Allegra – speciality coffee sector set for strongest growth in coffee market: A new report published today by Allegra World Coffee Portal titled The Future of Coffee, reveals that speciality coffee accounts for an estimated 15% of the total volume of the out-of-home coffee market and forecasts 13% year-on-year growth. The speciality segment will outperform the total market which itself is projected to grow at 10%. The report predicts that speciality coffee chains such as Department of Coffee and Social Affairs, Taylor St Baristas, and Notes will grow and focus on vertical integration. Branded chains such as Starbucks, Costa and Caffe Nero will adopt speciality credentials, further increasing competitive pressure and contributing to a blurring of lines between branded chains and speciality venues. The report stated: “Britain’s most progressive coffee companies, including Workshop Coffee Co., Square Mile Coffee Roasters, Caravan and Origin Coffee are embracing new technology and scientific methods to refine the coffee-making process from farm to cup. In the future, greater attention to agronomy and processing at origin will help yield higher quality beans. Approximately 180 speciality coffee roasters now operate in the UK. This fast-growing but immature market is characterised by very young businesses. 61% of roasters interviewed for the study have been roasting for two years or less.” Allegra estimates there are 1,400 independent speciality coffee venues in the UK, rising to 2,500 by 2020, a year-on-year growth rate of 12%. Nearly half of the venues interviewed for the study indicated that they have been operating for two years or less. 65% of speciality coffee venue owners plan to open new stores in the next three years. Jeffrey Young, managing director, of Allegra Group, said: “The last three to five years have seen a significant transformation of the UK coffee market with the explosion of speciality coffee venues nationwide and a particular focus on London and the south east. We have (also) witnessed a growing presence of quality artisan roasters producing volumes of high grade speciality coffee.”

Number of applications for distillery licences trebled in past year: The number of applications for distiller’s licences has more than trebled in the past year, according to UHY Hacker Young, the national accountancy group. Applications for the licences rose from 20 to 65 in the 2014-2015 tax year, UHY Hacker Young found, compared with just five in 2009. UHY Hacker Young said British boutique spirits are now seen as a luxury item with correspondingly high price tags. Younger drinkers favour independent local producers over mass market drinks produced by large multinational companies, it said. London in particular has seen a boom in micro distilleries looking to serve the hipsters of Hoxton, joining the buoyant market for craft beers that has led to a number of fledging breweries opening in recent years. UHY Hacker Young found that 30 breweries for craft beer opened in London alone in 2014. The growth in boutique drink producers is mirrored by the emergence of new speakeasy bars offering unusual mixed cocktails amid often lavish surroundings. James Simmonds, partner at UHY Hacker Young, said: “Fashionable young consumers are searching for authenticity in their drinks, and they are not afraid to pay higher prices. A trend that started in the bars of Shoreditch is now becoming a real thriving growth sector across the UK, with formerly boutique brands widely available on supermarket shelves.”

truRating hits 500,000 ratings mark six months after launch: truRating, the company that collects real-time customer insight at the point of sale to help businesses know where to improve, has hit 500,000 ratings – six months after launching. The company launched in February, piloting the scheme with its first payment partners Ingenico and Global Payments, which help deliver the feedback questions to the terminal. The system is available in over 130 outlets in the UK with more venues set to follow during the course of 2015. It went live in Australia last month and the company hopes to launch in the US and Canada later this year. It works by asking the customer a single question that appears on the payment terminal asking them to rate their experience from zero to nine. Businesses can then view the ratings through an online dashboard to help them understand the key areas they need to improve. Co-founder Christian Nelson told Propel last month the company aims to collect one billion ‘truRatings’ worldwide by next summer.

