Ex-Fulham Shore MD partnering 081 Pizzeria team on expansion: Nabil Mankarious, the co-founder and former managing director of Fulham Shore, is partnering with the team behind pizza brand 081 Pizzeria on its expansion plans, including the launch of new concept, Connie’s, Propel has learned. The first Connie’s – a new “Bri-talian” shop serving “London-style” crispier pies – will open in the former Little Kudu site under the arches below Queen’s Road Peckham station on Wednesday, 26 January. Andrea Ascuiti, founder of London pizza concept 081 Pizzeria, has signed a five-year deal with site owners Transport for London and has developed the space to hold 53 covers. Mankarious has been working with Ascuiti on the development of Connie’s, which will use the best of Italian and British produce, including British mozzarella and pepperoni, since last summer. Ascuiti, who is also one of the founding members of Streatham pizzeria Bravi Ragazzi, opened the first bricks-and-mortar site for 081 Pizzeria in Peckham in 2023 and launched a larger second restaurant, in Shoreditch, last year. He told Propel last year that he believes there is scope for another three or four sites in the capital and then he will look to expand regionally. Mankarious has also partnered with Martin Kuczmarski, former chief operating officer at Soho House, on his two new ventures – Martino’s and Dover Street Counter; and backs fresh pasta concept Pastino, Aubaine and Kudu in Marylebone.

 

Cow & Sow founder Mark Warburton among speakers at 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Mark Warburton, founder of Cow & Sow, will be among the speakers at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Warburton will be joined by fractional marketing director Alan Armstrong to reveal how The Butcher's Club is redefining loyalty. They will also explore how the business is driving growth through commercial and marketing partnerships, while evolving from a start-up mindset to a structured model supported by fractional expertise and scalable frameworks for long-term success. 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.

 

UKHospitality – ‘maintaining jobs is becoming ever harder and generating new roles close to impossible’: UKHospitality has said that maintaining jobs in the sector is becoming ever harder and generating new roles close to impossible. Chair Kate Nicholls was speaking after the Institute of Directors’ (IoD) Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leader optimism, showed both hiring intentions and investment intentions dropped in December. She said: “Some of what we can see in this index accurately reflects what is happening in the hospitality sector. The drop in hiring intentions, for example, can also be seen across hospitality due to the soaring costs of employment. Our sector is a critical employer in the UK, but with costs set to only rise further, maintaining jobs is becoming ever harder and generating new roles close to impossible. That said, I think it is fair to say that unlike the survey findings, business confidence in the sector has not improved since the last budget, when hospitality was once again disproportionately hit by increases to business rates. We know hospitality can be the engine that drives the UK economy, but to do that, we need the confidence to invest in growth. To achieve that, the government must deliver a lower tax burden and an urgent solution that avoids hikes to business rates.”

 

Scottish Hospitality Group warns rate revaluation is ‘totally disconnected from the trading reality’: The Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) has warned that Scotland’s latest non-domestic Rates Revaluation, due for implementation in April 2026, is “totally disconnected from the trading reality” and looks set to put licensed hospitality businesses at serious risk of closure. The SHG said it believes the cumulative impact of rising wage costs – including the increase in employers' national insurance contributions, higher energy bills and sustained food inflation – is now unsustainable and a perfect storm for entrepreneurs. It said that new potential business rates bills will be the final straw. Stephen Montgomery, director of the SHG, said: “The decisions taken at the Scottish Budget will determine the future of licensed hospitality. The business rates revaluation is a hammer blow, with some licensed hospitality businesses facing brutal increases of over 550%, a ridiculous taxation increase on theoretical valuations that bear no relation to actual profits, or indeed, the ability to pay. For many operators, the figures simply do not stack up, and the new bills would be the final nail in the coffin. You cannot tax businesses into growth. By ignoring real life affordability, there will be real life closures, job losses and empty high streets as result. We are urging the Scottish government to use the Scottish Budget to deliver urgent action, including meaningful rates relief targeted for licensed hospitality.”

