Propel Newsletter Archive Page

Universal submits first plans for UK theme park: The new Universal Studios theme park that will be built in the UK could include the tallest rides in Europe, the company said. Universal has sought planning permission for a new destination in Bedford through a special development order, which would allow the government to approve the project directly and bypass standard local planning procedures. In new planning documents, the BBC reports that the firm said it could build structures in the park reaching up to 377ft (115m), which includes rides. “The reason for proposing structures up to this maximum height is to allow the proposed theme park to compete with other attractions in Europe,” the documents said. It continued: “Although the Universal Orlando Resort does not currently have attractions up to this height, taller attractions are more common in Europe, where rides need to be taller to create the experience, as space is more constrained. Building attractions that are higher, rather than over greater areas, also makes the best use of land which is in line with planning policy.” The current tallest ride in the UK is Hyperia at Thorpe Park which measures 236ft (72m), the tallest in Europe is Red Force, a 367ft (112m) rollercoaster at PortAventura World in Spain. The plans explain that most structures at the park will range between 20m and 30m, with some taller structures creating a skyline with “visual interest”. The park expects to receive 8.5 million visitors a year, with 55,000 visitors on peak days. Guests arriving to the park by car will drive through a tree-lined boulevard, while those using public transport will access the resort via a transport hub. From there visitors will arrive at the site’s entry plaza, which has restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. The park is hoping to secure planning permission to open in time for 2031, when it aims to hire 8,500 staff mostly from the local area.

Premium Club subscribers to receive new searchable and segmented New Openings Database today, videos from Multi-Club Conference on Friday, 11 July: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers today (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 (QSR) – making it even easier for users to search. The database includes new openings in the QSR sector such as Papa John’s, with a new opening in South Wales, Azzurri Group launching two new Dave’s Hot Chicken sites, in Birmingham and Manchester, and Ace Pizza opening its first permanent location, in London. Premium Club subscribers will also receive all the videos from the Propel Multi-Club Conference – female leaders and entrepreneurs, on Friday, 11 July. They include Thomasina Miers, cook, food writer, entrepreneur and co-founder of Wahaca, talking about why she is determined to help improve access for all to better food, and Vanessa Branson, who discusses how she and Howell James transformed a near-derelict riad in Marrakech into El Fenn – a trademark blend of cool and a distinct feeling of home-away-from-home, stretching across 13 interconnected riads, 41 rooms and suites, and a 1,300 square-metre rooftop. 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.

Companies House fraud reforms receive a rethink: The government is considering scrapping reforms designed to tackle fraud and improve the accuracy of Companies House filings after protests from small business owners. The Times reports that Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, is reviewing changes announced by the registry a week ago which would overhaul how accounts are filed and force small companies to disclose more information about their finances. Last week, Companies House told millions of companies that from April 2027 they would need to file their annual accounts using third-party commercial software. It also said that companies classed as “small and micro” entities would be required to file a profit and loss statement for the first time from April 2027. Qualifying small companies are able to file abbreviated accounts at the moment, which limits administrative burdens and public disclosure of their financial performance. The reforms come in the context of concerns about widespread abuse of UK companies by criminals and criticism of the accuracy of the register. There are fears about the cost and inconvenience of using third-party software providers to make filings. It is also feared that forcing small companies to file a profit and loss statement as larger companies do would reveal information to competitors and undermine their negotiating position. The plan to review the changes was first reported by the Financial Times. A government spokesman said it was “committed to avoiding undue burdens on businesses”. Companies House declined to comment.

Chestnut Group adds Suffolk village pub to its estate: East Anglian pub company Chestnut Group has further added to its estate with the acquisition of The Red Lion, in the Suffolk village of East Bergholt. The gastropub was put on the market for £675,000 following a renovation which converted the upper floors of the accommodation to offer luxury bed and breakfast rooms. The now 22-strong Chestnut Group said: “We’re excited to share that The Lion, East Bergholt, is now part of our Chestnut family. This much-loved village pub is currently having a little time to rest and refresh, but we’ll be reopening the doors later this summer.” Earlier this year, the business acquired The White Horse pub with rooms in the North Norfolk village of Blakeney. The pub, at 4 High Street, was previously operated by Adnams.