Today’s news in brief – 02/02/24

Urban Pubs and Bars’ EBITDA reached £6.4m for the financial year ended 30 April 2023, an improvement of 11% versus the prior year. The leisure group, which operates 42 pubs, bars and restaurants across London, revealed like-for-like sales were up 17% and turnover increased by almost 60% to £52.2m.

UKH appointed Allen Simpson as its first deputy chief executive. He joins the trade body from London and Partners, the Mayor of London’s tourism, inward investment and city marketing agency, where he served as executive director, and in 2021, acting chief executive. 

Carmel has signed a 15-year lease for 7-8 Market Place, Fitzrovia, which marks its second site in London following the success of Carmel in Queen’s Park. The new 95-seater restaurant comprising over 5,000 sq. ft in Market Place, close to Oxford Circus, is scheduled to open in the spring.

Apple Butter is opening a second site at 4-5 Langham Place in March. Differing from the Seven Dials flagship café, it revealed the new site is “poised to transform into a distinguished dining destination”, spotlighting new lunch and dinner options. The 75-cover restaurant near Oxford Street will also continue to serve its all-day brunch alongside.