Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters eyes UK-wide rollout and international opportunities after launching franchise programme: Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters, the London-based cafe concept, is eyeing a UK-wide rollout and international opportunities after launching a franchise programme. The company, which was founded by brothers Victor and Santiago Gamboa and their friend Adnan Millwala in 2018, currently has ten locations in the capital – in Stratford, King’s Cross, Portobello Road, Barnes, Walworth, Hackney, Victoria, Walthamstow, Whitechapel and Aldgate. The company, which won best multiple operator (10–50 stores) and best independent coffee shop (for the Portobello Road site) at this year’s London Coffee Festival, is seeking multi-site operators for “UK-wide and international opportunities”. It said the brothers, who grew up in Colombia, have forged direct relationships with farmers in the country, “giving franchise partners a critical commercial advantage through improved product margins and a fully traceable supply chain”. A spokesman said: “Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters is expanding its footprint across the UK as demand for ethically sourced, high-quality coffee continues to rise. After seven years and ten thriving London locations, the brand is opening franchise opportunities across the country, inviting partners to join a model rooted in farm-to-cup transparency and award-winning quality. Inside each shop, Hermanos blends vibrant Colombian culture with a modern specialty coffee experience. In addition to expertly crafted coffees, their locations include thoughtfully designed retail points, offering single-origin beans and brewing equipment to encourage customers to recreate the Hermanos experience at home – expanding revenue potential and brand reach beyond the café counter. The timing couldn’t be stronger for prospective franchise partners. Recent industry reports show the UK specialty coffee market is growing with a projected CAGR of 10%+ over the next five years. People are increasingly choosing quality, craftsmanship and meaningful origin stories over generic offerings. This rapid growth, fuelled by consumers seeking transparent sourcing and premium experiences, positions Hermanos perfectly to meet this demand.” Co-founder Victor Gamboa said: “From the beginning, Hermanos has been about sharing the coffee, culture, and community we grew up with in Colombia. Opening franchising means we can bring more people into the journey.” Co-founder Santiago Gamboan added: “Roasting our own coffee gives us a level of consistency and excellence that sets us apart. It will also create huge value for our franchise partners, who know they are serving coffee with a story, a face and a direct connection back to our friends in Colombia.” Hermanos Columbian Coffee Roasters will feature in the next UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, which is exclusive to Premium Club subscribers. The latest edition features 380 companies. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Boxcar co-founder Ankur Wishart among speakers at 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Ankur Wishart, co-founder of Boxcar, will be among the speakers at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Wishart will share how it is building a multi-faceted collection under one brand. He will reveal how Boxcar is expanding with a family of neighbourhood concepts rooted in quality, consistency and the kind of hospitality that keeps regulars coming back. 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 updated Turnover & Profits Blue Book tomorrow: Premium Club subscribers will receive the updated Turnover & Profits Blue Book tomorrow (Friday, 12 December), at noon. 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 meets MPs to warn of ‘looming crisis’ over business rates: UKHospitality met with several MPs in parliament yesterday (Wednesday, 10 December) to warn of a “looming crisis” over business rates ands put forward the sector’s case. The trade body said it held around 40 meetings to speak to MPs about the effect of the business rates increases announced in last month’s Budget and its calls for action. Notable MPs included shadow chancellor Mel Stride, Nigel Huddleston, Daisy Cooper, Damien Hinds and Caroline Voaden, as well as Labour MPs Emma Lewell, Justin Madders, Alistair Strathern and Rachael Maskell. UKHospitality chair Kate Nicholls said: “It was incredibly valuable to speak to so many MPs from all sides of the House about the impact of the Budget on hospitality. Hospitality businesses are seeing significant increases in their business rates bills, which could further accelerate business closures, job losses and price increases. This will affect all MPs and their constituents. The package of transitional relief is welcome, but it doesn’t insulate businesses from sharp hikes in business rates bills across all three years. With pubs seeing increases of 76% and hotels 115%, this is unsustainable and unaffordable. I hope all the MPs we met with will support our calls for the government to act to avert this looming crisis, by either increasing the business rates discount for hospitality to the full 20p or freezing rateable values for hospitality businesses at 2023 levels.”

