Propel Newsletter Archive Page

Exclusive – Danny Meyer-backed concept Five Iron Golf eyes UK launch: Indoor golf simulator and entertainment company Five Iron Golf, which is backed by Callaway Golf and Danny Meyer’s Enlightened Hospitality Investments vehicle, is eyeing a launch in the UK, in London. Propel has learned that the business has applied to open a site in Finsbury Avenue, in the City. Founded in New York City in 2017, the concept’s golf simulators feature games for all ages and skill levels, but it also appeals to seasoned golfers, with swing evaluations, club fittings and lessons. In addition to offering golf simulators, Five Iron venues, which range in size from 7,000 to 24,000 square feet, also include lounge areas with activities like air hockey, foosball and shuffleboard. Beyond its activities, locations also feature a chef-inspired collection of bar food such as street tacos, artisan pizzas, sliders and elevated appetisers, as well as signature cocktails alongside local brews on tap. The business was founded by Jared Solomon (chief executive), Nora Dunnan (chief development officer), Mike Doyle (chief golf officer) and Katherine Solomon (chief legal officer). It currently operates circa 35 sites across 16 US states and five countries – including Dubai, India, Singapore and Australia. The company received a minority investment from Callaway in 2021, and last year, a $20m investment from Meyer’s Enlightened Hospitality. Five Iron Golf finished 2024 with $55.6m in sales, marking a 30.5% year-on-year increase, according to Technomic. Earlier this summer, the business announced a strategic partnership with Golf Saudi to launch multiple locations throughout Saudi Arabia. The first venue is expected to open at the PIF Tower in Riyadh in 2026 and will be designed as one of Five Iron’s flagship indoor golf locations in the world. It is understood to have been working with CBRE on its UK expansion plans.

Industry News:

SpudBros Express among businesses presenting at inaugural Propel Franchisor Showcase, free places for operators and investors only: SpudBros Express 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. SpudBros has partnered with Taster, an international operator and franchisor of quick-service restaurants across Europe, to launch its bricks-and-mortar format, SpudBros Express, with the goal of bringing the concept to high streets across the UK. With more than 500 million monthly views across its social media channels and a shirt sponsorship deal with Championship club Preston North End, SpudBros is rapidly building a powerful brand presence. Andreas Holmsen Von Stalsberg, chief operating officer at Taster, explores the scale of the opportunity for SpudBros Express, the next stages of expansion, Taster's role in driving growth, and strategies for keeping audiences engaged. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Free places for operators and investors only are available by emailing kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

Premium Club members to receive two updated databases this week: Premium Club members will receive two updated databases this week. The latest Propel UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database will be sent on Wednesday (13 November) at 12pm. The database will feature ten new additions plus updates to existing entries. It now has 380 entries and more than 224,000 words of copy. Among the new entries are South Asian street food business Cha Sha, Belgium-based dessert business Waffle Factory, Scottish casual dining brand Tony Macaroni and Midlands Nashville hot chicken concept Hotville. Premium Club members will then receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday (15 November), at 12pm. The database will feature 115 updated accounts and six new companies. A total of 737 companies are making a profit while 445 are making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors' earnings for the past five years. 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.

AlixPartners – deal flow is back, some funds will need to exit regardless of market conditions: Deal flow in the UK’s hospitality sector is back, with strong interest from both private equity and strategic buyers, according to leading sector advisory firm AlixPartners. Writing in last Friday’s Propel Premium, partner Graeme Smith and director Craig Rachel, who lead the corporate finance and M&A advisory team at AlixPartners, said: “In terms of what are we seeing in the way of transactions, there has been a good level of activity over the past 12 months or so, and deal flow is back, with strong interest from both private equity and strategic buyers. Investment is clustering around value-driven and premium-positioned brands that stand out in the market. Cross-border growth is buoyant, with UK brands expanding into Europe and the US, and vice versa (for example, Wingstop, Dishoom and Pizza Pilgrims). At the same time, real estate-backed models remain popular, with investors favouring businesses with property assets or scalable site strategies (for example The Restaurant Group’s acquisition of the Oakman Group’s freeholds). Lenders are also supportive and providing funding to accelerate roll outs, boosting returns.” They also argued that for some funds, the choice is no longer “stick or twist” when it comes to exiting their investment – “it’s twist, regardless of market conditions”. They said: “We expect an increase in necessity-driven transactions – where scale, capital and timing converge to reshape the landscape. It's also important to note that when investors are looking at new acquisitions, they’re inevitably focusing as much on the pathway to exit as they are about how to value the business on day one. Therefore, the existence of companies backed by large institutional investors – such as the likes of TRG and Loungers – that provide both a future potential exit and also a vote of confidence on the fundamental appeal of the sector, is certainly very helpful for deal activity today. Unless the Budget delivers more shocks to the industry or the economy, M&A deal activity is expected to continue. Investors will double down on brands that offer value without compromising experience and seek operators with tight cost control and agile supply chains. Concepts that tick the above boxes and appeal to younger consumers seeking occasions over possessions will prove popular.”

