Record three in ten sector businesses have no cash reserves left as trade bodies warn ‘urgent action’ needed at next week’s Budget: A record three in ten (29%) sector businesses have revealed they have no cash reserves left as industry trade bodies warned “urgent action” is needed at next week’s Budget. More than half (58%) of businesses said they will have to reduce the number of staff they employ and/or increase prices if the Budget does not deliver necessary support. The position was highlighted in a survey of members of UKHospitality, the British Institute of Innkeeping, the British Beer & Pub Association and Hospitality Ulster, at a time the trade bodies said the industry was “under intense financial pressure, with jobs, livelihoods and communities already hit hard by the impact from last year’s Budget”. The survey also revealed almost three-quarters (73%) of businesses have less than six months of cash reserves. Meanwhile, half of businesses said they have been forced to cut staff and 60% have reduced staff hours. On average, the number of hours available to staff has decreased by 8%, compared with this time last year. A total of 70% of respondents have already increased prices since April, when £3.4bn of additional annual cost hit hospitality. On average, prices have increased 5% since April. Members citied the maximum possible business rates discount (61%), amending April’s changes to employers’ national insurance contributions (54%) and a cut in VAT (84%), as the government actions that can help their business. In a joint statement, the trade bodies said: “The situation facing our local pubs, neighbourhood restaurants and other hospitality venues is becoming increasingly perilous. Economic pressures are mounting at every turn, and businesses have been forced to make tough decisions to cut jobs, reduce staff hours and put up prices. Many have already had to close. For those surviving, the situation is becoming more worrying. Cash flow is becoming a serious issue. This is an urgent situation that demands urgent action at the Budget. Lower business rates, amendments to employers’ national insurance contributions and a cut to VAT are the measures that will deliver the relief and stability that hospitality desperately needs.”

 

Knoops CMO Romy Miller among speakers at 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Romy Miller, chief marketing officer at luxury hot chocolate shop brand Knoops, will be among the speakers at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Miller will share how the brand carved out a new category in the crowded drinks space, cutting through noise to create a cult following. She will also reveal how to disrupt established habits, drive awareness and grow fast when no roadmap exists. Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit is returning for its eighth edition, and tickets are now on sale. The event is a partnership between Propel and Think Hospitality, aiming to build a community, promote the sharing of ideas, recognise talent and define the future of eating out. Bookings are now open for the two-day conference as the centrepiece of the January event series, taking place on 20 and 21 January at Hilton Bankside in London. A bigger venue allows for a dual-stage format, meaning more content than ever before. The conference will focus on technology, marcomms strategies, proposition, brand building, the latest market insights, digital developments and diversification of revenue streams. It is designed for customer focused chief executives, senior marketers, technology and innovation teams, as well as investors wanting to better understand the latest marketing, innovation and development opportunities to build market share and grow. For the full speaker schedule, click here. A one-day ticket for operators is £320 plus VAT while a two-day ticket is £575 plus VAT. Supplier tickets are £950 plus VAT for the two days. Propel Premium Club subscribers receive a 20% discount. To book, email: rmi@propelinfo.com.

 

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 (21 November), at midday. Another 83 companies have been added to the database, which now features 1,287 companies. This month’s edition will also include 179 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, will have their most recent developments 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 Aaron Mellor, founder and chief executive of Tokyo Industries, the UK’s largest private operator of bar and nightclubs, alongside multiple international operations in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, New York, Palma, and Ibiza. He talks about the late-night market, developing a new West End theatre, operating mid-century hotels in California, trading in Palma and Ibiza, operating multiple festivals, building skyscrapers in Manchester and buying a shopping centre in Hull. 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.

