Casual Dining

Warm weather helps summer bank holiday sales

30-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

UK restaurants saw an 8% increase in transactions during the summer bank holiday (27-29 August) compared with the previous year, according to the latest figures from Barclaycard.

High street closures fall to seven-year low

30-Aug-2022 By Georgi Gyton

There has been a significant drop in the numbers of high street chain stores closing, with restaurants seeing net growth, according to new data from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Hospitality faces 'existential threat' as soaring energy bills leave sector facing 'mass business failures'

30-Aug-2022 By James McAllister and Stefan Chomka

The soaring cost of energy threatens to cause 'mass business failures' across the hospitality sector, industry leaders have warned amid desperate calls for the Government to take immediate action.

Over 200 restaurants step up to the plate for Action Against Hunger

30-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Action Against Hunger UK has signed up over 200 restaurants for its annual Love Food Give Food campaign, which sees diners add an extra £1 to bills to help the charity support people across the world experiencing life-threatening hunger.

Trade bodies renew call for Government help as energy crisis deepens

26-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Hospitality trade bodies have renewed their call for urgent Government help amid soaring energy costs following today’s (26 August) energy price cap announcement from Ofgem.

Friday five: the week's top news stories

26-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

The forthcoming closure of Kew restaurant The Glasshouse and the release of figures that show that three quarters of pubs and bar face extinction because of the energy crisis stole the headlines this week.

The Cocktail Club to open in Canary Wharf

26-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

The Cocktail Club, formerly known as London Cocktail Club, has chosen Canary Wharf as the destination for its eleventh London site.

Six steps to opening your first bricks and mortar site

26-Aug-2022 By Hussein Ahmad

Opening your own bricks and mortar restaurant, bar or venue is a goal for many in hospitality, but it can seem daunting and overwhelming to the first-timer.

Sons + Daughters to double up with Borough Market opening

25-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

James Ramsden and Sam Herlihy are to launch a second Sons + Daughters restaurant having acquired the former Stoney Street by 26 Grains site in London's Borough Market.

Book review: Cooking

25-Aug-2022 By Stefan Chomka

With its bold green and orange cover, Jeremy Lee’s debut cookbook is every bit as distinctive and striking as the man himself.

'Serious concerns' over CO2 supplies as UK’s last fertiliser plant to pause production

25-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

There are 'serious concerns' in the hospitality sector for the sustainable supply of CO2 after it was announced that Britain's last fertiliser plant will temporarily stop ammonia production.

The White Brasserie Company to open its first new site post pandemic

24-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

The White Brasserie Company will open its first new restaurant since the pandemic this autumn.

Time at the bar: three quarters of pubs facing extinction

24-Aug-2022 By Ed Bedington

More than 70% of operators do not expect to make it through the winter without Government intervention, according to a new survey.

Simon Bonwick joins Noble Inns to head up London gastropub The Princess of Shoreditch

24-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Former The Crown at Burchetts Green chef-patron Simon Bonwick is replacing Ruth Hansom as head chef at Noble Inns Group-owned gastropub The Princess of Shoreditch.

Scandinavian pub brand Proud Mary to make its UK debut

24-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Scandinavian pub brand Proud Mary is making its UK debut this winter with the opening of a venue in Cardiff.

Entries for The Gold Service Scholarship 2023 open next month

23-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Front of house competition The Gold Service Scholarship will launch next month ahead of next year’s finals.

Gordon Ramsay is taking his Lucky Cat to Manchester

23-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Gordon Ramsay is looking to take his Lucky Cat Asian restaurant brand to Manchester with an application to take on the former Jamie’s Italian site in the city.

How I Got Here: Patrick Frawley

23-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

The Irish-born CEO and founder of East London Pub Co oversees a group of pubs that includes The Gun on Artillery Lane and The Ten Bells on Spitalfields' Commercial Street.

Islington pub Compton Arms under threat after neighbours file complaint

22-Aug-2022 By BgHospitality

Islington pub the Compton Arms is calling on its customers and locals for support against a review of its licence after complaints were made about it to the council by four of its neighbours.

Latest opening: Salt Yard Borough Market

22-Aug-2022 By Stefan Chomka

The Spanish and Italian-focused tapas bar and restaurant has taken a prime spot at London’s Borough market.

Arcade bar group NQ64 secures £2.5m to grow

22-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Fast growing arcade bar operator NQ64 has received £2.5m in growth capital to help it expand across the UK.

Individual Restaurants reports loss in 2021

22-Aug-2022 By Shwetali Sapte

Individual Restaurants (IRC) Limited company has reported a loss after tax of £8.2m for the financial year ending 27 March 2022, down from £23m the previous year.

Barrio Familia to open flagship Covent Garden venue

22-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Barrio Familia will open its largest bar to date in London’s Covent Garden.

Petition launched to tackle UK workforce shortage in hospitality

22-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

A petition calling for EU nationals to be permitted to come to the UK to work in hospitality has been launched.

