Casual Dining

Mayor announces £5m plan to support safe reopening of central London hospitality

19-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Sadiq Khan has announced proposals to invest £5m to support the eventual reopening of hospitality in central London.

McDonald's looks to improve gender and minority representation amid discrimination claims

19-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

McDonald’s has pledged to boost gender and minority representation among its senior US ranks by 2030.

Ramsay urges Sunak to extend VAT cut and furlough for hospitality

19-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Gordon Ramsay has called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to extend the VAT holiday and furlough for struggling hospitality businesses at his Budget.

hostech: interview

Pret a Manger: "click and collect is going to be really important for us"

19-Feb-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

Pret a Manger chief information and transformation officer Sarah Venning on how the brand’s approach to delivery and click and collect led to the creation of its coffee subscription.

Hospitality expects to face long term operating restrictions, survey finds

18-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality operators expect increased trading restrictions to be in place for the foreseeable future, according to new research by workforce management specialist Bizimply.

Using its loaf: why Paul is finally ready to franchise across the UK

18-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Having previously concentrated on the capital, French bakery group Paul is preparing to expand across the country through a franchising model that could see its UK estate double in size.

Books

Book review: Chefs at Home

18-Feb-2021 By Stefan Chomka

54 of the UK's best chefs have contributed to a cookbook raising funds for industry charity Hospitality Action.

Night time economy at risk of ‘extinction’

18-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Night Time Economy has warned that the sector is at risk of ‘extinction’ unless the Government takes urgent action.

Events booking platform Feast It moves into mealkits

18-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Event bookings platform Feast It has launched a platform for the sale of mealkits that features the likes of Pizza Pilgrims, Lima London and The Cheese Bar.

UKHospitality publishes reopening roadmap for hospitality sector

18-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

UKHospitality has presented its own roadmap for the hospitality sector to emerge from lockdown and restrictions.

Camile Thai Kitchen to grow to 13 UK sites this year

18-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Thai restaurant group Camile Thai Kitchen will open seven new venues across the UK and Ireland as part of its international expansion plans.

Hoxton Bakehouse to open two new venues this year

18-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Growing café and bakery group Hoxton Bakehouse is to open two new venues as well as a bakery and coffee roasting facility later this year.

Brighton's The Bok Shop plans expansion

18-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Brighton-based premium fried chicken brand The Bok Shop is set for expansion with 10 sites planned in the next two years.

Hostech: case study

Delivery and the integration game

17-Feb-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

As operators launch new delivery channels and virtual brands, the importance of integration is increasingly coming into the spotlight.

How I Got Here: Darren Bland

17-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

The founding director of Hoxton Bakehouse, which operates five locations across the UK with at least two more in the pipeline, reflects on his career to date.

Hostech guide to delivery and click & collect

The unstoppable growth of delivery

17-Feb-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

Delivery has boomed during the pandemic, with the key players adapting to meet the occasion. As consumers turn to the digital services more than ever, operators are seeking new ways to stay connected with their most loyal customers.

Ellen Chew to open second Shan Shui restaurant

17-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Singaporean restaurateur Ellen Chew is bringing her Southeast Asian fusion restaurant concept Shan Shui to the capital, having secured a site on Buckingham Palace Road near Victoria station.

Extension of joint venture arrangements for Ego Restaurants

17-Feb-2021 By Georgi Gyton

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has reached an agreement with 3Sixty Restaurants CEO James Horler, and its other shareholders, to continue with the joint venture arrangements in relation to Ego Restaurants.

City Corporation extends outdoor dining measures

17-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

The City of London Corporation has agreed to continue issuing pavement licences free of charge for 'suitable' premises until the end of September.

Jodie Kidd pleas to Chancellor to cut beer duty in the upcoming budget

17-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Model and publican Jodie Kidd has made a plea to Chancellor Rishi Sunak to cut beer duty in the upcoming March Budget.

New report argues hospitality not significant area of Covid transmission

17-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

A new report on the safe restart of hospitality argues that businesses in the sector should be prioritised for reopening as they are not significant areas for Covid transmission.

Scottish Government extends hospitality rates relief for a further year

16-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in Scotland will pay no rates during the 2021/22 financial year under proposals outlined today (16 February) by the Scottish Government.

The Hummingbird Bakery acquired by Acropolis Capital

16-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Cake and bakery brand The Hummingbird Bakery has been bought through a pre-pack administration deal, safeguarding 60 jobs across the business.

Hostech: case study

How the Zizzi and ASK Italian operator is mapping out its digital future

16-Feb-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

Azzurri IT and tech director Joel Robinson on the value of partnerships, building solutions in-house, and the holy grail of creating a single customer view.

Al fresco April opening for pubs and restaurants "not commercially viable"

16-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Potential plans by the Government to allow only outdoor drinking and dining from April have been slammed by the pub sector.

