Exclusive – 200 Degrees appoints advisors as it explores next stage of growth: 200 Degrees, the Foresight-backed coffee roaster and retailer, has appointed advisors to help review strategic options for the next stage of its growth, Propel has learned. The 21-strong business, which was founded in 2012 by Rob Darby and Tom Vincent and is led by Steve Fern, has expanded its footprint across the Midlands and north of England. 200 Degrees is understood to be working with M&A advisors at AlixPartners on its options, although it is thought no official process has begun as yet. It is thought 200 Degrees will attract interest and has received inbound enquiries from trade buyers across the value chain, as well as private equity. Foresight invested £3m in the then six-strong 200 Degrees in December 2017. Sector investor Paul Campbell was appointed as the group’s chairman in 2021. Fern told Propel in January that the business expects revenue in its current financial year, ending March 2024, to exceed £16m. Fern said the company was looking to open four or five sites in the next financial year and has already secured two leases for openings towards the end of 2024. Sales in its wholesale business continue to rise while revenue from online and subscriptions has significantly accelerated, and its barista schools are on a similar trajectory. Fern said: “When it comes to our coffee shops, we are confident in our ability to open successfully across the UK. However, the other pillars of our business have grown dramatically in recent years. Given that, we are really positive about our performance across all areas, and we continue to drive profitable growth in them all.”

 

Liberation Group chief executive Jonathan Lawson to speak at Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference, open for bookings with 20% discount on tickets for Premium Club members: Jonathan Lawson, chief executive of Liberation Group, will be among the speakers at the Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference. The all-day conference takes place on Tuesday, 14 May at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. Lawson will discuss how the award-winning business has maintained its high standards while continuing to grow its mainland estate, the development of its bedrooms business as it targets a 700-bedrooms division, and the integration of the Cirrus Inns business, including its entry into the London market. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £395 plus VAT for suppliers. There is a 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club members. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

 

Next Propel Multi-Site Database to be sent to Premium Club members on Thursday, grows to 3,075 businesses: The next Propel Multi-Site Database, produced in association with Virgate, will be sent to Premium Club members on Thursday (28 March), at midday. The database has now grown to include 3,075 multi-site operators, which operate 72,186 sites. An additional 16 companies, which operate 492 sites between them, have been added during March 2024. The database has been redesigned so Premium Club members are able to search the data segmented into key industry sectors. This new straightforward segmentation allows users to search quickly in key categories such as pubs and bars, cafe bakery, quick service restaurants, casual dining, fine dining, hotel and experiential leisure. Premium Club members will also receive all the videos from last week’s Propel Multi-Club Conference at 9am on Friday, 5 April. They will include Nisha Katona, founder of Indian street food concept Mowgli, talking about the challenge of keeping close the brand’s ethos and culture intact as it grows; and Sir Tim Martin, founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon, discussing the current state of the UK pub market and the group’s approach to corporate governance with Emma Gibson, one of the company’s “employee directors”. Premium Club 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 Hospitality. Plus, all members will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to five 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 Premium Club 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 Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Almost 14,000 night-time economy businesses shut since start of covid pandemic: Almost 14,000 night-time economy businesses have shut since the start of the covid pandemic, according to new research. The findings by the Night Time Industries Association’s (NTIA) NTE Tracker, supported by CGA Neilson, show “a landscape reshaped by unprecedented circumstances”. Across the country, 13,793 night-time economy businesses were lost between March 2020 and December 2023, a fall of 15.5% from 102,860 in March 2020 to 89,067 in December 2023. Major cities have felt the impact, with 2,679 night-time economy businesses closing in the period with London (1,165), Glasgow (141) and Birmingham (112) all experiencing “significant” losses. In the regions, central England has seen a decline of 1,898 night-time economy businesses, while in Lancashire, 1,616 have shut. Between March 2020 and December 2023, 35% of independent nightclub businesses closed while the data reveals a 32% decrease in the overall number of nightclubs during the same period. Independent businesses continue to dominate the sector, comprising 77% of overall night-time economy businesses in December 2023 – down 3% in terms of market share from March 2020. Michael Kill, NTIA chief executive, said: “These figures are a stark reminder of the devastation caused in almost four years, and will without doubt anger and frustrate people within the sector. However, in the face of adversity, resilience prevails. We are dedicated to supporting our members and championing policies that foster recovery and growth. As we confront the aftermath of the pandemic and ongoing operational challenges, it’s essential to acknowledge the resilience and diversity among businesses in our sector. Our sector has been neglected twice by the government in financial support during Budget allocations, subjected to political manoeuvres aimed at securing votes.”

