QSR & Street Food

How I Got Here: Curtis Bell

15-Feb-2023 By James McAllister

The founder of barbecue restaurant brand From The Ashes BBQ on his troubles with tronc, loving food from a young age, and the importance of chefs concentrating on their craft.

Popeyes aiming to open multiple drive-thru locations this year

14-Feb-2023 By James McAllister

Popeyes has confirmed it will open its first drive-thru location in the UK in the coming months in Rotherham, with further roadside sites set to launch later this year.

The Lowdown: Kricket’s Fried Chicken Challenge

10-Feb-2023 By James McAllister

Kricket founders Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell hosted their inaugural Fried Chicken Challenge this week, with Black Bear Burger crowned as the capital’s chicken king.

Pizza Taxi debuts at Canteen

10-Feb-2023 By James McAllister

'Disruptive' street food brand Pizza Taxi is to launch its first location at Canteen, the food hall on Greenwich Peninsula in London.

Coco di Mama to open first regional flagship

09-Feb-2023 By James McAllister

Quick-service Italian chain Coco di Mama is to open its first site outside of the capital this week on Broad Street in Reading.

Wingstop moves into retail parks

08-Feb-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

Wingstop UK has announced plans to open its first standalone retail unit at Gallions Reach Retail Park in Beckton, East London, in spring 2023.

Manchester's Ramona and the Firehouse to open 5,000-capacity hospitality venue

01-Feb-2023 By Restaurant

The team behind Manchester restaurant, pizzeria and venue Ramona and the Firehouse will open a 5,000-capacity entertainment destination later this year.

Boxpark gets green light for first Liverpool outpost

01-Feb-2023 By James McAllister

Boxpark has received approval on planning permission for its first outpost in Liverpool, which will open later this year.

Cost pressures force Birmingham's Holy Moly Macaroni to close

24-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

Birmingham-based street food brand Holy Moly Macaroni has been forced to shutter its only restaurant site in Harborne, after rising cost pressures meant it was 'no longer feasible to continue'.

KERB heads to Berlin for first international location

23-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

London-based street food market operator KERB is to open its first overseas location next year in Berlin, Germany.

Black Bear Burger launches spin off concept 20ft Fried Chicken

19-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Black Bear Burger is to become the latest burger brand to attempt a chicken side hustle.

Pasta Evangelists unveils plans to open 800 takeaway units

19-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Pasta delivery brand Pasta Evangelists has launched its own takeaway service in London with plans for wider UK coverage later this year.

Sessions Islington rebrands as Neighbourhood

18-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

London-based food hall Sessions Islington has rebranded as Neighbourhood and redesigned its interior, with Japanese food expert Ivan Orkin kicking off its new chef residency.

Ice cream parlour Lazy Sundae scoops second site

18-Jan-2023 By BigHospitaliy

Manchester-based dessert brand Lazy Sundae has chosen Manchester Arndale shopping centre for its second location.

Wendy’s to launch first UK drive-thru

16-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

Wendy's is to open its first drive-thru location in the UK later this month as part of a new franchise deal for the East of England region.

800° Degrees Pizza to make its UK debut

16-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Californian-based pizzeria 800° Degrees Pizza will make its UK debut this month, at Gravity Wandsworth.

 

Using his loaf: Sven-Hanson Britt to launch The Sandwich Shack

16-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Oxeye chef-patron Sven-Hanson Britt is opening a sandwich bar that will operate out of his Oxeye and Bar Rex venue in London’s Embassy Gardens.

Benj Scrimgeour: “We’re not trying to change the world, we’re giving people what they want”

13-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

Despite Britain’s notoriously unreliable weather, Vinegar Yard founder Benj Scrimgeour has proven London’s appetite for outdoor-focused food courts.

Shake Shack continues central London push with Oxford Circus restaurant

13-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Shake Shack is boosting its presence in prime central London locations with the opening of a restaurant in Oxford Circus later this month.

Crussh secures pre-pack sale

12-Jan-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Crussh, the healthy eating food to go chain, has been acquired in a pre-pack administration deal, saving eight stores, with three closing.

Greek restaurant Laros to make Midlands debut

11-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

North-west based Greek restaurant Laros is moving southwards and will make its debut in Birmingham this month.

How I Got Here: Huzefa Sajawal

11-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

The owner and head chef of Indo-Chinese restaurant group Fatt Pundit on how cooking with his grandmother inspired a career in hospitality, and the importance of being bold.

Pizza Pilgrims to open Carnaby ‘Nutelleria’

10-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Pizza Pilgrims is targeting customers with a sweet tooth with the opening of a ‘Nutelleria’ outside its Kingly Court pizzeria in London’s Carnaby.

London becomes home to ‘world’s first donutelier'

10-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

The ‘world’s first donutelier’ has opened in central London in celebration of the fried dough delicacy.

Strong end to the year helps Tortilla remain 'highly resilient'

09-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Tortilla has reported a 20% rise in revenues over the past year on the back of a strong final quarter.

