KFC UK & Ireland boss – ‘we're seeing incredible momentum right now’, in-store sales up 8%: Rob Swain, KFC UK & Ireland general manager, has said the circa 1,000-strong business is seeing “incredible momentum right now”, with strong sales growth across the brand’s third quarter fuelled by transaction growth. The company said UK & Ireland system sales grew 9% in the period, with in-store sales up 8% and delivery sales up 12%. The company said “value-driven menu innovation” contributed to a 6% growth in total transactions, with the 60-piece popcorn chicken bucket and hot wings bucket – new menu launches in the quarter – driving incremental sales throughout. The company said late-night snacking continues to be a growth opportunity, with KFC reporting sales growth of 44% during late-evening occasions. Swain said: “We’re seeing incredible momentum across KFC in the UK and Ireland right now, with more customers choosing us for our unbeatable, great-tasting chicken. Our strong sales growth this quarter was fuelled by transaction growth – proof that our menu innovation and focus on value are landing with customers. With our brand, our people, and the investment plans we have in place, we’re confident that we're in the best position to continue leading the fried chicken category for years to come.” In May, KFC announced a growth plan to deliver a £1.5bn impact in the UK and Ireland, including plans to open 500 new restaurants over the next decade and capitalise on the growing popularity of fried chicken. It comes as its parent company Yum! Brands reported in the year to date that KFC UK system sales have increased 6%. The UK accounts for 6% of KFC’s system sales worldwide. Globally, KFC like-for-like sales in the quarter grew 3%, with US like-for-like sales up 2%. System sales worldwide were up 8% to $9,340m and operating margin was up 1.5%.

 

South Korean bakery café brand Paris Baguette among businesses presenting at inaugural Propel Franchisor Showcase, free places for operators and investors only: South Korean bakery café brand Paris Baguette will be among the businesses presenting at the inaugural Propel Franchisor Showcase this month. The Propel Franchisor Showcase, sponsored by Seeds Consulting, will showcase ten of the most exciting and investable franchises in hospitality. The event will be held on Tuesday, 25 November at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. Among the franchisors presenting are Paris Baguette, which has more than 4,000 stores globally, the majority of which are franchised. Paris Baguette offers a range of premium dishes, ranging from celebration cakes, bespoke baguette sandwiches and locally roasted coffee to French-inspired pastries and artisan bread. The brand made its debut here in 2022 and opened its first UK franchise store in the autumn of 2024. The company has ambitious plans to reach 200 locations here by 2036. Chief operating officer, Nico Gaillot, and franchise director, Belinda Remarczyk, will discuss how the brand has found the UK market, how its first UK franchise store has fared, how it has built a successful estate overseas, how it is progressing on its growth plans here, what point of difference Paris Baguette offers from other bakery café brands and the opportunity for franchisees. 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 subscribers 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 cafe bakery sector such as Old Bakery in Towcester, fast-growing independent brand Cornish Bakery adding to its presence in the south west of England with an opening in Exeter, and Nesso Coffee, the West Yorkshire independent Italian-inspired brunch cafe created by chef Bobby Geetha, with an opening in Leeds. 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.

 

PizzaExpress CEO – ‘Labour has unbelievably harsh stance on big businesses’, ‘you don’t see us do shrinkflation’: Paula MacKenzie, chief executive of PizzaExpress, has said it is “unbelievable” the Labour government has “taken such a harsh stance” on big businesses. Speaking to City AM, she criticised the hike in employers’ national insurance contributions in last year’s Budget for making it harder for young people to get their first job in the hospitality industry. MacKenzie said: “I joined PizzaExpress in the summer of 2022. But of course, the sector had been somewhat decimated by covid as well. I studied economics at university, so I feel like an economist by training. It’s just unbelievable to me that Labour has taken such a harsh stance around businesses that employ people at large and people at scale. A paper round was my first job, but my first job when I was then 16 or so was bar work like a lot of people’s first job – restaurants, waitressing, etc. To be almost taxed through the employers’ national insurance contributions and everything else, it’s just really hard when actually most people’s first foray into employment is in some kind of hospitality venue. Last year’s autumn Budget was brutal for us, like it was for everyone in the sector – and unexpected. But again, it makes you stronger. Tough businesses get stronger. Tough times make people tougher. We will get stronger and we have got stronger.” PizzaExpress has been forced to raise its prices in recent years in reaction to a surge in costs from the likes of inflation and tax hikes, but MacKenzie is adamant the quality of the food her restaurants serve every day will not suffer. She said: “It’s just not in my DNA so you don’t see us do shrinkflation or anything like that. But you will have seen, and it’s widely reported, that prices have to rise to cover the cost inputs that one has – whether that’s the food, the people, the rent, the rates or all of those things. We just try and make sure that we’re charging a fair price for the thing that you’re getting, and the customer still feels that value for money.”

