Story of the Day - 29 October 2024
Doner kebab brand with almost 100 branches in Germany makes UK debut, three more in pipeline as it targets rapid expansion here
A doner kebab brand with almost 100 branches in Germany has made its UK debut, with three more in the pipeline as it targets rapid expansion here, Propel has learned. House of Doner, which trades as Haus des Doners in Europe (94 branches in Germany and one in the Netherlands), has opened at 88-89 Cowcross Street in Farringdon, London.
Operators of multi-site hospitality companies can book up to three free places, or operators who are Premium subscribers can claim up to four free places, by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com
29 October 2024
Honest Burgers reveals plans to quadruple in size by 2030 as it reports revenue hits £30m in first half of 2024
Honest Burgers, the Active Partners-backed business, has revealed it is aiming to quadruple in size by 2030 as it reported like-for-like sales growth of 11%, hitting £30m in revenue in the first half of 2024. The 39-strong brand said profitability is also ahead of forecast, with more than 60% growth in Ebitda performance.
29 October 2024
Sacha Lord – everything is at stake for the night-time economy in tomorrow’s Budget
Sacha Lord, the night-time advisor for Greater Manchester, has said “everything is at stake” for the night-time economy in tomorrow’s (Wednesday, 30 October) Budget. Lord was speaking following the Night Time Industries Association’s warning last week that nightclubs could “vanish completely” by the end of this decade.
29 October 2024
Tortilla expands franchise partnership with SSP as it sets out ambitious growth plans across UK travel hubs
Fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand Tortilla has expanded its partnership with SSP Group, the operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, setting the stage for ambitious growth across UK travel hubs. The new five-year agreement will see Tortilla’s presence in SSP-operated locations triple in size in the UK, expanding from six to 18 sites.
29 October 2024
Caffè Nero looking to open new sites across all its brands following 200 Degrees acquisition
Caffè Nero, the Gerry Ford-led, premium coffee house business, has told Propel it is looking to open new sites across all its brands following its acquisition of 200 Degrees. Propel revealed exclusively yesterday (Monday, 28 October) that Caffè Nero has acquired the Foresight-backed coffee roaster and retailer, which was founded in 2012 by Rob Darby and Tom Vincent and currently operates 21 sites.
29 October 2024
Henley Pub Co targeting minimum of ten pubs with rooms as it acquires lease of Brakspear property for third site
Henley Pub Co, the independently backed company from Henry Day, has told Propel it is targeting a minimum of ten pubs with rooms as it acquired its third site. Henley Pub Co has added the lease of The Duke pub and restaurant in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.
29 October 2024
BrewDog to open pub in Edinburgh Waverley station tomorrow
Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog will open its pub in Edinburgh Waverley train station tomorrow (Wednesday, 30 October). The pub will have around 70 seats, with four-person booths as well as high top counters, and will offer a range of pub classics, as well as BrewDog’s signature wings and burgers.
29 October 2024
Edyn Group – four projects in pipeline, turnover increases to record £73.7m
Aparthotel operator Edyn Group, which operates in the UK under three primary brands – Locke, SACO and Cove – has said it has four sites in the pipeline as it continues its expansion plans. It comes as the group reported turnover increased 5% to a record £73,670,217 for the year ending 31 December 2023 compared with £70,232,863 the year before.
29 October 2024
Stonegate to open second Be At One site of the year
Stonegate, the UK’s largest pub company, is set to open its second Be At One site of the year. It will open at 39-41 Watergate Street on Friday, 15 November, offering space for 200 guests.
October 2024 ~ Premium Club
Each year, Premium Club members receive videos from Propel conferences, totalling around 100. The latest videos are from the Propel Talent & Training conference. This collection features Kathryn York, chief people officer at KFC UK and Ireland, who talks through the success of the brands “The Hatch” youth employment programme, which looks to help young people into their first job, and its “The Kentucky Club”, which hosts jobs-based pop-up events around the country for young people. Propel’s conference videos are an excellent way to keep your team informed about the latest developments in the sector.
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 2024 ~ Premium Club
Premium Club members will receive the Multi-Site Database on Friday, 1 November. It provides details of 3,264 multi-site operators. The database features 961 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 784 (24%) pubs and bars operators, 548 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 445 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 267 (8%) hotel operators, 204 (6%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. Premium Club members also receive access to five additional databases: the New Openings Database; the Turnover & Profits Blue Book; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database and the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality.
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 2024 ~ Premium Club
Premium Club Opinion provides weekly insights from industry leaders. In the current edition, Propel group editor Mark Wingett examines the size of the task trying to turn around the fortunes of global coffee brand Starbucks, while David Moffat, who is overseeing Boparan Restaurant Group’s UK operation of its Carl’s Jr franchise, explores developing team members in the fast-paced hospitality world.