 

Pub and restaurant owners ban Labour MPs over business rates row: Labour MPs have been barred from dozens of pubs and restaurants across Britain as part of a backlash against high taxes. The Telegraph reports that stickers reading “No Labour MPs” have been affixed to windows and doors by owners furious at a rise in business rates. The campaign was started last week by Andy Lennox, founder of Fired Up Collective, the Nusara and West Wessex Pub Company operator and founder of the Koh Thai brand. He said about 50 venues have pledged to ban Labour MPs. “It’s springing up in different towns,” said Lennox. “By the end of the week, it will be all over the place. We’re getting requests from across the UK for stickers and advice on how to get involved.” Lennox said his projected rates bill was set to more than double in the next two years. “I don’t think the Labour government understands what they’re doing,” he said. “They’re taxing hospitality into extinction and dressing it up as cutting rates and helping us.” James Fowler, who runs the Larder House in Bournemouth, has also banned Labour MPs from his restaurant, including his local MP, Tom Hayes. He said: “I told Tom it wasn’t personal. He’s a great local MP – I voted for him – but this isn’t a local issue. We set this up so it could go national. We want people talking across the whole country – and I don’t mind putting my neck on the line.” Rick Cressman, who has banned Labour MPs from the Nailcote Hotel in Warwickshire, said he was forced to cut the number of young people he employed by 25% after last year’s budget. He said: “They push up the costs of employing young people and then say they’re funding training programmes for young people, including in hospitality. Why do everything you can to wreck the industry, then throw hundreds of millions at job creation in it? It makes no sense – it’s bonkers. Why should we welcome them into our venues when they give us nothing we ask for? I don’t think anyone in the industry should welcome a Labour MP through their doors until they start listening.”

Lussmanns founder – the government needs to be supportive of small businesses: Andrei Lussmann, founder and managing director of Lussmanns, the independent brasserie group backed by sector investor Luke Johnson, has said that the government needs to be supportive of what he called “the incubators of tax – small businesses”. Speaking after hosting a roundtable of restaurateurs, publicans and café owners, alongside MP Daisy Cooper, in St Albans, Lussmann said: “I’ve been banging the drum for a little while now about the urgent need for both the public and government to support independent high street businesses or risk losing them. It is the perfect storm of a demoralised high street, a cost-of-living crisis coupled with the pitfalls and potholes of the last ten to 15 years. Business rates have been broken for some time. The government has promised to renew it and review it, but they have essentially ignored it. You’ve now got great independent businesses, small businesses, which are more than half of all our high streets, asking ‘can we take the risk?’ All wondering whether making 0% to 5% net profit is now worth it. The government needs to be supportive of the incubators of tax – small businesses. For now, all I see is my colleagues in this industry closing hours, closing days, reducing staff – and that’s why half of all the employees in the UK who have lost their jobs in the last year are in hospitality. We won't engineer the change we need alone, so coming together and raising our voices as one must be the way forward if we're to ensure the government hears us, listens and turns warm words into cold hard action.”

