Newcastle craft burger concept targets 150 stores in next decade as it launches franchise offer: Newcastle craft burger concept Drop Burger has told Propel it is targeting 150 stores over the next decade as it launches a franchise offer. Burger Drop was founded in 2020 by Hasan Hamid and Amer Qayyum, offering wings and shakes as well as burgers, and currently has two branches in its home city. It is set to launch its first franchise store in the second quarter of 2024, one of five new sites it aims to open this year as it expands to other parts of the UK. “We are targeting a nationwide expansion, with a key focus on student orientated cities,” Hamid told Propel. “Our long-term ambition over the next five to ten years is to reach 150 stores nationwide. We already have our first couple of restaurants in the pipeline, only a few weeks after launching our franchising, with a plan to open them in the second quarter of 2024. We’re aiming for around five in total in 2024, then ramping up the numbers in the following year, until we eventually get to a stage where we are opening one a month. We are now well resourced – both from a team point of view and funding wise – and we are at a stage where we have refined all the internal processes and are built to scale. As well as that, it’s about time we started fulfilling the requests from customers who travel all over the UK for our burgers!” Hamid, who is also a director at Bubbl Tea Bar in the Newcastle suburb of Heaton, has a degree in business leadership and corporate management and has previously worked in social media marketing. “The idea was to bring a luxury but affordable burger experience to Newcastle, and after having considerable success, including become one of the best-selling independent burgers on Uber Eats and becoming a cult favourite among food bloggers in the region, we decided to expand,” he added. “We’ve positioned our restaurants in the affordable luxury space, which is quite different versus other operators, who are more quick-service restaurant-focused with a lean menu. The Burger Drop experience is not just about filling your belly, but the whole journey and experience we’ve created for our customers. We’ve had an exceptionally busy period over the last few months and we’re still growing, so we are very much looking forward to the future.”

 

Adil Group CEO Raja Adil to speak at first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2024, open for bookings: Raja Adil, group chief executive of the Adil Group, will be among the speakers at the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2024. The conference takes place on Thursday, 21 March, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London’s Kensington, and is open for bookings. Adil talks about building one of the largest family-owned quick service restaurant operators in the UK; becoming a high calibre growth partner for KFC, Costa, Burger King and Taco Bell; owning and operating fully serviced boutique hotels; its freehold approach and how it remains “growth hungry”. Operators can book up to three free places per company while Premium subscribers who are operators can book up to four free places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Propel’s next Multi-Site Database to be released on Friday with new seven category segmentation: The next Propel Multi-Site Database will be released on Friday (26 January) at midday to Premium members – and in a ground-breaking move sees companies now searchable in seven main segments. The database, produced in association with Virgate, provides details of more than 3,000 multi-site operators. But following feedback from subscribers, companies will now be searchable in seven main segments – allowing users to search quickly in key categories and allowing them to drill down into the details and updates for these specific areas. The biggest segment is casual dining, which consists of 900 companies and they make up 28% of the database. There are 758 companies in the pubs and bars segment (25% of the database total), 497 in café bakery (16% of total), 408 quick service restaurant companies (14%), 247 hotel business (8%), 187 experiential leisure operators (7%) and 50 fine dining companies (2%). The database is updated each month – this edition includes 20 new companies and brings the total to 3,047. Premium members also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, 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 Food & Beverage. Propel is evolving its Premium subscription offer by launching Premium Club on Thursday, 1 February. All circa 4,000 existing subscribers automatically become members. The launch of Premium Club comes with even more benefits. All subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to four Propel paid-for events – The Excellence in Pub Retailing Conference (14 May), Social Media for Profit (18 July), the Talent and Training Conference (1 October) and Restaurant Marketer and Innovator (two days in January 2025). Operators will also be able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club members 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 members 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 members 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 Propel Premium 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 Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Restaurants’ delivery and takeaway sales rise 1% in December after year of recovery: Britain’s top managed restaurant groups recorded 1% year-on-year growth in delivery and takeaway sales in December 2023, CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker shows. It is a seventh consecutive month of like-for-like growth and caps a year that saw restaurants revive deliveries and takeaways after a post-covid decline. However, the 1% figure is unchanged from November and continues a slowdown towards the end of the year, from 6% and 4% in September and October. Growth has been generated by increases in menu prices rather than order volumes, which dropped year-on-year by 4% in December. As was the case throughout 2023, direct-to-home sales were much stronger than takeaways. Deliveries achieved 6% growth in December, but takeaway and click-and-collect sales fell by 10% as more consumers migrated from collecting meals to delivery to the door. Deliveries accounted for nearly two thirds (64%) of all restaurants’ orders in December, while takeaways were worth 36%. Combined, they attracted 14p in every pound spent with groups, while eat-in sales took 86p. Karl Chessell, CGA by NIQ’s director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA, said: “It was encouraging to see restaurant groups steadily recover their delivery and takeaway sales in 2023 after an extended post-covid lull. However, growth has slowed to well below the rate of inflation, and profit margins on deliveries remain tight for many businesses. These challenges are likely to continue for some time, but as cost pressures ease and consumers recover their spending confidence we can be cautiously optimistic that sales will pick up as we move deeper into 2024.”

