Premium Club subscribers to receive updated Multi-Site Database with 3,488 operators and 15 new companies on Friday: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database on Friday (28 November). The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,488 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 1,010 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 799 (23%) pub and bar operators, 611 (18%) cafe bakery operators, 492 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 287 (8%) hotel operators, 234 (7%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 15 new companies. The database includes new companies in the cafe bakery sector such as retailer and café operator Whittard of Chelsea, London Italian sandwich concept Dal Fiorentino, and Greek coffee shop concept Coffee Rules. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five additional databases: The New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, 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 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.

 

Marston’s to accelerate growth of new pub formats, underlying full-year profit up 71.3% to £72.1m: Marston’s has said the roll-out of its new pub formats is “building momentum”, and plans to accelerate growth this year with at least 50 conversions as it reported a second consecutive year of “significant” profit growth. The company said like-for-like sales for the eight weeks to 22 November 2025 were “tracking in line with the prior year”. Christmas bookings are “strong”, 11% ahead of the same point last year. Marston’s stated: “The group is well positioned for a strong festive period and FY2026, supported by ongoing format conversions and a robust calendar of demand-driving events, including the 2026 World Cup. The roll-out of our pub formats is building momentum, and we plan to accelerate this growth engine this year with at least 50 conversions, with a focus on Two-Door and Grandstand. Capex spend will remain in line with Capital Markets Day guidelines of 7%-8% of total revenue. Cost pressures remain manageable within the context of our ongoing efficiency programme, and we expect to deliver further margin uplifts in the year ahead given current cost visibility. We remain firmly on track to deliver further strategic progress and achieve the targets set out at the Capital Markets Day.” It comes as Marston’s reported revenue of £897.9m for the year ended 27 September 2025 (2024: £898.6m), “with like-for-like growth, format roll-out and revenue management initiatives offsetting the impact of circa £50m of pub disposals in the prior period”. Like-for-like sales rose 1.6% (2024: 4.8%), “ahead of the market, with, food, drink and machines all in growth”. Underlying Ebitda was up 6.5% to £205.1m (2024: £192.5m) as underlying Ebitda margin increased 22.6% (2024: 21.4%), “reflecting the strength of our market-leading pub operating model and strategic cost management including improvements to labour efficiency, procurement gains and energy management”. Underlying profit before tax was up 71.3% to £72.1m (2024: £42.1m), “marking the second consecutive year of significant profit growth driven by our progress on like-for-like sales, contribution from new formats, disciplined cost control, and reduced interest costs”. The company invested £61.2m (2024: £46.2m), including expansionary capital of £8.0m, “reflecting the first year of investment into the new pub formats and wider estate upgrades”. Net debt excluding IFRS 16 lease liabilities reduced to £837.5m (2024: £883.7m), down nearly one-third since FY2022 and underpinned by a predominantly freehold estate now valued at £2.2bn (2024: £2.1bn). The company stated: “A record Reputation score of 816, up from 800 in the prior period, reflects consistently high guest satisfaction and a continued focus on delivering excellent experiences across the estate. We completed 31 format conversions during FY2025 – 21 Two-Doors, five Grandstands and five Woodie's – delivered on time and within budget, with exceptional guest feedback. They generated average revenue uplifts of 23% and return on invested capital of more than 30%. An enhanced order and pay platform is now live across the entire managed estate, supporting a 10% increase in spend per guest and improving operational efficiency. Our 'Right People, Right Time' labour model is offsetting national insurance and minimum wage increases, demonstrating the ability to absorb external cost pressures and protect margins; with further opportunity ahead.” Chief executive Justin Platt said: “"We've delivered another strong year ahead of plan, executing on our strategy to be a high-margin, highly cash-generative local pub company. For the second consecutive year, we've delivered significant growth in profit, margin and free cash flow, underlining the strength of our market-leading pub operating model and the outstanding work of our teams. Guest satisfaction has reached record levels – a fantastic endorsement of the passion and dedication of our people and the quality and consistency they deliver every day. Our new pub formats are performing exceptionally well, clearly demonstrating the growth opportunity ahead and giving us real conviction to scale further. We enter 2026 with significant momentum and confidence in our ability to keep driving growth, while delivering great experiences for our guests and creating sustainable value for our shareholders.”

 

Milkshakes and lattes made in cafés and restaurants to be exempt from new sugar tax: Milkshakes and lattes made in cafés and restaurants will be exempt from a new sugar tax set to be introduced. The Times reported health secretary Wes Streeting will tell the Commons today (Tuesday, 25 November) that the government will end the exemption for milk-based drinks from the tax on sugary drinks. The present laws have mainly affected fizzy drinks. Packaged milkshakes and coffees will be covered by the levy, while the government will lower the sugar content threshold at which the tax applies in a move that will hit more popular brands. Ministers have described the plans as a key element of the government’s attempts to tackle obesity. Earlier this month Streeting said the government “won’t look away as kids become unhealthier” after a survey suggested a fifth of children in year 6 are obese. In 2016, then chancellor George Osborne announced the levy on drinks with a sugar content of more than 5g per 100ml, a threshold that led numerous brands to reformulate their products to avoid the tax.Scrapping the exemption for milk-based drinks could lead other manufacturers to make changes. The supermarket version of the Starbucks caramel frappuccino, for example, has a sugar content of 9.4g per 100ml. The tax is expected to be implemented from April 2027. The revised levy will add 18p per litre to the price of milkshakes with up to 8g of sugar per 100ml, and there will be a levy of 24p for soft drinks with higher levels of sugar.

 

Safestay exchanges contracts for sale and leaseback of Brighton property for £3.125m: Safestay, one of Europe’s largest hostel groups, has exchanged conditional contracts for the sale and leaseback of its freehold property in Brighton to a private investor for a cash consideration of £3.125m. Safestay said the net proceeds will be used to repay indebtedness, provide working capital and strengthen the group's balance sheet, supporting the delivery of its long-term growth ambitions. The deal follows Safestay's announcement on 17 June 2025 that it was considering the conditional sale of certain UK freehold assets and the recent announcement of the sale and subsequent franchising of its freehold property and hostel, Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate, for a cash consideration of £5.35m, which is due to complete on 1 December 2025. The group acquired the Brighton property in June 2024 for £2.275m and, in April 2025, received planning approval to develop a 170-bed hostel. As at 30 June 2025, the unaudited book value of the property was approximately £2.4m. Under the 15-year leaseback agreement, Safestay will benefit from a six-month rent-free period as it continues its previously announced £1.0m investment in converting the property so that the hostel may open as planned in summer 2026. After the rent-free period, Safestay will pay approximately £300,000 per year in rent. Set over five storeys, the property is a grade II-listed, 15,300 square-foot building in Pavilion Parade. Larry Lipman, chairman of Safestay, said: “The sale and leaseback of our Brighton freehold property for £3.125m is fully aligned with our strategy to crystallise value for shareholders while supporting sustainable long-term growth. Alongside the recent successful sale and franchising of our Edinburgh freehold, this transaction will further strengthen our balance sheet and provide additional flexibility as we continue to deliver our plans to create shareholder value. Work is well underway to convert the property into a fantastic, 170-bed hostel ahead of opening next summer. Once operational, the site will create approximately 20 jobs as well as making a significant contribution to the local economy by enabling potentially thousands more visitors a week to stay in one of Brighton's most vibrant and commercial areas.”