Tortilla founder – ‘we are upping our game in the face of increased competition’, ‘significant opportunity internationally’: Brandon Stephens, founder of Tortilla, the UK and Europe’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand, has told Propel that the business is “upping its game” in the face of a wider and more competitive pool of operators in the UK, and that there remains a significant opportunity for the company internationally. Last week, Stephens became group chief executive of the business he founded in 2007. At the same time, the company hired former Leon managing director Mac Plumpton as its new UK chief executive and appointed Marta Pogroszewska, former managing director of Bread Holdings (the parent company of Gail’s), as non-executive director, as it entered its “next phase of development”. This followed from the appointment of seasoned hospitality executive Duncan Garrood as chair in November. Stephens, who had been chief executive until 2014, said: “We’re upping our game. The US chicken concepts have brought with them more firepower and marketing muscle. At the same time, the new wave of hospitality businesses, including Farmer J, WatchHouse and Salad Project, have raised the bar in recent years, with incredibly refined concepts, decor and product quality. We’ll be accelerating our evolution to keep up with a market that’s elevated dramatically and become increasingly competitive over the last few years. We have the best food that we’ve ever had, but there are still areas for refinement and a number of market-proven opportunities to broaden our product offering. We also see significant growth levers with loyalty, delivery, technology, ambience and brand. The recent appointments to the management team and the new board bring a wealth of experience at our particular stage of the business lifecycle and highlight our renewed focus on our product and customer experience. Our playbook has worked well for a long time, and now it’s evolving to a wider and more long-term view of the market and the future of the brand. With these changes to team and strategy, we’re well positioned to become the leading pan-European fast-casual Mexican brand. We’re approaching France with start-up energy – acknowledging that we’re a new brand that requires awareness building; and that we’re in a market that is still learning about the products we sell and so requires considerable consumer education. We launched our new, contemporary store design and have been very encouraged by the resulting store performance. We’ll look to roll that design out in the UK in due course. Fast-casual Mexican food has worked in every country around the world where it’s been executed well. So, there is a proven template that we can draw upon, and strong evidence that the offering and brand will resonate with consumers across Europe.”

 

Neos Hospitality CEO Russell Quelch to speak at first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, open for bookings: Russell Quelch, chief executive of Neos Hospitality, will be among the speakers at the first Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2026, which is open for bookings. Quelch will discuss redefining what modern multi‑venue hospitality can look like through bold concepts, sharp execution and a deep understanding of how people want to socialise today, and the company’s decision to make its debut in Central London, with a new multimillion-pound venue. The conference takes place on Wednesday, 25 March, at the Park Plaza, Victoria. For the full speaker schedule, click here. Operators can book up to three free places per company while Premium subscribers who are operators can book up to four free places. To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Premium Club subscribers to receive two updated databases and all 49 videos from Restaurant Marketer and Innovator this week: Premium Club subscribers will receive two updated databases and all 49 videos from Restaurant Marketer and Innovator (RMI) this week. The latest Propel UK Food & Beverage Franchisee Database will be sent today (Wednesday, 11 February) at 12pm. The database will feature ten new additions plus updates to existing entries. The database now has 290 entries and more than 118,000 words of copy. Among the new entries four companies operating in the coffee house sector – Costa Coffee franchisees Cuppacoff and Soar Group, Starbucks franchisee Elite Coffee and Urban Baristas franchisee Walia Capital. Premium Club subscribers will then receive all 49 videos from RMI on Friday (13 February), at 9am. Premium Club subscribers will also receive the next Turnover & Profits Blue Book on Friday (13 February), at 12pm. The database will feature 35 new companies and 154 updated accounts. The database now features a total of 1,227 companies, with 758 in profit and 469 making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to four other databases: the Multi-Site Database, the New Openings Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel 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.