 

Parkdean Resorts roll out all-inclusive offer to 42 holiday parks: Parkdean Resorts is launching an all-inclusive offer at 42 of its parks across the UK, making the holiday park operator one of the largest providers of all-inclusive UK holiday park breaks. All-inclusive prices start from just £25 per adult and £10 per child per day, with three meals a day and unlimited soft drinks, including at Costa Coffee. Meanwhile, caravan holidays with Parkdean Resorts start from £89 for four nights – meaning a family of four can enjoy four nights with food, drink and accommodation for as little as under £93 per day. Andy Edge, chief marketing officer at Parkdean Resorts, said: “Following the huge success of our trial at ten parks in 2025, we are rolling out our all-inclusive offer to a total of 42 holiday parks this year – making us one of the largest providers of all-inclusive UK holiday park breaks. Families of four can save over £300 by going all-inclusive, making this an extremely cost-effective option for families seeking action-packed breaks in some of the UK’s most scenic and sought-after locations.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a hospitality group in Abu Dhabi that is seeking a hotel general manager. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: "Responsibilities will include strategic leadership, operational excellence, financial management, team development, guest experience, sales and marketing strategies, compliance and standards management and maintaining excellent relationship with the stakeholders." The salary is up to £9,000 to £12,000 per month tax free and an all-inclusive package, family insurance and family visa. For more information, email klaudia@corecruitment.com

 

Board game and cafe concept Chance & Counters launches franchise opportunity, targeting 70 UK sites: Board game and cafe concept Chance & Counters has launched its first franchise opportunity and told Propel it is targeting around 70 UK locations. The business was launched in Bristol in 2016 by Luke Neal, Steve Cownie and Richard Scarsbrook and has subsequently opened a further site in Bristol and locations in Cardiff, Birmingham and Leeds. The cafés are centred around a library of more than 500 board games, ranging from old-school favourites to the latest releases, alongside a premium all-day food and drink offering. This includes specialty coffee and tea, thick milkshakes, fresh smoothies and light lunch fare by day, plus craft beer, cocktails and wine paired with smash burgers, tacos, loaded fries and wings by night. Kit Carnell, company director and head of marketing, said: “After ten years of learning what actually makes a board game café thrive (and after making plenty of our own mistakes along the way), we’re ready to share Chance & Counters with people who want to build something special in their own communities. Our mission has always been simple: to deliver exceptional hospitality through the celebration of board games, creating a rewarding atmosphere and experience for customers and employees alike. Franchising is our way of sharing that, without losing what makes it special. As a company director and head of marketing, I’ve seen first-hand how much work goes into getting this right – the people, the training, the culture, the small details that turn a venue into a community space rather than just another bar. This isn’t about copy-and-paste cafés. It’s about supporting the right people to build something genuinely brilliant in their own city, backed by everything we’ve learned along the way.” Carnell told Propel that the business had been “bowled over” by the initial response to the franchising launch at the start of this month and already has a “strong batch of quality leads”. He said: “Our current target is around 70 UK locations. We’re focused on the UK for now, but we’re not ruling out international expansion further down the line.”

 

Trafalger Entertainment Group reports strong progress: Trafalger Entertainment Group, which is majority owned by the Barings Asset-based Income Fund, has reported turnover of £138,209,000 in the year ended 29 March 2025 (2024: £147,717,000). Losses before tax were £7,733,000 compared to £12,152,000 the year before. The company, which was founded in 2016, acquires and manages companies involved in live entertainment and theatre-related activity. It owns 23 UK trading subsidiaries and one Australian, and its strategy is to continue to acquire and expand businesses in the entertainment field. The group reported an operating profit of £500,000 compared to an operating loss of £3.3m the year before.

 

