Casual Dining

Gary Usher is looking at Leeds for a potential new restaurant location

22-Mar-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Gary Usher is eyeing Leeds as a potential destination to open a restaurant next year.

Giraffe and Ed's Easy Diner CVA approved

21-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) is poised to close over a third of its Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner restaurants following the approval of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

Harts Group: "footfall lower than expected at Coal Drops Yard"

21-Mar-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

Harts Group has spoken of the challenges of opening four restaurants at the same time at Coal Drops Yard, with the landlord’s predicted footfall falling considerably short of expectations.

How I Got Here: Rosie Whaley

21-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

A former fashion buyer, Rosie Whaley launched Pi Pizza in Winchester in 2014 and followed up with a second in Battersea last year.

BV Restaurant Group launches "experiential" concept Rebound

20-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

BV Restaurant Group has launched its first restaurant and gaming hall concept in London.

D&D London opens third New York restaurant

19-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

D&D London has opened its latest New York restaurant following the rocky launch of Bluebird in the city last year.

Flash-grilled: Alex Povall

15-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Alex Povall is head chef at Covent Garden restaurant Oystermen, which was recently expanded due to popular demand.

Wagamama to launch spin-off Mamago brand

15-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has developed a grab-and-go spin-off of the Wagamama brand, which it will trial later this year.

Restaurant Eats Out: Covent Garden

15-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

From Parisian bistro chic to creative Indian food, Covent Garden and its immediate surrounds has no shortage of interesting places to eat.

Polpo is looking for a 'bigger and better' Spuntino - and will pay £10k finder's fee

14-Mar-2019 By James Wallin

Polpo is eyeing a “bigger and better” Soho site for its original Spuntino restaurant, after the landlord decided to take back the lease.

MOD Pizza UK to hit double figures with Coventry opening

14-Mar-2019 By Stefan Chomka

US brand MOD Pizza is opening its 10th UK restaurant later this month, in Coventry.

How I Got Here: Mark Wogan

14-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Mark Wogan founder Homeslice with brother Alan and chef Ry Jessup in 2013. The relaxed, pizza-by-the-slice group now operates six London restaurants.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen sales improve after CVA

14-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Sales at Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) have improved after the restaurant group entered in to a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) last year.

Wellbourne Brasserie in White City closes

13-Mar-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Wellbourne Brasserie in London’s White City has closed just over a year after it launched.

Latest opening: Gloria

13-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

France's Big Mamma group has landed in Shoreditch with the 'least Brexit-compatible restaurant in the UK'.

Roosters Piri Piri: the chicken brand that's ruffling feathers

12-Mar-2019 By Georgi Gyton

What started off as a bit of a ‘KFC rip off’ has grown into an international chicken brand that has its sights on 100-plus sites

Flat Iron MD: "No one wants to open 100-200 restaurants anymore"

12-Mar-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

Flat Iron managing director Jo fleet has suggested there is “no number” on the scale of sites the brand could open – though admitted there was no longer any appetite in the industry to reach 100 or 200 sites.

Polpo to enter CVA with planned closures

08-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

The Polpo restaurant group is to enter in to a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) after plans were approved by 98% of creditors today (8 March).

Generation Next: Monty's Deli

08-Mar-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

Known for its killer Reubens, the London-based Jewish deli has opened its third site. Co-founder Owen Barratt explains the business’ origins and future plans

How I Got Here: Harneet Baweja

07-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Born in Kolkata, Harneet Baweja is the restaurateur behind Indian small plates smash hit Gunpowder, which has restaurants in Spitalfields and Tower Bridge.

Giraffe and Ed's Easy Diner restaurant closures revealed

07-Mar-2019 By James Wallin

The list of Ed’s Easy Diner and Giraffe sites to close under the Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) covering the two brands has been revealed.

Latest opening: Za

06-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

PizzaExpress is out for a slice of the grab-and-go sector with the first major shake-up of its formula in decades.

Boparan to close 27 Ed's Easy Diner and Giraffe restaurants

04-Mar-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) is the latest casual dining group to explore entering into a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), with the company looking to close 27 of its Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner restaurants.

Steve Richards to step down as Casual Dining Group CEO

04-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Steve Richards is to step down as CEO of Casual Dining Group (CDG), the operator of Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Café Rouge, after over five years.

Casual Dining Group focusing on delivery-only brands

01-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Bella Italia, Las Iguanas and Café Rouge operator Casual Dining Group (CDG) will focus on developing its concessions and delivery-only businesses this year because it has “never been more competitive” for high street restaurants.

Loungers "has potential for 500 sites" in the UK

28-Feb-2019 By Sophie Witts

The chairman of Loungers, the all-day restaurant group, has said the company could grow to up to 500 sites in the UK.

Casual dining bubble bursts as number of restaurants falls

25-Feb-2019 By Sophie Witts

The number of casual dining restaurants in Britain fell for the first time in nine years in 2018.

