Sector sees flat November like-for-like sales as higher prices and new openings fuel total growth: Britain’s leading managed hospitality groups enter the crucial Christmas period on the back of flat like-for-like sales in November as higher prices and new openings fuelled total growth, the latest NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. Like-for-like trading was just 0.3% ahead of the same month in 2024, following increases of just 0.1% in October and 0.2% in September. Growth has now been below 1% or negative since April. The tracker – produced by NIQ, powered by CGA intelligence, in association with RSM shows a positive November for pubs, where sales rose 2.5% year-on-year. It is a tenth consecutive month of growth for the pub sector, though most increases have been below the rate of inflation. In sharp contrast, sales at restaurants were 2.1% short of November 2024. This means trading has been negative in ten of the last 11 months, and that restaurants have been outperformed by pubs in every month of 2025 so far. Bars recorded a 5.2% dip in sales, extending a difficult year for the channel, with trading behind by between 4% and 10% year-on-year in every month. With footfall down across hospitality, modest growth is being driven by higher menu prices and new openings. On a total sales basis – including at venues opened by groups in the last 12 months – sales were 3.1% ahead of November 2024. London delivered slightly better growth than the rest of Britain in November. Like-for-like sales within the M25 were 0.7% ahead year-on-year, compared with 0.2% in regions beyond the M25. It is the third month in a row that the capital has been marginally ahead of the country as a whole. Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at NIQ, said: “Soft trading and high costs have been a potent combination for hospitality operators, and November’s figures extend a very difficult 2025. Reasonable growth for pubs suggests consumers remain willing to go out to drink, while a steady stream of new openings shows some operators and investors are on the front foot. But another negative month for restaurants and bars is cause for major concern, especially in light of yet more additions to their burdens of costs in the Budget. The sector will now be pinning hopes on a surge in Christmas sales to boost depleted coffers ahead of 2026.”

Various Eateries marketing director Madeleine Phillips among speakers at 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Madeleine Phillips, marketing director at Various Eateries, will be among the speakers at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Phillips will share her approach to defining a marketing ecosystem that drives alignment, maximises stakeholder buy-in and prepares for the future. She will reveal how she brings boards, investors and teams on the journey, including how artificial intelligence is changing discovery and decision-making. 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

 

Longer visits fail to offset softer spend as real-term pressure persists: UK pubs and bars saw customers staying longer and venues filling more consistently in November, but softer consumption and rising costs mean real-term trading performance remains under pressure, according to the latest Market Watch Snapshot from The Oxford Partnership. The real-time market intelligence business said the UK on-trade continued to contract, with the number of operating venues edging down to 99,350, reinforcing a trend seen throughout 2025. However, those consumers who did go out stayed longer, with average dwell reaching 144 minutes, the highest level recorded this year. Occupancy rose to 63.4%, signalling fuller venues despite selective footfall. However, while this offers some encouragement, it has yet to translate into meaningful value growth. Average spend per head increased to £26.24, but once adjusted for 3.5% inflation, equated to just £25.35. At the same time, rate of sale softened again, confirming that customers are drinking less per visit even as sessions extend. Alison Jordan, chief executive of The Oxford Partnership, said the data highlights a growing disconnect between time spent in venue and value generated. She said: “What we’re seeing is customers committing to the occasion but not to the volume. Longer visits and fuller venues feel positive, but they’re not yet translating into stronger value at the bar. For operators, profitability remains heavily dependent on footfall rather than how long customers stay.” Despite ongoing cost pressures, operators have largely maintained availability, with average weekly opening hours holding at 64.6. Food inflation of 4.2% and drink inflation of 4.0% continue to outpace headline inflation, limiting margin recovery even as nominal spend improves. Drinks category performance reflected late-autumn behaviour. Stout continued to outperform, supported by colder weather, while premium lager remained resilient and world lager continued to trade ahead of the wider market, albeit below summer levels. Craft, ale and cider remained under pressure as consumers narrowed their choices and reduced experimentation.

