Foodservice price inflation eases for first time in six months as seasonal supply improves: Food and drink prices in hospitality fell 0.3% in October 2025, the latest Foodservice Price Index from CGA by NIQ and Prestige Purchasing reveals. The downward movement marks an important break in the year’s trends after six consecutive months of rising costs, bringing respite to the UK’s hospitality and foodservice sectors ahead of the festive trading period. However, despite the dip, there remains significant volatility across several key food and drink categories. October’s most significant downward movement was recorded in the vegetables category, where prices fell by 1.7% year on year. This decline reflects improved seasonal supply compared with 2024, supported by better crop emergence and completed plantings across the UK. However, the outlook remains mixed, with potato yields varying significantly between Scotland and England due to prolonged heat, and brassica sizes remaining small and making winter availability dependent on improved rainfall. There was also an easing of inflation in October in the milk, cheese and eggs category, where prices fell 1.5% month on month. This reflects a softening in global dairy markets, with declines in whole milk powder and cheese quotations. Conversely, the meat and poultry category moved in the opposite direction, with prices rising 0.7%. While global meat indices have shown some easing, UK poultry markets face severe volatility due to renewed Avian Flu outbreaks. Unprecedented 30-day export bans on major turkey suppliers are creating acute shortages and record-high spot prices just as festive demand accelerates. Shaun Allen, chief executive of Prestige Purchasing, said: “The slight decline in the Foodservice Price Index to 150.6 offers a welcome, albeit temporary, respite for operators after six months of consistent month-on-month inflation. However, the market remains incredibly fragile, and this month’s easing should be viewed with caution.”

Arc Inspirations marketing director Laura Lewis among speakers at 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Laura Lewis, marketing director at Arc Inspirations, will be among the speakers at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Lewis will reveal how The Box has grown from student nights in Leeds to a nationwide sports bar powerhouse. She will share how the business built brand loyalty, expanded into new markets and made sports social. Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit is returning for its eighth edition, and tickets are 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 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 new searchable and segmented New Openings Database today: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers today (Friday, 5 December). The database will show the details of 181 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. The database will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published on a monthly basis and Premium Club subscribers will also receive a 11,986-word report on the 181 new additions to the database. It is segmented into seven categories – cafe bakery, casual dining, experiential leisure, fine dining, hotels, pubs and bars, and quick service restaurants – making it even easier for users to search. The database includes new openings in the hotel sector such as Bespoke Hotels, the UK’s largest independent hotel group, opening its new Hotel Gotham in Newcastle, Village Hotel Club, opening its new site in Reading, and budget motel concept Mollie’s, opening its new site in Manchester. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, 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 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.

 

Property director – ‘planning protection for pubs has become little more than a performative act of political theatre’: Planning protection has become little more than a “performative act of political theatre” in a world where pubs are increasingly under threat due to successive governments’ failure to address soaring costs, Michael Penfold, director at sector property advisory firm AG&G, has argued. Writing in today’s (Friday, 5 December) Premium Opinion, Penfold said: “It’s difficult to ignore the absurdity of the situation as, on the one hand, the government wraps pubs in a protective blanket via greater planning protection, while on the other hand, it strangles the sector with an ever-tightening financial noose around the neck. It is an impossible square to circle, and this will become increasingly clear as more pubs close due to additional costs. These pubs will then just sit empty for long periods of time as a result of planning policy enforcing a use that is increasingly unviable due to government economic policy. Planning protection has become little more than a performative act of political theatre in a world where pubs are increasingly under threat due to successive governments’ failure to address soaring costs and the lack of viability of the underlying businesses. Preserving a building’s use while allowing the operators inside them to collapse is not protection for our pub sector. It will only lead to more boarded up pubs that cannot be reused due to planning policy.” Penfold will share more of his thoughts in today’s Premium Opinion, which will be sent to Premium Club subscribers at 5pm. Also in this week’s Premium Opinion, Propel group editor Mark Wingett takes a look at the evolution of RedCat Hospitality, while David Singleton, founder of Dubai-based strategic advisory practice Oraculi, looks at the reasons to launch in the UAE, and competing in one of the world's most competitive food and beverage markets. Meanwhile, George Davidson, previously head of insight and analytics at Greene King, who stood in the 2010 General Election for the Labour Party, explains why he believes the government did not intend to land an entire industry with this mess of hugely increasing rateable values.

