Hospitality news

Headlines

Opening of the month: JOY

Stevie Parle has returned to Portobello Dock with JOY, an outdoor restaurant and retail space described as being ‘a positive moment in a difficult time’.

Friday Five: The week's top news

This week's main news stories include the launch of the Government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme, and pubs and restaurants in Aberdeen being ordered to close as Scotland's first local lockdown is imposed.

National Chef of the Year 2021 finalists announced

The Craft Guild of Chefs has revealed the 10 chefs who have been selected to go forward the final stage of the 2021 National Chef of the Year (NCOTY) competition.

Cub closes its doors permanently

Cub, the restaurant and bar opened by award-winning mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan) in partnership with Silo chef owner Douglas McMaster, has announced it will not reopen.

"The industry needs this kind of kick-start" - restaurateurs hail Eat Out to Help Out response

Chefs and restaurateurs have hailed the initial success of the Government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme as an important first step in giving consumers confidence to return to restaurants.

People on the move in hospitality: August 2020

This month's round-up of recruitment stories includes a new executive chef for The Dorchester, a new director for Giggling Squid and Rooney Anand stepping down from his role at Casual Dining Group.

Mandatory calorie counts strongly opposed by hospitality bosses

The hospitality industry is strongly opposed to mandatory calorie counts on menus and alcohol point of sale material, according to the latest Hospitality Leaders Poll carried out by Lumina Intelligence.

Manchester’s Great Northern Warehouse opens al fresco dining space

Manchester’s Great Northern Warehouse has launched a 50-cover community kitchen and dining space in a bid to provide a helping hand to local hospitality businesses.

UK footfall reaches 50% of pre-lockdown levels

The footfall on UK high streets has returned to 50% of pre-lockdown levels, according to the latest data from Wireless Social.

Franco Manca and Real Greek operator reports post-lockdown sales at around 72% on previous year

Franco Manca operator Fulham Shore has released a trading update and announced a fundraise as it looks to fight its way though the Coronavirus crisis.

Numbers of cancellations and no shows begin to drop

Results from the latest CGA consumer pulse survey suggests that consumers are now more likely to honour their eating out reservations than they were after venues initially reopened.

PizzaExpress announces next wave of reopenings

PizzaExpress is set to reopen a further 63 sites next week, taking its total reopen estate to over 300.

BAME in Hospitality launches mentorship scheme

Not-for-profit organisation BAME in Hospitality has announced the creation of a new mentorship scheme to support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic employees within the sector.

Bosporus secures debut London site

Dubai-based Turkish restaurant chain Bosporus is set to open its first London outpost later this month.

Wetherspoon could axe nearly a third of head office roles

More than 100 head office roles at JD Wetherspoon are at risk of redundancy.

Tandoor Chop House to open sister site in Notting Hill

Hospitality group Ennismore is to open a second Tandoor Chop House location next week in London's Notting Hill.

Dhruv Mittal: “If we were to reopen, the restaurant would die within a week”

DUM Biryani and Lucknow 49 chef patron Dhruv Mittal has spoken of his heartbreak at having to place both London sites on the market.

YO! appoints Deloitte to explore CVA

Sushi-focussed chain YO! has appointed accountancy firm Deloitte to advise on the possibility of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

Restaurateurs call on Sadiq Khan to do more to champion the capital

Restaurateurs including Angela Hartnett, Yotam Ottolenghi and Michel Roux Jr have signed an open letter to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, demanding he do more to champion the capital.

Randy’s Wing Bar strengthens senior team with a view to diversifying offering

London-based chicken business Randy’s Wing Bar has recruited former Bodeans and Belgo chef Richard Coates and hospitality consultant Andrew McHeron as it looks to grow and diversify its business post lockdown.

Pubs and restaurants in Aberdeen ordered to close as local lockdown imposed

The Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has ordered all pubs and restaurants in Aberdeen to close again after imposing a local lockdown in the city.

Dishpatch partners with restaurateurs to launch meal kit platform

Delivery platform Dishpatch is partnering with several chefs and restaurateurs to create bespoke feasting menus that will be available for home delivery nationwide.

APPG Inquiry into Coasts and Waters enters second phase

The second phase of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism’s (APPG) 'coasts and waters' inquiry has opened.

Liquid assets: all the latest drinks launches

This month's selection of new drinks products includes a high-end gin from Provence, new whisky expressions from Johnnie Walker and a canned Bloody Mary.

