Starbucks plans to open another 500 sites in UK: Starbucks plans to open another 500 sites in the UK over the next five years despite grappling with “reduced discretionary spending and increased competition”. The Times reported Starbucks is planning to open more than 75 shops this financial year as part of its ambitious expansion drive. Duncan Moir, president of Starbucks for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said the plans reflected “our confidence in the market’s long-term growth”, despite acknowledging that Starbucks was “operating in a tougher and more competitive market” in the UK. New results filed at Companies House reveal Starbucks UK recorded an operating loss of £29.8m for the 12 months to 28 September 2025, up from £27.5m a year earlier. Starbucks blamed this on a combination of higher costs, investment across its estate and softer trading conditions. On a pre-tax level, losses were £41.3m, up from £35.2m. The company, the number two coffee shop brand behind Costa in the UK, reported a 10.1% increase in the cost of goods sold, while wage and benefit costs rose 7.8%. Starbucks also cited a one-off bill associated with the closure of underperforming stores. The group paid no corporation tax last year. Revenues increased 6% to £556.3m, driven by a 2% rise in customer transaction volumes and the expansion of its UK portfolio with the opening of 96 stores last year. The company enjoyed being swept up in consumers’ thirst for matcha. Sales of the Japanese tea-based drinks jumped 68%, helping to drive sales of cold beverages by 11.8% year-on-year. Moir said “encouraging progress” had been made on the group’s global “Back to Starbucks” strategy, a turnaround plan initiated by the chief executive Brian Niccol that centres on reviving customers’ in-store experience. The Seattle-based company recorded its first quarterly sales growth in the US in two years, as well as a return to international growth, driven by China, Japan and the UK. Starbucks is aiming to increase revenue by at least 5% in 2028. Propel revealed exclusively in February that Starbucks was reshaping its UK licensing structure after fears it had become too fragmented – dividing its UK operations into seven development territories. 

Propel launches Unlimited Plus option for Premium subscribers: Propel has launched a new Premium Unlimited Plus option for Propel subscribers. The Unlimited Plus option, which costs £1,995 plus VAT per annum, has some amazing additional benefits to the unlimited option which costs £995 plus VAT. Subscribers get four free tickets to Propel’s paid-for conferences – Excellence in Pub & Bar (19 May), Operational Excellence (9 July) and Talent & Training (15 October) – and the opportunity to run one free sponsored message or situation vacant notice during the year on the newsletter. Existing subscribers can upgrade immediately if they want and the clock starts again on their year. The additional benefits are worth circa £2,500. Propel managing director Paul Charity said: “The Premium subscription is like a loyalty club, and these additional benefits are a response to the requests for a fuller package of benefits. Existing subscribers can upgrade straightaway – and their year's membership re-starts. We have held the price of Premium membership for four years whilst adding benefits. Existing price points and benefits carry on – this is simply a chance to enjoy even more benefits." Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to sign up for Premium. 

Everards reports strong 2025 performance as it prepares for sector headwinds: Leicestershire brewer and retailer Everards has reported an increase in turnover and operating profit for the year to 27 September 2025, which it said underlined “the resilience of its business model amid a challenging economic backdrop for pubs and hospitality”. The company reported turnover increased to £37.9m (2024: £36.2m), with operating profit of £4.1m (2024: £2.1m). Adjusted operating profit climbed 33% to £3.6m in the year. The business said growth was driven by strong trading across Everards' 144-pub estate, operated under tenanted and managed partnership models, and the continued success of the Beer Hall at Everards Meadows, which achieved £3.9m in net sales, up 16% year-on-year. The company said: “While performance in the year, in real terms was reminiscent of the success last seen by the company in 2018 (operating 19 less pubs than 2018) , the hospitality sector faces mounting pressures under the Labour government: National living wage rose by an average of 6.7% in the year to April (following an increase of 9.8% the year before), with further increase of 4.1% due in April 2026. Business rates relief reduced to 40% in 2025-26. In the November Budget, while it was announced the multiplier would be reduced, the removal of the discount in its entirety and the re-assessment of all rateable values effectively means over three years the average rates payable of the pub estate will double. Alcohol duty resumed inflation-linked increases from February 2025, adding cost pressure across the drinks category with a further average increase of 3.7% in February 2026. Energy costs remain unpredictable for businesses, with no price-cap protection and wholesale market fluctuations feeding through to pub operating expenses. Household budgets are under pressure from inflation and rising mortgage costs, leaving consumers more price sensitive. This translates into reduced discretionary spend on food and drink, and greater demand for value-led offers. For pubs, this means balancing competitive pricing with cost recovery, while maintaining quality and experience. At the sharp end of these pressures are the company's business owners, who directly absorb the operational and financial strain created by rising costs and weakening consumer demand. While the broader sector faces systemic challenges, it is the pub tenants who must manage wage increases, soaring rates, higher input costs and unpredictable utilities on a day to day basis. At the same time, they are expected to maintain service standards and deliver value alongside quality to increasingly price sensitive customers and keep their pubs commercially viable. This combination of rising overheads and squeezed margins places unprecedented pressure on business owners.” The company said it continued to invest in its freehold estate, refurbishments, and digital platforms to support business owners. During the year, Andy Wilson succeeded Stephen Gould as managing director. Gould remains on the company’s board as deputy chairman in a non-executive capacity. Chairman Julian Everard said: “Everards enters 2026 with strong foundations and a clear strategy focused on long-term value creation. While cost pressures remain intense, our commitment to quality, partnership, and community ensures we are well-positioned to navigate these challenges working with our business owners.” Wilson said: “Our focus for 2026 is on supporting our business owners through proactive cost management, tools to enhance and grow business, and sustainability initiatives through investment. We will continue to champion the pub sector and call for fairer taxation and business rates reform to protect these vital community assets.”

Hawksmoor to open third US site: Award-winning steak restaurant business Hawksmoor is to open its third site in the US this autumn, in Boston. The business, which was founded by Huw Gott and Will Beckett, will open the new 200-cover restaurant in Boston’s Fort Point neighbourhood. The Necco Street site will feature a large terrace and a big bar area and will follow the brand’s previous US openings in New York and Chicago. It comes after the business opened its latest UK site, in the Midland Grand hotel in London’s St Pancras, last November. The company said: “Following our recent opening in St Pancras, London, and just being named the number two steak restaurant group in the world for the second year running, we wanted to share what’s next. We’re heading to Boston! In autumn 2026, we’ll open in Fort Point, right by the water. Our founders, Will and Huw, have been dreaming about this for a long time, and this marks our third restaurant in the US, 15th globally, and in our 20th year. As ever, it’ll be what you expect from us – a beautiful room, incredible steaks, properly cold Martinis, a terrace made for long lunches and late evenings, and the sort of place that we hope feels instantly familiar.” Last September, Hawksmoor reported turnover for the year to the end of 2024 broke the £100m mark, as it told Propel it was close to agreeing one or two new sites for the next 12 months. The company reported turnover of £100,385,000 in 2024 (2023: £80,782,000) with adjusted Ebitda of £9,883,000 (2023: £9,194,000). Pre-tax loss for the year, in which it opened its second site in the US, stood at £3,237,000 (2023: loss of £855,000). The company told Propel it expected 2025 would be another year of record turnover and profit (including margins).