 

Oakman Group founder in remission, ‘not ready to retire’: Peter Borg-Neal, founder and former chief executive of Oakman Group, the multi-award-winning, pub and restaurant company, who stepped away from the business earlier this year to fight a rare form of cancer, has told Propel he is in remission and is ready to get back into the industry. Borg-Neal, 64, who founded Oakman – which grew to a circa 30-strong, £60m-turnover business – in 2007, stepped away from the business in March after being diagnosed with Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma. He told Propel he was initially told he only had a 20% chance of survival, but after seven rounds of “intensive chemotherapy” and a stem cell transplant – and nearly four months in the hospital – he was informed he is now in remission. “I’m now feeling really well, am getting into the gym and my hair is growing back!” he said. Oakman was broken up earlier this year before commencing a solvent administration process, and Borg Neal said he remained “very proud of what we achieved over the last 20 years”. On his future, Borg Neal said: “I am not ready to retire. I am very open minded about what I do next. With my experience, I would be well suited to advisory or consultancy roles, and also to interim opportunities. But, most certainly, I wouldn’t rule out a full-time, permanent role if I was excited by it.” On the current state of the industry, he said: “The sector has always been exposed to excessive government taxation, employment law and macroeconomic cycles. Punitive taxation has greatly worsened the situation, and the last two budgets have been incredibly damaging. However, it's always been a cyclical industry, and better times will come round again. There will always be opportunity and industry consolidation is inevitable. Companies with strong balance sheets will be able to make quality acquisitions at good value prices. For the investment community, the current environment presents value-play opportunities. This is especially with respect to distressed companies with good assets, but also, where the assets are under performing but present a repositioning opportunity. It remains vital that established businesses take the time to re-examine their market position and consumer offer to ensure they are relevant to today's new environment.”

Uber Eats links up with OpenTable to offer restaurant reservations: Uber Eats and OpenTable have joined forces to allow consumers to book restaurant reservations directly through the delivery firm’s app. The partnership marks the first time OpenTable reservations have been integrated into a delivery platform in the UK. The new feature appears under a dedicated Dine Out icon on Uber Eats, giving users a way to browse restaurants, secure a reservation, and soon, plan their ride all in one place. The companies said for restaurants, the integration offers a “new way to boost visibility, drive footfall and connect with new diners, tapping into Uber Eats’ customer base in cities right across the UK”. The UK launch is part of a broader global rollout across the US, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Ireland and Australia. Saskia de Jongh, vice-president, Uber Eats EMEA, said: “At Uber Eats, we want to make dining out just as seamless as ordering at home. By partnering with OpenTable, we’re making Uber Eats an even more powerful platform for discovery, helping people secure the best restaurants in their area and supporting the hospitality sector with new ways to bring customers through the door.”

 

UKHospitality Cymru – ‘Welsh government’s decision to exclude hospitality from business rates reform will hit sector by £131m’: The Welsh government’s decision to exclude hospitality from business rates reform will hit the sector with £131m in additional costs over three years, UKHospitality Cymru has warned. Analysis by the trade body revealed compared with what is currently being paid, the sector’s business rates bill will rise by £19.6m in 2026-27 (a 23% increase), by £43.3m in 2027-28 (a 51% increase) and by £67.7m in 2028-29 (an 80% increase). The increase is a result of rateable values increasing by 26%, business rates relief being removed, and hospitality being excluded from the Welsh government’s business rates reform. UKHospitality Cymru has warned soaring rates bills will accelerate business closures and job losses, unless the Welsh government rethinks its currents plans for business rates reform and extends it to include hospitality. David Chapman, executive director of UKHospitality Cymru, said: “These staggering increases are the direct result of Welsh government stripping out any meaningful business rates support from hospitality businesses. An extra £131m in costs for the sector is simply too much to bear and it will sadly result in business closures and job losses, hitting Welsh high streets and communities. The decision by the Welsh government to overlook hospitality from its reforms is deeply damaging and will be devastating for Wales. It must overhaul its business rates reform to include hospitality to avoid the disastrous consequences these significant extra costs will have on Welsh hospitality.”

