Maven Leisure closes £4.3m fundraise, secures City of London rooftop site: Maven Leisure, the new venture from ETM Group co-founder Ed Martin, chief financial officer Landen Prescott Brann and non-executive chairman Graham Turner, has cl … view

BrewDog founder James Watt orders independent review and takes ‘100%’ blame for ‘toxic culture’: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has announced plans to launch an independent review into allegations of a “rotten culture” a … view

Anne Ackord – the government has treated the industry disgracefully, Brighton Pier Group hopes to make further theme park acquisitions: Anne Ackord, chief executive of Brighton Pier Group, has launched a scathing attack on the governmen … view

Loungers reports like-for-like sales up 26.6% in the four weeks after indoor dining opened up: Loungers has reported five new openings since its year end on 18 April – new sites in Wolverhampton, St Ives, Stourbridge, Welwyn Garden City … view

Gail’s sees ‘strong interest’ as it seeks new investment partner to help drive business forward, secures Godalming site: Tom Molnar, chief executive and co-founder of Gail’s Bakery, has told Propel the business has seen “strong … view

Ban on commercial evictions to be extended until 2022: The ban on commercial evictions introduced during the pandemic is set to be extended until 2022. The Telegraph reports ministers are expected to announce today (Wednesday, 16 June) th … view

English and Scottish sector leaders demand government support after reopening delayed: Sector leaders in England have written to prime minister Boris Johnson demanding support for the industry, following the delay to the roadmap for reope … view

Otherworld to expand virtual reality concept after securing further investment: Otherworld, the Imbiba-backed immersive entertainment business, is to expand nationally and internationally after raising £2.9m from leading venture capital … view

Leon closes Scandinavia operation: Natural fast food brand Leon has closed its operations in Scandinavia to focus on its business in the UK and other parts of Europe, Propel has learned. In 2017, the company, which earlier this year was a … view

Ministers weigh up hospitality rescue over billions in unpaid rent: Ministers are weighing up a plan to block landlords from kicking pubs and restaurants out of their properties for failing to pay billions of pounds in rent during the pan … view

BrewDog appoints first chair, engages third-party partner to conduct an independent review of its culture: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has appointed Blythe Jack as its first chairperson, an independent beer industry diversity spe … view

21 June unlocking called off: 21 June will no longer herald a full return to normality after Boris Johnson resigned himself to a delay of up to four weeks in lifting the remaining covid restrictions. The Prime Minister will tell the count … view

 

Nightclubs consider opening regardless on 21 June: Some UK nightclubs are considering reopening their doors on Freedom Day, 21 June, even if the government pushes back the date for lifting lockdown restrictions. Michael Kill, chief execut … view

Britain’s managed pub and restaurant sales slip 26% in May against 2019 levels as restrictions continue: Britain’s managed pub, restaurant and bar groups recorded a 26% drop in total sales in May from the same month in 2019, the new e … view

Britain’s managed pub and restaurant sales slip 26% in May against 2019 levels as restrictions continue: Britain’s managed pub, restaurant and bar groups recorded a 26% drop in total sales in May from the same month in 2019, the new e … view

Comptoir reports £8.1m loss in 2020 after sales fell 62.6%: Comptoir has reported revenue of £12.5m in the year to 31 December 2020, down by 62.6% (2019: £33.4m). Loss after tax was £8.1m (2019: £0.7m loss). Richard Kleiner, non-exec … view

Bowmark Capital to inject £2m into Drake & Morgan after CVA approval: Bowmark Capital is to inject £2m of working capital funding into Drake & Morgan, the London-based bar and restaurant group, after it secured approval to enter a compa … view

Every day for the past 15 months, I have looked over a large shared car park from my office window. This has proven to be a useful barometer into how the latest relaxations on the … view

Fears of unlocking in name only, with covid laws to be replaced by ‘stringent guidance’: Fears are growing that lockdown laws could be replaced with a web of restrictive guidance later this month in what has been dubbed by critics a � … view

Drake & Morgan secures CVA approval: Drake & Morgan, the London-based bar and restaurant group backed by Bowmark Capital, has secured approval to enter a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), Propel has learned. It is understood 90% of the … view

Debbie Hewitt to stand down as chairman of The Restaurant Group: The Restaurant Group has announced that chairman Debbie Hewitt MBE will be stepping down from the board with effect from 31 December 2021, in order to take up the role of ch … view

Boxpark secures debut site outside London with launch of new F&B concept BoxHall: Boxpark has secured its first site outside London with the launch of sibling concept BoxHall, in Bristol. The group has just agreed a lease for the harbours … view

Boxpark secures debut site outside London with launch of new F&B concept BoxHall: Boxpark has secured its first site outside London with the launch of sibling concept BoxHall, in Bristol. The group has just agreed a lease for the harbours … view

Prezzo to open first restaurant since 2018 at Islington Square: Cain International, the privately held investment firm led by Jonathan Goldstein, has agreed a new lease with Prezzo for 8,432 sq ft at its Islington Square development in no … view

Good Pub Guide Pub of the Year 2021 The Olive Branch – ‘things must change in hospitality’: The Olive Branch in Clipsham, Rutland, named as the Good Pub Guide Pub of the Year 2021, has decided to close on Sundays amid unprecedented … view

