, it is immense,” he said.

Gaucho accused of greenwashing by charity: The chief of a modern slavery charity has criticised Gaucho for refusing to pay a £60,000 invoice that it says it is owed for carbon offset payments. The Times reports that last year, the group earned a two-star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association in its Food Made Good Standard assessment, and Gaucho continues to boast on its website of its partnership with the charity Not For Sale in South America. However, the charity, which operates in 12 countries working end modern day slavery and exploitation, said it has not received a £60,000 payment from the business for carbon offset work in 2024. Not For Sale sent the invoice for their 2024 work in April but, after repeated requests for payment, instead received an email which, it said, did not address the 2024 commitment. David Batstone, founder and president of Not For Sale, said that the group was “reneging on a commitment that they had already made and had even shouted to the world about this commitment”. The email, seen by The Times, stated: “As you may know, we have changed leadership recently, and as part of that, we are assessing many of the group’s activities and priorities, including the way we offset carbon and the charities we support. As a result of this review, we have decided to focus our funds and activities in other areas, and therefore we will not be making a donation to Not For Sale this year and instead will pursue a different carbon strategy. We will continue to review the right way forward and may well decide to come back to you in the future, but for the moment, have decided to press pause on this route.” In a statement, Gaucho’s parent company Rare Restaurants said that the company was “not aware of any agreement or formal arrangement [with Not For Sale] at any time” but did acknowledge that Gaucho “did provide some support in 2024 under the previous chief executive”. Martin Williams, the former Rare chief executive, stepped down in October last year and Baton Berisha took over the role in March. The spokesman said the charity had a “personal relationship with the former chief executive of the business” and “this all relates to a period before Baton became chief executive so this is all before his time”.

Hospitality businesses urged to give their view on licensing reform: UKHospitality is urging businesses to respond to the government’s licensing reform consultation before it closes on Friday, 6 November. The trade body said this is the sector’s last opportunity to help ensure the system works for both operators and local communities. UKHospitality stressed that these reforms are not about just one issue, but a package of practical changes designed to create a more consistent, modern, and growth-focused licensing regime. The reforms aim to streamline processes, reduce duplication and help hospitality businesses invest and innovate, while maintaining transparency and local engagement. UKHospitality is advocating for flexible options, including new online solutions that could further increase transparency for residents and other interested parties. UKHospitality chair Kate Nicholls said: “Licensing reform is not a silver bullet, but it is a real opportunity to deliver a system that works better for operators and communities alike. If the sector does not speak up now, there is a risk that this chance for growth-led reform could be lost. The collective voice of hospitality will be crucial in ensuring these sensible and practical improvements are implemented.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a bar and restaurant group that is looking for a general manager for an American-inspired venue in London. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The general manager will have a strong track record, a passion for great hospitality, able to lead from the front, build a motivated team and create an atmosphere that guests love.” The salary is up to £65,000. For more information, email stuart@corecruitment.com

 

Laine Pub Company founder Gavin George joins Chickpea Group as non-executive director: Gavin George, founder and former chief executive of Laine Pub Company, has joined Chickpea Group, the hospitality business founded by siblings Ethan and Jordan Davids along with Tommy Tullis, as non-executive director. George, who stood down last year after almost 30 years at the helm of the business he co-founded, will work closely with the board to advise on and support the delivery of the company’s next period of growth. Chickpea Group currently operates ten pubs across the south west – nine with rooms – and in September expanded into Dorset for the first time when it opened The Fleur de Lis in Cranborne. Ethan Davids, co-founder and chief executive of Chickpea Group, said: “This is a massive step for our business, and I am beyond excited to work with Gavin as we embark on the next phase of growth. We have traded strongly in the last 12 months, which is why we are looking to capitalise on the momentum we have built to acquire and reignite iconic country pubs with rooms. Gavin’s own professional journey, together with his deep knowledge of the sector, and unique ways of thinking are exactly the attributes we are looking for. On a personal level I have always been a huge fan of Laine and the business that Gavin built, and so I am delighted that Gavin has chosen to work with us.” George added: “Despite Ethan’s modesty about what Chickpea has achieved in such a short time, I sensed that he and his colleagues were doing something special with their business, and I was keen to know more. I have subsequently been blown away by the passion, creativity, energy and dynamism displayed by Ethan, Jordan, Tommy and the Chickpea team, and am hugely impressed with their vision. At a time when hundreds of country pubs are closing their doors throughout the nation, Chickpea is breathing life back into stunning rural assets and bringing warmth and colour to the communities they serve. It’s a great business and I’m thrilled to have been asked to join the board to support them in growing it.” Davids told Propel in September that it currently has one further site in the pipeline, due to open just after Christmas. At the same time, George also joined Market Halls, which operates five food halls across London and Brighton, as a non-executive director.

