Casual Dining

Team behind Tattu to open Italian-American restaurant Louis in Manchester

19-Feb-2024 By Restaurant

The surge in popularity of Italian-American restaurants is showing no signs of slowing with one opening in Manchester later this year.

Chicken restaurant Social Bird lands in Newcastle

19-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

A contemporary, chicken-focused restaurant is spreading its wings in Newcastle having acquired the former Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill site on Fenkle Street.

Restaurant sales fall flat in January as consumer spending squeezed

15-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s leading hospitality groups generated like-for-like sales growth of just 0.1% in January, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

Azzurri toasts ‘strong trading performance’ as revenue rises

12-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Azzurri Group has reported a ‘strong trading performance’ across the business in its latest financial results.

Northern-based operators to speak at next month's R200 Conference in Manchester

12-Feb-2024 By Restaurant

Representatives from restaurant businesses including San Carlo, Rudy’s, Gusto Italian, and GSG Hospitality will be speaking at next month’s R200 Restaurant Conference in Manchester

Big Fang Collective secures £5.5m for further UK expansion

07-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Competitive socialising group Big Fang Collective has secured £5.5m in growth capital from alternative lender ThinCats to support its expansion plans.

Rekom UK shutters 17 sites as it completes pre-pack administration

02-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Rekom UK has closed 17 sites across its estate following the completion of a pre-pack administration.

800 licensed premises lost in final quarter of 2023

01-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s number of licensed premises dropped by 0.8% in the fourth quarter of 2023, the latest Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners reveals.

Generation next

Could putting meat on the menu save the vegan fast-food sector?

31-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Plant-based QSR brands are increasingly struggling in a space once destined to be the next big thing. Now some are fighting back by putting meat on the menu.

The Restaurant Report - download your free copy

29-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

A report that lists the top 100 casual dining and QSR brands ranked by number of sites has been published by Restaurant.

Edinburgh burger institution to close after 52 years

29-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Long-standing Edinburgh restaurant Bells Diner will close this year after more than 50 years in business.

Multi-faceted dining and events space to launch at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

26-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Bar and events specialist Peppermint is to launch a multi-faceted dining and events space at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

Butcher Jonny Farrell to launch first restaurant venture

26-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Lancashire-based butcher Jonny Farrell is to launch his first restaurant venture next month in Birkdale Village, Southport.

North Brewing sold to Kirkstall owner

26-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

North Brewing has been acquired by Steve Holt, owner of fellow Leeds-based brewery Kirkstall, in a pre-pack deal that will secure the jobs of 78 North employees.

Northern-based hospitality shows resilience in a challenging year

25-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Northern-based hospitality businesses have reported an average sales growth of 7.2% over the past year, according to new figures.

Comment

What's in store for casual dining in 2024?

24-Jan-2024 By Stefan Chomka

Spin offs, overseas expansion, better loyalty schemes, and a boom in franchising are just some of the things we could see in the coming year.

Restaurants' delivery and takeaway sales growth slows as volume drops

24-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Britain’s top managed restaurant groups recorded 1% year-on-year growth in delivery and takeaway sales in December 2023, data shows.

Rockfish in the process of completing a £3m fundraise and return to expansion following ‘difficult year’

23-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Rockfish is returning to the expansion trail and in the process of completing a £3m fundraise following a ‘difficult year’ that saw it swing to a £876,000 loss.

IHOP and Applebee’s owner targets UK market

22-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

US-based casual dining operator Dine Brands Global is looking to launch a ‘duel-branded restaurant concept’ in the UK that encompasses its IHOP and Applebee’s chains.

Patty & Bun ‘continues to focus on expansion’ as it swings to loss

22-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Patty & Bun has said it is ‘continuing to focus on the development and expansion’ of its restaurant estate despite swinging to a £2.2m loss in its latest financial results.

North Brewing ‘seeking investment’ to stave off administration threat

18-Jan-2024 By James Beeson

North Brewing is actively seeking investment to secure its future, after solicitors acting on behalf of the Leeds-based brewery filed notice of intent (NOI) to appoint administrators

Managed sector toasts 'bumper' December

18-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s top hospitality groups generated year-on-year sales growth of 8.8% in December, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

How I Got Here: Patrick Ward

17-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

The founder of Edinburgh-based Pizza Geeks, which recently launched its third site in the city, on the importance of admitting your mistakes, handling stress, and what makes a good leader.

Flat Iron tees up further openings as it toasts ‘record year’

16-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Steakhouse group Flat Iron has announced it will launch two further London restaurants this year, alongside its first site in Manchester, after reporting ‘record sales’.

Prezzo plots move into QSR with takeaway pasta concept

15-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Prezzo is plotting a move in the QSR market with the development of a takeaway pasta concept that will have branches in UK train stations.