UKH chair – the playing field hasn’t been levelled, the chasm has grown disproportionately: Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, has said that the “staggering increases” to business rates coming in April could be the “straw that breaks many a camel’s back”. Writing in The Standard, Nicholls said: “In the Labour Party’s manifesto, it committed to level the playing field between the high street and online giants. Instead, local pubs, neighbourhood restaurants and independent hotels have been left worse off than distribution warehouses, large supermarkets and office blocks. The playing field hasn’t been levelled. Instead, the chasm has continued to grow disproportionately. This problem needs to be solved, and quickly. It’s not even two months until businesses will be paying these increased rates bills, and they’re telling me it’s simply unsustainable. The government’s commitment was to reform the system to benefit the entire high street. This is a hospitality-wide problem that needs a hospitality-wide solution. The answer is simple: increase the business rates discount from the current offering of 5p in the pound, to 20p. That’s the maximum permitted in law – legislation that the government themselves implemented. Putting in place that maximum discount will show the sector that you’re serious about rectifying this issue and genuinely levelling the playing field for the high street. Businesses in hospitality and on the high street all benefit from one another – it is a virtuous circle. Excluding parts of the sector from support only risks diminishing the complete hospitality offering we have here. It’s not just within hospitality either – our sector is so important for the London economy as a whole. One in ten jobs in the capital are within hospitality, and the sector contributes more than £20bn to the London economy. It’s critical we get this right and support the businesses that drive this growth, create local jobs and attract investment. Because the soft power that a thriving hospitality, tourism and leisure sector gives the capital is so important – it’s why firms want to invest in and locate themselves in London. But ultimately, hospitality businesses need a lower and more sustainable tax burden to achieve their potential to grow, create more jobs and regenerate our high streets. No part of hospitality on the high street will be immune from these hikes and getting it right will be critical to ensure we don’t see job losses and business closures accelerate. If we want to keep the hospitality heart of London beating strong, we need that sector-wide solution.”

SBPA urges Scottish councils to declare bank holiday on 15 June and help boost local hospitality: The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) has urged Scottish councils to declare a bank holiday on 15 June – coinciding with Scotland’s first World Cup match in almost 30 years – and help boost local hospitality. The SBPA said several local authorities in the country have chosen not to adopt the date as a bank holiday – despite its approval by royal proclamation and the Scottish government’s aim of “enabling communities to celebrate Scotland’s World Cup return together”. Paul Togneri, the SBPA’s senior policy manager said it “deeply disappointing” that several major Scottish councils – including Edinburgh, Fife, Scottish Borders and Falkirk – have confirmed they will not recognise the World Cup bank holiday. “These decisions collectively undermine what should be a unifying national moment and deny local pubs and hospitality venues the economic and community boost that this celebration would naturally bring,” he added. “With other authorities still to decide, we strongly urge them to adopt the holiday in full. Scotland’s first men’s World Cup appearance since 1998 is a once‑in‑a‑generation event, and councils have a real opportunity to support local businesses, encourage responsible celebration, and give communities the chance to come together.”

 

Leisure venue operator Stack to integrate shopping centre with Northampton venue, latest site generates £1.3m in turnover in first month: Leisure venue operator Stack is planning to integrate a shopping centre with a venue it is developing in Northampton venue, while its latest site, which opened in Newcastle’s Worswick Street in December, generated £1.3m in turnover in first month of operation. Writing in the company’s accounts for the year ending 30 April 2025, director Neil Winch said: “The group opened Stack Worswick Street, Newcastle, in December 2025. The venue is based in Worswick Chambers, a stunning listed building that is a focal point of the Pilgrim Quarters development programme. The new venue generated £1.3m turnover and Ebitda of £0.6m in December 2025, an exceptional first month, and performed ahead of the board’s expectations. Stack plans to open new venues in Wigan, Manchester, Bishop Auckland, Durham and Whitley Bay, and is developing an exciting concept at Northampton that integrates a shopping centre with the Stack venue. There is a strong pipeline of additional venues for future development so that the group can continue to achieve its rapid expansion programme. The group has spent in excess of £32m on development costs to date and is on track to meet its growth targets in terms of both venue openings and operating income.” It comes as Stack reported turnover of £13,492,703 for the year and a pre-tax loss of £5,169,365. The previous period’s figures are not comparable as Stack Topco, which was incorporated in September 2023, shortened its reporting period from 30 September 2024 to 30 April 2024. In the four months to 30 April 2024, the group generated turnover of £2,391,951 and reported a pre-tax loss of £1,351,161. Post year end, the group refinanced bank loans to the value of £1,984,537 with an external funder, repayable three years after the date of the agreement. Stack currently operates four sites across the north east – Seaburn in Sunderland, Middlesbrough and two in Newcastle – along with Stack Lincoln.