Chancellor prepares for tax rises in Budget as global and domestic pressures bite: Chancellor Rachel Reeves has put the country on notice that tax rises are coming in her Budget, saying “each of us must do our bit”. Reeves declined to recommit to Labour’s manifesto commitments not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT, saying “we will all have to contribute”. She blamed global problems including the tariff war triggered by US president Donald Trump and domestic issues including the Budget watchdog’s expected downgrade of economic productivity for the “hard choices” she will make. Reeves took the unusual step of delivering a speech three weeks ahead of her Budget to prepare the ground for the expected tax increases she will announce. Speaking in Downing Street, she said: “As I take my decisions on both tax and spend, I will do what is necessary to protect families from high inflation and interest rates, to protect our public services from a return to austerity and to ensure that the economy that we hand down to future generations is secure with debt under control. If we are to build the future of Britain together, we will all have to contribute to that effort. Each of us must do our bit for the security of our country and the brightness of its future.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a London casino that is looking for a head chef. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This hands-on role will oversee a high-end food offering. The position requires someone who thrives in a fast-paced, service-led environment, managing daily kitchen operations across multiple outlets while developing and refining menus. The head chef will also manage budgets, gross profit and stock effectively. The ideal candidate will have proven experience as a head chef or senior sous chef within a luxury or high-volume venue, demonstrating strong leadership and communication skills.” The salary is up to £65,000. For more information, email stuartcampbell@corecruitment.com

 

Leon co-founder – ‘I’m coming back with the determination to create the earth’s favourite fast food’: John Vincent, co-founder and former chief executive of Leon, who bought the naturally fast-food brand back from Asda last week, has said he has come back to the business “with the determination to create the earth’s favourite fast food”. Vincent, who led the sale of Leon to EG Group in 2021, bought back the business that he founded with his friend Henry Dimbleby and Allegra McEvedy 21 years ago with a single outlet in London’s Carnaby Street. Leon currently operates 71 restaurants – 44 owned and 22 franchised. Vincent said: “I’m coming back with the determination to create the earth’s favourite fast food. What does that mean? The first thing it means is abundant ingredients that just spring from the soil, not just seasonal, but ultra-abundant. Then I want to create restaurants that spring from their community, that are loved by that community, that are the product of that terrain. You’ve heard terrain theory, right? The product of that terrain. Thirdly, I’d love to reinstall culture that springs from the heart. What does this mean for you? I’m hoping Leon is going to go back to its promise of providing food that tastes good, does you good, in a clean restaurant with a big welcome. It’s not what happened immediately. It’s going to take a while to get the food sorted. I might not even be able to get the next food iteration until spring. It takes a while to do this stuff, but please be patient. Please support us, because I’ve got you in mind every single minute of the day, as have these people here.” Propel revealed exclusively on Friday (31 October) that Vincent had bought back Leon from Asda in a move to “reinvigorate the business and return it to its core values”. In September, Leon reported pre-tax losses narrowed to £8,484,832 in the year to 31 December 2024 (2023: £19,587,309), with turnover of £62,451,975 (2023: £64,906,310). Adjusted Ebitda stood at negative £600,000 against negative Ebitda of £7.8m the previous year. 

