Neos Hospitality CEO – ‘people are still going out but location is more important than ever before’: People are still going out, but location is more important than ever before, Neos Hospitality chief executive Russell Quelch has argued. The now 40-strong business has spent several years pivoting away from being purely a nightclub operation – a move accelerated by the acquisition of 20 former Revel Collective bars earlier this year. Speaking at the Propel Multi-Club Conference, Quelch said: “Nightlife will keep changing, and the trick with us is to keep evolving with it. We’ve got some venues that open from 10.30pm until 3am, and they trade very well. People are still going out, we’re seeing that in footfall throughout the venues, but people are socialising differently – they’re going out when they want to go out, in different time slots depending on what the market is. What people want from a night out is different now. The market has shrunk, and the big thing we’re seeing now is location is more important than ever before. One of the big shifts we made a few years ago was to focus on city centres as that’s where the footfall is, and the business is there is your product is right.” One flagship city centre location will be Neos’ debut London site, which will open on the former Tiger Tiger site in Haymarket. Neos will also launch its first dual-concept location there, with a Bonnie Rogues and Barbara’s Bier Haus opening side by side. Quelch said: “It’s taken a lot longer than we wanted. The original plan was to acquire the site in January 2025 and open in September 2025. London wasn’t on our target list, but how often does a site in Haymarket come up? We thought it was too good an opportunity to miss and that having two brands in one building would de-risk it. The site will hopefully open later this year, but the biggest learning when you’re acquiring venues is you can have a plan, but you’re generally on Plan E by the time it opens.” Quelch was among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference. All the videos are available free to Premium subscribers or for a one-off fee of £195 plus VAT to non-Premium subscribers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com for details.

 

Anglian Country Inns MD James Nye to speak at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings: Anglian Country Inns managing director James Nye will be among the speakers at the Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference. The all-day conference takes place on Tuesday, 19 May at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. Nye will discuss how the award-winning operator rises to the challenge of being a seasonal business, and how it is diversifying its model, including the opening of its first bakery. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £345 plus VAT for operators and £395 plus VAT for suppliers. There is a 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club subscribers while Premium Unlimited Plus subscribers receive four free tickets to the conference. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality today: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club subscribers today (Friday, 17 April), at midday. Another 46 companies have been added to the database, which now features 1,536 companies. This month’s edition also includes 197 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent developments reported as well as broader information around EBITDA, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel chief operating officer – editorial, 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 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. A new Premium Unlimited Plus option, which costs £1,995 plus VAT per annum, has some amazing additional benefits including four free tickets to Propel’s paid-for conferences – Excellence in Pub & Bar (19 May), Operational Excellence (9 July) and Talent & Training (15 October) – and the opportunity to run one free sponsored message or situation vacant notice during the year on the newsletter. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

NTIA CEO explains how a new generation is set to reshape the night-time economy: Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), has said the next wave of consumers won’t just participate in the night-time economy – “they will reshape it”. Writing in today’s (Friday, 17 April), Propel Premium Opinion, in the first of a regular column focused on the late-night economy, Kill explains how a new generation is set to drive the sector’s recovery. Also in today’s Premium Opinion, which will be sent at 5pm, Graeme Smith and Craig Rachel, who lead the corporate finance team at AlixPartners, discuss while it may feel like the world is temporarily pausing to assess the impact of the Middle East conflict, in more general terms, investor interest has been shifting back toward real world, operational businesses. Meanwhile, Mark Wingett, Propel’s chief operating officer – editorial, looks at the £1.4bn deal for Richard Caring’s restaurants and clubs empire. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can 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. A new Premium Unlimited Plus option, which costs £1,995 plus VAT per annum, has some amazing additional benefits including four free tickets to Propel’s paid-for conferences – Excellence in Pub & Bar (19 May), Operational Excellence (9 July) and Talent & Training (15 October) – and the opportunity to run one free sponsored message or situation vacant notice during the year on the newsletter. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

  

