Wenzel’s – we have the capacity to double in size over the next few years, exploring new formats including kiosks: Family-owned bakery brand Wenzel’s has told Propel it has the capacity to double in size over the next few years, and that it is exploring new formats, including kiosks. Wenzel’s, which operates more than 100 bakery stores in southern England and the Midlands, made its first move into franchising earlier this year after 50 years of operating. The company partnered with Southern Co-op, in a deal brokered by Seeds Consulting, with plans to expand the brand into new regions across the UK through Southern Co-op’s established retail network. Speaking at the Propel Franchisor Showcase, business development director Dean Russell said: “We believe the bakery has the capacity for another 50-100 stores over the next few years. We’ve got the capacity to rapidly grow in the next few years – to double in size. As we expand, we may look to open another bakery up north, but we’re comfortable with what we have at the moment. We’re very much in the south now – North London and Hertfordshire, down to Bournemouth and up to Northampton – and we’d like to go perhaps north of Birmingham. We’ve hired a new transport person to look at just how far we can reach, while being mindful of how well our products can travel. We also have to be realistic that as we move further north, people might not know who we are. We’re mindful that in some areas, they will absolutely know Wenzel’s, but in some areas, we’re going in as a new entity.” Russell said that in terms of franchise partners, “we’re not really for people doing one or two sites, we’re really looking for ten or more so we can really expand those out”. He added: “We’re also looking at new forms of layout. We don’t have many sites with seating, although we have introduced a few new ones with seats. One of the things we’re really excited about is looking at kiosk options as well, which we will be trialling in the new year. With Southern Co-op, it was an absolute no-brainer as they already had a shop and a site, and it was our first petrol station location. Going forwards, with the potential of kiosks, that could really change the sites that we look at.” Wenzel’s 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 Wenzel’s video going out at 9am today (Tuesday, 9 December). 

Boxpark chief growth officer Michelle Farrell among speakers at 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Michelle Farrell, chief growth officer at Boxpark, will be among the speakers at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Farrell will share how the brand is evolving beyond its iconic food halls as it pushes the boundaries with BoxHall, shifting from fixed locations to immersive experiences and reimagining the future of destination-led dining. 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 tomorrow (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 McDonald’s franchisees Galm Restaurants and Stellar Restaurants, and Zambrero Scotland, which earlier this year became the Australian health food brand’s first UK franchisee. 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.

UKHospitality secures sector access to foundation apprenticeship expansion: UKHospitality has welcomed the sector’s inclusion in the expansion of foundation apprenticeships. Previously, hospitality had been left out of the proposals, but the trade body has worked with the government to make the case for its inclusion. The expansion will include new foundation-level apprenticeships in hospitality and the removal of the 5% levy on apprentices for under-25s. The hospitality skills passport, created by UKHospitality, will also be integrated into the new apprenticeships. Graduates of the hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programmes, launched earlier this year, will also be able to enrol. UKHospitality chair Kate Nicholls said: “This is clear recognition within the government’s skills policy that hospitality is a vital employer of young people and key to getting people of all ages into employment.Being included alongside the Industrial Strategy sectors is proof that the government must go beyond those sectors to achieve its goals. However, we continue to find our ability to deliver on these goals stymied by soaring costs, which our analysis shows will hit hospitality businesses disproportionately with eye-watering increases. We need the government to recognise this and to act to avoid this looming catastrophe.”

 

