ART Hospitality Group (previously known as A Rule Of Tum) experienced its most successful year yet, with a host of new openings, business ventures, investments and refurbishments. 2024 was a year to remember for the Herefordshire-based hospitality group, with many more exciting plans for regional expansion in the near future.
Launched over ten years ago, the group now employs 120 staff across three cities and is planning to bring another 30 team members on board to help set up and run a much-anticipated new venture in Birmingham, working with famed chef Pete Dovaston. This will increase the group’s total workforce to over 150 employees.
2024 saw the group transform Dr Foster (formally known as Dr Foster’s in Gloucester) from a local drinking spot to a stylish new gastropub. Undergoing an impressive refurbishment with a £375k investment, the new space is unrecognisable and has gone from strength to strength since the reopening, with a locally sourced menu and calendar of regular events.
The Head Chef behind the opening of Dr Foster and Head Chef of The Bookshop, Callum McDonald, was featured on MasterChef: The Professionals 2024, where he showcased his talent and determination, one of the reasons behind the success of both restaurants.
The group also invested £30k in their popular Hereford hotspot, The Yard. Following a seasonal refurbishment of the city centre hangout to make it ‘Winterproof’, the unique venue allows diners to experience food from any of the group’s four Hereford restaurants: Burger Shop, Leaven Pizza, The Bookshop and Maneki Ramen, all through a seamless QR code ordering system.
DishByArt, a dedicated events company, was also launched in 2024 and has helped to expand the hospitality group into bespoke catering and event hosting, with a £120k investment to get the latest arm of the business off the ground. This is simply another string to the company’s bow and was a natural progression that made sense to the founders, who have opened several restaurants in recent years and run a successful local food and music celebration, the Hereford Indie Festival.
Hereford Indie Festival 2024 hosted over 12,000 attendees over four days, generating over £400k for local suppliers, independent food vendors, makers, and market stalls. The impressive line-up brought top-tier entertainment to Hereford and featured artists such as Feeder, Gabrielle, and The Lottery Winners.
In total, ART invested over £500k across new openings and renovations, demonstrating their commitment to growth and enhancing customer experiences. 2024 saw a phenomenal 34% revenue growth compared to 2023, showcasing the brand’s strength and offerings.
With multiple award wins under their belt this year across numerous restaurants, including Leaven Pizza taking home four major accolades in the 2024 Italian Awards, there’s no stopping this hospitality group.
The highly anticipated second Maneki Ramen restaurant is set to open early next year in a swanky Jewellery Quarter location, with additional new group openings in the pipeline in the not-so-distant future.
Dorian Kirk, ART Hospitality Group Founder and Operations Director, commented, “It’s an extremely exciting time for us, and we are so thankful for all our customers for a truly unforgettable year. 2024 was a great success, and we are all raring to go for another jam-packed year. There are lots of things in the pipeline that we are really looking forward to, and we can’t wait to continue to grow the business with our latest expansion. Work is progressing really quickly with our newest venture, Maneki Ramen, in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham.
“Guests will be immersed in our Japanese-inspired interior, with an open kitchen to display our talented team’s skilled techniques, alongside an exclusive chefs table experience, right in the heart of the culinary action!”
Helping to support local is something the company is passionate about, and giving back is at the core of the company ethos. In total, ART donated £10k to charitable causes in 2024, supporting community initiatives and organisations.
As part of their commitment to shopping locally, they also generated over £800k for independent and small operators by using locally sourced, fresh and high-quality products across all restaurants.
For more information on ART Hospitality group and their complete portfolio, please visit www.arthospitality.co.uk.
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