 

India’s largest bakery franchise lines up pipeline of almost 30 UK sites: India’s largest bakery franchise, 7th Heaven, has lined up a pipeline of almost 30 sites, Propel has learned. Founded in 2011 by Arjun Chugh, 7th Heaven has since grown to more than 350 outlets in India, offering “3D cakes”, cupcakes, macarons, doughnuts, tarts, burgers, pizza, sandwiches and more. Propel revealed last February that 7th Heaven was looking for franchise partners to launch here and had partnered with franchise consultants Lime Licensing Group as it seeks to enter the UK market. Its first UK site opened in September, in Wokingham Road, Reading, by franchisee Cake & More, which is led by Niharika Daruru, Nandini Gouni and Dedeepya Cherukuru. Further sites have since followed at 19 Carfax in Horsham, 133 Wandsworth High Street in Wandsworth, 16-18 Church Road in Ashford and Unit 2 6 Albert Street in Rugby. Propel understand the company now has “28 more signed and opening soon”. At the time of its launch here, Vishal Amin, regional director at Lime Licensing Group, said. “With 350-plus outlets across 125-plus cities, 7th Heaven has revolutionised the bakery experience with its live kitchen concept, allowing customers to watch any flavour and design being prepared live in just seven minutes – a true game changer in the industry. From intricate 3D designer cakes to delicate macarons, every store offers something special.” Propel’s International Brands report features the 100 leading international brands in UK hospitality. This in-depth report explores company histories, leadership structures, site numbers and turnover figures – an essential tool for industry professionals navigating the UK hospitality market. The top 100 includes expanding brands from markets such as the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. The guide comprises two files – an introductory PDF featuring deep dives into international brands from Propel’s writers, and a fully searchable Excel sheet for easy access to key data. The report is available to Premium Club subscribers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.

 

Farmer J founder – 50 sites feels small now: Jonathan Recanati, founder of Farmer J, the all-day market concept, has revised his thinking on how big the business could eventually grow to – saying “50 (sites) feels small now”. The company, which made its international debut last month with an opening in New York, currently operates 18 sites across London, and Recanati had previously said the vision for the business was to hit a “minimum of 50 sites in the UK”. He told the FT: “Fifty feels small now. We’re definitely not [done].” Recanati, who launched Farmer J in 2014, said that launching in New York was “probably the riskiest move I’ll ever do”. Last year, the company, which saw turnover near the £28m mark in 2024, secured $23m (£17.5m) of new funding to aid its further growth. Recanati said that “KPIs weren’t great at the first [restaurant], but it improved when we opened the second site on King William Street”. He said: “We have a two-year payback on new sites now [the time it takes to recover the initial capital investment through net cash flow] because we’re already recognised. When we raised last July, it felt like the right time to take money off the table. I have three kids now. But it needs to benefit the investors as well. If you’re taking money off at the expense of investors, where it’s diminishing their potential returns, that’s a bad thing in my view.” When asked whether he would ever consider moving abroad to avoid tax, he said: “Well, I’m not in the [financial] position to have to do that! I generally think it’s suboptimal to chase tax havens as a place to live. But I understand the consideration. It feels unfair. Suddenly the government decides to tax you more because you were successful. That’s why people are leaving. I think you need to incentivise growth first.”

 

Bubble tea brand Cupp secures three new international markets: UK bubble tea brand Cupp has secured three new international markets. Cupp, founded in 2012 in Bristol by Lee Peacock, is currently preparing to open its first international store – in Hyderabad, India – part of an expansion deal for the country signed in March 2025. It has now added a store in Dubai to its pipeline for this summer, which will be followed later this year by two launches in Scandinavia. Peacock said: “We’ve confirmed Cupp’s first franchise agreement in Dubai, with the store opening this summer and forming part of a wider expansion across the region. 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year already, with stores launching in India, Dubai, Finland, Norway, and further growth planned across the UK.” Cupp currently has 33 UK locations and also launched a new Express format last year. These will take the form of grab-and-go tea stations that fit into locations from service stations, gyms and convenience stores to restaurants, theme parks and holiday parks.

