Caprinos to launch new pizza style to help it expand into shopping centres and travel destinations: Fast growing pizza brand Caprinos has told Propel it is to launch new a pizza style which it believes will help it expand into shopping centres and travel destinations. Caprinos, founded by Khalil Rehman and Gul Nawaz in 2014, has grown to more than 100 sites mainly through high street locations. Rehman told Propel last year that it is aiming to break into new location types, and those plans look set to come to fruition this year. “We’re coming up with a new product, which we hope to be launching in the next month or so, which will work really well in shopping centres and travel destinations and will make it easier to tap into those markets,” Rehman said. “It will be a new style of pizza for us. The plan is to launch in ten locations and run it for three to four weeks to check for any issues before we go nationwide. Hopefully, we will then have a first non-high street location this year.” Caprinos, which has a handful of overseas locations in Pakistan, is also aiming to expand its network in those countries this year as well as enter new international markets. Rehman said: “Ireland has been amazing and we’re getting very positive results from both branches; much better than we expected. We’ve signed a few more franchisees already there and will have four to five more branches there this year. Pakistan again has seen very positive numbers, and we have a couple more locations opening in the coming months. We’re in legals for some other markets too and hope to be able to announce them soon.” Back in the UK, Caprinos said last week that it is aiming to open 20 new stores this year, and the first to open is likely to be Loughborough, near the end of the first quarter. It has secured eight locations so far in places including Huntingdon, Lincoln and Wrexham, with most new locations set to open in the second and third quarters. There will also be some further London locations – with Caprinos having targeted the capital for a next phase of expansion at the start of 2025. “We did open five London branches in 2025, and this year we have a few more opening,” Rehman said. “It was definitely a good move and we’re getting some very good numbers. There’s plenty more room to grow in London and we’re generally quite happy with it so far.” Caprinos last week reported 14% like-for-like growth in 2025 and is forecasting further double-digit growth in 2026. Rehman added: “We had 6% growth in 2024, which we were happy with, but 2025 was phenomenal. We didn’t expect it to be that good; we were hoping for at least 10%. 2026 has been very good so far and we’re hoping to keep that momentum going with about 10% growth this year. We just had a crazy Christmas period, with some record sales in some stores, and there were times we had to shut down the website as we couldn’t cater for the demand. It was one of the best Decembers we have had so far.” Caprinos features in the 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.

 

Propel 500 report – loyalty programmes now the main focus for hotel companies: The large global hotel companies are focusing less on owning property and more on staking a claim for the guest, reports Katherine Doggrell, Propel’s editorial advisor. Doggrell was writing in Propel 500 – 2026, the sector-leading report covering the top 500 hospitality companies in the UK. She said loyalty programmes are now the main focus for hotel companies, with Marriott, the largest of them all, controlling one with almost 230 million people. Doggrell said: “Marriott’s recent $335m purchase of CitizenM, which has been experimenting with a subscription model, suggests the company is ready to work out a model where it becomes the Netflix of hotels. Proving that it was on to something, Wyndham has launched a subscription offering room discounts and access to higher-level loyalty tiers only a few months after the deal. As we head into a new year, the battleground for hotels will be ownership not of assets, but of the guest.” The 45,000-word report includes exclusive analysis to provide a full understanding of the market's dynamics, as the top companies in the sector shift position after a challenging year. Mark Wingett reviews the mergers and acquisitions changing the shape of the top 500 as size increasingly matters, while Tim Street dissects the UK’s rapidly developing franchise market. Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, looks at emerging growth sectors, and Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vanifatova analyses the latest trends in the quick service restaurant market. Propel 500 – 2026 is now available free to Premium Club subscribers. The report will be available to non-Premium Club subscribers for £595 plus VAT. 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.

 