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 2024 ~ Premium Club
Mark Wingett’s Premium Club Diary delivers insider sector gossip every week to Premium Club members. In this current edition, find out who’s advising better burger brand Beefy Boys on their growth plans, discover the latest innovations by Six Company, the owner of the Six by Nico concept, and there is surprising news on the future of the TGI Fridays site in Croydon. Plus, what happened to crowd funding favourite Foodstuff, the fledgling delivery business and why there is such a positive mood at The Revel Collective’s HQ.
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.
29 October 2024
Sandwich concept Mondo Sando to open first permanent location this month after overfunding on £30,000 fundraiser
Sandwich concept Mondo Sando will open its first permanent location this month after overfunding on a £30,000 fundraiser. Launched three years ago as a pandemic project by Jack Macrae and Viggo Blegvad, Mondo Sando has held residencies at the Grove House Tavern in Camberwell and The White Horse in Peckham.
29 October 2024
Australian construction group acquires Northern Ireland hotel, golf course and country club for €30m
Australian construction group The Brady Group has acquired a Northern Ireland hotel, golf course and country club for €30m. The group, led by Cavan-born Tom Brady, who emigrated to Australia in 1973, is the new owner of Slieve Russell Hotel, Golf & Country Club.
28 October 2024
Flat Iron reports record turnover of £46.9m as it confirms appointment of advisors
Flat Iron, the Piper-backed affordable steak concept, has reported record sales as it confirmed the appointment of City advisors to review its strategic options. Turnover increased 38% to a record £49.6m in the 12 months to the end of August 2024, with underlying profits rising to £5.7m, from £3.8m in 2023.
28 October 2024
Hush Collection appoints advisors to explore options for Haché concept
Hush Collection has appointed advisors to explore options for its London premium burger concept, Haché. The Ed Standring and Jamie Barber-led business is working with advisors Interpath on an accelerated sales process for Hache, which operates sites in Balham, Clapham, Chelsea and Kingston.
28 October 2024
Glendola Leisure reports 8.5% sales growth in 2024, plans £50m Belfast hotel project and further expansion
Alex Salussolia, managing director of Glendola Leisure, has told Propel the company has seen an 8.5% increase in sales so far in 2024. Looking ahead, Glendola aims to add two or three sites to its cluster approach in UK cities next year, as it plans a major £50m hotel development in Belfast.
28 October 2024
Banx Pub Group targeting 30 sites in medium term but ‘no limit’ to growth plans
Banx Pub Group, a family-run business with 17 sites across the Midlands and south west, has said it is targeting 30 sites in the medium term but there is “no limit” to its growth plans. Earlier this month, the company acquired the lease of The Princess Royal in Stoke-on-Trent and with Heineken-owned Star Pubs is undertaking a £123,000 upgrade of the property to create a wet-led pub that will open in mid-November.
28 October 2024
JD Wetherspoon rebuts Investors’ Chronicle article clarifying misconceptions about founder and Brexit stance
JD Wetherspoon has rebutted inaccuracies in a recent Investors’ Chronicle article, clarifying misconceptions about its founder, Sir Tim Martin, and its Brexit stance. The company emphasised its “balanced” coverage of the Brexit debate in its Wetherspoon News magazine and explained financial losses during the pandemic despite government subsidies.
28 October 2024
GSG – Nord performing beyond expectations, exploring expanding concept through private catering
GSG has told Propel that its Nord restaurant is “performing beyond expectations” and that it is exploring expanding the concept through private catering. The group, which is behind Bold Street Coffee along with several other north west concepts, opened the Scandinavian-influenced all-day restaurant in March last year in Liverpool’s The Plaza building.
28 October 2024
Academy hit by venue closure
One of Britain’s largest music venue operators suffered a significant drop in admissions last year after safety concerns forced it to close two major premises temporarily. Academy Music, part owned by music behemoth Live Nation, operates 18 venues across the UK, from Bournemouth and Bristol to Newcastle and Glasgow.
28 October 2024
Welsh Subway franchisee takes on brand’s original two flagship stores in the country, targets having 25 sites by 2030
Welsh Subway franchisee William Evans has taken on the brand’s original two flagship stores in the country and has targeted having 25 stores by 2030. Evans, a former professional rugby player with Moseley RFC and Newport RFC, has built his portfolio to five stores across Cardiff and Newport over the past five years.
28 October 2024
Former UKHospitality chair and Merlin Entertainments CEO becomes non-executive chairman of live events business
Former UKHospitality chair Sir Nick Varney has taken on a non-executive chairman role at live events business, the NEC Group. Varney, who was chief executive at Merlin Entertainments from its inception in 1999 to November 2022, is also currently a non-executive director of Marston’s and a senior adviser to private equity firm Blackstone.
28 October 2024
Exclusive Collection launches new fine-dining restaurant within Warwickshire’s Ansty Hall
Exclusive Collection, which operates eight luxury hotels and spas across the UK, has launched a new fine-dining restaurant within the grade II-listed Ansty Hall in Ansty, Warwickshire. Twine is led by executive chef Ryan Swift and looks to highlight fresh local ingredients.
Watch highlights from this year’s Propel summer conference and party.
