Story of the Day - 20 December 2024
Burger & Lobster planning to more than double presence in the UK over the next few years
Burger & Lobster has said it has “ambitious growth penned for the next few years”, which will see its presence more than double in the UK. It comes as the business said it would mark its return to the expansion trail in early 2025 with an opening in Brighton – its first new UK site in eight years.
January 21-22
Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit is returning for its seventh edition, and tickets are now on sale for the two-day conference as the centrepiece of the January event series. The event is a partnership between Propel and Think Hospitality, aiming to build a community, promote the sharing of ideas, recognise talent and define the future of eating out.
Pre-Christmas early-bird prices are: a one-day ticket for operators is £295 plus VAT while a two-day ticket is £550 plus VAT. Supplier tickets are £395 plus VAT for one day and £700 plus VAT for two. Propel Premium Club members receive a 20% discount.
To book, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com
20 December 2024
Soho House shares surge after consortium tables £1.4bn takeover offer
Soho House & Co has revealed it has received a £1.4bn takeover offer from a new consortium, which pushed its shares up by more than 60% in early trading in the US to their highest level for more than a year. The company, which is based in London but listed on the New York Stock Exchange, said a “new third-party consortium” has offered to buy it for $9 per share, a premium of 83% from where the stock closed on Wednesday (18 December).
20 December 2024
NTIA – government must rethink spring Budget in light of inflation rise and interest rates being held
The government must rethink its spring Budget following the rise in inflation and the Bank of England’s decision to hold interest rates, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has said. The Bank of England decided to keep interest rates at 4.75%, triggered by inflation rising to 2.6% in the 12 months to November 2024 – the second monthly rise in a row.
20 December 2024
Upham Inns reports like-for-likes up 7.5%, progressing well on expansion and funding opportunities
Upham Inns, the southern England premium pubs operator, has reported like-for-like sales are up 7.5% in the current financial year and is progressing well with expansion and funding opportunities. It comes as the 14-strong company reported turnover increased 4.5% to £19,266,000 for the year ended 31 March 2024 compared with £18,430,000 the previous year.
20 December 2024
Leong Enterprises set to launch new ‘scalable’ concept as it looks to grow outside of London
Leong Enterprises, the restaurant group from brothers Geoff and Lucas Leong, has told Propel it is set to launch a new “scalable” concept as it looks to expand outside of London. The family business first launched in the UK in 1995, with Japanese restaurant Koi in Kensington, and most recently opened Japanese á la carte and omakase concept Ine in Hampstead, in December 2023.
20 December 2024
KKR invests in cloud kitchen operator Rebel Foods
US investment firm KKR, which is among the final bidders for Wingstop UK, has invested in cloud kitchen operator Rebel Foods. Founded in 2011 as a quick service restaurant, Rebel Foods is now the world’s largest multi-brand cloud kitchen platform, with 450 cloud kitchens serving a network of more than 5,000 internet restaurants in excess of 70 cities across India, the UAE, and the UK, and more than two million customers globally.
20 December 2024
Luxford Burgers hires business development director
Better gourmet business Luxford Burgers has hired Sean McPhee as business development director, Propel has learned. McPhee joins Luxford from Arc Inspirations, where he had been business development director for four months.
20 December 2024
Vue to take over operations of two Cineworld sites set to close as part of restructuring plan
Cinema group Vue International is to take over the operations of two sites being shut by rival Cineworld. The company has agreed new leases with landlord Landsec for the venues at Tower Park in Poole, Dorset, and Xscape Yorkshire in Castleford, West Yorkshire.
20 December 2024
Whitbread non-executive director to step down
Whitbread has announced that non-executive director Chris Kennedy will step down at the conclusion of the company’s annual general meeting in June. Kennedy is chairman of the audit committee and Whitbread said a successor will be appointed in due course.
20 December 2024
Yorkshire Mexican restaurant concept launches franchise opportunity
Yorkshire Mexican restaurant concept Mexi Bean Express has launched a franchise opportunity. The business was founded in 2020 as Mexi Bean by Danielle Best and has sites in Halifax, Brighouse, Huddersfield, Sowerby Bridge and Morley.
