Casual Dining

Hospitality leaders call for amendment to Enterprise Investment Scheme to help rebuild sector

11-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Leaders from the hospitality sector are calling on the Government to adapt the current Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) temporarily, which they say will incentivise investors to help rebuild the hospitality...

UKHospitality renews calls for targeted sector support as UK unemployment continues to surge

10-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has said the latest employment stats released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reinforces the need for the Government to deliver targeted financial support to hospitality businesses.

Salt Dog Slims to open a second venue, in Manchester

10-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Restaurant group GSG Hospitality is bringing its Salt Dog Slims concept to Manchester with the opening of a venue near the Northern Quarter and Spinningfields areas of the city.

Consumer spending drops 0.1% in October

10-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Consumer spending declined 0.1% year-on-year in October, as the introduction of further restrictions and the arrival of colder weather encouraged Brits to stay at home and turn to online shopping.

Hospitality businesses urged to register for sponsor license or face post-Brexit recruitment shortage

10-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses are being warned they could face a recruitment shortage post Brexit if they do not register to employ overseas workers before free movement ends on 1 January.

Liverpool's 'most Instagrammable' restaurant to open next month

10-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

A venue that is promised to be the city’s ‘most Instagrammable’ bar and restaurant in opening in Liverpool next month.

Starmer calls for curfew rethink

09-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Sir Keir Starmer has called for a rethink of the Government's 10pm curfew on hospitality, suggesting it would be better to stagger closing times once businesses reopen post lockdown.

Purezza set for global expansion following investment

09-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Vegan pizza brand Purezza is to push ahead with plans to expand the business globally after raising £2.4m in investment.

The Waterside Inn to remain closed until January in light of lockdown 'uncertainty'

09-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Chef Alain Roux will not reopen his three-Michelin starred Waterside Inn restaurant in Bray until the new year due to the 'uncertainty' of when England's lockdown restrictions will be lifted.

Welsh hospitality begins to reopen following 'fire-break'

09-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants, pubs and bars across Wales can reopen from today (9 November) following the end of the country's 17-day 'fire-break' lockdown.

Real Living Wage increases to £9.50 an hour

09-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

The Real Living Wage (RLW) has risen to £9.50 in the UK and to £10.85 in London, an increase of 20p and 10p per hour respectively.

Sbarro eyes expansion as it makes UK debut

09-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

US pizza chain Sbarro has set out plans to potentially open a number of sites across the country having recently established its first UK location.

Relaxed regulations allowing restaurants and pubs to operate as takeaways extended until 2022

09-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Relaxed regulations that have allowed restaurants and pubs to operate as hot food takeaways during the Coronavirus pandemic have been extended until 2022, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has said.

Friday Five: the week's top news stories

06-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

A round-up some of the main hospitality news stories from the past week including relief over the extension to the Job Retention Scheme, the welcoming of off-premise alcohol sales, and arrests made in connection with the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Chef turned grower Dan Cox: "99% of agriculture is broken"

06-Nov-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The former Fera head chef on swapping top-flight kitchens for a farm in Cornwall, his plans for a restaurant and the importance of soil health.

Top chefs join line up for second Belazu Virtual Banquet

06-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Chefs including Ollie Dabbous, Ravneet Gill, James Elliott, Jeremy Lee, Eyal Jagermann and Ixta Belfrage will participate in the second Belazu Virtual Banquet following the success of the first online event in May.

Drinks

Liquid assets: November's latest drinks launches

06-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Pink prosecco, bottled cocktails, booze-free Guinness and zero-alcohol aperitifs are just some of the recent new drinks launches vying for a spot on your back bar.

Pizza Express appoints former Wagamama chief exec as its new CEO

06-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

PizzaExpress has appointed former Wagamama chief executive David Campbell as its new CEO.

Rockfish opens retail fish market in Brixham

06-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Rockfish has fast-tracked the opening of its new retail fish market in Brixham, which launches today (6 November).

The Connaught Bar named best in the world

06-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

London is once again home to the best bar in the world after The Connaught Bar claimed the top spot in the World’s 50 Best Bars list.

Big Mamma's Napoli Gang crosses the river

06-Nov-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Napoli Gang - the recently launched delivery-only brand from Gloria and Circolo Popolare operator Big Mamma - is crossing the river for the first time with the launch of a dark kitchen site in Wandsworth.

South West restaurateurs remain optimistic despite lockdown frustration

05-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurateurs in the South West of England, where infection rates remain low, are optimistic for the future despite the frustration of having to shut down due to the country-wide lockdown.

Chancellor confirms furlough extension

05-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has further extended the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) until March 2021.

The Lowdown: lockdown Christmas parties

05-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

With the prospect of lockdown 2 putting a dampener on Christmas parties, restaurants are finding different ways of keeping the festive celebrations alive.

High street operators commit to remaining open throughout second England lockdown

05-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Bakery chain Greggs and fast food giant KFC are among the national chains that will continue to keep their entire estates open throughout the second country-wide lockdown in England.