Henry Dimbleby – ‘era of selling high volumes of cheap, low-nutrition products ending, opportunities for companies that offer real nutrition’: Henry Dimbleby, co-founder of healthy fast food chain Leon and chair of venture capital firm Bramble Venture Partners, has argued that the rise of appetite suppressants will end the era of “selling high volumes of cheap, low-nutrition products” – while opening opportunities for companies that offer “real nutrition”. Writing in The Financial Times, Dimbleby said: “Thousands of column inches have been written about how these drugs are reshaping the lifestyles of the affluent, but there has been less on the commercial shockwave they are about to unleash – and the risks and opportunities that will come with it. This year, for the first time ever, the total volume of food sold in the US fell, and this is only the start. For decades, food producers and consumers have been locked in what I call the junk food cycle. Food companies, driven by commercial incentives, have become expert at developing and marketing products that hit the ‘bliss point’ of sugar, salt and fat. We eat more of this junk food, so they produce more. They make more profits; we get sicker. FMCG manufacturers will feel it first. In retail, convenience stores – where margins depend on sweets, salty snacks, vapes, cigarettes, alcohol and lottery tickets – are likely to be the hardest hit. There is now evidence that appetite suppressants reduce our desire for the first five of these; research is underway to understand whether they also dampen the urge to gamble. That has profound implications. The entire convenience model, and the FMCG giants that supply it, rests on the assumption that we struggle to say no. Their economics depend on the dopamine loop. These new drugs break that loop. If you remove our cravings for sugar, fat, salt, nicotine and alcohol, you don’t just dent sales, you undermine the business model. Something else needs to fill that shelf space. The era of selling high volumes of cheap, low-nutrition products is drawing to a close. And this creates space for companies that pivot to ‘value per bite’ – offering real nutrition to people who are finally back in control of their appetites – to thrive.”

Pret pays compensation after allergic woman died eating wrap: Pret A Manger will pay more than £300,000 to the family of a woman with a milk allergy who died after eating a wrap. Celia Marsh, a 42-year-old mother of five, was killed in December 2017 by a severe reaction to a flatbread with traces of dairy. Pret’s “super-veg rainbow” wrap included yoghurt that had been labelled as vegan but was later found to contain milk products. Mrs Marsh’s family will be paid £1.25m compensation after Andy Marsh, her widower, agreed an out-of-court settlement. Mr Marsh began a High Court compensation claim against Pret and Planet Coconut, which made the yoghurt. Approving the settlement, Master Mark Gidden, the judge, was told that Pret would be responsible for 25% of the payout, with Planet Coconut’s insurers liable for the rest. After an inquest in 2022, Maria Voisin, the senior coroner for Avon, blamed Mrs Marsh’s death on the contaminated sandwich, writing: “A product which is marked ‘dairy-free’ should be free from dairy. The contamination arose because an ingredient in the yoghurt called HG1 had become cross-contaminated with milk protein during its manufacture. The manufacturer of the dairy free yoghurt had in its possession documents which flagged this risk, but this risk was not passed on to its customers.” A spokesman for Pret told The Telegraph: “We can confirm that Pret has contributed to a settlement with Celia Marsh’s family. While we know this will never make up for the death of Celia, we wanted to play our part in resolving this and help the family move on from this tragedy.”

 

AlixPartners – consumers entering 2026 with heightened caution and renewed focus on financial discipline: Heightened caution and a renewed focus on financial discipline characterise the global consumer environment as we enter 2026, according to the latest Global Consumer Outlook report from AlixPartners. The advisory firm’s latest data, from more than 13,000 consumers, reveals a deepening frugality, with the anticipated global net intent for reduced spending reaching -18 percentage points (ppts) – more than 60% greater than last year’s projected contraction. The report said this shift highlights the persistent economic uncertainty that is shaping consumer priorities, as inflationary pressures and muted wage growth continue to constrain disposable income across demographics, albeit varied by individual country. It found that notably, the traditionally resilient group of high-income earners is signalling a potential pullback in overall spending, reflecting the broad reach of today’s financial headwinds. It said: “Globally, a contraction in net spending on eating and drinking out (encompassing restaurants, pubs and bars) is predicted by consumers, to the tune of -21 ppts, second only to non-food retail. Consumers in the Middle East represent the only region to report they will spend more next year in this category (up 6 ppts). However, there remains much of the consumer market to go after for hospitality operators. Despite the headline worldwide contraction, 64% of consumers still say they intend to spend at least as much as last year, leaving significant opportunity for operators to capture share. Age differences matter, too, with younger consumers generally maintaining their spend levels – 71% of under-35s expect to spend the same or more, which grows to 73% for 18-24s. Similarly, higher-income groups also plan to maintain or increase spending in this category, making a sharpened focus on offerings that meet the needs of these differing consumer groups a priority for operators. Consumers are not just spending less – they are spending smarter. 30% of consumers globally say recent purchases in non-food retail mean they simply do not need more.” When asked how consumers will reduce spend on eating and drinking out, 61% said they will eat at home more, 40% will reduce the number of times they dine out at restaurants, 20% will reduce the number of times they go to the pub or bar, 19% will buy less frequently on-the-go and 16% will reduce the number of times they order delivery from restaurants.

