KFC looking to secure 50-plus new stores in UK this year as part of £1.5bn investment over five years, offering finder’s fee of up to £20,000: KFC is looking to secure 50-plus new stores in the UK this year as part of its £1.5bn investment in its estate here over the next five years. In May, the brand, which celebrates its 60th anniversary in the UK this year, said it plans to invest £1.49bn towards growing its 1,000-strong estate and upgrading many of its existing restaurants, which it estimates will create thousands of new jobs. KFC said it will spend £466m on expanding the number of restaurants it operates in the UK and Ireland by a further 500 over the next decade – focusing on building sites and drive-thrus in key locations such as Ireland and the north west – and invest in upgrading more than 200 existing restaurants, which make up 20% of its estate. The company has now released its acquisition requirements, with an introduction fee of up to £20,000 for recognised new sites. Saying it is “looking for 50-plus KFCs for 2025”, the company said its focus is on drive-thru of 0.3 acres and in-line units of 1,200-2,500 square feet. These can be both leasehold and freehold, but with main road frontage and high visibility. KFC is seeking opportunities across retail and leisure parks, development sites, high street retail units, travel hubs (stations and motorways), shopping centres and food courts. The company has split its search into four regions – Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the north east and north west; Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands and East Anglia; Wales, the West Midlands and south west; and London and the south east. Julian Reilly, who last month returned to KFC as interim acquisitions manager for London and the south east three and a half years as property and franchise director at dessert franchise Creams, is leading the search in the latter region. He said: “Agents, landlords, developers – we need you! We’ve got bucket loads of requirements at KFC and a serious appetite to grow through 2025 and well into 2026 – 50-plus new restaurants targeted for 2025. Drive-thru and in-line formats; opportunities across the UK & Ireland. Up to £20,000 fee for recognised new site introductions. What we’re hungry for: 0.3-1.5-acre drive-thru plots. 1,200–2,500 square-foot high street and in-line units. Freehold or leasehold. Roadside, retail parks, high streets, travel hubs, shopping centres – we’ll consider it all. We’re backed, bold, and built to scale – with flexible formats and serious momentum behind us.” KFC features in the Premium Club Turnover & Profits Blue Book, which is available exclusively to Premium Club subscribers and features 1,126 companies. KFC’s turnover of £294,511,000 in the year to 24 December 2023 is the 45th highest in the database. 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.

 

Hundreds booked for Operational Excellence Conference: Hundreds of operators have now booked for this year’s Operational Excellence Conference, which is being held in partnership with Purple Story. The conference – which takes place on Wednesday, 9 July at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings – is designed for operations directors, managers, area managers, site managers and chief executives who want to maximise performance. Operating companies attending include The Restaurant Group, Greene King, Marston’s, Mitchells & Butlers, PizzaExpress, Wagamama, Burger King, Subway, Amber Taverns, BrewDog, RedCat Hospitality, Five Guys, McMullens, Bill’s, Joe & the Juice, Parkdean Resorts, Soho Coffee Co, Honest Burgers, The Alchemist Bars & Restaurants, Roadchef, Individual Restaurants, Portobello Pub Co, San Carlo, Bubble CiTea, Mowgli Street Food, Peach Pubs, Pizza Pilgrims, Comptoir Group, Wahaca, Beds & Bars, Arc Inspirations, Marugame Udon, Cosmo Restaurants, Flat Iron, Upham Pubs, Incipio Group, Buns from Home, Insomnia Cookies, Timothy Taylors, Caprinos Pizza, The Beautiful Pubs Collection, Livelyhood, McManus Pubs, Thorley Taverns, Cheshire Pub Co, Tapas Revolution, Berkeley Inns, AIM, Treetop Golf, Temper, Dakota Hotels, Public House Group, Bao London, Brother Marcus, Urban Village Pubs, Little Door and Co, Sandbox VR, Five Points Brewing Co/Whitelocks, Clays, The Cat & Wickets Pub Company, Hasty Tasty, Silk Rd, Lancaster Brewery, Koya London, Arepa & Co, Shiko Group, The Lost Estate, Crate Brewery, Jardines UK, Meet Bros, Siren Craft Brew, Blackbird Bakery and The Moat Wrotham. Propel managing director Paul Charity said: “As labour costs soar, lots of companies have responded to this opportunity as they look to get the best out of their teams and maximise performance. This is the largest operational conference in the UK by attendance.” Propel is also launching “parallel sessions” at this year’s conference, which offer the chance to deep-dive into specialist subjects. There will be a chance for teams attending the conference to break away and absorb the parallel sessions. There will be 11 parallel sessions in total, which will run alongside the main conference. For the full speaker schedule and details of the parallel sessions, click here. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £345 plus VAT for suppliers. There is a 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club subscribers. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book.