Bingo boss warns budget tax raid means closures are on the cards: The boss of Buzz Bingo has threatened to shut swathes of bingo halls and make redundancies if the government hits gambling companies with higher taxes on November 26. Dominic Mansour, the chief executive of the company that runs 79 bingo halls, told the Sunday Times that a “very large” number of halls would be closed in the event of a heavy tax raid on the sector. He said: “I’m scared, because if they increase taxes to some of the levels they’re talking about, I am shutting clubs and I’m letting people go.” Rachel Reeves is expected to hit gambling firms with higher taxes following calls from Gordon Brown, the former prime minister, who said such a move could raise billions of pounds to help fight child poverty. More than 100 Labour MPs have urged the chancellor to raise gambling taxes. Mansour said a tax rise “in the medium range” would cause Buzz Bingo to cancel millions of pounds worth of investment. The company has set aside £50m to renovate and refurbish its bingo halls across Britain. As well as in-person bingo, the company offers online gambling and gaming machines in its venues, both of which would incur higher taxes under Brown’s proposals. Mansour said: “The money that would go to the Treasury will be money that we no longer invest in the business because we simply wouldn’t have the cash – and that is money that therefore doesn’t go to painters, decorators, carpet fitters, builders.” Were taxes to increase by the highest degree – Brown has called for taxes on online casinos and gaming machines to be raised to 50% from 21% and 20% respectively – Mansour said a significant number of clubs would be closed. He said: “A very large number of them would have to close and a very large number of staff would have to be let go.”

Gordon Ramsay – to be successful in the present climate you need to adapt and be personable: Chef Gordon Ramsay has said that to be successful in the present climate “you need to adapt and be personable” and that the days of “15 long-winded courses that we dictate to the customer have gone”. This year, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, which operates more than 80 restaurants worldwide, cut almost 200 jobs as losses grew to £13.2m. Across its 33 UK restaurants, almost 10% of jobs were axed. Ramsay told the Sunday Times that staff want to work less and earn more, which is difficult in any business. Staff at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay work a four-and-a-half-day week. “The dream is to take them to a four-day week,” he said. At least 14 Michelin-starred restaurants have closed in the UK in the past five years because “people haven’t got that disposable income to go and spend £250 on a tasting menu”. He said: “We have to listen and adapt. Ramsay thinks modern consumer demands make it harder today than it was ten years ago.He said: “Coeliacs, dietary requirements – there’s so many demands now from customers; we were never faced with that kind of complication 20 to 30 years ago”. His remarks come after former Restaurant Gordon Ramsay chef patron Matt Abé recently opened his debut solo venture, 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.

Company News:

