Casual Dining

Dominic Lake and Rohit Chugh to launch izakaya on former Merchants Tavern site

18-May-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Dominic Lake and Rohit Chugh are to launch an izakaya-inspired venue within the Shoreditch site that was once home to Merchants Tavern later this month.

Vegan restaurant to launch at Knightsbridge's Urban Retreat

17-May-2021 By Joe Lutrario

First time restaurateur Irina Linovich will open a plant-based restaurant within Knightsbridge wellness and beauty destination Urban Retreat early next month.

The Lowdown: Restaurant radio stations

13-May-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Infamous pirate radio station Kurupt FM is taking over Subway’s in-store radio network next week. Hold tight for the rhythm...

Drake & Morgan to enter a Company Voluntary Arrangement

13-May-2021 By Restaurant

Bar and restaurant group Drake & Morgan is to enter a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in order to help it recover from prolonged closures due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Boparan partners with Sainsbury's to launch trio of concepts

12-May-2021 By James McAllister

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has partnered with Sainsbury's to trial three new concepts in its supermarkets, two of which will launch under the Carluccio’s brand.

Wasabi 'in a strong position to grow' as it plans for the future

11-May-2021 By James McAllister

Sushi and bento brand Wasabi says it is in a 'strong position to grow' as Covid restrictions ease, and is in the process of building a new openings programme.

MEATliquor's Scott Collins to take on The Dartmouth Arms in London’s Forest Hill

11-May-2021 By Restaurant

MEATliquor co-founder Scott Collins is making a return to his pub roots by taking on The Dartmouth Arms in London’s Forest Hill.

Thunderbird plans clutch of new openings as it strengthens senior team

11-May-2021 By James McAllister

London-based premium fried chicken brand Thunderbird is planning a clutch of openings as it ramps up expansion following a recent 'relaunch' of the brand.

Fino Tapas launches £2m expansion drive

10-May-2021 By James McAllister

Preston-based Spanish restaurant Fino Tapas is to open four new locations this year as part of a £2m expansion plan, with a view to establishing further sites in the future.

Wendy's plots up to 400 UK sites

10-May-2021 By James McAllister

US burger chain Wendy’s is planning to open up to 400 UK sites as it plots to become a major player in the country's fast food market.

Food to go? What the re-opening of dine-in means for restaurant delivery

05-May-2021 By Sarah Coleman

Following exceptional growth in 2020, the food delivery channel is predicted to see modest decline in the full year of 2021. Should restaurant operators continue to invest, or is now the time to step back?

Rudy’s pizza heads south

05-May-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Manchester-founded Neapolitan pizza brand Rudy’s will make its London debut this spring after acquiring the former Wahaca site on Soho’s Wardour Street.

Island Poké signs up UK franchise partners as part of plans to treble its estate

05-May-2021 By Restaurant

Island Poké has signed up its first two UK franchise partners as part of its plans to treble its estate in the UK over the next five years.

More than 333,000 jobs at risk if rent protections removed this summer

05-May-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The £2.5bn in rent debt 'hanging around the neck of the hospitality industry' is a threat to the future of thousands of businesses and more than 330,000 jobs, new analysis by UKHospitality has revealed.

Jollibee confirms six new UK openings as it prepares to launch London flagship

29-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee has confirmed plans to open six new UK sites this year as it looks to ramp up its expansion drive across Europe.

Virtual reality – the rise of the delivery-only restaurant

27-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

How delivery-only restaurant brands became a legacy of the pandemic.

Artisan flatbread concept Manakish & Naanza targets nationwide rollout

27-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

Artisan flatbread concept Manakish & Naanza is targeting a nationwide rollout as it prepares to launch its debut site on Neal Street in London’s Covent Garden.

The O2 signs five new F&B brands

22-Apr-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Greenwich-based entertainment and retail destination The O2 has signed several new F&B brands totalling 32,000 sq ft.

PizzaExpress launches campaign to recruit 1,000 new staff

22-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

PizzaExpress is launching a nationwide campaign to recruit 1,000 staff as its pizzerias reopen in the coming months.

Food delivery market reaches £11.4bn as a result of the pandemic

22-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

Food delivery grew by £3.7bn in 2020 to reach £11.4bn - double its 2015 market value - as it benefited from being one of the few routes to market during the pandemic, Lumina Intelligence reports.

Emma Woods to step down as Wagamama CEO

19-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

Wagamama chief executive Emma Woods has announced she plans to step down from the role and hand over to her internally appointed successor, Thomas Heier.

Tom Crowley named as Popeyes UK chief executive

19-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

US fried chicken brand Popeyes has appointed Tom Crowley as its UK chief executive.

Leon sold to EG Group for £100m

19-Apr-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Leon has been acquired by forecourt retailer and fast food operator EG Group in a deal reported to be worth up to £100m.

Choppaluna plans aggressive expansion with over 60 new sites in the pipeline

16-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

Salad-focused fast casual brand Choppaluna is set for aggressive expansion across the UK.