The Gentlemen Baristas calls in administrators

15-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

London coffee shop operator and roaster The Gentlemen Baristas has called in administrators.

Wetherspoon partners with Haven

11-Jan-2024 By Finn Scott-Delany

Holiday park operator Haven has announced an exclusive agreement with JD Wetherspoon to open pubs at its locations.

The Breakfast Club tees up third Soho site

11-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

The Breakfast Club has acquired the former Patty & Bun site on Old Compton Street for its third location in London’s Soho.

Cost of living ‘hinders’ performance at Boparan

10-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has said the cost-of-living crisis has hindered its post-Covid performance despite it reporting a rise in turnover in its latest accounts.

Flash-grilled: Alexander Thiel

10-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

The executive chef at D&D London's German Gymnasium restaurant in King's Cross on eating 'real' döner kebabs, why he prefers Saturday Kitchen to MasterChef, and his dream dinner party guests.

11 food, drink and restaurant trends for 2024

10-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

What will the next 12 months bring for the restaurant sector? No one really knows, but we’ve had a stab at making some predictions anyway. Here’s what we think 2024 has in store.

The Coconut Tree targets London market as it launches crowdfund

09-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Sri Lankan restaurant group The Coconut Tree is planning its first openings in London having launched an equity-based crowdfund that’s aiming to raise £1m.

Wahaca returns to expansion trail with first opening in six years

08-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Wahaca is returning to the expansion trail with its first new opening in six years.

Pergola Paddington to close

05-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Pergola Paddington has announced it will be permanently closing its doors later this month.

‘Challenging’ trading environment pushes Revolution Bars to close eight sites

05-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Revolution Bars Group has announced it will shutter eight of its ‘least profitable bars’ in order to reduce future losses.

Spaghetti House returns to profit

04-Jan-2024 By Shwetali Sapte

Spaghetti House has reported financial results for the year to 26 March 2023, with turnover rising from the previous year’s £5.3m to £9.8m.

Mission Mars tees up new openings as it toasts ‘record’ festive period

04-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Restaurant and bar group Mission Mars is planning to open a further 12 Rudy’s Pizza sites this year after reporting ‘record’ sales across its estate over the festive period.

Sud Pasta team unveils new concept

04-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Manchester-based restaurant group Sud Pasta will relaunch this month under a new brand called Rigatoni’s, which is billed as aiming ‘to bring quality pasta to the masses’.

Whitbread sells stake in Pure

03-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Whitbread has sold its stake in health-focused grab and go brand Pure.

Patty & Bun to launch first international outpost in Dubai

02-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Burger slinger Patty & Bun is to become the latest UK-based restaurant operator to open an outpost in Dubai.

‘Continued financial difficulties’ force Tony Rodd to close Copper & Ink

02-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Tony Rodd has announced the immediate closure of his Copper & Ink restaurant in Blackheath, south east London, saying that ‘continued financial difficulties’ have made the business ‘untenable’.

“I’ve never been so battered in this business” – James Allcock closes The Pig and Whistle

02-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Chef James Allcock has permanently closed his Yorkshire bistro The Pig and Whistle in Beverly, describing it as ‘the most gut-wrenching decision’ of his life.

Six by Nico to launch new Glasgow flagship

19-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Tasting menu restaurant Six by Nico is investing £3m to overhaul its Glasgow estate with the launch of two new concepts and a new flagship location in Merchant City.

Ordering habits 'evolve' as delivery sales rise and takeaways fall

19-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Delivery sales at Britain’s top managed restaurant groups rose 4% year-on-year in November 2023, CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker shows — but takeaway sales fell 6%.

Giggling Squid sees turnover rise following ‘another excellent year’

19-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Giggling Squid has reported a rise in turnover with like for like sales ‘materially ahead’ of pre pandemic levels in its latest financial results.

Sud Pasta to relaunch estate under new pasta kitchen concept

18-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Manchester-based restaurant group Sud Pasta is to close its four-strong estate at the end of the month and relaunch it early next year under a new concept.

Ellen Chew to launch permanent Singapulah site on Shaftesbury Avenue

14-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

London-based restaurateur Ellen Chew will launch the first permanent site under her Singaporean-focused Singapulah concept early next year on Shaftesbury Avenue.

Larger restaurant groups benefit from rebound in festive bookings

13-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Larger restaurant groups including Hawksmoor and Rare Restaurants are reporting a rebound in festive bookings.

Restaurant groups see 'solid' November sales

13-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Britain’s leading hospitality groups achieved year-on-year sales growth of 4.0% in November, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

Nando’s tees up new openings as it reports ‘steady recovery’

08-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Nando’s is in the process of opening 14 new UK restaurants having reported a ‘steady recovery’ to pre-pandemic sales and a return to operating profit in its latest accounts.