St Helens considers introducing Cumulative Impact Policy: St Helens Council is considering introducing a Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) to limit the opening of new bars and clubs in part of the town centre. Officers from Merseyside police have made the request, which is due to go before the council’s licensing committee next week, for the CIP in the area from King Street to Bridge Street. New bars and clubs opening within the CIP and existing venues wanting to change their opening times would have to demonstrate there would be no adverse impact on crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance and the protection of children from harm. Chief superintendent Julie Cooke said: “Despite significant progress, alcohol related harm continues to be a major source of harm in St Helens, which is one of the eighth worst affected local authority areas in the north west.” According to police statistics there were 152 drink and drug related arrests in Westfield Street, which would be within the CIP, in 2014. Their figures also show a spike in violence between 2am and 3am. Throughout 2014 there were a total of 372 arrests within the area the CIP would cover. There will be a consultation period between 27 August and 8 October with the council expected to consider whether to adopt the policy in early November.

Restaurants sign up for inaugural South Tyneside restaurant week: The inaugural South Tyneside restaurant week will take place from Saturday, 3 October to Saturday, 10 October. A number of restaurants across South Shields, Jarrow, Hebburn and Boldon have already signed up to take part, with each agreeing to run a special two course set menu in addition to their usual offerings. The campaign forms part of a year-round programme of events designed by South Tyneside Council to boost tourism across the borough. Mayor of South Tyneside, Cllr Richard Porthouse, who was joined by restaurateurs from South Shield’s iconic Ocean Road to launch the campaign, said: “The restaurant scene around South Tyneside is one of the best in the north east, boasting everything from independent bistros and high street chains to cosy village pubs and riverside retreats. Our new restaurant week is designed to help showcase the wide range of options available across the borough and to encourage visitors from around the region to try something new or rediscover an old favourite. We also want as many restaurants as possible to sign up and take part.”

First London Pizza Festival to be held next month: The first London Pizza Festival will be held in Borough Market on Sunday, 13 September. The event, organised by food writer and pizza expert Daniel Young of youngandfoolish.com, will be built around a competition between five of the UK’s top pizzerias, which will be creating original recipe pizzas. There will also be Italian wine, negronis and beers from Beavertown Brewery and the chance to try the world-renowned perfect pizzas from the Pizzeria Salvo team who are travelling from Naples for the occasion. Tickets cost £30 and include six quarter-pizza slices – one from each business taking part – along with one beer or a soft drink. There’s the option of a VIP reserved table for eight, which includes table service. There are also limited £8 tickets offering admission only.

Bebo founders unveils plans for new hotel and pub in Devon village: Bebo founders Michael and Xochi Birch have unveiled plans for a new hotel and pub in Woolsery, north Devon. The couple, who live in San Francisco, California, bought the Manor House and the derelict Farmers Arms last year. Now they have revealed proposals to convert the Manor House in the centre of the village into a 19-bedroom hotel, complete with cafe, landscaped courtyard, while the Farmers Arms will be renovated and re-thatched. Michael Birch said: “One of the most important things is to revitalise the village centre. Our plan for the Farmers Arms is to create a traditional English pub feel. It needs to be intimate and cosy. It will be more a pub that happens to serve good food.” Meanwhile, a large green area adjoining the Manor House is to be turned over to the village to create a social space for events and recreation. A planning application for the work will be submitted in September and, if approved, work will begin in November. The Birches, who founded Bebo in 2007 and sold it to AOL a year later for $850m before buying it back for $1m in 2013, have also opened a fish and chip shop in the Devon village. Michael Birch’s family has had links to Woolsery for 300 years.

Fox Bars plans 12 Starbucks sites and ten new bars and restaurants in the next five years: Fox Bars, the operator of two bars and restaurants and a boutique hotel at London’s Excel that trade as Docklands Restaurants and Bars, has opened its first Starbucks franchise, located at Excel on Custom House Bridge. Co-founder Steve Evans told Propel: “We operate two bars and restaurants and a boutique hotel and are adding up to 12 Starbucks stores over the next five years – and up to ten bars and restaurants in the same period encompassing boutique hotels in each new venue. The first Starbucks is at Excel on Custom House Bridge and is trading well in its first few days. Our existing bars are Fox @Excel on the west side and Fox @Connaught at the east end of Excel – The Fox @Connaught has a boutique hotel above and has been a successful synergy with the bar business.”

