| Friday 4th July 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Are we witnessing a bounce-back to binge drinking, what’s the story, time for a post-pandemic paradigm of alcohol harm, the new covenants: is the pendulum swinging back in the restaurant leasing game Authors: Ka … view |
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| Friday 4th July 2025 |
| Update: Universal submits UK theme park plans, Companies House, Chestnut Group |
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Universal submits first plans for UK theme park: The new Universal Studios theme park that will be built in the UK could include the tallest rides in Europe, the company said. Universal has sought planning permission for a new destination … view |
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| Friday 4th July 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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TGI Fridays UK CEO – we are launching a full brand reset that reinforces everything people have always loved about us: Julie McEwan, chief executive of TGI Fridays, the Calveton and Breal-backed business, has told Propel the company is … view |
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| Friday 4th July 2025 |
| TGI Fridays UK CEO: we are launching a full brand reset that reinforces everything people have always loved about us |
| TGI Fridays UK CEO – we are launching a full brand reset that reinforces everything people have always loved about us: Julie McEwan, chief executive of TGI Fridays, the Calveton and Breal-backed business, has told Propel the company is launc … view |
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| Thursday 3rd July 2025 |
| Update: Gen Z acquires taste for drinking, Greggs, business confidence |
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Gen Z’s famed abstinence waning: Generation Z has long been known as “generation abstinence”, shunning alcohol in favour of more wholesome pursuits. However, the latest evidence has suggested that they may not be as squeaky clean as … view |
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| Thursday 3rd July 2025 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Exclusive – Honi Poké acquires Island Poke to create UK’s leading poke brand: Hawaiian poké specialist Honi Poké has cemented its position as the UK’s leading poke operator with the acquisition of rival Island Poke, for an undisc … view |
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| Wednesday 2nd July 2025 |
| Ping Pong ceases trading, closes remaining four sites |
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Ping Pong ceases trading, closes remaining four sites: The four-strong Ping Pong restaurant business has ceased trading and closed all of its sites in London. Propel revealed last month that AJT Dimsum, the parent company of the Ping Pong … view |
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| Wednesday 2nd July 2025 |
| Exclusive: third-largest US chicken brand Raising Cane’s gearing up for UK launch |
| Exclusive – third-largest US chicken brand Raising Cane’s gearing up for UK launch: Raising Cane’s, which recently became the third-largest chicken brand in the US by sales, behind Chick-fil-A and Popeyes, is gearing up to launch in the … view |
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| Wednesday 2nd July 2025 |
| Update: Greggs warns on full-year profit, Esquires owner see increase in Q1 sales |
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Greggs – anticipates that full-year operating profit could be modestly below that achieved in 2024: Greggs has said that in light of current trading conditions it now anticipates that its full-year operating profit could be modestly bel … view |
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| Wednesday 2nd July 2025 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Evolv Collection CEO – we have enjoyed strong trading and growth throughout the year, looking to create ‘powerhouse brands’: Martin Williams, chief executive of the Evolv Collection, formerly D&D London, has told Propel that the bus … view |
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| Tuesday 1st July 2025 |
| Wasabi to open debut franchise site |
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Wasabi to open debut franchise site: Wasabi, the sushi and bento brand backed by Capdesia, is to launch its first franchise site. The company has partnered with global travel retailer, Lagardère Travel Retail, for the opening at Luton ai … view |
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| Tuesday 1st July 2025 |
| Update: San Carlo full-year figures, inflation, Trejo's Tacos, Stack |
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San Carlo reports full-year pre-tax profit of circa £1.5m, new Piccadilly site set to be strong addition: Family-run Italian restaurant group San Carlo saw turnover climb to £77,983,829 in the year to 28 September 2024 (2023: £76,949, … view |
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| Tuesday 1st July 2025 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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KFC looking to secure 50-plus new stores in UK this year as part of £1.5bn investment over five years, offering finder’s fee of up to £20,000: KFC is looking to secure 50-plus new stores in the UK this year as part of its £1.5bn inve … view |
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| Monday 30th June 2025 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Aaron Mellor – nightclub owners buying theatres is a natural step: Nightclub operators are increasingly looking to theatre and immersive productions as an offering to tempt Generation Z audiences who are less into drinking, the UK’s l … view |