Tokyo Industries CEO – ‘we’ve been forced into festivals as top DJs are now too expensive for nightclubs’: Tokyo Industries chief executive Aaron Mellor has said the company has been “forced into the festival model” as top DJs are now too expensive for nightclubs. Founded in 1997, Tokyo Industries operates 47 venues in the UK and 19 internationally and now runs festivals like Lost Village and Obonjan. Mellor, speaking at the Propel Multi-Club Conference, said: “We’ve been forced into the festival model as the talent has pushed us that way. If you’re a 1,000 or 2,000-capacity venue, you can’t book those DJs we’ve been relying on for the last 20 years as they now want £150,000. You can’t afford to do that in a club, so you have to move to a bigger venue, whether that’s a pop-up in a warehouse or a festival. They’re also skinnying down availability and starve the market to make a bigger impact at the higher fee level. I read somewhere there’s now more festivals than large format nightclubs. You have a festival every weekend now in the summer, but their impact on nightlife is people spend heavily on that one festival weekend and don’t spend on those weekend or months either side of that or people will spend so much in Ibiza that when they come back, they won’t go out on a Saturday like they used to. So, summers have created this huge lull in nightlife, where some of our venues close down totally. You have a reverse season pitch where we’ll have a closing party at the start of the summer before relocating our staff on to festivals or international.” Mellor said another trend affecting his business is the decrease in alcohol consumption, particularly among younger people. He added: “The university audience was always a key provider, especially midweek nights, but students don’t go out as much now and many don’t drink at all. Alcohol culture has completely changed but it is a key driver of our business. If you look at festivals, 120% of the ticket money goes on the talent and production, so the only revenue stream you have is food and drink. Likewise in nightlife, the DJs are so expensive now that your entire ticket money is spent on that talent, and the only revenue you’re taking is from the bar. So, creating that older market that still want to see talent and buy alcohol is key as young people are drinking significantly less. A non-alcoholic venue just wouldn’t stack up. Financially, you need that bar revenue as that’s what drives the culture talent.” Mellor was among the speakers at the Propel Multi-Club Conference. All videos from the conference will be released to Premium subscribers on Friday (21 November). 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.

 

UK arm of gym operator Gold’s being investigated by CMA over suspected consumer law infringements: The UK arm of gym operator Gold’s is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over suspected infringements of consumer law. The company is under investigation over its presentation of a one-off joining fee for its annual membership, and whether the way it presented this fee broke the law, specifically introducing it partway through the sign-up process and not including it in advertised membership costs. Gold’s, which operates four UK sites, all in London, is one of eight companies being investigated by the CMA using its new consumer protection powers and followed a “cross-economy” review of online pricing and sales practices. The CMA stated: “The CMA will now engage with Gold’s Gym UK and gather evidence to consider whether the CMA thinks the company has infringed consumer protection law. At this initial stage, it should not be assumed that Gold’s Gym UK has infringed consumer protection law, and no finding has been made.” The CMA is also sending advisory letters to 100 businesses, outlining concerns about their use of additional fees and online sales tactics. The letters target sectors where the CMA identified potential concerns, as well as key areas of spending, including cinemas, food and drink delivery companies and gyms and fitness. Gold’s founder Joe Gold opened his first site 50 years ago in California in the US, and the brand has grown to more than 600 locations across the globe.

 

Oxford Street could be transformed into 'nightlife destination’: New nightlife zones may be created in the heart of London to try to make the city livelier and welcoming at night. The Standard reports Oxford Street, the Strand and Victoria could be transformed in the coming years under plans put forward by Westminster City Council. The council believes the new “After Dark Opportunity Areas” each have their own character and potential and hopes to use planning and licensing policies to boost the busy districts. Under the plans, Westminster City Council believes Oxford Street could “evolve into a night-time destination” thanks to its flagship stores and close links to Soho and Mayfair, while there is an opportunity to build on the late-night offerings already in the Strand, thanks to the success of Somerset House, the Courtauld Gallery and nearby West End theatres. The council also believes Victoria has the potential to become a nightlife area thanks to its excellent transport links. Figures from Westminster City Council suggest Londoners have been turning away from the city centre during the evenings. Roughly 21,000 people visited Westminster at night in May 2024, excluding international visitors, down from 25,000 visitors during the same period in 2023. Westminster City Council now hopes its 15-year plan will make the city centre livelier and safer between 6pm and 6am daily. The council also hopes to improve what Westminster can offer at night by trying to support new music and performance venues, as well as family-friendly event spaces in its libraries and archives.

