Aaron Mellor – nightclub owners buying theatres is a natural step: Nightclub operators are increasingly looking to theatre and immersive productions as an offering to tempt Generation Z audiences who are less into drinking, the UK’s largest independent owner of bars and nightclubs has told The Stage. Aaron Mellor, chief executive of Tokyo Industries, which has just made its first foray into theatre with the acquisition of the 430-seat Emerald Theatre in London, having previously acquired music venues across seven countries, said that amid challenges for mid-scale nightclubs, entertainment operators were eyeing up more “immersive” night-time entertainment, including theatre. He added he hoped his new venue on London’s Embankment would take West End theatre “in a different direction” by staging cabaret-inspired shows, laying on “high-end” dining and staying open until 5am some nights. The Emerald Theatre opened this month with previews For Diamonds and Dust, a narrative burlesque and cirque show starring Faye Tozer and Dita Von Teese, who is also its director. Asked by The Stage why Tokyo Industries had opted to pivot into theatre, Mellor said: “As we age, we’re looking to move more into theatre. Booking DJs now is very expensive, so we’ve had to get more immersive with our operations. In New York, we have a venue called The Stranger, which is very much a theatrical nightclub. We also have a festival called Village Festival, which is an immersive arts festival, so we’re again mixing theatre with music and nightlife. So I guess it’s just a natural progression really that this is our first fully fledged theatre.” Mellor said he thought other nightlife companies could be looking to make a similar shift amid various challenges for nightclubs in the UK and abroad. “Nightlife is finding it hard because the student market is not drinking as much alcohol as it used to,” he said. “You’ve also got super-clubs like Printworks or Drumsheds sucking up a lot of the talent.” By contrast, booking DJs for venues of “mid-scale” capacity (around 1,000) is becoming a lot more difficult, he said. “It means we have to pivot to use that space a bit differently,” he added. “We’re not looking at DJs so much but trying to focus on immersive entertainment. What we’re trying to create here is to bridge that gap between nightlife and theatre. There’s definitely a shift away from alcohol – which isn’t a bad thing. We need to focus people’s attention in different ways.” After Diamonds and Dust, which will run for nine shows a week across six days, the Emerald will start to offer cabaret performances between 10.30pm and midnight, after which it will house DJs until around 5am, according to Mellor. “We now live in a kind of on-demand universe where you can get everything wherever you want it,” he added. “We need to adapt to that, and it’s difficult for a traditional theatre to adapt to that because it doesn’t have the kitchen or bar space that we have.” Tokyo Industries operates sites in Ibiza, Croatia. Dubai, Palm Springs, Los Angelos and Ibiza – and 47 venues in the UK. 

Sponsored message – Opsyte appoints Peter Clack as its new managing director: Opsyte, a leading provider of intelligent workforce and operational management software for the hospitality industry, has appointed Peter Clack as its new managing director, effective immediately. He joins Opsyte with more than 25 years of leadership experience in the technology and hospitality sectors. In his new role, Clack will lead the company’s strategic vision, accelerate growth, and strengthen Opsyte’s position as a trusted partner for pubs, restaurants and hospitality groups across the UK and beyond. “We are thrilled to welcome Peter to Opsyte,” said Matt Taylor, chief executive of the Hospitality Solutions Group and founder of Opsyte. “He brings a wealth of industry knowledge, a passion for innovation, and a proven ability to scale businesses. We’re excited about the direction we’re heading under his leadership.” Opsyte has rapidly expanded in recent years, helping hundreds of hospitality businesses streamline rota scheduling and HR, timesheets, finance, back office administrative tasks and reporting. The appointment of a new managing director marks a pivotal step in the company’s plans to scale further and expand its product offerings. Clack added: “Operators want to be in front of their customers, not stuck in an office. Opsyte has built a world-class platform, which connects information from core systems, improving access to performance data and expediting decision making. Opsyte is set to become a key player in the hospitality technology space and I'm honoured to be joining the team at this exciting time.” If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