McDonald’s to use Llanelli site as first in Wales to trial table service: McDonald’s is to use its restaurant in Llanelli as its first site in Wales to trial table service this month. The company piloted the service at its venue in Mottram, Manchester, and is now continuing the trial at a handful of other restaurants in the UK. Customers in Llanelli will be able to order from digital kiosks or via staff with tablet computers, with the food then delivered to their table. All the restaurants undertaking the trial, will still offer the option of ordering at the till. McDonald’s UK chief executive Paul Pomroy said: “We have listened to customer feedback and to meet their evolving expectations, we are significantly investing in our restaurants to create an exciting new environment and improve the customer experience. Part of this is testing new ideas. For example we know that for parents it can be tough juggling the kids and carrying your food, so we have decided to trial table service, whereby customers place their order and then have their food brought to them. It’s an idea that has been successfully launched in other markets and we’ve already received positive feedback following the first trial in the UK (in Mottram) so we’re keen to see if it will prove as popular with our customers in Wales as part of the trial within a handful of restaurants, starting this August.”

Hungerdog to debut next month: Better hotdog concept Hungerdog, led by Tim Mills, former operations director at Pho and head of operations at Paul UK, is to open its first site, located in Camden, opposite the Koko club on the High Street, on 2 September. Mills said: “Hotdogs in the UK are a variety of food that has neither been served as a particularly decent quality nor offered in a dynamic venue whereby the hotdogs are created in front of the customer, served from a smoking grill. All of our fresh and delicious toppings will be proudly on display; there’ll be none of the common sticking it all together behind a wall.”

Mooboo opens tenth site in Leeds: Bubble tea company Mooboo has opened its tenth site, this time in Leeds. The company, founded Eric Khaw, has launched its latest venue in the food and leisure quarter at The Core shopping centre in The Headrow. The Leeds opening has seen the company double the size of its estate in 2015 with four other new stores launching in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Coventry, Bayswater in London and Bexleyheath in Kent. Khaw launched Mooboo in Camden Town, London, in August 2012 and as well as Soho. The company also has sites in Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow.

Whitbread secures new Premier Inns just 20 miles apart: Whitbread has secured licences for two new Premier Inn developments just 20 miles apart. An application for a 104 bedroom Premier Inn and Brewers Fayre at Bakers Quay in the centre of Gloucester restaurant went through unopposed. A proposed development of a 60 bedroom Premier Inn in Monmouth faced residential objection but was approved by the local licensing committee at a hearing last Thursday. This development is due on site later this year with a late summer 2016 opening.

Homeslice to open second site next week: Better pizza brand Homeslice is to open its second restaurant at 52 Wells Street, Fitzrovia on 1 September. The official launch will be preceded by a two-day soft launch with the restaurant offering 50% off pizza from 12pm – 11pm Saturday 29 August and 12pm – 6pm Sunday 30 August. The Wells Street menu will maintain Homeslice’s original simplicity, offering a changing selection of 20" wood-fired pizzas available whole or by the slice, to eat in or takeaway, served alongside beer and prosecco on tap and wine by the magnum with the addition of a seasonal cocktail menu served from the bar. The second site will be a significant expansion on the Neal’s Yard space. “We hope to have created a relaxed, fun and social space that shares the best of our Neal’s Yard restaurant whilst offering Fitzrovia a unique Homeslice experience,” said co-owners Ry Jessup and Mark Wogan.

Black Country Ales opens first Worcester pub, 24th site in total: West Midlands brewer and retailer Black Country Inns has opened its first pub in Worcester, taking its estate total to 24 sites. Black Country Ales bought the closed Woo Bar in St Nicholas Street in early June and has spent a six figure sum converting it from a style bar to a traditional pub called The Imperial Tavern. Black Country Ales director Angus McMeeking said the company had been looking for the right opportunity in Worcester for some time. He added: “It is our first venture in Worcester, which is a place we have been looking at for a long time. The building is lovely. It is a good old-fashioned pile. We might do a nice locally sourced pork pie. We will hopefully be offering bar snacks but it won’t be a place to go for a meal.” The Imperial Tavern offers ten cask ales – three Black Country beers on tap and seven other real ales from a wider selection of breweries. 