 

Meaningful Vision to host free webinar helping hospitality operators find growth opportunities in a difficult market: Market intelligence platform Meaningful Vision is to host a free webinar helping hospitality operators find growth opportunities in a difficult market. Despite the deceleration of inflation and an increase in promotional activities aimed at assisting consumers amidst the cost-of-living crisis, footfall is slowing down even faster than in the second half of 2023, with Meaningful Vision reports showing footfall declined by up to 3% from January to February 2024. But chief executive Maria Vanifatova will show how its data can unveil potential growth opportunities for your business by day, daypart or territory, and which marketing mix strategies are likely to drive success. Leveraging big data sources, artificial intelligence and machine learning, Meaningful Vision will offer an invaluable benchmarking tool on consumer traffic trends, prices and promotions, providing you with unique insights and assisting in focusing on key growth areas and developing successful marketing strategies. The webinar will be sent out at 9am today (Tuesday, 26 March).

 

RICS launches consultation on valuation of pubs and other licensed leisure premises: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a consultation on the valuation of licensed premises, including pubs, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. The consultation, initially delayed by the impact of the pandemic on leisure premises, is in preparation for the release of the upcoming second edition of RICS’ professional standard, The Valuation of Licensed Leisure Property, including public houses, bars, nightclubs and restaurants. Some of the draft changes of the new edition include: expansion of the standard to cover the whole of the UK; full integration of broader RICS standards such as the valuation of individual trade related properties section of the RICS Global Red Book; an updated separate chapter covering the valuation of tied pubs; a new concise design adaptable for a range of market activity and valuation purposes; and information for non-valuation professionals. Charles Golding, RICS senior specialist, valuation and investment advisory, said: "This is a public consultation, and we welcome relevant feedback from across the industry – including valuers, tenants, owners, pub companies and representative bodies. Licensed leisure is a market that evolves with consumer tastes and attitudes, which in turn impacts the way it is operated and invested in. The updated standard will help RICS professionals provide high quality valuation advice reflective of the contemporary licensed leisure market and allows consideration of operational, regulatory and practice changes since the previous 2010 version.”

 

Kate Nicholls elected as Institute of Licensing national chair: Kate Nicholls has been elected as the new national chair of the Institute of Licensing (IoL). Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality, will take over from previous chair Daniel Davies, who has served as national chair since January 2015. Davies will step down after a record nine years as IoL chair, during which time he has overseen significant development within the organisation, representing the IoL at House of Lords select committees and many other key events, establishing the core team for the organisation and instigating additional member benefits including its LINK magazine. At the same time, David Lucas joins Gary Grant as vice-chair of the IoL. Lucas has been chair of the IoL’s East Midlands region since 2008. He is also a member of the national board of Best Bar None, the committee of Pubwatch,and a consulting editor of Paterson’s Licensing Acts. Nicholls said: “I’m delighted to be joining the IoL as its national chair and I’m looking forward to working with our members and wider stakeholders across the many facets of the licensing landscape. Having been involved in licensing matters for many years, I know how integral it is to hospitality businesses, and working towards excellence in this space is exactly the right goal. I’d like to thank Daniel for all his work over the past nine years and for his commitment to the IoL. As its longest-serving chair, he has left a clear legacy that I hope to build upon during my time as chair.” 

