Exclusive – Kitchen Ventures acquires majority stake in Chicken Shop as it prepares for next stage of growth: Kitchen Ventures, the restaurant group and brand incubator led by Jonny Boud, has acquired a majority stake in Chicken Shop. Propel has learned. The deal sees Freston Ventures, the vehicle backed by Sir Charles Dunstone, the backer of Five Guys UK, retain a small stake in the business. Dunstone became the majority shareholder of the then Chik’n in 2021. The company rebranded as Chicken Shop in summer 2022 as part of a deal with Soho House. The business currently operates eight sites across London – Camden, Baker Street, Islington, Notting Hill, Putney, Soho, Hammersmith and Canary Wharf. The deal sees John Nelson, formerly of Nando’s and MOD Pizza, stand down as chief executive after six years of leading the business. Nelson, who was chief executive of MOD Pizza UK and spent five years as an operations director at Nando’s, will remain a consultant to Freston Ventures. Girish Nagpaul, operations director at Chicken Shop, will continue to oversee the day-to-day running of the business. Kitchen Ventures, headed up by Jonny Boud, partners with chefs, creators and celebrities to build and scale hospitality brands, including Raps – the fried chicken wrap brand created in partnership with Tinie Tempah. Last summer, the business launched four of the group’s food brands at Fulham Pier’s Riverside Market, the food hall at the heart of Fulham FC’s development in London. Their brands are: Fat Pickle – the premium smash burger brand developed with Kitchen Ventures’ development chef Craig McBea (ex-Honest Burgers); Raps; Tacos El Rey – a Mexican concept; and Local Greens – a build-your-own farm-to-bowl salad concept championing seasonal, sustainable British ingredients. Revenue at Chicken Shop increased 26.1% to £9,396,391 for the year to 31 December 2024 – in which it operated six sites – compared with £7,449,296 the year before, which the business said reflected like-for-like growth in all of its sites.

 

Sponsored message – introducing the answer to handheld ordering and payment with Toast Go 3: Handheld ordering and payment is helping operators improve service, but the emerging operational pressure points are becoming strikingly clear – the promise of speed is often undercut by technology that fails under pressure. Orders stall, payments lag, staff step away from the floor and service loses its rhythm. However, Toast has the answer – introducing Toast Go 3. A spokesperson said: “Toast Go 3 is the newest handheld on the block. Not only is it built to keep things moving – giving teams the ability to take orders, send them instantly and take payments – but it’s hospitality-grade durability means it is built specifically to withstand the realities of daily service – drops of up to 1.5 metres (five feet), spills (IP65-rated) and heat common in restaurants and service settings. Toast Go 3 delivers a powerful combination of speed, reliability and mobility, ensuring every interaction contributes to a smoother, more profitable service rhythm.” The Park in London has adopted the technology. A spokesperson said: “The team feels confident taking orders and splitting checks directly at the table and are really impressed at the speed of the device and how lightweight it is.” To find out more, click here. If you have a sponsored message you would like to see featured in this newsletter position, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com.

 

Propel Multi-Club Female Leaders and Entrepreneurs Conference open for bookings, Heriots Patisserie CEO Deena Ataie to speak: The Propel Multi-Club Female Leaders and Entrepreneurs Conference takes place on Thursday, 4 June at Park Plaza Victoria London. The all-day conference, which is organised in conjunction with Ann Elliott, will feature an all-female line-up of sector leaders. These include Deena Ataie, chief executive of Heriots Patisserie, who along with Emma Reynolds, founder of Tonkotsu, and Jordan Davids, co-founder of Chickpea Group, talks about starting a successful business and keeping it that way. 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 updated searchable and segmented New Openings Database tomorrow: The next Propel New Openings Database will be sent to Premium Club subscribers tomorrow (Friday, 1 May), at 12pm. The database will show the details of 133 site openings, including which company has opened a site or its plans to open one in the future. The database will have details on what type of site it is and its location, and there will also be a website link to the businesses. The database is published monthly, and Premium Club subscribers will also receive an 8,977-word report on the 136 new additions to the database. It is segmented into seven categories – cafe bakery, casual dining, experiential leisure, fine dining, hotels, pubs and bars, and quick service restaurants – making it even easier for users to search. The database includes new openings in the hotel sector such as The WestDill Mayfair Hotel London, from Minor Hotels, IHG Hotels opening “Gloucester’s first boutique hotel”, and aparthotel operator Lamington Group opening a new site for its Room2 format in Leeds. remium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the Multi-Site Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee 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 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. A new Premium Unlimited Plus option, which costs £1,995 plus VAT per annum, has some amazing additional benefits including 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. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