 

Northern operators average 7.2% sales growth despite challenging year: Hospitality operators in the north have demonstrated growth and resilience over the past year, averaging 7.2% sales growth, according to new research. The findings by Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB), in partnership with CGA by NielsenIQ, revealed all northern England cities saw a growth in sales in managed pubs, bars and restaurants, with Newcastle (12.7%) and York (9.2%) leading the uptrend, followed by Sheffield (7.1%), Liverpool (6.8%), Chester (5.6%), Manchester (4.8%) and Leeds (4.4%). Despite a 2.5% decline in total venue numbers across the British pub, bar, and restaurant sector in the latest year to October, northern cities such as Liverpool (down 0.8%), Newcastle (down 1.2%) and Chester (down 1.0%) have proven more resilient than London (down 2.2%) and the national average. More than a quarter (26%) of new openings have been in the north. A higher percentage of customers in the north are “very satisfied” with the quality of food, service, drinks and overall experience, than the south. Siobhan Thompson, event manager for NRB24, said: “The results underscore the strength, resilience, and ambition of northern hospitality establishments. Despite shared challenges in the sector, operators in cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle have demonstrated innovation and optimism in the face of issues such as rising utility prices, food inflation, and staffing concerns. While challenges persist, it’s heartening to witness the industry’s adaptability and positivity. The surge in new concepts, site launches, and the enthusiastic influx of customers through the doors offer a much-needed burst of positivity.”

 

Sector charity cycle ride initiative exceeds £125,000: Pedalling for Pubs, the industry-coordinated bike trek raising money for Only A Pavement Away and the Licensed Trade Charity, has raised more than £125,000 for this year’s challenge. The team, led by Katy Moses, founder of research consultancy KAM, is now calling on further support from the sector to help meet its fundraising target of £250,000. Featuring 30 riders from across the sector, the team will cycle 400km across Kenya between 18 and 21 March. Moses said: “Now in its third year, we are really seeing the impact that fundraising from Pedalling for Pubs is having on these two great charities, enabling them to do even more incredible work to change lives.” 2024 will also see the return of sister ride Pedalling 2 Pubs for its second year, as riders take on 300km across North Devon this May. The two rides have together so far raised £670,000 to support the charities. 

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a leisure and entertainment brand with complexes across the UK that is looking to appoint a general manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “Responsibilities will include all operations management including daily audits, cash reconciliation, staff management and cost control; managing the recruitment, disciplinary procedures, performance reviews; health and safety including daily, weekly and monthly audits, maintaining fire procedures and training, reporting faults and actions; financial reporting including forecasting, cost control, payroll to sales, monthly reports, budgeting and project work, managing all cost lines within budget and ensuring all margin protection processes are implemented effectively to maximise profitability.” The salary is up to £65,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email david@corecruitment.com.

 