Kerb’s Seven Dials Market to shine a light on how thin vendors margins are: Traders at Kerb’s Seven Dials Market in London are to cut prices for a day as they look to “shine a light on how thin our vendors margins are”. Tomorrow (Thursday, 20 November), traders at the food hall will be selling slices of pizza for 71p, bowls of cacio e pepe for £1.50, bao and gyoza boxes for £1 each, Syrian chicken wraps for £1.15 and fried chicken sandos for £2.40. The price drop will be available for just one hour, beginning at 1pm from traders including Bad Boy Pizza, and Lucky’s Fried Chicken. Kerb chief executive Simon Mitchell said: “We haven’t lost the plot, but ahead of the Budget, we are shining a light on how thin our vendors’ margins are. Hospitality has been a scapegoat and a cash cow for the Treasury for too long. With support, we can get back to creating opportunities for employment and real growth. Get down to Seven Dials Market to support us.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a business that is seeking an experienced commercial manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “This position will play a central role in financial governance, budgeting, forecasting and the management of suppliers and contracts.” The salary is up to £60,000 and the position is based in London. For more information, email fabian@corecruitment.com

 

Exclusive – German better burger brand aiming to make UK debut next year, to open four company stores in London before expanding elsewhere through franchising: German better burger brand Burgermeister is aiming to make its UK debut next year and has told Propel it will initially open four company stores in London before expanding elsewhere through franchising. Burgermeister was founded in 2006 by Cebrail Karabelli, with its first location a historic former public toilet under the elevated railway tracks at Schlesische Straße in Kreuzberg. Burgermeister has since grown to 24 locations across Berlin, Potsdam, Hannover, Lepizig, Braunschweig, Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf and Szczecin in Poland – with seven more “coming soon”. The company said its rollout will begin with four London restaurants in 2026, and that these initial sites will “serve as a controlled cluster to test operations, brand fit and supply chain performance in the UK”. A broader expansion across London and into regional cities such as Manchester and Birmingham is then planned from the fourth quarter of 2026 and going into 2027, “once the first openings are fully established”. Robert Fuegert, chairman and chief executive of Burgermeister, said: “The UK ranks among Burgermeister’s top three priority markets worldwide. A strong burger culture, a young urban audience and a dynamic, trend-driven food scene make it a natural match for the brand’s premium casual concept. A successful rollout will also send a clear signal to investors—demonstrating international scalability and building momentum toward Burgermeister’s planned US entry and 2028 IPO. To ensure full control over quality and brand DNA, the first four locations will be company-owned. At the same time, Burgermeister is seeking experienced multi-unit franchise and master-franchise partners for future growth. A local development partner will support the expansion from the third and fourth restaurant onward. Initially, the UK will be supplied directly from Burgermeister’s central production facility in Berlin, with weekly chilled shipments of core items like patties, sauces, and buns. At around eight to ten UK locations, the brand plans to establish satellite production in the London/Midlands area to shorten delivery routes and reduce its carbon footprint. Fresh produce will be sourced locally. While the UK remains the main focus for 2026/2027, Burgermeister is also exploring Austria, Croatia, Spain, France, and Northern Europe. But the message is clear: the UK is priority number one – and the launchpad for Burgermeister’s US ambitions.”

Hospitality consultant secures UK master franchise for Canadian crepe brand as it plans return to Britain: Hospitality consultant Laura Harvey has secured the UK master franchise rights for Canadian crepe brand Crepe Delicious. Harvey founded her Laura Anne Hospitality Consultant business six years ago, working with sector businesses including Esposito’s, Pasta Cosa, Chip’d, Houston’s and Salty Olive. She also spent almost four years as operations and marketing director of Wok & Go International, and for five and half years, worked in various roles for Pheby Food Concepts, which was the previous UK master franchisee for Crepe Delicious. Founded in Canada in 2004 by chef Oded Yefet, Crepe Delicious has more than 60 international locations. It was first bought to the UK in 2020 when Pheby Food Concepts – which also operated brands including Wok&Go, Dough Dough, Go Pho and Jack Burrito – signed a master development deal. Pheby Food Concepts secured a debut location in 2022, in London’s Leather Lane, but this has since closed and none are currently listed. However, Harvey plans to use her 16 years’ experience in supporting operators and global brands across the UK and overseas to roll out a brand she believes is “perfectly aligned with where the UK casual dining and café sector is heading”. She said: “The café category isn’t slowing down, it’s evolving. Customers want premium coffee, but they also want fresh, made-to-order food; something experience-driven, and a space they actually want to spend time in. Crêpe Delicious hits that sweet and savoury spot.” Harvey said the brand’s menu of made-to-order sweet and savoury crêpes, waffles, salads and speciality drinks supports strong margins and all-day trade. “I’ve spent years helping operators scale, and Crêpe Delicious has the fundamentals investors look for: a proven model, global traction, operational simplicity, and a product that photographs brilliantly,” she said. “It’s built for the modern customer.” Harvey is now opening conversations with multi-site operators, new entrants and hospitality investors, with key territories available across the UK. “This is a standout opportunity for operators who want something fresh in a crowded market,” she added. “We’re looking for partners who see the shift in social dining and want to get ahead of it.” Crêpe Delicious features in the UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, which is exclusive to Premium Club subscribers. The latest edition was sent out last week and features 380 companies.  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.