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a leading food business looking for a procurement manager to join its team. The successful candidate will be responsible for shaping its procurement strategy, driving value and ensuring operational resilience across all non-food categories. This includes areas such as marketing services, facilities management, utilities, technology, professional services, packaging and operational supplies. The salary will be up to £60,000. For more information, please contact mikey@corecruitment.com.

 

Brava Hospitality Group backer – there is scope for up to 40 Jamie’s Italians, we are backing brands that add cultural and community value to high streets: Cain, the global investment firm led by Jonathan Goldstein, which backs Prezzo Italian operator Brava Hospitality Group, believes there is scope “for up to 40 UK restaurants over time” through its new partnership with Jamie’s Italian. Propel revealed last week that chef Jamie Oliver was to relaunch his Jamie’s Italian brand in the UK next year after signing a partnership deal with Brava Hospitality Group. The first site under the partnership will see a new flagship Jamie’s Italian open at Irving Street, Leicester Square, next spring. Oliver launched the first Jamie’s Italian restaurant with his Italian mentor, chef Gennaro Contaldo, in Oxford in 2008. The concept was initially a major success, and at one point expanded to circa 40 sites across the UK, before it began closing sites in 2017 and fell into administration in 2019. Cain said: “The addition of Jamie’s Italian represents a significant step for Brava and the wider UK casual dining landscape. The expansion is expected to create more than 500 jobs, with scope for up to 40 UK restaurants over time. Brava Hospitality was established in September 2025 to back and scale UK hospitality brands with community resonance and strong growth potential, following the successful repositioning of Prezzo to Prezzo Italian. Prezzo Italian will continue its rollout of the refreshed concept as a part of the repositioning, while Brava Hospitality is expected to add additional dining brands in the coming years as the platform expands.” Goldstein said: “With Brava, we are backing brands that add cultural and community value to high streets across the country. Jamie Oliver has expanded the way people and families engage with food in Britain and has built a global brand with enduring appeal that we believe will translate strongly across UK high streets. We are thrilled to partner with him in bringing Jamie’s Italian back as part of Brava’s growth strategy.”

Zocalo – there are massive opportunities for growth of Mexican food in the UK, ‘learnt a lot’ from first foray into UK market: Einar Örn Einarsson, founder and chief executive of Sweden-based Mexican fast-food restaurant brand Zocalo, has told Propel that there are “massive opportunities for growth of Mexican food in the UK”. Founded in 2002, Zocalo has been franchising since 2016 and currently has 11 franchisees across Denmark (master franchise with eight restaurants and one sub-franchise), Sweden (master franchise with ten restaurants and seven sub-franchises), Iceland (11 corporate restaurants) and Ireland (master franchisee with one restaurant). Einarsson said the brand is “looking for multi-unit franchisees to help us grow the market like we have in the Nordics”. Speaking at the Propel Franchisor Showcase, he said: “There are massive opportunities for growth of Mexican food in the UK. When we started in 2002 there were no concepts like this there. In the UK, there are 115 major brand Mexican restaurants for a population of 69,000,000 – so 1.7 per million. In Denmark, it’s 13 for a population of 6,000,000 – so 2.2 per million. In Ireland its 46 for a population of 7,815,000 – so 6.4 per million. In Iceland its 12 for a population of 391,000 – so 30.7 per million. We’re just getting started but I think there’s a big opportunity. I think a lot of chains in the market are doing pretty much the same things, while we’re trying to do it in a different way. I think we can be very successful here.” Einarsson also said Zocalo ‘learnt a lot’ from its first foray into the UK market. The brand signed an initial master franchise deal in 2022, and the following year opened a restaurant in London’s Soho, followed by a debut regional site in Birmingham, but both sites are now closed. Einarsson said: “We learnt a lot. We had a franchisee here a couple of years ago, but it didn’t go well. We’ve been franchising for such a long time that we have some that have worked well and some not so well. It’s always a matter of finding the right partner and the right location. The response in Ireland has been good.” Zocalo 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 Zocalo video going out at 9am today (Thursday, 11 December).

