Casual Dining

Chancellor commits to business rates and energy support but hospitality remains fearful for the future

17-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has confirmed that business rates relief and support with rising energy bills will continue for firms beyond April 2023 in his Autumn Statement.

MEATliquor closes its Boxpark Croydon restaurant

17-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

MEATliquor has closed it restaurant at Boxpark Croydon after six years of trading.

Egg shortage sees them dropped from menus

17-Nov-2022 By Georgi Gyton

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has been forced to take eggs off the menu on some of its breakfast dishes due to a national shortage.

Morty & Bobs to open third London restaurant

17-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Morty & Bobs will open its third site next month, in Kensal Rise, with plans to open two venues a year going forward.

Food prices rise by a fifth in just 12 months

17-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

The CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index (FPI) continued its relentless upward march again during October to hit 19.9% — a ninth consecutive month of double-digit inflation.

Nick Jones steps down from Soho House

17-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Nick Jones, founder of Soho House, has decided to step back from his role as chief executive at the private members’ club, following treatment for cancer.

Latest opening: Velvet

16-Nov-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Salvatore Calabrese, AKA The Maestro, is now overseeing Corinthia London’s flagship bar.

Loungers named Restaurant Group of the Year at R200 Awards

16-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Restaurant brands Loungers, Marugame Udon, Rudy’s Pizza, Boparan Restaurant Group, and Burger & Beyond were among the winners at this year’s annual R200 Awards.

Rising inflation continues to wipe out hospitality sales growth

16-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

October sales at Britain’s top managed restaurant, pub and bar groups were 1.5% ahead of the same month last year, the latest edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker reveals.

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Free safety guidance launched for Christmas and World Cup festivities

15-Nov-2022 By Shield Safety

Shield Safety has ramped up its campaign to help the hospitality sector prepare for its busiest period in over a decade as the festive period and World Cup coincide.

Ombra founder to launch Hackney bakery, pastificio and deli

15-Nov-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Ombra founder Mitshel Ibrahim will open a bakery, pastificio and deli under the arches next to Regent’s Canal in Hackney early next year.

Popeyes targets 20 new openings in 2023

15-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Popeyes is targeting 20 new restaurant openings in 2023, including its first drive-thru location.

Government set to announce living wage rise

15-Nov-2022 By Georgi Gyton

The Government is expected to announce a significant rise in the national living wage, from £9.50 an hour to around £10.40 an hour.

Hospitality firms 'most likely to cut trading to tackle energy costs'

15-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality firms are the most likely to cut trading in order to help mitigate the impact of rising energy costs, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Maray shutters Allerton Road restaurant

15-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Liverpool-based restaurant group Maray has permanently closed its restaurant on Allerton Road in order to focus its resources on the rest of its estate.

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Kitchen efficiencies all wrapped up

14-Nov-2022 By Santa Maria

Santa Maria’s Grill Mark Tortillas save both time and energy and give dishes a real wow factor.

KFC taking new approach to recruitment

14-Nov-2022 By Georgi Gyton

KFC is taking a new approach to recruitment with the launch of its new employability programme called Hatch.

Hospitality sector faces £900m business rates increase

14-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Hospitality businesses are facing a £900m increase in business rates next April, if current relief ends and rates increase in line with inflation, UKHospitality has warned.

Gunpowder plots an opening in Lisbon

11-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Harneet Baweja is taking his Gunpowder restaurant to Portugal with the opening of a site in Lisbon later this month.

Friday Five: the week's top news

11-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

This week's top news stories include Loungers' new roadside dining brand, BrewDog being accused of hypocrisy over its World Cup 'anti-sponsorship' campaign, and Hoppers' first international location.

Thomasina Miers: "We could open more restaurants if we had the staff"

11-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Wahaca co-founder Thomasina Miers has said the staffing shortage in the hospitality sector is forcing the restaurant group to turn down bookings and halt its expansion plans.

Business Profile

Driving ambition: all-day restaurant group Loungers on its road to success

11-Nov-2022 By Stefan Chomka

On the back of a record year, the Lounge and Cosy Club operator is putting its foot to the floor with its expansion plans, which include a new roadside café brand.

Liquid assets: the latest drinks launches for November

11-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

A bevvy of premium beers, a 60-year aged scotch and two new vodkas for your drinking consideration this month.

Book review: Going for an Indian

11-Nov-2022 By Stefan Chomka

Ziaur Choudhrey’s book is a compelling story of England's Anglo-Bangladeshi communities and the role that food and restaurants play in them.

Change of Hart: why Hicce's Pip Lacey and Gordy McIntyre are heading down the pub

11-Nov-2022 By Stefan Chomka

The duo behind Coal Drops Yard restaurant Hicce open their first pub together later this month, in Islington.

Manchester's BräuHaus is 'forced to close'

11-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Bavarian style beer house and restaurant BräuHaus in Manchester has closed as a result of an ongoing dispute with landlord.

UKHospitality demands 'urgent resolutions' to rail strikes

11-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has warned that 'urgent resolutions' are needed to avoid further rail and tube strikes, the impact of which has been huge for hospitality businesses in recent months.

Market uncertainty sees Nightcap slow expansion despite strong trading results

10-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Bar operator Nightcap is to slow down its expansion plans as a result of market uncertainty, despite robust trading results.

UK remains ‘the big opportunity in Europe’ for Wendy's

10-Nov-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Wendy’s believes UK remains 'the big opportunity in Europe' despite the impact of cost headwinds and lower sales than expected.

Crudo Cevicheria to launch first full-service restaurant

10-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Fast casual ceviche-focused concept Crudo Cevicheria is to launch its first full-service restaurant later this month in London's Hackney, with further openings planned in the capital before the year's end.

£100 a head at a top London restaurant? Not for much longer, says guide

10-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

The days of a £100-per-head meal at a destination London restaurant are numbered, according to the findings of the latest Harden's guide.

David McDowall to swap BrewDog for Stonegate

09-Nov-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Simon Longbottom is to step down as CEO of UK’s largest company at the end of February next year, with BrewDog’s chief operating officer David McDowall appointed as his successor.

BrewDog accused of hypocrisy over World Cup 'anti-sponsorship' campaign

09-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

BrewDog's new 'anti-sponsorship' campaign of the Qatar World Cup has been labelled as 'empty self promotion' after it was revealed the group would continue to show matches at its venues.

Industry unites to ‘outline severity’ of its recruitment crisis

09-Nov-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Industry bodies have written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions outlining the severity of the recruitment crisis, urging him to publicly support the steps being taken to address it and to implement policies to alleviate recruitment pressures.

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