Propel Newsletter Archive Page

Chopstix planning France launch, trialling counter format in convenience stores: Fast-growing, quick service restaurant brand Chopstix Group is planning to a launch in France and is trialling a counter format in convenience stores. European quick-service restaurant platform QSRP acquired a majority stake in Chopstix last October, with a plan to accelerate the brand’s growth in the UK and Europe, where it currently operates one site in Bucharest airport. At the same time, the business has begun a trial of a 100 square-foot counter format with ScotMid Co-op in one of the retailer's stores in Edinburgh. Speaking at Propel’s Multi-Club Conference, Chopstix managing director Jon Lake said: “We’ve been clear about what we want to achieve internally and now we want to crack on. We’re looking at ways we’ll continue on the high street and shopping centres, but how do we flex that? We’ve moved into holiday parks, but also small box units. Typically, we’d need about 600 square feet, and in the small box format, we’re down to 200, and it means we’ve had to simplify some of the kitchen methods. Historically, we’ve also had to use extraction, and now we’re getting to a point where we're either using self-venting systems or we're using ovens. So, we can cut the cost of the capex, which is great for our franchise partners. And now we’ve done our first store within a store. So, we'’e partnered up with a retailer for a trial with a convenience store format that is about 100 square feet. Before the transaction, we said we thought we could comfortably get to 300 stores in the UK. How these trial formats manifest themselves over the next six or nine months could potentially drive that capacity a little higher.” QSRP operates in seven countries with a portfolio of more than 1,240 restaurants, including circa 500 in France. Lake said: “QSRP has a strong presence in France and is headquartered there, and we are pretty close to finding our first location in France. There’s a number of different markets. I think we’re quite interested in three or four other European countries, pretty close to home. For France, the demographic of the consumer, the price point over there and the adoption of QSR fits very closely with what we would hold dear in the UK. It’s not always the easiest one (launching into a new market), but we’ve got a big partner now that can help us weather some of that, without necessarily trying to do it all by ourselves.” It comes as the business posted turnover of £48,308,192 for the 35 weeks to 31 December 2024 (53 weeks to 28 April 2024: £64,521,932), with an adjusted Ebitda of £6,984,455 (53 weeks to 28 April 2024: £8,517,064). Revenue growth was 13.4% on a pro-rater basis. Lake was among the speakers at Propel Multi-Club Conference. All videos from the conference will be released to Premium subscribers on Friday (19 September), at 9am. Premium subscribers receive all the videos from Propel conferences each year – around 100 in total. 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.

Industry News:

Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards and Rising Stars open for entries: The Restaurant Marketer & Innovator (RMI) Awards are back for their eighth year, celebrating outstanding achievements in marketing, technology and innovation across the food and beverage sector. Finalists will be honoured at a grand awards ceremony at Pergola on the Wharf in London on Wednesday, 21 January – the finale of the three-day Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. The awards are open to any eating or drinking-out brand across Europe, with 14 categories including chief information officer/chief technology officer of the year, agency of the year and best use of artificial intelligence. The closing date for entries is Friday, 24 October. In addition to the main awards, the Rising Stars programme is also returning, recognising talented future leaders under 30 in marketing, technology, innovation and strategy roles. This programme is open to young professionals from anywhere in Europe, offering a platform for emerging talent in the sector. James Hacon, co-founder of the awards, said: “The RMI Awards celebrate the extraordinary creativity and forward-thinking that drives our sector. It’s a chance to stand out and be recognised among the industry’s best, whether you’re a start-up with bold ambitions or an established brand evolving to meet the demands of tomorrow’s market.” For more information and to enter the RMI awards, click here, and to nominate for the Rising Stars programme, click here.