 

Landmark industry initiative launches to raise draught beer and cider standards: A landmark new initiative to raise draught beer and cider standards has been launched. The Perfect Pint Promise brings together leading brewers, pub companies and industry stakeholders in a shared commitment to deliver consistently excellent draught beer and cider – every time. Research shows nearly one in two pints fail to meet quality standards, damaging repeat visits and loyalty. “The pint is a symbol of everything that makes the Great British pub special,” said Paul Nunny, founder and managing director of Cask Marque and driving force behind the initiative. “The Perfect Pint Promise is about safeguarding that experience. By working together as an industry, we can ensure customers get the best-quality pint, wherever they are in the country.” The Perfect Pint Promise has already attracted backing from operators including Greene King, Admiral Taverns, Punch, Mitchells & Butlers and Stonegate Group.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a hotel on the west coast of Ireland that is seeking a financial controller. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will assist the chief financial officer in administering all financial aspects of the hotel's operation. The ideal candidate will be a finance professional with a relevant university degree (ideally in accounting or finance) and five to ten years’ hotel accounting experience. Strong Excel skills, and solid knowledge of hospitality systems are a bonus but not essential.” The salary is up to €80,000. For more information, email fabian@corecruitment.com

 

SpudBros Express – aiming for 15 locations by the end of next year including Scottish debut, exploring smaller format stores and international options: Gourmet jacket potato business SpudBros Express has told Propel it is aiming to have 15 locations up and running by the end of next year, including its debut in Scotland. Although the family-run business started out as a potato cart in Preston in the 1950s, after being taken over and rebranded by Jacob and Harley Nelson, it now has locations in London, Liverpool and Sheffield. Its franchise growth is being led by Taster, the delivery-only kitchen concept which has more than 30 franchise locations across the UK, alongside Seeds Consulting. Speaking at the Propel Franchisor Showcase, Andreas Holmsen van Stalsberg, chief operating officer at Taster, said: “We’re targeting having 15 locations by the end of next year. Edinburgh and Portsmouth are in construction, to launch in early 2026, while in Leeds and Reading we have properties secured, and in Birmingham, Glasgow and London, we have territories reserved and are searching for sites. We have greater expectations going forwards – a multi format roll out into major UK high streets, food courts and shopping centres. Our hub and spoke model will see big cities become a foundation to grow brand presence before expansion to secondary locations. Available locations include Bath, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Derby, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Nottingham, Northampton, Southampton and Swansea.” Van Stalsberg also said Taster is exploring smaller format stores for SpudBros Express and is having international conversations. He added: “We’re exploring now if we can go into slightly smaller formats as well and how we can optimise the equipment at each site in the best way possible. We definitely want to take this brand international as well, and being English-speaking gives us the opportunity to take the brand to a wider audience. Someone I know was in Kenya last year, and they met some Swedish girls who knew SpudBros Express, which shows how far the reach is. We will do an event in the UAE in December, and that will test the demand for the brand out there. We already have operations in the Netherlands and Belgium so that’s a natural next step for us, and possibly Germany too. We’re very early on in the journey of the jacket potato coming back to the UK, but it has cultural relevance to the UK market. If I took the jacket potato to Paris, I’d bet my house that it would flop there!” SpudBros Express was one of ten up-and-coming food and beverage franchisors which presented at the Propel Franchisor Showcase. All ten videos from the Showcase are being sent to Propel subscribers, with the SpudBros Express video going out at 9am today (Friday, 5 December).