Exclusive – Yard Sale Pizza hires Stephen Hollis as CEO, secures East Finchley site: Yard Sale Pizza, the restaurant and delivery business backed by Piper, has hired Stephen Hollis, formerly of Soul Foods Group and Nando’s, as its new chief executive, Propel has learned. Hollis joins the 15-strong business, which was co-founded by Johnnie Tate and Nick Buckland in 2014, on the back of more than 25 years of experience working with highly respected brands. He was most recently operations director at Soul Foods Group, the Starbucks franchisee that operates circa 90 sites. Prior to this, he held senior positions at Nando’s and MSG, one of the UK’s largest Domino’s pizza franchisees with more than 200 sites. Yard Sale said that Hollis brings with him “in depth knowledge of delivery operations and people culture”. Tate told Propel: “We are excited to announce that Stephen Hollis has joined Yard Sale as our chief executive. Stephen is coming onboard to help us achieve our ambitious growth plans over the next five years. The business is performing very well and I’m as excited as ever about the future of Yard Sale as we grow from 15 to 40 sites over the next five years. This exciting phase requires skills and experience from outside the business, helping us build a great team and grow the brand to new audiences inside and outside London. I am as ambitious as ever and will continue to drive the business from my new role as non-executive director founder, focusing my energy on brand and property where I feel that I can deliver the greatest impact. I’m so proud of where we have got Yard Sale Pizza to; the business is in a brilliant position and I’m very excited for the next phase of growth. In other news, we have a new shop opening in East Finchley in early 2026 and are negotiating on a number of other sites around London. We are very pleased with our first half trading performance and are continuing to deliver positive like-for-like sales growth. Strategic partnerships with Zipcar, Lime Bike, Brooklyn Brewery and our latest collaboration with Dishoom have driven significant momentum.” Earlier this year, Piper said its new investment would help Yard Sale to supercharge its growth across the capital and into new UK cities, with a goal of reaching 40 shops in five years. Piper said a project with CACI identified the potential for more than 500 UK Yard Sale locations in total. Propel revealed last month that the company had hired Sarah Saxty, formerly of Popeyes UK and Wahaca, as its new finance director. Her appointment came after Yard Sale Pizza recently opened its 15th site, the former Pizza Hut at 55 Lavender Hill, in Battersea.

Soho House reports third quarter loss, Ebitda up 11%: Members’ club group Soho House has posted a loss of $18,708,000 for the 13 weeks to 29 September 2025 against a $175,000 in the same period last year, as revenues and adjusted Ebitda both climbed 11%. The company, which returned to profit in its last quarter, reported total revenues of $370.8m and 11.2% year-over-year growth, while adjusted Ebitda stood at $53.8m, an increase from $48.3m in third quarter 2024. Membership revenues grew to $122.7m, a 14.3% increase year-over-year, while revpar was 2% higher year-over-year on a like-for-like basis. The number of UK members was up to 72,921 from 72,777 the previous year. Total members grew 0.8% year-over-year to 269,606, while total Soho House members grew 2.8% year-over-year to 213,830. “Our third quarter results reflect the continued strength and appeal of Soho House,” said Andrew Carnie, chief executive of Soho House & Co. “Total revenues grew 11% and Adjusted Ebitda was up 11%, demonstrating that our strategic priorities – enhancing member experience and improving operational efficiency – are delivering sustainable growth. We’re investing in what matters most to our members — refreshing existing Houses such as Soho House West Hollywood, expanding our food and beverage offerings with new concepts including Nancy Silverton and Berenjak in Los Angeles, and providing events across our clubs that only Soho House can do. As part of our experiential House strategy, we opened Soho Farmhouse Ibiza and transformed Soho Farmhouse in the UK with new fitness amenities including padel courts and our first Lazy Lab – a concept designed to support longevity and holistic well-being. We continue to see strong demand for our health and wellness offering and plan to expand Soho Health Clubs further. Our results build on the positive momentum we’ve seen throughout the year, with year-to-date revenues up 9% and Ebitda up 47%. I’d like to thank our teams for their dedication and our members for their loyalty.” In September, Soho House was acquired by MCR Hotels in a deal valuing the company at £2bn, with founder Nick Jones retaining a stake in the business.

Waitrose launches new concept store including link up with Ole & Steen: Retailer Waitrose has opened its first ‘Home of Food Lovers’ concept store, which includes a new link up with Danish bakery brand Ole & Steen. The new 27,000 square-foot store in Newbury has been selected as a testing ground for several new initiatives and forms part of the company’s £1bn investment programme to enhance its existing 317 sites and open new ones. Waitrose noted that once tested with customers, new concepts will be introduced to other shops and become part of the blueprint for new outlets. The revamped Newbury store features a five-metre Cheese Island, a first for the retailer’s estate, showcasing a curated selection of nearly 100 speciality cheeses. There are also expanded and modernised counters offering a new ‘Meal Maker’ service, where fishmongers and butchers prepare cuts with free rubs and marinades. The area also includes a new Dry-Aged beef counter. An expanded in-store bakery features a new partnership with Ole & Steen, which will be rolled out to 35 stores, while the overhauled fruit and veg department focuses on organic, Fairtrade, and regeneratively farmed produce. It also includes one of the retailer’s new Waite & Rose Cafés. Tina Mitchell, interim managing director for Waitrose, said: “We’re deliberately investing in the joy of food – in expert cheesemongers, butchers, and fishmongers, as well as our cafés and bakeries – a strategic choice that champions the in-store experience for our customers. This vision is backed by our largest-ever tech investment, using AI and new systems to ensure a seamless customer experience, one that has our partners and their passion for food right at its heart.”

