Casual Dining

Restaurant groups deliver modest sales growth in February amid 'subdued trading'

14-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s top hospitality groups achieved modest like-for-like sales growth of 1.4% in February, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

Yard Sale lines up twelfth site as it celebrates 10 years

12-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

Neighbourhood pizza shop Yard Sale Pizza will open its 12th London site next month on Dartmouth Park Hill in Tufnell Park.

Sticks'n'Sushi and Deliveroo announce exclusive partnership

11-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

Danish-owned sushi and kushiyaki specialist Sticks’n’Sushi has launched an exclusive partnership with Deliveroo.

Pizza Pilgrims earns B Corp status

05-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

Pizza Pilgrims has become the latest in a growing number of UK restaurant groups to have obtained B Corp status.

Latest opening: Trejo’s Tacos

05-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

Hollywood actor Danny Trejo has chosen Portobello Road in London’s Notting Hill to launch the first international outpost of his LA-based Mexican restaurant brand Trejo’s Tacos.

Vagabond undertakes restructuring to ‘safeguard business’

05-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

Pour-your-own wine bar group Vagabond is in the process of appointing administrators as it looks to undertake a restructuring to safeguard the business.

Food to go market expected to outpace pre-pandemic value this year

04-Mar-2024 By Hannah Currie

The UK food to go market is expected to grow 3.5% to a value £23bn in 2024, outpacing its pre-pandemic value by 9.3%.

How I Got Here: Florence Mae Maglanoc

04-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

The CEO of London-based restaurant group Maginhawa on the need for greater diversity in hospitality leadership roles, and grasping the potential of franchise opportunities.

Toca Social expands to Birmingham

01-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

Immersive football and dining concept Toca Social is heading to Birmingham for its second UK site.

Karen's Diner in Brighton to close after traces of drugs found

01-Mar-2024 By Restaurant

A restaurant known for its rude service and staff with attitude is closing in Brighton.

Restaurant closures surge to highest ever quarterly total

27-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Restaurant closures surged to the highest ever quarterly figure in the final quarter (Q4) of 2023, according to data obtained by Price Bailey.

Latest opening: Orleans Smokehouse

23-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has launched its first new concept in more than 15 years – a barbecue smokehouse brand inspired by the spirit and cuisine of New Orleans.

The Lowdown: the rise of the Italian-American restaurant

23-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Fans of vodka pasta and gabagool have plenty to salivate about with Italian-American restaurants popping up across the capital and beyond.

Ellen Chew: “Singapulah is the most ambitious project I’ve ever undertaken”

23-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

The London-based restaurateur behind Rasa Sayang has launched an innovative concept on Shaftesbury Avenue that offers a platform for Singaporean food manufacturers looking to break into the UK market.

The Vurger Co closes final restaurants as business ceases trading

22-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Vegan fast-food restaurant group The Vurger Co has closed its final three restaurants less than a year after being bought out of administration.

‘Welcome stability’ in delivery and takeaway sector as sales rise for eighth consecutive month

21-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Delivery and takeaway sales at Britain’s leading managed restaurant groups last month were 4% ahead of January 2023, CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker shows.

Sticks'n'Sushi secures £22m loan to support UK expansion

21-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Danish-owned sushi and kushiyaki specialist Sticks’n’Sushi has secured a £22m loan from digital bank OakNorth to support its future growth in the UK.

Team behind Tattu to open Italian-American restaurant Louis in Manchester

19-Feb-2024 By Restaurant

The surge in popularity of Italian-American restaurants is showing no signs of slowing with one opening in Manchester later this year.

Chicken restaurant Social Bird lands in Newcastle

19-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

A contemporary, chicken-focused restaurant is spreading its wings in Newcastle having acquired the former Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill site on Fenkle Street.

Restaurant sales fall flat in January as consumer spending squeezed

15-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s leading hospitality groups generated like-for-like sales growth of just 0.1% in January, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

Azzurri toasts ‘strong trading performance’ as revenue rises

12-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Azzurri Group has reported a ‘strong trading performance’ across the business in its latest financial results.

Northern-based operators to speak at next month's R200 Conference in Manchester

12-Feb-2024 By Restaurant

Representatives from restaurant businesses including San Carlo, Rudy’s, Gusto Italian, and GSG Hospitality will be speaking at next month’s R200 Restaurant Conference in Manchester

Big Fang Collective secures £5.5m for further UK expansion

07-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Competitive socialising group Big Fang Collective has secured £5.5m in growth capital from alternative lender ThinCats to support its expansion plans.

Rekom UK shutters 17 sites as it completes pre-pack administration

02-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Rekom UK has closed 17 sites across its estate following the completion of a pre-pack administration.

800 licensed premises lost in final quarter of 2023

01-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s number of licensed premises dropped by 0.8% in the fourth quarter of 2023, the latest Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners reveals.

