


PREMIUM CLUB
Operators: £495 + VAT per year
Suppliers: £595 + VAT per year
Unlimited: £995 + VAT per year
Story of the Day - 23 April 2026
Exclusive – Starbucks EMEA promotes Darren King to UK managing director
Starbucks EMEA has promoted Darren King to UK managing director, effective from Monday, 18 May, Propel has learned. King currently leads store development for Starbucks UK and oversees the company’s licensing business in the market.



Tickets are £345+VAT for operators, £395+VAT for suppliers. 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club members.
Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to book.
Propel multi club conference videos from march 2026

All the videos from our latest Propel Multi Club Conference – New directions in a period of strong headwinds, available for subscribers to watch for £195+VAT.
Email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com for access.
To access all the 100 plus videos from Propel conferences & webinars, email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to sign up for Premium.
A subscription to Premium costs £495 plus VAT for operators, £595 plus VAT for suppliers, £995 plus VAT for unlimited staff access, and £1,995 plus VAT for Premium Unlimited Plus, which includes: Unlimited staff access, four free places to Propel’s paid events and one free sponsored message, or situation vacant notice during the year on the newsletter.
Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing Conference

One Moorgate Place, London EC2R 6EA ~ Tuesday 19th May 2026
9.00am – 10.00am: Registration and coffee
10.00am – 10.30am: Craig Rachel, director at leading advisory firm AlixPartners, examines how consumer and structural trends are influencing the outlook for pub and bar prospects and deals, and discusses transactions and asset values in the market.
10.30am – 11.00am: Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI/Reward, talks about the areas where the pub sector is and has been performing strongly and where the opportunities are for the sector to drive growth.
11.00am – 11.20am: Jamie Allsopp, the founder of Allsopp’s Taverns and former City fund manager, discusses why he opted for a career change during the pandemic, swapping hedge funds for reviving his family’s old beer brand, Allsopp’s Ale, and then launching a pub venture.
11.20am – 11.40am: Bex Wilkins, co-founder of Makers of Hospitality, talks about leaving her role as marketing director to start her own pub company with wife Sarah, launching an award-winning debut site, opening a second site, and looking at further growth opportunities.
11.40am – 12.00pm: Dominic Jacobs, founder and managing director of Ardent Pub Group, formerly JKS Pubs, discusses securing new investment, expanding in the capital, and how the new generation of pub operators coming through are standing out.
12.00pm – 1.00pm: Lunch
1.00pm – 1.25pm: David McDowall, chief executive of Stonegate Group, talks about the continued evolution of the UK’s largest pub company, as it looks to become a “partnership-led pub portfolio”.
1.25pm – 1.50pm Kevin Charity, founder of the Coaching Inn Group, talks to Propel’s Mark Wingett about his life in the sector, growing Coaching Inn Group into a 36-strong group with more than 1,000 rooms, to this year being named hotel group of the year, how the business balances F&B and accommodation, and his take on the wider industry.
1.50pm – 2.15pm: Anglian Country Inns managing director James Nye discusses how the award-winning operator rises to the challenge of being a seasonal business, and how it looks to diversify its model including the opening of its first bakery.
2.15pm – 2.45pm: Coffee Break
2.45pm – 3.05pm: Amber Taverns chairman James Baer talks about how the wet-led community pub group is bucking the market, providing value and entertainment as a low-price point and its progress on becoming a nationwide operator.
3.05pm – 3.25pm: Louise Maclean, business development director at Signature Pub Group, discusses the growth strategy for the 24-strong, Edinburgh-based business, as it looks to further expand in Scotland and further afield.
3.25pm – 3.45pm: Ian Dunstall, director at Upham Inns, talks about the southern England premium pubs operator’s evolution, the success of its Harpers Steakhouse concept in suburban locations, and the integration of the 14 ex-Oakman Group sites.
3.45pm – 4.15pm: Panel – prospering in the pub and bar trade – Oisin Rogers, co-founder of The Devonshire, Richard Colclough, co-founder of Parogon Group, Susan Chappell, divisional director at Mitchells & Butlers, and Ted Kennedy, chairman of Coral Pub Company, discuss building momentum and sales in a challenging market.
4.15pm – 4.45pm: Sir Tim Martin, founder of JD Wetherspoon, discusses the group’s move into franchising and handing his brand over to other operators, its international expansion plans and maintaining its value-led proposition in a hostile cost environment.

