Casual Dining

Grounded Kitchen to open 50 new sites

16-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Korean restaurant group Grounded Kitchen is looking to open 50 new sites across the UK as part of a franchise drive.

Like-for-like sales remain flat for managed groups

16-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

July’s like-for-like (LFL) sales at Britain’s top managed pub, bar and restaurant groups held steady against pre-Covid levels of July 2019, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker reveals.

Casa do Frango to double its estate to four in the coming months

15-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

Piri-piri chicken specialist Casa do Frango will double its estate in the coming months with the opening of two new restaurants in the capital.

McDonald's looks to hire more over-50s with new recruitment drive

15-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

McDonald’s has kicked off a recruitment drive to hire more over-50s, amid ongoing staffing struggles across the hospitality sector.

Döner Shack lines up first London opening with wider plans for rollout in the capital

11-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

German street food concept Döner Shack is launch its first London outpost in late autumn, the first of four new openings planned for the capital over the next six months.

Arôme doubles up in London with Mayfair bakery

11-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Asian-influenced bakery concept Arôme has launched a second London site in Mayfair.

Wendy’s rolls back on UK growth targets

11-Aug-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Wendy’s is now expecting to have 35 UK restaurants open by the end of 2022, down from the 50 to 60 previously spoken about in its first quarter update.

The Lowdown: Karen’s Diner

10-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

An Australia-founded restaurant group that prides itself on its foul-mouthed service is hoping to launch a string of sites across the UK.

Slim Chickens to launch first restaurant in partnership with Tesco Extra

09-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) is set to open its first Slim Chickens restaurant under a new partnership with Tesco Extra this month, in the supermarket giant's Redditch superstore.

64% of the UK’s top 100 restaurant companies are now making a loss

08-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

A record 64% of the UK’s top 100 restaurant companies are now making a loss according to research from accountancy group UHY Hacker Young.

Growth strategy 'on course' at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants as it posts £6.8m loss

04-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants has said it remains on course with its growth strategy as it posted a pre-tax loss of £6.8m for the year ended 31 August 2021.

Coroner asks Pret a Manger supplier for more information at pre-inquest review over allergen death

03-Aug-2022 By Restaurant

A coroner preparing an inquest into the death of a woman who suffered an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger sandwich has asked for more information from its suppliers.

Pastaio closes Westfield London site

02-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Chef Stevie Parle's specialist pasta restaurant Pastaio has closed its site in Westfield London.

Comptoir CEO and chairman step down following resignation calls

02-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Comptoir Group chief executive Chaker Hanna and chairman Richard Kleiner have stepped down from their respective roles with immediate effect, following calls from founder Tony Kitous for them to resign.

KFC faces further chicken shortages - updated

01-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

KFC has been forced to pause its WOW Tuesday offer amid warnings that the group is facing further shortages of chicken and other select products.

The Lowdown: Digital loyalty schemes

28-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The likes of McDonald’s, Burger King, Pret a Manger and Tortilla have all unveiled new rewards schemes within weeks of each other. Why?

Rockfish plans three new openings as it posts 'record results'

28-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

South West-based restaurant group Rockfish has announced plans to open three new restaurant in the next 12 months, having achieved 'record results' in the latest financial year.

Din Tai Fung Centre Point to open in September - Updated

28-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Famed Taiwanese restaurant chain Din Tai Fung has confirmed it will finally launch its restaurant at London's Centre Point in September, in the space previously occupied by British brasserie Vivi

‘Strong’ start for new Chipotle UK restaurants

28-Jul-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany

Chipotle chairman and CEO Brian Niccol has said the performance of the brand’s new UK restaurants is 'really strong'.

Plant-based restaurant group Oowee to open in Brighton

27-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Plant-based restaurant group Oowee is heading to Brighton for the opening of its fifth bricks and mortar venue.

Feels Like June to open in London’s Wood Wharf

25-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

California-inspired restaurant Feels Like June will open at London’s Wood Wharf next month.

Delivery and takeaway sales continue to fall post lockdown

25-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Restaurant and pub groups’ delivery and takeaway sales continue to plateau after booming during Covid lockdowns, new data reveals.

Robin Gill on going back to basics in Brixton

22-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The high profile chef-restaurateur has opened a small yet perfectly formed natural wine bar in Brixton Village that is an ode to the neighbourhood bistros of Paris.

Branded restaurant menu inflation 'outpacing rest of the market'

22-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Menu inflation in the branded restaurant segment is at least double that of other areas of the market, according to data from Lumina Intelligence’s Menu Tracker.

Itsu Richmond to reopen after fire

21-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Itsu will finally reopen its Richmond restaurant after a fire forced it to close for almost a year.

