Casual Dining

Japes gears up for UK rollout

20-Jun-2023 By Restaurant

Chicago style pizza brand Japes will open its first franchise site this autumn as part of its expansion plans.

D&D appoints advisors to raise new finance as LDC exits group

19-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

D&D London has appointed advisors from Interpath Advisory’s corporate finance practice to explore raising new finance after confirming that its long-term backer LDC has exited the business.

Napoli on the Road to launch second restaurant

19-Jun-2023 By Restaurant

Neapolitan pizzeria Napoli on the Road will open a second site in London next month.

Beyoncé's BeyGOOD charity awards Tottenham restaurant Chuku's $10,000 grant

19-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

Nigerian restaurant Chuku’s in London's Tottenham has been awarded a $10,000 grant by BeyGOOD, the charity founded by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.

Azzurri Group acquires Ireland-based Mexican chain Boojum

19-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

Azzurri Group has acquired a controlling interest in Ireland-based, fast-casual Mexican chain Boojum and plans to expand the brand across Great Britain.

M&B tipped as frontrunner in £600m Whitbread sale process

16-Jun-2023 By Georgi Gyton

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has been tipped as the frontrunner in the sale of 250 of Whitbread’s 440 pub-restaurants.

Latest opening: Cantinetta Antinori

16-Jun-2023 By Joe Lutrario

An Italian restaurant linked to one of the world’s most famous wine companies has opened in London’s Knightsbridge.

Jeremy Clarkson loses appeal against Diddly Squat farm restaurant closure

16-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

Jeremy Clarkson has lost his bid to reopen his Diddly Squat farm restaurant in Chadlington, Oxfordshire.

Prezzo appoints new CFO in ‘final chapter’ of strategic review

15-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

Prezzo has appointed Jo Harrison as its chief financial officer, marking ‘the final chapter’ of a strategic review that recently saw the group shutter nearly a third of its estate.

Margate’s GB-PIZZA-CO to reopen following fire

14-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

Margate pizzeria GB-PIZZA-CO is to reopen its doors next month after an arson attack forced it to close in October last year.

San Carlo to move West End Cicchetti to a larger site

14-Jun-2023 By Restaurant

San Carlo is relocating its West End Cicchetti restaurant down the road in a move that will double its size.

YO! owner bought by Japanese foodservice company Zensho Holdings

13-Jun-2023 By Georgi Gyton

The Snowfox Group, operator of sushi brand YO! has been acquired by Japanese foodservice company Zensho Holdings, in a deal which values Snowfox at $621m.

Brasserie Bar Co to become Heartwood Collection

13-Jun-2023 By Restaurant

Brasserie Bar Co is rebranding as the Heartwood Collection as it shifts focus into becoming a freehold pub company with a premium brasserie division.

Daylesford to launch The Bell at Charlbury

13-Jun-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Carole Bamford’s Daylesford business will launch a pub in the Cotswold market town of Charlbury this Autumn.

Laylow team to launch new restaurant and bakery in Chelsea

12-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

The team behind Notting Hill members’ club and restaurant Laylow are to launch a new concept on the corner of Sloane Street and Ellis Street in London’s Chelsea this month.

Fulham Shore takeover deal voted through

12-Jun-2023 By Georgi Gyton

Fulham Shore’s acquisition by Japanese food conglomerate Toridoll for £93.4m has been approved by shareholders at a Court Meeting and General Meeting held on Friday (9 June).

Flat Iron to launch Cambridge restaurant next month

09-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

Steakhouse group Flat Iron will open a huge, 120 cover restaurant next month on Market Street in Cambridge – its first site outside of London.

Nightcap buys bar group Dirty Martini

09-Jun-2023 By Restaurant

Late-night bar operator Nightcap has bought the 10-strong bar group Dirty Martini as well as its Tuttons Brasserie brand.

The Coconut Tree delays paying wages as it struggles with ‘unforeseen costs’

09-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

Sri Lankan restaurant group The Coconut Tree has told employees that payment of their wages for May have been delayed because of ‘unforeseen costs to the business’.

Boatfolk Bars to launch The Lightship at Haslar Marina

08-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

Hospitality operator Boatfolk Bars is to launch a new restaurant this month housed on a converted 1940’s ex-Trinity House lightvessel at Haslar Marina in Gosport.

Pizzeria group Zia Lucia eyes UK expansion

08-Jun-2023 By Restaurant

London-based pizzeria group Zia Lucia has announced plans to expand across the UK following its success in the capital.

James and Maria Close create small bites menu for Johnnie Walker’s Edinburgh venue

08-Jun-2023 By Joe Lutrario

James and Maria Close have partnered with Johnnie Walker Princes Street to launch a menu of intricate small bites designed to be paired with whisky-based cocktails.

Tao Group Hospitality to launch Italian restaurant at upcoming London hotel The BoTree

07-Jun-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Tao Group Hospitality will bring its Italian restaurant brand LAVO Ristorante to London next year.

Danielle Phillips and Dan Saunders bring The Gaff to Bath

07-Jun-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Danielle Phillips and Dan Saunders have chosen Bath for their second The Gaff restaurant.