 

Australian superfood brand eyeing UK expansion: Australian superfood brand Nautical Bowls is eyeing expansion into the UK, Propel has learned. The business, founded in 2018 by husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Bryant and Rachel Amundson, currently has 74 units in Australia and the US, with more than 190 territories sold. Nautical Bowlshas now signed an exclusive contract with franchise consultants Infinity Business Growth Network “to secure a master franchise and all unit franchises” in the UK. The brand offers acai and superfood bowls “made with nutritious and delicious ingredients to help fuel your active lifestyle”. The bowls are plant-based, gluten, soy and dairy free and made with organic or all natural ingredients, including “essential vitamins and nutrients”. The founders said: “We were married in 2016 and started Nautical Bowls in May of 2018 at 24 years old. We had a new house, two golden retrievers and a baby boy due right after we opened our doors. We tend to live by ‘the crazier, the better – do it all at once’ motto! We started Nautical Bowls because we wanted to have freedom of time with our family and make a meaningful impact on others at the same time. We have 190-plus franchise locations awarded and want 1,000. Hey, dream big, right?”

 

Starbucks founder – ‘the cynics who doubt the company’s long-term leadership position in the marketplace will be proven wrong’: Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks, has said the “cynics who doubt Starbucks financial performance and long-term leadership position in the marketplace will be proven wrong”. Last week, Starbucks reported its like-for-like sales were rising again, ending an 18-month decline, with the UK among the markets returning to growth. The company reported a 1% increase in global comparable sales in the fourth quarter ending 30 September 2025, driven by a 3% increase in its international business fuelled by a 6% jump in visits. It came after chief executive Brian Niccol launched his plan to turn around flagging sales after he joined Starbucks in September 2024, an effort that includes remodelling cafés and simplifying its menu offerings. Schultz said: “I continue to be impressed with the leadership and progress that Brian Niccol and his team are making as evidenced by last quarter’s positive result. The foundational progress in all parts of the business is starting to show up. And most importantly the experience our customers are having in our stores is getting better and better. The cynics who doubt Starbucks financial performance and long-term leadership position in the marketplace will be proven wrong. Why do I say this? Because of the enduring relevance of the Starbucks brand and culture and the investments ahead of the curve in our partners and systems that will feed the relevance of the third place. That’s why I’m all in on ‘Back to Starbucks’. It’s my belief, the scale and power of the Starbucks brand will be stronger and more relevant (globally) than ever before.”

 

Amigos Burgers & Shakes aiming to make international debut next year: Better burger brand Amigos Burgers & Shakes is aiming to make its international debut next year, Propel has learned. Although the country for its first overseas site has not yet been confirmed, Propel understands the brand plans to make the move in 2026. It comes as the business, which was launched in Acton, west London, in 2011 by Waqas Siddique and Kasim Akhter, grows its UK estate with two new openings. The company last month opened at Lloyds Court in Milton Keynes, for its 23rd location, and will later this month follow that with a launch in Harrow, north west London. Earlier this year, Amigos said it is seeking franchisees in major cities as it looks to expand further out of London after making its regional debut, in Birmingham. At the end of 2023, the company also outlined its plans for a 100-strong UK estate in the next five years. 

  

The Sushi Co opens first dual-concept location with sister smash burger business: Sushi brand The Sushi Co, which is led by former large-scale Papa John’s franchisee Raheel Choudhary, has opened its first dual-concept location with sister smash burger business Smashio. Choudhary, who founded The Sushi Co with Sam Reddy in 2020 and has grown it to 29 locations, is also behind Smashio, which has stand-alone locations in London’s Shoreditch and Holloway. The team has now opened a dual The Sushi Co and Smashio location, at 23 East Walk in Basildon, Essex. The 3,000 square-foot venue has 70 covers, offering dine-in, takeaway and delivery, and has created 25 jobs. Choudhary told whichfranchise: “Our fabulous new live sushi kitchen has been designed as a destination venue for Basildon. Our fresh sushi plus hot food, our new range of sandwiches and also premium Smashio burgers all now available at the same site, which means there is something for everyone to enjoy.” Franchisee Saikumar Nunna, who will manage the restaurant, added: “I have many years of experience in the food industry. I began as a delivery driver with a leading pizza brand and worked my way up to be a manager. After moving to The Sushi Co and running the Canary Wharf restaurant for a year, the opportunity became available to invest in my own business with the support of The Sushi Co, as a joint venture. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, so I’m excited to bring The Sushi Co to Basildon. Smashio is owned by some of the same management team as The Sushi Co, so it made sense to create a single outlet, where the space is shared. Team members have been trained so they can move between brands to look after customers depending on demand. Bringing two quite different concepts together under one roof means we have every chance to grow our customer base. We are now looking forward to welcoming the community as we invite them to try our fresh, quality, expertly prepared food with friends and family.” The Sushi Co launched a franchise programme earlier this year that will see it bring in partners from outside, as it works towards a previously stated target of 100 locations. Choudhary told Propel in August that The Sushi Co is aiming for ten new sites a year, “and much more when more franchisees come on board”. 

