Casual Dining

KFC begins offering takeaway from select sites

18-May-2020 By James McAllister

KFC has begun reopening a select number of its UK restaurants for takeaway, having previously only reopened sites for either drive-thru or delivery.

Maggie Fu lines up second Liverpool location

18-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Liverpool pan-Asian concept Maggie Fu is to open a 120-cover flagship restaurant on Hanover Street within the city’s Liverpool One development.

Copenhagen's Noma to temporarily reopen as burger and wine bar

15-May-2020 By James McAllister

A restaurant once rated the best in the world has announced plans reopen as a burger and wine bar.

Friday Five: The week's top news

15-May-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.

Stonegate announces support for Ei Pub Partners

15-May-2020 By James McAllister

Stonegate Pub Company has announced a “multi-million support package” for publicans within the recently acquired Ei Publican Partnerships leased and tenanted business.

Luke Johnson: "Lockdown will cause more deaths than the Coronavirus"

15-May-2020 By James McAllister

Hospitality entrepreneur Luke Johnson fears the financial impact of the Coronavirus lockdown is not being taken into account in Britain, saying that it could see two million people lose their jobs within a year.

Amazon/Deliveroo platform will ‘substantially decimate margins’

15-May-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Deliveroo have been a major part of the destruction of the restaurant industry and demise of the high street, All Our Bars CEO Paul Wigham has said.

United We Stand

Debt enforcement moratorium still needed for hospitality sector, according to new poll

15-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

A debt enforcement moratorium is still needed for the hospitality sector, with 88% of restaurant operators saying they are yet to agree any favourable rental terms with their landlords.

Survey shows majority of Brits miss restaurants and cafés

14-May-2020 By James McAllister

Consultancy firm Allegra Strategies says the Government must set out a concrete action plan for how the hospitality industry can safely reopen, after research revealed the majority of Brits missed visiting restaurants and cafés.

Campaign to make public spaces available to hospitality launched

14-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

A campaign has been launched to safely re-start the UK hospitality industry by transforming public spaces and streets into al fresco dining spaces whilst adhering to physical distancing.

Manchester-based hospitality collective launch crowdfund to help feed city's vulnerable

14-May-2020 By James McAllister

A collective of Manchester hospitality businesses that includes Gary Usher’s Elite Bistros, Honest Crust and Hawksmoor are working together to support key workers and vulnerable people in the city.

Trade bodies challenge insurers to meet their obligations to the sector

14-May-2020 By James McAllister

Trade bodies from across the hospitality sector have called on the Association of British Insurers to work with them to provide further support for pubs and breweries hit by the Coronavirus crisis.

Greene King to launch 'pub grub' delivery service

14-May-2020 By James McAllister

Pubco and brewer Greene King is to launch a ‘pub grub’ delivery and takeaway service from a select number of its London sites next week.

Ministerial-led task force set up to facilitate safe reopening of pubs and restaurants

13-May-2020 By James McAllister

The Government has set up five ministerial-led task forces to develop plans for how and when businesses in closed sectors such as hospitality can reopen safely.

United We Stand

Le Bab team reaches 9,000 milestone in NHS meal deliveries

13-May-2020 By Restaurant

The London Restaurant Co-operative, the not-for-profit social kitchen was launched by Maison Bab and Le Bab co-founders Stephen Tozer and Ed Brunet at the end of March, says it has so far delivered over 9,000 meals to the NHS.

Crowdfund campaign to challenge insurers hits initial target

13-May-2020 By James Mcallister

A crowdfund campaign launched to challenge insurance companies that are refusing to honour business interruption policies specifically for the hospitality sector has surpassed its initial £20,000 target.

united we stand

Stosie Madi: "Rural pubs stand a good chance of surviving this crisis"

13-May-2020 By James McAllister

Parkers Arms chef patron Stosie Madi says she believes that rural pubs have a good chance of surviving the Coronavirus crisis.

UKHospitality: GDP figures highlight hospitality’s need for support

13-May-2020 By James McAllister

Trade body UKHospitality has said the GDP estimates released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) underline the hugely disproportionate hit felt by hospitality businesses during the Coronavirus crisis.

Uber looks to gobble up Grubhub

13-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Uber is in talks to acquire rival online ordering company Grubhub in a deal that would give it a 50% share of the US food delivery market.

Bristol restaurateur Larkin Cen on how going all in on delivery has paid off

12-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Bristol-based chef restaurateur has reported a 200% rise in delivery orders following the closure of his four restaurants for eat-in.

JRS extended until October

12-May-2020 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS) will be extended by a further four months, until the end of October.

Government guidance released for safe takeaway operations

12-May-2020 By Georgia Cronin

Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s phased reopening announcement on Sunday, the Government has released new guidance to advise hospitality venues on how to operate a safe takeaway service.

Chancellor expected to announce further JRS extension

12-May-2020 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is to reveal the future of the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS) later today (12 May), with some reports suggesting he may extend it from June to September.

Pret pushes forward with further reopenings across UK

12-May-2020 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is pushing forward with a gradual reopening of its UK estate, with a further 71 sites now open for delivery and takeaway.

‘Crowded by design’ venues unlikely to open in July

11-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurants and pubs that will be liable to crowding and will therefore struggle to implement social distancing measures are unlikely to reopen any time soon, according to new details released today (11 May) by the Government.

