Fuller’s chairman – pubs are back in fashion, we’re in the right place to act on acquisition opportunities: Simon Emeny, chairman of Fuller’s, has told Propel that he believes pubs are back in fashion “at the expense of restaurants”, and that the business is well-positioned to act should the right acquisition opportunity became available. It comes after the company reported a 4.6% increase in like-for-like sales across its managed pubs and hotels in the six months to 27 September 2025, with total revenue up 7% to £207.5m (first half of 2025: £194.1m). Emeny said: “There’s no sign that the consumer has lost any affinity in going to the pub. I believe pubs are back in fashion at the expense of restaurants. I’m not sure that restaurants can match that strong relationship. The challenge we have as a sector, because of the government, is how do we make a return out of that.” The company said its balance sheet continues to strengthen and that it is well placed for appropriate acquisition opportunities. Over the last 12 months, it has acquired the Warwickshire-based Lovely Pubs business and The White Swan in Twickenham. Emeny said the company would continue to look at “regional gems” and “urban flagships”. He said: “Our debt to Ebitda is about two times, which for a freehold estate like ours is very, very low. So, we are in the right place to enable us to do something if the right opportunity comes up.” Emeny said pre-booked sales have been a key focus for the company in recent years, and during the period, its sales and events team has driven pre-booked sales up by 4.8% to account for 33% of managed pubs and hotels revenue – equating to £60.9m. He told Propel: “This focus has helped build our corporate business and improved access to the lucrative wedding market. Increasingly, people want to pre-book. There is less spontaneity – whether that’s work events or a meal with friends and family. The investment we’ve made in our digital form helps drive that.” He also said investing in the group’s bedroom stock continues to deliver results, with occupancy rates of 81% (first half of 2025: 82%) and average room rates of £143.10 – an increase of 3.8% (first half of 2025: £137.90). Combined, these factors have led to revenue available per room rising £3.63 to £115.76 – which Emeny said was the highest in the pub sector. In its Cotswolds sites, this rises to an average room rate of £165.96, which is 3.1% up on the prior year. On the upcoming budget, Emeny said that while businesses bore the brunt from the last one, this one seems like it will be targeted at the individual “and we will have to adapt to the fallout from that as best we can”.

 

Sponsored message – Fentimans marks more than a century of botanical brewing with three anniversary ginger beer serves: Celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, Fentimans has marked this milestone by partnering with award-winning mixologist and long-serving Fentimans brand ambassador, Joe Schofield, to craft three warming serves perfect for the winter season. The 120 Remedy, Thomas’ Twist and Ginger Jubilee all feature the iconic Fentimans ginger beer, with a nod to 120 years of bold flavour, heritage and craftmanship. Once delivered door-to-door by horse and cart, the fiery, full-bodied ginger beer that first made it famous is still botanically brewed the same way more than a century later and is sold all over the world. Thanks to its unique flavour and spicy kick created through the seven-day botanical brewing process, Fentimans said it continues its legacy as the UK’s number one premium ginger beer brand. A spokesperson said: “Each bottle of Fentimans ginger beer delivers the perfect balance of spice and warmth, making it the ultimate winter warmer. From fiery spice to festive sweetness, Fentimans proves why its ginger beer is the essential ingredient for winter cocktails, transforming any serve into an elevated experience with character in every sip.” Find out more about Fentimans heritage, the unique botanical brewing process and how to make the ginger serves here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Dutch smash burger brand Fat Phill’s among businesses presenting at inaugural Propel Franchisor Showcase, free places for operators and investors only: Dutch smash burger brand Fat Phill’s 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. Fat Phill’s, which has 19 locations in the Netherlands, launched in the UK in December 2024, with a site in Clapham, south London. Fat Phill’s has since opened a second UK site, in Wood Hill, north London, and signed a master franchise agreement for Ireland. The company has previously said it sees a runway to 200 sites in the UK. Natalie Van Der Laan, chief operating officer at Fat Phill’s, will discuss the brand’s plan for growth here, where it sees its next locations being, why it has chosen the UK for its first international market, how the quick service restaurant scene differs here from in the Netherlands, and why smash burgers have “exploded” as a concept. 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 updated Turnover & Profits Blue Book tomorrow: Premium Club subscribers will receive the updated Turnover & Profits Blue Book tomorrow (Friday, 14 November), at noon. The database will feature six new companies and 115 updated accounts. The database now features a total of 1,182 companies, with 737 in profit and 445 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 New Openings Database, 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.