Propel Exclusive Report
Propel's 500 Report is available now

Propel 500 is back for the second year. It brings 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 provides critical insights into the companies leading the charge in hospitality, including turnover, number of sites, key staff, and more.
The 45,000-word report also includes exclusive analysis providing a full understanding of the market’s dynamics, as the top companies in the sector shift position after a challenging year. Mark Wingett reviews the mergers and acquisitions changing the shape of the Top 500 as size increasingly matters. Katherine Doggrell examines the key developments in UK hotels and looks 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, looks at emerging growth sectors, and Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vanifatova analyses the latest trends in the quick service restaurant market.
Get the report
Propel’s 500 Report is available to Premium Club members for free.
To sign up to Premium Club email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com
22 April 2026

Young’s reports 4.7% like-for-like sales increase
22 April 2026

Better burger business aiming for 30 UK sites by end of 2026, licensing underway in three international markets
22 April 2026

North of England operator Shiko Group gearing up for national expansion, London a priority target
22 April 2026

Parent company of Spaghetti House set for restructure
22 April 2026

Coppa Collective adds site in London’s Marylebone to estate, Nick Francis steps down as commercial director
22 April 2026

Allpress UK MD – café sites ‘trading well’, ‘wholesale business seeing exciting growth in Scotland and south west of England’
22 April 2026

Sides closes two sites after strategic review, four openings lined up
22 April 2026

Domino’s reports encouraging start to the year
22 April 2026

London-based international hotel and spa operator falls to loss
22 April 2026

London smoothie bar concept secures Selfridges concession for second site
22 April 2026

Ottolenghi to make Scottish debut with Edinburgh opening
22 April 2026

UKHospitality warns of price rises as sector hit by inflation surge
22 April 2026

McDonald’s UK CEO – ‘we will likely see some prices go up but in a small, disciplined way’, drawn a line under allegations of abuse
22 April 2026

SpudBros Express launches breakfast menu, set to expand its travel hub estate
22 April 2026

The Hippodrome Casino chairman – ‘it’s time London had a casino quarter’
22 April 2026

Camm & Hooper owner partners with Smart Group for catering joint venture
22 April 2026

Boutique hotel business Dakota lines up second Edinburgh site
22 April 2026

Six by Nico to rollout new concept Lennox
22 April 2026

Saudi Arabian shawarma brand seeking UK entry
22 April 2026

Doner Shack opens new small-format site in Glasgow, sets out UK and international pipeline
April 2026 ~ Premium Club

Premium Club readers have received all the videos from Restaurant Marketer and Innovator.
Propel Premium Club members have access to the entire recording of the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Conference.
Members are now able to access all the videos of the event.
Premium Club subscribers also receive videos from all of our conferencess, including the paid for events:
- Four Propel Multi Club conferences
- Excellence in Pub & Bar Retailing
TO LINK TO THE FULL SCHEDULE CLICK HERE - Operational Excellence
- Culture, Talent & Training
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.
April 2026 ~ Premium Club

Propel 500 is back for the second year. It brings 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 provides critical insights into the companies leading the charge in hospitality, including turnover, number of sites, key staff, and more. The 45,000-word report also includes 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 reviews the mergers and acquisitions changing the shape of the Top 500 as size increasingly matters.
Katherine Doggrell examines 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, looks at emerging growth sectors, and Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vantifatova will analyse the latest trends in the quick service restaurant market.
Premium Club members receive the report for free.
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.
April 2026 ~ Premium Club

