In this week’s Diary we look at how TGI Friday’s Fast Track initiative is faring, get an update on Loungers’ pipeline and find out about Samuel Smith’s latest branding work (no, seriously).

Quick decision

Karen Forrester, chief executive of TGI Friday’s UK, always said that the group’s Fast Track site in Manchester’s Piccadilly Station would be a testbed for how the company could make casual dining less “clunky” for the consumer. The further fruits of that labour should be unveiled at the group’s upcoming launch of its smaller footprint format in Reading’s The Oracle scheme. The new format is set to form a key pillar in the future growth of the Electra Partners-backed brand. But what about the Piccadilly site? Diary hears that the company has decided that the Fast Track moniker is no longer needed and quietly dropped said signage.

No time for lounging around

Loungers, the Piper Private Equity-backed café/bar group, has reached the (sort of) milestone of 66 sites. The group opened the Unico Lounge in Wilmslow earlier in the month and today launched Pato Lounge in Orpington. The group has invested £1.2m in the two Lounge openings, which are both conversions of former retail units. The group is also set to launch its tenth Cosy Club on Thursday 13 August in Manchester’s Corn Exchange following a £1m investment. Managing director Nick Collins said: “We’re delighted to have opened another Lounge in the Manchester area and we expect to open a number of new sites in the North West in the coming months. There are a fair few places like Orpington so we’ll be watching Pato’s performance with interest and with additional Lounge openings this year due in Amersham and Egham we’re beginning to edge ever closer to London”. The group also confirmed that three additional sites will open in September with Lounge openings in Urmston, Greater Manchester and Amersham scheduled as well as the opening of a Cosy Club in Coventry. Further openings for 2015 are scheduled in Clevedon, Newport, Egham and Bournemouth (Cosy Club). The group expects to reach 100 sites by the end of 2016.

All things Brighton brew-tiful

Laine Pubco is launching a celebration both of its hometown and the art of brewing. #BrewedInBrighton will begin in August with a series of Meet the Brewer events at its flagship North Laine brewhouse. In September The North Laine will host the #BrewedInBrighton Oktoberfest, showcasing a range of specially brewed North Laine beers alongside old favourites and specially commissioned brews from a host of other local brewers. November will see the #BrewedInBrighton Pop Up Record Shop bringing the finest in vintage and contemporary vinyl to The North Laine and a chance to try new seasonal beers from their brewmasters. Finally, in January the pub will host the #BrewedInBrighton Music Weekender, three days of live music from established artists and up-and-comers curated by local record labels.

Revolutionary new menu

Revolution Bars has launched its new brunch menu and matching cocktails, to be rolled out across 25 sites nationwide. Key dishes include Avocado Brunch; smashed avocado and poached egg on malted sourdough toast, with vine tomatoes, passion fruit, pomegranate, maple syrup, and dressed pea shoots; and Brunch Club; Lemon and garlic chicken breast, streaky bacon, mayo, fresh basil, guacamole, slow roasted tomatoes, and poached egg, between malted sourdough toast. Revolution says customer research carried out before launching the menu identified a desire for simple serves on clean, white plates. Two breakfast cocktails are also available, Mimosa and Bloody Mary.

Acceptable in the 80s

D&D London’s Chelsea restaurant Bluebird is to host a pop-up version of Inception Group’s 80s-themed Maggie’s nightclub throughout August. Bluebird will offer 80s themed bar parties for 15 or more guests from this week. It will include retro bar snacks and Maggie’s signature cocktails, including the Rubik’s Cube (belvedere vodka, fresh mint, mango puree, lime and mango juices topped up with bubbles) and Pac Man Tini (belvedere vodka with chambord, lime and cranberry juice, vanilla syrup and blackberry puree).

Fine dining direct to your door

The UK’s first Michelin starred delivery service is due to launch in September. The Supper concept has so far signed up 19 restaurants throughout London. These include Michelin-starred Indian Restaurants, Tamarind and Benares in Mayfair, with an aim to have five Michelin starred restaurants on the books by autumn. Other restaurants involved include M Restaurants, Matsuri, Bocconcino, Baiwei and Randall & Aubin. Supper is also offering an in-house sommelier services.

Sky-high results for broadcaster

Sky has announced an 18% increase in annual operating profit of 18% and 5% hike in revenue for the 12 months to 30 June. Full-year revenue was £11.4bn, boosted by 973,000 new customers - 45% up on the year before, with 4.6 million new paid-for subscription products. The company said its churn was under 10% in each market. Jeremy Darroch, group chief executive, said: “The past 12 months have been an outstanding period of growth for Sky. We’ve successfully completed a deal that has transformed the size and scale of opportunity for the business whilst delivering an excellent financial and operational performance as more customers chose Sky and took more of our products.”

Branded brew

Brewer and pub operator Samuel Smith may not have the highest profile of any pub operator but it’s latest wheeze has shown it knows a thing or two about branding. The company now sells coffee in all its pubs serving food and has now introduced its first branded cappuccino. It involves using a stencil to display the company’s logo in chocolate on top of the drink. What’s more the company has this week been promoting the innovation on tis Twitter account. It’s very 21st Century.

App-y customers

Edinburgh and Yorkshire are the latest cities to join Nicholson’s Pubs hugely Ale Trail app. Developed by Eagle Eye Solutions, the Hop Circle app rewards loyal Nicholson’s customers with discounts and features a host of interactive ale trails for users to complete to earn more rewards. The latest Ale Trails take users to the likes of Edinburgh’s famous Deacon Brodie’s Tavern, Leeds iconic Victoria Hotel and York’s Old White Swan. Free to download from the app store, all users have to do is register and choose an ale trail to take part in. Once at the desired pub, by scanning the app when ordering a drink, the pub will be added to the list of pubs visited. When all the pubs have been checked off, customers will receive an automatic 25% off discount voucher.

Last pub standing

Tomorrow Mitchells & Butlers will re-open The Flying Horse pub (previously the Tottenham) which is the last pub on Oxford Street. For the event, the company has teamed up with Meantime Brewery who will be giving guests virtual brewery tours. The newly upgraded Nicholson’s site is set to predominantly focus on drink. Consumers are promised 14 different cask ale hand pulls from well-known breweries to up and coming small breweries, and 12 different draught beers from all over the UK including craft beer from Scotland, Warwickshire, Cornwall & London. Complimentary beer tasting sessions for all guests will also be available as well as tours of the pubs new ‘beer emporium’ and glass wall cellar.

Live Your Life Day

Pub and restaurant groups are planning to celebrate the inaugural Live Your Life Day tomorrow. The initiative was set up to commemorate the birthday of Franca Knowles, the late wife of Beds & Bars chief executive Keith Knowles. Each year on 30 July, Beds & Bars will support a charity in recognition of the charitable work Franca carried out. This year’s event will raise money for PubAid director Yaser Martini’s charity Team Margot, which encourages people to join the stem cell register. Greene King, Yummy Pub Co, Faucet Inns, La Tasca, The Epicurean Collection and Glendola Leisure are among those supporting the initiative. The organisers are asking supporters to share phots and messages using the hashtag #LIVEYOURLIFEDAY and #TOGETHERSAVINGLIVES.

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