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality and videos from this month’s Propel Multi-Club Conference on Friday: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club subscribers on Friday (19 September), at midday. Another 80 companies have been added to the database, which now features 1,113 companies. This month’s edition will also include 114 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent results reported as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club subscribers will also receive all the videos from this month’s Propel Multi-Club Conference on Friday, at 9am. They include Caroline Ottoy, managing director of specialty coffee concept WatchHouse, who talks about the brand’s continued growth in the UK amidst an increasingly competitive category, its move into the US and its plans for further international expansion. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. 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 warns sector job losses set to hit 111,000 by Budget: UKHospitality has projected 111,000 jobs will have been lost in the industry by the Budget on 26 November, which will be almost 13 months on from the previous Budget which hit the sector with £3.4bn of additional annual cost. The trade body said the projection, based on the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), is illustrative of the impact these costs have had on jobs. UKHospitality said the lowering of the employers’ national insurance contributions threshold has been the most damaging, bringing 774,000 people working part-time and flexible jobs into the tax threshold for the first time. The figures from the ONS reveal 10,963 hospitality jobs were lost in the last month. Following revisions to ONS data, the total jobs lost in hospitality since the Budget now stands at 84,000. This is 4% of all jobs in the sector, and 55% of all jobs lost in the UK economy. Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said: “Losing 111,000 hospitality jobs by the Budget will be a devastating landmark for hospitality to reach and will be one that truly illustrates the unthinkable damage done to our sector. Hospitality is a sector that has a long and proud history of providing opportunity and jobs for all and witnessing more than 84,000 jobs lost in hospitality already is heartbreaking. Hospitality is being taxed out and the sheer scale of cost increases hitting the sector is forcing businesses to make tough decisions to cut jobs, raise prices, slash investment and reduce hours. This is the opposite of what we want to do. We want to create jobs, help people come back into work, invest in our businesses and support the communities we serve. I would urge the government to act on our concerns and lower business rates, fix national insurance contributions and cut VAT at the Budget. We stand ready to work together on solutions that can reverse the damage already done and help hospitality thrive, not just survive.”

Tube strikes ‘cost hospitality industry £4.6m’: The latest tube strikes in London cost the hospitality industry £4.6m, according to new data from payments provider Dojo. Hospitality spending in Central London fell by 2.4% from Monday to Wednesday last week (8-10 September) compared with the same period last year, reversing last year’s 3% increase – a swing of 5.5%. Spending rose by 5% in the commuter belt on Tuesday (9 September), as people redirected their commuting time into local leisure activities, Dojo said. The commuter corridors were hit hardest, with the W, E, EC and WC postcodes seeing 9% less footfall and 10% less spending than the previous week. On Wednesday evening, Central London pubs and bars recorded 9% less spending than the previous week. Spending was 20% lower on Thursday evening (11 September). On Friday (12 September), spending was down by 4.4%. Tom Whittington, head of data at Dojo, said: “Overall, the week saw a 5% drop in spend against what we would have expected year on year for hospitality businesses. This means £4.6m less in the tills and around 180,000 fewer customers coming through the door, and in a difficult business climate, this can be the difference between survival and closure.” Dojo analysed more than 2.5 billion payments across more than 13,000 London locations in the hospitality industry.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners partners with Zero Carbon Forum: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Great Britain (CCEP) has signed a new partnership with the Zero Carbon Forum. CCEP is preparing to accelerate the decarbonisation of its business by reducing absolute greenhouse gas emissions across its entire value chain – including scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions – by 30% by 2030 and has set a path to becoming a net zero business by 2040. Through the partnership, CCEP will attend the forum’s chief executive roundtables and all member meetings, working alongside senior leaders across the sector to share best practice, provide insights and collaborate on opportunities to measure carbon, improve efficiencies and support progress towards net zero. Michael Christopherson, senior manager, commercial sustainability at CCEP GB, said: “Tackling climate change requires collaboration across industries and supply chains. That’s why we’re pleased to join Zero Carbon Forum, working with our customers, partners and peers in hospitality to share knowledge, find efficiencies and scale the impact of carbon reduction efforts.” Mark Chapman, founder of the Zero Carbon Forum, added: “Tackling scope 3 emissions is the largest and hardest net zero challenge our sector faces, and partnerships like the one with CCEP are vital to overcoming it. I am delighted to welcome CCEP as a forum partner to help businesses unlock efficiencies, strengthen resilience, enhance brand value and make credible progress towards net zero.”

