Itsu founder – our plan is to have three or four restaurants in New York in the next few years: Julian Metcalfe, founder of Itsu, the healthy Asian food brand, has said that company plans to have three or four restaurants in New York in the next few years, and “go big on grocery in the US”. Talking to US magazine, the Big Think, Metcalfe said: “One of the problems we had taking Pret to the US was its lack of customisation. But Itsu makes all the hot food to order, so people can choose their own options. It might take three minutes, but that’s okay nowadays. In the early days at Pret, people had nothing to do for those three minutes and grew frustrated staring at the floor. Today, it’s a different world — everyone’s happy to wait three minutes surfing their phone or social media. Some people actually enjoy being asked to wait.” When asked what kind of business models he most admires, Metcalfe said: “Long-term thinking is vital in business. I feel lucky to be in charge of Itsu’s destiny, not beholden to short-term share results or ruthless investors. [Metcalfe and management own 70% of the company; asset group Bridgepoint has a 30% stake]. If I want to take a ten-year view to becoming absolutely great, that’s what I’ll do. Most businesses are judged on too short-term a basis: you can’t get healthy in three months, but that’s what some investors demand. I admire some of the big, family-run firms in Germany that are run over many generations. It’s not about the next quarter. There’s a compelling reason to invest enormously in people and infrastructure to keep their product great. Many renowned businesses lost money for many years before they became profitable. Things don’t happen overnight. Yet in food particularly, with trends, and social media, there’s an urgency in the air that can be detrimental to running a good business.” On the timeline of a founder, he said: “After ten years, you’ve got to start giving away responsibility and accountability, until you realise you could go away for a year and no one would notice. It’s like watching your teenager grow up: you can help, but at a certain point, they move on, and even though it can be painful watching them – or your business – trip up, you have to.”

 

Sponsored message – use Opsyte’s daily profit and loss calculator to help deal with April’s cost pressures: April’s cost pressures are coming, but operators can be ready for them thanks to Opsyte’s daily profit and loss calculator. Matt Taylor, chief executive of Hospitality Solutions Group, said: “Every pound counts, and having instant visibility over your daily P&L could mean the difference between profit and loss. Opsyte’s automated, real-time P&L calculator gives you the insights you need to control costs, boost margins and save hours of manual work. No more scrambling with spreadsheets – just accurate, effortless financial control.” See how it works in a quick demo here or email matt@opsyte.com for more information. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Public House Group founders Phil Winser and James Gummer to speak at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club subscribers: Public House Group founders Phil Winser and James Gummer will be among the speakers at the Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference. The all-day conference takes place on Wednesday, 14 May at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. Winser and Gummer, who own the Pelican in Notting Hill, The Hero in Maida Vale and the Bull in Charlbury in the Cotswolds, will discuss how two endangered British industries – pubs and farming – can survive by helping each other. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £345 plus VAT for suppliers. There is a 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club subscribers. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Turnover & Profits Blue Book tomorrow featuring 1,092 companies: Premium Club subscribers will receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book tomorrow (Friday, 14 March), at 12pm. The database will feature 54 updated accounts and 29 new companies, taking the total to 1,092. A total of 684 companies are making a profit while 408 are making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who's Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Clubs subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including Excellence in Pub Retail (May 2025) and discounts on specialist sector reports such as the International Brands report. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers will be sent a dedicated monthly newsletter that will highlight key updates in the sector and direct subscribers to all the vital content their membership offers. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Half of hospitality operators predict higher revenue streams this year: Half of hospitality operators predict higher revenue streams this year, despite market challenges, according to new research from booking platform ResDiary. Having surveyed more than 179 operators and close to 1,000 diners, ResDiary found that 49% of hospitality operators predict their revenue will be higher in 2025 compared with the previous year. Of those expecting increased revenue, the forecast for growth is 20% on average. The report said 82% of operators reported higher than expected operating costs in 2024, with 84% expecting them to be higher still in 2025. Across 2024, 59% of businesses were affected by no-shows, with operators reporting that, on average, 7% of all bookings resulted in one – at a cost of approximately £3,813 annually per venue. To combat this, half of operators take a deposit for bookings of a certain number, while 8% take a deposit for all bookings. The research also showed that 81% of people go out for dinner at least once per month, 67% of people go out for lunch at least once per month, 47% of people go out for breakfast at least once per month, and 31% of people actively want to dine out more frequently in 2025.

