Casual Dining

Fireaway Pizza aims for 100 sites in 2021

20-Jan-2021 By Georgia Cronin

Takeaway pizza concept Fireaway has launched its 50th site, with a further 50 new sites to open over the next year.

Wetherspoon eyes London expansion after raising £93.7m in new equity

20-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

JD Wetherspoon has raised £93.7m investment following a share placing to help see it through a predicted period of low sales upon reopening and drive further acquisitions in London.

How I Got Here: Sandia Chang

20-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

The sommelier and Bubbledogs co-founder reflects on her career to date, what motives her, and what advice she would give to those looking to make it in the business.

UKHospitality: 'Business rates holiday and VAT cut extension essential for hospitality revival'

20-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Trade body UKHospitality has called for a 'bold package' of support to enable businesses in the sector to spearhead country’s economic revival in 2021.

Alex Reilley: "The end of the moratoria will leave thousands of businesses horrifically exposed"

20-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Loungers chairman and co-founder Alex Reilley expects the end of the lease forfeiture and debt enforcement moratoria in March will lead to a 'phenomenal glut' of CVAs across hospitality.

Scottish lockdown extended into February

19-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality venues in mainland Scotland will remain closed until at least the middle of February after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced an extension to national lockdown restrictions.

Dishoom opens Cambridge delivery kitchen

19-Jan-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Dishoom has chosen Cambridge for its second regional delivery kitchen taking its total number of delivery-only locations up to eight.

"This is an eminently scaleable concept" - London-based chain Figo on its plans for expansion

19-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Less than two years after launching its debut site, London-based Italian chain Figo is looking to expand across the capital. Operations director Andy Dempster explains the plans for growth.

Hospitality sector expected to employ fewer people in 2023 than in 2019

19-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

The hospitality sector will take longer than most other sectors to recover jobs lost in 2020, employing substantially fewer people in 2023 than it did in 2019, according to the latest forecast from consultancy firm EY.

Sunak urged to act on Covid business support before Budget

19-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has called on the Government to announce extensions to business support measures in order to ensure the survival of firms until the economy reopens.

Three quarters of pubs yet to receive their Christmas grant

19-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

Three quarters of pubs are yet to receive the Christmas grant promised to them by the Government at the beginning of December 2020, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Michelin awards star to vegan restaurant in France for the first time

19-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Vegan restaurant ONA in south-west France has become the first in the country to win a Michelin star.

Prezzo's Karen Jones to represent hospitality on Government’s Build Back Better Council

19-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

Prezzo executive chair Karen Jones has been appointed to represent hospitality on the Government’s new Build Back Better Council.

Greene King relaunches employee support fund

18-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Pubco and brewer Greene King is to relaunch its Coronavirus employee support fund later this month in partnership with the Licensed Trade Charity.

UKHospitality: GDP figures 'highlight economic importance of hospitality'

18-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Trade body UKHospitality has said the 'depressing' economic figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week highlight the economic importance of the hospitality sector.

Bella Italia named best hospitality company to work for in 2021

18-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

Bella Italia has been named the best hospitality company in the UK to work for by job website Glassdoor.

Pandemic pain sees over 800 branded sites close

18-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

More than 800 branded restaurants, bars and coffee shops have closed since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, new research shows.

Sacha Lord: "Hospitality must reopen at the same time as non-essential retail"

18-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Greater Manchester's Night Time Economy Adviser Sacha Lord has said hospitality in England must reopen at the same time as non-essential retail if the country returns to a tiered system.

Managed restaurant and pub sales plummet over Christmas period

15-Jan-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Sales across Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups feel by almost three quarters at Christmas, the latest data from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker reveals.

‘Hidden’ courtyard planned for Cardiff Arcades

15-Jan-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Plans have been submitted for a ‘hidden’ courtyard in Cardiff’s Castle Quarter that would be home to four independent hospitality businesses.

Friday Five: the week's top news

15-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

We round-up this week's main hospitality news stories including restaurants potentially not reopening until May; the prospect of tighter takeaway restrictions; and MPs debating the creation of a Hospitality Minister.

Greene King to rename pubs with 'racist connotations'

15-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Pubco and brewer Greene King is to rename four of its pubs where the existing names hold racist connotations.

D&D London considers suburban sites as it plans for post-Covid era

15-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

High-end restaurant group D&D London is considering expanding its suburban presence in light of the changes to people's social behaviour caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Supreme Court sides with policyholders in landmark business interruption case

15-Jan-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The Supreme Court says it “substantially allows” the appeal by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and hospitality campaign groups in what’s being hailed as a landmark case in the fight to get insurers to pay out for business interruption.

