Jamie Oliver Restaurants – ‘there’s clearly an opportunity to do more Jamie’s Italians, we realise how high the stakes are’: Ed Loftus, global director of Jamie Oliver Restaurants, has told Propel that there is “clearly an opportunity to do more Jamie’s Italians” in the UK on the back of news that the company has partnered with Brava Hospitality Group, the Cain International-backed operator of Prezzo Italian, to relaunch the brand here. Propel revealed last week that chef Jamie Oliver is to relaunch his Jamie’s Italian brand in the UK next year after signing a partnership deal with the James Brown-led Brava Hospitality Group. The first site under the partnership will see a new flagship Jamie’s Italian open on Irving Street, Leicester Square, next spring. It will be the first site to open in the UK under the brand since the business went into administration in 2019. Loftus told Propel that Oliver feels “very fortunate” to have the opportunity to go again. He said: “He talks about it as a second chance, and not everyone gets a second chance. So, there’s that really nice mix of nervousness and excitement. It’s a big moment for Jamie as an individual, but for us as a group as well. It’s hugely significant, and it’s not something we’re going to take lightly. It’s quite a big decision to make as a group, as we all realise how high the stakes are. Going into this, you have to be 100% confident, and we are. There’s great chemistry between the two teams. We’re feeling very excited and we can't wait to bring it to the high street.” The nature of the multi-site partnership does not preclude Brava bringing in more of Oliver’s international restaurant concepts into the UK. But for now, the focus will be on getting that first site right. Loftus said: “We’re going into this trying to make the first site a success, but with a view that we could do more than just Jamie’s Italian. All we’re focused on at the moment is Jamie’s Italian. What the growth looks like will be something we will look at once the first site opens. It’s just very much predicated on how the public reacts to what we’re going to do, and that will kind of determine how fast and where we grow. But it’s certainly not to do just one location.” Any expansion initially will be focused on new sites rather than dipping into the current Prezzo Italian estate. Brown told Propel: “Obviously, we have the option of this huge estate of Prezzo sites to look at, but we fundamentally believe that this is a different proposition, and that’s why we chose a new site to do the first one. There are no plans as yet to convert any locations. We are looking to talk to landlords about opportunities.” 

 

Sponsored message – Harrison produces white paper to help operators fuel commercial growth: Harrison, global specialists dedicated to delivering unforgettable hospitality moments, has drawn on the team’s international experience to create a white paper: “Redefining Global Hospitality: The cultural crossroads of the US & UK”. Uncovering how shifting cultural forces are redefining what diners value most, and how operators can future-proof their brands on both sides of the Atlantic, the insights reveal a sector in flux. From exploring international influencers accelerating change to understanding the generational expectations and demands, the white paper identified seven areas operators must address to future-proof their businesses: personalisation, sustainability, storytelling, service, brand alignment, innovation and cultural awareness. The white paper also delivers practical frameworks and creative direction, turning consumer insight into competitive advantage. “Hospitality is undergoing a cultural reset and is at a pivotal moment,” said Sarah Jenkinson, creative director at Harrison and author of the white paper. “Boundaries that once defined the industry are dissolving, priorities changing, and bold contemporary brands are emerging as industry icons and powerhouses.” Led by Jenkinson and supported by Harrison’s global strategy and design teams, the white paper draws on Harrison’s international project portfolio across Europe, North America and APAC. Discover how cultural insight can fuel commercial growth by downloading the free white paper here. If you have a sponsored story you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Panel about how to balance great F&B with entertainment to be held at 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: A panel about how to balance great food and beverage with entertainment will be held at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. As the lines between hospitality, entertainment and leisure blur, from social gaming and live music to immersive dining and hybrid venues, Michael Ingemann, partner at Think Hospitality, will talk to Charlie Gilkes, chief executive and co-founder at Inception Group, and Adam Blackwood, founder and creative director at Private Drama Events, about how to thrive in a space where experience drives loyalty and keep guests coming back for more. 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 members to receive two updated databases this week: Premium Club subscribers will receive two updated databases this week. The latest Propel UK Food & Beverage Franchisee Database will be sent on Wednesday (10 December) at 12pm. The database will feature ten new additions plus updates to existing entries. The database now has 280 entries and more than 114,000 words of copy. Among the new entries are multi-brand franchisees City Restaurant Group and Extra MSA, and Southern Co-op, which earlier this year became the first ever franchisee for family bakery brand Wenzel’s. Premium Club subscribers will then receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday (12 December), at 12pm. The database will feature 11 new companies and 104 updated accounts. The database now features a total of 1,194 companies, with 746 in profit and 448 making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the New Openings Database, the Multi-Site Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers 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.

