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Story of the Day - 14 January 2026

Caprinos to launch new pizza style to help it expand into shopping centres and travel destinations

Fast growing pizza brand Caprinos has told Propel it is to launch new a pizza style which it believes will help it expand into shopping centres and travel destinations. Caprinos, founded by Khalil Rehman and Gul Nawaz in 2014, has grown to more than 100 sites mainly through high street locations.

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The European Summit will focus on marcomms strategies, proposition and concept development, the latest market insights, technology and digital developments, diversification of revenue streams and how brands are adapting to the new normal.

Propel Exclusive Report

Propel's Experiential Leisure Report is available now

Experiential Leisure 2025
The 2025 Experiential Leisure Report, the second year of Propel’s exhaustive report on the fast-growing experiential leisure market, is now available. 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 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.
 

Get the report

Propel’s Experiential Leisure report is available now for £595 plus vat. Premium Club members receive the report for free.

Order The Experiential Leisure Report today by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com

In-depth insight into the UK hospitality market: two essential reports from Propel
Further reports available from Propel include: The International Brands report, featuring the 100 leading international brands in UK hospitality by site number, is available to order now. This comprehensive 30,000-word report covers company histories, leadership structures, site numbers and turnover figures – an essential resource for industry professionals. The top 100 features fast-growing brands from major international markets, including the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia.
 
The Top 500 Report ranks the UK’s largest operators by turnover – totalling £30bn across 51,000 sites. It features company histories, leadership structures, financial performance, and sector segmentation. It is delivered as an in-depth PDF and searchable Excel file. These reports offer more than 125,000 words of analysis – providing operators, investors and suppliers with comprehensive insight into the structure and direction of the market.

14 January 2026

Caffè Nero hires Lysa Hardy as new UK CEO

Caffe Nero has hired Lysa Hardy, formerly of Hotel Chocolat and T-Mobile, as the new chief executive of its circa 635-strong UK business. Hardy will begin her role immediately and will report to Gerry Ford, who remains as group chief executive.

14 January 2026

Rachel Reeves

Rachel Reeves insists ‘more temporary support’ for pubs coming, recognises how important hospitality sector is for UK

The business and assets of Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group Limited, the company which manages the operations of TGI Friday’s UK restaurants, have been acquired by Sugarloaf TGIF Operations in a pre-pack transaction which sees the transfer and continuing operation of 33 restaurants across the UK. Ryan Grant and Will Wright were appointed joint administrators to Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group Limited on 13 January 2026.

14 January 2026

TGI Friday's

Majority of TGI Friday restaurants across the UK acquired via pre-pack deal, 16 sites to close

The business and assets of Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group Limited, the company which manages the operations of TGI Friday’s UK restaurants, have been acquired by Sugarloaf TGIF Operations in a pre-pack transaction which sees the transfer and continuing operation of 33 restaurants across the UK. Ryan Grant and Will Wright were appointed joint administrators to Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group Limited on 13 January 2026.

14 January 2026

Costa Coffee

Coca-Cola scraps plans to sell Costa after bids fall short

Coca-Cola has ditched plans to sell Costa Coffee after bids from private equity suitors fell short of its expectations. Firms in the latter rounds of negotiations included Asda owner TDR Capital and Bain Capital’s special situations fund, owner of Gail’s and PizzaExpress, the FT reported.

14 January 2026

Turtle Bay

Turtle Bay reports £10m loss in year before being bought back by founder, impacted by Labour's ‘unhelpful raid on employers' national insurance’

Turtle Bay, the 50-strong Caribbean restaurant brand, posted a pre-tax loss of £10.1m in the year to 30 March 2025 versus a £1.8m profit in the previous 12 months, which it said was impacted in part by the government’s “unhelpful raid on employers’ national insurance”. The company, which was bought back by founder Ajith Jayawickrema last May, reported that turnover for the period fell to £84,308,860 (2024: £93,657,953), while its adjusted Ebitda declined to £3.8m (2024: £9m).

14 January 2026

Mediterranean inspired London restaurant concept Drunch secures franchise deal to expand to Egypt

Mediterranean inspired London restaurant concept Drunch has secured a franchise deal to expand to Egypt. Founded in 2013 in London, Drunch opened its first site in Mayfair and has since grown to four successful locations across central London, including Mayfair, Oxford Circus, Notting Hill and Regent’s Park.