Dishoom co-founder Kavi Thakrar among speakers at 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, open for bookings: Kavi Thakrar, co-founder of Dishoom, will be among the speakers at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit. Thakrar will talk to Mark Stretton, chief executive of Fleet Street Communications, about what drives Dishoom – the tenets of the brand, the importance of poetry, why the hospitality imperative always trumps growth and what bringing “seva” to every guest means. Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit 2026 is returning for its eighth edition. The conference has doubled in size this year with content occupying two stages on both days – there are more than 500 company founders and chief executives, marketers and technology executives registered to attend. Bookings are open for the two-day conference, taking place on 20 and 21 January at Hilton Bankside in London. This new, 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, technology, 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 – Scottish government’s relief package ‘merely a sticking plaster’ as sector businesses face ‘eye-watering bills’: UKHospitality has said the Scottish government’s relief package is “merely a sticking plaster” as sector businesses face “eye-watering bills”. The trade body said measures announced the Scottish Budget do not go far enough, with hospitality businesses still left facing increases worth thousands of pounds. Leon Thompson, executive director of UKHospitality Scotland, said: “The Budget has not sufficiently addressed the challenges that hospitality businesses in Scotland face, and the majority will still be paying higher business rates bills in April. While the reduction in the poundage is positive, it does not offset significant increases in business revaluations and the loss of 40% relief. The increases to rateable values, often in excess of 100%, bear no relation to the trading environment hospitality businesses are operating in and they cannot trade their way to paying higher taxes. The package of reliefs put forward to help mitigate the impact of these increases is merely a sticking plaster to cap eye-watering bills.” Scottish Hospitality Group spokesman Stephen Montgomery added: “The mitigation of the 2026 business rates revaluation goes nowhere near far enough for the larger licensed hospitality premises in Scotland, who in many cases employ the most people. We are therefore disappointed the Scottish Budget hasn’t helped Scottish licensed hospitality more, with a heavier burden falling on the larger premises yet again. We would urge the Scottish government to think again on the relief package, particularly for larger premises.” Paul Togneri, senior advisor at the Scottish Beer & Pub Association, added: “The support falls far short of what is needed to secure the future of many businesses and jobs across the country, given the unprecedented pressure on the sector at the moment. For some, it will be the difference between staying open and closing the doors for good. Ultimately, the sector needs a permanent solution to the disproportionate rates burden paid by pubs, relative to their turnover.”

Thwaites chairman – ‘pubs are the whipping boy in Labour's wanton destruction of business’: Richard Bailey, chairman of the Independent Family Brewers of Britain and chairman of north west brewer and retailer Daniel Thwaites, has said pubs are being used as “a whipping boy” by the government. Writing in The Mail, Bailey said: “Despite consistent lobbying as to the policies that would actually boost the industry, you can only assume from the government’s recent actions and policy decisions that there is a wanton desire to wipe it out, destroy employment and vandalise our communities. Going to the pub is becoming increasingly unaffordable. Pubs are being used as a whipping boy by HM Revenue & Customs and the Treasury, who are deaf to the loud voices of industry that warn of hardship, closure and the cultural obliteration of our communities. This political leadership appears to have completely lost sight of the vital role that pubs play in the nation’s economic and social well-being – or maybe it really doesn’t care. Talk of relaxing licensing laws and consulting with the industry are warm words and convenient soundbites that offer no comfort to those fearing the death of this unique part of British life. Staying open longer doesn’t help when you can’t afford to pay the team or you are shutting down a few days a week to try and save every bean you can because the cost of employment and energy is so high. It is time for common sense to prevail and the insatiable hunger to bleed pubs dry to be put to one side. When your MPs are being banned from their local, you know something is seriously wrong. We hear rumours of the government listening to the industry and a possible amendment to the huge business rate increases that it has proposed for pubs. That may herald a step in the right direction to start to address the dire state of affairs that it has created for the pub industry.”

 

Pubs face ‘last straw’ as Reeves plots £400m tax raid on drinkers: Pubs face a fresh tax blow next month as Rachel Reeves launches a £400m a year raid on pints, spirits and glasses of wine. Alcohol duty is set to rise by 3.66% at the start of February, equating to around 2p on the price of a pint in a pub. While the increase may sound small, it follows a succession of other tax rises and comes as pubs brace for an increase in business rates in the spring. Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKHospitality, told The Telegraph: “This will be the last straw for some pubs.” Alcohol duty is forecast to rake in £12.3bn for the Exchequer in the coming financial year, around £400m more than the current period, according to estimates from the Office for Budget Responsibility. Clive Watson, chairman of Inda Pubs, said taxes and regulation were “throttling” the industry. He said: “We need a fundamental reform of business rates. We cannot have this shadow looming over our sector not knowing what the government is going to do next – it stifles investment, innovation and progress. Staff should be seen as an important part of the business, but because of employment taxes and above-inflation rises on living wage, operators are constantly looking at trying to reduce hours at the expense of service and staff welfare and progression. I have been in the sector for more than 35 years and the state intervention we are facing is throttling our sector.”