 

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 153 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 153 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 pub and bar sector such as The Ragged Robin in Godalming in Surrey from the Heartwood Collection, Liverpool operator Pub Invest Group’s Temple Tavern, and Kapital Beer Hall & Restaurant, from Sheffield brewer and retailer Two Thirds Beer Co. 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 this month 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.

Restaurants to spy on diners’ meals in Labour ‘nanny state’ crackdown: Restaurants will be forced to tell the government what their customers eat under “nanny state” plans drawn up by Labour to tackle obesity. The Telegraph reported that ministers are preparing to compel large restaurant brands and fast-food companies to cut diners’ calories in an effort to help improve the nation’s health. As part of the plans, businesses are expected to have to report how many calories customers consume on average. The proposals have angered restaurant bosses, who claim they have not been consulted on the measures. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said the industry had been “totally blindsided” by the plans. Nicholls added the proposals would lead to higher prices in restaurant brands, given the “significant volumes of bureaucracy” involved. The plans are being looked at as part of a broader obesity strategy launched by the government over the weekend. Under the proposals, supermarkets will be made to curtail sales of sugary and salty snacks in favour of more fruit and vegetables. Downing Street said food retailers risked fines if they did not hit targets. Regulations on restaurants have yet to be decided. However, they are expected to mirror rules for supermarkets, which will have to cut 100 calories from the average shopping basket. Restaurant chiefs said they expected to have to disclose how much fatty, salty or sugary food they were selling. They are braced for government-mandated targets around reducing calories, fat, salt or sugar, or some combination of all four. Nicholls urged ministers to engage with hospitality bosses, saying: “This is really wide-ranging in scope. We really need the government to start talking to the hospitality sector, not excluding it from these discussions, to make sure that we get the details right. We’ve yet to understand how mandatory reporting and targets would change the obesity situation in the UK.”

 

Brits dip into savings to keep spending as costs rise: UK households put away less of their income in the first quarter of the year, the first fall in savings trends since 2022. The Times reported the higher costs of living, with energy bills staying higher for longer, and less attractive savings proposition from falling interest rates are thought to blame. The household saving ratio is estimated to have decreased by 1.1 percentage points to 10.9% between January and March, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), down from 12% in the final quarter of 2024. It was regular savings rather than paying into pensions that prompted the fall. Non-pension saving contributed 6.2 percentage points to the saving ratio, with contributions from pension saving unchanged at 4.7 percentage points. In the previous quarter, non-pension saving contributed 7.3 percentage points to the saving ratio. Liz McKeown, ONS director of economic statistics, said: “The saving ratio fell for the first time in two years this quarter, as rising costs for items such as fuel, rent and restaurant meals contributed to higher spending, although it remains relatively strong.” The household saving ratio is the proportion of the household sector’s total resources that are available but have not been used for consumption.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a fast-growing non-food fast-moving consumer goods business that is seeking a business development manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will be responsible for winning new business, maximising sustainable short and long-term sales, boosting profitability and increasing brand awareness within new sectors, including the business-to-business hotel, restaurant and catering channels.” The salary is up to £55,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email mikey@corecruitment.com. 

