Casual Dining

Wendy’s rolls back on UK growth targets

11-Aug-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Wendy’s is now expecting to have 35 UK restaurants open by the end of 2022, down from the 50 to 60 previously spoken about in its first quarter update.

Artfarm acquires The Groucho Club

11-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Artfarm has acquired The Groucho Club, the famed Soho private members club which has acted as a hub for the arts, literature and media community in London for the past four decades.

Sticks’n’Sushi to hit double figures with Westfield London site

10-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Denmark-founded Japanese restaurant group Sticks’n’Sushi will open a restaurant at Westfield London this December that will take it up to a total of 10 UK sites.

The Lowdown: Karen’s Diner

10-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

An Australia-founded restaurant group that prides itself on its foul-mouthed service is hoping to launch a string of sites across the UK.

Hospitality spend sees 1.5% decline in July

10-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Consumer card spending on hospitality saw a month-on-month decline of 1.5% in July, according to the latest figures from Barclaycard.

Springboard looks to raise £100,000 for hospitality with virtual race

10-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Industry charity Springboard is calling for walkers, runners, cyclists and swimmers to join its race to Qatar and back this October to raise funds to ‘futureproof the talent pipeline for hospitality’.

Operators 'in deeper trouble now than during pandemic' as utility bills triple

09-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Pubs, restaurants and bars are seeing outgoings triple, and are in deeper trouble now than during the pandemic, one of the UK's Night Time Economy Advisors has said

Inception Group secures first Soho site for Mr Fogg’s

09-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Bunga Bunga, Maggies and Cahoots operator Inception Group will open its first Mr Fogg’s bar in Soho early next year.

Former Gusto Italian marketing director to launch Detroit pizza concept

09-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Former Gusto Italian marketing director James Newman will launch a Detroit pizza concept in the Leeds suburb of Meanwood this October.

Slim Chickens to launch first restaurant in partnership with Tesco Extra

09-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) is set to open its first Slim Chickens restaurant under a new partnership with Tesco Extra this month, in the supermarket giant's Redditch superstore.

South East worst affected by hospitality staffing crisis

09-Aug-2022 By Shwetali Sapte

London’s West End ranks first among the UK’s 25 highest revenue leisure regions, but lowest in terms of staff availability, according to research by CACI into the hospitality staffing crisis.

64% of the UK’s top 100 restaurant companies are now making a loss

08-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

A record 64% of the UK’s top 100 restaurant companies are now making a loss according to research from accountancy group UHY Hacker Young.

Tortilla to rebrand the majority of its Chilango sites

08-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Tortilla is set to rebrand the majority of its Chilango sites following its acquisition of the rival burrito player earlier this year.

Drought fears cause concern as food prices surge further

08-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Concerns are growing about drought conditions in many parts of the UK, the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Index reveals, amid a fifth consecutive month of double-digit percentage inflation.

Book review: Oren

05-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Israeli-born chef Oded Oren’s first cookbook contains definitive recipes for a number of Middle Eastern staples alongside more creative dishes.

Friday Five: the week's top news

05-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

This week's top news stories include the sad death chef Alastair Little, Café Wolseley being 'forced to close' by its landlord, and Dmitri Magi being appointed culinary director at Claridge’s.

Further business failures 'inevitable' without Government support as interest rates rise

05-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Trade body UKHospitality says further business failures are 'inevitable' without additional Government support amid warnings of a looming recession and energy prices rising further.

William Reed acquires The London Coffee Festival

05-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

BigHospitality publisher William Reed has further deepened its relationship with the Allegra Group by acquiring The London Coffee Festival.

Hospitality leaders' confidence falls as cost-of-living crisis starts to bite

05-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

The confidence of restaurant, pub and bar leaders tumbled over the second quarter of 2022 after costs soared for both businesses and consumers.

Coroner asks Pret a Manger supplier for more information at pre-inquest review over allergen death

03-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

A coroner preparing an inquest into the death of a woman who suffered an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger sandwich has asked for more information from its suppliers.

Low-cost workplace canteen concept The Stable launches in Manchester

03-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Workspace and hospitality company All Work & Social has launched a low-cost canteen in central Manchester.

One in five nightclubs lost in last three years, figures show

02-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Recent figures released by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) through CGA show that one fifth of the UK's nightclubs have closed in the last three years.

Pastaio closes Westfield London site

02-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Chef Stevie Parle's specialist pasta restaurant Pastaio has closed its site in Westfield London.

Gary Usher launches first-ever equity crowdfund

02-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Chef restaurateur Gary Usher’s first-ever equity crowdfund has raised 17% of its £750,000 target in under 24 hours.