Turkey shortages to continue into festive season: Turkey shortages are set to continue into the festive season, according to analysis from catering butcher Birtwistle’s. Its latest report said the global turkey market remains “severely undersupplied”, with UK numbers down 39% year-on-year. “It is not hard to work out the challenges faced and that we will face in the next eight weeks in terms of supply and prices,” the report said. “Any product not secured previously will be at the mercy of the open spot market with pricing driven purely by demand on short availability. There is a slight possibility of additional raw material becoming available in January as male birds come through later in the season, which could lead to a minor price adjustment, which of course will be too late for the festive season. Most suppliers do not foresee a major shift in the market until at least March or April 2026, and only if November placements increase or high prices lead to reduced demand, which are unlikely through November and December.” Bird flu outbreaks and restriction on vaccinated birds are also causing severe supply challenges to the UK poultry market leading up to and into the new year, with price rises being driven by demand. Beef remains “a challenging market”, with the GB all-prime average deadweight cattle price 646p/kg in the week ending 18 October, an increase of 2p/kg from the previous week. Deadweight cow prices rose again in the latest week, with a 1p/kg increase in the GB overall cow price to reach 516p/kg. UK pig meat production in the third quarter declined 2.4% year-on-year, impacted by prolonged hot weather in July and August, but fourth quarter pig meat production is anticipated to return to growth, driven by heavier carcase weights. Finished sheep prices continue to ease, with the deadweight new seasons lamb back 4p/kg on the week to sit at 662p/kg for the week ending 18 October. 

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a restaurant group that is seeking a head chef for a site in London’s Soho focused on Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This is a chance to shape the culinary direction of a flagship site within the group. The head chef will be a creative leader who is passionate about vibrant food.” The salary is up to £60,000. For more information, email olly@corecruitment.com

 

Loungers chairman – Brightside seeing circa 20% like-for-like growth, best brand we’ve got in terms of NPS or feedback: Alex Reilley, chairman of Loungers, the Lounge and Cosy Club operator, has told Propel that the company’s roadside dining concept, Brightside, has seen circa 20% like-for-like growth over the last two years, and that it’s the company’s best brand based purely on net promoter scores (NPS) and feedback. The company currently operates four sites under the concept, having launched it in February 2023. It operates three in the south west, all converted from former Route Restaurants, and a purpose-built Brightside at the Ram Jam services, on the northbound side of the A1, near Stretton in Rutland. Speaking at the Propel Multi-Club Conference, Reilley said: “We’re really pleased with the way it’s going. It enjoys about circa 20% like-for-like growth, and it has had that for the last two years. It started from a lower base of turnover than we anticipated, but it has obviously been building up. The brand recognition and understanding the complexities of trading on the side of a road is something we’ve had to come up to speed with. So, we’re really pleased with the way it’s going. At the moment, we’ve got the four. There’s no additional sites yet in the hopper, but we’re at a point where if it continues to grow at the sort of level that it has been, it will be something that will start to wave its hands and go ‘look at us, we want more sites’. And obviously, the peculiarity is the more we open, the more we’ll probably benefit from that, because the more widely the brand will be known. Obviously, trying to attract someone’s attention, while they’re traveling at 50-60mph, to something they don’t know is quite challenging. But if we were assessing it on just NPS or feedback, then it’s the best brand we’ve got out of the three. It really delivers on every level. We’re excited for the possibility, but we talked about it being in the lab, and it’s still, in the petri dish stage to a degree.” Reilley was among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference. All videos from the conference will be released to Premium subscribers on Friday, 21 November. Premium subscribers receive all the videos from Propel conferences each year – around 100 in total. 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.

 

