Casual Dining

BrewDog to roll out across travel hubs under SSP partnership

23-May-2023 By James McAllister

BrewDog has partnered with SSP Group to bring the brand to various travel locations in the UK, beginning with a site at London Gatwick Airport.

Unite petition calls on PizzaExpress to abandon 'labour management scheme'

23-May-2023 By James McAllister

Unite union has launched a petition protesting PizzaExpress’s plans to slash hours for hundreds of its waiting staff and hand their duties over to restaurant managers, garnering support from thousands.

Inception Group secures £6.7m loan to fund growth

22-May-2023 By Restaurant

Inception Group has secured a £6.7m loan from OakNorth Bank to continue to help fund its expansion.

Vinoteca blames energy prices and train strikes as it shutters Birmingham site

19-May-2023 By James McAllister

Wine bar and restaurant group Vinoteca is to close its huge site within Birmingham’s Paradise development after less than a year, blaming rising energy prices and ongoing train strikes.

Latest opening: Ploussard

19-May-2023 By James McAllister

The duo behind London’s cult fried chicken brand Other Side Fried are shifting gears with their latest venture – a neighbourhood-style restaurant in Battersea Rise.

Chaakoo Bombay Café comes to Edinburgh

19-May-2023 By Restaurant

Glasgow restaurant Chaakoo Bombay Café is expanding beyond the city with a site in Edinburgh.

Tension builds ahead of TRG crunch meeting

19-May-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Hedge fund Oasis Management Company has ratcheted up its attacks on The Restaurant Group (TRG), accusing it of withholding information from key shareholders ahead of next week’s annual general meeting.

Oowee vegan to close its Dalston site

18-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Vegan restaurant group Oowee will close its Dalston restaurant later this month.

PizzaExpress cuts hours for waiting staff in job role shakeup

18-May-2023 By Restaurant

PizzaExpress is to slash hours for hundreds of its waiting staff and hand their duties over to restaurant managers, in a move that has been met with resistance from employees.

MEATliquor to expand through Sessions kitchens

17-May-2023 By Georgi Gyton

MEATliquor to expand across delivery-only kitchens for the first time after partnering with Sessions.

Latest opening: Chalk

16-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Former Bonhams and The Pass chef Tom Kemble has returned to the stove with an approachable but carefully-conceived winery restaurant in West Sussex.

Social Pantry appoints James Spragg as non-executive chairman

15-May-2023 By James McAllister

London-based restaurant group and catering company Social Pantry has announced the appointment of former Casual Dining Group CEO James Spragg as its new non-executive chairman.

Luca and Secret Cinema trio partner with AngloThai’s John Chantarasak for three-month pop-up

15-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The founders of Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Luca and a trio from events company Secret Cinema will partner with AngloThai chef John Chantarasak for a three-month pop-up at 180 The Strand next month.

Nando’s rolls out energy recycling system

15-May-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

Nando’s has announced it is using waste heat generated from its kitchen to heat water and buildings following the success of a year-long trial at its Didsbury branch in Manchester.

TRG faces new investor pressure

15-May-2023 By James McAllister

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has come under renewed pressure from investors after Coltrane Asset Management, which has built a 3% stake in the business, called for change at the company.

Perch to open fourth seaside restaurant

15-May-2023 By Restaurant

Sussex-based restaurant group Perch has taken on the former site of Kenny Tutt’s Bayside Social for its fourth opening.

Meat the Fish to open in Chelsea

12-May-2023 By Restaurant

Lebanese hospitality group Nothing But Love is to open its second London restaurant.

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants ‘on course’ with growth strategy as sales rise significantly

12-May-2023 By James McAllister

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants remains ‘committed to and on course’ with its growth strategy both in the UK and internationally amid a significant rise in sales.

Latest opening: The Three Horseshoes

12-May-2023 By Restaurant

Margot Henderson’s first pub with rooms has opened in the small village of Batcombe in Somerset.

“We want our destiny in our own hands”: Marco Mendes on MJMK’s crowdfund

12-May-2023 By Stefan Chomka

The co-founder of the restaurant group behind Casa do Frango and Santiago Lastra’s KOL discusses its expansion plans.

MJMK surpasses £1m crowdfund target

12-May-2023 By Restaurant

Restaurant group MJMK has already passed its crowdfunding target moments after its launch.

Tendril secures pop-up spot on permanent basis

12-May-2023 By James McAllister

Tendril, the 'mostly vegan' concept led by former Chiltern Firehouse chef Rishim Sachdeva, will launch its first permanent restaurant this summer just off Regent Street in central London.

Rosa's Thai secures funding from Barclays as it plots further expansion

11-May-2023 By James McAllister

Rosa’s Thai has secured a new £10m bank facility from Barclays to help fund its ongoing openings pipeline.

TRG receives welcome boost from largest shareholder ahead of AGM

11-May-2023 By James McAllister

Beleaguered casual dining operator The Restaurant Group (TRG) has received the backing of its largest shareholder ahead of its AGM later this month.

Comptoir Group posts strong recovery

10-May-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

Comptoir Group has posted revenue of £31.7m for its 2022 financial year, up 49.7% from £20.7m in 2021.

