Casual Dining

McDonald’s and Greggs set to close UK sites for Queen’s funeral

14-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

High street operators McDonald's and Greggs have both announced they will close their UK estates on Monday (19 September) for the Queen’s funeral.

Majority of operators facing a recruitment and retention challenge

14-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

More than 80% of hospitality operators are facing recruitment and retention challenges, according to a study by workforce management specialist Bizimply.

Hub Box to make Dorset debut next month

14-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

South West-centric burger group Hub Box will make its Dorset debut early next month.

Operators take individual approaches to mark Queen's funeral

14-Sep-2022 By Shwetali Sapte

Operators are preparing plans to mark the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday (19 September), with some voicing concern about setting the right tone during the period of mourning.

What the new Right to Work legislation means for your business

13-Sep-2022 By Russell King

Identity expert Russell King on the changes to employment law coming in next month including digital Right to Work checks.

Business leaders calls for clarity over energy support

13-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Business leaders have urged the Government to set out further detail over the extent of support firms will receive to pay soaring energy bills.

Liberation Group boosted by 'encouraging recovery' in Channel Islands

13-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

South-west based pub and brewer Liberation Group has reported strong summer of trading across the UK and the Channel Islands within its pubs, brewing and drinks businesses, including its highest ever single week of revenue during August.

McCain Foods boosts portfolio with Scelta Products acquisition

13-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

McCain Foods has bought Netherlands-based frozen food producer Scelta Products for an undisclosed sum.

Bar Control Room B to open in Battersea Power Station

12-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

The team behind Mr Fogg’s is opening a large bar within the former control room of London’s Battersea Power Station.

Representatives from the UK's best restaurants to speak at this month's Restaurant Conference

12-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Chefs and restaurateurs from this year’s National Restaurant Awards will be speaking as part of this year’s Restaurant Conference.

Friday five: the week's top hospitality news stories

09-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Phil Howard's new London pasta restaurant, the Government's intervention in the energy crisis, and tributes being paid to the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II are among the most read hospitality stories this week.

The Lowdown: Liz Truss

09-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

What might the appointment of the new Prime Minister mean for the beleaguered hospitality sector?

William Reed statement on the death of Queen Elizabeth II

09-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

William Reed is deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

Hospitality pays tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

09-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Restaurants and chefs across the country have paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II following her death yesterday (8 September) after 70 years on the throne.

Karapincha unveils new branding ahead of Canary Wharf opening

09-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Fast casual Sri Lankan restaurant Karapincha has unveiled a new brand identity ahead of opening its new restaurant in London’s Canary Wharf.

Searcys takes over day-to-day management of social-enterprise restaurant Brigade Bar + Kitchen

08-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurant operator and caterer Searcys has taken over the day-to-day management of London Bridge-based social-enterprise restaurant Brigade Bar + Kitchen.

Hawksmoor attains B Corp status

08-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Steakhouse group Hawksmoor has become one of the first restaurant groups in the UK to become a certified B Corp business following an assessment process.

The Holland to open in Kensington this month

08-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Chef Max de Nahlik, co-founder of London pop-up restaurant Oxalis, is to open pub and dining room The Holland later this month.

Hospitality sector calls for clarity on six-month support plan

08-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Hospitality businesses need clarity on the Government’s six-month energy support plan for businesses or face an uncertain future, trade bodies have warned.

Liz Truss unveils six-month energy support plan for businesses

08-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Businesses are to get a six-month support package to reduce their energy bills, Prime Minister Liz Truss has announced.

Hospitality sector faces 'hundreds of thousands of closures' unless Government acts on energy crisis

08-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Hospitality leaders are piling pressure on the Government and newly-appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss to act on spiralling energy costs, saying that hundreds of thousands of businesses will close if it doesn’t.

The Restaurant Group delivers “robust financial performance in a challenging market”

08-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Wagamama and Frankie & Benny's-owner The Restaurant Group’s says it has made ‘good progress’ over the last six months but warns of an ‘uncertain consumer environment’.

Poke House lines up first regional site in Cambridge

08-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

Poke bowl brand Poke House has chosen Cambridge as the location for its first outpost outside of the capital following a successful response to its Deliveroo Editions kitchen in the city.

Foodservice prices rise again in July despite easing in commodity markets

08-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The hospitality sector continues to face high levels of inflation despite relief in some commodities, the latest edition of the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index shows.

Kanada-Ya Ealing to open at the end of the month

07-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Ramen restaurant group Kanada-Ya will open its their fifth London site at the end of the month.

Boparan begins rollout of The Restaurant Hub in Sainsbury's

07-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has begun the supermarket rollout of its restaurant and takeaway brand The Restaurant Hub with an opening in a Sainsbury’s supermarket in Sydenham and a second in Wolverhampton on the cards.

