10/09/2018
Fleurets bids farewell to Chairman, Martin Willis
The Directors of Fleurets have announced that Chairman, Martin Willis, will be retiring at the end of September. Martin has been with the firm for thirty-four years; and we are sure you will join us in wishing him well for his retirement.
Coca Cola is purchasing Costa Coffee
As reported by The Caterer, Costa Coffee is being sold by Whitbread to Coca Cola in a deal valued at £3.9bn, which is 6.4 times Costa's EBITDA for 2018's financial year. This transaction marks Coca Cola's first venture into the hot drinks market.
Pizza Pilgrims to open two more London restaurants
Pizza Pilgrims has announced the planned openings of two central London sites, scheduled for this autumn. The first site is situated in the City's square mile, next to Tower 42, and the 135-cover restaurant will open on the 1st October. The second site will have 104 covers and is planned for the arches of London Bridge, and is anticipated to open in November. These two autumn openings will take Pizza Pilgrim's total estate to nine sites, according to The Caterer, 8 of which are based within the M25 and the last in Oxford.
Brunning & Price acquire Food & Fuel
Food & Fuel, the operator of 11 gastropubs in London, has been acquired by Brunning & Price, part of The Restaurant Group, who operate an estate of 64 gastropubs, mostly in rural locations. The Morning Advertiser reports that Brunning & Price paid £14.91m, £15.4m after liabilities and working capital. Following the sale, Food & Fuel founders Peter Myers, Jo Cumming and Karen Jones will continue to operate and expand their joint venture with Ei Group, Frontier.
Popworld announces expansion
Stonegate Pub Company club chain Popworld has announced plans to expand to 35 sites before the end of 2018, adding seven sites as well as opening its first venue in London. Following a £280,000 investment, the St Paul's site, which opens on 7th September, will mark the brand's 27th unit. The Morning Advertiser continues that Popworld opened in Manchester on 24th August, and additional venues are planned for Leeds, Norwich, Morecambe and Hartlepool.
And Finally...
Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group has opened its third boutique hotel, Southport's The Lord Street Hotel. The 27-bedroom hotel was converted from a former nightclub and derelict building. According to Boutique Hotelier, Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group also own Punch Tarney's Irish pubs in Southport and St Helens as well as the Bold Hotel and the Eccleston Arms.