Itsu CEO – ‘we are looking to reinvigorate our franchising’, aiming to open just three to five equity stores a year, hires new food and property directors: Clive Schlee, chief executive of Itsu, the healthy Asian food brand, has told Propel the circa 80-strong business is looking to reinvigorate its franchising, and will be looking in both the UK and internationally for new partners. It comes after the company, which saw total sales increase 9.6% in 2024 to £175,944,000, reopened two sites earlier this summer that had been operated by former franchisee Heart With Smart (HWS), after that business was placed into administration. Schlee said: “With the general pressures on the industry, it is better to have a franchise model as well. You've got to have some local expertise. So, we are going to reinvigorate our franchising. The HWS situation was forced upon us to buy it back. We wouldn't have done that otherwise, and I'm glad we did. We had a nice look at how it ran the business versus how we run it. It's been quite instructive for us. We have a team built to help us reinvigorate that part of the business. We will be looking both in the UK, in the major regional cities and overseas, initially in the transport hubs, because they're so Itsu friendly. We are opening in Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. We'll build our relationships from there. We're looking in Spain quite hard at the moment too.” Schlee said the “current cost of capital and economics” meant the business is “not going to go and have ten-15 sites open a year anymore”. He said: “We're going to have three to five good equity shops a year. If I could, I would call us the corner Itsu company. We're really pushing hard for good corners. And there's quite a lot of railway stations and major cities and parts of London where we're very under-represented, but it will be slow and steady expansion.” Chief financial officer Greg Thorp told Propel that Monday trading had “changed significantly this year”. He said: “To an extent, we’d written off Mondays and Fridays. But we have seen quite a shift on Mondays. So as an example, our City business is up 13% on Mondays. It is almost back in line with what we saw pre covid. So, we're now moving towards a four-day business. Our City business has been the highest like-for-like performing part of the estate over the last 12 months.” The company is set to further strengthen its management team with the appointment of Holly Pink as its new food director, and Tom Springett as property director. Pink, who was formerly head of food at Itsu from 2015 to 2016, will join the business after nine years at The Collective, including the past six years as product director. Springett was formerly property director at Harris & Hoole, and spent five and a half years at Tesco.

 

McDonald’s UK & Ireland vice-president of development Mike Spencer to speak at final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, open for bookings: Mike Spencer, McDonald’s UK & Ireland vice-president of development, will be among the speakers at the final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2025, which is open for bookings. Spencer will discuss the brand’s large-scale reimagining programme across its estate with a target of 200-plus stores refreshed a year as it looks to unlock capacity to drive future growth. He will also talk about how McDonald’s is looking to open 40 new sites a year, and its approach to the customer journey. The all-day conference takes place on Wednesday, 5 November, at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London’s Kensington. Operators can book up to three free places per company while Premium subscribers who are operators can book up to four free places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive two updated databases this week: Premium Club subscribers will receive two updated databases this week. They will receive the next UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database tomorrow (Wednesday, 10 September), featuring 14 new entries, while four brands no longer trading in the UK have been removed. This brings the total number of featured companies to 370, with more than 213,000 words of content. Among the new additions are ice cream parlour business Darlish; Manchester Detroit pizza concept Dough Club; Brighton “fire, meat and barbecue concept” Salt Shed; family-owned north east coffee house brand Siesta Coffee; and Tasty African Food, from Nigerian couple Michael and Abi Olaleye. The next Turnover & Profits Blue Book will then be sent on Friday (12 September), at 12pm. The database will feature 72 updated accounts and 12 new companies, taking the total to 1,163. A total of 738 companies are making a profit while 425 are making a loss. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to four other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings 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 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 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.

 

