Casual Dining

Action Against Hunger and Hospitality Action fundraiser launched

12-Jun-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Chefs, restaurants, cafes and pubs from around the UK are coming together together for an online charity auction to raise funds for Action Against Hunger and Hospitality Action.

Restaurant described as the 'antidote to the C word' to open next month

12-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

A restaurant that has been purposely designed for customer distancing is due to open in Cornwall’s St Moritz Hotel next month.

Renewed calls to relax two-metre rule and introduce Autumn bank holiday in APPG report

12-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Just 11% of hospitality businesses have been able to operate normally during the Coronavirus lockdown according to a report from The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism (APPG).

Pre-booking. Perspex screens. Pub hosts. How Greene King's pubs will operate post lockdown

12-Jun-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Greene King has unveiled details of how its pubs will look and operate ahead of them re-opening, under its set of ‘Pub Safe’ promises.

Le Pain Quotidien secures partial rescue deal

12-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Bakery brand Le Pain Quotidien's UK operation has reportedly been sold in a pre-pack administration deal.

The Lowdown: ‘Helpy Hour’

11-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

With bars, cafés and restaurants facing catastrophic financial losses due to the Coronavirus, Belgium has launched the ‘helpy hour’ initiative, to try and stop its hospitality establishments from going under.

Just Eat poised to gobble up Grubhub

11-Jun-2020 By Joe Lutrario

In a blow to rival Uber, Just Eat is on course to snap up Grubhub for £5.8b, creating the largest food delivery service outside China.

The new (ab)normal? What the future holds for restaurants

11-Jun-2020 By Stefan Chomka

As the lockdown easing tentatively begins, restaurants owners’ minds are turning to reopening their businesses. But what does the short-term future hold for restaurants?

Chiktopia enters liquidation

11-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

'Better chicken’ restaurant concept Chiktopia has gone into liquidation less than a year after opening its debut restaurant within the Intu Lakeside shopping centre in Essex.

Pressure grows to cut two-metre social distancing rule

11-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Conservative MPs are reportedly calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to cut the two-metre social distancing rule, a move many hospitality operators have said will be integral to their survival.

Scottish Government signals reopening date for hospitality sector

10-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

The Scottish Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing has told the country's tourist bodies that they should prepare for reopening from 15 July onwards.

Homerton pub The Gun launches crowdfund to help secure survival

10-Jun-2020 By Stefan Chomka

East London pub The Gun has launched a crowdfund to raise money to help it avoid closure as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Clarity needed over Welsh Government's reopening strategy for sector, says UKHospitality

10-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality Cymru has said that an orderly and clearly signalled opening date, which allows high summer season trading, could save as many as 40,000 jobs in the Welsh hospitality industry.

UKHospitality urges Government to provide fiscal rent support

10-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has warned of significant business failures and job losses across the sector if the Government fails to provide fiscal support to overcome the stand-off between landlords and tenants over unpaid rent.

Business Secretary pours cold water on early reopening plans for sector

10-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

The Business Secretary has confirmed that the earliest hospitality businesses will be able to reopen will be 4 July, dashing hopes that they may have been able to open earlier.

TRG eyes 125 closures as CVA announced

10-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has announced that its struggling leisure arm is to enter into a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) that will see its estate reduced by approximately 125 sites.

Soho Summer Street Festival campaign launched

09-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

London-based commercial landlord firms Soho Estates and Shaftesbury are leading a campaign to temporarily pedestrianise the Soho area and allow hospitality businesses to set-up al fresco drinking and dining areas.

Pizza Express extends lockdown offer to click and collect

09-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

Pizza Express has taken another tentative step towards reopening its restaurant estate by adding an option to click and collect pizzas from the 13 sites in London that is has already opened for delivery.

Video: How restaurants are gearing up for re-opening

09-Jun-2020 By Joe Lutrario

As the re-opening date for restaurants approaches, operators’ thoughts are turning to how they can re-open safely and economically. Here restaurateurs in Brighton & Hove discuss the challenges they face as they look to start welcoming their diners...

Patty & Bun to launch Sidechick pop-up

09-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Burger slinger Patty & Bun is to launch a chicken-focused offshoot this week.

Masterchef: The Professionals chef Arbinder Dugal to head up new restaurant Attawa

09-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

Chef Arbinder Dugal it to head up the kitchen at new restaurant Attawa when it opens in Dalston, east London, for takeaway this week.

BBPA calls for definitive pub reopening date

09-Jun-2020 By Georgia Cronin

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has called on Government to provide immediate clarity on whether pubs with beer gardens can reopen from 22 June.

Hawksmoor to launch Hawksmoor at Home as its thoughts turn to reopening

09-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

Steakhouse group Hawksmoor is looking to introduce a food delivery service bringing some of its dishes to people’s homes across the country.

