| Monday 31st January 2022 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Mackenzie – we need a concerted effort from government and employers to encourage workers and tourists to return: Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, has said that the sector needs a concerted effort from government and empl … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Sunday 30th January 2022 |
| Richard Caring enters fight for control of Corbin & King |
| Richard Caring enters fight for control of Corbin & King: Serial sector investor Richard Caring is in talks over a possible acquisition of Corbin & King, the London-based restaurant group behind the Wolseley in Piccadilly. Corbin & King went i … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 28th January 2022 |
| Friday Opinion |
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Subjects: Let’s have Instagrammable kids’ meals, industry can take streamlining lessons from the car sector, thinking fast and slow in hospitality, licensed premises continue to be scapegoats Authors: Katy Moses, Glynn Da … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 28th January 2022 |
| Give us a chance to recover from Plan B covid rules, say businesses |
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Give us a chance to recover from Plan B covid rules, say businesses: Businesses have urged Rishi Sunak to delay the rise in national insurance contributions to give them more time to recover from the impact of covid restrictions. The Time … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 28th January 2022 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
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Emeny – the rebound in terms of the trajectory back to normality will be quicker this time: Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller’s, has told Pr … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 27th January 2022 |
| McDonald’s reports global like-for-likes up 10.8% in fourth quarter on 2019 levels, UK sees ‘very strong’ growth |
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McDonald’s reports global like-for-likes up 10.8% in fourth quarter and 8% in full year on pre-pandemic levels, UK business sees ‘very strong’ growth: McDonald’s has reported global like-for-likes were up 12.3% year-on-year in its … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 27th January 2022 |
| Exclusive: Yattendon Estates paid £3.1m for West Berkshire Brewery, creditors owed almost £10m |
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Exclusive – Yattendon Estates paid £3.1m for West Berkshire Brewery, creditors owed almost £10m: Yattendon Estates, one of the privately held group of companies owned by the Iliffe family, acquired West Berkshire Brewery in a pre-pack … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 27th January 2022 |
| Fuller’s – we are seeing an improvement in trade |
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Fuller’s – we are seeing an improvement in trade: London-based pub operator Fuller’s has reported that trading has begun improving since the New Year. In a trading update for the 43 weeks to 22 January 2022, it stated: “We fully r … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 27th January 2022 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
|
Lane7 to make move into family entertainment centre market: Boutique bowling company, Lane7, is moving in to the family entertainment centre market with new concept – “Level X”. The concept “will bring together the best in games a … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 26th January 2022 |
| US fund Knighthead offers £38m to keep Corbin & King trading |
|
US fund Knighthead offers £38m to keep Corbin & King trading: An American investment fund has tabled a £38m offer to keep London-based restaurant operator Corbin & King afloat, hours after it was forced into administration by its bigges … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 26th January 2022 |
| Jeremy King – We plan to thwart this move and buy Corbin & King out of administration |
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Jeremy King – We plan to thwart this move and buy Corbin & King out of administration: Jeremy King, co-founder of London-based restaurant operator Corbin & King, which was put into administration by its majority shareholder Minor Hotels … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 26th January 2022 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
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Andrew Fishwick to launch new hospitality company Adamo: Andrew Fishwick, executive chair of sector consultancy firm Salt, is teaming up with Tristram Hillier, former managing director of Corney & Barrow Wine Bars, to launch a new hospita … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 25th January 2022 |
| Corbin & King put into administration by majority shareholder amid ongoing dispute |
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Corbin & King put into administration by majority shareholder amid ongoing dispute: London-based restaurant operator Corbin & King has been put into administration by its majority shareholder. Minor Hotels said it had been “left with no … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 25th January 2022 |
| Corbin & King lines up financial backing from US-based fund amid Minor Hotels dispute |
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Corbin & King lines up financial backing from US-based fund amid Minor Hotels dispute: London-based restaurant operator Corbin & King is lining up financial backing from US-based fund, Knighthead Capital Management, amid a dispute with Mi … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 25th January 2022 |
| Marston’s reports like-for-like sales down 3.6% as Omicron hit consumer sentiment |
|