Exclusive – Marston’s launches new partnership agreement: Marston’s is launching a new agreement which, in time, will encompass all partner pubs, Propel has learned. Marston’s was the pioneer of the retail agreement in 2008 and it has evolved from its early offering, through franchise agreements, to the new partnership agreement it offers today. The Marston’s Partnership division is led by directors of operations John Green and Matt Whiting. It will encompass all current agreements including the current retail ones and tenanted and leased pubs. Marston’s said with the cost of living and utility price rises forcing many pubs out of business, the need to create a model that is more transparent and reflective of today’s world “was there for all to see”. The company, which reported on Tuesday (23 January) Christmas trading has driven 8.1% like-for-like sales growth in its year to date, added the new style agreement “works across every community pub format we have”. It said: “Using shared systems, shared learning, award-winning training, the new partnership agreement has been developed by listening to our applicants, our partners and our colleagues to fine-tune the model, making it fit for the future where both partners share the success and the challenges experienced in recent years.” Green said: “We do partnerships (we have 900 of them), it’s in our DNA, and we do pubs. It is transparent, fair and, importantly, future-proof. We have tested the new model over 18 months, working closely with our partners and learning. We have carefully matched people and pubs, and the results are exciting. The direction of travel has been in place for some time, and we are evolving the model and the agreement to reflect the market needs.” Since the pandemic, Marston’s said it has experienced a significant increase in applicants, particularly from outside the sector – from retail and other food and beverage businesses – who are keen to start their own business and be in control of their lives. Green added: “Across the business, demand is outstripping supply, but we are committed to finding the right person for the right pub – because we know that with the right person, that is where the real magic of the great British pub happens.” Agreements are in place for five years, with a three-month notice period.

Ten Entertainment Group launches immersive ‘escape golf’ concept: Ten Entertainment Group has launched an immersive “escape golf” concept and is planning to open a series of themed courses across its portfolio, Propel has learned. Prison Putt has opened at Ten Entertainment Group’s new venue in Sheffield. The former Argos store in Angel Street has been converted into a 40,000 square-foot complex that also offers 21 lanes of bowling along with laser tag, escape rooms, arcade games, pool, table tennis, two bars and a diner. Prison Putt sees players locked in a prison-themed course and challenged to play ten holes of golf for their freedom. Ten Entertainment Group chief executive Graham Blackwell told Propel: “It’s a combination of escape room elements and immersive indoor golf. You make your way through the custody suite, the canteen and eventually you hopefully discover the secret escape route and exit to your freedom. It’s a series of mini-challenges and puzzles rather than a single-room escape room, making it a little like the old-school Crystal Maze of the 1990s but taking it to the next level. It’s high-tech with the scoring done through an app. We’re looking to open a second one, which will be an even bigger course, and then we’re also looking to develop other themed courses. For example, we’re looking at doing a Jurassic concept.” Blackwell said the business, which has just been taken private in a £300m deal by US firm Trive, saw good trading over the Christmas period and is set to refurbish seven sites in 2024, including Southampton, Chichester and Eastbourne. Ten Entertainment Group has also begun work on its new-build site in Chester. 

  

Creams planning to open more than 25 sites in 2024 following record Christmas: Fast-growing dessert parlour operator Creams Café has told Propel it is planning to open in excess of 25 sites in 2024 after reporting a record Christmas. Creams, which operates 100 sites, saw like-for-like in-cafe sales up 5.8% in December against the same period in 2022. Delivery sales also experienced an uplift with an increase of 2.5%. The year-on-year growth comes following the October launch of the brand’s range of hot desserts, a first for the UK dessert restaurant sector. Top sellers included the banoffee hot pocket, sticky toffee hot skillet and spiced winter berry waffle. The brand’s Great Gelato Giveaway on Black Friday was another highlight leading up to Christmas and saw more than 50,000 scoops being given away to Creams’ customers. Further menu innovation is planned for the coming months alongside the site expansion. Chief executive Everett Fieldgate said: “We continue to lead the way in the dessert restaurant market with our ongoing commitment to innovation. While many consider dessert restaurants a summer destination, we’re changing perceptions, and this is reflected in these strong results. I’m proud of the entire Creams family and our franchisees for delivering not only exceptional trading, but a fantastic experience for all our guests. With lots of new products in the pipeline, 2024 is going to be an exciting year for the brand.”

 

Papa John’s makes ‘tough decision’ to close eight stores ‘not meeting expectations’: Papa John’s has made the “tough decision” to close eight of its restaurants that are “not meeting expectations” and will remain shut until new ownership is found. Stores in Halesowen, Wednesfield, Cannock, Kidderminster, Crewe, Macclesfield, Longton and Sunderland have temporarily pulled the shutters down, reports Birmingham Live. It is unclear how many staff have been affected but the chain said it is making “every effort to offer reemployment” to team members. It is believed “positive conversations” are being had around the future of the stores, and Papa John’s said it is hoped they would be up and running again “very soon”. A company spokesman said: “Papa John’s prides itself on providing quality ingredients and a better customer experience across all its locations throughout the UK. We are committed to delivering consistency to our loyal fans, and it’s what they have come to expect. Unfortunately, not all of our restaurants are meeting our expectations, which is why we’ve made the tough decision to temporarily close these stores in the north west and Midlands until we find new ownership. We are very grateful to all our team members and look forward to seeing our loyal customers again soon.” It comes a fortnight after Papa John’s said is set to close as many as 100 locations. The chain which operates 524 stores in the UK (118 company branches and 406 run by franchises), told investors it anticipates “additional strategic restaurant closures of low-performing restaurants” in a bid to boost profits. This after Propel revealed in October that Papa John’s UK & Ireland saw a 21.8% decline in like-for-like system sales in the year ended 25 December 2022 as it posted a pre-tax loss of £2,908,000 (2021: £6,704,000). It closed 22 restaurants in 2023 but opened 15 new branches.