 

Parent company of Insomnia Coffee sees profit climb 7% in 2024, eyes further expansion in Britain: BHJ Holdings, the parent company of Insomnia Coffee, which operates more than 160 coffee shops and kiosks in Ireland plus 13 in the UK, saw its pre-tax profit increase by 7%, from €2.49m to €2.67m last year, as revenue rose from €39.87m to €43.09m. Directors Harry O’Kelly, John Clohisey and Barry Kehoe stated they were satisfied with the performance of the group in 2024, “and will look to further grow the business in Ireland as well as abroad”. They said: “We are actively seeking owned store locations in the UK at present, and plan to build that estate to 20 stores by the end of 2029”. The group said Irish revenue increased 8.5%, from €39.16m to €42.52m, while British revenue declined from €714,853 to €574,063. On the company’s future developments, the directors stated the group plans to further develop and consolidate its existing activities in the coming year. The company paid no dividend last year, after paying out a dividend of €1.625m during 2023.

 

Andy Webb to step down as chief commercial officer at SSP to become CEO of Canadian motorway services operator: Andy Webb is to step down as chief commercial officer at SSP to joins ONroute, the Canadian motorway services operator, as its new chief executive. Webb joined SSP in March 2013 as its new business development director. In September 2022, he was promoted to the new role of commercial director and took responsibility for SSP’s commercial and supply chain and procurement teams. He has been chief commercial officer for the past six months. He has also run the Rail Gourmet business as managing director since July 2021. He said: “After 13 years at SSP, I’m moving to Toronto to lead ONroute as chief executive. It’s a huge step for me – new city, new company, new responsibility – and I’m excited to get started with the team and get stuck in. SSP has been a constant through some extraordinary years, not least covid. I’ve been fortunate to work across property, business development, Rail Gourmet, Railrest, and commercial. The lessons were hard-won and shared openly; I’m grateful for that. It’s been an incredible chapter, but I cannot wait to get started with the team at ONroute and jump back on to the steep learning curve a new opportunity presents.” ONroute is chaired by Rod McKie, the current chairman of Megan’s and former chief executive of Welcome Break.

 

WatchHouse, Jenki and The Salad Project take Battersea Power Station sites: Specialty coffee business WatchHouse, matcha bar concept Jenki and all-day dining concept The Salad Project are to take space at the Battersea Power Station scheme in London. WatchHouse has opened at the new Battersea Power Station tube entrance and is set to be joined by Jenki and The Salad Project. Jenki, which was founded in 2020 by Claudia and Otto Boyer, will open at the scheme for its sixth site, with a fifth site set to open soon, in Canary Wharf. The Salad Project, which launched in London in 2021, recently opened its first neighbourhood site and matcha bar at 110 Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill. The ten-strong company, which previously said it expects to have 20 sites in London by the end of 2026, also opened at the Nova scheme in Victoria this summer. 

 

Tokyo Industries to open new Manchester venue later this month, confirms Dirty O’Sullivans name: Tokyo Industries, the UK’s largest private operator of bars and nightclubs alongside multiple international operations in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, New York, Palma and Ibiza, will open its new Manchester venue later this month and has confirmed it will be called Dirty O’Sullivans. Propel revealed last month that Tokyo Industries would open an Irish bar with an “Irish American feel” on the former Red’s True Barbecue site in the city’s Albert Square, with Dirty O’Sullivans one of several names being considered. Having beaten other suggested monickers such as Reds True Irish, The Craic Den, House of Guinness and Murphy’s Law, Dirty O’Sullivans will launch at the end of November, serving up “top-tier food, live entertainment and some of the best Guinness in town”. There will also be a “pub within a pub” concept named “Luckys”, an 1980s themed space serving only Guinness and available for private hire for up to 60 people. This will sit alongside two expansive bars. The food menu, developed by the team behind Firehouse, Ramona and Diecast in the city, will showcase Irish-inspired sharing dishes from warm sausage rolls with red onion chutney to chicken tenders, as well as Guinness onion soup with cheddar toasties and loaded pies with “proper gravy”. An outlet space will also sell a range of merchandise. Chris Bateson, operations director at Tokyo Industries, said: “We wanted to create a space that feels like Dublin meets Manchester, all the heart and ‘craic’ of a traditional Irish pub, but with the energy Tokyo Industries is known for.” Tokyo Industries owns and operates circa 50 UK clubs and bars as well as 19 international venues.