In Conversation – Propel talks to David Page, chairman of Bow Street Group: In the latest In Conversation podcast, Propel chief operating officer – editorial Mark Wingett, and Mark Stretton, chief executive of leading sector public relations firm Fleet Street Communications, talk to David Page, executive chairman of Wildwood operator Bow Street Group. Available today (Friday, 17 April) at 3pm to Premium subscribers, Page, the former chief executive of PizzaExpress and ex-chairman of Fulham Shore, discusses the working being carried out to turn around Bow Street Group, the early results, searching for brands and concepts to invest in, and the current issues facing his former companies and the wider sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can 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. A new Premium Unlimited Plus option, which costs £1,995 plus VAT per annum, has some amazing additional benefits including four free tickets to Propel’s paid-for conferences – Excellence in Pub & Bar (19 May), Operational Excellence (9 July) and Talent & Training (15 October) – and the opportunity to run one free sponsored message or situation vacant notice during the year on the newsletter. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

BBPA – electricity bills cuts snub for brewers ‘deeply disappointing’: The British Beer & Pub Association has said the government’s decision to omit brewers from its electricity bills cuts is “deeply disappointing”. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that electricity bills will be cut by up to 25% for over 10,000 businesses through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, from April 2027. BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “To not extend this offer to our world-renowned brewers, who are already one of the most highly taxed sectors, is a deeply disappointing decision which will pile further unfair economic pressure on an industry already operating on thin margins. Not recognising our brewers as important contributors to the government's growth agenda and denying them the chance to apply for relief not only risks UK investment, but undermines ambitions for a more prosperous, successful Britain.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a pub business that is seeking a general manager to run one of its venues. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The individual will be involved in all areas of the business, taking ownership and driving its success, ensuring the highest standards of service and creating memorable experiences for every customer. The role will also oversee financial and budgeting activities, optimising operations for peak efficiency.” The salary is up to £55,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email james@corecruitment.com

 

UAE investor acquires stake in Joe & the Juice: Emirates International Investment Co (EIIC), a UAE-based investment company, has acquired a stake in Danish salad, juice and coffee business Joe & the Juice in a deal valuing the company at $1.8bn (£1.33bn). The company, which operates circa 90 sites in the UK and circa 480 globally, said that EIIC has become a new strategic investor. It is thought that EIIC has taken a minority stake in Joe & The Juice, with General Atlantic remaining the company’s majority shareholder. The new funding will help the brand towards its goal of having 1,000 stores by 2028. Last July, it was reported that General Atlantic was exploring a potential US IPO for the brand, targeting a valuation of circa $2.4bn. The private equity firm originally invested in the business in 2016 and acquired a majority stake in 2023. The new investment comes as Joe & The Juice said that its revenue grew 16.5% to DKK3.3bn (£383.78m), while operating profit grew by 19% to DKK 204.6m, reflecting a “continued improvement in the underlying business”. The company said it was seeing growth across all regions, driven by both new store openings and strong momentum in existing stores. Joe & The Juice chief executive Thomas Noroxe said: “What matters most to me is that we’re seeing momentum across markets – both in new stores and in our existing ones. It’s a reflection of the work that’s gone into building a stronger foundation over the past years. At the same time, we’ve welcomed a new strategic investor, Emirates International Investment Company (EIIC), part of National Holding Group. That’s a strong vote of confidence in the direction we’re going in. We’re not changing direction – but we are increasing pace.” Last month, Propel reported that Joe & The Juice saw its turnover in the UK in the year to 31 December 2024 increase to £88,755,925 (2023: £76,952,519). Pre-tax profit jumped to £8,119,809 from £1,358,227 the year before. The company forecast that pre-tax profit for 2025 for its UK business will be in the £8m-10m range.