OPSO team to open live-fire Greek restaurant INO in Soho

16-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

The team behind Marylebone restaurant OPSO and the Athens based two Michelin-starred restaurant Funky Gourmet are converting their Pitta Bun venue in Soho into a new live-fire restaurant.

Le Pain Quotidien bolsters vegan offering

15-Apr-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Bakery and café chain Le Pain Quotidien is to increase its number of vegan options and introduce a number of other sustainable initiatives as it starts to reopen for eat-in customers.

McDonald's mandates anti-harassment training worldwide

15-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

McDonald's is to implement new global brand standards to combat harassment, discrimination and violence in its restaurants, starting next year.

Victor Lugger: "We want to be PayPal for bricks and mortar"

15-Apr-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Big Mamma Group co-founder Victor Lugger is looking to shake up how customers pay the bill following a €20m (£17.3m) seed-funding round for his QR-code based mobile payments start-up Sunday.

Rosa’s Thai Café pushes on with expansion

14-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

Rosa’s Thai Café is planning to open up to six new restaurants over the next year, as well as continuing to grow its portfolio of delivery-only 'cloud' kitchens.

The Tapas Room to open fifth London restaurant

13-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

Spanish wine bar group The Tapas Room will open its fifth and largest venue next month in Peckham.

WingShack Co lines up seven restaurants

12-Apr-2021 By Joe Lutrario

WingShack Co has unveiled ambitious expansion plans with five new locations expected to open in London alongside a further two outside the capital this year.

Cue Point to launch 'London’s first drive-thru BBQ'

12-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

British Afghan BBQ restaurant Cue Point is opening what it says will be London’s first drive-thru BBQ later this week, in Chiswick.

Purezza heads to Manchester for first northern outpost

12-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

Vegan pizza brand Purezza is to launch its first northern outpost in Manchester next month.

Inception Group to take on Axa over business interruption insurance

12-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

London-based hospitality company Inception Group is to launch a legal challenge against insurer Axa in a bid to recover millions of pounds in business interruption payouts.

Promotion

Make the sustainable switch with PG tips

09-Apr-2021 By PG tips

PG tips has become the first major tea brand to switch to 100% plant-based tea bags across its food service range.

Ramen specialist Tonkotsu heads to Brighton

09-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

Ramen restaurant chain Tonkotsu has secured its first permanent restaurant outside the capital, in Brighton.

Loungers to open four more venues in “tenant-friendly environment” post lockdown

09-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

Loungers will grow its estate to 172 restaurants and bars by the end of the May with the opening of four new venues as it looks to get back on track to opening 25 sites a year.

Mamma Dough to launch franchise model for nationwide rollout

08-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

South London pizza restaurant group Mamma Dough is launching a franchise model to help it expand across the country.

UK food to go market suffers significant decline in 2020

08-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

The UK food to go market suffered a 45.5% decline in 2020 as the Coronavirus pandemic severely restricted travel and movement, the latest data from Lumina Intelligence shows.

Camile Thai launches 'neighbourhood' kitchen as delivery-only push increases

08-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

Camile Thai Kitchen is opening its first 'neighbourhood' kitchen in the capital as part of its plans to grow its presence in the delivery-only space.

WatchHouse coffee to double in size to 12 this year

08-Apr-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Upscale London coffee brand WatchHouse is to open five new sites in the capital as well as its first site outside of London, in Bath, taking its total number of sites to 12 before the year is out.

Liverpool ONE to double outside seating capacity for hospitality for 12 April

07-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

The property company behind city development Liverpool ONE will be hoping that the snowy days are behind us having revealed plans to double the outdoor seating capacity at the development.

The Orange Buffalo secures second permanent site

07-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

New York-style chicken wing brand The Orange Buffalo has secured its second bricks and mortar site in the capital, on Argyll Street in Soho, which it will launch next week.

Wasabi founder brings Korea's Pelicana chicken brand to UK

07-Apr-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Wasabi founder Dong Hyun Kim is set to rapidly expand South Korean fried chicken brand Pelicana in the capital following the acquisition of four sites.

Wendy's eyes Croydon opening

07-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

US burger chain Wendy’s is set to launch a restaurant in Croydon, for what could mark its first London opening since announcing its return to the UK market.

Lina Stores to open pasta restaurant and deli in Tokyo

06-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

Italian delicatessen and restaurant brand Lina Stores will open its first overseas location in Tokyo this summer.

Chilango to open its first digital-only venue

06-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

Chilango is to open its first digital-only venue next month, in Croydon.

Insurance saga continues as Black and White launches fresh group action

01-Apr-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Black and White Hospitality has launched a group action against its own insurers Tokio Marine Kiln in its continuing fight to get the firm to honour its obligations under business interruption policies.

Outdoor trading likely to be permitted in Wales from 26 April

01-Apr-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The First Minister of Wales has told Sky News that he is confident that the country’s restaurants and pubs will be able to reopen for outdoor eating and drinking on 26 April.

Rolling on: Tortilla looking to expand "quite aggressively” post lockdown

01-Apr-2021 By Andrew Don

Tortilla is seeking new locations to make the most of opportunities that present themselves in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.