ART Hospitality Group (previously known as A Rule Of Tum) experienced its most successful year yet with a whole 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.
Last year saw the group completely transform Dr Foster (formerly known as Dr Foster’s in Gloucester) from a local drinking spot to a stylish new gastropub. Undergoing an impressive refurbishment with a £375,000 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.
Callum McDonald, head chef behind the opening of Dr Foster and head Chef of The Bookshop in Hereford, was featured on MasterChef: The Professionals 2024 where he showcased his talent and determination, one of the reasons behind the success of both restaurants.
Launching 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, and increasing their total workforce to over 150 employees.
The group also invested £30,000 in their popular Hereford hotspot, The Yard. Following a seasonal refurbishment of the city centre hangout to make it ‘winter proof’, 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 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 £120,000 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 not only opened several restaurants in recent years but also run successful local food and music celebration, Hereford Indie Festival.
In total, ART invested over £500,000 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 strength of the brand and offerings.
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, said: “It’s an extremely exciting time for us, and we are so thankful to 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’s 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 chef’s table experience, right in the heart of the culinary action!”
Helping to support local is something the company is very passionate about, and giving back is at the core of the company ethos. In total, ART donated £10,000 to charitable causes in 2024, supporting community initiatives and organisations.
As part of their commitment to shopping locally, they also generated over £800,000 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.