Hospitality news

Headlines

Huw Gott: "It's right to support people to have access to food and drink when they most need it"

The Hawksmoor co-founder on his company's involvement with Action Against Hunger’s Love Food Give Food campaign.

Darjeeling Express to return to its pop-up roots ahead of relocation

Asma Khan’s Darjeeling Express is returning to its pop-up roots taking up residency at Kensington-based pub The Permbroke.

pub & bar

Latest opening: The Baring

Chef Rob Tecwyn and general manager Adam Symonds have reunited to open a gastropub in London's Islington, 10 years after they first met at Highgate’s renowned The Bull and Last.

Registrations open for The BigHospitality Expo and Low2NoBev 2022

The Big Hospitality Expo and Low2NoBev are both now open for guests to register for entry.

Friday Five: the week's top news

This week's top news stories include a new high-end Japanese restaurant heading to Manchester, a decline in the number of international workers in UK hospitality, and Robert Wood's latest venture.

Bob Bob Ricard secures funds to expand

Bob Bob Ricard has secured funds from lender ThinCats to help it expand its presence in the UK as well as abroad.

Consumer confidence hits all-time low

UK consumer confidence has fallen to a record low of -44, in GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index.

Pied à Terre's Asimakis Chaniotis to oversee the menu at new Soho restaurant and cocktail bar

Pied à Terre executive chef Asimakis Chaniotis is to oversee the menu at a new restaurant, cocktail bar and art space that's set to launch in London's Soho next month.

Tim Hortons to open first dark kitchen as expansion drive continues apace

Canadian restaurant brand Tim Hortons is to open its first dark kitchen in London following its entrance in the capital last month.

William Reed launches Omnichannel Foodservice Conference

A first of its kind event exploring the opportunities in diversifying beyond bricks and mortar restaurants and expanding into new sales channels is being launched.

Food hall to open in Ormskirk's former indoor market

A food and drink market is to open in Ormskirk this autumn in the space that was once home to the town’s indoor market.

Caribbean restaurant Ma Petite Jamaica heads to Shoreditch

Caribbean restaurant Ma Petite Jamaica is opening a second London restaurant, in Shoreditch.

Block Soho takes former Zelman Meats site in Soho

A new chophouse will open in Soho later this month on the former Zelman Meats site.

Taco Bell reaches 100 UK sites

Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant brand Taco Bell has opened it 100th UK site following 18 months of rapid growth.

Uncorked: Hylton Espey

The South African-born chef and wine expert behind ‘nature-inspired’ Falmouth restaurant Culture on early memories of pairing venison with Merlot and his pet hate when it comes to wine service.

pub & bar

Peckham Cellars team to launch Camberwell wine bar

The team behind south east London’s neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar Peckham Cellars are to launch a second site with adjacent bottle shop in the capital next year, in Camberwell.

Hospitality numbers stable in second quarter but costs crisis threatens recovery

Britain’s licensed sector has stabilised in the second quarter of 2022, the latest Market Recovery Monitor from CGA by NielsenIQ and AlixPartners reveals.

Soho House increases members

Soho House increased its UK membership by 20% in the last year from 45,277 to 54,764.

Latest opening: Roji

Husband and wife team Tamas Naszai and Tomoko Hasegawa have launched a considered counter-style Japanese restaurant in London's Mayfair.

Market Place announces new food hall in Vauxhall

Market Place heads to Vauxhall for third London food hall

Market Place London will open a its third food hall in the capital next month, in Vauxhall.

Number of international workers in UK hospitality sector shrinks by 200,000 since Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic Brexit EU worker decline

Number of international workers in UK hospitality sector shrinks by nearly 200,000

As many as 196,000 international workers including some 120,000 EU workers have left the UK hospitality sector since 2019, a new report from specialist hospitality hiring partner Caterer.com reveals.

pub & bar

How I Got Here: Tom Warner

The founder and CEO of Warner's Gin on combing his passions for food, drink and farming, championing sustainability in the spirits trade, and his recently launched pub accreditation scheme.

'More unwelcome news for hospitality' as inflation hits 10.1% in new 40-year high

'More unwelcome news for hospitality' as inflation hits new 40-year high

UK inflation hit a new 40-year high of 10.1% in July, official figures show, with industry voices demanding the Government finally introduce a reduction on VAT for the sector.

Comptoir Group touches down at Stanstead airport

Lebanese restaurant chain Comptoir Group has opened its latest restaurant at London Stansted Airport in partnership with franchise partner HMSHost International.