 

DoorDash testing AI social app for discovering new restaurants: DoorDash is testing a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered social app that’s designed to help users quickly find local restaurants. The app, called Zesty, is initially available in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York. The app uses AI to generate local restaurant recommendations by aggregating data from Google Maps, TikTok, Reddit, Eater and other sources, including DoorDash itself. The idea behind the app is to get rid of the need to read a bunch of different reviews, look up different menus or browse TikTok when looking for a new place to eat. Once people open the app and sign in with their DoorDash accounts, they can ask an AI chatbot for personalised recommendations based on what they’re looking for. In an Instagram promo post, the company shared that users could type prompts like “a low-key dinner in Williamsburg that’s actually good for introverts” to find specific recommendations. Users will also see suggested prompts such as “brunch spots good for groups” and “romantic dinner with a vintage feel”. A DoorDash spokesperson said: “At DoorDash, we’re always looking for new ways to help people connect with the best of their communities. We’re piloting an app called Zesty to make it easier to discover great nearby restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and more through personalized search and social sharing. We’re excited to learn from early testers as we keep shaping what local discovery can look like.” 

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a premium Italian restaurant in London that is on the lookout for an assistant restaurant manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The individual will have experience in high-end or premium restaurants, be passionate about delivering an exceptional guest experience, have strong attention to detail and thrive in a fast-paced environment. A solid understanding of Italian cuisine would be a bonus, as would be great wine knowledge (WSET qualification is a plus).” The salary is up to £55,000. For more information, email kateb@corecruitment.com

 

Exclusive – Gravity undergoes CVA to secure long-term future: Experiential leisure operator Gravity has undergone a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), which it said provides a “stable platform for the long-term future of the business”, Propel has learned. Gravity Fitness, which operates 20 sites, including 14 trampoline parks and four sites under its entertainment brand Gravity Max, secured approval from 86% of its creditors for the CVA. Founded in 2014, the company employs more than 800 staff and trades under the Gravity name, with two main brands: Gravity Active and Gravity Max. In 2023, the business secured £30m of new funding from US investment fund Sculptor Real Estate. Gravity Max sites are located in Castleford, Liverpool, Wandsworth and Westfield Stratford. The company also operates the Xscape climbing centre in Castleford and the Gravity Arcade site in Bluewater. All sites continue to trade. James Clark and Rick Harrison, of Interpath, who advised Gravity, said: “The business has expanded rapidly in recent years. However, like many in the leisure sector, rising costs, including staff costs and business rates, as well as soft consumer spending have impacted its ability to expand revenues and keep pace with its investment and debt obligations. The CVA proposal is designed to secure the long-term future of the business and maximise returns for stakeholders, including landlords. As part of the CVA, a number of compromises have been made with landlords.” Harvey Jenkinson, chief executive at Gravity Fitness, said: “The CVA provides a stable platform for the long-term future of the business, and as such, we were pleased to have secured the approval of the majority of our creditors. All our Gravity sites remain open, and it is business as usual for us. We welcome more than two million customers each year to our sites across the UK and, with the support of the CVA, we aim to continue operating across our sites for years to come.” Clark said the approved CVA proposal will enable the business to “right-size its debt obligations and continue trading across its estate”. He said: “The CVA strikes a fair compromise for creditors while also providing a firm foundation for the business to stabilise and move forward.” Propel’s 2025 Experiential Leisure Report, an exhaustive report on the market, is now available. The report profiles the current shape of the experiential leisure market – including brands, estate size, trading type and geographical location. It also provides a detailed list of UK experiential leisure companies including key staff and Companies House information. The report includes 197 companies, with 3,700 sites. The report is available for free to existing Premium subscribers and £595 plus VAT for non-Premium subscribers. 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.

Little Dessert Shop seeking to grow both its dark kitchen and physical store network in 2026: Dessert franchise Little Dessert Shop has told Propel it is seeking to grow both its dark kitchen and physical store network in 2026. The company, which has grown to more than 50 locations since being founded in 2014 by Mu’azzam Ali, opened its first dark kitchen site in May, in Preston – and said it will look at how that location performed before deciding whether to extend the model further. Little Dessert Shop subsequently opened four further dark kitchens through late October and early November – in Wood Green and Bermondsey in London, Guildford in Surrey, and Stonehouse in Gloucestershire. Chief executive Zaeem Chohan said: “We’re really pleased with how the first dark kitchen launch has gone. It’s allowing us to test the strength of our delivery-only model and gain a better understanding of how the brand can reach new audiences beyond traditional high streets. We currently have four more sites in the initial phase, and we’re reviewing performance closely before confirming the next wave of openings. Alongside this, we continue to explore opportunities for new physical stores in select areas where the brand already has strong recognition. Our goal is to find the right balance between delivery reach and the in-store experience our customers love. Looking ahead to 2026, our plans are to build on the insights from this trial, strengthen our delivery network, and identify new strategic locations for both dark kitchens and physical stores where we see the most potential.” He added: “Trading remains steady across the network, supported by strong seasonal campaigns and ongoing investment in digital growth.”

