Doughnut business Dum Dum Donutteries founder – ‘scope to grow to 100-plus sites across the UK and re-establish international presence’: Paul Hurley, founder of Doughnut business Dum Dum Donutteries, has told Propel he believes there is scope to grow to 100-plus sites across the UK and re-establish its international presence as it returns to the expansion trail. Before covid, Dum Dum Donutteries had grown to around a dozen locations and had 35 franchises in agreement, but the pandemic curtailed those plans and also led to the closure of its other franchises, including in Dubai. Having spent time refining operations, Hurley began growing the business again at the end of last year with the launch of a site in Wembley Park, north London. This coincided with the opening of a state-of-the-art bakery, innovation hub and training facility in Brentford, west London, which Hurley said means the business has the capacity to roll out ten-plus stores per year. He told Propel those expansion plans include the reopening of its company-owned store at Euston station, which has been shut as part of the HS2 project, and the launch of a new store at Victoria station by the same multi-brand franchisee running Wembley Park. Hurley said growth would be a mix of company-owned and franchise sites with an initial focus on London and the south east. He added: “We’ve purposely built the facility in Brentford that will allow us to grow at quite a rapid rate and has the capacity that allows us to aim for ten sites a year. That of course depends on finding the right properties at the right price, but we’re getting good interest from landlords because we offer something different. We were building nicely before covid hit, and we certainly think we can get to 100-plus sites in the UK as well as re-establishing that international presence. We’ve opened satellite kitchens before so we’re open to partnering with franchisees in other areas of the UK who share our ambition to grow into a national brand.” Dum Dum Donutteries also has plans to develop wholesale partnerships and launch nationwide direct-to-consumer delivery from the second quarter of this year. Dum Dum Donutteries 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.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality on Friday: The next Who’s Who of UK Hospitality will be released to Premium Club subscribers on Friday (23 January), at midday. Another 98 companies have been added to the database, which now features 1,382 companies. This month’s edition will also include 341 updated entries. The companies, listed in alphabetical order, w, as well as broader information around Ebitda, plans and trading style available. The database merges Companies House information, interviews and other public information to provide an easy to reference and exhaustive guide to the sector. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel chief operating officer – editorial, Mark Wingett, and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Leon boss attacks Labour’s ‘toxic’ tax regime, weight loss jabs are an ‘opportunity’ for the brand: Labour is overseeing a “toxic” tax regime that threatens swathes of closures across the hospitality industry, the founder of Leon has said. John Vincent said soaring costs meant almost all pubs and restaurants are losing money and claimed that the only places that will survive are those “selling rubbish food”. Vincent said 36p in every pound was going to the government under the “incredibly toxic tax regime that’s impacting our industry”, leaving Leon with “negative 10p” after expenses as it battles higher national insurance costs and rising business rates. “You go to a supermarket, you buy something, you don’t pay VAT,” he told the BBC’s Big Boss Interview podcast. “You go to Leon, you pay 20% VAT. The second thing is you have business rates that were 4% of sales, and they are now 8% to 10% of sales. You have national insurance that’s now gone up an extra 3% of sales. In our industry, you only ever made 3% profit after depreciation and after head office costs. So, if your business rates go up from 4% to 8% or 10% and the national insurance is added, everyone starts losing money. The only people that are going to survive are those that are selling rubbish food that’s not very good quality, because that’s the only way that these restaurants are going to be able to survive.” At the same time, Vincent said that the increasing popularity of weight loss jabs presents an “opportunity” for Leon. He said the dishes the brand is serving are the “sort of food people on weight loss jabs want to eat”. He also set out his plans to revive the chain, which includes opening more restaurants in service stations, airports and train stations. He said the high costs of operating in the capital was making business there “incredibly difficult”, with “incredibly high upward-only rents”. He said even though airports in particular take a large slice of a retailer’s takings, a 2% profit margin there “is worth the same as a 6% on the high street”. Vincent said: “You might be doing two or three times the revenue in that airport than you might in a high street location.”