 

M&B adds four sites to estate, contracts exchanged on a further eight pubs: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the All Bar One and Harvester owner, has added four new sites to its estate and said it has exchanged contracts on a further eight pubs and hotels. The latest additions are The Charwood in Edinburgh – joining the company’s Miller & Carter brand; 73 Cathedral Road, Cardiff – a hotel becoming part of Innkeeper’s Collection; The Long Reach, Whitstable – set to operate as a Toby Carvery; and The White Swan, Arundel – a pub and hotel acquired for M&B’s Premium Country Pubs and Innkeeper’s Collection brands. Propel revealed M&B had acquired the latter site from Pebble Hotels last month. The pub, in Chichester Road, features 20 bedrooms, and was the last remaining site in the Pebble Hotels estate. M&B said: “These acquisitions strengthen our presence in Scotland and Wales as well as expanding our footprint across the south of England. Each site will benefit from significant investment to bring it in line with brand standards. Alongside these acquisitions, we are actively progressing development sites for new-build pubs and hotels and continue to seek existing businesses nationwide.”

 

Chef Luke Farrell – ‘we're always looking at opportunities for Plaza Khao Gaeng and Speedboat Bar in the UK and internationally’: Chef Luke Farrell, who with JKS Restaurants is behind Chaiyo Restaurants, has told Propel the business is “always looking at opportunities for Plaza Khao Gaeng and Speedboat Bar in the UK and internationally” but is currently focused on refining the sites it has. Earlier this week, Farrell announced plans to open a third site in London for southern Thai restaurant concept Plaza Khao Gaeng. The 75-cover site will open next to the upcoming Arcade Food Hall in Bedford Street, Covent Garden, next month, and join the original Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded Plaza Khao Gaeng in Tottenham Court Road and a site in Borough Yards, which opened last November. Chaiyo Restaurants also operates Speedboat Bar sites in Soho and Notting Hill. Farrell told Propel: “Trading across the group has been positive, with both concepts continuing to find their audience in London. There’s been a good level of engagement with what we’re doing, and it feels like the appetite is there. We’re always looking at opportunities for Plaza Khao Gaeng and Speedboat Bar in the UK and internationally, but there are no firm plans to share at this stage beyond Covent Garden. Following strong growth over the past year, our priority is to focus on the sites we already have, keep refining both concepts and continue developing them in a way that feels right. Any future expansion will be led by the right opportunities and by making sure we preserve the food, sourcing and spirit of both concepts.”

 

Italian bakery chain Nonna plans UK rollout: Nonna, the Italian bakery chain founded in China, is targeting 15 sites in the UK over the next five years after making its debut here last September. The business was founded in 2022 in Shanghai by Matteo Cicero, a Sicilian lawyer, and London doctor Jonathan Hazon. The pair have already grown the business to 15 sites in China through a franchising deal. They launched the first site in the UK, in Holborn, which is currently bringing in revenues of £70, 000 a month. On the franchising deal in China, the pair told The Standard: “It allowed us to move at a speed we could never have managed with a fully owned model but also created headaches we weren't prepared for – like franchisees not consistently following brand standards and failing to maintain the right atmosphere in their shops. Now we think keeping direct control over operations is the better path; it’s shaping how we're approaching the UK rollout.”

 

Joule’s – ‘largely hostile local and national authorities mean we’re questioning the validity of smaller pubs’, doubles profit: Brewer and retailer Joule’s has said “largely hostile” local and national authorities mean it is questioning the validity of its smaller pubs. The operator of 44 taphouses, which has focused recent acquisitions in Birmingham city centre sites, has previously said it is seeking to dispose of village locations where its model works less well. In the company’s accounts for the year to 31 March 2025, director Hedley Nuttall said: “While consumer sentiment is pessimistic, pub visits remain an affordable experience for most and sales throughout our estate are holding up well. The pubs that are more challenged, in general, are the smaller pubs, especially villages, where pubs are most under threat. While central policy makers make voluminous claims to be supportive of the sector, the reality for pubs is that local and national authorities are largely hostile, driving an ever-rising fixed overhead, bringing more and more of the smaller pubs to focus on the question of viability.” It comes as the business doubled its pre-tax profit in the year, to £1,682,567 from £878,665 the previous year. This was helped by a reduction in administrative expenses, from £5,155,684 to £4,680,209, and a rise in turnover, from £9,951,774 to £10,341,950. As previously reported, the company opened one new Birmingham city centre pub during the year and acquired another post year end, along with a French vineyard, Chateau Bessan, which will offer wine exclusively to the Joule’s estate. Nuttall added: “The good performance of the business has once again been delivered by a consistent reinvestment plan, the addition of new pubs and the evolution of our taphouse model within the core estate. Our strategy going forward is to continue to add in the upper quartile of our estate and to divest from the lower quartile.” Dividends of £40,000 were paid (2024: nil).