 

Co-founder of Lazeez Tapas in London’s Mayfair’s looking to bring Saudi coffee brand to UK: The co-founder of fine Lebanese cuisine restaurant Lazeez Tapas in London’s Mayfair is looking to bring a Saudi coffee brand to the UK. Emilio Malik has said he is in conversations with the team behind Archi, which has 32 locations in Saudi Arabia offering hot and cold coffee, sandwiches and sweets. Founded in March 2021 Archi opened its first branch in Al Khobar before expanding across the kingdom. Malik said: “Earlier this year, I met the guys from Archi, a popular Saudi coffee and lifestyle brand that is known for its premium hot and cold coffee as well as desserts and sandwiches. We met at Lazeez in Duke Street, where they told me about lots of exciting things happening in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh in particular. We instantly got on and have become friends, exchanging messages and discussing the launch of Archi’s first store here in London. In October, they kindly invited me to Riyadh, where I saw firsthand their great brand and operation. I have to say, I was so impressed, and of course, really appreciated their warm hospitality. I look forward to helping them as they embark on their next journey of bringing the Archi brand to the UK and Europe.” Earlier this week, Propel reported that Malik and Javier Troitino-Ramos, co-founder of Lazeez Tapas, are seeking to raise up to £2m to fund the opening of a flagship site in the capital for Tahina, its new grab-and-go concept using artificial intelligence. The duo plan to open ten locations over the next three years and expand its presence through Tahina Capsules – modular, autonomous food units for offices, universities, hospitals and event venues.

 

Greggs to increase prices again by end of month: Greggs has said consumers can expect to see “small price changes” by the end of the month, marking the fourth price increase this year from the food-to-go operator. It is not clear what menu items will be impacted. In a memo to staff seen by The Sun, Greggs said: “We’re always committed to offering our customers great quality that delivers the best value for money. But like many retailers we’re having to manage the pressure of rising prices across our supply chain. While we’ll always look to absorb costs whenever we can, we’ve had to make some small price increases [in] our range.” The memo’s advice to staff on how to respond if consumer complain, states: “If customers ask about our price changes, here’s what you can say. We always try and absorb costs where we can, but we’ve had to make some small price increases. We’re confident that we still offer outstanding value.” A Greggs spokesman said: “There will be small price changes to some of our products at the end of December, due to the impact of rising costs and inflation. We continue to offer our customers great value and high-quality products across the entire range. Many of our customers’ favourites, such as breakfast and sandwich meal deals, will not change.”

 

The Sushi Co hoping to open more sites under sister concept Smashio and use it as ‘gateway brand’: Sushi brand The Sushi Co, which is led by former large-scale Papa John’s franchisee Raheel Choudhary, has told Propel it is hoping to open more sites under sister smash burger concept Smashio and use it as a “gateway brand”. Having grown The Sushi Co to circa 30 UK locations, the company last month launched the first dual The Sushi Co and Smashio location, in Basildon, Essex. With both businesses operating under the same management team, head of operations Haran Thushiharan said there is the potential to grow Smashio alongside The Sushi Co. He said: “We are looking forward to seeing the reaction from our first branded store at Basildon, and we'll be monitoring the success of that very closely, but we are hopeful that we will be able to open future dual branded locations. Our focus is primarily on the Sushi Co brand, but where we see opportunities, we will always be looking out for them for Smashio because we believe there is good growth potential in building a recognisable smash burger brand in the UK. There are clearly operational efficiencies and benefits of having dual-branded sites, but we think the two are a good combination because, still, for a lot of people, they haven’t necessarily eaten out in sushi restaurants before. So, it is almost like we’re using Smashio as a gateway into The Sushi Co brand. In some areas of the UK where sushi is still seen as a novelty, Smashio could well be their way into The Sushi Co, or sushi for the first time.” The Sushi Co launched a franchise programme earlier this year that will see it work towards a previously stated target of 100 locations. Choudhary told Propel in August that The Sushi Co is aiming for ten new sites a year, “and much more when more franchisees come on board”.

