Loungers revenues rose 24.7% to £353.5m during FY24. During the year to 21 April, the group’s sales performance was accompanied by “disciplined management of costs” and a continued easing of inflationary cost pressures. Loungers also opened 36 new sites, a record number compared to the 29 opened in FY23.  At-home sales for the top managed restaurant groups were “virtually flat” in March, according to CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker. This was a 10th consecutive month of year-on-year growth, but down on the figures of 4% and 3% in January and February 2024, respectively. Del ..read more

Heavenly Desserts has announced that it is set to open its latest restaurant in Milton Keynes on Saturday 27 April. Located at the MK1 Shopping and Leisure Park, the new restaurant has a capacity for 76 guests spread over two floors. Owned by Javid and Surhya Rana from the local Milton Keynes community, the restaurant will be serving the brand’s signature menu. The retail park also offers free parking for four hours outside the restaurant and sits just opposite Stadium MK. Yousif Aslam, managing director of Heavenly Desserts, said: “We are delighted to be opening our third restaurant of 2024 i ..read more

Loungers revenues were up 24.7% to £353.5m during the 53 weeks ended 21 April 2024. Excluding the benefit of the 53rd week total sales were up 22.2%. This sales performance reflects both continuing “strong” like-for-like sales growth (7.5% across the 53 weeks) and the ongoing success of the operator’s new site opening programme. The strength of its sales performance has been accompanied by “disciplined management of costs” and a continued easing of inflationary cost pressures. The operator now expects EBITDA for FY24 to be ahead of market expectations.  During FY24 the group opened 36 new ..read more

At-home sales for the top managed restaurant groups were “virtually flat” year-on-year in March, according to CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker. During the last month, like-for-like sales of deliveries and takeaways were just 0.8% ahead of March 2023.   According to CGA, this was a 10th consecutive month of year-on-year growth, but down on the figures of 4% and 3% in January and February 2024, respectively.  However, the rate is also well below the separate CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, which reported like-for-like sales growth of 5.2% for managed restauran ..read more

The Institute of Hospitality (IoH) has appointed Martin Traynor OBE FIH, the retiring small business crown representative at the UK government’s cabinet office, to its board of trustees as a non-executive director. The appointment comes as a direct result of feedback from His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council that the work of the institute is not widely known across the government and for its Chartered Status application. As an advisor to the government, Traynor will utilise his experience and existing UK government network to help the institute deliver this request and help it progress ..read more

Rupert Thompson has agreed an investment deal with London craft brewer Mondo, which secures the future of the Mondo brands, as well as its brewery and taproom in Battersea. Following a pre-pack administration, the deal will see brewing continue at Mondo’s Battersea site.  Searcys has announced a new partnership with 22 Bishopsgate, which will see the catering group manage and host corporate and private evening events at Horizon 22. Located on Level 58 of the City of London’s tallest building, Horizon 22 is the highest free public viewing gallery in Europe.  Proper Pubs has reopened t ..read more

Proper Pubs has announced that the Hare and Hounds pub in Nuneaton has reopened after a £286,000 refurbishment. Inside the pub features brand new furniture, fixtures, fittings and flooring and two separate trading areas. One half is a lounge for intimate gatherings with family and friends and the other half is a sports room to the rear of the pub complete with a darts board and pool table. Outside, the pub boasts new lighting and signage to greet customers as well as a garden that hosts benches and festoon lighting to enjoy during the summer months. Going forward the operator is looking forwar ..read more

Steak-house and late night bar Pasture is set to open the doors of its first Birmingham restaurant on 27 May. Pasture restaurants are known for their fire-based cooking and local ingredients. With existing restaurants in Bristol and Cardiff, Pasture Birmingham will soon occupy 6,500 sq ft across one floor of the former Barclays Bank building at Fifteen Colmore Row. The new venture is creating around 100 new local jobs. Pasture’s in-house butchers handpick and prepare the “very best” meat from farms in the south west. Sam Elliott is the 36-year-old chef-owner behind a growing portfolio of resta ..read more

Searcys has announced a new partnership with 22 Bishopsgate, which will see the catering group manage and host corporate and private evening events at Horizon 22. Horizon 22 is anticipated to become one of London’s “most exclusive” private events locations, as it launches its private hire experiences that will be delivered by Searcys. Located on Level 58 of the City of London’s tallest building, 22 Bishopsgate, Horizon 22 is the highest free public viewing gallery in Europe and offers views of London from 833 ft above ground.  22 Bishopsgate is a 62-storey smart building with a vision to ..read more

B-Corp certified corporate catering business Foodles has partnered with ReFood to eliminate unavoidable food waste generated across its national operations, as part of a strategic drive to further enhance its sustainability credentials. The agreement will see the surplus meals collected from Foodles’ smart fridges across London sent to ReFood’s anaerobic digestion (AD) facility in Dagenham and used to generate both renewable energy and bio fertiliser. According to Foodles, this partnership with ReFood unlocks new circular solutions which both benefit the environment and have the ability to sca ..read more