The Coffee House to pass the 50-site mark in 2026 as it gears up for ‘one of its most significant years to date’: North west independent coffee shop The Coffee House has told Propel it will pass the 50-site mark in 2026 as it gears up for “one of its most significant years to date”. The company is set to begin the year by launching its 40th location, in Warrington, and has a further 15 launches lined up for 2026. The new Warrington site, which will be located within The Causeway, will be a fifth store in its hometown for the brand. A company spokeswoman told Propel: “The Coffee House has ambitious growth plans for 2026, marking one of the company’s most significant years to date. The business will open 16 new stores across the UK throughout the year, beginning with the launch of its fifth Warrington store, which will serve as the brand’s 40th location, a major milestone in its expansion journey. Additional openings will follow in Walkden, Blackburn, Southport and a second Wrexham location, with further sites to be revealed as the year progresses. Despite rapid growth, Coffee House remains dedicated to its founding mission of delivering high-quality coffee, fresh food and warm, community-led service across all locations.” Co-founder Chris Shelmerdine added: “We’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come. Reaching our 40th store is a huge milestone, but what matters most is staying true to our roots. Our mission has always been to bring life back to the forgotten high streets, and in 2026, we’re more committed to that than ever.” Shelmerdine told Propel in 2024 that The Coffee House is eyeing an estate of more than 80 sites after securing a £4m cash injection from the founder of investment platform AJ Bell, Andy Bell. The company also last year launched its first on-the-go concept – and its first garage forecourt site – at the Kay Group Primrose (Shell) in Whalley Road, Clitheroe.

 

Lancashire McDonald’s franchisee owned by chain’s former COO sees turnover climb to £82.6m but profit falls due to rising costs: Lancashire McDonald’s franchisee H&S Restaurants, which is owned by the brand’s former chief operating officer Nigel Dunnington, grew its turnover slightly from £82,531,667 in 2023 to £82,603,122 in the year to 31 December 2024, but saw a drop in profits on rising costs. Pre-tax profit stood at £1,795,153, down from £2,568,286 the previous year. Dividends of £1m were paid, the same as in 2023. The company said: “Turnover for the year remained consistent with the previous year, with gross profit also remaining consistent. In common with many other similar businesses, fuel and utility costs increased considerably. The directors believe that the trading environment in which the company operates will continue to be challenging but remain optimistic regarding future trading and are committed to increasing both future turnover and profitability and to continuing the company’s reinvestment programme.”

 

Lawrence Heyes returns to Pret as operations director: Lawrence Heyes has returned to Pret A Manger as its new UK operations director. Heyes previously worked in the brand’s operations team from 2010 to 2012 before leaving to take up various roles with Hotel Chocolat, Aldi and Amazon. Most recently, he led the company owned restaurant operations team for KFC in the UK and Ireland, where he and the team brought back into the business over 220 sites from its largest franchise partner, EG Group, at the end of 2023. Pret currently operates a 500-plus site UK & Ireland estate. Heyes said: “Pret is a business I loved working for between 2010 and 2012, and one that taught me so much during my formative career years. Coming back now truly feels like coming home. I’m excited to work alongside our incredible shop teams and head office colleagues, to reconnect with some brilliant former colleagues still at Pret, and to meet many new people as we work together to achieve great things.” Last month, Pret hired Ross Warnes, formerly of Kraft Heinz and Unilever, as its UK & Ireland president, to lead the brand’s largest market through its next phase of growth. Starting this month, Pret said he will bring a wealth of experience driving growth for food and beverage brands, with experience at Unilever and Nestle’s UK businesses prior to his time at Kraft Heinz.

 

Scottish bakery company reports stable profit: The family-owned Scottish bakery company SM Bayne has reported a pre-tax profit of £3,326,972 in the year to 31 March 2025, down marginally from £3,416,522 the year before. Turnover rose to £51,292,521 compared to £44,488,018 the year before. The company, founded in Lachore, Fife, operates 71 sites and celebrated its 70thanniversary in 2025. It is run by the third generation of the family. Dividends of £300,000 were paid during the year.

 

Wetherspoon secures approval for The Strand pub: JD Wetherspoon has been granted a licence to open a new pub next to London Charing Cross train and tube station. Westminster City Council’s licensing committee has granted the business a licence to open the venue on The Strand, which is set to accommodate up to 320 customers. The site was formerly home to a retail unit and café. In June, Wetherspoon won an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate to run the site as a pub. Wetherspoon plans to open around 15 new managed pubs and a similar number of franchised pubs in its current financial year. It is focusing on larger venues and expanding partnerships, like with Haven holidays, while also selling off some smaller or older pubs.

