Multiple insurers back down on coronavirus policy dispute after FCA challenge: Multiple insurers have admitted they are liable to pay company owners under business interruption insurance policies after the regulator challenged them to prove in court their policies did not apply to the coronavirus pandemic. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is seeking court clarification on whether insurers’ policies allow them to refuse business claims related to the coronavirus pandemic. The hearing is scheduled for late July. The majority of small businesses were not covered for the pandemic, as their policies mainly related to property damage, the regulator believes. However, after the regulator asked 56 insurers for information on 1 May, an undisclosed number quickly gave in and said they would pay out, after previously insisting they were not liable. In a statement the FCA said: “A number of the relevant insurers decided to accept claims from policyholders with certain policies which included particular wordings which had previously been in dispute.” The test case in the high court will look at 17 representative policy wordings, while eight insurers will be defendants. They are Arch Insurance, Argenta Syndicate Management, Ecclesiastical Insurance Office, Hiscox, MS Amlin Underwriting, QBE, Royal & Sun Alliance, and Zurich. Policies from Allianz, American International Group, Aspen, Aviva, Axa, Chubb, Liberty Mutual and Protector also include the wording to be tested in court. The FCA will detail in early July which other companies will also be covered by the eventual ruling. The announcement has been welcomed by sector trade bodies – including the British institute of innkeeping, British Beer & Pub Association, The Night Time Industries Association and UKHospitality – as well as action groups that have been co-ordinating potential legal action against insurers refusing to pay out over legitimate claims. 

Sponsored message – SureFoot Solutions offers Covid-19 Secure accreditation programme: SureFoot Solutions, one of the hospitality sector’s leading safety consultancies, is providing much-needed confidence and support for businesses reopening their doors, with its Covid-19 Secure accreditation programme. Frances Tucker, managing director of SureFoot, said: “Our standard is on offer to businesses looking to meet the challenge of building public trust as the easing from lock-down begins and businesses look to confidently reopen; safe in the knowledge they have not only adhered to government guidelines, but have also implemented industry best practice, in regard to covid-19 controls.” Tucker said the programme had been well received by many of its current clients, to whom the programme is free. Tucker added: “There’s no doubt hospitality operators will need to do a great job at ‘show and tell’ when it comes to the protocols they have adapted in the post-covid world. It makes good business sense to be able to demonstrate any such controls have not only been independently verified, but they are also continually monitored.” Steve Phillips, operations director at Busaba, said “The verification programme provides both our team and customers alike with the much-needed reassurance the business is operating to an exceptional standard.” Find out more at https://surefootsolutions.com/covid-secure/. If you have information you would like to feature in a sponsored message, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com

Propel investment webinar: In a special Propel investment webinar, Propel insights editor Mark Wingett talks to Robin Rowland, operating partner at TriSpan, the backer of Rosa’s Thai and Thunderbird Fried Chicken; Darrel Connell, partner at Imbiba, which backs operators such as Vagabond and Farmer J; Omar Kayat, partner at Graphite Capital, which backs Hawksmoor and New World Trading Company; and Ali Aneizi, founder of Tamweel, a sector-focused mergers and acquisitions and private equity advisory firm, about the current state of the investment market and where it goes from here in a covid-19-influenced hospitality sector. The expert panel discusses, among other key topics, what kind of opportunities are currently coming across their desks; whether their investment criteria has changed; advice they are providing to operators/founders; and where the private equity model goes from here. The webinar will be sent out as a standalone email on Tuesday (2 June) at 3pm.

Hospitality suppliers urged to complete lock-down survey, will form basis of message to government: The UKHospitality Suppliers Alliance has urged businesses to complete the supplier survey launched last week ahead of it closing at midnight on Friday (5 June). The alliance was formed to push for government support to help hospitality supplier businesses alongside any steps it takes for venue operators. The alliance said it has been encouraged by the early uptake in survey completions, with more than 130 businesses contacting UKHospitality in the first 72 hours. The survey, which can be found here, seeks to quantify and crystallise the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the wider hospitality industry. Alliance co-ordinator Jon Collins said: “The hospitality sector is a complex ecosystem with suppliers playing a vital role in its success. Those suppliers are being hit every bit as hard as operators at this challenging time. This survey will allow us to build a detailed view on those challenges and set out the risks and opportunities to government.”