Gaucho promotes Zack Charilaou to commercial director, Christmas bookings up 40%: Gaucho, the Baton Berisha-led restaurant group, has promoted Zack Charilaou to commercial director. Charilaou originally joined the business as a bartender in November 2007. During his time with the company, he has been a sommelier, wine director, operations director, and for the past two years, has been director of business development. It comes as the brand said it enters the festive season with strong momentum, reporting Christmas bookings up 40% year-on-year. Over the last three months, the business has also delivered 5.5% year-on-year growth, marking its second consecutive robust quarter. Gaucho chief executive Berisha said: “Zack has demonstrated exceptional vision and integrity, making him the ideal choice for commercial director. His promotion reflects his outstanding contributions, and I look forward to the continued impact he will bring to Gaucho.” Last month, as the 20-strong business launched its new Christmas advertising campaign, Berisha said: “At Gaucho, we don’t just speak about progress, we're experiencing it. The brand is moving with clarity, purpose and renewed energy, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team whose dedication continues to drive this momentum.”

JKS Restaurants brings Gymkhana to US with Las Vegas debut: Gymkhana, the two-Michelin-starred London restaurant from JKS Restaurants, has made its stateside debut at Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Established in partnership with MGM Resorts International, the 175-cover venue is the first Indian restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip. MGM Resorts’ chief content, hospitality and development officer Ari Kastrati said: “Bringing Gymkhana to Aria has been years in the making, and we are honoured to have this prestigious restaurant as part of our culinary portfolio. We have partnered with the JKS team to deliver a best-in-class lifestyle experience for our guests, one that will not only elevate the city's food and beverage landscape but also bring an exciting new energy to The Strip's fine dining scene.” Pavan Pardasani, global chief executive at JKS Restaurants, added: “We are grateful to work alongside renowned culinary leadership at MGM Resorts as we open Gymkhana in Las Vegas, one of the world's premier food cities. Aria is the perfect stage for the restaurant's next chapter as we share the brand’s deeply rooted Indian hospitality with a global audience that values exceptional cuisine, first-class service and memorable dining experiences.” The original Gymkhana opened in Mayfair in 2013. JKS will open its second US restaurant at the start of next year, when it launches the Ambassadors Clubhouse in Manhattan’s NoMad neighbourhood.

Mapal hires new CEO, founder becomes chairman: Hospitality technology provider Mapal Group has hired a new chief executive, while founder Jorge Lurueña has become chairman. Christian Fleck has joined as chief executive after more than two decades of senior leadership roles across global software, technology and information services. Most recently, he led the recruitment division at The Access Group, and prior to that, served as managing director for LexisNexis in the UK, Ireland and Pacific regions. Edouard Guigou, partner at Eurazeo, said: “Christian’s deep experience leading global technology and software organizations, coupled with his proven track record of driving transformation and scale, makes him exceptionally well-suited to guide Mapal through its next phase of growth.” In his new role as chairman, Lurueña, who founded Mapal in 2007, will continue to provide guidance on product strategy and support M&A initiatives. “This leadership transition marks an important milestone for Mapal,” he said. “Christian’s leadership and experience will be invaluable as we scale to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding customer base. I look forward to supporting him as chairman and continuing to shape Mapal’s strategy and product innovation for the years ahead.”