Lina Stores heads south of the river

10-May-2023 By James McAllister

London-based Italian brand Lina Stores will launch its first outpost south of the river next month in Clapham, nearly two years after the opening was first mooted.

Prezzo warns creditors it would ‘likely enter administration’ without restructuring plan

10-May-2023 By James McAllister

Prezzo has warned creditors that it would ‘likely enter into administration’ should its recently announced restructuring plan, which will see nearly a third of its estate closed, not be implemented.

Rising cost pressures force Cardiff restaurant Bully’s to close after almost 30 years

09-May-2023 By James McAllister

Family-run Cardiff restaurant Bully’s has permanently closed its doors after almost 30 years as a result of rising cost pressures.

P.Franco to return following successful crowdfund

09-May-2023 By James McAllister

Lauded low-intervention wine bar and dining counter P.Franco in east London is set to reopen it doors next month following a successful crowdfund led by former manager Will Gee.

The Vurger Co. closes Canary Wharf site as founders acquire brand in pre-pack sale

05-May-2023 By James McAllister

Vegan fast food restaurant group The Vurger Co. has been bought out of administration by its founders in a pre-pack sale.

Fish Shop pair: “We don’t need to go further afield, we’ve got it all right here”

05-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Front and back of house duo Jasmine and Marcus Sherry have opened a stylish Highlands restaurant and fishmongers.

Arc Inspirations to open BOX bar in Birmingham

04-May-2023 By Restaurant

Bar operator Arc Inspirations will open its largest BOX bar to date in Birmingham this June.

Veteran Indian chef Brinder Narula to oversee the food at Kachori when it launches next month

04-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Upcoming Elephant and Castle Indian restaurant Kachori will be led by former Gymkhana and Benares chef Brinder Narula.

How I Got Here: Genevieve Sparrow

03-May-2023 By James McAllister

The founder of neighbourhood restaurant, café and wine bar Pasero in London's Tottenham on her extensive hospitality career, and the importance of finding a work-life balance and knowing your value.

Julie McEwan appointed permanent CEO at Hostmore

03-May-2023 By Georgi Gyton

Julie McEwan has been confirmed as the permanent CEO at Hostmore, having led the business on an interim basis since January.

Sticks’n’Sushi heads east with Shoreditch opening

03-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Danish-owned Japanese restaurant group Sticks’n’Sushi will open a restaurant on Shoreditch High Street this summer bringing its total number of UK sites to 11.

Mamma Dough bought out of administration

02-May-2023 By James McAllister

South London-based pizza chain Mamma Dough has been bought out of administration, with five of the group’s seven sites set to continue trading.

Jamie Oliver to return to London’s restaurant scene with new Covent Garden opening

02-May-2023 By James McAllister

Jamie Oliver has confirmed he will open a new ‘landmark’ restaurant in London’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, later this year.

The Restaurant Group reports ‘very encouraging’ performance

02-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Wagamama and Brunning & Price owner The Restaurant Group has reported a ‘very encouraging’ performance for the first four months of its financial year ahead of its AGM later this month.

Holy Carrot to make permanent debut in Notting Hill

02-May-2023 By Restaurant

Plant-based restaurant Holy Carrot will launch its debut permanent restaurant in Notting Hill this autumn.

Flat Iron sets its sights on Manchester

28-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

London-based steakhouse group Flat Iron is looking to open a restaurant in Manchester as part of a push outside of London.

Maison De Boeuf to launch in Cardiff

28-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

A Parisian-inspired bistro where steak frites is its hero dish is to open in Cardiff’s Castle Arcade next month.

New pan-Asian restaurant concept to debut in London

27-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

A new pan-Asian restaurant concept is to make its debut on Lisle Street in London’s Chinatown this summer with a former Hakkasan chef overseeing the menu.

Second shareholder voices intention to vote against TRG’s remuneration policies

27-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

A second shareholder in The Restaurant Group (TRG) has said it intends to vote against its remuneration policy, piling further pressure on the beleaguered casual dining operator.

Tapas Revolution leaves £4.3m deficit as it's acquired in pre-pack deal

27-Apr-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Tapas Revolution has left a deficit of £4.3m to unsecured creditors after being bought out of administration in a pre-pack deal.

Weekly eating out occasions fall by 6%

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Weekly eating and drinking out occasions have declined 6.7% year on year as consumers continue to alter behaviours in response to the cost-of-living crisis, new data from Lumina Intelligence shows.

How I Got Here: Andrea Fraquelli

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

The co-founder of the Brasseria Family group London and grandson of Spaghetti House co-founder Lorenzo Fraquelli on being a third-generation restaurateur, working with his brother, and his problems with VAT.

Oasis ups pressure on TRG as it urges shareholders to vote against remuneration policies

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

An activist investor in The Restaurant Group (TRG) has called on the company’s fellow shareholders to ‘reject pay without performance’ and vote against its remuneration policy at its upcoming AGM.

Latest opening: Browns Covent Garden

26-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

The brasserie and bar brand has relaunched its West End restaurant to celebrates its 50th birthday.

Restaurant groups 'relying on menu price rises to stem delivery and takeaway losses'

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Delivery and takeaway sales at Britain’s top restaurant groups in March were 3% below the same month in 2022, the new Hospitality at Home Tracker from CGA by NIQ reveals.