Chaiiwala signs multi-unit development deal with KFC franchisee Splendid Hospitality Group: Indian street food brand Chaiiwala has signed a multi-unit development deal with KFC franchisee Splendid Hospitality Group. As part of the agreement, Splendid, which operates 38 KFC restaurants in the Midlands and north east, has opened two Chaiiwala new sites in Nottingham – at 76-78 Castle Boulevard and at Unit R5a in the Intu Victoria Centre. It has also taken over the operations of Chaiiwala’s existing high street location in the city. A Chaiiwala spokesman said Splendid was chosen due to its “proven track record of excellence in operating franchised brands and its reputation for best-in-class service” and that the agreement would “act as a blueprint for Chaiiwala’s franchise expansion across the UK”. Chaiiwala already has more than 100 UK locations and has previously stated an ambition to grow to 500 stores here “and many more overseas”. Sohail Ali, co-founder of Chaiiwala, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Splendid Hospitality on board as our new franchisee in Nottingham. Splendid is a fantastic, proven operator of franchised brands, share our ambitions for scaling Chaiiwala, and have already hit the ground running with two new openings. We also believe our expansion in Nottingham can serve as a blueprint for future growth and see opportunities to replicate this model with a high street, drive thru, and shopping centre location within other major cities. As we scale up and realise our ambitious expansion plans, this model will prove invaluable.” Nadeem Boghani, executive chairman of Splendid Hospitality Group, added: “We are delighted to partner with Chaiiwala, a truly distinctive and fast-growing brand that has redefined the casual dining and café experience for a new generation. At Splendid, we are always looking for opportunities to collaborate with dynamic partners who share our passion for hospitality, quality, and innovation. Launching our first three Chaiiwala restaurants in Nottingham marks the beginning of an exciting journey, and we look to developing this vibrant, community-focused concept.” It comes after Propel last month revealed that Chaiiwala had hired former Splendid managing director Ben Clayton as its new chief operating officer. Abdul Piranie, Chaiiwala’s chief financial officer, also told Propel last month that the brand is aiming to open 20-plus UK stores next year and make its US debut – and that its growth will be driven by drive-thru, travel hub and retail park locations. Splendid Hospitality Group was founded in 1986 by Shiraz Boghani and also operates a portfolio of circa 24 hotels plus care homes. Shiraz and his son, Nadeem Boghani, founded its restaurant arm, Splendid Restaurants Colonel, in 2016.

 

Anglian Country Inns full-year revenue passes £22m, refinances as current trading up 14%: Gastro-pub operator Anglian Country Inns (ACI), led by James Nye, saw revenue increase by 8.4% to £22.3m in the 12 months to 30 March 2025 (2024: £20.6m), as it said it has made a “robust start” to its new financial year, with sales up 14% in the first six months. Underlying site Ebitda was £4m (2024: £3.7m), an 8.1% increase on the previous year from the existing sites, while company Ebitda was £1.6m (2024: £1.6m) and company operating profit was £700,000 (2024: £900,000). Administrative expenses increased to £16.1m (2024: £14.6m), an increase of 10.7%. The ten-strong business, which opened The White Horse in Holme last May, said it was “an unusual year” in which there was no Easter – a key trading period for the business – and one of the wettest years on record. The business said it was “very happy to see strong sales increase given the circumstances”. It also saw an increase in customer satisfaction scores, reflecting the “focus on improving customer experience”. A new loyalty system was launched in January 2025, which the company said helped drive footfall during the last two months of the year. Food sales represented 57% of total turnover in the year. ACI said it was impacted proportionally by food inflation, but that individual menus throughout the estate were quick to respond and managed to navigate the inflationary challenges and offset price increases to a minimum. Nye told Propel: “Trading has been strong for us so far, 14% up after the first six months. It’s helpful to have Easter in the year and a sunny summer, which gave us a really nice start to the year, and although it’s quietened down a bit now, Christmas is looking strong. Bookings are up about 11%, although it is slightly flatter on the party bookings. We are all hoping it will be a good one, but I’ve learnt that it’s not healthy to be too optimistic at the moment. We have just completed a refinance with HSBC which puts us in a strong position to grow. There are a few opportunities to expand the existing sites, but we are also looking at further acquisitions. The last budget had a huge negative impact on hospitality, and I can’t imagine this one is going to be much better. I’m seeing more and more businesses come to the market at the moment and can only imagine the budget and a tough winter trading is going to push more to the brink. It will create opportunities for those that manage to survive, but it will be under some pretty ugly circumstances.”

 

Danny Meyer-backed concept Five Iron Golf confirms UK plans, eyes rollout: Indoor golf simulator and entertainment company Five Iron Golf, which is backed by Callaway Golf and Danny Meyer’s Enlightened Hospitality Investments vehicle, has confirmed that it plans to make its European debut with a launch in the UK, in London. Propel revealed earlier this week that the business had applied to open a site in Finsbury Avenue, in the City. The company has now confirmed that it will take a 6,900-square-foot space at 1 Finsbury Avenue and anchor the ground floor. The London flagship marks the first of a multi-unit franchise agreement led by Eric Parker, an early Five Iron Golf investor and longtime member. The company said the debut site will spearhead the brand’s entry into the market and serve as the foundation for future growth in London and throughout the UK. It currently operates circa 40 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 Broadgate will feature eight Trackman simulators equipped with Five Iron’s signature multi-angle camera setup for real-time swing feedback, instruction and club fitting, as well as membership options for frequent players. The Broadgate venue will also serve as an upscale sports bar and entertainment destination. “As one of Five Iron’s earliest supporters, I’ve watched this brand redefine what golf can be,” said Parker. “London has been ready for a more modern, inclusive approach to the game – one that welcomes everyone, from serious players to after-work social groups. We’re thrilled to bring that to Broadgate and create a space where people connect through sport and hospitality.” Jared Solomon, co-founder and chief executive of Five Iron Golf, added: “London represents a defining moment for our international expansion. We’ve built something that goes far beyond golf – it’s about creativity, community and connection. Bringing that spirit to one of the world’s most dynamic cities, alongside a partner like Eric who deeply understands our brand, is incredibly exciting.” DCL acted on the Finsbury Avenue deal.

