BrewDog calls in advisors to oversee sale: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, has called in advisers to oversee a sale that could trigger a break-up of the business. Sky News reports that the board of BrewDog has appointed AlixPartners … view

Leon lost more than £60m since EG Group takeover, closed 22 stores since CVA: Leon, the naturally fast-food brand, lost more than £60m following its 2021 takeover by EG Group and has closed 22 stores since its company voluntary arrangem … view

French kebab concept seeking entry into UK market: French kebab concept Zen Döner is seeking partners with which to enter the UK market. Zen Döner was founded by Dr Turhan Guldas, a dentist by trade, and opened its debut site last year … view

Maki & Ramen – we’ve had investment approaches but focused on organic growth for now: Michael Salvador, chief operating officer of Japanese restaurant concept Maki & Ramen, has told Propel that the fast-growing business has received i … view

I recently came across the headline: “One in seven food delivery businesses in England are dark kitchens.” It was the sort of statistic that makes you stop mid-scroll – on … view

Exclusive – Starbucks reshapes its UK licensing structure, one franchisee to hand over almost half its estate ahead of ambitious 100-store development plan: Starbucks has reshaped its UK licensing structure in a strategic process after … view

Punch reports underlying Ebitda growth, acquires Mash Inn JV: Punch Pubs & Co, the Fortress-backed operator of circa 1,300 community pubs, has reported revenue of £105.1m for the 16 weeks to 30 November 2025 compared to £97.3m in the pr … view

Butcombe reports like-for-like sales up 9.7% across managed estate driven by accommodation and London sites: Butcombe Group, formerly Liberation Group, has reported a 9.7% increase in like-for-like sales across its managed pub estate for … view

For such a populist subject, Reform leader and pint-lover Nigel Farage had been strangely quiet. A month after writing that line about the government’s U-turn on business rates support for the pub secto … view

JD Wetherspoon founder Sir Tim Martin calls on hospitality industry to back political support for tax reform: JD Wetherspoon founder Sir Tim Martin has called on the hospitality industry to back political support for tax reform – “the … view

JD Wetherspoon responds to BBC article regarding its policy on dogs, opens first pub in continental Europe: JD Wetherspoon has responded to a BBC article regarding its policy on dogs. The company said the article ‘Wetherspoon dogs polic … view

Tortilla founder – ‘we are upping our game in the face of increased competition’, ‘significant opportunity internationally’: Brandon Stephens, founder of Tortilla, the UK and Europe’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant bra … view

Tortilla promotes Brandon Stephens to group CEO and hires former Leon MD as UK CEO: Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has promoted Brandon Stephens to group chief executive and hired former Leon managing d … view

Domino’s to roll out chicken concept to all UK stores after ‘outperforming expectations’: Domino’s Pizza Group is to roll out its Chick ‘n’ Dip across all its circa 1,400 stores in the UK & Republic of Ireland following a succ … view

Exclusive – Australian bakery brand Brooki Bakehouse plans UK launch after securing new investment: Brooki Bakehouse, the Australian bakery brand, which is famed for its viral social media following, is planning to make its UK debut lat … view

Pubs and restaurants suffer longest period of job losses since financial crisis: A fall in pub and restaurant hiring has contributed to the longest period of job losses since the financial crisis, according to new figures. Staff numbers i … view

Pitch co-founder – ‘opportunity for 200 sites globally with 20 opening in UK over next five years’, ‘next launch here to be an important test with smaller scalable format’: Chris Ingham, co-founder of golf club concept Pitch, ha … view

Mayfair Chippy founders – ‘Saudi Arabia deal only the start of overseas growth’, ‘potential to expand in the UK through smaller QSR format’: Mayfair Chippy, the London fish and chip shop concept, has told Propel that its franchi … view

Punch acquires 30 pubs from McMullen’s: Punch Pubs & Co, the Fortress-backed operator of circa 1,300 community pubs, has completed the acquisition of a 30-strong package of pubs from family-owned brewer and pub operator McMullen's, for … view

Greggs overtakes Costa to become largest overall operator as UK branded coffee shop market grows 3.5% in 2025: The UK branded coffee shop market grew 3.5% in 2025, with Greggs overtaking Costa to become its largest overall operator. Alleg … view

AG Barr acquires Fentimans and Frobishers for combined £51m: Drinks firm AG Barr has acquired soft drinks brands Fentimans for £38m and Frobishers for £13m. AG Barr stated: “Both brands operate in the attractive adult soft drinks ma … view

Thesleff Group founder – ‘our next £40m-£50m of investment will go outside the country’, builds US pipeline: Thesleff Group founder Markus Thesleff has said the group’s next £40m-£50m of investment will go outside the UK, beca … view

Cornish Bakery CEO says ‘instability and uncertainty’ from government is ‘killing off hospitality’ as it reports another record year, unveils new concept: Steve Grocutt, founder and chief executive of fast-growing independent bra … view

Neos Hospitality CEO – we will review every Revolution bar and make the right decision to ensure longevity: Russell Quelch, chief executive of Neos Hospitality, which last week acquired 20 Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba sites out of … view