Plan put forward to pedestrianise Soho streets to help restaurants and bars: The streets of London’s Soho could be pedestrianised temporarily to help sector businesses spring back to life while maintaining the required two-metre space between customers. John James, managing director of Soho Estates, has put forward the plan to Westminster Council to turn the area into a giant European-style outdoor cafe. He told The Guardian: “I think a third of the businesses will not open again unless they get some help. If we don’t take action, we’ll see the heart of the West End disappear.” James is asking the council to approve temporary pedestrianisation, until the end of September, with a license extension to allow businesses to put appropriately spaced tables out on the street in front of their premises and serve until 11pm. Essential traffic, such as rubbish collection and deliveries, would be restricted to specific times of day. “It’s a simple solution,” James said. “Right now, Soho’s a ghost town, where livelihoods are under threat.” The Soho plan is one of many similar ideas under development in cities and towns around the country. Alan Lorrimer, founder of dining, drinking and live music concept The Piano Works, has a host of operators backing his #UKGrandOutDoorCafe campaign. It calls on the government to temporarily ease regulations to allow hospitality operators to use open spaces and public squares alongside their venues to serve food and drink. In Liverpool, £450,000 is being put up to help redesign the city’s outdoor spaces, with European-style covered outdoor seating for bars and restaurants. The housing and local government minister, Robert Jenrick, has said he is considering granting “blanket” permission for restaurants, pubs, cafes and bars to use pedestrianised streets for outdoor dining. But the plan may face another major hurdle. “Restaurants need every bit of help and whatever we can do to make the business more viable is welcome,” said James Hart, co-owner of Quo Vadis and Barrafina in Soho’s Dean Street. “Of course, we’ll probably get it signed off and it will rain for the rest of the summer!”

Backman – development times have been shortened by as much as two years as operators pivot businesses: Sector analyst Peter Backman has said development times have been shortened by perhaps as much as two years as operators pivot their businesses during lock-down. Backman said activities such as meal kits, ingredient delivery that allow consumers to make restaurant dishes at home and dark kitchens are among the areas to have benefited – and it would be interesting to see how they evolve in the “new normal”. He added: “The coronavirus pandemic has been a tragedy for many and a trial for most. But there have undoubtedly been activities that have benefited over the past ten weeks; in the foodservice sector at any rate, some developments that were happening before the lock-down have been given a boost and, as observed by one of the people I interviewed last week for my report on ‘What’s Hot in the USA’, development times have been shortened by perhaps as much as two years. Meal kits from companies such as Hello Fresh, Mindful Chef, Gousto et al are reportedly doing well. Restaurant brands from Patty & Bun and Cote, to Homeslice and Pizza Pilgrims are delivering ingredients around the country for customers to make their dishes at home. Meanwhile some operators are pivoting to groceries while still maintaining delivery of their core foodservice range (and some are doing so in support of NHS workers and other front line staff).” Backman said delivery was currently accounting for a large share of the quick service sector’s business, even though drive-thru is rapidly increasing its share as large brands such as Costa and McDonald’s expand their business through this channel, while dark kitchens have seen their businesses “grow rapidly”. In terms of the future, Backman said: “Of course, right now it is pretty likely delivery will continue to grow significantly for some considerable time. And meanwhile questions are coming down the line regarding the direction of the evolution of restaurants and other brands in the ecosystem that is occupied by delivery, meal kits and dark kitchens.”

Hotels in Northern Ireland set to reopen from 20 July: Hotels in Northern Ireland can reopen from 20 July as long as the rate of infection is under control, Stormont economy minister Diane Dodds has said. The date covers guesthouses, guest accommodation, bed and breakfasts, hotels and hostels, as well as holiday and home parks, caravan sites and self-catering properties – although the latter may be opened earlier depending on scientific advice. Dodds said: “Covid-19 has presented an unprecedented challenge for our tourism industry, as it has for tourism markets around the world. I believe the time is right to provide the tourist accommodation sector with clarity about opening dates. I want to build upon the positive progress in managing the spread of the virus and begin to reopen our tourism industry in a safe and managed way.”

