UKHospitality calls for urgent government support, sets out five-point action plan: UKHospitality has called on the government for urgent support if thousands of hospitality businesses are to avoid collapse this winter in the face of soar … view

Thousands of UK pubs ‘face closure’ without energy bills support: Thousands of pubs face closure without urgent government support to soften the blow from soaring energy bills, the beer industry has said, putting jobs at risk in a se … view

UKHospitality – 10,000 sector businesses are at risk: UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has warned 10,000 sector businesses could close permanently in the next 18 months as energy costs bite. An estimated 500,000 hospitality j … view

Moore – bottom line is challenging but we’re being careful not to pass it on to customers: Red Engine co-founder Steve Moore admits current cost pressures are making the bottom line challenging, but insists the company is being carefu … view

The Ned makes slow recovery on pre-pandemic performance with turnover more than halved: The Ned, the City of London mega-venue and private members’ club operated by Soho House that offers 250 bedrooms, ten restaurants, 17 bars, a spa an … view

Loungers co-founder Jake Bishop invests in Foodstuff: Jake Bishop, co-founder of cafe bar operator Loungers, has invested in delivery business Foodstuff and joined its board as a non-executive director, Propel has learned. Bishop, who co- … view

Snowfox Group sales up 60% in first seven months of 2022, remains on track for a further uplift in Ebitda profits for financial year: Snowfox Group, which owns the YO!, Taiko and Bento brands, has repo … view

Exclusive – Snowfox Group sales up 60% in first seven months of 2022, remains on track for a further uplift in Ebitda profits for financial year: Snowfox Group, which owns the YO!, Taiko and Bento brands, has reported sales growth of … view

Cineworld reports possible Chapter 11 restructuring: Cineworld has responded to media speculation this morning by reporting it is considering a Chapter 11 restructuring. It stated: “In response to media speculation, Cineworld is today … view

Reilley – if we had to enter into a hedge on energy today it would cost an extra £17m: Alex Reilley, executive chairman of cafe bar operator Loungers, has said if the circa 200-strong business had to enter into a hedge on its energy co … view

The Alchemist trading circa 6% up on 2019 levels, full-year turnover above pre-pandemic performance at £55m: Simon Potts, chief executive of bar and restaurant group The Alchemist, has told Propel the business is trading circa 6% up on … view

Döner Shack appoints new global franchise director as it plans 150 UK sites over next five years: Döner Shack, the fast casual kebab concept, has appointed Nil Naik as its new global franchise director to develop its expansion globally, … view

Number of licensed premises stabilises in second quarter but costs crisis threatens recovery: Britain’s licensed sector has stabilised in the second quarter of 2022, the latest Market Recovery Monitor from CGA by NielsenIQ and AlixPartn … view

Cineworld evaluating various strategic options to strengthen balance sheet with recent admissions ‘below expectations’: Cineworld has said it is evaluating various strategic options to strengthen its balance sheet with recent admissio … view

Mounting costs and supply problems hitting industry businesses hard, menu prices set to keep rising: Hospitality businesses face a damaging combination of mounting costs and supply problems, CGA and Fourth’s new Business Confidence Surv … view

Like-for-like sales remain flat amid market turbulence, ‘not realistic for businesses to survive at these levels’: Like-for-like sales at Britain’s top managed pub, bar and restaurant groups remained flat in July against pre-covid l … view

Like-for-like sales remain flat amid market turbulence, ‘not realistic for businesses to survive at these levels’: Like-for-like sales at Britain’s top managed pub, bar and restaurant groups remained flat in July against pre-covid l … view

Sector warns of mass winter closures as energy bills soar 300%: Pub, restaurant and hotel chiefs have warned the industry could face mass closure this winter without “urgent” support from the government. In a joint letter to Boris Jo … view

Lane7 eyes 15 openings over next 18 months, plans London opening: Boutique bowling company Lane7, which runs 11 bowling alleys across Britain and made sales of £26m last year, is planning to open about 15 venues over the next 18 months. … view

Salt Bae’s Nusr-Et London posts turnover of £7m from just over three months of trading: Nusr-Et London, the Knightsbridge-based restaurant from Turkish restaurateur Nusret Gökçe, generated turnover of £7m last year, which included j … view