Maki & Ramen to make international debut: Japanese restaurant concept Maki & Ramen is to make its international debut before the end of the year, in the Middle East. Propel understands that the 13-strong business, which was founded by Teddy Lee in 2015 and is led by Michael Salvador, is set to open a restaurant in Dubai, next month. The company said: “Bringing Maki & Ramen to the GCC for the very first time is more than just another restaurant launch – it’s about introducing a brand that celebrates craftsmanship, authenticity, and accessibility. From hand-rolled sushi prepared fresh daily to ramen made from scratch in-house, every detail is poured with passion and precision.” It comes as it gears up to open three sites in the UK before the end of the year, including its biggest site to date. The company is opening in Meadowhall in Sheffield, Nottingham and the Metrocentre in Gateshead. The latter’s opening within The Qube will be the group’s biggest to date, with a 7,065 square-foot unit located in Upper Yellow Mall, offering just under 200 covers. The business also has an opening lined up for next year in Birmingham’s New King Street. In June, Maki & Ramen outlined plans to grow to 50 sites in five years following the launch of its franchise programme. The group’s first franchise location opened in March, in Byers Road, Glasgow, with a further franchise subsequently opening in Manchester.

Really Local Group enters liquidation: Cultural infrastructure developer Really Local Group has been forced into liquidation – eight years after being set up with the goal of “high street regeneration in historically underdeveloped areas through the creation of safe third spaces centred on cinema”. The group opened five community venues across London, hiring more than 700 employees, paying out more than £8m in wages and selling 1.5 million cinema tickets. Its venues transformed derelict retail units and abandoned nightclubs into multi-use community spaces designed in collaboration with local residents. Each site combined cinema, live performance, café-bars and flexible creative space, offering affordable tickets, supporting local artists and traders and delivering bespoke cultural programming. Founder Preston Benson said: “The UK is being hamstrung by an anti-business environment at local government level. For a model like ours to thrive, councils must act as partners. Instead, we encountered malicious obstruction that made long-term investment and operation impossible. Entrepreneurs aren't a threat; we are often the only ones willing to take risks to revive struggling high streets. We proved the model works. With the right environment, it could have transformed dozens more high streets across the UK. Ultimately it doesn't matter how the business failed; it did, and I take full responsibility for that. Cinemas close every week with barely a whimper. Our very public challenges over the past year generated a roar. This is a testament to both our model and incredible venue teams who have endured a great deal: you deserved a better ending. I will never forget the loyalty you have shown and hope, someday to repay you. Really Local Group pioneered a new model with clear cut results that show the future of cinema will always be really local.” As well as Catford, Really Local Group operated sites in Canning Town, Ealing, Sidcup and Sutton. It also previously operated a regional site, in Reading, and had plans for further locations in Bermondsey and Nuneaton.

Gong Cha signs master franchise agreement for up to 100 stores in Thailand: Gong Cha, the fast-growing bubble tea brand headquartered in the UK, has signed a master franchise agreement for up to 100 stores in Thailand. The deal with Perfect Step Co has seen the debut site in the country open at Centralworld in Bangkok. Each store in Thailand will have the “Gong cha 2.0” store design, which is being rolled out globally. Justus Haller, general manager – growth markets at Gong Cha, said: “Like us, Perfect Step Co is highly ambitious about bringing high quality, whole leaf bubble tea to consumers across the country and building a market leading position. Our first store will be a fantastic opportunity to test and learn. While we have committed to 100 stores over the next decade, the sky's the limit in Thailand.” Sthira Jotikasthira, general manager of Gong Cha Thailand said: “The Gong Cha 2.0 operating model will create a better and more efficient customer experience, enabling more customers to make Gong Cha a daily ritual.” Founded in Taiwan in 2006, Gong Cha first expanded overseas in 2009 and has grown to operate nearly 2,200 stores in 31 markets. Gong Cha’s entry into Thailand builds on launches in Colombia and Ecuador. Over the next decade, the group has ambitious targets to scale to more than 10,000 locations. Last month, at the time of the launch in Columbia, Gong Cha said it was “only just scratching the surface of its potential”.