Talad Eatery to refocus as Asian deli concept

09-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Chef Natalie Tangsakul is to refocus her Northern Thai restaurant concept Talad and launch an Asian-inspired deli in its stead later this month.

Veggie Pret sites to reopen this week

09-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is to reopen all of its Veggie Pret stores across the UK this week, with the majority offering delivery for the first time.

Revised #NationalTimeOut plan proposed

09-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Hospitality Union’s Jonathan Downey has written a second letter to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, featuring a revised #NationalTimeOut rent deal proposal.

Petition to save Brixton Market food business approaches 17,000 signatures

08-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

A petition to save Nour Cash & Carry in London’s Brixton Market has reached nearly 17,000 signatures since its inception.

Three Joes acquires The Stable

08-Jun-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Three Joes has acquired fellow pizza chain The Stable from Fullers for an undisclosed sum, taking its total number of sites from three to 15.

Wasabi looking to move to turnover-based rents model to help secure future

08-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

High street sushi and bento company Wasabi has appointed KPMG to help it in its negotiations with landlords to move to a turnover-based system of rent.

Wagamama could take up to nine months to reopen entire estate

08-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Wagamama CEO Emma Woods has said it could take 'six or nine months' for the chain's restaurant estate to fully reopen.

TRG in talks with landlords over 'potential restructuring options' for leisure estate

08-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has said it is in discussions with landlords regarding the 'potential restructuring options' of its struggling leisure estate.

Indian restaurant group Dishoom puts takeaway back on the menu

08-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

Indian restaurant group Dishoom has put its delivery service back on the menu having previously stopped it early on in the lockdown period.

Ministers aiming to accelerate plans for restaurant and pub reopenings

08-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Pubs and restaurants across England could be allowed to reopen two weeks earlier than planned, with suggestions that the two metre social distancing rule could also be relaxed.

Spanish restaurant group Lunya won't reopen Manchester site after lockdown

08-Jun-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Spanish restaurant group Lunya has announced it will not reopen its Manchester restaurant once the Government lockdown restrictions have been lifted.

Wahlburgers permanently closes debut London restaurant

08-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

US burger and bar chain Wahlburgers has permanently closed what was its debut European restaurant in London's Covent Garden little more than a year after it first opened.

Revolution Bars Group raises £15m from share placing

05-Jun-2020 By Georgia Cronin

Revolution Bars Group has raised £15m its share placing launched earlier today.

Only A Pavement Away raises £3,000 through Tom Aikens cookery challenge initiative

05-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Hospitality charity Only A Pavement Away has raised £3,000 through an online cookery challenge fundraiser led by chef Tom Aikens.

Friday Five: The week's top news

05-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

As the Coronavirus crisis continues to dominate the headlines, we round-up some of the main stories regarding how it has affected the hospitality industry in the past week.

Podcast: the Hot 4 U founders on launching a new business during lockdown

05-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

The founders of recently launched delivery brand Hot 4 U say there is plenty of opportunity for chefs to develop new concepts and ideas while the Coronavirus crisis is ongoing.

Greene King expands takeaway and delivery beyond the capital

05-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Greene King is to expand its recently launched ‘pub grub’ delivery and takeaway service to select locations across the country.

Ready to serve: more than three quarters of hospitality businesses say they can reopen by 4 July

05-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

More than three quarters of restaurant, bars and pubs will be ready to reopen by 4 July, according to the latest weekly Hospitality Leaders Poll by MCA Insight/HIM.

Nearly half of operators expect to have 80% of sites reopen by September

05-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Almost half of hospitality operators say they expect to have the majority of their estates reopen by this September, according to the latest insight from CGA.

Azzurri Group explores sale options

05-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

The Azzurri Group is reportedly working with advisers on a potential sale of the business, as a result of the downturn caused by the Coronavirus crisis.

Greggs eyes complete reopening by July

05-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Greggs says it hopes to have all 2,050 of its UK branches open again by the beginning of next month, despite previously rowing back on such plans.

Young’s doesn't expect sales to 'normalise' until 2022

04-Jun-2020 By Georgia Cronin

Young’s expects to have the majority of its 276 pubs reopened by 3 August, but doesn't expect sales to return to normal levels until the 2022 financial year.

Genuine Dining Co to launch delivery service

04-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Contract caterer Genuine Dining Co has announced the launch of its own delivery service aimed at offices in the capital that do not have in-house catering facilities.

Staff jobs at Manchester bar and restaurant Cultureplex in danger after furlough money is denied

04-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

More than 60 staff at a Manchester bar, restaurant and hotel are on the verge of losing their jobs because the company has been told it is unable to claim payments via the Government’s furlough scheme.

Delving into dim sum: why chef Andrew Wong has gone back to school

04-Jun-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Andrew Wong has become a research associate at London university SOAS, helping academics make sense of ancient Chinese gastronomical texts while driving menu development at his London restaurant A Wong.