Acclaimed Tiffin Room brand to open bigger second in Manchester city centre: The acclaimed Cheadle restaurant Tiffin Room is opening a second, bigger branch in Manchester’s First Street. The brand serves authentic Indian street food. Co-founder Suresh Raje Urs said: “At the weekends there is often a two-week waiting list and it can be more sometimes depending on the time of day. We are unique – nothing exists in this form in Manchester. It is a great product we have and we wanted to showcase it.” The new restaurant will have room for 90 to 100 diners with extra seating outside – more space than in Cheadle, which caters for around 35 to 40 covers a night. The new restaurant will also have a bar, serving cocktails infused with Indian spices and herbs, as well as a bigger kitchen.

Tynemill returns to profit despite £550,000 increase in administrative expenses: Companies House accounts for award-winning East Midlands craft brewer and pub operator Tynemill, which trades as Castle Rock, show a return to profit in the year to 31 March 2015. The company, which saw turnover rise 25% to £9,881,761 reported a pre-tax profit of £231,212 compared to a loss of £398,828 in the year before. Managing director Colin Wilde stated in the accounts: “The accounts show a bright performance driven by site acquisition, continued brewery expansion and an exceptional performance at some key sites. This pushed revenues upwards by 25% from the previous year to approach £10m. Profits also moved in the right direction and an operating profit of £646,894 was reported (operating loss of £136,402 in the previous year).” The improve performance came despite administrative expenses increasing by circa £550,000 to £5,105,891, with staff numbers increasing to 181 from 158 the year before. Wilde said: “These additional overheads allow a much-improved foundation on which some scalability to the business can be built without the need for further central recruitment.” Founder Chris Holmes still owns the majority of the company’s issued share capital.

JD Wetherspoon meets residents over ongoing anti-social behaviour issues at Gloucester Quays pub: JD Wetherspoon representatives have held a meeting with residents at its new Gloucester Docks pub to discuss ongoing anti-social behaviour issues since the site opened in June. The Lord High Constable of England is located in the former Coots Cafe building next to the Waterways museum. But residents said fighting outside the pub, loud noise, and people urinating on walls and vomiting into the water had become a bane of their lives and better security was needed. About 50 people attended the meeting including residents, representatives from Gloucester City Council’s licensing team, the police as well as two area mangers from JD Wetherspoon and one of its solicitors. The Lord High Constable of England has the latest licence of any pub in the area and does not have to close its doors until 1.30am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Its manager Chris Stevens told the Gloucester Citizen: “We are aware there are issues and things going on. The purpose of the meeting is to give people a chance to voice their concerns so that we can take them on board and co-exist together.”

New steakhouse restaurant concept featuring dishes by chef Anthony Flinn set to open in Leeds: A new steakhouse restaurant concept featuring dishes by chef Anthony Flinn is set to open in Leeds. Stockdales of Yorkshire is launching on South Parade on the site of the former Sam’s Chophouse, which is currently being renovated. Flinn, whose Anthony’s restaurant empire collapsed in 2013, has since set up his own consultancy company and been working on cool and quirky ideas for the new restaurant’s dishes. The menu will include rib-eye steak and Wagu beefburgers alongside gin-cured salmon with borage flowers, duck egg and truffle soldiers and a chargrilled Caesar salad. Stockdales of Yorkshire is expected to open next month.

Venn Street record opens third site: Restaurant and bar Venn Street Records has opened its third site in London. The ‘Records’ concept, which includes food, cocktails drinks and a lively music scene, opened in Clapham in 2010 and its second branch is in Northcote Road. It’s latest venture is on the edge of Shoreditch where it will take over the Café El Paso restaurant on Old Street. Venn Street reports paying a “large premium” to secure the site north of the river.