 

Supernova co-founder – influencers are the new Michelin guide: Jeremy Coste, co-founder of BVC Group, the company behind London’s Mayfair restaurant North Audley Cantine and smashburger format Supernova, has said that social media is a big element for restaurants and that influencers “are the new Michelin guide”. Talking in Savill’s latest Open magazine about the success of the Soho-based Supernova, Coste said: “Behind our success is the fact that we spent a long time developing our burger and products to get them right – around two years, in fact. We tried around 150 different sauces. The product is at least 80% of it. We were very surprised by how quickly things took off. There were some influencer reviews and then a snowball effect. It was challenging for the team. We protected quality by setting limits on the quantities we would do in a day, gradually increasing. Social media is really big for any restaurant. It has become a big element – from fine dining restaurants down to the hot dog stand on the corner. The influencers will come because that’s what they do, it’s their business. They are the new Michelin guide.” Karam Sethi, co-founder of JKS Restaurants, said: “Social media is really important – increasingly, you can’t exist without it. The younger generation will choose their restaurants through TikTok. But it’s not only about going viral on social media. For some of our higher-end restaurants, reviews in the quality press are still really powerful. You can’t discount the importance of traditional restaurant reviews either. The hype is great – but you’ve got to back it up with the product and the guest experience. That’s what people come for at the end of the day. If you do that right, the rest will follow.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a fast-growing vending business that is seeking a business development manager to join the team. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, building strong client relationships and driving revenue growth. The business development manager will play a pivotal role in shaping business strategy, acquiring new clients and ensuring the success of the company’s smart vending solutions.” The salary is up to £60,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com.

 

Exclusive – Plan Burrito hires former Heavenly Desserts and Oodles Wok operations chief as managing director, targets 100 stores over next four years: Burrito franchise Plan Burrito has hired former Heavenly Desserts and Oodles Wok operations chief Simon Robinson as its managing director to lead its ambitious plans to grow to 100 stores over the next four years, Propel has learned. Robinson, a dual Canadian/UK citizen and former commercial pilot, brings more than 24 years of leadership and operational expertise in the quick service restaurant sector to the role. He most recently spent two and a half years as director of operations at Oodles Wok, and before that, spent just over a year as franchise business manager at German Doner Kebab. He was also Heavenly Desserts’ national operations manager for four and a half years, from 2016 to 2021. His other previous roles include regional hospitality manager at BHS, area manager at Caffe Nero and district manager at Starbucks. In his new role, Robinson will oversee all operational facets of Plan Burrito and play a pivotal role in leading the company through its next phase of national expansion. His key focus will be to optimise operations, streamline processes and drive scalable growth across its franchise network. Stephen Hopper, founder and chief executive of Plan Burrito, said: “Plan Burrito is at an exciting inflection point as we continue to deliver award-winning Tex-Mex cuisine to customers across the UK. With a strong pipeline of both single and multi-unit franchise partners poised to open new locations nationwide, we are preparing for a period of rapid growth. Simon’s appointment adds tremendous value to our leadership team, bringing a wealth of industry knowledge and operational excellence to support both our head office and franchise partners. His expertise will be critical in helping us achieve our ambitious target of reaching 100 stores within the next three years.” Robinson added: “I am thrilled to be joining Plan Burrito at such an exciting stage of its journey. Throughout my career with world-class QSR brands, I’ve developed a deep understanding of what it takes to create a scalable, profitable and franchisee-focused network. Together, we will enhance brand standards, elevate the customer experience, and strengthen our position as the leading Tex-Mex franchise in the UK.” Founded by Hopper in 2015, Plan Burrito currently has 13 sites across the UK and has two openings in Wales – as well as in Sheffield and Nuneaton – in the pipeline for this year. Hopper told Propel last month he aims to double the company’s estate over the next 18 months, while the business has a previously stated longer-term ambition of 500 sites. Plan Burrito features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, the latest edition of which has 340 entries and was sent to Premium Club subscribers yesterday (Wednesday, 12 March). A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Exclusive – Stonegate puts 25-strong investment package on the market: Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, has placed a 25-strong free-of-tie pub investment package on the market, with a combined value of circa £26m, Propel has learned. The pubs, which are spread across England, are available individually or as small packages. The properties, which are being marketed by Savills, are all let on long leases with annual Retail Price Index linked rent reviews. The pubs are the All Inn in Bristol, Barrels in Hereford, the Bell Inn in Chichester, Bird in Hand in Bromley, Black Griffin in Canterbury, Chequers in Bath, The Coningham in London’s Shepherds Bush, The Cottage in Coventry, the Dockers Inn in London’s Wapping, The Dolphin in Canterbury, Dun Cow in Durham, Ferry Boat in Lincoln, Fighting Cocks in Fordingbridge, Flint Cottage in High Wycombe, Foresters Arms in Brockenhurst, Half Moon in Petersfield, The Stag in Ashford, Lansdown in Bristol, Meze Mangal in Bushey, The Phoenix in London’s Marylebone, Rat & Pigeon in Manchester, Rebel Inn in London’s Streatham, Smugglers Inn in Lymington, Three Colts in Buckhurst Hill, and the Woolpack Inn in Christchurch. Stuart Stares, director in Savills licensed leisure, said: “Pub investments are becoming a highly attractive asset class due to their long leases and index linked rent reviews. Investors are increasingly recognising the potential for stable returns and growth in this sector, driven by favourable economic conditions, including anticipated reductions in interest rates and robust consumer spending. Consequently, we expect high levels of interest in these assets.” Propel revealed earlier this month that the freehold investments of a five-strong package of pubs let to Stonegate had been brought to the market, with offers in excess of £8.25m sought. The package, which is being marketed by Portland Leisure Advisers, comprises The Merchant in Glasgow, The Mailbox in Lincoln, Yates in Blackpool, Slug & Lettuce in Derby and The Green Dragon in Croydon.