Comptoir CEO and chairman step down following resignation calls

02-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Comptoir Group chief executive Chaker Hanna and chairman Richard Kleiner have stepped down from their respective roles with immediate effect, following calls from founder Tony Kitous for them to resign.

High rates of hospitality staff turnover persist as headcounts rise

02-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality staffing numbers are nearing pre-pandemic levels, but high staff turnover across the sector remains a major cause for concern for employers, the latest data from Fourth reveals.

Nightcap launches Bar Academy

01-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Tonight Josephine and The Cocktail Club owner Nightcap has launched a dedicated training facility in Camden Market, London.

Popeyes to make northern debut later this month at Gateshead’s Metrocentre

01-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

New Orleans-born fried chicken chain Popeyes will open its first restaurant in The North of England later this month.

KFC faces further chicken shortages - updated

01-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

KFC has been forced to pause its WOW Tuesday offer amid warnings that the group is facing further shortages of chicken and other select products.

Friday Five: the week's top news

29-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

This week's top news stories include Emerald Hospitality Group's next venture, restaurant insolvencies jumping 64%, and the price of a McDonald’s cheeseburger increasing for the first time in 14 years.

Liquid assets: the latest drinks launches for August

29-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

A bevvy of new gins, an alternative to wine, a new make spirit to get creative with, and a less than truthful whisky are among the key drinks launches this month.

Be Inclusive Hospitality launches inaugural Spotlight Awards

29-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) will hold its inaugural awards on 24 October as part of its ongoing mission to advance racial equity in hospitality and food and drink.

Relief for night-time economy as full Night Tube service restored

29-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that from this weekend all Night Tube services will be fully restored, after they were suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic.

Economic Affairs Committee launches new inquiry on labour shortages

29-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee has put out a call for written submissions to its new inquiry on recent trends in the UK labour market.

Birmingham named as worst UK city for food hygiene

29-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Birmingham has topped the list of the worst UK cities for restaurant food hygiene with the highest proportion of one and two star hygiene rated establishments.

Rockfish plans three new openings as it posts 'record results'

28-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

South West-based restaurant group Rockfish has announced plans to open three new restaurant in the next 12 months, having achieved 'record results' in the latest financial year.

Din Tai Fung Centre Point to open in September - Updated

28-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Famed Taiwanese restaurant chain Din Tai Fung has confirmed it will finally launch its restaurant at London's Centre Point in September, in the space previously occupied by British brasserie Vivi

Thai Leisure Group embarks on major refurbishment project

28-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Chaophraya and Thaikhun operator Thai Leisure Group is investing £1m into a refurbishment project that will see at least five of its 16 restaurants overhauled.

Heatwave brings mixed results for on trade

28-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Recent hot weather has delivered both boosts and challenges for the on trade, CGA by NielsenIQ’s Drinks Recovery Tracker shows.

‘Strong’ start for new Chipotle UK restaurants

28-Jul-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany

Chipotle chairman and CEO Brian Niccol has said the performance of the brand’s new UK restaurants is 'really strong'.

Plant-based restaurant group Oowee to open in Brighton

27-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Plant-based restaurant group Oowee is heading to Brighton for the opening of its fifth bricks and mortar venue.

Thousands of businesses ‘could be forced to close’ unless Government intervenes on spiralling utility bills

27-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Thousands of hospitality businesses ‘could be forced to close’ over the next few years unless the Government intervenes to help with spiralling utility bills, a procurement firm has warned.

Hospitality operators ‘labouring under extreme pressure’ as costs soar

27-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality operators are ‘labouring under extreme pressure’ with costs soaring to a new record high, according to the latest UKHospitality Christie & Co Benchmarking Report.

Record inflation sees McDonald’s increase price of key menu items

27-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The price of a McDonald’s cheeseburger is to increase for the first time in 14 years - from 99p to £1.19 - as the fast food giant is forced to pass on rapidly rising costs to its customers.

Staffing struggles continue to stand in the way of hospitality's post-pandemic recovery

26-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Sourcing and retaining the right staff remains one of the biggest obstacles to the sector’s post-pandemic recovery, new Barclays research reveals.

Clean Kitchen Club to open in Soho and Battersea following latest funding round

26-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Plant-based food brand Clean Kitchen Club has so far raised £2m in its seed funding round, boosted by investments from people including former CEO of McDonald’s Steve Easterbrook, and ex-chairman of Quorn Clive Sharpe.

Hospitality drives Britain's city-centre recovery in the first half of 2022

26-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Solid sales growth across hospitality has helped Britain’s regional city centres to recover their 'vibrancy' in the first half of 2022, research from CGA and Wireless Social shows.