Premium Club subscribers to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database on Friday: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers on Friday (4 July), at noon. The database will show the details of 154 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. The database will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis and Premium Club subscribers will also receive a 9,983-word report on the 154 new additions to the database. The database is segmented into seven categories – cafe bakery, casual dining, experiential leisure, fine dining, hotels, pubs and bars, and quick service restaurants – making it even easier for users to search. The database includes new openings in the casual dining sector such as a fifth London site for global ramen restaurant group Ippudo and Edinburgh operator Kenny Zhong opening a second site for his Japanese concept Umi. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including the Operational Excellence Conference in July and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers 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 subscribers 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 subscribers 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 supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Small businesses set to have to disclose more financial information as part of Companies House changes: Small businesses are set to have to disclose more information about their finances as part of new changes announced by Companies House. The corporate registry said that from April 2027, all companies would need to file their annual accounts using commercial software and that the traditional web and paper-based filing systems would be closed. In another significant change, companies classed as “small and micro” entities will be required to file a profit and loss statement for the first time. Qualifying small companies are able to file abbreviated accounts at the moment, which limits both administrative burdens and public disclosure of their financial performance. Companies House said: “Companies will no longer be able to prepare and file ‘abridged’ accounts.” It also warned that “other changes are planned”, including updates to audit exemptions and accounting reference periods. It said it would share more details about these “in the coming months”. Martin McTague, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said as well as the cost of the change, small businesses were worried the new mandate will “leave the door wide open to their competitors to snoop on their profit margins, and for prospective big business clients in supply chains to check on their private finances”. Companies House said the move to software filing is a “critical step in improving the accuracy and quality of data on the register by reducing errors and formatting issues” as well as speeding up processing times and detecting and preventing fraud more effectively.

Coffi Lab among 15 fastest growing UK companies: Coffi Lab, the dog-friendly coffee shop concept that was launched in 2021 by Coffee#1 founder James Shapland, is among the 15 fastest growing companies in the UK. The 11-strong company, which has ambitions to grow to 50 sites over the next five years, placed 15th in The Sunday Times 100 2025, which showcases Britain’s fastest-growing private companies. Figures submitted by the company showed it had sales of £6.2m in 2024, showing growth of 156.87%. Its last accounts published to Companies House, for the year to 31 December 2023, were total exemption accounts and show no turnover figure. Shapland said: “It’s extremely challenging for hospitality businesses to achieve growth in this environment, so recognition at this level gives us a real tailwind. Every neighbourhood deserves a Coffi Lab.” Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone Brewery in Gloucestershire was 23rd in the list with sales of £21.3m, showing growth of 134.11%. The top restaurant group was Wingstop UK, in 42nd place, with sales of £171.7m, showing growth of 100.25%. Chris Sherriff, chief executive at Wingstop UK, said: “We’re proud to be recognised as one of the UK’s fastest-growing companies for the third year in a row – a reflection of the incredible hard work and dedication of our teams. As our UK expansion continues at pace, we’re looking forward to opening more sites to meet the unparalleled demand for our wings.” Not far behind, in 57th place, was Flat Iron Steak, with sales of £49.6m showing growth of 83.66%. Restaurant operator Emerald Hospitality Group (£13.5m sales, 77.84% growth) and café and restaurant business Daisy Green (£22.7m sales, 77.73% growth) were side by side in 65th and 66th place, respectively. Japanese restaurant group Maki & Ramen, which is expanding across the UK through franchising, was placed 78th, with sales of £18.9m showing 67.65% growth.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is supporting Springboard in its search for a trustee – PR & communications specialist. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This voluntary role offers a unique opportunity to shape the strategic direction of a leading UK charity that helps thousands of people every year into sustainable careers in hospitality and tourism. Springboard is looking for a senior communications or PR professional to join its board, bringing expertise in brand development, strategic communications, digital campaigns or media engagement. The ideal candidate will be passionate about making a difference and committed to helping raise Springboard’s profile and impact across the sector. Board meetings are held quarterly in a hybrid format, with additional opportunities to contribute through subcommittees and advocacy.” For more information, email corecruitment@corecruitment.com.

