Today’s news in brief – 10/01/25

The Alchemist has seen its total FY sales surpass £60m for the first time. The bar and restaurant chain ended the year to 31 March 2024 with net assets of £9,930k and cash of £2,956k, while profits after tax amounted to £113k, compared to £2,586k a year prior. However, as a result of a venue opening in Germany in May 2023, the group incurred some losses. 

Lola’s Cupcakes will be opening a new location in South Kensington at the end of January. The new site will offer a small number of indoor seats for those looking to enjoy their cupcakes alongside freshly brewed coffee or tea. This opening marks the first of many new locations planned in 2025, following a record-breaking sales year in 2024.

Burger and Lobster will be expanding to Brighton in February, marking its first new UK opening in eight years. It comes as the London-based restaurant group, which already has nine locations, secured a prime site in The Lanes at 15 Market Street. The menu will serve its first ever brunch style offering for Brighton diners only. 

Gastro pub, The Great Indian, has opened in Archway, London. The concept began in entrepreneur Aman Dhir’s home kitchen and quickly evolved into a successful takeaway in Hackney, known as Great Indian. Now Dhir is bringing his cooking to a local Archway pub, which has a 100-cover capacity that is split into casual seating and a more intimate dining area.