UKHospitality – tube strikes to cost sector businesses up to £110m: UKHospitality has warned the tube strikes taking place in London this week are set to cost sector businesses up to £110m. The strike has shut down nearly all London Underground services after workers walked out on Sunday in rolling action over pay and conditions. The disruption is expected to continue until Thursday (11 September), with some further disruption on Friday morning (12 September). Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said: “This week's tube strike will have a major impact on London's hospitality and tourism businesses, costing the sector up to £110m. Consumers will be forced to change or cancel their plans, impacting sales, and many hospitality teams will have difficulty making it to work. This level of impact comes at a time when businesses can least afford it, having just been hit with £3.4bn in additional annual cost. It’s crucial all parties involved get round the table to negotiate a solution that avoids damaging strikes.” Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, added: “Since 2022, rail and tube strikes have cost the UK’s night-time economy billions in lost revenue, with forecasts indicating a further £150m could be lost during this week’s strike period alone. The impact is clear: major events have been disrupted, footfall across towns and cities has fallen, and pubs, clubs, restaurants, hotels and theatres are seeing significant declines in trade. At a time when rising costs are already squeezing operators, ongoing transport disruption is compounding the pressure further.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a founder-led premium nursery group currently operating four sites in north London that is looking for a finance director. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The group has recently secured investments and is looking to expand its footprint in the area. The finance director will have a nursery or educational background, experience in working as part of a small team or who is open to working with a funder-led business, and has a background in private equity or venture capital. This pivotal role ensures fiscal integrity, strategic decision-making and efficient resource allocation to support the nurturing and development of children. The right candidate will be a fully qualified accountant.” The salary is up to £120,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email oliwia@corecruitment.com

 

Future of Cinnabon in the UK in doubt after site closures: The future of US bakery brand Cinnabon in the UK has been placed in doubt after circa ten of its sites were closed. In 2020, EG Group, the forecourt and roadside operator, announced it has partnered with Cinnabon to roll out 150 sites under the US bakery brand across the UK over the next five years. By 2023 there were circa 20 Cinnabon sites across the UK. In the same year, EG On the Move was founded by Zuber Issa and Imraan Patel following the restructuring of EG Group’s UK operations, which took on the operations and expansion of Cinnabon in the UK. Over the last couple of months, the brand has closed circa ten sites in the UK, including its two sites in Manchester, and sites in Newcastle, Birmingham, Chester and Derby. Cinnabon's UK website is also currently down.

 

Farmer J secures debut US site, plans three further UK openings before year end: Farmer J, the all-day market concept, has secured its debut site in the US, in New York, Propel has learned. The 15-strong business has secured a site at 31 West 52nd Street in Manhattan, with an opening planned for December. The company announced last year that it was exploring an international launch, with a focus on the east coast of the US, targeting locations in New York and Boston. Founder Jonathan Recanato told Propel: “We are excited to be taking our first international steps as a business in New York. We have secured a wide-frontage site with a typical Farmer J demographic in that the area has a lot of young professionals and offices.” At the same time, the company plans to open three more sites in Central London before the end of the year. As previously revealed by Propel, the company has secured a site in Coleman Street for an opening in November. Farmer J also plans to open a site at 237-238 Tottenham Court Road, on the corner of Bayley Street in Fitzrovia. Farmer J plans to also open that site in November, and is in advanced talks on a further Central London site that it hopes to open in December. Recanati previously said the vision for the business is to hit a “minimum of 50 sites in the UK” and it has “only scratched the surface to continue to build a global brand”. Last year, the company raised an extra £5.5m to further expand in the capital and aid an international launch.

 

The Evolv Collection to launch new concept marking ‘pivotal moment in group's evolution’: The Evolv Collection, formerly D&D London, is launching new concept called Liverpool Street Chop House & Tavern, which it said marks a “pivotal moment in the group's evolution”. Opening on Wednesday, 17 September, the Martin Williams-led business said the new concept returns to the founding vision of Sir Terence Conran while establishing Chop House & Tavern as a “powerhouse concept that will unite Butler's Wharf and Paternoster chop houses under one cohesive identity”. The company said: “The new concept honours Sir Terence Conran's original philosophy, drawing inspiration from 17th and 18th-century London's simple, functional beauty. Working alongside brand historian Ron Cregan, known for his work with British Heritage brands such as Mulberry and The Maybourne Group, the design features dark wood pallets, lifted by deep reds and blues, crisp white linen, and elegant brass and gold details with mirrors bearing gold script. The concept  celebrates London's heritage with the tagline ‘born in the City of London’, nodding to the area's historic trade guilds, including the Cutlers.” Chef Mike Reid – who trained at Le Gavroche, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Melbourne's Attica and Vue de monde – has overseen the new concept’s menu, which features “elevated gastro-tavern fare”. Williams said: “Liverpool Street Chophouse & Tavern is a respectful reimagination of our founder Sir Terence Conran’s Chophouse brand. With origin stories and inspiration from the City of London's liveries and first Tavern and Chophouse – all reimagined by the renowned chef Mike Reid, The Evolv Collection team and myself. The opening of Chophouse & Tavern is part of our strategic vision for The Evolv Collection. We’re creating iconic, recognisable brands that resonate with guests and stand the test of time. The Chop House brand proves that outstanding hospitality can be a force for positive change and sound investment.” Williams told The Standard the move comes after a year of “consolidation and a reworking of the brand vision”. He said: “We have ambitious plans. We’ll also be reopening Launceston Place and have a bold vision there.”

