Casual Dining

Almost 40% of hospitality businesses say Government’s tier system is difficult to enforce

30-Oct-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Hospitality operators are struggling to adhere properly with the Government’s three tier system, which impacts on how businesses can trade depending on where they are located.

Hospitality sales take a battering in third quarter with 48% drop

30-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Hospitality sales continued to take a battering in the third quarter of 2020, with ongoing Government restrictions denting the temporary boost of the Chancellor's Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Gordon Ramsay's Street Pizza set for Southwark

30-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Gordon Ramsay has confirmed he is to open his third Street Pizza site next month in London's Southwark.

PizzaExpress to axe another 1,300 jobs after trade plummets

29-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

PizzaExpress is to axe a further 1,300 from across its UK estate following a decline in footfall since September and poor city centre trade.

Flat Iron heads to Marylebone

29-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Flat Iron is to open its ninth London location next month on James Street in Marylebone.

London restaurateur calls for JSS review to help restaurants survive until December claim period

29-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

A London restaurateur is calling for an urgent review of the Job Support Scheme (JSS) to help restaurants be able to pay their staff until claims can be made under the scheme.

G-A-Y owner 'not giving up' after court refuses to let curfew legal challenge go ahead

29-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

The owner of London’s G-A-Y nightclub in Soho has 'decided not to give up' after a court refused permission for his legal challenge against the 10pm curfew to go ahead.

How I Got Here: Stephen Tozer

29-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Stephen Tozer is the co-founder of London-based kebab restaurants Le Bab, Maison Bab and Kebab Queen.

Busaba CVA approved

29-Oct-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Busaba Eathai’s Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) has been approved, with an 81% majority of creditors backing the proposals.

Hospitality sector calls on Welsh Government for support

29-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality Cymru has written to members of the Welsh Government outlining proposals for the support of the country's hospitality businesses during the 'fire-break' lockdown and beyond.

Nottinghamshire to join Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and South Yorkshire in Tier 3

28-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Almost 800 pubs and 12 wine bars in Nottingham will be forced to close unless they can operate as restaurants serving substantial meals when Nottinghamshire moves into Tier 3 lockdown on Friday.

YO! continues its push into retail with new Co-op deal

28-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Sushi brand YO! is expanding its partnership with Co-op to supply its YO! To Go products in 160 stores nationwide.

Hoppers launches retail platform Cash & Kari

28-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Sri Lankan restaurant group Hoppers is marking its fifth birthday with the launch of E-commerce site Cash & Kari.

Just 1% of hospitality venues linked to NHS Test and Trace incidences, research finds

28-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Just 1% of hospitality venues across the UK have been linked to NHS Test and Trace incidences of Coronavirus, according to a survey conducted on behalf of the UK’s restaurant and pub trade bodies.

Tech Hub

Why back of house should be front of mind

28-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

With so many systems and solutions available to help restaurants navigate the current pandemic, increase efficiencies and open up new revenue streams, never has back of house tech been so important.

Christmas bookings drop by 75% as a result of eating out restrictions

28-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Nearly half of restaurants, pubs and hotels have lost around 75% of festive bookings since the ‘rule of six’ and 10pm curfew began, according to a new survey.

Scottish hospitality businesses face '£3.5m shortfall' during circuit breaker

28-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Scotland’s restaurants and pubs will receive only £415,000 of Government support over the country’s three-week ‘circuit-breaker’ despite it costing business over £3.5m to close, the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) has claimed.

BrewDog hits £7.5m target for its Equity for Punks Tomorrow programme

27-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

BrewDog has hit its initial crowdfunding target of £7.5m for its crowdfunding investment programme, Equity for Punks Tomorrow.

Arôme to go permanent in Covent Garden

27-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Singaporean restaurateur Ellen Chew is to partner with pâtissier Alix Andre to launch a permanent site for Asian-influenced bakery concept Arôme at The Yards in London's Covent Garden next month.

How mobile order and pay tech took off

27-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

The UK restaurant sector was slow to adopt mobile ordering and payment technology in any meaningful way. And then the Coronavirus pandemic struck

Trade bodies call on Government to freeze late-night levy payments

27-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Three of the sector's biggest trade bodies have demanded the Government freeze the levy payments late-night hospitality and pub businesses have been required to continue paying despite Coronavirus restrictions.

Tom Aikens, John Williams and Mark Birchall among AA rosette award winners

27-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Four British restaurants including Tom Aikens' Muse in London's Belgravia and The Ritz Restaurant in Piccadilly, overseen by chef John Williams, have been awarded four AA rosettes.

Revolution Bars launches CVA in a bid to reduce its estate

27-Oct-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Revolution Bars Group has launched a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) that it hopes will see it exit six of its venues.

Tampopo closes Piccadilly Gardens restaurant that was ‘in the eye of the storm’

27-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Pan-Asian restaurant Tampopo has closed permanently its Piccadilly Gardens site, saying that its location meant it was ‘in the eye of the storm’ of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Hospitality sector presents Scottish Government with 'workable strategic framework'

27-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Trade Bodies representing Scotland’s hospitality sector have written to the First Minister and MSPs proposing a 'workable strategic framework' for the sector.