Selfridges and Harrods handed tax cuts as pubs pay more: Rachel Reeves has been accused of funding tax cuts for Harrods and Selfridges through a raid on pubs and restaurants. The Telegraph reports new analysis suggested the chancellor’s shake-up of business rates will reduce tax bills for large luxury stores while pushing up costs for independent pubs and restaurants. Harrods’ business rates bill for its flagship Knightsbridge store is expected to fall by £1.1m between 2025-26 and 2026-27, according to figures from tax specialist firm Ryan Tax, falling to £8.7m. Selfridges is expected to pay £622,000 less for its Oxford Street shop, with its business rates bill for the landmark store falling to £8.7m for the 2026-27 year. Tax firm Ryan said this was because of a reduction in the so-called “multiplier” used to calculate business rates, which are a form of property tax. UKHospitality chair Kate Nicholls said: “It’s outrageous that two luxury retail stores are receiving cuts to their business rates running into the millions of pounds, while hard-pressed local pubs, neighbourhood restaurants and coastal hotels are seeing their bills significantly increase. This is a damning example of how the business rates system has not been reformed in a way that delivers the government’s intention to level the playing field to benefit hospitality businesses. The eye-watering increases to business rates that many hospitality businesses are seeing risk further closures and job losses and need to be urgently addressed.” Sir Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoon, said: “Most pub-goers won’t be consoled by princes and potentates paying less for caviar and champagne at Harrods, if that’s the main outcome of the budget.” Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, added: “For too long, pubs have paid a disproportionate business rates bill, as the system fails to reflect the low-margin, cost-intensive nature of our industry. It’s high time the government backs pubs and creates a fair tax system rather than hitting them with yet more costs.”

More than half of pub-goers favouring pre-booking and ordering digitally: New research reveals that pub goers prefer a new style of service – with more than half (55%) leaning towards pre-booking, ordering digitally and forming a line away from the counter as opposed to spreading out across the bar. The new GO Technology report, from hospitality tech provider Zonal, in partnership with CGA by NIQ, shows Generation Z are three times more likely to prefer tech-based ordering and also tend to stay out later, going out from 10pm onwards. Of those who don’t visit pubs, 23% said it’s because they don’t drink alcohol, while 16% cited poor cleanliness and 13% not feeling welcome. Overall, pubs remain an important part of UK culture, with two thirds of adults (69%) thinking pubs play an important role in their communities. Explaining why they love their local, 48% said convenience and community, 47% relaxation, 17% sport and games and 16% culture and character. Tim Chapman, Zonal’s chief commercial officer, said: “This new report demonstrates how the pub habits of the younger generation, such as forming an orderly queue at the bar or leading the way with tech-based preferences, differ from older generations. People’s expectations of pubs are changing, and operators need to consider the needs of its customers and adapt to their preferences.” Karl Chessell, CGA business unit director hospitality operators and food, added: “The demise of the pub is easily overstated. Demand for pubs is still high, and they are core to the UK’s social, economic and cultural lives. But there’s no doubt that this British institution is changing – perhaps faster ever before. For businesses that respond nimbly to shifting behaviour and can broaden their appeal still further, the long-term outlook for pubs remains positive.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a world-class private members club based in Singapore seeking an experienced general manager to lead operations and deliver an exceptional member experience. The successful candidate will have proven track record as a general manager or senior operator within luxury hospitality, members clubs or fine dining, be fluent in English and French, and with exceptional leadership, communication and people management skills. This opportunity offers a salary of up to SGD 250,000 (£145,000). For more information, please contact sharlene@corecruitment.com.

 

Papa Johns signs deal to expand in Northern Ireland: Papa Johns has signed a new franchise agreement with Rana Group which will see 20 new sites open across Northern Ireland over the next decade. The first store under the new partnership opened its doors last week, at 82 Broughshane Street in Ballymena, with a second store to be announced by March 2026. Each new store will create between 15 and 20 jobs, and by the end of the decade, the 20 new stores will have generated up to 400 jobs across Northern Ireland. Papa Johns, which currently operates 450 sites across the UK, said its new franchisee, Rana Abhol, brings more than 25 years of experience in the pizza industry to the new Northern Ireland venture. Having started his career taking phone orders and working his way up to regional operations director for a rival brand based in Northern Ireland, Abhol joined Papa Johns in 2017 and has since built “a strong track record of growth within the business”. He currently operates more than 25 Papa Johns locations across the UK and is “passionate about creating opportunities for local people as the business expands”. Chris Phylactou, managing director UK and Europe at Papa Johns, said: “This new agreement is an exciting milestone for Papa Johns, reinforcing our momentum and long-term vision for sustainably growing in the UK. We are proud to bring our Better Ingredients, Better Pizza ethos to more communities in Northern Ireland and the UK, offering our customers even more opportunities to enjoy the Papa Johns experience. This expansion will create hundreds of local jobs and allow us to play a meaningful role in the communities we serve – not just as a consumer brand, but as a committed partner in local growth and development.” The company said it is continuing to invest in both new store openings in the UK and innovation across its menu and digital platforms. It said Northern Ireland deal reflects the brand’s broader strategy to deliver “high-quality, handcrafted pizzas to more customers while creating local employment and business opportunities in communities throughout the UK”.