Thwaites chairman – Labour has a puritanical desire to wipe out pubs: Richard Bailey, chairman of the Independent Family Brewers of Britain and chairman of north west brewer and retailer Daniel Thwaites, has said that the measures taken by the government to increase tax and the burden of law on landlords and pubs is “decimating an integral part of our cultural heritage every single day”. He told The Telegraph: “On the current trajectory, we expect a quarter of pubs in the UK will close over the next ten years, ruining our communities and harming people who rely on their local. Despite consistent campaigning for policies that would actually boost the industry, we now hear that the government wishes to ban under-18s from drinking non-alcoholic drinks in a regulated pub environment as there is a suggestion that they are a pathway to drinking. What is that all about? Is this a serious policy or legislation for legislation’s sake? Has no one considered how zero-alcohol products promote responsible drinking? This is precisely why you can only assume from the government’s recent actions and policy decisions that they wish to fuel a war on our local and rural pubs as well as alcohol. Daily, they demonstrate a puritanical desire to wipe out our locals, destroy employment and vandalise our communities. The country’s pubs are utterly undervalued for the role they play in British society. They are not merely places to drink. They are hubs of social connection, charity and community cohesion. Spaces that combat loneliness, foster local identity and bring people together across generations. Who in their right mind would purposefully destroy this? The promise of a slower road to oblivion is not a carrot, nor a stick – it is merely the government guaranteeing delayed annihilation of pubs and delaying a disincentive to take a risk, invest some capital, run a business and provide employment.”

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a global premium restaurant group that is seeking a head chef for a new high-end Greek and Mediterranean restaurant in London’s Mayfair. A COREcruitment said: “This is a pivotal role, building and leading a brigade of 20-25, driving all kitchen operations and delivering an exceptional food experience. The ideal head chef will have proven experience in a premium, high-volume restaurant environment. A strong background in high-end Mediterranean, Greek, or live-fire cooking is highly advantageous.” The salary is up to £65,000. For more information, email olly@corecruitment.com.

 

Darjeeling Express to move to larger West End premises: West End landlord Shaftesbury Capital has revealed that the Indian restaurant, Darjeeling Express, will relocate within its portfolio, moving into a larger unit at 38-40 Rupert Street in the coming months. Founded by acclaimed restaurateur Asma Khan and celebrated for its all-female kitchen, Darjeeling Express has proven a standout addition to Kingly Court. The restaurant has partnered with Shaftesbury Capital once again, as it embarks on its next phase of growth. Launching into a larger 5,600 square-foot space with 130 covers, the new Soho location will enable Darjeeling Express to continue delivering its authentic mix of Bengali, Hyderabadi and Kolkatan cuisine to an even wider audience. Darjeeling Express will share Rupert Street with a revered selection of F&B operators, including the likes of The Palomar, Evelyn’s Table and Speedboat Bar.  Asma Khan, founder of Darjeeling Express, said: “I’m so proud of how far Darjeeling Express has come in the last few years – what started as a passion project for me has become a mainstay of Indian dining in London, and a successful example of female empowerment in hospitality. As we continue to grow, Shaftesbury Capital has supported us with a space that allows our all-female team to remain front and centre, while taking the next step in our exciting journey.” 

 

TGI Fridays UK CMO and people director step down: Rhiannon Scarlett and Stepanie Williams have stepped down as chief marketing officer and people director, respectively, of TGI Fridays UK. After three and a half years as the brand’s chief marketing officer, Scarlett has left the business, whilst after just over two years with TGI Fridays UK, Stepanie Williams has stepped down as its director of people and culture to join The Cotswold Company as its new chief people officer. Propel revealed last year that Sugarloaf TGIF Management, the global manager of the TGI Fridays brand, had hired Giles Fry, the founder of neighbourhood-style bar and kitchen concept Snug Bars, to lead the UK arm of the business. Last week, Phil Broad, global president of TGI Fridays, told Propel that delivering clearer value is central to its vision for the brand in the UK – with a new menu reflecting this launching next month. It came after the business and assets of Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group, the company that managed the operations of TGI Fridays’ UK restaurants, were acquired by Sugarloaf TGIF Operations in a pre-pack transaction. This saw the transfer and continuing operation of 33 restaurants across the UK, while 16 sites were closed with immediate effect.