 

Which Wich aiming to open five new UK sites in 2026: US hot customisable sandwich brand Which Wich has told Propel the business is aiming to open five new sites in the UK in 2026. Which Wich is gearing up to open its Welsh debut site at the St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff. The launch is part of the multi-unit franchise agreement signed in July with Breaking Brands Management, led by experienced operator Steve Lewis, and which also holds the UK master franchise for US bar brand Coyote Ugly. Which Wich has also signed with franchise partners who will help it expand into Scotland. Following successful brand adaptation and the launch of corporate stores in Central London, Which Wich is now expanding its UK presence through franchising. In terms of securing further franchise partners, a spokesperson told Propel: “The pipeline is very healthy. We’ve signed multi-unit franchisees in Cardiff, Glasgow and Edinburgh, with additional franchisees to be announced for 2026 and beyond, which may include medium and large company groups, some of which operate in travel hubs and service station models. We estimate three or four new franchised stores, plus one new corporate store opening in 2026. We’ve seen strong growth this year. Our new corporate store in London’s Fleet Street, built with a catering focus, is performing ahead of plan, with corporate orders and repeat accounts driving strong momentum.” It comes as Which Wich enhances its coffee offer following a new partnership with Nestlé Professional’s Seattle’s Best Coffee, as it said it continues to expand its all-day menu and strengthen morning trade. Founded in Dallas in 2003, Which Wich has grown to more than 400 sites globally.

 

Roti King to open Edinburgh site next month, sets out growth strategy: Malaysian restaurant business Roti King, which made its regional debut earlier this summer in Brighton, will open its first site in Scotland, in Edinburgh, next month (12 December). Propel revealed in July that the business, which is led and backed by Ganan Kanagathurai, former chief executive of Itsu, was planning to launch at 8-10 South St Andrew Street in the Scottish capital. Kanagathurai told Propel that the group’s strategy is to focus on openings outside of London, “with a few high value trade zones in the capital still of interest”. He said: “We’re excited to be part of Edinburgh’s incredible independent food scene and to share the passion and creativity of Malaysia with a city that appreciates honest, authentic, flavourful food.” All Roti King restaurants allow guests to watch roti being hand-stretched and cooked to order in an open kitchen. Signature dishes include the roti canai, served with dhal, chicken, mutton or fish kari. Founder Sugen Gopal opened his first restaurant in 2014 – one of four locations in London. 

 

Starbucks franchisee KBeverage reports rise in sales by store: Starbucks franchisee KBeverage has reported a rise in sales by store in the year to 30 November 2024. Total sales, after the company changed its reporting period, were £29,219,616. In the 18 months to 30 November 2023, it was £31,694,932. Sales by store were £503,786. In 2023, they were £633,899 (£422,599 when converted to a 12-month period). Number of sales transactions were 4,416,433 (18 months to 30 November 2023: 5,331,146) and average transaction value was £6.62 (18 months to 30 November 2023: 5.95). The company’s pre-tax profit was £1,008,149 (18 months to 30 November 2023: £1,335,777). During the year, the company opened six new stores and acquired two stores, bringing its store count to 58 at year-end. The company made an intercompany loan write off of £408,064 and made £60,486 on disposal of fixed asset investments. Since the year end, the company has secured £787,115 in additional financing and will repay it in instalments over five years. KBeverage opened its 60th Starbucks store in February 2025, in Nottingham. Owner Alok Yadav also operates four Slim Chickens stores under a separate company, KChicken.