KFC launches UK Kwench bar site: KFC has launched the first Kwench bar concession in the UK, in a new site in Liverpool. The UK was chosen as the pilot for the brand’s new specialty drinks range, at the start of the year, with 38 restaurants across the country introducing the range in January. In May, Yum! Brands chief executive David Gibbs said the new range had shown “promising” early results with participating restaurants seeing growth in both transactions and beverage sales. Kwench features ten handcrafted drinks across four specialty drink categories: lemonade, refreshers, shakes and iced coffees. The brand has now launched a new flagship site in Liverpool city centre, having taken over the former GAME retail unit on Lord Street. The circa 100-cover site is spread over two floors and – located on the top floor is KFC’s first ever standalone Kwench bar. It occupies the entire front right corner of the venue and sits surrounded by hot pink neon lights, pink chairs and stools and pink dripping neon lights.

Vagabond progressing on further London sites, looking to expand into major cities across UK: Vagabond Wines has told Propel it is progressing on further sites in London and also looking to expand into major cities across the UK. It comes as Vagabond prepares to open the UK’s largest urban winery, in London’s Canary Wharf in December, in what is the largest investment made in the business by Majestic Group since it was acquired out of administration last year. Majestic said the project will form the foundation of Vagabond’s future growth, acting as both a production hub and a flagship for the next phase of expansion. Vagabond, which operates 12 sites in London and Birmingham, has said it is aiming to double its estate over the next five years. A spokesperson told Propel: “2026 is set to be an active year for new openings, although it is hard to put an exact number on it at this stage. We are currently progressing sites in London and looking to expand into major cities across the UK, working closely with Savills to identify locations that fit the Vagabond experience and offer strong long term potential for the business.” The 6,000 square-foot winery – which opens on Thursday, 4 December at Canada Water, as part of British Land and Australian Super’s redevelopment – will combine Vagabond’s wine bar experience with a fully operational 100-tonne winery led by head winemaker José Quintana. Guests will be able to see, smell and taste wine at every stage of its journey while discovering more than 100 wines by the glass from Vagabond’s tap-and-pour machines. The site will feature experimental winemaking techniques such as solera ageing and concrete-egg fermenters, alongside event and tasting spaces for up to 300 guests each day.

 

Parkdean Resorts to fund future growth through existing backers, continuing to trade strongly: Parkdean Resorts, the UK’s largest holiday park operator, is to fund its future growth through its existing backers and said the business is continuing to trade strongly, Propel has learned. The company had been looking at a capital raise but had now decided to fund its next stage of growth through its existing long-term stakeholders, Onex and Ares Management. Parkdean, which is led by Steve Richards, is increasing its capex investment over the coming year to around £50m. A Parkdean Resorts spokesperson told Propel: “Parkdean Resorts has paused its capital raise process and has concluded that the best solution to fund future growth is through its existing long-term stakeholders, Onex and Ares Management. Onex and Ares Management have backed Parkdean for almost ten years and remain fully supportive of the business and its growth plans. To support this next phase, we are increasing our capex investment over the coming year to around £50m – enhancing our accommodation and facilities, expanding leisure activities and growing our footprint. Parkdean continues to trade strongly, having delivered a record performance over the summer with 98% occupancy and record on-park spend.” Last month, Parkdean Resorts told Propel it has seen the staycation market strengthen in 2025. At the same time, Parkdean Resorts reported revenue for the year ending 31 December 2024 increased by £13m (2.6%) to £520m, with adjusted Ebitda up 2.4% to £72m.

