Casual dining - Hospitality

A third of people cutting back on eating out and takeaways as cost of living soars

24-May-2022 By Restaurant

More than a third of people have been forced to reduce or stop spending on eating out and takeaways over the past six months in the face of rising costs and inflation, according to a YouGov poll.

TRG reports robust trading across Wagamama and pubs business

24-May-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has reported strong consumer demand for its brands as it continues to outperform the market.

Starbucks becomes latest chain to quit Russian market

24-May-2022 By James McAllister

Starbucks has become the latest Western hospitality chain to completely pull out of the Russian market in response to the war in Ukraine.

Tortilla acquires rival chain Chilango for £2.75m

23-May-2022 By James McAllister

Tortilla has acquired rival burrito chain Chilango from investment firm RDCP Group in a deal worth up to £2.75m.

Honest Burgers overhauls supply chain with regenerative farming programme

23-May-2022 By James McAllister

Honest Burgers has overhauled its supply chain through the development of a regenerative farming programme, with the aim of reducing its carbon footprint and the environmental impact of eating beef.

Latest opening: Palazzo

20-May-2022 By James McAllister

The team behind London-based Neapolitan pizza group Made of Dough have launched an Italian bar and diner in Crystal Palace.

Operators face 'significant challenge managing costs and attracting footfall' as menu sizes and prices rise

20-May-2022 By James McAllister

Menus across the UK eating and drinking out market grew in size between February and April 2022, according to data from Lumina Intelligence’s Menu Tracker, with average prices also increasing.

Latest opening: Chicken Shop

20-May-2022 By James McAllister

CHIK’N, the fast-casual spinoff of Chick 'n' Sours, has rebranded as Chicken Shop under a partnership with Soho House Group, and launched its first new site in London’s Notting Hill.

Funghi(s): the trio harnessing the power of fermented mushrooms

20-May-2022 By Restaurant

With plant-based business Symplicity Foods chef Neil Rankin and Homeslice’s Wogan brothers are on a mission to make meat-free properly guilt free.

Delivery growth eases in 2022

20-May-2022 By James McAllister

Delivery sales have plateaued in 2022 as Covid restrictions eased and consumer confidence about eating-out improved, the latest edition of the CGA & Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker shows.

The restaurateur and founder of the London-based Hush Collection, which operates the Haché and Cabana brands, on the importance of location, challenging industry perceptions and gatecrashing Kylie Minogue's birthday party.

Rick Stein Restaurants to offer new flexible working contracts to combat summer staff shortages

17-May-2022 By Restaurant

Rick Stein Restaurants is tackling the anticipated exceptionally high shortage of staff during the summer months with new flexible working contracts.

Modest sales growth for managed groups undermined by rising cost pressures

17-May-2022 By James McAllister

Britain’s leading managed restaurant, pub and bar groups recorded like-for-like sales growth of 2% in April 2022, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker reveals.

McDonald’s invests £250m in restaurant remodelling

16-May-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany

McDonald’s UK&I will invest over £250m over the next four years to redesign parts of its restaurant estate to suit the rise of omnichannel ordering.

Wendy’s achieves ‘solid results’ in first quarter

12-May-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Wendy’s UK business – its newest market – achieved 'solid results' in the first quarter to 3 April 2022, president and chief executive officer Todd Penegor has said.

Various Eateries reports robust trading as footfall in the capital recovers

12-May-2022 By Shwetali Sapte

Coppa Club owner Various Eateries has reported robust trading for the 26-week period ending 3 April, following the opening of two new sites and the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

Sandwiches help operators mitigate cost of living pressures

12-May-2022 By James McAllister

The proportion of main dishes on operator menus that are sandwiches has risen across four key eating out channels to give consumers cheaper meal-time options amid cost of living pressures.

Boparan to take Slim Chickens to Liverpool ONE

11-May-2022 By Restaurant

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) is taking its fast-growing Slim Chickens brand to Liverpool with the opening of a venue in Liverpool ONE.

How I Got Here: Patricia Michelson

11-May-2022 By James McAllister

The founder of cheese-focused retailer and café La Fromagerie, which has sites in London's Highbury, Marylebone and Bloomsbury, on how a disastrous skiing day led her to launch her business.

Zanna Hospitality Group to open four venues at Flannels in Liverpool

11-May-2022 By Restaurant

North-west-based Zanna Hospitality Group will open four hospitality venues at department store Flannels Liverpool in the coming months.

Fat Hippo eyes London debut

10-May-2022 By James McAllister

Northern-based burger chain Fat Hippo is planning a move to the capital amid an expansion drive that will also see it establish permanent outposts in Scotland and Wales.

Brighton's Fatto a Mano puts down permanent roots in the capital

06-May-2022 By James McAllister

Brighton & Hove-based restaurant group Fatto a Mano is to put down permanent roots in the capital next month with the launch of Fatto Pizza & Beer in King's Cross.

Hawksmoor to open in Liverpool later this year

06-May-2022 By Restaurant

Steakhouse group Hawksmoor has chosen Liverpool as the location for its 10th UK restaurant.

