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Burger & Lobster aiming to open at least three new UK sites next year, number of international launches planned: Dino Sura, the new chief executive of Burger & Lobster, has told Propel it is aiming to open at least three new UK sites next year – and that the performance of its latest openings in Brighton and London’s Kensington are “helping us mitigate what has undoubtedly been a tough year”. Sura, who has been promoted from managing director of the brand’s UK and US sites after founder Misha Zelman stepped down, also said it was gearing up for a “really exciting chapter”, with a number of international launches planned. Speaking after the 19-strong group reported this week that UK restaurants’ sales for the year ending 29 December 2024 amounted to £32.3m (2023: £36.1m), Sura told Propel: “2025 has undoubtedly been a tough year for hospitality and retail. We are, of course, feeling the impact of various challenges that are being felt across the industry, including the impact of reduced tourism, as a result of the government’s decision to remove 20% VAT relief for visitors. Our international credit card data shows a 15% decrease in spend compared with last year. The cost of living and on-going challenges across the globe are dominating forces affecting trade and consumer confidence. Despite the challenges, our new sites in Brighton and High Street Kensington are surpassing forecast by 13% and 8% respectively, which is helping us mitigate some of the aforementioned challenges. This is hugely promising as we look to expand into new locations. We are aiming for at least three new sites in the UK next year. In terms of international expansion, we opened in Manilla earlier this year and are gearing up for an imminent opening in Jakarta, as well as Istanbul and Malta in 2026, which is a really exciting chapter for the brand.” Sura said the Budget has resulted in an £800,000 increase to labour costs. The business has enlisted support to make efficiencies, which is “already proving to be a worthwhile exercise”. Sura said: “We recognise the significant challenges facing the government, particularly with the rising national debt. However, there appears to be a shift in policy away from encouraging investment and building consumer confidence, towards placing additional pressure on growing businesses. The repeated tax increases every six months are having damaging consequences both in the short and long term, with consumers becoming increasingly cautious and job losses mounting across the hospitality sector. This approach leaves no clear winners. As the autumn Budget approaches, we urge the government to prioritise measures that stimulate business investment and growth.” Burger & Lobster has also launched “The Claws Club”, a loyalty scheme that is currently being trialled in Brighton. Explaining the reasons behind the decision, Sura said: “We have a very loyal following and a core growth area for us is growing frequency. Therefore, before introducing the loyalty scheme, we worked hard to build more choice into our menu, around our iconic originals, and ultimately broaden our proposition. This has been hugely well received among our regulars, and we felt now was a good time to go after frequency and ultimately reward those who choose us regularly, especially in this current climate.”

Industry News:

Premium Club subscribers to receive updated Turnover & Profits Blue Book today, videos from this month’s Propel Multi-Club Conference next Friday: Premium Club subscribers will receive the updated Turnover & Profits Blue Book today (Friday, 12 September), at noon. The database will feature 12 new entries and 72 updated accounts. The database now features a total of 1,163 companies, with 738 in profit and 425 making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club subscribers will also receive all the videos from this month’s Propel Multi-Club Conference next Friday (19 September), at 9am. They include Yishay Malkov, managing director of Soho House UK, who talks about how the members’ club business is attracting new members and also retaining its existing ones, the role food and beverage plays, and plans for further growth here. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the New Openings Database, 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 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. In this week’s Propel Premium, sector consultant Flo Graham-Dixon explores whether businesses are beginning to get more worried about what appears on their social media feeds over what they are actually feeding people, while Greg Blin, investment partner at Gresham House Ventures, the backer of Rockfish and Spinners, discusses challenges that growing consumer-facing businesses face as they expand and try to raise capital. Jananan Nathan, associate director at investment bank Cavendish, also offers insight into why padel is emerging as a real investment opportunity as the sector begins to mature. 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 – ‘business rates reform proposals will help rebalance the system but maximum possible discount for sector needed’: UKHospitality has said proposals to improve the business rates reform published by the government “will help to rebalance the system” but reinforced the “critical” need to apply the maximum possible discount for the sector at the Budget. The government has published an interim report that sets out a number of proposals to improve the system. This includes changes to small business rates relief and fixing business rates “cliff-edges”, where rates bills jump significantly between bandings. UKHospitality said the proposals are “positive” but the government must apply the maximum possible discount to the multiplier for all hospitality properties under £500,000 rateable value. Legislation passed this year, which UKHospitality was instrumental in securing, gives the government the power to apply a discount to the multiplier of up to 20p in the pound. UKHospitality chair Kate Nicholls said: “For too long, the broken business rates system has unfairly punished hospitality businesses and I'm pleased the government is taking action to reform it, following many years of campaigning from UKHospitality. These measures to remove punitive cliff-edges and barriers to investment are positive and will help to rebalance the system, as will the government's commitment to lower business rates bills for hospitality businesses. Applying the maximum possible discount to the multiplier for all hospitality properties under £500,000 rateable value at the Budget in November is critical. That is the most significant and meaningful benefit that can come from these reforms, particularly with anticipated increases in rateable values coming into effect next April. The maximum discount should be introduced alongside a zero rate for hospitality properties over £500,000 rateable value, to ensure the reform is in keeping with the government’s intention to level the playing field for the entire high street. With hospitality businesses finding themselves taxed out as a result of cost increase after cost increase, lowering business rates, fixing national insurance contributions and cutting VAT is the action we need to see the government take at the Budget.”

