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Sunday 31st October 2021
Weekend leisure stories and restaurant reviews
Greggs sues Zurich Insurance for £100m over unpaid covid claim: Greggs has mounted a £100 million legal claim against the Swiss insurance giant Zurich after a disagreement over a covid-related payout. The chain, which has more than 2,00 … view
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Friday 29th October 2021
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Time to talk about dynamic pricing, turning Christmas fear into Christmas cheer, the Airbnb roller-coaster ride

Authors: Glynn Davis, Amber Staynings, Ann Elliott

Ti … view

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Friday 29th October 2021
Propel Friday News Briefing
McDonald’s to launch MyMcDonald’s Rewards in UK in 2022: McDonald’s is to launch its first global digital reward scheme, MyMcDonald’s Rewards, in the UK in 2022. The offer launched in the US earlier this month and already has 12 m … view
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Thursday 28th October 2021
Update: Various Eateries, C&C Group, The Restaurant Group
Various Eateries reports Coppa Club like-for-likes up 21%: Various Eateries, the owner, developer and operator of restaurant, clubhouse and hotel sites in the United Kingdom, has reported very encouraging trading since the recommencement … view
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Thursday 28th October 2021
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Morgan Stanley – government might have reversed its mindset on the pub: Morgan Stanley analyst Jamie Rollo has suggested yesterday’s Budget might signal a reversal in the government’s mindset in relation to the pub. In a note, he st … view
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Wednesday 27th October 2021
Sunak offers sector 50% business rates discount and ‘draught relief’
Sunak offers sector 50% business rates discount and ‘draught relief’: Chancellor Rishi Sunak has offered the hospitality sector a 50% business rates discount for the next year. He will also introduce “draught relief” which will apply a … view
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Wednesday 27th October 2021
Exclusive – Urban Pubs & Bars buys 13 Barworks sites
Exclusive – Urban Pubs & Bars buys 13 Barworks sites: London bar group Barworks has sold 13 of its 19 sites to Urban Pubs & Bars. The geography of the portfolio is highly complementary to Urban’s existing estate sites, expanding its p … view
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Wednesday 27th October 2021
Cost increases could mean pint price could rise by 25p to 30p
Cost increases could mean pint price could rise by 25p to 30p: The price of a pint of beer will have to rise by as much as 30p to help pay for higher wages and energy costs, City Pub Company has warned. On Monday, the government said the … view
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Wednesday 27th October 2021
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Italian pasta concept Miscusi to launch sustainable eating reward scheme at debut UK site: Italian pasta concept Miscusi will launch its debut UK site at the start of December with a new loyalty scheme rewarding consumers making sustainab … view
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Tuesday 26th October 2021
Pret A Manger agrees Canadian expansion deal
Pret A Manger agrees Canadian expansion deal: Pret A Manger and A&W Food Services of Canada have reached an initial agreement to introduce the Pret brand and products to A&W restaurants in Canada. A spokesman said: “Through the terms of … view
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Tuesday 26th October 2021
Propel Tuesday News Briefing

Spanish Restaurant Group set to open tenth Tapas Revolution site, reviewing options for future of La Tasca brand: Spanish Restaurant Group (SRG), the team behind Tapas Revolution, will open the brand’s tenth site in Liver … view
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Monday 25th October 2021
Exclusive – BrewDog to open flagship 26,500 square foot site
BrewDog to open 26,500sq ft global flagship site in London’s Waterloo: Scottish brewer and bar operator BrewDog is to open its biggest site to date, complete with bars, brewery, workspaces, bowling alley and coffee shop, in London’s W … view
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Monday 25th October 2021
Propel Monday News Briefing
Supper closes £2.4m fundraise: London-based premium food delivery service Supper has closed a £2.4m equity and debt fundraise with private equity investment firm Growthdeck. The funding will enable Supper to build on its accelerated gro … view
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Sunday 24th October 2021
Weekend leisure stories and restaurant reviews
Booster jabs will prevent lockdown, says Rishi Sunak: Shops, pubs and restaurants must not shut again to deal with covid, Rishi Sunak has said, as he insisted that vaccines meant there could be “no more lockdowns”. In an interview wit … view
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Friday 22nd October 2021
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Firefighting has taken over from innovation, dancing is dangerous, taking stock of market opportunities
Authors: Alastair Scott, Paul Chase, Glynn Davis
 

