Story of the Day - 17 February 2026
Thunderbird Fried Chicken CEO – ‘Strip Shack could be a gamechanger and opens up new opportunities’
Paul Gilchrist, chief executive of Thunderbird Fried Chicken, the wings and fried chicken concept backed by TriSpan, has told Propel that the company’s new grab-and-go concept, Strip Shack, could be a game changer for the business and opens new opportunities “both for us and through franchise and licensing”. The business launched the first stand-alone site under spin-off concept Strip Shack at Boxpark Shoreditch, in London, last week.
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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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17 February 2026
Exclusive - The Ned sees trading levels comparable to pre-pandemic, turnover nudges £80m
The Ned, the City of London mega-venue and private members’ club operated by Soho House, has reported turnover of £79,910,000 for the year ending 31 December 2024 (2023: £76,120,000), as it said that trading levels were comparable to pre-pandemic levels. The venue – which offers 250 bedrooms, ten restaurants, 17 bars, a spa and meetings and events space – posted a pre-tax profit of £2,042,000 compared to £2,052,000 the year before.
17 February 2026
New padel concept aiming to open 12-15 sites over next five years, agrees deal for first Scottish site
New padel concept Court de Padel has said it is aiming to open 12-15 sites over the next five years. Court de Padel launched its flagship first padel club, with eight indoor courts, in Norwich, in November, and is currently fitting out its next site, in, Hull – with further sites planned in Wales, England and Scotland.
17 February 2026
Old Spike Roastery hires Lucy Mavlian as commercial director
Social enterprise Old Spike Roastery has hired Lucie Mavlian, formerly of Allpress Espresso, as its new commercial director. Mavlian previously spent almost 11 years at All Press, including two and half years as its commercial director for the UK and Europe.
17 February 2026
The Rank Group hires interim CFO
The Rank Group has announced that Cliff Baty has been appointed as interim chief financial officer, effective from 23 February 2026. He will join the group’s executive committee.
17 February 2026
Utopia Leisure profit dip ‘still a strong result in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis’, turnover hit by drop in occupancy rates
Utopia Leisure said its profit dip in the year to 30 March 2025 is “still a strong result in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis”, and that its turnover was hit by a drop in occupancy rates. The company, which owns and operates five luxury hotels across the south east of England, reported a pre-tax profit of £2,830,083 for the year, down from £3,102,382 in 2024.
17 February 2026
Roadchef sees Yorkshire motorway services scheme delayed after Moto goes to court
A decision to grant Roadchef planning permission for a multimillion-pound motorway service area in North Yorkshire has been quashed by the High Court following an intervention by a rival firm. Roadchef is planning an 11-hectare service station at Catterick, which were approved by North Yorkshire Council in December 2024.
17 February 2026
Prezzo Italian launches “first-of-its-kind” family dining subscription scheme
Prezzo Italian, the Cain International-backed business, has launched a “first-of-its-kind” family dining subscription, where kids get a three-course meal for free every time an adult orders a full-priced meal. From £1.99 per month or £19.99 for the year, the Prezzo Italian Kids Club will be available all year round.
17 February 2026
Hotel group completes portfolio revamp and makes senior promotions
Hotel group The Kronen Collection, which has four locations across England, has completed a multimillion-pound refurbishment programme and strengthened its senior team as it prepares for expansion in 2026. Upgrades include the refurbishment of Waltons Bar and the entrance at The Crown Hotel in Wetheral, a full revamp of all 66 bedrooms at The Kilbirnie Hotel in Newquay, plus improvements to bedrooms and public areas at Jesmond Dene House in Newcastle and Borrowdale Gates in Keswick.
17 February 2026
Parisian bakery feels the heat as radical rivals win over Gen Z
For three generations, Poilâne has held pride of place as Paris’s most celebrated bakery. Often described as the “Louis Vuitton of boulangeries”, its fans include Nigella Lawson, Kylie Minogue and Robert De Niro. Poilâne, known for its signature miches, big round sourdough loaves stamped with the letter P, exports its loaves around the world, with five shops in Paris and one in London, but the rise of rival artisanal bakeries is now threatening its survival.
16 February 2026
BrewDog calls in advisors to oversee sale
Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, has called in advisers to oversee a sale that could trigger a break-up of the business. Sky News reports that the board of BrewDog has appointed AlixPartners to field interest from potential bidders.
16 February 2026
Greene King planning further restructure
Greene King, the brewer and pub operator, is preparing to cut a raft of jobs and restructure its business for the second time in two years, as tax rises and soaring costs increase the strain on the pub industry. The Times reports that the company, which runs about 2,600 pubs across Britain, is understood to be reviewing its options, with jobs across its head office and central functions potentially affected.
16 February 2026
Sides to open 15 new restaurants in 2026, seeing “incredibly momentum in the UK”
Sides, the food business from YouTube collective Sidemen, has unveiled plans to open 15 more restaurants this year. The brand said it plans to commit further to the UK after witnessing “incredible momentum” and open sites in new international markets.
16 February 2026
Flight Club operator reports 10% increase in sales
Red Engine, the hospitality group behind Flight Club and Electric Shuffle, has said that a rise in demand for experience-led night outs has boosted its quarterly sales. The Times reports that sales at Red Engine rose 10% to £27.7m in its final three months after a record December, with 22 of its 24 venues achieving their highest weekly sales that month.