 

Chicken Cottage launches new food to go concept: Halal fast food company Chicken Cottage has launched a new food to go concept. The company said the concept will both allow it to go into more location types and enhance speed of service. “We’re excited to introduce our new food to go concept,” a company spokeswoman said. “Designed specifically for convenience-led environments such as convenience stores, service stations, travel hubs and grab-and-go locations, this innovative cabinet solution is built to enhance speed, efficiency and the overall customer experience. By integrating seamlessly into existing stores, food To go unlocks faster service, incremental sales opportunities, and a stronger grab-and-go offering, without operational complexity. We are now rolling this concept out across the UK and actively looking to partner with operators in convenience retail, forecourts and high-footfall travel locations who are looking to expand their food offering.” It comes after Chicken Cottage, which has 72 UK sites, last month opened its second dual branded store. It opened within the Fireway pizza store in Watford High Street, with both businesses operating from the same premises. Chicken Cottage also has an overseas presence in Kenya, Iraq, Ireland, Malaysia, Nigeria, Belgium and Pakistan.

 

Domino’s franchisee Strava Group to open brand’s 1,400th UK store: Domino’s franchisee Strava Group is to open the brand’s 1,400th UK store. Domino’s opened its first UK site in 1985, in Luton, Bedfordshire, while its landmark 1,400th site will be in Largs, in North Ayrshire, Scotland. Opening on Monday (20 April) in Gallowgate Street, the site was be operated by multi-brand franchise group Strava, led by Rickey Sharma. “Activity on site in Largs is gathering pace at our Domino's Pizza store,” Strava posted to social media. “This project is a significant one – proudly delivering the 1,400th Domino’s store in the UK and marking Strava Group's 47th store.” Sharma added: “We have been looking for the perfect location in Largs for some time, and we are delighted to finally have a date in the diary. We are excited to serve the beautiful seaside town of Largs.” Strava Group operates across four brands – Domino’s, Costa Coffee, German Doner Kebab and Snap Fitness. Sharma started his journey as a franchisee in 2012 with Domino’s after progressing through the ranks since 2007. In September 2025, Strava Group signed a master franchise agreement with German Doner Kebab to launch the brand in Ireland.

 

Permanently Unique Group to open Tattu site in Canary Wharf: Permanently Unique Group is to open a second site in London, under its Chinese-inspired restaurant concept Tattu, in Canary Wharf. The business, which launched its debut site in the capital in 2022 at The Outernet development, Tottenham Court Road, will open the new restaurant this winter on the former Marceline site at 5 Water Street. The company said that following exponential global growth with a successful opening in Dubai at Ciel Tower last year and five locations in key UK cities, this new opening “marks the latest chapter in Tattu's carefully curated story”. It said: “The new Canary Wharf destination draws inspiration from the historic floating restaurants of China, featuring a striking exterior of glowing lanterns and neon signage that reflects across the water. The interior will be organised into four distinct realms based on ancient maritime mythology.” Last month, the company, which was founded in Manchester in 2015 by brothers Adam and Drew Jones, opened the debut London site for Fenix, its contemporary Greek-Mediterranean dining concept, at 80 Piccadilly. The company also plans to launch Louis – its restaurant and musical venue format, and Fenix in Dubai before the end of this year.

 

PureGym to launch in Leicester shopping centre: PureGym is to launch a new site at a Leicester shopping centre. Located at Thurmaston Shopping Centre, the circa 13,500 square-foot gym will offer members 24/7 access to a range of facilities, including 100 pieces of equipment, a functional zone, a free weights area, cardio equipment and a fitness studio, alongside a range of classes and certified personal trainers. A PureGym spokesman said: “We are excited to be expanding our presence in Leicester with the opening of PureGym Leicester Thurmaston, providing flexible, high-value fitness facilities to communities across Leicester. We're excited to be making fitness more accessible for the local community, providing the opportunity to get active, feel stronger, and support overall well-being.” The gym is due to open on Friday, 22 May.