Marston’s reports like-for-like sales down 3.6% as Omicron hit consumer sentiment: Brewer and retailer Marston’s has reported like-for-like sales of minus 3.9% for the 16-week period to 12 January 2022 (compared to the same period in … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 25th January 2022 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
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Pizza Punks plans to grow to 25 sites over next three years, appoints new FD: Pizza, music and cocktails concept Pizza Punks, which is part of the Hell Yeah Hospitality Group, plans to grow to 25 sites in the next three years, Propel has … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Monday 24th January 2022 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
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Osmond – I hope the crisis will enable a new wave of exciting offers on the high street: Serial sector investor Hugh Osmond has told Propel that he hopes the impact of the pandemic on the sector will “enable a new wave of exciting, fu … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Saturday 22nd January 2022 |
| Corbin & King makes court filings to protect itself in battle with investors |
|
Corbin & King makes court filings to protect itself in battle with investors: London-based restaurant operator Corbin & King has made court filings as proof of being solvent to protect itself in an ongoing battle with its investors, Prope … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 21st January 2022 |
| Friday Opinion |
Subjects: We need your support for vital industry survey, vegan food isn’t just for vegans, getting your values right helps retain staff, we’re becoming a moderation nationAuthors: Kate Nicholls, Louise Pa … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 21st January 2022 |
| Update: The Restaurant Group and Everyman trading |
|
The Restaurant Group upgrades expectations after strong trading relative to market: The Restaurant Group (TRG) has upgraded expectations after reporting strong trading relative to the market. The business now expects FY21 adjusted Ebitda … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 21st January 2022 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
|
Revolution Bars Group to put food prices up between 5% and 10% due to inflation: Revolution Bars Group chief executive Rob Pitcher has told Propel the business will be putting up food prices between 5% and 10% in the coming weeks as the c … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 20th January 2022 |
| Update: Licensed premises numbers, coffee shop market growth, Revolution, City Pub Group and Deliveroo |
|
Number of licensed premises grows quarter-on-quarter for first time in more than five years but still down in excess of 8,000 on pre-pandemic levels: Britain’s hospitality sector grew modestly in the last quarter of 2021, the new Market … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 20th January 2022 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
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Government must now ‘lay out plan for living with covid’ and ‘support sector long term’: Hospitality leaders have called on Number 10 to introduce long term support for the sector following the announcement that Plan B restriction … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 19th January 2022 |
| Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards winners revealed |
| Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards winners revealed: The winners of this year’s Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards, staged by Propel and Think Hospitality, have been revealed. More than 120 entries were judged by a panel of industry … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 19th January 2022 |
| ‘Plan B’ restrictions in England to be lifted next week |
| ‘Plan B’ restrictions in England to be lifted next week: All “Plan B” restrictions in England will be lifted next, prime minister Boris Johnson has told MPs. These include the advice to work from home, covid passports and mandatory fac … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 19th January 2022 |
| Inception Group to take on ex-Balls Brothers site in Mayfair as Grosvenor makes latest tenant investment |
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Inception Group to take on ex-Balls Brothers site in Mayfair as Grosvenor makes latest tenant investment: Landlord Grosvenor Britain & Ireland has made its latest investment in a new tenant, Inception Group, the London-based group, with a … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 19th January 2022 |
| Update: JD Wetherspoon, Hostmore, covid restrictions to lift |
|
JD Wetherspoon reports like-for-likes down 11.7% in year to date, will be loss-making in first half of financial year: JD Wetherspoon has reported like-for-like sales are down 11.7% in the financial year to date compared with 2020 and the … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 19th January 2022 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
|
Six By Nico group secures £5.5m new debt facility, online business generates revenue of £7.3m: Simone Group, the parent company of the Six By Nico brand, secured a £5.5m debt facility last year through ThinCats to aid its continuing gr … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 19th January 2022 |
| December sales down 11% on pre-pandemic levels for managed restaurants, pub and bars |
| December sales down 11% on pre-pandemic levels for managed restaurants, pub and bars: The UK’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups suffered a double-digit drop on sales from pre-pandemic levels in December after widespread cancellations o … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 18th January 2022 |
| Hospitality restrictions to ease in Scotland from Monday, no extension to covid passport scheme |
| Hospitality restrictions to ease in Scotland from Monday, no extension to covid passport scheme: Scotland’s covid-19 restrictions will be eased from Monday (24 January) – with nightclubs reopening, large indoor events resuming and social d … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 18th January 2022 |
