Story of the Day - 14 July 2025
Caledonian Heritable founder backs new London pub venture Aldrich Inns
Kevin Doyle – founder of Scottish pub, hotel and leisure operator Caledonian Heritable – is backing Aldrich Inns, the fledgling, London-based pub business, Propel has learned. Doyle’s Caledonian Heritable is understood to be the main shareholder in Aldrich Inns, which was founded and is led by Callum Murphy and Will St John.
Propel Exclusive Report
Propel's International Brands Report is available now
Propel’s highly anticipated 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 guide will be delivered in two formats: an introductory PDF featuring expert analysis on international brands and a fully searchable Excel sheet for quick access to key data. This data will be categorised into the key sectors of pubs and bars, hotels, quick-service restaurants (QSR), casual dining, cafés and bakeries, experiential leisure, and fine dining.
Industry experts sharing their insights in the report include Keith Bird, former CEO of Marugame Udon, on the challenges of introducing an international brand into the UK; Simon Chaplin, senior director of pubs, restaurants and franchise at Christie & Co, on why London remains a prime entry point for international brands; Matteo Frigeri, founder of Seeds Consulting, on the challenges of recruiting the right UK franchisee; Michael Ingemann, director of THINK Hospitality, on why European brands choose the UK for expansion; Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vanifatova on the UK market for quick-service restaurant operators; and AlixPartners highlights five key trends that make the UK attractive to international brands.
Get the report
Propel’s International Brands report is available now for £595 plus vat. Premium Club members receive the report for free.
Order The International Report today by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com
14 July 2025
Honest Burgers promotes Matt Brandon to CEO as Kevin Styles joins The Pig
Honest Burgers, the Active Partners-backed business, has named chief financial officer Matt Brandon as its new chief executive. Brandon replaces Kevin Styles, who has left after six months to join The Pig Group.
14 July 2025
Darwin & Wallace – slowly beginning to see the benefits of new group structure, exits Ealing and Battersea sites
London neighbourhood bar-restaurant business Darwin & Wallace, which was acquired by Portobello Starboard in spring last year, has said it is “slowly beginning to see the benefits of the new group structure” and revealed it has exited its sites in Ealing and at Battersea Power Station. Turnover for the 70-week period to 30 September 2024 was £20,690,436 (52 weeks to 28 May 2023: £17,844,912), while it posted a pre-tax loss of £11,321,619 (2023: loss of £1,911,425).
14 July 2025
Bread Holdings MD steps down to join Bells of Lazonby
Rob Keeping, managing director of the Tom Molnar-founded Bread Holdings – the wholesale sister business of the fast-growing bakery brand Gail’s – has stepped down to take up a new role in the bakery sector. Keeping is to join family bakery business Bells of Lazonby as its new managing director later this year.
14 July 2025
Wagamama hires Suk Singh as chief development officer for US operation
Wagamama, The Restaurant Group (TRG)-owned brand, has hired Suk Singh as chief development officer of its US operation. With more than 25 years of executive experience focusing on real estate, asset management, revenue diversification, franchising and concept design and at some of the world’s largest restaurant groups, Wagamama said Singh will lead its expansion strategy in the US, overseeing growth, partner engagement and operational excellence.
14 July 2025
Labour’s ‘ludicrous’ state-funded restaurants plan sparks backlash
Labour’s plan to launch state-funded restaurants has sparked a backlash from hospitality chiefs who have branded the move “anti-business”. Hugh Osmond (pictured), the serial restaurant entrepreneur who co-founded PizzaExpress, said plans for government-backed Second World War-style diners were a “ludicrous idea”, arguing the restaurants would “cost a lot of money, provide absolutely terrible food and, in the end, fail”.
14 July 2025
Sir Tim Martin – 'widening of the selling price between pubs and supermarkets will inevitably precipitate pub closures and dereliction'
Sir Tim Martin (pictured), founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon, has said the widening of the “selling price between pubs and supermarkets will inevitably precipitate pub closures and dereliction”. In a wide-ranging piece on the current state of the UK’s pubs sector and the impact of last October’s Budget in The Telegraph, Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said the woes of the pub sector should worry the chancellor Rachel Reeves.
14 July 2025
Fitness First hires Marc Diaper as CEO
Fitness First, which operates 27 gyms across the UK, has hired Marc Diaper as its new chief executive. Diaper was most recently chief executive of Gymbox for eight years.
14 July 2025
Largest bakery and cafe brand in Israel set to open two more UK sites for its luxury pastry concept
Roladin, the largest bakery and cafe brand in Israel, is set to open two more UK sites for its luxury pastry concept, Donutelier. 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.
14 July 2025
Mugshot Restaurants set to appoint administrators
Mugshot Restaurants, which operates two sites in Bristol and Cardiff, has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators. Adam Bryan and Zowie Yip launched the Mugshot concept in Bristol’s St Nicholas Street in 2018, specialising in unusual and creative cuts of meat.