Firefighting has taken over from inn … view

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Friday 22nd October 2021
Update: Sector’s ‘plan B’ fears, delivery and takeaway sales continue growth
Hospitality sector fears going under if government imposes new covid ‘plan B’: Pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels could not survive a second Christmas lost to covid-19 restrictions, hospitality bosses have warned, as the government fa … view
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Friday 22nd October 2021
Propel Friday News Briefing
Alastair Scott – industry needs to resolve tips ‘puzzle’ to help staff properly understand their pay: Malvern Inns founder Alastair Scott is considering absorbing service charges into menu prices so staff can more easily work out th … view
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Friday 22nd October 2021
Pret confirms plans to enter self-service vending machine market with Pret Express trial
Pret confirms plans to enter self-service vending machine market with Pret Express trial: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed brand, is to attempt to rival Costa Coffee in the self-service vending machine market, with the trial of Pret … view
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Thursday 21st October 2021
Update: Business rates, covid recovery loan scheme extension and Sourced Market
Business rates bill to soar by £1bn: Business rates are set to rise by £1bn next year – sparking demands for the hike to be cancelled until the system is reformed. The jump in the tax on commercial property is based on inflation data … view
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Thursday 21st October 2021
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Black Sheep Coffee plots US market entry following investment from NBA star: London-based coffee shop operator Black Sheep is planning to break into the North American market after receiving funding from basketball player Kristaps Porzing … view
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Wednesday 20th October 2021
Update: Deliveroo and UK cost of living increases dip
Deliveroo reports ‘strong’ third-quarter performance: Deliveroo has reported “strong” performance in the third quarter of 2021 and has increased its full-year guidance for gross transaction value (GTV) growth. The company said GTV … view
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Wednesday 20th October 2021
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Food and drink businesses seeing ‘terrifying’ price rises with inflation running at almost 20% for hospitality firms: Food and drink companies are seeing “terrifying” price rises, according to industry bosses, who have warned abou … view
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Tuesday 19th October 2021
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Morris – our site pipeline is stronger than ever, rents down by up to 30%: Richard Morris, chief executive of the recently listed Tortilla, has said the company’s pipeline of sites “is looking stronger than it has ever done” and t … view
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Monday 18th October 2021
Caffè Nero reports sales now at 87% of 2019 levels, pays back all debt borrowed during pandemic
Caffè Nero reports sales now at 87% of 2019 levels, pays back all debt borrowed during pandemic: Caffè Nero has reported sales have now reached 87% of 2019 levels, with the company expecting to reach sales levels of 90% in November. The comp … view
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Monday 18th October 2021
Update: Door security staff shortages ‘now becoming critical’, D&D London, Hostmore, BrewDog
Door security staff shortages ‘now becoming critical’: Door security staff shortages in the night-time economy are becoming critical, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned. The lack of security personnel comes at a t … view
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Monday 18th October 2021
Propel Monday News Briefing
Strong September for managed hospitality venues but rolling 12-month sales down 10%, still difficulties for London sites: The UK’s leading managed restaurant, pub and bar groups achieved a significant bounce in sales in September, the l … view
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Monday 18th October 2021
Strong September for managed hospitality venues but rolling 12-month sales down 10%
Strong September for managed hospitality venues but rolling 12-month sales down 10%, still difficulties for London sites: The UK’s leading managed restaurant, pub and bar groups achieved a significant bounce in sales in September, the l … view
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Sunday 17th October 2021
Weekend leisure stories and restaurant reviews
Raymond Blanc’s restaurant group set for £50m takeout: The restaurant chain founded by celebrity chef Raymond Blanc is poised to change hands in a deal that will allow it to expand its pubs business. Brasserie Bar Co, which owns the Fr … view
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Friday 15th October 2021
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Bigger bills are a fair price to pay for sustainability, women need to speak up and be heard, how digital reputation sets brands apart in hospitality
Authors: Glynn Davis, Ann Elliott, Anthony Gaskell
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Friday 15th October 2021
Update: Loungers, Hostmore and BrewDog
Loungers maintains ‘significant outperformance of market’ with like-for-like sales up 26.6% since 20 May: Cafe bar operator Loungers has said its “significant outperformance of the market” since indoor trading restarted on 17 May … view
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Friday 15th October 2021
Propel Friday News Briefing
UKHospitality requests urgent Treasury meeting, with Rishi Sunak set to delay business rates reform: UKHospitality is requesting an urgent meeting with the Treasury following reports the government’s plans for a major overhaul of busine … view
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Thursday 14th October 2021
Domino’s reports 8.8% like-for-like sales increase in Third Quarter
Domino’s reports 8.8% like-for-like sales increase in Third Quarter: Domino’s Pizza UK has reported a strong performance, in its Third Quarter, the 13 weeks to 26 September, with system sales of £375.8m, up 9.9% and like-for-like sal … view
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Thursday 14th October 2021
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Corbin & King has ultimate vision ‘to put The Wolseley restaurant in every major capital city around the world’: The ultimate vision of London-based restaurant operator Corbin & King is “to put The Wolseley restaurant and hotel in e … view
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Wednesday 13th October 2021
Legal Briefing