Premium Club Opinion provides weekly insights from industry leaders. In this current edition, Propel chief operating officer – editorial, Mark Wingett, looks at the impact of the £1.4bn deal for Richard Caring’s restaurants and clubs empire. The sale of his hospitality empire to Diafa stunned the industry, highlighting the premium placed on powerful lifestyle brands despite sector struggles. While signalling global confidence and expansion potential, the deal is an outlier, reflecting elite brand value rather than wider market conditions, and underscoring a growing divide between high-end experiential dining and the broader, margin-pressured hospitality sector. Also, Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, explains how the next wave of consumers will reshape the sector. Gen Z isn’t retreating from nightlife; a new cohort is driving its revival with energy and demand for immersive, meaningful experiences. They create their own scenes, value safety, inclusivity and sustainability, and expect authenticity. This complex, experience-hungry generation will reshape and accelerate the night-time economy’s future. Lastly, AlixPartners’ Graeme Smith and Craig Rachel assess the investor landscape following the Middle East conflict. They argue that investor focus is shifting from tech to real-world sectors like hospitality, seen as resilient to AI. Despite geopolitical risks, inflation concerns and cautious trading, strong lender support, consumer demand for experiences and renewed capital flows are supporting growth, deal activity and a more positive outlook for 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.
April 2026 ~ Premium Club

Mark Wingett’s Premium Club Diary delivers insider sector gossip every week to Premium Club members. In this week’s edition, high-profile deal activity is reshaping parts of the food and hospitality sector. In the US, major pizza chains Papa John’s and Pizza Hut are both in talks with potential buyers that could see them delist from the New York Stock Exchange. Papa John’s has received a $47-per-share offer from Qatari-backed Irth Capital, supported by Brookfield Asset Management, with negotiations ongoing and a possible agreement expected around early May. Meanwhile, Yum! Brands, Pizza Hut’s owner, has invited bids from firms including Sycamore Partners and Apollo Global Management. Both brands are under pressure to improve performance and plan to close hundreds of outlets. In the UK, Cornish Bakery’s earlier sale process stalled due to valuation disagreements despite strong interest from private equity and trade buyers such as Gail’s. The company, now around 75 sites, may instead pursue a minority investment while continuing expansion ambitions. Elsewhere, Wasabi is considering a return to Manchester, while sandwich brand Mondo Sando has opened a second permanent site in Deptford and is experimenting with a scalable grab-and-go format. In Scotland, billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen has proposed a major redevelopment of the historic Dores Inn near Loch Ness, including new hospitality and leisure facilities.
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.
22 April 2026

Tomahawk Steakhouse founders to part ways as Tom Sturman launches new concept
22 April 2026

Individual Restaurants relaunches loyalty platform
22 April 2026

Yard Sale Pizza hires Sophie Abrahamovitch as growth director
22 April 2026

West Midlands Safari Park reports record turnover of £27.5m
22 April 2026

Scottish pubs and hotels ‘routinely valued significantly higher’ for business rates than in England
22 April 2026

McDonald’s launches ‘UK’s largest in-person work experience programme’, offering 2,500 paid placements
22 April 2026

Tenzo secures $5m Series A extension as it looks to scale operations
22 April 2026

Creams moves to trademark ‘Froffle Toast’ creation as Brits develop taste for mashup dishes

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
Promotional Content

22 April 2025
Unlock the Power of Change: Download McCain's Impact Report Today!
McCain’s Streets Ahead Programme, powered by KERB, is transforming the UK street food scene by empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs, particularly those facing barriers to entering the hospitality industry.

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.
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Supplier: £595 + VAT / per year
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- Receive the International Brands Report
- Receive the 500 Report
- 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
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- Receive the Morning Briefing newsletter 11 hours early at 7pm each evening
- Receive Breaking News
- Exclusive access to 100 videos from Propel conferences & webinars
- In Conversation podcast series with industry leaders
- Receive the International Brands Report
- Receive the 500 Report
- 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
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- Four free tickets to Propel's paid-for conferences
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- 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
- In Conversation podcast series with industry leaders
- Receive the International Brands Report
- Receive the 500 Report
- 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
May 19th 2026
Excellence in Pub and Bar Retailing Conference
One Moorgate Place, London EC2R 6EA
Tickets are £345+VAT for operators, £395+VAT for suppliers. 20% discount for operators and suppliers who are Premium Club members.
To book places email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com
June 4th 2026
Propel Multi Club – Female leaders and entrepreneurs
Park Plaza, Victoria, London SW1V 1EQ
Operators of multi-site hospitality companies can book three free places each, or operators who are Premium subscribers can claim up to four free places.
To book places email: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com