Applications open for Scotland's Government-backed management training programme

15-Jan-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Scotland’s Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland and the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) have launched a Government-funded leadership, management and supervisory training programme designed to help the country’s hospitality and tourism sector recover....

Hospitality sees 660,000 job losses in 2020

15-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

There were 660,000 job losses across the hospitality sector over the course of the 2020, the latest figures from Fourth reveal.

Neat Burger set for five openings in six months as it accelerates expansion

14-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Neat Burger, the plant-based fast food brand that counts Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton among its chief backers, is to open five new London restaurants in a six-month period.

MEATliquor to run a drive thru pop-up restaurant in North Finchley next month

14-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

MEATliquor is to run a weekend-long drive thru restaurant in North Finchley next month.

Whitbread confirms 1,500 job cuts as sales plunge

14-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Whitbread has confirmed 1,500 job cuts from across its restaurant and hotel businesses amid a downturn in trade that saw sales more than halve.

Leon launches carbon-neutral range

14-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

Leon has added a carbon-neutral range to its fast-food menu in a bid to bolster its environmental credentials.

Up to 310,000 jobs on the line across hospitality and tourism without 5% VAT extension

14-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

More than 300,000 jobs across the hospitality and tourism sectors could be lost if the VAT rate reverts back to 20% in April 2021, trade bodies have warned.

PM rejects offer to meet Hospitality Minister campaigners

14-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has shrugged off an offer to meet petitioners campaigning for the creation of a Minister of Hospitality.

Gold Service Scholarship to defer 2021 competition

13-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

The Gold Service Scholarship has announced it is to defer its 2021 competition schedule due to the ongoing Coronavirus restrictions.

Scotland tightens restrictions on takeaway and click and collect

13-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Scotland is to tighten restrictions on takeaway and click and collect services as part of a series of tougher lockdown measures set to come into force this weekend.

Kitchen Ventures orders in £1.4m investment

13-Jan-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Jonny Boud’s chef-led collection of delivery brands Kitchen Ventures has secured a £1.4m investment from venture capital firm London Impact Ventures.

PizzaExpress exits another 23 sites

13-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

PizzaExpress has exited an additional 23 UK sites, with discussions ongoing at a number of other locations.

New dates for the UK Food & Drink Shows

13-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

BigHospitality and Restaurant publisher William Reed has announced new dates for the 2021 UK Food & Drink Shows.

How I Got Here: James Gummer

13-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Former The Wolseley and Isabel maître d’ James Gummer, who now owns Notting Hill restaurant 7 Saints, on what motivates him and his love of pubs.

Flower Burger to bring rainbow burgers to London this spring

12-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

Italian plant-based burger brand Flower Burger will make is London debut this month with the opening of a site on Charlotte Street.

Food and entertainment space Society to launch in Manchester this spring

12-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

Food and entertainment space Society will open in Barbirolli Square in Manchester this spring.

Tougher lockdown could see hospitality banned from offering takeaway services

12-Jan-2021 By James McAlllister

Hospitality businesses in England could be banned from offering takeaway and click-and-collect services under tougher lockdown proposals being considered by ministers.

Borough Market becomes first outdoor space in the UK to make face masks mandatory

12-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

Borough Market in London has become the first outdoor space in the UK to legally enforce the wearing of face masks in a bid to help curb the spread of Coronavirus.

Supreme Court judgement on business interruption test case set for Friday

12-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

The Supreme Court will deliver its judgement on the landmark test case brought by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) against leading insurers over business interruption payouts this week.

Scottish Government announces top-up grants for hospitality

12-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in Scotland will receive top-up grants of up to £25,000, the Scottish Government's Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has announced.

Greene King extends 90% rent concessions for tied pub tenants

12-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

Greene King Pub Partners has said that its tied tenants will continue to receive 90% rent concessions until the end of the latest lockdown.

Deliveroo to expand to 100 more towns as part of aim to reach two thirds of the UK population

12-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

Deliveroo will expand to around 100 new towns and cities across the UK this year and extend its reach in the more than 150 locations in which it currently operates.

Hospitality debate 'a clear and highly encouraging demonstration of strong cross-party support'

12-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

A cross-party group of MPs voiced their support for the creation of a Minister of Hospitality during a Westminster Hall debate yesterday afternoon (11 January).

Leisure operator Gravity set for London debut

11-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Leisure and entertainment operator Gravity is to make its London debut this summer in Wandsworth’s Southside Shopping Centre.

Korean fried chicken specialist Wing Wing to open in London’s Chinatown

11-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

Korean fried chicken specialist Wing Wing will open a flagship restaurant in London’s Chinatown this spring.

MPs launch inquiry into Covid-19 impact on night-time economy

11-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

The newly formed All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the night-time economy has launched an inquiry into the devastating impact of Covid-19 on British nightlife.