Chocoberry founder – the UK is still the best place to grow F&B brands: Kashif Razzaq, founder and global chief executive of fast-growing dessert brand Chocoberry, has argued the UK is still the best place to grow food and beverage brands. Razzaq founded Chocoberry in Leicester in 2018 and has since grown it to 16 UK cafes and dessert shops plus two overseas – in Dubai and Sharjah. He has targeted growing the business to 50 locations by the end of 2026, and 100 in the long term, through franchising and rolling out a kiosk style format. Writing in Propel’s Friday Opinion, Razzaq said increased interest rates and business costs, combined with a decline in consumer confidence, have made the UK, on the face of it, a less attractive place to do business for food and beverage operators. “But that view, in my opinion, is wrong,” he said. “The UK food and beverage market is, at its core, full of potential. We see this in our ongoing conversations with partners in the UAE, Canada and Turkey. The UK boasts truly remarkable food and beverage success stories. Now, more than ever, it’s time to share them with the world.” Razzaq will share more of his views in today’s (Friday, 12 September) Friday Opinion, which will be sent out at 11am.

London continues to lead hospitality sales growth in August: The latest figures from labour management company S4labour show a 2.9% increase in hospitality sales in August 2025 compared to the same period last year, with London once again driving the uplift. The capital saw a standout 10.5% rise in like-for-like sales, while non-London regions recorded a modest increase of 0.9%. Dry-led venues across the UK were up 2.4%, with London dry-led sites outperforming at 9.2% growth. Outside the capital, dry-led venues saw a smaller uplift of 1.1%. Wet-led sites experienced a 4.2% increase overall, with London wet-led venues surging by 12.1%, compared to a marginal 0.4% rise in non-London areas. Richard Hartley, chief growth officer at S4labour, said: “London’s strong performance this August was likely boosted by the warmer, more settled weather compared to last year, which encouraged greater footfall across both wet-led and dry-led venues. However, ongoing cost pressures and more cautious consumer spending continue to temper growth outside the capital.”

Company News:

Tonkotsu – we plan to explore strategic opportunities over the coming year, opening pipeline remains robust: Emma Reynolds, co-founder of Tonkotsu, which is backed by YFM Equity Partners and chaired by Sarah Willingham, has told Propel that the 18-strong business plans to explore strategic opportunities over the coming year after reaching a scale “where inbound interest is growing”. Earlier this week, the business, which was founded by Reynolds and Ken Yamada in Soho in 2012, announced it will open a second site in Birmingham, and confirmed it is also set to make its debut in Wales, with an opening in Cardiff, early next year. Reynolds told Propel: “Despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges, we continue to outperform the market (CGA) and maintain strong trading momentum. With the peak summer heat behind us, trade has picked up well, and we’re optimistic about the run-up to Christmas. The recent bank holiday week and the following week delivered good results. However, tube strikes have impacted London restaurant sales significantly, with a decline of approximately 20% this week. We’re actively pursuing new site opportunities across London and key regions, with plans to open three additional locations next year alongside Cardiff. Our pipeline remains robust for the foreseeable future, with particularly strong opportunities in regional cities. We’re excited to bring our food to new communities across the UK in the years ahead.” In terms of any inbound investment interest, Reynolds said: “While we’re not actively marketing for investment at this stage, funding for our current pipeline of openings is fully secured. That said, we’ve reached a scale where inbound interest is growing, and we plan to explore strategic opportunities over the coming year.” YFM invested £5m for a minority stake in Tonkotsu in summer 2019.