Restaurants’ at-home growth below inflation in March as consumers count their costs: British restaurant groups recorded a third consecutive month of below-inflation organic growth in at-home sales in March, the latest NIQ Hospitality at Home Tracker reveals. The tracker, powered by CGA intelligence, shows like-for-like sales across the month were only 1.9% ahead of March 2025. After modest growth of 2.7% and 0.1% in January and February respectively, it suggests many consumers have been keeping a close eye on their spending in early 2026. Their confidence is likely to fall further as households anticipate the impact on many energy related costs of the ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East. The tracker highlights consumers’ ongoing migration from takeaways to the convenience of deliveries. Restaurants’ delivery sales in March were 6.3% ahead of March 2025 on a like-for-like basis, but the value of takeaway and click-and-collect orders fell 8.6%. This was the 12th successive month of negative numbers. It means takeaways generated 5.1% of spending with restaurants in March, while deliveries accounted for 13.5%. Adding in new restaurants, or ones where deliveries and takeaways have been launched for the first time, year-on-year growth reached 11.8% in March. There are signs that some consumers have switched from at-home ordering to eating out as the weather improves. The separate NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker indicated a modest year-on-year increase in restaurant groups’ dine-in sales in March. Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at NIQ, said: “Whether eating out or ordering in, consumers have clearly been putting a tight lid on their spending in the first quarter of 2026. Slow organic growth means restaurants are currently relying on higher prices and new openings to shore up at-home channels, and the steep drop in takeaway orders is a cause for concern.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with an expanding multi-site hospitality business in Manchester that is seeking an experienced finance director. A COREcruitment spokesperson said: “Responsibilities will include leading financial planning, forecasting and budgeting processes, providing commercial insight to support growth and operational performance, strengthening financial controls and governance across multiple sites, partnering with the executive team on strategic initiatives, and managing and developing a high-performing finance function.” The salary is up to £120,000. For more information, email oliwia@corecruitment.com

 

KFC UK – seeing real momentum driven by strong teams, system sales up 9% in first quarter: Rob Swain, KFC UK & Ireland general manager, has said that the business is “seeing real momentum” across the UK and Ireland, as it reported that its system sales were up 9% in the first quarter of this year. The business said it was seeing “strong momentum to start the second quarter”, driven by its Picklemania menu, which featured four pickle-topped items, and has become its most successful limited time offer in KFC UK’s history.  The UK accounts for 7% of KFC's system sales worldwide. Swain said: “We’re seeing real momentum across the UK and Ireland, and it comes down to our people. The teams in our restaurants are showing up every day, delivering our delicious chicken and looking after our customers, even when it’s tough out there. We’ve stayed focused on giving people reasons to come back, with fresh innovative ideas on the menu, making sure there’s value when they need it, and backing our franchise partners to run brilliant restaurants. That’s what’s driving the business right now. Strong teams, a brand people trust, and a clear investment plan for how we keep growing. It puts us in a great position to continue to lead the market and reach more customers in the years ahead.” Parent company Yum! Brands said that globally, KFC like-for-like sales in the quarter were up 2%, with US system sales falling 2%. System sales worldwide rose 12% to $9,328m. Operating margin was up 0.7 percentage points to 43.6% and operating profit was up 16% to $383m. KFC opened 648 gross new restaurants in 45 countries during the period. Meanwhile, Pizza Hut system sales in Europe, including the UK, were down 8% – the continent accounts for 12% of Pizza Hut's system sales globally. Pizza Hut system sales increased 3% globally to $3,114m, with like-for-like sales flat. Pizza Hut opened 346 gross new restaurants in 27 countries during the period. Taco Bell like-for-like sales were up 8% and system sales increased 10% to $4,394m. Operating margin was down 1.5 percentage points to 35.2% while operating profit was up 16% to $281m. Taco Bell opened 30 gross new restaurants during the period in eight countries. Total group revenue in the quarter was up 15% on last year, at $2,059m.