Bill’s to make transport hub debut with Heathrow site: Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant group, is to make its transport hub debut with an opening at Heathrow airport in the spring. The Tom James-led business will open a 166-cover site in Terminal 2 in partnership with travel retailer Avolta. The new airport location on the upper level of Terminal 2 will feature an enhanced digital screen experience and an airport exclusive “Bill’s on Board” order that will allow customers to “take their favourite food on the flight, alongside its well-loved all-day menu”. The company said its first foray into travel locations marked “a significant step forwards” for the business’ global expansion plans. Propel revealed last month that Bill’s, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, will open a new 170-cover site in Westfield Stratford next spring – the largest Bill’s restaurant opening in more than a decade. The company said the new restaurants, which will take its estate to 50 sites, follow a period of strong trading and profitability for the business as it continues to build momentum across the UK. It said campaigns such as kid’s eat free and £5 bottomless pancakes have seen continued cover growth year on year and profits double since 2022. James said: “After two successful new sites, it’s nice to be back in the capital for our first big opening of the year. Westfield Stratford is a location we have been following for a while, especially as we have a great restaurant in its White City location, and the development plans there are very exciting and aligned with our ambition as a group. Alongside this, we are also opening our first airport location. We have been in talks with Avolta for several months and both teams share the same ambition to bring a quality, family friendly all-day offer to airport passengers. With its extensive success operating in airports, and our continued success in the casual dining market we are both looking forward to seeing this take off and hit new heights of airport dining in the new year.”

 

Big Table Group hires Charlotte Dewhurst as new group marketing director: The Big Table Group – the Epiris-backed operator of Las Iguanas, Bella Italia, Frankie & Benny’s and Banana Tree – has hired Charlotte Dewhurst, formerly of Matalan and Argos, as its new group marketing director, Propel has learned. Big Table Group said Dewhurst brings extensive expertise in “shaping brand strategy and delivering growth”, having held senior marketing leadership roles across diverse industries – most recently as director of marketing at Matalan. Dewhurst was also previously vice-president group marketing at RS Group, global marketing director at Les Mills International, and marketing controller at Argos. She will join The Big Table Group on Monday, 15 December and report directly to chief executive Alan Morgan. At the end of October, Propel revealed The Big Table Group was restructuring its operations to “ensure the senior team is focused on the right areas for future growth”. Propel understands while Big Table Group has continued to remain profitable, it has identified further areas where it can make efficiencies following a review carried out with AlixPartners earlier this year. The process saw Big Table Group move into the new structure from the start of last month. The main changes saw a movement back to shared resources rather than brand specific ones in some departments, although there will still be some separation in some areas of marketing. As a result, the group was recruiting a new group marketing director role.

 

Ardent Pub Group MD – ‘clearly a demand for this next generation of pubs’, expects site opportunities to come from bigger players: Dominic Jacobs, founder and managing director of Ardent Pub Group, formerly JKS Pubs, which has received backing from a US-based investor, has told Propel the investment is a “tremendous vote of confidence” in the business and the new generation of pub operators coming through. Propel revealed yesterday (Thursday, 3 December) that a US-based private investor had backed the management buyout of JKS Pubs, the vehicle launched four years ago by JKS Restaurants and Jacobs, which currently comprises The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea, The George in Fitzrovia and The Hound in Chiswick. Jacobs told Propel: “Firstly, I think it is a tremendous vote of confidence in the sector against a backdrop of seemingly bad news from the government that we’ve secured international investment. The new wave of pubs is now really setting a new bar, a new standard, and I think it’s a tremendous vote of confidence in what we’re doing and what colleagues elsewhere in the industry are doing.” The company is targeting eight new openings across London and beyond in the next three to five years, but Jacobs said there are no immediate plans to look at opportunities outside of the capital. He said: “I think the opportunity for new sites will come from some of the bigger groups and landlords no longer viewing that kind of covenant and scale as much of a comfort as they used to. So, I think the opportunities will come from the bigger players moving from their sites because the market has moved so much, and they know other operators, such as ourselves, can generate substantially more revenue in those locations than they can.”