Video presentations of all the speakers are available to Premium Club members, join to unlock exclusive access to 100 insightful videos each year.
To view pictures from the event click here
Propel Exclusive Report
Experiential Leisure report – free for Premium Club members
Experiential leisure’s rapid growth is demonstrated by a 40% uptick in UK competitive socialising venues since 2018. Our 35,000 word report on this fast-growing sector is now free for Premium Cub members and it explores the latest research, examines its market potential and includes a detailed analysis on more than 180 companies operating in excess of 3,000 sites.
The report sets out the history and current meaning of experiential leisure and examines the latest research – including key geographical areas for expansion in the UK. It also explores the current market and provides insight into future trends such as outlets that offer a combination of concepts. It provides a detailed list of UK Experiential Leisure companies including key staff, Companies House information and number of sites.
By joining Propel Premium Club members get access to our industry-leading databases, receive hospitality’s foremost newsletter first and vital video content. Get event discounts and essential insight through Propel Opinion pieces from leading industry commentators, plus much more.
Promotional Content
7 October 2024
Meet Maral, the visionary behind Ayal: Sharing Turkmenistan’s Flavours with London’s Streets
With the help of the McCain Streets Ahead programme, Maral turned her dream into a thriving business. Through Ayal, she offers Londoners a taste of Turkmen cuisine, from Manti dumplings to traditional palav, highlighting the rich heritage of her culture.
9 September 2024
Meet Eman and Bisan Bites: Bringing Palestinian Flavours to London's Streets
In 2022, Eman embarked on a journey to bring the authentic taste of Palestinian cuisine to the street food scene of London. Seeking guidance from the Streets Ahead programme, she transformed her passion into a reality, creating Bisan Bites a business that celebrates her heritage.
17 July 2024
Taste Uzbekistan: The Street Food Duo sharing the traditions and flavours of Central Asia
In 2022, Akbar and Sanobar joined the Streets Ahead program with a clear vision: to become the ultimate destination for food enthusiasts seeking an authentic and immersive experience.
20 June 2024
UTOPIA: The Syrian Street Food Concept making London taste better
Hind Danoun is one of the many successful refugee entrepreneurs to come out of the McCain Streets Ahead Programme. From joining the programme in 2022 to turning over £21,000 in revenue since launching late 2023.
Never Miss a Story
Subscription Plans
Standard
- Receive the Morning Briefing newsletter
- Receive Breaking News
- Exclusive access to 100 videos from Propel conferences & webinars
- Receive the Experiential Leisure report
- 20% discount on tickets to five Propel paid-for events
- Operators can send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free
- Receive the Propel database of multi-site companies, updated every month
- Receive the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, updated every month
- Receive the Propel database of new openings, updated every month
- Receive the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisor database
- Receive the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisee database
- Receive the Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage database
- Read Propel insight editor Mark Wingett’s weekly analysis and City Diary
- Plus insight from leading commentators
Premium Club
Supplier: £595 + VAT / per year
- Receive the Morning Briefing newsletter 11 hours early at 7pm each evening
- Receive Breaking News
- Exclusive access to 100 videos from Propel conferences & webinars
- Receive the Experiential Leisure report
- 20% discount on tickets to five Propel paid-for events
- Operators can send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free
- Receive the Propel database of multi-site companies, updated every month
- Receive the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, updated every month
- Receive the Propel database of new openings, updated every month
- Receive the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisor database
- Receive the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisee database
- Receive the Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage database
- Read Propel insight editor Mark Wingett’s weekly analysis and City Diary
- Plus insight from leading commentators
Premium Club Unlimited
- Unlimited access for your company
- Receive the Morning Briefing newsletter 11 hours early at 7pm each evening
- Receive Breaking News
- Exclusive access to 100 videos from Propel conferences & webinars
- Receive the Experiential Leisure report
- 20% discount on tickets to five Propel paid-for events
- Operators can send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free
- Receive the Propel database of multi-site companies, updated every month
- Receive the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book, updated every month
- Receive the Propel database of new openings, updated every month
- Receive the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisor database
- Receive the Propel UK Food and Beverage Franchisee database
- Receive the Who’s Who of UK Food and Beverage database
- Read Propel insight editor Mark Wingett’s weekly analysis and City Diary
- Plus insight from leading commentators
Conferences, study trips, and propel multi club
Upcoming Events
November 9th 2024
The Propel Naples
Study Tour
The world’s best cities for food in 2024 have been named by Time Out and it’s Naples – the birthplace of Pizza that takes the crown. You can’t talk about food in Italy without considering Naples and you can’t talk about food in Naples without talking Pizza and that is the reason we are inspired to visit the best of what Naples has to offer.
October 30th 2024
Propel Multi Club:
New Ideas,
New Directions
The final Propel Multi-Club Conference of 2024 has opened for bookings. The full-day conference – titled “new directions, new ideas” – takes place on Wednesday, 30 October at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London Kensington. Among the speakers will be Ben Fogle, the TV personality who has summited Everest, raced to the South Pole and rowed the Atlantic.