 

Boparan Restaurant Group begins work on first mainland drive-thru: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has begun work on its first drive-thru in mainland Great Britain, in North Wales , which will be home to Slim Chickens – the US brand it brought here in 2018. BRG, which opened Slim Chickens’ first drive-thru outside the US, in Lisburn, North Ireland, last October, is converting the former Tim Hortons drive-thru at Broughton Shopping Park, Chester, for an opening around February next year. BRG told Propel last month that Slim Chickens UK is “primed for rapid growth”, with a pipeline of 50 sites across the UK, Ireland and Europe confirmed for 2026, including three new drive-thrus opening in the first quarter. BRG, which currently operates circa 75 sites under the US brand, said it had invested the past 18 months in laying the groundwork for sustainable expansion – developing product specifications, establishing supplier partnerships and building scalable infrastructure. BRG said test drive-thru sites in Ireland and Berlin have been instrumental in refining the model, “ensuring a smooth transition into continental Europe”. Propel understands the other two new drive-thrus will open in Sheffield and Teesside. Tim Hortons, the Canadian coffee and doughnut brand, closed the Broughton Shopping Park outlet after less than two years of trading.

 

Japanese restaurant brand Ramen Danbo makes UK debut: Ramen Danbo, the Japanese restaurant brand, has made its UK debut with an opening in London. Propel revealed in July that Ramen Danbo, which was founded in Japan, in the town of Chikushino, in 2000, had secured the former Street Greek site at 62 The Broadway in Wimbledon, and the restaurant has now opened. Ramen Danbo currently operates 35 locations worldwide, including sites in the US and Canada. The brand’s UK launch and expansion is being overseen by Mark Bradley, formerly of Subway. He said: “Ramen Danbo brings authentic Fukuoka tonkotsu ramen to communities throughout the world. As a result of a last-minute meal before boarding a plane, I immediately knew this was something special. I am proud to be heading up the brand expansion into the UK market with our first store opening in Wimbledon, with more to follow.” The company said it delivers “top-quality tonkotsu ramen with unwavering consistency” and that each of our restaurants prepares the soup on-site. Marc Rogers, of MKR Property, acted on the Wimbledon deal on behalf of the vendor.

 

South African KFC franchisee makes UK debut: South African KFC franchisee FPG Foods has expanded to the UK and opened its debut site here. Founded in 2011, FPG Foods owns and operates 56 KFC stores in South Africa, including 13 in Cape Town and 43 in the region of Gauteng. FPG Foods has now launched its first UK site, at the Eastgate shopping centre in Basildon, Essex. The expansion is being led by Tyrone Herdman-Grant, general manager and principle operator for FPG Retail UK, who relocated to the UK in 2022 after 24 years with South African hospitality business Spur Corporation – where he was responsible for five brands across South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. After moving to the UK, he initially spent six months as operations director of Bird Restaurants, then nine months as operations and development director at KFC, Starbucks and German Doner Kebab franchisee Tahir Group. He has been with FPG Foods UK since August 2024 – first as operations lead, then as general manager and principal officer. He said: “Very proud to present FPG’s first development in the UK, at the Eastgate shopping centre in Basildon, Essex. The Eastgate shopping centre has a history, and we bought into the vision of a shopping centre packed with excellent revamps and knew this was going to be a good fit for our business. We are delivering on the brand promise and are excited, having invested a little over £700,000 into bringing this KFC to life, and creating 32 jobs.” Opening in a former Spud-U-Like unit, the Basildon store is also the first in the south east to offer KFC’s new Kwench range of drinks.