Urban Pubs & Bars adds two more sites to London estate: Urban Pubs & Bars, the London pub operator founded by Malc Heap and Nick Pring and backed by Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual, has added two more sites in the capital to its estate, including the Bald Faced Stag in East Finchley. The Chris Hill-led business, which operates 57 sites, has acquired the pub from brewer and retailers Greene King’s Metropolitan Pub Company division. Urban has also acquired the St John’s Tavern in Archway, north London, which will close in a couple of weeks for a refurbishment. Last month, Propel revealed Urban Pubs & Bars had acquired the Lowlander bar in London’s Covent Garden from Brighton Pier Group. The site has been refurbished and reopened under its original name of The Marlborough Head. The site, in Drury Lane, was part of Brighton Pier Group’s Eclectic Bars division, which comprises Embargo Republica in Chelsea and Le Fez in Putney in the capital, and the Lola Lo bars in Bristol and Reading.

Christian Rose steps down as CEO of Powerleague: Christian Rose, the former managing director of All Star Lanes, is to retire after stepping down as chief executive of Powerleague, Europe’s largest five-a-side football provider. Rose joined Powerleague in 2018 after three and a half years of leading All Star Lanes. He was also previously managing director at Searcy’s and chief executive of Chicago Leisure. John Gillespie, Powerleague’s current chief commercial, customer and marketing officer, will succeed Rose and will be tasked with overseeing the company’s transformation from a small-sided football centre operator into a multi-sport operator. Powerleague currently operates 43 clubs across the UK, welcoming more than nine million customers annually. In addition to its core football offering, the business manages more than 250 third-party venues that provide both football and netball. Rose said: “It’s been an amazing experience to have seen Powerleague transform into the successful company it is now, thanks to the hard work of such an amazing and passionate team. I’m also delighted that John Gillespie is taking over, and I’m sure he will be an undoubted success with the backing of our new owner Broadsword, which is supportive of the strategic business plan that we have been developing in recent years. I look forward to continuing to watch the growth of Powerleague with genuine affection and pride.” Earlier this year, the company announced a £14m UK-wide rollout of padel courts, which is set to deliver courts across 18 clubs by 2026. In June, the business was acquired for an undisclosed sum by Broadsword Investment Management, a UK-based private equity firm focused on real estate-backed growth opportunities. The 2025 Experiential Leisure report, the second year of Propel’s exhaustive report on the market, is now available to Premium subscribers. 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.

92 Degrees co-founder – ‘it’s time for a new wave of coffee drive-thrus’: Jack Brewitt, co-founder of independent coffee roaster 92 Degrees, has said “it’s time for a new wave of coffee drive-thrus”. Brewitt said he believed his 20-strong business can “create the UK’s first drive-thru coffee experience people actually look forward to”. He said: “Right now, drive-thru coffee in the UK is predictable – same big brands, same average experience, same feeling of ‘just get me through this’. At 92 Degrees, we see it differently. We see a big opportunity for us as a challenger brand to mix it up a little. What if you could get damn fine coffee without even leaving your car – quick, consistent and still with that 92 Degrees energy? Team members treating you like regulars with a comfortable space to take some time away from the busy commute or long drive. This isn’t just about serving coffee through a window. It’s about taking friction out of the ritual while keeping quality and connection at the heart of it. It’s time for a new wave of coffee drive-thrus.” Earlier this month, 92 Degrees signed up a franchisee for Kent and Sussex. Propel revealed exclusively in January that 92 Degrees had launched a franchise programme after receiving more than 1,000 enquiries, and in May, the company signed a deal with Simon and Sue Hedaux to open multiple 92 Degrees locations across the Midlands. 92 Degrees has now signed a deal with Matt and Sarah Ebner to open multiple sites across Kent, initially, and then Sussex.

