TLC Inns and M&B move to premiumise offer: Two companies unveiled moves to premiumise their offers yesterday. TLC Inns, the award-wining multi-site pub company, is premiumising its White Horse at Ramsden Heath site with the introduction of more steaks. The company is to introduce the tagline “steak and style” at the venue and offer a choice of seven steaks and others on special. Steve Haslam, who founded TLC Inns with Jo Drain, said: “We are going to be brave with pricing and premiumisation. We will retain the pub classics part of the menu core but want to attract others who are looking for a more premium restaurant experience. We have had a refurbishment that is quite sexy and bistro-esque. Steak is already our best-seller but we only had two steaks on the menu.” Meanwhile, Mitchells & Butlers has launched a new brand segment, called Premium Castle, that is arguably the company’s most upmarket food and beer offer ever. The company has reported that its premium brands has performed well in the current challenging economic environment with its value brands suffer intense competition. The first three sites within the Castle Premium brand segment are all within London – they are The White Horse in Parsons Green, The Engineer in Primrose Hill, a franchise pub converted to managed last year, and The Spaniards Inn, Hampstead Heath. The Premium Castle pubs serve only food prepared fresh on the premises and make their own ice cream – prices range up to £55 on the dining menu for a main meal with extras such as skin on chips, priced at £4 each. The Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Road, Hamsptead, one of the oldest pubs in London, is the latest addition to the Premium Castle segment, opening a fortnight ago after major refurbishment. It offers beer and food matching events and two separate dining rooms offering full table service. It has 18 speciality beers, real ales and ciders on tap including British cask ales, lagers, pale ales and stout sitting alongside beers from around the world. Also on offer are quality ciders and spirits from some of the 'finest artisan distilleries in the world', including the nearby Sacred Distillery. M&B’s 90-strong Castle division in an eclectic mix of classic, often iconic pubs, in urban settings.

Propel Opinion by Paul Charity: With the value end of the market most severely challenged in the current climate, Mitchells & Butlers is enjoying better performance from its premium brands such as Miller & Carter and Premium Country Dining Group. The company has also stated its London-focused brands such as Nicholson’s have been delivering a strong performance, helped by their south east location. No surprise then that M&B has decided to drive harder along the premuimisation route. It’s a trend seen across the marketplace. Consumers may be eating out less but they are spending more when they do venture out, determined to treat themselves, especially on big occasions. Elsewhere, Marston’s has launched Revere Pub Company to premiumise ten pubs and Greene King is working on a premium offer at a number of pubs under the d’Arry’s tagline.

Host of sponsors sign up to support the Propel Multi-Club conference series: A host of sponsors have signed up to support the Propel Multi-Club conference series, which will hold three free-to-attend conference days for operators in 2013. Sponsors are: the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, BOC, Concorde BGW, CPL Training, Enterprise Inns, Intelligent Business Systems, iTradeNetwork, Kimbo Espresso Italiano, Retail Recruitment Company, Kimbells Freeth, Molson Coors, Sky, Stikinotes, Sapient Corporate Finance, Tahola, Thwaites Wainwright and Venners. Propel managing director Paul Charity said: “We’d like to thank our sponsors for their support in allowing us to put together three very high quality briefing days for operators. Tomorrow we will unveil the fantastic line-up for the first event in March.” The first event takes place at One Moorgate Place, London EC2R 6EA on Tuesday 19 March and multi-site companies can book two free places each on a first come, first serve basis. E-mail jo.charity@propelinfo.com to book places.

UK consumer spend £31.44 on Indian restaurants: The average UK consumer spends £31.44 every month on eating Indian food in restaurants, according to new research from the 2013 Cobra Good Curry Guide. Another £20 a month is spent cooking Indian food at home, which means over a 50-year period UK consumers will spend £30,864 on curries. The UK’s 9,000 curry restaurants attract 2.5 million customers a week with the sector worth around £777 million each year, despite a fall of 20% during the recession. Pat Chapman, author of the Guide said: “There is doom and gloom being talked about all restaurants including ‘Indian’. They’re being hit by the recession like everyone else. But in the long run it will be good for the sector. We will see weaker restaurants go to the wall. But those that offer good food, good service and good value will survive.”