 

Chopstix appoints former Costa transformation director as its new FD: Fast-growing, quick service restaurant brand Chopstix has hired former Costa Coffee transformation director Rob King as its new financial director, Propel has learned. King spent almost 11 years with Costa in various roles, including transformation director, head of finance (retail) and head of international finance, as well as heading its operations in France and eastern Europe. King, who was most recently working as the transformation director at Family First Day Nurseries, replaces Jo Barrett, who has left to join the Imbiba-backed family members’ club operator, Little Houses Group. He said: “I’m excited to be joining Chopstix. It feels like a real tipping point moment for the business, with the team eyeing the brand’s first move on to the continent, along with hyper-charged UK and Ireland expansion through both equity and franchise ownership models. You can feel the momentum behind the brand.” Jon Lake, managing director of Chopstix, added: “Rob has vast experience in this industry as a finance director and as a leader who has defined and driven the commercial strategy of many respected brands and businesses. We have big ambitions for the brand, with our sights set on reaching more than 300 sites across Europe by 2027, and Rob’s appointment is significant in ensuring we have the team in place to deliver this rapid growth. I’d also like to thank Jo, who has been a valued member of the senior leadership team, helping steer the business through the many challenges that the whole hospitality industry has faced in recent times and building the great finance team we have today.” Chopstix, which is planning its expansion through both company operated and franchise models, said it is set to open two new equity sites this month, ahead of a strong pipeline of new site openings with franchise partners such as Welcome Break.

 

Pesto expecting ‘busy’ second half of 2024 in terms of openings after ‘strong’ year: Italian restaurant business Pesto is expecting a “busy” second half of 2024 in terms of openings on the back of a “strong” year, Propel has learned. It comes as the business reported turnover increased to £17,605,259 for the year ending 30 June 2023 compared with £17,041,936 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was down to £385,302 from £2,221,301 the year before following a “significant” increase in energy costs and as government support came to an end following the covid pandemic. In December 2023, the company, which operates ten restaurants throughout the north west and Midlands, bought the freehold of its site in Widnes, Cheshire, for £825,000 that was paid entirely with cash. Neil Gatt, who owns the business with wife Sara, told Propel: “It was a great year – we were just hammered with energy costs. As for openings, we are expecting a busy second half of the year.” The business did not receive any government grants (2022: £79,803). No dividend was paid (2022: nil).

 

Almost a third of M&B shareholders vote against re-election of chairman: Almost a third of Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) shareholders have voted against the reappointment of its chairman. At its annual general meeting (AGM) on Tuesday (23 January), the company said it passed all its resolutions. However, it witnessed a significant vote against the reappointment of chairman Bob Ivell, despite the move ultimately being approved. M&B confirmed 29.56% of votes were made against keeping Ivell, who has been on the company board for more than a decade, in the role. Almost a quarter of shareholders – 22.28% – also voted against the reappointment of non-executive director Josh Levy, who was appointed to the board in 2015. A similar proportion of shareholders have voted against Levy’s reappointment at past AGMs. M&B said it “notes the level of votes” against the resolutions regarding the reappointment of Ivell and Levy.

 

Wingstop adds Leeds site to openings pipeline: Lemon Pepper Holdings, the company behind the rollout of Wingstop in the UK, has added a site in Leeds to its openings pipeline. Propel understands that the 39-strong business has secured the ex-Barburrito site in the city’s Boar Lane, for an opening in March. Earlier this month, Propel revealed the business was set to take the Honest Burgers in Watford’s Market Street, with an opening scheduled for later this year. Last month, Propel revealed Lemon Pepper Holdings had lined up an opening in the Lakeside shopping scheme, Essex, for this year. Wingstop will also open its largest UK site yet, at Westfield Stratford City in London, in the first quarter. Propel understands Wingstop has taken over the ex-Home Run House site previously operated by Passyunk Avenue until this summer. Lemon Pepper Holdings already has Wingstop openings for this year lined up in Hounslow, Wood Green, Clapham, Croydon Leisure Park and Merry Hill. It is thought to have several more due to exchange or complete over the next two months.

