Turkish grill chain to make UK debut: A Turkish grill chain is opening its debut UK restaurant off Leicester Square in December. Ali Ocakbasi, which specialises in a fusion of traditional and modern Anatolian cuisine, will open at 16 Irving Street, W1, just behind London’s most well-known plaza. The restaurant will take a 2,000 square foot unit on a ten-year lease. The concept was founded in 2012 by Okan Akkaş and Ahmet Uçar who operate two branches in Istanbul and further sites in Amsterdam and Vienna. Signature grilled items feature heavily on the menu, including Patlıcanlı kebap, a kebab dish served with aubergine, and Piliç Sis, cubes of marinated chicken. Other dishes include cold and hot starters such as beyaz peynir, a traditional Turkish cheese, and içli köfte, a stuffed meatball with onions and bulgur wheat. A range of salads, breads and gluten-free baked goods are also available. Kiren Dhesi, of Cedar Dean Group, which acted for the previous tenant, Woodblox, on the deal together with Paul Davison from advisory firm Adlers, said: “We are really excited to have sold the lease to Ali Ocakbasi, making London the latest home to its European growth plans, following Amsterdam and Vienna. We are looking forward to doing a lot more work with them in the future.” Adam Landau ,of One One One Advisory, acted for Ali Ocakbasi. He added: “Ali Ockobasi will be showing off Anatolian cooking techniques and recipes that London has yet to experience to such an authentic degree.”

Easyhotel adds Newcastle site: Easyhotel, the owner, developer and operator of “super budget” branded hotels, has agreed to take over the 104 room Tune hotel in Newcastle. The hotel at Proctor House, 23-29 Side, Newcastle, is centrally located between the City Centre and The Quayside, and an eight-minute walk from Newcastle Central Station. The property, which opened as a hotel in 2014, is in excellent condition and will open as an Easyhotel next month following minor rebranding works to the building. Newcastle will be the group’s second leased site. The hotel will be let on a 25-year FRI (fully repairing and insuring) lease at an annual rent of £442,000. The company stated: “As previously outlined, whilst the board is focused on accelerating the group’s expansion through owned and franchise hotel development, it will consider specific leased sites, providing they enable the group to build a footprint in strategic gateway locations. The board applies strict due diligence when assessing lease opportunities, stress testing a minimum risk adjusted rent cover in line with hotel sector standards. This selective approach to leased opportunities will enable the company to increase the number of hotel rooms under its direct control, grow its earnings at a lower capital cost and maintain the group’s (blended) ROCE target of 15%.” Guy Parsons, chief executive of Easyhotel, said: “This is an excellent opportunity to establish a footprint in the vibrant and popular City of Newcastle. The 104 rooms will require minimal work to bring them in line with our brand and we will open the new Easyhotel Newcastle next month. It has been a year of accelerated growth for the group, validating our strategy of offering comfortable, affordable accommodation in key tourist and business locations in the UK and internationally. The board looks forward to announcing further opportunities for the Easyhotel brand as we continue to expand our development pipeline.”