Casual Dining

Brunch specialist Apple Butter to launch second London site

29-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Apple Butter will launch a site close to Oxford Circus later this year following the success of its debut café in Covent Garden.

Loungers hits 250th site landmark

29-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Loungers will open its 250th site today (29 January) as it continues its accelerated site opening programme across the UK.

Richard Caring puts The Ivy restaurant group up for sale at £1bn

29-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Richard Caring has reportedly launched an auction for his share in The Ivy and its sister restaurants starting at £1bn

Markus Thesleff: “Sale e Pepe has amazing DNA but it is tired and needs love”

26-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

The serial restaurateur behind Notting Hill’s Los Mochis will relaunch the Knightsbridge stalwart mid next month having been running the restaurant on a low-key basis since 2022.

Butcher Jonny Farrell to launch first restaurant venture

26-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Lancashire-based butcher Jonny Farrell is to launch his first restaurant venture next month in Birkdale Village, Southport.

Margate’s Fort Road Hotel to launch Colina next month

26-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Margate’s Fort Road Hotel will relaunch its existing restaurant space as the Southern European-inspired Colina next month.

North Brewing sold to Kirkstall owner

26-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

North Brewing has been acquired by Steve Holt, owner of fellow Leeds-based brewery Kirkstall, in a pre-pack deal that will secure the jobs of 78 North employees.

Giancarlo Caldesi to launch Belsize Park restaurant

26-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Chef restaurateur Giancarlo Caldesi will launch his first new restaurant project for over a decade next month having acquired the former Calici site in North London’s Belsize Park.

Coworth Park to relaunch its The Barn restaurant next month

25-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Ascot luxury country house hotel Coworth Park will relaunch its casual The Barn restaurant next month with a new kitchen and a ‘produce-led, ingredient-focused menu’.

Tap & Tandoor heads to Portsmouth for fourth site

25-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Indian gastropub group Tap & Tandoor is to open its fourth site later this month.

Mark Derry appointed chairman of Wright Brothers

24-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Mark Derry has been appointed chairman of seafood specialist Wright Brothers.

The Real Greek heads to Liverpool

24-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

The Real Greek is continuing its UK expansion with the opening of its first site in Liverpool.

Bench la Cave to open at Sheffield’s Park Hill next month

23-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

The team behind recently launched Sheffield pub The Pearl at Park Hill will open a bakery and wine bar in an adjacent space next month.

Rockfish in the process of completing a £3m fundraise and return to expansion following ‘difficult year’

23-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Rockfish is returning to the expansion trail and in the process of completing a £3m fundraise following a ‘difficult year’ that saw it swing to a £876,000 loss.

New MD for Banana Tree as Anne Chow steps down after 28 years

23-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Anne Chow is stepping down from her role as managing director of Banana Tree after 28 years with the Pan-Asian restaurant group.

IHOP and Applebee’s owner targets UK market

22-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

US-based casual dining operator Dine Brands Global is looking to launch a ‘duel-branded restaurant concept’ in the UK that encompasses its IHOP and Applebee’s chains.

Patty & Bun ‘continues to focus on expansion’ as it swings to loss

22-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Patty & Bun has said it is ‘continuing to focus on the development and expansion’ of its restaurant estate despite swinging to a £2.2m loss in its latest financial results.

Compass Group to buy CH&CO for £475m

22-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Compass Group has signed an agreement to acquire rival contract caterer CH&CO in a deal worth £475m.

The Heartwood Collection sees turnover break £60m

22-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

The Heartwood Collection saw turnover at its pubs and brasseries break £60m in the financial year to June 2023.

Fazenda looks to expand following ‘record’ festive sales

18-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

South American restaurant group Fazenda is ‘actively looking’ for a second London site after its six restaurants generated a combined turnover of £4m over the Christmas period, an uplift of 51% year-on-year.

North Brewing ‘seeking investment’ to stave off administration threat

18-Jan-2024 By James Beeson

North Brewing is actively seeking investment to secure its future, after solicitors acting on behalf of the Leeds-based brewery filed notice of intent (NOI) to appoint administrators

Artfarm opens Mayfair wine bar

18-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Artfarm has opened a wine bar below its Mayfair-based Farm Shop.

Managed sector toasts 'bumper' December

18-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s top hospitality groups generated year-on-year sales growth of 8.8% in December, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

Lina Stores lines up seventh UK site

18-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Pasta focused restaurant brand Lina Stores will open its seventh London site this spring.

Latest opening: Temper Paddington

17-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

The steakhouse and barbecue restaurant group has launched its fifth London site.

Soho restaurant Wonderland forced to shut as investor pulls out

17-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Wonderland, the Soho-based casual dining restaurant that positions itself as being for both vegans and meat eaters, has closed its doors indefinitely little more than six months since its launch.

How I Got Here: Patrick Ward

17-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

The founder of Edinburgh-based Pizza Geeks, which recently launched its third site in the city, on the importance of admitting your mistakes, handling stress, and what makes a good leader.

Flat Iron tees up further openings as it toasts ‘record year’

16-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Steakhouse group Flat Iron has announced it will launch two further London restaurants this year, alongside its first site in Manchester, after reporting ‘record sales’.

SMOKESTAK founder David Carter to launch the Greek islands-inspired OMA this spring

16-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

SMOKESTAK and Manteca founder David Carter will open a Greek islands-inspired restaurant in London’s Borough Market this spring.

Rekom UK calls in administrators after ‘extremely difficult’ year

16-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

The UK’s largest nightclub operator is planning to call in administrators and has warned some of its venues could close for good as part of a restructuring of the business.

TGI Fridays owner reports flat sales growth

16-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Hostmore has reported flat sales growth in a half year update, with the company saying it is making progress in its turnaround strategy.

Chotto Matte’s parent group ‘enters new phase of expansion and innovation’

15-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Chotto Matte and Angus Steakhouse owner Noble Hospitality Group says it is entering into a new phase of innovation following a ‘highly successful’ 2023.