 

North east operator launches new tapas concept: North east operator Howard Eggleston, who owns Tomahawk Steakhouse and co-owns Rio Brazilian, has launched a new tapas concept. He has launched La Terraza, a “fully Spanish tapas bar and restaurant”, above the Tomahawk Steakhouse restaurant in Fairfax Court, in Yarm High Street. The ground floor restaurant continues to operate as Tomahawk Steakhouse, with La Terraza running independently on the first floor. The venue, co-founded with Tom Sturman, is named after its suntrap terrace and had been months in the making for Eggleston. He told the Northern Echo: “We were sitting having a drink, basically saying, are we sitting with the obvious place upstairs? That’s how this came around. La Terraza has got that unique feel, especially in the summer with the weather being nice. Spanish food is sunshine food, so it all runs in the same vein.” Eggleston operates ten Tomahawk Steakhouse sites across the region, along with seven Rio Brazilians with Rodrigo Grassi. Eggleston also last year opened his first pub, The Hawk, which is temporarily closed, in a former Tomahawk Steakhouse in Ponteland.

JWD Lamian Noodle Bar plans regional UK debut site: JWD Lamian Noodle Bar, part of a restaurant company that originated in south west China’s Guizhou province, is eyeing its first regional site in the UK, in Cambridge. The company is understood to have applied to open at 55-57 Regent Street in the city. This summer, the company opened its second site in the UK, in London’s Canary Wharf, launching at 40 Bank Street. The brand made its debut in the UK with an opening near Liverpool Street station, in the City. On what the concept offers, the company said: “We believe food is not only about taste, but also about connection, culture and joy. Our dishes are carefully crafted with fresh ingredients and a passion for culinary excellence, ensuring every guest enjoys both tradition and innovation on the plate.”

 

Chaiiwala opens Nottingham drive-thru: Indian street food brand Chaiiwala has opened its latest drive-thru, in Nottingham. The brand, which has more than 100 locations across the UK and overseas, made history in 2023 when it opened the first Indian street food drive-thru, in partnership with EG Group, in Bolton. Chaiiwala has since opened several more, and the latest has now launched at 76-78 Castle Boulevard in Nottingham. The opening follows Chaiiwala last week signing a new multi-site development deal with KFC franchisee Splendid Hospitality Group, which Chaiiwala said would be a ”blueprint for future growth”, with “opportunities to replicate this model within other major cities”. As part of the plan, Splendid, which operates 38 KFC restaurants in the Midlands and north east, said it would open two new Chaiiwala sites in Nottingham – the Castle Boulevard one plus a unit at the Intu Victoria Centre – as well as taking over the operations of Chaiiwala’s existing high street location in the city, which opened in Gregory Boulevard in 2019. Chaiiwala founder Sohail Ali said: “Over the years, from our café in Gregory Boulevard, we have built a strong reputation in Nottingham for Indian-inspired street food and Karak chai. Now, with the opening of our first drive-thru here, we are making it even easier for flavour lovers to enjoy a taste of India at all points of the day or on the go.”

 

Blank Street confirms Leeds site plans with brand’s largest outlet in world, opens in London’s Putney: US coffee brand Blank Street, which made its debut in the UK in 2022 and now operates circa 50 sites here, will open its first site in Leeds, on Saturday (22 November). The company will open in the former Starbucks site at 48 Albion Street. Ignacio Llado, Blank Street co-founder and UK president, said: “We’re thrilled to be expanding across the country into a new region, and to open what is our most beautiful store yet. Spanning two floors in one of Leeds’ most iconic buildings, it will be the largest Blank Street in the world. The response to our northern launches has been incredible, and Leeds felt like the natural next step. At Blank Street, we believe in finding joy in the everyday, and we can’t wait to share that spirit with the people of Leeds this winter.” In August, Propel reported Blank Street was looking to increase its presence in London “villages” with an opening in Richmond, having applied to take on the premises previously occupied by Oree Boulangerie in George Street. Propel understands that Blank Street has also opened in nearby Putney. Blank Street has launched in the former Wasabi site in Putney High Street.