 

Dodo Pub Company acquires eighth site and second in Cheltenham: Dodo Pub Company has acquired its eighth site and second in Cheltenham. The company has added The Sudeley Arms to its portfolio, which will be renamed Airs & Graces in a nod to Cheltenham’s world-famous races. It adds to its sister site in the Gloucestershire town – Bottle of Sauce in Ambrose Street. Co-founder Leo Johnson said: “We’ve been looking for an eighth site for a while, and expanding in Cheltenham seemed like the natural choice for us. We’ve always loved the vibe, and with this pub being a slightly different offering to its sister pub, we believe the Airs & Graces will be a great addition to the neighbourhood and, more broadly, the town itself.” Located on the corner of Prestbury Road and Portland Square, Airs & Graces will open in late March, with refurbishment work due to begin immediately. The menu will focus on the group’s Neapolitan style pizza, with an increased variety of bar snacks alongside a garlic bread menu offering a selection of different toppings. Johnson and co-founder Chris Manners opened their first pub, The Rusty Bicycle, in 2009 after returning to their home city of Oxford from university. The duo have since also opened sites in Bristol, Caversham and Witney. In March last year, Johnson told Propel that the businesswas aiming to have an estate of ten sites within the next three years, as it continues to look to rescue “run-down and unloved pubs”. Johnson and Manners have developed “side hustles”, including co-working spaces and independent cafes housed in their existing sites. The business offers 56 desks in Cheltenham and 26 in Witney, plus three conference rooms, and has more than 100 members.

 

Two Tribes secures multimillion-pound investment as it prepares to expand into two new international markets, makes senior appointments: London craft brewer Two Tribes has secured a multimillion-pound investment as it prepares to expand into two new international markets. The funds, raised from existing investors, will support the brand’s ongoing expansion within the UK as well as its upcoming launches into new territories later this year. It has also enabled Two Tribes to strengthen its core team, with Hezi Yechiel, an investor in Two Tribes and founder of Urban Leisure Group, taking on the role of executive chairman. Joining him as finance director is Bob Emms, who previously performed the same role at Meantime Brewery, and Prudence Stamp, who takes on the position of head of people and culture. Managing director Paul Robinson said: “We are pleased by the support and confidence shown by our investors with this latest expansion of funding, which has all been made possible by the amazing work our Two Tribes’ team does. We are looking forward to continuing our successful journey in 2024 and beyond, with strong foundations in place. Two Tribes is built on creativity and collaboration, and we have an incredibly exciting year ahead with brand partners that align perfectly with our vision and values.” The business said it has seen “continuous growth” over last two years, including an increase of more than 100% in beer volume sales. It was founded in 2017 by Justin Deighton, a DJ and producer who made his name in London’s 1990s club culture movement.

 

Pret opens first stand-alone store in Canada: Pret A Manger has expanded its presence in Canada with the opening of its first stand-alone site. Last summer, Pret opened its first site in Canada under its agreement with A&W Food Services, in Vancouver. The deal to bring Pret to the country over an initial two-year trial phase began with the brand opening a store-within-a-store model in the A&W site at Marine Gateway. Pret has since grown its Canadian presence to seven sites through the format, and in October announced plans to open its first stand-alone store in the country. The brand has now done so, taking over an ex-Tim Hortons site at 90 Adelaide Street West, Toronto. Jorrie Bruffett, president, Pret A Manger North America, said: “This expansion into Canada is a natural next step for Pret globally. We are committed to bringing the Pret brand to more people.” Pret has been building its presence in North America with the help of franchisee Dallas Holdings. Last summer, Pret opened a new site in the Hudson Yards development in New York, in partnership with the franchisee. The site marked the first of three Pret shops opening in New York within a few months and was the first US site to open under the new franchise partnership, which Pret signed in December 2022.