Supported by Arla Pro

Video: The Future of Restaurants

11-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

In the first of a four-part video series, supported by Arla Pro, Hawksmoor co-founder Will Beckett and D&D London CEO Des Gunewardena discuss the restaurant world post lockdown.

Restaurant Associates - “We’ve been talking to colleagues in Asia about how they are managing”

11-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Restaurant Associates managing director Alice Woodwark says she has been getting advice from the group’s colleagues in Asia on how the UK operations can reopen with social distancing measures in place.

Some hospitality businesses may be able to open in July, PM says

10-May-2020 By James McAllister

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that some parts of the hospitality industry could reopen in July.

Sadiq Khan calls on Government to provide greater support for SMEs in the capital

07-May-2020 By James McAllister

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Business Secretary Alok Sharma MP, calling for further actions to support small and medium-sized business (SMEs) in the capital during the Coronavirus crisis.

The Lowdown: Social distancing in restaurants

07-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

With the Government due to reveal plans for a gradual return to normal later this week, restaurateurs large and small are starting to think about what re-opening for eat-in customers might look like.

Shake Shack to expand delivery operation having secured first dark kitchen sites

07-May-2020 By James McAllister

Shake Shack is set to open its first dark kitchen this weekend, having secured a space within the Deliveroo Editions site in London’s Battersea.

United We Stand

Corbin & King launches gift voucher scheme to help staff in these 'extraordinary times'

07-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Restaurant group Corbin & King is launching a gift voucher scheme in order to offer greater support for its staff during and after the Coronavirus pandemic.

United We Stand

Government called on for more support for 'forgotten' events catering sector

07-May-2020 By Restaurant

The Government is being called on to provide more support to the £43bn events catering sector to help safeguard its 570,000 jobs.

One in three operators anticipate permanent site closures

07-May-2020 By Georgia Cronin

A third of senior hospitality executives anticipate they will need to permanently close pub, bar and restaurant sites because of the coronavirus crisis, the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA and Fourth has found.

United we stand

Podcast: how Creams has continued to operate during the lockdown

07-May-2020 By James McAllister

Creams commercial and operations director Elton Gray has spoken about how the dessert-focused chain has maintained a portion of its operation throughout the Coronavirus shutdown, and is even preparing to open new sites this summer.

Cafes with outside space could reopen over summer

07-May-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Cafes with outside spaces could be allowed to reopen over the summer, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

United We Stand

Extention to JRS top priority for 94% of independent restaurants

07-May-2020 By Restaurant

An extension of the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) beyond the end of June cut-off date is the top priority for independent restaurant owners, according to a Hospitality Leaders Poll launched this week by William Reed’s specialist insight division HIM/MCA...

Letter demanding tronc inclusion in JRS receives sector-wide support

06-May-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurateurs including D&D London CEO Des Gunewardena and Hawksmoor founder Will Beckett have signed a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak demanding the inclusion of tronc payments in the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS).

Leon expands Feed Britain delivery service

06-May-2020 By James McAllister

Healthy fast food chain Leon has expanded its Feed Britain delivery service to feature a larger menu and delivery radius.

London Essence Company launches campaign to support on-trade

06-May-2020 By James McAllister

Cocktail mixer producer The London Essence Company has launched a new campaign to support the on-trade during the Coronavirus crisis.

Government postpones business rates revaluation because of pandemic

06-May-2020 By Restaurant

A revaluation of business rates due to take place next year will no longer go ahead to help reduce uncertainty for companies affected by the impacts of coronavirus, the government has announced.

SMEs risk hefty bills by overclaiming on JRS applications

06-May-2020 By James McAllister

Accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young has warned that small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are making errors on their applications for grants under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS).

Read the May edition of Restaurant magazine online

06-May-2020 By Restaurant Magazine

The May edition of Restaurant magazine, focusing on the chefs and restaurants – large and small – that have made the move into takeaway and delivery in order to keep thing moving during the pandemic, is now available to read online.

Coqfighter aiming to open new delivery kitchen every week until end of June

06-May-2020 By James McAllister

London-based fried chicken brand Coqfighter says it will be attempting to open a dark kitchen site every week until the end of June.

Bill's founder Bill Collison on why he chose to stick around

06-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The founder of Bill’s is now playing a much bigger role in the business following a string of senior management departures, with the all-day restaurant group tackling a recent sales slump with a heavy investment into its 80-strong estate.

Good Food Guide announces it will not publish 2021 edition

06-May-2020 By James McAllister

The Good Food Guide (GFG) has said it will not publish its annual guide this year due to the ongoing impact the Coronavirus crisis is having on the restaurant industry.

United We Stand

Food4Heroes breaks £250,000 fundraising mark

05-May-2020 By Restaurant

More than £250,000 has been raised by charity Food4Heroes since its launch a month ago.

Bounce Back Loan scheme receives 100,000 applications on first day

05-May-2020 By James McAllister

Around 100,000 small businesses have reportedly applied for a ‘Bounce Back Loan’ on the first day of the scheme.

United We Stand

Fundraiser set up to ensure the future of ‘the beating heart of Soho'

05-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

A fundraising campaign to secure the future of iconic Soho establishment The French House, home to one of the UK's best rest restaurants, has reached almost £30,000 towards its goal.

Asif Muhammad: “The music stops when the cash runs out”

05-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurant consultant and Macellaio RC director Asif Muhammad has advised restaurant operators to keep cash within their businesses at all costs.