 

Burrito Picante planning 20 sites in two years: Mexican-themed, quick service restaurant concept Burrito Picante, which was acquired by Scotland-based investment firm Edison Capital, is planning to expand to 20 sites by the end of 2026, Propel has learned. Founded in 2012, Burrito Picante currently operates sites in Altrincham and Sheffield. The Irvine-based Edison Capital said that the all-cash deal will see Burrito Picante open stores in Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2024. The business said: “We believe there is significant growth potential through franchising to expand the concept UK wide and internationally through a franchising model.” Burrito Picante will be overseen by new managing director Iain Harben, formerly of Tesco Hospitality and Compass Group. Harben told Propel that the aim is to have 20 locations open under the Mexican brand by 2026, which will be a mix of company owned and franchised locations. The business will come under the group’s MMI Raptor subsidiary, the specialist provider of contract catering, facilities management, temporary and permanent staffing, vending machines and food and beverage services across the UK. MMI Raptor is gearing up to expand its contract catering offering into vending machines, with the launch of new concept Pizza Rebel. The vending concept, which offers piping hot pizza 24 hours a day, is set to be launched imminently, with plans to have 50 sites in 2024 across a range of locations across the UK. Burrito Picante was originally founded by Nick Dodman, offering offering a wide range of “tasty, balanced and affordable” Mexican street food including tacos, burritos and quesadillas. Dodman had looked to expand the business through franchising and introduced a programme offering full franchise and dark kitchen options but sold the business to Philip Walker in October 2022.

 

Merlin Entertainments to introduce dynamic pricing as it reports record revenue of £2.1bn: Merlin Entertainments plans to charge visitors more during peak summer weekends than weekdays in the off-season as it reported record revenue. Chief executive Scott O’Neil said the company was building a dynamic pricing model – widely known as surge pricing – to be introduced at its top 20 global attractions by the end of 2024, and major US attractions next year. The model, which allows the company to flex prices at particular times in response to shifts in supply and demand using machine learning, is “very intuitive”, O’Neil told the Financial Times. “If [an attraction] is in the UK, it’s August peak holiday season, sunny and a Saturday, you would expect to pay more than if it was a rainy Tuesday in March,” he added. While hotels and airlines have used dynamic pricing for decades, restaurants and entertainment facilities are increasingly adopting the model. The pricing plan of Merlin, which was taken private in 2019 in a £6bn deal, comes as the company reported record revenue of £2.1bn for the year ending 31 December 2023, up 8% year on year, supported by international tourists in gateway cities like London. Nearly one in every four visitors to the city came to a Merlin attraction, it said. Yet, the company’s visitor numbers had yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. Some 62.1 million customers visited its 141 attractions across 23 countries last year, a 13% increase from the previous year (55.1 million), but still below the 67 million visitors recorded in 2019. “Guests seem to be choosing fewer attractions but spending more,” said O’Neil. As an operator, “there is a tug and pull in what you do in terms of volume and price and how you manage that,” he added. Merlin posted a pre-tax loss of £214m (2022: profit of £106m) as it wrote down the value of the Legolands built during the pandemic in New York and Korea. O’Neil said while he expected the New York theme park would pick up eventually, the Korean park would face challenges that require a “reset”. The developer of Legoland Korea defaulted on its debt in 2022, triggering a wider corporate credit crunch in South Korea. Adjusted Ebitda stayed at £621m.

 

Canadian pancake brand Fluffy Fluffy set to open in Egham, seven more locations to follow: Canadian pancake brand Fluffy Fluffy is set to open in Egham, Surrey, which it said will be followed by seven more locations. The Egham site will open next month and follows the launch at the weekend of the brand’s sixth UK site, at 8 Park Street in Bristol. “We first opened in Manchester in October 2022, and since then, we have expanded to Leicester, Reading, Leeds and Liverpool,” a company spokesman said. “And we’re not done! Our Bristol store opened this weekend, Egham is due to open in April, and we have seven more locations on the way. So, what’s the secret to our rapid expansion? Well, there are quite a few ingredients that make this franchise super fluffy! We believe the right people and culture drive growth. We have a unique product and the best available in the market, sticking to our values and embracing our culture. Customer service is the key, keeping them happy and treating them well is what matters. Our brand is about spreading happiness one pancake at a time, so every smile, bite, social media comment and review embodies all of these aspects and more. We love spreading happiness, and we think that’s crucial to our expansion in the UK.” Fluffy Fluffy launched its signature souffle pancakes in 2018, in Toronto, and now has 22 sites across North America, plus multiple sites in Europe. The brand is aiming for 25 UK location by 2025, as it works towards an eventual estate here of 100-plus.