Exclusive – Pizza Pilgrims reports another year of strong growth, plans to grow to 38 sites by 2027: Pizza Pilgrims, the pizzeria brand, has reported another year of strong growth, posting record revenue of £34.4m for the year ending 30 June 2024, an increase of 20% on the previous year (2023: £28.7m), as it continued to broaden its geographic reach, Propel has learned. Pizza Pilgrims saw full-year Ebitda climb 21% to £2.9m (2023: £2.4m), an increase of 21%. After exceptional items, the company recorded a marginal loss of £100,000 (2023: profit of £700,000), which was largely driven by the closure of its Oxford site in January 2024, which it said was a strategic decision to strengthen the overall portfolio. The 25-strong business said its current financial year is proving to be another period of strong growth. At the end of last year, the business reported a circa 14% increase in December 2024 run rate revenue of circa £39m and like-for-like growth of circa 8%, with the Ebitda margin at site level in excess of 20%. During the year to 30 June 2024, the Gavin Smith-led company opened three sites in London – in Queen’s Park, Euston and Chelsea – as well as Leeds and its inaugural site in Wales, in Cardiff. In April, the brand made its debut in Scotland, in Edinburgh’s Rose Street, and opened in Brick Lane in east London in May. At least four additional new sites are planned to open over the next 12 months, with the business planning to grow its portfolio to 38 sites by 2027. Pizza Pilgrims has secured sites in King’s Cross in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol, the latter its first location in the south west. The brand is also looking to re-enter Oxford and discussions are currently underway on an alternative site in the centre of the city. The brand said that with minimal debt, new site expansion is almost entirely self-funded from free cash flow, and that it achieves a strong return on capital employed of 80% across mature sites. Including Deliveroo custom, eat-out sales now account for circa 21% of Pizza Pilgrims’ income. The business said it continues to evaluate various opportunities as it looks to embark on its next stage of growth, including further expansion in the UK, exploring international opportunities, and quick service restaurant formats. Thom Elliot, co-founder of Pizza Pilgrims, said: “This has been another year of strong growth – led by Gavin, Sophie [Gilchrist, finance director] and our engaged, committed and loyal team who are so key to our success. We have successfully expanded our geographic footprint into new locations to encouraging acclaim up and down the country, reinforcing the scalability of the Pizza Pilgrims brand experience and its resonance with our pizza-loving customers.”

 

Homeslice administrators to put CVA plan to creditors, Berbere linked to Marylebone site: Administrators for better pizza concept Homeslice, which was founded by Mark and Alan Wogan, are set to ask creditors to vote on a restructuring plan to save the business. Homeslice fell into administration at the end of 2024 but has continued to trade from its two sites in the City and Neal’s Yard, while its site in Marylebone closed. Administrators Begbies Traynor said they hope a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) will be able to save the business, and details of the plan will shortly be sent out to creditors. Unsecured creditors will be left out of pocket if the CVA is not approved, according to Begbies Traynor. The administrators’ report said: “The administrators are shortly to present a proposal for a CVA that will provide for payment of funds from trading receipts moving forward to rescue the company as a going concern. It is envisaged that the CVA will provide for a better return to creditors than the ongoing administration. If a CVA is not approved, the administration will not allow for a distribution to any class of unsecured creditor.” At the start of the year, the Wogans vowed to save the remainder of the business after it fell into liquidation owing £2.5m. At the same time, Propel understands that Berberè, the independent Italian company founded by brothers Salvatore and Matteo Aloe that operates 19 sites, including three in London, is in talks to secure the closed site in James Street, Marylebone. The 70-cover site was being marketed by joint agents AG&G and Gordon Brothers.

 

Founder of East London Pub Co secures first pub for new venture: Patrick Frawley, founder of East London Pub Co, which fell into administration in November 2023, has secured his first pub for a new venture, in Marylebone, Propel has learned. Frawley is understood to have paid a premium of £250,000 to secure The Beehive in Crawford Street, for his new vehicle, the West London Pub Co. At the start of last year, the four-strong, former East London Pub Company estate was placed on the market. The company, which was founded by Frawley with the launch of its first pub, the Ten Bells in Spitalfields, in 2014, was placed into administration owning the freeholds of The Lock Tavern in Camden and The Saxon in Clapham, as well as the leaseholds of The Gun and The Ten Bells, both in Spitalfields Market. Over the course of 2024, the London Beer Factory acquired The Ten Bells, McMullens acquired the Lock Tavern, the owners of the Rose & Crown in Clapham acquired The Saxon, and The Gun was acquired by Urban Pubs & Bars. Paul Tallentyre, of DCL, acted on the Marylebone deal.