 

Poolhouse hires Ross Butler as new COO, investing £12m on debut site: Poolhouse, the new competitive socialising concept from the founders of Topgolf and Puttshack, has hired Ross Butler, formerly of Gaucho, as its new chief operating officer, Propel has learned. Butler left Gaucho, the premium Argentinian steak restaurant group, earlier this year. He stepped down as chief operating officer of the business after nearly seven years in the role, and a near 14-year association with the brand. Butler replaces Matthew Fleming, formerly of Vagabond Wines, Stonegate Group and Be At One, as chief operating officer of the new venture. Fleming, who stepped down as managing director of Vagabond Wines, which was acquired out of administration by Majestic last year, to take up an “exciting new role within the hospitality sector”, joined Poolhouse last summer. In April, the Jolliffe brothers (Steve and Dave) founders of Topgolf and World Golf Systems, secured $34m (£25.9m) of funding to launch Poolhouse. Propel revealed last September that the Jolliffe brothers, who also co-founded Puttshack with Adam Breeden, co-founder of Flight Club, AceBounce and All Star Lanes, had lined up a site in the City of London, for the first site under the new concept, across the ground and first floor of 90 Liverpool Street, which will open early next year. According to The FT, Poolhouse has invested about £12m in the technology for the new concept, and the same sum again to fit out the Liverpool Street venue. The newspaper was given a first glance at the tech behind the game and said: “At first glance, the Poolhouse table looked no different from any other, but it turned out to have their touch. Cameras, sensors and light projectors were hung above the table and will be concealed in chandeliers at venues. The technology lets beginners play with experts by assessing the skill of each player during the game and handicapping them. AI software calculated the difficulty of each shot from the position of the balls. It held back better players (Dave Jolliffe) by projecting on to the table playful obstacles such as banana skins they would lose points for crossing. The low-skilled ones (me) gained extra shots, bonuses or the right to move the cue ball before shooting. The contest thus became exciting for a mixed ability group.”

 

28-50 Wine Bar & Kitchen operator – no expansion ‘until a future government concludes UK prosperity is better served as part of the world’s largest single market’: Riviera Restaurants and Luxury, which operates the 28-50 Wine Bar & Kitchen concept in the capital as well as being a tour operator, has said it will not expand further “until a future government concludes UK prosperity is better served as part of the world’s largest single market”. President Richard Green, writing in the company’s accounts for the year to 31 October 2024, said: “During covid, the group invested in London restaurants, on the expectation that there would be a strong recovery afterwards. In fact, we overestimated our ability to operate high-end French brasseries in London with the post-Brexit limited access to our European workers and the produce that we needed. Higher energy costs and work-from-home (much lower Monday and Friday footfall) added pressure. Accordingly, in 2023 and 2024 we divested four of our seven London restaurants. The group now operates two restaurants and a jazz club in central London. We will remain as such until a future government concludes, amongst other things, that UK prosperity is probably better served as part of the world's largest single market, on its doorstep. Our luxury ski travel continues to grow, with sales increasing by 10% and predicted to grow further over the next five years. With turnover growing and a critical market share achieved, we will look at in-resort costs this year. We will pair-back our mid and mid-to-high product offering this year, as lower end French tourism will be challenged in 25/26, which will put price-pressure in the segments above.” It comes as the business reported a pre-tax loss of £1090,597 for the year (2023: loss of £1,070,816), off turnover of £8,078,009 (2023: £10,178,284). Of this, £3,714,831 came from the UK (2023: £5,228,748) and £4,363,178 from France (2023: £4,949,536). Riviera’s parent company is Eurogroup SAS, a French hotel and tourism company founded in 1991.