 

SpudBros Express opens first franchise site: Gourmet jacket potato business SpudBros Express has opened its first franchise site, in Sheffield. The family-run business, which started out as a potato cart in Preston’s Flag Market in 1950s before being taken over and rebranded by Jacob and Harley Nelson, has opened the site at 14 Fargate in Sheffield city centre. This is the second regional opening following a launch in Liverpool in September. The business made its London debut earlier this year. What began as a humble hot-potato tram in Preston has become a viral food phenomenon, with launch day offers selling spuds for 50p and fillings for 5p. Jacob Nelson said: “It’s a real pinch-me moment. A couple of years ago we were posting content from our tram in Preston. Now, we’re supporting other business owners who believe in our values to build their own community-driven business. That’s what our roll-out is about: local people building local success with our platform, training and support. There’s room for everyone to win, please keep supporting your local spud seller.” The business told Propel in August that it planned to open up to six sites this year and double that next year – as well as making its international debut – and have 30 to 40 sites by the end of 2027. SpudBros Express also plans to be in “city centres everywhere” and has had franchise interest from most UK cities – and will be “the main player in the jacket potato market”. Seeds Consulting is working with SpudBros Express and Taster on the brand’s expansion. 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. Free places for operators and investors only are available by emailing kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Flight Club operator targets Nottingham launch: Red Engine, the hospitality group behind Flight Club and Electric Shuffle, is targeting a launch in Nottingham. Propel understands Red Engine is looking at a number of potential sites in the city centre, including in the Bridlesmith Gate area. A spokesperson told Propel: “We’re always on the lookout for exciting new opportunities for Flight Club and Electric Shuffle. While it’s currently very early days as we look at Nottingham, we hope to be able to confirm more on our 2026 plans closer to the new year.” Last week, Red Engine opened its 15th UK Flight Club, in Newcastle. The venue, at the Eldon Square shopping centre, was the third opening for Red Engine this year and the seventh inclusive of franchise openings, with another planned before the year-end. The launch followed last month’s announcement that Red Engine had secured an additional £10m investment, following a £60m facility that was agreed in April last year, to fuel the group’s ambitious growth plans across the UK and internationally. With Newcastle open, the total Red Engine and partners estate stands at 38. This portfolio is set to increase to further by year-end, with Flight Club Cincinnati. In March, Red Engine said it and its franchise partners are aiming to open 45 venues over the next five years as it targets an estate of 84 sites by 2030.

 

Fast-casual Bajan restaurant concept Barbs secures first restaurant space, plans further openings in 2026: Barbs, the fast-casual Bajan restaurant concept, has opened its first restaurant space, at the Queen of Hoxton venue in London's Shoreditch, and told Propel it plans further openings in 2026. Following the success of its Deliveroo Editions kitchen and the launch of its Bajan signature sauces earlier this year, Barbs said the new opening marks a defining moment for the brand, “transforming its loyal delivery following into a vibrant, dine-in experience”. Barbs told Propel that by the end of 2026, it plans on having a second restaurant site, three delivery locations in London and expansion of its retail sauce range. Barbs was founded in 2024 by Nicc Wright, bringing the “family-friendly, balanced flavours of Barbados” to the UK Caribbean scene in contrast to its current “spicy jerk-heavy influence”. Talking earlier this year, Wright said the business was planning expansion via dark kitchens and bricks-and-mortar locations across the UK. “This is a proud step for us. Barbs is all about real food and real Bajan flavour, cooked the way it’s meant to be,” said Wright. “We’ve taken our family recipes and traditional techniques and created something that feels completely at home in Shoreditch.” The Queen of Hoxton is part of the Mothership Group. “We’re excited to welcome Barbs into the Queen of Hoxton family,” said Andy Maddocks, managing director of Mothership Group. “It’s a brand that brings real quality and originality to the table, and we can’t wait for people to experience it.”

 

We Do Play to open three new Activate sites in London before Christmas: We Do Play, the multi-concept experiential leisure operator backed by the Frasers Group, will open three new sites for Canadian immersive game brand Activate in London before Christmas. Following the success of its debut site at The O2, which has welcomed more than 125,000 visitors since opening last December, Activate will open at Oxford Street, Vauxhall (Albert Embankment) and Westfield White City over the coming weeks. Activate Oxford Street will open at the end of November near Marble Arch, with 11 immersive game rooms, while Activate Westfield White City will open in early December, offering 12 immersive rooms. Finally, Activate Vauxhall will open in mid-December in two refurbished railway arches on Albert Embankment, next to Vauxhall Station, featuring 12 game rooms. It builds on the momentum of Activate’s ongoing UK rollout, following a launch in Newcastle’s Metrocentre in the summer, which has had almost 30,000 visitors since July. We Do Play, the experiential group behind Flip Out, Putt Putt Social and Boom Battle Bar, is rolling the concept out in the UK. Rich Beese, co-founder of We Do Play, said: “What started as a Generation Z craze has quickly grown into something everyone wants to try. Our O2 venue has become one of the most popular Activates in the world, and the demand for new experiences has been incredible. Opening in three iconic London locations before Christmas marks a major milestone in our mission to make immersive, active fun part of everyday social life.”