Sacha Lord – this Labour government has been worse for pubs than the pandemic: Night Time Industries Association chairman Sacha Lord has condemned chancellor Rachel Reeves as being worse for pubs than the pandemic and said that any business rates reversal has to be applied to the whole hospitality sector. Addressing the rumoured U-turn the government has been forced to make following Reeves’ decision at the budget to end covid-era relief to business rates, Lord told The Mail it would be “unfair” if it only applies to pubs. “I watched the Budget and [Reeves] stood there and said we have listened to hospitality, and we are going to reform business rates,” he said. “Then an hour later, people began looking at their numbers and said this was untenable. This Labour government has been worse for pubs than the pandemic. They needed our support during the general election. We were told business rates are unfair, we are going to reform them to benefit hospitality. We were told they would reduce our bills, and they would throw attention towards Amazon, Parcelforce, huge warehouses. They have done exactly the opposite.”

 

Joe & The Juice CEO – ‘people are becoming more intentional about well-being’: Thomas Noroxe, chief executive of Joe & The Juice, the juice and cafe bar brand that operates circa 75 sites in the UK and circa 400 globally, has said people are becoming more intentional about well-being. Noroxe said: “What used to belong to elite preparation has become part of how ordinary people navigate long days, demanding schedules and the need to stay sharp. And now we’re entering a new phase – where performance still matters, but steadiness matters just as much. Ingredients like lion’s mane, reishi and gut-health routines have shifted from niche practices to everyday habits. The question is no longer ‘how fast can I go?’, but ‘how well can I feel while I go?’ Functional has evolved through all these stages – from elite to everyday, to balance and clarity. It isn’t niche; it’s the new baseline for how we shape the way we think, move and feel. I was struck recently by a statistic: searches for adaptogens have increased by more than 1,500% in the UK over the past year. And one in five adults now regularly replaces tea or coffee with a functional drink. People are becoming more intentional about well-being. ‘Trust your gut’ isn’t just a phrase anymore – it’s a mindset. We still eat for comfort and connection, but increasingly, we eat for balance. We used to invest in what we wore. Now we invest in what we consume – not out of vanity, but because energy has become the new currency of modern life. I’ve been reflecting on this shift because it’s not just about food – it’s about how we live. A new generation is redefining performance. They’re not chasing more; they’re seeking meaning. They’re building lifestyles around focus and well-being, not just output. I find that both humbling and inspiring, because the same principles apply in leadership as they do in wellness: steadiness over speed, rhythm over rush, presence over pressure. That, to me, is the real function of food.”

Sector cycling charity initiative Pedalling To Pubs returns for 2026: Pedalling To Pubs, one half of the industry-coordinated bike trek raising money for Only A Pavement Away and the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC), is retuning for 2026. Fundraising has begun for the event, which will see riders taking on 270km in Norfolk between 4-6 June. Over the three days, 65 hospitality professionals will cycle approximately 55 miles per day, taking on routes from Norwich to Thetford, Thetford to King’s Lynn, and King’s Lynn back to Norwich. This year’s ride steps up the distance compared with 2025’s challenge, which saw 60 riders cycle 220km across the Lake District. Now in its fourth year, Pedalling To Pubs aims to surpass last year’s record-breaking fundraising total of more than £100k for LTC and Only A Pavement Away. The funds raised enable both charities to continue their vital work providing support and opportunities to those facing hardship, homelessness, or barriers to employment. The other half of the industry-coordinated bike trek will see cyclists embark on a journey across Cuba this year.

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a fast-growing UK and European catering and events business with a turnover of approximately £10m that is looking for a head of finance. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “The ideal candidate will be a fully qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, or CPA) with senior finance experience, strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking, experience within hospitality, events or another operationally driven business being highly desirable, and a hands-on, collaborative leadership style.” The salary for this London based opportunity is open to negotiation. For more information, email oliwia@corecruitment.com

 

Mediterranean inspired London restaurant concept Drunch secures franchise deal to expand to Egypt: Mediterranean inspired London restaurant concept Drunch has secured a franchise deal to expand to Egypt. Founded in 2013 in London, Drunch opened its first site in Mayfair and has since grown to four successful locations across central London, including Mayfair, Oxford Circus, Notting Hill and Regent’s Park. Building on this success, a new master franchise deal has now been confirmed, marking Drunch’s expansion into Egypt. The agreement will see five locations open across Cairo as phase one of a wider growth strategy, with further expansion planned across Egypt and the wider MENA region. This initial phase will introduce Drunch’s all day dining concept to Cairo, which it sees as an ideal entry point for the brand’s long term regional ambitions. Presman & Colard advised on the franchise deal and will continue to support both the brand and the franchise partner throughout the development, launch and ongoing growth of the business. “This partnership brings together a proven international concept with a highly motivated local operator, creating a solid platform for scalable expansion,” said Charlie Mander, group chief operating officer of Presman & Colard.