Indoor multi-activity park operator SuperPark United plans UK expansion: Indoor multi-activity park operator SuperPark United is set to launch in the UK. The brand – which was founded in Finland over a decade ago – is looking secure between 30 and 40 sites over the next five years, including a flagship in London. The business is looking for units ranging in size between 20,000 and 35,000 square feet, located within shopping centres, retail parks and high streets. It has appointed Savills to support its expansion across the UK. SuperPark United currently operates in 23 locations worldwide, offering a range of nearly 100 activities, of which 30 to 40 are chosen per location. These include digital football, basketball and baseball games, as well as climbing structures, obstacle walls, zip wires, slides, pedal cars, trampolines and gymnastic floors. Jessica Hill, surveyor in UK restaurants and leisure at Savills, said: “We’re focused on securing locations that align with SuperPark’s vision for the future. The pandemic has had a huge impact on consumer behaviour, driving demand for more engaging and active experiences. The range of activities and flexibility on offer by SuperPark, provide a complimentary use to other leisure anchors. By focusing on nation-wide locations in retail and leisure destinations, we are confident that SuperPark will quickly become a standout destination.” Savills said the competitive socialising industry has seen a 40% increase in supply since 2018, when it was in its relevant infancy. The company estimates that the next five years are likely to see a further 30% increase in competitive socialising units, bringing the total number of venues to over 800.

 

Chocoberry signs 30-store master licence agreement for Canada: Dessert brand Chocoberry has signed a 30-store master licence agreement for Canada. The company has 14 UK sites and also has a presence in the Middle East, with locations in Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard and Sharjah’s City Centre Al Zahia. Founded in Leicester in 2018 by Kashif Razzaq, the business is now set to expand into a new market – starting in Calgary, in the south of Canada. “Big news, sweet fam! Chocoberry is officially heading to the land of maple syrup and friendly smiles,” the company posted to social media. “We’ve just signed a master licence for Canada, with plans to roll out 30 Chocoberry stores nationwide! First stop? Calgary – coming later this year. From the UK to the UAE and now Canada, our journey keeps getting sweeter. A huge shoutout to our amazing Canadian master franchise partners for believing in the magic of Chocoberry. We are excited to embark on this incredible adventure together. Stay tuned – this is just the beginning.”