 

Evolv Collection parent company sells stake in catering joint venture, exits French site, trading strongly: Bresand Leisure, the Calveton and Breal Capital-backed vehicle that acquired D&D London – now the Evolv Collection – has updated on trading for the first time since the acquisition, posting turnover of £126,357,000 for the period to 30 September 2024, and revealed it has sold its stake in catering joint venture Alexander & Björck. The group posted a pre-tax loss for the period of £13,344,000. The company said: “Considering the amount of transformational change we drove through the business, including a new leadership team, we are happy with the 2024 performance as a result of the successful transition period and have a current focus of continued consolidation and like-for-like growth in a challenging environment for the sector. The business is trading strongly in the current financial year, with five restaurants hitting their highest ever sales week in December, and the events business in strong like-for-like growth following the appointment of a new sales director in August 2024. The business is also benefiting from its project of standardising the suppliers to achieve economies of scale to ensure healthier margins without impacting price. There has also been a significant reduction to support office staff in line with the reduction of loss-making sites. The group’s strategy is to continue to develop its core restaurant brands through targeted investment and guest experiences. Following the investment by Breal Capital and Calveton in October 2023, the business has been able to continue this development and is now looking forward to the next phase of growth both in the UK and internationally, as it consolidates on the strength of the core brands it has. The directors consider the results for the period to be satisfactory in light of challenging market conditions.” In November 2015, D&D announced the launch of a new events and outside catering business in a joint venture with Lena Björck and unveiled a new brand identity, Alexander & Björck. The accounts revealed Evolv Collection has now sold its stake in the venture to the “minority interest”, with the financial impact of that “yet to be determined”. The accounts also revealed that in March, Evolv Collection entered into an agreement to sell its Alcazar restaurant in Paris – its only site in France – for a consideration of £2m. 

 

EL&N posts full-year loss after restructuring parts of international business: The parent company of cafe and lifestyle brand EL&N posted a pre-tax loss in the year to 30 June 2024, on the back of site closure costs and restructuring part of its international business. The circa 40-strong business, which manages 12 corporate stores in the UK and France, posted revenue of £25,953,671, which it said represented “a steady increase of 1.1%” compared with the previous year (£25,782,595), highlighting “our resilience and consistent sales across our corporate stores in the UK and our expanding international presence in Europe, MENA, Africa and the Far East”. The business posted a pre-tax loss of £5,652,721 compared with a pre-tax profit of £2,020,805 the previous year. The company said turnover across its UK business for the year stood at £25,042,101 (2023: £24,246,665), and in Europe at £911,570 (2023: £1,535,930). During the year, the company closed its site in Edinburgh and disposed of its 100% holding in EL&N GL France, which led to a £66,064 loss. The group also accumulated a loss of £205,847 from the company’s interest in EL&N Carrousel, which operated its closed site near the Louvre, in Paris. The company said: “Our underlying operations delivered an operating profit of approximately £0.89m, showcasing our commitment to effective cost control, procurement efficiency, and the strength of our core cafe and restaurant offerings. While we experienced a slight decline in gross profit margins to 68.8% (2023: 70.8%), this reflects the external challenges posed by inflationary pressures in food, energy, and labour costs, which we continue to navigate with strategic foresight. Despite challenges reflected in a statutory operating loss of £5,652,721, it is important to note this result was influenced by exceptional, non-recurring costs totalling approximately £6.63m. These one-off items included site closure costs of £3.85m and a £3.1m write-off associated with restructuring certain aspects of our international business and unavailing acquisitions. The executive management and operation team are dedicated to optimising our cost base, enhancing operational efficiency, and prioritising sustainable growth opportunities. These proactive initiatives position the group to adapt to evolving market conditions effectively and pave the way for a return to profitability and long-term growth. Looking ahead, while the operating environment presents its challenges, the group remains focused on investing in strategic growth and brand development. More sites are in the pipeline for opening across the UK, along with expansions into new international markets. These developments underscore our dual strategy of strengthening our presence in both UK and international landscapes. Our most recent brand launch, the deli and bakery, has shown remarkable success, and we have many more innovations on the horizon, both in the UK and internationally. We remain optimistic about our future and are confident that our strategic initiatives will lead us towards sustained growth and profitability.” EL&N recently launched a new “elevated dining” concept, House of EL&N, in Lebanon, began the roll out of its new bakery and deli format and teased a new cookies concept – Crumbs by EL&N. 