One in three pubs unable to break even

More than a third of UK pubs cannot break even one month after reopening, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Mac & Wild founders to launch 'largest single F&B site in Scotland'

Mac & Wild founders Andy Waugh and Calum Mackinnon are to launch an artisanal food hall concept within the Edinburgh St James development.

Loungers 'encouraged' by initial post-lockdown trading

All-day dining group Loungers has reported an encouraging sales performance during the first four weeks of post-lockdown trading.

How I Got Here: Lawrence Mallinson

Lawrence Mallinson is the managing director and owner of James White Drinks, makers of the Beet It, Big Tom and James White juices.

Over three-quarters of UK hospitality businesses at risk of insolvency

More than three-quarters of hospitality businesses in the UK are at risk of falling into insolvency within the next 12 months, according to UKHospitality.

Kevin Tickle returns to Lake District dining scene with the Crown Inn

Former L’Enclume and The Forest Side chef Kevin Tickle is to take on a 17th century coaching inn in the Lake District village of High Newton with wife Nicola.

Restaurant radar: August 2020

Our first post-lockdown restaurant radar includes Andi Oliver and Fred Sirieix's soon-to-launch pop up One Love, and how Stevie Parle is bringing joy back to London’s Portobello Dock with Flora.

CMA gives green light to Amazon/Deliveroo deal

Amazon has been given approval by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to buy a minority stake in Deliveroo.

Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen to re-open... with just three tables

Nathan Outlaw’s casual (but still Michelin-starred) Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen restaurant is Port Isaac in to re-open later this week with just three tables.

Paris Society set to make London debut

French-based hospitality group Paris Society is finally set to open its first London outpost next month, on the Covent Garden site previously occupied by L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon.

Football-focussed competitive socialising concept TOCA secures massive debut site

The O2 in London's Greenwich Peninsula is to become home to a massive 30,000sq ft 'interactive football and entertainment venue' featuring a 'chef-driven' F&B offering.

Wingmans lands in Soho

Cult chicken concept Wingmans is to open a huge 150-cover restaurant on the former Belgo site in London's Soho next week.

PizzaExpress plans for major restructuring that could see 15% of its UK estate closed

PizzaExpress is to undergo a financial and operational restructuring that will see it close a portion of its UK estate and put over 1,000 jobs at risk.

Queensway café Normah's launches crowdfund to help secure its future

Family-run Malaysian café Normah's has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help it survive the Coronavirus pandemic and successfully reopen.

Disabled people fear exclusion due to Covid-19 precautions

Disabled access review website Euansguide.com is imploring restaurants to ensure their Covid-19 precautions don’t make venues less accessible for disabled people.

Low footfall forces Oklava Bakery + Wine to close indefinitely

Chef Selin Kiazim has announced that the recently reopened Oklava Bakery + Wine in London's Fitzrovia has been closed 'for the foreseeable future'.

Kitchen Table to takeover Bubbledogs space

James Knappett and Sandia Chang’s diminutive Fitzrovia fine dining restaurant Kitchen Table is to expand into the space that was previously home to their Champagne and hot dog concept Bubbledogs.

Minister shuns suggestions of shutting restaurants and pubs as ‘trade-off’ to reopen schools

The Housing Secretary has quelled speculation that restaurants and pubs could be ordered to close again as part of a ‘trade-off’ to allow children to return to classrooms in September.

Downtime Development: Alaska black cod with Jersey Royals and petits pois à la Française

Former Elystan Street head chef Toby Burrowes cooks a summery dish that pairs Alaska black cod with Jersey Royals and petits pois à la Française.

Wirral’s Beacon Arts Village names first F&B outlet

The first of three restaurants due to open at Wirral arts development Beacon Arts Village has been named as the Middle East-inspired Beldi.

Itsu pursues CVA in a bid to cut rents across much of its estate

Itsu intends to close two sites and cut rents on a further 53 of its UK locations by means of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

Eat Out to Help Out launches with over 72,000 restaurants signed up

More than 72,000 restaurants across the UK have now signed up to participate in the Government's Eat Out to Help Out initiative, which launches today (3 Aug).

Byron to shutter 30 sites following pre-pack deal

Burger chain Byron has been sold in a pre-pack deal that will more than half of the group's 51-strong estate closed permanently.

Andi Oliver and Fred Sirieix to open One Love pop up restaurant and bar

Andi Oliver and Fred Sirieix are opening a pop-up restaurant and bar space in Clapton, east London, this month.

Casual Dining Group rebrands as The Big Table after being acquired by former TGI Friday’s backer

Casual Dining Group (CDG) has been acquired in a pre-pack administration deal by private equity firm Epiris, the former backer of restaurant group TGI Friday’s.