Pizza Punks sets out five-point plan to accelerate growth and profitability, bolsters team with new ops and marketing directors: Hell Yeah Hospitality Group, the Brad Stevens-led business, has set out a five-point plan to grow the profitability of its existing six-strong Pizza Punks brand by 40% this year in the face of what it calls “Storm Rachel”. Stevens told Propel: “As we head into the financial whirlwind created by the chancellor and her government – and as we did throughout covid and then cost of living crisis – we pivot, we plan, and we think outside the box. We plan to significantly grow our business by a very ambitious 40% in 2025, not with new openings but by working hard with what we already have and ‘push the envelope’ with a focused five-point attack. Being an independent company, we have learned to almost thrive and enjoy the chaos of the ever-ongoing financial onslaught facing hospitality. At Pizza Punks, we have built a brand that thrives on rebellion, creativity and delivering an uncompromising guest experience. But now, it’s time to push the envelope further—not by opening more restaurants, but by maximising the potential of what we already have. Our growth strategy will focus on sweating the asset to drive efficiency and optimise our existing resources, by unlocking new revenue streams without the need for significant capital investment in 2025. Success with this plan will significantly strengthen the brand and the bottom-line Ebitda per site, giving us a very strong foundation to build a pipeline to open new restaurants and expand into new cities in the second half of 2026.” The plan includes raising brand awareness through the company’s first dedicated marketing team, launching its own in-house delivery operation, introducing a compelling lunchtime offer and launching a Pizza Punks Slice Store alongside virtual and physical on-site kiosks. It comes as the business bolsters its management team with the appointments of Claire Freckleton as marketing and projects director, and Nikki Riley as operations director. Freckleton has worked with several Scottish-based hospitality groups including Riva Restaurants, The DRG and Worq Hospitality, while Riley spent 15 years at YO! Sushi, where for the past three years she served as operations director for the Zensho Holdings-owned business. Stevens said: “As we embark on our very ambitious plans for 2025, I am incredibly excited to welcome two incredibly talented and experienced individuals to our senior management team.”

Sandwich Sandwich plans 20 sites by 2029, in talks with potential franchisees in the Middle East: Sandwich Sandwich, which will open its second London site on Monday (17 March), has said its goal is to have 20 sites open by the end of 2029, and told Propel it is talks with potential franchisees for a launch in the Middle East. The company, which operates three sites in Bristol, made its debut in the capital last September, in Gresham Street. Next week, it will open what it says is the UK’s largest sandwich shop, at Mark Lane, in the City, with plans to open four further sites in London this year. Founded in 2012 by Nick Kleiner with the help of his son Josh Kleiner, the business won the UberEats Restaurant of the Year 2023 award. On the new opening, Josh Kleiner said: “It’s been a lot of hard work, but I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished. Everything we’ve learned from our six months in London has gone into Mark Lane, and we can’t wait to share this new space with everyone.” Last year, Nick Kleiner told Propel that the company has already received substantial interest in terms of funding its expansion plans and has multiple franchise requests, both here and internationally. The company told Propel this week that there are talks happening with potential franchisees in Dubai. Earlier this month, Sandwich Sandwich hired former Comptoir Group head of operations Paul Hanna as its new chief operations officer.

 

Freemans Event Partners hires Matt Luscombe as new CEO, targets £200m turnover: Freemans Event Partners, the UK-based global multi-service event partner, has hired Matt Luscombe, formerly of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), as its new chief executive as its looks to accelerate its ambitious growth plans across the domestic and international event markets. The company said that with a successful track record of leading and growing international businesses –  including as chief commercial officer at IHG, general manager at Coles Group and chief executive at Cycas Hospitality – Luscombe brings “expertise in scaling operations globally and driving revenue growth”. Freemans Event Partners said he will implement strategic initiatives to drive the business towards its ambitious goal of achieving £200m in turnover in the coming years. Current chief executive Stephen Freeman will pivot to a new role of executive chairman and will work with Luscombe on the company’s five-year strategy. Luscombe said: “I’m delighted to be taking the reins and steering such an exciting company as it embarks on its next phase of expansion. The growth the family business and the wider team have achieved under Stephen’s stewardship is truly remarkable and has established Freemans Event Partners as a leader in the events sector. It’s an honour to be tasked with leading the company’s next phase of growth.” Freeman said: “Matt is ideally positioned to help us achieve our ambitious targets, leaning on his valuable experience in delivering successful growth across hotels and in hospitality. This new chapter for the business isn’t me stepping back, I’m as energised about the events industry as ever before.”

