Rapidly Expanding London Coffee Specialist Swoops on Brighton Chain

Leading London roaster acquires longstanding Brighton group

Department of Coffee and Social Affairs has acquired Brighton coffee roaster and café operator Small Batch, in a bid to expand its roasting footprint and gain a further foothold in the Southeast of England. Small Batch was previously backed by Luke Johnson, recently embroiled in the collapse of Patisserie Valerie. [MCA Insight/Paywall]

Another coffee group with eyes on expansion overfunds

Grind has raised £2.3 million in its latest crowdfund, geared towards tripling its portfolio up to 2022, expanding to 36 sites. Openings in London Bridge station, Waterloo, and Victoria will be joined by new shops in Canary Wharf and Southwark, with a further 15 franchised sites in the pipeline.

Los Angeles legend flies in for a poke bowl

James Beard Award winner and legendary baker and piazziolo Nancy Silverton will team up with Island Poke.

Natural wine bar joins growing Ealing development

Riding Wine Co. will open in Dickens Yard, joining Gail’s Bakery, Tonkotsu, No 17 Dickens Yard, and the upcoming ‘Skinny Kitchen’ and Balans Soho Society in the increasingly affluent development. The bar is currently partnering with lauded Hackney pub the Marksman at Raw Wine Fair.