10/03/2026 09:53:00
UK hospitality operator Various Eateries has agreed a deal to buy four pubs with rooms from Grosvenor Pubs and Inns for £11.25m, reports The Caterer. The group, which was founded in 2014 by Hugh Osmond, will take on Wild Thyme & Honey in the Cotswolds, the Hare & Hounds in Berkshire, the Stag on the River in Surrey and the Wellington Arms in Hampshire. Following the acquisitions the business will change its name to the Coppa Collective. Together, the four sites, which reported revenue of £10.5m for 2025 and site-level earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation of £1.5m, will form a third brand for the newly formed Coppa Collective, the Linwood Collection. Various Eateries has also agreed to add a fifth site to the group. The Queen's Head in Surrey, which is subject to an asset of community value process.
BrewDog's new owner Tilray Brands is exploring plans to reopen some of the brewer's closed UK bars and revive its recently shuttered distillery operation. Irwin Simon, chief executive of the US listed drinks and cannabis group, told The Times that the company is considering franchise agreements that could see some of the 38 pubs closed during BrewDog's administration reopen under new operators. Tilray completed a £33m deal last week to acquire BrewDog's brand, intellectual property, Aberdeenshire brewery and 11 bars in the UK and Ireland, preserving around 733 jobs. However, 38 sites closed with the loss of 484 roles.
The team behind Manchester's Freight Island are opening a 1,000-capacity open-air food, drink and music destination in Brixton, reports The Restaurant. Launching on 7 May, Freight Brixton will combine chef residencies, cocktail bars and a programme of music, sport screenings and community events throughout the spring and summer. Freight Island, which opened its flagship venue in July 2020 in Manchester, formed part of the wider regeneration of Depot Mayfield. Following its establishment in Manchester, Freight Island has outlined ambitions to expand into other cities, citing the north of England and the Midlands as key areas. As part of that expansion, the business announced it will launch a site in Leeds after agreeing to a deal with Landsec-owned Trinity Leeds.
Irish drinks business C&C Group has acquired the Innis & Gunn beer brand and its global intellectual property from administrators for £4.5m, reports the Morning Advertiser. C&C Group has been a small minority shareholder and a brewing partner for Innis & Gunn for a number of years and CEO Roger White has expressed his joy with the purchase of the well-loved brewing business. C&C said the acquisition represents an attractive opportunity for the group to further broaden its branded portfolio with a "premium, well-established brand."
Heartwood Collection has announced plans to invest more than £1.5 million in the refurbishment of five of its existing pubs by June 2026, writes CLH News. The significant investment will see much-loved sites in Reigate, Chobham, Upminster, Thame and Weybridge transformed, as the Group continues its ambitious expansion while reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the exceptional standards, charm and character that define Heartwood. These enhancements are designed to breathe new life into the pubs, ensuring they remain cherished community hubs for generations to come.
'Fine fast-food brand' Yolk has launched another round of fundraising to facilitate the opening of its next two sites. The London-based sandwich and coffee brand is looking to raise £1m to fund the next phase of its expansion, starting with sites eight and nine, with a plan to scale to more than 30 locations ahead of a targeted exit by 2030, writes The Restaurant.
Ardbeg House on the Scottish island of Islay has been awarded The Times and The Sunday Times Hotel of the Year for 2026, heading up the paper's '100 Best Places to Stay in the UK' list.