Story of the Day - 12 February 2026
Maki & Ramen – we’ve had investment approaches but focused on organic growth for now
Michael Salvador, chief operating officer of Japanese restaurant concept Maki & Ramen, has told Propel that the fast-growing business has received investment approaches, but at present it is focused on expanding organically. The 17-strong business will open a franchise site on the former Chopstix unit in Peninsula Square at The O2 next Tuesday (17 February).
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Propel Exclusive Report
Propel's Experiential Leisure 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.
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Propel’s 500 Report is available to Premium Club members for free.
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12 February 2026
Exclusive – JD Wetherspoon plans to invest £2.5m on new West End pub
JD Wetherspoon has told Propel it plans to invest £2.5m on opening a new pub in London’s West End. The company has applied to open on the former Coyote Ugly site in Shaftesbury Avenue, which closed last year and had a capacity of 350.
12 February 2026
McDonald’s UK&I reports 8.5% comparable sales growth in fourth quarter and more than 10% marketplace sales growth, including record-breaking Black Friday weekend
McDonald’s UK&I has reports 8.5% comparable sales growth in the fourth quarter of 2025 and more than 10% marketplace sales growth, including a record-breaking Black Friday weekend. The company said it closed 2025 with “one of its strongest quarters in recent years, despite the challenging climate for the wider hospitality sector”.
12 February 2026
Heineken to cut up to 6,000 jobs as beer demand declines
Heineken has announced plans to cut up to 6,000 jobs over the next two years, amounting to about 7% of its global headcount, as it struggles with declining demand for beer and “challenging market conditions”. The company said the job cuts will come from brewery closures and consolidation already under way in Europe, as well as merging smaller markets into “clusters” to eliminate costs and centralising back-office operations.
12 February 2026
Benugo names Stephen Cox as new commercial and finance director
Benugo, the operator of deli cafes and catering in high-profile venues, has named Stephen Cox as its new commercial and finance director. Cox was previously finance director at Caterlink for nine years, and before that spent six years at Benugo’s parent company, WSH Group. He replaces Paul Bowley, who stepped down as Benugo’s finance director at the end of last year after 12 and a half years in the role.
12 February 2026
Alfresco dining to return to London under mayor’s licensing policy
Alfresco dining could return to London this summer after the mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, laid the groundwork for a city-wide licensing policy. This could pave the way for Khan – who is known to want to pedestrianise parts of Soho and other areas of the capital to boost hospitality, nightlife and spending – to make decisions without the 32 boroughs and the City of London, all with different licensing policies, being able to intervene, reports The Times.
12 February 2026
200 Degrees returns to profit and reports record sales
200 Degrees, the Nero Group-owned brand, returned to profit in the 14 months to 31 May 2025 and reported record sales. The 24-strong company, which was acquired by Caffe Nero Group in October 2024, changed its reporting period following the sale.
12 February 2026
Blend Family reveals full line-up for new Birmingham food hall
Blend Family, the team behind Kargo MKT in Salford’s Media City and Tower Bridge Collective in London, has revealed the full line-up at its new food hall in Birmingham. Opening in Digbeth, Alfred Works will see the former Custard Factory site reimagined.
12 February 2026
Hospitality bosses urge government to scrap unfair holiday tax
Leading hospitality and leisure chief executives have called on the government to scrap plans for a visitor levy in England. A letter to chancellor Rachel Reeves that has some 200 signatories from accommodation providers including Butlin’s, Haven, Hilton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Merlin Entertainments, Parkdean Resorts, Travelodge and Whitbread, has warned the proposed holiday tax will “hit families hardest, put jobs at risk and drain money from local businesses and communities”.
12 February 2026
Chancellor misled public on pubs tax raid, says watchdog
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been criticised by a watchdog for misleading the public over her tax raid on pubs. The Telegraph reported that the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) said Reeves “should have been clearer” about the true effect of her tax plans when she claimed they would cut business rates to a 35-year low.
11 February 2026
Neos Hospitality paid £10m for 20 The Revel Collective bars, Peach Pubs sold to Coral Pub Company for £6.5m
Neos Hospitality paid £10m for 20 The Revel Collective bars, while Peach Pubs was sold to Coral Pub Company for £6.5m, an administrators’ report has revealed. Propel reported on 27 January that Coral Pub Company, a new vehicle led by Ted Kennedy, who was previously managing director of Whitbread’s managed pub division and former chairman of Dominion Hospitality, has acquired Peach Pubs, via a pre-pack administration.
