Casual Dining

One third of hospitality business fear permanent closure in coming months

20-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

More than a third of businesses in the accommodation and foodservice sectors fear they will not survive the next three months, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Hospitality operators sceptical about 3 December reopening

20-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Hospitality operators across the country are sceptical that they will be allowed to reopen on 3 December, the current date set for the lifting of the second lockdown in England, according to a new survey.

Northern Ireland's hospitality sector 'on course for disaster' as lockdown further extended

20-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Tens of thousands of hospitality workers in Northern Ireland have been left with 'no hope' after the Executive announced that lockdown restrictions on the sector would be extended further.

Scottish restaurants face collapse as they struggle with overhead costs

19-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Edinburgh-based chef restaurateur Tom Kitchin has warned the various restrictions being imposed on hospitality venues across Scotland are leaving businesses struggling to pay their bills and at risk of collapse.

The Lowdown: World Toilet Day

19-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Forget Christmas day, the highlight of the 2020 calendar is International World Day, which falls on the 19 November.

High street chains apologise after illegally denying toilet access to delivery drivers during lockdown

19-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

High street restaurant chains including McDonald’s, KFC and Subway have apologised after being accused of illegally denying toilet access to couriers delivering their food and drink during lockdown.

Danny Meyer: “New York looks like a shanty town”

19-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

New York-based restaurateur Danny Meyer has described the city as being like a shanty town in places as restaurants have opened up temporary outdoor elements in order to keep trading through the pandemic.

72% of hospitality and pub businesses face closure in 2021, says new research

19-Nov-2020 By Stefan Chomka

More than 70% of hospitality and pub businesses could become unviable and close in 2021 as a result of the pandemic, industry representatives have warned.

The Breakfast Club seeks MD after founder admits “I’m not quite good enough right now"

19-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

The Breakfast Club founder and CEO Jonathan Arana-Morton has said his company is looking for a new managing director after admitting “I’m not quite good enough for us right now”.

HMRC to begin compliance checks on Eat Out to Help Out payments

18-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is to contact around 4,000 hospitality businesses asking them to check their claims for meals in the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) scheme.

Poké The Bear pushes ahead with expansion as Richard Galli joins as executive chef

18-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Delivery-only restaurant Poké the Bear has announced the opening of two new UK kitchens and has appointed The Goring Hotel's executive chef Richard Galli to redesign the menu.

Sven-Hanson Britt launches London restaurant with James Durrant at helm

18-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Sven-Hanson Britt, Tris Hillier and Scott Ward have launched restaurant on the London City Island development on Leamouth Peninsula in Docklands with former Maze chef James Durrant as executive chef.

Online restaurant delivery concept Virtual de Lux launches in London

18-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

The group behind London restaurants Sumosan Twiga and Crazy Pizza is launching an online restaurant delivery concept that will bring five new food brands to the capital.

Sacha Lord warns bounce back ‘could take five years’ as he sets out recovery plan

18-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Sacha Lord has warned that Greater Manchester's night-time economy 'could take five years' to bounce back from the impact of Covid-19.

Kate Nicholls: "Businesses are in a far less resilient place than during the first lockdown"

17-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has said it is 'imperative' the current lockdown in England is time limited so that as many businesses as possible can reopen in December.

Scottish restaurants and pubs face ‘permanent closure' under tighter Covid restrictions

17-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Restaurants and pubs in parts of Scotland face ‘permanent closure’ following today’s (17 November) announcement by Nicola Sturgeon that 11 local authorities across the west of Scotland will move into the highest level of lockdown restrictions later this...

Selfridges looks to create a buzz with honey-themed restaurant

17-Nov-2020 By BigHospiality

London’s Selfridges is planning to launch a honey-themed restaurant concept in early December ‘complete with on-site bee hives and a beekeeper’.

Zuaya owners to open Como Garden restaurant in Kensington

17-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

The owners of Latin American and Mediterranean restaurant and bar Zuaya in Kensington are opening a sister Italian restaurant next door.

Many nightclub owners considering legal action as sector faces 'extinction'

17-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) says it fears nightclubs will become 'extinct' in UK culture as businesses continue to face no roadmap for reopening and growing financial pressures.

Lorraine Copes: “Diversity drives businesses”

17-Nov-2020 By Stefan Chomka

The founder of BAME in Hospitality on what the hospitality sector can do to be more inclusive, and how her organisation can help.

Stricter tier system could be introduced this winter to help curb pandemic

17-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

A stricter tier system could come into place once the lockdown in England is lifted following calls from public health officials to act to limit the further spread of Coronavirus.

Pret to rollout delivery-only hot dinner menu across London

16-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is to rollout its delivery-only ‘Dinners by Pret’ evening meal service to 30 sites around London, having previously trialled the offer across seven of its UK stores.

Michael Caines to open Mickeys Beach Bar in Exmouth

16-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Michael Caines is to open a bar and restaurant as well as a cafe and patisserie in Exmouth as part of the Devon town’s seafront regeneration project.

Wahaca acquired in rescue deal by Nando’s owner

16-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Wahaca has sold a majority stake to the billionaire owner of Nando’s.

