Hospitality news

Headlines

Lisboeta: writing the perfect love letter

Nuno Mendes' Portuguese restaurant Lisboeta has been crowned One to Watch at this year's National Restaurant Awards.

Friday Five: the week's top news

This week's top news stories include Ukrainian chef Yurii Kovryzhenko's plans to open a London restaurant, warnings of a 'critical situation' in hospitality, and a battle for control of Comptoir.

Young National Chef of the Year semi-finalists announced

Fourteen young chefs have been invited to take part in the semi-final stage for the Craft Guild of Chefs Young National Chef of the Year competition.

Asian restaurant ULI to double up in London

Notting Hill Gate restaurant ULI will launch a second site in the capital this year.

Action Against Hunger Love Food Give Food campaign

Turn your love for food into Action Against Hunger

The Love Food Give Food campaign sees restaurants come together to build a world free from hunger.

Rising cost of living forcing younger people to eat out less

The rising cost of living is starting to bite among 18-34 year-olds with the demographic eating out less frequently in restaurants, new data shows.

Richard Kleiner re-appointed Comptoir chairman despite AGM result

Comptoir Group’s Richard Kleiner has been re-elected as chairman despite the resolution to re-elect him not passing at its annual general meeting (AGM) yesterday (30 June).

Disabled being denied full access to hospitality

Disabled people being denied full access to hospitality

Disabled people are being denied some of the pleasures of eating and drinking out because of inaccessible or difficult to navigate venues and websites and poor customer service, a new report by the Business Disability Forum has found.

All-day restaurant Oak & Poppy to open in Hampstead this summer

First Restaurant Group will open restaurant Oak & Poppy in Hampstead this summer.

pub & bar

British Beer & Pub Association calls for permanent tax relief to encourage investment

The Government should introduce a permanent tax relief to encourage more investment by businesses, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Fernando Cubas head sommelier Theo Randall at the InterContinental restaurant

Uncorked: Fernando Cubas

The head sommelier at Theo Randall at the InterContinental on his Italy-focused list, Trentino-based producer Elisabetta Foradori and his love of Sicilian wines.

Pret to expand into India

Pret A Manger is to expand into India with up to 100 sites expected to open in the country over the next five years, under its latest global franchise agreement.

Book review: Core

Clare Smyth's book is fascinating insight into what it takes to be a chef at the very top of their game.

Chef Michael Wignall on The Angel at Hetton in Yorkshire Dales

Inside The Angel at Hetton

Michael Wignall on his progressive Yorkshire Dales venue, which has just been named Gastropub of the Year at the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards for the second time running.

Industry criticises Government price cut campaign

A Government campaign asking businesses to lower prices due to the cost of living crisis has been met with criticism from across the hospitality industry.

Vita Mojo raises £25m to fund expansion

Restaurant software company Vita Mojo has raised $30m (£24.7m) of funding to help it expand into new markets.

pub & bar

Greene King to fill recruitment gap with apprentices and prison leavers

Pub giant Greene King has pledged to recruit 5,000 more apprentices and 300 prison leavers as part of its drive to fill job vacancies.

Sacha Lord calls on operators to commit to paying the living wage

Sacha Lord: 'We must work internally to aid staff retention'

Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester's night time economy adviser, has called on operators to commit to paying the living wage, saying the sector must 'work internally to aid staff retention'.

Government review of short-term letting market welcomed

The Government’s call for evidence on England’s short-term letting market has been welcomed by trade body UKHospitality following years of it pushing for a review.

TVG adds to Borough portfolio with two new concepts

The Venue Group (TVG) is adding to its Borough portfolio with the launch of two new concepts next month, both on Southwark Street

Honey & Co. Bloomsbury Middle Eastern restaurants chefs Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer

Latest opening: Honey & Co. Bloomsbury

In Lamb’s Conduit Street, Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer have found the perfect home for their flagship restaurant.

pub & bar

NTIA: 'Government must recognise economic, cultural and community value of night time economy'

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has said the Government must recognise the 'economic, cultural, and community value' of the night time economy.

Matsudai Ramen to open 'Wales' first ramen shop' in Cardiff this August

Cardiff noodle vendor Matsudai Ramen will open its first bricks and mortar restaurant in early August, which it says will be Wales’ first ramen shop.