Fundamental menu changes required by 2020: The hospitality sector will need to fundamentally rethink menu design over the next decade as rising global demand for meat and wider awareness about its environmental impact make it less easily affordable. The forecast came from David Read, chief executive of supply chain consultants Prestige Purchasing.

Hospitality Guild launches apprenticeship campaign: The Hospitality Guild has launched a new apprenticeship campaign that will showcase career development opportunities in the hospitality industry and address skills gaps. The Act NOW! campaign is designed to raise both employers’ and learners’ awareness of the opportunities apprenticeships offer and help 20,000 people gain paid employment. Suzy Jackson, executive director of the Hospitality Guild, said that the campaign was designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. “With more than 2.5m people unemployed throughout the UK, the hospitality industry is in a fantastic position to be able to help move people into work, especially through apprenticeships – and at the same time address its current skills gaps.”

Applebee’s faces social media firestorm over sacked waitress: US restaurant chain Applebee’s has faced a social media firestorm after sacking a waitress who posted an hand-written note from a pastor complaining about a 18% service charge. The note said, “I pay God 10%. Why do you get 18%?” The company’s Facebook page has had more than 36,000 comments since the story broke last Thursday. The company stated: “Since Thursday, Applebee’s has not manually deleted a single comment nor have we manually blocked a single person that has come to our Facebook page. We’re trying to explain the situation in as clear of terms as possible and we fully understand that some people might not agree with our position. Our simple goal here is to provide the public with the facts.”

Business Growth Fund plans to invest £50m in the north of England this year: The Business Growth Fund (BGF) plans to invest as much as £50m in the north of England this year, following successful funding projects in 2012. Last year ,£18.12m was pumped into northern businesses in Manchester, Leeds and County Durham, with £8m of that going to Peterlee-based Wear Inns last May. This funding enabled the pub multiple to buy 11 further sites across the North East and Yorkshire, taking its managed pub estate to a total of 26 premises. BGF was created to help fast-growing SMEs with no other access to finance, and invests between £2m and £10m in each business for a minimum 10% equity stake and a seat on the company’s board.

Budvar to launch unfiltered and unpasteurised Yeast Beer: Czech brewer Budvar is to launch a yeast beer that is unfiltered and unpasteurised. The launch comes after the success of Budvar’s unpasteurised yeast beer in the UK - beer writer Roger Protz argued it would reach perfection if it were completely unfiltered. Adam Broz, Budweiser Budvar’s brew-master, returned to the drawing board at the end of last year with brewer Ales Dvorak to see if they could brew a version that would achieve the Protz definition of perfection. Now on sale throughout the Czech Republic, the improved beer will be rolling out in the UK by mid-February. “We hope to have the first deliveries to our UK Yeast Beer outlets for Valentine’s Day,” said Budvar UK’s sales director Joe Laventure.

Brandon Lewis – the government is supporting Britain’s pubs: The government is supporting Britain’s brewers and pub, Community Pubs Minister Brandon Lewis has claimed after a visit to Shepherd Neame. Lewis said: “Shepherd Neame is Britain’s oldest brewery and it is great to see they are still going from strength to strength. Britain’s brewers are the world’s best. We’re helping the local pub industry to thrive, which will, in turn, support breweries. We’ve doubled business rate relief – so small firms benefit from up to 100% discounts, we have put money into a great organisation called Pub is the Hub and we’ve even cut red tape – making it easier for publicans to play live music and entice a new crowd through the doors. This government is proud of our nation’s brewing history and will be rightly championing it by helping support business growth.”