 

Brazilian café brand makes UK debut: Brazilian café brand The Coffee has made its debut in the UK with an opening in Liverpool. The Coffee was founded by brothers Alexandre, Carlos and Luis Fertonani in 2017, before its first site was opened in 2018. The Coffee now operates more than 250 locations worldwide. The brand has now linked up with Hussein Umar, franchisee of Canadian pancake brand Fluffy Fluffy, to launch in the UK. The first site here has opened in the ground-floor unit at the grade I-listed Oriel Chambers in Liverpool’s Water Street. The opening marks the beginning of its UK franchising plans. The brand blends Japanese aesthetics with Brazilian coffee culture – an idea born from the brothers’ travels in Japan. Umar told the Liverpool Echo: “For us, Liverpool is a massively historic city, from its architecture to its very diverse culture. There’s a big coffee scene here too. Since covid, I think people became very interested in coffee, and a lot of people became home baristas and invested in some kind of at home setup. Everyone knows a bit more about coffee, so they can appreciate the difference between the mainstream and specialist coffees. We’ve got the standard drinks like espresso and americano, but we don’t serve lattes, cappuccinos or flat whites. We have our version called ‘the true white’, which acts as a blend between the three. We also have a range of speciality matchas that come from Japan and different seasonal drinks. It just looks really cool, and it’s got an almost coconut taste. When we open, we’re also going to be offering baked goods that will come from a local bakery.”

 

Rockfish delivers growth in sales and profits ahead of further expansion: Rockfish, the Mitch Tonks-led, seafood restaurant group, has reported turnover increased 6.5% to £15m for the year ending 30 April 2025 compared with £14.1m the previous year. Group Ebitda rose 10.4% to £1.27m while restaurant-level Ebitda grew 7.8% to £3.19m, “reflecting continued momentum across the group and strong operational discipline”. In March 2025, Rockfish opened its tenth site, in Lyme Regis, followed in June by Salcombe, which has become the group’s most successful launch to date. Work is now underway on the group’s 12th Rockfish, in Sidmouth, due to open in March. The group also runs its own fully integrated seafood supply chain, based in Brixham quayside, where fresh fish is landed, prepared, and distributed daily to its restaurants and a select group of restaurant operators as well as more than 12,000 homes nationwide through its online seafood market. Rockfish said this end-to-end model gives it a unique advantage in “quality, sustainability, and margin protection”, while expanding its reach beyond its restaurant walls. The year also saw continued investment in systems, training and the seafood supply chain as Rockfish prepared for its next phase of growth. Following a year of focus on training, engagement and culture, the business was recognised in October 2024 in the Best Companies listings, placing 47th nationally, 15th in the south west and seventh in the leisure and hospitality sector. Tonks said: “I am delighted with how Rockfish is performing. It’s not an easy market, but our teams’ continued focus on delivering a world class seafood experience for our guests, from quayside to tableside, is driving our growth and remains our constant priority. Our online business is growing quickly and is an area of the business we see a great future for as we work towards our mission of changing the way Britain experiences seafood.” Chairman Will Beckett said: “Rockfish is a special business. Watching Rockfish grow and bring something so valuable to coastal communities, watching the transition at the Seahorse from Mitch to his son Ben’s leadership, and seeing the country more broadly get as excited as we are about buying the best quality British seafood directly to their homes, has been a real joy. This year I was lucky to welcome Romy Miller and Robert Grieg-Gran to the board [as non-executive directors], and we are all delighted with another record year for Rockfish.”