 

Cornish hotelier Percy R Brend reports profit drop: Percy R Brend, the company that operates 11 hotels in Cornwall and Devon, has reported turnover nudged up to £47,502,55 in the year ended 31 March 2025 (2024; £46,691,956). However, pre-tax profit declined to £344,267 from £1,122,972 the year before. The company, which lost two sites to a de-merger on 10 June 2025, has retained earnings of £13,647,490. The company stated: “Turnover returned to slightly better than normal levels. Wage costs have increased together with rates, laundry, commission and advertising. As predicted last year, gross profit and operating profit have decreased for the year. The general economy, inflation and interest rates is affecting the discretionary expenditure of our customers and is having an impact on our costs of running the hotels. The directors expect the latter will affect profitability for 2025 to 2026 financial year but are optimistic that the results will be similar to last year and positive.” Percy R Brend was founded in 1969 with the purchase of The Royal Hotel in Bideford.

 

Bob Bob Ricard hires Richard Raitis Logins as new MD: Bob Bob Ricard, the restaurant brand with sites in Soho and the City of London and founded by Leonid Shutov, has hired Richard Raitis Logins, formerly of The Boundary and Duck & Waffle, as its new managing director. Raitis Logins joins Bob Bob Ricard after four years at boutique hotel The Boundary in Shoreditch, the majority of which time he was head of operations. Prior to that, he had a brief stint as general manager at Duck & Waffle in the City. He previously worked for Bob Bob Ricard as a general manager from November 2016 to January 2018. Earlier this week, the company reported that its turnover dropped to £10,800,000 in the year to 30 June 2024 (2023: £12,300,000). Loss before tax for the year was £1.3m compared to £3.8m in 2023. Post year end, the group entered into negotiations with its lenders regarding the refinancing of its existing debt facilities.

 

Motel One reports turnover boost after increasing occupancy rate by 10%: Motel One – which runs five hotels under the Motel Brand in London, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow – has reported turnover was up 32% to £42,654,115 in the year to 31 December 2024. Occupancy rate was 75.4%, which is 10.9% higher than the year before. Average room rate of £94.27 was 3.8% lower. Profit before tax was £6,392,851 compared to £4,204,733 the year before. 

 

Hertfordshire coffee and bagel concept plans London debut: Brad & Dills, the Hertfordshire-based coffee and bagel concept, is set to make its London debut next month. Propel understands that the business, which started life a van outside a local pub in Harpenden during lockdown, is to open a site in Hampstead Heath, in February, for what will be its fifth site. The concept, which was founded by Oliver Denley and Alex Rollings, opened its first standalone site in Harpenden in 2021. It has since opened a further site in Harpenden, plus locations in Hertford and St Albans. The company said: “The business started in 2021 through the challenging covid outbreak but navigated successfully through it and now has four sites, all of which have been very successful and are continuing to grow in popularity. Brad & Dills is built on a passion for quality and premium service within the hospitality sector. At all of our sites we offer specialty coffee and fresh filled bagels. Our flagship restaurant in Harpenden also offers a breakfast and lunch service. We strive to offer friendly and welcoming customer service throughout our business.”

 

Dakota Hospitality reports turnover erosion and losses: Dakota Hospitality, which operates Dakota hotels sites in five cities and at Eurocentral, has reported turnover decreased by £100,000 to £38,000,000 in the year to 31 March 2025. The company stated: “This was due to reduction in food and beverage sales, decreasing by £600,000. Room sales increased by £800,000 due to an increase in average daily rate of 4.3% and there was a reduction of other hotel services (£400,000).  Revenue per available room was £124.44 (2024: £122.94). Adjusted Ebitdar was £8,307,000 (2024: £8,395,000). Loss before tax was £1,658,696 compared to a profit of £88,954 the year before.” Its Newcastle site opened in March 2025 and work is underway at a site at Manchester airport, with an opening scheduled for summer 2026. In addition, a prime city centre site in York was acquired in February 2024 and planning has been approved for a new 140-bed hotel.