Jamie Rollo – there are three reasons to be cautious about Spirit: Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Jamie Rollo has issued a note arguing that Spirit faces three major challenges. He said the first is a new bear case of 10p based on PLC cash burn. He said: “All of Spirit’s assets / profits reside in its securitised debt vehicle, and the forecast cash upstream of £20m per annum to the PLC is less than the PLC’s annual outflows of £30m. This upstream could shrink or even cease once the bonds start amortising in 2014, even assuming capex falls, meaning the PLC’s cash of circa £60-70m could get whittled away quite quickly. In this scenario, the equity could be worth just the PLC cash value, 10p per share.” The second challenge is that managed pub performance is likely to worsen. He said: “Spirit has generated strong like-for-like sales and margin growth, and will have largely closed the margin gap relative to M&B. Yet the 25% quoted ROI implies uninvested like-for-likes have been minimal, so momentum may slow as capex normalizes. This may be sooner than expected as the company may end its refurbishment programme early, and run one-third of its pubs under the leased pub management, perhaps a recognition of a growing ‘tail’.” The third challenge is that leased pubs are likely to remain a drag. He said: “The leased estate has been underperforming for many years, suggesting there is more to blame than the current rent review bulge. Upside from conversions to managed appears limited (indeed, the reverse might be the case), and disposal of the entire estate would be dilutive and not permitted unless reinvested in a managed deal. He added: “Our bear case may be only a small probability, but it is material downside. Our 80p bull case (15% upside) assumes a strong UK economy drives 5% like-for-likes. The PLC could improve its cash flow via a large acquisition, but it would need to be equity-funded, so unlikely to enhance EPS.”

Orange Tree opens sixth site: East Midlands-based independent pub group the Orange Tree has expanded by opening a new bar and club in Loughborough. The Kelso is the second late-night venue opened by the Orange Tree Group, and follows the refurbishment and launch of The Basement in Leicester in 2011. The group, which was founded by Ben Hings and Gareth Smith in 1997, also operates five pubs and bars in Leicester, Nottingham and Loughborough. Its latest venture is a 240-capacity venue which features a ground-floor bar and dance floor, and a more intimate first-floor bar with cosy seating, along with a roof-top terrace garden at the rear. Previously The Newshouse, the premises in Ward’s End, Loughborough, have been transformed by the Orange Tree Group to create a venue featuring quirky furniture and décor, and based on a style that’s reminiscent of the speakeasy bars of the American ‘20s. Managing director of the Orange Tree Group Gareth Smith said: “We’ve worked hard to create a late-night venue which brings something completely different to the social scene of Loughborough. Something that we believe was strongly missing. We have scoured the country for over a year to create an eclectic mix of modern and old materials to give an intimate, yet striking style to The Kelso, and we’re delighted to be offering something unique to the town.”

Purity Brewing starts work of new £1.4m brewery: Purity Brewing Company has started work on a new £1.4 million brewery. The new brewery is being built on farmland in Warwickshire, converting barns into the new brew house, which will be capable of tripling the amount of beer produced. Paul Halsey, managing director, said: “Since launching Purity in 2005 the business has grown each year. By 2010 the brewery was fast approaching capacity, so we investigated options for future expansion.”

Mitchells & Butlers chief executive tops up shares: Mitchells & Butlers chief executive Alistair Darby has topped his stake in the company, buying 31,623 shares on the 31 January at a price of 317.73p. Darby now holds 77,423 shares in the company.

Multiple operator Timepiece acquires Exeter site: Multiple operator Timepiece, led by George Sloan and Rob Skinner, has acquired the leasehold interest in the Hole in the Wall in central Exeter, Devon. The Hole in the Wall, occupying 5,000 square foot of trading space, comprises a lower ground floor nightclub and ground floor function room. The Grade II Listed property is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. Agent Christie + Co received multiple offers for both the freehold and leasehold interest in the site. Associate director Jon Clynne said: “Timepiece are already undertaking a thorough refurbishment of the site - the business will target the late-night market, with particular focus on the 25+ age group.”