Fuller’s chairman – pubs and hotels are being wrung dry by tax shocks: Simon Emeny, executive chairman of Fuller’s, has said that “even those of us in hospitality with the deepest pockets and the most robust of balance sheets cannot exist solely to balance the chancellor’s books”, and that while some have said the budget is not as bad as they feared, “my opinion is that it is worse”. Writing in the Sunday Times, Emeny said: “The impact of continued punitive financial pressure on hospitality is now being reflected in numerous closures across the sector and through many places cutting investment, cutting hours, and – more importantly – cutting staff. Unemployment is on the rise, especially youth unemployment, which is now around 15%, and that should be seen by the government as one consequence of constantly refusing to properly support – or even better, invest in – the hospitality sector. In conclusion, despite the rhetoric around growth, this was a compromise budget, aimed at appeasing the backbenches, and with no sign of a meaningful plan for that growth. This is the second year of tax increases, and in the absence of growth, that leaves me with one truly depressing thought. What happens next year? In recent years, FTSE 350 companies have been increasingly using share buybacks to enhance returns for their shareholders. This is cash that in a truly business-friendly, growth-oriented environment would be spent investing in expansion, creating new jobs and breathing life into the economy. While some say the budget is not as bad as they feared, my opinion is that it is worse. There is no plan for economic growth and, without it, nowhere left to go. Except ,of course, to come back next year and once again plunder an industry that was left out of the Industrial Strategy, and which the government seems to believe will carry on regardless. But even those of us in hospitality with the deepest pockets and the most robust of balance sheets cannot exist solely to balance the chancellor’s books. At some point, the government needs to give the country a proper way out and grow the economy in a fiscally responsible way.” 

Vaulkhard Group founder – there’s only so much blood you can squeeze out of a stone: Oliver Vaulkhard, founder of north east leisure firm Vaulkhard Group, has said that the rates revaluation across his 15-strong business has cost the company £180,000 and warned that “profit is getting smaller and smaller and smaller – there’s only so much blood you can squeeze out of a stone”. He told The Sunday Times: “We’ve got inflation, wages rampantly running out of control, interest rates, covid debt. In my 30 years [in the industry], it is the hardest I’ve known. The great crime of all this is that the government justifies it by saying, ‘we’re coming from a low base because the last valuation was in 2021 during covid’. I would argue we were overvalued in 2021 because they valued a bunch of shut venues.” Another pub in the region, The Lowther, owned by Stonegate Group, is facing a 245% rise. David McDowall, Stonegate’s chief executive, said: “The real-life implications of the impact of the rateable value changes and the budget for hospitality are becoming starker by the day.” Atul Malhotra, chief operations officer of Malhotra Group, a large leisure and property company that owns large chunks of Newcastle’s centre and runs hotels in the city, said the rateable value of his city centre site, the Grey Street hotel, has gone up by 113%, from £48,750 to £104,000. “It’s a disgrace,” he said. “It looks like the Valuation Office Agency is going after hoteliers.”

