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Friday 29th January 2016
Update: BrewDog raised £13.5m, Jamie Oliver, JDW, Fuller's
BrewDog raised £13.5m so far, plans US fund-raising: BrewDog has reported that its current round of crowdfunding has raised £13.5m so far, with a total 20,335 new investors buying shares. The average share investment to date per person … view
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Friday 29th January 2016
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Menu choice, the Birmingham dining boom, and a sense of unease
Authors: Glynn Davis, Ahmed Ahmed, and Ann Elliott

Menu choice by Glynn Davis

Over the years many people have recom … view
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Friday 29th January 2016
Propel Friday News Briefing
Coyote Ugly signs development agreement for first Western-themed bar in UK as part of franchise expansion: Coyote Ugly, the Western-themed bar that inspired a Hollywood movie, has signed a franchise agreement for the development of its fi … view
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Thursday 28th January 2016
Greene King joins trade body
Greene King joins trade body: The UK’s largest pub retailer and brewer, Greene King, is to become a member of the British Hospitality Association. The move comes as a surprise because the company has not been a member of any trade bodies sin … view
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Thursday 28th January 2016
Trading updates: M&B, Fuller's and SSP
M&B reports improving like-for-like trend, albeit still negative: Mitchells & Butlers has reported trading over the festive period was ‘encouraging’, with like-for-like sales growth of 2.0% in the two weeks of Christmas and New Year. … view
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Thursday 28th January 2016
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Restaurants fastest growing sector in Scotland last year, new research reveals: Restaurants were the fastest growing sector in Scotland last year, according to new research by insolvency trade body R3. The research showed there are 4,067 … view
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Wednesday 27th January 2016
Xmas spending trends, Deltic buys flagship site
Horizons – more people eating out over Christmas, but spend down: A modest climb in the number of people eating out over Christmas 2015 suggests that the sector is now back into a period of gradual growth following a stall in its recove … view
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Wednesday 27th January 2016
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker – Generation Y driving broadening of Brits’ wining and dining horizons: Brits are eating and drinking out at a wider range of venues than two years ago with the trend driven by young consumers, the la … view
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Tuesday 26th January 2016
10 Minutes with Oakman Inns & Restaurants chief executive Peter Borg-Neal
10 Minutes with Oakman Inns & Restaurants chief executive Peter Borg-Neal: James Hacon, managing director at Elliotts agency, speaks with Peter Borg-Neal, chief executive of Oakman Inns & Restaurants. Borg-Neal gives us an overview of Oakman I … view
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Tuesday 26th January 2016
Marston's Xmas trading, new Restaurant Group chairman
Marston’s reports record Christmas trading: Marston’s has reported record Christmas trading amid the 16-week period to 16 January 2016. The company stated: “In Destination and Premium, like-for-like sales were 3.0% ahead of last yea … view
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Tuesday 26th January 2016
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Peach Pub Company planning to add five new sites and four partners before ‘reassessing options’, reports like-for-likes up 11% at Christmas: Independently owned gastro-pub company Peach has said it is planning to add five new sites an … view
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Monday 25th January 2016
Update: Stonegate results, Rosa's Thai Cafe, Beds and Bars
Stonegate reports adjusted Ebitda up 16.6%: Stonegate Pub Company has reported like-for-like sales were up 1.2% in the 52-week period ended 27 September 2015. The company also reported like-for-like gross margin has grown 3% and like-for- … view
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Monday 25th January 2016
McDonald’s reports global like-for-likes up 5% in Fourth Quarter
McDonald’s reports global like-for-likes up 5% in Fourth Quarter: McDonald’s has reported global like-for-likes rose 5% in the quarter to 31 December 2015, with the US up 5.7%. The UK produced a “strong quarter” boosting like-for-like … view
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Monday 25th January 2016
Tesco scraps ‘food-on-the-go’ stores
Tesco scraps ‘food-on-the-go’ stores: Tesco’s move into the ‘food-on-the-go’ market is to be abandoned, The Daily Telegraph has reported. The company is planning to shut its two “Food-to-Go” stores in London. Tesco first ope … view
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Monday 25th January 2016
Propel Monday News Briefing
Boparan Restaurant Holdings announces major expansion programme to open more than 300 new Harry Ramsden’s sites, plans to grow FishWorks brand to 50-strong estate: Fish and chip brand Harry Ramsden’s is set to open over 300 new sites … view
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Friday 22nd January 2016
Update: Novus, JD Wetherspoon, Coaching Inn Group, JW Lees et al
Novus announces new chairman: Bar and restaurant operator Novus Leisure has appointed Peter Boddy as chairman with immediate effect. Boddy has many years of experience in the leisure sector and brings with him extensive expertise of leisu … view
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Friday 22nd January 2016
Friday Opinion
Subjects: ‘Virtue-signalling’, and the payment revolution
Authors: Paul Chase and Glynn Davis