 

India’s largest bakery franchise makes UK debut: India’s largest bakery franchise, 7th Heaven, has made its debut in the UK, in Reading. Founded in 2011 by Arjun Chugh, 7th Heaven has since grown to more than 350 outlets in India, offering “3D cakes”, cupcakes, macarons, doughnuts, tarts, burgers, pizza, sandwiches and more. Propel revealed in February that 7th Heaven was looking for franchise partners to launch here and had partnered with franchise consultants Lime Licensing Group as it seeks to enter the UK market. The first UK site has been opened in Wokingham Road, Reading, by franchisee Cake & More, which is led by Niharika Daruru, Nandini Gouni and Dedeepya Cherukuru. Propel understands a second site under the brand has been lined up for an opening later this year, in the former Moscy unit in Horsham, West Sussex. 

 

Cornish Bakery reports record summer trading: Fast-growing independent brand Cornish Bakery has reported record-breaking summer trading, achieving 24% total sales growth year-on-year and strong like-for-like performance. Against the backdrop of the Confederation of British Industry reporting a continued decline in retail spend in August, Cornish Bakery reported 8% like-for-like sales growth during the month with increases in both customer numbers and average order value, plus its biggest ever week of sales over the August bank holiday, with several individual bakeries also breaking their own sales records. The group said recent new openings in Hereford and Woodbridge, along with the expanded York Coney Street bakery and refurbished York Colliergate, have exceeded expectations. Additionally, customer satisfaction has been positive, with the brand’s net promoter score rising to 72%, based on online reviews across Google and TripAdvisor. Cornish Bakery said it has several new bakeries in the pipeline to open this autumn and a further five locations are in advanced stages of negotiation for early 2026. Managing director Mat Finch said: “Our founder, Steve Grocutt, has long said ‘bakery is the new coffee shop’, and we’re seeing that trend play out. The premium bakery segment is growing faster than traditional coffee shops, and customers are seeking fresher, higher-quality food that’s baked and served on-site, not wrapped in plastic. That’s where we win. We are so proud of our teams for delivering a record summer with strong like-for-like growth, fulsome customer queues at our newest bakeries, and our biggest ever week of sales. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and their passion is what drives our success. Despite wider pressures on the sector, our performance shows Cornish Bakery continues to grow from strength to strength.” Cornish Bakery, which operates circa 70 sites and has said it sees scope for a 400-strong estate, appointed advisors to oversee a sale of the company earlier this year and is understood to be working with sector specialist advisory firm Tamweel. Finch will be among the speakers at Propel’s Culture, Talent & Training Conference. The conference takes place on Thursday, 9 October at One Moorgate Place in London. Finch will talk about putting a people culture front-and-centre of the business, staff recognition and rewards, the importance of the local community and its commitment to employee development and recognition. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Tickets are £295 plus VAT for operators and £345 plus VAT for suppliers. Premium Club subscribers get a 20% discount. Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book places.

 

Yotel hires new CEO as it sets sights on doubling global hotel portfolio to 15,000 rooms by 2030: Yotel, the budget accommodation brand launched by YO! founder Simon Woodroffe, has hired Phil Andreopoulos as chief executive. His appointment follows the news that Yotel’s majority shareholder, the Al-Bahar Group, acquired an additional 30% stake in the brand earlier this year increasing the group’s holding in Yotel to more than 95%. Al-Bahar Group said the investment underscored its confidence in the future of Yotel and signals a bold new trajectory for the brand, as the company sets its sights on doubling its global hotel portfolio to 15,000 rooms by 2030. Andreopoulos replaces Hubert Viriot, who becomes vice-chair. Andreopoulos joins Yotel from Marriott International, where he held multiple senior leadership roles across EMEA. Most recently, Andreopoulos served as chief commercial officer for EMEA, where his responsibilities spanned brand management, marketing, e-commerce, sales, reservations, revenue management, loyalty, communications, and consumer insights across 78 countries and all Marriott brands. Prior to that, Andreopoulos served as chief operating officer for owner and franchise services EMEA and sub-Saharan Africa, where he oversaw the growth and development of franchise operations. Talal Al Bahar, chair of Yotel and Al-Bahar Group, said: “Yotel’s success over the last 15 years has been exemplary, from start-up concept into the global company it is today with an expansive portfolio of properties in prime locations. Now, it is time to scale the business further. Phil brings a wealth of commercial and operational experience and under his leadership, Yotel will enhance its distribution, direct business contribution and loyalty proposition. He will also drive expansion of both the managed and franchise businesses in key markets.” Andreopoulos said: “The pioneering concept and global footprint mean Yotel’s global recognition supersedes its size and that, paired with the agility of being independent, creates a unique opportunity to scale quickly and offer owners, investors and franchisees the speed and innovation they crave in the industry.” The company operates six hotels in the UK and 18 overseas under licence under its Yotel, Yotelair and Yotelpad brands.