11 February 2026
Coca-Cola confirms it will retain ownership of Costa Coffee, UK ‘doing well’
Coca-Cola has confirmed it will retain full ownership of Costa Coffee after a failed attempt to sell the company, but said it was reviewing the brand’s business in China. Last month, it was reported that Coca-Cola had scrapped plans to sell Costa after bids from private equity suitors fell short of its expectations.
11 February 2026
Greene King set to open 30 franchise sites in 2026 including first in Wales as it reaches 100-pub milestone
Brewer and retailer Greene King is set to open 30 franchise sites in 2026, including its first in Wales, as it revealed it has reached the milestone of 100 pubs under the model. The landmark has been hit just over four years after Greene King launched its first franchise concept, Hive Pubs, in late 2021 and almost two years after opening its first Nest Pubs franchise in 2024.
February 2026 ~ Premium Club
Premium Club readers to receive all the videos from Restaurant Marketer and Innovator. Propel Premium Club members are to be given access to the entire recording of the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Conference. Members will be sent the video presentations on Friday, 13 February, at 9am.
James Hacon, managing partner at Think Hospitality.
Maria Vanifatova, chief executive and founder of Meaningful Vision.
Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI.
Sara McKennedy, managing director at Coco di Mama, Éadaoin McDonagh, chief operating officer at White Rabbit Projects, Laura Irving, managing director at JKS Restaurants, and Marcel Khan, chief executive at Fulham Shore.
Romy Miller, chief marketing officer at Knoops.
Pho: Libby Andrews, marketing director at Pho, talks to Charlotte Mair, founder and managing director at The Fitting Room.
Dishoom: In conversation with Fleet Street Communications chief executive Mark Stretton, co-founder Kavi Thakrar.
Alexis Melikov, chief executive of Tigermilk.
Jordan Graham, founder of Sugar Snap, in conversation with Paul Catterson, director at Orto Pizza, Sam Shephard, founder at Juice Jar, andPeter Coleman, co-founder of Seed
Aqua at 25: stories beyond the view: Marie Guenot, marketing director at Aqua Restaurant Group.
Michael Radley, co-founder at Joli, is joined by Hilary Ansell, marketing consultant and interim marketing director at Wasabi, Hester Mitchell, digital marketing manager at Bleecker Burger, and Tom Patrick, marketing director for Banana Tree and Las Iguanas at Big Table Group.
Evie Horsell, head of communications UK & Ireland at Big Mamma Group
Russell Danks, managing director at Laine Pub Co,
Kiran Quinn, group marketing director at RedCat Hospitality
Laura Lewis, marketing director at Arc Inspirations.
David Tester, head of marketing at Franco Manca, is joined by George Lamb, co-founder of Wildfarmed
Five concepts, one vision — Incipio at Olympia: Rory Graham, marketing and brand director at Incipio Group.
Jayson Perfect, chief operating officer at Butcombe.
What’s Next in Hospitality? The 2026 Playbook: James Hacon, Managing Partner at Think Hospitality.
Katy Moses, managing director at KAM.Heleri Rande, partner at Think Hospitality, in conversation with Chris Miller, founder at White Rabbit Projects, Loui Blake, co-founder at Long Lane, and Nicci Clarke, marketing and culinary director UK at Sodexo Live!.
Creative spaces, bold moves: Anthony Knight speaks to Tom Kidd, founder of SetList.
When hospitality meets entertainment. Thinking out of the box: Michelle Farrell, chief growth officer at Boxpark.
The neighbourhood effect: Marshall Dallas, Partner at Think Hospitality, speaks with Ankur Wishart, co-founder at Boxcar, and India Filippidis, head of marketing at Boxcar & The Italian Greyhound.
Madeleine Phillips, marketing director at Various Eateries.
Deborah Jones, senior client success manager at Proinsight, speaks to Michael Farquhar, chief operating officer at ETM Group.
Krishnan Doyle, founder at COREcruitment.
The multi-concept challenge: Markus Thesleff, founder of Thesleff Group.
Dave’s Hot Chicken’s digital activation: Peter Critchley, UK chief executive at Trison, is joined by Keyana Mohammadi, head of marketing at Dave’s Hot Chicken.
Tessa Graham, group brand director at Tashas Group.