Boulebar UK strengthens management team ahead of ‘exciting plans’ for brand: Sweden-based Boulebar Group, which made its UK debut in 2023 on London’s South Bank, has strengthened its management team with two new hires ahead of “exciting plans” for the brand. Ieva Mikelionyte has joined as a general manager for the South Bank and Spitalfields sites, while Jake Hawkins joins as venue manager for Boulebar South Bank. Boulebar UK’s chief executive Alex Feakes said this marks “a significant step in strengthening the company’s executive team as it embarks on an ambitious growth phase”. He said: “We are excited to welcome Ieva as part of our growth plans. Boulebar UK has grown fast in two short years, and with two amazing venues, a bigger team, and exciting plans ahead, Ieva’s here to make sure we keep the energy high and the experience unforgettable through world-class service standards and operational excellence.” Mikelionyte said: “Boulebar is such a great concept, and I am thrilled to be joining at this significant moment.” Hawkins added: “With bold plans for growth and a clear vision for the future, there’s huge potential to build this unique concept.” The duo will also help roll out new key operational updates, including a new booking concept that is being trialled in the UK before being rolled out across the whole group. Boulebar, which combines the French game of pétanque with “a progressive food and beverage offer”, now spans 13 venues across six cities and three countries, with new openings on the horizon. The brand was founded by Henrik Kruse and his friends in Stockholm, Sweden, and has grown to now include Boulebar Sweden, Boulebar Denmark and Boulebar UK.

Honi Poké to launch new catering service as part of exclusive Deliveroo partnership: Hawaiian poké specialist Honi Poké is to launch a new catering service as it looks to accelerate its ambitious UK growth plans. It comes as the brand revealed it is to exclusively work with Deliveroo. The partnership spans 17 Honi Poke restaurants across London, Manchester, Bristol and Leeds, with further expansion through Deliveroo Editions kitchens. The delivery-only sites will also host Honi Poke’s sister brands – Honi Sushi, Mizu Sushi and Donburi Bowls. Volodymyr Martynov, founder of Honi Poké, said: “Our goal has always been to make food that is bold, nourishing and sustainable. This partnership gives us a powerful platform to deliver on that promise.” Carlo Mocci, chief business officer at Deliveroo, added: “By working together on strategy, operations and expanding the delivery-only kitchen network, we’re helping the brand grow.” Honi Poké, which was founded by Martynov and Kosta Varesko in 2017, has plans to reach 50 sites within the next year. In July, Honi Poké acquired Island Poke for an undisclosed sum. The deal added 18 Island Poke sites to Honi Poké’s portfolio – nine in London and nine in France.

The Climbing Hanger hires Malcolm Armstrong as new COO: Indoor climbing operator The Climbing Hangar has hired Malcolm Armstrong, formerly of PureGym and Virgin Active, as its new chief operating officer. Armstrong joins the 11-strong The Climbing Hangar after a year and a half as chief executive of United Fitness. Prior to that, he spent seven years at Virgin Active, including 16 months as UK country director. He also spent more than two years at PureGym, including a year and a half as regional director – south. The Climbing Hanger, which was founded in 2011 by Ged MacDomhnaill and Stephen Challoner, recently opened its latest site, a 26,000 square-foot venue in Bristol. Late last year, The Climbing Hangar was acquired by Verlinvest, the investment firm that backs K1 Speed karting and Insomnia Cookies. Verlinvest said it has invested £20m in The Climbing Hangar and plans to “scale the business globally”.

MeatLiquor closes Leeds site: MeatLiquor, the Scott Collins-led concept, has closed its site in Leeds after 11 years of trading, citing an increase in the “cost of everything”. The concept, which operates six sites in London and one in Brighton, said: “After 11 years, almost to the day since we opened, we’ve called last orders here in Leeds. Cost of living up. Cost of beef up. Cost of everything up. We’ve poured everything we had into making it work and stay open as long as we can, but sadly, continuing has become unsustainable. Leeds – thank you, you’ve been amazing.” Propel reported earlier this year the concept’s parent company Meatailer returned to profit in the year to 30 June 2024. The company turned a pre-tax loss of £65,000 in 2023 into a profit of £118,000. Meatailer turnover of £15,247,000 for the year was up from £13,615,000 in 2023. In February, Collins opened a new sports bar concept, Bloodsports, in London’s Covent Garden. The venue also incorporates a branch of Hideout, a coffee and doughnut concept from Portsmouth.