 

Various Eateries CEO – our advantage lies in the breadth of our offer, top-line performance is part of the cost solution: Mark Loughborough, chief executive of Various Eateries, the Hugh Osmond-backed business that operates the Coppa Club and Noci concepts, has said the company’s advantage “lies in the breadth of our offer” and “top-line performance is part of the cost solution”. Last week, the company reported like-for-like sales for the 12-week period since 30 March 2025 were up 6.8%. Loughborough told Propel: “The biggest challenge we face in driving frequency is the combination of strong competition and ongoing economic pressure on consumers. Quality and choice in the market remain high, but the rising cost of social dining and drinking – coupled with squeezed household incomes – means guests are being more selective about when and where they spend. Our advantage lies in the breadth of our offer. We are not one-dimensional – our venues cater to a range of guest needs: from breakfast and brunch to workspaces, special occasions, events, indulgent meals, healthier options, and even overnight stays. This multi-functional model allows us to stay relevant across multiple dayparts and occasions, making it easier for guests to return more often, for different reasons.” He said the company was taking a progressive approach to cost mitigation – “focusing on long-term optimisation rather than short-term cuts”. He said: “We are adopting a deployment-led approach to labour scheduling, ensuring teams are aligned to trading patterns and productivity, not just cost targets. We are also re-evaluating our supplier partnerships to improve value, flexibility, and consistency. Crucially, we believe top-line performance is part of the cost solution. By capturing every sale and improving conversion, we reduce costs as a ratio of revenue. We are also beginning to explore how artificial intelligence and other progressive tools can support smarter forecasting, improve operational planning, and ultimately drive greater efficiency across the business.” Last week, Propel reported the company was looking to grow its current four-strong pasta bar format Noci to 25 sites in the medium term. Loughborough said: “Noci is set to expand further into suburban neighbourhoods, with a focus on Greater London, where there is growing demand for high-quality, accessible Italian dining. While the group is poised for steady expansion, the pace of growth will be dictated by the quality of sites that become available. The strategy remains focused on London and the Home Counties, where strong brand awareness and operational leverage support sustainable returns.”

Adnams reduces borrowings by further £7m as it reports growth in all areas of business: Suffolk brewer and retailer Adnams has reported it has reduced its borrowings by a further £7m as it reported growth in all areas of the business. At the company’s annual general meeting on Friday (27 June), Adnams said it has reduced its cost base across the business by 10% as interim chair Simon Townsend revealed the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions and the extended producer responsibility levy would each add £1m to the company’s costs in 2025. Townsend said both of these would have to be recovered through price increases, productivity improvements and further cost reductions where possible. He said: “We have to establish a trajectory of performance improvement that will allow us to reduce the costs of servicing our debt, increase our confidence in making transformational investments in our pubs, hotels, brands and production capabilities, and reduce the absolute level of debt that we carry – all leading to sustainable growth in shareholder value. We have reduced our overall level of debt further in the year-to-date and by the end of June 2025 will have reduced our borrowings by a further £7m compared with the same time last year, with current debt now approximately £11.5m. We will continue to focus on growing value for shareholders by improving the financial performance of the company, driving profitable sales growth across all our channels and at the same time reducing the costs of operating the business.” Townsend also said board costs were expected to reduce in 2025 by approximately 33% (circa £400,000) on 2024 and 2023 levels. Chief executive Jenny Hanlon said: “Sales in 2025 sees a 24% increase in Ghost Ship 0.5%, 6.5% like-for-like growth in our managed properties, 4.2% growth in our retail business and 10% growth in our wine sales to our direct customers in the second quarter of the year. Clear, focused planning and execution of simple and easy to understand actions is at the heart of this turnaround story – underpinned by our sales and marketing strategy that all our business can get behind; Ghost Ship and Destination Southwold.” Adnams also announced non-executive senior independent director Steve Sharp would retire from the board at the end of September while it was expected a permanent chief financial officer to replace Hanlon following her promotion in July last year would be appointed soon. 

Whitbread – it is possible that our German Premier Inn business could eclipse the UK: Whitbread chief executive Dominic Paul has stated that its German Premier Inn business could eventually eclipse its British arm. Whitbread is aiming to almost double the 10,965 rooms it has in Germany by the end of the decade and has a committed pipeline of 18,230 rooms. Germany is on track to turn an adjusted profit of between £5m and £10m this year. By the 2030 financial year it anticipates adjusted profit of at least £70m. Premier Inn operates more than 850 hotels in the UK, with 85,984 rooms – and is targeting 98,000 by the end of the decade. Some 3,500 of those rooms will come from former restaurants. Chief executive Dominic Paul told The Times: “The honest answer is we are not sure. But if you look at the data, you can see the German population is about 80-ish million people – so about 20%bigger than the population in the UK. Is there a reason to believe in the long, long term that Germany could be as big, if not bigger than the UK? It’s possible.”

