QSR & Street Food

Creams acquired by Pistachio Holdings

21-Dec-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Dessert parlour brand Creams has been acquired by Pistachio Holdings, which is backed by Ankush Shah of the East Africa-based Sumaria Group.

Burger King offers to support small restaurants via its social channels

15-Dec-2020 By Ella Doyle

Burger King has opened its Instagram to support independent restaurants in the wake of new tier restrictions.

Tin Can Kitchen opens second Newport location with further growth planned

11-Dec-2020 By Cameron Henderson

Food delivery service Tin Can Kitchen has launched a second shipping container kitchen in Newport as it pushes ahead with plans to open the city's 'first outdoor street food court'.

Hospitality job losses hit 650,000 this year

08-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

Hospitality job losses have hit 650,000 since January, however the continuation of the furlough scheme has softened the blow, the latest figures from Fourth have revealed.

Slim Chickens signs second franchise deal as it continues to push ahead with roll out

25-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has signed a second franchise partner for its US-hatched, fast-casual chicken brand Slim Chickens.

Jollibee to open London flagship as it ramps up UK expansion

18-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee is to open a new flagship UK site in London's Leicester Square next year, with openings in Edinburgh, Leeds and Cardiff also planned.

Eataly prepares for UK debut as it confirms early 2021 opening

17-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Italian food hall chain Eataly has confirmed it will finally launch its long-awaited first UK location early next year.

Operators sought for Greenwich's Design District

13-Nov-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Upcoming Greenwich Peninsula development the Design District is looking for operators to provide food and drink to 10,000 creatives, students and residents, as well visitors to the O2.

UK's first pop-themed crazy golf concept to open in Boxpark Wembley

12-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

The UK's first pop-themed crazy golf concept is opening in Boxpark London early next year.

Oowee Vegan doubles up in London

10-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Bristol-based restaurant chain Oowee Vegan has opened its second London site in Brixton Village.

Fast food giants partner with Beyond Meat to boost plant-based options

10-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Fast food giants McDonald’s and Pizza Hut have entered into partnerships with plant-based food producer Beyond Meat to boost their meat-free offerings.

Hospitality divided over second England lockdown

06-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

The hospitality sector is divided over the second national lockdown, according to the latest Lumina Intelligence data.

KFC to create 5,400 jobs

23-Oct-2020 By Georgia Cronin

KFC UK and Ireland is to create a 5,400 new jobs following a surge in takeaway demand fuelled by the Coronavirus crisis, Sky News reports.

Tier 2 and 3 restrictions are proving catastrophic for hospitality businesses, says poll

23-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

The Tier 2 and 3 restrictions are proving catastrophic for hospitality businesses with some experiencing a huge drop in trade as a result of the Government measures.

Abokado appoints administrators with 150 jobs lost

20-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Healthy food restaurant group Abokado has appointed administrators, with the loss of around 150 staff.

German Doner Kebab to open a dozen new sites before the end of the year

19-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Fast casual franchise German Doner Kebab is planning to open a further 12 restaurants by the end of the year.

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.

Jonathan Downey liquidates street food businesses

16-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Jonathan Downey has instructed restructuring advisor Resolve to liquidate the company that ran his four street food businesses, saying it would be impossible to operate while Coronavirus restrictions are in place.

UK’s ‘biggest beer hall’ to open at Truman’s brewery

13-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

East London events space Truman’s brewery is to launch a huge beer hall and street food market.

Herman Ze German to close all London sites

13-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Fast casual sausage specialist Herman Ze German has announced the permanent closure of its entire London estate.

Ramen bar Heddon Yokocho to open in Mayfair

24-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Ramen bar Heddon Yokocho will open on London’s Heddon street in Mayfair next month.

Sourced Market makes regional debut

23-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Healthy deli and dining brand Sourced Market has opened its first regional site at Leeds Skelton Lake Services, the new M1 service station from Extra MSA Group.

Rule of six will hit hospitality hard, says poll

18-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

The Government’s ‘rule of six’ will negatively impact an overwhelming majority of hospitality businesses, according to the latest Lumina Intelligence’s Hospitality Leaders Poll.

Generation Next

Guac star: how Club Mexicana became a vegan smash hit

17-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

After years on the street food circuit, Club Mexicana has gone mainstream - opening a permanent restaurant in London’s Soho that plays like a greatest hits album for the vegan brand.