SushiDog to make regional debut next month: Quick service sushi roll concept SushiDog will make its regional debut at the end of next month (Saturday, 31 January), in Birmingham. As revealed by Propel in October, the business, which earlier this year secured a further £1.3m of funding from backer Middleton Enterprises, with plans to reach 40 sites in the next five years and build a national presence, will open a site in the city’s Bullring centre. The site, located on the upper level of the shopping centre, will feature seating for up to 20 guests and a takeaway counter. “We can’t wait to open our first regional site in Birmingham,” said Greg Ilsen, co-founder of SushiDog. “The city’s creative, energetic food culture is a perfect match for SushiDog, and the Bullring is always buzzing. We’re excited to finally bring our fresh, fun approach to sushi to the Midlands.” The 12-strong business recently opened sites in Brent Cross shopping centre, north west London, and in King’s Cross. Earlier this summer, SushiDog told Propel: “We’re looking to build out from London with satellite cities such as Cambridge, Oxford and Birmingham before expanding further afield. We still see significant expansion opportunities in London.”

Loungers adds Ludlow site to 2026 opening pipeline: Café bar operator Loungers, which is backed by Fortress Investment Group, has added a site in Ludlow, Shropshire, to its 2026 opening pipeline. The Nick Collins-led business, which opened its latest Lounge site in Bradley Stoke – Palomo Lounge – yesterday (Wednesday, 10 December), has secured the grade II-listed The George on the town’s Castle Square. Pietro Lounge will open next month (Wednesday, 28 January). Hux Norman, senior acquisitions manager at Loungers, said: “The George sits in an absolute prime location in the town centre, overlooking both the market square and providing return frontage onto the main town car park. We have wanted to find a site in Ludlow for ten years or so but had yet to find that perfect mix of historic building, pitch and operational capability. We believe that this building ticks all those boxes.” The sale process was managed by James Dodd and Tim Widdows at Christie & Co. Loungers currently operates circa 265 Lounge sites. Last month, Alex Reilley, chairman of Loungers, told Propel that there remained a firm belief in the business that there could be 600 Lounges in the UK, and that “we’re not even half of the way there yet”.

Chopstix opens first site in Sheffield: Fast-growing, quick service restaurant brand Chopstix has opened its first site in Sheffield city centre, in the recently redeveloped Fargate area of the city. Launching today (Thursday, 11 December), the Fargate site is the latest in a flurry of openings for Chopstix in Yorkshire, with the county and the wider region identified as a significant opportunity for growth for the business. The opening creates 15 jobs for locals and marks the next step in a busy period of expansion for Chopstix in the north and north east, having opened other stores in Doncaster, York and Leeds in the last three months. With more than 160 locations across the UK, Chopstix Group has seen rapid growth following investment from European quick service restaurant operator, QSRP last October. Rob Burns, marketing director for Chopstix, said: “As one of the most vibrant shopping and dining destinations in the area, Sheffield’s Fargate, which is undergoing an exciting regeneration, feels like a great opportunity for us. It’s been another remarkable year for Chopstix as we’ve continued to average a store opening every two weeks.”

 

Popeyes opens first drive-thru in the West Midlands, joins Five Guys at Coventry scheme: Popeyes UK, the TDR Capital-backed business, has opened its first drive-thru site in the West Midlands, in Coventry. The brand, which opened its 100th site in the UK last month in London Bridge station, has opened a new 2,281 square-foot, 90-cover site at the Arena Shopping Park. With only four drive-thru sites in the UK, Popeyes said it is expanding its model across the country. Simultaneously, Five Guys has also opened a new drive-thru at the scheme, after taking a 3,100 square-foot unit, with up to 65 additional seats inside and 36 outside. Neil Williamson, chief operating officer at Popeyes UK, said: “We're excited to be opening a new drive-thru restaurant at Arena Shopping Park. Locations like this give us access to a diverse catchment area with excellent connections, allowing us to serve even more of the local community. We look forward to bringing our famous Louisiana fried chicken to another part of the West Midlands this December.” Popeyes launched in the UK in 2021 and has opened 46 restaurants so far this year and expects this to be near 50 by the end of 2025.