 

Market Taverns hires Miles Slade as new MD, strong Christmas trading followed by solid January: Market Taverns, the privately-owned pub company operating 15 sites across London, has hired Miles Slade as its new managing director. Slade spent almost 20 years, from 2000 to 2020, as director of retail operations at JD Wetherspoon, before a year as retail director at Windsor & Eton Brewery. He was then Urban Pubs & Bars’ director of operations for two years before spending the same amount of time at RedCat Pub Company, first as director of operations and then as chief operating officer. He said: “Market Taverns is a truly distinctive business; a collection of characterful London pubs, each with its own identity, heritage and loyal community. I’m excited to be joining the team and to help shape the next chapter of the business.” Also joining is Chris Gosling, as chief accountant, having previously held senior financial and operational roles with the St. John Restaurant Group, Pizza Storm and Corbin & King. Former chief operating officer Adrian Laws, who joined the business two years ago, initially as head of operations, will also be stepping away from the business to pursue new opportunities. The appointments follow a strong trading period for Market Taverns, with Christmas “performing well” and January “delivering a solid performance”. Owner Rolf Munding said: “I would like to thank Adrian for his contribution and commitment to Market Taverns during an important phase for the business, and we wish him every success in the future. At the same time, I’m delighted to welcome Miles and Chris as we look ahead to the next stage of Market Taverns’ growth.”

 

Gladwin Brothers co-founder – ‘it is a big risk moving out of London, bit I do think there is more opportunity’: Richard Gladwin, co-founder of the Gladwin Brothers, has told Propel that the group’s upcoming regional debut is “a big risk”, but if it works, he thinks there is an opportunity to do expand more outside London. Last week the business, which Richard founded with his brother Oliver, announced it had secured its first site outside London, and its first with bedrooms – The Black Horse in Amberley, West Sussex. The site, the group’s sixth, will reopen on Wednesday, 25 March with 11 bedrooms. The brothers’ London restaurants are The Shed, Rabbit, Sussex British Bistro and The Black Lamb, which operate alongside their most recent opening, The Pig's Ear in Chelsea, which was their first pub. Asked whether the regional move was a new expansion route for the business and if it would look at further opportunities outside the capital, Gladwin said: “Trade is good but we are in an affluent parts of London, the West Sussex move represents a challenge and also opportunity to appeal to a wider demographic. Let’s see what we can do. It’s a big risk moving out, but if it works, I do think there is more opportunity.” On whether the business rates situation had impacted the group’s future restaurant plans, Gladwin said: “We have been working on this site for over a year, so it’s not a factor, although this month’s news flow leaves us focusing on pubs. We love pubs in the UK, and I find it easier to hire and maintain a community of staff and locals as one. The community aspect is the main driver.”

 

YouMeSushi reports sales exceed record £19m in 2025: YouMeSushi, the restaurant and takeaway business, has reported record sales in 2025 exceeding £19m – an increase of 14% year on year. Umang Agrawal, head of commercial and technology, said: “We have experienced a record year due to great in-store performance. Despite reaching a certain level of maturity, the sushi market continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, and demand remains very high.” Founded 18 years ago and franchising since 2021, YouMeSushi now operates 30 locations nationwide. Last month, franchise development director Tim Circus told Propel that YouMeSushi is aiming to grow to a 50-strong estate within 18 months – and plans to double that number over the following few years. It came as the brand said it was set to open 14 sites in 2026 as it builds on three new launches in December – in London’s Victoria, Watford and Chatham. Openings in 2026 include Islington and Wandsworth in London, Canterbury and Milton Keynes, before beginning its expansion north. To meet rising demand, YouMeSushi is also welcoming new franchise applications.

