Today’s news in brief – 06/12/24

Cooks Coffee will expand its Irish footprint with Dairygold, which will see the Irish farmer owned co-operative operate and manage four Esquires-branded cafés within its Co-op Superstores in Middleton, Carrigaline, and Mallow in Cork and Raheen in Limerick. The contract is for an initial period of 10 years effective immediately. 

Christmas bookings are already 14% higher than December last year, according to data from Mixr. This follows 16 December being the busiest day in 2023 with MiXR selling 2.08m total drinks and 676k pints in one day. Other likely spikes pre-Christmas come from moments such as the end of the university term for students.

Shepherd Neame has reopened its 600-year-old country inn at Boughton-under-Blean. Experienced licensees, the Thompson family, restored The White Horse and refurbished the property. The inn’s 12 bedrooms are also undergoing refurbishment combining “modern comforts” with the building’s original features.

The Noisy Oyster is due to open in Shoreditch in spring 2025. A “modern” take on the seafood bistro, the venue will serve seafood and martinis as well as a “distinctive” design aesthetic. The concept is by the same team behind restaurant and wine bar Firebird. Noisy Oyster will put much focus on its design, with a space accommodating 50 covers.