Scottish trade bodies slam 'alarmist and wholly inaccurate' report questioning Covid safety in pubs

16-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Trade bodies in Scotland have slammed a report published by the University of Stirling that questions whether pub operators can effectively and consistently prevent Covid-19 transmission.

Prawn on the Farm to return this summer

16-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Prawn on the Lawn will re-open its Prawn on the Farm summer pop-up following the success of its inaugural run at Trerethern Farm near Padstow last year.

Yori Korean BBQ to open two new London venues this spring

16-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Korean BBQ restaurant group Yori hopes to open seven new sites this year, including a new takeaway brand and a hybrid takeaway and dine-in format.

PM hints that rapid testing could be route to reopening nightclubs

16-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested the use of rapid testing could be the key to reopening the night-time economy.

Minister for Hospitality petitioners call for PM meeting

15-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Petitioners calling for the Government to create a Minister for Hospitality have asked for an audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss the matter further.

Pub bosses pull out of talks with business minister

15-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The bosses of some of the UK’s largest pub groups are withdrawing from discussions with Government on reopening citing “a lack of interest and respect”.

JD Wetherspoon's Tim Martin calls for pubs to reopen at the same time as non-essential retail

15-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has called on the Government to reopen pubs at the same time as non-essential retail shops.

Mitchells & Butlers to raise £350m from shareholders

15-Feb-2021 By Georgia Cronin

Harvester and All Bar One operator Mitchells & Butlers has made strides to ease its significant lockdown cash burn through an equity raise and unsecured revolving credit facility.

Hostech: Guide to delivery and click & collect

Latest Editions: how delivery-only kitchens are shaping the restaurant sector

15-Feb-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

Delivery-only kitchens have emerged as one of the most intriguing elements of the fast-growing delivery space, particularly during a time when restaurants have been unable to seat dine-in guests.

Deliveroo leads call for second Eat Out to Help Out scheme when restaurants reopen

15-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

More than 300 major restaurant brands have signed a letter from Deliveroo CEO Will Shu that calls for second Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) scheme when restaurants reopen.

Andina takes Spitalfields site

15-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Peruvian restaurant brand Andina has secured a large site on Commercial Street close to its original home on Shoreditch’s Redchurch Street.

Drinks

Liquid assets: all the latest drinks launches

15-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

This month's selection includes a left-field Australian whisky, grown up apple juice, luxury rums, carbon negative gins and a way to give cocktails a rooibos kick.

Business leaders call on Chancellor to back hospitality sector in 2021

15-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Over 160 hospitality CEOs have called on the Chancellor to extend the VAT cut and rates holiday, and provide a decisive package of financial support in next month’s Budget.

MPs demand hospitality be allowed to open by Easter

15-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

A group of Tory MPs have written to the Prime Minister demanding that pubs and restaurants be given the go-ahead to reopen by Easter.

HMRC clears TiPJAR for “tipping and tronc revolution”

15-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

TiPJAR has been cleared by HMRC in what the cashless tipping solution is hailing as a breakthrough that could change the way tips and gratuities are handled.

Lease forfeiture moratorium to be extended beyond March

15-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Ministers are drawing up plans to extend the lease forfeiture moratorium beyond the end of March.

GDP figures highlight damage to sector but also bounce back potential

12-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

GDP figures published by the Office for National Statistics reiterate the economic importance of the UK’s hospitality sector, and the urgent need for it to be supported by Government as it reopens.

The 10 Cases founders on taking their Drop wine app nationwide

12-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The duo behind Covent Garden's 10 Cases and Parsons are crowdfunding to rollout their on-demand wine delivery app Drop across the UK.

Crosstown Doughnuts to expand footprint via delivery hubs

12-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Crosstown Doughnuts is set to open its first location outside of London as it looks to expand its footprint using 'dark retail' delivery hubs.

Scottish hospitality has less than 1% infection rate among staff, say businesses

12-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

The Scottish hospitality sector has less than a 1% infection rate among staff, according to figures from members of the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG).

Pranee Laurillard goes it alone with Lime Squeezy Thai Kitchen

12-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Pranee Laurillard has stepped back from national Thai restaurant chain Giggling Squid to launch faster paced concept Lime Squeezy Thai Kitchen.

Coqfighter to grow dark kitchen network with more permanent sites also planned

12-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

London-based fried chicken brand Coqfighter is to open its first regional location in Birmingham later this year as it looks to grow both its dark kitchen network and restaurant estate.

Paul to 'double' UK estate over next five years as it looks to begin franchising

11-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

French artisan bakery group Paul hopes to double the size of its UK estate in the next five years through a combination of franchising and in-house expansion.

Wine campaign group calls on chancellor to cut taxes

11-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Campaign group Wine Drinkers UK (WDUK) has submitted an open letter to the Chancellor urging him to help the wine sector and hospitality businesses it supports by cutting taxes.

Platinum drops Marston’s takeover bid

11-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Platinum Equity has announced it does intend to submit a revised proposal to takeover brewer and pubco Marston’s.