The Ivy Collection managing director Laura Mills steps down: Laura Mills has stepped down as managing director of The Ivy Collection, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant brand. Mills, the former Living Ventures operations director, joined The Ivy Collection as chief operating office in July 2017 and has been managing director for the past two and a half years. Propel understands that Caring is currently overseeing the running of the business. Mills’ departure comes amid a flurry of openings for the 46-strong business. It recently opened The Ivy Northcote Road, on the Old Bank pub site in Battersea, and The Ivy Nottingham, on the former Hugo Boss store in Bridlesmith Gate, for what was its debut in the East Midlands. The business also recently opened an Ivy Asia site, in Liverpool, with another to follow in Dublin. It will finish the year off with the opening of the fifth site under its Harry's Bar and Restaurant concept, on the former Tuttons site in London's Covent Garden. Serial sector investor Caring has been reportedly in the process of selling The Ivy Collection for a year and a half. A protracted deal for The Ivy Collection with a Middle Eastern investor, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, is believed to have been widened to Caring’s private members clubs such as George, Harry’s Bar and Annabel’s, but also parts of his Caprice Holdings estate.

Various Eateries hires Jon Falarczyk as group managing director: Various Eateries, the Hugh Osmond-backed business that operates the Coppa Club and Noci concepts, has hired Jon Falarczyk, formerly of Young’s and Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), as its new group managing director, Propel has learned. Falarczyk stepped down as director of operations at Young’s in May this year after seven years with the company to “explore new professional opportunities”. He joined Young’s in March 2018 as an operation manager after 16 years at M&B. He was promoted to director of operations in October 2022. At Various Eateries, he is reunited with Mark Loughborough, formerly Young’s retail director, who joined the company as its new chief executive at the start of this year. In a trading update for the 52 weeks ending 28 September 2025, Various Eateries said it expected full-year revenue of £52.4m (2024: £49.5m), up 6% year on year and ahead of current market expectations of £50.7m. On its plans for 2026, Loughborough said: “We remain ambitious for growth, including the expansion of our core brands. We are in exploratory discussions on several opportunities with a focus on sites that complement our portfolio and strengthen the estate.”

Wendy’s to close hundreds of restaurants as third quarter sales in the US falter: Wendy’s, the second-largest quick service restaurant brand in the US, is set to close hundreds of restaurants as consumers cut back on dining out. Interim chief executive Ken Cook announced on an earnings call that the chain will close a “mid-single-digit percentage” of locations. With about 6,000 restaurants, Wendy’s could shutter between 200 to 350 locations. Cook said some restaurants are expected to close as early as later this year, and locations will continue to shutter in 2026. It comes as the business, which is on track to have around 50 sites opened in the UK by the end of 2025, reported that its global system-wide sales declined 2.6% during its third quarter, driven by a 4.7% decrease in US same-restaurant sales, while international system-wide sales grew 8.6%. Cook said that the company is focused on Project Fresh, a comprehensive US turnaround plan centred on brand revitalisation, operational excellence, system optimisation and capital allocation. He said: “Our international business once again delivered strong system-wide sales growth, supported by an increase in same-restaurant sales and new restaurant openings. Momentum continues to build across our markets, and we expect international net unit growth of over 9% in 2025. Closures of underperforming units are expected to boost sales and profitability at nearby locations. We do see more pressure on the lower-income consumer. We continue to see that in the third quarter, and we expect that to continue into the fourth.”

Dishoom hires Tamla Barazi as new marketing communications director: Dishoom, the award-winning Indian restaurant group, has hired Tamla Barazi, formerly of Tortilla, as its new marketing communications director. Barazi joins Dishoom after ten months as group marketing director at fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand Tortilla. Prior to that, Barazi spent almost nine years at designer Michael Kors, including five years as director of digital and brand marketing. She spent 16 months as senior marketing communications manager at Juicy Couture and 17 months as a senior marketing manager at the Arcadia Group. Last month, Propel revealed that Dishoom was looking to further enhance its presence in London, with an opening in Bankside, and has submitted a planning application to open a site at the Hop Exchange, the grade-II listed building at 24 Southwark Street. Brian Trollip, chief executive of Dishoom, also told Propel last month that after taking on its first investment partner, there was no pressure on the business to go faster – but there was “pressure to double down and make everything at Dishoom even better”.