 

German Doner Kebab to add to roadside estate with Beaconsfield opening: German Doner Kebab (GDK), which is backed by private equity group True, is to add to its roadside estate with an opening in Beaconsfield Services, on the M40, next month. The business, which most recently opened a site in Redditch and has an opening in Lincoln next week, currently operates eight sites in UK service stations.  Simon Wallis, GDK chief executive, said: “As we continue our rapid growth across the UK, openings like Beaconsfield are powerful markers of the momentum behind the GDK brand. We’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, and we’d like to extend a special thanks to our hard-working team across the country, as well as a huge congratulations to our franchise partners – their drive and dedication have been central to our journey and success.” True invested into GDK in 2025, alongside Hero Brands, to accelerate GDK’s growth across existing and new markets globally. In February, GDK said it expects to open 25 new sites in the UK this year, with longer-terms plans for 900 outlets worldwide. GDK operates via dozens of franchise partners, running circa 155 outlets in the UK and nearly 40 more overseas, including in the US, Dubai, Ireland and Sweden.

 

Benugo partners with The Clink to create pathway for prison leavers into long-term hospitality careers: Benugo, the operator of deli cafes and catering in high-profile venues, has partnered with The Clink charity to create a structured employment pathway for prison leavers into long-term hospitality careers. Beginning in September, the five-year partnership will make Benugo an employment destination for graduates of The Clink’s training programme at HMP Brixton. Participants will gain access to Benugo’s internal learning and development framework and mentorship, while the collaboration combines financial sponsorship with operational support. Benugo will contribute training and development expertise to strengthen The Clink’s delivery model, while The Clink’s award-winning artisanal bakery products, produced by students in training at The Clink Bakery within HMP Brixton and its community-based production kitchen in Herne Hill, will be sold across chosen Benugo locations. Benugo founder Ben Warner said: “Hospitality has the power to change lives. By partnering with The Clink, we’re opening doors for people who want to rebuild their futures, providing real careers, skills and confidence.” Donna Edmonds, chief executive of The Clink, added: “Employment is one of the most significant factors in reducing reoffending. A long-term commitment from a respected operator like Benugo provides stability, progression and real opportunity for our graduates.”

 

Reel Cinemas set to start construction of 17th site: Family-owned independent operator Reel Cinemas is set to start construction of its 17th site, in Ashington, Northumberland. The new five-screen cinema will form part of a new leisure complex at Portland Park, which forms part of the £36m transformation of the town centre. The scheme will include two restaurant units and a family-orientated “competitive socialising” space alongside the cinema. Cllr Richard Wearmouth, cabinet member for business, growth and regeneration at Northumberland County Council, said: “The cinema and leisure complex represents a significant investment in Portland Park, strengthening the town centre as a destination for entertainment, dining and socialising. It’s a real vote of confidence for Ashington, building on the wider regeneration in the area including a new rail station and passenger rail line and a new college.” Reel Cinemas, which celebrates its 25th anniversary dreary this year, opened its 16th location, in Bishop Auckland, last month. At the same time, the company told Propel that trading in 2026 has been positive so far, and total revenue per customer is up 15% on pre-covid levels.

 

Zambrero lines up Basingstoke opening: Zambrero, Australia’s largest Mexican quick-service franchise, has lined up an opening in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The business will open a site in Festival Place in the town, next to Iceland. The new Zambrero site is being opened by Sumin Lohani, who took over an existing Zambrero restaurant in Reading as a franchise partner last summer. Lohani said: “Basingstoke holds a special place in my heart. After living and working in the town for 15 years, I’ve always felt a strong connection to the community, so it was the natural choice for my next Zambrero restaurant. I’m delighted to be opening in Festival Place, a vibrant hub at the centre of local life, and I’m excited to once again become part of the Basingstoke community. I look forward to welcoming our first customers when we open next month.” Earlier this week, Propel revealed Zambrero had appointed development agents, James Fleck, Michelle Jelfs and Sarah Preston, to spearhead its expansion in the West Midlands and south west territories. The new appointments support Zambrero's plans to open 100 restaurants nationwide by 2030 through strategic franchise partnerships. Zambrero launched in the UK in 2021 and now has 14 locations here.