 

Costa Coffee’s first Matcha Latte range launches nationwide: Costa Coffee is to launch its new Matcha Latte range across all of its 2,800-plus UK estate of stores later this week as its looks to win over younger consumers. Following a trial in selected stores late last year, the coffee chain is now launching the range nationwide on Thursday, 8 January. The range, which is part of the brand’s new menu launch, features a Hot Matcha Latte and an Iced Matcha Latte, both of which are fully customisable with milk alternatives and syrups, alongside a Strawberry Coconut Iced Matcha Latte. Costa is also updating its food menu with a new onion bhaji wrap, a tomato and basil soup and a tomato and mature cheddar croissant. Two new healthy snacks will also be available, including the fruit and nut mix and new dried mango. The brand is also launching new Instant Barista Creations Iced Latte sachets for customers to use at home. The limited-edition range includes a classic iced latte and an iced hazelnut crème and will be available in Tesco from 19 January and in Iceland stores from February, for a limited time.

 

KFC and Costa franchisee returns to profit: KFC and Costa Coffee franchisee Auriga Holdings returned to profit in the year to 31 March 2025. The group, led by the Bashir family, is one of the UK’s longest serving KFC franchisees, having been founded in 1997, before adding Costa to its portfolio in 2016. It operates 16 KFC restaurants and 12 Costa Coffee shops, the same as in 2024, and receives a small amount of income from leased properties. The company turned a pre-tax loss of £413,409 in 2024 to a profit of £293,184, while its turnover fell slightly from £32,635,338 to £32,158,829. Its Ebitda grew from £2.114m in 2024 to £2.772m. No dividends were paid (2024: nil). Director Amjad Bashir said: “The group is subject to the difficult trading conditions that are affecting much of the high street, such as the increase in staff costs and energy prices and the current economic climate means that it is challenging times. However, the directors are pleased with the results for the year.”

 

Seghal family buy second London hotel: The Sehgal family, through its Rivalminster vehicle, has completed the acquisition of Crowne Plaza London Ealing for an undisclosed price. The 139-bedroom InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) franchised hotel is located on the Hanger Lane Gyratory, in Ealing, and features a 120-cover restaurant and bar, gym, and extensive meeting and conference facilities, serving both corporate and leisure demand. The acquisition marks the latest chapter for Rivalminster, a third-generation, family-run hospitality business with a long-standing track record of owning and operating hotel assets in London. The company was founded by Hira Sehgal, who remains involved in key strategic decisions. The business is led today by directors Paul Sehgal and Saachi Sehgal, with Sienna Sehgal also playing a significant role. The company also owns The Leonard Hotel in Marylebone and apartments in Marylebone.

 

Domino’s franchisee Sodha & Company reports profit drop: Sodha & Company, the Domino’s franchisee, has reported pre-tax profit dropped to £27,709 in the year to 30 March 2025 (2024: £1,127,229). Turnover was slightly down to £28,525,738 (2024: £28,756,238). The company stated: “The main reason for (the pre-tax profit drop) was due to provision made against loans provided by companies in the group or under common control of £2m. Had these loans been provided for, the overall result would have a profit before tax of £2m with no impact to cash.” Dividends of £100,000 were paid. The company also operates mobile phone shops and gyms via franchise agreements.  

 

Cote launches ‘Happiest Menu’ January discount: Côte Brasserie has unveiled The Happiest Menu, describing it as its “biggest and most generous January offer to date”. Running weekdays only from 5-31 January, The Happiest Menu offers guests two courses for just £15 or three courses for £19, delivering a substantial saving against Côte’s usual top set-menu prices of £23.50 for two courses and £27.50 for three. The offer is available exclusively via the Côte app and redeemable only in-brasserie. Every dish featured on The Happiest Menu comes from Côte’s long-standing set menu, which has been a cornerstone of the brand since it first opened in 2007.

 

Westbourne Leisure reports dent to profits: Westbourne Leisure, the Coventry-based operator of pubs and hotels under a franchise model led by Paul and Christine Owens, has reported turnover of £25,884,577 in the year ended 31 March 2025. Profit before tax declined to £4,193,031 compared to £5,876,364 the year before. The company stated: “On a pro rate basis, turnover increased by 2% compared with the previous period (which covered 18 months rather than 12). Operating profit rose by 1.3% relative to pro rate period. However, after excluding exceptional gains from property disposals, comparative operating profit decreased by 5.3% (£200,000). Ebitda remained broadly consistent with the prior pro rate period, recording a modest decline of £40,000 (1%).” The company argued that its stable turnover and Ebitda demonstrates “resilience and effective management” in a challenging environment.