| Update: Consumer confidence grows, Hotel Chocolat, McDonald's, Chopaluna et al |
|
Consumer confidence grows to raise hopes for hospitality's recovery in 2022: Consumer confidence about eating and drinking out remains high despite the spread of the Omicron variant, new research from CGA shows. The Consumer Pulse survey … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 18th January 2022 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
|
Hostmore to replace Fatburger in Dundee with new QSR concept: Hostmore, the parent company of Fridays and the 63rd+1st concept in the UK, has secured the former Fat Burger site in Dundee to trial its new quick service restaurant (QSR) for … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Monday 17th January 2022 |
| Poké House eyes IPO as it plans 65 UK openings over next two years, expands to US |
|
Poké House eyes IPO as it plans 65 UK openings over next two years, expands to US: Poké House, Europe’s largest poké restaurant chain that acquired the six-strong, London-based Ahi Poké business last year, is eyeing an initial publi … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Monday 17th January 2022 |
| Update: Brighton Pier Group, working from home and covid passports set to be scrapped, grant concerns |
|
Brighton Pier Group expects first-half sales to be up 31% on 2019 levels, plans to pay down £7.7m of debt: Brighton Pier Group has reported strong trading for the 26-week period ended 26 December 2021. The company stated: “The period s … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Monday 17th January 2022 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
|
Jamie Oliver Restaurants plans 18-plus international openings in 2022, in talks on US launch: Jamie Oliver Restaurants is planning to open 18-plus sites across the globe this year, and is exploring new partnerships in the US, Propel has l … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 14th January 2022 |
| SA Brain close to striking £100m deal to sell circa 100-strong pub portfolio |
|
SA Brain close to striking £100m deal to sell circa 100-strong pub portfolio: Welsh brewer and retailer SA Brain is close to agreeing a deal to sell the freeholds of circa 100 pubs to Song Capital and Cerberus Capital Management, the for … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 14th January 2022 |
| Friday Opinion |
|
Subjects: QSRs leading the way in the vegan revolution, goodbye and good riddance to 2021, teens and technology, striking the balance for staff Authors: Glynn Davis, Paul Chase, Alison Vasey, Jon Spiteri view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 14th January 2022 |
| Caffe Nero refinancing, Welsh covid restrictions, KFC, Cineworld |
|
Caffe Nero refinancing kills off Issa brothers takeover hopes: Caffe Nero has killed off the takeover hopes of the billionaire Issa brothers after completing a £330m debt refinancing with a syndicate of three banks. Last April Mohsin and … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 14th January 2022 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
|
Hawksmoor secures new debt facility to aid future expansion: Graphite Capital-backed steakhouse concept Hawksmoor has secured a new debt facility to support its next three years of growth, Propel has learned. The company worked with Parry … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 13th January 2022 |
| Hospitality suffers £3bn sales hit over festive period |
|
Hospitality suffers £3bn sales hit over festive period: The hospitality market suffered devastating sales falls in the last week of the year, new figures have revealed. Sales were a massive 60% down on Christmas Day as customers opted no … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 13th January 2022 |
| M&B – Lfl sales in the year to date down 1.5%, festive season lfl sales down 10.2% |
|
M&B – Lfl sales in the year to date down 1.5%, festive season lfl sales down 10.2%: Mitchells & Butlers has this morning reported that like-for-like sales in the 15 weeks ended 8 January 2022 declined by 1.5%, with total sales down 5.2% … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 13th January 2022 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
|
A third of Scottish operators ‘at risk of collapse’, Star Pubs & Bars offers its Welsh and Scottish pubs 30% rent reduction: A new poll has revealed a third of hospitality and tourism operators in Scotland are at risk of collapse. The … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 12th January 2022 |
| Legal Briefing |
Learning to live with covid by Michelle HazlewoodWhile we are excited to welcome in a brand-new year, we still find ourselves trapped in this pandemic era. However, this time around the situation at hand is drastically different, and it … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 12th January 2022 |
| Pret raises pay to more than £10 an hour for 6,900 staff |
|
Pret raises pay to more than £10 an hour for 6,900 staff, coffee subscription service used more than one million times a week: Pret A Manger has announced plans to invest more than £9.2m in staff pay, its biggest pay and benefits increa … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 12th January 2022 |
| Whitbread, Just Eat, Jamie Oliver, Marugame Udon, Danny Meyer |
|
Total Q3 F&B sales down 11.1% at Whitbread: Whitbread, the Premier Inn, Brewers Fayre and Beefeater operator, has reported a 11.1% decline in total food and beverage sales in the UK, against a 10.6% rise in accommodation sales, during the … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 12th January 2022 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
|
Hospitality sales fall 30% year-on-year: The first full week of 2022 saw hospitality sales fall by 30% compared with the same week in 2020, according to the latest data from S4labour, the online labour-scheduling management system from Ca … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 11th January 2022 |