Boparan Restaurant Group, Itsu, Patty & Bun, Hoppers and Coco di Mama to speak at The Omnichannel Foodservice Conference

07-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Representatives from companies including Boparan Restaurant Group, Itsu, Patty & Bun, Hoppers and Coco di Mama are speaking at The Omnichannel Foodservice Conference, being held in London in November.

Heineken UK becomes full owner of Beavertown

07-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Heineken UK has purchased the remaining shares in Beavertown Brewery assuming full ownership of London’s largest brewery.

Virtual restaurant company Peckwater Brands acquires Honest Food Company’s operations in four countries

07-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Peckwater Brands has acquired the operations of Honest Food Company in four European countries to become Europe’s largest operator of virtual food brands.

Itsu to increase staff pay by 13% to help with cost of living woes

07-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Itsu is implementing its second pay rise for staff in the space of 12 months, as it commits to supporting its people with the cost living crisis.

Mind the gap: 40% of hospitality businesses face skilled worker shortages

06-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Nearly 40% of hospitality businesses are facing skilled worker shortages, according to a new study.

Viable businesses 'face ruin', hospitality bosses warn

06-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

The bosses of KFC, Itsu, Just Eat, Pret a Manger, Pizza Hut and the Kebab Alliance have demanded a rapid VAT cut to protect businesses facing unprecedented short-term headwinds.

Businesses told to invest in UK workforce as hospitality staff shortage petition dismissed by Government

06-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

The Government has dismissed a petition calling for EU nationals to be permitted to come to the UK to work in hospitality, telling businesses to invest in the UK’s domestic labour force instead.

Southeast Asian casual dining concept to launch on former Wahlburgers site

05-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The team behind The Begging Bowl and bar Happiness Forgets are to launch a four-month South East Asian-themed residency at the former Wahlburgers site in Covent Garden.

Hospitality warns Government 'must act quickly and decisively' as Liz Truss named next UK Prime Minister

05-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality trade bodies have warned the new Government 'must act quickly and decisively' to address soaring energy bills, after Liz Truss was named the UK's next Prime Minister.

Pubs warned they need to charge £20 a pint to cover energy bills

05-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

The price of a pint would need to rise to £15-£20 to keep pubs afloat during the cost of living crisis, an expert has warned.

Night time economy's future 'finely balanced' as operators demand support package

05-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

More than 6,000 night time economy and hospitality businesses have written to their MPs demanding an emergency financial package to support them through the current cost of living crisis.

Friday Five: the week's top news

02-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

This week's top news stories include warnings the energy crisis could lead to mass business failures, BrewDog shuttering six sites, and Operation: Falafel announcing its London debut.

The Lowdown: restaurant merch

02-Sep-2022 By Stefan Chomka

Forget haute cuisine, haute couture is this season’s must have restaurant accessory.

Immersive adult-only fairground to launch at London's Canary Wharf

02-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

An immersive, adult-only competitive socialising concept inspired by classic fairground games and featuring street food kiosks and three bar areas is to launch in London's Canary Wharf next month.

Patisserie Valerie to close nine sites

02-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Patisserie Valerie is closing nine sites which “have not recovered well” following the pandemic.

You Me Sushi looking to treble its estate through franchising

02-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Sushi business You Me Sushi is looking to grow its estate three-fold in the next two years as it looks to expand through franchising.

Delivery and takeaway sales continue year-on-year decline

01-Sep-2022 By Shwetali Sapte

Delivery and takeaway sales for restaurants and pub groups were down by 19% in July, compared to July 2021, according to CGA’s Hospitality at Home tracker.

BrewDog's James Watt condemns 'clueless Government' as bar group permanently closes six sites

31-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

BrewDog co-founder James Watt has announced that six of the group's UK bars are to close permanently in the face of soaring energy and cost price increases.

'Widespread business failures' predicted across hospitality as calls grow for Government support

31-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has called on the Government to introduce a business rates holiday for the sector and reverse April's VAT rise to avoid the collapse of thousands of firms this winter.

Brother Marcus heads to South Ken

31-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Eastern Mediterranean all day dining group Brother Marcus will open its fourth London restaurant later this month.

MEATliquor closes huge Clapham Old Town restaurant after less than a year - updated

31-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

MEATliquor has permanently closed its site in Clapham Old Town, London, less than a year after launching it.

Hospitality sales growth falters in five of the UK's top cities

31-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Only half of Britain’s 10 biggest city centres are experiencing growth in out-of-home food and drink sales as momentum slows in the sector, new data shows.

The Big Hospitality Expo to tackle topics including mental health and staff retention

30-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Topics affecting the hospitality sector including mental health, staff retention and NFTs will be addressed at next month’s The Big Hospitality Expo.

Liquid assets: the latest drinks launches for September

30-Aug-2022 By BigHospiality

Fine wine from St John, Pedro Ximénez cask-aged beer and a range of cider for people that don't like cider are among the key drinks launches this month.