Casual Dining

Shoryu Ramen restarts plans to open franchises in the UK and internationally

22-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Shoryu Ramen is restarting its plans to open franchise restaurants across the UK and internationally now that trading has returned to some sort of normality.

Delivery and takeaway sales more than double pre-pandemic levels

22-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Delivery and takeaway sales at managed restaurant and pub groups were more than twice that of pre-pandemic levels in September, new data shows.

Crust Bros to open third pizzeria early next year

22-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

London-based pizza restaurant group Crust Bros will open its third restaurant early next year in Balham.

Frankie no Benny’s: restaurant brand changes famous name as part of new identity

20-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Restaurant group Frankie & Benny’s has dropped by Benny’s name from its logo as part of a more modern identity for the American-Italian brand.

Insight panels to feature at MCA’s Restaurant Conference

20-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Lumina Intelligence, CGA and AlixPartners will be delivering exclusive insight at MCA’s Restaurant Conference next month.

Tom Moxon returns to Bone Daddies as executive group chef

19-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Bone Daddies's original head chef, Tom Moxon, has rejoined the ramen group ahead of its 10 year anniversary next year.

Neat Burger ramps up expansion following $70m growth valuation

19-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Lewis Hamilton-backed vegan fast-food group Neat Burger is ramping up its expansion in the capital following the completion of a funding round that valued the company at $70m.

Giggling Squid hits 40 sites as it pushes ahead with expansion

18-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Thai restaurant chain Giggling Squid is continuing to push ahead with expansion, with a number of new locations set to launch before the end of the year.

Big Easy continues expansion with first non-London restaurant

18-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Barbecue restaurant group Big Easy will open its first restaurant outside of the capital after signing on a location at Bluewater.

Managed groups see 'significant' September sales bounce

18-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups achieved a significant bounce in sales in September, the latest edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker reveals.

Food to go accounts for one-in-four out of home occasions

13-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Food to go continues to account for more than a quarter of out of home occasions, according to new data from Lumina Intelligence.

Coco di Mama launches Sainsbury's partnership

13-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Coco di Mama has become the latest casual dining brand to partner with a major national supermarket.

Pi Pizza to open a third restaurant, in Poole

13-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Pizza restaurant mini group Pi Pizza is to open at the former Stable Bar & Restaurant in Poole.

Popeyes, Big Table Group, Dishoom and Pizza Pilgrims join Restaurant Conference line-up

12-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Popeyes UK’s chief development officer Tom Byng, Big Table Group’s property director Matthew Ainger, and Itsu’s property director will discuss the opportunity for well-capitalised businesses looking to grow post-pandemic, at MCA’s Restaurant Conference...

Neat Burger to open fifth London restaurant

11-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Lewis Hamilton-backed plant-based restaurant group Neat Burger will open its fifth site this week.

Benihana to relocate Piccadilly restaurant

11-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Benihana has closed its London Piccadilly restaurant amid plans to relaunch it in a new location in Covent Garden next year.

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants plans South Korea roll out

11-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants has signed a long-term partnership deal to open numerous dining outlets across South Korea in the next 10 years.

Third M restaurant to open in Canary Wharf next spring

11-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Rare Restaurants has announced that its third M restaurant will open in Canary Wharf next spring, nearly six years after it secured the site.

David Campbell departs PizzaExpress

08-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

David Campbell is to step down from his role as PizzaExpress chief executive, citing personal reasons.

James Martin joins SpudULike amid rebrand

08-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Baked potato chain SpudULike has undergone a rebrand with a new menu designed by chef James Martin.

Corbin & King, Five Guys and KFC at MCA’s Restaurant Conference

07-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Corbin & King CEO Jeremy King, KFC’s UK & Ireland MD Paula Mackenzie, and Five Guys CEO John Eckbert and are just some of the big-name speakers on the line-up at MCA’s Restaurant Conference next month.

North Fish nets first UK site after 'three years of hard work'

06-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Polish restaurant operator North Fish has finally netted its first site in the UK having first mooted a move to these shores more than three years ago.

Butchies chooses Borough Yards to open ninth restaurant, with three more in the pipeline

06-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Fried chicken burger brand Butchies will open its ninth restaurant later this year having secured a new site in London’s Borough Yards.

McDonald's UK aims for net zero emissions by 2040

05-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

McDonald's UK and Ireland (UK&I) has launched a new sustainability strategy with the aim of achieving net zero emissions across its entire business and value chain by 2040.

Generation Next

Jay Morjaria: “You can’t go wrong with sandwiches and beer”

04-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

With his new restaurant Mamma Pastrama, the successful Million Pound Menu participant is beefing up his presence in the capital.

Boy meets world: Indian restaurant group Mowgli is coming of age

04-Oct-2021 By Stefan Chomka

With six new restaurants in the pipeline, including a move into the capital, Nisha Katona’s Indian restaurant group is flourishing.