14 January 2026

Independent boutique accommodation collection Your Place sees ‘exceptionally strong’ 2025 as it prepares to open fifth site

Independent boutique accommodation collection Your Place has told Propel the business had an “exceptionally strong” 2025 as it prepares to open its fifth site. The ten-room Bower House will launch in London’s Pimlico in March, joining the Georgian House Hotel and Chinnery House Apartments in the capital and Victorian House and Rothay Garth in the Lake District.

14 January 2026

Pubs face ‘last straw’ as Reeves plots £400m tax raid on drinkers

Pubs face a fresh tax blow next month as Rachel Reeves launches a £400m a year raid on pints, spirits and glasses of wine. Alcohol duty is set to rise by 3.66% at the start of February, equating to around 2p on the price of a pint in a pub.

14 January 2026

Birdcage

Urban Pubs & Bars acquires The Birdcage from BrewDog

Urban Pubs & Bars, the London pub operator founded by Malc Heap and Nick Pring and backed by Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual, has made its sixth acquisition of the year already after securing The Birdcage in east London from Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, Propel has learned. Last week, Propel revealed Urban Pubs & Bars had added a further five pubs to its growing estate, including the acquisition of four former Food & Fuel sites in London from The Restaurant Group-owned Brunning & Price.

14 January 2026

Timothy Taylor

Timothy Taylor’s hires Louise McLaughlin as new marketing director

Yorkshire brewer and retailer Timothy Taylor’s has hired Louise McLaughlin, formerly of Molson Coors, as its new marketing director. McLaughlin joins Timothy Taylor’s with more than 20 years of marketing experience, having worked on leading brands including Carling, Coors, Madri and Lee & Wrangler Jeans. 

14 January 2026

Little Door & Co sees 11% increase in festive revenue, eyes two new openings

Little Door & Co, the house-party-inspired late-night bar and restaurant concept, has told Propel that it achieved revenue of £2.6m in the seven weeks to 4 January 2026 across its five-strong, London-based estate, a 11% increase year-on-year. Over the same period, the company, which was founded by Kamran Dehdashti and Jamie Hazeel, reported more than 47,000 covers, representing a 6% year-on-year increase. 

13 January 2026

Albert’s Schloss

Exclusive – Mission Mars posts record revenues over the festive period

Mission Mars, the owners of the Albert’s Schloss bar business and Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana brand, posted record revenue of £36.2m in the three months to 28 December 2025, up 13% on the previous year, while group like-for-like sales were up 6% in the five weeks to 4 January 2026. The company said during the quarter to 28 December 2025, site records were broken across the majority of venues.

January 2026 ~ Premium Club

Available now –  videos from the Propel Multi Club Conference – Growth in an era of big challenges. 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. Andrew Ball, senior hospitality partner at haysmacintyre, talks to Harry Goss, partner at McWinLuke Johnson, co-founder and partner of Risk Capital PartnersYasha Estraikh, associate partner at Piper Private EquityLizzie Ryan, managing partner at Imbiba, and David Roberts, partner at CMS, about the current investment market, where the buyer activity is centred and what is the current investment criteria in a volatile market. Jesse Jenkins, founder of plant-based cookie concept The After School Cookie Club, in which John Vincent, co-founder and former chief executive of Leon is an investor, discusses expanding across London, its strong community focus, and the role of social media in its success. Bubala founder Marc Summers talks about the creation of the Middle Eastern vegetarian concept, its launch into the competitive London market, the future for the business and the vegetarian restaurant category. Jonny and Charlotte Heyes, founders of Nell’s, the north west New York-style pizza business, discuss the concept’s three-year growth strategies, including becoming a regional standout performer and now looking to spread its wings in new territories. Alex Reilley, chairman of Loungers, talks to Mark Wingett about the company’s return to the private world, maintaining consistency of offer, what the expansion runway looks like for the business, and saving the high street. Industry veteran David Page, the former chairman of Franco Manca, owner of Fulham Shore, ex-chief executive of PizzaExpress, and who is set to become chair of Wildwood operator Tasty, talks to Propel’s Mark Wingett about his return to the sector, why now and what does he make of the current landscape and opportunities for growth. Michelle Hazlewood, partner at leading sector licensing firm John Gaunt, will examine all the key legal developments that have impacted multi-site operators in 2025, set out the latest legislation affecting the industry, and analyse the immediate and long-term legislative commitments the government must consider if it is to aid the sector’s return to growth. Aaron Mellor, founder and chief executive of Tokyo Industries, the UK’s largest private operator of bar and nightclubs, alongside multiple international operations in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, New York, Palma, and Ibiza, talks about the late night market, developing a new West End theatre, operating mid-century hotels in California, trading in Palma and Ibiza, operating multiple festivals, building skyscrapers in Manchester and buying a shopping centre in Hull. Matt Snell, chief executive of Boxpark, talks about moving from casual dining into operating an all-day, multi-brand, multi-purpose operator, the evolution of the business and how it chooses who to work with. Mike Spencer, McDonald’s UK & Ireland vice-president of development, discusses the brand’s large-scale reimagining programme across its estate with a target of 200-plus stores refreshed a year as it looks to unlock capacity to drive future growth, how it is looking to open 40 new sites a year, and its approach to the customer journey. Tom Molnar, co-founder of the fast-growing Gail’s, talks to Propel’s Mark Wingett about the hard-won lessons from scaling a craft bakery into a nationwide success without sacrificing quality or creativity, and the mindset shifts, growth strategies, and leadership principles that have helped the business thrive as it celebrates its 20th year.