Pubs to raise pint prices to combat ‘tsunami’ of budget costs: Drinkers hoping to drown their sorrows after the budget are in for a shock: the price of a pint is going up again. Phil Thorley, who runs Thorley Taverns in Kent, told The Telegraph he was considering putting pint prices up by 5% to offset a £62,000 increase in business rates because of Rachel Reeves’s Budget. “It just feels like another nail in the coffin of the British pub. It’s setting up a tsunami of costs that are hitting us and are simply impossible to pass on to the consumer,” he said. “We’ve pulled our belt in a notch, then another notch, and then a further notch – we cannot go any further. We will be in a situation where we have to increase prices in the new year.” James Nye, who runs Anglian Country Inns’ ten sites across East Anglia, also said his business faced paying an extra £100,000 per year in costs. He said: “Customers absolutely notice when you put prices up, and if we carry on doing it, it will reduce footfall. The average price of a pint is already about £6.50. We passed on about a 5% increase last year, and we’re being very cautious this year because we’ve already seen a decline in footfall.” Ash Corbett-Collins, UK chairman at the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “These extra costs have consequences. And with alcohol duties set to rise across the board in February on top of other sky-high costs and bills, consumers are likely to be burdened with higher costs at the bar.”

Young unemployed to be offered work in hospitality: Young unemployed people will be offered training or job opportunities in construction, care and hospitality as part of a UK government scheme and could have their benefits cut if they do not take up offers. Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, announced that 350,000 new training or workplace opportunities would be offered to young people on universal credit, but added there would be “sanctions” for claimants who did not engage. The job guarantee programme will start in the spring, with up to 55,000 young people in line, reports The Guardian. The government said the jobs would be in areas with some of the highest need, including Birmingham and Solihull, the East Midlands, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire and Essex, central and east Scotland, and south-west and south-east Wales. McFadden also announced that 900,000 young people would be given a “dedicated work support session”, followed by four weeks of “intensive support” to try to find work experience, training or a job. He told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that the government had an “expectation” that young people would take up the work. McFadden said: “This is an offer on one hand, but it’s an expectation on the other, because the future we don’t want for young people is to be sitting at home on benefits when there are other options out there.”

 

London’s superclub for super wealthy that’s causing panic in Mayfair:  The rarefied world of London’s private members’ clubs has been thrown into turmoil by the arrival of a huge new player on the scene – a sprawling nightspot to tempt the ultra-wealthy where no expense will be spared, The Sunday Times reports. The Pembroke will boast an entire floor dedicated to billiards, while more than 400 original blue-chip artworks will hang from the walls. And on Friday morning, a small notice appeared on the front doors of a grand Belgravia townhouse on Hyde Park corner, reading: “In Autumn 2026, a new members’ club will open at the historic 6-7 Grosvenor Place in Belgravia. We anticipate sharing more details upon the official project launch in March 2026.” The new establishment, set to be London’s first super-members’ club, will sit in the home of former prime minister Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. It will span more than 50,000 square feet, according to planning applications – a square footage that would make it the biggest in clubland’s history. Putting together a club of this size will require “significant nine-figure investment”, according to industry experts, for a project that has been running for nearly seven years – having started public consultation and gained listing building consent in 2019. The project is said to be backed by a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund, rumoured to be the Omanis.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a facilities management/property group that is seeking a head of network operations. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The role will ensure network reliability and performance align with organisational goals. Key duties will include managing assets, strategic planning, resolving issues, maintaining EV charging networks, solar farms and battery energy storage systems, and having overall P&L responsibility for the operations team.” The position is based in Wiltshire with a salary of up to £110,000. For more information, email sheila@corecruitment.com.

 