Darjeeling Express to return to its pop-up roots ahead of relocation

19-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Asma Khan’s Darjeeling Express is returning to its pop-up roots taking up residency at Kensington-based pub The Permbroke.

Latest opening: The Baring

19-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Chef Rob Tecwyn and general manager Adam Symonds have reunited to open a gastropub in London's Islington, 10 years after they first met at Highgate’s renowned The Bull and Last.

Getting along swimmingly: how The Seahorse is evolving for the next generation

19-Aug-2022 By Stefan Chomka

Fourteen years after it was founded by Mitch Tonks and Matt Prowse, renowned Dartmouth restaurant The Seahorse is in new hands. Meet the young team hoping to put the success into succession.

Huw Gott: "It's right to support people to have access to food and drink when they most need it"

19-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

The Hawksmoor co-founder on his company's involvement with Action Against Hunger’s Love Food Give Food campaign.

Friday Five: the week's top news

19-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

This week's top news stories include a new high-end Japanese restaurant heading to Manchester, a decline in the number of international workers in UK hospitality, and Robert Wood's latest venture.

Registrations open for The BigHospitality Expo and Low2NoBev 2022

19-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

The Big Hospitality Expo and Low2NoBev are both now open for guests to register for entry.

Consumer confidence hits all-time low

19-Aug-2022 By Georgi Gyton

UK consumer confidence has fallen to a record low of -44, in GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index.

Tim Hortons to open first dark kitchen as expansion drive continues apace

19-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Canadian restaurant brand Tim Hortons is to open its first dark kitchen in London following its entrance in the capital last month.

Taco Bell reaches 100 UK sites

18-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant brand Taco Bell has opened it 100th UK site following 18 months of rapid growth.

Caribbean restaurant Ma Petite Jamaica heads to Shoreditch

18-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Caribbean restaurant Ma Petite Jamaica is opening a second London restaurant, in Shoreditch.

William Reed launches Omnichannel Foodservice Conference

18-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

A first of its kind event exploring the opportunities in diversifying beyond bricks and mortar restaurants and expanding into new sales channels is being launched.

Hospitality numbers stable in second quarter but costs crisis threatens recovery

18-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Britain’s licensed sector has stabilised in the second quarter of 2022, the latest Market Recovery Monitor from CGA by NielsenIQ and AlixPartners reveals.

Peckham Cellars team to launch Camberwell wine bar

18-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

The team behind south east London’s neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar Peckham Cellars are to launch a second site with adjacent bottle shop in the capital next year, in Camberwell.

How I Got Here: Tom Warner

17-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

The founder and CEO of Warner's Gin on combing his passions for food, drink and farming, championing sustainability in the spirits trade, and his recently launched pub accreditation scheme.

Number of international workers in UK hospitality sector shrinks by nearly 200,000

17-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

As many as 196,000 international workers including some 120,000 EU workers have left the UK hospitality sector since 2019, a new report from specialist hospitality hiring partner Caterer.com reveals.

Nightcap secures £10m debt facility

17-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

The Cocktail Club owner Nightcap has agreed a £10m debt refinancing facility that will be used partly to continue its expansion.

'More unwelcome news for hospitality' as inflation hits new 40-year high

17-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

UK inflation hit a new 40-year high of 10.1% in July, official figures show, with industry voices demanding the Government finally introduce a reduction on VAT for the sector.

Menu prices set to rise a further 6% in next 12 months

17-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality leaders plan to raise menu prices by a further 6% in the next 12 months, CGA and Fourth’s new Business Confidence Survey reveals.

Comptoir Group touches down at Stanstead airport

17-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Lebanese restaurant chain Comptoir Group has opened its latest restaurant at London Stansted Airport in partnership with franchise partner HMSHost International.

Hospitality job vacancies dip slightly but remain at record high

16-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Job vacancies in the hospitality sector dipped slightly between May and July this year, according to the latest official figures, but remain at a record high.

Robert Wood to launch ambitious cocktail bar in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter

16-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

High-profile bartender Robert Wood will open an ambitious cocktail bar in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter next month that will offer cocktail 'tasting menus' of up to seven courses.

Grounded Kitchen to open 50 new sites

16-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Korean restaurant group Grounded Kitchen is looking to open 50 new sites across the UK as part of a franchise drive.

Like-for-like sales remain flat for managed groups

16-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

July’s like-for-like (LFL) sales at Britain’s top managed pub, bar and restaurant groups held steady against pre-Covid levels of July 2019, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker reveals.

Casa do Frango to double its estate to four in the coming months

15-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Piri-piri chicken specialist Casa do Frango will double its estate in the coming months with the opening of two new restaurants in the capital.

One in seven pubs and restaurants lost in The City of London since Covid

15-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

The City of London has seen a net decline of one in seven licensed premises since March 2020, the new Market Recovery Monitor from CGA by NielsenIQ and AlixPartners reveals.

Incipio acquires former Aster site for new wet led concept

15-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Incipio Group is to launch a new wet led concept next month on the site previously occupied by D&D London's Aster restaurant in London Victoria’s Nova development.