 

Scottish multiple operator Discovery Group eyes expansion after securing 16th site: Discovery Group, the Scottish multiple operator led by Alan Bowes, is eyeing further expansion after securing its 16th site. The company has acquired a long-term lease on The County Hotel in North Berwick, which is part of the Heineken-owned Star Pubs estate. A joint £850,000 refurbishment will see the venue reopen having been closed since the summer of 2019. The property will have two separate bars, a restaurant with a bar, function space, 11 en-suite letting rooms and a 100-seater garden. The site will be renamed The Law – after a landmark North Berwick hill – to signal its new direction. Work starts this week, and The Law is expected to reopen by early-September, creating 25 jobs. Discovery Group said it is eyeing further expansion in the eastern side of Scotland’s central belt, where it currently has eight sites. Of particular interest are leased hotels and bars that, with investment, have the potential to be relaunched as more premium venues. Director Steven Winton said: “All our sites to date are leased and we expect that to continue. We like the partnership aspect, and the support leasing brings from financial investment through to resources such as marketing and training.” Bowes previously ran the London and Edinburgh Swallow Group’s managed and tenanted pubs and hotels business.

 

Greene King reaches 80 franchised pub milestone, reopens London’s oldest LGBTQIA+ pub: Greene King Pub Partners, the leased, tenanted and franchise division of Greene King, has reached the milestone of 80 franchised pubs – four years after launching its franchise pub business. The pubs operate under two concepts developed by Greene King – Hive Pubs and Nest Pubs. First launched in 2021, Hive Pubs are community focused pubs that combine a varied food offer with live sport and an events calendar. Nest Pubs, which launched in 2024, are drink-led pubs predominantly located in busy high streets, combining a pizza and pie food offer with live sport and events. Greene King said both concepts offer a ready-to-trade pub and proven business model for as little as £3,000 in-going cost. Franchisees earn through a combination of profit and turnover share, along with performance-related bonuses and for Hive Pubs, a fixed franchise fee of £20,000 to help cover operating costs. Franchise partners also regularly collaborate with Greene King to steer menu development, marketing initiatives and more. Dan Robinson, managing director of Greene King Pub Partners, said: “Reaching 80 franchise pubs is a fantastic milestone for us and a clear sign that our franchise strategy is working. We’re not stopping here – there’s plenty more to come as we continue to expand our franchise operation and maintain our highly successful leased and tenanted pub business.” In May, Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, told Propel that there is a real opportunity for both franchise concepts to “continue to scale”. Meanwhile, Greene King has invested a six-figure investment into The City of Quebec – London’s oldest LGBTQIA+ pub. Situated in Old Quebec Street in Marylebone, the pub has reopened with a new interior including an upgraded stage, a projector screen, effects lighting and a new DJ booth for live music and cabaret events.

 

Gail’s hires Ruth Mann as new brand marketing director: Fast-growing bakery brand Gail’s has hired Ruth Mann, formerly of Sweaty Betty and Pentland Brands, as its new brand marketing director. Mann joins Gail’s after two and a half years as vice-president of marketing at Sweaty Betty. She previously spent just over 14 years at Pentland Brands, including more than two years as head of brand for Ellesse. Mann is described as a “strategic brand builder” and “a purpose led marketeer”. At Ellesse and Sweaty Betty, she successfully transformed and repositioned both to implement brand storytelling and drive consistency across multiple touchpoints for the consumer and created “a truly omnichannel experience”. She has worked in licensed, distributed and direct-to-consumer businesses, operating in a wide range of global markets. Gail’s, which operates circa 160 sites, plans to open between 30 to 40 new bakeries this year and is preparing to launch a 100-cover site at Gatwick airport’s South Terminal this summer for its debut airport outlet.

