Casual Dining

UK restaurant insolvencies jump 64% in a year

25-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

UK restaurant insolvencies have jumped 64% from 856 in 2020/21 to 1,406 in the past year with 431 of the casualties occurring in the last quarter alone.

Latest opening: Valderrama’s

22-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Chef James Cochran's new neighbourhood-style venue is 'a bar that shows sport, but not a sports bar'.

Friday Five: the week's top news

22-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

This week's top news stories include the unveiling of the new World's 50 Best Restaurants list, soaring temperatures forcing businesses to temporarily close, and Heinz entering the virtual restaurant market.

Branded restaurant menu inflation 'outpacing rest of the market'

22-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Menu inflation in the branded restaurant segment is at least double that of other areas of the market, according to data from Lumina Intelligence’s Menu Tracker.

The Eggletons to launch crowdfund for The Pony Chew Valley

21-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Josh and Holly Eggleton are to launch a crowdfund to support the opening of their new restaurant The Pony Chew Valley ahead of its autumn launch.

Itsu Richmond to reopen after fire

21-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Itsu will finally reopen its Richmond restaurant after a fire forced it to close for almost a year.

Mission Mars reports trading ahead of expectations

21-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Restaurant and bar group Mission Mars has reported turnover of £34.2 for the first nine months of 2022 financial year, up from £25.5m for the same period in 2019.

Experienced cocktail trio to open bar in Birmingham’s Custard Factory

21-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Tommy Matthews will join forces with fellow bartenders Matt Arnold and Eve Green to launch a bar that will bring ‘approachable luxury’ to the hip Birmingham neighbourhood of Digbeth this September.

Franco Manca operator Fulham Shore reports strong growth

21-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Fulham Shore has reported revenue of £82.7m for the year ending 27 March, an increase of 20.6% from £68.6m for the year ended 29 March 2020 and up 105% on last year’s figures.

UKHospitality responds to business rates consultation

21-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

UKHospitality has called for reductions under reformed business rates to be reflected in bills ‘as quickly as possible’.

Bone Daddies to replace Flesh & Buns in Kensington amid double London opening

20-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Bone Daddies group is to relaunch its recently-opened third Flesh & Buns site in London's Kensington under its core ramen concept amid a double London opening in the capital.

Inflation hits 40-year high of 9.4%

20-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Inflation hit another new 40-year high in June with food and energy prices continuing to soar as the UK’s cost of living crisis continues to deepen.

Hospitality reiterates calls for Government to ease Brexit visa regulations as vacancies continue to grow

20-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality leaders have reiterated calls to ease Brexit visa rules to stem the escalating jobs crisis hitting the hospitality sector.

McDonald’s takes loyalty scheme nationwide

20-Jul-2022 By Georgi Gyton

McDonald’s has expanded its first loyalty scheme in the UK, taking it nationwide, following a successful trial.

Jubilee celebrations push hospitality groups to strongest month of growth this year

20-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

June’s like-for-like sales at Britain’s top managed restaurant, pub and bar groups were 5% ahead of the pre-Covid levels of June 2019, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker reveals.

Incipio to launch The Libertine at London's Royal Exchange

19-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Incipio Group is to launch a huge 7,000 sq ft venue at The Royal Exchange in the City of London in October.

Heinz means business: food giant looks to create network of virtual kitchens

19-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Food manufacturer Heinz has entered the virtual restaurant market with a breakfast concept launched in partnership with Lean Kitchen Network.

Sandwich maestro Max Halley to launch parmo-focused delivery concept

19-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Max Halley and Ethan Davids will launch a delivery service focused on the North Eastern delicacy parmo at their Bath pub The Sam Weller’s later this month.

Alcohol off sales easement extended by another year

19-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The alcohol off sales easement introduced during the pandemic has been extended by a further year until September 2023.

Salt Yard heads to Westfield London

19-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Salt Yard Group is to open its fifth London restaurant this week at Westfield in Shepherd’s Bush, with a further site in the capital planned for later this year.

One in four hospitality businesses “fear closing due to energy crisis”

19-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

A quarter of hospitality bosses are considering closing within the next year due to unprecedented energy costs.

Food costs rocket by 'up to 40%' for hospitality businesses as supply chain fragility hits hard

18-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Spiralling costs and major disruption to the supply chain are having a drastic impact on hospitality operators’ food and drink bills and profits, according to latest data from Fourth.

People on the move: July 2022

18-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

New positions at The Savoy, Ugly Butterfly, Corinthia London, The Montagu Arms and Retreat East are among this month's hospitality appointments.

Soaring temperatures see pubs and restaurants announce temporary closures

18-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Pubs and restaurants across the country have announced they will temporarily close today and tomorrow (18 and 19 July) as UK temperatures are forecast to hit up to 41C.