‘Most consumers will stay away from pubs and restaurants until they see significant drop in infections and deaths’: Most consumers will stay away from pubs and restaurants until they see a significant drop in infections and deaths – regardless of measures put in place, according to research by customer experience company Service Monitor. An online focus group with a cross section of frequent pub and restaurant guests showed the three distinct types when it came to the question of returning to outlets. The majority (60%) said they want to see all the social distancing and sanitisation measures overtly put in place – then they might return. A total of 20% said they would not return regardless of safety measures introduced, while the same percentage said they would go to a venue regardless of what anti-coronavirus measures have been implemented. Service Monitor said the main fear for consumers was being too close to other people – no matter how many sanitising stations. They placed a huge emphasis on management to control guest numbers and behaviour. There was also a lot of scepticism surrounding what the atmosphere would be like given the implementation of all the measures. The sentiment of the group echoed: “I don’t relish being served by someone in a hazmat suit.”

Stonegate property director passes away: Stonegate Pub Company has announced property director Nick Rockell passed away on Sunday (31 May), aged 50. Rockell led the property team through a number of successful acquisitions including the recent purchase of Ei Group, playing a significant role in the company’s development since its formation in 2010. Stonegate’s chairman Ian Payne said: “I worked with Nick for more than 17 years, within both Laurel and Stonegate and was extremely proud to have seen him rise to property director during that time. His hard work, dedication and commitment helped shape Stonegate to be the company it is today. He was one of my most respected and trusted colleagues. Nick’s passing has touched us all and his loss will be felt far and wide, he will be sorely missed by us all. At this tragic time our heartfelt sympathy and condolences are with his wife Lisa, and his boys Joseph and William.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a boutique hospitality investor that is focused on supporting an up-and-coming business with its expansion. To support this, the company is keen to take on board another non-executive director with significant experience in digit marketing, brand and commercial management for the hospitality sector. This role would suite an individual at managing director/chief operating officer/chief executive level who is able to commit to one to four days a month on top of their permanent position. A passion for mentoring as well as previous non-executive director experience would be desirable. Anyone interested can email Hollie@corecruitment.com

Oakman COO – balance sheet engineering probably the best bit of work we have done: Oakman Inns chief operating officer Dermot King has said the balance sheet engineering the business has carried out in lock-down is “probably the best bit of work we have done, because that is giving us a sound footing going forward”. Speaking to Elliotts chief executive Ann Elliott as part of Propel’s “navigating the coronavirus” series, King said an opportunity for the company going forward would be to spread consumer demand over the course of the day and week, to negate a drop during traditional peak trading times. He said: “Over the past two months, our focus has been on a twin track approach to what we could do to set our business on a more sustainable footing going forward. Over the time, we have done a lot of balance sheet engineering. We went back to our shareholders and we did a heavily discounted issue to them. We raised about £2m-worth of shareholder funds and reduced our average weighted-cost of capital from something like 9% to something just north of 5%, or just under that by the end of the year. That is probably the best bit of work we have done. Once we are back up and running and the economy hopefully recovers in the next year, we should be on a very, very sound footing to be able to get on with those ready-made openings we want to get on with.” King said the company only exceeds 70% of capacity in a normal working week for maybe six hours – two hours on a Friday evening, two hours on a Saturday evening, and two hours at Sunday lunchtime. He said: “The opportunity is to spread that demand over the course of the day and we will use a lot of mechanisms to do that. We have built up a fairly regular and loyal customer base and to our regular customers we will give priority to time slots. The operating challenge is to spread the current demand for the current peak.” King will share more of his thoughts in the video, which will be released on Tuesday (2 June). Meanwhile, readers can support independent sector journalism and get their news 12 hours early (at 7pm each night) with a Propel Premium subscription. It costs £395 plus VAT per annum for operators and £495 plus VAT for suppliers. Email anne.steele@propelinfo.com to sign up.

Leon working with advisors and landlords to find ‘right solution’: Natural fast food brand Leon has become the latest sector operator to confirm it is working with advisors and landlords in regards to its current rental levels. A Leon spokesman told Propel: “We are working collectively with consultancy firm Quantuma and our landlords to find the right solution for everyone.” It is thought the business will follow peer Pret A Manger in pushing to change to a turnover-based rent model. Pret, the JAB Holdings-owned business, announced at the weekend it had appointed advisors as it looks to undertake a “comprehensive transformation plan”, which could it see it try and change to a turnover-based rent model. It is thought this may lead to a limited number of permanent stores closures across Pret’s circa 430-strong UK estate. The company is working with professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal and property agent CWM to advise on aspects of the plan and to examine the best options to “adjust its business model in a new retail environment”.

