Casual Dining

Bolton hospitality venues given green light to reopen

01-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Pubs and restaurants in Bolton will be able to reopen for dine-in customers from Saturday (3 October) following an easing of local Coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Multi-site groups buck trend as market confidence wanes

01-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Multi-site hospitality operators have upped their market confidence in recent months despite an overall dip in optimism across the sector, the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA and Fourth reveals.

Restaurant radar: October 2020

01-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

October sees two long-awaited openings - West African restaurant Akoko and Santiago Lastra's Kol - hit the capital; D&D take on Bristol; and the launch of Harriet Mansell's debut restaurant.

Fuller’s to axe 'at least' 10% of workforce

01-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Fuller’s has said Government advice to work from home where possible means the pub company will have to lay off 'at least' 10% of its 5,000-strong workforce.

Tasty considers CVA

01-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Wildwood operator Tasty says it is exploring a potential Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

D&D London to relocate its Paternoster Chophouse restaurant

30-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

D&D London is to relocate its Paternoster Chophouse restaurant from its current Paternoster Square location to a new address in Ludgate Hill in the City.

Berberè prepares to make London debut

30-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Radio Alice founders Matteo and Salvatore Aloe are to open the first UK outpost for their Italian restaurant group Berberè next month.

Promotional Feature

Become a pizza delivery pro - part two

30-Sep-2020 By Arla Pro

With the UK's pizza delivery market in growth, never has it been a better time to try and grab a slice of the action. In these three videos Arla Pro discusses everything you need to know, from equipment and packaging to choosing the right cheese...

Imad Alarnab to open Imad’s Syrian Kitchen in November

30-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Syrian chef and refugee Imad Alarnab will open his first permanent restaurant in Soho’s Kingly Court this autumn.

How I Got Here: Adam Mani

30-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Adam Mani is the co-founder and CEO of the 90-strong desert parlour brand Creams.

Alok Sharma: Government has provided "a lot of specific support" for hospitality

30-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Business Secretary Alok Sharma has defended the Government’s 10pm curfew enforced on restaurants and pubs in England, stating that it has provided “a lot of specific support” for the hospitality sector.

Council leaders warn that northern cities face ‘complete decimation’ in trade

30-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

The respective leaders of Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester Council have warned that the North of England faces mass redundancies and boarded-up high streets unless Coronavirus restrictions are reviewed.

Hospitality businesses demand PM do more to help sector or face 'devastating' job losses

30-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

More than 100 UK hospitality businesses from across the sector have written directly to Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning that he must personally do more to help them.

The Chilli Pickle heads to South East Asia with Hawkerman

30-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Highly-rated Brighton Indian restaurant The Chilli Pickle is to give over part of its space to a spin-off inspired by the hawker markets of South East Asia.

Scottish restaurants report only 17 Covid cases out of 1.9 million customers

29-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Scottish restaurants have served almost 1.9 million customers since the lifting of lockdown but with only 17 confirmed cases of Coronavirus recorded among their customers and staff, the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) has revealed.

Cancel The Curfew campaign launches to provoke Government U-turn

29-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

A campaign putting pressure on the Government to make a U-turn on its 10pm curfew launches this week in response to the negative impact it is having on the hospitality sector.

Industry slams "draconian" loud music and dancing ban in restaurants and pubs

29-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

The Government has been accused of “layering restriction upon restriction” on the hospitality sector after new laws restricting or banning loud music, singing and dancing in restaurants, pubs and bars have been unveiled.

Westminster Council extends outdoor dining into October

29-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Westminster City Council is extending the temporary measures it put in place to enable al fresco dining and hospitality across the borough until the end of October.

Côte acquired by Partners Group

28-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

French brasserie brand Côte Restaurants has been acquired by global private markets investment manager Partners Group.

Pizza Hut CVA approved with 29 closures confirmed

28-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Pizza Hut's UK dine-in franchise business is to close 29 restaurants, putting 450 jobs at risk, after its Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) was approved by creditors this afternoon (28 September).

People on the move: September 2020

28-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

A roundup of the biggest personnel changes in the hospitality sector over the past month.

Five tips for handling Track and Trace data

28-Sep-2020 By Andrew Sharp

With all restaurants and pubs now required to collect data for Track and Trace, Data privacy expert Andrew Sharp at data consultancy Securys shares five tips for safe and legal customer data collection.

Hospitality heavyweights join forces to launch unemployment support service

28-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Industry heavyweights including Michel Roux Jr and Clare Smyth have joined forces with industry groups to launch a free support service for people in the sector struggling to find work.

Polpo files for administration

28-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Restaurant group Polpo has reportedly filed for administration.

New restrictions will 'significantly reduce' hospitality visits

28-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Consumers will significantly reduce their visits to pubs, bars and restaurants in the light of new Government restrictions, CGA’s latest Consumer Pulse Survey shows.

Calls grow for Government to review 'hard' curfew on hospitality

28-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Pressure is mounting on the Government to review its 'hard' 10pm curfew on hospitality businesses amid criticism the new rules are leading to people filling the streets en masse after visiting restaurants and pubs.