 

Whitbread gets go-ahead for new Premier Inn hotel in Leeds: Whitbread has been given the go-ahead for a new Premier Inn hotel in Leeds. The company has been granted permission by the city council to transform Verity House, a vacant office building in the South Bank area, into a 131-room hotel. The company purchased the 44,000 square-foot site in October 2024, and a planning application for the development was submitted to the council in May 2025. Last week, the section 106 agreement between Whitbread and the council was signed, paving the way for the development to proceed, following the delegation of decision-making to the city’s planners. Construction work is expected to commence in early 2026 and complete in spring 2027. Jill Anderson, acquisitions manager for Whitbread, said: “We’re seeing huge demand in the city and Whitbread has a long and successful track record of converting office buildings into high-quality, successful Premier Inn hotels. We’re actively looking for similar opportunities across the north of England as we continue to grow our hotel estate in the region.” On opening, Verity House will complement three trading Premier Inns in Leeds city centre with a new 143-bedroom Premier Inn at Leeds Harewood Quarter also under contract as part of a council-led redevelopment. This latest investment in the city forms an important part of Whitbread’s strategy of expanding its hotel network in the north of England. Across the region, the company is searching for more than 20 new Premier Inn locations, in addition to 15 targets in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as it grows towards its long-term potential target of 125,000 UK and Ireland rooms.

 

Offworld Industries opens first Glasgow site: Offworld Industries, the West Lothian hospitality group, has opened its first site in Glasgow – Café Bar 1780 – in Princes Square. The site joins the group’s Café Bar 1807 in Linlithgow, Café Bar 1912 in Bathgate, Café Bar 1962 in Livingston and Café Bar 1838 in Seaham, in the north east of England. The Glasgow opening sees Offworld Industries owner David Stein partner with business managers Kieran Conner and Callum Marshall, who take on managing partner roles at the all-day dining site. As previously reported by Propel, Offworld Industries will open a premium deli and tasting bar called Hamilton & Brown at Livingston Designer Outlet later this year. Café Bar 1962 opened at the centre last summer. Earlier this summer, Stein opened the 4,000 square-foot Cafebar eighteen38 at the Dalton Park Outlet in Seaham, County Durham, the company’s first opening in England. In July, Stein told Propel he was aiming to grow the business through partnerships with his staff as he looks to reward their loyalty. Stein is the second generation of a family butchers’ business with sites in Bathgate and Blackburn in West Lothian, which expanded into hospitality in 2013.

 

Oxfordshire social enterprise, craft brewery and bakery with former Punch Taverns CEO as investor to open fifth site: Oxfordshire social enterprise, craft brewery and bakery Tap Social, which has former Punch Taverns chief executive Giles Thorley as an investor, is to open its fifth site. Tap Social, which looks to provide meaningful employment for prison-leavers to reduce reoffending rates, is launching the venue at the Milton Park business campus in Milton. Day Release, which is the first site to bring all Tap Social’s concepts together under one roof, will serve up independent beer and fresh pastries at Signal Yard – an upcoming amenity hub at Milton Park. Day Release is also set to host hands-on brewing sessions on a 20-litre kit at Tap Social's brew school. Amy Taylor, co-founder and director of Tap Social, said: “Milton Park’s commitment to well-being, sustainability and supporting independent businesses makes it the perfect partner. Day Release will deliver a space where people can relax, connect and enjoy great food and drink with purpose, all while experiencing the creativity and inclusivity that defines Tap Social.” Founded in 2016 by Amy Taylor, her sister Tess and Paul Humpherson, Tap Social has so far facilitated more than 100,000 hours of paid work to prison leavers and people on release on temporary licence. In the summer, Tap Social raised £629,301 in a crowdfunding campaign to roll out new venues, grow its staff, scale its brewery, upgrade its bakery and support national supermarket expansion. As well as being an investor, Thorley is an informal advisor to the business.