 

Red Lion Holdings hires Toni Morris-Ditty as new COO: Red Lion Holdings, the pub investment group led by sector entrepreneurs Jason Myers and David Ramsey, has hired Toni Morris-Ditty, formerly of Butcombe Brewing Co and Costa Coffee, as its new chief operating officer. Morris-Ditty joins Red Lion Holdings from Butcombe where she was an operations manager for more than three years. Prior to that, she spent more than two and a half years as a regional operations director at Costa. Last year, Red Lion Holdings secured £11m of new funding, which it said would be used to refinance its existing banking facilities and provide flexible capital to support the next stage of its business plan. Boutique real estate lender Mera Investment Management has provided the co-loan with Ortus Secured Finance to Red Lion, which owns the 11-strong Grosvenor Inns businesses, that incorporates part of the former Red Leisure estate. Myers told Propel at the time that the new funding saw the removal of Downing as a backer to the business and that it “remains acquisitive”.

 

Five Points Brewing set to launch third funding round as it seeks to acquire new pub sites following sales growth: London-based Five Points Brewing is set to launch its third community funding round as it seeks to acquire new pub sites. Led by its founders and existing investors, the campaign will raise investment for additional brewing capacity, production efficiencies and the expansion of its current taproom and courtyard premises, alongside the acquisition of new pub sites. Investors will benefit from a range of rewards including lifetime discounts, bar tab incentives, exclusive events and free brewery tours. The company, founded 11 years ago, views the expansion of its own pub estate as a crucial part of its growth strategy. Its Pembury Tavern site in Hackney will serve as a showpiece for additional sites – providing a model for beer sales, increased brew volumes, diversified routes to market and a showcase for its beer range. It comes as Five Points reports significant growth in 2023, marked by a 17% increase in revenue for the brewing company and 23% growth at The Pembury Tavern. Total consolidated net sales across the business were £4.68m for the year ending December 2023. Sales at the brewing company were up 17% to £3.53m, while sales at The Pembury Tavern were up to more than £1m. Draft consolidated Ebitda for the group was £297,000. Co-founder and chief executive Ed Mason said: “Despite facing challenges posed by the covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living and utilities crisis, Five Points Brewing has demonstrated resilience and achieved significant growth in 2023. Our continued growth is a testament to the strength of our brand and the dedication of our fantastic team across our brewery, taproom and The Pembury Tavern. We are incredibly proud of the brand that we and our investors have built over the past 11 years, and we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. With the support of our investors and community, and an emphasis on quality and accessible beer, we are confident in our ability to continue our growth and further establish ourselves as a leading player in the craft beer industry.”

 

Açai brand Oakberry planning ‘many more’ openings this year after launching sixth UK site: Açai brand Oakberry has said it is planning “many more” openings this year after launching its sixth UK site. Oakberry – which was founded in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2016 and has grown to 600 locations in 35 countries – has opened a kiosk at the Hammersmith Broadway shopping centre in west London. Earlier this month, it opened its fifth UK site, at 98 St John’s Road in Clapham Junction. This added to its debut UK site, which opened in Brighton in 2022, and has been followed by two other London locations and one in Belfast. Peter Davies, director of operations at Oakberry UK, the brand’s master franchisee here, said: “Today is an exciting day, but also an important milestone for the new UK master franchise team at Oakberry UK. We’ve spent a lot of time over the past two months modelling the UK franchise opportunities, building the tools to support franchisees, implementing a first-class nationwide supply chain and gearing up internal resource ready for explosive growth. I’m looking forward to supporting the team for the first on many openings this year.” Davis, who joined Oakberry UK in January, was formerly international operations director at SSP, chief operating officer at Harris + Hoole and national retail operations director at Starbucks. He most recently spent some time as managing director food and beverage brands at FiLLi in the UK, and as managing director retail at coffee social enterprise Change Please.