Generation next

Could putting meat on the menu save the vegan fast-food sector?

31-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Plant-based QSR brands are increasingly struggling in a space once destined to be the next big thing. Now some are fighting back by putting meat on the menu.

The Restaurant Report - download your free copy

29-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

A report that lists the top 100 casual dining and QSR brands ranked by number of sites has been published by Restaurant.

Edinburgh burger institution to close after 52 years

29-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Long-standing Edinburgh restaurant Bells Diner will close this year after more than 50 years in business.

Multi-faceted dining and events space to launch at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

26-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Bar and events specialist Peppermint is to launch a multi-faceted dining and events space at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

Butcher Jonny Farrell to launch first restaurant venture

26-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Lancashire-based butcher Jonny Farrell is to launch his first restaurant venture next month in Birkdale Village, Southport.

North Brewing sold to Kirkstall owner

26-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

North Brewing has been acquired by Steve Holt, owner of fellow Leeds-based brewery Kirkstall, in a pre-pack deal that will secure the jobs of 78 North employees.

Northern-based hospitality shows resilience in a challenging year

25-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Northern-based hospitality businesses have reported an average sales growth of 7.2% over the past year, according to new figures.

Comment

What's in store for casual dining in 2024?

24-Jan-2024 By Stefan Chomka

Spin offs, overseas expansion, better loyalty schemes, and a boom in franchising are just some of the things we could see in the coming year.

Restaurants' delivery and takeaway sales growth slows as volume drops

24-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Britain’s top managed restaurant groups recorded 1% year-on-year growth in delivery and takeaway sales in December 2023, data shows.

Rockfish in the process of completing a £3m fundraise and return to expansion following ‘difficult year’

23-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Rockfish is returning to the expansion trail and in the process of completing a £3m fundraise following a ‘difficult year’ that saw it swing to a £876,000 loss.

IHOP and Applebee’s owner targets UK market

22-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

US-based casual dining operator Dine Brands Global is looking to launch a ‘duel-branded restaurant concept’ in the UK that encompasses its IHOP and Applebee’s chains.

Patty & Bun ‘continues to focus on expansion’ as it swings to loss

22-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Patty & Bun has said it is ‘continuing to focus on the development and expansion’ of its restaurant estate despite swinging to a £2.2m loss in its latest financial results.

North Brewing ‘seeking investment’ to stave off administration threat

18-Jan-2024 By James Beeson

North Brewing is actively seeking investment to secure its future, after solicitors acting on behalf of the Leeds-based brewery filed notice of intent (NOI) to appoint administrators

Managed sector toasts 'bumper' December

18-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s top hospitality groups generated year-on-year sales growth of 8.8% in December, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

How I Got Here: Patrick Ward

17-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

The founder of Edinburgh-based Pizza Geeks, which recently launched its third site in the city, on the importance of admitting your mistakes, handling stress, and what makes a good leader.

Flat Iron tees up further openings as it toasts ‘record year’

16-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Steakhouse group Flat Iron has announced it will launch two further London restaurants this year, alongside its first site in Manchester, after reporting ‘record sales’.

Prezzo plots move into QSR with takeaway pasta concept

15-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Prezzo is plotting a move in the QSR market with the development of a takeaway pasta concept that will have branches in UK train stations.

The Gentlemen Baristas calls in administrators

15-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

London coffee shop operator and roaster The Gentlemen Baristas has called in administrators.

Wetherspoon partners with Haven

11-Jan-2024 By Finn Scott-Delany

Holiday park operator Haven has announced an exclusive agreement with JD Wetherspoon to open pubs at its locations.

The Breakfast Club tees up third Soho site

11-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

The Breakfast Club has acquired the former Patty & Bun site on Old Compton Street for its third location in London’s Soho.

Cost of living ‘hinders’ performance at Boparan

10-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has said the cost-of-living crisis has hindered its post-Covid performance despite it reporting a rise in turnover in its latest accounts.

Flash-grilled: Alexander Thiel

10-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

The executive chef at D&D London's German Gymnasium restaurant in King's Cross on eating 'real' döner kebabs, why he prefers Saturday Kitchen to MasterChef, and his dream dinner party guests.

11 food, drink and restaurant trends for 2024

10-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

What will the next 12 months bring for the restaurant sector? No one really knows, but we’ve had a stab at making some predictions anyway. Here’s what we think 2024 has in store.

The Coconut Tree targets London market as it launches crowdfund

09-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Sri Lankan restaurant group The Coconut Tree is planning its first openings in London having launched an equity-based crowdfund that’s aiming to raise £1m.

Wahaca returns to expansion trail with first opening in six years

08-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Wahaca is returning to the expansion trail with its first new opening in six years.