Urban Pubs & Bars acquires The Birdcage from BrewDog: Urban Pubs & Bars, the London pub operator founded by Malc Heap and Nick Pring and backed by Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual, has made its sixth acquisition of the year already after securing The Birdcage in east London from Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, Propel has learned. Last week, Propel revealed Urban Pubs & Bars had added a further five pubs to its growing estate, including the acquisition of four former Food & Fuel sites in London from The Restaurant Group-owned Brunning & Price. The four sites acquired from Brunning & Price were The Roebuck and The Steam Packet in Chiswick, The Queens in Crouch End and Coco Momo in Kensington. The business also separately acquired the Prince Regent in Herne Hill. In October, Propel revealed Urban Pubs & Bars had acquired Albion & East, the Imbiba-backed group of four all-day venues based in London. The acquisition of The Birdcage in Columbia Road, takes Urban Pubs & Bars’ estate to 66 sites. The business said it represents “another significant step in its targeted expansion strategy as it continues to outperform the wider UK hospitality market”. Managing director Chris Hill said: “We are delighted to continue our fast start to the year by acquiring such an iconic east London pub. The strength of our underlying performance, driven by our brilliant team of operators, gives us the confidence to further invest in London. We look forward to welcoming all the team at The Birdcage into the Urban family.”

Family-run halal restaurant brand Mr T’s secures second London site: Mr T’s, the family-run halal restaurant brand, has secured its second site in London, in Hammersmith. The business, which was founded in 2016 by Tauseef Malik, has secured a former restaurant site on King Street for an opening later this summer. It is the group’s second London location after opening in Ilford’s Exchange Mall last September. It now operates 13 sites across the country, including sites in Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham and Reading and beyond. Fahad Ahmed, director at Mr T’s, said: “We’re really excited to open another London location, where our food has been so well received. Hammersmith is a vibrant area with excellent transport links and a diverse customer base that aligns perfectly with our brand.” Nick Weir at Shelley Sandzer acted on the Hammersmith deal.

 

Evolv Collection to open fourth Satoria site next month: The Evolv Collection, formerly D&D London, will open a fourth site under its Italian restaurant concept Sartoria in the capital next month. The venue will launch on Sunday, 1 February in Liverpool Street in the City. Originally founded by Sir Terence Conran in 1990, Sartoria entered a new chapter under the Evolv Collection, becoming “one of the powerhouse brands at the heart of the group's strategic growth ambitions”. The Liverpool Street opening will follow the launch of Sartoria Launceston Place in November 2025 and is part of a pipeline of Sartoria locations launching throughout 2026. The original Sartoria opened in Saville Row. Martin Williams, chief executive of the Evolv Collection, said: “Sir Terence Conran’s vision for Sartoria was to introduce guests to the elegant style of Milan. With Sartoria Liverpool Street, we’re bringing that refined Milanese sensibility, that perfect marriage of style, sophistication and substance, to the City of London. This neighbourhood has long deserved a destination that combines the sartorial elegance of Savile Row with the accessibility and energy of modern Milan. This opening represents another important milestone in our strategic expansion of Sartoria as we continue to create iconic restaurants that resonate with guests across London's most vibrant districts.” 

 

Dishoom to open first Permit Room in the north west in March: Dishoom, the award-winning Indian restaurant group, will open the first site in the north west under its all-day, bar-café concept Permit Room, in Liverpool, in early March. Propel reported last year that Dishoom was set to open a Permit Room in the city, in the former Royal Bank of Scotland building in Exchange Court, Daile Street. The business currently operates Permit Rooms in Brighton, Cambridge, Oxford and in London’s Portobello Road. The concept is inspired by the post-prohibition bars in India. Brian Trollip, Dishoom chief executive, said: “Our Permit Rooms are lively and rooted in the spirit of Bombay’s drinking culture – a place for cocktails, comfort food and connection, all day long.” Dishoom, which is backed by L Catterton, is also set to open a 12th site under its eponymous core brand, in Leeds. The company will take over the former Flannels unit, occupying a prime 8,000 square-foot space across two floors between the Victoria Gate and Victoria Quarter shopping centres, in the city. Dishoom has also applied to open a site at the Hop Exchange, the grade-II listed building at 24 Southwark Street, in London’s Bankside. The business also plans to make its international debut this year, with an opening in the US, in Lower Manhattan.