Japes exploring QSR format with latest opening, four more sites in the pipeline with ‘massive opportunity’ outside London: Deep dish pizza concept Japes has told Propel it is exploring a quick service restaurant (QSR) format with its latest opening, and that it has four more sites in the pipeline as it explores “massive opportunities” outside of London. The business, founded by Aleksandar and Jovana Aleksic, opened in St Albans last month for its second regional site. The restaurant, at 24-26 Chequer Street in The Maltings, joins its three locations in London and debut regional site in Cheltenham. Speaking at the Propel Franchisor Showcase, Aleksic said: “We just opened our fifth site, in St Albans, and have four more committed – with Windsor, Telford, Manchester and Winchester opening soon. There are massive differences going outside of London – but a big opportunity. London is a very competitive market but there are many places in the UK where I think Japes can work. Generally, we are happy to consider any bigger city in the UK. St Albans is going to be a QSR. Regardless of the fact that you may be able to make more money with the full service, there is no denying that QSR is more scalable, so if that works then we will offer that as soon as possible – but we wanted to make sure it worked first.” Despite exploring this new format, Aleksic said Japes has found success in trying to combine the full restaurant experience of Neapolitan style-pizza with simpler operations. He said an important part of creating this experience is through interiors, which he can create “at about a third of the UK cost” through connections in his native Serbia. “In times when disposable income is not that high, it’s important for people who want to have a nice experience,” he said. “From that perspective, we are not expensive. Our pizzas are £15 to £16 on average, but our nice interiors give us the opportunity to charge £1 or £2 more. If you have 40-50,000 guests per year, that’s potentially £100,000 in pure profit. It won’t be impacted by labour, electricity or by food costs, so if you can charge more based on a nice experience, it’s the best kind of profit. Because I’m from Serbia, I have connections there and we can make these interiors very efficiently. None of our sites cost more than £250,000 to open, and we can go even lower than that if we take over an existing pizza site.” Japes 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 Japes video going out at 9am today (Monday, 8 December). 

 

Real Eating Company undergoes further restructure: Real Eating Company, the Helena Hudson-led independent cafe and coffee concept, has undergone a further restructure, leaving it with sites in Canterbury and Chichester. In 2023, Real Eating Company underwent a pre-pack administration which left the business in “a much more robust position” and “looking ahead with confidence”. It was acquired out of administration by a new company set up by Hudson called Regular Cafes. The process saw Regular Cafés acquire nine of Real Eating Company’s ten sites – two in Cambridge and Chichester and one each in Horsham, Canterbury, Portsmouth and London’s Marble Arch and The Strand. Propel understands that new companies – Regular Cafes and Regular Cafes City – have been placed into liquidation, and the company’s sites in Maidstone, Horsham, two in Cambridge, and London’s Gresham Street, have been shuttered. Hudson said: “I have downsized and restructured my business. This came on the back of a lacklustre summer. I promised myself that if consumer confidence didn’t pick up over summer, I’d do something instead of limping on to Christmas hoping that the budget would save the day, offering some relief for hospitality instead of death by a thousand taxes and cost increases. And, boy, am I relieved I had already made the decision to downsize before the budget. Because if we had kept all of our sites and remained the same business we were, we’d have been facing an increase of 51% on our business rates bills. This would be on top of a minimum wage increase of 4% and other increases being pushed through by suppliers, going through the same machinations as us. And the final kicker – these budget measures disproportionately support multi-site, large business. Why? Because they never qualified for the 40% relief – so they are not losing it. With the new reduced multiplier, their business rates will actually be coming down. And these are the businesses most likely to have the chancellor’s ear. So, my question is – was this ‘reform’ done with real world consequences not thought through? It’s not difficult to work out the maths. Or was it more cynical, knowing exactly what will happen – that many independent shops and businesses on the high street will have the final nail in their coffin hammered in next year, and deciding that this was a price that we are just going to have to pay?”

 

Heavenly Desserts launches in Germany: Artisan dessert restaurant Heavenly Desserts has launched in Germany for its fourth international market. The brand started 2025 in just one international market, operating to sites in Canada, but in global operations manager Wesley Williams told Propel that the company would kickstart its international expansion this year with openings in Canada, Germany, Pakistan and India. It has since signed a 50-plus store development deal for India, with Bhatia Group, and last month opened its first location in Pakistan. It has now added Germany to its overseas list after opening at Überseeboulevard 7, 20457 Hamburg. A company spokesman said: “The doors of Heavenly Desserts Hamburg have officially opened – our fourth international opening of 2025! This marks our exciting entry into a brand-new market in Germany as we bring our unique, experiential dining concept to a brand-new audience. The overwhelming success of our opening weekend has already filled us with confidence and excitement for this new chapter, and we can’t wait to see how our presence in Hamburg grows.” As well as four international openings, Heavenly Desserts has launched eight new UK locations this year to take its estate here to 63 sites. The spokesman added: “2025 has been a year of expansion, learning and momentum – and one we’re immensely proud of. We plan to continue this energy into 2026, building on everything we’ve achieved and pushing the brand to new heights.”