| Christmas spending, covid restrictions, Jamie Oliver, Chipotle |
|
Retail and restaurants held back as omicron dampened appetite for Christmas shopping and partying: Christmas retail and restaurant spending was held back last month as the spread of omicron and restrictions to tackle it took their toll on … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 11th January 2022 |
| Propel Tuesday News Briefing |
|
Fireaway to open 100th site this month five years after inception: Fast pizza brand Fireaway will open its 100th site later this month, in Walsall, just five years after the business was launched. The business has doubled in size within t … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Monday 10th January 2022 |
| Exclusive: Stonegate acquires remaining 25% stake in Hippo Inns |
|
Exclusive – Stonegate acquires remaining 25% stake in Hippo Inns: Stonegate Group has agreed, by mutual consent, to purchase the remaining 25% share of Hippo Inns, the 12-strong, London-based pub venture, from Rupert Clevely and Ian Edw … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Monday 10th January 2022 |
| McDonald’s trials MyMcDonald’s Rewards in UK |
| McDonald’s trials MyMcDonald’s Rewards in UK: McDonald’s has begun a trial of its global digital reward scheme, MyMcDonald’s Rewards, in the UK. The pilot scheme is operating at ten restaurants in the north west of England. Users have … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Monday 10th January 2022 |
| Tortilla FY like-for-like revenue up 23.8% |
|
Tortilla FY like-for-like revenue up 23.8%: Tortilla, the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has this morning reported a 23.8% increase in like-for-like revenue in the year to 2 January 2022, compared to the same period … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Monday 10th January 2022 |
| Propel Monday News Briefing |
|
‘Devastating’ festive period saw Welsh pubs lose £16,000 on average, anger as restrictions remain in place: Welsh pubs lost, on average, £16,000 in revenue over a “devastating” festive period, according to the Welsh Beer and Pub … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 7th January 2022 |
| Friday Opinion |
|
Subjects: The one positive to come from covid, my hospitality wish list for 2022, time to commit to being kind, Only A Pavement Away is coming to a street near you Authors: Glynn Davis, Ann Elliott, Katy Moses, Greg Manghamview |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 7th January 2022 |
| Oakman reports record Christmas Day, with like-for-like sales for December only 1.9% behind 2019 |
|
Oakman reports record Christmas Day, with like-for-like sales for December only 1.9% behind 2019: Oakman Group, the Dermot King-led pub-restaurant operator, reported sales for December of £6.7m, 9.5% up on 2019, with like-for-like sales … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Friday 7th January 2022 |
| Propel Friday News Briefing |
|
Upham Inns in discussions on securing new finance, exploring growth opportunities: Upham Inns, the Hampshire-based operator, has said it is actively exploring opportunities for growth and is in “positive discussions to achieve capital f … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 6th January 2022 |
| 2022’s list of outstanding sector Under 30s is unveiled |
| 2022’s list of outstanding sector Under 30s is unveiled: This year’s crop of outstanding young sector individuals has been named. The Restaurant Marketer & Innovator “30 Under 30” list recognises 30 talented future leaders in marketing … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 6th January 2022 |
| Roisin Currie named as next Greggs chief executive |
|
Roisin Currie named as next Greggs chief executive: Greggs has announced Roisin Currie, currently Greggs retail and property director, will replace Roger Whiteside as chief executive to be effective from the date of the company’s annual … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Thursday 6th January 2022 |
| Propel Thursday News Briefing |
|
Happy Face Pizza eyes ten-strong estate, appoints MD to drive growth: Happy Face Pizza, the Neapolitan pizza concept from the founders of Canteen and Spiritland, is planning to expand to ten sites in London over the next three years, Prop … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 5th January 2022 |
| Sessions Markets raises $10m expansion fund |
|
Sessions Markets raises $10m expansion fund: Sessions Market, the food hall concept backed by Imbiba and led by former Deliveroo managing director Dan Warne, has raised $10m (£7.4m) to fuel its expansion plans. The company, which operate … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Wednesday 5th January 2022 |
| Propel Wednesday News Briefing |
|
Itsu – ‘well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities created by the unprecedented level of disruption within the industry’: Itsu, the healthy Asian food chain founded by Julian Metcalfe, has said it is well positioned to t … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 4th January 2022 |
| December sales, and results at Everards, Beds and Bars, Swingers and Dirty Martini |
|
Sector sales down 12% in December: Hospitality sales last month were down 12% compared to December 2019, according to the latest data from S4labour, the online labour-scheduling management system from Catton Hospitality. London sites’ s … view |
| ................................................................................................ |
| Tuesday 4th January 2022 |
| Corbin & King, Tasty, Greene King, Only A Pavement Away, Gino D’Acampo at al |
|
Jeremy King – customer demand is ‘gratifyingly strong’ and staffing levels are good: Corbin & King co-founder Jeremy King has told Propel that customer demand is “gratifyingly strong” and staffing levels are good despite the unc … view |
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