Mission Mars reports trading ahead of expectations

21-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Restaurant and bar group Mission Mars has reported turnover of £34.2 for the first nine months of 2022 financial year, up from £25.5m for the same period in 2019.

Franco Manca operator Fulham Shore reports strong growth

21-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Fulham Shore has reported revenue of £82.7m for the year ending 27 March, an increase of 20.6% from £68.6m for the year ended 29 March 2020 and up 105% on last year’s figures.

D&D London launches its first dedicated events space in the UK

20-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

D&D London has launched a permanent venue for its outside event’s arm Alexander & Björck (A&B) at the site of the former Blueprint Café.

Bone Daddies to replace Flesh & Buns in Kensington amid double London opening

20-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Bone Daddies group is to relaunch its recently-opened third Flesh & Buns site in London's Kensington under its core ramen concept amid a double London opening in the capital.

McDonald’s takes loyalty scheme nationwide

20-Jul-2022 By Georgi Gyton

McDonald’s has expanded its first loyalty scheme in the UK, taking it nationwide, following a successful trial.

Jubilee celebrations push hospitality groups to strongest month of growth this year

20-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

June’s like-for-like sales at Britain’s top managed restaurant, pub and bar groups were 5% ahead of the pre-Covid levels of June 2019, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker reveals.

Incipio to launch The Libertine at London's Royal Exchange

19-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Incipio Group is to launch a huge 7,000 sq ft venue at The Royal Exchange in the City of London in October.

Salt Yard heads to Westfield London

19-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Salt Yard Group is to open its fifth London restaurant this week at Westfield in Shepherd’s Bush, with a further site in the capital planned for later this year.

Burger King launches UK-wide loyalty programme

18-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Burger King UK has launched a new UK-wide loyalty programme that it says will aim to drive increased customer engagement through personalised, digitally-led offers.

Island Poké nears 20-site milestone with Wimbledon launch

14-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Island Poké is approaching its 20th UK site with an opening in Wimbledon later this month.

Fazenda to open its first London restaurant next year

14-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

South American restaurant group Fazenda will open its first restaurant in London next year as part if wider expansion plans for the business.

Restaurant chains serving children's food 'unacceptably high in salt levels'

14-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Restaurant chains have been accused of serving children’s dishes that contain unacceptably high levels of salt.

How I Got Here: Henry Ayers

13-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The co-founder and director of wholesale at The Gentlemen Baristas, which has just launched its 11th coffee house in London, on how he developed a successful coffee wholesale business.

Loungers to accelerate growth after record year

13-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

All-day restaurant and bar group Loungers is to accelerate it growth plans by targeting 30 new sites a year.

Daisy Green Collection to launch another barge venue

12-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Australian restaurant group Daisy Green Collection is embarking on yet another riverside project with a new restaurant located on a barge in Richmond.

Restaurant spending falls but takeaways fare better

12-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Spending in restaurants was down 3.3% in June compared to the same period in 2021, but the category saw a small month-on-month uplift of 0.8%, according to new data from Barclaycard.

TRG buys Barburrito for £7m

12-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has bought fast-casual Mexican chain Barburrito for £7m with plans to double the number of venues over the next four years.

Menu calorie counts are changing dining habits, says research

11-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Calorie counts on menus are having an impact on diners’ eating habits and dish choices, new research has found.

I am Döner signs multi-site franchise deal

07-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Premium kebab concept I am Döner has signed a multi-site franchise deal to take the brand to Merseyside and the Isle of Man.

Absurd Bird enters administration

07-Jul-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany

Fried chicken brand Absurd Bird has entered into administration with the closure of its five dine-in restaurants.

Dirty Bones teams with Hero Brands to accelerate growth

04-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Casual dining restaurant group Dirty Bones is partnering with Hero Brands to accelerate future growth across the UK.

Gusto Italian looks south after posting ‘resilient’ results

04-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Northern-based restaurant group Gusto Italian is looking to expand south over the coming year after announcing ‘resilient’ financial results for the year to September 2021.

Pret A Manger sees sales increase by 230% for the first half of 2022

04-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Pret A Manger has reported a sales lift of 230% for the first half of 2022.

Asian restaurant ULI to double up in London

01-Jul-2022 By BigHospiality

Notting Hill Gate restaurant ULI will launch a second site in the capital this year.

Richard Kleiner re-appointed Comptoir chairman despite AGM result

01-Jul-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Comptoir Group’s Richard Kleiner has been re-elected as chairman despite the resolution to re-elect him not passing at its annual general meeting (AGM) yesterday (30 June).