Julian Metcalfe business launches Popcorn Crisps range: Metcalfe’s Food Company, which was set up by the co-founder of Pret A Manger and owner of Asian food company Itsu, Julian Metcalfe, has launched a range of skinny Popcorn Crisps. The crisps, which come in three flavours – Kettle Original, Sweet Chili and say Cheese – are gluten free and have up to 35% less fat than the average tortilla chip. Unlike traditional deep-fat frying methods, Metcalfe’s skinny Popcorn Crisps, which are available at outlets including Itsu, Wicked Coffee Company and D&D Restaurants, are created through an innovative flash-griddled process. The kernels, oil and salt are dropped into triangular-shaped moulds and with the right pressure, temperature and moisture they pop to become Popcorn Crisps. Metcalfe, who set up the Pret A Manger group with Sinclair Beecham, and later started Itsu, founded Metcalfe’s in 2009.

Viva Brazil continues expansion programme in Newcastle with funding from Santander: Brazilian restaurant company Viva Brazil has continued its expansion programme by opening in Newcastle with funding from Santander. The company secured £750,000 to fit out its newly-opened fourth site in the centre of Newcastle and will open a fifth venue in Birmingham – its biggest yet – next month. The Newcastle restaurant, which is based in Grey Street and seats 140, has created 30 jobs. Owner and managing director Andy Aldrich said: “Viva Newcastle is our most ambitious project to date and marks a significant milestone in our history. We are now trading in four excellent locations, suitable for business and leisure users, with further expansion planned in the near future.” Philip Roscoe, relationship director, Santander Corporate & Commercial, added: “The firm’s rapid growth is a testament to its unique and exciting style. We are delighted to support it as it looks to build on these achievements and expand further.” Viva Brazil also has sites in Cardiff, Glasgow and Liverpool, which was the company’s first restaurant in 2010 and is currently closed following a fire earlier this month. The company set an initial target of having five branches by the end of the year with further ones planned in 2016 and beyond across the UK.

Coffee Republic opens student-only staffed coffee bar at Lewisham & Southwark College: Coffee Republic has opened its 26th coffee bar at Lewisham & Southwark College in Waterloo on the South Bank, in London, which is only staffed by students. The franchise – the fourth to open in the past four weeks after sites in Bedford, Golders Green, London, and the company’s latest international site, airside at Fuerteventura Airport on the Canary Islands – is operated by the college itself. As well as offering food and beverages to the college staff and 5,000 students, the coffee bar will be a key area for students to incorporate work experience within their hospitality, or food and beverage course. The coffee bar will only be staffed by students to embrace the real working environment, providing them with the assistance of an experienced manager, as paid part-time employment. Training programmes will be supported and provided by the Coffee Republic operations team. Coffee Republic is set to double the size of its UK estate by the end of this year. The company is experiencing the most successful period of growth since new owners took over in 2009 and currently operates four managed sites and 22 franchised sites.

Manchester-based Solita opens ‘super-site’ in Prestwich: Manchester-based burger and steak restaurant Solita opened its new “super-site” in Prestwich on Friday, 21 August. The company launched the 40,000 square foot 200-seater venue having bought and transformed the former Aumbry fine-dining venue in Church Road, as well as the adjoining Bombay in Bury New Road. The restaurant, which is Solita’s third site, has 150 covers inside and a 50-seater al fresco courtyard. The interior features artwork by well-known Mancunian illustrator Stan Chow and a Marvel comic book neon ceiling – the first in UK – made by Bolton-based Neon creations and Manchester graffiti artist Russel Mehan. Solita first opened in the Northern Quarter before launching a Didsbury restaurant last year and is set to open its fourth site in Deansgate in January.

Bangkok restaurateur to open hot pot restaurant in Soho: A Bangkok restaurateur is to open a specialist Chinese hot-pot restaurant on a prominent site in Soho in November, Bloomberg has reported. Shuang Shuang, on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Wardour Street, will serve five different broths from across China. Diners will choose from about 50 ingredients – including sea bass, pumpkin slices and pork —from a conveyor belt. “When I was at high school in Bangkok, my friends and I would always go for hot pot to celebrate,” Fah Sundravorakul, who ran restaurants in Thailand before moving to London 18 months ago, told Bloomberg. “It’s about having fun, interacting and trying things. When I came to London, I was always amazed by the number of people standing outside pubs, talking and chit-chatting. It really struck me: That doesn’t happen anywhere in the world. It was when I saw that, that I felt hot pot would work here.” Shuang Shuang, which is scheduled to open over two floors in November, won’t accept reservations. The ground floor will be informal and reminiscent of hot-pot restaurants in Asia. Sundravorakul’s Bangkok restaurants included Imperial Duck, Boon Tong Kee and Yamagoya. He previously worked for Diageo, leading the Johnnie Walker team in Thailand.

