Tony Rodd has announced the immediate closure of his Copper & Ink restaurant in Blackheath, south east London, saying that ‘continued financial difficulties’ have made the business ‘untenable’.
Chef James Allcock has permanently closed his Yorkshire bistro The Pig and Whistle in Beverly, describing it as ‘the most gut-wrenching decision’ of his life.
Richard Caring is reportedly considering selling a ‘big’ stake in the The Ivy Collection in a deal that could see the circa 40-strong business valued at ‘around £1bn’.
High-end London coffee business WatchHouse has secured £7.9m in Series A funding to support its ‘rapid’ growth plans in both the UK and New York over the next 36 months.
Hospitality businesses in Wales are facing a business rates hike next year after the Welsh Government announced it would reduce the sector’s discount while raising the rate across the board.
Scottish tourism and hospitality bodies have issued a unified statement in response to the Scottish Government Budget branding it ‘extremely disappointing’.
Manchester-based restaurant group Sud Pasta is to close its four-strong estate at the end of the month and relaunch it early next year under a new concept.
New analysis shows that thousands of Scottish hospitality businesses will be left unsupported if rates relief isn’t included in the Scottish Budget tomorrow (19 December).
D&D London CEO David Loewi says that the recent sale of the group to Calveton and Breal Capital will help the circa 30-strong business “get its mojo back”.
More than 20 takeaways and restaurants in Edinburgh, London, St Helens and Stoke have been subject to unannounced visits as part of a crackdown on electronic till fraud.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has defended the Eat Out to Help Out scheme he introduced in August 2020 as chancellor saying it was created to save the livelihoods of millions of people.
Nando’s is in the process of opening 14 new UK restaurants having reported a ‘steady recovery’ to pre-pandemic sales and a return to operating profit in its latest accounts.
Azzurri Group owner Towerbrook Capital Partners is lining up bankers to launch an auction next year of the Ask, Zizzi and Coco di Mama restaurant chains.
Proposals by Ofgem to expand rules on standards of conduct to all businesses and increase transparency for those using third-party brokers have been described as ‘much needed’ to hospitality operators.
Boris Johnson has defended the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme that was launched during the Covid pandemic, insisting there was no ‘substantial evidence’ that it led to a rise in cases of Coronavirus.
Neil Burke has assumed full control of The Black Friar having overseen the historic Salford pub and restaurant as managing director for the past two years.
Ongoing industrial action on the railways has been blamed for dip in profits at Drake & Morgan, with the group reporting a rise in sales in its latest financial results.
Hospitality leaders have warned new immigration rules that will raise the minimum salary for a skilled worker visa will ‘further shrink’ the talent pool businesses are recruiting from.
Hospitality businesses are ‘breathing a sigh of relief’ after RMT union voted to accept a pay deal that will end their involvement in rail strikes until at least the spring.
The Ottolenghi group has had cut operating hours across some of its sites as a result of challenges to recruitment caused by Brexit and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Wood-fired pizza restaurant group Pizza Punks has plans to open new sites in Edinburgh, Manchester, Cardiff and Birmingham as part of its plans to grow into a UK-wide business.
Artisanal hot chocolate café concept Knoops is looking to grow its estate to 200 sites nationwide in the medium term following a milestone £8.3m fundraise.
Hospitality leaders have voiced frustration at the Chancellor’s failure to announce any additional support measures for the sector in his Autumn Statement, beyond those already in place.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has confirmed that the business rates discount for hospitality businesses will be extended for a further year, with the multiplier for small premises also frozen.
Neat Burger, the vegan fast food concept backed by Lewis Hamilton and Leonardo DiCaprio, is to close half of its UK estate amid large-scale financial pressures.
Industry leaders have warned an increase in the National Living Wage could be a ‘death knell’ for smaller hospitality businesses without targeted tax cuts in today’s (22 November) Autumn Statement.