Chef Rafael Cagali on his Da Terra restaurant in London's Bethnal Green

Viva Brazil: How Rafael Cagali created one of the capital’s most singular dining experiences

Da Terra’s skilful fusion of modern European cookery with Brazilian flavours has seen it succeed in a location that has proved tricky for some.

Comptoir Libanais Group founder calls for resignation of CEO and chairman

Comptoir founder calls for resignation of CEO and chairman

Comptoir Group founder Tony Kitous has written to the board calling for the resignations of chief executive Chaker Hanna and chairman Richard Kleiner as directors of the company.

Fundamental questions on Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme remain 'unanswered'

UKHospitality Scotland has warned that the country's forthcoming Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) could become another form of taxation on businesses and customers, adding to the cost-of-living crisis.

How I Got Here: Tom Stock

The co-founder of Burger & Beyond, which has just launched a huge 119-cover site in London's Soho, on swapping a career in construction for one in restaurants.

pub & bar

BrewDog eyes blockchain

BrewDog is working with digital finance platform Globecap on options for investors to 'tokenise' their equity in the craft beer business.

McDonald’s cements position as brand leader in foodservice

McDonald’s UK & Ireland has the highest share of eating/drinking out occasions in the UK, despite its share having fallen over the past year, according to Lumina Intelligence.

Ukrainian chef Yurii Kovryzhenko to launch debut London restaurant

Prominent Ukrainian chef Yurii Kovryzhenko and his partner Olga Tsybytovska are to launch a 'neo-bistro' on Brompton Road in London's Chelsea next month.

McCain Foodservice Solutions launches Streets Ahead initiative to bolster the UK’s street food sector

McCain Foodservice Solutions and street food membership organisation KERB are joining forces for a major new initiative that will give people from less-advantaged backgrounds the opportunity to bring their food business idea to life.

Levy takes 50% stake in Peppermint

Sports and hospitality caterer Levy UK and Ireland has taken a 50% stake in bars and event business Peppermint.

Empanada specialist DE NADAS to make UK debut in Notting Hill

Next month will see the launch of London’s first empanadería - a restaurant dedicated to empanadas.

Fordwich Arms Bridge Arms publicans Dan and Natasha Smith win Restaurateur of the Year, sponsored by Entegra, at this year’s Estrella Damm National...

pub & bar

Dan and Natasha Smith - “If you cook as well as you can, naturally things will happen”

Dan and Natasha Smith were named Restaurateur(s) of the Year, sponsored by Entegra, at this year’s Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards, capping off an extraordinary year for the Kent-based publicans.

'Slimdependence Day' - Slim Chickens to open four restaurants on 4 July

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) is to launch four new Slim Chicken sites simultaneously on 4 July in Leicester, Liverpool, Milton Keynes and London’s Bishopsgate.

Hospitality faces 'critical situation' as only one in three businesses reported as profitable

Hospitality businesses across the UK are facing a 'critical situation' with only 37% currently turning a profit, a new study has warned.

Chipotle to open first restaurant outside of London

US burrito brand Chipotle is to open its first UK restaurant outside of London this week in Watford, some 12 years after arriving in the country.

Food standards largely maintained amid two years of upheaval

Food standards in the UK have largely been maintained following two years of upheaval – however challenges remain over the risk of reduced inspections and import controls.

Asian bar and kitchen Gura Gura set for UK debut at The Yards

Gura Gura, a brand-new Asian bar and kitchen concept, has signed at 19 Slingsby Place, The Yards, for its debut restaurant within London’s Covent Garden.

pub & bar

Robin and Sarah Gill to launch Brixton wine bar

Robin Gill and his wife Sarah are opening a Parisian-inspired wine bar in Brixton next month.

Santiago Lastra named in 50 Next list

Santiago Lastra has been named a 'Hospitality Pioneer' in the second edition of The World's 50 Best group's 50 Next list.

Trading in city centres bounces back

Out-of-home food and drink sales grew in all 10 of the country’s biggest city centres over the four weeks to 4 June, new research from CGA and Wireless Social reveals.

Liverpool One adds to F&B offering amid 'strong sales performance' across hospitality operators

Specialty coffee chain Black Sheep Coffee and world buffet concept COSMO are joining the F&B line-up at Liverpool One, with the former making its debut in the city.

Flash-grilled: Emilia Strazzanti

The chef and co-founder of Sicilian ingredient supplier, meal kit and supper club brand Strazzanti on her career, from training at culinary school at 16 to running her own business.