Friday five: the week's top hospitality stories
- The future of wine bar and restaurant concept Vinoteca is in doubt after the company filed for protection from its creditors. The business, which was founded by Charlie Young and Brett Woonton in 2005, has filed a court notice of its intention to appoint administrators to secure breathing space from creditors. It may fall into insolvency unless it restructures its debts within 10 days. Vinoteca operates five London sites in Chiswick, Borough Yards, Farringdon, the City and King’s Cross. In July last year it made its first move outside of the capital to Birmingham with the opening of a 4,500sq ft venue in the Paradise development, but the venue closed in May after less than a year.
- Soho restaurant Bob Bob Ricard is getting a more informal sibling in the form of Bébé Bob. Located on the the former Folie site that sits opposite the Bob Bob Ricard on Golden Square, Bébé Bob will major in rotisserie chicken, fine wines and champagne. Two varieties of chicken from different regions in France, Vendee and Landes, chosen by group chef director Ben Hobson, will lie at the heart of the menu.
- Vegan brand Neat Burger has resumed its expansion push in the UK with the opening of two sites this month, including a new format. The plant-based burger group has opened venues in Dalston and Boxpark Wembley, taking its estate to nine in the capital. The Dalston restaurant takes a new grab and go format with customers able to place their order using a kiosk or get it delivered via its partners at Deliveroo, Uber Eats or Just Eat. Neat Burger currently operates nine sites in London, in Camden, Dalston, Soho, Oxford Circus, Westfield Stratford City, Canary Wharf, Victoria, Boxpark Wembley, and Liverpool Street as well as one in Dubai Mall and another in New York.
- Soho House will open its first venue in Scotland next year. The group is opening a club in Glasgow in the former Parish Halls building on George Street, overlooking Glasgow City Chambers. The four-storey venue will have a number of spaces for members to eat and drink including a roof terrace. The group had been expected to announce the move with Soho House founder Nick Jones revealing in an interview last year that Glasgow was “very much at the forefront of the list for future openings".
- Joël Robuchon International is bringing the late French chef’s L’Atelier brand back to London, replacing the site that previously housed Le Comptoir Robuchon in Mayfair. L’Atelier Robuchon London will launch next month on Clarges Street and will be a counterpart to the group’s other L’Atelier restaurants in Hong Kong, Miami, Taipei, Las Vegas and Geneva. The relaunch is being spearheaded by executive chef Andrea Cofini, who joined the Robuchon group in 2014. It marks a return to London for Robuchon’s L’Atelier brand. L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon was opened in Covent Garden by the eponymous late French chef in 2006 and held a Michelin star from 2007. The restaurant closed in 2019 following the Robuchon’s death the year before.