 

Mollie’s – optimistic about the group's future potential, both trading sites are Ebitda profitable: The directors behind budget motel concept Mollie’s have said they remain optimistic about the group’s future potential with both its trading sites Ebitda profitable, and good progress being made on its immediate expansion plan. Mollie’s is backed by a “strategic shareholder cohort” including majority shareholder Javad Marandi, who is also an investor in Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire, along with co-shareholders David Elghanayan and Darren Sweetland, who was formerly EMEA finance director of Soho House. Mollie’s currently operates sites in Oxfordshire and just outside Bristol, with a third site set to open later this year in Manchester. It comes as the business reported turnover for the year to 28 December 2024 was £10,377,047 (2023: £10,007,290), an increase of 4% driven by “strong underlying growth in both accommodation and food and beverage as the business continues to grow its market share”. An adjusted Ebitda loss of £926,131 was reported (2023: £1,241,683), while pre-tax losses stood at £2,030,143 (2023: loss of £2,052.772). The company said: “The loss for the year represents the continued investment in the people, systems and infrastructure necessary to meet the company's future expansion plans. The directors remain optimistic about the group’s future potential. Both trading sites are Ebitda profitable and are forecasted to continue to trade profitably for the next financial year despite the ongoing cost inflation environment in the industry. The company's largest site is in its final stages of development in Manchester. The company has made good progress on its immediate expansion plan with target locations earmarked and a number of potential sites being explored with a view to securing its future pipeline of openings.” Last month, the business confirmed plans to open its first site in Scotland. Mollie’s has exchanged contracts with developer Parabola to build a new site close to Edinburgh Park station. The property will span circa 73,000 square feet and feature around 200 rooms and a diner with an outdoor terrace, meeting and events spaces. The site is scheduled to open in 2028, subject to planning permission and licensing.

Arc Inspirations to open London debut site next month: Arc Inspirations, the premium bar operator, will open its debut London site – its largest site to date – at the end of next month, in Shaftesbury Avenue. The 19-strong company said that Box Piccadilly is set to “transform the Central London sports bar offering”. Backed by a £4m investment, the venue has been designed to deliver the “ultimate destination to ‘watch, play and party’, all under one roof”. Spread across three floors, the 7,200 square-foot venue will have capacity for 550 guests with seating for 250. There will also be a range of high-tech competitive socialising games on the mezzanine level, including electric darts and shuffleboard. Throughout the week, live music can be enjoyed across the ground and basement floors. The basement level will act as home to the private Superbox karaoke rooms, which double up as private rooms for sports viewings and meetings. Box’s signature Bandeoke – where guests are given the chance to come on stage and perform with a live band – will take place every Thursday night. Arc Inspirations co-founder and chief executive, Martin Wolstencroft, said: “This is a huge moment for Arc Inspirations and Box. Piccadilly will be more than just a place to watch sport – it's a fully immersive experience. We’ve created a space that delivers an unforgettable time. We've been working on this offering for a long time and are ready to bring Box to London.” The company currently operates six other Box locations in Leeds city centre, Birmingham, Headingley, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester.