 

Soul Mama founder – already in conversations nationwide, strong international interest: YolanDa Brown, the award-winning saxophonist and broadcaster, has told Propel she is already in conversations about taking her live music venue and dining concept, Soul Mama, nationwide – and that the business has already received international interest. Brown 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. The business has also been linked with an opening in Newcastle. She told Propel: “It is our dream to spread love one venue at a time, and we are thrilled to be opening at Westfield Stratford. The Westfield site is designed to build on everything people already love about Soul Mama – live music, great food, warm hospitality and a real sense of community – while giving us more visibility, stronger footfall and the ability to programme more consistently. It will be a vibrant, high-energy home for our signature blend of culture, cuisine and live performance, and a major step forward in our long-term vision of building a network of Soul Mama venues. We are already in conversations nationwide and we are close to announcing our first regional location. Internationally, we have also had very strong interest from Riyadh, Istanbul, Melbourne, Lagos and more, which is incredibly exciting. Our goal is to create a global platform that connects venues, audiences and artists, while building a touring network that helps talent grow across multiple cities, not just one. The music side is essential. People are not only looking for a meal; they are looking for a moment, a memory, a feeling. At Soul Mama, music is not an add on, it is part of the heartbeat of the experience, creating atmosphere, joy and connection, and turning a night out into something people carry with them long after they leave.” 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.

 

Martin Keith to step down as joint MD of BrewDog’s bar division: Martin Keith is to step down as joint managing director of Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog’s bar division, Propel has learned. Propel revealed earlier this year that BrewDog had created a new co-leadership structure for its bars business, which has seen the appointment of joint managing directors. Chris Webb, formerly of the Azzurri Group and Cream Group, who joined BrewDog as global finance director of its bars division in May 2013, was appointed as one of the co-managing directors. At the same time, Keith, who started out as general manager of the group's Kelvingrove bar in Glasgow, and was most recently BrewDog’s brand and projects director, was appointed as the other. It is thought that Webb will now oversee the bars division on his own. Keith said: “After almost 14 years with BrewDog, I’m moving on at the end of this year. From joining as general manager of our third bar at Glasgow Kelvingrove to supporting a whirlwind period of global bar expansion, to eventually stepping into the role of managing director, it’s been genuinely life-changing.” In October, BrewDog announced job cuts across its business after posting a £37m loss last year. It is the fifth year running that the company has posted pre-tax losses – now totalling £148m. Staff were informed about the cuts in an email from chief executive James Taylor. The announcement came after the departure of BrewDog co-founder Martin Dickie and the closure of ten bars across the UK earlier this year.

 

Burgerism to open in high footfall location for the first time, 2026 ‘set to be an interesting year’ as it eyes expansion outside of Manchester: Burgerism is set to open site in a high footfall location for the first time, complete with eat-in offer, in central Manchester – ahead of planned expansion outside of the city – Propel has learned. The north west smash burger concept, which currently trades from three delivery sites and a concession in Freight Island, is to open the new site in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens, in the former Doctor Scooter unit. Co-founder Mark Murphy told Propel: “We’re delighted to announce our forthcoming new opening in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester. We’ve established a cult following from our suburban suite of delivery-focused stores across Greater Manchester, becoming the most ordered burger in the city in the process. However, we’re now set to open in a high footfall location for the first time. We anticipate off-premises dining will remain the core of this store’s operation, but we are also creating space for fans to eat in-house and experience the brand more fully through a considered interior design concept. 2026 is set to be an interesting year in our story; we expect to announce another store opening in the coming months and will look to venture beyond Greater Manchester. We’ve done pop-ups and food-halls but have never launched our core format outside of our home city. For years, we’ve seen a steady stream of fan requests to open in places such as Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham and Sheffield, and so we’re excited to serve more of our fans in their home cities. We continue to fund our expansion through cash flow, and our profitability is driven by our unwavering commitment to both customer and team experience – principles we refuse to compromise as we pursue our path of sustainable growth.” Earlier this spring, Murphy told Propel that the business had begun exploring franchising after thousands of enquires, a strong 2024 and having built the foundations to become a national brand. 