Menu prices set to rise a further 6% in next 12 months

Hospitality leaders plan to raise menu prices by a further 6% in the next 12 months, CGA and Fourth’s new Business Confidence Survey reveals.

pub & bar

Nightcap secures £10m debt facility

The Cocktail Club owner Nightcap has agreed a £10m debt refinancing facility that will be used partly to continue its expansion.

Selina to open in Margate

Hotel group Selina will open its sixth UK property next month, in the seaside town of Margate.

Hospitality job vacancies dip slightly but remain at record high

Job vacancies in the hospitality sector dipped slightly between May and July this year, according to the latest official figures, but remain at a record high.

pub & bar

Robert Wood to launch ambitious cocktail bar in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter

High-profile bartender Robert Wood will open an ambitious cocktail bar in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter next month that will offer cocktail 'tasting menus' of up to seven courses.

French chef Vincent Crepel to open Terre restaurant in County Cork’s Castlemartyr Resort

Chef Vincent Crepel will open his first solo venture outside of his native France next month in County Cork’s Castlemartyr Resort, Ireland.

Grounded Kitchen to open 50 new sites

Korean restaurant group Grounded Kitchen is looking to open 50 new sites across the UK as part of a franchise drive.

Shao Wei on his London Chinese restaurants Barshu and Baozi Inn

Comfortably numb: How Shao Wei spotted a gap in the market for lesser-known Chinese food

The restaurateur behind trailblazing Sichuan restaurant Barshu continues to make waves in Chinatown and beyond with restaurants that explore regional Chinese cuisine.

Like-for-like sales remain flat for managed managed pub, bar and restaurant groups CGA

Like-for-like sales remain flat for managed groups

July’s like-for-like (LFL) sales at Britain’s top managed pub, bar and restaurant groups held steady against pre-Covid levels of July 2019, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker reveals.

How Park Row Restaurant boosts demand with OpenTable

With the help of OpenTable, DC-inspired restaurant and bar venue Park Row in London's Soho has the tools it needs to boost demand and increase bookings.

Restaurant Coworth Park to relaunch as Woven by Adam Smith

Luxury Berkshire hotel Coworth Park is to relaunch its flagship restaurant as Woven by Adam Smith.

Japanese restaurant MUSU to open in Manchester this autumn

High-end Japanese restaurant MUSU will open on Manchester’s Bridge Street this autumn headed up by chef-patron Michael Shaw.

Casa do Frango to double its estate to four in the coming months

Piri-piri chicken specialist Casa do Frango will double its estate in the coming months with the opening of two new restaurants in the capital.

One in seven pubs and restaurants lost in The City of London since Covid

The City of London has seen a net decline of one in seven licensed premises since March 2020, the new Market Recovery Monitor from CGA by NielsenIQ and AlixPartners reveals.

Jaego's House to launch family-friendly waterside restaurant

Chef Alexander Militsopoulos will head up the kitchen at a new restaurant located at the soon-to-open family members club Jaego’s House.

Incipio acquires former Aster site in London Victoria Nova for new wet-led concept The Palm House

pub & bar

Incipio acquires former Aster site for new wet led concept

Incipio Group is to launch a new wet led concept next month on the site previously occupied by D&D London's Aster restaurant in London Victoria’s Nova development.

Caribbean restaurant group Cottons to move from Shoreditch Curtain Road to Hoxton Square

Cottons to move Shoreditch restaurant to larger Hoxton Square site

Caribbean restaurant group Cottons is relocating in Shoreditch, moving from Curtain Road to a new site in Hoxton Square.

Epsom Social food hall to launch later this month

Billed as Surrey’s first food hall, Epsom Social will bring together eight food vendors when it launches at the end of the month.

pub & bar

BrewDog applications up over 75% as it delivers first 'blueprint' profit share

BrewDog reports that job applications across its business are up by more than 75% as it delivers the first of its 'blueprint' profit share bonuses to bar staff.

McDonald's looks to hire more over-50s with new recruitment drive

McDonald’s has kicked off a recruitment drive to hire more over-50s, amid ongoing staffing struggles across the hospitality sector.

The Hush Collection restaurant group performs ‘well ahead of expectations’

The Hush Collection performs ‘well ahead of expectations’

Cabana and Haché-owner The Hush Collection has posted what it describes as ‘solid’ financial results for the year ending 26 December 2021, with turnover up 8.7% on the financial year before the pandemic.