TGI Fridays owner reports further sales decline

07-Jun-2023 By Restaurant

TGI Fridays owner Hostmore has reported a 3% decline in like-for-like (lfl) sales for the 22 weeks to 4 June 2023 – down from -1% in the first 16 weeks.

Nick Nairn sets opening date for his new Bridge of Allan restaurant

06-Jun-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Scottish chef Nick Nairn will reopen his Bridge of Allan restaurant next month following a devastating fire in 2021.

Yard Sale explores options for growth

06-Jun-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Neighbourhood pizza shop concept Yard Sale Pizza has appointed advisors as it considers 'a number of potential options' to grow the brand further.

Bancone heads to Borough Yards for ‘biggest opening yet’

05-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

London-based fresh pasta restaurant Bancone will open its third site next month in the Borough Yards development.

Business Profile

Wharf fare: Blacklock’s Gordon Ker on taking chops to Docklands

05-Jun-2023 By Stefan Chomka

The opening of a new restaurant in Canary Wharf has taken the chop-focused group to five sites.

Billy Stock to lead the kitchen at Margate’s Sète

01-Jun-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Natalia Ribbe has appointed former St John and The Marksman chef Billy Stock to lead the kitchen at her Margate venue Sète.

Europe's first Monorail sushi will arrive in London next month

01-Jun-2023 By Joe Lutrario

A sushi restaurant that features a monorail system that delivers orders to diners will launch in Shoreditch next month.

Latest opening: BAO Mary

31-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The London group’s latest outpost is inspired by the dumpling houses of Taiwan and pitched at diners in a hurry.

How I Got Here: Emma Reynolds

31-May-2023 By James McAllister

The co-founder of ramen chain Tonkotsu on cost pressures, trusting your gut, and her first restaurant job.

Crispin team to launch Bistro Freddie concept after acquiring Oklava site

31-May-2023 By James McAllister

The team behind London restaurants Crispin and Bar Crispin is to launch a new bistro concept this summer having acquired the former Oklava site in Shoreditch.

Spring 2024 date set for Albert’s Schloss' London debut

31-May-2023 By Restaurant

Mission Mars will open its Albert’s Schloss venue in London next spring on the former Rainforest Café site on Shaftesbury Avenue.

Turtle Bay reaches 50 site milestone

31-May-2023 By James McAllister

Caribbean-inspired restaurant group Turtle Bay will open its 50th UK site in August in Camden, which will also mark the brand’s first outpost in north London.

KIBOU heads to Cambridge

30-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Premium casual Japanese group Kibou will open a site in Cambridge this summer taking its total number of sites to five.

Akwasi Brenya-Mensa’s The Africa Centre restaurant Tatale to close

30-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Akwasi Brenya-Mensa will close his Tatale restaurant at Southwark’s The Africa Centre next month.

MW Eat acquires the Criterion Restaurant site in Piccadilly Circus for Masala Zone

30-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Chutney Mary and Amaya operator MW Eat has taken the Criterion Restaurant site in London’s Piccadilly Circus for its more informal Masala Zone brand.

Whitbread considering sale of restaurant brands

30-May-2023 By James McAllister

Whitbread is understood to be exploring the potential sale of part of its £700m pub and restaurant arm in order to focus its efforts on its Premier Inn hotel chain.

Latest opening: Lilienblum

26-May-2023 By Restaurant

Mizon founder Eyal Shani continues his march on the London food scene with his new Shoreditch restaurant.

Jeffrey Robinson to launch ‘sustainably-driven’ Cornish pub Harbour House next month

26-May-2023 By James McAllister

Chef Jeffery Robinson will launch his latest venture next month, a ‘sustainably-driven’ pub overlooking the waterfront in the village of Flushing on the south Cornish coast.

Santoro brothers to launch new fast food concept

25-May-2023 By James McAllister

A pair of vegan-focused restaurateurs are to launch a new fast food restaurant in London’s Soho that will serve both meat and plant-based dishes.

Selina takes restaurant brand HOWM to Margate

25-May-2023 By Restaurant

Hospitality group Selina is bringing its British and European style restaurant brand HOWM to its Margate hotel.

David Thompson pulls out of Chinatown restaurant

24-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

High-profile Australian chef David Thompson and his partner TGP International are understood to have pulled out of the Chinatown site that had been secured for Thai casual dining concept Long Chim.

Pizza Pilgrims to launch new deli concept as it prepares to open 20th pizzeria

24-May-2023 By James McAllister

Pizza Pilgrims will open its 20th restaurant this summer, which will launch alongside a new deli concept selling Italian produce and dry store goods.

Rare Restaurants posts “record financial results”

24-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The company behind Gaucho and M has announced “record financial results” for the year ending 1 January 2023 with turnover up 29% on its pre-pandemic 2019 figures.

TRG to keep remuneration policy ‘under active review’ after overcoming investor revolt

23-May-2023 By James McAllister

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has said it will keep its remuneration policy ‘under active review’ after more than a third of investors voted against it at the group’s AGM.