 

L’Eto Caffe founder – ‘we’re planning a small number of openings in both London and the UAE in 2026 following a strong 2025’: Artem Login, founder of L’Eto Caffe, the upscale international restaurant and cafe brand, has told Propel the business is planning a “small number” of openings in both London and the UAE in 2026 following a “strong” 2025. Last month, the company reopened its former My & Sanne restaurant in London’s Brompton Road as L’Eto Caffe for its ninth site in the capital. The company, which launched in the UK in 2011, also operates 27 L’Eto sites across the Middle East. Login told Propel: “Trading in 2025 has been strong, with stable performance across both London and the GCC, with more than ever focus on customer experience and the quality of product offered, as well as staying in trend with consumer preferences such a health and longevity. We expect to open more sites in 2026, with a selective pipeline that includes both London and the UAE, focusing on a small number of high-quality locations rather than broad expansion.”

 

Chesterford Group exits Pret partnership with Exultant deal: The Chesterford Group (TCG) – which owns and operates a fast-growing chain of multi-branded fish and chip takeaways, restaurants and virtual kitchen brands throughout the south, south east and south west of the UK – has exited its partnership with Pret A Manger. Propel revealed in 2021 that TCG had signed up as Pret’s first franchisee, as the brand looked to expand into the regions. Operating under a subsidiary called Joy Brands, the group opened seven Pret sites across Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. That package has now been acquired by fellow Pret franchisee Exultant Group, to bring its portfolio with the brand to 25. Exultant Group, which was founded in 2014 by Mizan Syed and is also a Pizza Hut Delivery, has acquired Joy Brands and its seven restaurants. Syed said: “Exciting news from Exultant Group! We are proud to announce the successful acquisition of Joy Brands, a company with seven Pret A Manger sites across Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and Essex. This marks a significant milestone in our growth journey and strengthens our presence in these key regions. The addition of these sites provides us with new opportunities for growth and development, and we look forward to building on this foundation to spread the Joy of Pret to more towns and cities.” The deal rounds off a busy year for Exultant Group, which started 2025 with circa ten Pret sites, and in March acquired a package of seven Pret sites across north west London. In August, it also signed an expansion deal with Yorkshire better burger business Urban Fresh Burgers & Fries, which has six sites across the region. The deal will accelerate Urban Fresh Burgers & Fries’ plans to expands nationally and will see the brand open its first store in London.

 

Butlin’s returns to profit: Butlin's has reported a return to profit for the year ending 31 December 2024 as the company’s bottom line received a significant boost from a substantial revaluation of its resort properties and a surge in operating profit. The holiday resort operator, which has sites in Bognor Regis in West Sussex, Minehead in Somerset and Skegness in Lincolnshire, recorded a pre-tax profit of £28,430,000 compared with a loss of £74,200,000 the year before, a rise of 138%. Ebitda stood at £56,618,000 compared with £58,915,000 the previous year. The annual property valuation performed at Bognor Regis resulted in a revaluation gain of £6.3m, while valuations at Minehead and Skegness resulted in revaluation gains of £32.4m. Meanwhile, operating profit jumped 169% to £41,823,000 from a loss of £60,695,000 the previous year. However, despite returning to profitability, revenue declined to £287,509,000 from £292,709,000 the year before. Guest week volumes stood at 717,215 (2023: 718,739) while retail spend per guest week was £171 (2023: £170). Butlin's acknowledged “the economic backdrop remains challenging" and noted “demand for holidays in the UK remained strong despite consumers facing challenging economic conditions across the year”. Chief executive Jon Hendry Pickup said: “This was a good year for our business as we continued to upgrade our facilities and multi-skill our more than 4,000 team members nationwide. Against a challenging macroeconomic backdrop characterised by high interest rates and dwindling consumer confidence, we produced a robust performance for 2024, with group revenue and total guest weeks stabilising. With Butlin’s turning 90 in 2026, we're immensely proud of the role we've played in so many communities around the country. Our priority now is to continue investing in our resorts to ensure Butlin's guest proposition continues to be attractive for generations to come.” No dividend was paid (2023: nil). Butlin’s was sold for £300m towards the end of 2022 to the Harris family, who jointly established Bourne Leisure in 1964.

