Investment
Our coverage tracks financial activity shaping the UK foodservice and hospitality sector, from venture capital and private equity backing to corporate acquisitions, refinancing deals, and growth funding. Our reporting is focused on the operators, brands, and concepts attracting capital, and what that means for the wider industry. Whether you’re a restaurant group seeking funding, a pub chain monitoring market valuations, or a catering contractor analysing competitor growth, our investment coverage delivers intelligence that helps business leaders understand where money is flowing, and why. Expect deep dives, expert commentary, and deal-by-deal context, all tailored to the foodservice trade.
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Jan- 2025 -31 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 31/01/25
Loungers has agreed to Fortress Investment Group’s £354.4m takeover bid. News comes after Fortress submitted a revised deal after its first attempt of 310p a share was opposed by Loungers shareholders. The deal is due to be sanctioned in a court hearing expected to take place on Friday 7 February. …
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31 JanuaryRestaurants
Loungers agrees to £354.4m Fortress takeover deal
Loungers has revealed that 94% of its shareholders have voted in favour of accepting Fortress Investment Group’s £354.4m takeover bid. News comes after Fortress submitted a revised deal after its first attempt of 310p a share was opposed by Loungers shareholders. The revised deal of 325p implies an enterprise value…
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31 JanuaryPubs and Bars
Butcombe sees 7.8% rise in FY24 revenues
Butcombe Group, a privately owned premium pub operator and brewing group, has reported that its full-year LFL revenues were up by 7.8%, including 23% LFL across the two week Christmas period. For the year ended 25 January 2025, its standout performance was in food at 12% growth, with both accommodation…
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30 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 30/01/25
TGI Fridays has closed its flagship venue in London’s Leicester Square, which opened in 2015 after a multi-million pound investment. The closure means that TGI’s now has no restaurant in Central London although it retains venues at the O2 Greenwich and Westfield Stratford. UKH has urged the chancellor to bring…
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30 JanuaryTrade Associations
Growth plan must include foundation economy, UKH says
UKHospitality has urged the chancellor to bring forward a specific growth plan for hospitality, and other sectors in the foundation economy, that can deliver growth “swiftly”. While the trade body agreed that big infrastructure projects are much-needed, it also pointed out that their benefits won’t be realised “for years or…
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30 JanuaryRestaurants
TGI Fridays closes Leicester Square flagship
TGI Fridays has confirmed that it has closed its flagship venue in London’s Leicester Square. The casual-dining restaurant had opened the landmark venue in 2015 following a multi-million pound investment. A spokesperson for TGI Fridays said: “Our Leicester Square restaurant closed earlier this month. This was a mutual planned closure…
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29 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 29/01/25
The hospitality sector ended 2024 with virtually the same number of premises as 12 months earlier. According to data from CGA, there were a total of 99,120 outlets operating in December 2024 – up slightly from 99,113 sites a year earlier. It represents a year of solid consolidation after contraction…
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29 JanuaryPubs and Bars
Greene King sees 30% uplift in Xmas Day online bookings
Greene King saw a 30% increase in online Christmas Day bookings in its managed pubs compared to the previous year, with a 13% increase in December alone. With 45 million customers visiting Greene King’s websites annually, the company has delivered a multi-million pound investment which has transformed its online presence.…
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24 JanuaryAnalysis
How hospitality saved November and why it needs saving in April
The Office for National Statistics’ November 2024 GDP numbers highlight how important the hospitality industry is to the UK economy. It is evident that this industry continues to be a pillar of economic recovery, with the food and beverage subsector leading the economy in terms of performance, and hotels following…
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23 JanuaryFood and Drink
Foodservice price inflation under threat after November prices rise
While year-on-year inflation fell to 2%, the 17th consecutive period of decline, November brought a return to month-on-month inflation with a 0.3% increase in prices, the Foodservice Price Index (FPI) from Prestige Purchasing and CGA by NIQ revealed. This, combined with the potential impacts of the Autumn Budget, raises worries…
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