All articles by Georgi Gyton
-
NewsAG Barr acquires Fentimans and Frobishers
Scottish drinks group AG Barr has acquired adult soft drink brands Fentimans and Frobishers Juices for a combined c.£51m as it looks to capitalise on the consumer trend for reduced alcohol consumption.
-
NewsPub investment market remains attractive for quality assets
The pub investment market remains attractive for high-quality, freehold-backed assets despite the challenges facing the rest of the market, according to Fleurets’ latest Survey of Pub Prices report.
-
NewsSourdough Sophia completes £1.5m funding round
The neighbourhood bakery has completed a £1.5m fundraising round as it looks to build its business from four sites to 20 by 2029.
-
NewsNew MD appointed at Okell’s Inns
Heron & Brearley has appointed Ollie Neale as managing director at its Okell’s Inns business, in a move which will also see the Isle of Man business bring its brewing, wholesale and pub arms together
-
InterviewsVarious Eateries: ‘We’ve had an unprecedented number of opportunities come our way’
The group is exploring a number of prime sites for Coppa Club and Noci, with the conversion of its three single-site brands also on the cards as it consolidates the business, CEO Mark Loughborough told MCA.
-
NewsGrind reports ‘another strong year of growth’ on the high street
The omnichannel coffee brand, which recently completed a £7.5m funding round, increased turnover by c.19%, with its coffee shops, restaurants and bars performing well, but ultimately losses widened last year
-
NewsBlack Sheep Coffee secures Yorkshire development agreement
The agreement will see a minimum of eight stores open across the county, with new sites planned across a variety of locations including high streets, shopping centres and drive-thrus.
-
Analysis & InsightTrend for early reservations set to continue
Cconvenience is a key factor influencing earlier booking times, with the average preferred start time now 6.12pm, according to a new report from hospitality tech provider Zonal.
-
NewsGovernment accused of climbdown on tipping
Labour had previously said it would give workers full control over how their tips were distributed as part of the Employment Rights Act. However, the plans look to have been shelved, angering trade unions
-
NewsEsquires Coffee to expand in the UAE
The Cooks Coffee Company-owned brand has entered into a Master Franchise Agreement, which will see it open sites in the United Arab Emirates.
-
NewsJust Eat launches AI-powered ‘delivery concierge’
The delivery platform has launched an AI-powered ‘delivery concierge’ service, which enables customers to voice order and be given personalised recommendations.
-
NewsKFC’s Kwench drinks range to launch nationwide
Following a successful pilot in Manchester, KFC UK & Ireland will roll out ’Kwench by KFC’ across its 1,000-plus restaurant estate this year, backed by a £38m invest from KFC and its franchise partners.
-
NewsScottish pubs call for Holyrood support in face of closures
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association is calling on parliamentarians and the next Scottish government to provide much needed support for the sector, which has a closure rate 50% higher than in England.
-
NewsThe Revel Collective set to appoint administrators
The Revolution, Revolución de Cuba and Peach Pubs operator has announced plans to file a notice of intent to appoint administrators to the company and some of its subsidiaries, with an announcement on the formal sales process it has been pursuing expected in due course.
-
NewsInda Pubs reports significant uplift in turnover
The West London pub company, chaired by City Pub Group founder Clive Watson, saw turnover reach £14.45m in 2025, with a 39% uplift seen in the last six weeks of the year
-
Analysis & InsightPubs achieve strong like-for-like growth in December
Britain’s managed pub groups saw like-for-like sales up 5.1% last month, versus December 2024 – outperforming the rest of the hospitality sector, according to the latest NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker.
-
InterviewsHeartwood Collection remains confident in pubs-with-rooms strategy
The operator of Heartwood Inns is optimistic that transitional relief from the government will help offset the impact of business rates rises, CEO Richard Ferrier told MCA.
-
NewsHeartwood Collection reports ‘sustained momentum’ across estate
The Alchemy-backed operator of Heartwood Inns and Brasserie Blanc has said it is on track to achieve £100m in turnover, with record trading over the festive period
-
InterviewsPunch’s Rising Star has ‘limitless’ potential
With an authentic leadership style and drive to improve the pub partnerships under her stewardship, Hayley Patterson has a bright future, group people director Laura Cavendish tells MCA, in the last in our Rising Star finalist profiles, ahead of the MCA Hospitality Awards 2026.
-
NewsOpenings of the week
MCA rounds-up the latest opening stories, featuring Sartoria’s third site, a further London location for atis, new restaurants for IRO Sushi, and more