Dalata shareholders unanimously approve €1.4bn takeover deal: Shareholders of Irish hotel operator Dalata, which has a growing presence in the UK, have unanimously approved a €1.4bn deal for its sale to a Scandinavian consortium. The deal is expected to complete by the end of November. In July, Oslo-based investment firm Eiendomsspar and Swedish hotel company Pandox agreed a cash offer of €6.45 per share after previously seeing a €6.05 per share offer rejected. The new offer represented a 35.5% premium to the Dalata share price before the launch of its strategic review and formal sale process in March and a 49.7% premium to the 12-month volume-weighted average Dalata share price. Dalata operates 55 hotels under the Maldron Hotel and Clayton Hotel brands, mostly in Ireland and the UK, and aims to open new hotels in Europe including in Berlin and Madrid. Dalata launched a strategic review in March to explore options for enhancing shareholder value, including a potential sale. The Dalata board said it believes the acquisition is in the best interests of shareholders and represents the most effective route to enhance value for shareholders, relative to Dalata’s other strategic options that have been considered as part of its strategic review. Dalata said it will retain its staff, management team and Dublin headquarters as it continues to expand as an international hotel group. Pandox specialises in the ownership, development and leasing of large hotel assets in major cities across Sweden and northern Europe. The company has been expanding its portfolio through acquisitions and leases in key European cities including Stockholm, Berlin and Brussels and its portfolio consists of 163 hotel properties with about 36,000 rooms across 11 countries in northern Europe. Eiendomsspar is one of the largest real estate owners in Norway and it owns 11 hotels in Norway, with another two hotels under construction. Eiendomsspar controls about 36% of the voting shares of Pandox.

McDonald’s franchisee extends reach across London with two more store acquisitions: McDonald’s franchisee Snak Restaurants has extended its reach across London with the acquisition of two more stores. Snak Restaurants was founded in 2020 by Shafali Shown-Keen, who has built a portfolio in the west of the capital and Hertfordshire with stores in Brentford, Heathrow and Watford. She has now expanded to south London by acquiring two McDonald’s restaurants in Clapham. “We’ve added two more McDonald’s restaurants in Clapham to the three we already own,” she said. “This milestone means a lot to me both personally and professionally. I’m deeply grateful to my team, my family and my community for being part of this journey with me. This expansion is about more than restaurants; it’s about people and possibilities.” Shown-Keen’s sister, Anisha Sharma, is also a McDonald’s franchisee. It is believed that they are the first two sisters in the UK to both franchise with McDonald’s. Sharma’s business, Rocket Restaurants, operates four McDonald’s restaurants in west London – in Hanwell, Southall, Hayes and Ealing.

Iro Sushi hits 30-store mark: Sushi concept Iro Sushi has hit the 30-store mark with a launch in Sevenoaks, Kent. The company, which was founded in 2014 by Chhong Sherpa, has opened at 50 High Street in the town. Operations director Sultan Thakur said: “We’re proud to announce the successful opening of our 30th store in the heart of Sevenoaks. What started as a single store has now grown into multiple locations across London and beyond – and we couldn’t have done it without the love and support of our community. Opening in Sevenoaks marks more than just growth – it’s about bringing fresh, authentic, and affordable sushi closer to you, and continuing our mission to make great Japanese food accessible to everyone. Sevenoaks, welcome to the Iro Sushi family – we’re here to stay.” The company has previously said it is targeting having 50-plus stores by 2027 and also plans to expand into America and Europe.

Long Chim closes London pop-up, confident of opening new site in capital: Long Chim, the Thai restaurant concept from David Thompson, has closed its pop-up in London’s Soho but hinted at a quick return, saying it was “looking forward to announcing our new London home”. Propel reported last summer that Long Chim was opening as part of the site currently housing Hovarda in Rupert Street in London’s Soho. Long Chim subsequently took space on the ground floor of the site with an opening last November, beginning a six-week residency. The business said: “What began as a six-week residency in Rupert Street turned into a ten-month love letter to London, and what a journey it's been. From November through to September, we welcomed more than 25,000 guests through our doors and are so thankful for the memories we’ve made together. We’ve enjoyed our final Rupert Street service. The doors are now closed, but we are confident a new set will open in London soon.” Long Chim is backed by Aylmer Aaharn, which was co-founded by Simon Dewhurst and Thompson in 2011.