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.

January 2026 ~ Premium Club

500 Report

Propel 500 is back for the second year. It will bring together the top 500 players shaping the industry, offering not only comprehensive listings but also deep insights into the forces driving growth, innovation, and transformation across the sector. Propel 500 will provide critical insights into the companies leading the charge in hospitality, including turnover, number of sites, key staff, and more. The 45,000-word report will also include exclusive analysis to provide a full understanding of the market’s dynamics, as the top companies in the sector shift position after a challenging year. Mark Wingett will review the mergers and acquisitions changing the shape of the Top 500 as size increasingly matters. Katherine Doggrell will examine the key developments in UK hotels and look into one of the sector’s brightest lights; experiential leisure. Tim Street dissects the UK’s rapidly developing franchise market. Data expert Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, will look at emerging growth sectors, and Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vantifatova will analyse the latest trends in the quick service restaurant market.

Propel 500 will be released on Friday, 9 January at 9am and is
£595 plus vat.

Existing Premium Club Members can receive it on Friday, 9 January at 9am for
£395 plus vat.

Premium Club members will receive the report for free on Friday, 27 February at 9am.

Pre-order Propel 500 today by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com

 

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.

January 2026 ~ Premium Club

Premium Club Opinion provides weekly insights from industry leaders. In this current edition, Mark Wingett, Propel’s chief operating officer – editorial, looks at the latest government-induced twists and turns, criticising the government mishandling of hospitality policy. Repeated missteps and U-turns on business rates have fuelled uncertainty, delayed investment and divided the sector. Short-term pub relief risks ignoring hotels and others. There is a need for  coherent, hospitality-wide reform, stability, and fair taxation that recognises the sector’s economic and social value. Meanwhile, Propel editorial advisor Katherine Doggrell investigates whether pubs and restaurants can learn from the hotels’ shift towards the platform model. She contrasts romanticised ideas of hospitality with reality. Hotels have evolved from ignoring the internet to becoming powerful platforms built on brands, loyalty and daily customer touchpoints. Groups like Accor and Marriott now dominate attention through ecosystems and partnerships. Meanwhile, pubs and restaurants risk falling behind unless they move beyond vibes, adopt smarter loyalty models and compete strategically for customer attention. Lastly, Lucky Voice co-founders Nick Thistleton and Martha Lane-Fox look at 20 years of the social entertainment brand. Lucky Voice began 20 years ago with minimal capital but a clear insight: people enjoy singing privately. Inspired by Japan’s karaoke model, the founders launched quickly, overcame major personal setbacks and relied on word of mouth to reach profitability fast. Through experimentation, they refined a private-room, experience-led model. Today, Lucky Voice runs six UK venues, international franchises and a fast-growing B2B arm, thriving on changing consumer habits.

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.