 

Remarkable Pubs sees trade continuing to increase as it reports record £7.3m turnover: London operator Remarkable Pubs has reported trade has continued to increase in its current financial year as it reported record turnover. The 11-strong company saw turnover increase to £7,271,702 for the year ending 30 June 2023 compared with £6,480,353 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was up to £1,639,331 from £466,432 after the business sold one of its sites that realised a profit of £413,353. In November 2023, Remarkable Pubs acquired the former Leyton Technical pub in Leyton, which is expected to reopen as the Leyton Engineer in mid-2024 following a refurbishment. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “During the year the company continued to concentrate on rebuilding its trade following a very difficult period since March 2020, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The directors made the difficult decision to sell one of its least profitable sites in March 2023, in order to concentrate on the more profitable sites and release capital to invest in sites than would generate more income for the company. Trade across most of the other sites has continued to improve and by the end of the year the company was trading above pre-covid levels. This allowed the company to repay in April 2023 the £2m borrowed through the Covid Business Interruption Loan Scheme that it received to assist recovery from the pandemic. Trade levels have continued to increase since the year end.” No dividend was paid (2022: nil).

 

Ex-Jamie Oliver Group MD Ryan Jacovides and chef Tony Rodd to open Margate restaurant: Ryan Jacovides, formerly of Jamie Oliver Group and White Rabbit Projects, is teaming up with chef Tony Rodd to open a new neighbourhood restaurant, wine bar and bottle shop in Margate, Kent. Pomus will launch this spring in The Centre, Margate, just ten minutes’ walk from the main train station. The 40-cover venue, complete with basement tasting room and event space, derives its name from the Ancient Greek word for fruit tree “pōmus”. It is the first solo restaurant venture from Jacovides, who was previously a non-executive director of Bristol-based Pasture restaurant group and managing director for White Rabbit Projects and Jamie Oliver Group. He is joined by MasterChef 2015 finalist Rodd, who will head up the kitchen and oversee the food menu. Rodd and his wife Becky previously operated the Copper & Ink restaurant in Blackheath Village for five years. Jacovides said: “My family and I have been holidaying in Margate for many generations, and back in my more rebellious years I used to bunk off school and come to Margate with friends, to visit the old Bembom Brothers, which is where the Dreamland amusement park now sits. Even back then I said I’d open a bar here, and having now lived in Margate for a while, the time feels right to live out a long-standing dream. I’ve been a fan of Tony’s food for a while, so when he closed Copper & Ink, I decided to reach out in the hopes he would be interested in heading up the kitchen at Pomus, and luckily, he said yes!”

 

Irish sustainable restaurant business opens seventh site: Irish sustainable restaurant business Sprout & Co has opened its seventh site in the country. The business, which grows much of its own produce at its own farm in Rathcoffey, County Kildare, has opened in the former Listons gourmet grocer at 25 Lower Camden Place in Saint Kevin’s, Dublin. Sprout & Co operates five other restaurants in Dublin and one in County Kildare. “I was a Liston’s regular throughout my twenties, I loved their sourdough baguette sandwiches and it was one of the only properly good places to get a salad in Dublin at the time,” Sprout & Co co-founder Jack Kirwan said. “It was my first port of call on my day off when I was working as a chef. When we started Sprout originally as a cold press juice business in 2013, Karen Liston contacted us about supplying her, we immediately jumped at it and were pretty chuffed she wanted us as she always stocked interesting drinks that other shops didn’t. I always made it my last delivery drop so that I could eat her food on my way home!” Buns & Co chief operating officer Shereen Ritchie spent a year and a half performing the same role at Sprout & Co after stepping down as managing director at natural fast food brand Leon in 2021. 