 

New Domino’s franchisee breaks ten-year sales record for new store openings: New Domino’s franchisee Fran Jones has broken a ten-year company sales record for new store openings. Jones decided to take the plunge and open her own store after seven years as an area manager with multi-brand franchisee Racz Group – which operates circa 70 Dominos sites and 18 Costa Coffee locations among other brands. Jones has opened her Domino’s store within a new retail park off Passfield Way in Peterlee, in County Durham. “After nearly seven years with Racz Group and a long time as an area manager, I finally opened my first store, and what a way to do it!” Jones posted to social media. “Domino’s Peterlee is officially here, with a bang. It was, in fact, the busiest store opening in England in more than ten years! For my fellow Dominoids, check out these insane opening week stats: our pizzas were delivered within an average of 24 minutes; 94% of these orders were in a single bag run; we loaded 1,003 items in our busiest hour; we sold more than 5,000 pizzas. To be told this is the best store opening Mike [Racz, founder of Racz Group] has seen in 20 years has made the stress, sleepless nights and tears all worth it! Breaking a ten-year record is no easy feat, but this team made it happen. Massive appreciation for every single person who has helped make the store a successful opening.” Racz Group itself is no stranger to record-breaking feats. In November, its launch at Ballymena Road in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, was Domino’s second highest opening day sales-wise since the brand launched in the UK 40 years ago. And in January, Racz Group opened the pizza brand’s 1,300th UK store – at Herbison Square, also in Ballymena.

 

Hollywood Bowl open Preston site: Hollywood Bowl has opened a new site in Preston. The company has launched the venue at the Animate leisure complex. It includes 16 fully computerised lanes, a bar and diner and an arcade area. Last month, Hollywood Bowl, which operates 74 sites in the UK, reported trading over the three months to 12 January 2025 has been strong, including a record revenue month in both the UK and Canada in December.

 

McManus acquires 18th site: McManus Pub Company has acquired The Montagu Arms in Barnwell, Northamptonshire, for its 18th site. The 16th-century stone-built inn was extensively refurbished and extended during its previous tenure under a private owner – with traditional bars, a conservatory restaurant and extensive grounds and parking. “We are delighted to have secured The Montagu Arms in Barnwell, which has a loyal following and great reputation built up over many years by Ian Simmons and his fantastic team,” said McManus’ strategy and business development officer, Tom McManus. “The business fits perfectly with our selective acquisition strategy and will be a great addition to the McManus group. We would like to welcome all the existing staff to McManus Pubs.” Simmons added: “We have mixed emotions about leaving The Montagu Arms after our long tenure of almost 17 years but are delighted that such a highly regarded company as McManus Pubs has taken over the reins and wish it all the very best.”Everard Cole acted on the deal.

 