West Berkshire Brewery launches £750,000 fund-raise to support growth, including ‘ambition plan’ for Maverick Pubs portfolio: West Berkshire Brewery, the David Bruce-chaired group, has launched a £750,000 fund-raise on crowdfunding platform Seedrs to support its growth, including an “ambitious plan” for the Maverick Pubs portfolio. The company is offering 9.35% equity in return for the investment, giving the business a pre-money valuation of £7.27m. The company already has £500,000 committed from existing shareholders and is hoping to significantly overfund. Propel understands the company had seen revenue increase to £6m-plus before the coronavirus pandemic hit, with revenue collapsing 85% by the end of March. However, it is understood the business has subsequently managed to recover, mainly through online beer sales and through packaging work from other bigger regional brewers. The company is now thought to be doing 65% of pre-coronavirus sales without any pubs being open, which accounted for most of its revenue, and without its own pubs and brewery bar. The money raised will also be used to launch a beer subscription box on the back of online success, plus sales and marketing support. West Berkshire Brewery managing director Tom Lucas said: “The past few months have been extremely tough for everyone, ourselves included, but despite these challenging times, we have been able to trade through and some parts of our business are in significant growth, which is testament to the extensive work we have completed in the past couple of years to establish a much bigger and multi-faceted business, which has positioned us well to weather the current storm. We are in a very positive place and ready to continue accelerating our business in the months and years ahead.” In February, Propel revealed West Berkshire Brewery was working with advisors as it explored options to secure additional finance. West Berkshire Brewery raised £1.8m in July 2019 to grow its brewing and pub operations. The company operates three pubs under its own vehicle – The Depot in Holloway, The Grapes in Oxford, and the Taproom & Kitchen at its brewery development – plus two London pubs, the Old Suffolk Punch in Hammersmith and The Oxford Tavern in Kentish Town under its Maverick Pubs joint venture with Downing Pubs.

Individual Restaurants launches delivery/collection service and at-home range: Individual Restaurants, which operates 30 sites under the Piccolino and Restaurant Bar & Grill brands, has launched a delivery and collection service out of selected sites, and developed an at-home range, Propel understands. The company, which parted company with managing director Vernon Lord earlier this year, has launched Piccolino2Go out of its Piccolino restaurants in Alderley Edge and Virginia Water, offering free delivery within a five-mile radius. At the same time, the business, which also operates a joint venture with chef Gino D’Acampo, has launched its at-home service, which features frozen dishes from its menus, freshly prepared by its executive chefs. There is a minimum order of £75 per delivery, while a £7.50 delivery charge applies. 

Frontier Pubs starts offering delivery and click-and-collect: Frontier Pubs, the partnership between Ei Managed Investments and the Karen Jones-led Pioneer Hospitality, has begun offering a delivery and click-and-collect option out of some of its ten-strong estate. Propel understands the London-based company has begun working with OrderSwift to offer click-and-collect from The Norbiton in Kingston, and The Rose & Crown in Tooting Bec. The sites are open from Wednesday to Friday between 4pm and 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 9pm for delivery, click-and-collect and grab-and-go. The company is also offering delivery through Deliveroo at its Chandos site in Honor Oak. The sites are offering pizzas, wine by the bottle, and a selection of beer and cider.

Deep Blue to reopen three further Harry Ramsden sites on Wednesday: Deep Blue Restaurants, owner of the Deep Blue and Harry Ramsden brands, is to open a further three Harry Ramsden sites for takeaway and delivery on Wednesday (3 June). The restaurants in Blackpool, Great Yarmouth and Swanage will reopen following on from the brand’s Bournemouth, Brighton and Eastbourne outlets last month. The sites have reduced opening times and social distancing measures in place. Deep Blue chief executive and founder James Low said: “We have been keen to reopen gradually to ensure our team has time to adjust and we can make the necessary changes to our operational practices. The locations we have reopened have extremely well under the current circumstances and we hope to continue this success with Blackpool, Great Yarmouth and Swanage.” The company began reopening its eponymous restaurants at the start of May and the majority of the 35-strong Deep Blue estate will be open by this week. 