 

Immersive venue based on TV’s The Cube plans Birmingham launch: The Cube, the immersive live experience and competitive socialising concept based on the ITV show, is planning to open a site in Birmingham. The Mellors Group, which created The Cube experience, in partnership with Objective Media Group, has applied to open The Cube & Carnival Club at The Cube scheme in Birmingham’s Wharfside Street. Propel reported last month that The Mellors Group plans to open a The Cube site in London’s Canary Wharf later this year. It will be the second The Cube attraction in the UK following the opening of the original Manchester site in 2022, which has already hosted 150,000 players. The Cube’s food and beverage offer at Canary Wharf will comprise The Butcher, the award-winning burger bar concept from Amsterdam; and the UK’s first Toni Loco Pizzeria, which will feature authentic 20-inch Italian American pizzas. The Mellors Group is a fourth-generation entertainment business which has “ambitious plans for growth”.

 

M&B eyes Browns Brasserie & Bar opening in Exeter: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the Toby Carvery, Harvester, Ego and All Bar One operator, is planning to add to its 26-strong Browns Brasserie & Bar brand with an opening in Exeter, Devon. The business is understood to have lined up a conversion of its Harvester site, known as The Malthouse, in the city, to a Browns. The Malthouse, which is located in Haven Road near the quay, first became a Harvester around 2007 after Whitbread sold 239 of its standalone Brewers Fayre and Beefeater sites to M&B. In January, Propel reported that M&B had lined up a conversion of its Toby Carvery in Sutton Park, near Sutton Coldfield, to a Browns. Over the past 18 months, M&B has been trialling its Browns brand in suburbia, stretching it beyond its usual high street location. The first trial site opened in August 2022 and the second opened in Ruislip, in December 2022, with both sites “performing strongly”. Last year, M&B chief executive Phil Urban told Propel: “We’ve seen enough in Ruislip and Beaconsfield to say we know we are on to something here. We will have a modest conversion programme next year and then that should step up in the coming years. Ego has potential to grow comfortably to more than 50 sites, as does Browns.” It comes as M&B gears up to reopen its Browns Brasserie & Bar Bristol following an extensive refurbishment. The site in the city’s Clifton area will reopen on Thursday (28 March). 

 

Soho Coffee Co partners with Pieminister: Soho Coffee Co, which has 28 managed sites and a franchised business with stores in the UK, has partnered with fellow franchise business Pieminister, the pie and mash restaurant operator. Pieminister runs a retail and wholesale business alongside operating 15 restaurants, and Soho Coffee will now offer it pies at its Bristol airport location. “We’ve teamed up with the renowned Pieminister, a beloved Bristol-based brand, to bring you their delicious pies, now available exclusively at our Bristol airport store,” a Soho Coffee spokesman said. “This collaboration isn’t just about offering delicious food; it's about celebrating the vibrant culinary scene right here, in Bristol. From classic favourites like British steak and ale or chicken and ham to vegetarian delights like goats’ cheese and sweet potato, there’s a pie for every palate. So, next time you find yourself at Bristol airport, make sure to swing by our Soho Coffee store to grab a delicious Pieminister pie. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you!” 

 

Etci Mehmet to open Leeds site: Turkish steakhouse concept Etci Mehmet is to open its fourth site later this spring, in Leeds. The concept, which was founded by Mehmet and Mustafa Dag in 2017, will open in the ex-Leeds Gas Showroom site in the city’s Eastgate. Etci Mehmet opened its first site in Manchester’s Chester Street and has since launched further restaurants in Birmingham’s Star City and Liverpool’s Bold Street. The company said: “Etci Mehmet offers a culinary journey with a menu inspired by the rich flavours of Turkish cuisine. Awarded the best-Turkish steakhouse in the north west, indulge in premium dry-aged steaks along with a selection of slow cooked specials, a mix of kebabs and mezes meticulously crafted with the finest ingredients.”