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| Friday 27th June 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: London’s alfresco revolution should be embraced, navigating the new frontier of peak performance in hospitality, our antiquated rules on young workers Authors: Glynn Davis, Ben Dixon, Alastair Scott |
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| Friday 27th June 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Exclusive – first round bids in for Dishoom: Transatlantic investment funds and high-net-worth-individuals are believed to be among the parties that have submitted first round bids to invest in award-winning Indian restaurant group Dish … view |
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| Thursday 26th June 2025 |
| Update: Ivy Collection and Brewhouse & Kitchen results, Marston's hires new CFO |
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Ivy Collection reports turnover increases to record £327m but profit falls amid sales talks: The Ivy Collection, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant brand, has reported turnover increased to a record £327,126,000 for the year ending 5 … view |
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| Thursday 26th June 2025 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Buzzworks aiming to become £100m-plus company within five years and open its first accommodation venue this year, planning expansion into England: Scottish independent restaurant and bar operator Buzzworks Holdings has told Propel it is … view |
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| Wednesday 25th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: Oakman files notice of intention to appoint administrators as it looks to complete sale |
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Exclusive – Oakman files notice of intention to appoint administrators as it looks to complete sale: Oakman Group has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, as it looks to complete a sale of the remainder of its business … view |
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| Wednesday 25th June 2025 |
| Valiant Pub Company names Mark McGinty as new CEO as Gerry Carroll transitions to executive chairman |
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Valiant Pub Company names Mark McGinty as new CEO as Gerry Carroll transitions to executive chairman: Valiant Pub Company, which operates community-focused pubs across the UK, has announced chief operating officer Mark McGinty will succee … view |
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| Wednesday 25th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: Buzzworks completes management buyout to propel £100m-plus growth plans |
| Exclusive – Buzzworks completes management buyout to propel £100m-plus growth plans: Scottish independent restaurant and bar operator Buzzworks Holdings has completed a family management buyout, Propel has learned. Kenny Blair, co-founder a … view |
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| Wednesday 25th June 2025 |
| Update: Big Table Group, BrewDog and Various Eateries |
| Big Table Group sees continued Ebitda growth despite ongoing sector challenges: Big Table Group – the Las Iguanas, Bella Italia, Banana Tree and Frankie & Benny's operator – has posted group Ebitda of £13.9m for the year ending 27 October … view |
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| Wednesday 25th June 2025 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Heartwood Collection CEO – performance of our pubs with rooms is exceeding expectations, a lot clearer on what we are looking for site wise: Heartwood Collection chief executive Richard Ferrier has told Propel that the performance of th … view |
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| Tuesday 24th June 2025 |
| Tortilla undergoes refinancing and CFO to step down, 200 Degrees turnover hits record £20m |
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Tortilla undergoes refinancing, CFO to step down: Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has entered into a new, enlarged funding facility with its long-standing banking partner, Santander UK. Tortilla has also … view |
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| Tuesday 24th June 2025 |
| Heartwood Collection CEO – momentum from ‘momentous’ year has carried into current financial year |
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Heartwood Collection CEO – momentum from ‘momentous’ year has carried into current financial year, refinances debt facilities: Heartwood Collection chief executive Richard Ferrier has said the momentum from a “momentous” year fo … view |
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| Tuesday 24th June 2025 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Exclusive – RedCat returns to acquisition trail ahead of ‘exciting expansion plans’, trials new carvery concept: RedCat Hospitality, the recently rebranded operator of Coaching Inn Group and RedCat Independent Pubs, has returned to … view |
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| Monday 23rd June 2025 |
| Operational Excellence Conference Parallel Sessions revealed |
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| Monday 23rd June 2025 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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US interactive museum and social gaming experience makes its UK debut: US interactive museum and social gaming experience Skyscape has made its UK debut. The 25,000 square-foot site has opened at 45 Wellington Street in London’s Covent … view |
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| Friday 20th June 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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| Friday 20th June 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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State of Play Hospitality CEO – US trading strong, UK is a tough market at present, considering what’s next for Bounce: Toby Harris, chief executive of State of Play Hospitality, the international experiential leisure operator, has to … view |