 

Pivovar secures planning approval for new £1.6m ‘gastro-bar’: Plans from Pivovar to expand its Elvington Brewery, where Mittel pilsner and lager is made, have been given the go ahead by City of York Council. According to the Yorkshire Post, the plans include a new £1.6m gastro-bar overlooking the River Ouse and have been approved amid fears over noise from neighbouring offices. Jamie Hawksworth, Pivovar’s director, told councillors it wanted to foster a continental atmosphere with customers sitting for drinks and food, not standing shoulder-to-shoulder. Pivovar runs the Elvington Brewery and also operates 14 bars and restaurants nationally, including four in York. Pivovar’s plans include installing a copper brewhouse specially made in the Czech Republic, which will produce a range of lager that will be served there. A minimum of 60 people will be seated on the lower floor of the building, with 20 on the upper floor. The lower terrace would have seating for at least 20 people, with 40 seated on the outdoor area above when weather permits. Earlier this month, Thornbridge & Co – the joint venture between Derbyshire’s Thornbridge Brewery and Pivovar –opened its debut London site. The Wild Swan at 99 Fetter Lane in Holborn is the joint venture’s fifth venue in total, joining its pubs in Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield and York.

 

Aparthotel operator Kula set to expand UK portfolio with Worcester site: Aparthotel operator Kula is set to expand its UK portfolio with a site in Worcester. The company has lodged plans to convert the former Debenhams department store in High Street. The four-storey corner building has been vacant since Debenhams closed in January 2021. Under the proposals submitted to the city council, the upper floors of the building would be converted to create 63 bedrooms, with the ground floor to be retained as commercial space. Kula currently operates 11 sites in the UK – nine in London and one each in Birmingham and Manchester. The group also operates four sites in Australia.

 

High Road Restaurants – ‘trading has been positive across both Buenasado and Buenos Aires businesses’: High Road Restaurants has said recent trading across its eight-strong estate of restaurants, which is spread evenly between its Buenasado and Buenos Aires concepts, has been positive – but the primary focus is to continue to improve profitability, reduce debt and strengthen the balance sheet before seeking further opportunities to grow. During the year to 29 June 2025, the group generated turnover of £11,829,880 (2024: £14,220,357), with pre-tax loss of £1,607,158 (2024: loss of £1,721,614). During the period, the group said it generated positive EBITDA of £887,078 (2024: £695,353). In November 2024, the group sold its 45.54% shareholding in Koh Thai to the director of that company. The company said: “This strategic decision was taken to focus the group’s capital and management on the Buenos Aires and Buenasado businesses. For the five months up to the date of disposal, Koh Thai operated four restaurants on the south coast, during which time trading conditions were difficult. The Bournemouth and Southsea restaurants performance was disappointing in the period up to disposal. However, the Poole and Port Solent restaurants performed well. During the period, the Koh Thai subsidiary contributed £1.5m of turnover and a net loss of £27,000, The group recognised a gain on disposal of £286,000 in relation of the sale of its shareholding in Koh Thai.” On its remaining eight sites, the business said: “Trade during the year has continued to be strong. Albeit, like all companies in the sector, the company continues to face operational challenges.” On their more recent performance, it said: “Trading has been positive. Both Buenos Aires and Buenasado are generating cash from operations and building cash reserves. However, the primary focus is to continue to improve profitability of the existing estate, reduce debt and strengthen the balance sheet before seeking further opportunities to grow organically via new openings and/or acquisition.”

