Today’s news in brief – 22/03/23

JD Wetherspoon revenues rose 8.2% to £991m in H1. The pub group said that like-for-like sales were stronger than total sales due to a small number of pub disposals and lease terminations. So far, sales continue to improve. In the last 7 weeks to 17 March, like-for-like sales increased by 5.8%.

Loungers has appointed Stephen Marshall as CFO, who is due to join its board of directors on 23 April. While current CFO Gregor Grant is due to step down in April, he will remain at the company to provide support and assist with the handover of responsibilities until 31 July. 

RedCat has appointed David Peevers as F&B director and James Killick as area manager, effective from 25 March. Peevers, who takes up a newly-created role at the group, has previously worked at Urban Pubs, Metropolitan PubCo and TRG. Meanwhile, Killick joins from the “award-winning” pub Brunning and Price, where he spent nearly nine years as part of the senior operations team. 

Alsatian restaurant and wine bar, July, will open in Fitzrovia on 25 April. Founders Solynka Dumas and Julian Oschman will open the venue all day, serving breakfast pastries and coffee in the morning, a concise lunchtime offering, and an evening menu of bar snacks, seasonal small plates, charcuterie and cheese. The kitchen will be headed up by former 40 Maltby Street sous chef Holly Hayes, and will feature a regularly changing menu.