Back to basics in the aftermath of covid by Patrick Robson

Although life without covid is far from over, the industry is thriving within the recent sense of normality. As a legal practice specialising in licensing, we have found that req … view
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Wednesday 13th October 2021
Update: Marston’s, Just Eat, £250m city wellness centre
Marston’s – trading has been 94% of 2019 levels since 12 April: Marston’s has reported that since restrictions were lifted on 12 April, the group has seen a continuous improvement in trading. It stated: “For the most recent quarte … view
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Wednesday 13th October 2021
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Industry loses almost 1,000 more sites since July but managed sector proves robust: Britain’s number of licensed premises fell by almost 1,000 between July and September, the new Market Recovery Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners reveals … view
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Wednesday 13th October 2021
Industry loses almost 1,000 more sites since July but managed sector proves robust
Industry loses almost 1,000 more sites since July but managed sector proves robust: Britain’s number of licensed premises fell by almost 1,000 between July and September, the new Market Recovery Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners reveals. Sma … view
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Tuesday 12th October 2021
Update: Meat prices, McDonald’s UK losses, Aspirational Brands
Meat producers have warned of spiralling prices this Christmas: Meat producers have warned of spiralling prices this Christmas triggered by a surge in the cost of carbon dioxide after a rescue deal was struck to protect the flow of the vi … view
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Tuesday 12th October 2021
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
CrepeAffaire plans to triple portfolio over next three years with up to 50 new franchised stores, includes 20 UK and overseas sites in 2022: Crepe concept CrepeAffaire, which currently has 25 sites in four countries, has announced plans t … view
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Monday 11th October 2021
Turtle Bay back on the expansion trail, like-for-like sales up 76.6% on 2019 levels
Turtle Bay back on the expansion trail, like-for-like sales up 76.6% on 2019 levels: Caribbean restaurant brand Turtle Bay has returned to the expansion trail, as the 42-strong business reported “exceptional trading” during the first … view
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Monday 11th October 2021
Update: Stephen Thomas launches new late-night business, cultural nightlife sector loses 86,000 workers
Luminar founder Stephen Thomas launches new late-night business: The founder of Britain’s biggest nightclub group has set up a new business targeting opportunities in the beleaguered late-night sector. Stephen Thomas, who built Luminar … view
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Monday 11th October 2021
Propel Monday News Briefing
Caring-backed businesses secure new £168m credit facility: The Richard Caring-backed Caprice Holdings, The Birley Group and Troia UK Restaurants – the parent company of the Ivy Collection – agreed a new £168m revolving credit facili … view
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Sunday 10th October 2021
Weekend leisure stories and restaurant reviews
Burger King UK cooks up £600m float: Burger King’s UK division is set to float on the London Stock Exchange for about £600 million as demand rebounds from the covid pandemic. The UK arm of the restaurant giant is close to appointing a … view
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Friday 8th October 2021
Friday Opinion
Subjects: It’s time to say VATsEnough, I’ve missed anti-alcohol ‘wingnuttery’, rise of the robots
Authors: Kate Nicholls, Paul Chase, Glynn Davis, 