 

Peak District operator opens third site after £1.6m investment: Peak District operator Longbow Bars & Restaurants has opened its third pub after a £1.6m refurbishment project. The Ashford Arms had been part of the community for 400 years but the covid pandemic forced the doors to close in 2020. Rob Hattersley, owner of Longbow Bars & Restaurants, took on the lease in 2023 and has brought it back to life. The company said that the ground floor, nine hotel bedrooms, gardens and kitchen have been completely transformed “with a nod towards the building’s extensive local heritage”. Hattersley said: “When The Ashford Arms became available, we leapt at the chance. It is right at the gateway of the village and has been popular for hundreds of years. We couldn't let that slip away. It is wonderful to see it warm and full of people again. We have been packed to the rafters every day and night since we opened and have had some fantastic feedback.” Hattersley founded Longbow Bars & Restaurants shortly before the pandemic hit, selling his house to fund his first venue, The Maynard in Hope Valley. The Ashford Arms will join The Maynard, which has won numerous awards as a wedding venue, restaurant and hotel, and The George, an award-winning historic bar, restaurant and hotel in Hathersage, which was once frequented by Charlotte Brontë.

 

Tapas Revolution founder to launch food range: Tapas Revolution founder Omar Allibhoy is launching a food range. Allibhoy stepped away from Tapas Revolution last year after the brand underwent a restructure, having founded the business in 2010, growing it to become the UK’s largest group of Spanish restaurants. He will now focus on his new range of Spanish products under the name “The Spanish Chef” and continue to use his expertise and hospitality knowledge consulting for other restaurants and brands. Allibhoy said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved with Tapas Revolution over the years, and it has always been a dream of mine to showcase authentic Spanish cuisine in the UK in any way possible. Now, I have decided it is time for something new so I’m looking forward to developing ‘The Spanish Chef’, as well as exploring new challenges and fresh opportunities.”

 

Former Iberica MD opens third site: Joel Falconer, former managing director of Spanish restaurant group Iberica, has opened his third site in south east London. Falconer, his wife Alina and chef Henry Freestone have launched Wilson’s restaurant in Ladywell, reports Hot Dinners. Freestone was part of the team at Bambi in London Fields. He also had a Bib-Gourmand-acclaimed stint as head chef at Peckham Cellars and was also at Crispin in Spitalfields. His menu at Wilson’s consists of five small plates, two main courses and two desserts, with most of it changing weekly. The drinks list includes wine, beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic options. The Falconers are also behind Ladywell outlets, coffee shop Oscar’s, which opened in 2019, and the crowdfunded Plenty, which launched in 2021 and is next door to Wilson’s. Alina gained experience at London restaurants Roka and Zuma, as well as being part of the opening team at Bone Daddies Group’s Flesh & Buns in Covent Garden and Shack Fuyu in Soho. As well as the managing director role at Iberica, Joel spent 14 years at Busaba.

 

Wingstop opens Leeds dine-in site: Lemon Pepper Holdings, the company behind the rollout of Wingstop in the UK, has opened a restaurant in Leeds. The company has launched the outlet in the former Barburrito premises in Boar Lane. The restaurant, which has 60 covers and has created 50 jobs, builds on the Wingstop delivery unit in the city. The menu also includes Voodoo fries – Cajun fries topped with cheese sauce and Wingstop’s signature house ranch – which have now been added to the UK offer. Since launching in 2018, Wingstop UK has grown to 42 sites along with more than 1,600 staff. Tom Grogan, co-founder of Lemon Pepper Holdings, said: “We are delighted to expand our presence in Leeds, with our first dine-in site in such a prime location in the city centre. The data shows that Leeds love our wings and flavours so we are pleased to fulfil this demand. This opening kicks off a pipeline of new sites across the country for the upcoming months.” Wingstop is planning 13 more openings in the UK this year.