Olivia Fitzgerald, managing director at 125 Data & Insights, speaks with Tom James, managing director at Bill’s. Dan Brookman, chief executive and co-founder of Airship & Toggle. Daniel Bennett, global head of behavioural science at Ogilvy Consulting: Originality in the age of AI. Heleri Rande, partner at Think Hospitality, in conversation with Afroditi Krassa, founding director of Afroditi, and Bob Conwell, managing director at Mr Lyan Studio. Digital marketing for growth. Carey Benn, chief executive at Guestwise, in conversation with Naddy Onions, marketing director at Prezzo Italian, James Metcalfe, sales and marketing director at Urban Pubs & Bars, and Ewa Turney, senior product lead at Mitchells & Butlers. Aaron Morgan, head of marketing and Paul Jones, head of IT at The Alchemist. Dojo: Jon Knott, head of data projects at Dojo. Laura Vana, associate partner at Think Hospitality, in conversation with Kat Schofield, sales and marketing director at Permanently Unique Group, Holly Hilton, marketing director at Market Place Food Halls, and Ria Pattni, director of marketing at JKS Restaurants. Laura Vana, associate partner at Think Hospitality, in conversation with Tasos Gaitanos, co-founder at Brother Marcus, Alex Large, co-founder at Brother Marcus, Tommy Giraux, head of restaurant systems at Honest Burgers. Joe Comiskey, digital director at Stonegate Group. Joel Robinson, chief executive at Openr, in conversation with Toby Herbert, head of IT at Hall & Woodhouse, Sara McKennedy, managing director at Coco di Mama, and Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI. Sophie Clarke, UK team lead at Popmenu, in conversation with Charlie Wood-Jones, Co-founder at Cawsburger. Dan Brookman, chief executive at Airship and Toggle. Mark Warburton, founder of Cow & Sow and Alan Armstrong, fractional marketing director.
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.
February 2026 ~ Premium Club
Propel 500 is back for the second year. It will bring 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 will provide critical insights into the companies leading the charge in hospitality, including turnover, number of sites, key staff, and more. The 45,000-word report will also include 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 will review the mergers and acquisitions changing the shape of the Top 500 as size increasingly matters. Katherine Doggrell will examine 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, will look at emerging growth sectors, and Meaningful Vision founder Maria Vantifatova will analyse the latest trends in the quick service restaurant market.
Propel 500 will be released on Friday, 9 January at 9am and is
£595 plus vat.
Existing Premium Club Members can receive it on Friday, 9 January at 9am for
£395 plus vat.
Premium Club members will receive the report for free on Friday, 27 February at 9am.
Pre-order Propel 500 today by emailing: kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com
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.
February 2026 ~ Premium Club
Premium Club Opinion provides weekly insights from industry leaders. In this current edition, Mark Wingett, Propel’s chief operating officer – editorial, looks at changes at the top at Tortilla and Laine Pub Co, and backs Luke Johnson to bounce back. He reviews senior shake-ups at Tortilla and Laine Pub Co, arguing Tortilla’s leadership and board changes mark a necessary strategic reset in a pressured fast-casual market, while praising Laine’s Gen Z-led success under departing MD Russell Danks. He also defends investor Luke Johnson, saying recent setbacks mask long-term impact and resilience. Meanwhile, Propel editorial advisor Katherine Doggrell asks whether when it comes to business rates, the government is more Mr Benn and less detail. She argues that the government approaches business rates with costume-level thinking, not detail. Pub support is dismissed as a “sticking plaster”, while hotels get no relief, only delayed reviews. Flawed valuation methods ignore rising costs, risking huge rate hikes. The sector needs granular reform, not simplistic fixes. Lastly, FutureFoodservice founder Simon Stenning explains why the sector needs to reinvent itself. He says that amid economic noise, hospitality faces prolonged pressure from rising costs, weak government support and squeezed consumer spending, making growth hard-won. Discounting is increasing but risks eroding value. Despite this “new normal”, modest growth is forecast from 2026, improving in 2027, driven by innovation, targeted investment and a need to reinvent hospitality around experience, service and escapism to win consumers back.
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.