‘Virtue-signalling’ and baseball caps by Paul Chase

Going back about 25 years or so po … view
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Friday 22nd January 2016
Oakman Inns makes three acquisitions
Oakman Inns makes three acquisitions: Oakman Inns & Restaurants has acquired three new sites as part of the growth strategy for 2015/16. Two of the sites are in Buckinghamshire – Amersham and Swanbourne – and the third is in Solihull in Wa … view
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Friday 22nd January 2016
Hammerson buys flagship shopping centre with 20 casual dining brands
Hammerson buys flagship shopping centre with 20 casual dining brands: Property firm Hammerson has exchanged contracts with Birmingham City Council to acquire the new Grand Central shopping centre in Birmingham for £335 million. In additi … view
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Friday 22nd January 2016
Propel Friday News Briefing
Starbucks reports 8% like-for-likes in First Quarter: Starbucks has reported global like-for-like rose 8% in its First Quarter to 27 December 2015, with the US up 9%. Global traffic was up 4%. Consolidated net revenues rose 12% to a recor … view
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Thursday 21st January 2016
Urban Pubs and Bars buys two Wetherspoon sites
Urban Pubs and Bars buys two Wetherspoon sites: Urban Pubs and Bars, led by Nick Pring and Malcolm Heap, who sold Realpubs to Greene King for £53m in 2011, has bought two JD Wetherspoon pubs, part of the group of 20 leasehold sites Wetherspoo … view
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Thursday 21st January 2016
Analyst - might JD Wetherspoon need to sell 100 pubs?
Analyst – might JD Wetherspoon need to sell 100 pubs? Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Vaughan Lewis has suggested that JD Wetherspoon may need to sell 100 pubs. He stated: “Sales growth is slowing, pub numbers are shrinking, margin pre … view
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Thursday 21st January 2016
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Brewhouse & Kitchen reports 79% like-for-like growth in invested estate: Brewpub group Brewhouse & Kitchen has reported a successful start to its financial year, with 79% like-for-like growth in its invested estate and 17% growth in its … view
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Wednesday 20th January 2016
G1 Group appoints new cinema operations director to develop division
G1 Group appoints new cinema operations director to develop division: Scotland’s biggest independent managed operator G1 Group has appointed a new cinema operations director to develop its cinema division. Rob Arthur, a former managing direc … view
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Wednesday 20th January 2016
JD Wetherspoon reports like-for-likes rise to 3.3%
JD Wetherspoon reports like-for-likes rise to 3.3%: JD Wetherspoon has reported like-for-like sales growth rose to 3.3% in the first 12 weeks of its second quarter to 17 January 2016, with total sales up by 6.3% in the period. In the year … view
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Wednesday 20th January 2016
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Columbo Group plans to expand Blues Kitchen concept outside London – but only once Brixton site is ‘perfect’, eyes Manchester: Award-winning The Columbo Group, led by Steve Ball and Riz Shaikh, has plans to expand its Blues Kitchen … view
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Tuesday 19th January 2016
Christie & Co – pubs rose in value more than restaurants last year
Christie & Co – pubs rose in value more than restaurants last year: Pubs rose in value more than restaurants last year, Christie & Co has revealed in its 2016 Business Outlook. Pubs saw an increase in value of 10.1%, compared to 9.9% in … view
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Tuesday 19th January 2016
BrewDog unveils international bar plans for 2016
BrewDog unveils international bar plans for 2016: BrewDog has revealed its target international cities and confirmed plans to operate sites itself in Dublin, Paris, Vienna and Zurich. It stated: “For these grand European cities, we are plann … view
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Tuesday 19th January 2016
Everards reports pre-tax profit almost doubled to £3.2m
Everards reports pre-tax profit almost doubled to £3.2m: Leicestershire-based brewer and retailer Everards, led by Stephen Gould, has reported growth in pre-exceptional Ebitda of £1.2m, or 25%, to £6.1m in the year ending 30 September 2015. … view
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Tuesday 19th January 2016
Revolution Bars Group reports “good progress” in First Half
Revolution Bars Group reports “good progress” in First Half: Revolution Bars Group, the operator of 60 premium bars across the UK, under the Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands, has reported “good progress” for the 26 weeks … view
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Tuesday 19th January 2016
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
SLTA survey reports pubs’ performance a mixed bag over festive period, rural locations perform badly: The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has released its third quarterly overview of the key retail trends in the Scottish on-t … view
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Monday 18th January 2016
Equistone buys majority stake in Gaucho Holdings
Equistone buys majority stake in Gaucho Holdings: Equistone Partners Europe has acquired a majority stake in Gaucho Holdings, the restaurant group operating two brands, Gaucho and CAU, in a deal understood to be worth more than £100m. Th … view
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Monday 18th January 2016
Propel Monday News Briefing
Coffer Peach Tracker reports sector like-for-likes up 1.8% in December: Pub and restaurant groups saw collective like-for-like sales increase 1.8% over the six-week Christmas and New Year period. Latest figures from the Coffer Peach Busin … view
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Friday 15th January 2016
Friday Opinion
Subjects: The ‘continentalisation’ of drinking habits and what’s hot in Leeds
Authors: Glynn Davies and Francis Patton