14 July 2025
Former The Apprentice star opens second site and first delivery kitchen for ‘fusion pizza’ concept, aiming for London-wide coverage
Former The Apprentice star Anisa Khan has opened a second site and first delivery kitchen for her “fusion pizza” concept Bombay Pizza and said she is aiming for London-wide coverage. Khan, who was the losing finalist in this year’s The Apprentice, launched Bombay Pizza earlier this year at 145 Stafford Road in Wallington, south London, offering handcrafted pizzas with an Indian twist.
11 July 2025
UKHospitality launches #TaxedOut campaign with three key asks of government ahead of next Budget
UKHospitality has launched a #TaxedOut campaign, with three key asks of the government ahead of its next Budget. Firstly, the trade body is asking Downing Street to revive the UK’s high streets by implementing the maximum discount for hospitality businesses with a rateable value under £500,000 and exempting larger properties from the planned surcharge.
11 July 2025
The Wolseley Hospitality Group owner reveals four new hotel brands including The Wolseley Hotels
Minor Hotels, the owner of The Wolseley Hospitality Group, has announced the strategic expansion of its brand portfolio with the addition of four new hotel brands, including the group’s first soft brands. The global hotel owner and operator, with more than 560 properties across 57 countries, said the new brands will support the company’s continued growth by enabling it to expand into new markets and provide “distinctive hospitality offerings across the luxury, premium and select segments”.
July 2025 ~ Premium Club
Propel Premium Club members can access more than 100 videos from Propel’s market-leading conferences. These include Propel’s Multi Club Conference – Female leaders and entrepreneurs, available now, featuring speakers such as Carol Campbell, managing director of Stonegate Group, Panel – managing directors: Christobell Giles, managing director of Vagabond Wines, Joycelyn Neve, managing director of Seafood Pub Company, Marta Pogroszewska, managing director of Gail’s Bakery, and Suzie Welch, managing director of Odeon, Kate Eastwood, managing director of Lounges, and Lucy Knowles, managing director of Cosy Club, Panel – EDI: Amanda Hamilton, chief information officer at Pret A Manger, Lorraine Copes, founder and chief executive of Be Inclusive Hospitality, and Susan Martindale, group HR director of Mitchells & Butlers discuss the future of EDI in hospitality. Ellen Chew, the celebrated UK-based Singaporean restaurateur, Zoe Bowley, managing director of Greene King Pubs, Panel – founders: Bex Wilkins, co-founder of Makers of Hospitality, Eccie Newton, founder of Karma Kitchen, Laura Filer, co-founder of Family Adventures Group, and Prue Freeman, director of Daisy Green. Thomasina Miers, cook, food writer, entrepreneur and co-founder of Wahaca. Kerb membership manager Jess Warden talks to Banzai Kitchen founder Ocean Lawrence, Mezzo founder Alice Di Chiara, and Little Pudding owner Lucie Lockhart. Panel – mentoring: Claire Morris, chief executive of Sodexo Live! UK & Ireland, Dawn Browne, people and talent director at Fuller’s, and Sarah Hills, managing director of Rosa’s Thai, discuss how to be a great mentor – and mentee. In 2002, Vanessa Branson talks about how El Fenn – a trademark blend of cool and a distinct feeling of home-away-from-home. Also available is the Excellence in Pub and Bar Retailing Conference, available to Premium Club members,
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.
July 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.
July 2025 ~ Premium Club
Premium Club Opinion provides weekly insights from industry leaders. In this current edition, Mark Wingett, Propel’s group editor, talks to Ben Fordham, founder of Benito’s Hat and now a Texas-based hospitality consultant. They take a look at the issues surrounding tipping across the pond, and how the quest to make hospitality a secure and reliable career path in the US remains a very challenging one. Ben told Mark, after seven years running restaurants in the U.S., I’ve found that while core hospitality operations remain universal, managing people differs greatly. U.S. workers face weaker protections, minimal benefits, and a tipping system that distorts employer-employee dynamics. With sub-minimum wages and customer-driven pay, fairness and consistency are hard to achieve. Various pay models aim for sustainability, but inequity remains—especially between front and back of house. Until tipping’s dominance is addressed, building a secure, equitable hospitality career in the U.S. will stay difficult. Meanwhile, sector consultant Flo Graham-Dixon, founder of Juniper Strategy, asks whether investors are missing a trick in hospitality, and says there is a ‘quiet wave of smart money’ moving in on sector opportunities. She says that despite negative headlines, smart investors are quietly backing resilient hospitality brands. While some private equity firms have exited, new capital is flowing into scalable, innovative concepts like Mowgli, Pho, and Gail’s. Operator-investors and trade buyers are driving thoughtful, long-term strategies. Crowdfunding helps smaller brands, though it’s not a fix-all. The best deals today may be smaller or regional, but they offer real potential—and are already attracting sharp money.
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.