Novus re-opens Portsmouth Tiger Tiger with two new bars: London bar and restaurant operator Novus has re-opened its Portsmouth Tiger Tiger site with two new-look bars. The area formerly known as Tiger Bar, overlooking the harbour of Gunwharf Quays, has been re-named Jewel Bar – the company has operated a Jewel in London’s Piccadilly Circus for over ten years. Meanwhile, The Lounge, known to Tiger Tiger regulars as the ‘VIP Room’, has become ‘Kanaloa’, a tropical, tiki-style themed bar featuring bamboo, carved wood and rainforest inspired palm trees with rattan screens, lampshades made from exotic shells and a colour-changing ceiling.

Realpubs seeks GMs on £50,000 package as it looks to expand: Realpubs, the London premium pub company founded by Nick Pring and Malcolm Heap that was bought by Greene King in 2011, is looking to recruit General Managers with a £50,000 salary and bonus package as it looks to convert another three venues to the template this financial year. Realpubs operates 19 sites across London - an increase of five since the company was acquired by Greene King. The company stated: “We are currently seeking to fill our new wave of general manager positions to take the company forward as we expand our portfolio and open more sites. We have many exciting opportunities within existing pubs and new openings.” Greene King next conversion to its Realpubs format will be the Prince of Wales in Hampton Court, south London. The pub is to open on 5 March.

Stonegate Pub Company ramps up local cask ale offer at Chingford pub: Managed operator Stonegate is to ramp up the cask ale offer at the King’s Head in Chingford with ten hand-pulls after a £200,000 refurbishment. The pub re-opens this Friday (8 February) and many of the hand-pulls will be sourced within a 20-mile radius – it had six hand-pulls before the refurbishment. 

Mitch Tonks develops menu on last remaining silver service train restaurant: Restaurateur Mitch Tonks has partnered train company First Great Western to launch a new, south west sourced menu on the UK’s only remaining silver service train restaurant. Tonks menu features West Country produce, including fillet steak direct from the farms of Somerset to red gurnard harvested from the sea off the Devon coast. The Pullman service run by First Great Western is available on two evening trains from London to the West Country and two lunchtime trains from the West Country into London, five days a week.

Riddle Hotels buys first Travelodge out of CVA: Riddle Hotels has bought the first Travelodge Hotel to emerge from the company’s CVA – a site on Manchester Street in Oldham – for just over the asking price of £1.5m. The site was previously leased to Travelodge Hotels Limited and has been sold on behalf of Piccadilly Hotels. The 102-bedroom hotel was one of a group of hotels that were put up for sale by Christie + Co before Christmas. Martin Davis, director of Christie + Co, said: “Given the strategic location of this particular hotel and the potential for a purchaser to explore re-branding and business development opportunities, we generated significant interest in the asset as witnessed by the number of bids that were received.” Riddle Hotels director Sharon Riddle said: “We had been looking to acquire a hotel for some time and are delighted to have found this opportunity.”

Chef Jason Atherton expands to third site: Chef Jason Atherton has acquired his third site – he has bought the lease of 5 Pollen Street, formerly an Italian restaurant that is situated opposite his Pollen Street Social, his Michelin-starred restaurant in London’s Mayfair. He will be reopening the site as a bistro, called Little Social, early next month. Atherton is also opening the Social Eating House in Poland Street on 18 April.

Wetherspoon completes on site in Bideford, Devon: Managed operator JD Wetherspoon has finalised the purchase of a site in Devon town of Bideford, which has a population of 14,599. It has acquired a building in Bridgeland Street, which was formerly Bideford Carpet and Furnishing Centre. Eddie Gershon, Wetherspoon spokesman, said the company had completed the purchase and has already got planning and license permission with plans to spend £1m on the site.