McMullen’s secures approval to convert former newspaper office in Guildford into pub: Brewer and retailer McMullen’s has secure approval to turn a historic former newspaper office in Guildford into a riverside pub. Earlier this year, the company, which currently operates 40 tenanted sites and 90 managed pubs, acquired the site from Daily Mirror owners, Reach, and said it would invest £4.5m in converting Stoke Mill, in Woking Road, into a pub and restaurant. Guildford Borough Council approved the plans at a meeting last week, citing a need for a “vibrant pub for the community and employment benefits”, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Councillors recognised there were some concerns but added that leaving the building unused and empty would “ultimately be worse and could attract antisocial behaviour”. According to the documents, the plan would also see a smaller building near Woking Road knocked down, several extensions added and the car park rearranged to create space for bikes, electric car charging and more tables outside overlooking the river. In May, McMullen’s said the acquisition marked “a significant milestone” for the business as it continued to “expand our portfolio of unique and historic properties”.

EL&N makes Scotland return: Cafe and lifestyle brand EL&N has returned to Scotland. EL&N has opened at the Silverburn shopping centre in Glasgow, within the Harrods’ H Beauty unit. EL&N previously operated a store in Edinburgh that closed last year. The company said: “EL&N Café is your perfect spot to unwind. Enjoy expertly brewed coffee, freshly baked treats, and a chic setting too aesthetic not to post. It's the ideal place to relax and recharge in between your beauty finds.” Founded in London in 2017, EL&N earlier this year launched a new “elevated dining” concept, House of EL&N, in Beirut, Lebanon. The circa 40-strong business also began the roll out of its new Bakery & Deli format, having opened the first Deli & Bakery site in London's Covent Garden last summer, and teased a new cookies concept called Crumbs by EL&N.

Paris Grill to move to Leadenhall after securing Greene King site: Paris Grill, the London restaurant launched over 45 years ago by husband-and-wife team Michel and Pat Trouard-Riolle, is to relocate for a fourth time after securing the former Loch Fyne site in Leadenhall Market. Established in 1978, Paris Grill was originally located on London Wall before relocating to Bury Street, and since 2012, in its third incarnation at Crutched Friars EC3 behind Fenchurch Street Station. It is now run by Anthony Hurrell and Michel and Pat’s son, Christope Trouard-Riolle. The business has secured the ex-Langbourns site in Gracechurch Street for an opening next year. Greene King’s Metropolitan Pub Company division opened Langbourns at the end of 2022. The Paris Grill Leadenhall will also feature a new separate bar area called Bardot’s Bar. AG&G acted on the Leadenhall Market deal.

Whittard of Chelsea opens new Manchester site: Retailer and café operator Whittard of Chelsea has opened a new site in Manchester – at the Trafford Centre. The store offers an interactive and fully immersive experience, where guests can sample a curated selection of Whittard of Chelsea’s tea, hot chocolate and coffee, with tasting stations offering a rotating menu of blends and flavours. Simon Jones, head of retail at Whittard of Chelsea, said: “This new opening reflects Whittard of Chelsea’s ongoing growth, and we look forward to welcoming customers to experience all that we have to offer.” A fixture of the British high street since 1886, Whittard of Chelsea continues to expand its nationwide presence, now operating more than 40 stores across the UK, including its flagship in London's Covent Garden. In September, Whittard of Chelsea secured a £12m funding deal aimed at supporting its continued growth and expansion. The company said it was “well-positioned” to build on its UK base and international markets such as China and the US following the deal with OakNorth.

The Sushi Co opens in Sidcup for 30th location: Sushi brand The Sushi Co, which is led by former large-scale Papa John's franchisee Raheel Choudhary, has opened in Sidcup, south London, for its 30th location. It has opened at 7 Market Parade and is a second store for franchisees Aafaq Aslam and Zain Malik, who also operate The Sushi Co in Brentwood. They said: “We've spent the past two and half years building up Brentwood. Sidcup is a superb location, with no other sushi options. We are excited about the opening and now look forward to serving our fresh, flavourful sushi to the community of Sidcup.” The new restaurant will create ten jobs and will serve freshly prepared sushi, sandwiches and a selection of hot East Asian-inspired dishes. Co-founder Raheel Choudhary added: “Sushi continues to grow in popularity in the UK. Demand is such that we continue to expand.” Last week, Propel revealed that The Sushi Co had opened its first dual concept store with sister brand Smashio, which has two smash burger stores in London. The new site is at 23 East Walk in Basildon, Essex, offering 70 covers over 3,000 square feet. 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”.