 

Wimpy owner Famous Brands undergoes £75m refinancing: Wimpy owner Famous Brands has refinanced its debt facilities. It comes as the group, whose brands also include Mugg & Bean, Steers and Debonairs Pizza, continues to “clean up the balance sheet” and reduce legacy debt. The group has concluded the R1.675bn (£75m) refinancing with Nedbank, replacing existing facilities which were secured by two separate mortgage bonds. Famous Brands said: “The new facilities are unsecured and have been concluded on terms more favourable than the existing facilities. Upon the implementation of the new facilities, the existing mortgage bonds will be cancelled.” The new funding package includes a five-year term loan of R800m (£35m), a one-year term loan of R275m (£12.3m), a three-year revolving credit facility of R500m (£22.4m) and a one-year general banking facility of R100m (£4.5m). The structure extends the maturity of the group’s debt and gives it greater flexibility in managing cash flow and capital allocation. In its interim results to end of August, the group said it had a healthy balance sheet and an effective debt structure, supported by cash-generative operations and sustainable earnings. At the end of August, total borrowings stood at R1.1bn (£49.2m), down from R1.2bn (£53.2m) a year earlier. During the period, the group repaid R62m (£2.8m) of debt, while raising a similar amount to fund development projects, including a cold storage facility. Finance costs fell by 23% compared with the corresponding period last year, mainly due to lower debt levels and declining interest rates. The group said it remained committed to reducing legacy debt further over the medium term.

 

Sessions launches second brand under Netflix partnership: Sessions, the growth platform for original food brands, has launched a further brand under its partnership with Netflix, inspired by the Stranger Things TV series. At the end of 2024, Sessions signed a two-year partnership with Netflix, which would see it create menus inspired by some of the streaming service’s shows – including Squid Game, Bridgerton and Stranger Things. The first of the menus, created for Squid Game, featured Korean fried chicken and launched last December to coincide with the release of the second season of the series globally on Netflix. This week, Sessions has launched Hawkins Diner to coincide with the finale of Stranger Things – one of Netflix's most successful and awarded series. The new Hawkins Diner menu “reimagines classic diner favourites with a modern twist — from all American smash burgers and golden loaded fries to indulgent desserts that hit just the right note of strange”. Sessions said: “Hawkins Diner is our way of enhancing that fan experience through food – creating a brand that feels immersed in the world of the show while designed for how people eat today. We created Hawkins Diner from the ground up, developing a complete brand and menu before launching it nationwide across more than 100 Sessions kitchens, exclusively available on Deliveroo. This is what the Sessions platform is built to do: turn cultural moments into scalable food experiences and meet audiences where they already are.”

The Indian Brewery Company to launch Birmingham airport site in partnership with TRG Concessions: The Restaurant Group (TRG) Concessions is to partner with The Indian Brewery Company to open a new site at Birmingham airport. Set to open in February, the site will be located within Birmingham airport's International Pier adjacent to the departure lounge. The restaurant will showcase The Indian Brewery Company’s fresh range of craft beer paired with its range of Indian pizzas and breakfast naan sandwiches. It will become the Indian Brewery's third location in Birmingham. Jon Knight, chief executive of TRG Concessions, said: “We are delighted to bring Indian Brewery to a new audience with the launch of its first airport location, at Birmingham. This much-loved business continues to build real momentum, and we are proud to be part of that journey.” Jaspal Purewal, chief executive of The Indian Brewery Company, said: “As a proud Brummie, I believe Indian Brewery Birmingham airport will be an amazing location, offering our locally brewed beer, incredible food and exclusive range of merchandise to all passengers.”

 

Five Guys lines up drive-thru site near Reading: Better burger brand Five Guys is to further increase its drive-thru estate in the UK with an opening near Reading early next year. The circa 175-strong company, which has a target of opening up to ten sites under the drive-thru format by the end of 2026, will open a site next to the Showcase Cinema in Winnersh, near Reading. Five Guys recently opened a new drive-thru at the scheme after taking a 3,100 square-foot unit at the Arena Shopping Park in Coventry. The business opened its first drive-thru in the UK, in August 2021, in Middlesbrough's Teesside retail park. Five Guys opened a second drive-thru last year at Barton Mills, near Bury St Edmunds. The company recently secured a further drive-thru site at the Liverpool Shopping Park in Edge Lane, at the Kingswood Leisure Park development in Hull, and on the former Frankie & Benny’s at the Leamington Shopping Park. Last month, it was reported that backer Sir Charles Dunstone was seeking new investors to take a significant stake in Five Guys Europe, the business he launched in Britain more than a decade ago. Sir Charles’ investment vehicle, Freston Ventures, is believed to have retained investment bankers at Goldman Sachs to identify a buyer for a chunk of the burger brand, which employs about 6,000 people in the UK.