19 December 2024
KFC to debut new concept ‘Saucy’
KFC will debut a new concept in the US tomorrow (Friday, 20 December) with the launch of Saucy in Orlando, Florida. Saucy is a “flavour-forward dining destination” featuring chicken tenders and 11 sauces – a nod to KFC’s original recipe with 11 herbs and spices.
19 December 2024
Northern Ireland holiday park operator hires former Haven MD as chairman and eyes growth after receiving private equity investment
Northern Ireland holiday park operator Blair’s Holiday Parks has hired former Haven managing director Tim Gibson as its chairman and is eyeing growth after receiving private equity investment. Gibson, who is also a former executive director of Away Resorts, will collaborate with Blair’s current co-owner and managing director, Colin Mayrs, to lead the business through the next phase of its growth journey.
19 December 2024
Center Parcs to launch new experiential concept
Center Parcs, which operates five family-friendly holiday villages across the UK, is launching a new experiential concept that includes mini golf, augmented reality darts and interactive shuffleboards. The Puttify mini golf course, from attraction designers Greenspan, will feature state-of-the-art technology, neon-lit environments and digital scoring so players can automatically track their progress.
December 2024 ~ Premium Club
Unlock exclusive insights into the hospitality sector with Propel’s Premium Club, offering access to 100 must-watch videos each year from our industry-leading conferences. Hear directly from some of the most influential leaders as they share the latest trends, their journeys to success, and predictions shaping the future of the industry. With 100 insightful videos ready to watch, Premium Club members can start exploring this invaluable content immediately. Featured speakers include Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group; Sir Tim Martin, founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon; Marcel Khan, chief executive of Fulham Shore; Clair Preston-Beer, managing director of Greene King; Des Gunewardena, founder of the D3 Collective and co-founder of D&D London; and Michael Clarke, managing director of Wendy’s UK and Europe. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to gain essential knowledge and inspiration—join Propel’s Premium Club today.
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.
December 2024 ~ Premium Club
Propel will launch four ground-breaking reports in 2025 that will be available free to Premium subscribers. The Propel 500 report is an ambitious new project that will bring together the top 500 companies within the sector, offering not only comprehensive listings but also insights into the forces driving growth, innovation, and transformation across the industry. The report will be available at the end of February free for Premium subscribers. The International Report, released in spring, will examine the 100 biggest international brands expanding in the UK with analysis of turnover, market size, estate numbers and strategy. The Experiential Leisure Report will be the second edition of the report launched this year and will track the growth of the UK experiential market. The report will be available early summer. The Brands Report, launched in the autumn, will be a guide to the 500 largest foodservice brands in the UK listed by estate size.
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.
December 2024 ~ Premium Club
Premium Club Opinion provides weekly insights from industry leaders. In this current edition, David Campbell explores how AI is revolutionising hospitality, showing how it empowers teams rather than replacing them. He delves into the technology’s potential to enhance guest experiences and streamline operations. Jamie Allsopp shares how his Kensington pub, The Blue Stoops, is defying expectations by successfully introducing Generation Z to the joys of cask ale, proving the drink’s appeal can be reignited with the right approach. Meanwhile, Mark Wingett examines Hickory’s Smokehouse’s rise to 25 sites under Greene King’s ownership, with ambitious expansion plans, including ten new openings next year. The brand is determined to retain its southern hospitality roots, with a culture-first focus as it evolves into a major national player.
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.
December 2024 ~ Premium Club
Mark Wingett’s Premium Club Diary delivers insider sector gossip every week to Premium Club members. In this current edition, Costa Coffee is facing baked goods supply disruptions, leaving toasties, cakes, and breakfast baps unavailable in some stores. Fairgame, the competitive socialising concept from Gymbox founder Richard Hilton, has major UK and international plans, with its flagship site exceeding expectations and new ventures eyed Stateside. Albert’s Schloss is making waves with its Shaftesbury Avenue debut, with record-breaking festive sales anticipated thanks to strong pre-bookings. Sixes, the cricket-based concept, is expanding rapidly, driven by surprising customer demographics and even fostering young talent within the founders’ family. Meanwhile, The Coaching Inn Group wraps up the year with fun stats, so how many Sunday roasts do you think they served?