Chewing the fat: Ellen Chew on the growth of her restaurant empire

04-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Despite the pandemic, Singaporean restaurateur Ellen Chew has remained steadfast in her determination to grow her Asian-focused portfolio, with plenty of openings planned for the coming months.

PizzaExpress plots new expansion as restaurants outperform market

04-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

PizzaExpress is 'well underway' with plans to open 50 new restaurants over the next three years.

Net Zero Restaurants initiative launches

04-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) has launched a Net Zero Restaurants initiative in partnership with small business climate action platform Net Zero Now.

Furlough scheme ends

01-Oct-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - better known as furlough - has come to an end.

Operators reminded: Natasha’s Law comes into force next month

30-Sep-2021 By Joe Lutrario

UKHospitality is urging all in the industry to ensure they are fully aware of and compliant with landmark legislation on allergen labelling for pre-packaged foods, which comes into force later this week.

The Ivy Collection to open in Chichester

30-Sep-2021 By Restaurant

Caprice Holdings is looking to open a restaurant under it’s The Ivy brand in Chichester.

Latest opening: Cocotte South Kensington

29-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

The French 'farm-to-table' rotisserie brand is continuing to push ahead with steady expansion, launching of its fifth London restaurant in leafy South Kensington.

Fulham Shore sees trading surpass 2019 levels

29-Sep-2021 By Georgi Gyton

Franco Manca and The Real Greek operator Fulham Shore has seen total revenues reach more than £39m for the half year to 26 September 2021, compared to £36m achieved in the comparable period in 2019.

Thai Express to launch Kitchen concept in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter

28-Sep-2021 By Restaurant

Casual quick-service Thai restaurant group Thai Express is launching a kitchen concept in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter.

Bone Daddies Group appoints ex Hawksmoor and Blacklock head of people

28-Sep-2021 By Restaurant

Bone Daddies Group has appointed JB Hall as its new head of people.

Latest opening: Bayside Social

27-Sep-2021 By Joe Lutrario

MasterChef winner Kenny Tutt has opened a second venture in his hometown of Worthing following the success of his debut restaurant Pitch.

Al Dente to launch second dine-in site

27-Sep-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Handmade pasta specialist Al Dente has opened a second dine-in site following the success of its original Goodge Street restaurant and dark kitchens business.

Friday five: the week's top news stories

24-Sep-2021 By Restaurant

This week's main hospitality news stories include Prezzo giving its staff a pay rise, new tipping legislation, and Italian delicatessen and restaurant brand Lina Stores' expansion in London.

US fried chicken chain Popeyes chooses Westfield Stratford for UK debut

24-Sep-2021 By Restaurant

US fried chicken brand Popeyes will kick off its play in the UK market with the opening of its first site on these shores in London’s Westfield Stratford.

Tortilla announces plans to float and open 45 new sites

24-Sep-2021 By Restaurant

Tortilla has announced its intention to float on AIM as it looks to open around 45 new sites in the next five year.

Lina Stores to make City debut on former Kym's site

23-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

London-based Italian delicatessen and pasta restaurant brand Lina Stores is to make its City debut, opening on the Bloomberg Arcade site previously occupied by Andrew Wong's Kym's.

How I Got Here: Duncan Edwards

22-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

The co-founder of Four Hundred Rabbits, which recently launched a new flagship location at Elephant Park in Southwark, on building his London-based sourdough pizza brand.

Pret plans 200 new sites in two years as it ramps up expansion

22-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is to open 200 new UK sites in the next two years as part of an aim to double the size of its estate within five years.

Jamie Oliver expands presence in India

21-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

The Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group and franchise partner Dolomite are set to open four more branches of Jamie Oliver’s Pizzeria in India before the end of the year.

Megan's sets out 'ambitious growth plans'

21-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

Neighbourhood-style restaurant brand Megan's is pushing ahead with 'ambitious growth plans' with an aim to reach 22 sites in total by the end of 2022.

Lina Stores lines up former The Dairy site for third London opening

20-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

Italian delicatessen and restaurant brand Lina Stores has taken over the Clapham sites previously home to Robin Gill's seminal Clapham restaurants The Dairy and Counter Culture.

By Chloe quietly shutters UK estate

17-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

US vegan fast food chain By Chloe has quietly closed its four-strong London estate.

Fridays IPO plan 'on track'

16-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

TGI Fridays and 63rd+1st backer Electra Private Equity says it is 'on track' to float the brands on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) under new parent company, Hostmore.

Bain Capital acquires Gail’s owner Bread Holdings in £200m deal

15-Sep-2021 By Georgi Gyton

Bain Capital Credit, in partnership with EBITDA Investments, has acquired Bread Holdings – parent company of the Gail’s Bakery chain and wholesale business The Bread Factory – from Risk Capital Partners (RCP) in a deal worth more than £200m.