 

Whitbread acquires second Premier Inn site in Chichester: Whitbread, the parent company of Premier Inn, the UK's largest hotel company, is to build a new 82-bedroom Premier Inn in Chichester, satisfying the company's long-term goal to secure a second hotel in the cathedral city. The site on Bognor Road, which was acquired from Hanbury Properties, is located adjacent to the main A27/A259 junction, offering a highly accessible location for business and leisure travellers looking to spend time in the historic city. The new location complements the existing Premier Inn at Gate Leisure Park, to the south west of Chichester city centre, and will bring the total number of Premier Inn bedrooms in the catchment to 165. Later this year, the business is set to grow its network in West and East Sussex to 23 locations with the opening of its latest Premier Inn on Bognor Regis seafront in April. The construction of the first Premier Inn in Littlehampton Town Centre is also due to commence in February following the demolition of the former supermarket occupying the site. Whitbread is also seeking a suitable new location for Premier Inn in Rye.

 

Surrey golf club operator reports turnover hits record £24.7m: Alexander Fraser Holdings, which owns and operates Foxhills Golf and Country Club and Farleigh Golf Club in Surrey, has reported turnover increased to a record £24,705,101 for the year ending 31 March 2025 compared with £23,092,124 the previous year. Ebitda decreased to £4,890,131 from £5,034,667 whiler pre-tax profit was down to £4,038,858 from £4,313,467. In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors stated the increase in revenue was the result of investments made in its facilities, “opening new padel and pickleball courts, concluding our investment in the Longcross course at Foxhills and refurbishing more of the room stock and opening the new gym in May 2024”. The business said: “Since the opening of the Pavilion building at Foxhills, leisure has seen strong growth. We are looking at opportunities to improve and expand the leisure offer to members within what is possible within the planning framework. The management are all working on a long-term hotel strategy and looking at how best to continue to improve these facilities and cater for future growth. We have completed the refurbishment of over half the bedroom stock in the past two years and will complete the refurbishment of the ground floor of the Manor House. Over the next six months, we will assess the government changes to planning policy and submit applications that improve members and guest experience to add value to both clubs.” Dividends of £482,428 were paid in the year (2024: £579,338).

 

Middleton Lodge Estate adds village pub to portfolio: Middleton Lodge Estate, the North Yorkshire hospitality business, is broadening its offer with the acquisition of a village pub from the Provenance Group. The business, which is owned and led by James Allison, has bought The Black Bull in the village of Moulton, marking the estate’s first move into operating a traditional pub and a further diversification of its hospitality offer. Located just five minutes from the 200-acre Middleton Lodge Estate near Middleton Tyas, The Black Bull was identified as “a natural fit” due to its proximity and its long-standing role within the local community. Allison said: “Its proximity to the estate makes this a logical next step and allows us to extend the hospitality we’re known for into a more informal, community-led setting. Our focus is on thoughtful growth and building hospitality businesses that are sustainable for the long term, shaped by the people who work in them and the guests who use them, and that celebrate Yorkshire in a meaningful way.” Anthony Blundell, commercial director at Provenance Collection, which operates five venues in the region, added: “The Black Bull has been an important part of Moulton for many years, and we are proud of the investment and care that went into restoring the pub during our time as custodians. We are pleased to be passing it on to Middleton Lodge Estate, whose approach to hospitality and long-term stewardship makes them a fitting owner for the next chapter of The Black Bull’s story, and that the existing team will remain in place, ensuring continuity for both staff and the local community.”

 

Manchester operator Elle R Leisure reports profit boost: Elle R Leisure, the Manchester-based operator founded in 1991 and led by James Ramsbottom, has reported turnover hit £21,517,633 in the year to 31 March 2025, up marginally from £21,365,166. Profit before tax, however, jumped to £2,878,785 compared to £1,847,807 the year before. The company operates four Albert's Restaurants, Dukes 92, Woodlands Hotel, Soughton Hall Hotel and Hello Hotel.  It stated: “Revenue has increased in the period as has the gross profit margin despite the difficult trading conditions.” The company has £8,592,290 in cash at the bank and employs 450 people.