Closure for refurbishment impacts profits at Ronnie Scott’s: Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the jazz institution founded in 1959 in London’s West End, has reported a drop in turnover and profit for the year to 31 March 2025, which was impacted by the closure of the club over part of the summer for refurbishment. The globally renowned jazz club, which carried out a major refurbishment of its upstairs bar and a refresh of its main room last August, saw its turnover fall from £14,166,649 to £12,736,907. Profit before tax was £1,360,435, down from £3,289,709 the year before. Dividends of £750,000 were paid compared with £3,800,000 the year before. The business said it continues to seek growth opportunities and improve the offering to its customers.

 

Whitbread gets green light to convert former south London office building into new hub by Premier Inn: Whitbread has received planning permission to convert a former south London office building into a new hub by Premier Inn. Whitbread will transform Dorset House in Stamford Street in Southwark into a 421-key hub by Premier Inn. It rounds off an active 2025 for the business in Central London, where it has acquired four development sites since January. Collectively, the four locations add close to 1,000 bedrooms into Whitbread’s secured development pipeline in the capital. Dorset House brings the hub by Premier Inn brand south of the River Thames for the first time. Whitbread acquired the 90,000 square-foot building freehold in May. Whitbread plans to introduce a new hotel entrance in Stamford Street, with the basement-level food and beverage space visible through cut-out concrete sections on the ground-floor. Construction work is expected to begin in the second half of 2026 with a target date for opening in summer 2028. Jonathan Langdon, senior acquisition manager for Whitbread, said: “Achieving planning permission at Dorset House rounds off an especially active period for Whitbread’s Central London team in 2025, and we are moving quickly to progress our pipeline hotels into construction and on to trading as soon as possible.”

 

North east operator acquires Cumbria café for fifth site: North east operator Kymel Trading, whose portfolio includes Trenchers Fish Restaurant in Whitby, has acquired a café in Cumbria for its fifth site. The group has acquired the site of the Windermere Lake Cruises’ Boatman’s Café, in Bowness-on-Windermere, with a £1m project to renovate and refurbish the venue ahead of its launch in spring 2026. Once completed, the venue is expected to create a further 50 roles. Chief executive Kyle Mackings said: “We’re excited to be opening a new venue in Cumbria. Our fish, chips and seafood products see visitors and locals lining up around the streets of Whitby and Whitley Bay so I’m sure that it will prove as popular in the Lake District.” It comes as the group reported turnover of £4,319,765 for the year to 31 December 2024, up from £3,666,980 in 2023. Pre-tax profit rose from £283,309 to £491,698. Dividends of £57,746 were paid (2023: nil). Mackings said: “The company has continued to trade well in the restaurant sector. Cash flow from operating activities has been positive during the period and post year end, enabling the company to continue to service creditors as they became due. As a consequence, cash resources remain strong at the balance sheet date.”

 

Healthy drinks concept Juices4Life adds Coventry and Leicester to openings pipeline: Healthy drinks concept Juices4Life has added Coventry and Leicester to its openings pipeline. The business currently has four sites in Birmingham and a debut regional location in Manchester. Propel reported earlier this month that is it will next open in Derby in January, and now further expansion across the Midlands has been confirmed. “We’ve been working hard in the background to make things happen,” said the brand’s franchise consultant, Nil Naik. “The first quarter of 2026 brings you three new Juices4Life locations – Coventry, Derby and Leicester. Our franchise partner has locked down the entire Leicester territory and has committed to opening four locations.”

 

Greater Manchester McDonald’s franchisee returns to profit: Greater Manchester McDonald’s franchisee BGJ Restaurants returned to profit in the year to 31 December 2024. The company, founded in 2001 by former Greenalls operations director David Russell, turned a pre-tax loss of £98,293 in 2023 into a profit of £66,194. The four-strong company reported turnover of £17,652,191, down from £18,574,047 in 2023. Dividends of £62,950 were paid (2023: nil). Russell said: “The lower-than-expected supply chain inflation across 2024 resulted in gross profit margin above plan. This allowed the company to invest the benefit into value driving initiatives to increase guest counts and sales. The financial position of the company remains healthy with the balance sheet showing net assets of £1.40m, a decrease from £1.43m in 2023. The gross profit margin is 29.57% compared with 28.62% in 2023 and is in line with expectations.”