Scott Grimbleby steps down as COO of Turtle Bay: Scott Grimbleby has stepped down as chief operating officer of Turtle Bay, the 50-strong Caribbean restaurant brand, Propel has learned. Grimbleby joined Turtle Bay last spring after two and a half years as chief operating officer at Gusto Italian. He was managing director of Blackhouse for six years and also spent time as head of operations at La Tasca. Turtle Bay was bought back by founder Ajith Jayawickrema last May. Jayawickrema bought back the brand from Piper, the private equity firm, which had backed the business since 2013. Turtle Bay was founded in 2010 by Jayawickrema and Crispin Tweddell, who remains a shareholder. 

 

Flight Club and Electric Shuffle owner – ‘trading remains in line with expectations’, ‘shift in how people spend their time’: Red Engine, the group behind Flight Club and Electric Shuffle, has said trading in 2026 “remains in line with expectations” while there has been “a shift in how people spend their time” as consumers tighten their budgets. It comes after Flight Club revealed it is approaching one billion darts being thrown across its global estate as it prepares to launch its Reading site tomorrow (Friday, 1 May). Since launching in 2015, Flight Club has expanded to 32 sites worldwide and welcomed more than 14.4 million unique guests in the UK alone. Flight Club Reading is the 16th UK Flight Club opening for Red Engine. The venue, in the Station Hill development, has a capacity of 250 and features a bar, ten semi-private oche playing areas and an outdoor terrace seating area. In terms of trading so far this year, a spokeswoman told Propel: “Trading for both Flight Club and Electric Shuffle has remained in line with our expectations. As with the rest of the industry, the current landscape presents an ongoing challenge, but we are pleased with the consistent performance our venues continue to deliver. The economy is clearly affecting consumers broadly, and while people are undoubtedly going out less frequently, there has been a shift in how they spend their time. When they do go out, they want it to feel special – they are looking for a true experience that offers more than just a pint at the pub. By combining a premium bar atmosphere with our unique gaming experience, we provide that added layer that makes a night out feel like ‘something extra’, which remains a significant draw even when consumer budgets are tighter.”

 

YouMeSushi set to open four sites in coming weeks, seven more in legals: YouMeSushi, the restaurant and takeaway business, is set to open four new sites in the coming weeks and told Propel it has seven more in legals. The brand will add to its London estate next month with a launch in Upper Street, Islington. The business also has openings lined up in Wandsworth in the capital, as well as Canterbury and Milton Keynes. Franchise development director Tim Circus told Propel: “To maintain our growth trajectory, we plan to open an additional 12 sites in 2026, seven of which are currently in legals. We believe the next year will be a very exciting time for YouMeSushi.” The business, which has opened in London’s Victoria, Chatham and Watford recently, is inviting applications for new franchisees as the brand continues its expansion nationwide. In January, 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. Founded 18 years ago and franchising since 2021, YouMeSushi now operates 30 locations nationwide.

 

Wafflemeister looking to open sites in US, first quarter sales up 22%, expands Costco deal: Wafflemeister, the Belgian waffle operator, has told Propel the business is looking to open sites in the US while sales were up 22% in the first quarter of 2026. It comes as Wafflemeister expands its retail deal with Costco, which will see its products made available across its warehouses globally. Costco locations in the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Mexico and Taiwan will be able to gain access to the products, adding to existing listings in the UK, Spain, Sweden, France and Iceland. A Wafflemeister spokesperson told Propel: “We are pursuing US physical locations so that customers can enjoy the whole Wafflemeister experience.” Wafflemeister currently has 23 sites in the UK, and the spokesperson said it continues to explore new opportunities in high footfall travel and leisure sites. On the expanded Costco deal, Rikos Leong-Son, chief executive of Wafflemeister, said: “This is a huge milestone for Wafflemeister. It’s incredibly rare for an independent UK challenger brand to achieve this level of global reach with one of the world’s largest retailers. The format taps into growing consumer demand for convenient, café-style treats that deliver indulgence at home while remaining affordable and shareable. Costco gives us an incredible platform to reach new markets, from the West Coast of the US to China, and helps introduce Wafflemeister to a truly global audience.” Wafflemeister said more than 110 million of its products are consumed every year.