Company News:

Punch makes changes to leadership structure: Punch Pubs & Co, the Andy Spencer-led pub company, has made changes to its leadership structure “to improve execution, drive growth and reinforce a shared aim of becoming the five-star pub company”. Punch is combining oversight of its leased and tenanted and management partnerships divisions, with Robin Belither promoted to managing director of Punch Pubs to lead both areas. Spencer said: “Robin's leadership will drive unified, sustainable growth, helping our operational teams learn from both business units and move more quickly. He’ll be supported by our outstanding operations directors in both our management partnerships and leased and tenanted leadership teams, whose complementary strengths will enable Robin to make a real impact in this expanded role.” Meanwhile, Steve Worrall has been appointed to the newly established role of group projects director, which Punch said reflects a significant evolution in its operational approach. In this capacity, Worrall will be responsible for establishing a dedicated project management office and overseeing strategic initiatives designed to accelerate the company’s progress over the next 12 months and beyond. Spencer said: “Throughout his time with our business, Steve has demonstrated his ability to translate strategy into measurable outcomes, and I’m excited about the positive momentum he will bring to the entire organisation via this new role.” Punch owns and manages around 1,250 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales.

Swingers reports £6m drop in turnover driven by £4.5m fall in US revenue: Crazy golf brand Swingers reported a £6m drop in turnover in the year to 29 December 2024, driven by £4.5m fall in US revenue. The company, which operated two sites in UK and three in the US during the year, saw its overall turnover drop from £42,335,135 in 2023 to £36,431,330. Of this, £12,532,551 came from the UK (2023: £14,931,641) and £23,898,779 from the rest of the world (2023: £28,403,495). The company also narrowed its pre-tax loss fall from £17,150,672 in 2023 to £11,192,646, although the 2023 figure included £6,944,309 in restructuring costs (2024: £270,820). Before exceptional items, its pre-tax loss widened from £10,206,363 in 2023 to £10,921,826. The company opened its third US site, in Las Vegas, just before the year end. Post year end, in February, Swingers made its Middle East debut with its first franchise opening, in Dubai, and the following month announced the closure of one of its London venues, in the City, due to the landlord’s redevelopment plans. Director Jeremy Simmonds said: “The group remains focused on developing venues in new geographies and offering innovative competitive experiences combined with best-in-class food, cocktails and service. The market in which the group operates is becoming increasingly competitive through the introduction of new entrants as well as the expansion of established players. Trading demonstrates that the group maintains a strong position, due to factors including the location of the sites, the brand recognition and the quality of the experience provided. These factors are expected to ensure continued growth and profitability.” Last month, Matt Grech-Smith, who co-founded Swingers with Simmonds in 2014, said he will be stepping down as co-chief executive in February 2026 to pursue other interests.