Lincolnshire holiday park operator grows turnover and profit: Lincolnshire holiday park operator Coastfields Leisure grew its turnover and profit in the year to 30 November 2024. The company, which operates seven holiday parks as well as a pub and hotel and a golf and country club, saw turnover grow from £22,798,211 in 2023 to £23,318,406. Pre-tax profit increased from £1,438,960 to £1,500,151. No dividends were paid (2023: nil). Director Lloyd Silvester said: “The holiday fleet side of the business remained strong in the 2024 season with further growth off the back of the company's continued investment in expanding its fleet capacity along with further developing other infrastructure around its parks despite the ongoing challenging economic conditions. The company expects to continue to capitalise on this area of the business over the coming years.”

Hertfordshire New Haven-style pizza concept opens first London restaurant: Hertfordshire New Haven-style pizza concept Gracey's has opened its first London restaurant. Gracey's was founded during the pandemic when Grace Surman and James Woodley, a former chef at London pubs Camberwell Arms and Brunswick House, took on the tenancy of a disused unit at 339 Watford Road in Chiswell Green on the outskirts of St Albans. The pair popped up in London with a residency at Arcade Battersea Power Station last December, and another pop-up in the ArcadeX space in Battersea in the summer. Now, Gracey's is taking a spot inside the Tottenham Court Road branch of Arcade with a 40-cover restaurant. The duo said: “We've been perfecting our slices since we popped up with ArcadeX this summer. It's an exciting leap from St Albans, and opening a restaurant at Centre Point in Tottenham Court Road marks a massive milestone for us.” Influenced by their pre-covid visits to America's East Coast, the pair opted to embrace the New Haven-style pie, a thin Neapolitan-inspired pizza with a chewy, crispy and charred crust. They added: “New Haven pizza is characteristically one profile; it's a high hydration baker's dough that is well baked and crispy; the sauce is in a very thick layer right to the edge because it cooks for a good four to six minutes in the oven (a Neapolitan-style pizza is 90 seconds); the toppings are traditionally simple, ingredients that don't necessarily need a refrigerator such as garlic, pecorino Romano hard cheese, oregano, shaved potato and crushed tomatoes. All these elements give this style of pizza a certain unique magic, like you're eating a slice of history.”

London matcha café concept to open second site this week, planning further expansion: London matcha café concept How Matcha! will open its second site on Thursday (13 November) – and is planning further expansion. Founder Rashique Siddique opened the first How Matcha! in 2024 at 47 Blandford Street, between Baker Street and Bond Street. The new site is opening at 52 Ledbury Road in Notting Hill, spanning three floors and offering 30 covers, including a garden room with a courtyard. Menu items will include the wasabi matcha shot and the dirty matcha, alongside new Notting Hill exclusives such as matcha noir (made with black sesame, roasted chestnut, activated charcoal and matcha) and the sunburst (with matcha, strawberry jam, peach puree banana and turmeric milk and matcha). The site, led by Siddique and Callum Doherty, will also offer a new soft serve, in partnership with Wild Oats – available in unsweetened iced oat matcha latte and dirty matcha flavours. A spokesperson told Propel that the company is “very much” looking to open further sites.

Sheffield operator opens new restaurant promoting Sikh ideals of community: Sheffield operator Bally Johal has opened a new restaurant promoting the Sikh ideals of community. Johal, who owns the True Loves bar at Victoria Quays and several street food vans, and founded the Quayside market in 2022, has opened Shaanti Town in Sharrow Vale. It will reflect the Sikh concept of Seva, which relates to the idea of selfless service within the community. He said: “People can pay it forward – buy a coffee and put it on the wall for someone else to have. On Mondays, we're going to be doing 'pay as you feel', which is more about what you think it's worth and what you can afford.” The venue will be entirely vegan and alcohol free. Johal added: “A lot of socialising is done around drinking and bars – so with this place you can hang out, have a party and people will be sober. But we've also got families who can come here, sit and dance and be with their kids – I think there's an appetite for that.”

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