 

Haute Dolci to launch new luxury kiosk concept this weekend with second lined up, hires new global marketing director: Premium dessert and gourmet burger brand Haute Dolci is to launch its new luxury kiosk concept this weekend, with a second already lined up. Propel revealed in October that the Haute Dolci was preparing to launch Dolci Mono, a new format designed to bring the brand into high-footfall retail and travel destinations. The first will now open at Birmingham’s Bullring on Saturday (13 December), with Brent Cross shopping centre, in north west London, lined up for number two. The company said: “We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Dolci Mono, Haute Dolci’s new kiosk concept. Designed for fast-paced, on-the-go indulgence, Dolci Mono brings our signature luxury into a bold, compact, theatre-led format, crafted for the way people move today. A fully personalised ice cream bar experience made right in front of you. To top it off, there’s a brand-new Mono menu coming with it. A fresh range of high-impact desserts and drinks designed for speed, flavour and pure visual delight. This is the start of a new era for Haute Dolci. Dolci Mono: fast, fun and made for the moment.” Meanwhile, the company has hired former Team GB athlete Georgina Roberts as its new global marketing director. Roberts, who represented GB at clay shooting across World Cups, European and World Championships, is also a former marketing manager at immersive shooting concept Clays. She was most recently head of digital at country lifestyle publishing group Time Well Spent and senior content manager at consumer platform Forbes Advisor. Roberts said of Saturday’s launch: “Thrilled to reveal a first major milestone in my new role at Haute Dolci. This is the start of a very exciting journey for our new Mono concept, with more locations already in the pipeline, including our next confirmed opening at Brent Cross in January 2026.”

 

Giggling Squid to begin remodelling estate with more premium look, Christmas bookings ahead of last year: Giggling Squid, the Thai restaurant brand backed by the Business Growth Fund, is to begin the remodelling of its circa 50-strong estate next year with the roll out of a new more premium look and feel. The Andy Laurillard-led business launched the new design at its site in York, which opened in August. The company opened the two-floor, 213-cover restaurant in the former Banks Music Room site, featuring a new look defined by “vibrant, botanical-themed interiors”. Laurillard told Propel that the premium look more closely matches the brand’s premium food offer and will be rolled out to ten further sites over the next 12 months. The company will open its next site, in Exeter’s Cathedral Yard, next spring. It will follow this with the relocation of its site in Reigate High Street to the former Corzo Lounge site on the same road, which closed earlier this summer. On current trading, Laurillard said that after a soft run up to the budget, the company’s Christmas bookings are ahead of last year, while its delivery sales up over 30%. Earlier this year, Laurillard told Propel that the ongoing increase in labour costs was seeing the business switch its focus to larger, more economically viable sites.

 

French café concept Copains makes UK debut: French café concept Copains has made its UK debut with an opening in Neal Street, Covent Garden. Copains – which operates 16 outlets in France, the majority of which are in Paris – will open a second site, in Islington’s Upper Street, in January. The business, which also recently launched in Belgium, was founded four years ago by two former LVMH employees – Giovanni Amico (chief executive) and Baptiste Borne (operational director). Amico said: “On 25 November 2021, Copain opened its first door at 60 rue Tiquetonne. Four years later, to the day, this same date marks a new stage that exceeds everything we had imagined. Friends in Paris. Girlfriends in Belgium. And now our very first London setting, at 54 Neal Street, in the heart of Covent Garden. In January, a second address in Islington will complete this impulse, like a dialogue between two neighbourhoods that live differently but breathe the same energy. Since the opening night, more than five thousand visitors have discovered the London address. Twelve thousand Copains creations sold in nine days. An average basket that is soaring, carried by a link that crosses borders and confirms that Copains is not just a brand: it is a relationship that lasts, that is built, that travels. Thank you to those who make this possible.”