 

Greggs opens new Outlet shop in Essex: Food-to-go retailer Greggs has opened a new Outlet shop in Tilbury, Essex. The store, at 39 Calcutta Road, gives customers access to a wide range of discounted Greggs products. The opening marks the latest step in Greggs’ long-standing commitment to tackling food waste and building stronger communities through its nationwide Outlet initiative. First established in 1974, the scheme redistributes surplus food products, typically priced at around 50% less than in a standard Greggs shop, helping customers stretch household budgets while reducing waste. Reducing food waste remains a key priority for Greggs. 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 Tilbury 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.”

 

London Italian sandwich concept Dal Fiorentino opens fourth site: London Italian sandwich concept Dal Fiorentino has opened its fourth site, in Holborn. Located at 20-23 Viaro House, Holborn is the company’s biggest site to date with capacity for 35 people and sister to its Fitzrovia, Brick Lane and Hoxton venues. Holborn also has the added addition of a stand-alone coffee counter. Charcuterie boards are also available between 12pm and 8pm complete with a succinct wine and beer list. Founded by husband and wife team Andrei Bazavan and Crisitina Affortunati in 2022, the pair wanted to bring a taste of their home city of Florence to London. Schiacciata is a flatbread synonymous with Tuscany and Umbria and widely available throughout Florence. Centred on using fresh and premium ingredients, at Dal Fiorentino the Schiacciata is made daily and filled with Italian ingredients. The menu includes the Machiavelli made with Tuscan pancetta, Stracciatella cheese, nduja cream and grilled courgettes, and the Giotto featuring black olive spread, beef tomatoes, fresh basil and Extra Virgin olive oil.

 

Social Pantry trains and employs 45 prison leavers: Social Pantry, the London operator and events caterer backed by Edition Capital, has said it has trained and employed 45 prison leavers over the past decade. The company, which is celebrating ten years working with prison leavers, has also opened a staff mess and prisoner led cafe in Feltham Young Offenders Institute, while founder Alex Head sits on the Wandsworth Prison employment board. Social Pantry has also worked with six different prisons and has offered more than 22,000 hours of employment to prison leavers. It comes as Social Pantry launches The Opportunity Network, which will bring together like-minded organisations with the intention of encouraging more business leaders to employ and train prison leavers. Head said: “We know at Social Pantry that we can make a difference to someone leaving prison by removing any barriers to give them a chance to get meaningful employment. Employment is a leading factor in preventing reoffending and I feel it’s vital that we use our voice and our experience to make a bigger impact.” Social Pantry currently works with more than 70 venues across the UK including Somerset House, The National Gallery and The Royal Academy of Arts. At the end of last year, Social Pantry achieved B Corp certification and hired Mark McQuater, the former chief executive of Revolution and Barracuda, as its chairman.

 

North west padel operator Ignite Padel to open third site: North west padel operator Ignite Padel is to open its third site – and second in Liverpool. The centre, with championship-level indoor and outdoor courts, is set to launch in Speke before the end of this year. Ignite Padel opened its first site in Liverpool in April, in Queens Drive, with six floodlit outdoor courts. Another site in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire Oaks was launched in September. Thomas Lawton, partner at Ignite Padel, said: “We initially looked at building 12 courts in total but had a change of heart for several reasons. Firstly, we wanted to be able to offer more viewing spaces for big tournaments with the International Padel Federation. We also want the local community to be able to use the centre as a hub for a range of different services. Our aim for this Speke site is for it to be a 24-hour site also. Initially when we first open, it will operate from 6am to midnight every day.” At the time of the Ellesmere Port opening, Ignite Padel said it plans to add three more across the region within the next 12 months.

 

The Bok Shop to return to the expansion trail: The Bok Shop, the Brighton-based premium fried chicken concept, is to return to the expansion trail with an opening in Horsham, West Sussex. Founded in 2017 by Jamie O’Mara and Howard Kaye, the business previously operated sites in Hastings, Southampton and Eastbourne. The Bok Shop closed the latter two at the end of 2022 as it had become “increasingly difficult to keep these large units running after such insane price increases such as energy”. The Hastings site closed last year, leaving the business with its site in East Street, Brighton. The business is now set to open a new site on the former The Burger Shop unit in Horsham’s Piries Place. 