Ennismore passes 200-hotel milestone, to open first UK site for its Delano brand: Gleneagles and Hoxton hotels owner Ennismore has passed the 200-hotel milestone and said it is to this year open a first UK site for its Delano brand. Passing the landmark number means Ennismore has more than doubled its network in the last four years, and it has several more milestones lined up this year. Among them is the UK debut debut for Delano, which will open in late 2026, close to Kensington Gardens and overlooking Hyde Park. The hotel will feature 67 rooms and suites alongside a reimagining of Miami's legendary Rose Bar, a new restaurant from Ennismore’s food and beverage platform and a curated wellness space. Elsewhere, Mama Shelter will open in Lake Como and Cape Town, and Morgans Originals will debut in Paros and Mumbai – representing Ennismore’s first openings in Greece and India. Hyde will expand its footprint across the Asia-Pacific region with openings in Perth and Bali, while Rixos will debut in the Americas with Cancun, launch its first Asian destination in Vietnam and open in Saudi Arabia. In Mexico City, Ennismore will introduce Hyde and Mama Shelter for the first time, while Paris Society will enter the Americas with Gigi and Mimi Kakushi. Ennismore chief executive Gaurav Bhushan said: “2026 marks a defining moment for Ennismore as we continue to scale our platform globally while staying true to the individuality and creativity that define our brands. Surpassing 200 hotels in just four years is a testament to the strength and desirability of our ecosystem, and our upcoming openings reflect both the pace and ambition of our growth.”

 

Timothy Taylor’s hires Louise McLaughlin as new marketing director: Yorkshire brewer and retailer Timothy Taylor’s has hired Louise McLaughlin, formerly of Molson Coors, as its new marketing director. McLaughlin joins Timothy Taylor’s with more than 20 years of marketing experience, having worked on leading brands including Carling, Coors, Madri and Lee & Wrangler Jeans. Most recently, she was innovation director at Molson Coors, where she led major innovation projects and launched Monte Carlo super-premium beer into the UK on trade. Timothy Taylor’s said: “With a strong track record in brand building, innovation and growth within the UK beer market, Louise will build on the excellent work of Jane Jenkins, who has led our marketing function for more than a decade. Louise will join the business in early February, with a planned transition ahead of taking full leadership of the marketing team later in the month. We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Jane for her outstanding contribution to Timothy Taylor’s over the last 11 years. Her passion, commitment, and impact on the brand have been immense, and we look forward to celebrating her achievements ahead of her retirement in March.” As previously reported, Patrick Dardis, former chief executive of Young’s, will join the Timothy Taylor’s board next month, as a non-executive director. 

 

Little Door & Co sees 11% increase in festive revenue, eyes two new openings: Little Door & Co, the house-party-inspired late-night bar and restaurant concept, has told Propel that it achieved revenue of £2.6m in the seven weeks to 4 January 2026 across its five-strong, London-based estate, a 11% increase year-on-year. Over the same period, the company, which was founded by Kamran Dehdashti and Jamie Hazeel, reported more than 47,000 covers, representing a 6% year-on-year increase. It comes as the business told Propel that it was planning two openings this year, including one in east London. The business opened its fifth site in summer 2024, The Violet Door at 9 Kingly Street. The venue was the group’s second Central London site, joining The Little Scarlet Door in Soho and neighbourhood locations The Little Yellow Door in Notting Hill, The Little Blue Door in Fulham and The Little Orange Door in Clapham.