Boxpark founder closes venture capital fund: Boxpark founder Roger Wade has closed down BoxFund, the venture capital fund he founded three years ago which specialised in SEIS and EIS investments, and set out to back “people and ideas, not spreadsheets”. Wade, who last month announced he was stepping down from the board of Boxpark after 15 years with the business, said: “I still believe passionately in backing UK consumer brands with purpose, and I remain convinced that the future of consumer brands is impact-led. That belief hasn’t changed. What has changed is my focus. I want to spend my time building and running my own businesses rather than investing in other people’s. I also don’t enjoy the constant fundraising cycle that comes with the VC industry. Continually raising capital was never where I added the most value. My original hope was to find a major backer that would allow me to focus on my strengths, building and scaling consumer brands across a portfolio. I’ve realised the best way to do that is by backing my own brands directly. I’m excited about what lies ahead with BoxKitchen (his container kitchens business) and my portfolio of personal investments. Thank you to everyone who supported me, shared advice and believed in the journey. I’m genuinely grateful.”

Farmer J opens US debut site: Farmer J, the all-day market concept, has opened its first international site, in the US, in New York. The business, which operates 18 sites across London, has opened at 31 West 52nd Street. Co-founder Jonathan Recanati said: “Over a decade ago, I sat at my desk and was fed up with lunch options around my office. I sought to upgrade the boring, sad deli sandwich for healthy, tasty food that I could easily grab and bring with me. Thus, Farmer J was born. We have expanded this vision across London and are planting new roots in the US to revolutionise the lunch scene with always fresh ingredients and never, ever boring flavours.” Last October, Farmer J secured $23m (£17.5m) of new funding to aid its further growth. The investment, in which existing backer Beringea participated and was joined by a new global hospitality investor, helped fuel the three London openings – including a recent opening in Old Broad Street, in the City, as the business transitions from a “City lunchtime staple to a global contender”.

Chopstix opened 21 new sites in 2025, averaging a launch every two and a half weeks: Chopstix, the fast-growing, quick service restaurant brand, closed 2025 with its first site opening in Sunderland late last month, meaning it opened 21 new sites last year – averaging an opening every two and a half weeks. In addition, the company invested in two site conversions in 2025, updating Yangtze branded sites in Derby and Sheffield to the Chopstix brand. The Sunderland site was in The Bridges Shopping Centre, and the company said the north east has been identified as a “significant opportunity for growth for the business”. Jon Lake, Chopstix managing director, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have brought 21 new stores to the UK last year, and have seen particular success with targeting expansion in the north and north east, with our new Doncaster, York, Leeds and Sheffield stores seeing strong demand already.” 

Starbucks franchisee Cobra Coffee seeking further locations across south west following ‘one of our best years for store growth’: Starbucks franchisee Cobra Coffee is seeking further locations across the south west following what it said was one its best years for store growth in 2025. Cobra Coffee saw out 2025 with 85 stores after opening a new site at Eastgate Retail Park in Bristol in December. It is now looking for new sites across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire, with a mixture of drive-thru, drive-to and in town locations. Drive-thrus must be 0.3-plus acres with 1,500, 1,800 and 2,000 square-foot formats, and can be freehold, leasehold or long leasehold. Drive-to sites must be 1,800-2,300 square feet, in existing or new build properties, with drive-to or pod inline units. In town sites must be 1,800-3,000 square feet in high footfall locations such as high streets and shopping centres. Bradley Smith, acquisitions manager at Cobra Coffee, said: “We have enjoyed one of our best years of store growth, with eight new sites open and a further one more to go this month. A full team effort from our internal project management team and operations to our shopfitters and other contractors helping to deliver each site and overcoming inevitable challenges. With 85 stores now trading, we continue to seek the very best locations for our customers.” Cobra Coffee was founded in 2013 and is owned by Southern Co-op.

 