 

Manchester operators open independent drinks-led bar: Manchester operators Ben Gretton, Sophie Robson and Joe White have opened a new independent drinks-led bar in the city. The trio, who are behind the 10 Tib Lane restaurant of the same address, have opened Bar Posie in the former Philpotts unit in Bruntwood SciTech’s Bloc building. Posie’s menu features a range of classic cocktails and conventional and natural wine, available by the glass, as well as a varied craft beer selection and a full coffee programme. There is also a menu of small plates and bar snacks. There is a mix of seating and alfresco dining space across two levels, with the cocktail bar sitting at the heart of the venue. Robson said: “We’ve put all our passion and expertise into curating a menu that feels fresh and exciting, and into creating a space where people feel comfortable, looked after and relaxed.” Robson and White are also behind independent cocktail bar Henry C in Chorlton, while Gretton previously owned ramen restaurant and bar CBRB in the Northern Quarter. Robson and Gretton took over the former Bock Biere site at 10 Tib Lane in the summer of 2021 to open their restaurant of the same name.

 

Members’ club provider Maslow’s confirms spring 2026 launch for site in London’s Kensington High Street: Maslow’s has confirmed its new 30,000 square-foot members’ house at AshbyCapital’s Kensington Building in Kensington High Street in London will open in the spring of 2026. Maslow’s secured the site for its third members’ house in London – after Mortimer House and 1 Warwick – in August. The venue will be located on the ground and first floors of The Kensington Building and will offer a range of workspaces – including private studies designed for teams of four to 40 – alongside collaborative lounges, a member-only café, boutique gym and fitness studio. Guy Ivesha, founder and chief executive of Maslow’s, said: “Kensington is a natural next chapter for Maslow’s – a place where our mission to create multi-use spaces that balance work, well-being and connection can flourish. With its sustainability credentials, design integrity and vibrant energy, The Kensington Building perfectly embodies our values, creating an environment where professional performance and personal well-being exist in harmony.”

 

South Devon hotel operator sees turnover fall due to reduction in demand: South Devon hotel operator Thurlestone Estates saw turnover fall in the year to 31 October 2024 due to a reduction in demand. The group, which operates the Thurlestone Hotel & Spa and Mullion Cove Hotel & Spa alongside several holiday apartments, saw revenue drop from £8,664,307 in 2023 to £8,508,870. Pre-tax profit fell from £213,386 to £40,694. Combined room occupancy rate was down from 52% to 49%. Director Christian Thomas said: “Group turnover decreased £155,000 due to a reduction in demand in the year. This followed a similar trend experienced by many other holiday destination hotels in the UK, following the weakening in demand due to higher costs of living and general economic downturn. Lower occupancy rates at both hotels and apartments reflected the reduction in demand experienced in the financial year. Room rates at a relatively high level were still achieved reflecting the high standard of product being delivered. Gross margin decreased by 1%, which reflects the inflationary pressure on direct costs particularly on food items. Net current liabilities decreased by £589,000 due in part to lower bank loan and overdraft balances £598,000 (2023: £1,244,000) and a reduction in accrued expenses £102,000 (2023: £152,000). Net assets reduced by £520,000 on the prior year but still remain strong.” Dividends of £37,625 were paid (2023: £74,408).

 

Former Restaurant Gordon Ramsay chef patron opens debut solo venture: Former Restaurant Gordon Ramsay chef patron Matt Abé has opened his debut solo venture. Abé has opened Bonheur by Matt Abé at the site of the former Le Gavroche restaurant in Upper Brook Street in London’s Mayfair, after 18 years under the mentorship of Ramsay. The menus feature “classically rooted cuisine with a contemporary touch, utilising the finest seasonal ingredients and underscoring Abé’s dedication to detail”. Guests are able to choose between an á la carte selection or explore one of the carefully curated tasting menus, while for a more intimate encounter, the chef’s table experience, Petit Bonheur, seats six guests and features open, collaborative cooking. The menus are accompanied by a wine list. Sydney-born Abé started cooking professionally aged 16, training under chef Matt Moran at Aria Restaurant before moving to Melbourne’s Vue de Monde. At 22, Abé moved to London, joining Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s, and then Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, where he rose through the ranks to become chef patron in 2020. Under his leadership, the restaurant retained its three Michelin stars for eight consecutive years.