Hospitality news

Top Headlines

Healthy competition: Gary Jones and David Mulcahy on National Chef of the Year 2019

The National Chef of the Year (NCOTY) 2019 chairman of judges and competition director on the importance of cooking competitions and their tips for the 10 finalists.

Sutton and Sons sends its Hackney restaurant 100% vegan

East London fish and chip shop Sutton and Sons will re launch its Graham Road restaurant as a fully vegan faux-fish and chip shop

Flash-grilled: Anna Hansen

A protégé of fusion pioneer Peter Gordon, Anna Hansen founded The Modern Pantry in Clerkenwell in 2008.

Usain Bolt to open a Jamaican restaurant in London

The world’s fastest runner, Usain Bolt, will launch the first UK iteration of his Jamaican restaurant chain next month.

Billy and the Chicks in Soho to be replaced by "bowl food" restaurant

Russian chef and cookery TV presenter Zafira Ragimova will lauch a bowl-food restaurant in Soho’s St Anne’s Court.

Pide restaurant founded by Alan Yau closes its doors

Babaji Pide, the Turkish pide restaurant launched by Alan Yau in 2015 has closed.

Exit Interviews: Four former chefs on life after restaurants

Why do so many chefs turn their backs on the kitchen? And what does life after restaurants look like? Four former chefs spill the beans.

Ernst Van Zyl calls time on plans to open Restaurant Klok

Chef Ernst Van Zyl has canned plans to open a restaurant in Stockport and will close the Just Giving page he had set up to finance the launch.

Gaucho CVA given the green light

Gaucho has received approval from the majority of its creditors for its Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) plan.

Latest opening: Kahani

Former Tamarind chef Peter Joseph has opened his debut restaurant.

Welsh restaurant asks to hand back Michelin star

The Checkers restaurant in Montgomery, Wales, has asked to “hand back” its Michelin star ahead of a change in the direction of the business.

Coconut Tree begins expansion with two Bristol restaurants

Sri Lankan restaurant group Coconut Tree is set to open two Bristol restaurants before the end of the year.

Friday Five: the week's top news

We round-up some of the top hospitality stories you might have missed this week

Tossed reaps benefits of turning restaurants cashless

The food and commercial director of Tossed has said its “controversial” decision to become cashless has resulted in “massive benefits” for its restaurants.

"Prezzo lost its focus" says executive chairwoman

Prezzo executive chair Karen Jones says she is on a mission to restore the struggling Italian brand and “make customers love it again”.

How I got here: Thom Elliot

Thom Elliot founded Pizza Pilgrims with brother James in 2012. The pair now operate nine locations in London and a restaurant in Oxford.

'Affordable luxury': Black Cod & Wagyu comes to Soho

Not content with making lobster a more democratic and affordable ingredient, the team behind Burger & Lobster is now attempting to do the same with two other luxury foods - black cod and wagyu beef.

Idris Elba's cocktail bar to join the Waldorf Hilton's food and beverage line-up

British actor Idris Elba will launch a cocktail bar and gig space at London’s Waldorf Hilton next month.

Firezza founder to relaunch Santa Maria's Ealing pub

Ealing-based Neapolitan pizza business Santa Maria has partnered with Firezza co-founder Edin Basic to relaunch the Red Lion pub.

Legna joins Opheem in Aktar Islam's AI Restaurants group

Birmingham restaurateur Aktar Islam will add an Italian restaurant to his restaurant portfolio when he launches Legna in November.

Does your online reputation hang in the balance?

Restaurants must harness the power of the internet if they want to boost and maintain their reputation

"We're a brash New York restaurant, and we don't want to change": Ed Schoenfeld on bringing RedFarm to the UK

Earlier this month, prolific US restaurateur Ed Schoenfeld quietly launched the UK iteration of his famous New York based Chinese restaurant RedFarm in Covent Garden.

Bristol's Old Vic to launch new all-day restaurant next week

All-day restaurant 1766 Bar & Kitchen will launch at the Old Vic in Bristol, as part of the historic theatre’s redevelopment.

Zero tolerance: How alcohol-free spirits are shaking up the market

The market for zero-proof spirits is booming, meaning it’s never been easier to serve sophisticated non-alcoholic drinks.

Veggie Pret is coming to Manchester

Pret A Manger is to open its first vegetarian-only store in Manchester next month.

Restaurateur jailed for running companies despite ban

A restaurateur who oversaw three London sites has been jailed for 14 months after continuing to run companies despite a previous ban.

Simon Anderson's Market Halls to launch second site this autumn

Simon Anderson and Andy Lewis-Pratt will launch the second of their three scheduled Market Halls, following a short delay.

London's second Sushisamba is finally opening this autumn

Sushisamba is to finally open its long-awaited second London restaurant in Covent Garden this autumn.

KERB teams up with WeWork to launch a meat-free market

Street food collective KERB will launch a weekly vegetarian market this month in collaboration with office space company WeWork.

Hummus Bros collapsed after failed bid to expand off the high street

Hummus Bros went in to administration after its owners failed to raise funding to expand the brand away from the high street, according to the administrator’s report.