Benugo reports record turnover of £134.7m: Benugo, the operator of deli cafes and catering in high-profile venues, has reported turnover increased to a record £134,664,000 for the year ending 25 December 2024 compared with £123,501,000 the previous year. Pre-tax profit fell slightly to £10,685,000 from a record £10,701,000 the year before. Cash and cash equivalents increased to £6.0m (2023: £5.1m) while net assets rose to £44.2m (2023: £36.3m). In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated: “2024 was another strong year for the business, achieving our highest turnover in our 26-year history. Strong sustainable turnover growth was built on the foundations laid in the previous years. During 2024, we worked with our clients to drive mutual benefits and were delighted to win new contracts at more iconic locations including Windsor Castle and St Paul's Cathedral. We invested in additional training for our employees to drive productivity as we continue our drive to become a more streamlined, customer focused company. We are very proud of our teams' efforts throughout 2024. Looking forward we will continue to seek opportunities to grow our business. While inevitably the government's changes to employers’ national insurance from April 2025 will present an increased challenge for us, we will work closely with our clients and teams to mitigate the impact, driving the business forward for the benefit of our customers and stakeholders. Benugo is robustly structured for the risks and opportunities that 2025 will bring. We are excited by the further potential in both the public space accounts and corporate accounts and believe our drive and expertise will be of financial and strategic benefit to clients and will deliver a fantastic service to more Benugo customers.” No dividend was paid (2023: nil). The company, which employs around 1,500 staff, reported a total of £30,132,000 in tax borne or collected, compared with £27,364,000 the previous year.

Caprinos opens in Kettering: Pizza franchise Caprinos has opened in Kettering for its 110th location. The brand has opened in a former Pizza Hut unit at 52 Rockingham Road, as it works through a target of 20 new locations this year. Caprinos has 107 sites in the UK and three in Pakistan and has a longer-term ambition of doubling its estate by 2030. Gul Nawaz and Khalil Rehman, co-founders of Caprinos Pizza, said: “With our local franchisee, the new store is poised to become a vital part of the local community, showcasing our commitment to innovative flavours, quality, and affordability. We can’t wait to introduce Caprinos to local consumers and are confident it will soon become the go-to spot for pizza lovers in Kettering.” In March, Propel revealed that Caprinos is targeting London for its next phase of expansion, and is set to launch in the Middle East this year. The company went on to tell Propel that it is looking to make its motorway services and airport debuts this year and is also seeking to grow its company-owned estate.

Heavitree reports strong top-line trading in its pubs, profit up 96% after making £1m profit from sale of Exeter pub: South west tenanted pub operator Heavitree Brewery has reported strong top-line trading in its pubs and said its profit was up 96% in the six months to 30 April 2025 after making a £1m profit from the sale of an Exeter pub. The company reported revenue of £3,519,000 for the period, up from £3,396,000 the year before. Pre-tax profit was £1,571,000, up from £846,000 the previous year. Chairman Nicholas Tucker said: “This increase includes the sale of non-core property assets, in particular the closed Locomotive Inn in Exeter, which returned a profit on disposal of £1,055,000. Also, the bungalow next to the Ley Arms in Kenn was sold and resulted in a loss on disposal of £1,654. Together with a small loss on disposal of an inventory and a small profit on disposal of a vehicle, the total profit on the disposal of assets for the period was £1,047,000. Planning permission for the rebuild of The Jolly Sailor in East Ogwell was determined in our favour, after many delays, on 9 April. In these uncertain times for us all, our pubs are thankfully reporting strong top-line trading. This has been aided by a prolonged period of good weather during spring, which has boosted trading for the houses with outside dining and drinking areas, and our beer and cider sales are both ahead of budget and the previous year.” Tucker said an operating profit of £524,000 was down 4.02% against last year’s figure due to costs associated with a transition of directors in February. He added: “A new American diner operation is opening in Exmouth after an extensive rebranding and refurbishment. We wish our new tenants huge success with this exciting concept. We have just two vacancies within the estate, both of which are open and trading while new tenants are being sought. This is a pleasing position and gives the estate a strong foundation to make the best of the approaching summer. The painfully slow wind-up process of the company's final salary pension scheme continues. The process is in the hands of the various insurance companies who are charged with transferring annuities into individual member's own names. This transfer was successfully completed for four members during May by one provider, so there is some progress.” The payment of an increased interim dividend of 2.75p (2024: 2.25p) was recommended and will be paid on 1 August. This represents an increase of 22.22% on last year’s interim dividend.

