Greene King launches trial of new premium format – Crafted Pubs: Brewer and retailer Greene King has launched the trial of a new premium format in the West Midlands, the first under the new umbrella of Crafted Pubs, Propel has learned. … view

Tasty reports strong like-for-like sale growth: Tasty, the owner and operator of restaurants in the casual dining sector, has reported 49 of the company’s 54 sites are fully open for trade. The company stated: “Takeaway and delivery s … view

Sector seeks greater flexibility on test and trace rules: The hospitality sector is seeking greater flexibility and clarity on test and trace rules as the current process continues to cause havoc for businesses across the industry, as ent … view

Exclusive – Punch completes £600m debt refinancing: Punch Pubs & Co, the Clive Chesser-led, 1,235-strong pub company, has completed a £600m debt refinancing, Propel has learned. Punch is understood to have successfully issued £600m o … view

Leon unveils plan for first of many drive-thrus: Natural fast food brand Leon has unveiled plans for its first drive-thru restaurant in West Yorkshire. The prominent new 2,000 square foot drive-thru restaurant is the first of its kind for … view

Proposed law will enforce handing over of tips to staff: Restaurants would be forced to hand over all tips to their staff under new proposals tabled in Parliament following government delays. Several pledges have been made in recent years … view

Boparan Restaurant Group launches Carluccio’s-branded vending machine: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), the owner and operator of brands including Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Giraffe, Ed’s Easy Diner and Slim Chickens, is testing a Carlucc … view

McDonald’s has been lovin’ it during lockdown: Maccy D’s is supersizing itself. It is recruiting at least 20,000 workers and opening 50 new restaurants in Britain and Ireland. Paul Pomroy, McDonald’s UK boss, says he’s not repl … view

Oakman to launch further shareholder benefits, sales up 36% on 2019: The Oakman Group is to introduce further shareholder benefits such as access to a soon to be launched Oakman Wine Club and an Oakman Development Club, as it said it saw … view

Joe & The Juice appoints Thomas Nørøxe as new chief executive: Denmark-based smoothie and juice chain Joe & The Juice, which operates over 300 sites across 16 countries, has appointed Thomas Nørøxe as its new chief executive. Nørøxe … view

The Big Table Group to trial new Amalfi concept: The Big Table Group, the Epiris-backed operator of the Bella Italia, Cafe Rouge and Las Iguanas brands, is to trial a new Italian restaurant concept called Amalfi, Propel has learned. The A … view

Various Eateries reports ‘very strong’ trading since reopening, Coppa Club like-for-likes up 28.3% on 2019 levels in past five weeks: Various Eateries, the AIM-listed Andy Bassadone-chaired business, has reported “very strong” tra … view

Fledgling plant-based quick-service restaurant concept Ready Burger raises more than £1.7m in hours as it aims to roll out: Ready Burger, the fledgling plant-based restaurant concept founded by boxer Anthony Joshua’s former personal ch … view

Vagabond Wines founder to launch new concept Mamma Pastrama: Stephen Finch, founder of Vagabond Wines; Kieran Sherlock, director of sector investor Imbiba; and chef Jay Morjaria have teamed up to launch new concept Mamma Pastrama, Propel … view

Pied à Terre becomes latest restaurant to restrict hours due to staffing crisis as owner calls for new visa arrangements to be introduced urgently: Michelin-starred London restaurant Pied à Terre has become the latest restaurant to rest … view

Some 25,000 licensed premises still shut with thousands more at risk after ‘Freedom Day’ delay: About 25,000 licensed premises were still shut at the end of May, the latest edition of the Market Recovery Monitor research from CGA and … view

Some 25,000 licensed premises still shut with thousands more at risk after ‘Freedom Day’ delay: About 25,000 licensed premises were still shut at the end of May, the latest edition of the Market Recovery Monitor research from CGA and … view

McDonald’s to hire 20,000 workers in big UK expansion: McDonald’s has unveiled plans to hire 20,000 more workers and open up to 150 high street restaurants in the UK and Ireland as it shrugs off fears over a long-term slump in city ce … view

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