 

Camm & Hooper owner secures £20m of new funding: Broadwick Group, the music, arts and space management company which earlier this spring acquired events and hospitality group Camm & Hooper out of administration, has secured investment of more than £20m for further expansion. The business, which has a portfolio of 24 venues – mainly in London, but also including the new Brooklyn Storehouse in New York – secured the funding from Lloyds, brokered by the debt advisor Alvarez & Marshall. In April, Propel revealed that the business had acquired Camm & Hooper, which operates the likes of Banking Hall, OXO2, 26 Leake Street and The Victorian Bath House, in London, out of administration for a total consideration of £326,039. Broadwick employs more than 200 people full time, including 35 from Camm & Hooper’s existing staff. Its venues host events ranging from brand launches, film productions, and high-end corporate experiences. Chief executive Simon Tracey told The Standard: “Broadwick was founded to connect people through remarkable spaces – from global music events to major brand launches and creative gatherings. As our portfolio continues to expand across the UK and US, we’re focused on building the next generation of hybrid destinations: places that inspire, perform, and endure. The support from Lloyds gives us the ability to invest in growth, talent, and infrastructure – ensuring our spaces continue to deliver long-term value for partners, audiences, and cities.”

 

Brighton Pier Group set to sell North Yorkshire theme park off £3m asking price: Brighton Pier Group is set to sell Lightwater Valley theme park in North Yorkshire. The attraction, which features more than 35 rides, has hit the market for £3m. Lightwater Valley, which is near Ripon, first opened in 1969 and attracts more than 230,000 visitors each year. Brighton Pier Group bought the attraction in June 2021 in a £5m deal. The listing on property website Rightmove states that the 182-acre, extensively landscaped site is already under offer and Brighton Pier Group chief executive Anne Ackord told Propel there has been “considerable interest” in the theme park. The listing added: “An opportunity to take ownership of and develop a long-established theme park business in the heart of Yorkshire with planning for a significant scheme of complementary holiday accommodation. Established in 1969, the park has been sympathetically developed and managed, latterly under the ownership of Brighton Pier Group, as a major attractor in the region and is now available for sale through a company share sale.” In May, Brighton Pier Group went private after ceasing trading on AIM. The group – which also operates Brighton Pier and adventure golf business Paradise Island – said staying listed no longer made financial sense. Last month, the group sold its Lola Lo sites in Bristol and Reading to Joe Heanen, who once co-owned Luminar – at the time the UK’s largest nightclub operator. The deals leave Brighton Pier Group with two bars in London – Embargo Republica in Chelsea and Le Fez in Putney in the capital. It is thought deals are close for both of those remaining sites.

 

Pizza Punks launches in-house delivery service: Hell Yeah Hospitality Group, the Brad Stevens-led business, has launched a new in-house delivery service across its six-strong Pizza Punks chain. The group is now delivering directly across its sites in Newcastle, Leeds and Glasgow, with Belfast, Nottingham and Liverpool to roll out the initiative this month. It pledges to deliver pizzas in 30 minutes or less, with customers receiving 50% off their first order to celebrate the launch. The business said that the new “Dough to Door” model features an in-house team of dedicated drivers in a bid to ensure every order arrives hot and fresh. The service covers up to a three-mile radius from each restaurant, with “every pizza made fresh to order using the brand's signature sourdough”. Stevens said: “Pizza Punks has always been about rebellion, challenging the norm and doing things our own way. By bringing delivery in-house, we’re putting our people and our customers first. It’s about owning the full journey, from dough to door, ensuring the best possible experience, without the costly fees or compromises of third-party platforms.”

Chick-fil-A submits plans for Liverpool site: US brand Chick-fil-A, which made its return to England last month, with an opening in Leeds, has submitted plans to open a site in Liverpool’s Lord Street. According to planning documents, the new restaurant would take over a vacant, grade II-listed site at 85-89 Lord Street, placed between a TSB and a Gold Centre. It would welcome customers via a Lord Street entrance, with delivery/access at the back on Button Street. It comes after Chick-fil-A last month opened its first site in England since 2019, on the former Clarks unit in Commercial Street in Leeds. The brand will also open a site in London, understood to be in Kingston. The brand said the opening in Leeds was part of the company’s commitment to open five restaurants in the UK in the next two years and invest $100m in the market throughout the next ten years. 

Loungers opens Cosy Club in St Albans: Café bar operator Loungers, which is backed by Fortress Investment Group, has opened the fourth site for its refreshed Cosy Club concept, in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The site, at 15 Christopher Place, follows the refurbishment of Cosy Clubs in Leeds, Manchester and Reading, and is the 37th Cosy Club location within the group. Part of a phased rollout across the estate, Cosy Club Swansea is due to open next year, with further sites to follow. The site will offer a recent addition to the menu – two Malvani curries – “drawing on Cosy Club chef Mayank’s treasured family recipe from coastal India”. Lucy Knowles, managing director of Cosy Club, said: “We’re seeing a fantastic response to the new-look Cosy Clubs. This latest opening in St Albans continues to resonate strongly with both loyal guests and new audiences.”