Atis co-founder – ‘2026 set to be another exciting year of growth after surprisingly great festive period’, pauses regional launch plans to focus on immediate London pipeline: Phil Honer, co-founder of London healthy bowl concept Atis, has told Propel that 2026 is set to be another exciting year of growth after a “surprisingly great” festive period. Honer also said the business was pausing its plans for its first site outside the capital to focus on its immediate pipeline in London – which he revealed includes new stores in Westminster and Notting Hill – and would resume its search for its debut regional outlet later this year. Those openings will start today (Monday, 19 January) with Baker Street – its 16th site in total. Honer said: “Trading over the festive period was great, which was a nice surprise to have in a period that is often quieter for our category. Annualised group revenue doubled again last year, and December was up considerably more than the annual average, so we were pleased to see this growth and shift in customer behaviour. This year we will keep the vast majority of the estate open over the Christmas and new year period. 2026 is set to be another exciting year of growth. We will be opening multiple new sites across the year, with the next set lined up in Baker Street, Orchard Place (behind St James’) and the Whiteley development in Notting Hill, with a number of others working their way through the pipeline. We will continue to invest in our existing sites to ensure we consistently deliver the best possible product and customer experience. That focus is already well underway, with the recent launch of our loyalty programme and a packaging refresh.” Last year, Honer told Propel that Atis was exploring opportunities in Bristol, Brighton and Manchester, with initial offers submitted. Updating on those plans, he said: “Expanding beyond the capital has always been and will continue to be part of our long-term vision, but in the third quarter of last year we realised that to work through the existing pipeline efficiently we needed to focus on London. This focus will continue for the first half of the year, after which we will resume our search outside of London. The door is very much open across the rest of the UK, Europe and beyond.”

 

Hollywood Bowl CEO – ‘we will only really do America if we could find the unicorn like we have in Canada’: Hollywood Bowl chief executive Stephen Burns has said the company will “only really do America if we could find the unicorn like we have in Canada”. The company, which has 77 UK locations, entered the Canadian market in 2022 and has grown its Splitsville bowling brand there to 15 venues, making it the largest branded bowling operator in the country. Like-for-like sales in the market rose 3.2% last year and spend per game was up 14.8%, and the Canadian business makes up about 15% of group revenues. The group hopes to open a new centre in Edmonton this year and is aiming to grow its Canadian portfolio to 35 sites by 2035. The Times writes that with 85% of Canada’s population living within 100 miles of the US border, it’s not hard to see why America could be Hollywood Bowl’s next stomping ground. Burns admits he would not be doing his job properly if he were not exploring further long-term opportunities but told the newspaper the company would “only really do America if we could find the unicorn like we have in Canada and it’s not to say that it doesn’t exist”. He added: “I’m not sure the market has given us full credit for it (the Canadian expansion), which I understand because our Canadian business is still relatively small, but it is a nice and steady continued growth opportunity.” Back home, Hollywood Bowl is aiming for 95 UK venues by 2035, and several will open this year, including a venue in Cardiff featuring electric go-karting, which Burns admits “will be an interesting test”. It is not the first time Hollywood Bowl has tried its hand at a different activity; it operates a handful of mini golf Putt & Play centres. “Before we moved internationally, we were looking at ways to grow the business, and so we looked at pretty much every type of everyday experience to see where we could try and add value and leverage our indoor leisure expertise,” Burns said. For now, there are no plans to revisit other activities. “We have found a much better return focusing on what we do really well,” he added. Burns does, however, believe that Hollywood Bowl holds its own in an ever-growing experiential leisure market. “If you look at some of these other experiential leisure operators, they are looking quite tired now,” he said. Increased competition might actually work in the company’s favour, he suggests, saying that while “you can’t get away” from the increasingly fierce competition, “in some respects, it raises the profile of bowling”.

Veeno opens in Poland: Veeno, The Italian bar and kitchen concept with six UK sites, has opened in Poland, under an owner-operated partnership rather than a franchise. Co-owner Rodrigue Trouillet said: “The move came about organically. A former general manager from our Edinburgh business relocated to Poland with his family and approached us about opening a Veeno there. Together, we agreed to proceed with a shared ownership structure, allowing us to retain operational control while testing the brand in a new market. Poland stood out as a market with strong economic momentum, an established dining culture and clear potential for casual Italian concepts. It also presented an opportunity to explore international growth at a time when the UK continues to trade in a challenging environment, while we remain fully committed to the domestic market. In the UK, we continue to expand selectively. We opened Veeno Durham with a franchise partner last September, and a further franchise opening in Northallerton is planned for later this year. For us, Wroclaw is an important proof point that the Veeno model can travel internationally when the right partner and structure are in place.”