Andrew Wong's City restaurant Kym's to close permanently

25-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Andrew Wong's City restaurant Kym's has closed permanently after just two years' trading.

Latest opening: Maison François

25-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

A high-profile new brassiere headed by former Brompton Bar & Grill owner François O’Neill that's a lot more fun than its postcode suggests.

Restaurants count the cost as curfew hits

25-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurateurs have begun counting the financial cost of the Government’s decision to impose a 10pm operating curfew on hospitality, which came into force in England yesterday (24 September).

Friday five: The week's top stories

25-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Fresh rulings from Whitehall dominated the headlines this week, with the announcement of a 10pm curfew and new rules governing the wearing of face masks in hospitality venues.

Shaftesbury collects 41% of rents in H1

25-Sep-2020 By Georgia Cronin

West End pub and restaurant landlord Shaftesbury has said it remains confident in the long-term prospects of its portfolio, despite collecting less than half of its owed rent in the past six months.

Various Eateries begins trading on AIM

25-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Various Eateries, the restaurant group founded by hospitality entrepreneur Hugh Osmond, has entered its first day of trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange today (25 September).

'Horror and despair' as night-time economy shut out from winter support package

25-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Night-time economy businesses have been left 'in exile' after the Chancellor's Winter Economy Plan failed to contain any extra support for late-night operators that still remain closed.

Chancellor's measures "don't go far enough" for hospitality sector

24-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

The pub and restaurant sectors have called for more support from the Government to safeguard jobs following the Chancellor’s announcement of his Winter Economy Plan.

The Redemption brand gets a second shot

24-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Atomex - the Alex Moore-headed business that rescued Peruvian restaurants Ceviche and Andina from administration late last year - is to revive Redemption's Covent Garden restaurant.

Government extends debt enforcement moratorium as insolvency protections prolonged

24-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Measures introduced under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act, including a restriction on landlords pursuing aggressive forms of rent recovery such as winding-up petitions, have been extended by the Government.

The Great British Pub Awards set to take place tonight

24-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Tonight will see a celebration of some of the most inspiring pub operations across the UK as the winners of the Great British Pub Awards Pub Heroes 2020 are unveiled.

Giggling Squid to open biggest restaurant to date in Cambridge

24-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Thai restaurant group Giggling Squid will open its biggest restaurant to date next week in Cambridge.

Chancellor announces Job Support Scheme to replace furlough from November

24-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a new wage subsidy programme that he says will 'allow firms to preserve viable jobs'.

New Coronavirus rules: what they mean for hospitality businesses

24-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

The Government has introduced new rules for hospitality businesses from today, including a 10pm curfew, the displaying of NHS QR code posters and mandatory face masks for workers. Here's what the rules mean for your business, staff and customers.

Julian Metcalfe lambasts PM’s ‘exaggerated nonsense’

24-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Itsu CEO Julian Metcalfe has savaged Prime Minister Boris Johnson for “spouting Churchillian nonsense” and called a new six-month call to work from home “criminal”.

MasterChef finalist Andrew Kojima's Koj has closed permanently

24-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

MasterChef finalist Andrew Kojima says he will not reopen his Cheltenham-based casual dining Japanese restaurant Koj as a direct result of the Government’s further restrictions on hospitality during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Chancellor to announce 'Winter Economy Plan' as Autumn Budget scrapped

24-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is to unveil a 'Winter Economy Plan' later today (24 September) that is expected to include a wage subsidy programme to help protect workers still furloughed.

Gusto 'secures its future' after CVA approved

23-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Italian restaurant chain Gusto has completed a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) that will save more than 600 jobs but also see four sites closed permanently.

Comment

Moving last orders to 9-9.30pm could be calling time on thousands of hospitality businesses

23-Sep-2020 By Stefan Chomka

When Rishi Sunak announced in July the Eat Out to Help Out initiative I, like a number of people in the industry, viewed it with an air of scepticism.

Anger, confusion and dismay: sector reacts to curfew rules

23-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The hospitality industry has reacted with a mixture of anger, confusion and dismay to the curfew that comes into effect tomorrow (Thursday 24 September) alongside other restrictions intended to slow the spread of Coronavirus.

Contemporary Japanese restaurant Bisushima plans Winter opening

23-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Modern Japanese restaurant Bisushima is to launch later this year on the sixth floor of the newly refurbished Page8 hotel in London's Covent Garden.

How I Got Here: Hubert Beatson-Hird

23-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurateur Hubert Beatson-Hird is owner director of the Lunar Pub Company, which he founded with chef Oliver Marlowe.

Promotional feature

Become a pizza delivery pro

23-Sep-2020 By Arla Pro

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought numerous problems to restaurateurs, either with the enforced lockdown of the summer or the continuing issues around customer distancing and a drop in covers, but many restaurants have tackled the issue head on and...

Sunak considers wage subsidy to replace Job Retention Scheme

23-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is understood to be drawing up plans for a new wage subsidy programme to replace the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme (JRS) next month.