Encore Bars Group adds city centre bar to its Edinburgh estate: Edinburgh hospitality operator Encore Bars Group has added The Globe Bar to its growing city centre portfolio. The business said it will keep The Globe, which is on the city’s Niddry Street, running in its current format and name through the festive period before closing after Hogmanay for a full refurbishment. It is expected to reopen in February 2025 with a new concept. Encore Bars currently operates several venues across the capital, including The Boston Bar on Hanover Street, Freddy’s on Frederick Street, and Westside Rodeo on George Street. Edward Fox, director at Encore Bars, said: “We are delighted to be setting some roots in the Old Town for our expanding group. We have been looking for the right venue and definitely feel we have found it at The Globe. We can’t wait to add our personality and touch to the venue in the New Year, aiming to open in February 2025 with our next concept. In the meantime, it is business as usual.”

Chef Anthony Demetre launches ‘evolution’ of his Michelin-starred Wild Honey restaurant within central London hotel: Chef Anthony Demetre has launched an “evolution” of his Michelin-starred Wild Honey restaurant within a central London hotel. Hive by Wild Honey has opened within Sofitel London St James, including a small lounge to enjoy a drink before dinner. The Hive by Wild Honey makes use of honey harvested from the hotel’s rooftop beehives, incorporating this throughout a menu which “reflects Anthony’s British roots elevated with French culinary techniques”, with “ingredient-led and seasonally driven dishes”. New dishes include Isle of Orkney hand-dived scallop with white vermouth, XO sauce and sea herb salad; Scottish hare ‘royale’; grilled rare breed sirloin of beef with crisp Anna potatoes, salsify and bordelaise sauce; and Lancashire cheese ‘farinette’ with heritage beetroot, crab apple and preserved pinecone. Demetre, who in Septermber also launched The Elizabeth in London’s Belgravia with publican Hubert Beatson-Hird, said: “The Hive by Wild Honey represents many of the things I love about hospitality; warmth, generosity and a connection to nature. I wanted to create a space that has the spirit of Wild Honey St James but with its own identity and on a more personal level.”

London grilled cheese toastie concept opens third site with BoxHall launch: London grilled cheese toastie concept Melt has opened its third site after launching at BoxHall’s Liverpool Street location. The brand, which offers signature toasties and house-made dips, first launched in Old Spitalfields Market two years ago, and earlier this year opened a second site, at leisure venue operator Stack’s St James’ venue in Newcastle. It has now opened a takeaway kitchen at the entrance of BoxHall Liverpool Street, offering sandwiches including a new item exclusive to the venue called The Boxer – featuring smoked pulled pork, maple mustard, Melt cheddar mozzarella blend, Kansas BBQ sauce and candied jalapenos, served with a pot of house coleslaw. Founder Tom Pepper said: “We’ve built an incredible community at Old Spitalfields Market, and we’re excited to bring our toasties, dips and big flavours to a whole new crowd in the heart of the City. We can’t wait to fire up the grill and serve Liverpool Street its new favourite melt.”

London patisserie and café concept set to double up with Marylebone launch: London patisserie and café concept Le Choux is set to double up by launching its second site, in Marylebone. Paris-trained pastry chef Abigail Scheuer opened the first Le Choux in 2016, at 332 Ladbroke Grove in Notting Hill. He has now secured a 1,200 square-foot site at 3 Loxton Walk, within the Portman Estate. Launching in the spring, it will offer French-inspired choux pastries and desserts including signature cream-filled choux buns, gourmet cakes and cookies. Also launching at Loxton Walk will be luxury boutique pilates and wellness studio X-Club, which will open a 4,000 square-foot flagship at 102 George Street. The space will feature two group exercise studios, a gym space with a dedicated therapy room and an infrared sauna, and an X-Nourish café. Opening early in 2026, it will join the existing X-Club locations in Notting Hill and Mayfair, and a partnership with White City House. Meanwhile, opening in the spring will be Iris Avenue, a hybrid beauty salon and cocktail bar, expanding from its debut Fitzrovia site with a 1,400 square-foot location at 7 Loxton Walk. Founded by Amanda Lee in 2021, Iris Avenue combines luxury beauty services with coffees and smoothies during the day, and craft cocktails by night. Puja Dowlani, retail associate director at The Portman Estate, said: “This is such a diverse collection of exceptional brands that we are excited to welcome to Loxton Walk. Le Choux will further elevate the increasingly competitive food and beverage offering in Marylebone, while X-Club and Iris Avenue will provide distinct and sought-after wellness experiences for our local community and visitors.”