 

Zambrero kicks off 2026 with new Ireland opening following ‘strongest year yet’ in the country: Zambrero has kicked off 2026 with a new opening in Ireland following its “strongest year yet” in the country. Australia’s largest Mexican quick-service franchise has opened at 12 Long Mile Road on Fox and Geese Common in Dublin for its 36th Irish location. Although it only launched into the UK five years ago, Zambrero, which has more than 300 locations globally, has been operational in Ireland for a decade now. Darragh Fanning, general manager of Zambrero Ireland, said: “Our Zambrero Ireland head office team came together in Dublin to kick off 2026, a milestone year as we mark ten years of Zambrero in Ireland. We reflected on 2025, our strongest year to date – seven new restaurants opened, national sales growth of 40%, SRS up 17% year on year, over 100 million meals donated globally through Plate for Plate, continued growth across our ‘ZamFam’. 2026 is already underway, with a new opening at Zambrero Long Mile Road, taking us to 36 locations across Ireland. We finished the day aligned on ambitious goals for 2026. There is strong momentum across our marketing plans, new product development pipeline, new restaurant design, and a few operational improvements happening behind the scenes. We are also seeing six existing franchise partners, including several multi-site operators, actively looking to expand their Zambrero network further, which is incredibly encouraging.” Zambrero, which has ambitions to grow to 100 UK sites, currently has 14 here and last year launched into Scotland for the first time through new franchisee Dan Hawley.

 

Soul Padel set to make Scottish debut, hires new property director: Soul Padel, the racket sport concept based in the north west of England, is set to open its first site in Scotland. It is constructing a site next to Decathlon in Old Govan Road, Renfrew, Braehead – its second in partnership with the sports retailer and fourth overall. It also has sites in Stockport, St Helens and at Loughborough University. A company spokesman said: “Soul Padel is officially on the way to Scotland! Our build project next to Decathlon Braehead is progressing rapidly, as we bring the Soul Padel x Decathlon partnership to life in another exciting location. It won’t be long before padel players across the region are stepping on to the first courts in Scotland under the SP banner. This is our second location with Decathlon, after launching in Stockport in 2024, and it’s another step forward in our mission to make padel accessible, sociable and sustainable in communities across the UK. Located right next to Decathlon’s store, our Braehead club will be a premium, all-weather venue designed for year-round play – with a full programme of coaching, social events and competitions ready to roll from day one.” It comes as Soul Padel hires Guy Brotherwood as its new property director, to lead its UK-wide property strategy as it eyes national expansion. Brotherwood joins from build to rent developer and operator Dandara Living, where he has been senior land manager for the past three years. The spokesman added: “We’re actively looking for our next great locations. We’re now scaling nationally, and want to hear from landowners, developers, retail destinations, retail park operators and owners of underused car parks. Whether it’s spare land, disused space, or something that just needs a second life – we’ll work with you to turn it into a premium padel destination that delivers footfall, vibrancy and social value.”

 

Shepherd Neame to re-open Farringdon pub after six-year closure: Shepherd Neame is to re-open Farringdon pub The Hoop & Grapes on Wednesday, 4 February, following a £1.8m transformation. The historic grade II-listed site has been closed since 2019 during redevelopment of the surrounding area. Shepherd Neame began a comprehensive restoration in October, carefully designed to enhance the pub’s appeal while celebrating its rich heritage. A spokesman said: “Housed within a five-storey building, the renewed Hoop and Grapes will offer three distinct experiences. The ground floor will retain the charm of a classic London pub, opening on to a charming courtyard garden. Upstairs, relax in our comfortable first floor seating area, or visit our intimate piano room at the top of the building, offering an elegant retreat perfect for private dining or gatherings.”

Black Sheep Brewery becomes latest Keystone business to file notice of intention to appoint administrators: Black Sheep Brewery has become the latest company in the Keystone Brewing Group to file a notice of intention to appoint administrators. A notice of intention to appoint administrators from FRP was filed in respect of Keystone Brewing Group in November. At the time the group, which employs about 190 people across its breweries, described the move as a “protective measure that allows us to keep trading as normal while we secure new investment or explore a potential sale”. It said the notice “gives us the breathing space we need to protect our people, our brands, and our customers”. A further notice of intention to appoint administrators was filed in respect of Black Sheep Brewing Company on 13 January. Black Sheep Brewery was established in 1992 and is based in Masham, North Yorkshire. The company was acquired by Breal Capital, the investment firm behind Keystone, out of administration, in May 2023.