 

Independent boutique accommodation collection Your Place sees ‘exceptionally strong’ 2025 as it prepares to open fifth site: Independent boutique accommodation collection Your Place has told Propel the business had an “exceptionally strong” 2025 as it prepares to open its fifth site. The ten-room Bower House will launch in London’s Pimlico in March, joining the Georgian House Hotel and Chinnery House Apartments in the capital and Victorian House and Rothay Garth in the Lake District. Serena von der Heyde, Your Place founder, told Propel: “Trading across the Your Place portfolio was exceptionally strong in 2025. In London, we saw an increase in longer stays thanks to our Chinnery House aparthotel offering. The launch of our latest offering, Bower House, fills a clear gap in the London market during these increasingly turbulent socio-economic times. Bower House provides a third distinctive guest experience for our London properties, combining a central location and period property with the boutique interiors you would expect from Georgian House, while offering a pared-back level of service.” She said the focus for the remainder of the year will be on the existing portfolio, adding: “We’re continuing to further our investment into strengthening our customer proposition and guest experiences to cater for a gap in the market.”

Costa Coffee to open at The Liberty Romford: Costa Coffee is to open a new store at The Liberty Romford shopping centre in Essex. The 4,096 square-foot space will offer 90 modern covers and open in early 2026, located in a key gateway unit. Simon Carr, acquisitions manager at Costa Coffee, said: “The Liberty Romford’s diverse tenant mix resonates with the local community and pinpoints it as a prime location for us to serve our nation’s favourite coffee.” Daniel Tucker, leasing manager at The Liberty Romford, added: “We are proud of our ability to attract some of the UK’s leading brands to the centre, and the signing of such a large Costa Coffee outlet is testament to this.”

 

Liverpool hospitality group Baa Bar to open Vegas-inspired nightlife destination: Liverpool hospitality group Baa Bar is to open a Vegas-inspired nightlife destination in the city. DeLuca’s will launch in Concert Square next month and span three floors. At the core of the venue will be The Game Lounge, a “high-energy” space built for live sport. Above this, The Club Room will offer American pool, shuffleboard and tech darts alongside DJs and cocktails, leading out on to The Deck, an elevated terrace overlooking Concert Square. Completing the experience is One Below at DeLuca’s – a late-night club tucked beneath the main venue, inspired by the after-dark glamour of Vegas strip-side clubs. Managing director Oliver Clarke said: “DeLuca’s is about committing fully to the moment. It’s big, confident and unapologetic – and served with Stateside standards. By bringing sport, play and late-night spectacle together, every visit feels like an occasion.” Last month, Baa Bar, which also operates its eponymous site and Frederiks, sold Café Tabac to Ma Pub Group – the independent Liverpool hospitality operator behind Ma Boyle’s Alehouse and Eatery, Tempest on Tithebarn, Nova Scotia and Newington Temple.

 

Wasabi launches new hot meal deal: Wasabi, the sushi and bento brand backed by Capdesia, has launched its hot meal deal, which the circa 50-strong business said marked a “significant step for the brand” as it looks to drive “value, frequency and relevance during the key winter trading period”. The new meal deal centres on kobachi, Wasabi’s newest product range, which features chicken and beef biang biang kobachi, with either tender spiced chicken or soy and garlic marinated beef. Running for a limited time, “Your Kobachi Meal” builds on this new range by offering a hot winter meal deal, serving “big flavours in little bowls”. The deal includes a Kobachi bowl, paired with a hot snack and a drink, and will be available from £8.95.

Cantonese roast meat concept Mama Li to open third site: Cantonese roast meat concept Mama Li is to open its third site. The business, founded by Catherine Hua and her mother, is opening the venue in London’s Canary Wharf’s newest district, Wood Wharf. Located at 3 Rivington Walk, the site marks an evolution of the concept, introducing a “more considered dine-in experience” although Siu Mei – Hong Kong’s roasted meat – remain at the heart of the menu. Guests can choose from four signature roasts – crispy pork, barbecue pork, soy chicken and roasted duck – served with rice and seasonal vegetables and selecting up to three meats before personalising their plate with additions such as fried egg or house chilli. Alongside these, the Wood Wharf menu will introduce a wider range of soup noodle dishes and a selection of “nostalgic” cha chaan teng favourites, including bolo bao with butter. Expanding on Mama Li’s earlier express-led sites, the new location “balances a dedicated dine-in space with a continued grab-and-go offering”. In place of bubble tea, the venue will introduce a new range of tea-based cocktails, developed in-house to pair specifically with Cantonese roast meat. After struggling to find Cantonese roast meat in London that tasted like the food they grew up eating, Hua and her mum set out to recreate those flavours using treasured family recipes, leading to sites opening in Great Tower Street and in London Wall in the City. Hua said: “With this opening, it was important to us that we stayed true to the food our customers already love, while giving ourselves room to show more of how Cantonese food is really eaten.”