Davy’s sees turnover drop following two lease exits, negotiates new lease for Liverpool Street location: London operator Davy’s saw its turnover drop in the year to 31 March 2024 following two lease exits and said it has negotiated a new lease for its Liverpool Street location. The company operates seven wine bars and dining rooms and nine wine and tapas bars. Turnover dropped from £7,195,120 in 2023 to £6,877,345. Director Mark Carrick said: “Turnover was down 4.4% on the prior year. However, this includes comparative against two lease exits; Heeltap in London Bridge and Exchange Square (Liverpool Street). The extensive works around Exchange Square are now expected to complete in early 2026. A new lease has been negotiated to commence on completion of this development. Excluding comparatives against the two site exits, turnover was up 8.3% on the prior year.” The company also saw a £2,050,892 pre-tax profit in 2023 turn into a loss of £707,363 – although the previous year included a £2,304,008 fair value gain on Pied Bull Yard in Bloomsbury, the sale of which completed in May 2023. Carrick said: “Extracting the impact from the fair gain revaluation on Pied Bull Yard, the reported loss has increased by £568,000 on the prior year.” No dividends were paid (2023: nil) and no government grants were received (2023: £3,166). Carrick added: “Working from home hybrid models have remained in place, with slight displacement from midweek spreading to increased office presence on Mondays, but Fridays were still particularly impacted. Despite factors outside our control, operating margins of 71.4% were directly in line with the prior year due to continued focus on operational efficiencies and enabling technology, mitigating some of the impact from statutory labour cost increases, continued utility and other operating inflationary cost pressures. The board remains optimistic that the business is still well placed to deliver again and is confident of the longer-term prospects for the company. The management team continues to explore further opportunities to optimise the operating model, with its increased focus on the use of available space through both wine-centric and other related customer experiences, coupled with the focus on other operational efficiencies to help mitigate continued challenges in a tough trading environment.”

 

All Things Considered acquires Brighton music venues Independent music company: All Things Considered Group (ATC) has acquired a majority interest in two prominent Brighton-based music venues as well as an associated festival amenities company. ATC, through its subsidiary Joy Entertainment Group, has increased its ownership of Concorde 2 to 80% and acquired full ownership of the amenities operations entity JTR Productions for a total cash consideration of approximately £2.49m.  Separately, Joy has acquired 60% of late-night venue Volks for about £400,000 in cash. Adam Driscoll, chief executive of ATC, said: “Live events remain a crucial part of the music industry, and by expanding our Live Events and Experiences segment through Concorde 2 and Volks, we have reinforced our presence in this space. Importantly, it aligns with our ambition to provide a fully integrated service, supporting artists across every aspect of their careers, and enhances our extensive music services platform to create a better connection between the artist and the fan. We are delighted to be working with the teams at Concorde 2 and Volks who bring a wealth of experience of operating independent venues and who share our values and ethos of preserving and supporting independent music venues. With their established reputations in prime locations, both venues are well positioned to contribute meaningfully to the group’s future growth.”

 

Inflatable leisure attraction company Inflata Nation to open tenth site: Inflatable leisure attraction company Inflata Nation is set to open its tenth site. The concept is opening in the former PC World unit at St Andrew’s Quay, Hull, on Friday, 4 April. The venue will feature a range of slides, games, obstacle courses and other attractions, including a ball pit. Matt and Michelle Ball, co-founders of Inflata Nation, said: “Months of hard work and dedication have gone into bringing our latest site to Hull. The franchise has been hugely popular in major cities and towns such as London, Glasgow, Newcastle, Ipswich and Manchester, and we firmly believe it will be a smash hit in Hull, too. Each of our sites carries our trademark wall-to-wall inflatables with slides, ball pits, obstacle races, gladiator podiums and balance challenges. We have no doubt that it will raise the bar for leisure attractions not only in Hull, but across the Humber region and beyond.”

 

London champagne and cheese concept signs two franchise agreements for Yorkshire locations: London champagne and cheese concept, Champagne + Fromage, has signed two franchise agreements for Yorkshire locations. In 2023, owner Stefano Frigerio launched a two-pronged franchise scheme – through partnerships whereby pub, restaurant and deli owners introduce its offering into their existing setup, and through franchisees opening their own stores. At the end of last year, Champagne + Fromage signed up HF Viticulture & Wine as its first franchisee and opened in Chester’s Watergate Street, on the former The Antiques Shop site. Champagne + Fromage has now secured further franchise agreements for sites in York and Harrogate, in partnership with Lime Licensing Group. Founded in 2011, Champagne + Fromage also has two London locations – in Covent Garden and Greenwich – alongside sister businesses Cheese + Fizz in Brixton and Comptoir + Cuisine in Bath. Last summer, Champagne + Fromage made its hotel debut, at the Wellington Hotel on the Isle of Wight, while Frigerio told Propel his business is set to expand its regional portfolio as it is seeing more opportunity outside the capital.