16 February 2026
UKHospitality CEO – ‘the government chose not to heed warnings on business rates’
Allen Simpson (pictured), chief executive of UKHospitality, has said the government choose not to heed warning on business rates and for “months prior to the Budget” it was calling for the maximum 20p business rates discount to be introduced. It comes after Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson claimed last week the pub industry had failed to raise business rates concerns ahead of the Budget.
16 February 2026
Richard Caring’s London private members’ club Annabel’s reports record profit as turnover increases to £55.6m
London private members’ club Annabel’s, which is owned by Richard Caring (pictured), has reported turnover increased to £55,581,000 for the year ending 5 January 2025 compared with £52,275,000 the year before. Of the 2025 turnover, £25,721,000 came from food and beverage sales (2023: £25,535,000), £25,804,000 from membership income (2023: £23,400,000) and £4,056,000 from registration income (2023: £3,740,000).
16 February 2026
Punch CEO – ‘new £50m funding marks important milestone in our long-term, sustainable growth plans’
Andy Spencer, chief executive of Punch Pubs & Co, the Fortress-backed operator of circa 1,300 community pubs, has said the group’s new fundraise of £50m, marks “another important milestone in our long-term, sustainable growth plans”. Punch has raised £50m via a private placement of senior secured notes due 2030, reflecting a cost of debt to the company of 6.9%.
16 February 2026
Wendy’s interim CEO – ‘debut Scottish restaurant delivering strong sales’, closing 5%-6% of US sites as part of turnaround plan
Ken Cook, interim chief executive of Wendy’s, the second-largest quick service restaurant brand in the US, has said its debut Scottish restaurant has delivered “strong” sales following its launch. Cook also said 2025 was an “important year as we began laying the foundation to rebuild”, with the business set to close between 5% and 6% of its circa 6,000 restaurants in the US by the end of the first half of 2026 but added its international business “continued to be a strong growth engine”.
16 February 2026
London hotel operator sees turnover and profit fall
TLC Hotels, which operates one hotel in London and is developing two more in Cambridge, has reported turnover fell 6% to £6,590,108 for the year ending 30 April 2025 compared with £7,020,678 the previous year. Of the 2025 figure, £5,905,521 came from rooms (2024: £6,301,096), £482,431 from food and beverage (2024: £499,357) and £202,156 from other income (2024: £220,225).
13 February 2026
Leon lost more than £60m since EG Group takeover, closed 22 stores since CVA
Leon, the naturally fast-food brand, lost more than £60m following its 2021 takeover by EG Group and has closed 22 stores since its company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in December, an administrators’ report has revealed. Propel revealed in December that Leon, having been bought back by co-founder John Vincent two months earlier, was planning to undergo a CVA to help accelerate the restructuring of the business and reduce its number of loss-making sites.
13 February 2026
Stonegate Group set to consult on further redundancies as it continues transformation strategy
Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub business, is set to start a further consultation process, which may lead to further redundancies, as it continues its transformation strategy toward a “partnership-led pub company”, Propel has learned. Stonegate announced last year that it was to transition to a streamlined portfolio of around 320 pubs, bars and venues by the end of this September.
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 are now able to access all the videos of the event.
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, David Roberts, corporate partner and head of leisure at international law firm CMS, discusses how hospitality has just become a front-line election issue. He says that commentators argue the UK hospitality sector, contributing £62bn annually, is undervalued and overtaxed. With Reform UK spotlighting VAT cuts, hospitality has become an election issue, isolating Labour’s defence of the 20% rate. The sector seeks not bailouts but a fair playing field: business rates reform, a 10% VAT rate, EIS expansion, youth wage flexibility, benefits-to-work incentives, restored Entrepreneurs’ Relief, and even a dedicated hospitality ministry. Advocates say such reforms would drive growth, jobs and investment, revitalising high streets and recognising hospitality as a strategic national asset, not a dispensable luxury. Meanwhile, Ben Robinson, director of Pub Partnerships at north west brewer and retailer Robinsons, explains why pubs are so important. He says that village pubs are far more than businesses; they are social anchors. They bring together people from different backgrounds in ways no algorithm can replicate, quietly building trust and “social capital” through everyday encounters. In an age of online division and rising loneliness, pubs offer rare spaces where disagreement coexists with belonging. As other institutions close, they remain informal community living rooms. While alcohol has harms, the pub’s true value lies in connection. When one shuts, a community loses memory and support. The British pub is enduring social infrastructure, not nostalgia.
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, UK hospitality is buzzing with expansion and innovation. Bain Capital is advancing plans for Gail’s, with Goldman Sachs circulating teaser documents to potential investors. Previously valued at up to £500m and linked to interest from McWin Capital Partners, Gail’s operates about 185 sites and plans 40 openings by February 2026. New projections suggest capacity for as many as 800 UK locations. Also, Brava Hospitality Group, owner of Prezzo, continues to explore growth beyond a core brand refresh and Jamie’s Italian relaunch. It has trademarked potential new concepts, including Chick Magnet and Capri Pizza, though no launches are imminent. Meanwhile, in the US, Wagamama, owned by The Restaurant Group and backed by Apollo Global Management, has moved its headquarters to Tampa to support southeastern expansion and strengthened its culinary leadership. Lastly, Mission Mars is trialling a smaller-format bar in Liverpool, and Pret A Manger has launched a nostalgic 2016-priced menu across its New York estate.
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.
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.
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March 25th 2026
Propel Multi Club — New directions in a period of strong headwinds
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