 

Keystone Brewing Group owed circa £15m to creditors: Keystone Brewing Group, owner of Black Sheep Brewery, which was acquired out of administration by Paramount Retail Group, the family-owned business behind Bradford’s Saltaire Brewery, last month, owed more than £15m to creditors. According to the administrator report, the business, which was backed by Breal Capital and included brands such as Purity Brewing Co, Magic Rock Brewing and Fourpure Brewing Co, owed Secure Trust Bank a total of £8.6m and HMRC £3.6m. The report said that Paramount paid a total consideration of £4.1m, with £1.5m payable on completion of the deal. The report said: “Post acquisition, a period of significant restructuring took place, with the aim of consolidating the brands into a scalable and sustainable group. Significant time and financial investments were made to relocate the two London-based brands to the Black Sheep facility in Masham (Yorkshire), alongside investment to increase capacity and modernise the brewery facility. Following the group’s restructure, a combination of persistent cost inflation, margin erosion driven by sales mix and suppressed consumer demand continued to adversely impact on the financial performance of the group. Further cash injections of £3.75m were made by shareholders in 2025, of which £1.5m was introduced in September 2025, in anticipation of a seasonal sales uplift over the autumn/winter period. Unfortunately, the seasonal sales uplift did not materialise.” Paramount Retail Group said last month that it has agreed to invest £2m into Black Sheep as part of the deal, as it looks to “restore the business back to growth”. With combined sales of £28m, the Great British Drinks Company said it is in a strong financial position and will save three important heritage brewery sites. 

 

London egg-free cake concept aiming for 40 franchise locations by end of 2026 with seven already in pipeline: London egg-free cake concept Cakes & Bakes is aiming for 40 franchise locations by the end of 2026, with seven already in the pipeline. The company, founded in 2002 in East Ham by Ashok Duppati and Dheeraj Siripurapu, currently has 23 locations. The company said: “From our core presence in London, we have expanded to 23 locations across the Home Counties and Midlands. We have seven franchise locations under construction, and all will open by the end of this year. Our growth strategy targets 40 franchise locations by 31 December 2026.”

 

Voodoo Doll founder Malcolm Evans steps down: Voodoo Doll, the company behind the Mojo Bars business, has announced that its founder, Malcolm Evans, will be stepping away from the business as he relocates to be closer to family in Sweden. The six-strong business said that Evans has been the “beating heart of Mojo since day one”. It said: “From its beginnings in 1996, Mojo has stood for music, mischief, and unforgettable nights – a place where great cocktails meet great tunes and you pray that the lights will never come up. Malcolm’s vision and gregarious leadership built not just a brand, but a culture: loud, warm, rebellious, and relentlessly people-focused”. Evans said: “This is one of the toughest calls I’ve ever had to make, but family comes first. Mojo has always been about good times, good people, and that spark you only get when the music’s loud and the room’s alive. I’m unbelievably proud of what we’ve created together – the team, the guests, the memories, the madness. While I’m stepping away, Mojo’s soul is bigger than any one person, and I know the crew will keep the party going.” The business will continue under the ownership of Martin Greenhow, who has led the business as managing director for the past 22 years. He will be supported by the operations team of James Hudson and Peter Williams. “Malcolm helped build Mojo with passion, grit, and a soundtrack that never quits,” said Greenhow. “His influence is woven into every part of this business. With James and Peter by my side, we’re ready to honour that legacy and keep delivering the Mojo experience – the music, the cocktails, the chaos and the community – for many years to come.”

 

Sussex smash burger business aiming to expand across UK after launching franchise programme: Sussex smash burger business Burgerpod is aiming to expand across the UK after launching a franchise programme. Founded in Crawley by two friends who formerly worked in the corporate world, Burgerpod initially operated from a food trailer in Linchmere Place, Ifield, before adding a restaurant at 53 Preston Street in Brighton. It has now partnered with whichfranchise as it seeks to “open stores in major UK towns and cities”. The company is seeking single and multi-unit operators, with start-up costs averaging £100,000 and a franchise fee of £15,000 plus VAT. Co-founder Osman Satti said: “Our mission is to become the go-to smash burger brand nationwide, with flagship sites in major UK cities and a product people crave time and again. When we started Burgerpod, it was just two friends chasing a dream, fed up with the corporate grind and driven to create something real. We saw a gap in the market for high-quality smash burgers and knew we could do it better. What began as a 20-foot trailer in Crawley quickly turned into a local phenomenon because people could taste the difference – real food, real flavour, no shortcuts. Now we’re ready to take Burger Pod to the next level and we’re looking for like-minded people to join us on that journey.” Available formats are high street unit, kiosk/container, mall inline, delivery/cloud Kitchen and drive-thru.