Tortilla sees half-year revenues climb 60%

18-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Tortilla saw group revenue rise by 60% for the first half of the year compared to 2019.

Burger King launches UK-wide loyalty programme

18-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Burger King UK has launched a new UK-wide loyalty programme that it says will aim to drive increased customer engagement through personalised, digitally-led offers.

UKHospitality welcomes second reading of 'Tips Bill'

15-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

A private members’ bill that would require employers to ensure all tips and service charges they receive are paid to workers in full has had its second reading in Parliament.

The lowdown: super premium patisserie

15-Jul-2022 By Stefan Chomka

London is now awash with high-end patisserie counters practicing one-upmanship in pastry. Greggs the baker they ain’t.

Friday Five: the week's top news

15-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

This week's top news stories include Jeremy Clarkson finally opening his Diddly Squat farm restaurant, Scott’s heading to Richmond, and Le Cochon Aveugle announcing its permanent closure.

Fears of 'irreparable loss of business and jobs' as further train strikes announced

15-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Long-term train strikes will lead to an 'irreparable loss of hospitality business and jobs', the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned.

D&D London closes Aster after five years

15-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

D&D London has closed its Aster restaurant in London Victoria’s Nova development after five years of trading.

Foodservice inflation 'may yet rise further' as it hits double digits for fourth successive month

15-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Inflation in the foodservice sector topped 10% for the fourth successive month in May and could rise further, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ and Prestige Foodservice Price Index warns.

Island Poké nears 20-site milestone with Wimbledon launch

14-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Island Poké is approaching its 20th UK site with an opening in Wimbledon later this month.

Fazenda to open its first London restaurant next year

14-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

South American restaurant group Fazenda will open its first restaurant in London next year as part if wider expansion plans for the business.

Just Eat launches £1m support fund to help small businesses facing inflationary pressures

14-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Just Eat has announced the launch of a £1m financial support package for its small, independent restaurant partners, designed to help businesses as they navigate rising inflation.

Restaurant chains serving children's food 'unacceptably high in salt levels'

14-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Restaurant chains have been accused of serving children’s dishes that contain unacceptably high levels of salt.

How I Got Here: Henry Ayers

13-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The co-founder and director of wholesale at The Gentlemen Baristas, which has just launched its 11th coffee house in London, on how he developed a successful coffee wholesale business.

Loungers to accelerate growth after record year

13-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

All-day restaurant and bar group Loungers is to accelerate it growth plans by targeting 30 new sites a year.

Majority of hospitality operators facing higher energy costs as sector battles against 'onslaught of challenges'

13-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

More than 90% of hospitality operators are reporting higher energy costs as the sector battles to survive an 'onslaught of challenges', according to the latest Future Shock report.

Mark Hix to close his Dorset pub The Fox Inn

13-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Mark Hix is to close the Dorset pub he took on just a year and a half ago citing rising costs and staffing challenges as the reason.

Daisy Green Collection to launch another barge venue

12-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Australian restaurant group Daisy Green Collection is embarking on yet another riverside project with a new restaurant located on a barge in Richmond.

TRG buys Barburrito for £7m

12-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has bought fast-casual Mexican chain Barburrito for £7m with plans to double the number of venues over the next four years.

Jane Hunt replaces Paul Scully to oversee Government's hospitality remit

12-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Jane Hunt MP has been confirmed as the new Parliamentary Under Secretary of State to the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), replacing Paul Scully in the role.

Premium beer brands becoming more prominent on UK pub and bar drinks menus

11-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Premium beer brands are becoming more prominent on operator menus across UK pub and bar drinks menus, according to data from Lumina Intelligence’s Menu Tracker.

Drinks sales continue to dip as working-from-home bites

08-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Britain’s on premise drinks sales remain just short of the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, CGA’s latest Drinks Recovery Tracker shows.

Friday Five: the week's top news

08-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

This week's top news stories include Brewdog's plans to launch the UK's largest pub, St John opening in London's Marylebone, and Tony Parkin announcing he's to leave The Tudor Room.

Spending remains flat as cost of living continues to bite

08-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Average hospitality spend increased just 2% in the 12 weeks ending 12 June despite opportunities for growth including the Jubilee weekend, Lumina Intelligence reveals.

Space saviour: Ravneet Gill on her new platform for pop-ups

08-Jul-2022 By Stefan Chomka

The former pastry chef and founder of Countertalk has launched Spaces, a platform that matches pop-ups and events to suitable venues.

New World Trading Company CEO steps down

07-Jul-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany

Jesper Friis is stepping down as CEO of New World Trading Company (NWTC) in order to return to Denmark with his family.

Fury as Abandon Ship staff made redundant despite assurances jobs were safe

07-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Staff working at two bars owned and operated by collapsed Scottish pub and bar group MacMerry300 have been made redundant despite recent assurances their jobs would be safe.