Casual Dining

Former Caravan chef to head up new Mediterranean bistro

20-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Former Caravan head chef Nikos Kontogiannatos is to head up a new Mediterranean-focused bistro and bar that's set to launch in Shoreditch next month.

Loophole suggests 'working lunches' could be exempt from tougher Coronavirus restrictions

20-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

An apparent loophole has emerged in the Government's Coronavirus alert level restrictions that suggests working lunches could still be allowed despite bans on people from different households mixing.

HospoDemo: "Let's hope they listen, or we'll be back here again soon"

20-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

The organiser of yesterday's (19 October) hospitality demonstration in Parliament Square against restrictions being imposed on businesses in the sector has vowed to return if the Government fails to act.

Wales’ ‘fire-break’ lockdown confirmed

19-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has ordered hospitality businesses to close for two weeks to ‘break the rapidly increasing spread of Coronavirus’ in Wales.

Mexican and Japanese restaurant Los Mochis to open in Notting Hill

19-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Restaurateur Markus Thesleff is to open a Mexican and Japanese restaurant in Notting Hill next month.

Hospitality sector: "we want to be open for usual at Christmas"

19-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Almost two thirds of hospitality operators (64%) would rather shut down for a ‘circuit-breaker’ now if it meant they could open as usual for the Christmas period, according to the latest Hospitality Leaders Poll.

Greater Manchester to receive government support for tier 3 status

19-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Manchester’s council leaders could be offered a support package of up to £100m to accept the Government’s proposed tier 3 restrictions.

More than 750,000 hospitality jobs at risk without urgent Government support

19-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

A survey carried out by UKHospitality, the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) shows the sector faces mass redundancies without urgent Government support.

Hospitality industry to stage London protest over Coronavirus restrictions today

19-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Hundreds of hospitality workers will converge on Parliament Square this morning (19 October) to peacefully protest the restrictions being imposed on businesses in the sector.

Wales poised for 'circuit breaker' decision

19-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

The Welsh Government is expected to announce this morning whether it will impose a two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown, which will see pubs and restaurants across the country ordered to close.

Flash-grilled: Ali Nia

19-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Former Restaurant Gordon Ramsay GM Ali Nia was recently appointed as general manager and partner at The Drunken Butler in Farringdon.

Latest opening: Pali Hill

16-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Indian restaurant group Azure Hospitality has made its London debut, having taken over the former Gaylord site in Fitzrovia.

Friday Five: the week's top news

16-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Another tumultuous week for the hospitality sector saw restaurants and pubs in Northern Ireland ordered to close for four weeks, and a three-tier Coronavirus alert system introduced across England.

Gordon Ramsay Burger set for Harrods

16-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Gordon Ramsay Burger is to open its first UK site at Harrods in London's Knightsbridge before the end of the year.

Pret to axe another 400 jobs as recovery stalls

16-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger will close a further six sites and cut around 400 more jobs after its recovery was hampered by a tightening of Coronavirus restrictions and rising case numbers.

Pubs and bars in Lancashire face closure as Coronavirus alert level raised

16-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Pubs and bars across Lancashire will have to close from midnight tonight (17 October) as the region becomes the second in England to enter the highest Coronavirus alert level tier.

Operators see September sales slump

16-Oct-2020 By James Halliwell

Sales slumped in September after the combination of the withdrawal of Eat Out to Help Out and the introduction of the 10pm curfew, according to the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

JD Wetherspoon's Tim Martin slams restrictions as 'capricious and damaging'

16-Oct-2020 By James Halliwell

JD Wetherspoon has released its full year results, which lay bare the impact of the Coronavirus on sales and profits.

“We’re all limping on” – Anger, despair and exhaustion as London restaurateurs face new restrictions

16-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurateurs across London have seen consumer confidence plummet and bookings collapse as the impact of forthcoming new Coronavirus restrictions in the capital takes hold.

Northern leaders stand firm against Tier 3 restrictions without proportional support

15-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said he will not back plans to raise the region's Coronavirus alert level without a comprehensive package in place to help protect businesses.

Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck closes temporarily after Coronavirus outbreak among staff

15-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Heston Blumenthal's three Michelin-starred Berkshire restaurant The Fat Duck has been forced to temporarily close following an outbreak of Covid-19 among its staff.

sponsored by Deliverect

Delivering the goods: why 2020 is the year delivery came into its own

15-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

2020 is a year that many in the industry will want to forget, but it’s also the year that food delivery really came into its own.

Hospitality industry to stage London protest over Coronavirus restrictions

15-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Members of the hospitality industry will converge on Parliament Square next week to peacefully protest the restrictions being imposed on businesses in the sector.

More than 10,000 hospitality businesses to be hit as London smacked with further restrictions

15-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

London's Coronavirus alert level will be raised from 'medium' to 'high' this weekend in a move that 'could be the death knell' for thousands of hospitality businesses.

Fulham Shore: "The business has emerged in robust shape"

15-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Franco Manca and The Real Greek operator Fulham Shore is optimistic about its future after revealing a 7% increase in sales for its financial year ending 29 March 2020 and a solid performance post lockdown.

