01/09/2021
EG Group to open 10 new Leon restaurants this year
EG Group, who bought Leon earlier this year in April, has said it plans to open a further 10 sites under the brand this year. Leon's expansion will include the opening of its first drive-through restaurant in West Yorkshire this autumn reports The Caterer. The healthy fast food brand trades from more than 70 restaurants and EG Group are aiming to open around 20 new sites per year from 2022, including multiple drive-through locations.
Star Pubs and Bars reveals £38m investment programme
Heineken's UK Star Pubs and Bars estate is set for a £38m boost as it seeks to transform its portfolio following the easing of lockdown restrictions. Around 700 pubs - almost a third of the sites in its estate - are poised to benefit from the investment pledge, which will also create around 500 jobs reports Business Live. Nearly 80 pubs will be completely transformed with major makeovers costing between £125,000 and £400,000 each as part of the project, which brings Heineken UK's total investment in its estate since January 2020 to £73m.
Hospitality businesses urged to call on Government to make VAT cut permanent
Hospitality businesses are being urged to call on the Government to make a reduced rate of VAT for hospitality businesses permanent reports Big Hospitality. Trade body UKHospitality is calling on businesses to lobby their MPs to call for the cuts - which it says will be a lifeline for the hospitality sector.
Hawthorn launches Proper Pubs platform
Community pub group Hawthorn has launched an operator managed platform called Proper Pubs reports London News Today. Run by director of managed operations, Mark Brooke, the new platform will represent about 20% of Hawthorn's estate. Proper Pubs are described as being wet-led community pubs that are "focused on providing a great range of drinks at good value prices, with entertainment offerings for the whole community". The move follows Admiral Taverns' acquisition of Hawthorn for £222.3m last week.
Supply chain issues continue as calls made for 12-month Covid Recovery Visa
Pubs are set to face further issues with the supply chain and food and drink deliveries as the crisis over delivery drivers and staffing shortages continues. A new cross industry report from the UK food and drink sector is calling for a 12 month Covid-19 Recovery visa to help alleviate the workforce shortages that are causing disruption across the whole of the supply chain advises the Morning Advertiser. The visa would enable all involved throughout the supply chain to recruit critical roles, such as HGV drivers, as a short-term response to labour shortages.
And Finally...
A group of avocado-themed restaurants will finally launch in Britain next month after a successful pop-up in London two years ago advises iNews. The Avocado Show, founded in the Netherlands in 2017, is set to open their first site in central London in September and has signed an agreement to launch two more in the capital soon.