Wigan boutique hotel plan gets go-ahead: A scheme to preserve the future of Wigan’s Haigh Hall by turning it into a boutique hotel and spa have been given the green light by the council’s planning committee. With the estate in need of multi-million pound investment, councillors at Wigan Council agreed to grant planning permission to Contessa Hotels who will now restore the Grade II listed hall to its former glory .The plans will see the hall, which will still be owned by Wigan Council and leased to Contessa Hotels, turned into a luxury four-star boutique hotel.

Two new restaurants planned for Exeter: Owners of the Princesshay shopping development in Exeter have launched further expansion plans. The Princesshay Partnership, operated by The Crown Estate and TH Real Estate, has submitted a planning application to transform the lower levels of Broadwalk House – opposite Princesshay Shopping Centre’s Roman Walk – into two new restaurants. The planning application would transform the ground floor of Broadwalk House North into new outlets and surrounded by landscaped terraces for outdoor eating. The restaurants proposed would comprise circa 3,500 square foot and 2,700 square foot of space respectively.

Speaker programme confirmed for The Bar and Nightclub Conference: The full speaker programme has been confirmed for The Bar and Nightclub Conference, which is being held on Tuesday 27 October at Bafta Piccadilly. Speakers are: Kate Nicholls, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, Phil Tate, chief executive of CGA Strategy, Simon Chaplin, director and head of leisure and development at Christie + Co, Trevor Watson, executive director of Davis Coffer Lyons, Graeme Bunn, director of Fleurets, Glendola Leisure managing director Alex Salussolia, Riz Shaikh, co-founder of the Columbo Group, David Henkes, vice-president of Technomic, Peter Marks, chief executive of Deltic Group, Exeat Leisure founder Stephen Thomas, Tokyo industries founder Aaron Mellor, Reuben Harley, chief executive of Eclectic, Alex Hazzard, co-founder of the Burning Night Group, Luke Johnson, of Risk Capital Partners and Adam Marshall, founder of Grand Union Group. The conference, the first stand-alone event for this part of the market, examines the key issues affecting the market with contributions from key figures within the sector. Tickets are free for operators and cost £145 for ALMR supplier members and £195 for ALMR non-suppliers. Tickets can be booked by emailing Jo Charity on jo.charity@propelinfo.com

Technomic and Propel partner for UK and US foodservice trends and direction conference: Insights and research firm Technomic is partnering Propel for a full-day conference looking at UK and US foodservice trends and perspectives. The event is on Friday, 18 September at One Moorgate Place in London and attendees will also get a free copy of Technomic’s Top 500 US Chain Restaurant Report and the UK’s leading 100 foodservice brands worth a combined £800. Technomic’s vice-president Dave Henkes will give an industry update on UK foodservice and compare it with the US as well as providing forecasts and beverage trends in both markets. Fellow vice-president Darren Tristano will examine best practice in menu, concept and service among growth concepts as well as looking at consumer demands. Technomic’s Patrick Noone will provide insights on current UK trending menu flavours and preparations and consumer priorities and attitudes. Paul Damico, group president of Focus Brands – which operates several fast-food concepts in the US including Schlotzsky’s Bakery & Café and Moe’s Southwest Grill – will share best practices around creating a unique positioning, culture and growth strategy. Propel managing director Paul Charity will also lead a discussion of senior executives about current consumer trends, menu and beverage trends. Those taking part are: Jon Yantin, commercial director of the ONE Group, Chris Gerard, founder of Innventure, James Nye, managing director of Anglian Country Inns and Ben Levick, director of operations, TCG Group. Tickets are priced at the two-week early-bird rate of £295 plus VAT for operators and £495 plus VAT for suppliers and are available by emailing adam.dickinson@propelinfo.com