Canadian bar operator to open first UK venue next week: Canadian operator Northland Properties will open its first UK venue next week. The company will open Tavern on the Quays in the Victoria Quays area of Sheffield on Monday (22 September), in the grade II-listed arches underneath the Quays Hotel. The 5,000 square-foot restaurant will seat 90 guests, with additional bar seating. Additional elements, taking the venue to 9,000 square feet in total, will open at a later date, including two under-arch private dining spaces for up to 40 people and a ballroom, which will seat a further 200, for conferences, weddings and parties. Cocktails have been created in collaboration with Diageo’s leading mixologists and have been named with a nod to Sheffield's rich musical history. Tavern on the Quays falls under Northland Properties’ The Tavern Collective, which operates two locations in Canada, in Calgary and Winnipeg, while its website lists a debut US location, in Las Colinas, Texas, as “coming soon”. Northland Properties was founded in 1963 by Bob Galgardi and has grown into Canada’s largest privately-owned hospitality company. Its other brands include Bar One, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, Chop Steakhouse & Bar, Denny’s, Moxies, Rockford Bar & Grill and Shark Club. Northland Properties is also behind several hotels and mountain ski resorts in Canada, alongside investments in construction, property management and sports clubs. Rene Ortiz, Northland Restaurant Group director UK & Ireland, said: “We want Tavern on the Quays to become the place to be and a real neighbourhood hangout. It’s a beautiful building, full of history and lovely architectural details, but renovated in a modern way. From the relaxed steampunk vibes and our playful bulldog mascot to surprising menu twists and throwback tunes, we can’t wait to show the people of Sheffield what The Tavern Collective is all about. We’re also delighted to be official sponsors of the mighty Sheffield Steelers – in homage to our Canadian roots and our love of ice hockey.”

Which Wich signs franchisees for Scotland expansion: US hot customisable sandwich brand Which Wich has signed with franchise partners who will help it expand into Scotland. Propel revealed in February that the brand, which has grown to more than 400 sites globally since being founded in Dallas in 2003 and first entered the UK market in 2018 with a debut store in London’s Covent Garden, was set to kickstart its expansion here with two openings. These would include a Central London location, in Fleet Street, and its Welsh debut, in Cardiff. The latter follows the signing its first UK multi-unit franchise agreement, with Breaking Brands Management, which also holds the UK master franchise for US bar brand Coyote Ugly. “Edinburgh and Glasgow have thriving food scenes and strong demand for innovative fast-casual concepts,” said Rami Awada, Which Wich’s UK master franchisee. “Our new partners saw the potential immediately and we’re actively seeking more franchisees who recognise the power of our proven model to drive strong sales and repeat traffic.” The brand said it is looking to continue to expand across the UK through carefully selected franchise partnerships, and that franchise opportunities remain available in select UK regions.

Black Sheep Coffee signs franchise development deal for Berkshire: Speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee has signed a new franchise development agreement for Berkshire. The unnamed franchisee will open a minimum of five stores across Berkshire over the next five years, adding to the four sites the brand already has open in the county, across Reading and Windsor. It comes after the company recently signed a 17-store deal across Surrey and west London and a 31-store agreement covering Essex, Leicestershire and Buckinghamshire. So far this year, Black Sheep Coffee has signed a nine-store development deal for Tyne & Wear, two new nine-store deals for locations across London, an 11-store franchise deal for Lancashire and completed its franchise coverage in Scotland. The company’s first London franchisee also agreed a deal to expand its footprint across the capital. Black Sheep Coffee, which has more than 100 UK locations and a handful abroad, last month said it had hit a major milestone in its franchising journey with more than 150 new store commitments across the UK under multi-unit development agreements. "Berkshire marks the latest step in Black Sheep Coffee’s rapid UK growth, taking the brand deeper into commuter towns and regional hubs while strengthening its position beyond London,” a company spokeswoman said.

SushiDog plans five openings over the next six months, hires Charlie Warren as head of operations: Quick service sushi roll concept SushiDog will open its 11th site next month in London’s Brent Cross, as part of plans to launch five new sites over the next six months, including its regional debut, Propel has learned. SushiDog, which earlier this year secured a further £1.3m of funding from backer Middleton Enterprises, with plans to reach 40 sites in the next five years and build a national presence, will open a “major kiosk” in Brent Cross shopping centre at the end of October. A further four openings will follow, with its first out-of-London location set to open early next year. The company said the funding – the third round from Middleton Enterprises – would help to accelerate the next phase of its growth as SushiDog aims to increase the rate of openings. The business told Propel that it was in the process of finalising negotiations on its first regional site with “details to be confirmed later in the year”. SushiDog said: “We’re looking to build out from London with satellite cities such as Cambridge, Oxford and Birmingham before expanding further afield. We still see significant expansion opportunities in London and have a pipeline of several locations we are working on, to open before the end of this year.” Propel also understands SushiDog has hired Charlie Warren as head of operations. Warren previously spent more than eight and a half years at Pizza Pilgrims, including three years as head of operations.