The ‘continentalisation’ of drinking habits, by Glynn Davies

view
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Friday 15th January 2016
Propel Friday News Briefing
Starbucks reports shift to franchising created ‘momentous’ year: Starbucks UK has filed documents at Companies House that provide detail on how a shift to franchising in the UK produced a ‘momentous’ shift in its UK fortunes. The … view
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Thursday 14th January 2016
The Restaurant Group reports tougher trading
The Restaurant Group reports tougher trading: The Restaurant Group has reported total turnover was up 7.9% on the prior year for the 52 weeks ended 27 December, and like-for-like sales increased by 1.5% with tougher trading at the end of … view
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Thursday 14th January 2016
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Oakman Inns and Restaurants reports site Ebitda doubled to £2.2m, three new sites secured for 2016: Oakman Inns and Restaurants, led by Peter Borg-Neal, has reported site Ebitda doubled to £2.2m in the year to 5 April 2015. Turnover was … view
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Wednesday 13th January 2016
Lifestyle Hospitality Group founder steps down after ‘sale’
Lifestyle Hospitality Group founder steps down after ‘sale’: The founder of Tiger Bills operator Lifestyle Hospitality Group, James Eyre, has left the company after the surprise sale of its assets to Raymond Court-Hampton. The move co … view
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Wednesday 13th January 2016
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Bob Ivell joins ALMR as president: The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has appointed one of leisure and hospitality’s best-known leaders to be its president. Bob Ivell, chairman of Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), will join … view
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Tuesday 12th January 2016
10 Minutes with Drake & Morgan’s operations director Dylan Murray
10 Minutes with Drake & Morgan’s operations director Dylan Murray: James Hacon, managing director at Elliotts agency, sits down with Dylan Murray, operations director of Drake & Morgan. Murray gives us great insight into his career, explains … view
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Tuesday 12th January 2016
Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards 2016 unveils finalists
Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards 2016 unveils finalists: Brands including JD Wetherspoon, Young’s, Revolution, ASK Italian, Jamie’s Italian, Carluccio’s, Côte Restaurants, Wagamama, Nando’s, Ed’s Easy Diner, Gourmet Burger … view
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Tuesday 12th January 2016
Greggs reports like-for-likes up 4.7% in 2015, sales slowed in Fourth Quarter
Greggs reports like-for-likes up 4.7% in 2015, sales slowed in Fourth Quarter: Greggs has reported total sales grew 5.2% in 2015 and were up 4.7% on a like-for-like basis. Sales slowed in its Fourth Quarter with like-for-likes up 2.3%. Ch … view
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Tuesday 12th January 2016
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
BHA teams up with government to launch nationwide focus on hospitality jobs with 80,000 different activities: The British Hospitality Association (BHA) and the Department for Work and Pensions have teamed up to launch a nationwide focus o … view
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Monday 11th January 2016
Wolseley operator Corbin & King reports 24% revenue jump
Wolseley operator Corbin & King reports 24% revenue jump: London restaurant operators Corbin & King, which operates seven high profile sites in the capital, has reported sales rose 24% to £43,835,052 (2014: £35,401,901) in the year to 29 Mar … view
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Monday 11th January 2016
Propel Monday News Briefing
Administrators appointed to Parity Bars by secured lender after former owner declared bankrupt: Administrators have been appointed to pub and bar operator Parity Bars in a bid to secure a successful exit from the investment for the compan … view
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Sunday 10th January 2016
Results: Grand Union, Anglian Country Inns, A to Z Restaurants et al
Grand Union reports turnover and operating profit rise: London bar operator Grand Union, led by Adam Marshall and backed by Luke Johnson, has reported a rise in turnover and operating profit in the year to 28 March 2015. Turnover rose 10. … view
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Friday 8th January 2016
Friday Opinion
Subject: New Year health scares
Author: Paul Chase