 

Tonkotsu sees positive first quarter, to open in Bath, looking for more sites: Tonkotsu, which is backed by YFM Equity Partners and chaired by Sarah Willingham, has told Propel it had a positive first quarter of the year and continues to search for more sites in London and regionally as it lines up an opening in Bath. The 19-strong business, which was launched in Soho in 2012 by co-founders Ken Yamada and Emma Reynolds, will open on the former Leon site on Stall Street, in Bath city centre, later this year. It follows the group’s recent debut in Wales, in Cardiff’s High Street. Reynolds told Propel: “We've had a positive first quarter. The Cardiff opening has been very strong. We launched a new menu across the group in mid-March with a range of salads and a new premium ramen, the Chilli Prawn Tonkotsu, which has been well-received. The central team is super-focused and managing to run efficient restaurants in what is probably the most challenging environment since we started in 2012 (other than covid closures, of course) in terms of upwards and downwards pressures on hospitality businesses. We’re looking for more sites in London and other UK cities – there are some irons in the fire. Property search remains competitive as fewer operators can take a risk on secondary locations.” In terms of the group receiving any inbound investment interest, Reynolds said: “Informal conversations are often taking place, but we remain well funded for our next few restaurant openings, so that’s our focus, along with continuing to push our food quality and people programme.”

 

Kerb to open flagship London campus this year and relaunch inKERBator social impact programme: Street food collective and hospitality group Kerb has said it is to open a flagship London campus this year and relaunch its inKERBator social impact programme. The company “pressed pause” on its inKERBator programme – which has been helping street food start-ups accelerate their growth since 2012 – last year as it looked to “rebuild with even more purpose”. Relaunching inKERBator and opening the new campus are among the plans Kerb revealed it has for this year in its 2026 Impact Report. Kerb also aims to “increase opportunities for members to trade and increase revenue” and “add value to our membership through workshops, partnerships and more”. It comes after Kerb reported a year of “massive growth” in 2025, including opening three new venues and two new markets, and increased trader revenue by 19% to £38.9m, with a collective 19,080 trading days across venues, events and markets (a 10% rise on the previous year). Across 550 events, £10.7m in revenue was generated, with the highest revenue to a trader in a single day £58,000 and the highest revenue to a trader over the year £684,000. These included one-off events at third-party venues such as Hallowe’en and Christmas at Kew Gardens, plus more regular slots like trading at Birmingham City FC matches. Chief executive Simon Mitchell said: “This shows what happens when you stay committed to the mission. Every market we open, every trader we back, every guest we feed creates a ripple effect that reaches far beyond our walls.” Meanwhile, Kerb has launched a new live sports pop-up in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as Kerb Sports Bar takes over the Kerb Social Club space at Old Spitalfields Market. With space for up to 600 guests, the food offer includes Happy Face Pizza, serving classic Neapolitan pizza, and Only Jerkin’, serving up Caribbean flavours. 

 

Activist increases stake in SSP: Hedge fund Parvus Asset Management has increased its stake in SSP Group, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide. Parvus, which is SSP’s largest investor, has raised its shareholding in the Upper Crust and Caffè Ritazza owner from 14.3% to 15%, according to a stock exchange filing. Parvus was founded by Edoardo Mercadante, who previously waged activist campaigns against G4S and William Hill. Parvus also has a 12.50% stake in jewellery company Pandora, a 10.68% stake in gambling company Flutter Entertainment and a 9.53% stake in Ryanair. Last September, Irenic Capital Management, an activist hedge fund run by an Elliott Management alumnus, tried to drum up interest in a take-private deal for SSP Group after boosting its stake in the operator.