 

KellyDeli opens first London location for its new Korean kitchen concept: KellyDeli, owner of international sushi franchise Sushi Daily, has opened the first London location for its new Korean kitchen concept, Onggi. KellyDeli first launched Onggi, in partnership with Waitrose, in June 2025, at a branch of the supermarket in Bath. It has now opened a second Onggi location, and first in the capital, within the Waitrose in King’s Cross. Mark Buley, KellyDeli’s UK managing director, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome our new Onggi Korean kiosk to the KellyDeli family. Open now at Waitrose Kings Cross (Granary Square). An incredible addition that showcases Korean cuisine and culture at its very best. Our hero dish? The sweet, spicy, sticky Dakgeungjang fried chicken – grab a free sample whenever you’re passing by! Here’s to exciting new beginnings.” Buley told Propel in November that hot food concepts like Onggi are one of KellyDeli’s fastest-growing areas. “Hot food is a significant opportunity for us,” he said. “It complements our sushi offer and creates a more dynamic, multi-choice environment for customers. The focus now is on quality, simplicity, and scalability – ensuring we grow quickly while maintaining and enhancing excellence.” Buley also said that there is “almost exponential white space for us in the UK”, having grown to more than 1,150 kiosks in retail locations.

 

Dubai-headquartered fast chicken brand opens in Nottingham: Dubai-headquartered fast chicken brand ChicKing has opened in Nottingham. It has opened at 13 Wheller Gate in the city for its 24th UK site. The company posted to social media: “We are delighted to announce the grand opening of ChicKing Nottingham, officially inaugurated by visionary director and founder of Chicking, AK Mansoor. This marks another milestone in our journey to bring globally loved 100% halal chicken to communities across the UK. From signature grilled chicken to crispy fried classics, ChicKing Nottingham is set to become the go-to destination for families, friends, and food enthusiasts.” Founded by AK Mansoor in the UAE in 2000, ChicKing has since grown to in excess of 300 sites in more than 35 countries. It made its UK debut in 2017 with a couple of sites in west London – in Acton and Marylebone.

 

92 Degrees opens first franchise site: Independent coffee roaster 92 Degrees has opened its first franchise site. Franchisee Ketch & Co has opened a store at Multistory in The Priory Queensway, Birmingham, a 295,000 square-foot office building. The new coffee shop will be open to the public and tenants, offering sit-in or takeaway coffee, alongside a dedicated kiosk within the new co‑working hub. 92 Degrees chef executive Jack Brewitt said: “Seeing our first franchise partner open their first store is genuinely incredible. This is a huge milestone for us as a brand. The team at Ketch & Co aren’t stopping here – they have clear plans to open multiple 92 Degrees locations, with more sites coming in the months and years ahead. Damn Fine Coffee everywhere is the plan. Exciting times ahead and this is only the beginning of our franchise journey.” A Ketch & Co spokesman added: “What started as a simple chat has evolved into an ambitious multi-year plan. This is just the beginning – we have some incredible partnership news dropping over the next few months that we can’t wait to share. Thank you for trusting us as your first-ever franchisee and welcoming us into the 92 Degrees family.” Ketch & Co is led by Simon and Sue Hedaux, who last summer signed a deal to open multiple 92 Degrees locations across the Midlands. In September, Matt and Sarah Ebner also signed a deal to open multiple 92 Degrees sites across Kent, initially, and then Sussex, through their EBspresso business. Matt worked for Starbucks for 22 years in various roles including senior operations manager, regional operations manager and senior business manager.