 

McKeever Hotels hires group operations director: Northern Ireland operator McKeever Hotels has hired Norman McBride to the newly created position of group operations director. McBride, who will be responsible for overseeing operations across McKeever’s seven hotels, has more than 40 years of hospitality experience, spanning hotel operations and senior management. This includes 18 years with the family-owned Hastings Hotel Group, where he was general manager of the Ballygally Castle and Stormont Hotels. McBride has also worked for Tourism NI and established his own hospitality consultancy business, reports Insider Media. Since 2024, he has been working closely with the McKeever leadership team on its expansion journey, overseeing the transition of The Lodge Hotel, Coleraine, and the Armagh City hotel into the seven-strong group. He said: “I look forward to working across these great hotels, building on our ‘we do more’ culture and delivering operational excellence that will benefit our customers, our staff and our business as a whole.” Eugene McKeever, founder and group chair, added: “Norman has proven he is the right fit for our team, bringing not only his years of experience but his sound understanding of what makes a hospitality organisation tick in terms of its operations, its culture, and its people.” In November, the group said it was looking for further opportunities to expand, with the Republic of Ireland and Scotland on its target list.

 

Uber Eats names new leadership for UK business: Uber Eats has named new leadership for its UK business. Merve Basci, who is co-chief executive of Trendyol Go, the on-demand delivery operation that Uber Eats bought last summer, will be the new Uber Eats general manager for the UK. After more than four years leading the UK business, Matthew Price will be transitioning to a new role as regional general manager, EMEA north. Uber Eats said under Price’s leadership, Uber Eats has grown to be the largest delivery player in the UK, hitting the milestone of making one billion deliveries. Price will now dedicate his focus to growth opportunities across northern and eastern Europe, including the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Poland and the Nordics, where Uber Eats looks to provide more resources and focus. Basci said: “The UK is a standout player in the global delivery sector and I am thrilled to be joining the team. Uber Eats has already established itself as the UK’s market leader and I am excited to build on that foundation.” Price said: “Uber Eats in the UK has seen tremendous momentum in recent years, and it’s been a real privilege to help the vibrant UK restaurant community thrive. I’m looking forward to taking on a new challenge and applying what I’ve learned across the region.” 

 

Tortilla to close one site in Leeds and open another in bigger space: Tortilla will this month close one site in Leeds and open another. The new Tortilla restaurant will officially open on Friday, 23 January, just a few steps away from its current location in Trinity Kitchen, at Trinity Leeds. The existing Trinity Kitchen site will close on Monday, 19 January, at 3pm, ahead of the move. Located at 33 Bond Street, the new high-street restaurant offers more space for customers and features a refreshed, modern look. Tortilla interim marketing director, Olivia Paris, said: “We’re excited to be opening our new high-street Tortilla in Leeds. Moving into a bigger space in Bond Street allows us to offer an even better experience for our customers, with a fresh, modern look alongside the same freshly made, California-style burritos and tacos Leeds already knows and loves.”

Davy’s – ‘slight growth in early week footfall’, ‘Fridays most detrimentally impacted by flexible working as Thursdays see strongest trading’: London operator Davy’s has said it has seen a slight growth in early week footfall, and while Fridays are most detrimentally impacted by flexible working, Thursdays are seeing the strongest trading. It comes as the company – which operates eight wine bar and dining rooms, seven wine and tapas bars and three shops in the capital – reported a growth in turnover to £7,168,381 in the year to 31 March 2025, up from £6,877,345 in 2024. But its pre-tax loss widened from £707,363 in 2024 to £3,945,632 following a £3,325,000 fair value loss on investment property. Director Mark Carrick said: “Working from home hybrid models have remained in place, albeit there has been evidence of slight growth in footfall over the earlier part of the week. Fridays remain most detrimentally impacted by flexible working, with Thursdays maintaining the strongest trading position. Despite the factors outside of the control of the business, operating margins of 78% are in line with the prior year. Focus on operational efficiencies has accelerated, with particular attention on more intelligent forecasting, labour and margins control mitigating some of the impact from the continuing inflationary increases in statutory minimum wage rates alongside other operating cost pressures. The board remains optimistic that the business is still well placed to deliver again and is confident of the longer-term prospects for the company. The management team continue to explore further opportunities to exit onerous leases and optimise the operating model with its continued focus on the promotion of available space, embracing available technology to enable more creative ways to engage customers with more dynamic and interactive wine centric experiences.” 

