Friday Five: the week's top news
- Jeremy King has revealed plans to open a total of three new London establishments next year. Following the announcement earlier this month that he's signed to open a restaurant in the new Park Modern building near London’s Kensington Palace Gardens next spring, King has told the FT that he is also in the 'advanced' stage of planning for two further restaurants, both located in his traditional West End stomping ground. The exact locations of the two new restaurants are yet to be disclosed, but it's reported that King has viewed the Grade II-listed former NatWest bank site on Piccadilly that's just across the road from his former flagship, The Wolseley.
- UKHospitality has warned recommendations made by Ofgem in its non-domestic market review ‘must be actioned urgently’ if the sector is to avoid further business failures. In its review, published this week, the energy market regulator made a series of recommendations and proposed regulation changes in a bid to better protect customers in the non-domestic sector and hold suppliers to account. They include changes to the regulatory framework to require timely responses to complaints and stepped-up reporting to Ofgem on complaint handling, amid evidence that non-domestic customers are not always receiving the levels of customer service they need and have a right to expect; and proposals to increase transparency of third-party intermediary (TPI) commissions for all customers. Ofgem has also called on the Government to consider implementing regulation of the TPI market, and give businesses unable to resolve a problem with their TPI greater access to redress schemes. Additionally, the energy regulator has requested the Government consider widening access to the energy ombudsman, which is currently restricted to domestic customers and smaller businesses; and says it will work with stakeholders to improve transparency in bills.
- Popular Glasgow restaurant Monadh Kitchen has closed its doors with immediate effect, with its owners blaming the ‘financial burden of the world we live in’. The Bearsden restaurant, which held a Michelin Bib Gourmand, opened in 2017 and was led by husband and wife team Martin and Sharlene Thlivero, who said they made the decision for the health and well-being of their family. Monadh Kitchen is one of two high-profile Glasgow restaurants to announce its closure in recent days as a result of ongoing financial pressures. The other is Brian Maule at Chardon d'Or, which shut its doors on 21 July after 22 years of trading and subsequently fell into administration. Elsewhere, Leicester restaurant and Champagne bar The Case has closed its doors after 33 years. Owner David Hartshorn announced the news ‘with a heavy heart’ on the venue's website, saying The Case had survived recessions and a pandemic, but now had ‘no more to give’.
- London-based steakhouse chain Flat Iron has accused its insurer QIC Europe of failing to pay for losses associated with disruption suffered during Covid 19 lockdowns. It joins a number of restaurant businesses who are bringing legal proceedings against an insurer for pandemic related losses. Flat Iron Steak Ltd says QIC Europe has refused to provide cover for losses during the period that lockdown forced its sites to close in line with government regulations. The steakhouse chain, which operates nine sites across the capital, claims these circumstances were covered by a business interruption insurance contract, which the European insurer has failed to pay out on. Flat Iron argued that each interruption or interference to its business justified a separate claim for loss, each with a separate limit of £1m ($1.29m).
- The UK’s largest trade show focused on the restaurant sector will return to Olympia London this October. For over 30 years, The Restaurant Show has been the flagship trade show for restaurateurs and chefs, casual dining operators as well as pub, bar and street food operators. Coupled with Catering Expo Equipment, the three-day exhibition champions the outstanding products, people, insight and innovation of the food and drink industry.
For more of this week's headlines, click here.