Business interruption test case heads to Supreme Court

16-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

A landmark test case brought by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) against a number of leading insurers over business interruption payouts heads to the Supreme Court today (16 November).

Mitchells & Butlers set for closures

16-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Harvester and All Bar One operator Mitchells & Butlers is to close up to 20 of its UK pub and restaurant locations.

TGI Fridays to launch New York-inspired bar and restaurant 63rd+1st

16-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

TGI Fridays UK is launching a cocktail-led bar and restaurant brand called 63rd+1st that it intends to roll out across the UK.

Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala's Café Spice Namaste to relocate after 25 years

16-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala are relocating their Indian restaurant Café Spice Namaste after 25 years in the capital.

Greggs to cut over 800 jobs as lockdown continues to hit sales

16-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Bakery chain Greggs is to shed more than 800 jobs as a result of the hit to sales caused by the ongoing Coronavirus restrictions.

The Real Greek set for new opening as business 'continues to thrive'

13-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

The Real Greek is to open a huge 145 cover restaurant at The Lexicon in Bracknell next month.

Revolution Bars to close six sites as CVA approved

13-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Revolution Bars Group's Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) has been approved with six sites to be closed permanently.

Friday Five: the week's top news stories

13-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

We round-up some of the main hospitality news stories from the past week including the extension of regulations allowing restaurants and pubs to operate as takeaways and Purezza's global expansion.

Stormont sets out reopening plan for Northern Ireland hospitality as lockdown extended for further week

13-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Northern Ireland's leaders have announced a one-week extension to the country's 'circuit-breaker' lockdown, with the hospitality industry allowed to begin partially reopening from next Friday.

Tightening restrictions drive sales into reverse across sector

13-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

The roll-out of tiered regional Coronavirus restrictions further depressed sales in Britain’s managed pub, restaurant and bar groups in October, latest data from the CGA Coffer Peach Business Tracker show.

Farika Holden: “Building a brand is not easy, but it's been good for my mental health"

13-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

How publican Farika Holden created food business Grateful Pies after being forced to close her London pub because of Coronavirus.

Farika Holden: “Building a brand is not easy, but it's been good for my mental health"

13-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

How publican Farika Holden created food business Grateful Pies after being forced to close her London pub because of Coronavirus.

Caffe Nero launches CVA

13-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Caffè Nero has launched a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in response to the 'decimation' in trade caused by the ongoing Coronavirus restrictions.

Middletons continues expansion drive with Cambridge opening

13-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Middletons Steakhouse & Grill will open its eighth restaurant next month, in Cambridge, as part of its plans to continue to expand across the UK.

The Lowdown: Great British Christmas Menu

12-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Next month sees the Great British Menu (GBM) return for a festive mini-series in which past winners and veteran chefs battle it out to cook for NHS workers.

Gleneagles Hotel to close for 11 weeks amid tougher lockdown restrictions

12-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

The Gleneagles Hotel says it will remain close throughout the festive season and all of January after tougher lockdown restrictions were announced for Perth and Kinross.

The Little Chartroom’s promenade pop up goes permanent

12-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Bijou Edinburgh bistro The Little Chartroom is to turn its pop-up location on the Scottish capital's Portobello Prom into a permanent site.

BrewDog set to open first DogHouse hotel in England

12-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

BrewDog has announced it is to open its first hotel site in England next year in Manchester.

Hospitality sector set to benefit from extended bank holiday in 2022

12-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

The hospitality sector is set to benefit from an extended bank holiday in 2022 to mark what will be the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Whitbread to reduce number of job cuts by half

12-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Whitbread is set to significantly reduce the number of job cuts it proposed in September, suggesting the furlough extension and recent vaccine hopes could soften the employment crisis in hospitality.

Scottish hospitality businesses 'will not survive' if forced to close before 10pm

11-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Pubs and restaurants in Scotland 'will not survive Christmas' if they are forced to close earlier than 10pm, the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) has warned.

Hospitality leaders optimistic about the long-term future of the UK hotel market

11-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Over two-thirds of hospitality leaders are ‘strongly’ or ‘slightly’ optimistic about the long-term future of the UK hotel market, with the majority also predicting a rise in profitability over the next five years, according to a new survey from Deloitte.

Wadworth sells 21 pubs to Liberation Group

11-Nov-2020 By Georgia Cronin

Wiltshire-based pubco and brewer Wadworth has announced the sale of 21 pubs to Liberation Group.

Asma Khan: “I am the ultimate outsider”

11-Nov-2020 By Stefan Chomka

The founder of Darjeeling Express on finally being accepted into Covent Garden, developing female leaders and why her new restaurant is serving one of the most expensive Indian tasting menus in the capital

Sacha Lord calls for Government to collaborate and rethink tiered restrictions

11-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Greater Manchester's night time economy advisor Sacha Lord has called on Government to work collaboratively with the sector and rethink its post-lockdown hospitality restrictions.

Total ban of online advertising for unhealthy foods 'risks clobbering takeaways and restaurants'

11-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Plans for a total ban on online adverts for foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) 'risks clobbering thousands of takeaways and restaurants', says the British Takeaway Campaign (BTC).