 

KFC and Pret franchisee swings into profit as turnover grows: KFC and Pret franchisee K&Z Holdings swung into a pre-tax profit in the year to 31 March 2025 as its turnover grew. The business, which operates a portfolio of KFC stores across London and the south east and circa 15 Pret stores in Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey, saw a pre-tax profit of £157,702 against a loss of £318,051 the previous year. The company saw its turnover increase from £22,356,359 in 2024 to £28,110,620. Director Shahaz Nanji said. “The development strategy is to continue the implementation of several operational initiatives to drive like-for-like sales and enhance margins. The key areas of continued operational focus include the achievement of high standards of customer service and investment in the training and development of our managers and our teams.”

 

Wingstop makes Ireland debut, adds delivery kitchen to Manchester estate: Wingstop UK, which is backed here by US private equity firm Sixth Street, has opened its debut site in Ireland. The business has opened at the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Dublin. The company said that more restaurants are set to follow across Ireland this year and beyond. Chris Sherriff, chief executive of Wingstop UK & Ireland said: “We’re beyond excited to finally bring Wingstop to Ireland. The energy we’ve already felt has been incredible, and we can’t wait to share flavour with even more people. Ireland’s food and music scene is electric, and we can’t wait to deliver unforgettable flavour experiences.” At the same time, the brand has opened its latest delivery-only kitchen, in Manchester. The business said the opening marks another step in Wingstop UKI’s ambitious growth strategy. The brand currently operates 82 sites across the UK and employs more than 3,000 people, with ambitions to grow to as many as 200 sites within the next five years. Last week, the brand further enhanced its presence in London with an opening on Queensway, in the Bayswater area.

 

Hotel operator Axcel Group reports profit and turnover in line with previous year, set to open new hotel in York: Hotel operator Axcel Group, which operates 13 sites, has reported profit and turnover for the year to 31 December 2024 in line with the previous year. The company’s pre-tax profit dropped slightly from £11,755,025 in 2023 to £11,272,267 while its turnover was up slightly from £42,043,887 to £42,802,118. No dividends were paid (2023: nil). The company is set to add a new hotel in York to its portfolio in 2027. Director Anshu Singh last month posted to social media: “I’m delighted to share that construction is now officially underway at the historic Banana Warehouse site on Piccadilly, York. Set to open in the first quarter of 2027, this exciting project will bring to life a 168-bedroom Tribute by Marriott hotel, complete with a stylish restaurant and bar. The development will celebrate York’s rich heritage, seamlessly blending it with contemporary design and warm hospitality – bringing new energy and opportunity to this iconic part of the city. While the project faced some delays due to the complex demolition process, challenging site accessibility and the appointment of the principal contractor, we’re pleased to have now reached this important milestone with construction officially underway. Looking forward to watching this vision take shape in the months ahead!”

 

GDK opens fourth motorway services area site in partnership with Extra MSA: German Doner Kebab (GDK) has opened a fourth motorway services area location in partnership with Extra MSA. It has opened at Cobham Services on the M25, offering both dine-in and takeaway and creating 40 jobs. It follows launches at Extra MSA locations in Baldock, Cambridge and Peterborough. GDK is also due to this month open a further motorway services area site, at Skelton Lake services on the M1 at junction 45, near Leeds.

 

Midlands pizza business to finish 2015 with 15 stores with four launches in a fortnight: Midlands pizza business Aladdin’s Pizza is set to finish 2015 with 15 stores with four launches in just over a fortnight. The fast-growing company, which was founded in 2012 but started 2025 with just four locations, opened store number 12 at the end of November, at 11 Bloomfield Road in Tipton. This was followed by store number 13 at the weekend, at 61 Weston Road in Stafford. Further openings will follow in the coming weeks, in Netherton and Longbridge. Roman Aslamzadeh, head of operations and franchising at Aladdin’s Pizza, said: “When I look at how far Aladdin’s has come, it reminds me what belief, teamwork, and consistency can achieve. On 30 November, we opened the doors to our 12th store, and not only did it launch smoothly, it delivered record-breaking sales from day one. Moments like this remind me why we keep pushing forward. And the journey continues. This weekend, we opened store 13 in Stafford, then store 14 in Netherton, and on 14 December, we will proudly open Store 15 in Longbridge. That is four new stores in just 15 days – a pace that reflects the ambition and heart behind this brand. We are just getting started. Bring it on!”