 

Northern Ireland hotel group McKeever planning to expand further into Ireland and beyond as it unveils five-year plan: Northern Ireland operator McKeever Hotel Group has said it is planning to expand further into Ireland and beyond as it unveils its five-year plan. Having added two new properties over the past two years to take its portfolio to seven, the group said it continues to look for further opportunities to expand, with the Republic of Ireland and Scotland on its target list. These ambitions are underpinned by a £3m capital expenditure across its hotels, with the hope that both The Lodge and Armagh City achieve four-star accreditation by 2027. Director Eddie McKeever said: “While our current capacity is 480 rooms across seven locations, we aim to increase occupancy levels by around 10% through a combination of competitive pricing, improved guest experience and a new central reservations system. Our strategy sets out a clear path for continued growth, innovation and community impact. By 2030, we have the potential to employ 600 people, with a group turnover of £45m, all of which will be driven and underpinned by the family values that have successfully defined the brand for the past four decades.” Last month, Propel reported that McKeever grew its turnover in the year to 30 September 2024 from £15,220,434 to £17,211,995. The company saw its pre-tax profit fall slightly, from £1,373,905 to £1,254,482, as administration expenses rose from £9,882,572 to £11,419,754.

Insomnia Cookies UK confirms Bristol launch this month: Insomnia Cookies UK, the late-night bakery business, has confirmed it will launch in Bristol this month. The business, which in September opened its seventh site in the UK, in Birmingham’s Bennetts Hill, will open at 27-29 College Green on Friday, 29 November. The brand, founded in 2003 by Seth Berkowitz, has more than 350 bakeries across North America and has expanded rapidly in the UK in the last year. Launching in Manchester in 2023, it has three sites in the city, along with outlets in Leeds, Nottingham and Sheffield, and is also lining up a Liverpool location. Millie Ralston, head of marketing at Insomnia Cookies, said: “Bristol is the place to be for late-night foodie stops. It’s vibrant and full of students looking for their go-to takeaway after a night out. We're excited to bring something sweeter into the mix, with our ever-growing menu of indulgent treats, and we can’t wait to open up our fifth store on 29 of November for Bristolians to enjoy.” Ben Lacey, managing director of Insomnia Cookies UK, told Propel last year that the business has an ambition to build a nationwide presence.

 

Lyons Holiday Parks reports ‘strong’ performance despite ‘competitive trading conditions due to cost-of-living crisis’: Lyons Holiday Parks, which has more than 20 sites across North Wales and Cumbria, has said its performance has again been “strong” despite “competitive trading conditions due to the cost-of-living crisis”. The family-run business, which was founded in 1924 by Joe William Lyons, reported revenue of £54,938,972 for the 11 months to 31 January 2025 compared with £55,921,360 for the previous 13-month period. Pre-tax profit stood at £11,356,924 compared with £14,138,050 in the prior 13-month period. Administrative expenses increased to £25,584,828 from £24,028,137 in the previous 13-month period. During the year, the group said it continued to focus on its core business and to improve its financial and operating systems. Highlights included the opening of the Marian Resort and Spa in Prestatyn, which offers luxury accommodation, as well as a luxury restaurant and spa facilities, which compliments the existing portfolio. As previously reported, in July 2025, the group purchased Terfyn Pella holiday park, located close to an existing site, which it said again compliments the existing portfolio. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “The group’s performance for the period has again been strong despite competitive trading conditions due to the cost-of-living crisis, and this is reflected in the results for the period. The directors continually aim to improve the performance of the group through focusing on its core activities, both within existing sites and through acquisitions, and although the external commercial environment is expected to remain competitive in the foreseeable future, the directors believe the company's financial position is strong, and they remain confident that they can continue to build on the current performance level and achieve sustainable growth.” Dividends of £206,250 were paid (2024: £213,000).