 

SSP CEO buys £251,000 worth of shares on back of ‘strong’ full-year performance, stock price up 11.3%: Patrick Coveney, chief executive of SSP Group, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has bought £251,000 worth of shares at a price of £1.677 on the back of its “strong” full-year performance. Shares in SSP were up 11.3% to 164.80p after the group reported growth in both revenue and operating profit for the year ending 30 September 2025 as it saw “strong trading” across three of its four regions and launched a strategic review of its rail business in continental Europe. SSP said revenues were up 8% on a constant currency basis as £3.6bn, with like-for-like sales growing 4% year on year, while operating profits increased 13% to £233m at constant currency of £223m at actual exchange rates. Operating profit margins improved by 30 basis points at constant currency to 6.1%. Looking ahead, SSP stated that it expects to deliver full-year earnings per share at the upper end of its guidance range of 12.9p to 13.9p. The group also announced it has launched a wide‑ranging review of its rail business in continental Europe, after underperformance in markets including France and Germany. SSP noted slower passenger recovery, shifting travel patterns towards leisure, increased competition across the rail network and a changing brand portfolio had all combined to limit returns on its investments. The review will assess all potential options for the division, with the board expecting to provide an update by or before its interim results in May 2026.

 

Punch Pubs adds Plymouth pub to leased and tenanted estate: Punch Pubs & Co has added to its growing portfolio with the acquisition of The Millbridge pub in Plymouth. The pub joins Punch’s leased and tenanted estate. Following the success of Jerry Eunson and the team over the past 38 years, new publicans will step in to oversee the running of the Millbridge and “enable the pub to continue thriving as it embarks on an exciting new chapter”. Punch Pubs & Co head of acquisitions Andrew Cannons said: “I am delighted to welcome the Millbridge pub into the Punch family. With a planned investment to come in the near future, I am excited about the pub’s future and do not doubt it will continue to flourish under new leadership.” Punch Pubs & Co operations manager Dominic Gooder added: “I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jerry and the team for their incredible leadership over the past four decades. The Millbridge is a much-loved pub, and we’re excited to build on its legacy. We’re delighted to welcome our new publican, Charlie Ringham, who knows the pub inside out as a long-time guest and former assistant manager. Charlie’s passion and experience will help ensure the Millbridge remains a vibrant community hub for years to come.” 

 

Dave’s Hot Chicken confirms Croydon site launch: US brand Dave’s Hot Chicken, which is being rolled out in the UK by the Azzurri Group, has confirmed it will open its final site of the year, in Croydon, on Tuesday, 16 December. Propel revealed last month the brand, which made its UK debut last autumn in London’s Shaftesbury Avenue, was to open on the former Five Guys site in Croydon High Street. Jim Attwood, managing director of Dave’s Hot Chicken UK, said: “We can’t wait to close out the year with our seventh new opening and bring our signature heat to Croydon. This dynamic borough, known for its fried chicken shops, has a vibrant food culture and an energy that fits Dave’s attitude like a glove. This launch isn’t just an expansion; it’s us bringing big flavour to one of London’s most iconic communities.” Propel revealed in July the US brand had signed a franchise agreement with Azzurri Group to open 60 locations across the UK and Ireland and it plans to have 15 open by the end of next June. It currently operates a further four sites, and openings in early 2026 will include sites in Leicester and Sheffield, while it will also make its debuts in Wales and Ireland with openings in Cardiff and Dublin.

 

Home Counties Amorino franchisees to open third site: Kim and Peter Sandstrom, Home Counties franchisees for Amorino, are to open their third site for the Italian gelato brand. The husband-and-wife team, who already operate Amorino stores in Marlow and Windsor, will open in the former David Rodger Sharp jeweller’s unit in High Street, Henley-on-Thames. Hubert Attali, Amorino’s UK master franchisee, said: “We’re thrilled to announce our partners Kim and Peter Sandstrom will be opening their third Amorino boutique, in the heart of Henley‑on‑Thames, in early 2026. Following the success of their first two locations in Marlow and Windsor, we’re delighted to bring our hand‑crafted gelato, sorbet, gelato macarons, and sweet Italian treats to this vibrant riverside town.” Amorino, which has circa 40 UK sites, is also set to this month open in an empty unit at 3 Queens Road in Bristol. A site in Newcastle is also set to open soon, while further locations in London’s Fulham Road, Cheltenham and Chelmsford are in the pipeline.