It’s time to say VATsEnough by Kate Ni … view

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Friday 8th October 2021
Update: Brighton Pier Group, Tortilla, Revolution, Tomahawk, Albion & East, Mildreds
Brighton Pier Group reports strong summer and £5m insurance pay-out: Brighton Pier Group has reported business interruption insurance claims totalling £5 million have been recently settled with its insurers. Payments on account of £4.1 … view
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Friday 8th October 2021
Propel Friday News Briefing
Nicholls – locking in lower VAT rate will create 125,000 jobs and keep UK tourism competitive globally: Keeping the VAT rate for hospitality at 12.5% will create 125,000 jobs and produce money for the government after just four years, a … view
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Thursday 7th October 2021
David Campbell steps down as PizzaExpress group chief executive
David Campbell steps down as PizzaExpress group chief executive: PizzaExpress group chief executive David Campbell has stepped down from the business for personal reasons with immediate effect. Managing director Zoe Bowley and chief business o … view
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Thursday 7th October 2021
Revolution reports sales 17% ahead of two years ago
Revolution reports sales 17% ahead of two years ago: Revolution Bars Group, the operator of 67 bars, trading mainly under the Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba brands, has reported sales up 17% between 19 July and 2 October compared to tw … view
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Thursday 7th October 2021
Propel Thursday News Briefing
New campaign demands the government locks in 12.5% VAT rate for hospitality and tourism: Chancellor Rishi Sunak is facing calls to make the 12.5% VAT rate permanent for hospitality and tourism via a major new campaign, VATsEnough. The cam … view
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Thursday 7th October 2021
New campaign demands the government locks in 12.5% VAT rate for hospitality and tourism
New campaign demands the government locks in 12.5% VAT rate for hospitality and tourism: Chancellor Rishi Sunak is facing calls to make the 12.5% VAT rate permanent for hospitality and tourism via a major new campaign, VATsEnough. The cam … view
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Wednesday 6th October 2021
Update: ‘National living wage’ to rise to £9.42 an hour, Papa John's UK, Thwaites
PM to reveal ‘national living wage’ rise to £9.42 an hour in a few weeks: Prime minister Boris Johnson will announce a significant rise in the minimum wage within weeks as he pledges to end the “broken” model of a low-wage, low-g … view
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Wednesday 6th October 2021
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Virtual restaurant brand company secures £3m in seed funding as it looks to become ‘bigger than Domino’s’: Virtual restaurant brand company Peckwater Brands has secured £3m in seed funding. The round, led by Fuel Ventures, tees th … view
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Tuesday 5th October 2021
Update: Caffe Nero, Luke Johnson, Greggs and cheap labour
Caffe Nero hires advisers for debt talks as Issa brothers circle: Caffe Nero has hired advisers as it seeks to refinance debts of almost £150m and keep the billionaire Issa brothers at bay. The Telegraph reports that Gerry Ford, the coff … view
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Tuesday 5th October 2021
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Coffee shops and restaurants see biggest bounce back in rental payments: Coffee shops, gyms and restaurants are becoming confident in their recovery post-lockdown and increasingly met their rental requirements, according to Colliers. The … view
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Monday 4th October 2021
EG Group acquires Cooplands, Pizza Hut Delivery to open 40 more sites, Rare Restaurants' new brand
EG Group acquires Cooplands: Forecourt and roadside operator EG Group has acquired CS Food Group Holdings, which trades as bakery business Cooplands, for an undisclosed sum. Cooplands owns and operates bakery assets in the UK, including t … view
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Monday 4th October 2021
Propel Monday News Briefing
Tim Martin – big task for the industry is getting tax equality with supermarkets but sector ‘needs to get its act together’ to make it happen: JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has told Propel the big task for the industry over the … view
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Sunday 3rd October 2021
Weekend leisure stories and restaurant reviews
Former Conran restaurant empire D&D to change hands in £100m takeover: The restaurant empire founded by Sir Terence Conran is to change hands for the first time in nearly a decade after its owners entered exclusive talks with a little-kn … view
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Saturday 2nd October 2021
Exclusive: C&C Group to consider sale of stake in Admiral Taverns, calls for clarity over rent arbitration system
Exclusive – C&C Group to consider sale of stake in Admiral Taverns: Brewer C&C Group is to consider a sale of its 47% stake in Admiral Taverns, the circa 1,600-strong pub company, which recently acquired community pub company Hawthorn i … view
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Friday 1st October 2021
PizzaExpress reports outperformance of market since 19 July following ‘transformational’ year
PizzaExpress reports outperformance of market since 19 July following ‘transformational’ year: PizzaExpress has reported it has outperformed the market since “Freedom Day” following a “transformational” year for the business. The c … view
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Friday 1st October 2021
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Times are changing for traditional trading patterns, don’t dive back into discounts, five tech innovations set to transform hospitality
Authors: Glynn Davis, Ann Elliott, Jon Woodforth

view

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Friday 1st October 2021
Wetherspoon LFLs below 2019, planning to appoint worker directors
Wetherspoon LFLs below 2019, planning to appoint worker directors: JD Wetherspoon has reported like-for-like sales are still below 2019 levels. The company reported sales down 38.8% to £772.6m in the 52 weeks ended 25 July. It made a los … view
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Friday 1st October 2021
Propel Friday News Briefing
Trade bodies call for permanent lower VAT rate of 12.5% to avoid derailing sector’s recovery: Sector trade bodies have joined forces to call on chancellor Rishi Sunak to introduce a permanent lower rate of VAT for the hospitality and to … view
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Friday 1st October 2021
Trade bodies call for permanent lower VAT rate of 12.5% to avoid derailing sector’s recovery
Trade bodies call for permanent lower VAT rate of 12.5% to avoid derailing sector’s recovery: Sector trade bodies have joined forces to call on chancellor Rishi Sunak to introduce a permanent lower rate of VAT for the hospitality and to … view
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