 

Diageo to sell shareholding in East African Breweries to Asahi: Diageo has agreed to sell its 100% shareholding in Diageo Kenya, which holds 65% of the shares in East Africa Breweries (EAB) to Asahi, including its shareholding in Kenyan spirits business, UDVK. EAB is the largest beer business in east Africa with a heritage that dates more than a century and has delivered a strong growth track record in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Asahi intends to preserve beloved local brands while introducing globally recognised names from its portfolio to consumers in east Africa. Locally owned brands will remain owned by EAB and there will be refreshed agreements for EAB to produce certain Diageo spirits and Guinness. Nik Jhangiani, Diageo’s interim chief executive, said: “We are proud of the achievements of EAB and our colleagues across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. EAB and Diageo have built the largest beer business in east Africa, a testament to driven people with a passion for the consumers and communities they serve. This transaction delivers both significant value for Diageo shareholders and accelerates our commitment to strengthen our balance sheet.” Asahi president Atsushi Katsuki added: “This business is a high-quality, leading company in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, with an unrivalled brand portfolio and marketing capabilities, state-of-the-art production facilities and strong market shares. Together with its excellent management team and employees, we will pursue sustainable growth and medium to long-term enhancement of corporate value, while contributing to the development of the local economies.”

 

Greek concept ThatZiki to open Manchester site: Greek concept ThatZiki is to open its first site in Manchester. The business has acquired the former Gyros Street unit in the city’s Oxford Street. Founded and run by brothers Jack and Luke Newton, ThatZiki launched in 2022 after the pair saved up to buy a food truck and now has sites in Leeds, Salford Quays and Warrington. Last year, the business opened on the former Absurd Bird unit at Trinity Leeds, creating 25 jobs. ThatZiki serves up gyros with a range of fillings, from 24-hour marinated chicken and pork to grilled halloumi plus a vegan option, which are also available in a box, and topped with a choice of house sauce, tzatziki or sriracha chilli or mayo. Sides include loaded fries, feta fries, pita and hummus.

 

Benihana UK reports drop in turnover and profit: Benihana, the worldwide Japanese teppanyaki restaurant brand that operates two restaurants in London and franchise venues internationally, has reported a drop in UK turnover and profit for the year to 31 December 2024. The company reported record UK revenue of £8,173,309 in 2023 following a first full year of trading for its flagship London restaurant, in Covent Garden. This dropped to £7,952,678 from operations across the new Covent Garden restaurant, as well as its more established Chelsea location, which has traded for more than 30 years. The accounts, which are for Benihana’s UK operations only, also showed pre-tax profit fell from £888,978 to £667,767. No dividends were paid (2023: nil).

  

Team behind London Vietnamese restaurant to open second site after almost 25 years: The team behind Vietnamese restaurant Song Que Cafe in London’s Hoxton is to open a second site in the city – almost 25 years later. Song Que Café opened in 2002. Now, the team has acquired what was once Tom Brown’s seafood restaurant Pearly Queen in Spitalfields to open Song Que Pho Bar. While the focus will be on its pho noodle soup, the venue will also serve “all our classics and best sellers that customers love at our current restaurant”, reports Hot Dinners. The drinks list will include cocktails that make use of ingredients from the main menu. Song Que Pho Bar is set to open in early January.

 

Manchester restaurant backed by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola set to close: A Barcelona-style restaurant based in Manchester and backed by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is set to close. Tast Catala, in King Street, said it will bring down the shutters for the last time on Saturday (20 December) amid challenging trading conditions for the hospitality industry and increased costs. The restaurant opened in 2018 when it was announced that the venture was backed by Guardiola along with Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City's then director of football, and the club's chief executive Ferran Soriano, while multi-Michelin star chef Paco Pérez took on his first executive chef role in the UK. A statement read: “Like many in the hospitality sector, we have faced exceptionally challenging trading conditions and increased costs. But the unwavering support of our shareholders and the dedication of our team have seen us through these past seven years. Above all, we are proud to have been able to share some of Catalunya, our beloved country, with the people of Manchester.”