January 2026 ~ Premium Club

READ PREMIUM CLUB'S DIARY FOR INSIDER SECTOR GOSSIP

Mark Wingett’s Premium Club Diary delivers insider sector gossip every week to Premium Club members. This current edition outlines a period of intense change and activity across the UK hospitality sector, marked by consolidation, experimentation and political pressure. The Revel Collective, owner of Revolution, Revolución de Cuba and Peach Pubs, is racing to secure a sale, having warned shareholders they could be wiped out. Multiple bidders are assessing parts of the business, with particular interest in high-performing individual sites and the Peach Pubs estate, highlighting ongoing investor appetite for quality assets despite wider challenges. Neos Hospitality continues its expansion, announcing a major move into central London with the acquisition of the former Tiger Tiger site in Haymarket, potentially introducing a new dual-concept format. JD Wetherspoon, traditionally music-free, has surprised the market by trademarking “Disco Spoons”, suggesting DJ-led late-night formats could roll out in student-heavy locations. Elsewhere, Buzzworks Holdings has taken its first step into accommodation with the acquisition of a hotel, signalling ambitions to become a significant rooms-led operator. Fireaway founder Mario Aleppo has diversified with the launch of Crack Cookies, while continuing domestic and international growth of the pizza brand. Alongside these developments, mounting pressure on the government over business rates appears to be forcing another policy rethink, prompting vocal and sometimes theatrical protest ideas from operators. The update also notes senior hospitality executives taking on roles in football and community organisations, reinforcing the sector’s resilience, creativity and continued evolution despite financial and political uncertainty.

 

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.

13 January 2026

Premier Inns – Whitbread

Whitbread now expecting impact of business rates changes to be lower at £35m, making ‘good progress’ on strategic plan

Whitbread has said it now expects the impact of business rates changes on the group to be lower than expected – at circa £35m rather than the initial £40m-£50m estimated – and is making “good progress” on its “accelerating growth plan”. The company stated: “Further to our previous statement that outlined our preliminary estimates regarding the impact of the changes announced as part of the recent UK Budget, while there has been no change to our underlying inflation assumptions, we now expect: gross UK cost inflation to be between 6.5% and 7.5% on our £1.7bn UK cost base; this includes the changes to business rates that will result in an impact of circa £35m (versus our preliminary estimate of £40m-£50m); and net UK cost inflation to be between 3% and 4%, after accelerated efficiencies of £60m.

13 January 2026

Business secretary – ‘we didn’t have all the facts on pub tax rises’

Ministers were not in possession of all the facts about looming increases in business rates for pubs at the time of the Budget, business secretary Peter Kyle has admitted. Kyle said the government “didn’t have access” to information about a planned revaluation of tax levels facing hospitality firms when chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Budget in November.

13 January 2026

Heineken

Heineken CEO Dolf van den Brink to step down

Heineken’s chief executive Dolf van den Brink is to step down after nearly six years in charge of the Amstel and Birra Moretti brewer. The company said that Van den Brink would leave the company at the end of May. 

13 January 2026

Yotel makes three key leadership promotions as it targets having 100 hotels open worldwide by 2030

Yotel, the budget accommodation brand launched by YO! founder Simon Woodroffe, has made three key leadership promotions as it targets having 100 hotels open worldwide by 2030. The company currently has 23 operating hotels across 16 cities and airports, with 11 additional properties set to open in the next 24 months – with upcoming openings in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Lisbon, Athens and Belfast.

13 January 2026

Thwaites

Thwaites non-executive director Andrew Stothart steps down

Andrew Stothert has stepped down as a non-executive director at north west brewer and retailer Daniel Thwaites. Stothert, who is also a founding partner and chief executive of management consultancy Brand Vista, has been on the company’s board since 2019.

13 January 2026

TGI Friday's

TGI Fridays unveils vision to become global casual dining leader

TGI Fridays has unveiled a its new global growth vision to make the brand the “most celebratory, craveable brand in casual dining”. The company, which operates nearly 400 restaurants in over 40 countries, said that through its “1-2-3 Strategic Vision,” it is “charting a dynamic path to global sector leadership”, targeting more than 1,000 units and $2bn in annual revenue by 2030.

12 January 2026

Jersey Mike’s signs franchise agreement to open 400 sites in the UK

Jersey Mike’s, the second-largest sub-sandwich brand in the US behind Subway, has signed a franchise agreement with JM Submarines UK, led by the brand’s founder Peter Cancro, to open 400 sites in the UK and Ireland. Cancro founded Jersey Mike’s, which currently operates 3,200 sites in North America, more than 50 years ago and remains a significant shareholder following the company’s sale to Blackstone in late 2024.

12 January 2026

Eatphoria

Exclusive – multi-brand restaurant group Eatphoria eyeing UK-wide estate of 100 sites through hybrid model following multi-million-pound investment

Multi-brand restaurant group Eatphoria has told Propel it is planning to expand to 100 sites across the UK through its hybrid model following a multi-million-pound investment. The company started in 2014 as Wraps & Wings and has grown to five physical locations and more than 40 virtual ones.

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January 20th 2026

Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit

The European Summit will focus on marcomms strategies, proposition and concept development, the latest market insights, technology and digital developments, diversification of revenue streams and how brands are adapting to the new normal.

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