 

Chocoberry to open in Rotherham this month, ‘several more’ to follow in first quarter of 2026: Dessert brand Chocoberry is to open in Rotherham later this month, with “several more” sites set to follow in the first quarter of 2026. The brand will open at Rother Court in Parkgate, in the South Yorkshire town, on Friday, 19 December. It will be a 16th UK location for Chocoberry, alongside two overseas sites, in Sharjah and Dubai. Its immediate pipeline includes three locations each in Birmingham and London, plus sites in Slough, Milton Keynes, Bristol and Leicester, and further overseas units in Turkey and Canada. Ameer Nurmahomed, Chocoberry’s UK general manager, said: “We're opening our newest UK café in Rotherham on 19 December, bringing handcrafted, extravagant desserts to South Yorkshire for the first time. We can't wait to open the doors and introduce our unique handcrafted dessert proposition to a new market of dessert lovers. After Rotherham, we have big plans to continue expanding with several currently under construction and due to open in the first quarter.” Nurmahomed told Propel in the summer that Chocoberry is launching a new kiosk format to drive its growth towards a target of 100-plus sites. At the same time, the company signed a new multi-unit deal to expand in the Midlands – with the franchisee committing to opening an initial two locations in Birmingham and one in Walsall.

 

London McDonald’s franchisee acquires two new restaurants to take her portfolio to 13: London McDonald’s franchisee Reema Mavani has acquired two new restaurants to take her portfolio with the brand to 13. Mavani quit her job in IT to found Kylu in 2017, franchising mainly across Brent and Harrow, including three restaurants in Wembley. She has now added the McDonald’s sites on Cricklewood Broadway and on Kensington High Street. “We expanded again!” Mavani said. “Just eight weeks ago, we expanded into the West End, and today, we’re celebrating again with two new restaurants in Kensington and Cricklewood, bringing us to a total of 13 locations. With this growth comes incredible opportunity. Eight new leaders joining our management team and 150+-plus new employees, bringing us to 900-plus amazing people across the organisation. Eight years ago, when I started my journey as a franchisee, I couldn’t have imagined leading a business of this size. But as I always say, and will keep saying, none of this is possible without the extraordinary team standing beside me. Their commitment, resilience, and belief in our mission make moments like this real.” In the year to 31 December 2024, Kylu’s turnover dropped from £27,564,135 to £26,881,293. Its pre-tax profit slipped from £893,491 to £209,531. Dividends of £2,000 were paid (2023: nil).

 

Healthy drinks concept Juices4Life to open in Derby for sixth site: Healthy drinks concept Juices4Life is to open its sixth site, in Derby. The store, at the Rosehill Business Centre in Normanton Road, will launch in early January. The outlet will add to its four sites in Birmingham along with one in Manchester, which opened last month and was Juices4Life’s debut franchise location. Established by a team of health and wellness entrepreneurs, Juices4Life focuses on drinks and food created from fresh fruit, vegetables, and superfoods, “aiming to combine taste with functional nutrition”. A spokesperson said: “We’re excited to be opening our new store in Derby. The city has a vibrant, welcoming community, and it’s another key step in our expansion as we look to meet the growing demand for cleaner, healthier drink options across the UK.” At the time of the Manchester opening, franchise consultant Nil Naik said it “sets the pace for the wave of franchise openings already in the pipeline”. He added: “The bar has been set; Manchester was just the warm-up. Next five cities loading.”