Harborne Kitchen chefs to launch burger restaurant The Bun & Barrel

06-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Harborne Kitchen chefs Jamie Desogus and Rob Hennebry will open burger restaurant The Bun & Barrel in Harborne this month.

Doh'hut heads to London

04-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

Leeds-based doughnut brand Doh'hut is heading to the capital with up to five sites expected to open in the city this year.

Generation Next

Inside Yolk – the brand looking to disrupt London’s grab-and-go market

03-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

With his ‘fine fast food’ brand Yolk, Nick Philpot is on a mission to bring 'excitement' to convenience-led dining.

Eyal Shani: “Everywhere I go, I want to translate the city into a pita”

03-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

The idiosyncratic Miznon founder has built a global empire pursuing his passion for pita.

Business Profile

Slow and sticky wins the race: Andreas Karlsson on Sticks'n'Sushi

03-Jan-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The Danish-owned sushi and kushiyaki specialist is celebrating the 10th birthday of its UK business with its 10th site on these shores.

Pret reaches initial agreement to open in Israel

22-Dec-2022 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is continuing to step up its international expansion plans having reached an initial agreement with Fox Group and Yarzin Sella Group to introduce the brand in Israel.

Judy Joo: “Seoul Bird still hasn’t seen a day of normal trade in the UK”

22-Dec-2022 By James McAllister

The Korean-American chef recently took her fried chicken brand Seoul Bird to Las Vegas for its first overseas site. However, her focus remains on growing the concept in the UK.

Pret rows back on Veggie Pret brand

22-Dec-2022 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is jettisoning the bulk of its Veggie Pret estate with four sites having closed and at least one more converted to a regular Pret store.

Tuk Tuk Indian Street Food opens second Edinburgh site

21-Dec-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Tuk Tuk Indian Street Food has taken its total number of restaurants up to three with a launch in Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Brad Carter to bring his One Star Döner Bar to Birmingham 

16-Dec-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Carter’s of Moseley chef Brad Carter will bring his spin-off brand One Star Döner Bar to his home city of Birmingham early next year. 

DJ Khaled's Another Wing among new brands coming to Gravity Wandsworth

14-Dec-2022 By Restaurant

Brands including DJ Khaled’s chicken concept Another Wing, Coco di Mama, and Dirty Bones are opening this month at Gravity Wandsworth.

Sonora Taqueria beats crowdfund target for new restaurant

06-Dec-2022 By Restaurant

Sonora Taqueria has exceeded its crowdfunding target, paving the way for it to open its first permanent restaurant next year.

The Sidemen succumb to the pull of Gravity with a second site in Wandsworth

01-Dec-2022 By Restaurant

YouTube stars The Sidemen will open their second UK Sides site, at Gravity Southside in Wandsworth.

Little Caesars Pizza plots return to UK market with 'several' new openings planned

30-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Little Caesars, one of the world's largest pizza chains, is returning to UK shores some 22 years after exiting the market with four new restaurants planned in the coming months.

Tim Hortons reveals plans for 40 more restaurants in 2023

25-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Tim Hortons plans to double its drive-thru estate across the UK with 40 new sites planned for 2023.

Promotion

Using tech to drive food quality and order accuracy in QSR

23-Nov-2022 By QSR Automations

As UK consumers turn to quick service restaurants to dramatically reduce spend, what key role can technology play to drive food quality and order accuracy?

Wendy's heads north as it prepares to open first UK franchise site

21-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Wendy's will open its first UK franchise site next month in Sheffield amid a push to expand into the north of the country.

HotBox and Nanny Bill’s head to Boxpark Croydon

18-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

BBQ meat restaurant HotBox and burger brand Nanny Bill’s and are opening in Boxpark’s Croydon site this winter alongside its PlayBox leisure concept.

Popeyes targets 20 new openings in 2023

15-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Popeyes is targeting 20 new restaurant openings in 2023, including its first drive-thru location.

UK remains ‘the big opportunity in Europe’ for Wendy's

10-Nov-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Wendy’s believes UK remains 'the big opportunity in Europe' despite the impact of cost headwinds and lower sales than expected.

Street food village brand Stack wants to open two more venues

10-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

The group behind North east-based container street food brand Stack is planning on opening two new sites in County Durham.

Jimmy Lee's Salt and Chilli Oriental to double its presence in Glasgow

04-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Chef Jimmy Lee will open a second Glasgow site of his expanding Cantonese street food business.

Healthy food brand Atis to open first kiosk-only site in Canary Wharf

04-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Salad bowl brand Atis its opening its fourth venue in the capital later this month.

How I Got Here: Phil Juma

02-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

The founder of Juma Kitchen in London's Borough Market Kitchen on bringing Iraqi cuisine to the masses, the importance of social media, and why everyone should work in a restaurant.

Streets ahead: 10 years and counting for KERB

28-Oct-2022 By Stefan Chomka

Over the past 10 years KERB has evolved from street food champion to business incubator, food hall operator and event caterer. Founder Petra Barran and CEO Simon Mitchell look back on the past decade and discuss what the next one might hold.