Chicken Cottage expands Kent footprint with Dover launch: Halal fast food company Chicken Cottage has launched in Dover for its third site in Kent. The brand has opened in a former KFC unit at 13-14 Market Square in the town, joining its locations in Chatham and Canterbury in the county. Through the company’s partnership with charity partner The Children’s Society, the new store’s staff have been briefed to help tackle child exploitation in the area. Franchisee Kanthappu Varatharajan said: “We are very proud to be a part of this fantastic initiative and support the important work The Children’s Society does. As franchisee, I hope I can lead the way in demonstrating what a local business can do in our community to keep our children and young people safe.” Chicken Cottage now has circa 70 locations, including a handful overseas. In February, the company made its debut in Ireland with a launch in Moneymore, Drogheda, and in April, it signed a deal to expand into Iraq.

Midlands McDonald’s franchisee opens 17th site: Midlands McDonald’s franchisee Cara Restaurants has opened its 17th site with the brand. Cara Restaurants was founded in 2000 and is led by husband-and-wife team Walter and Samantha Wright, operating restaurants across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. Cara Restaurants has now opened a McDonald’s in a former Poundland store at The Broad Centre in Station Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield. The site joins the brand’s two other McDonald’s restaurants, in Priestsic Road and Kings Mill Road East. The then 14-strong Cara Restaurants reported an increase in profitability in the year to 31 December 2023 as its turnover passed £70m. Pre-tax profit grow to £1,858,274 from £1,422,454 in 2022. Turnover was up from £67,565,977 to £71,034,478.

 

Urban Baristas to launch in London’s Aldgate with its first roof terrace: Urban Baristas is set to launch a new a store in London’s Aldgate, with the site featuring its first roof terrace. The venue will open at 7 Aldgate High Street, adjacent to Aldgate station. Owner Huw Wardrope said: “I can officially announce the Urban Baristas is coming to Aldgate. This will be a very special site with our first roof terrace! I cannot wait to grab an iced long black on the terrace in the sun.” Urban Baristas currently has 17 sites open across the capital, with locations in Croydon, Fulham, Highgate and Wimbledon in the pipeline. The Wimbledon site, in the new Wimbledon Quarter development in Queen’s Road, will be its first shopping centre site. Urban Baristas, which started 2025 with 15 stores, has previously said it is aiming to open 12 new stores this year and has a longer-term target of more than 40 stores by the end of 2026.

Yorkshire dessert bar concept secures Leeds site, five more locations across the north and Midlands in the pipeline: Yorkshire dessert bar operator Rassam’s Creamery has secured a site in Leeds and has five more locations across the north and Midlands in the pipeline. The seven-strong business, founded in 2012 by Rassam Ali, currently has five sites within Sheffield plus one each in Wakefield and Beeston. The Leeds location will be within an as-yet unnamed shopping centre, and this will be followed later this year by further sites in Barnsley and Liverpool. The company is also in talks to expand further outside of Yorkshire – in Leicester and Manchester – as well as add a Chesterfield site to its growing portfolio. Adam Mobley, a partner at WSB Property Consultants, which is working with Rassam’s, said: “WSB is delighted to announce a new acquisition on behalf of our clients, Rassams Creamery, at a major retail scheme in Leeds. Contracts were exchanged last week, and we’re excited to share more details soon. This latest deal reinforces Rassams Creamery’s ambitious growth strategy. As an award-winning dessert operator trading since 2012, it continues to expand its property portfolio across the north of England and the Midlands. With Liverpool and Barnsley due to open in the next six months, and Leicester, Chesterfield, and Manchester currently in legals, momentum is strong, and we want more. We’re actively seeking units in key cities and towns for the next opportunity.” Ali has previously said he is targeting 50 locations by the end of 2027 and is lining up a debut international site for the brand, in Nairobi, Kenya.