 

Leisure venue operator Stack sees Middlesbrough site welcome more than 300,000 visitors in first year of trading: Leisure venue operator Stack has seen its Middlesbrough site welcome more than 300,000 visitors in its first year of trading. Based in Exchange Square under the A66, the venue marks its first anniversary on Wednesday (10 December). Neill Winch, chief executive of Stack, said: “Reaching more than a quarter of a million visitors in our first year is a fantastic milestone, but the real story is what this means for Middlesbrough. Stack was created to bring people back into town and to spark new life in places that deserve to thrive. Exchange Square is a perfect example of how the right investment, energy and programming can turn an under-used area into a vibrant destination. Middlesbrough has huge potential, and this is just the beginning of what Stack can deliver as we continue to grow our footprint across the UK.” Stack currently operates four sites across the north east – Seaburn in Sunderland, Middlesbrough and two in Newcastle – along with Stack Lincoln. The group has locations planned in Leeds, Manchester, Northampton, Sheffield, Carlisle, Durham, Bishop Auckland and Whitley Bay. In August, Stack secured new funding from Westbrooke Alternative Asset Management UK to support its plans to roll out nationwide.

 

London all-day brunch and coffee concept Flying Horse Coffee and Japanese matcha bar secure sites at Bloomsbury scheme: London all-day brunch and coffee concept Flying Horse Coffee and Japanese matcha bar Matchado have secured sites at pedestrianised dining and lifestyle scheme, Sicilian Avenue, in Bloomsbury. Flying Horse Coffee, owned by Philip Way, has opened on the corner of Southampton Row for its fourth outlet and first in Central London, adding to sites in Shoreditch, White City and Golborne Road. Founded in 2019 by Japanese tea specialist Hiromi Matsunobu, Matchado will open in Sicilian Avenue in the spring for its fourth location, joining venues in King’s Cross, Chiswick and Acton. With 70,000 square feet of renovated contemporary offices sitting above 17,500 square-foot of retail/food and beverage space and alfresco seating, Sicilian Avenue’s buildings have been reimagined into a “premium lifestyle destination”. Agents for the property are Knight Frank and P-Three.

 

London restaurant Carousel to transform wine bar space into a Mexican restaurant: Carousel, the restaurant that hosts rotating chef residencies in London’s Fitzrovia, is to transform its wine bar space into a Mexican restaurant. Founders Ed and Ollie Templeton will launch Cometa in February. Cometa, which is the Spanish word for “comet”, will focus on pairing “bold Mexican flavours with top-quality UK day-boat fish and seafood”, influenced by the likes of Mexico City’s Contromar and New York’s The Four Horsemen. The kitchen will be led by Ollie Templeton alongside chefs José Lizarralde Serralde and Alejandra Juarez. As well as a selection of raw dishes including ceviche and aguachile, there will be sharing plates and larger grilled dishes to share such as lobster, chintextle served alongside seasonal sides. The drinks menu will draw similar inspiration as the food, from tepache and homemade Aguas Frescas to agave-based cocktails. Ed Templeton said: “There’s been a Mexican heartbeat to our kitchen for several years now, so opening Cometa felt like the natural next step for us. Our guest chef programme isn’t going anywhere, but with this new restaurant, we wanted to put our own style of cooking and our own personality front and centre, where it deserves to be.” The wine bar will remain open until the new year.

 

Robinsons completes £8.4m new brewhouse: After more than two years of commissioning, north west brewer and retailer Robinsons has completed its £8.4m investment in the company’s new brewery. The announcement comes after the family brewer shared that test brewing had begun at its new brewhouse earlier in the year. The company said brewing remains vital to its business plans, with cask beer production and sales bucking industry trends. Across Robinsons pubs, it said sales of cask beer are five times the on-trade average, making up 28% off all beer sales. Oliver Robinson, managing director (Beer Division) at Robinsons, said: “It was a big decision to move our brewhouse from Stockport town centre after more than 185 years and six generations of brewing history. However, we had to look to our future and ensure our business is sustainable for our future generations. Our business has evolved over the years, and this has meant we have adapted our brewing operations to ensure a viable future for our brewing. It has been a huge investment, and not without its logistical challenges, but to be in the position we're in now, it really is testament to the knowledge and commitment of our team. The way the wider brewing and production teams have come together this year, to learn and operate the new brewhouse, also deserves a mention. It’s a big change to have undergone for our brew teams, some of whom have been with us for over 40 years, but they’ve embraced it. The experience of our team has ensured the beer quality remains excellent, and the change has gone unnoticed by our customers.”