Coronavirus restrictions pushes Marston's to axe over 2,000 jobs

15-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Pub and brewery group Marston's is to cut up to 2,150 jobs as a direct result of the impact caused by the Government's new Coronavirus restrictions.

Boparan completes GBK acquisition

14-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has acquired Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) in a pre-pack administration deal that will save 35 of the chain's 62-strong estate.

Boparan looks to acquire Gourmet Burger Kitchen

14-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner owner Boparan is reportedly set to add a further brand it its portfolio by acquiring Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) through a pre-pack administration deal.

Prime Minister faces pressure to introduce two-week 'circuit breaker' in England

14-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under increasing pressure to bring in a two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown for England that would see restaurants and pubs across the country forced to close.

Shing Tat Chung: "We've had to diversify the BAO brand"

14-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The co-founder of BAO on his high-profile Taiwanese restaurant group's two-pronged approach to delivery and the soon to open Cafe BAO in King's Cross

Lacklustre employment market highlights need for enhanced Government support

14-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Trade body UKHospitality has reiterated its warning that, without increased financial support from the Government, half a million hospitality jobs are at risk.

Curfew passes Commons vote despite Tory rebellion

14-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

A parliamentary vote on regulations linked to the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants in England has been won by the Government, despite aggressive opposition from backbench Tory MPs.

Hospitality venues in Northern Ireland saddled with four-week 'circuit breaker' closure - updated

14-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants and pubs in Northern Ireland must close for four weeks from Friday (16 October) under tough new 'circuit breaker' restrictions.

Big Night hits crowdfunding target in less than 24 hours

13-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Independent restaurant delivery service Big Night has exceeded its fundraising target of £100,000 in less than 24 hours.

Soho Taiwanese Mr Ji to reopen with the help of Tā Tā eatery duo

13-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Soho grab-and-go Taiwanese chicken restaurant Mr Ji is to re-open as a full-service restaurant offering an expanded menu created with TĀ TĀ Eatery’s Ana Gonçalves and Zijun Meng.

Up to 970 Liverpool pubs face closure as new restrictions condemned for being 'simply wrong'

13-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has condemned the Government's decision to target pubs for closure in areas deemed 'very high' risk under its new three-tier alert system.

Many hospitality businesses face 'point of no return' as Prime Minister sets out new restrictions - updated

12-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Pubs and bars in the Liverpool City Region will be required to close from Wednesday (14 October) under new Coronavirus restrictions announced by the Prime Minister.

Lovely jubbly! Only Food and Courses to launch debut site in Brixton

12-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurant and pop-up events business Only Food and Courses is to open its debut site at Pop Brixton, London, in the same incubator space previously used by Kricket and Smoke & Salt.

Number of licensed premises falls by 25,000 as reopenings stall

12-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

The UK has nearly 25,000 fewer licensed premises open than before the Coronavirus lockdown, the latest Market Recovery Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners reveals.

Big Night orders in crowdfunding drive

12-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Independent restaurant delivery service Big Night is looking to raise £100,000 on crowdfunding platform Seedrs.

The Connaught Patisserie opens in Mayfair

12-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

London’s The Connaught has opened a standalone patisserie at the side of the luxury hotel on Mayfair’s Mount Street.

Ruth Rogers, Mary Berry and Ching-He Huang recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours list

12-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Restaurateur Ruth Rogers and TV chefs and cookery book authors Mary Berry and Ching-He Huang are among the people to have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2020.

Job Support Scheme slammed for not going far enough

12-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

The Government's latest wave of furlough support, which will cover two-thirds of workers’ wages if their employer's business is forced to close, has been slammed for not going far enough.

JKS Restaurants launches Ambassador General Store

12-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

JKS Restaurants has launched an online store that brings together its three top-end Indian brands to offer restaurant-prepared meal boxes, alcoholic drinks and pantry items nationwide.

Diners have new-found concern for the environment post lockdown, says poll

12-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Diners have a new-found concern for the environment with a growing number more willing to opt for a sustainable dish on a restaurant menu, according to new research by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA).

Hospitality leaders prepare legal challenge to "disproportionate and unjust" Coronavirus lockdowns

12-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

England’s Night Time Economy and hospitality leaders are preparing a legal challenge to the Coronavirus local lockdowns set to be put in place by the Government later today (12 October).

Manchester MPs say they won't support tier three measures for the city

12-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Manchester MPs say they will not support the city being put into tier three of the lockdown measures set to be unveiled today (12 October) by the Government.

Northern pubs braced for closures as Government prepares to unveil three-tier alert system

12-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

The Prime Minister will lay out new Coronavirus rules today (12 October) that will see pubs and bars in areas with the highest infection rate forced to close.

G-A-Y owner pushes ahead with curfew legal challenge after 'dither and delay' by Government

09-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

The owner of London’s G-A-Y nightclub in Soho is to proceed with his a legal challenge against the Government's 10pm curfew on hospitality businesses.

Government to pay two-thirds of workers' wages for businesses hit by lockdown

09-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Rishi Sunak has announced that the Government will cover two-thirds of workers’ wages if their employer's business is forced to close as a result of local Coronavirus lockdown restrictions.