 

Inda Pubs acquires the Admiral Codrington for third deal this year: Inda Pubs, the group of London pubs that is family-owned and operated by the Corbett family, has made its tenth acquisition – the Admiral Codrington in Chelsea, Propel has learned. The Clive Watson-chaired business told Propel the pub, which was acquired from the Butcombe Group, will undergo a three-month refurbishment to restore the pub to its former glory. So far during 2025, Inda has also acquired the freehold interest of The Larrik in Marylebone, and more recently, The Cricketers in Kew Gardens, where it has an option to acquire the freehold. The group also has seven pubs that are free of tie and the remaining tied leases have leases over 20 years in length. Inda Pubs said revenue for the year ending March 2025 was £12.5m and are forecast to increase by more than 25% in the forthcoming year. James Corbett, founder and chief executive of Inda Pubs, said: “I am thrilled to have acquired the Admiral Codrington. It is a wonderful landmark site and we are hoping to have it reopened by the end of September. We continue to premiumise our estate in order to expand organically.  We are on the hunt for further sites on an opportunistic basis, but at the same time, are very happy to focus on what we have got. The last 12 months has been a transformational year in terms of acquiring sites, building a strong team and premiumising our pubs. As a family run business, we are here for the long term, building on the values of my late father, Hugh Corbett.” Last May, Propel revealed that Watson, the co-founder and ex-chairman of City Pub Group, which Young’s acquired last year for £162m, had joined Inda Pubs as its new non-executive chairman as it geared up for its next stage of growth. CBRE acted on the Admiral Codrington deal.

 

Popeyes opens first airport location: Popeyes UK, the US fried chicken quick service restaurant brand backed here by TDR Capital, has opened its first airport location. Propel revealed in April the brand had entered into a strategic partnership with SSP, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, to open a pipeline of travel hub sites across the country. Popeyes  said the first site under the new partnership would open at Birmingham airport at the start of this summer, located airside. The restaurant has now opened, offering the brand’s full all-day menu, as well as its recently launched breakfast menu. “We’ve officially gone airside!” the company posted to social media. “Birmingham airport: we’ve landed. This opening marks our first restaurant in partnership with SSP, with more to come across UK travel hubs.” At the time of securing the deal, Tom Byng, chief development officer at Popeyes UK, said: “This is the first of a number of locations we will open in partnership with SSP, marking a significant milestone for the business as we roll out our ambitious growth plans for 2025, and reflects the continued strength of our customer proposition and brand appeal.” Last month, Popeyes secured new finance facilities totalling £43m in order to support its continued rollout of its growth plans across the UK. The company, which has more than 80 sites here, agreed the financing with Barclays Corporate Banking.

 

Wingstop UK opens site in Plymouth: Wingstop UK, which is backed by US private equity firm Sixth Street, has opened its latest site, in Plymouth. Located in Old Town Street, the site spans 3,896 square feet and hosts 80-plus covers. Since launching in the UK in 2018, Wingstop UK has grown to 67 sites and employs more than 2,700 people nationwide. Chief executive Chris Sherriff said: “We’re excited to expand our presence in the south west by opening in Plymouth. With its energy and footfall, Old Town Street is the perfect spot for us to land in the city. A huge thanks to our brilliant teams for making it happen, as we continue to grow across the UK and meet the unparalleled demand for our wings and flavours.” The Plymouth site is one of more than 20 locations set to launch in 2025.

