Private equity
Reporting centres on investment activity across the UK hospitality and foodservice sector, with analysis of buyouts, growth capital, and ownership changes involving restaurant groups, pub companies, and catering operators. Coverage includes deal flow, fund strategy, portfolio performance, and investor outlook, offering valuable intelligence for senior executives, founders, and stakeholders navigating funding, expansion, and exit planning.
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Mar- 2025 -21 MarchRestaurants
Burger King UK seeks £40m refinancing for expansion
Burger King’s main UK operator Bridgestone is initiating talks with lenders for a significant refinancing, as the fast-food group plans to open 30 new restaurants this year, according to Sky News. Almost eight years after acquiring the business, the private equity firm has committed £35m in new equity as part…
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17 MarchFeatures
Private equity in hospitality: a lifeline or a looming takeover?
French restaurant group Bistrot Pierre was the latest British chain to be acquired out of administration by a private equity firm, ensuring that 10 sites will continue to trade with exactly 394 jobs saved. Private equity investment in hospitality has become a growing force that offers a financial lifeline to…
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Jan- 2025 -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 JanuaryPeople
Boxpark appoints new chief financial officer
Hospitality and leisure group Boxpark has announced the appointment of Chris Burford as the group CFO to support and strengthen the operations and growth strategy of the business. With over 25 years’ experience working across private equity and venture capital backed enterprises in the hospitality, leisure, and retail sectors, new…
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17 JanuaryNews
Directional Capital acquires Pizza Hut’s UK franchisee in pre-pack deal
Directional Capital has acquired Heart With Smart, one of the UK’s leading hospitality franchise operators which manages the operations of the UK Pizza Hut dine-in restaurants, in a pre-pack transaction which sees the transfer and continuing operation of 139 restaurants across the UK. Directional Capital is a US-based private equity…
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2 JanuaryFood and Drink
Eataly sees losses reach £5m
Italian food hall and market Eataly has seen its pre-tax losses rise to £5m for the year ended 31 December 2023, compared with a loss of £1.29m in 2022. The company stated that its sales and margins increased, and labour cost decreased from the previous year, however energy prices had…
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2 JanuaryRestaurants
Pizza Hut’s UK operator in ‘advanced talks’ with potential bidders
Pizza Hut’s UK operator is reportedly in “advanced talks” with potential bidders to wrap up a deal to secure its future, Sky News has learnt. According to Sky, Heart With Smart (HWS), Pizza Hut’s biggest UK franchisee which operates roughly 140 Pizza Hut dine-in restaurants, is expecting to select a…
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Dec- 2024 -23 DecemberFood and Drink
Wingstop UK sells majority stake to Sixth Street
US private equity firm Sixth Street has announced that it has acquired a majority stake in Lemon Pepper Holdings, the UK arm of Wingstop. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed but according to City AM the value of the deal is at least the £400m asking price.…
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Nov- 2024 -18 NovemberRestaurants
Pizza Hut UK franchisee approaches potential bidders
Pizza Hut UK’s biggest franchisee has reportedly begun approaching potential bidders for the pizza chain, according to Sky News. Heart With Smart (HWS), which operates roughly 140 Pizza Hut dine-in restaurants, has instructed advisers to find a buyer or raise tens of millions of pounds in external funding. City sources…
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Oct- 2024 -11 OctoberNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 11/10/24
Boxpark has had its new location in Birmingham greenlit. Located in Digbeth, Boxpark has signed a 15-year lease in the Floodgate Street Arches. The new opening, which will see the group invest roughly £5m into the local area, is expected to create around 200 new jobs upon launch in 2025. …
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