PROPERTY: NEOS invests £1m in Bristol Revolution conversion

NEOS invests £1m to rebrand Bristol Revolution site as Bonnie Rogues

NEOS Hospitality has confirmed it will invest £1m to convert Revolution Bristol into its Bonnie Rogues format, with the venue set to reopen in June.

The Bristol city centre site is one of 20 acquired as part of the group’s recent deal involving Revel Collective, which doubled NEOS’s estate to 40 venues nationwide.

Chief executive Russell Quelch told The Morning Advertiser (MA) that Bristol was selected as an early conversion site because it is already a proven market for the group, where it operates Barbara’s Bier Haus and Circuit.

He said: “When we reviewed the site, it was clear that a Bonnie Rogues Pub would be a good fit for the location and an opportunity to introduce something new that complements our existing offer.”

The £1m investment will fund a full refurbishment, revised layout and a stronger focus on live entertainment, food and interactive elements.

Quelch added: “The aim is to create a venue that drives consistent footfall throughout the week, from morning to night, and aligns with what customers are looking for from a modern pub experience today.”

He said Bristol remains central to the company’s cluster strategy, with multiple concepts in one city allowing NEOS to target different occasions and customer groups while strengthening its overall market presence.

On the wider acquired estate, Quelch said the business is reviewing sites individually rather than committing to a fixed number of rebrands this year.

He said: “Where there is a clear opportunity, we will look to reposition sites into our core concepts, but the focus is on making the right long-term decisions rather than moving quickly for the sake of it.”

Quelch added that the group’s immediate priority since the acquisition had been integration - working with teams, landlords and partners to stabilise the enlarged estate and identify where to invest for long-term growth.

Loungers to open first London Cosy Club

Loungers will open its first London Cosy Club this summer, taking the former TGI Fridays unit at Westfield Stratford City.

The launch marks a step in the group’s expansion strategy as it continues to roll out its updated Cosy Club format across the UK.

Managing director Lucy Knowles said London was a natural next move following recent openings elsewhere, adding that the Stratford site would focus on all-day trading, longer dwell times and a premium guest experience.

Westfield Stratford City leasing director Constantin Wiesmann said the deal reflected continued demand from established food and beverage operators for high-footfall retail destinations.

The site will trade from breakfast through to late evening, targeting shoppers, families, leisure visitors and evening diners with an all-day menu and cocktail-led drinks offer.

Bath Brew House reopens after refurbishment with new food offer

The Bath Brew House has reopened following a full refurbishment, with the city centre brewpub unveiling upgraded interiors, a revamped beer garden and a new food-led offer.

The site, which has traded for more than a decade, continues to centre around its on-site microbrewery, producing beers brewed metres from the bar under head brewer Max Cadman.

A new outdoor Burger Shack has been introduced as part of the relaunch, serving smash burgers, plant-based options and loaded fries, alongside a new external bar and five bookable huts with private screens.

Inside, the venue has also refreshed its main menu with a greater focus on sharers and casual dining, while retaining core pub classics such as fish and chips and Sunday roasts.

With capacity for up to 450 guests, the operator said the site is positioned as an all-day venue combining brewing heritage with sport, events and group occasions.

Chickpea Group to open 10th site

Chickpea Group is set to open its tenth venue, The Great Decoy, on 30 May, marking the group’s first site in Hampshire.

The pub with rooms, formerly The George & Dragon, has undergone an extensive refurbishment and will reopen with eight bedrooms, around 90 internal covers and space for a further 60 guests in a rear courtyard garden.

The new name references the area’s wartime history, when the site and surrounding countryside formed part of a decoy network used to divert enemy bombing raids during the Second World War.

Food will focus on British pub dishes using seasonal produce and local suppliers, with Chickpea favourites including pies made at sister site The Pembroke Arms. The wider offer will include pizzas, roasts and a rotating à la carte menu.

Co-founder Ethan Davids said the opening reflected the group’s ambition to revive rural pubs while pursuing measured expansion.

Room rates will start from £90 bed and breakfast, with reservations now open.