Restaurateurs raid colleges amid staff crisis: Thousands of restaurants and pubs have reopened but they cannot find the staff, pushing some to raise wages, offer bonuses or limit opening hours. The job site Indeed has almost 50,000 advert … view

 

Chapel Down to raise £6.876m to capitalise on English wine interest: English wine maker Chapel Down is raise up to £6.876m via a Seedrs fund-raising campaign to capitalise on the interest in English wine. Existing shareholders have alre … view

Trade bodies join forces to tell government the sector’s ability to be at heart of recovery is in jeopardy: Trade bodies have joined forces to tell the government the sector’s ability to be at the heart of the UK’s recovery is in je … view

Trade bodies join forces to tell government the sector’s ability to be at heart of recovery is in jeopardy: Trade bodies have joined forces to tell the government the sector’s ability to be at the heart of the UK’s recovery is in je … view

Hawthorn ‘expectations exceeded’ with tenanted estate trading at 98% of 2019 volumes: Pub company Hawthorn, which owns circa 700 pubs, has reported like-for-like volumes in its leased and tenanted estate are at 98% compared to the sam … view

BBPA urges government to intervene as it warns of ‘serious’ staff shortages in pubs, Tim Martin refutes claims JD Wetherspoon suffering issues filling vacancies: The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has warned of “serious” st … view

Hot Bank Holiday produces sector sales boost: Figures from S4 Labour show the hospitality sector saw a 63% jump in like-for-like sales over the most recent Bank Holiday weekend, comparing Saturday to Monday trading with the same Bank holi … view

Nightcap appoints new managing director to drive expansion of London Cocktail Club: Nightcap, the listed bar group formed by investors Sarah Willingham and Michael Toxvaerd to back the UK premium bar sector, has appointed a new managing d … view

Table ordering rule in pubs to be ditched as No10 seeks to axe social distancing on 21 June: Pub-goers look set for a boost as ministers are prioritising the return of ordering at the bar over ditching face masks. The Sun understands that … view

Franco Manca reports trading in first week was 92% like-for-like with two years ago: Franco Manca operator Fulham Shore has reported 71 out of the group’s 73 restaurants (53 of 54 Franco Manca and 18 of 19 The Real Greek) are now open a … view

Review of former Soho House restaurant estate to lead to further closures: Yucaipa Group, now the owner of the former Soho House restaurant brands including Pizza East, Chicken Shop and Dirty Burger, is to make further closures. The opera … view

Oakman reports like-for-like sales up 38.5% in first week, aims for 40 sites by 2022: The Oakman Group has reported a total loss of £13.9m for its year ending June 2020, with an Ebitda loss of £2.6m. The company stated: “As with the r … view

Dunstone takes control of Chik’n: Sir Charles Dunstone, the backer of Five Guys UK, has become the majority backer of Chik’n, the fried chicken concept from the team behind Chick ’n’ Sours, with plans to ramp up its rollout, Prope … view

Lord Smith calls for VAT cut for hospitality to be extended to March 2022: Lord Smith of Hindhead has called for an extension of reduced VAT for hospitality. In a House of Lords debate, he stated: “The government’s quick thinking and … view

The Conduit to open six-floor site in Covent Garden featuring all-day restaurant ‘showcasing the best in sustainable and ethical hospitality’: London-based social enterprise The Conduit will open a site in Covent Garden spanning six f … view

Wingstop makes minority investment in UK franchisee to drive growth: US chicken brand Wingstop, which has more than 1,500 locations worldwide, has announced a minority investment in the UK business, which is operated by its UK franchisee, … view

The Restaurant Group ‘encouraged’ by trading performance: The Restaurant Group has reported it had approximately 200 sites trading for delivery and takeaway in the six weeks to 11 April across its Wagamama and Leisure businesses prior … view

Krispy Kreme UK reports turnover falls almost a quarter amid pandemic, receives £2.5m business interruption insurance pay-out: Krispy Kreme UK has reported turnover fell 23.5% to £71.9m for the year ending 3 January 2021, compared with … view

YO! announces new Food-to-Go trial at 390 Tesco stores: YO!, the multi-brand, multi-channel Japanese and Asian food group, has announced a new trial agreement to supply pre-packaged YO! Food-to-Go products to 390 Tesco stores. The new agr … view

Exclusive – Greene King secures approval for Loch Fyne CVA: Brewer and retailer Greene King has received approval for the company voluntary arrangement (CVA) of its Loch Fyne restaurant business, Propel has learned. Propel revealed earl … view

Punch enters joint venture with Big Smoke Brew Co, eyes similar opportunities: Punch Pubs & Co, the Clive Chesser-led, circa 1,300-strong company, has entered in a joint venture with Surrey-based brewer and retailer Big Smoke Brew Co to i … view

Staff drought forces restaurant bosses to offer cash bungs to fill vacancies: Pub and restaurant bosses are pushing ministers to introduce a “coronavirus recovery visa” to persuade foreign workers to return, as they resort to increasi … view

 

Electra to demerge TGI Friday’s into FTSE main market later this year: Listed investment firm Electra is to demerge its TFI Friday’s business into the FTSE main market in the third quarter of this year. The move comes as Electra repor … view

Pret to make petrol station debut: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed chain, is to open new shops in petrol stations owned by Motor Fuel Group (MFG), the largest forecourt operator in the UK with more than 900 sites nationwide. Throug … view