 

Company of Cooks secures £2.5m catering deal with London’s No.4 Hamilton Place: Company of Cooks, part of independent caterer CH&Co, has secured a £2.5m catering deal with London’s No.4 Hamilton Place. The three-year deal will see the Company of Cooks team deliver all hospitality and catering services at the venue, which as well as being the headquarters of the Royal Aeronautical Society, also features event spaces including a roof terrace overlooking Hyde Park. Eve – Company of Cooks’ sister brand that specialises in event sales and marketing – will also help “unlock the venue’s full commercial capability”. Laurent Lucas-Dufour, sector director for Company of Cooks, said: “The venue is stunning and we embrace the opportunity to elevate the hospitality and service experience of society employees, members and guests, and to cement its status as a London event venue of choice. We are experienced in maximising the customer experience and revenue potential of historic buildings in London and we can’t wait to work together to realise the great opportunities that No.4 Hamilton Place holds.”

Chef Dominic Taylor to revive Caribbean dining concept at new permanent site: Chef Dominic Taylor is reviving his Caribbean dining concept, The Good Front Room, at a new permanent site. Winner of Five Star Kitchen: Britain’s Next Great Chef, Taylor first showcased the concept at The Langham Hotel in 2023 as part of the Channel 4 show. Following this residency, and a recent series of sold-out festive superclubs, Taylor is now taking the concept to east London. Occupying the ground floor of Thomas Tower in Dalston Square, the 80-cover restaurant will open on Thursday, 5 February. The menu will include light cornmeal dumplings, coconut crema and thyme crumb, as well as rum and raisin glazed pork belly. Accompanying the food will The Good Front Room’s signature rum punch, wine, beer and stout. Taylor said: “The Good Front Room is inspired by my great-aunt Myrtle and the sacred front rooms found in so many Caribbean homes. As a grandchild of the Windrush generation, I feel a responsibility to carry the torch and keep our stories, recipes and traditions alive. Doing this now feels like the right moment to build something entirely my own, rooted in where I come from.” Raised in London by a Jamaican mother and Saint Lucian father, Taylor studied hospitality management and then gained experience in London restaurants and hotels. He was appointed head chef at Belgraves Hotel, then head chef at The Courthouse Hotel in Shoreditch before a two-year stint as executive chef at brunch-focused restaurant group, The Jam Tree.

 

European hospitality brand and members’ club Aethos to launch Japanese restaurant at debut UK site: European hospitality brand and members’ club Aethos is to launch a Japanese restaurant at its debut UK site. Aethos, which operates seven destinations across Europe and is also opening in Madrid, acquired the Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch last year and reopened the 164-room venue as its UK flagship. Aethos is now preparing to this spring reopen the former Nobu restaurant in the hotel as Mitsu, taking inspiration from east Tokyo’s izakayas. Entering through a Japanese garden, the fire and theatre of Japanese robata cooking will be at the restaurant’s core. The menu will feature plates made to share, focusing on traditional techniques and dishes such as kushikatsu and kamameshi, as well as robata dishes cooked over Japanese charcoal.

 

Scottish Sri Lankan street food concept to open first stand-alone restaurant this month: Scottish Sri Lankan street food concept Kochchi will open its first stand-alone restaurant later this month. Kochchi has been operating at Bonnie & Wild – the Edinburgh food hall concept from the founders of Scottish restaurant brand Mac & Wild – since 2022. The concept will now make its bricks and mortar debut in the former The Hanoi Bike Shop, in Glasgow’s Ruthven Lane, on Thursday, 29 January. The restaurant will have capacity for 80 covers spanning two floors plus an external seating area. Founders Shehan Fernando and Suki Jayaratne grew up in different parts of Sri Lanka, but it was Colombo – the country’s capital – that united their culinary vision. At the heart of the menu is Koththu, Sri Lanka’s iconic street food. Fresh flatbread is hand-chopped and seared on a hot griddle with vegetables and curry, available with roast chicken, black pork or cauliflower. The curries feature options of Colombo chicken curry, black pork curry, monkfish curry, crab curry, devilled chicken, pork and prawns. A separate brunch menu will include bacon hoppers, milk hoppers, roast pãan options and a Colombo omelette, while The Kochchi Experience offers a guided five-course sharing menu. The drinks list will feature Sri Lankan-inspired cocktails, craft beer and tropical softs.