 

Village Hotel Club to open new Reading site next month: Village Hotel Club, the 34-strong hotel and leisure club operator owned by Blackstone, is to open its new site in Reading, Berkshire, next month. Village Hotel Club acquired the former Crown Plaza property at Caversham Bridge in January. The building is being transformed into a “full Village experience” featuring a pub and grill, meetings and events space, a Starbucks coffee shop and state-of-the-art health and wellness facilities. The revamp in Reading follows Village Hotels’ recent acquisition of a new site in Sheffield as the operator looks to expand its UK footprint.

 

Shake Shack opens site at London’s King’s Cross station: US better burger brand Shake Shack has added to its London estate with an opening in King’s Cross train station. Propel revealed in September that the brand, which made its UK train station debut last June as part of The Circle at St Pancras International, had acquired the former Giraffe Stop site on the mezzanine level at King’s Cross. The site has now opened for Shake Shack’s 18th UK venue. In July, Propel reported that Diverse Dining, which operates Shake Shack in the UK, had made its first profit since arriving here in 2013. The company posted a pre-tax profit of £1,058,086 compared with a loss of £764,005 the year before. In the summer, Shake Shack opened in Cambridge for its fourth regional location, joining its other locations outside of London in Birmingham, Cardiff and Oxford.

 

Atis to open in London’s King’s Cross next week: London healthy bowl concept Atis will open in King’s Cross on Monday (24 November) for its 15th site in the capital. For the launch, Atis is bringing back one of its “comeback cult” exclusive menu items, the Buffalo Chicken Caesar – featuring blackened chicken and buffalo Caesar dressing – available exclusively at King’s Cross until Christmas Eve. The bowl will also be included in a King’s Cross “all aboard’ bundle, alongside a side of parm roasties and a can of Adip (Jesse Jenkins’) Yew for £20. “This opening is a special one for us,” said Eleanor Warder, co-founder of Atis. “King’s Cross is a gateway to Europe. It’s also our 15th location, which feels like a real milestone for the business and our community.” Earlier this year, co-founder Phil Honer told Propel that Atis was closing in on a regional launch and was exploring opportunities in Bristol, Brighton and Manchester, with initial offers submitted. The company secured £8m of new funding at the start of the year to support its growth.

 

Rocco Forte Hotels opens tenth Italian site: Rocco Forte Hotels, which owns 15 upmarket hotels including Brown’s in London and the Balmoral in Edinburgh, has opened its tenth site in Italy. The company has opened The Carlton in Milan, with entrances in Via Senato 5 and Via della Spiga 8, featuring 71 suites and rooms, two restaurants, a bar and a spa. Spiga offers “a menu that shifts with the seasons and celebrates the finest local ingredients” while Cafe Floretta has “a creative all-day menu” and The Carlton Bar “pays homage to Italy’s aperitivo culture” with signature creations by mixologist Salvatore Calabrese. The Irene Forte Spa features treatment rooms, a nail salon and the Thermal & Relaxation Suite, complete with sauna, steam room, sensory showers and sound beds. Chairman and chief executive Sir Rocco Forte said: “It is wonderful to be opening a hotel in the heart of Milan. The city has become one of the most vibrant centres in Europe and economically one of the fastest growing. It is an honour to be part of this.”

 

Vagabond Wines launches new direct to consumer platform: Vagabond Wines has launched its new direct to consumer platform, bringing its self-pour discovery experience into homes. The new shop, accessible via the Vagabond website and integrated into the Vagabond app, lets guests order exclusive wines, bar favourites and upcoming Urban Winery releases, with next day delivery. For the first time, Vagabond said it can follow the guest journey from self-pour sample to doorstep delivery. The platform is also the new home for wine made at Vagabond’s Urban Winery at Canada Water in London, opening on Thursday, 4 December. As production grows from 25,000 to 100,000 bottles, visitors will be able to discover the wine on site or in bar, then reorder their favourites at home. Managing director Christobell Giles said: “Vagabond has always been about discovery; now that journey doesn’t stop when people leave the bar. The platform creates a seamless journey from bar to home, and it gives us a far deeper understanding of how our guests taste and explore.” Vagabond said it will continue to expand the platform through 2026 with “additional exclusive parcels, deeper winemaker partnerships and further integration of in bar data with at home e-commerce behaviour”.