 

Gunpowder founder to open Thai fried chicken restaurant: Harneet Baweja, the founder of Gunpowder Group and Empire Empire, is to open a new Thai fried chicken restaurant in Spitalfields Market, called Fortune Fried Chicken, in May. Inspired by the street vendors of Bangkok, the new restaurant’s kitchen will be headed up by Jane Alty, best known for being the co-founder of Peckham’s longstanding Thai restaurant The Begging Bowl. She previously cooked at Bibendum, Racine and David Thompson’s Nahm. Thai fried chicken, which originates from Bangkok, differs from other battered chicken owing to its preparation. The chicken is marinated overnight in a blend of soy, fish sauce, garlic and coriander, and then lightly coated with rice flour. From there, it is deep-fried slowly, and is known for its delicate, crisp skin. Besides the fried chicken, the restaurant will also offer a chicken burger with tamarind sesame glaze, spicy green papaya salad and mayo. Baweja said: “Every time I visit Bangkok, my first stop is always for Thai fried chicken. Each vendor has their own take on it, and I’ve spent years searching for the perfect version. After months in the test kitchen, we’ve perfected our recipe, and Spitalfields Market feels like the perfect location to bring it to life.”

 

Dipna Anand to shut restaurant in London’s Southall ahead of launching new venture: Restaurateur and author Dipna Anand is to close her Southall restaurant, The Brilliant Southall, ahead of opening a new venue in the west London town. Anand, author of cook books Dip in Brilliant and Beyond Brilliant, is the third generation of a family of chefs who came to the UK in 1973 and launched The Brilliant Restaurant two years later. Now, the venue in Western Road will shut on Monday, 7 April. Shortly after The Brilliant Restaurant closes, Anand will launch Brilliant Gastro, in mid-April. The venture will be part of The Green Quarter, which is being developed by Berkeley Group, and offer an Indian gastro-style eatery combining the Anands’ Punjabi roots with modern influences and twists on western classics. Anand said: “It may be the end of an era for The Brilliant Southall, but after 50 years, the Brilliant brand has gained an iconic status in Indian dining, and we have to ensure that it is constantly evolving to both reflect the preferences of diners, and the food I love to eat, so there’s something delicious for everyone.” The opening of Brilliant Gastro follows the launch of the Dipna Anand Kitchen & Bar in Milton Keynes’ Unity Place development last year. Anand has also recently taken over the kitchen at her local village pub, The Plough in Norwood Green, “bringing a fresh twist to classic British pub fare”. Her expertise has also led to her collaboration with Compass Group, as the brand chef for its Punjabi food range. She also previously operated Dip In Brilliant in Chelsea and Dipna Anand at Somerset House in the capital.

 

Market Halls opens fourth site: Market Halls, the London food market hall operator, has opened its fourth site, in Paddington. The venue has launched at Paddington Square – the new mixed-use development at the former Royal Mail sorting office site that overlooks Paddington station. The venue is spread over 11,000 square feet, with communal seating for up to 355 guests inside and 130 outside. The site features eight food traders, two bars, an outside terrace and a live stage. The trader line-up includes the food hall debut for Farm Girl, the London healthy eating cafe concept. Breddos Tacos, founded by Nud Dudhia and Chris Whitney, has also opened a site, along with Souvlaki by Opso, which serves up souvlaki wraps and gyros bowls. There is also a new concept, From the Ashes Parrilla, by the From the Ashes team, serving a menu of grilled meat and vegetables. Bao – which was founded by Shing Tat Chung, Erchen Chang and Wai Ting Chung and is backed by JKS Restaurants – has also brought its Bao Night Market concept to Paddington, having launched it last year at Market Halls Victoria. Gopal’s Corner, the Malaysian Tamil concept from Roti King founder Sugen Gopal, has also opened a site. The venue is also home to a new site for 20ft Fried Chicken, which operates an outlet in Holles Street in the capital and has been created by husband-and-wife team Liz and Stew Down. They are behind the six-strong Black Bear Burger, which has also opened at Market Halls Paddington.