 

Pizza Pilgrims opens in King’s Cross, reopens original Soho site: Pizza Pilgrims, the pizzeria brand backed by McWin-backed German pizza and pasta restaurant business L’Osteria, has opened its latest site, in London’s King’s Cross. The new 92-cover, two-floor site has opened at 278-280 Pentonville Road. At the same time, the business, which was founded by brothers Thom and James Elliot, has reopened its original site in Dean Street, Soho, after a full-scale revamp. The revamp comes with an expanded dining area and a redesign inspired by the brothers’ journeys through Italy, complete with a new ‘train carriage’ booth downstairs. Last month, the company opened a 114-cover venue on the former Tapas Revolution site in the Grand Central scheme, in Birmingham. The Gavin Smith-led Pizza Pilgrims currently operates 27 pizzerias across the UK and recently opened inaugural sites in Wales (Cardiff) and Scotland (Edinburgh). A new pizzeria is also due to open in Bristol’s Corn Street.

 

Vagabond Wines opens ‘most ambitious project yet’: Vagabond Wines has opened the UK’s largest urban winery – for what it calls its “most ambitious project yet” – in London’s Canary Wharf. The 6,000 square-foot winery, which has opened at Canada Water, combines Vagabond’s wine bar experience with a fully operational 100-tonne winery led by head winemaker José Quintana. Guests are able to see, smell and taste wine at every stage of its journey while discovering more than 100 wines by the glass from Vagabond’s tap-and-pour machines. The site also features experimental winemaking techniques such as solera ageing and concrete-egg fermenters, alongside event and tasting spaces for up to 300 guests each day. Owner Majestic said the project will form the foundation of Vagabond’s future growth, acting as both a production hub and a flagship for the next phase of expansion. Vagabond said: “This is our most ambitious project yet. Taste wines made right here in the heart of the city, wander among the barrels, book tastings, tours and hands on workshops, or just swing by for a glass and some fondue while watching wine being made in real time. There is also a bespoke range of UK made wines beyond our own.” The company told Propel last month that it was progressing on further sites in London and looking to expand into major cities across the UK. Vagabond, which operates 12 sites in London and Birmingham, has said it is aiming to double its estate over the next five years.

 

Macaron shop brand Ladurée to launch in Mayfair this month and Broadgate in early 2026: Macaron shop brand Ladurée will launch in London’s Mayfair this month and Broadgate in early 2026. First up, Ladurée South Molton, at 37 South Molton Street, which will be the company’s second site in Mayfair and tenth in the capital. This will be followed early next year with a retail boutique within the Broadgate Central development in the City. The company said the openings “form part of Ladurée’s strategic London expansion, following a period of double-digit growth across several boutique openings and pop-ups”. The South Molton Street site will offer Ladurée’s signature range of macarons, pastries, freshly baked viennoiseries, speciality coffees, lattes, curated teas and ice creams. It will have both indoor seating and an outdoor terrace, with eight indoor seats across four tables and 12 outdoor seats across six tables. Mélanie Carron, group chief executive of Maison Ladurée, said: “The opening on South Molton Street marks a meaningful step in Ladurée’s continued expansion across London. This exceptional address allows us to connect with the unique spirit of the Mayfair neighbourhood, offering a refined and intimate space that expresses our vision of a modern Parisian boutique, where heritage, elegance and conviviality come together.” The Broadgate Central retail store, meanwhile, will offer the company’s macarons alongside teas, preserves, biscuits, gift boxes and other treats. Ladurée, which has in excess of 100 boutique stores in more than 20 countries, first came to the UK in 2005. Last year, the company launched a new café format, Ladurée Café, in London’s Notting Hill.