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| Thursday 19th June 2025 |
| Update: Whitbread first quarter sales down but ‘continues to outperform against challenging market backdrop’ |
| Whitbread first quarter sales down but ‘continues to outperform against challenging market backdrop’, forward bookings ahead of last year: Whitbread has said it “continues to outperform against a challenging market backdrop” as it repo … view |
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| Thursday 19th June 2025 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Slim Chickens co-founder – the opportunities in the UK and Europe for the brand are ‘boundless’, signs on flagship sites in Paris and Madrid: Tom Gordon, co-founder and chief executive of US brand Slim Chickens, has told Propel that … view |
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| Thursday 19th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: State of Play Hospitality completes new debt facility, full-year revenue nears $60m |
| Exclusive – State of Play Hospitality completes new debt facility, full-year revenue nears $60m: State of Play Hospitality, the international experiential leisure operator, has secured a new $32.5m (£24.1m) debt facility to support its furt … view |
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| Wednesday 18th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: Ole & Steen in double-digit like-for-like growth, full year Ebitda up 25% |
| Exclusive – Ole & Steen in double-digit like-for-like growth, full year Ebitda up 25%: Danish bakery brand Ole & Steen has told Propel that it is in “double-digit like-for-like growth territory” on the back of a year “marked by continu … view |
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| Wednesday 18th June 2025 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Better burger business set to double in size this year including eight openings in next nine weeks, in talks on first international stores: Better burger business You Want Beef? has told Propel it is set to double in size this year, inclu … view |
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| Tuesday 17th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: St Austell Brewery delivers another year of growth and unveils major new rebrand |
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Exclusive – St Austell Brewery delivers another year of growth and unveils major new rebrand: St Austell Brewery has reported strong financial performance with a further year of record-breaking turnover and unveiled its first significan … view |
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| Tuesday 17th June 2025 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Foodservice prices again on the rise amid supply chain and climate pressures: Foodservice prices were on the rise again in April amid supply chain and climate pressures, according to the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index. The pr … view |
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| Tuesday 17th June 2025 |
| Foodservice prices again on the rise amid supply chain and climate pressures |
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Foodservice prices again on the rise amid supply chain and climate pressures: Foodservice prices were on the rise again in April amid supply chain and climate pressures, according to the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index. The pr … view |
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| Monday 16th June 2025 |
| Update: Richard Caring apologises for demanding discounts from suppliers |
| Richard Caring apologises for demanding discounts from suppliers: Richard Caring has apologised to suppliers of his restaurant businesses after a letter was sent out informing them there would be a “mandatory” 2.5% cut to their invoices. C … view |
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| Monday 16th June 2025 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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We Do Play anticipates exponential growth across all areas of its business over the next 36 months: We Do Play, the multi-concept experiential leisure operator, has told Propel it is anticipating “exponential growth across all areas of … view |
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| Saturday 14th June 2025 |
| Update: Stonegate, Greggs, Richard Caring and Pizza Hut Restaurants |
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Exclusive – Stonegate to cut support function roles to reflect decrease in size of managed estate: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, is set to reorganise its support functions to reflect the continued growth of its leased … view |
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| Friday 13th June 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Winning the postcode lottery, good things come in small glasses, losing our balance Authors: Katherine Doggrell, Glynn Davis, Mark Wingett Winning the postcode lottery by Katherine Dogg … view |
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| Friday 13th June 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Italian fire-baked pizza concept targets 50 locations by 2030 through franchising alongside growing its coffee/pasta room formats: Italian fire-baked pizza concept The Pizza Room has told Propel it is targeting 50 locations by 2030 throug … view |
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| Thursday 12th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: Greene King to continue to operate Venture Hotels division after talks end on sale of 39-strong portfolio |