Scottish marketplace concept reports record £11m sales in 2025: Scottish marketplace concept Bonnie & Wild has reported sales growth for the fourth consecutive year, with sales up by more than 5% for to a record £11.2m in 2025. The Edinburgh food hall business, which opened in July 2021, said a particularly strong festive period helped drive sales. Bonnie & Wild said the 5.6% lift across the business reflected its strong guest engagement and loyalty, vibrant offer and continued momentum across its curated food, drink and social dining offer. Managing director Ryan Barrie said: “Last year was another year of record-breaking growth for Bonnie & Wild, with the business enjoying consecutive growth every year since launching in 2021. It’s a fantastic achievement for the business and everyone involved in it, and reflects the excellence and value of our offer, our sterling reputation and the confidence our guests continue to have in our Scottish marketplace. We are committed to evolving the food hall experience, pushing boundaries, broadening our appeal and introducing the B&W brand to a wider demographic. As we look ahead, we remain focused on sustainable growth, operational excellence and building on this momentum into 2026 and beyond.”

 

East Midlands soft play operator opens second site: East Midlands soft play operator Rascal Ranch has opened a second site following a six-figure debt finance investment from Maven Capital Partners. Rascal Ranch has secured the funding through the British Business Bank's Midlands Engine Investment Fund II to open at Welland Business Park in Market Harborough. The investment supported the completion of the fit-out of the new location, including installation of soft play equipment, two purpose-built party rooms and an on-site kitchen and café. The venue will also introduce wellness services including an in-house beautician. Founder Kavita Patel opened his first Rascal Ranch at 9 Trevanth Road in Leicester in 2021, featuring a soft play area, indoor football and cricket facilities, a gym and a restaurant. “I’m thrilled to be opening our new soft play centre, creating new jobs and continuing to grow within this wonderful community,” said Patel. “I’m incredibly grateful to Maven for recognising the potential in both me and the business we’re building here.”

 

Nest restaurant in London’s Shoreditch set to close: Seasonal British restaurant Nest in London’s Shoreditch is to close down after nine years, running its final service on Saturday, 28 March. Nest is owned and operated by a trio of friends and founders – Johnnie Crowe, Luke Wasserman and Toby Neill – who also own Restaurant St Barts in Barbican under parent company the Nest Food Group. They opened Nest in Hackney in 2018 and moved it to its current, larger Shoreditch location in late 2023 – serving sustainable, seasonal tasting menus focusing on British produce. Hardens reports that the trio announced the closure of Nest in an email to subscribers, saying: “What a journey it’s been. From very humble beginnings running pop-ups around the country, to our first dishevelled shoebox of a site on Morning Lane in Homerton (which we absolutely loved and which gave us the platform to grow), to our current home in Shoreditch and beyond – despite the hardship, we feel incredibly blessed for this time. When we first opened, our tasting menu was a measly £28! Since then, the relentless and extortionate rise in costs has made it unavoidable to raise prices in order to keep going. We truly believe our current menu still represents incredible value, but despite every effort, we’re no longer able to make the numbers balance. We wanted to give everyone enough time to come and see us, celebrate, and say goodbye properly!” Nest will serve its current seafood season menu until mid-February, followed by a series of highlights for its final few weeks.

 

Liverpool operators to convert traditional Italian dining restaurant Il Forno to all-day concept Botanico: Liverpool operators, Paolo and Donato Cillo, are to convert their Il Forno restaurant in Duke Street to their Botanico concept. While the Cillos said both concepts are rooted in the same authentic Italian food and hospitality, Il Forno has been synonymous with traditional Italian dining, whereas Botanico, which launched in Woolton Village in October 2023, is an all-day eatery. Donato Cillo said: “Our decision to evolve Il Forno into Botanico is about listening to our guests and the city we love. Botanico allows us to honour our Italian roots while creating a more dynamic space – one where guests can enjoy exceptional coffee in the morning, relaxed brunches, business lunches, and memorable evening meals, all under one roof. Our valued guests can expect the same commitment to authenticity, quality ingredients and warm hospitality, paired with a contemporary vision and accessible pricing designed to welcome everyone.” The new Botanico will open next month. The Cillos are also behind the four-strong Italian coffee shop concept Gran Caffè, Crust in Bold Street, the Italian Quarter’s Antonietta, Brunchin’ in Woolton Village and the Panoramic 34 restaurant on the 34th floor of the city’s West Tower.