 

Troy Warfield steps down as The Social Gaming Group CEO: Troy Warfield has stepped down as chief executive of The Social Gaming Group, the company behind gastro-gaming entertainment brand Oche. Warfield had been in the position for just over four years following two years as president of TopGolf International. During his time with The Social Gaming Group, Warfield oversaw the UK launch of Oche, a Norway-headquartered, interactive, darts-based competitive socialising concept. Oche launched in London’s The Strand in July 2022. Warfield has now taken up a position as chairman and chief executive of US-based Surf Lakes, which looks to use “360-degree wave technology” to create surf parks. “I am delighted to announce that I will be taking up the role of both chairman and chief executive of Surf Lakes, an outstanding technology in the rapidly growing global surf park industry,” he said. “Surf Lakes delivers five different sized waves every 30 seconds, with 2,000 rides per hour, and creates 800 metres of beachside property development, anywhere in the world. I am looking forward to helping people globally enjoy the delights of surfing, and for investors and developers to reap the benefits that this outstanding technology brings. I look forward to working with our highly experienced team to build our first Surf Lake and a pipeline of many more over the years. I also want to thank The Social Gaming Group for four and a half wonderful years as chief executive, taking it from one venue to 12 globally, and acquiring other businesses along the journey.” The Social Gaming Group is also behind shuffleboard concept Shufl, which launched in Oslo in 2020.

 

Beannchor plans new £14m aparthotel and restaurant complex, acquires Belfast Premier Inn for £8.6m, reports record turnover: Northern Ireland hospitality company Beannchor Group is planning a new £14m aparthotel and restaurant complex and has acquired a Belfast Premier Inn for £8.6m, after reporting record turnover for the year to 30 June 2024. In the company’s accounts for the year, it states post year-end, it incorporated a new entity, Alfred Belfast, “which is contracted to purchase hospitality property in Belfast of £8.6m, subject to completion”. The Irish News reported Beannchor Group has since completed a deal for the 148-bedroom Premier Inn in Alfred Street and also filed an application for a 40-bedroom aparthotel in Ann Street. The Irish News also reported Beannchor Group has submitted plans for a proposed £14m development in Ann Street – in units that currently house a Little Wing restaurant, a Spoon Street dessert bar, the former Love & Death cocktail bar and two vacant retail units. That project would see the aparthotel developed alongside a larger Little Wing restaurant and a new pub in Crown Entry. Furthermore, as part of the same investment, the company plans to relocate the Ragin Ramen noodle bar in Church Lane, which it acquired earlier this year, to a larger unit in Ann Street. The company’s portfolio includes Belfast venues Berts jazz bar, Bullitt Hotel, Ollie’s nightclub, Out of Office microbrewery and taproom, Rattlebag bar, Sixty6 club, Taylor & Clay Grill, Tetto restaurant, The Cloth Ear pub, The Merchant Hotel, The Dirty Onion pub, The National bar and café, The Second Fiddle pub, Ulster Sports Club live music venue and Yardbird restaurant. The company also operates the Jenny Watts pub in Bangor and The Hillside pub in Hillsborough, alongside Ten Little Wing pizzerias across Northern Ireland. Beannchor Group’s turnover grew from £32,699,853 to £35,094,116. Pre-tax profit increased from £5,915,551 to £7,360,690. Insurance income of £1,169,067 was received (2023: nil) in respect of a fire at one of the group’s properties in 2022. No dividends were paid (2023: nil). Post year end, the group also purchased investment properties for £1,100,000 and contracted the sale of investment properties for £279,000. Director James Sinton said: “Competition in the marketplace remained strong, with a number of new hotel openings and increase in bedrooms in the city. The business remains profitable, well capitalised and has sound reserves. Steps have been taken by the management team to ensure the business not only has a full complement of skilled staff, but also to manage the rise in business expenses.”

 

Safestay signs lease agreement to operate 300-bed hostel in Naples: Hostel operator Safestay has signed a 12-year lease agreement to operate a 300-bed hostel in the centre of Naples, Italy. Subject to the final licensing requirement, the hostel, set inside a former monastery, is set to open in August. The lease agreement, signed with Italian property developer Ma Creo, signals the commencement of a strategic partnership between the two parties, with the aim of opening additional hostels across Italy over the coming years. The hostel is located in the city’s Materdei district. Following refurbishment, the hostel will feature 300 beds across four and six-bed dormitories and private rooms. Larry Lipman, chairman of Safestay, said: “We are delighted to announce the lease agreement to operate such an historic property in Naples, one of Europe’s most vibrant tourist destinations. This site – which is Safestay’s second in Italy – has great potential and will be a fantastic addition to our portfolio of premium, well-located hostels. This agreement also marks the beginning of a partnership with Ma Creo with the intention to open more hostels across Italy as part of our growth strategy and medium-term ambitions to double the size of the Safestay portfolio.”