July 2025 ~ Premium Club
Mark Wingett’s Premium Club Diary delivers insider sector gossip every week to Premium Club members. In this current edition, Big Mamma Group, supported by private equity firm McWin, will open its first Irish restaurant, Gloria, in Dublin by year’s end. Situated on Westmoreland Street, the 180-seat venue will reflect the style of 1970s Italian osterias. This follows the recent launch of Barbarella in Canary Wharf and plans to expand into Dubai. In the pub sector, Aldrich Inns has acquired its third London site of 2025: The Bull and The Egret in Covent Garden. Led by Callum Murphy and Will St John, the group focuses on restoring heritage pubs. It has also secured investment and strategic backing from Kevin Doyle, founder of Caledonian Heritable. In the bakery world, Rob Keeping is stepping down as managing director of Bread Holdings, where he significantly boosted northern revenue and aided the expansion of Gail’s. Later this year, he will take up the role of managing director at Bells of Lazonby. Meanwhile, chef Stevie Parle has returned to the dining scene with the opening of Town on Drury Lane—his first venture since the pandemic. Created with Jonathan Downey, the restaurant has earned early acclaim. The team is now fundraising for a basement lounge and preparing to open a second site in Fitzrovia.
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.
11 July 2025
Vue – 2025 has started ‘very strongly’ and similar start to 2026 expected as effects of Hollywood strikes wind down, reports rise in revenue and profit
Cinema group Vue has said its 2025 financial year has started “very strongly” and that a similar start to 2026 is expected, as the effects of the 2023 Hollywood strikes wind down. Director Narinder Shergill, writing in the company’s accounts for the year to 30 November 2024, said: “FY25 has started very strongly, with key titles including Wicked, Moana 2, Mufasa: The Lion King, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy all driving significant admissions.
11 July 2025
Chestnut Group creates two new leadership roles to support its ‘ambitious’ expansion plans
East Anglian pub company Chestnut Group has created two new leadership roles, which it said will be pivotal in driving forward its ambitious three-year expansion plan. The group, which owns and manages 22 pubs with rooms and hotels across the east of England, has promoted Henry Fairbanks to director of acquisitions and wholesale, and hired Ollie Trezise to lead its operations.
11 July 2025
Badiani launches crowdfunding campaign to support future expansion
Italian gelato brand Badiani – which has 14 UK sites as well as six in Spain, four in Italy and one in France – has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help support its future expansion. The campaign, on Crowdcube, has so far raised circa £38,000.
11 July 2025
Middle Eastern-inspired ice cream parlour concept launches franchise programme
Middle Eastern-inspired ice cream parlour concept Darlish has launched a franchise programme. Laura Dawson, who is half-Iranian and half-Indian, founded Darlish in 2018 as she couldn’t find anywhere serving the flavours she craved, such as saffron, rose and pistachio.
11 July 2025
Sqew co-founder – we hope to have two more sites by the end of next year
Craig Bell, the co-founder of kebab concept, Sqew, has told Propel that the business hopes to have two more sites secured by the end of next year as it looks to up its expansion plans. Bell, who is Vaulkhard Group’s financial director, founded Sqew in 2019 with Mitch Renshaw.
11 July 2025
Restaurant Associates secures new ten-year contract with Bristol City Council
Restaurant Associates, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has secured a new ten-year contract with Bristol City Council to oversee its catering and hospitality operations. The deal will see Restaurant Associates Venues retain its existing presence at M Shed and Bristol Museum & Art Gallery while expanding into new locations, including City Hall, Central Library, Create Centre and a collection of eight park café outlets across the city.
10 July 2025
Market Halls reports record venue sales and Ebitda, ‘actively pursuing expansion opportunities via new builds and purchasing existing food halls’
Market Halls, the London food market hall operator, has reported record venue sales and Ebitda for the year to 30 June 2024 and said it is “actively pursuing expansion opportunities via new builds and purchasing existing food halls”. The company reported revenue of £14,262,555 for the year, up from £11,908,292 in 2023.
10 July 2025
Founders of Neapolitan pizza concept Santa Maria planning to launch new experience-led venture
Pasquale Chionchio and Angelo Ambrosio, founders of Neapolitan pizza concept Santa Maria, are planning to launch a new experience-led concept, Propel has learned. The duo told Propel: “For 2025, our plan is to refurbish our branch in Ealing, west London, throughout August, and focus on our next project, which is to launch a new concept, which will be not solely food based”.
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.
Never Miss a Story
Subscription Plans
Standard
- Receive the Morning Briefing newsletter
- 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
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
- 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 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
- 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
September 4th 2025
Propel Multi Club - Moving ahead with evolved thinking
Operators can claim up to two free places for The Propel Multi Club summer conference and party that takes place on Thursday 4 September, Oxford Belfry. Operators whom are Premium subscribers can claim up to four free places. This year sees the usual fantastic conference with the addition of great entertainment throughout the evening. The conference and party places are free (bedrooms have a cost attached). Book by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com
October 9th 2025
Culture, Talent & Training Conference
This all-day conference at One Moorgate Place in London and is open for bookings. The conference will showcase examples of outstanding people culture among companies within the sector and how the industry is attracting talent. Attendees will hear how businesses are developing their teams, dealing with talent shortages and keeping their staff energised.
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.