 

Soul Mama founder secures investment to expand business: YolanDa Brown, the award-winning saxophonist and broadcaster, is expanding her Soul Mama restaurant business following an investment from HSBC. Brown, who received an OBE in 2023 for services to music, opened the first Soul Mama in Stratford, east London, last year. The 100-cover site serves African, Caribbean and South American fusion dishes while doubling as a live jazz, R&B and reggae venue. She is opening a second venue in Westfield Stratford City mall next year, funded with a £750,000 cash injection from HSBC, and is considering opening a third, in Newcastle. “The vision has always been great food, great music,” she told The Sunday Times. “People don’t want to run to a bar, then to a restaurant, then to the theatre and back. They want an all-inclusive experience, an immersive experience, and that’s what we’re offering.” The investment from HSBC was arranged by Tony Dada of The Socially Conscious Entrepreneur, who links banks with founders from underrepresented communities. Dada himself also invested.

 

Wimpy hires former Chopstix Group franchise manager as its new UK business development manager: Wimpy has hiref former Chopstix Group franchise business manager Ken Gillatt as its new business development manager for the UK. Gillatt joins Wimpy after two and a half years with Chopstix, in which he oversaw the conversion of legacy Chozen/Chow sites into Chopstix ones following the latter’s acquisition of Chozen Noodle in 2023. He previously spent 15 years as head of operations with Chozen Noodle Holdings – managing the Chozen Noodle and Chow Asian Kitchen brands across the UK, alongside Panini Pronto and Wrapid at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London. Previous to that, Gillatt was a general manager at Mongolian Barbeque in Covent Garden, and at a service station in Waverly, South Africa.

 

Five-site Peachtree Services pub portfolio brought to market for £2.2m: A five-site pub portfolio owned by Peachtree Services has been brought to the market for £2.2m. Founded in 1999, Peachtree Services is part of Peachtree Real Estate, a property investment, development and asset management business with a diverse portfolio across London and the south east. The pubs have been part of the Peachtree portfolio for the last 15 years but the freehold investment portfolio has become available as Peachtree “refines its focus within its core residential and commercial sectors”. Agent Fleurets is marketing the portfolio at a guide price of £2,170,000, although each property can also be acquired individually. The assets include Swan Inn in Fressingfold, Suffolk (freehold guide price: £335,000); Sibton White Horse in Sibton, Suffolk (freehold guide price £525,000; William IV in Norwich, Norfolk (freehold guide price £545,000); Cherry Tree Inn in Wadhurst, East Sussex (freehold guide price £365,000); and Wynnstay Hotel in Machynlleth, Wales (freehold guide price £400,000). Nick Groves, managing director of Peachtree Services, said: “Each of these assets has proven to be a strong performer within our portfolio, benefiting from established operators, resilient local demand and secure income streams from the existing leases. After 15 years, we feel the timing is right to release these gems to the market, where they offer compelling value for investors seeking stable, income-producing hospitality assets.” Elysia Wilson-Gunn, divisional director at Fleurets, added that the tenants will continue to operate as usual, with no impact on the day-to-day running of the pubs.