Shoot The Bull lines up Hull opening for Solita: Yorkshire-based event and food and beverage operator Shoot The Bull, which earlier this year acquired the two remaining Solita burger and steak restaurants in Manchester for an undisclosed sum, has lined up an opening in Hull for the brand. The Chris Harrison-led business is to take over the 1884 Wine and Tapas site on the city's quayside. The site is set to open for takeaway and delivery, before a planned full reopening, government restrictions permitting, next month. In March, Shoot The Bull said it planned to immediately grow the Solita brand, with a new home in Call Lane in Leeds. The Solita business fell into liquidation in February 2019, with its Prestwich closing in June. Owner Simon Pogson started again under a new company name, SP Restaurants, and retained the Northern Quarter and Didsbury sites, as well as the El Taquero Mexican restaurant in the city centre, which closed last month. Shoot The Bull currently operates The Old House pubs in both York and Hull, Shoot The Bull in Hull Truck Theatre and the Rotisserie & Grill at the Kommune food court in Sheffield.

Pure to reopen more sites for takeaway and delivery: Healthy food-to-go group Pure is to reopen a further four of its 21-strong, London-based sites for takeaway and delivery from Tuesday (2 June). The company, in which Whitbread has a 51% stake, reopened its outlet in Moorgate at the end of April after it conducted a survey of its customers and teams to find out their concerns about the business reopening. It will now reopen its sites in Hammersmith, Waterloo station, Victoria station and Baker Street, while also adding a takeaway option to the Moorgate site. The company said: “For our customers, it was about the safety of the food preparation and the delivery itself. We have designed a menu based on what our customers said they wanted for delivery, including groceries.”

Elite Bistros to launch cook-at-home meal service: Chef Gary Usher has announced his Elite Bistros business is to launch a cook-at-home meal delivery service, which he hopes will be available nationwide. Taking to Twitter, Usher, who operates restaurants including Sticky Walnut in Chester, Hispi in Didsbury and Kala in Manchester, said in a video: “We'll be taking all the hassle out of cooking at home. We've seen a few other restaurants and chefs doing it and it seems like a great idea. We won't be doing takeaway. We're not trying to get our hot food to you. We're going to be packaging up a bit of prepped food with some really easy-to-follow instructions and a couple of videos by me showing you how to recreate what we do in Elite Bistros at home.”

Bundobust launches online beer bottle shop: Indian street food and craft beer restaurant Bundobust has launched an online beer bottle shop. Patel’s Off Licence, named after co-founder Mayur Patel, launched as a trial over the last bank holiday weekend, with the purpose to sell Bundobust’s existing stock and to generate some income while the restaurants are closed. The majority of beer sold out within two hours, which prompted Patel and business partner Marko Husak to restock with the pair planning to keep Patel’s Off Licence online permanently. The selection will change regularly with new brews landing in the shop twice a week, including some experimental beers. Delivery is available nationwide. Bundobust is also offering rewards to customers, including dishes that will be redeemable once Bundobust can open again for dine-in at its three restaurants – in Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. Husak said: “Seeing as the customers can’t come to us, we thought we’d go to them. We thought the bottle shop would be a good way to sell existing stock generate a bit of income, and most importantly to connect to our customer base.”

Bravo Inns co-founder joins Hawthorn Leisure as non-executive director as Gerry Carroll steps down: Hawthorn Leisure, the community pub company of NewRiver, has announced the appointment of Ken Buckley as a non-executive director. Buckley joins the board alongside chief executive Mark Davies, chief financial officer Matt Ward, chief operating officer Edith Monfries and non-executive chairman David Lockhart. Buckley co-founded Bravo Inns, a community pub company with 44 pubs, in 2007. Bravo Inns joined Hawthorn Leisure’s managed estate in December when it was acquired by Hawthorn for £17.9m, and since then, Buckley has been working as an advisor and supporting the integration. He has more than 40 years’ experience in the UK pub sector. Gerry Carroll has informed Hawthorn Leisure of his decision to step down from the board as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Davies, said: “Ken has always been a champion of wet-led community pubs, and his expertise will be a great help to myself and the board as we move forward.” Buckley added: “I’m looking forward to taking on this new role and supporting the company through what will undoubtedly be a period that presents not just challenges, but also opportunities, for the sector.” 