Soho House completes $2.7bn deal to go private: Soho House has completed its $2.7bn deal to go private, with chief executive Andrew Carnie calling it a “positive step” for the international members club business. The international hos … view

Foodservice price inflation accelerates in December as festive demand peaks: Food and drink prices in the hospitality sector rose by 1.1% in December, according to the latest edition of the Foodservice Price Index from Prestige Purchasing … view

Starbucks reports increased like-for-like sales for the first time in almost two years: Starbucks has reported increased like-for-like sales for the first time in almost two years, after refurbished cafés and a revamped menu, including … view

Toca Social president – ambitions for ‘hundreds’ of venues worldwide, confirms Americas expansion and sees huge potential in ‘under-served’ European leisure market: Alex Harman, president of interactive football bar concept Toc … view

Marston’s – performance tracking in line with prior year, festive like-for-like sales up 4%: Marston’s said it saw a strong trading performance over the festive period where like-for-like sales increased by 4%, while like-for-like … view

Exclusive – Côte parts company with CEO: Côte, the French brasserie brand, is understood to have parted company with chief executive Emma Dinnis – less than a year after the former managing director of the DFS-owned Sofology joined … view

Neos Hospitality acquires 20 bar sites from The Revel Collective estate: Neos Hospitality, formerly Rekom, has doubled the size of its estate after acquiring Revolution Bars Group, Revolución de Cuba and Founders & Co, via a pre-pack adm … view

Pubs to get £100m a year support package after business rates U-turn: The Treasury is to hand the struggling pub sector a new support package worth around £100m a year after being warned of mass closures and job losses unless relief is … view

State of Play Hospitality CEO – Flight Club has great momentum in the US, 90% of group revenue over next year will come from stateside operations: Toby Harris, chief executive of State of Play Hospitality, the international experiential … view

Prezzo Italian owner reports turnover increases to £100.2m and Ebitda up 300% following ‘robust turnaround’ of brand: Prezzo Italian, part of Brava Hospitality Group, has reported turnover increased to £100.2m for the year ending 31 … view

The Revel Collective to file notice to appoint administrators: The Revel Collective – the operator of 65 venues trading predominantly under the Revolution, Revolución de Cuba and Peach Pubs brands, has filed a notice of intention to ap … view

Hospitality closures accelerated in fourth quarter as costs rose again: Britain’s number of licensed premises fell by 0.4% in the last three months of 2025, according to the latest Hospitality Market Monitor from NIQ. The country had 9 … view

WatchHouse founder – ‘we can see the US becoming our biggest market’, planning smaller espresso-format, seeing market-leading like-for-like sales: Roland Horne, founder and chief executive of specialty coffee business WatchHouse, wh … view

Exclusive – James Watt considering bid to buy back BrewDog: James Watt, who co-founded BrewDog with Martin Dickie in 2007, is considering launching a bid to buy back the Scottish brewer and retailer, Propel has learned. Propel understan … view

Young’s CEO – ‘business rates change should be for whole of the sector’, ‘we need long-term meaningful reform’: Simon Dodd, chief executive of Young’s, has told Propel that any changes made by the government to business rate … view

Exclusive – Satnam Leihal steps down as CEO of Boparan Restaurant Group: Satnam Leihal has stepped down as chief executive of Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), the Slim Chickens UK, Ed’s Easy Diner and Carluccio’s operator, after six … view

Sir Tim Martin – JD Wetherspoon franchise operations producing ‘high sales’ and had ‘several’ overseas enquiries, ‘government would give tax equality with supermarkets if it really values pubs’: JD Wetherspoon chair Sir Tim … view

Exclusive – Inception Group to open Covent Garden Market Building flagship site: Inception Group, the London hospitality group known for its immersive venues, is to open a new flagship site in Covent Garden’s historic Market Building. … view

UKHospitality warns government it ‘only has one chance to get this right’ as restaurants and hotels set to miss out on business rates relief: UKHospitality has warned the government it “only has one chance to get this right” after … view

Pubs strong and restaurants flat in mixed December for hospitality: Festive celebrations helped Britain’s managed pub groups to end 2025 on a high, the latest NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. The Tracker – produced by NIQ … view

6 of 1 Hospitality Group co-founder – ‘we’ve got international ambitions but taking it one step at a time’: Abhinav Malde, co-founder of 6 of 1 Hospitality Group, the team behind Mr Bao, Master Bao, Daddy Bao and Wonton Charlie's, … view

Pubs strong and restaurants flat in mixed December for hospitality: Festive celebrations helped Britain’s managed pub groups to end 2025 on a high, the latest NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. The Tracker – produced by NIQ … view

Tim Hortons UK&I CEO – confident we now have strong foundations in place to deliver sustainable, long-term success: Deepinder Batth, chief executive of Tim Hortons UK and Ireland, has told Propel that he is “confident we now have stro … view

Doughnut business Dum Dum Donutteries founder – ‘scope to grow to 100-plus sites across the UK and re-establish international presence’: Paul Hurley, founder of Doughnut business Dum Dum Donutteries, has told Propel he believes ther … view