 

State of Play Hospitality adds Minneapolis to 2026 opening pipeline: State of Play Hospitality, the international experiential leisure operator, has added Minneapolis to its 2026 opening pipeline for Flight Club. Set to open in the North Loop, one of the city’s premier live-work-play districts, in late 2026, Flight Club Minneapolis will be the 14th site under the concept in the US. “Minneapolis represents a strategic addition to our growing Flight Club portfolio across North America,” said Toby Harris, chief executive of State of Play Hospitality. “We can’t wait to open alongside so many other top-class restaurant and entertainment concepts in the North Loop.” In October, State of Play Hospitality strengthened its management team by hiring Sergey Zinger as its new chief financial officer and Meg Parker as chief marketing officer. The business, which operates Hijingo and the three-strong Bounce in London, and Flight Club in North America under licence, said the new appointments come as it looks to “step up the pace of growth in North America”. It has venues set to open in Cincinnati, New York, Dallas and Seattle before mid-2026.

 

Rosslyn Coffee to open eighth site: Award-winning coffee business Rosslyn Coffee will open its eighth site in central London tomorrow (Wednesday, 10 December). The concept, which was founded by former Caravan head of wholesale James Hennebry and Mat Russell, will open a 2-9 Ludgate Hill, on a former M&S Food to Go site. Hennebry said: “Mat and I first opened the doors at Rosslyn seven years ago with a view to simply creating the kind of coffee shop that we would want to go to. These sites are now among the busiest specialty coffee shops anywhere in the world. It hasn’t always been an easy ride, but it’s always been worthwhile. This is a great success story for specialty coffee in London, with the expansion of our independent business fully driven by our community.”

 

Center Parcs gets green light for debut Scottish location: Center Parcs has received the green light for its first site in Scotland – and its seventh in the UK and Ireland. Center Parcs first unveiled plans for a £450m village is in the Scottish Borders, approximately three miles north of Hawick, in November 2024. Planning permission has now been granted, meaning detailed design work and tendering processes will now begin, with the aim of beginning work at the site in spring 2026. Should construction progress as anticipated, the company said it is hoped the new village will open in the summer of 2029. The village will feature up to 700 lodges and apartments, a ‘subtropical swimming paradise’, a village centre with shops and restaurants and an ‘aqua sana forest spa’. Other key aspects include a newly planted forest, two newly created lochs designed for water sports and recreation, and a nature and heritage centre with wildflower meadows, nature trails and wetlands. The destination will create jobs for more than1,200 people and is expected to contribute £75m each year to the Scottish Borders economy. Center Parcs chief executive Colin McKinlay said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have secured planning permission for the creation of our seventh Center Parcs village. Center Parcs Scottish Borders will allow us to reach a new market, attracting families from across Scotland and the north of England who may not have previously considered a Center Parcs break. We know there is strong demand, and this village will meet it with a modern offer that reflects what families want from a premium short break. We’re also pleased to confirm that the new village will be named Center Parcs Scottish Borders. We explored a range of options, but this was the name we kept returning to. Put simply, we want the village to be an anchor destination that draws visitors to this wonderful region – and we believe this name will help do exactly that.”

 

Australian-style sushi concept Rolled opens Sheffield site: Australian-style sushi concept Rolled, which opened its debut site last summer, has continued its roll out with an opening in Sheffield. The business has opened its “biggest and best kiosk yet” in the city’s Meadowhall scheme, its fourth site overall. Rolled made its London debut earlier this summer, at the new Market Place site in St Paul’s. The business opened its debut site at the Trafford Centre in Manchester last August, with the sushi to-go kiosk based in Lower Orient. Rolled then opened a second site in the city, in the Arndale centre, in the Upper Mall. Rolled founder Adam Miller said: “What a launch week we’ve just had in Sheffield at Meadowhall. We’ve taken all our learnings from the past 15 months to create what is our biggest and best kiosk yet. Customers can now enjoy the theatre of Aussie-style sushi being freshly made right in front of their eyes. We've already generated over 1.5m views on social media in the past week and the response from South Yorkshire locals has been overwhelmingly positive.”