Bao to launch home kits for delivery: Taiwanese concept Bao is launching home kits for delivery. Available to order from next Monday (8 June) within the M25, the kit will feature six ready to steam baos as well as all the elements needed to build their namesakes. Boxes of plain baos will also be available to buy separately and in July the store will begin to sell limited editions of its bao bakery goods. The home kits will be on Bao’s online convenience store, Convini, with delivery outside the M25 available from July. The one-stop shop will also sell non-perishable food and drink, ranging from Taiwanese loose teas and curry bars to bottled cocktails, XU gin and Bao beer. 

Lyle's team to launch takeaway brand ASAP Pizza: James Lowe and John Ogier, the team behind Michelin-starred Lyle’s and Borough Market wine bar and bakery Flor, are to launch a pizza takeaway brand called ASAP Pizza. Launching on Wednesday, 10 June, the company said the new venture is borne from the pair’s long-standing plans to open a larger bread and pizza-led restaurant, and the necessities and pace of a post-coronavirus world. The new brand’s delivery radius will include parts of London Bridge, Southwark, Elephant & Castle, and Kennington. It said the new brand will have a “New York-style vibe” and will operate from the Flor kitchen at Borough Market’s Bedale Street via click-and-collect and Deliveroo and will bring the duo’s take on “sourdough pizzas made with heritage British wheat”. It will also offer a tight range of small plate dishes including burrata, asparagus and preserved lemon; plus a number of desserts.

Lebanese Bakery to open two new delivery sites: Lebanese Bakery, the Qoot Restaurant Group-operated brand, is to open two delivery sites, in London’s Crouch End and Islington. Available through Deliveroo, the company said it had “handpicked our bestsellers” to be delivered, including warm Manousheh filled with fresh cheese, meat, and vegetables; traditional “Kaak” Lebanese bread with sesame seeds, sumac, and thyme; salads with pomegranate and muhammara, and sweet Maamouls filled with pastry, dates, pistachios and walnuts. The creation of brothers Samer and Bassam Chamoun, the concept opened its first London site in Covent Garden in May 2019 and a second site is due to open in Harrods later this year.

Folie launches delivery and click-and-collect: Folie, the restaurant and bar in London’s Soho, has launched a delivery and click-and-collect service. Founder Guillaume Depoix has specially designed the Folie to Go menu, which features dishes focusing on the Italian and French Riviera, as well as a drinks offer including wine, spirits and a selection of ready-to pour cocktails. The menu, which sources and champions seasonal ingredients from small-scale UK farmers, and fish from day boats in Cornwall and Devon. Dishes include confit lamb shoulder with confit garlic; and chilled salmon, steamed vegetables and aioli. The menu is available for delivery through Supper or collection from the restaurant in Golden Square. It is available Tuesday to Saturday from 11.30am to 2.30pm and from 5.30pm until 9.30pm, with plans to open on Sundays in the foreseeable future. Delivery is within a radius of 2.5 miles from the restaurant.

SpiceBox to launch nationwide recipe box delivery service: SpiceBox, the London-based vegan curry house concept, is launching a nationwide recipe box delivery service. From Wednesday (3 June) the business will be offering boxes filled with the ingredients to make its curries such as tikka masala or cashew and coconut, plus a recipe card. Deliveries will be made on Thursdays and Fridays and each box will feed four people. Founder Grace Regan has created accompanying YouTube recipe videos, which will be live on SpiceBox's YouTube channel. SpiceBox is already offering a delivery and click-and-collect service from its restaurant in Walthamstow. 

Bespoke to open second Hotel Brooklyn, in Leicester: Bespoke Hotels is to open its second Hotel Brooklyn site, in Leicester. The 191-bedroom hotel, restaurant and bar is set to open in summer 2022 and follows the launch of its Manchester sibling in February. The new hotel will be located beside the expanded Welford Road Stadium – home to Leicester Tigers rugby team. As with its Manchester site, Hotel Brooklyn in Leicester will pay homage to the New York borough from the early 20th century to the present day with the versatile dining offer showcasing both European and American influences.