The Groucho Club sold to Ewan Venters’ Artfarm business: Artfarm, the independent hospitality business run by the former Fortnum & Mason chief executive Ewan Venters, has acquired London’s iconic Groucho Club, in a deal believed to be … view

Clean Kitchen Club seeking to be the ‘plant-based McDonald’s’ as crowdfund tops £2m: Clean Kitchen Club, the fledgling plant-based, fast-food concept, has said it is seeking to be the “plant-based McDonald’s” as its crowdfund … view

There are many ways the Licensing Act 2003 could be improved, but it is unfortunate the sector is currently watching an endless and depressing game of ping pong betwe … view

Deliveroo sees growth slow in Q2 as losses widen, Lord Wolfson to step down as director: Deliveroo has reported that market conditions softened in Q2 compared to Q1, which it believes reflected the impact of increased consumer headwinds, … view

Lord – hospitality sector in deeper trouble now than during the pandemic: Pubs, restaurants and bars are seeing outgoings triple, and are in deeper trouble now than during the pandemic, Sacha Lord, the night-time economy adviser for Gre … view

Kerridge – we won’t be able to solve sector issues until the government puts its hands up and admits Brexit’s gone wrong: Chef Tom Kerridge has said until the government admits that Brexit hasn’t worked, the issues facing the hosp … view

Two-thirds of UK’s top restaurants in the red after Brexit, covid and inflation: Debt repayments, staff shortages and rising energy bills have pushed almost two-thirds of the UK’s top 100 restaurants into the red, according to researc … view

Costa taking ‘disciplined approach’ to US expansion after opening debut site: The Coca-Cola Company has told Propel it is taking a “disciplined approach” to expanding Costa Coffee in the US, after opening its first site in the Sta … view

Nicholls – further business failures will become inevitable without prompt government action: Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, has said further business failures across the sector will become inevitable without prompt ac … view

Gordon Ramsay reports increased losses during second year of pandemic: Gordon Ramsay Restaurants has reported increased losses in the year to 31 August 2021. The company opened ten restaurants in the year – taking the total estate to 35 … view

Nightcap reports 23.6% like-for-like sales increase at year-end: Bar and nightclub operator Nightcap has reported it ended its financial year on 3 July with a 23.6% like-for-like sales increase. The company stated: “31 of the 34 group� … view

Watt – cost pressures have the potential to destroy more businesses than the pandemic: James Watt, co-founder and chief executive of Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, has said the current inflationary pressures the sector is facing … view

Baton Berisha to leave D&D London to take up a position as CEO of ‘rival restaurant group’: D&D London has announced its managing director Baton Berisha will be leaving the business to take up a position as chief executive of a “ri … view

Gail’s backers raise €500m fund backed by Abu Dhabi: Food industry entrepreneurs Henry McGovern and Steven Winegar, who’ve backed brands including bakery concept Gail’s and pasta chain Vapiano, have raised €500m (£418m) to inve … view

Krispy Kreme to launch Insomnia Cookies brand in UK: Krispy Kreme, owned by European investment company JAB Holdings, is to launch its late-night bakery brand Insomnia Cookies in the UK, Propel has learned. Krispy Kreme acquired a majorit … view

Comptoir Group CEO and chairman step down: Comptoir Group, the Comptoir Libanais and Shawa brand operator, has announced chief executive Chaker Hanna and chairman Richard Kleiner have stepped down with immediate effect. It comes after the … view

Greggs reports like-for-like sales up 12.3%: Greggs has reported total sales up 27.1% to £694.5m in the first half of 2022. First half like-for-likes sales 12.3% higher than comparable period in 2019. Pre-tax profit was £55.8m compared … view

Pavli – pub groups need to be producing like-for-like sales growth of 29% to stand still on 2019 profit numbers: Paul Pavli, former managing director of Punch Taverns and sector consultant, has argued pubs would currently need to be gen … view

Hub Box reports record FY Ebitda, explores funding options: Hub Box, the south west-based burger and barbecue concept led by Richard Boon, is exploring different funding options and talking to potential investors after it posted record Eb … view