Mildreds team to open new Indo-Chinese concept Tangra, eyes rollout: The team behind London vegan restaurant group Mildreds is to launch a new Indo-Chinese concept called Tangra in Soho, which could act as a second roll-out brand for the Encore Capital-backed business. The Sam Anstey-led business, which currently operates five sites under its eponymous concept across London, and Mallow in Borough Market, is backing the opening of the first Tangra on the former Ceviche site in Frith Street. Opening next month, the site will comprise 60 covers, serving lunch, dinner and late-night eats daily. Named after the Tangra neighbourhood of Kolkata, the menu will draw on the “legacy of the city's Hakka Chinese community, who blended traditional Hakka methods with Indian spices and local ingredients to create a cuisine uniquely their own”. The culinary style has since travelled and transformed, “finding new expressions from Mumbai's street stalls, Kathmandu's bustling carts, and far beyond”. The menu will be overseen by executive chef Nikesh Sawant, who said: “Tangra is food with fire and attitude, shaped by our team's roots, stories and creativity. We only work with the freshest produce and quality suppliers to make sure every bite explodes with freshness and flavour. From the smokiness of the wok to the punch of chilli and garlic, this cooking is an evolution of Indo-Chinese cuisine for pure enjoyment.” Propel understands if the debut site is successful, the business will look at opening further sites under the Tangra name.

Starbucks hires Vic Robertson as new UK marketing director: Starbucks has hired Vic Robertson as its new UK marketing director. Starbucks said Robertson brings extensive experience to the role, having most recently served as director of franchise at SSP UK, Starbucks’ longstanding UK licensee partner. There, she led brand and customer engagement strategies across its retail portfolio. Starbucks said the appointment underscores the group’s commitment to advancing its Back to Starbucks strategy. Two of the top four strategic priorities outlined by the brand’s global chief executive Brian Niccol are reestablishing Starbucks as the community coffee house and reigniting consumer passion for the brand. Esther van Onselen, vice-president brand and customer experience EMEA at Starbucks, said: “We are energised by the progress and results we are seeing in the UK, across brand equity, customer experience, product innovation and delivery in store. Vic is the ideal leader to carry this momentum forward. With a deep understanding of the Starbucks brand, expertise in driving impactful customer engagement strategies and a proven track record in delivering commercial results for our largest licensee, she brings a unique, holistic and local perspective to the role.” Robertson will oversee campaign and digital strategy as well as product innovation, including the Starbucks Rewards programme and its brand partnerships for the UK. The company said a refreshed Starbucks Rewards programme is receiving positive feedback.

Immersive museum brand planning to open second UK site as it marks first anniversary of debut here: Museum of Illusions, the world’s largest and fastest-growing brand of private museums, is planning to open a second UK site in 2026. It comes as the group marks the first anniversary of its debut venue here, in Manchester. Since opening in Market Street, the Manchester site has welcomed more than 200,000 visitors, “significantly exceeding initial projections”. The attraction is now the second largest Museum of Illusions site in Europe after Copenhagen, drawing an estimated 60% international visitors alongside a strong local and regional audience. The milestone also coincides with the tenth anniversary of the Museum of Illusion brand globally, which has expanded to more than 60 locations across 28 countries. The group continues to scale at pace, with 16 new museums opening in 2025, and said it is exploring locations for its next UK museum. Steve Buchan, general manager at Museum of Illusions Manchester, said: “Manchester has truly embraced the Museum of Illusions – and there’s a real appetite here for experiences that spark curiosity. What’s delighted us most is the diversity of our audience: from families and schools to tourists and professionals.” Looking ahead, Museum of Illusions Manchester plans to enhance its offering further. Later this year, a new digital guide will provide a “deeper, science-led exploration of optical illusions”, while partnerships with schools and community groups will expand.