 

Independent hotel group confirms April opening for new chicken-focused restaurant next to its Newcastle venue: Independent hotel group KE Hotels has confirmed the new chicken-focused restaurant it is opening next to its Newcastle venue will launch next month. Social Bird will open in the former Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar adjoining Hotel Indigo in Fenkle Street, which KE Hotels acquired last year, on Friday, 5 April. The menu will offer an array of starters, mains, sides and deserts, with the highlights its signature chicken schnitzel, chicken and waffles and a slow-roasted bird – available in whole, half or quarter portions. Other menu highlights include sticky bang bang cauliflower, shakshuka and chicken bone broth. Social Bird will also offer a breakfast menu for sit-in and to-go customers featuring dishes such as a full English, oat milk pancakes and smoothie bowls, while for lunch, a deli counter will serve a rotating selection of freshly made sandwiches, wraps, and pastries. The restaurant’s bar will offer premium and house cocktails and mocktails, a selection of local beer, wine and spirits, and a variety of soft and hot beverages. Head chef Ben Watson said: “I’m thrilled to be a part of the Social Bird team and bring a fresh and exciting dining concept to Newcastle. We have worked closely with local suppliers to create a menu that highlights the best of our region's ingredients and flavours. The involvement of the local community has played a big part in the development of Social Bird, and we can't wait to share our passion for great food and hospitality with our guests.” KE Hotels also operates the Linton Lodge Best Western Plus in Oxford and Moxy Manchester hotel.

 

Popeyes UK confirms opening details for Manchester drive-thru site: Popeyes UK, the US fried chicken quick-service restaurant brand backed here by TDR Capital, has confirmed it will open a drive-thru in Manchester next month. The restaurant – opening on Wednesday, 24 April – will be located at 288-292 Bury New Road and will mark the brand's 12th opening in 2024, as part of plans to open 30 new locations this year. Plans include 72 seats indoors and eight externally, a dual-ordering lane to reduce expected vehicle queues, and kerbside collection from specifically designated bays when consumers order online. Tom Crowley, Popeyes UK chief executive, said: “Following the success of our Manchester Piccadilly restaurant, we are thrilled to bring our newest Popeyes to Bury New Road, marking our third restaurant in the north west. Our new restaurant will also be a drive-thru, meaning customers in Greater Manchester can enjoy our famous Louisiana chicken by dining in, via the drive thru lane, or by ordering online for kerbside collection. Our most recent openings have been some of the biggest to date, not just in the UK but for Popeyes globally, and we’re confident that Bury New Road will be just as popular.”

Boojum reveals opening date of debut UK mainland site, in Leeds: Mexican fast-casual brand Boojum, which was acquired by the Azzurri Group last summer, will open its first mainland UK site next month. The company will launch the 45-seater outlet at the Merrion Centre in Leeds on Wednesday, 10 April. “We have been blown away by the response to opening our first mainland British site in Leeds and can’t wait to be part of the famous foodie scene,” said head of marketing, Paul McCullagh. Having opened its first site in Belfast in 2007, the brand has grown to 16 sites on the island of Ireland. Propel revealed in January that Boojum is aiming to open 25 sites over the next five years in major UK student cities. The company’s current mainland pipeline extends into Nottingham, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester.

 

German Doner Kebab to open site at Gillingham shopping centre: German Doner Kebab (GDK), owned by Hero Brands, is to open a site at the Hempstead Valley shopping centre in Gillingham, Kent. The company is launching the outlet on Wednesday, 10 April in a vacant unit previously occupied by Santander. The restaurant will have room for 20 customers to sit in but will also offer a takeaway service. GDK chief executive Simon Wallis told Kent Online: “I am thrilled to officially announce plans to bring the unique taste sensation to Hempstead Valley. We are revolutionising kebabs across the UK and I am confident we will continue this trend in Kent.” Earlier this month, GDK announced it would open a site at Bristol’s Cabot Circus in April.

Chopstix opens site at Glasgow shopping centre: Fast-growing, quick service restaurant brand Chopstix has opened a site at the Braehead shopping centre in Glasgow. The launch of the 30-seat outlet marks the brand’s tenth in Scotland and has created 25 jobs. Rob Burns, marketing director for Chopstix, told the Glasgow Times: “We are delighted to announce the opening of our new store in the Braehead shopping centre. We have such a loyal set of customers in Scotland, so we’re thrilled to be able to open our tenth store here, to satisfy our customers’ demands.” Earlier this month, Chopstix opened a site in Lincoln, with franchise partner RTL Enterprises.