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.
19 December 2024
Gravity launches new arcade games concept
Experiential leisure operator Gravity has launched a new arcade games concept. Gravity Arcade, which offers arcade classics such as Super Bikes 3, House of the Dead Scarlet Dawn and Zombies Ready Steady Go, and games such as air hockey, basketball and boxing, is one of four divisions the group now operates – alongside Gravity Max (e-karting, street golf, augmented reality bowling, karaoke), Gravity Active (trampolining, rock climbing) and Gravity Social (digital darts, shuffleboard, PS5 gaming).
19 December 2024
Creams set to open new Tesco partnership site in Stevenage
Fast-growing dessert parlour operator Creams Café is set to open a new site in partnership with Tesco, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The site will open this week in the ground floor of the Tesco store in the Forum, in Stevenage town centre.
19 December 2024
SSP launches new Peaky Blinders themed restaurant at Birmingham airport
SSP Group, the UK operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, has launched a new Peaky Blinders themed restaurant at Birmingham airport. Shelby & Co is the first of its kind for the Peaky Blinders franchise in a travel location and will be a key part of Birmingham’s departure lounge, with space for 290 diners.
19 December 2024
Hollywood Bowl set to open £3.1m site in Inverness
Hollywood Bowl is set to open a new site in Inverness. The company has started work on the £3.1m project at the Eastfield Way shopping park in the Scottish city.
19 December 2024
Jason Atherton launches ‘life’s legacy’ restaurant in London’s Savile Row
Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Jason Atherton (pictured) has launched his “life’s legacy” restaurant, in London’s Savile Row. Row on 5 is split across two floors at 5 Savile Row, the home of British bespoke tailoring.
19 December 2024
Six by Nico confirms Bristol plans
Six Company, the company behind the Six by Nico restaurant business, has confirmed it will open a site under its core brand in Bristol next year. Propel revealed earlier this year that Six Company had secured the former Carluccio’s site near the city’s Cabot Circus scheme to open a 3,200 square-foot Six by Nico restaurant at Quakers Friars, next to Cote.
18 December 2024
Exclusive – Glendola Leisure and sister company Carlton Hotels see turnover near £100m
Glendola Leisure, which is owned by the Salussolia family, and its sister company, Carlton Hotels, have seen combined turnover near the £100m mark. Revenue across the two companies increased to £97,595,000 for the year ending 30 March 2024 compared with £86,582,000 the year before.
18 December 2024
Exclusive – Jamie Oliver Group CEO steps down
amie Oliver Group chief executive Kevin Styles has stepped down, Propel has learned. Styles joined Jamie Oliver Group in July 2022 having previously been managing director at Vue International. During his time at Jamie Oliver Group, he helped grow its international restaurant portfolio to more than 70 sites and last year saw the business’ return to the UK market with an opening in London’s Covent Garden.
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
Propel to launch definitive guide to the UK’s 500 largest hospitality companies
Propel 500 will be released on Friday, 10 January at 9am and is available for £595 plus VAT. Existing Premium Club members can receive it on Friday, 10 January at 9am for £395 plus VAT. Premium Club members will receive the report for free on Friday, 28 February at 9am. Pre-order Propel 500 today by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com.
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.
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- Operators can send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free
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Upcoming Events
January 21-22 2025
Restaurant Marketer
& Innovator European Summit
Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit is returning for its seventh edition, and tickets are now on sale for the two-day conference as the centrepiece of the January event series. The event is a partnership between Propel and Think Hospitality, aiming to build a community, promote the sharing of ideas, recognise talent and define the future of eating out.
November 13th 2025
The Propel Bangkok
Study Tour
Bangkok is a culinary hot bed of talent and has no less than 34 Michelin starred restaurants including a street vendor who has one star, it is a truly world class ‘Foodie Destination’. The city also boasts some of the highest rooftop bars and restaurants in the world and is a hospitality bucket list in Asia.