Hospitality news

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"It’s a place where we can immerse ourselves in hospitality" Nuno Mendes on Mãos

Mãos is a ‘hidden’ Shoreditch venue that allows high-profile Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes to offer an immersive and intimate experience that challenges preconceived notions of eating out

Wright & Bell adds Whyte & Brown to its hospitality portfolio

Imbiba-backed bar and restaurant group Wright & Bell has acquired the Kingly Court chicken restaurant Whyte & Brown.

Pip Lacey confirms Coal Drops Yards opening

Former Murano chef Pip Lacey has confirmed she will open her debut solo restaurant project within trendy clothes retailer Wolf & Badger’s new location in King’s Cross.

Tom Simmons Tower Bridge calls in the administrators

Chef Tom Simmons’ debut restaurant at Tower Bridge has gone into administration, it has been confirmed.

Adam Rawson to oversee the restaurant at The Standard's debut UK hotel

Former Pachamama head chef Adam Rawson will head up the kitchen at The Standard Hotel’s first international iteration.

James Cochran's new restaurant replaces Chinese Laundry

Half a year after the closure of his previous Angel restaurant, chef James Cochran will launch his follow-up venture at a nearby site at the end of the month.

Half of UK adults concerned chains are taking over

Half of UK adults are concerned that their local high street is being taken over by restaurant chains and fast food chains to the detriment of independent businesses.

"I want to start the fight to keep space for independents": Aktar Islam is back on the Birmingham food scene

Aktar Islam, the former chef director of Birmingham’s Lasan Group, is gearing up for the expansion of his own restaurant group, AI Restaurants.

Tom Kitchin to launch Southside Scran this autumn

Tom Kitchin will add a fourth restaurant to The Kitchin Group portfolio when he launches Southside Scran in Edinburgh in November.

Virtual Hospitality: Where are we now?

Ashley Sheppard, vice president of guest sales at QSR Automations, on the future of technological innovations in hospitality.

The industry calls for government to cut 'misguided' plans for online knife sales ban

A petition for the government to scrap a policy proposal that would stop knife suppliers shipping knives to customers’ homes has been signed by over 21,000 people, including Wahaca founder Thomasina Miers and celebrity chef Mark Lloyd.

Tom Kerridge reveals more details about debut London restaurant

Tom Kerridge has revealed details for his debut London restaurant at the Corinthia Hotel London as reservation lines open ahead of its launch on 10 September.

Chef Kieren Steinborn-Busse to open inaugural solo project

Chef Kieren Steinborn-Busse and his wife Natasha are to open a restaurant in Buntingford, Hertfordshire, later this year.

Clive Watson to open restaurant at The Dixon

Blixen and Lorne owner Clive Watson is to open a restaurant at The Dixon, an upcoming boutique hotel in London’s Tower Bridge area.

Struggling restaurant chain Villandry goes into administration

The Villandry ‘grand café’ chain has closed all its sites, as the company calls in administrators.

Flash-grilled: Ben Tish

With over 20 years of experience under his belt, culinary director of the Stafford London, Ben Tish oversees the food at the Game Bird and American Bar, as well as its private dining operations.

Corbin & King launches 'learn while you earn' apprenticeship scheme

The hospitality group that owns some of London’s most iconic restaurants is launching an apprenticeship scheme to address the industry’s skilled chef shortage.

Laura Ashley chooses Buckinghamshire for its second Tea Room

Laura Ashley has launched a tea room at a Buckinghamshire hotel, ahead of its 2019 rebrand as a Laura Ashley hotel.

Temper turns two: What's next for the restaurant group?

With Temper, Neil Rankin and Sam Lee have created a diverse and distinct restaurant group, but one not without its challenges.

Ex-Lowry Hotel chef to head up the kitchen at new Manchester restaurant Mamucium

A new Manchester restaurant is set to open in the upcoming City Buildings development near Victoria Station.