 

Yorkshire dessert bar operator secures Chesterfield site, three more in fit-out including first international location: Yorkshire dessert bar operator Rassam’s Creamery has secured a site in Chesterfield and said it has three more in fit-out, including its first international location. Propel revealed in December the seven-strong business, which currently has five sites within Sheffield plus one each in Wakefield and Beeston, would open its first international location in Nairobi, Kenya. This is now being fitted out ahead of launch, along with two further domestic locations, in Liverpool and Barnsley. With a Chesterfield site now also secured, the company is seeking further sites across Yorkshire and the Midlands. “We’re delighted to confirm our latest acquisition for Rassam's Creamery in Chesterfield,” said the brand’s property consultant, Adam Mobley, of WSB. “With seven stores already open and trading, and three more being fitted out (Liverpool, Barnsley and Kenya), Chesterfield marks the next exciting step in its expansion – and there’s plenty more to come. We are actively seeking further opportunities across the Midlands and the north. Ideally they will be high-profile sites of 2,500-5,000 square feet on major arterial roads, retail parks or prime high streets with parking on-site or nearby. They should be ground floor units (leasehold only) and electric only, with no gas or extraction required. Priority locations are Bradford, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Mansfield and Rotherham.” The business was founded by Rassam Ali in 2021.

 

New global luxury hospitality venture hires Ashley Saxton as global F&B CEO: DIAFA, an Abu-Dhabi based global luxury hospitality platform has hired Ashley Saxton, former director of restaurants at Harrods, as its global food and beverage chief executive, as it looks to make a “number of high-profile acquisitions”, Propel has learned. Saxton will lead the strategic direction of the business and oversee its mission to “identify, support, and scale the next generation of category-defining food and beverage and lifestyle brands”. Structured as a permanent capital vehicle, DIAFA has been built to partner with high-potential consumer brands in the hospitality and lifestyle space. The platform said it “combines long-term investment with deep operational support to accelerate growth, building sustainable global businesses and backed by strategic expertise”. DIAFA said it has ambitions to become the largest luxury food and beverage business globally and already has a “number of high-profile acquisitions from many corners of the globe in process, which are soon to be announced”. DIAFA said with more than 25 years of international experience, Saxton is “a recognised leader in the global hospitality industry”. At Harrods he played a pivotal role in “transforming the iconic department store into Europe’s largest single-site food and beverage destination”. At Harrods, Saxton led a team of more than 900 across more than 25 restaurants. His tenure included launching high-profile concepts in partnership with leading chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Jason Atherton, Tom Kerridge, and Masayoshi Takayama, optimising operations across multi-format outlets, and building a hospitality experience that significantly elevated the Harrods brand. Earlier in his career, Saxton held senior leadership positions at Atlantis, Dubai and Lebua, Bangkok, two flagship luxury properties known for their innovation and scale. Across his career, he has overseen the opening of more than 70 restaurants and bars across four continents. 

 

Street food operator Blue Collar targeting further expansion as it secures second site: Street food operator Blue Collar has told Propel it is targeting further expansion as it secured its second site. The company, owned by Glen Dinning has signed an agreement for the venue in Bournemouth. Based on derelict land in Priory Road, the venue will span two floors and feature a bar, three kitchens, additional rotating street food trucks, and a beer garden. Planning and licensing applications will be submitted this month and, if approved, Dinning hopes the site will open in spring next year. With approximately 100 independent street food traders on its books, the plan is to mix established names with “the best of the local street food scene in Bournemouth”. Dinning said: “We’re excited to be in Bournemouth and believe we can help revitalise this derelict land to create jobs, support other independent businesses and bring the best of street food and drink to the south coast.” In terms of potential further expansion, Dinning told Propel: “We are looking for more sites, both on the south coast and across the south generally.” The company, founded in 2016, operates Blue Collar Corner in Reading alongside pop-up street food markets and events. Blue Collar has hosted events such as Cheese Feast, The British Street Food Awards and WingJam at its venue in Reading.

 

Carl’s Jr opens second UK site: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has opened the second UK site for California-born restaurant brand Carl’s Jr. BRG launched the brand into the UK at the start of April with an opening at the St David’s shopping scheme in Cardiff. The brand, which has more than 1,100 stores across the US and can also be found in more than 39 countries around the world, has now also opened at 40 Wind Street in Swansea. BRG country manager for Carl’s Jr UK, David Moffat, said: “After an incredible response in Cardiff, we’re thrilled to open in Swansea. This opening continues our mission to bring the true Carl’s Jr experience to the UK — bold flavour, great service, and quality ingredients.” In June, BRG said it had lined up six UK Carl’s Jr sites as part of plans to open 100 within the next five years. The company has lined up an opening in the Westquay scheme in Southampton and also plans to open in Bristol, Manchester, York and Leeds this year.