 

Berbere acquires former Homeslice site: Berberè, the independent Italian company founded by brothers Salvatore and Matteo Aloe, is to open a fourth site in London, after acquiring the former Homeslice site in Marylebone. Berberè, which operates 19 sites, including three in London, has secured the closed, 70-cover James Street site for an opening later this year. Propel reported earlier this week that 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. At the start of the year, the Wogans vowed to save the remainder of the business after it fell into liquidation, owing £2.5m. The James Street site was being marketed by joint agents AG&G and Gordon Brothers. Sophie Street, of Street Property Consultants, acts on behalf of Berberè.

 

Bloomsbury Leisure set to open new Central London pub specialising in Czech lager: Bloomsbury Leisure – the pub, bar and leisure venue operator led by Jonathan Dalton – is set to open a new Central London pub specialising in Czech lager. The group, which runs 14 hospitality businesses, including pubs in London, Bristol and Manchester, will this summer open The Stranded at 430 The Strand for its 15th site. Featuring a 13-metre Czech-built bar and specialist side-pour taps, the venue will offer Budvar lager including Budvar Original, Nefiltr (unfiltered), Dark and 0.0%. Guests will be offered a choice of three different pours: Hladinka (a full pour with a generous layer of silky foam on top), Šnyt (a smaller pour with more foam) and Mlíko (a mug of wet, sweet foam favoured in Czech pubs). Alongside its Czech lager, The Stranded will offer five rotating keg lines and four cask ale lines. Dalton said: “The Stranded is more than a new pub – it’s a fresh standard for lager, an education in pouring and a love letter to beer done properly. We think there's an appetite from London’s lager drinkers for this and can’t wait to deliver delicious beer that’s treated with the respect it deserves.” In London, the group operates the Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes & Kingpin Suite, Euston Tap, Jackalope, Waterloo Tap, Farringdon Tap, The Bolter, Aldgate Tap and Pelt Trader. It also operates three sites in Manchester – Piccadilly Tap, Oxford Road Tap and Victoria Tap, and three in Bristol – The Lanes & Hostel, Llanloger Trow and Crofters Gardens.

 

Former Subway regional development agent launches new Punjabi tea concept in Edinburgh: Haj Atwal, a former Subway regional development agent in Scotland, has launched a new Punjabi tea concept in Edinburgh. Atwal is behind Icon Brands Global, based in the Scottish capital, which operates the Singh Street concept in Scotland and is looking to bring US brands Jars and Curry Up Now to the UK. Singh Street has two locations – in Edinburgh’s Bruntsfield and Aberdeen’s Union square – offering Punjabi street food. Atwal has now launched sister concept Singh Street Cha, in a former Craig & Rose paint shop in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge. “A successful first opening week at Singh Street Cha, Stockbridge,” an Icon Brands Global spokesman said. “We’re so grateful for the warm welcome as we opened our newest concept café in the heart of Edinburgh. Led by our founders, Harjinder Singh Atwal and Anna Atwal, who opened the first Singh Street Cafe in Bruntsfield in November 2024, Singh Street Cha brings the richness of Punjabi tea culture to life – with baked (not fried) samosas and Cha brewed fresh daily – all rooted in a health-conscious philosophy that honours tradition without compromise. This calming space in Stockbridge reflects the couple’s vision: a thoughtful environment where culture, community and well-being come together – one cup at a time.” Atwal, who described himself as “one of the original pioneers of the Subway brand in the UK”, began franchising with Subway in 2000, opening his first store, in Edinburgh’s Hanover Street, with brother Narinder. His Subway portfolio was 45-strong at one time, and in 2016, he opened the brand’s 5,000th store in Europe – at The Centre in Livingstone.