Gaucho could do another diffusion brand despite Cau's failings, says CEO

Steakhouse brand Gaucho would consider launching another diffusion brand despite the woes of its sister brand Cau, which closed its UK restaurants last month, according to its CEO Oliver Meakin.

Chopstix to open 10 more restaurants in the next year

Asian quick-service restaurant chain Chopstix plans to open 10 new restaurants over the next 12 months as part of its nationwide expansion programme.

Friday Five: The week's top news

We round up some of the biggest hospitality news stories that you might have missed this week.

Gaucho CEO: "It is very much business at usual"

In an exclusive interview, Gaucho CEO Oliver Meakin discusses the current position of Gaucho, the closure of Cau and what the future holds for the steakhouse group.

The Lowdown: celebrity-backed restaurants

Rick Astley (of Never Gonna Give You Up fame) is opening a bar in London with a Danish microbrewer.

Chef John Burton-Race leaves Richardson Hotels [Updated]

Chef John Burton-Race has resigned from the trouble-hit Richardson Hotel Group after less than two years.

Daisy Green crowdfunds £2m to expand

Antipodean restaurant group Daisy Green has crowdfunded over £2m to open new sites in central London and beyond.

Elan Cafe takes Coppa Club's Oxford Circus site

West London’s Instagram-friendly brunch operator Elan Café is to take over the site of a former Coppa Club restaurant in Oxford Circus.

MEATliquor will bring its burgers and booze to Clapham next month

MEATliquor will open a restaurant in Clapham Junction next month, taking the site of a former steak restaurant.

Prescott and Conran owed £14m when it collapsed

Sir Terence Conran’s restaurant group collapsed owing £14m to creditors, documents show.

Belmond hotel and restaurant group considers sale

The owner of Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxford has announced it is exploring a possible sale of its entire company.

SSP brings Camden Market's street food to Stansted Airport

A Camden market-inspired restaurant concept has opened at Stansted Airport comprising a deli, bar and changing menu influenced bypopular London street food vendors.

Atul Kochhar no longer employed at Mayfair's Benares

Mayfair’s Benares has announced that former chef-patron Atul Kochhar is no longer employed at the restaurant.

Award-winning Suffolk chef secures second site

The owner of Bury-St-Edmunds’ award winning restaurant Ben’s, is set to open his second restaurant in the historic market town.

US-born Steak n Shake closes its only UK site

Chester’s outpost of US burger chain Steak n Shake closed its doors over the weekend, bringing an end to the restaurant’s presence in the UK.

Gaucho sale: Luke Johnson linked to steakhouse bid

Serial hospitality investor Luke Johnson is the latest name to be linked to the bidding process for the Gaucho restaurant chain.

Jason Atherton's Temple and Sons has closed

Temple and Sons, the City restaurant launched in partnership with Jason Atherton, has closed its doors.

McDonald's to trial 'luxury' reservation-only Kensington restaurant

McDonald’s is to trial its first reservation service as it marks the national roll-out of its Signature Collection burgers.

Latest opening: Casa do Frango

Casa do Frango opened this month, joining the burgeoning restaurant scene in the streets surrounding The Shard.

Mitch Tonks sets out Rockfish's expansion plan

Mitch Tonks’ seafood restaurant group Rockfish is gearing up for expansion, with three openings planned for the next 18 months.

Honest Burgers set for second South Bank spot

Honest Burgers is to open its second restaurant on London’s South Bank this year as it continues to expand in the capital and beyond.

Byron appoints new MD after staff reshuffle

The Byron burger chain has undergone a reshuffle of its senior staff after launching a turnaround plan to improve struggling sales.

Native's Ivan Tisdall-Downes: "We've always been ‘zero-waste’, we just didn’t shout about it"

Much-loved foraging-focused restaurant Native recently relocated from Neal’s Yard to London Bridge following council issues. BigHospitality spoke to co-founder Ivan Tisdall-Downes about the new site, his plans for the future, and why sustainability has...