 

Zip World takes over operation of rooftop attraction at Principality Stadium: Adventure tourism operator Zip World has taken over the operation of a rooftop attraction at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The roof walk, stadium drop and flyer elements of the attraction have reopened under the name Cardiff Zip World, having previously been branded Scale. Such were the low numbers of users that under the previous operator Wire and Sky, the attraction wasn't even able to break even operationally, reports Business Live. It was funded by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) at a cost of around £4.7m from the proceeds of the sale of a minority stake in the Six Nations to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. While at a concept stage, it is also understood that Zip World is also exploring options for a new attraction that could go around the circumference of the stadium. WRU chief operation officer Leighton Davies said: “We have recognised the need for a more commercially sustainable operating model for the rooftop adventures and have found a partner that will deliver real value. Zip World is a proven leader in adventure tourism, with a world-class track record of delivering high-quality, commercially successful experiences across Wales and beyond. Their expertise in operating large-scale attractions, combined with their deep roots in Welsh communities, makes them the ideal partner to take this venture forward.” Under the new model, Zip World will operate the rooftop attraction independently, with full responsibility for ticketing, marketing and delivery. Andrew Hudson, chief executive of Zip World, added: “This is just the beginning. We’re focused on what's ahead and look forward to building on what's been created, with the same ambition and energy we've brought to all our existing locations. Our team is working hard behind the scenes, and we can't wait to introduce even more adventures to the stadium and bring a bit of Zip World magic to Cardiff.” Earlier this year, Zip World was majority acquired by Dolphin Capital in a £100m deal.

 

Floozie Cookies to offer non-vegan range for the first time: Floozie Cookies, the all-vegan stuffed cookie concept founded by Kimberly Lin in 2020, is to offer a non-vegan range for the first time. The company said, “with consumer demand constantly changing and Kimberly’s creativity constantly evolving” it is this month “entering a new phase with the launch of non-vegan products to sit alongside its extensive vegan range”. A company spokeswoman said: “Alongside a notable shift in the vegan market, there are also challenges to secure quality plant-based ingredients due to discontinued vegan lines and the cost of plant-based alternatives sharply rising, which is impacting the brand’s ability to innovate the range further beyond the core range. To respond, the brand is evolving to re-establish its place within the dessert market, keep up with customer demand and ensure its products continue to be the highest quality by expanding into the non-vegan cookie market.” From today (Monday, 3 November), new flavour combinations will be added such as caramelised white chocolate, peanut and gochujang and marshmallow avalanche. From 2026, vegan cookies will make up 50% of the cookie range, with all its “familiar favourites” remaining on the menu. Lin said: “We are really excited for this next chapter at Floozie. We are not looking to move away from our vegan offering but instead offer our customers more choice. Floozie is based on innovation, and this is a vital evolution of the brand to keep up with both customer demand and the current market.” In April, Lin told Propel the company is “in discussions” on permanent locations here after testing the concept with short-term leases. The business revealed plans in 2022 to expand internationally and in the UK under a franchise model and opened its first regional site and franchise location last year, in Bicester Village.

 

Leeds casino gambling licence suspended over anti-money laundering concerns: The gambling licence of the Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds casino has been immediately suspended due to anti-money laundering concerns. The Gambling Commission has suspended the operating licence of VGC Leeds – trading as Victoria Gate Casino – as it carries out a review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005. The review and suspension follow concerns that activities may have been carried out contrary to the Act, not in accordance with conditions of the company’s licence, and that the licensee may be unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities. The commission said, during a recent compliance assessment, VGC Leeds is reasonably believed to have failed to maintain and implement effective anti-money laundering policies, procedures and controls, as required under the conditions of its licence. The commission said serious concerns have also been identified regarding the adequacy of decision-making processes and the licensee’s response to identified anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing risks, raising questions about the overall effectiveness of its governance and risk management arrangements. A statement from the commission said: "These failings are considered significant and represent a serious threat to the licensing objectives, in particular keeping crime out of gambling. We have made it clear to the operator that during the suspension, we expect it to focus on treating consumers fairly and keeping them fully informed of any developments which impact them.”