Here we go again by Paul Chase

The doom-mongers of the public health racket have been fast out of the blocks this year, wasting no time reminding us tha … view
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Friday 8th January 2016
Propel Friday News Briefing
Health chiefs criticised over nanny state alcohol guidelines: Health chiefs have been criticised over “nanny state” guidance that says one glass of wine raises the risk of cancer. New advice from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) cuts r … view
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Thursday 7th January 2016
Downing invests £3m in new Burning Night bar and grill concept
Downing invests £3m in new Burning Night bar and grill concept: Downing’s Pub EIS Fund has committed over £3m to facilitate the roll-out of a bar and grill concept known as the ‘Potting Shed Bar and Gardens’. The concept was developed … view
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Thursday 7th January 2016
Tim Martin – we need a sensible rebalancing of tax

Opinion Special: We need a sensible rebalancing of tax, argues Tim Martin

How well do individual publicans, pubcos and the trade press understand the tax and economic disparity between pubs and supermarkets? And how well have the issues … view
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Thursday 7th January 2016
Majestic Wine reports 42.6% sales uplift
Majestic Wine reports 42.6% sales uplift: Majestic Wine, the UK’s largest wine specialist and owner of Naked Wines, has reported total sales grew 42.6% for the 10 weeks of Christmas Trading from 27 October 2015 to 4 January 2016 – the … view
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Thursday 7th January 2016
Propel Thursday News Briefing
CAMRA Pub of the Year winner writes to prime minister warning lowering drink-drive limit could kill off rural pubs: The operator of last year’s Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Pub of the Year has written an open letter to the prime minis … view
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Wednesday 6th January 2016
Horizons – overcapacity likely to slow growth in the sector in 2016
Horizons – overcapacity likely to slow growth in the sector in 2016: Overcapacity in the UK’s eating out market is likely to slow growth in the sector in the longer term by putting downward pressure on like-for-like sales, while competitio … view
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Wednesday 6th January 2016
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
New World Trading Company set to hit £30m turnover this year, 11 sites average £93,000 net each in Christmas week: New World Trading Company (NWTC), currently operating 11 pub restaurants under the brands The Oast House, The Botanist, S … view
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Tuesday 5th January 2016
Jamie Rollo – Whitbread is one our top three share picks
Jamie Rollo – Whitbread is one our top three share picks: Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Jamie Rollo has named Whitbread as one of his top three share choices for 2016, but warns against Wetherspoon and SSP shares. He stated: “Top … view
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Tuesday 5th January 2016
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Fleurets – 2015 was the year the economic recovery reached the pub property market: Property agent Fleurets has argued that 2015 will be seen as the point where the economic recovery started to reach the pub property market in all regio … view
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Monday 4th January 2016
Novus Leisure launches £50,000 January cash giveaway
Novus Leisure launches £50,000 January cash giveaway: Novus Leisure, the London-based late-night bar and restaurant operator, has launched a ground-breaking initiative throughout January, across all Novus Leisure venues, which will see one lu … view
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Monday 4th January 2016
Propel Monday News Briefing
Apostrophe losses deepen after unsuccessful trial of new products: Losses have deepened at cafe operator Apostrophe after, in part, an unsuccessful trial of new products. The company, which has 16 company-owned sites and four franchises, … view
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Sunday 3rd January 2016
December trading updates: TLC Inns, Coaching Inn Group, Oakman
How was your December? Operators are invited to send their December trading updates to Paul Charity on paul.charity@propelinfo.com

TLC Inns reports strong Decemb … view
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