£10m project for Bristol’s Guildhall: Property developer The Trevor Osborne Property Group (TOPG) is to submit plans to transform Bristol’s Guildhall into a five-star hotel. The Bath-based company, which acquired the site from Bristol City Council in June, plans to develop the grade-II listed property into a £10m 64-bedroom luxury hotel with a spa. There is also set to be restaurants, lounges and conference and events space as part of the plans. The overall site is one of the largest plots in Bristol’s Old City area. 

Work starts on £150m Resorts World, Birmingham: Casino operator Genting UK has started work on the Resorts World Birmingham project at the NEC after receiving a “significant” funding package from the Royal Bank of Scotland. An official ground-breaking ceremony marked the start of construction for the £150m, seven-storey, 538,000 square foot leisure and entertainment complex. Resorts World Birmingham will be owned, operated and asset-managed by Genting Casinos UK. It includes a four-star hotel and spa, a designer outlet centre of 45 units, an 11-screen cinema, restaurants, a banqueting and conference centre, to be operated by the NEC Group, and a casino.

Hampshire operators acquire third pub: Hampshire operators Rupert Fowler, Tim Syder and Martin St Quinton have bought their third pub, The Pheasant Inn near Hungerford in Berkshire, which was in administration. The three businessmen already operate two pubs in Hampshire - The Fox at Tangley and The Hawk at Amport. The Pheasant has been in administration for 13 weeks with restructuring firm FRP Advisory.

Former surgeon to relaunch famous London nightclub: Former surgeon Hootan Ahmadi is to partner former Chinawhite director James Spallone to re-launch the Fitzrovia nightclub as Libertine this month. Ahmadoi said: “Nightclubs tap into that frisson of excitement that comes with meeting new people. I want Libertine to feel like a house party.”

New Tampopo founders concept sees sales increases: The Caterer has reported that East Street restaurant, the new concept from Tampopo founders David Fox and Nick Jeffrey, has seen 80% like-for-like sales increases after a sluggish start. The restaurant opened in Rathbone Place off Oxford Street in December 2011. It came after Mitchells & Butlers decided against buying Tampopo, choosing instead to start its own Asian food concept Tuk Cho in Ealing. Fox told Caterer that the most recent six months had shown sales growth with January 2013 like-for-like sales up 80% compared to the same month the year before. Meanwhile, Tampopo saw 6% like-for-like growth in December.

TGI Friday’s to open six sites in 2013; reports 16 consecutive quarters of growth: TGI Friday’s is to open six new UK restaurants this year, creating more than 600 jobs and 25 new management positions. The next two openings will be in Leeds Trinity on 21 March and Glasgow Fort on 21 August with a further four openings confirmed for later in the year. The news of restaurant openings come at a time when the company is experiencing an outstanding period of sustained growth, currently running at 16 successive quarters. David Carroll, TGI Friday’s UK director of acquisitions and development, said: “2013 is on track to be one of our biggest years in the UK since Friday’s opened 27 years ago. Not only do we have six exciting new openings, we’re also focusing heavily on our CSR initiatives and continually supporting team-members pursue pursuits outside of work through our Friday’s Family Foundation. One of our main challenges this year will be sourcing passionate and enthusiastic team members for the new openings. With roles varying from bartenders and managers, through to chefs and shift leaders, we’re keen to hear from those that would like to start or progress their career with us.” The company saw a jump in pre-tax profit to £11,182,000 in the year to 25 December 2011 from £7,349,000 the year before. Turnover at the company rose from £105.3m to £123.9m. The work that Forrester and her team have done on re-energising the brand in the UK has influenced the evolution of the brand globally – there are 50 sites in the UK and almost 1,000 around the world. Forrester has won several industry awards for her role in revitalising TGI Friday’s after it was sold by Whitbread in 2007 to a consortium involving ABN AMRO Capital and Carlson Restaurants Worldwide for £70.4m. Last month, in recognition of TGI Friday’s progress in the UK, Forrester was invited to join the executive team of parent company Carlson Restaurants.