McDonald’s UK names Alex Bisset-Powell as new CTO: McDonald’s UK has named Alex Bisset-Powell as its new chief technology officer, replacing Alison Gilham, who is taking part in the brand’s internal talent development programme, Propel has learned. Bisset-Powell has been with McDonald’s since 2015, working across its international operated markets and in Japan as vice-president of technology. His most recent role was chief information officer international operated markets. Gillham was appointed vice-president, technology and change for McDonald’s UK in October 2021. She joined McDonald’s in 2020, as the UK & Ireland change director. She is now participating in the McDonald's Accelerated Operations Programme, an internal, international talent development programme. Bisset-Powell said: “I’ve had the chance to work across a number of markets since joining McDonald’s in 2015 and most recently leading technology across the international operated markets business unit. I’m passionate about growing talent, building strong partnerships, and delivering technology that serves our restaurants and customers, and I’m excited to bring that experience to the UK and Ireland. A big thank you to Alison Gillham for her incredible leadership and support during our transition.”

Professionals at Play to open second London site early next year: Professionals at Play – the Foresight-backed, parent company of the Roxy Lanes, Roxy Ball Room, King Pins and Star Pins concepts – will open its second London site early next year, in High Holborn. Roxy Ball Room made its debut in London with an opening at St Mary Axe, opposite the Gherkin, in April – offering American pool, basketball, beer pong, crazy pool, duckpin bowling, ice-free curling, ping pong, karaoke, tech darts and tech shuffle. Propel revealed in March that Professionals at Play planned to follow that with a Roxy Ball Room opening at 246 High Holborn, on the former Coach Gyms site. Professionals at Play has now completed a lease on that 12,000 square-foot site, which is next to the tube station, for an opening early next year. Founded by Matt and Ben Jones in 2013, the group, which rebranded as Professionals at Play last year, has since grown to 11 Roxy Ball Rooms, eight Roxy Lanes, five King Pins and one Star Pins site. In January, Professionals at Play told Propel it plans to open at least six new venues across its brands in 2025, to deliver more than £50m of revenue and further Ebitda growth.

Scottish multiple operator Discovery Group opens 16th site: Discovery Group, the Scottish multiple operator led by Alan Bowes, has opened its 16th site. The company has relaunched The County Hotel in North Berwick, which is part of the Heineken-owned Star Pubs estate. A joint £850,000 refurbishment has seen the venue reopen having been closed since the summer of 2019, creating 25 jobs. The property has two separate bars, a restaurant with a bar, function space, 11 en-suite letting rooms and a 100-seater garden. The site has been renamed The Law – after a landmark North Berwick hill – to signal its new direction and is being run by general manager Donna McCallum. Discovery Group already operates a site in the town – The Ship in Quality Street. Discovery Group director Steven Winton said: “North Berwick is a wonderful place that is sought out by visitors to Scotland from all over the world. We feel fortunate to have a second site here and want The Law to add to all the town has to offer.” Matt Dyson, Star Pubs’ operations director for Scotland, said: “This is our largest investment of the year in Scotland, and it’s reflected in the transformation. The Discovery Group is just the team to relaunch The Law – it’s got a reputation for operating superb venues across east Scotland.” Discovery Group previously 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. Bowes previously ran the London and Edinburgh Swallow Group’s managed and tenanted pubs and hotels business.