Dominus submits plans for a new hotel and hospitality academy in London’s Camden: Real estate developer, owner and operator Dominus has submitted plans to transform a telephone exchange into a new 240-room hotel in London’s Camden. Dominus aims to create more than 100 jobs with the hotel at 123 Judd Street, being managed by its Dominus Hospitality platform. Alongside this, Dominus is also proposing to create an on-site hospitality academy – in partnership with charity Springboard and supported by Hilton – which aims to provide training, work experience and jobs. The proposals would open up the existing closed-off ground floor, featuring a hotel restaurant, café and bar that will be open to both guests and members of the public, with the café accessible via a new landscaped courtyard and Hastings Street. Jay Ahluwalia, principal director at Dominus, said: “This is a great opportunity to breathe new life into an underutilised, tired building. Our proposals focus on sustainably repurposing the existing building to deliver a best-in-class hotel, while working with our partners to create jobs and training opportunities for local young people. We look forward to working with local stakeholders to bring this vision to life.” Elsewhere in London, Dominus is converting former offices at 65 Fleet Street and 5-10 Great Tower Street into an 875-bed student housing scheme and a 234-room hotel respectively. The new hotel, The Derby London City, Curio Collection by Hilton, is opening in early 2026 and will be the sixth hotel owned by Dominus and managed by Dominus Hospitality. Last month, Dominus told Propel it anticipates adding another three properties by 2027 and was “continuing to outperform our competitors”.

The Beefy Boys to open Oxford site next month: The Beefy Boys, the better burger business backed by Manjit Dale, founding partner of TDR Capital, will open in Oxford next month. The Beefy Boys, which was founded in 2011 by four childhood friends – Anthony Murphy, Daniel Mayo-Evans, Christian Williams and Lee Symonds – will open a site on the roof terrace in the Westgate scheme in the city on Friday, 3 October. The 100-cover venue will feature an open kitchen that will serve up burgers such as The Dirty Boy and The Oklahoma Onion Boy, along with loaded fries, chicken wings and tenders – plus vegetarian options. There will also be cocktails, mocktails, cider, spirits, beer and alcoholic milkshakes available. Beefy Boys also has locations in Hereford, Shrewsbury, Cheltenham and Bath. Murphy said: “We can’t wait to finally bring The Beefy Boys to Oxford. It’s a city we’ve wanted to be in for a long time, and this new site marks a big commitment for us as it’s the furthest from our home town of Hereford.”

St Austell and ETM Group directors to open Ludo site in Cardiff this month: Ludo Sports Bar & Kitchen, the joint venture between St Austell Brewery and the directors of ETM Group, will open its Cardiff site this month. Propel revealed exclusively in April that the opening in St Mary Street will be the two-strong concept’s “most ambitious site to date”. The venue will occupy the former The Alchemist site and its neighbouring unit, creating a 740-capacity flagship venue just metres from the city’s Principality Stadium. Opening on Thursday, 25 September, there will be a beer garden featuring Cardiff's largest outdoor UHD wall screen, with a bar also outside, along with interactive darts and basketball, while Ludo Cardiff will also host a regular programme of live bands, acoustic sessions and comedy nights. Food will focus on burgers, wood-fired pizza, wings, sharing platters and Sunday roast. Ed Martin, chief executive at Ludo Sports and Live Lounge, said: "We’re bringing a venue to Cardiff that combines the atmosphere of live music, the spectacle of sport and the energy of a buzzing social scene – this flagship venue will redefine nights out in the city.” Kevin Georgel, chief executive of St Austell Brewery, added: “We are extremely pleased with the continued growth and success of Ludo Sports and Live Lounge and Ludo Cardiff will be our boldest and most ambitious opening to date, reflecting our confidence in the Ludo proposition and the future growth potential of the business.” The other Ludo locations are in Bath and Exeter.

InterContinental Hotels alumni to open brasserie in London’s Richmond: Chefs Arvind Yadav and Lalit Kumar, who both worked at the InterContinental Hotel Park Lane, are to open Brasserie 1600, a modern British brasserie in London’s Richmond. Nestled in Hampton Hill High Street, just steps from Royal Bushy Park, and opening this winter, Brasserie 1600 will be “where timeless British flavours meet modern brasserie dining”. Kumar’s career spans five continents, from Michelin-starred kitchens in France to his role as executive head chef at InterContinental London Park Lane. “For me, Brasserie 1600 is about bringing Britain’s finest ingredients back to the heart of the community,” he said. “This past year has been a rollercoaster — full of challenges, resilience, and learning – but we are excited to finally be at this stage.” Yadav, who also worked at Dishoom, Hilton Bankside and InterContinental Park Lane, added: “We want to create a space that feels both familiar and new – a place where classic British dishes are reimagined for today.”

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