 

Fast-growing US fitness brand Jetset Pilates to make UK debut in July, plans several London sites before expanding to other cities: Jetset Pilates, one of the fastest-growing boutique fitness businesses in the US, is to launch in the UK in July. The brand’s debut studio here will open at 3 Nicholls Clarke Yard in Shoreditch and will be the first in a planned series of London sites. Following its London launch, the brand plans to expand into additional UK cities from 2027. Founded in Miami in 2010, Jetset has scaled rapidly following the launch of its franchise model in 2022, becoming one of the fastest-growing boutique fitness brands across the US and Australia. Jetset, which has more than 385 studios open or in development globally. has built a strong following across the US for its modern reformer Pilates concept, “combining design-led studios, technology-led workouts and a premium fitness experience”. Bert Albertse, chief executive of Jetset, said: “The pace of Jetset’s growth reflects a clear shift in what clients are looking for. There is an increasing demand for reformer classes that deliver consistent, measurable results. The UK has been a priority market for some time, and London is a natural starting point. Shoreditch is the first of several sites we have lined up across the capital, and we will continue to expand at pace.” Jetset founder Tamara Galinski said: “London is where I first discovered reformer Pilates and saw the opportunity to reimagine the experience. Bringing Jetset back to this city feels incredibly full circle. It’s where the inspiration began, and now it’s where we return with a fully realised vision.”

North west dessert concept launches franchise programme: North west dessert concept Moonlight has launched a franchise programme. Moonlight was founded in 1999 in Manchester and has two locations in the city – alongside sites in Liverpool, Oldham and Bradford. The company exhibited at this month’s International Franchise Show at London’s Excel, as it seeks partners with which to expand. The company said it will not charge franchisees for using the Moonlight name and will supply opening stock free of charge, with the only costs to bear being shop design and fit out costs of between £10,000 and £100,000. A spokesman said: “Moonlight has been crafting indulgent, made-from-scratch desserts for 25 years, building a legacy of flavour, quality and care. Join the Moonlight family and be part of a rapidly growing dessert brand that blends taste, elegance and experience. With our proven business model, dedicated support and irresistible menu, your franchise journey is set for success.”

Ollie Rosevear to step down as Fuller’s director of sustainability: Ollie Rosevear is to step down as director of sustainability at Fuller’s at the end of July, after almost five years with the pub company, to set up his own consultancy business. Rosevear joined Fuller’s as its first head of sustainability in summer 2021 from Costa Coffee, where he was head of environment and sustainability lead UK & Ireland. He was promoted to director of sustainability in spring 2022. A Fuller’s spokesperson told Propel: “During his tenure, Ollie has made a significant contribution to our sustainability agenda. He has led the Life is Too Good to Waste programme, supported the delivery of 52 electric kitchens, and improved waste management and recycling rates to name but a few of his achievements. His work has driven major carbon reductions and cost savings – taking us a good way along our path to Net Zero. We would like to thank Ollie for his contribution to Fuller’s and wish him every success in his future endeavours.”

 

Bakery and retailer Flapjackery names new MD as co-founder becomes chair: Bakery and retailer Flapjackery, which offers handmade gluten-free flapjacks, has promoted Henry Franklin to managing director, as its co-founder steps into the role of chair. Franklin joined the business in February 2025, having held senior roles across sales and marketing. Franklin will oversee the continued growth of the business, while maintaining product quality, shop standards and customer experience across Flapjackery’s 17 shops, with a focus on team structure and performance. Carol Myott takes on the position of chair. Franklin said: “With costs continuing to rise, the priority is to grow sales while keeping a close handle on costs. We opened five shops last year, so the focus now is on making those sites perform as well as possible, while continuing to build the business. There’s still significant headroom, but it’s about growing in a controlled way without losing what makes it work.” Myott said: “Flapjackery has grown steadily over the years, and this is the right step to make sure we continue to build on that in the right way.” Flapjackery was founded in 2015 by Myott and Sally Jenkin as a small kitchen operation. The company also has an online business and a presence at shows and events across the UK.

 

Harts Group launches ‘agave-forward’ cocktail bar concept: Harts Group – the London restaurant company that owns Barrafina, Quo Vadis and Parrillan – has launched an “agave-forward” cocktail bar beneath its El Pastor site in Soho. El Siete has opened in the Brewer Street premises, offering a drinks programme “firmly rooted in agave culture” including margaritas, original agave-based cocktails and new versions of classics – as well as seven non-alcoholic drinks. A selection of sipping mezcals and tequilas are also available to order from the back bar. For snacking, there is a short menu of mini tostadas made with El Pastor’s house-made heirloom corn tortillas. Located through a discreet entrance, the 60-cover space was previously home to Mezcaleria Colmillo. The design reflects “the energy of 1970s Mexico City”, with vintage marble coffee tables and neon accents inspired by the city’s street-level shrines, while at the heart of the space is a central cocktail bar, featuring a terrazzo top clad in volcanic lava stone.

 

Aparthotel operator Roomzzz put Manchester site on the market with £12m guide price: Aparthotel operator Roomzzz, which operates 11 sites across the UK, has put a Manchester site on the market, with a £12m guide price. Knight Frank has been appointed as sole agent to market the sale of the four-star aparthotel in Princess Street. The building comprises 59 purpose-designed guest apartments, supported by a range of shared amenities including a reception and lobby, daily housekeeping, self-service laundry facilities and secure access systems. Comprising studios, as well as one and two-bedroom units, it is designed to cater to both short and extended stays. The aparthotel currently operates under the Roomzzz brand, but the freehold interest will be offered free of brand and management. Ryan Lynn, partner at Knight Frank, said: “Roomzzz Manchester City represents a resilient and well-established hospitality asset within one of the UK’s strongest regional hotel markets. The opportunity to acquire the asset unencumbered by brand or management, alongside its clear expansion potential, offers an incoming owner a compelling platform for future value creation.” Roomzzz, founded in 2004, reported record turnover of £22.4m for the year to 30 September 2024, up from £18,807,735 the previous year, while its pre-tax profit grew from £56,530 in 2023 to £589,684.

Coffee business Toast opens in Bury St Edmunds for eighth location: Toast, the independent coffee business, has opened in Bury St Edmunds for its eighth location. It has opened in the former Sneezums jewellers’ site at 10 Cornhill in the Suffolk town. “Opening in Bury St Edmunds means a lot to us,” said co-founder Rob Ely. “It’s a town with real character and a strong independent scene, and we want Toast to sit alongside that, somewhere that feels familiar from the first visit. We’re looking forward to meeting our new neighbours and becoming part of the community.”

 

We Do Play set to open seventh UK site for Activate: We Do Play, the multi-concept experiential leisure operator backed by the Frasers Group, is set to open an Activate site in Basingstoke for the brand’s seventh UK venue. It is preparing to open in the Hampshire town’s Festival Place shopping centre – home to one of We Do Play’s 32 Flip Out venues – for Activate’s second regional location, adding to its five in London and one in Newcastle. The new Basingstoke site will bring all of Activate’s signature games – strike, portals, control, press, hide, laser grid, mega grid and hoops – under one roof. Originally launched in Canada in 2017, Activate now operates more than 60 locations globally, first launching here in December 2024. “Basingstoke is a strong regional hub with a wide catchment and an established reputation as a retail and leisure destination – that made Festival Place a natural choice,”said Rich Beese, co-founder of We Do Play. “We’re seeing huge demand for social, experience-led activities outside of major cities, and Activate is designed to keep people coming back.” Festival Place centre director Vicky Hickson added: “Activate is exactly the kind of high-quality, experience-led attraction we are focused on bringing to Festival Place. There is a clear shift towards social, interactive leisure, particularly among younger audiences, and Activate taps directly into that demand with something genuinely different.” Activate Basingstoke will be taking over three units on the upper level of Festival Place. Following this launch, Activate’s next UK locations will be at Leicester Highcross and Telford’s Telford Centre.

 

London fish and chip concept Hobson’s acquires fourth site: London fish and chip shop concept Hobson’s has acquired a fourth site in the capital. The business has secured 30 Charing Cross Road for its latest opening, adding to sites in Villiers Street, Soho and Bayswater. The company said: “Hobson’s is a family business and a culmination of 25 years in the fish and chip trade. Our family has run fish and chip shops from Cornwall to the Lake District.” Hobson’s also runs Oliver’s fish and chip restaurant in Belsize Park. Zack Azulay, of Restaurant Property, acted on behalf of Hobson’s on the Charing Cross Road deal.