 

Greggs opens second site for smaller shop format as trial continues: Food-to-go retailer Greggs has opened a second site for its smaller shop format – “Bitesize Greggs” – as it continues its trial. The company launched the format last month, in Sevenoaks railway station in Kent. The second site has also opened in a Kent train station, this time in Dartford. Operating with a smaller footprint, Bitesize Greggs offers a “tailored range of best-selling customer favourites”. Greggs said it will open a small number of Bitesize Greggs, in which the company will assess consumer behaviour and operational efficiencies in the new fit outs. The company said the more agile shop format will see it enter more prime locations – mostly travel hubs – many of which were previously out of reach due to the size needed for traditional Greggs shop formats. These Bitesize Greggs will be rolled out alongside more traditional, larger Greggs shops in line with the company’s growth plans and in response to “continued strong consumer demand”, averaging around four new shop openings per week. After Dartford, the next Bitesize Greggs shop will open later this month, in Cheshire Oaks, with additional openings to follow. Greggs property director Tony Rowson said: “This bustling station in Dartford is the perfect location to continue to trial our new format to reach more customers on the go from compact units, while still offering a selection of our best-selling products. We have a number of other ‘Bitesize Greggs’ openings planned, initially on a trial basis, as part of our broader estate growth plans.”

 

Greater Manchester McDonald’s franchisee reports drop in profit due to cost pressures, unveils brand’s first UK adults-only area: Greater Manchester McDonald’s franchisee AOJ Restaurants reported a drop in profit due to cost pressures in the year to 31 December 2024. The company, which operates three drive-thrus in the region, said turnover was broadly in line with 2023, rising slightly from £14,846,005 to £14,878,600. But a pre-tax profit of £338,911 in 2023 fell to £26,059 as administrative expenses rose by almost £500,000. Toft, a former commercial director and deputy managing director with the Manchester Evening News who has been franchising with McDonald’s since 2019, said: “Despite the flat revenue, the company recorded gross profit of £6.2m, an increase from £6.0m in 2023, reflecting improved operational efficiency and some margin enhancement through cost control and strategic menu board price increase at the restaurant level. The increase in menu board prices contributed to a modest improvement in profitability per customer transaction, despite customer footfall remaining broadly flat. This pricing strategy helped offset some of the ongoing cost pressures from inflation and rising wages, although the benefit was partially eroded by increased energy and overhead expenses. As a result, profit before tax fell significantly to £26,000 (2023: £338,000).” Dividends of £64,458 were paid (2023: £60,051). Post year end, in July 2025, Toft’s restaurant in Whitefield became the first UK McDonald’s restaurant to have an adults-only area. The dedicated “business zone” is cordoned off for adults on weekdays, specifically remote workers and laptop users seeking a quieter environment, with U16s banned. The area is also available to pre-book by companies for group business meetings. Toft said: “After listening to customer feedback, we’ve introduced a dedicated business area on weekdays for anyone ages 16 and over who wants a quieter space to work or study. We want the restaurant to be a space that works for everyone.”

 

Safestay opens two new hostels as it makes Alps debut: Safestay, one of Europe’s largest hostel groups, has opened two new hostels in the alpine resort of Kitzbühel, Austria – marking its first sites in the Alps. The properties, Safestay Kitzbühel Centre and Safestay Kitzbühel Alpine, offer a combined 70 beds in the resort, with a choice of private en-suite rooms and shared dorms for two to ten guests. The two properties have been rebranded under Safestay following the group’s first franchise agreement announced in September. Since then, Safestay has completed a second franchise agreement, with its Edinburgh Cowgate property, as it explores capital-light growth opportunities. Executive chairman Larry Lipman said: “Bringing the Safestay brand to one of Europe’s most iconic mountain destinations is an exciting milestone for the group. These openings mark our first entry into the Alps and arrives just in time for the start of the ski season.”

 

Black Sheep Coffee to open site in Norwich this month: Speciality coffee shop operator Black Sheep Coffee is to open a site in Norwich this month. The company will launch in the former Byron Burger unit in Chantry Place, which closed in 2023, on Tuesday, 16 December. Last month, Black Sheep Coffee signed a minimum nine-store development agreement covering Hertfordshire. The territory has been awarded to Virutthasalam Prabhakaran, an existing Black Sheep Coffee franchisee with multiple stores across London. Black Sheep Coffee, which has more than 100 UK locations and four in the UAE and one in France, has in excess of 150 new UK sites now committed under multi-unit deals.