February 2026 ~ Premium Club
Mark Wingett’s Premium Club Diary delivers insider sector gossip every week to Premium Club members. In this week’s edition, Loungers continues its steady expansion, opening Pietro Lounge in Ludlow and Deco Lounge on Liverpool’s Bold Street, taking its estate to 268 sites. Each Lounge has a locally inspired name ending in “o”, though Liverpool’s Deco Lounge is the first reused name, recalling the original Bristol site that opened in 2005 and later closed due to size constraints. Also, Franco Manca delivered a standout marketing moment with its January “Map My Pizza Run”, rewarding runners with pizza discounts per kilometre logged. The campaign engaged 110,000 runners covering 660,000km, emphasising human connection over data capture, community goodwill and trust. Meanwhile, McMullen’s sold 30 pubs to Punch Pubs & Co, exiting the tenanted sector after more than a century. The largely freehold estate will receive significant investment, echoing wider consolidation among family brewers. In late-night dining, Hawksmoor joined Jeremy King in encouraging later bookings with its “Steak After Eight” three-course offer, despite earlier evening trade now dominating. Finally, Anthony Knight, formerly of Incipio and Maxwell’s, has taken on a sunnier role as chief executive of Venture Hospitality Group in the Canary Islands, prompting envy—and visit requests—from former colleagues.
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 February 2026
Simon Bradford steps down as MD of Ten Entertainment Group-backed escape room business Houdini’s
Simon Bradford has stepped down as managing director of the Ten Entertainment Group-backed escape room concept Houdini’s after four years in the role. Bradford, who was formerly at Costa Coffee and Soho House, joined Houdini’s at the start of 2022 and has helped grow the business to 31 sites spread across the UK.
11 February 2026
Maki & Ramen founder – ‘this is just the beginning of our London story’, makes international debut
Teddy Lee, founder of Japanese restaurant concept Maki & Ramen, has said upcoming openings at The O2 and in Soho are just the “just the beginning of our London story”. The 17-strong business will open a franchise site on the former Chopstix unit in Peninsula Square at The O2 next Tuesday (17 February).
11 February 2026
Drake & Morgan promotes Louise Carreras Cortes to operations director
Drake & Morgan, the premium operator of London bars led by Jillian MacLean, has promoted Louise Carreras Cortes to operations director. Carreras Cortes has been with the Bowmark Capital-backed business since 2018 and steps up from operations manager. She previously spent 12 years as director of food and beverage at Princess Cruises.
11 February 2026
London seafood restaurant The Melusine acquired out of administration by founder
London seafood restaurant The Melusine has been acquired out of administration by its founder. All Things Greek, trading as The Melusine, which oversaw the venue in St Katharine Docks, went into administration on 30 January 2026, with Nick Simmonds and Chris Newell, of Quantuma, appointed to oversee the process.
11 February 2026
Better burger business Mr T’s opens in Middlesbrough for north east debut, secures second London site and first in Scotland
Better burger business Mr T’s has opened a new location, in Middlesbrough for its 14th site and north east debut. The company, founded in Bradford in 2016 by Tauseef Malik, has opened at 243 Linthorpe Hall.
11 February 2026
KFC UK & Ireland increases spend on British chicken to almost £100m
KFC UK & Ireland is to add chicken wings to the list of products it will now source from British farms, which will boost its annual spend on British chicken by approximately £10m, bringing the yearly total spend to almost £100m. By the end of 2026, the business said 35% of the brand’s chicken will now be sourced from British farms.
10 February 2026
Punch reports underlying Ebitda growth, acquires Mash Inn JV
Punch Pubs & Co, the Fortress-backed operator of circa 1,300 community pubs, has reported revenue of £105.1m for the 16 weeks to 30 November 2025 compared to £97.3m in the prior year, and said that both its segments (Leased and Tenanted and Pub Partnerships) delivered like-for-like underlying Ebitda growth during the period. Underlying Ebitda for the pub estates before central costs increased by £1.6m to £39.4m.
10 February 2026
Sir Tim Martin – ‘self-delusion is no longer tenable when it comes to loss of beer trade’
JD Wetherspoon founder Sir Tim Martin has told Propel the loss of beer trade is now so stark that “self-delusion is no longer tenable” as he urged the sector to get behind Reform’s proposals that in effect offer tax parity with supermarkets. As part of a five-point plan, Reform would reduce beer duty by 10% from its current 49p and cut the current 20% rate of VAT in half across the whole hospitality sector.
Watch highlights from this year’s Propel summer conference and party.
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Propel Multi Club — New directions in a period of strong headwinds
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