Italian-born chef Dara Klein confirms permanent London home for trattoria concept will launch in January: Italian-born chef Dara Klein has confirmed the permanent home in London for her Tiella Trattoria concept, in partnership with Ry Jessup, co-founder of both Homeslice and The Plimsoll in Finsbury Park, will open next month. Tiella Trattoria & Bar will open at 109 Columbia Road in mid-January. Klein and Jessup are childhood family friends who have reunited through London’s hospitality scene, with Jessup joining as co-owner and general manager. The restaurant marks a new chapter for Klein, following her residency at The Compton Arms in Islington. Set within a beautiful 175-year-old former Victorian pub, it will feature a 15-seat bar and a 30-cover dining room connected by an open kitchen, and in the warmer months, a front terrace seating 20 guests. Sample dishes include Chicken Milanese with green apple, celery, fennel, creme fraiche and fresh herbs, and bay leaf panna cotta with blood oranges. The wine list is being created in partnership with Dara’s father, Richard Klein of Artigiano Imports, while there will be three beers on tap and a short, seasonal cocktail list. Klein said: “We’re starting small, but as the restaurant unfurls, the menu will grow and adapt. I hope to cook here for decades, so we’re taking baby steps – seeing what resonates and listening to the locals. Once we’ve found our rhythm, we’ll roll out Sunday specials, set lunches and celebratory evenings.”

Chef Phil Howard to open City of London Notto site before Christmas: Michelin-starred London chef Phil Howard will open the City of London site for his pasta bar concept, Notto, before Christmas. Propel revealed in June that Howard – who is behind Elystan Street, Church Road, and Kitchen W8 – was planning to open his third Notto site, at 1 Broadgate, under the name Notto to Go. It will now open on Monday, 22 December, offering a smaller, more grab-and-go version of the concept. In October, Julian Dyer, who co-founded Notto with Howard, told Propel: “We have been working on this format for 18 months. Consumers want value for money, they want theatre and they want a quality offer. We believe this new format can provide all three for a more time-constrained consumer. This new concept is designed for busy professionals who value both speed and quality.” 

 

MasterChef winner Alex Webb to launch debut restaurant tomorrow: Alex Webb, winner of 2020 MasterChef The Professionals, will launch his debut restaurant, in Wimbledon Village, south west London, tomorrow (Friday, 12 December). Following a long-term restaurant residency at the Intercontinental London Park Lane and various pop-ups and private dining events, Webb will launch Orion on the former Lighthouse restaurant site, in The Ridgeway. “There's nothing like this in the area, and it really needs it,” Webb told Hardens. “There'll be a raw bar at the front with oysters on ice lobster and king crabs, so guests can start with a glass of champagne here. There'll be a chef's counter overlooking the open kitchen, a private dining room seating 12 and the main dining room with 55 covers. We're seafood-led, with a menu including whole fish to share, but there will also be steaks to share and a selection of specials that will depend on what my suppliers have. We'll also be doing lunches, when there will be set two-course and three-course menus.”

 

Hand-pulled noodles and soups concept to open in London’s Chinatown tomorrow: The team behind Hong Kong-style café The Eight and Pan-Asian concept YiQi will launch SanHao, a restaurant focused on hand-pulled noodles and soups, in London's Chinatown tomorrow (Friday, 12 December). Opening at 3 Gerrard Street, San Hao, which will be housed in a 3,000 square-foot unit, will focus on traditional hand-pulled noodle dishes as well as cooked to order, pan-fried buns. Keng Yew Leong, founder of San Hao, said: “San Hao's debut in Chinatown London marks another successful collaboration with Shaftesbury Capital and we are delighted to bring an authentic experience to what is the leading ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) cultural hub in the UK. The success of The Eight and YiQi fills us with great confidence in how our San Hao concept will be received by visitors.” YiQi launched last year in Lisle Street.