The Lowdown: Zero Human Interaction restaurants

16-Sep-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Restaurants that dispense with the need for human interaction are opening in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Mowgli secures Cheshire site with more openings planned

11-Sep-2020 By Georgia Cronin and James McAllister

Indian street food group Mowgli plans to open two more restaurants before Christmas, and is 'looking to close in' on additional sites across the UK to launch in 2021.

Eat Out to Help Out hailed a success by majority of hospitality businesses

04-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

The Government’s Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) scheme has been hailed a success by the hospitality sector, with a large majority of businesses saying it led to a boost in trade.

Pret launches coffee subscription to win back customers post lockdown

04-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Pret A Manger is launching what it claims will be the UK’s first in-shop coffee subscription as part of its strategy to attract more customers post lockdown.

Boxpark appoints Stable's David Gough as chief operations officer

03-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Boxpark has appointed David Gough, former operations director at Stable Bar & Restaurants, as its chief operations officer.

Creams sales up 35% following 'record-breaking' August trade

03-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Dessert-focused chain Creams saw year-on-year sales rise 35% in August as a result of the Government's Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) discount scheme.

Majority of hospitality businesses have no appetite for autumn discounting

28-Aug-2020 By Restaurant

The majority of restaurant and pub operators have no plans to offer their own form of the Government's Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme past August, according to the latest Hospitality Leaders Poll.

Pret cuts 3,000 jobs as Coronavirus 'sets sales back 10 years'

28-Aug-2020 By Restaurant

Pret has made nearly 3,000 staff redundant as a result of closures due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Jollibee plans 'ambitious' UK expansion as it prepares to open second site

26-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee is to open its second UK site early next month in Liverpool, and says it has 'ambitious plans' to rapidly expand across the country.

Wasabi launches CVA proposal

24-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

London-centric sushi and bento brand Wasabi has announced the launch of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) proposal to help protect the business against the 'profound impact' of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Only a third of businesses believe Eat Out to Help Out will have a lasting impact

21-Aug-2020 By Restaurant

Only a third of hospitality businesses believe the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) scheme will boost consumer confidence and encourage a return to eating out beyond its August duration, according to a new poll of business leaders.

Neat Burger launches second London site

18-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Neat Burger, the plant-based fast food brand that counts Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton among its chief backers, has opened a second London restaurant in Camden Market.

Creams to launch 'kiosk format' as it pushes ahead with 'ambitious' expansion plans

18-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Dessert-focused chain Creams is to launch a grab-and-go 'kiosk format' site on London’s Old Street tomorrow (19 August), as it prepares to push ahead with an 'ambitious opening programme'.

Ireland’s Wowburger and Elephant & Castle to make UK debut in Doncaster

17-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Irish restaurant brands Wowburger and Elephant & Castle are to make their UK debut at the Frenchgate Shopping Centre in Doncaster later this year.

Latest opening: Seoul Bird

14-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Originally slated to launch in April, Judy Joo’s Korean fried chicken concept is now up and running at Westfield London.

Boxpark appoints property director as it looks to push on with expansion

14-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Boxpark has appointed Simon Bishop as property director to help drive the company’s development plans over the next five years.

Itsu begins to reopen select travel hub sites

12-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Itsu is to begin reopening a select number of its travel hub sites in London.

Butchies to open second permanent site

11-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

London-based gourmet fried chicken brand Butchies is to open its second bricks-and-mortar site this Friday (14 August), on Clapham High Street.

Mac & Wild founders to launch 'largest single F&B site in Scotland' - updated

05-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Mac & Wild founders Andy Waugh and Calum Mackinnon are to launch an artisanal food hall concept within the Edinburgh St James development.

Disabled people fear exclusion due to Covid-19 precautions

04-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Disabled access review website Euansguide.com is imploring restaurants to ensure their Covid-19 precautions don’t make venues less accessible for disabled people.

Podcast: Makan Malaysia duo on delivering Malaysian food across the UK

31-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

Two Malaysian food entrepreneurs say the enforced lockdown of hospitality earlier in the year has been the motivation behind them changing their business model completely.

Seven Dials Market to reopen in August

31-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

Seven Dials Market will become one of the first of London’s major food halls to reopen post-lockdown when it opens its doors on Friday 7 August following five months of closure.

Extension to VAT reduction is top priority for hospitality businesses, says poll

31-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

An extension to the reduction in VAT for food and drink beyond 21 January is the top priority of government support for hospitality businesses, according to the latest leaders poll.

Longboys set to open in King’s Cross

30-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Gourmet finger doughnut brand Longboys is set to add a second London location to its portfolio, having secured a site at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross.