Story of the Day - 17 October 2025
Amber Taverns chair – ‘if we want to become a national company we must establish a good presence in the south’
James Baer, chairman of wet-led, community pub operator Amber Taverns, which is backed by Epiris, has told Propel that if the 184-strong business wants to become a national company it must establish a good presence in the south. It comes as the business achieved record turnover of £120m in the year to 2 February 2025, while like-for-like sales were up 5% in the last 12 weeks, as it said it was making progress in its ambition to build a nationwide presence.
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17 October 2025
Three-Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Trèsind to open in London
The Dubai-based Passion F&B group is to bring its three-Michelin-starred Indian restaurant brand Trèsind to London, with an opening in Mayfair. The business is set to open a Trèsind in Hanover Street.
17 October 2025
Soho House founder Nick Jones confirms plans to launch new London hotel
Nick Jones (pictured), the founder and former chief executive of Soho House Group, has confirmed he will open a new hotel in London next year. Propel revealed at the end of 2024 that Jones was in talks to open a hotel and restaurant as part of the Arundel Great Court development in London’s Westminster.
17 October 2025
McDonald’s UK trialling ‘order ahead’ app feature
McDonald’s has begun the trial of a new app feature, which it said will give customers a “smoother, faster experience” when ordering. The brand is trialling the “order ahead” feature in parts of the country.
17 October 2025
Shoreditch Arts Club CEO to launch new hotels venture next month
Crafted, the new hotel venture from Joel Williams (pictured), the former chief executive of Shoreditch Arts Club, is to launch in East Sussex next month. Williams, who led Shoreditch Arts Club for two years, has teamed up with Chris King, co-founder of the Birch, the members’ club and hotel business, to launch the new venture, starting with Crafted at Powdermills, near Battle.
17 October 2025
Largest bakery and cafe brand in Israel set to open two more London sites for its luxury pastry concept before end of 2025
Roladin, the largest bakery and cafe brand in Israel, is set to open two more UK sites for its luxury pastry concept, Donutelier, before the end of 2025. In 2023, Donutelier made its UK debut, in the former Patisserie Valerie site on the corner of Charing Cross Road and Great Newport Street in London, describing the launch as the world’s first “Donutelier” concept.
17 October 2025
Maki & Ramen to open three sites within three weeks
Japanese restaurant concept Maki & Ramen is to open three new restaurants within three weeks, including its biggest site to date. The 13-strong business, which was founded by Teddy Lee in 2015 and is led by Michael Salvador, is opening in Meadowhall in Sheffield, Nottingham and the Metrocentre in Gateshead.
17 October 2025
Levy UK + Ireland brings in Richard Thompson as chair to accelerate growth
Levy UK + Ireland, the sports and entertainment hospitality provider, and part of Compass Group, has named Richard Thompson (pictured) as chair. Levy said the newly created role solidifies its leadership structure to accelerate its strategy for significant growth, including further expansion across Europe.
17 October 2025
Diageo faces investor pay revolt
Diageo, the owner of Guinness and Johnnie Walker whisky, is facing an investor backlash next month over nearly £8.5m in stock awards handed to the frontrunner to become its next chief executive. Sky News reported that investors in Diageo are being urged to vote against its pay report at its annual meeting in early November because of disquiet over the lack of performance conditions attached to shares awarded to Nik Jhangiani, who joined the company as its finance chief just over a year ago.
17 October 2025
German Doner Kebab to add two new sites this autumn
German Doner Kebab (GDK), which is backed by private equity group True and opened its 150th UK site last month, in Leeds, will open two new outlets this autumn, including a site on the M25. The company will open in Walworth Road in Elephant & Castle, south London, and at Cobham Services on the M25.
16 October 2025
Former Sega Amusements International CEO Paul Williams passes away
The former chief executive of Sega Amusements International, Paul Williams, has passed away following a period of illness. Well respected across the industry, Williams was the driving force behind the company that he led for more than two decades.
16 October 2025
Amber Taverns posts record full-year turnover of £120m, recent like-for-like sales up 5%, hires Glenn Pearson as new CFO
Wet-led, community pub operator Amber Taverns, which is backed by Epiris, achieved record turnover of £120m in the year to 2 February 2025, while like-for-like sales were up 5% in the last 12 weeks, as it said it was making progress in its ambition to build a nationwide presence. For the year to 2 February 2025, the 184-strong group saw turnover increase 9% to £119.9m (2024: £110.3m).
16 October 2025
Whitbread now sold 41 pub restaurant sites for £42m, Premier Inn UK business returns to growth, acquires eight hotels in Germany
Whitbread has said it has now sold 41 of its pub restaurant sites for a total consideration of £42m as it reported its Premier Inn business in the UK has returned to growth and the acquisition of eight hotels in Germany. The company said its accelerating growth plan to optimise its UK food and beverage offer “to deliver a more tailored guest proposition”, is “on track”.
October 2025 ~ Premium Club
Available now – Propel Multi Club Summer Conference and Party. Premium readers receive the videos from Propel conferences each year – around 100 in total. A great way to keep your team abreast of what’s happening in the sector. Karl Chessell, CGA by NIQ’s director, examines the current eating and drinking out landscape. Charlotte Kemp, managing director of Sixty Eight People, talks to Tom James, managing director of the Richard Caring-backed Bill’s Restaurants, about the cultural change he has led at the business.Andrew Maxwell, operating partner at Imbiba, talks about how the company will deliver a new 65,000 sq ft hospitality and leisure venue at Canary Wharf. Deena Ataie, founder of Heriots Patisserie, discusses the birth of the café/cake ship concept. Craig Bunting, co-founder of coffee house, kitchen and bar business Bear, talks about building a brand “we’re proud to own”. Richard Lewis, group chief executive of RedCat Hospitality, the operator of Coaching Inn Group and RedCat Independent Pubs, talks about building on a transitional year for the business. Ed Devenport, co-founder and chief executive of the Incipio Group, discusses the company’s ability to curate different F&B offers across large spaces in high-profile locations. Simon Dodd, chief executive of Young’s, talks to Propel’s Mark Wingett about the challenge of providing a premium offer. Jon Lake, managing director of Chopstix, discusses the fast-growing brand’s three-year strategy. Yishay Malkov, managing director of Soho House UK, talks about how the members club business is attracting new members and also retaining its existing ones. James Brown, chief executive of Prezzo, talks about re-energising the Italian casual-dining brand. Graeme Smith, managing director at AlixPartners, gives his thoughts on the current sector investment landscape and reveals those companies that have topped the inaugural AlixPartners/Propel Growth Tracker.
By joining Propel Premium Club members get access to essential insight through Propel Opinion pieces from leading industry commentators, plus our industry-leading databases, receive hospitality’s foremost newsletter first, watch vital video content and get event discounts.
October 2025 ~ Premium Club
The 2025 Experiential Leisure Report, the second year of Propel’s exhaustive report on the fast-growing experiential leisure market, will be published on Friday, 1 August at 9am. The report profiles the current shape of the experiential leisure market – including brands, estate size, trading type and geographical location and future trends. It includes opinion from leading players Juliette Keyte, marketing director at Red Engine, Richard Beese, co-founder of We Do Play, and investor Lisa Boden, partner at investor Edition Capital, and provides a detailed list of UK experiential leisure companies including key staff and Companies House information. The report includes 197 companies, marking a 10% growth in the sector since last year’s study, with 3,700 sites. Katherine Doggrell, Propel’s editorial advisor and the report’s author, said: “The experiential leisure sector is a major growth driver of the hospitality sector, with the market maturing into overseas expansion and franchising as it continues to build and inspire the rest of the market. With trends such as padel keeping the segment fresh, this report hears from operators and investors as they try to anticipate the next innovations. This report delivers an exhaustive overview to all those interested in this influential sector.” The report will be released on Friday, 1 August at 9am and is available for £595 plus VAT to pre-order now. Existing Premium Club subscribers can receive it on Friday, 1 August for £395 plus VAT. The report will be made available for free to existing Premium subscribers on Wednesday, 10 September at 9am.
By joining Propel Premium Club members get access to essential insight through Propel Opinion pieces from leading industry commentators, plus our industry-leading databases, receive hospitality’s foremost newsletter first, watch vital video content and get event discounts.
October 2025 ~ Premium Club
Premium Club Opinion provides weekly insights from industry leaders. In this current edition, Victoria Searl, founder of DataHawks, argues the sector has failed to connect meaningfully with customers, relying on outdated marketing and impersonal tactics. In a climate where support is essential, brands must rebuild trust through relevant, data-driven engagement. Searl calls for segmentation, insight-based messaging, and a shift from monologue to dialogue to secure loyalty and revenue. In contrast, UK food halls are thriving despite industry headwinds. Simon Anderson, co-founder of Next Phase, highlights a 26% year-on-year increase, with 94 food halls now operating and more in development. Their resilience lies in adaptability, shared infrastructure, and community appeal. These venues are reshaping urban regeneration, offering a flexible, inclusive alternative to traditional restaurants. Meanwhile, Geof Collyer, of Lavender Bank Partners discusses how Hard Rock Café UK shows mixed fortunes. Despite strong per-site sales, its 2024 financials reveal a 10.4% revenue decline and £4.58m operating loss. Merchandise sales continue to slump post-VAT exemption loss, while payments to its US parent far exceed UK profits. Still, improved disclosure and brand strength offer some hope, though significant recovery is needed to restore balance sheet health and pre-pandemic performance.
By joining Propel Premium Club members get access to essential insight through Propel Opinion pieces from leading industry commentators, plus our industry-leading databases, receive hospitality’s foremost newsletter first, watch vital video content and get event discounts.
October 2025 ~ Premium Club
Mark Wingett’s Premium Club Diary delivers insider sector gossip every week to Premium Club members. In this current edition, Marston’s is reviving its Pitcher & Piano brand with a reopening in Harrogate on 22 October, marking a return to its former John Street site. Although most Pitcher & Piano venues have been sold or rebranded since Marston’s acquired the chain in 1996, this reopening is expected to be a one-off rather than a wider rollout. Meanwhile, JD Wetherspoon has partnered with The Papas Group to open 15 new pubs, starting with The Hykeham Manor in Lincoln. Additional sites will follow in Cramlington, Stockton-on-Tees, and Bristol. Papas, a long-standing hospitality operator, has also created a pub vehicle called The Great British Pub Co. In immersive entertainment, Little Lion Entertainment is taking The Crystal Maze Live Experience international, launching a flagship site in Dubai following a ten-year deal with Banijay. The move follows recent funding that will also support new Arcade Arenas in the UK. Elsewhere, chef Michael O’Hare’s former Leeds venue may soon be revived by Blacklock, which is expanding regionally after success in Manchester. Lastly, top chefs and restaurateurs will DJ for charity on 23 October, raising funds for Prostate Cancer Research.
By joining Propel Premium Club members get access to essential insight through Propel Opinion pieces from leading industry commentators, plus our industry-leading databases, receive hospitality’s foremost newsletter first, watch vital video content and get event discounts.
16 October 2025
Gerry’s Hot Subs raises £250,000 as it builds towards ‘becoming a pioneer in the premium submarine sandwich market’
Gerry’s Hot Subs, the fledgling concept from André Blais, founder of American barbecue diner-deli brand Bodean’s, has raised a further £250,000 of funding, which it said it will go toward “our next major milestone: launching our second site very soon”. Propel understands that Blais has lined up an opening in St Thomas Street, at London Bridge station, for Gerry’s Hot Subs.
16 October 2025
Gaming and leisure company Real Fun Group expanding UK operations and online presence after securing six-figure funding deal
Gaming and leisure company Real Fun Group is expanding its UK operations and online presence after securing a six-figure funding deal. The funds from alternative finance provider Reward Funding has allowed Real Fun Group to acquire a bingo hall in Lowestoft, Suffolk, from Merkur.
16 October 2025
Cambridge cafe and bakery concept returns to crowdfunding to raise £200,000 to fuel expansion
Stir, the Cambridge cafe and bakery concept, has returned to crowdfunding to fuel its expansion. Founded in 2015 by Judith and Matt Harrison as a family-owned cafe in the neighbourhood of Chesterton, and followed by a bakery in 2017, Stir now operates five locations – each serving handcrafted bread, pastries, cakes and treats, as well as coffee from various independent suppliers.
16 October 2025
Wagamama to make Northern Ireland return
Wagamama, The Restaurant Group-owned brand, is set to make its return to Northern Ireland after the closure of its two sites in the country this summer. The brand, which operates circa 170 sites in the UK and Ireland, closed its sites in Belfast’s Victoria Square and Dundonald in August.
16 October 2025
Nando’s increases prices due to rising cost of food and staffing
Nando’s has increased its prices due to the rising cost of food and staffing. The price of the Sunset burger meal with one side has gone up from £13 to £14.50 – a 12% rise, reports The Sun.
16 October 2025
Whitbread expands inclusive employment programme
Whitbread, the owner of Premier Inn, has expanded its Thrive programme – an employer-led initiative supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities into work – by opening a new Premier Inn training centre at Lincolnshire County Council’s InspireU campus. The replicated hotel facility features three en-suite bedrooms, a reception desk, corridor and linen room.
15 October 2025
Hard Rock Café UK registers £4.0m impairment against Manchester and London Piccadilly sites and incurs £1.1m closure costs from Glasgow venue as pre-tax losses increase to £5,9m
Hard Rock Café UK registered a £4.0m impairment against its Manchester and London Piccadilly sites and incurred closure costs of £1.1m at its Glasgow venue in the year ending 31 December 2024 as its pre-tax losses increased to £5,851,000 from £1,080,000 the year before. The company reported turnover fell to £29,170,000 from a record £32,545,000 the previous year.
15 October 2025
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants – ‘we’re seeing solid performance this year’, 20 sites set to open over next 12 months
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants has told Propel it has seen a “solid performance” across its business in 2025, and has 20 openings lined up for the coming year. Earlier this week, the business reported UK sales increased 40% to a record £134m for the 15 months to 30 December 2024 compared with £95.6m the previous year.
Watch highlights from this year’s Propel summer conference and party.
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22 April 2025
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7 October 2024
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