 

Nigerian tapas concept Chuku’s to open Boxhall site: Nigerian tapas concept Chuku’s, which was founded by Siblings Emeka and Ifeyinwa Frederick, is to operate a summer-long pop-up – Chuku’s Chop Stop – in Boxhall Liverpool Street, London, from next month (11 May). The business started out in 2016 operating pop-ups around the capital and currently operates a standalone site in Tottenham. Ifeyinwa Frederick said: “Ten years ago, Emeka Frederick and I started Chuku's Nigerian Tapas Restaurant as a pop-up. It was 2016, London’s pop-up scene was buzzing, and we decided to see if there was any appetite for our Nigerian tapas idea. What happened next, I didn’t see coming. We now have a permanent restaurant in Tottenham. We’ve introduced thousands of people to Nigerian flavours, been backed by Beyoncé, fed some of Nigeria’s biggest stars, been named one of the top local restaurants in the UK and become a hub for community and culture. And now, ten years on from that very first pop-up, we’re going back to our pop-up roots with a summer takeover at Boxhall. New location, new serving style, same Chuku’s flavours. Chuku’s Chop Stop brings a taste of Nigeria to the City via Jollof Rice Bowls and Nigerian Loaded Fries. We’ve had to think about how to deliver an authentic taste of Nigeria in a novel format – this time swapping tapas for a grab-and-go style. We’ve also had to think about how to make another venue feel like Chuku’s and just like the first time, we have plenty of unknowns we’ll figure out as we go. But this time, we have ten years of experience behind us and a beautiful community we’re looking forward to sharing Chuku’s Chop Stop with.”

 

Freight Island team to open new coffee shop in Manchester: The team behind Freight Island, the entertainment and dining business, is to open a new coffee shop in Manchester. The coffee shop is set to open in the historic ticket office at Manchester Mayfield railway station, in Fairfield Street and Baring Street. The station opened in 1910 but closed to passengers in the 1960s and closed altogether in 1986. Since then, remnants of the building have been used for events during Manchester International Festival, and the building has also formed part of the Depot Mayfield venue since its opening in 2019. Work is currently underway on the coffee shop, and while an opening date has not been revealed, signage at the site suggests it is set to be unveiled this summer. It comes as work to pedestrianise the roads outside is also currently underway. Henrietta Nowne, development director for Landsec on behalf of The Mayfield Partnership, told the Manchester Evening News: “There’s plenty happening right now. Baring Street and Travis Street are being pedestrianised, and this summer will also see a new coffee shop open in the historic ticket office, brought back to life by the team at Freight Island. We’ve got big plans for Mayfield and things are changing here at pace.” Launched in Manchester in 2020, Freight Island is due to launch in London’s Brixton and Newcastle in the coming months and also has plans for a Leeds location.

 

Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant concept Turkuaz to open second Crawley site: Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant concept Turkuaz is to open a new site in Crawley – its second in the West Sussex town. Founder Cevdet Mutlu has secured the former Pizza Hut premises at Crawley Leisure Park, which will add to its existing venue in High Street in the town, reports Sussex World. Turkuaz also has restaurants in Aldershot and Feltham while sites are “coming soon” in Eastleigh, Staines and Trowbridge, according to its website. Mutlu is also behind Turkish concept Turquoise Kitchen, which operates six sites across the UK.

Co-founder of London restaurant Carousel and actor Theo James to launch second venture next month: Ed Templeton, co-founder of Carousel, the restaurant that hosts rotating chef residencies in London’s Fitzrovia, has confirmed he will launch a second site in partnership with actor Theo James next month. The pair partnered with chef Naz Hassan last year to launch Lupa, a neighbourhood restaurant dedicated to Roman comfort food, in Highbury. Now, they are joining forces again to open Ornella, in Hackney, which will launch in the former Fran's premises in Wilton Way on Friday, 8 May. The 48-cover restaurant draws inspiration from Milan’s neighbourhood ristoranti, including an open kitchen. A menu “rooted in the butter-rich, Alpine-influenced cuisine of Milan includes signature dishes like Vitello tonnato, Cotoletta di Vitello and Tagliatelle al burro e Parmigiano. A curated Italian wine selection will champion small-scale producers, alongside cocktails and a collection of amaro. Templeton said; “We’d always spoken about doing another one day, but I don’t think we ever imagined we’d be opening a second restaurant just nine months later. We could have done a second Lupa, and maybe we will one day, but we wanted to do something even more ambitious.” James added: “Ornella gives us a chance to tackle Milanese cuisine in an exciting new part of London, but still close enough to our front doors.”