Jamie Younger to open The Victory in East Dulwich

Hospitality operator Jamie Younger is set to open The Victory on 26 May, bringing a reimagined neighbourhood pub to the former Franklins site.

The venue will undergo a full refurbishment and return to its original Victory name, with booking lines opening on 11 May.

Younger, known for The Begging Bowl and previous work at The Palmerston, said the project marks his return to East Dulwich. He will be joined by wife Rema Waterhouse overseeing front of house.

The kitchen will be led by executive chef Seán Breen, formerly of Noble Rot, with a menu focused on British produce through a modern French bistro lens. Dishes will include steak tartare, Cornish crab vinaigrette, poached sea trout, veal sweetbreads and sharing cuts of beef and whole fish.

The drinks offer will centre on martinis, alongside a French-led wine list spanning classic regional labels, New World producers and low-intervention wines.

The refurbished site will seat around 110 covers across a 70-seat downstairs dining room and a 40-cover bar area.

Cold Town House rooftop reopens after £500k refurbishment

Cold Town House has reopened following a £500k refurbishment of its rooftop bar, with the Edinburgh venue unveiling a new all-weather terrace overlooking Edinburgh Castle.

The Grassmarket site has added a retractable transparent roof covering space for up to 120 guests, alongside a new bar with three service stations, four private gondolas, water vapour fireplaces and an expanded terrace layout.

Management said the investment is designed to strengthen the venue’s year-round trading potential, allowing guests to use the rooftop space in varying weather conditions.

General manager Nikk Stevens said the business had already welcomed more than 2,000 guests since reopening at Easter.

The refreshed spring offer includes Neapolitan pizzas, house-made ciabattas and seasonal drinks.

Putney’s Half Moon reopens

Young’s pub the Half Moon has reopened following a full refurbishment, with the historic southwest London pub and live music venue unveiling upgraded trading spaces, a new first-floor bar and an expanded food offer.

The venue, which has hosted acts including The Rolling Stones, Kate Bush and Ed Sheeran since the 1960s, has retained its live music focus, with management confirming it will continue to host nine shows a week.

A major part of the investment is the creation of a new first-floor dining and events space, featuring its own bar and terrace with a retractable roof, giving the business an additional private hire and premium trading area.

The refreshed food offer takes inspiration from Deep South America, with sharing boards, burgers, wings and Sunday roasts, while the drinks range includes craft beers from DEYA and Gipsy Hill.

The relaunch also includes upgraded outdoor seating and a continued programme of gigs, comedy nights, quizzes and seasonal events.

Kirkstall Brewery and Little Bao Boy open City Taproom in Leeds

Kirkstall Brewery has partnered with Little Bao Boy to open a new city centre venue, The City Taproom.

The site on Sovereign Street has undergone a full refurbishment and reopened on 23 April, with the concept combining a modern bar format with traditional pub influences.

The drinks offer includes 16 keg lines, featuring Kirkstall Brewery brands such as Kirkstall Pilsner, Virtuous and Judicious, alongside Guinness, Veltins and Double Diamond. Two cask lines have also been added, including a permanent Three Swords line and rotating guest beers.

Food continues to be led by Little Bao Boy, which has expanded into a kitchen twice the size of the previous operation. The Leeds-founded bao brand said the larger space would allow faster service, collaborations and menu specials.

Kirkstall founder Steve Holt said the venue was inspired by Leeds’ pub and brewing heritage, adding that the business hoped it would become a strong addition to the city’s hospitality scene.

Bulls Head in Youlgreave upgraded after £90k investment

Admiral Taverns has completed a £90k refurbishment of The Bulls Head in Youlgreave, near Bakewell, with works focused on structural repairs and improving the site’s trading offer.

The investment included new windows, roof repairs and a refurbished kitchen, alongside the installation of three 74-inch screens and wider internal upgrades.

Licensees Donna and Stephen Perry said they were “absolutely thrilled” with the results, adding they were looking forward to customers seeing the improvements.

The Derbyshire village pub will continue to trade with a food-led offer including pizza, burgers and lamb shank, supported by weekly quizzes, Saturday entertainment and community fundraising events.