The end of the year is a great time to reflect – and for us, there’s a lot to reflect on! One of our biggest landmarks this year was the launch of our new app and website, complete with a colourful rebrand. We’re glad we’ve finally got to introduce you to something we’ve been working on for so long, but the work continues! Thanks to your feedback, we’re continuing to tweak and improve our services, meaning these achievements will continue to bear fruit into the new year.
As well as that, you might have noticed we’ve welcomed some brilliant restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues over the year, so we’re taking this moment to look back at just some of the new places our mystery assessors have visited and given feedback on in 2025!
There was something undeniably sweet in the air during the first quarter of the year, as we welcomed some truly indulgent brands to the Mystery Dining programme. London-based chocolate café Cocomelt joined us, inviting diners to treat themselves to its rich, decadent desserts and perfectly crafted luxury hot chocolates. We were also delighted to be joined by doughnut giant Krispy Kreme, whose iconic glazed treats and huge array of flavours gave us serious sweet cravings every time we read your reports!
We were delighted to welcome Six by Nico – taking diners on an exciting journey, with it’s 6-course tasting menu, based on ever-changing, innovative themes. If you prefer to stay in one place, we still have plenty of choice from this quarter! If you fancy an authentic Neapolitan pizza, Fatto a Mano is the place to go, or for a quick bite, Tortilla hits the spot every time, with their range of delicious Mexican burritos, rice bowls and salads.
Our second quarter has seen many pubs wanting your feedback! Nottingham-based The Secret Pub Company joined us to get an insight into diner’s impressions on their four sites, and Public Urban Bars have been getting feedback on their pubs based in and around Manchester and Liverpool. Longbow Venues also joined us with their high-end pubs and restaurants in the peak district – one of which was rumoured to be frequented by Charlotte Bronte and featured in Jane Eyre!
We also took on some exciting restaurants that blend cuisines together seamlessly – Akara takes diners on a vibrant journey to West Africa via Brazil, while Los Mochis marries Mexican vibrancy with Japanese elegance and artistry in a truly unique dining experience. Bangalore Express combines British ingredients with Indian flavours to truly entice your tastebuds, and for the coffee lovers among us, Arabica has had us assessing coffee standards from around the world in their sleek, futuristic cafés.
In the third quarter of the year, we welcomed Gran T’s Coffee House – cosy cafés based in Altrincham and Manchester, serving up delicious coffees and treats and sweetly named after the founder’s Gran. Providing more baked treats, Bread Ahead joined us with its much-loved doughnuts, sourdough and pastries, as well as its popular Bakery School. For a fresh and vibrant option, Oakberry offers açaí bowls and smoothies packed with goodness, while Jerk Junction brings Caribbean flavours and good vibes to Manchester, Liverpool and Wilmslow.
Now that we’re into the last quarter of the year, we might be winding things up, but we’re certainly not winding down – we’ve had several different sporty clients, including Bath Rugby right close to the HGEM base! These visits assess the whole customer journey, from buying tickets, to getting food at the rugby ground, to enjoying the game. We did some projects with some football clubs too, which has been an interesting venture for us. We also welcomed back Turtle Bay, rounding off the year with old friends!
Of course, we couldn’t do any of this without you – this year, 95,438 visits were completed! As always, thank you so much for your valuable feedback and insights. We love reading about your experiences and getting to provide such a variety of opportunities for you to undertake for your next mystery visit! We’re looking forward to reading even more, and continuing to work with you all in 2026.
Happy New Year! 🥳