 

Lake District fitness and leisure business returns to profit after launching new strategic operating plan: Lake District fitness and leisure business Langdale Leisure has returned to profit after launching a new strategic operating plan. Director Robert Crook said the plan was initiated after the start of its financial year ending 30 April 2025 saw trading that “felt less than normal” and “remained “challenging throughout the year”, with “pressure being felt particularly on occupancy levels as demand for accommodation across the Lake District diminished”. He said a comprehensive review of internal operational structures ensued, and while this work progressed, “it was the UK chancellor’s Budget in October 2024 that made it abundantly clear a change in our operating approach was necessary”. Crook said: “The plan aimed to improve efficiency, accountability, and service delivery while upholding the high standards expected for Langdale across its hotels and timeshare operation.” Following this, the year saw Langdale Leisure turn a pre-tax loss of £63,234 in 2024 into a profit of £73,362, with turnover up slightly from £10,883,103 to £10,990,831. Managing director Michael Coletta said the restructuring saw several departments merged, while new positions of revenue manager and purchasing manager were created. He added: “These changes have and are being made to allow the business to move forward in a time of economic uncertainty, creating smart efficiencies while investing in new talent and strengthening leadership. Cost savings beyond those expected from the new purchasing system are a beneficial byproduct and have already yielded significant savings. The challenges are clear, we have made changes across the business to strengthen the areas being impacted the most, with a clear understanding of the headwinds we face. By investing in our people, product and processes, we are geared up to handle this in the best way possible as a progressive business, with a renewed sense of focus, accountability, energy and drive, always in full anticipation that change is constant and we have to be agile enough to handle it. I am confident we will.” No dividends were paid (2024: nil).

 

Duo behind The Oystermen to close pop-up wine bar and bottle shop in London’s Seven Dials but eye permanent replacement: Rob Hampton and Matt Lovell, who are behind seafood bar and kitchen The Oystermen in London’s Covent Garden, are to bring their pop-up wine bar and bottle shop, Monmouth Street Wines, to an end – but plan to replace it with something permanent. The site launched in 2024 at the corner of Monmouth Street and Neal Street in Seven Dials but will close on Saturday (14 February), with the area set to be redeveloped. In a message to customers, Hampton and Lovell said: “Sadly it's time to say goodbye to Monmouth Street Wines. What was supposed to be a six-month pop-up has had a solid 18-month innings, but now it’s time to pass it back to the landlord, which has grand plans for the redevelopment of that end of the street. We very much hope this isn't the end and we are keeping our eye on the area with the intention to open something permanent to replace her.” Hampton and Lovell opened The Oystermen in 2017 before adding wine shop and bar Bedford Street Wines in 2021 and bar and restaurant thirty7 in Bedford Street in 2024.

 

Southampton restaurant owner acquits nightclub in the city: Chris Schutrups, who owns Italian restaurant Figurati at Ocean Village in Southampton, has acquired a nightclub in the city. Orange Rooms in Vernon Walk, which first opened in January 2001, has been sold by founder Gary Bennetton and co-owner Peter Toland as they concentrate on Electric Playground, a new arcade style venue set to come to the city, and the festivals they run including Playing the Field, Country Road and Oktoberfest Southampton. Schutrups, who also owns several property and mortgage businesses, told the Daily Echo: “This is Orange 2.0. We’re not going to make a lot of changes, it’s just a passing of the baton, and we’ll continue working with the amazing existing team on their brilliant ideas and concepts. Orange Rooms has been going strong for so many years, it has great goodwill and an amazing reputation, so we're just hoping to grow it and help it continue for at least another 25 years.” The purchase includes various spaces like alpine themed Off Piste, airline bar Mile High, exotic Tiki, plus a new ‘neon jungle’ garden. Bennetton added: “It's been a wild ride, full of highs and lows, and I wouldn't change a thing. But all good things evolve. We’ve decided to hand over the baton to a new group of individuals who we are confident will honour the Orange Rooms’ legacy and inject the fresh energy, creativity and hands-on approach the night-time economy demands.”

Le Cordon Bleu-trained baker opens first permanent site: Ayako Takei, who trained in formal French patisserie at Le Cordon Bleu, has opened her first permanent site. Takei, who also worked at Middle Eastern restaurant group Honey & Co in the capital, has launched Kichiya in London Fields. She has been selling cakes and pastries at street markets and via direct sales, reports Hot Dinners. Kichiya has launched in Mentmore Terrace, serving her classic European pastries with an authentic Japanese twist such as matcha shortbread, black sesame sablé, soufflé cheesecake and Mont Blanc dorayaki. The drinks list features matcha, hojicha and specialty coffee.