Peak District operator Longbow Venues launches loyalty app: Peak District operator Longbow Venues has launched My Longbow, a guest app with an integrated, points-based loyalty programme called My Loyalty. Guests who sign up will receive a £10 welcome credit applied 24 hours after activation and valid on food for one month. Members earn three points for every £1 spent on food and drink and receive £10 extra credit for every 500 points. New members also unlock a complimentary bottle of Durello when ordering two main meals in a seven-day window either side of their birthday. Alongside the sign-up benefits, members can access a rolling calendar of treats and venue-specific offers such as one free hot drink each month, a sixth takeaway coffee free after buying five, and 20% off the lunch menu at The Peacock at Rowsley from Monday to Thursday. Rob Hattersley, founder and chief executive of Longbow Venues, said: “My Longbow brings all our venues, seasonal treats and surprises together in one place. It will be the backbone of how we look after regulars and welcome new faces, with rewards that feel personal and generous throughout the year.” Operations director Stephen Atkinson added: “Because it is app-first, we can keep it fresh, and we will keep listening and refining, so members see real, ongoing value. You will see rotating perks, partner highlights and timely boosts, from English Wine Week celebrations to January pick-me-ups.” Members can earn and redeem points in participating Longbow Venues, which also includes The Maynard, The George at Hathersage, The Ashford Arms and The Peacock at Owler Bar. The company is set to open its sixth site early next year, Charleston, in the historic Royal Bank of Scotland building in Bakewell, Derbyshire.

East London brewer Exale Brewing to open fourth pub next month: East London brewer Exale Brewing will open its fourth pub next month. The company will open The Black Eel at 41 Kingland High Street in Dalston, on the site of the former F Cooke pie and mash shop, which has more recently been a Chinese karaoke bar and, most recently, cocktail and board game spot Draughts. The building’s historic tiled shopfront, arched windows and original 1862 doorway mosaic are being maintained. Inside will be a main bar, private karaoke room, darts and shuffleboard spaces, lounge zones and flexible hire rooms, all set across a 250-cover interior. Outdoors, there will be a 150-seat beer garden featuring a pétanque court. The food will come from Riley’s, the latest project from chef Billy Fisher, former head chef at Lagom and The Hawke Pub, both in in Hackney. Highlights will include steamed mussels with red onion, marinated chestnut mushrooms with garlic, parsley and lemon, and pork ribs with pickles and hot honey. The bar will stock Exale’s classics, alongside craft beer, seasonal and signature cocktails, natural wine and a range of low/no alcohol options. The Black Eel joins the Exale Tap, Three Colts Tavern and William The Fourth Leyton in Exale’s pub portfolio.

BabaBoom secures fourth site: London Middle Eastern quick service restaurant concept BabaBoom has secured its fourth site. BabaBoom is to open at Angel Central shopping centre in north east London after agreeing a deal with landlord CBRE Investment Management. BabaBoom has taken a 2,745 square-foot store on the first floor next to The Restaurant Group-owned Wagamama. Arjun Nagari, director at Bababoom, said: “Angel Central is embedded in a diverse and exciting community, which perfectly complements our unique and flavourful dishes. We pride ourselves on using the highest quality products, and ensure our customers are at the forefront of everything we do. We draw inspiration from the people and places surrounding us, just like Angel Central, making it a perfect fit for our fourth location.” BabaBoom was founded by Eve Bugler, Travis Fish and Jono Jenkins in 2016 and also has outlets in Battersea Rise, Camden and Westfield Stratford. In December last year, the business was acquired by Brand Bae, a fast-growing multi-brand operator, for an undisclosed sum.

Crust Bros hires Matt Heather as new operations director: London pizza concept Crust Bros has hired Matt Heather as its new operations director. This summer, Heather stepped down as managing director of social enterprise Old Spike Roastery. Heather joined the business, which was founded in 2014 by Richard Robinson and Cemal Ezal, in the summer of 2021 as group operations director, before being promoted to managing director last spring. He was previously an operations director at both Mitchells & Butlers and Pho. He stepped down as Wahaca’s operations director at the end of 2020. Crust Bros, which was founded by Joe Moore and is chaired by ex-Busaba chief executive Jason Myers, opened its third site this summer, on the former Paul site at 29 Bedford Street. The two-floor, 135-cover restaurant joined Crust Bros’ other locations in West Brompton and Waterloo. Moore first thought up the concept in 2014 after becoming obsessed with the Italian methods of pizza making. Following a six-week tour of Italy, he began selling pizza at London street food markets. The first bricks and mortar Crust Bros site opened in Waterloo in 2017.