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Exclusive – Greene King to continue to operate Venture Hotels division after talks end on sale of 39-strong portfolio: Greene King is to continue to operate its Venture Hotels arm, after talks on a possible sale of the division have end … view |
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| Thursday 12th June 2025 |
| SushiDog secures new funding to back UK expansion |
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SushiDog secures new funding to back UK expansion: Quick service sushi roll concept SushiDog has secured a further £1.3m of funding from backer Middleton Enterprises, with plans to reach 40 sites in the next five years, and build a natio … view |
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| Thursday 12th June 2025 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Fuller’s CEO – our low level of debt gives us plenty of firepower to add further ‘high quality’ assets, increases prices to help offset £8m in labour costs: Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller’s, has told Propel that the com … view |
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| Wednesday 11th June 2025 |
| Legal Briefing |
Hospitality – facing the uncontrollable by Michelle HazlewoodOver the past week, reports have highlighted a troubling reality for the hospitality sector: one in three businesses is now operating at a loss. The data comes from a new su … view |
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| Wednesday 11th June 2025 |
| Update: Fuller’s, Knoops and Wadworth |
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Fuller’s promotes Simon Emeny to executive chair, like-for-likes up 4.2% in last ten weeks, full-year revenue increases 4.8% to £376.3m: Fuller’s has promoted chief executive Simon Emeny to executive chair as it reorganises its lead … view |
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| Wednesday 11th June 2025 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
| Thai Leisure Group – with the right opportunities before us and when the conditions are right, we intend to seek investment: Ian Leigh, chief executive of Thai Leisure Group, operator of Thaikhun and Chaophraya, has told Propel that in due … view |
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| Wednesday 11th June 2025 |
| Nearly a third of hospitality leaders say their profits have fallen year-on-year |
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Nearly a third of hospitality leaders say their profits have fallen year-on-year: Mounting costs have strained businesses’ margins, with nearly a third (31%) of hospitality leaders saying their profits have fallen year-on-year, the late … view |
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| Tuesday 10th June 2025 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Incipio Group CEO – Olympia site could allow us to pursue enormous national and international opportunities: Ed Devenport, chief executive of Incipio Group – operator of venues including Pergola on the Wharf, The Libertine and The Pri … view |
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| Monday 9th June 2025 |
| Exclusive: Gusto Italian to assess investment options |
| Exclusive – Gusto Italian to assess investment options: Gusto Italian, the Palatine and Beechbrook Capital-backed, premium Italian restaurant and bar group, has appointed advisors to help review its investment options, Propel has learned. It … view |
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| Monday 9th June 2025 |
| UKHospitality promotes Kate Nicholls, Pret launches new shop format, Popeyes secures £43m |
| UKHospitality promotes Kate Nicholls to chair as Allen Simpson becomes CEO to pave way for enhanced strategy: UKHospitality has announced that current chief executive, Kate Nicholls, is to step up to the new role of chair, while current deputy … view |
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| Monday 9th June 2025 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Evolution of Britain’s late-night economy being jeopardised by rising costs: The evolution of Britain’s late-night economy is being jeopardised by rising costs, the latest Night Time Economy Market Monitor has revealed. The quarterly … view |
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| Monday 9th June 2025 |
| Evolution of Britain’s late-night economy being jeopardised by rising costs |
| Evolution of Britain’s late-night economy being jeopardised by rising costs: The evolution of Britain’s late-night economy is being jeopardised by rising costs, the latest Night Time Economy Market Monitor has revealed. The quarterly monit … view |
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| Friday 6th June 2025 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: When the yields dry up so do the menus, transforming hospitality: how AI is powering a new era of guest experience, consumer power and the cult of Bass, smaller brewers need relief Authors: Bob Gordon, Olivia FitzGe … view |
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| Friday 6th June 2025 |
| Update: Pret owner sounds out investors, McMullen’s posts record year, Sessions |
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Pret A Manger owner sounds out new investors ahead of potential IPO: The owner of Pret A Manger has recently explored bringing in new investors to the sandwich and coffee chain ahead of a potential initial public offering. The FT reports … view |
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| Friday 6th June 2025 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
| Young’s CEO – City Pubs has injected fresh energy into the overall business, brought top 30 pubs together to see how we can be more efficient: Simon Dodd, chief executive of Young’s, has told Propel that the City Pub Group estate, which … view |
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