  

Scottish pizza concept and new venue from team behind Michelin-starred restaurant among operators opening at Edinburgh development: Scottish pizza concept Civerinos is among a quartet of operators opening at a new development in Edinburgh. Civerinos owner Michele Civiera, who sold his car and rare sneaker collection to start the business in 2016, will launch the outlet at Brown’s of Leith, within the historic George Brown & Sons engineering works in The Shore. Opening on Thursday, 27 November, the restaurant marks a sixth in Edinburgh for Civerinos, which also operates a site in Glasgow. Also opening at Brown’s of Leith is Haze – an all-day venue from the team behind Michelin-starred Edinburgh restaurant Timberyard and Montrose in the city. Haze will serve a curated menu of small plates, inspired by some of Europe’s best wine bars, featuring cheese, cured meat and tinned fish, alongside wine, spirits, soft drinks and speciality coffee. They will be joined by Shuck Bar – a new seafood bar celebrating the best of Scottish produce – created by the team behind seafood shack, ShrimpWreck, in the Portobello area of the city, and Woven – a blending studio that sources single malt and grain whiskies from across the world. A new bakery and workshop are also being developed. Overlooking The Water of Leith, the building was home for 130 years to George Brown & Sons, engineers and metal workers. The family business relocated to East Lothian in 2024.

 

Lowy Group reports profit boost after selling subsidiary, puts Brighton hotel up for sale: Lowy Group, which operates a portfolio of hotels and apartments in London and Brighton, reported a profit boost in the year to 30 September 2024 after selling subsidiary. The company, founded by Peter Lowy in 1972, saw its pre-tax profit grow from £700,991 in 2023 to £3,737,437, with £3,614,269 coming from exceptional restructuring items. It said: “On 30 September 2024, Living Rooms demerged from the group following a change in ownership of the company’s share capital. As a result of the demerger process, there was a restructuring of debt. During this restructuring exercise, balances owed to related parties were written back, resulting in income of £9,601,716 being recognised as part of restructuring items. Balances owed by related parties were also reviewed, which resulted in a total amount of £8,477,801 being waived. Therefore, the receivables have been derecognised and a corresponding expenditure recognised within exceptional restructuring. A profit on disposal of the investments held in Living Rooms amounting to £2,490,354 was recognised in the year following the demerger.” There was turnover of £19,342,071 compared to £18,963,753 in 2023. Of this, £7,499,944 came from its hotels (2023: £7,109,087), £10,502,551 from serviced flats (2023: £10,796,185) and £1,339,576 from management fees (2023: £1,058,481). Post year end, in May 2025, the group put The Queens Hotel, on Brighton seafront, up for sale with an asking price of £18.5m. The company has owned the hotel, which dates from the middle of the 19th century, for 20 years and instructed Christie and Co and Savills to market the premises, including the freehold.

Bird House London to open third site after securing former BrewDog in Shepherd's Bush: Bird House London, led by Frazer Timmerman and Wil Fuller, is to open its third site. The company is launching The Bush Tavern in Shepherd’s Bush on Thursday, 20 November after securing the premises in Goldhawk Road that were previously occupied by Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog. The Bush Tavern joins the nearby The Hawk’s Nest along with Peckham Arches in Bird House London’s portfolio. The Bush Tavern will serve beer from the Birdhouse Brewery in Herne Hill and cocktails, while the food will be provided by west London burger operator No Drama, reports Hot Dinners. Bird House London previously operated cocktail bar and pizza kitchen Skylarking in Peckham, which closed in 2024 “due to unforeseen circumstances rated to the landlord”, and a large-scale pop-up at Westfield White City called The Phoenix, where the former Jamie Oliver unit was home to a 400 capacity terrace, cookery school and large open plan bar. Timmerman previously oversaw the food and drinks offering for Edition Capital-backed Incipio Group, while Fuller was previously area support manager at Hippo Inns. BrewDog closed its Shepherd’s Bush site in the summer – one of ten bars in the UK it shut after a strategic review as it looks to position its bar portfolio under “destination hubs” and “community bars” for “long-term, profitable growth”.

 

Redemption Roasters to open new roastery to help grow business and provide more employment for prison leavers: The world’s first prison-based coffee company, Redemption Roasters, will next month open a new roastery to help grow the business and provide more employment for prison leavers. The new, purpose-built roastery will open in Wembley, north west London, in early December – enabling the company to “roast more coffee, employ more prison leavers and extend its mission to reduce reoffending through coffee”. Redemption started roasting coffee inside HMYOI Aylesbury in 2018 before moving to HMP The Mount in 2020 and has trained in prisons nationwide. In 2024 alone, prison residents received more than 3,000 hours of work and training and 112 prison residents took part in the courses. The new roastery will create new jobs for prison leavers, improve distribution efficiency and quality control and provide a visible, accessible base for wholesale partners and other stakeholders to visit. “Our growth has outpaced what’s possible inside prison walls,” said co-founder Max Dubiel. “The new roastery gives us the freedom to scale production, employ more prison leavers and strengthen partnerships with prisons across the country.” In the coming year, Redemption said it will employ even more prison leavers, pilot specialised roasting training programmes in prisons and develop opportunities for prisoners on day release to gain experience and secure employment before their full release. Founded in 2016 by Dubiel and Ted Rosner, Redemption now has 12 shops across London, and earlier this year made its transport hub debut with a launch at Victoria station.