 

Burgerism set to open in Leeds, already seeking a second site on the back of strong results in 2025: Burgerism, the north west smash burger concept, is set to open a site in Leeds, as it makes its first move outside of its home city of Manchester. The business is set to open on a former Papa John’s site in the Meanwood area of the city. Earlier this year, the company opened a site in a high footfall location for the first time, complete with eat-in offer, in central Manchester – ahead of planned expansion outside of the city. The business, which also currently trades from three delivery sites and a concession in Freight Island, opened the new site in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens, in the former Doctor Scooter unit. Co-founder Mark Murphy told Propel: “While Burgerism has run some pop-ups outside of Manchester before, the business has never taken on a lease in a new city previously. I’ve seen the benefit of prioritising significant scale in Manchester, where Burgerism has achieved a national-brand level of awareness and operation.” The business now has its sights firmly fixed on Leeds and is already looking at a second site in the city, where Murphy believes the audience represents a very similar market to Manchester and is “excited to build out the brand in another vibrant northern city”. Murphy said that the business posted another set of strong results in 2025, seeing positive like-for-like growth, and “recording its best group profit result yet”. He said that expansion continues to be funded from cash flow.

 

Scottish Black Sheep Coffee franchisee to open fifth site with brand: Scottish Black Sheep Coffee franchisee Sur Coffee is to open its fifth site with the brand, in Ayr. The outlet will launch on Tuesday, 28 April in an empty unit in High Street. The opening is part of a 15-store development deal in the country that Sur Coffee, led by Tariq Din and Suhail Rehman, signed with Black Sheep Coffee last year. Sur Coffee already operates four locations across Glasgow, including in Byres Road and Sauchiehall Street. Din said: “We’re excited to be coming to Ayr. It’s a great town and feels like a natural next step for us.” Black Sheep Coffee began in Scotland, where co-founders Eirik and Gabriel first met as university students. The brand has since grown to 115 UK locations plus ten overseas, in the UAE and US.

 

Team behind London dim sum restaurant concept Good Fortune Club to launch ‘premium Cantonese dining experience’ for fourth site: The team behind London dim sum restaurant concept Good Fortune Club is to open a fourth site in the capital. Banquet 88, which is described as “a premium Cantonese dining experience”, will launch in St Katharine Docks. The restaurant at Commodity Quay will have space for 140 diners inside as well as a private dining area, reports Hot Dinners. Banquet 88 will offer Cantonese classics such as whole Peking duck, roast suckling pig as well as seafood dishes. The team operates Good Fortune Club sites in Wimbledon and Ealing as well as Tao Tao Ju in Chinatown. Marc Rogers, of MKR Property, acted on the St Katharine Docks deal.

 

Allpress Espresso to open site in London’s Farringdon next month: Specialty coffee roasters Allpress Espresso, which was acquired by Asahi in 2021, is to open a new Central London site, in Farringdon next month. The new espresso bar will open on Monday, 4 May at 88-89 Cowcross Street, overlooking Smithfield Market. The company – which also operates sites in New Zealand, Japan, Australia and Singapore – said Allpress Farringdon will be “a stand-alone, purpose-built espresso bar designed specifically for the rhythm of its neighbourhood”. A curated selection of baked goods prepared in-house will complement the coffee menu. The company currently operates three sites in London, plus a cafe and barista training hub in Manchester. First launched in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1989 before opening its first UK store in London in 2010, Allpress roasts for circa 400 independent cafes across the UK. “Opening in Cowcross Street feels like a natural next step for us”, said Agnes Potter, managing director of Allpress UK. “We’re bringing our coffee into the heart of the city and creating a space that reflects both the heritage of the area and the way Londoners drink coffee today.”

Junk Group’s third UK site for burger concept to include sister brand Puffy: Junk Group, the French-based business that operates four concepts across France, has said the third UK site for its eponymous smashburger concept will include sister brand Puffy. Propel reported yesterday (Thursday, 16 April) that Junk Group, which already operates two Junk Burger sites here, in London’s Marylebone and Soho, is preparing to open in Spitalfields Market. The group’s freshly baked cookies brand, Puffy, will now also open a standalone café within the same site. Junk Group, which was founded by Wissem Ben Ammar and Majed Mansour in 2013, currently operates seven Puffy sites across Paris. It opened its debut UK Puffy site last summer, on the former Orée Boulangerie site in Old Compton Street, Soho, and last month secured a site in Mayfair for an opening later this year under the cookies brand. Hanover Green acted on the Old Spitalfields Market deal.