London Lebanese street food concept set to expand to Lebanon: London Lebanese street food concept Mayyil is set to go back to its roots by expanding to Lebanon. Owned by Zataro Group, Mayyil was founded in 2022 by Ayman Assi as a sister concept to the two-strong Beit El Zaytoun Lebanese restaurants in west London. Since franchising the business last year, Assi has grown it to four locations across the capital – with more in the pipeline – and has previously explored overseas expansion to UAE. Assi posted to social media: “We’re launching in Beirut! Thrilled to announce that Mayyil is opening its first branch in downtown Beirut – bringing the taste of Lebanese street food back to its roots, where it all began. From London to Beirut, fresh off the grill, straight to the heart.” In April, Assi said Mayyil was set to grow to ten locations by the end of 2025, and he has a longer term target of 20 sites over the next five years.

Lucky B’s secures second English site: Glasgow hot chicken concept Lucky B’s has secured its second site in England. The business, as previously reported, will make its English debut next month when it opens at 53 Whitegate Drive in Blackpool on Sunday, 20 July. This will be followed with a further launch at Canning Street retail park in Burnley. Both sites will be operated by Subway franchisee Ross Fairbairn, who Propel revealed last year had signed as a master franchisee for Lucky B’s, agreeing a 15-store deal across Lancashire. Fairbairn is also behind Subway franchisee Quick Serv, which he founded in 2017 and has grown to 22 stores across the north west. Lucky B’s, which currently has two stores in Glasgow – with a third on its way – was founded in 2022 by Giancarlo Celino and Tony Dobrenko. Celino also operates three Catch Fish and Chips stores in Glasgow and last month partnered with Hesham Mourad, director for Qatar and special projects at Gulf Franchise Group, to take the business into the UAE. 

Wendy’s franchisee to open in Southampton next month: JRK Restaurants, which is a UK franchisee of Wendy’s, the third-largest quick service restaurant brand in the US, will open in Southampton next month. The site will open at 17 Above Bar Street, on Thursday, 10 July – in the former John Anthony clothes shop. The new 2,500 square-foot restaurant will create 35 jobs and is the seventh UK location under NFH Restaurants, part of the JRK Group, reports The Daily Echo. The restaurant will take over the ground floor of the unit, with Chinese restaurant Shanghai Bay, positioned on the first floor of the building, unaffected. The new site is only the second Wendy’s in Hampshire, joining its Portsmouth location. Wendy’s operates circa 50 sites in the UK.

Michelin-starred Edinburgh restaurant’s sister venue to close, owner hints at new project: Aizle, a sister venue to Michelin-starred Lyla in Edinburgh, is set to close. Chef Stuart Ralston has said he will close the tasting menu restaurant in September. Lyla, and Ralston’s other restaurants in Edinburgh, Noto and Tipo, are unaffected by the closure. Ralston opened Aizle, his debut restaurant, in 2014 before relocating to its current home, the Garden Room at the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel. The restaurant serves a blind tasting menu, revolving around produce from the Scottish larder. Guests are presented with a delicate washi paper menu detailing a list of ingredients from the current harvest, the building blocks of either a five or a seven-course menu. “When I first opened the doors in St Leonard’s Street in 2014 as a young chef, Aizle was born out of a desire to build something different, challenge me as a young chef and provide a place people would choose to work,” he said. “I wanted to work with producers who really care about what they grow and make people happy with our food. Over the past 11 years, we have moved homes, met brilliant people along the way and grown into something to be proud of. We achieved what we set out to do. The decision hasn’t come easily, but the time feels right to close Aizle, and for me to put even more focus on Lyla, Noto and Tipo, as well as our next project. I want to give a huge thank you to the incredible, dedicated team, past and present, the wonderful farmers, fishermen, winemakers and all the people in between. I look forward to continuing to work with you.” Last orders will be on Sunday, 21 September.

New northern China restaurant opens in south London: A new northern China restaurant has opened in south London. Mina Feng and Kris Yang, who grew up together in China, have opened Mulan Noodle at 192 Acre Lane, between Brixton and Clapham, offering freshly made Xi’an street food alongside traditional live music and an open kitchen. Dishes include handmade chilli oil noodles (£10.80), handmade dry mixed noodles (from £12.80) and classic soup noodles (from £12.80). There are also signature cocktails and bubble tea available. The live music will feature traditional Chinese instruments such as the Guzheng, a 21-string zither, and the Pipa, a four-stringed lute.