 

Pepe’s Piri Piri opens 240th store: Flame-grilled piri piri chicken brand Pepe’s Piri Piri has opened its 240th store. It has opened at 46 Tolworth Broadway in Tolworth, south west London. As the brand builds towards 250 sites, it is due to open soon in the former Yours clothing store in St Stephen Street, Norwich. It has also, in recent weeks, had plans approved to open in a former Post Office unit in Weymouth, and in the former Harry's Game Shack site on corner of Fawcett Street and High Street in Sunderland. The brand also operates sites in Morocco, Pakistan and the UAE.

 

Greggs opens new Outlet shop in Bradford, expands range available: Food-to-go retailer Greggs has opened a new Outlet shop, in Bradford, and expanded the range available in its surplus food redistribution concept. It has opened at 346 Allerton Road, creating ten new jobs and offering a wide range of discounted items including sausage rolls, steak bakes, vegan alternatives and sweet treats. In addition, following strict quality and safety checks, Greggs has expanded the range of products available through its Outlets to include items such as pizza and cream cakes. In 2024, Outlet customers purchased 2.8 million sweet products, 2.7 million sandwiches and 2.4 million savoury items, representing a 17% increase on 2023, with 45% of surplus stock redistributed. Greggs chief executive Roisin Currie said: “Our new Outlet shop in Bradford reaffirms the commitments set out in the Greggs Pledge to reduce waste and support communities. By selling surplus products at great value and reinvesting a portion of the profits through The Greggs Foundation, we can help families and local charities across the country.” Greggs opened its 40th Outlet shop at the end of September, in Edinburgh.

 

Yorkshire holiday park operator reports drop in turnover and profit: Yorkshire holiday park operator Flower of May reported a drop in turnover and profit for the year to 31 October 2024. The company, which operates 12 holiday parks in the region, saw its turnover fall from a record £15,930,121 in 2023 to £14,831,424. Its pre-tax profit was down from £3,653,042 in 2023 to £2,767,766. Dividends of £116,000 were paid (2023: nil). Director Helen Atkinson said: “The group enjoyed a successful year. Although group turnover decreased by 7% in the year in what was a difficult market, the gross profit margin achieved on turnover increased by 4% to 74%. Due to the continuing investment in the group’s parks and range of facilities, the directors feel that the group is in a strong position as the enter the next financial year. In line with many businesses in the UK, the greatest challenge facing the group are rising costs, staffing and recruitment. The directors have taken swift and decisive action in response to rising costs to minimise the impact on the business and are not reliant on any individual supplier. The group continues to actively advertise and recruit the necessary staff to meet demand; however, this is proving increasingly difficult, due to a simple lack of supply of labour. The group continues to mitigate this risk by focussing on staff recruitment and ensuring that it pays competitive salary rates. Demand for UK holidays remains strong and the group, supported by its bankers, continues to invest in and expand its range of holiday parks in order to meet this demand. For the above reasons, the board considers that the group is well placed for the future.”

 

Chop Wok Express makes Essex debut for seventh site: Chop Wok Express, the wrap and noodle brand formerly known as Chop & Wok, has made its Essex debut for its seventh site. It has opened at 30 Duke Street in Chelmsford, following a £150,000 investment, reports Essex Live. Franchisee Jan Asili said: “All the team here are very excited to launch and welcome the local community. We hope the community takes advantage of the food offer for two reasons: so they can taste our food and so we can say hello!” Brand owner Andy Dulay added: “After all the hard work, long hours and planning, I’m so glad to see this fantastic looking store open. It really is a unique experience for the customers, and I have full confidence the locals will love it!” Chop Wok Express also currently has three restaurants in Birmingham and one each in Harrow, Keighley and London’s Nine Elms. Its website also lists 11 further locations as “coming soon” – in Birmingham University, Coventry, Loughborough, Aylesbury, Liverpool, Watford, Hampshire, Westminster, Sutton, Abbey Wood and Edinburgh.