Ibérica to shutter two sites under CVA

26-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Spanish restaurant group Ibérica is to close two of its seven sites following a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

Westminster Council U-turns on plans to introduce al fresco charges for restaurants

26-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Westminster City Council has scrapped plans to charge restaurant and bar operators thousands of pounds to keep trading outside through the winter months.

Caffè Nero eyes CVA

26-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Caffè Nero has become the latest high street operator to explore a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) to help it emerge from the pandemic.

Henry Harris 'steps away' from Harcourt Inns

26-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Henry Harris has left his role as chef director of London-based pub group Harcourt Inns.

Shopping Forecast: the latest product launches

23-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

This month's selection of product news stories includes glasses from Utopia, de Buyers new non-stick pans and Metcalfe's latest pasta machine.

Scotland to enter a five-level Coronavirus alert system

23-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Scotland is to enter a five-level Coronavirus lockdown system first Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

Friday Five: the week's top news

23-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

This week's headlines were dominated by various parts of the country facing tougher lockdown measures, and the growing pleas of the hospitality industry for restrictions to be relaxed.

promoted content

Meet the grower: Charlie Cleaver

23-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

We pay a visit to MWW Farms in Worstershire to find out why Tenderstem® broccoli is a great choice for the planet as well as the plate.

How the pandemic is shaping the future of EPOS

23-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

With the pandemic rewriting the rulebook on how restaurants operate, it’s never been more important for your EPOS system to be capable of adapting to the changing landscape

Tier 2 and 3 restrictions are proving catastrophic for hospitality businesses, says poll

23-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

The Tier 2 and 3 restrictions are proving catastrophic for hospitality businesses with some experiencing a huge drop in trade as a result of the Government measures.

Scottish hospitality launches legal action against Government restrictions

22-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Five of Scotland’s hospitality industry bodies have commenced legal action against restrictions imposed on the licensed trade by the Scottish Government.

Yard Sale Pizza to make South London debut

22-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

East and North London-centric pizza operator Yard Sale has chosen Dulwich for its first location south of the river.

Sunak unveils new financial support for businesses facing tighter restrictions

22-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has set out a series of financial measures that seeks to help businesses operating under tighter restrictions, including a cash grant scheme targeted at the hospitality sector.

Yotam Ottolenghi: "Ironically, I’m begging to be shutdown"

22-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Yotam Ottolenghi has said the Tier 2 restrictions imposed on London has seen year-on-year takings at his London restaurants fall by between 80% and 90%.

Legal challenge launched against Manchester restrictions

22-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Sacha Lord, the night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, has commenced a Judicial Review into the legality of implementing emergency restrictions on the region’s hospitality sector without scientific evidence.

Sunak set to introduce Tier 2 finance support

22-Oct-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce new financial support for hospitality businesses in areas operating under Tier 2 Coronavirus restrictions, such as London and Birmingham.

Scottish hospitality sector launches Save our Jobs campaign

21-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Some of the biggest names in Scottish hospitality have launched a ‘Save Our Jobs’ campaign calling for urgent support from Westminster and Holyrood to safeguard up to 100,000 jobs before the UK-wide furlough scheme comes to an end on 31 October.

Sturgeon extends hospitality restrictions as Scotland heads for tiered system

21-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants, pubs and bars across Scotland’s central belt will have to remain closed for at least a further week, as leaders work on a tiered system for the country.

Digital ordering platform to offer meal kits from top London restaurants

21-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Newly launched online ordering platform Restokit is looking to make it simpler for restaurants to offer meal kits and has already signed up a number of high profile London restaurants.

Sally Abé joins Conrad London St. James hotel as consultant chef

21-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

The Harwood Arms head chef Sally Abé is to oversee the food and drink offer at four new venues located in the Conrad London St. James hotel.

How I Got Here: Jacqueline Gear

21-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Jacqueline Gear co-owns Michelin-starred restaurant The Artichoke in Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire, with her husband Laurie Gear.

Lussmanns closes permanently its Tring restaurant in ‘extremely challenging' conditions

21-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Sustainable fish and grill restaurant Lussmans will close permanently its Tring restaurant from lockdown, citing the ‘extremely challenging and uncertain’ conditions in the hospitality sector as the reason.

Sheffield City Region agrees to move into Tier 3

21-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

The Sheffield City Region will move into Tier 3 lockdown after local leaders agreed a financial package deal with the Government to support businesses.

Corbin & King "pressing ahead" with allowing business meetings in its London restaurants

20-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Corbin & King co-founder Jeremy King says that his London restaurants will continue to accommodate business meetings while the Government’s Tier 2 restrictions on the capital are in place.

Greater Manchester faces Tier 3 restrictions after talks with Government end without deal

20-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Greater Manchester is set to have Tier 3 restrictions imposed on it imminently, with pubs and bars across the region ordered to close for at least a month.