 

Italian restaurant concept Pranzo planning to open in a new city each year: Pranzo, the Italian restaurant concept, has said it is planning to open in a new city each year, as it looks to expand outside of Yorkshire. Pranzo opened its fourth site earlier this year and now has restaurants in Ilkley, Harrogate, Horsforth and York. Founder Marco Greco told Business Insider he has recently looked at Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool for his next opening. Greco, who opened his first restaurant in 2018, said: “We are in a good position where we can negotiate really well because a lot of property owners in the city centres just won’t look at a new start company. We’ve opened four restaurants and that is helping us negotiate, and each opening now gets easier.” He added: “People are dining out less but treating themselves when they do come out. We incentivise our staff to increase the spend per head, which is why we do wet wine tasters at every table. If you order a primitivo (southern Italian red wine), we’ll bring you three red wines to try. Customers love being able to try their wine before they buy it, and generally for us, it helps to sell a nicer one. The menus have been adapted to suit quiet times and get bums on seats. We made a new lunch menu which had three pastas and sandwiches. It is for those who don't want a heavy lunch, and it has helped get people through the door, have a look around and then bring friends back at the weekend.”

 

North east bar and hotel group Ramside Estates acquires former hotel at Teesside airport: North east bar and hotel group Ramside Estates has acquired a former hotel at Teesside airport. The company, which is behind Ramside Hall Hotel, Hardwick Hall Hotel and The Impeccable Pig in the region, is now set to breathe new life into the former St George Hotel, which closed in 2018. It has agreed a 150-year lease for the site and will look to create a hotel with a conference and banqueting centre. Ramside Estates owner John said: “I’m hugely excited to have secured this agreement and the major opportunity this site provides. The appeal of the hotel can be seen in what’s happening in the wider Teesside area when it comes to projects like the freeport, the airport’s growth and the prospect of more flights in the future.” Phil Forster, managing director of Teesside airport, added: “To have the Ramside name backing the hotel is a huge boost. We can now open a new chapter on the hotel’s future, with some exciting plans to come in the not-to-distant future.” In September, Ramside Estates reported turnover increased to £37,159,024 for the year ending 30 November 2024 compared with £35,634,220 the previous year. Pre-tax profit was up to £2,629,374 from £2,238,355 the year before following a reversal of bad debt provision of £1,026,606.

 

Zetter Group to open new site in London’s Bloomsbury in March: Central London hotel and townhouse operator Zetter Group will open its new site in London’s Bloomsbury in March 2026. The company, which operates Marrables Hotel and Zetter townhouses in Clerkenwell and Marylebone, acquired two adjacent properties near Russell Square for £31m in May 2023. Zetter Bloomsbury will now occupy 13,760 square feet across six Georgian townhouses, offering 68 bedrooms – each with marble-finished bathrooms and walk-in showers. The ground floor will feature The Parlour, serving light refreshments and cocktails throughout the day; The Orangery, offering breakfast, aperitifs and small plates as well as private events; and a fully equipped gym with a dedicated outdoor yoga space. “This represents a natural evolution for us," said Kevin Rockey, The Zetter’s managing director operations Europe. “With The Zetter Bloomsbury, we’ve captured something essential about the neighbourhood’s creative and intellectual character, shaping a design that feels deeply rooted in history yet refreshingly contemporary.”

 

Little Teapot Taverns to double up in London: Little Teapot Taverns has secured its second pub in central London after acquiring the leasehold of The Arbitrager in the City, off an asking price of £100,000. Little Teapot Taverns, which is owned by Tony and Catherine Bennett, also operates the Devereux in Temple. The company plans to bring a “refreshed yet authentic experience at one of the Square Mile’s most recognisable pubs”. Former lease owner Paul Matthew said: “Pub and bar ownership isn’t for the faint hearted, and requires energy and focus. After 19 years, ours had become directed elsewhere, and at this challenging time for hospitality, we decided to call it.” The Bennetts added: “We loved resurrecting the Devereux back into a traditional London pub, and we can't wait to do the same with the Arbitrager. It'’ a privilege to be able to take on such a special site in the heart of the City.” David Wilson, associate director at Christie & Co, acted on The Arbitrager deal.