 

Neil Rankin finds a new home for his deep pan Chicago Town-style pizza concept: Chef Neil Rankin has found a new home for his deep pan Chicago Town-style pizza concept, Little Earthquakes. Rankin, who has been behind ventures such as Smokehouse, Temper, Pitt Cue and Simplicity Burger, will launch the concept at The Railway Tavern in Dalston on Thursday, 20 March. This follows a short residency at Burnt Faith in Walthamstow in late 2024. The brainchild of Rankin and From The Ashes BBQ, Little Earthquakes is a distinctive London pizza style, based on deep pan Chicago Town pizza. The pizzas feature a crispy pecorino and mozzarella cheese crust topped with British and Italian produce, mostly sourced from local businesses around Newington Green. The bases themselves, inspired by Rankin’s childhood memories, are created utilising Wildfarmed regenerative flour. Among its best-sellers are the Taleggio and Guanciale, which is based loosely on a traditional carbonara, and the Salami Ragu, which is made with a twist on a traditional ragu incorporating fennel salami instead of beef and pork. Rankin said: “As a local in Dalston and living a few streets away from the Railway Tavern, it’s really exciting to be opening here. We try to use local businesses for our larder as much as possible and we’re planning a range of events centred around the community that we all love.” The Railway Tavern is located on the corner of St Jude Street and King Henry’s Walk and dates to the 19th century. Guests will be able to watch the chefs at work at a counter overlooking the pizza oven in the main bar area.

 

New food hall set for Birmingham: A new food hall called St Paul’s Market is set to open this summer in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. The business is the brainchild of Independent Birmingham, Liverpool’s Baltic Market and Thai street food vendor Buddha Belly, who said they want to “create the best food hall in the UK”. Independent Birmingham has signed a 15-year lease on a 10,000 square-foot warehouse in Mary Ann Street, which will house the food and entertainment hub over two floors and have 500 covers. Announcing the news on Instagram, the three parties said: “We’ve spent the last 11 years championing Birmingham’s vibrant independent scene and encouraging thousands of people to support local through our social media pages and newsletter, our IB app, and our hugely popular food festivals – creating an essential platform that has helped our independent scene to flourish. And now this is the next stage in our journey to celebrate Brum and showcase our city’s incredible indie scene. We want to create the best food hall in the UK – and we can’t wait to share our plans with you over the coming months.” They said the food hall will be a traditional chef-led business, featuring six independent kitchens and two bars serving locally brewed craft beer, cocktails, wine, spirits, non-alcoholic cocktails and soft drinks.

 

London pub operators acquire second site: London pub operators Colin Butcher and Anna Bröjer have acquired their second site. The duo – who own the Blue Posts pub in Berwick Street, Soho – have added the Londesborough in Stoke Newington to their portfolio in an off-market deal. The Victorian pub, on the corner of Londesborough Road and Barbauld Road, was originally built in 1864 and was one of the pubs the Kray twins drank in during the 1960s. Fleurets acted for the seller, which had operated the property for 17 years as a gastropub and wedding venue. Butcher and Bröjer said: “We are delighted to be the custodians of a pub that we very much love and have enjoyed as customers. There is so much to admire about the Londesborough, from its great team to the unique character of the Victorian building itself. We look forward to continuing to grow the business whilst retaining the vibrant atmosphere that makes it special.” Andy Frisby, Fleurets director and head of Central London agency, who acted for the seller, added: “This off-market deal illustrates the growing preference for quietly approaching the market on behalf of sellers, which is a trend that is becoming more popular as people seek more bespoke transactions.”

 

Chinese concept Noodle & Beer opens second site: Chinese concept Noodle & Beer has opened its second site. Having opened its debut site in Bell Lane in east London, founder Xiaoxiao Wang has brought Noodle & Beer to Chinatown, having previously agreed a deal with landlord Shaftesbury Capital. The ground floor of the venue at 27 Wardour Street is centred around a “modern bistro atmosphere”, with the lower ground floor “delivering a more intimate dining setting”. The menu consists of Sichuan flavours, handmade noodles and signature Chengdu street food dishes. Hanover Green acted on behalf of Shaftesbury Capital. Xiaoxiao Wang, founder of Noodle & Beer, said: “While a simple concept, Noodle & Beer is dedicated to bringing people together to enjoy the diverse flavours of Sichuan. Our Chinatown London site is a key location on the road to expanding the brand further.”