 

Deal agreed for final former Authentic Alehouses pub: A deal has been agreed for the final pub in the portfolio of the once seven-strong Authentic Alehouses, Propel has learned. Authentic Alehouses, launched by Allan Harper in 2017, entered administration in March 2019. An email to investors from Crowdstacker, the secured creditor of Authentic Alehouses, seen by Propel, revealed after a competitive process, with two rounds of bidding between four parties, an offer of £396,000 was accepted for the Ponty Tavern in Pontefract in West Yorkshire. The email stated: “This was an unconditional cash offer that included a £10,000 non-refundable deposit for an eight-week exclusivity period to demonstrate that the buyers are serious and willing to complete in a timely manner. The current position is that head of terms have been agreed, and solicitors engaged. There will be a delay of 30 days between exchange and completion that we require in order to give the current manager appropriate notice, so we would expect to complete the sale in just over three months.”

 

Coqfighter secures fourth stand-alone site: Chicken and beer concept Coqfighter will open its fourth stand-alone site in London, in Spitalfields. The business – which operates stand-alone sites in Soho, Finsbury Park and King’s Cross – will open at 17 Widegate Street, a corner unit in the heart of Spitalfields. At the start of this year, the company, which also operates in Shelter Hall in Brighton and Boxpark in Croydon, partnered with Growth Kitchen to launch 100-plus new delivery locations within 18 months. Coqfighter said having launched new sites in Brighton and London’s Finsbury Park in 2024, it was now entering an “exciting new phase of growth” and is “eyeing nationwide delivery expansion” in 2025. Etai Page, of MATTA London, represented Coqfighter on the Spitalfields deal. 

 

Patisserie and cafe concept Knead makes first step into outlet retail for sixth site: Knead Bakery, the patisserie and café concept, is set to open in Tewkesbury for its sixth site. Following last month’s launch in Oxford, Knead will open on Wednesday, 16 July in the new Cotswolds Designer Outlet. The opening marks Knead’s first step into outlet retail, with the 1,183 square-foot unit offering handmade pastries, artisan bread and coffee. Co-founders John Hawes and Kris Biggs, who launched the business in 2020 after working together in a five-star, two Michelin-starred kitchen, said: “We’re thrilled to be opening at the Cotswolds Designer Outlet this July. This is a new type of location for us, and an exciting opportunity to bring the Knead experience to a broader audience in a high-footfall setting. Whether it’s a fresh croissant and coffee before a day of shopping or a loaf of sourdough to take home, we look forward to becoming a must-visit destination in Tewkesbury.” Knead also has locations in Tetbury, Cirencester and Elkstone, a Knead on Wheels mobile bakery, a postal delivery service and also operates supper clubs. In May, the founders told Propel they see the scope to grow the business to 15 sites in the next five years.

 

40ft Brewery launches crowdfunding campaign to support new brewery and rooftop bar: Steve Ryan, owner of the London-based 40ft Brewery, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support two new venues this summer. The brewery, which is also celebrating its tenth anniversary, is hoping to raise £50,000. The Standard reported that the first of the venues will be a brewery and taproom on Blackhorse Beer Mile in Walthamstow, on London’s beer trail, which Ryan hopes will be a local communal hub for children and their parents. It will include a dog park and fully hireable spaces for events, food pop-ups and weddings. The second will be a permanent takeover of the Dalston RoofPark, where 40ft drew its first pint in 2015, bringing a full-circle moment to its legacy. 40ft moving in will see the rooftop bar reopen, having been closed since last summer. Ryan said: “The brewery is growing up, just as we are. Dalston is where I met my wife, and the Walthamstow taproom is where we’ll bring our family. Both spaces will serve different needs of the community. We’re crowdfunding to help raise awareness of our new venues and offer our guests an immediate return on their investment, by stretching their money across multiple visits and venues.”