All news articles for April 2022

Pret A Manger plots Irish expansion

Pret plots Irish expansion

By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is to expand into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for the first time after securing a new agreement with existing franchise partner Carebrook Partnership.

Friday five: the week's top stories

Friday five: the week's top stories

By Restaurant

The rule that large restaurant groups now have to display the calorie counts of their dishes on their menus stole this week's headlines.

Flash-grilled: Sarah Hayward

Flash-grilled: Sarah Hayward

By James McAllister

The head chef at Tom Kerridge's The Coach in Marlow on admiration for her boss, a love of Wagamamas and overly green peas.

Acme Fire Cult opening Andrew Clarke

Latest opening: Acme Fire Cult

By Joe Lutrario

Andrew Clarke and Daniel Watkins have found a permanent home for their live fire cooking concept at Dalston’s 40FT Brewery.

Hand-pulled noodle concept set for Chinatown London

Hand-pulled noodle concept set for Chinatown London

By Joe Lutrario

Chinatown London-based restaurateur Alex Xu will launch what’s claimed to be the UK’s first ‘live’ hand-pulled noodle concept on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Wardour Street later this spring.

Photo credit: Marie-Paule Herman

Uncorked: Marie-Paule Herman

By Joe Lutrario

The group sommelier and senior ops manager at Maximal Concepts on her wine list at the recently launched The Aubrey and her love of riesling and Champagne.

Hospitality job moves April

People on the move: April 2022

By Joe Lutrario

This month's jobs moves include a raft of new appointments and promotions at Wiltshire's Whatley Manor and a new chef for Eldr Dining Rooms at Pantechnicon.

Credit: Paul Winch-Furness

How I Got Here: Marcello Bernardi

By James McAllister

The restaurateur behind The Italian Greyhound in London's Marylebone on rebranding his business, changing bad attitudes within the industry, and what makes hospitality such a special sector to work in.

Tom Cenci departs Stoney Street

Tom Cenci departs Stoney Street

By James McAllister

Chef Tom Cenci has left his role overseeing the food at Borough Market restaurant Stoney Street and 26 Grains in Neal's Yard, Covent Garden.

The Vurger Co. vegan burger restaurant heads to Manchester

The Vurger Co. heads north

By Joe Lutrario

London and Brighton-based vegan fast-food restaurant The Vurger Co. will make its Northern debut later this month in Manchester.

TVG group to launch Bankside restaurant

TVG to launch Bankside restaurant

By James McAllister

The Venue Group (TVG) is to launch a new Bankside restaurant in the space that previously occupied Flat Iron Square.

Popeyes kickstarts UK rollout with second UK opening in Chelmsford Essex

Popeyes kickstarts UK rollout

By James McAllister

Popeyes is to open its second UK site in Chelmsford, Essex, as it looks to kickstart its UK rollout.

£330m in hospitality and leisure Omicron grants 'unspent by councils'

£330m in Omicron grants 'unspent by councils'

By James McAllister

More than half of the grant money promised to hospitality and leisure businesses in England in the wake of the Omicron variant has yet to be distributed by councils.

Liquid assets: the latest drinks releases for April

Liquid assets: the latest drinks releases for April

By Restaurant

Yet more flavoured gin, canned non-alcoholic aperitifs, a 16 year-old pineau finished whisky, and the long-awaited 2019 Château d’Yquem release are among this month's drinks launches.

Image: Marc Millar

Flash-grilled: Mark Donald

By James McAllister

The executive chef at The Glenturret Lalique restaurant in Crieff on his respect for Albert Adrià, the culinary status of sea urchins, and his mum's lasagne.