Ex-Market Halls COO – ‘UK food hall market is now a maturing sector attracting serious, disciplined capital’: The UK food hall market is now a “maturing sector attracting serious, disciplined capital” and the operators and devel … view

Exclusive – Stonegate set to test market with circa 300-strong pub portfolio: Stonegate Group, the UK's largest pub company, is set to test the market with a package of circa 300 pubs, Propel has learned. The pubs are understood to be p … view

Qatari-backed Irth Capital in takeover bid for Papa John’s: Qatari-backed investment fund Irth Capital has offered to pay $47 a share to buy Papa John’s International, in a second attempt after it tried to buy the pizza brand alongsid … view

Tim Hortons UK & Ireland extends master franchise agreement to 2045, issues £26.7m equity for future growth: Tim Hortons UK & Ireland has extended its master franchise agreement with brand owner Restaurant Brands International (RBI) to 2 … view

The Wolseley’s branching out with New York hotel: A pillar of London’s restaurant scene hopes to break America after its parent company unveiled plans for a first Wolseley-branded hotel in New York. The Times reports that owner Minor … view

Stonegate Group CEO – ‘having diverse leadership talent is more than just the right thing to do, it's the right commercial thing to do as well’: David McDowall, chief executive of Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, has … view

Anyone who has been through a licensing application or hearing will know the drill. Much of the discussion tends to focus on risk: what problems might arise from a … view

Exclusive – Lord’s ends four-year beer partnership with BrewDog after 14 months: Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has ended its beer partnership with Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog 14 months into the four-year deal, Propel has lear … view

Domino’s Pizza Group CEO – ‘we don’t need to acquire a second brand to achieve growth’, ‘franchisees have had to put prices up’: Nicola Frampton, Domino’s Pizza Group’s interim chief executive, has said that the business … view

Jamie Oliver Restaurants global director – first Jamie’s Italian back on the UK high street ‘very different site to anything we have’: Ed Loftus, global director of Jamie Oliver Restaurants, has told Propel the first Jamie’s Ita … view

Former Loungers CFO joins Tortilla board: Gregor Grant, former chief financial officer at café bar operator Loungers, has joined the board of Tortilla, as a non-executive director and chair of its audit committee, with immediate effect. … view

US bakery brand believes ‘time is right’ for UK entry’, aiming for ‘measured, city-led expansion strategy’ here: US bakery brand Magnolia Bakery has told Propel it believes the “time is right” for entry into the UK market an … view

Bill's MD – ‘phenomenal start to a big year for the business’, ‘opportunity to take kiosk format to the high street’: Tom James, managing director of Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant group, has told Propel that the … view

Foodservice price inflation flattens in January: Food and drink prices in the hospitality sector remained virtually flat in January, with month-on-month inflation slowing to just 0.02%, according to the latest Foodservice Price Index from … view

Foodservice price inflation flattens in January: Food and drink prices in the hospitality sector remained virtually flat in January, with month-on-month inflation slowing to just 0.02%, according to the latest Foodservice Price Index from … view

BrewDog co-founder James Watt – ‘at times we expanded too fast and diversified too broadly’: James Watt, co-founder of Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, has said at times the business “expanded too fast and diversified too bro … view

Greggs to trial vending machines, sees ‘significant growth opportunity in underrepresented catchments’: Food-to-go retailer Greggs is to trial vending machines and said it sees “significant growth opportunity in underrepresented cat … view

Former BrewDog Bars CEO on BrewDog closures – ‘government policy made profitable bars marginal’: James Brown, chief executive of Brava Hospitality Group, and former chief executive of BrewDog Bars, has called the closure of 38 of th … view

Greggs starts 2026 strongly after reporting 6.8% rise in sales but fall in profitability in 2025, ‘clear opportunity for significantly more’ than 3,000 stores: Food-to-go retailer Greggs said it has started 2026 strongly, with a healt … view

No offer made for BrewDog in its entirety, no return to any equity holders: AlixPartners, the advisory firm appointed joint administrators to BrewDog UK entities, has said no offer was made for the Scottish brewer and retailer in its enti … view

US company Tilray joins race for BrewDog brands: Tilray Brands, which began life as a pureplay cannabis producer and is currently the fourth-largest craft beer brewer in the US, has emerged as leading bidder for BrewDog. Tilray, which is … view

BrewDog future set to be resolved today with James Watt ‘out of the running’, closes all bars for the day as it looks to complete sale: The future of BrewDog is “set to be resolved today”, with co-founder and former chief executiv … view

Exclusive – Lance Batchelor steps down as Burger King UK chair: Lance Batchelor, the former chief executive of Domino’s Pizza, has stepped down as chair of the Bridgepoint-backed Burger King UK, after just over two years in the role. … view

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Papa John’s sees UK sales growth of 7%, to use UK closure strategy in US: Papa John’s saw a 7% increase in sales growth across its UK business in the three months to 28 December 2025, as it said it would use the same site closure stra … view

Sandwich Sandwich secures debut transport hub site, grab-and-go format ‘set to be a game changer’, eyes New York launch: Sandwich Sandwich, which was founded in Bristol in 2012, is to make its transport hub debut with an opening in Lo … view

TGI Fridays UK business was acquired in pre-pack deal for £1m, had losses of £12.4m at time of sale by Calveton UK and Breal Capital: The business and assets of Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group, the company which manages the operations … view

Exclusive – Harry Ramsden’s seeking further service station opportunities after making return to UK motorway network, in talks on more international openings: Harry Ramsden’s has told Propel it is seeking further service station opp … view

Shaftesbury – estates ‘performing well’, ‘high demand’ from F&B operators: Central London landlord Shaftesbury has reported its estates are “performing well” with “high demand” from food and beverage operators. The compa … view

Ole & Steen parent company hires advisors to test market: Danish Bake, the parent company of Danish bakery group Lagkagehuset, which owns the Ole & Steen brand, has hired advisors to review its options for the business, which could includ … view

Admiral Taverns – ‘we remain acquisitive’, invests circa £39m on acquisitions: Admiral Taverns, which runs 1,350 community pubs across the UK, has said it remains acquisitive and believes there will be further opportunities to grow … view

Admiral Taverns reports record turnover of £210.4m as profits rise: Admiral Taverns, which runs 1,350 community pubs across the UK, has reported revenue increased to a record £210.4m for the year ending 1 June 2025 compared with £194.5 … view

Exclusive – Little Door & Co secures new funding to accelerate UK expansion: Little Door & Co, the house-party-inspired late-night bar and restaurant concept, has secured new funding to support the next stage of its growth, with plans t … view

James Watt to invest £10m into rescue bid for BrewDog: James Watt, the co-founder and former chief executive of Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, is to plough £10m of his own money into a rescue bid for the struggling craft brewer a … view

Exclusive – Franco Manca owner brings in advisors to review options: Fulham Shore, which operates the Franco Manca and The Real Greek restaurant brands, has appointed advisors to review its strategic options to ensure both brands are � … view

Flat sales in January after Christmas hangover for hospitality: Tight consumer spending after festive celebrations led to a 0.1% drop in like-for-like sales at Britain’s top managed restaurant, pub and bar groups in January, according t … view

M&A experts – ‘generalist investors have left the market’, ‘sector starting to awaken to opportunities outside UK’: Sector M&A and investment experts have told Propel that generalist private equity firms are currently out of the … view

First round bids in for BrewDog, talk of deal needing to be agreed by end of the month: First round bids for the whole or parts of BrewDog have already been submitted, with a deal or deals needed to be done by the end of this month, Prope … view