Restaurant insolvencies soar as Covid support is withdrawn

05-May-2022 By Restaurant

The number of restaurant businesses going out of business soared by 41% in the past 12 months, new data shows.

Chinatown's Four Seasons to launch new 'contemporary' concept

04-May-2022 By James McAllister

Chinatown's Four Seasons is to launch a new 'contemporary Chinese restaurant' this summer at The Hippodrome Casino in London's Leicester Square.

How I Got Here: Zorawar Kalra

04-May-2022 By James McAllister

The Indian entrepreneur behind the Massive Restaurants group and founder of Farzi Café on London's Haymarket tells us about his career.

Din Tai Fung finally set to launch Centre Point restaurant

04-May-2022 By James McAllister

Famed Taiwanese restaurant chain Din Tai Fung is finally set to launch a restaurant at London's Centre Point development, more than three years later than originally planned.

Restaurant radar: May 2022

03-May-2022 By Restaurant

Mexican chef Adriana Cavita's London debut, a second site for Kian Samyani’s Berenjak, and Carlo Scotto's latest venture make up some of this month's most interesting new restaurant launches.

Gusto Italian appoints new COO as it plots further expansion

29-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

Gusto Italian has appointed Scott Grimbleby as its new chief operating officer (COO) as it continues to open new restaurants across the UK.

Leonardo DiCaprio joins Neat Burger as strategic investor ahead of global expansion

28-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

Actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio has joined vegan fast-food chain Neat Burger as a strategic investor ahead of the group's plans to expand into the US and beyond.

UK café market set to exceed 2019 value in 2022

28-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The total UK coffee shop, sandwich and bakery market is set to exceed its 2019 market value in 2022, according to the latest data from Lumina Intelligence's Operator Data Index.

Made of Dough team to launch Italian bar and diner

26-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The team behind London-based Neapolitan pizza group Made of Dough is to launch an Italian bar and diner in Crystal Palace next month.

Buzzworks Holdings acquires Herringbone's three venues

26-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

Scottish-based bar and restaurant operator Buzzworks Holdings has bought independent hospitality business Herringbone.

Loungers reports record sales

26-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

All-day dining restaurant group Loungers has reported record sales for the year to April 2022.

Delivery and takeaway sales slip as consumers return to eating out

26-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

Britain’s managed restaurant and pub groups’ delivery and takeaway sales remain more than double pre-Covid levels, but data shows trading has dipped year-on-year after consumers resumed their out-of-home eating habits.

Gravity to launch £10m leisure experience at Liverpool ONE

25-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

Leisure operator Gravity Active Entertainment is to launch a new flagship location that includes a 'modern F&B offering' at Liverpool ONE later this year.

Hospitality groups' sales rise, but inflation looks set to bite

22-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups saw a like-for-like sales increase in March but high inflation is set to hamper its recovery.

Tim Hortons to open first London site

22-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

Canadian restaurant brand Tim Hortons will open its first site in the capital later this year.

How I Got Here: Valentina Fois

21-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The Italian-born chef and founder of London-based vegan cafe and bakery Lele's, who's currently competing on Gordon Ramsay's Future Food Stars, on her career in hospitality.

Itsu, McDonald’s, Pret and KFC among speakers at next week's technology conference Hostech

21-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

McDonald’s, Pret, Itsu and KFC are some of the highlights of this year’s Hostech, which is being held next week.

Baton Berisha named D&D London managing director

20-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

Former Ivy Collection chief executive Baton Berisha is to join D&D London as its managing director.

Brindisa plans new central London restaurant after closing Shoreditch site

13-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

London-based, Spanish restaurant group Brindisa has closed its Shoreditch restaurant after 10 years of trading.

Patty & Bun rolls out Sidechick as delivery-only brand

13-Apr-2022 By Shwetali Sapte

Patty & Bun’s new sites in Notting Hill and Canary Wharf will feature menu items from Sidechick - its roast chicken-focused offshoot - for delivery.

Swingers expands West End site and announces a further push stateside

12-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

Crazy golf competitive socialising brand Swingers is expanding its West End venue with the creation of a 2,500sq ft all-weather roof terrace and new bar as well as an expanded food offer.

Miscusi heads to Islington for second London site

12-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

Italian-based, B Corp pasta chain Miscusi will open its second London restaurant in Islington in early June – seven months after the launch of its first site in the capital.

Wagtail bar and restaurant to offer 360 degree views over London

11-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

A restaurant and bar that will offer 360-degree views of London’s skyline is due to open next month.

Pret plots Irish expansion

11-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is to expand into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for the first time after securing a new agreement with existing franchise partner Carebrook Partnership.

Tortilla caps off 'transformational' year with record results

11-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

Tortilla has capped off a 'transformational' year that saw it become a listed company by reporting record results, with revenues up 79.5% in the full year to 2 January 2022.

Rick Stein Restaurants and Soho House step up their recruitment drives

08-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

Rick Stein restaurants and Soho House are among hospitality businesses that have launched fresh initiatives to tackle the staffing shortage in the sector.

Hostech

Hostech to shine a light on the future of social media

08-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

While social media continues to be a cost-effective way of targeting consumers, it is increasingly being used by restaurant businesses as a tool to recruit prospective employees.

Restaurant

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