 

Wagamama set to open fourth Glasgow restaurant: Wagamama, The Restaurant Group-owned brand, is set to open its fourth restaurant in Glasgow. It will open in the city’s St Enoch shopping centre on Monday, 19 February, offering 130 internal covers and creating 57 jobs. It will be Wagamama’s 161st UK restaurant. Milly Pearson, regional marketing manager for the north, said: “We are excited to open our fourth restaurant in Glasgow. St Enoch Square has become the beating heart of the city, and we can’t wait to open up our benches to the local community and visitors to the shopping destination.”

 

London-based Persian restaurant group expands to three sites with a relocation and two new openings: Persian restaurant group Naroon has expanded to three sites in London, including relocating its original restaurant and launching a new café concept. The original Naroon in Fitzrovia has moved to a space more than double the size across the road at 65 Great Titchfield Street, offering triple the number of covers and a much larger kitchen, allowing for an expanded menu. The team has also turned the site next door, at 63 Great Titchfield Street, into a café called Counter by Naroon, serving breakfast, brunch and takeaway options. The group has also opened a new Naroon restaurant at 17 New Cavendish Street in Marylebone, in the former Galleria Persian site. It has the same menu as Naroon Fitzrovia, but with the addition of a breakfast and brunch offering. The business is led by cousins Reza and Mohammed Malekzadeh, who have self-funded the expansion. Mohammad, who moved to the UK from Iran in 2018, launched food delivery start-up Delion in 2012 before going on to open plant-based café KIN in Fitzrovia in 2014, which the cousins also jointly own and are looking to expand further. Reza was born in Tehran but raised in the UK and comes from a management consultancy background, but decided to change career and join his cousin in opening the first Naroon in 2020. Mohammad said: “We’re delighted to launch our three new sites. There are not many places in London that serve a fantastic Persian brunch, and we think that we can grow this as a big part of the business in the future.” Reza added: “We feel Persian cuisine has tremendous potential in the London market. We have had great feedback wherever we have opened, and we want to use the platform we now have to continue growing our brands and be a recognised name in the London food scene.”

 

Sheffield operators set to open third venue: Sheffield operators Jack Wakelin and Ronnie Aronica are set to open a third venue in the city. The duo, who are behind neighbourhood bistro and bar Bench and cocktail, craft beer and natural wine bar The Pearl, have teamed up with house baker Dan Ward for Bench la Cave. Opening at 8 Pat Midgley Lane on Friday, 9 February, it will serve Ward’s sourdough bread and a selection of sweet treats and sandwiches during the day. In the early evening, the venue will change into a wine bar, stocking a range of natural wine by the glass to drink in, or by the bottle to take away, as well as craft beer. There will also be a short food menu inspired by the team’s favourite Parisian wine bars. Aronica said: “Three weeks into Bench’s life, we were forced to close for lockdown and pivoted from a restaurant to a deli-bottle shop. This gave us a real good trial run, and it’s something we’ve wanted to bring back since. We’ve always been fans of Dan’s bread, and when we opened Bench, we knew it would be a signature of the restaurant. Giving Dan the opportunity to showcase his talent on a larger scale has always been in the back of our minds.”

Newcastle hotel company falls to loss as costs escalate despite record turnover: Newcastle hotel company Edgeman has reported turnover increased to a record £19,302,896 for the year ending 31 March 2023 compared with £16,586,893 the previous year. The company made a pre-tax loss of £318,776 compared with a profit of £2,187,149 the year before as costs increased by almost £5m. Occupancy was up to 71.4% from 60.2% while room revenue increased by 28.7% compared with the previous year. The company received government grants of £16,660 (2022: £430,965). No dividend was paid (2022: nil).

 

Former Petrus by Gordon Ramsey head chef opens new London deli: Larry Jayasekara, formerly head chef at Petrus by Gordon Ramsey in London’s Belgravia, has opened a new deli, The Rex Delicatessen, at 38 Bruton Place in Mayfair. Teaming up with Rowler Farm in Worcester, it offers a selection of ready-to-eat beef and chicken pies, scotch eggs, sausage rolls and a selection of pastries. There are also heat-at-home dishes like lamb hotpot and pheasant lasagne, alongside sandwiches including roast beef with pickled onion, rocket and horseradish yoghurt, reports Hot Dinners. Jayasekara is also due to open his debut restaurant in the same road, at 27 Bruton Place, this spring. He has partnered with businessman and gallery owner Tim Jefferies for the venture, which will take bookings by phone only, have no turning of tables and offer a fully à la carte menu.