London padel concept to launch third venue: London padel concept S3 Padel is to launch a third venue, at Redical’s The Liberty Romford. Opening in the spring of 2026, the 43,600 square-foot site will feature six padel courts, premium facilities and a programme designed to welcome players of all ages and abilities. Tom Rooney, chief executive of, S3 Padel, said: “We’re thrilled to be launching S3 Padel at The Liberty Romford, creating a new destination for sport, socialising, and community. With demand for padel growing rapidly across the UK, this venue will give players, families, and businesses in Romford the chance to discover the game, get active, and be part of a vibrant community.” The launch is part of the S3’s national growth strategy, with multiple new venues planned to open across the UK in 2025 and 2026. The company has venues in Wembley and Brent, with Sutton, Derby and Manchester all due to open this autumn too.

Australian hotel group TFE Hotels hires general manager for UK: Australian hotel group TFE Hotels has hired Ray Goertz as regional general manager for the UK. The company said Goertz brings more than 28 years of senior leadership experience across luxury, lifestyle and independent hotels, with a proven track record of repositioning landmark properties and delivering exceptional guest experiences. Most recently, Goertz was general manager at The Prince Akatoki London, where he led the transformation and rebranding of the property from The Arch London. Under his leadership, the hotel achieved three consecutive years of Forbes five-star ratings, doubled food and beverage revenue through the launch of signature dining concepts and grew annual revenues to £1m, with a 35% gross operating profit. Goertz’s career also includes leadership roles at the Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch, Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel, M by Montcalm and Melia Hotels International’s ME London Hotel. As regional general manager UK, Goertz will oversee operations and strategy for TFE Hotels’ growing UK portfolio, including The Hobson Cambridge by Adina and The Wellington Glasgow by Adina, which are both scheduled to open in late autumn. A spokesperson previously told Propel that TFE Hotels was concentrating on these two openings for now before looking at possible expansion opportunities.

London spice bag specialist opens second site: London spice bag specialist Scaldy has opened its second site. A spice bag is a Chinese-inspired dish popular in Ireland that typically consists of deep-fried salt and chilli chips, salt and chilli chicken, peppers, fried onions and a variety of spices. Following its debut at Feeney’s in the City, Scaldy has launched a new residency at The Red Bull in Peckham High Street. Scaldy, which takes its name from an Irish word for a big hangover, began when founder Max Spiro set out to recreate the spice bags his Irish partner missed from back home. Spiro, whose background includes leading roles at London restaurants such as Kitchen Table, Fallow and Davies & Brook, took inspiration from both Dublin’s Irish-Chinese takeaways and his own Singaporean heritage to launch Scaldy’s first site in 2024. Alongside the classic chicken spice bag, diners at Scaldy at The Red Bull can choose from beef or tofu, with all mixes, sauces and marinades made in-house. The menu also includes chicken balls, spring rolls, gyoza and spiced fries, along with munch boxes – a pizza-sized box containing two spice bag portions, chicken balls, spring rolls and a choice of curry or satay sauce. Serving food from Wednesday to Saturday at The Red Bull, the venue offers space for 40 covers indoors and 50 outdoors. Spiro said: “Spice bags are something people in Ireland grow up with. They’re nostalgic, comforting and always full of flavour. Bringing them to London has been an amazing journey, and Peckham feels like the perfect next step for Scaldy. We asked our fans where they wanted to see us appear next, and south London was top of the list. Peckham is a neighbourhood that loves good food and big flavours, and we’re excited to be part of the scene there now.”

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