 

Bristol operator to open third site: Bristol operator Giles Coram will open his third site later this month. Coram and the team behind Caper & Cure and Carmen Street Wine in the city will open a new bottle shop on Friday, 29 November. Opening next door to Carmen Street Wine and creating an additional 30 covers, Carmen Street Wine Bar & Bottleshop will offer bottles to take away, purchase online or drink on site. There will also be a menu of produce-led bar snacks, seasonal small plates, charcuterie and cheese. These will include moules mariniere, pate en croute and freshly baked madeleines, alongside cheese from local supplier L’Affinage and house pickles and chutney. At the heart of the space will be a large oak table, designed to seat up to 20 guests for special wine tastings, private events and communal dinners. Guests can choose a seat around this or one of the four smaller bistro tables. They will be guided by a knowledgeable team headed up by sommelier Holly Purnell-Swan, with the wine list featuring predominantly low-intervention European bottles. Coram said: “We want to ensure guests continue to feel warmly welcomed while discovering the wines we carefully seek out. As part of this expansion, we’re now importing directly from wineries, which has been a long-term goal of mine. Currently importing from Alto de Pioz near Madrid and Les Gragnotes near Perpignan, in the new year, we’re excited to broaden our portfolio even further, with our sights set on northern Italy for our next direct import partnership.”

 

East Midlands soft play operator to open second site: East Midlands soft play operator Rascal Ranch is to open a second site, in Market Harborough. The business has secured a lease on a 9,775 square-foot unit at Welland Business Park, adding to its debut site in Trevanth Road, Leicester, reports The Business Desk. The company, founded in 2021 by managing director Kavita Patel, is expected to open the new site in early 2026 as part of “wider expansion plans in the East Midlands”. Patel said: “The unit at Welland Business Park gives us so much scope to expand the Rascal Ranch offer. As well as the public children’s playground, we will have bookable private party rooms and a fully equipped commercial kitchen to serve visitors and our own patrons. Local recruitment is well underway and we aim for a core team of 18 to 20 people by the new year.”

 

Team behind pub in London’s Belgravia open two restaurants and deli under same roof: The team behind The Prince Arthur pub in London’s Belgravia has opened two restaurants and a deli under the same roof. The Prince Arthur, which specialises in Spanish cuisine, opened at 11 Pimlico Road in 2024, with Yaroslav Slyuzberg one of the co-founders. The same team acquired the space that used to be Le Deli Robuchon at 279 King's Road in Chelsea earlier this year to open a mini food hall. Arthur’s Market has now opened, including a fish counter and two counter-top lunch options. By day, Arthur’s Market will offer premium groceries such as artisanal cheeses and seasonal fruit and vegetables as well as rare Japanese delicacies, while the fishmonger will offer classic fish varieties alongside the likes of Spanish tuna, carabineros, blue belly prawns and a variety of types of fresh sea urchin. There is also a butchers’ counter offering high quality cuts of meat, and there are also deli items and ready meals to take away. Within Arthur’s Market is ASA Izakaya, a handroll and sushi bar with counter seating for 12 people at lunch, and by night, as fresh produce from the market is cleared away, ASA extends into an intimate, sit-down dining experience for up to 30 people serving Japanese specialties such as squid kasudzuke nigiri alongside an extensive caviar and roe selection. The second counter experience is Salvador, centred around a wood-fired grill with 25 counter seats, where guests can enjoy European small plates, meat sourced from Arthur’s butcher and a curated wine bar offering bottles from across the globe. Dishes include beef tartar with barrel aged soy, bone marrow and a confit egg yolk and pork pressa with an Nduja bean stew and wood first peppers.

 

IHG Hotels & Resorts to reopen Hotel Indigo in London’s Shepherd’s Bush in February: IHG Hotels & Resorts will reopen its Hotel Indigo in London’s Shepherd’s Bush in February following a complete transformation. Once home to the BBC’s Kensington House recording studios, the building’s design will pay homage to its rich musical heritage – where legends David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley once recorded. The hotel will feature 231 bedrooms including a collection of suites, a restaurant with an open kitchen, a neighbourhood bar and an urban spa.