23/07/2019
Stonegate agrees to purchase Ei Group
Stonegate has agreed to buy Ei Group and its 4,000 sites for a reported £1.27bn. The deal, should it go through, will make Stonegate the UK's largest pub owner. The Morning Advertiser reports that the deal is yet to be voted on by Ei Group's stakeholders.
The Alchemist to open site in Cheltenham's The Brewery Quarter
Continuing its UK expansion, The Alchemist is set to open in Cheltenham's The Brewery Quarter next year, reports Big Hospitality. The group recently announced the opening of a further four restaurant and bars: two in London, one in Birmingham and one in Portsmouth, whilst a Shoreditch site opened in May marking the group's 16th location. .
Starbucks thought to have closed 35 sites
Starbucks is thought to have closed 35 sites in London, reports Propel. However, it is also understood that Starbucks has increased their overall coffee shop numbers across the UK by roughly 50 sites since 2017, opening smaller shops and drive-thru units outside of central London and still has approximately 1,000 sites across the UK.
Corbin & King to open Manzi in Soho
Corbin & King has announced the opening of new restaurant Manzi, which will be located in Bateman's Buildings just off Soho Square, in London. According to The Caterer, the seafood restaurant is expected to open in 2020.
Matt Gillan to open new West Sussex restaurant
The Caterer has announced that chef Matt Gillan will open a new restaurant, Heritage, next month in West Sussex. The restaurant will open in the Chequers pub in Slaugham, a renovated Edwardian property. The chef raised £89,007 from 640 backers, greatly exceeding its initial £60,000 target.
And Finally...
The Caravan group is set to launch a new concept, Vardo, in Chelsea's Duke of York Square, marking the group's west London debut. Big Hospitality reports that Vardo, named after the 1800s Romani travelling wagons, will open in autumn in the new pavilion building.