 

West Midlands McDonald’s franchisee sees profit drop: West Midlands McDonald’s franchisee A&S Restaurants saw its profit drop in the year to 31 December 2024. The business, which operates seven McDonald’s restaurants in the region, saw a pre-tax profit of £1,078,540 in 2023 fall to £799,584. Turnover was in line with the previous year, seeing a very slight increase from £41,063,113 to £41,086,354. Dividends of £600,000 were paid (2023: £550,000). Director Afia Sirkhot said: “The company has positive cash flows and the balance sheet shows net assets of £3,559,092, reflecting the solid position of the company from a solvency and liquidity perspective. The strong balance sheet provides a foundation on which the company can continue to grow.”

 

Public House Group to launch social enterprise that trains local school leavers: Public House Group, the umbrella company from the team behind The Pelican in London’s Notting Hill and the Hero in Maida Vale, is to launch Pub Club, a social enterprise that trains school leavers on 12-week paid internships. The company, which also operates The Hart in London’s Marylebone, and The Bull in Charlbury in Oxfordshire, said Pub Club is dedicated to empowering young adults by providing them with comprehensive training in the hospitality industry. The business, which will open The Coach & Horses in London’s Clerkenwell next year, said the initiative will launch in 2026. The group said: “Our focus is on individuals aged 18 years and over from disadvantaged or isolated communities, who may lack access to further education and employment opportunities. Pub Club will bridge the gap between industry demands and antiquated skill sets by fostering a sustainable and highly skilled hospitality workforce. The industry’s high turnover and shortage of skills highlight the need for programmes like ours.” Each student will be assigned a mentor, who will work with them over the 12 weeks and for a period post programme. All students will have a personal access plan and learn life skills modules including managing finances, well-being and nutrition. All successful graduates will be included in the company’s talent pool and have automatic access to internal vacancies.

 

Liverpool operator reports 10.1% like-for-like sales increase at Italian small plates restaurant concept, looking to expand if ‘suitable freehold sites become available’: Liverpool operator Red & Blue Restaurants has reported a 10.1% increase like-for-like sales at its Italian small plates restaurant Bacaro up to the third quarter of 2025. Alongside the top-line growth, Ebitda has risen to 16.8%, which Red & Blue Restaurants said, “reflected the business’ continued focus on operational excellence, menu innovation, and guest experience”. The concept was launched in Castle Street in 2014. “We’re proud of what the team has achieved this year,” said Jonathan Poole, who founded Red & Blue Restaurants with Paddy Smith. “To deliver double-digit sales growth and improved margins after more than a decade of trading is a testament to the strength of the concept, the loyalty of our guests, and the dedication of our people.” Poole told Propel he would look at expanding Bacaro “should any suitable freehold sites become available”. He added: “We believe Bacaro’s core values – authenticity, quality and genuine hospitality – provide a strong foundation for the future. We’re excited to explore how the Bacaro experience can develop while staying true to what makes it special.” Red & Blue Restaurants previously operated Salt House Tapas sites in Liverpool and Chester and Hanover Street Social in Liverpool but sold them in February 2024.

 

Five London café operators could be replaced: Five cafés on land owned by the City of London Corporation are expected to have their future decided next month after their leases were put out to tender. BBC News reports the corporation invited bids from potential operators to run Parliament Hill Fields Café, Parliament Hill Fields Lido Café, Golders Hill Park Café, Highgate Wood Café and Queen’s Park Café. More than 19,000 people signed a petition backing current operators, with celebrities including Benedict Cumberbatch and James McAvoy joining the campaign. Doug Crawford, of the Café Working Group, said: “The tender process has been shrouded in secrecy. The corporation has systematically refused to engage with the local community and steadfastly avoided any public scrutiny. A decision to award the leases to the existing operators will go some way towards restoring public trust in the corporation.” The corporation announced it was remarketing the sites in July and followed similar circumstances in 2016, when the corporation awarded the leases to Benugo. The company withdrew its bid following a local campaign that included support from Sir Keir Starmer. Alberto D’Auria, who started running the Parliament Hill Café about 45 years ago, said: “I think we are going to win again. We have got so many supporters.” A decision on the preferred bidders is expected at a meeting of the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee in December.