Specialist sausage restaurant set for London

21-Feb-2019 By Andrew Don

A gourmet sausage restaurant with a menu "curated by top-rated chefs” is to launch in London at the beginning of March.

What's on at The Casual Dining Show 2019

19-Feb-2019 By Restaurant

The Casual Dining Show returns this month at it's new home at London's Excel.

Giggling Squid appoints advisors to consider options

15-Feb-2019 By Sophie Witts

Thai restaurant group Giggling Squid has appointed advisors to explore options for its next stage of growth.

Carluccio’s to trial ‘formal’ evening service and ‘experimental’ menu

14-Feb-2019 By Sophie Witts

Carluccio’s is to use its restaurant in London’s Richmond as a test-bed for its £10m Fresca refurbishment programme following the conclusion of its Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) in December.

How I Got Here: Tom Barton

14-Feb-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Tom Barton is the co-founder of better burger pioneer Honest Burgers. Later this month he will open his first restaurant in Brighton, which is something of a homecoming as the now nationwide group started life as a street food player in and around the...

The Lowdown: DNA dining

14-Feb-2019 By Stefan Chomka

YO! Sushi has launched genetic dining experience YO! Dinner, YO! Way, which uses DNA testing to personalise its customers’ meals.

By Chloe and Hai Di Lao are heading to The O2

14-Feb-2019 By Joe Lutrario

A wave of new restaurants will soon open at London’s The O2 including US-founded plant-based brand By Chloe and Chinese hotpot specialist Hai Di Lao.

The Restaurant Group CEO announces departure

14-Feb-2019 By Sophie Witts

Andy McCue, the chief executive of The Restaurant Group (TRG), has announced his decision to leave the company.

The Coconut Tree - the Sri Lankan brand that's laying down roots

12-Feb-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Sri Lankan casual-dining restaurant group The Coconut Tree is putting roots down in the south-west and hopes to eventually go national

Farmer J receives £1.9m investment to grow in the capital

12-Feb-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Farmer J, the London-based healthy fast casual brand, has secured £1.9m of investment capital to support its expansion.

Ray de Fazio to open in Wimbledon Village

11-Feb-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurateur Ray de Fazio is to launch a modern Italian restaurant in Wimbledon Village on the former site of Cau.

Flash-grilled: James Knappett

08-Feb-2019 By Joe Lutrario

James Knappett is the chef patron of the now two Michelin star Kitchen Table and gourmet hotdog and grower Champagne concept Bubbledogs. He runs both venues alongside his sommelier wife Sandia Chang.

John Devitt: "I’d love to do a Koya outside London - that would be a good experiment"

08-Feb-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

The co-founder of the udon noodle restaurant brand on moving into Market Halls, attracting more vegetarians and a desire to go outside the capital.

Food to go continues to out-perform total eating out market

08-Feb-2019 By Joe Lutrario

The food to go sector is set to account for almost a quarter of total eating out spending within the next three years with a further £2bn growth forecasted.

Bao confirms all-singing new restaurant in London's Borough

07-Feb-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Taiwanese mini group Bao has confirmed it will open the third permanent site of its bun-based restaurant brand in London’s Borough this spring.

Small plates Indian Talli Joe closes its doors

07-Feb-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Soho Indian Talli Joe has closed its doors and looks unlikely to re-open.

How I Got Here: Tom Brooke

07-Feb-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Tom Brooke opened the first Red Dog Saloon on Hoxton Square back in 2010. The six-strong group is now a national player with sites as far flung as Liverpool and Southampton.

Latest opening: Slim Chickens Soho

06-Feb-2019 By Joe Lutrario

The US-hatched chicken concept is spreading its wings with the launch of a new restaurant in Soho.

Victor Garvey heads east with Barullo

05-Feb-2019 By Joe Lutrario

The chef behind highly-rated Catalan spot Rambla is to launch a restaurant in the City of London that will serve food from all over Spain.

Taiwanese chicken brand makes European debut in the capital

05-Feb-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Taiwanese chicken brand Monga Fried Chicken has opened its first European restaurant, in London’s Chinatown.

Is cash’s number up? The pros and cons of going cashless

05-Feb-2019 By Tony Naylor

Restaurants across the country are going card only in a bid to speed up service, reduce bank payments and increase security. But with some calling the move classist and elitist, should you cash in on the trend for cashless?

Second coming: MEATliquor to relocate flagship to Match Bar site

05-Feb-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Restaurant group MEATailer has secured a new location for its flagship MEATliquor restaurant, just yards away from its Marylebone debut.

Restaurant Radar: February 2019

01-Feb-2019 By Restaurant

From fine dining flagships to 'surreal' east London projects, fried chicken to Tellicherry crab - here's our pick of the UK's big restaurant openings this month