 

We Do Play to open world’s largest Flip Out site this month, in Leeds: We Do Play, the multi-concept experiential leisure operator, will this month open the world’s largest site for trampolining concept Flip Out, in Leeds. The 100,000 square-foot site will open at Coal Road in Whinmoor on Saturday, 20 September. Flip Out Leeds will feature a trampoline arena connecting 150 trampolines, a gigantic inflatable obstacle course over 18,000 square feet, a dodgeball arena and multiple party and conference rooms. It will also include a zone of super slides, a multi-storey ninja playground, a drift bike arena, a roller disco, soft play and an arcade area. Richard Beese, co-owner of We Do Play, which also operates the Putt Putt Social, Rumble Rooms and Activate brands in the UK, said: “My team have been working hard to get this most incredible, exciting Flip Out open this autumn, and in fact, we are ahead of schedule. There are more than two million people living in and around Leeds, and we just know families and friends in the city will be flocking to the world’s biggest indoor adventure and trampoline.” We Do Play, which last month received a minority investment from Fraser Group, now operates 35 Flip Out indoor adventure parks in the UK. The group has also opened two locations for Canadian immersive game brand Activate, in London and Newcastle, and will take it to Leicester next. The brand is now launching Activate Global Leagues, which brings together teams of players from around the world to compete against each other virtually. The top performing teams earn a spot in the play-offs in October, and the winners proceed to the finals in November for a chance to win prizes. The cost to take part in the five-week competition, which takes place every Monday and Tuesday from 22 September, is £75 per person, with groups of between two and five competing. Beese added: “We have been overwhelmed by how well Activate has been received in the UK. We are excited to be able to bring new challenges to our customers with the very first launch of the Activate Global League in the UK – and the icing on the cake would be if a team from the UK is crowned the worldwide winner.”

Ivy Collection to make East Midlands debut next month with Nottingham launch: The Ivy Collection, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant brand, is set to open its new site in Nottingham next month. The company is transforming the former Hugo Boss store in Bridlesmith Gate for what will be debut in the East Midlands. Accommodating up to 118 guests, the brasserie – the group’s 45th restaurant – will also feature a terrace area for up to 20 people and create 110 jobs. Two private dining rooms will be created within the restaurant, seating ten and 26 guests, respectively. Laura Mills, managing director of The Ivy Collection, said: “We're thrilled to be opening our Nottingham brasserie this autumn, marking an exciting milestone as we expand into the East Midlands. The Ivy Nottingham will bring together everything our guests know and love – beautiful interiors, exceptional food and drink, and the warm and welcoming service that has become our hallmark.” Last week, Propel reported The Ivy Collection is to bring its Ivy Asia concept to Liverpool. The restaurant will open above the Ivy Liverpool Brasserie in Castle Street this autumn. In May, the FT reported that Caring was in advanced talks to sell a significant portion of his UK hospitality empire – which includes The Ivy Collection and London private members’ club Annabel’s – to an entity controlled by the Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan in a deal that could exceed more than £1bn.

 

Chick ‘n’ Sours to launch first residency since closing restaurants in new ‘low-risk, low-capex’ growth strategy: Chick ‘n’ Sours is to launch its first residency since closing its two bricks-and-mortar restaurants in London in May. Chick ‘n’ Sours has spent the summer “reconnecting with its community” through festivals and events. Now, the business is taking a significant next step in its “low-risk, low-capex” growth strategy with the launch of a new residency at Big Chill King’s Cross. Launching on Wednesday, 17 September, the move is designed to allow Chick ‘n’ Sours to “build a sustainable presence while navigating the current challenges in the hospitality sector”. “The launch of our residency at Big Chill is a key example of how we’re evolving our growth strategy to focus on opportunities that require less capital investment and overhead,” said David Wolanski, co-founder of Chick ‘n’ Sours. “It’s a great venue that allows us to reconnect with our loyal community and reach new audiences in a sustainable, flexible way.” The residency will feature the full Chick ‘n’ Sours menu, including the K-Pop fried chicken sandwich, pickled watermelon salad, and chicken toast. A selection of signature Chick ‘n’ Sours cocktails will also be available. Richard Biggs, co-founder of Big Chill, said: “We’re excited to be able to work alongside Chick ‘n’ Sours with its huge following – great times ahead.” At the time of shuttering the restaurants, Wolanski said the “casual dining restaurant model is broken”.