 

Worcestershire hotel operator secures third site: Worcestershire hotel operator Spirit Ventures has secured its third site. The company has acquired the 33-bedroom Diglis House Hotel from Seymour Hotels for an undisclosed sum by way of a share-sale transaction. Overlooking the River Severn, Diglis House Hotel had been owned and operated by Seymour Hotels since 1994, under the stewardship of Julia Seymour. The hotel features a bar and restaurant, conference and banqueting facilities for up to 140 guests, alongside riverside gardens and terraces. Darren Eden, chief executive of Spirit Ventures, said: “Diglis House dovetails perfectly with our other hotels, the AA five-star rated Angel Hotel in Pershore and Colwall Park Hotel near Malvern. We are excited to take the business forward to the next chapter in its rich journey and follow in the footsteps of Julia who did a fantastic job in creating the Diglis we know today.” The grade II-listed hotel dates to the early 1600s and was extensively rebuilt and extended in the Georgian era. It later became home to Edward Leader Williams, chief engineer to the Severn Navigation Commission. Recognised as one of the first hotels in Worcester, it was registered as an inn in the early 1900s. Graham + Sibbald acted on the deal.

 

New immersive quiz experience to launch in Liverpool: A new immersive quiz experience is to launch, in Liverpool. Quiztopia will open in Dale Street on Monday, 15 December following a £100,000 investment. Director Samir Patel said: “There are four rooms fitted out with podiums, buzzers and lights giving ‘a full-on game show experience’. Quiztopia is a simple, easy to play concept that brings out the competitive edge as players battle to win the game. With a proper live game show set up, the pressure is on just like it would be in a TV studio. We’ve got every subject covered from sport and entertainment to history, geography and even video gaming.”

 

Brownie and coffee concept The Savvy Baker opens in Leeds for third site: Brownie and coffee concept The Savvy Baker has opened its third site. Founder Savannah Roqaa has launched the outlet at Trinity Leeds to add to branches in Chesterfield and York. Roqaa began baking during the covid pandemic lockdown for friends and family. Her creations gained popularity through social media and word of mouth, and The Savvy Baker grew from kitchen experiments to pop-ups and cafes. The Trinity Leeds site includes The Savvy Baker’s dedicated matcha bar – the business’ best-selling drink – where customers can watch baristas craft each cup fresh to order. Alongside this, the menu features Roqaa’s signature hand-baked brownies and cookies, which are freshly prepared on-site, along with a range of hot and iced drinks.

 

London restaurateurs launch seafood focused modern French dining concept: Khaled Dandachi and Fred Srouchi, who are behind Sparrow Italia in London’s Mayfair, have launched a new modern French dining concept. Mazarine has opened in Hanover Square, showcasing “exceptional seafood crafted by a world-class culinary team”. Dishes include Raviole of Cornish crab with lobster broth and citronelle, and Le Grand Aïoli Marseillais (salt cod, sea urchin, langoustines, seasonal vegetables). Accompanying the seafood is a range of fine wine. Dandachi said: “Mazarine, in all things, aims to epitomise the virtues of timeless refinement, technical perfection, and peerless hospitality in every gesture. At Mazarine, we believe in dining overeating, elegance over opulence, ritual over routine, and guests, above all else.” Dandachi and Srouchi opened Sparrow Italia in Avery Row in 2022.

 

McManus Pub Company reopens Northampton venue following £350,000 rebrand: McManus Pub Company has reopened Northampton venue The Sir Pickering Phipps as The Phipps following a £350,000 investment. The Wellingborough Road site first opened in 1998 and now enters a new chapter. While the “Sir Pickering” name has been retired, McManus said the new identity honours its heritage and the town’s connection. The redesign centres around a new bar with an offer including a range of crafted cocktails, premium sharing dishes and beer, alongside live music, DJs and a strong focus on sport, with major events screened throughout the week. Gary McManus, managing director of McManus Pub Company, said: “The Phipps has been designed for fun, connection, and unforgettable nights, and we can’t wait to welcome the whole community.” The project has created 15 additional jobs. McManus Pub Company has been trading for more than 55 years and employs more than 200 staff across the county.