Rare Restaurants to ramp up hot food delivery with virtual brands

05-Nov-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Rare Restaurants is planning to expand its hot food delivery service by increasing the reach of its existing Gaucho and M Restaurants-branded offerings as well as introducing a number of virtual brands that aren't attributed to its existing restaurants....

Further furlough extension expected

05-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to further extend the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) to all businesses that remain shut beyond 2 December.

Shepherd Neame says it is "well positioned for growth"

05-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Pub operator and brewer Shepherd Neame says it is “extremely resilient” and will emerge from the second national lockdown in in a “position of strength”.

Government called on for more support to safeguard future of 12,000 pubs

05-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

The Government is being urged to provide more longer-term support to the pub sector to save as many as 12,000 pubs from permanent closure as England enters its second lockdown.

Johnson refuses to rule out lockdown extension in England as MPs back second shutdown

05-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

The Prime Minister has failed to rule out extending England's second national lockdown, which comes into force today (5 November), beyond the initial four weeks.

The Africa Centre seeks operator for HQ restaurant

04-Nov-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The Africa Centre is inviting applications for the operation of its restaurant and bar in its new home in Southwark.

Ratnesh Bagdai and Steve Ellis to take on The Bailiwick pub

04-Nov-2020 By Joe Lutrario

High profile restaurateur Ratnesh Bagdai has teamed up with former The Oxford Blue chef patron Steven Ellis to take on The Bailiwick in Surrey, with further pubs on the cards should the venture be a success.

Trade bodies call for six-month investment to secure survival of sector

04-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Trade bodies representing the UK’s hospitality, pubs and their supply chain businesses have called on the Government to provide a six-month investment plan to secure the future of those sectors.

Legislative loophole allows for takeaway beer sales

04-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

The Government has partially U-turned on its decision to ban pubs in England selling takeaway alcoholic drinks during the forthcoming November lockdown, legislation published yesterday (3 November) shows.

Welsh hospitality gets greenlight to reopen with 'severe' restrictions following 'fire-break'

04-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants, pubs and bars will be able to welcome groups of up to four people from different households from Monday (9 November) when the country's 'fire-break' lockdown lifts.

Government further extends business support loan deadlines in wake of second lockdown

03-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Application deadlines for the Treasury’s UK-wide programme of business support loans have been further extended following the announcement that England will move back into lockdown from Thursday (5 November)

Sadiq Khan calls for extension to business rates holiday

03-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called on the Government to extend the current business rates holiday for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses.

German Doner Kebab owner eyes UK's healthy eating market with salad concept Choppaluna

03-Nov-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The owner of the German Doner Kebab brand has entered the UK’s healthy eating market with the launch of salad-focused fast casual brand Choppaluna in Bloomsbury.

Camino rescue deal secures 77 jobs

03-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Spanish restaurant group Camino has secured a rescue deal that will preserve its four restaurant and two bar locations in London, securing 77 jobs in the process.

MEATliquor to permanently close King's Cross restaurant

03-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

MEATliquor is to permanently close its restaurant in London's King's Cross this week as England enters its second country-wide lockdown.

McDonald's to keep entire estate open through lockdown

02-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

McDonald's will keep all its restaurants in England open during the forthcoming November lockdown for takeaway, drive thru and delivery, with just its dine-in areas set to close.

Takeaway beer ban branded 'soul destroying' as pubs call for urgent rethink

02-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

A ban on pubs in England selling takeaway drinks during the forthcoming November lockdown has been branded 'soul destroying', with industry voices calling for the Government to rethink the measure.

Thousands of hospitality venues to miss out on grants without changes to State Aid restrictions

02-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Sector trade bodies have warned 20,000 hospitality businesses will miss out on lockdown grants, putting over one million jobs at risk, unless Government takes advantage of State Aid reforms.

Trade bodies demand targeted support amid warning second lockdown 'will hurt for years to come'

02-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Trade bodies have demanded the Government provide hospitality businesses ordered to close this week with financial support that's proportional if not greater than what was available during the first lockdown.

Hospitality venues across England hit with month-long closure as country plunged back into lockdown

31-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants, pubs and bars across England must close for a month from next week, with the furlough scheme extended to support those jobs impacted.

Carlsberg and Marston's merger completes

30-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Brewer and pubco Marston’s has confirmed the completion of its £780m joint venture with Carlsberg UK.

Friday Five: the week's top news

30-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

A round-up some of the main hospitality news stories from the past week including Caffè Nero becoming the latest operator to explore a CVA and Henry Harris leaving Harcourt Inns.

Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards Sessions

Nathan Outlaw on rethinking top-end dining

30-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The next video in the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards' Sessions series features Nathan Outlaw, who relaunched his flagship as a much simpler affair earlier this year.

La Mia Mamma pop up restaurant goes permanent

30-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Italian kitchen concept La Mia Mamma is to convert its pop up site on Hollywood Road in London's Chelsea into a permanent location.

Sponsored feature

Don’t take the risk – why using low quality hand sanitiser can harm your business

30-Oct-2020 By Zidac Laboratories

Zidac Laboratories, who have an expert formulation team including Anica Detic, head of research and development, is warning hospitality owners to be careful about the types of sanitiser they are investing in.