 

Fired Up Collective secures fifth pub: Fired Up Collective, the Nusara and West Wessex Pub Company operator, has secured its fifth pub – The Sunray in Weymouth, Dorset. The company, which is led by Andy Lennox, the founder of the Koh Thai brand, said this latest acquisition aligns with Fired Up Collective's strategy of “acquiring and enhancing heritage venues while maintaining their unique charm”. The deal marks the company’s ninth overall site in four years. The company said: “The Sunray is set to become a reimagined coastal inn – a premium, food-led pub with boutique-style cottage accommodation. Following a multimillion-pound renovation, The Sunray will blend traditional charm with contemporary comfort.” Lennox said: “The Sunray is more than just a place to eat and drink – it’s where the day begins, where stories are shared, and where memories are made. We want every guest to feel the rhythm of the countryside, to taste the best of the south coast, and to enjoy the comfort and care that defines a great holiday.” At the heart of this transformation is a partnership between the West Wessex Pub Co and the Hunt family – custodians of the land – who have spent the last three years restoring the historic buildings. Bookings open later this year for May 2026. Ross Hunt said: “Our journey began in 2022 with a vision to restore the much-loved Sunray pub and transform a long-disused landmark on the edge of this charming village near Weymouth. We’re delighted to be partnering with Andy and his team, who share our commitment to creating one of Weymouth’s premier destinations for exceptional dining and holiday accommodation.”

 

The Potions Cauldron Group opens fifth crazy golf concept site: Yorkshire operator The Potions Cauldron Group, which previously featured on Dragon’s Den and declined an investment offer from Peter Jones, has opened a fifth site under its crazy golf concept – The Hole in Wand, in Leeds. The business, which is led by founders Ben Fry and Phil Pinder, has launched the crazy golf “village” at the city’s St John's shopping centre. The Hole in Wand concept offers a mini-golf experience where players navigate Harry Potter-inspired courses in search of a character named Grobblenook. The Potions Cauldron initially sold drinks under its magic-themed branding, offering both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails that glitter, sparkle and bubble when served. The group was impacted by the covid-19 pandemic in 2020, losing the entirety of its wholesale arm of the business, and so sought to diversify. Investment from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund allowed The Potions Cauldron Group to expand a new business arm – following a first magic-themed mini-golf site in York with The Hole in Wand in Blackpool, opening in June 2022, and The Potions Cauldron in Edinburgh, launching in June 2023. Last year, the company opened two further mini-golf attractions, The Hole in Wand in Chester and at Dalton Park, Seaham.

 

SpudBros Express opens in Liverpool for first site outside of London: Gourmet jacket potato business SpudBros Express has opened in Liverpool for its first site outside of London. The family-run business, which started out as a potato cart in Preston’s Flag Market in 1950s before being taken over and rebranded by Jacob and Harley Nelson, has opened at Unit 2 in the city’s Queen Square. SpudBros Express, which also had a flagship site in London’s Soho, is also preparing to open its first franchise site, in Sheffield, as it gears up to expands across the UK through franchising – in partnership with Taster and Seeds Consulting. Jacob Nelson said: “Liverpool has always been one of the UK’s most exciting food cities, so it feels like the perfect place for our first SpudBros Express outside of London. We’ve been blown away by the support from our fans up here, and we can’t wait to see queues around Queen Square just like we had in Preston and Soho. What started as a humble family tram in Preston has turned into a movement, and opening in Liverpool is another huge step in that journey.” The business told Propel last month that it plans to open up to six sites this year and double that next year – as well as making its international debut – and have 30 to 40 sites by the end of 2027. SpudBros Express also plans to be in “city centres everywhere” and has had franchise interest from most UK cities – and will be “the main player in the jacket potato market”.

 

Chef Liam Dillon opens second site: Liam Dillon – the chef and owner of The Boat, a micro-farm and restaurant in Lichfield – has launched his second Staffordshire venture: The Two Pigs in Barton-under-Needwood. The Two Pigs is a neighbourhood pub focusing on “modern pub classics with a twist”. The Two Pigs is open Wednesday through to Sunday, with a focus on “quality, local, seasonal and sustainable convivial dining with exceptional weekend breakfast, and an epic Sunday lunch offering”. Dillon said: “It's exciting to open the pub so close to where I grew up, and one that offers something different to The Boat. Creating a gastropub is very different to what we are doing at The Boat but always carefully sourced, quality ingredients.  We wanted to create a new and relaxed dining option in the area, but one that still serves up really great food, and so far, it's been pretty popular.”