14/04/2026 09:42:00
Richard Caring has sold the Ivy Collection, Annabel's and Scott's to Abu Dhabi-based hospitality investor Diafa for £1.4b. According to reports in The Times, Caring will remain executive chairman of the group, which will seek to expand the Ivy Collection into the US. Last year Diafa secured a significant stake in Azumi, which operates the Zuma and Roka brands worldwide. At the time it said its ambition was to become the world's largest F&B business. This sale to Diafa is a wider agreement, including Annabel's and Scott's as well as the Sexy Fish and Harry's Bar restaurants. Collectively they make up Troia Restaurants, which last year posted earnings of £58m on £303m of turnover, writes The Caterer.
Young's has agreed to acquire Cubitt House, the London pub group comprising eight venues, in a deal worth a reported £29m, reports Pub & Bar. Headed up by Sam and Georgie Pearman, and chef director Ben Tish, Cubitt House is known for its luxurious locals with restaurants. It is backed by TDR Capital. In the deal, Young's has acquired eight leasehold pubs and pubs with bedrooms in west London. The acquisition also includes a ninth pub in Belgravia, that is currently being developed. Young's says it has closely followed the Cubitt House pubs business for some time and recognises the strong culture and exceptional teams that have contributed to its success.
Hotel Café Royal has reported a 43% increase in domestic bookings during the first quarter of the year compared with the same period in 2025. According to the luxury hotel, UK guests now represent 29% of the total geographic mix for the Regent Street property. This spells an increase from 22% recorded during the previous year. The data also suggests a shift in travel preferences as more domestic visitors opt for city breaks in London over long-haul international travel, writes Hotel Owner.
Lane7 Group, one of the UK's fastest-growing leisure operators, has secured its 30th site, with a new boutique bowling venue set to open in Exeter in early 2027. The new location in the city's Guildhall Shopping Centre comprises 27,000 sq ft across two floors and marks another significant milestone in the continued growth of the Lane7 brand, which has sites across most major cities in the UK, reports CLH News.
Ascott is to open the 280-bedroom Lyf Piccadilly Manchester this autumn amid plans to expand the "social living" lifestyle brand across the UK, writes The Caterer. The hotel on Portland Street, overlooking Piccadilly Gardens, will feature double and triple suites, the Connect co-working lounge and Bond social kitchen. It will also become the first Lyf property to offer a meeting, conference and exhibitions space, consisting of 13 flexible meeting rooms, a flagship ballroom capable of hosting up to 800 guests, and a restaurant and bar that can serve 200 and 60 guests respectively. Ascott is also due to open a second Lyf hotel at Stamford Bridge in Chelsea this autumn - plans for which were initially announced in late 2024. A Lyf property in Glasgow is also in the works.
Brewer and pub operator Wells & Co. says its 2025 annual accounts show a year of steady progress. Growth in its UK business delivered a 5% rise in group EBITDA to £10.3m, alongside a £0.4m increase in sales to £66.2m. Group operating profit before exceptional costs increased 21% to £4.2m, up from £3.5m, which Wells says was driven by higher sales alongside a focus on operational cost control. Performance across its Managed House estate saw an overall turnover growth of 2%, reports Pub & Bar.
Isle of Wight's Northbank Hotel has been brought to market via Fleurets for £4.2m, reports Boutique Hotelier. Family owned since 1959, the property holds historic significance and offers superb Solent facing views.